Sell Your Mineral Rights in Sheridan County, MT
If you own mineral rights in Sheridan County, Montana, you're in Bakken country — one of the most significant oil-producing basins in North America. Activity here is real, with over 1,100 producing wells on record and a roster of a dozen active operators. Before you respond to an offer or make any decisions, it's worth knowing what your acres are actually worth.
Est. per Acre
$50–$400
per net royalty acre
Active Wells
1,100+
Drilling Activity
Core Basin
Bakken Shale / Williston Basin
Primary Formation
Primary Resource
Oil
Commodity Type
What You Should Know Before You Do Anything
Sheridan County sits on the Montana side of the Williston Basin, the same geological system responsible for the North Dakota Bakken boom just across the state line. The county has recorded over 517,000 barrels of cumulative oil production and more than 203,000 MCF of gas from its wells — real numbers that confirm this isn't purely speculative acreage. That said, Sheridan County is more lightly developed than the core Bakken counties in North Dakota, which means per-acre values are more modest here and activity can be uneven depending on where your rights sit. If you've received an offer from an operator, it's worth getting an independent read before you sign anything — operators typically know more about your acreage's near-term potential than you do.
Sheridan County by the Numbers
1,100
wells
Producing Wells (State Regulator Data)
517,148
BBL
Cumulative Oil Production
203,746
MCF
Cumulative Gas Production
$50 – $400
per acre
Estimated Mineral Value Range (per acre, estimate only)
Oil
Primary Commodity
Who's Operating in Sheridan County
Bain Resources, Inc.
Citation Oil & Gas Corp.
Kraken Operating, LLC
Sinclair Oil & Gas Company
Samson Oil And Gas USA, Inc.
Northern Oil Production, Inc.
What's in the Ground
Bakken Shale
The Bakken is the primary target in this part of Montana. It's an oil-bearing shale system that extends from North Dakota into eastern Montana and has been the driver of most Williston Basin development over the past two decades. Sheridan County sits on the western and northern edge of this play, which means well economics can vary significantly depending on the specific location of your acreage.
Three Forks
The Three Forks formation sits just below the Bakken and has become an important secondary target across the Williston Basin. Some operators pursue it as a stacked pay opportunity alongside the Bakken, which can increase the overall value of mineral rights in areas where both formations are productive.
Tyler Formation
The Tyler is a shallower, conventional oil formation that has been produced in eastern Montana for many decades. It's less talked about than the Bakken but is still a legitimate producing horizon in parts of Sheridan County, and older vertical wells targeting this zone account for some of the county's historical production history.
Questions We Hear From Sheridan County Owners
I got an offer from an operator. Is it fair?
Sheridan County isn't the most talked-about part of the Bakken. Does that mean my rights aren't worth much?
I inherited these rights and have never done anything with them. Where do I even start?
What to Know About Sheridan County, Montana
Montana Regulates Mineral Rights Separately from Surface Rights
In Montana, mineral rights and surface rights are frequently severed, meaning the person who owns the land on top may have no ownership of the oil and gas below. If you inherited mineral rights here, you may own the subsurface without owning any surface land — and that's common throughout eastern Montana.
County Records Are in Plentywood
All deed records, mineral title documents, and lease filings for Sheridan County are maintained in Plentywood, the county seat. If you're trying to verify your ownership or trace how rights were passed down, that's your starting point. Montana also maintains oil and gas records at the state level through the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation.
Montana Has Specific Pooling and Spacing Rules
Montana law allows for forced pooling under certain circumstances, which means your mineral rights could be included in a drilling unit even if you haven't signed a lease. Understanding whether your acreage is already in a producing unit — or could be pulled into one — is important before you make any decisions about selling or leasing.
Sheridan County Is Remote — and That Affects the Market
Plentywood is the most remote county seat in Montana, sitting in the far northeastern corner of the state near the Canadian border. That geography means fewer buyers are actively marketing here, which can work in your favor if you work with someone who knows this county and isn't just guessing at values.
How a Sale Works
Outright Sale
You transfer your mineral rights permanently in exchange for a lump-sum payment. This gives you certainty and liquidity today — no more waiting on royalty checks or operator decisions. It's the most common structure for owners who want to simplify their estate or access value now.
Partial Sale
You sell a portion of your interest and retain the rest. This lets you take some money off the table while keeping upside if development activity picks up. It's a good option if you're not sure you want to sell everything but could use some liquidity.
Lease (Retain Ownership)
Instead of selling, you lease your mineral rights to an operator in exchange for a bonus payment and a royalty on production. You keep ownership of the rights long-term. This is worth considering if an operator is actively drilling nearby and you believe production is coming.
Do Nothing — For Now
Sometimes the right move is to wait and watch. If no one is actively drilling near your acreage and you haven't received serious offers, holding your rights costs you nothing and preserves your options. Understanding what you have is still worthwhile, even if you decide not to act yet.
Find Out What Your Sheridan County Mineral Rights Are Worth
Whether you just got an offer, inherited these rights years ago, or are simply trying to understand what you own — the first step is a free, no-pressure conversation. We know this county, we know the Williston Basin, and we'll give you a straight answer about what your acres are realistically worth today.
Get My Free ValuationData Sources
Production and operator figures for Sheridan County are drawn from U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-Year), Wikipedia, and DrillingEdge (state regulator production data). Per-acre values are estimates and not an offer.
Other Williston Basin (Bakken) Counties
Sheridan County is part of the Williston Basin (Bakken). See the full basin overview, operators, and counties we serve.
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