Sell Your Mineral Rights in Sheridan County, MT
If you own mineral rights in Sheridan County, Montana, you're on the northwestern fringe of the Williston Basin — real Bakken country, though activity here is more measured than the core North Dakota development to the east. Values vary meaningfully depending on where your acres sit, and getting an honest read on that is worth doing before you respond to any offer.
Est. per Acre
$200–$1,200
per net royalty acre
Active Wells
85+
Drilling Activity
Core Basin
Williston Basin
Primary Formation
Primary Resource
Oil
Commodity Type
What's Actually Happening in Sheridan County Right Now
Sheridan County sits in the far northeastern corner of Montana, and while it's firmly inside the Williston Basin, it occupies the western and shallower edge of Bakken production compared to the prolific Mountrail or McKenzie County core in North Dakota. Plentiful historical production has come from the Madison formation and shallower zones, and horizontal Bakken and Three Forks development has expanded here, though well density remains lower than across the border. If you've received an offer recently, it's likely from a company trying to consolidate acreage ahead of a possible drilling unit — that's a real signal worth paying attention to. Before you sign anything, it's worth understanding exactly where your minerals fall relative to existing production and permitted locations.
Sheridan County Mineral Rights by the Numbers
$200 – $1,200
estimate, varies by proximity to production
Estimated Value Range Per Acre
~85
county-wide, per MBOG records
Active and Completed Horizontal Wells
8,000 – 10,500
feet — shallower than ND core
Primary Target Depth (Bakken)
Oil
with associated gas
Primary Commodity
Madison Limestone
conventional production predates Bakken boom
Dominant Historical Formation
Who's Operating in Sheridan County
EOG Resources
EOGConocoPhillips (Burlington Resources)
COPSlawson Exploration
PrivateFidelity Exploration & Production (MDU Resources)
MDUWhat's in the Ground
Bakken Shale
The primary horizontal target driving modern lease activity in Sheridan County. The formation is present and productive here, though it runs shallower and with somewhat lower pressure than the North Dakota core. That means lower initial production rates on average, but real wells are producing real oil.
Three Forks
The bench immediately below the Bakken and an important secondary target. Operators will sometimes stack laterals across both Bakken and Three Forks within a single spacing unit, which can significantly increase the value of acres with good geologic position.
Madison Limestone
A conventional carbonate formation that has produced oil in Sheridan County for decades — long before horizontal drilling arrived. Some older producing properties still carry Madison royalty income. It's a meaningful part of the county's production history and occasionally still targeted in workovers.
What to Know About Sheridan County
County Seat and Where Records Are Filed
Sheridan County's county seat is Plentywood — a small agricultural community about 35 miles south of the Canadian border. Mineral deeds, leases, and assignments are recorded at the Sheridan County Clerk and Recorder's office in Plentywood. If you've inherited minerals here and need to trace title, that's your starting point. Abstract companies serving Plentywood can pull a chain of title relatively quickly given the lower transaction volume compared to busier basin counties.
Montana Follows the Severed Mineral Estate Rule
In Montana, mineral rights can be — and very commonly are — severed from surface ownership. If your family farmed this land generations ago, it's entirely possible the minerals were reserved when the surface was sold. Ownership can be split multiple ways after inheritances, so it's worth verifying exactly what fraction you own before assuming.
Montana Board of Oil and Gas (MBOG) Governs Drilling
Unlike North Dakota's Industrial Commission, Montana's drilling rules and spacing orders are managed by the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation in Billings. Spacing units in Sheridan County are typically 1,280 acres for horizontal Bakken wells. If your minerals are inside an active spacing unit, you're entitled to a proportional royalty whether you signed a lease or not — Montana's forced pooling rules apply.
Royalty Rates and Lease Terms
Standard lease royalties in Sheridan County have typically ranged from 18% to 20% for modern horizontal leases, though older leases may show 12.5% (one-eighth) rates from prior decades. If you're being approached for a new lease, the royalty rate and post-production deductions clause are the two things to scrutinize most carefully.
Questions We Hear From Sheridan County Owners
I got an offer letter from a company I've never heard of. Should I be worried?
My minerals are in the northwestern part of the county — are those worth less?
My family has owned these minerals since the 1950s and there's never been a well. Does that mean they're worthless?
Find Out What Your Sheridan County Minerals Are Actually Worth
Whether you've had an offer land in your mailbox or you've just started wondering what you have, the first step is a conversation — no pressure, no obligation. We'll look at your specific section, what's happening around it, and give you a straight answer on value. That's it.
Get My Free ValuationOther Powder River Basin Counties
Selling Mineral Rights in Montana: Research & Guides
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Mineral Rights
Selling mineral rights for the first time is full of costly traps — from accepting low offers to misunderstanding what y…
Read article →How Long Does It Take to Sell Mineral Rights?
Selling mineral rights can take anywhere from two weeks to over a year, depending on how you sell and the condition of y…
Read article →Should You Sell or Lease Your Mineral Rights?
This article breaks down the real financial and tax differences between selling your mineral rights outright and leasing…
Read article →Get a Free Offer for Your Sheridan County Mineral Rights
No obligation. No commissions. We respond within one business day.