Hi Folks!
This is in Oklahoma in Creek county.
My parents have died within the last 4 years, and my sister and I are heirs to some oil well interests that were still producing as of a few months ago. My mother, who was our last living parent, died about a year ago. As we were working through the estate, we got to a point where we were attempting to contact the person who owned the well. Its a smaller mom-and-pop type place.
We have not been able to get in contact with him at all. Our attorney has someone in the area that is looking for him, to no avail. I have tried the listed phone numbers and left voicemails with no callback or response. I find it highly unlikely that he does not know that my mother has passed, so we are confused as to why he’s potentially avoiding us.
So what’s the next step? How do we get this moving? As I said, they are still producing, and he probably owes us 10s of thousands of dollars.
Thanks for any help!
Condolences on the passing of your parents. If you list the name of the well and the section, township and range, the forum can help with the production activity. It is possible that the operator from several years ago has sold the well and there is a different operator. Have you also checked with Unclaimed Funds with the OK treasurers office? (or the state in which your mom lived). Have you tried sending a certified letter return receipt requesting a change in payment status for the new heirs. Most operators do not have the time or the personnel to track down deaths of their mineral owners. Unlikely that he knows about her death.
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Thanks for the tips!
I have already looked up the wells, they were still producing as of a few months ago. I have checked with both OK tresurers office and the TX unclaimed funds, and nothing was found. The assisted living center she was staying at was returning the mail, so I don’t know how he doesn’t know something is up. He has a business number, I have left multiple messages with no response.
My parents knew this mineral owner fairly well; he was a good friend of my grandfather. It’s possible he does not know, but I doubt it. I guess we will just have to keep trying.
Try to contact the OCC district field office 918-367-3396. They should be able to provide you with the contact info for the operator and possibly the first purchasers. If they give you the same contact info that you already have, then let them know the operator will not respond to your inquiries. In some cases, an inspector may help you get in contact with the operator. Good luck.
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