# Surface Damage compensation
**URL:** https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/surface-damage-compensation/88519
**Category:** Oklahoma Mineral Rights
**Created:** [July 11, 2026, 1:58pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/surface-damage-compensation/88519 "2026-07-11T13:58:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Patricia\_J\_Walter](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Patricia_J_Walter)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2026, 1:58pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/surface-damage-compensation/88519/1 "2026-07-11T13:58:13Z")
Does anyone know the current rate per acre for surface damage compensation for a new well in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma?
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### Author:  [@Cordelia](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Cordelia)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2026, 2:04pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/surface-damage-compensation/88519/2 "2026-07-11T14:04:34Z")
Following. I’m in Utah and would like to compare with your area.
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### Author:  [@DonH1](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/DonH1)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2026, 11:00pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/surface-damage-compensation/88519/4 "2026-07-12T23:00:02Z")
In Custer county it’s usually around $10,000 per acre. Another thing to remember is they always mess up more acres than they expect to. And in 20 years nobody takes care of anything so you’re stuck with the mess.
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### Author:  [@Patricia\_J\_Walter](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Patricia_J_Walter)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2026, 2:02am UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/surface-damage-compensation/88519/5 "2026-07-15T02:02:57Z")
Thank you for responding. And thank for the warning. We are negotiating a Surface Damage contract, so hopefully we will end up with land that has been returned to the pre-drilling state. I am sorry your acreage was left in bad shape. About how many acres is a normal horizontal drilling sight? At $10,000 per acre, am I correct that they only pay you for damages for the number of acres the drilling platform will encompass?
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### Author:  [@M\_Barnes](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/M_Barnes)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2026, 1:28pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/surface-damage-compensation/88519/6 "2026-07-15T13:28:03Z")
In Oklahoma, the average surface pad runs about three-five acres for a single well. If there are going to be multiple horizontal wells, that can go up to ten acres because they need extra room for larger fleets of frac crew trucks. During the drilling and completion phase, the area is full of activity and many vehicles. After completion, the pad size is reduced down to about an acre which will remain for the life of production. (The platform itself has a very small footprint. It is the mud pits, trailer and vehicle parking spots that take up the rest of the room. The final Christmas tree(s) or pump jack(s) at completion are also small, but oil tanks and gas separators fill up the smaller acre area.)
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### Author:  [@Patricia\_J\_Walter](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Patricia_J_Walter)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2026, 10:02pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/surface-damage-compensation/88519/7 "2026-07-15T22:02:22Z")
Thank you for the information! The Mud Pits must be from the drilling. These are horizontal wells that will be drilled. How large would a mud pit be and is there anything I need in my Surface Damage contract regarding the waste from drilling, including mud pits?
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### Author:  [@M\_Barnes](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/M_Barnes)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2026, 12:28am UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/surface-damage-compensation/88519/8 "2026-07-16T00:28:55Z")
It would be wise to consult with a surface use attorney about what should be in the surface use agreement. You may be able to find some template wording in the University of Oklahoma or Oklahoma State University leases just to get an idea of what should be included.
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### Author:  [@Patricia\_J\_Walter](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Patricia_J_Walter)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2026, 3:10pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/surface-damage-compensation/88519/9 "2026-07-17T15:10:24Z")
I see surface damages lawyers but not a surface use attorney. Are you allowed to give any recommendations? My cousin said lawyers cost about $800 per hour. Is that correct?
Thank you for your help. I’ve read your posts for the last few years and am thankful for your input.
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### Author:  [@M\_Barnes](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/M_Barnes)
#### Post date: [July 21, 2026, 1:40pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/surface-damage-compensation/88519/10 "2026-07-21T13:40:09Z")
I do not know a surface attorney, but here is a good article from Oklahoma state that has a template for surface use.
See Chapter 2!!
[https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/natural-resources/site-files/docs/petroleum-production-on-agricultural-lands-in-oklahoma.pdf?shem=rimspwouohc](https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/natural-resources/site-files/docs/petroleum-production-on-agricultural-lands-in-oklahoma.pdf?shem=rimspwouohc),
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### Author:  [@Patricia\_J\_Walter](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Patricia_J_Walter)
#### Post date: [July 21, 2026, 7:47pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/surface-damage-compensation/88519/11 "2026-07-21T19:47:01Z")
Thanks for the detailed information! And thank you for your time.
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### Author:  [@system](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [October 9, 2026, 1:58pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/surface-damage-compensation/88519/12 "2026-10-09T13:58:30Z")
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