Mineral Management Books
Knowledge is power – use it to maximize your oil and gas royalties and mineral rights
Sell Your Mineral Rights (Request an Offer):
One of the First
Why Learn How to Manage Your Mineral Rights?
There are generally three types of mineral owners:
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- Those who are were well-trained by a previous generation of experienced mineral managers
- Those who inherited minerals and are “drinking from a firehose” as they learn about managing mineral rights
- Those who passively manage their minerals not knowing much about what they own and, as a result, may be leaving money on the table.
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Don’t be that third mineral owner! Owning the country’s natural resources is a really special thing. After all, the United States is the only country whose citizens own a majority of the mineral rights.
If you’ve just inherited mineral rights (or are just now taking an interest), these are the quickest ways to get up to speed on managing your mineral rights:
- Join NARO and attend a conference
- Join the Mineral Rights Forum – it’s full of helpful and knowledgeable people who are usually happy to answer questions.
- Read books about mineral management.
The following books are about the oil and gas industry or about managing mineral rights. They are tremendously helpful, both to new and experienced mineral owners.
Want to know about mineral management? We have a guide for that, along with a free mineral management spreadsheet. The spreadsheet is now a Google Doc and has been updated for 2025.
A Good Overview
NARO’s CMM Review Guide
This is the workbook for the Certified Mineral Management (CMM) Review Course. This manual offers practice exams and a comprehensive review of the material. It will prepare CMM candidates to take exams 1, 2, and 3.
There are two mineral management paths (source: NARO):
Associate – Associate Level Certification is designed for the individual who wishes to increase his/her base of knowledge in managing personal or family mineral properties. The individual may not receive monetary compensation except for managing personal or family mineral interests.
Professional – Professional Level Certification is designed for the individual who is currently or plans to be involved in any aspect of managing, administering, or developing oil and gas properties. Trust officers, landmen, mineral buyers, and attorneys can benefit from this level.
A Deeper Dive
Oil and Gas Law in a Nutshell
Oil and Gas Law in a Nutshell provides authoritative coverage of the legal rules that govern the development of privately owned mineral rights, which often also apply to government-owned resources. It covers topics such as the nature, protection, and conveyance of oil and gas rights, leasing, and taxation. It’s a great resource and would benefit anyone studying for NARO’s Certified Mineral Management (CMM) certification.
A Story from History
Spindletop Gusher: The Story of the Texas Oil Boom
The Spindletop Gusher is a short book that tells the story of the first Texas oil wells and how they changed the world. It’s appropriate for both children and adults.
The Shale Boom
The Quest: Energy, Security, and the Remaking of the Modern World
A master storyteller as well as a leading energy expert, Daniel Yergin continues the riveting story begun in his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, The Prize. In The Quest, Yergin shows us how energy is an engine of global political and economic change and conflict, in a story that spans the energies on which our civilization has been built and the new energies that are competing to replace them.
The Quest tells the inside stories, tackles the tough questions, and reveals surprising insights about coal, electricity, and natural gas. He explains how climate change became a great issue and leads readers through the rebirth of renewable energies, energy independence, and the return of the electric car. Epic in scope and never more timely, The Quest vividly reveals the decisions, technologies, and individuals that are shaping our future.
An Older Classic
Look Before You Lease
“Look Before You Lease” reviews the basics of leasing from the small mineral owner’s perspective. It was written by former NARO Chairman and founder Jim Stafford. This book pre-dates the fracking boom so it feels a bit out of date, but the material is still relevant.
Reviving Oil & Gas Exploration
The Shale Boom
How Fracking Ignited the American Energy Revolution and Changed the World
A definitive narrative history, The Boom follows the twists and turns in the development and adoption of this radical technology. It is a thrilling journey filled with colorful characters: the green-minded Texas oilman who created the first modern frack; a bare-knuckled Oklahoman natural gas empire-builder who gave the world an enormous new supply of energy and was brought down by his own success and excesses; an environmental leader whose embrace of fracking brought an end to his public career; and an aging fracking pioneer who is now trying to save the industry from itself.
Nationally Focused
Where We Buy Mineral Rights
We buy both producing and non-producing minerals in all oil and gas states. However, we are especially interested in Texas and Kansas mineral rights.
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We even buy minerals in more obscure states, which produce very little oil and gas compared to other states.
How We Value Mineral Rights
There are many factors that play into the value of mineral rights. These include location, producing vs. non-producing properties, current oil and gas prices, well production figures, lease terms, and even the operator of the well or wells. We also look at the risks of buying and owning minerals that you are interested in selling.
Location
Minerals in the hottest shale plays are more valuable than those in older fields with conventional wells.
Producing vs. Non-Producing
Producing minerals are often worth more than non-producing minerals because they are generating revenue.
Oil & Gas Prices
When oil and gas prices drop, revenue drops, and sometimes operators are unable to continue operating the well.
Production
Highly productive wells (and off-set wells) can increase the value of your minerals.
Lease Terms
Favorable lease terms (such as a 25% royalty reservation) positively impact the value of the leased minerals.
Operator
A small number of operators are unethical, and their reputation automatically devalues your minerals.
Why Sell?
Why People Sell Their Mineral Rights
I am putting my affairs in order. I don’t want to burden my kids with the hassle of transferring ownership and managing small mineral rights. When my sister passed away, my niece and nephew had to hire an attorney to help them with the minerals. I don’t want my kids to go through that.
I inherited my mineral rights so they were sentimental, but I don’t really want to bother with managing them and filing extra tax returns. I decided to sell and use the money as a down payment on my house.
I had no idea how fast the oil production would decline. My checks are only 20% of what they were a few years ago. I should have sold my mineral rights when the wells were brand new and still generating huge royalties.
My oil wells have been producing for decades and the reserves are almost depleted. Once the wells are plugged, the value will be significantly lower. I’d rather cash out now.
I inherited mineral rights, but don’t want to be involved with fracking and fossil fuels. I would prefer to support renewable energy and do my part to reverse climate change.