Hi, newbie here. My family was recently contacted by a Landman who has made us an offer on a 2% Working Interest of oil and gas that was owned by my parents, both deceased for many years. Here is the location: Section 3, Block 35, T-3-N, T&P Ry. Co. Survey, Dawson and Martin Counties, Texas. We didn’t know about this and thought everything had been sold when my mother died more than 20 years ago. The Landman told us the working interest has not produced anything and is for 200 feet below the Sprayberry Dean wells. Everything to 200 ft was sold after my mother died. I’m really new to all this and wondering if we should accept the offer or do some more research to see if it’s worth anything. Does anyone know of any companies that are going to drill deeper than 200 ft in this area? Or can direct me to a professional who can advise us as to the value of what we own and if this is a good offer. Thank you so much.
You have a few issues here. First, you have to determine the actual rights for the subject WI. 200’ below the Sprayberry is the issue and not below 200’.
2nd, Diamondback has spudded horizontal wells that are next to your section. You should contact Diamondback for more information before making any decisions.
If you believe there is sufficient value, I can put you in touch with an attorney in Midland to help you with the process.
Thank you for your reply. I understood it to mean the WI is anything below 200 ft. I’m not sure what you mean by " 200’ below the Sprayberry is the issue and not below 200’." Can you explain further?
The Dean formation is roughly 8800’ deep there. So basically sounds like you have a 2% WI (in some amount of acreage) in any wells that would produce from formations below 9000’.
200’ below the Dean. That would get you Wolf B wells for sure, and most likely some Wolf A wells. 2% of WHAT? All of Section 3?
Just “anything deeper than 200’ below the surface” is not going to be the case as anything ever is going to be way deeper than that.
It’s a WI in 2% of all of Sec 3, 640 acres, 200’ below the Sprayberry wells. The Landman is valuing it at $500 per acre. Is this low?
You should research origin of the WI. Did your parent(s) take a lease from a mineral owner and what was the royalty rate? Many of the old leases were at 1/8 to 3/16th. Or was it an assignment from another WI? Consider an assignment (sale), but reserve on overriding royalty of the difference between 25% and the existing royalty and overrides. That adds considerably to the value.
One thing to take into consideration is that once horizontals wells are drilled you will owe the operator 2% of the cost of each well drilled. WI is a great asset if you have the capital to participate.
There is a non-zero chance that we are not talking about the same thing here.
How much in total is the Landman offering you? If he’s offering you $320k because you have some 2% WI across all of these 640 acres, well then go nuts. Take that and hasta. If he’s offering you $6.4k because you own the minerals or have a lease in 2% of the section (i.e. 12.8 acres) then do not go nuts.
The WI was an assignment from Adobe Oil and Gas.
He’s offering $6.4K for 2% WI across all of the 640 acres. So you’re saying that’s too low?
Thank you James_Garner1. I have confirmed it’s 200’ below the Sprayberry. I’ve contacted Diamondback. I would be interested in the attorney’s name. Thanks for your help.
Rick Strange at the Hamm Law Group in Midland. Good luck.
Yes. IMO that is too low.