Participation is a great deal sometimes. I wish I had the cash to participate in the wells on my own property. Participation should be on a case by case basis. When you say low risk, are you saying low risk of finding something to produce that will actually turn a profit or just low risk in which you may find something in commercially producable quantity so you would at least get part of your money back? There is a difference. Beware offers to invest directly in a well, if the prospects were that good they could probably find the money from someone in the industry, old friends and partners and not need the new blood. While gas wells may be a good deal, and gas isn't totally in the tank at the moment and has a bright future, I would be looking to invest in primarily oil wells for the next few years, if I had the cash. Lastly, I would stay out of investing until it was myself making the determination that an investment was low risk, if you aren't qualified to make that determination, you could burn a lot of money taking someone's word for it. Those are my thoughts, for what it's worth.