Russell County Mineral Rights
We buy oil and gas royalties and mineral rights in Kansas and throughout the United States.
Sell Your Mineral Rights (Request an Offer):
Russell County, Kansas
A brief overview of oil and gas activity
Russell County is located on the edge of Western Kansas and ranks as the seventh most prolific oil-producing county in Kansas. Parts of the county contain oil fields while others are completely dry.
Russell County’s wells are conventional vertical wells, and many were plugged long ago as wells extracted all of the recoverable oil. Most wells in Kansas are stripper wells, meaning they produce less than 15 barrels of oil or less than 90 MCF of gas per day. By contrast, many horizontal wells in Texas and Oklahoma produce north of 500 barrels per day.
Striper wells have their place in our energy mix. They make up 7.4% of US oil production. Stripper wells also disproportionally contribute to methane emissions which hurt the environment. The current administration is attempting to curtail methane emissions, putting financial stress on small operators and may make many stripper wells uneconomical. Once a well is uneconomical, it is plugged, and mineral owners no longer receive royalty payments.
Kansas oil wells account for 1.1% of US oil production and 0.5% of US gas production (source: ShaleXP).
A Brief History of Oil & Gas Development
in Haskell County, Kansas
In 1923, the “Lucky Seven” drilled the Oswald No 1 well on the farm of Carrie Oswald in Section 8, Township 12 South, Range 15 West, Russell County, Kansas. It produced until 2006 and then was shut-in. This area some incredibly successful wells, that have produced for many decades (albeit very little by comparison).
The discovery of the Oswald No 1 well sparked a drilling frenzy that lasted through the 1940’s. Most of the Russell County oil and been extracted and many of these older wells have been plugged. There are very few new wells in Russell County, but older wells are lasting a bit longer, thanks to waterflooding and carbon dioxide enhanced recovery techniques.
Modern Oil & Gas Drilling
Russell County ranks #7 in oil production in Kansas and #222 nationally. The top operators include Berexco, Mai Oil, Murfin, Petroleum Property Services, John O Farmer, Fossil Creek, GLM, Vess Oil, and others. Some mineral owners receive checks from the operators while others receive royalty checks from purchasors such as CHS, Central Crude, or CVR.
The typical well in Kansas produces less than 15 barrels of oil per day. By contrast, many counties in Texas have wells that produce more than 500 barrels of oil per day.
It’s really easy to see why Kansas sees very little new oil and gas development these days. Today’s oil and gas exploration companies are more interested in drilling in the shale basins where fracked horizontal wells generate vast amounts of oil and gas.
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.
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.
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.