This episode tackles some of the most pressing questions mineral and royalty owners face when managing their assets. We answer questions about the long-term outlook for Permian Basin and Bakken (Williston Basin) production, the process and timeline from when you find out wells are permitted on your minerals to when you get paid, how to find a good oil & gas accountant, and navigating the title research process to trace inherited minerals and wells back to specific family members.
As before, many of the questions in this episode are covered in more depth in my Mineral Management Basics online course, including how to read a legal description, perform a title search, identify nearby oil and gas activity, and determine whether you should be getting paid on a well.
Thanks again to everyone who left a review or who submitted a listener question! If you have a question about your minerals or royalties, you can send it to feedback@mineralrightspodcast.com!
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Listener Question #1
When will the Permian be depleted, and what happens?
In 2023, before Exxon acquired Pioneer, Pioneer CEO Scott Sheffield boasted of the best reserves in North America, citing research by Enverus, but not his company’s internal data. Pioneer claimed peer-leading ≈23 years of high-return inventory (<$50 WTI) citing Enverus analysis, with an Enverus bar chart showing second ranked peer at 16 years (slide15, 1Q23 PowerPoint). Pioneer claimed peer-leading “decades-long” high return inventory (<$45 WTI), without showing an estimate of years (slide7, 2Q23 PowerPoint).
In 2025, former Pioneer CEO Scott Sheffield explained his company’s sale to Exxon by saying Pioneer’s Tier-1 and Tier-2 inventory will be exhausted by 2028 and 2032, respectively (3/11/25, CNBC).
Thanks,
Roy
Listener Question #2
Hi Matt,
Just found out we may own more mineral rights on our Ohio land. If this proves true, I would probably be interested in a paid account. In the meantime, my accountant wants to know the formula of estimating value at the time of inheritance, I had previously asked you about our land that we sold …
Thanks,
Nancy
Listener Question #3
My sister & I are mineral owners & would like help with learning the process/timeline from the time a location is permitted until it, hopefully, becomes a producing well. We have several permitted locations on our mineral rights (we don’t on the surface rights). There is drilling & producing wells all around us.
Thanks.
Donna
Listener Question #4
Was wondering if the bakken core is still going to be productive much longer? I know there have been some major company acquisitions in the billions, so I’m assuming there’s more production/ profitability, but I thought that before enerplus sold…so how much more might be left in legacy wells? Thanks.
@MadamPickles (from YouTube)
Listener Question #5
Matt,
Enjoyed your course. FYI – I’ve struggled with getting a Oil & Gas Accountant (CPA) and Bookkeeper.
I’m involved in both non-op working interest and royalty interests (owning minerals).
Could you share the following:
How to find bookkeeper? Check out bookkeeper?
How to find oil & gas CPA? How to screen, check out CPA?
What to look for in year-end bookkeeping?
In filing taxes
What forms are needed? Form 1040, Form 1065, etc
Worksheets?
Checklist to ensure Taxes are prepared correctly?
If you have already covered these topics, please let me know which podcast this was covered in?
Thanks!
Tom
Listener Question #6
Dear Matt,
I am grateful for your podcast! My wife and I are mineral royalty owners with 2 vertical wells in Howard County, Texas. We are using the Enverus EnergyLink app and can see that the operator is actively drilling 5 horizontal wells on our property. This is exciting! Perhaps other royalty owners need guidance like we do.
I have attached a photo of what we are looking at. We have watched the rig move to 3 of the 5 graphed lines in the past 4-5 weeks. In an upcoming episode, can you interpret what this graphic shows?
Thank you,
Mark
Listener Question #7
Hi Matt, Is there a way to find out which relative left oil royalties for which payments were being made and then stopped. We have the section, township, and range numbers? How do we begin our research here in Oklahoma? Thanks
National Association of Royalty Owners (For a limited time, use coupon code “MRPODCAST” for $25 off an Introductory Membership. Good only for first-time members).
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