“Never sell mineral rights as you never know when it will prove to be profitable. After 70 years of not ever seeing an old pumper pump, sitting on property, that now has 2 wells producing. I live in Louisiana and it does become a problem at income tax time when it divides down to almost nothing."
After 70 years of holding on to the minerals, after taxes and still making almost nothing, it seems like the prudent move would be to sell them if you get a good offer? That lump sum of money could have been invested and would end up with more money in the long term. Theres a misconception out there that selling minerals is a bad thing and that mineral companies rake in the money. The number of private equity mineral groups that have gone out of business over the last 10-15 years is shocking due to the prices they were/are paying. There are more mineral owners out there wishing they would have sold at the highest price offer but thought they would have 6-8 wells drilled at high oil and natural gas prices. Then 5 years later, they have 1 well on a sharp decline and the mineral offers and projected income is down 80% and they are kicking themselves, myself included.