MRP 324: Listener Questions March 2026

You are currently viewing MRP 324: Listener Questions March 2026

MRP 324: Listener Questions March 2026

In this episode, we answer questions submitted by Greg, James, Greg, Sarah, George, Deborah, and Martha. From Drilled Un-Completed (DUC) wells that seem stalled to inheriting assets you don’t fully understand, from IRS estate appraisals to updating an address on a deed, this episode highlights why the details always matter and why knowing the right next step can save you time, money, and stress. Whether you’re dealing with one of these issues right now or just want to be prepared when you do, there’s something in this episode for every mineral owner.

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!

The sponsor for this episode is SS&C MineralWare:

MineralWare is the leading asset management platform trusted by thousands of mineral rights owners for managing minerals, royalties, and non-operated working interests. Know in seconds where your leases are, what’s active, what acreage is open for lease, and if you are getting paid what you’re owed. See a demo today by visiting mineralware.com.

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Listener Question #1

We have two producing wells in LaSalle county,Texas. EOG is the operator. They spudded in three more wells two years ago but haven’t drilled. Are they waiting for prices to go up? 

Greg

Listener Question #2

If I have five natural gas Wells that are caped off why would a gas company still pay me realities?

James

Listener Question #3

My father was an engineer who invested in mineral rights, then passed away January 2024.  With his passing went all the knowledge of the details of these assets and the knowledge and guidance of what to do with them. 

My mother now has mineral rights assets, and she and I do not understand what we own, how much the assets are worth, and what to do with them.  We’re getting offers on a regular basis that seem grossly undervalued compared to the payouts they are giving.  Another pain point is that she has to pay property taxes on some of the assets and we don’t really understand this.

I’m hoping for a little advice – perhaps a particular episode of your podcast, or any other very basic information; perhaps a very basic book on mineral rights 101.  

Greg

Listener Question #4

Hello! I am working with some folks who have a significant # of deeds with an address that will be changing.

Would love to hear if you had a podcast that discusses best practice for this? Do you only change (the address of) unleased (properties)?

Is there a standard form that can be filed with counties?

It will be fairly straightforward to contact the operators, but wondering if you had more information or guidance on the actual address on a deed being outdated.

Thanks and look forward to hearing from you.

Best,

Sarah

Listener Question #5

Dear Matt,

It’s been awhile since we had emailed last year.  You are a busy man with all your activities on top of the podcast schedule for sure.  So I thank you for taking your time to answer my original question.  Well since then my mother has recently passed away at the age of 90.    Now I am in the position of trying sort out her estate and to get an appraisal for the probate court and IRS of her. (There) is a producing well that I believe was originally leased …  in 1974.  The records I have found indicate a horizontal well was drilled in 2016 … This well is probably at its end of life or mature stage as the royalties have steadily fallen off over the years.  I have had an attorney, … record the transfer of deeds with Kingfisher County Clerk into my family trust.  I am trying to get the division order analyst to change title on their end but it has been a couple of months since original request.  They did originally email a response to me regarding my request to confirm they were in receipt of the requested documents, but I have had no other contact since. 

I have listened to several of your podcasts regarding appraisals.  It appears the cost of a formal appraisal by a geologist or petroleum engineer is more than the well produces in a year.  I do realize this is the best way … to satisfy the IRS.

What I was hoping to discuss with you is the most economical way to do an appraisal that would satisfy the IRS. 

In my research I have come across some alternative valuation scenarios but I don’t know if they would satisfy the IRS, which is what I need to do.  One way was to use a bonafied offer to support the value. 

Another method I found was in regard to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.  This method had to do with when valuing an estate for an application of Medicaid before entering assisted living.  In that case the website indicated they use a formula of 3 times the annual royalties (I don’t know if it is calendar year or rolling as of D.O.D.)…

I really need to join NARO and sign up for some webinar’s to learn how to interpret the royalties invoices.  Sometimes it appears the charges for plant products and residual gas offset each other so much they net zero.  But that’s another subject.   Maybe when I get the estate behind me I will be able to do that or hire someone to go over the statements.  

Thank you for any help or insight you can provide and thank you for the informative podcast!

Yours truly,

George

Listener Question #6

How do I get a deed and title for our inherited mineral rights in Eddy County NM?  They provided a deed of distribution.  Do we need a deed to get clear title to sell?

Deborah

Listener Question #7

We have gotten royalty checks from Antero Resources. 

Now we need deeds. The County Clerk gave me the name of three attorneys that do title searches. None have responded. 

Martha

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Mineral Rights Education

Valuing Mineral Rights

Taxes

How to Make Sure You are Getting Paid Correctly

Inheritance

Mineral Rights Research

Thanks for Listening!

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Thanks again – until next time!

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