There are a number of States with oil and gas production, but the primary States are listed below. A link to the agency or group in the State that is responsible for oversight of the oil and gas industry in each State is also listed. You can use this information to find out the operator of an oil and gas property based on the legal description of the property. The legal description can be found on property tax records, deeds, assignments or other similar documents.
Unclaimed Oil and Gas Properties
Unclaimed property revenue from suspended oil and gas properties is most often found when going through the papers of a deceased family member. Another opportunity comes from reviewing old investments.
Mineral Interests
Mineral interests, such as the rights to oil and gas production, are capable of being separated from the surface land areas. That means, even though you, or your family no longer own the surface rights to a piece of property, the mineral rights, if previously separated, may still be owned.
CLAIMING TIP—Searching for oil and gas suspended revenue and mineral interests, outside the amounts already held in unclaimed property accounts, is more involved than other types of property. It is suggested that once you have found a potential property, you ask for assistance in development of the information. Contact us for assistance.
Finding lost mineral owners would be a time consuming process for oil and gas companies and could damage the rights of those owners that are known and the ability to get drilling operations started.
The search for “pooling” and other oil and gas records is more complicated than the usual search for unclaimed property.
We are experienced in these type of searches, contact us for assistance.
Links to Primary Oil and Gas Producing States:
Arkansas – www.aogc.state.ar.us
California –www.conservation.ca.gov
Colorado –www.cogcc.state.co.us
Kansas –www.kcc.state.ks.us
Louisiana –www.dnr.louisiana.gov
Mississippi – www.ogb.state.ms.us
Montana –www.bogc.dnrc.mt.gov
New Mexico – www.emnrd.state.nm.us
North Dakota – www.dmr.nd.gov
Ohio – www.oilandgas.ohiodnr.gov
Oklahoma – www.occeweb.com
Pennsylvania – www.depweb.state.pa.us
Texas – www.rrc.texas.gov
West Virginia – www.dep.wv.gov
Wyoming – www.wogcc.state.wy.us
CLAIMING TIP—Other type minerals and resources tied to property ownership have potential for being held as unclaimed property, but are not as significant an opportunity. Contact us if you would like to discuss a specific situation.