Mineral owners should stay informed about their leasing, selling options
Q: What options are mineral owners faced with in today’s market?
A: As oil and gas activity in the state remains strong, mineral owners are seeing more opportunities related to their mineral interests. Some are being approached about signing new leases, while others are receiving calls and letters about selling their mineral interests. Whether leasing or selling, mineral owners are being presented with options that create certain advantages to an informed mineral owner.
Q: What advantages can leasing provide over selling?
A: The obvious answer is that the mineral owner will get to keep their mineral interest. By signing a new lease, the mineral owner will receive a bonus payment that is calculated based on the number of mineral acres owned, and a royalty on any production occurring during the term of the lease. The bonus and royalty can be negotiated with the lessee, but mineral owners should be aware of the inverse relationship between the two. A higher bonus will offer a lower royalty, whereas a lower bonus will provide for a higher royalty.
Q: What advantages can selling provide over leasing? A: Selling mineral interests presents a financial advantage over leasing. If a mineral owner is financially incentivized, they may feel comfortable selling their interests away to a third party. Much like the bonus payment, mineral owners will receive a price per mineral acre offer to buy from third parties. The difference with selling is that there is a direct correlation between the royalty and purchase price. Minerals with a higher lease royalty will bring in a higher price per acre from potential buyers.
Q: How can a mineral owner decide what is the best option?
A: First, mineral owners should know that they are under no obligation to lease or sell their mineral interests. At the end of the day, each mineral owner will have to assess their specific situation and decide what option is the best for them. They should take their time in making a decision and become fully informed of their options by consulting with experts in the area of evaluating which choice would be most beneficial.