Sell Your Mineral Rights in Burke County County, ND
If you own mineral rights in Burke County, North Dakota, you're sitting on acreage in the heart of the Williston Basin — one of the most productive oil-bearing regions in the United States. Activity here is real, Bakken development continues, and your rights may be worth more than you think. Let's figure out exactly what you have.
Est. per Acre
$500–$2,500
per net royalty acre
Active Wells
180+
Drilling Activity
Core Basin
Williston Basin
Primary Formation
Primary Resource
Oil
Commodity Type
What's Actually Happening in Burke County Right Now
Burke County sits in the northwestern corner of North Dakota, squarely within the Williston Basin, and it has seen meaningful Bakken and Three Forks development over the past decade. It's not the most drilled county in the play — that distinction goes to Mountrail and McKenzie to the south and east — but there are active wells here and operators who continue to evaluate acreage for future development. If you've received an offer from an operator or a mineral buyer, that offer is a data point, not a final answer. Before you sign anything, it's worth understanding what the market actually looks like and whether what you've been offered is in the right range.
Burke County by the Numbers
~180
wells
Estimated Active Wells
$500 – $2,500
per acre (estimate)
Estimated Value Range Per Acre (producing)
9,000 – 11,000
feet
Primary Target Depth
Oil
Primary Commodity
Williston Basin
Primary Basin
Who's Operating in Burke County
Chord Energy
CHRDOasis Petroleum
OASWhiting Petroleum
WLLConocoPhillips
COPKraken Oil & Gas
PrivateWhat's in the Ground
Bakken
The Bakken is the primary target in Burke County and across North Dakota's oil patch. It's a tight shale formation that requires horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing to produce, but when conditions are right, it delivers strong oil volumes. Not every section in Burke County has the same rock quality as the core of the play further south, so location within the county matters quite a bit.
Three Forks
The Three Forks sits just below the Bakken and is often developed as a secondary target on the same well pad. Some operators are stacking Bakken and Three Forks wells together, which can meaningfully increase the value of a given acre if the geology supports it. If your acreage has Three Forks potential, that's worth knowing when you're evaluating any offer.
Madison
The Madison is an older, conventional carbonate formation that has been producing oil in North Dakota since long before the shale era. It's less actively targeted today than the Bakken, but some operators still have Madison interests in Burke County. If you have royalties tied to Madison production, they may be older and more modest, but still real.
How a Sale Works
Outright Sale
You sell all or a portion of your mineral rights for a lump-sum cash payment. You transfer ownership via a mineral deed, and the buyer takes on all future risk and reward. This is the most common transaction and gives you certainty and immediate liquidity.
Royalty Interest Sale
If you're already receiving royalty checks from a producing well, you can sell just the royalty stream — either entirely or as a percentage — while retaining some ownership of the underlying minerals. Buyers will typically pay a multiple of your annual royalty income.
Partial Sale
You don't have to sell everything. Many owners sell a portion of their acreage or royalty interest to access cash now while keeping upside on the remainder. This is a reasonable approach if you're uncertain about future development potential in your area.
No Sale — Just Information
You don't have to sell at all. Getting a valuation is free and gives you a clearer picture of what you own. Some people find out their rights are more valuable than expected and hold on. Others decide the certainty of a sale makes more sense for their situation. Either outcome is fine.
What to Know About Burke County
North Dakota Mineral Severance
Like most of North Dakota, minerals in Burke County are frequently severed from the surface estate. This means the person who owns the land above may have no claim to what's below, and vice versa. If you inherited mineral rights, it's worth confirming the chain of title to make sure you actually own what you think you own.
Forced Pooling
North Dakota allows operators to force-pool mineral owners into a drilling unit even if those owners haven't signed a lease. If you've been pooled without signing a lease, you're participating in the well but on less favorable terms. Understanding your lease status is an important first step.
Dormant Mineral Statutes
North Dakota has laws that can allow surface owners to claim abandoned mineral rights under certain conditions. If your minerals have been inactive for a long period and you haven't taken steps to preserve your ownership, it's worth checking with an attorney to confirm your rights are secure.
Gross Production Tax
North Dakota levies a gross production tax and an oil extraction tax on oil production. These are deducted at the source before you receive royalty payments, so your net royalty check will reflect those deductions. This is normal and not a reason to panic — just something to understand when reading your royalty statements.
Questions We Hear From Burke County Owners
I got an offer from a mineral buyer out of nowhere. Is it legit, and should I take it?
Burke County isn't in the core of the Bakken. Does that mean my minerals aren't worth much?
I inherited these minerals and have never done anything with them. Where do I even start?
Find Out What Your Burke County Minerals Are Worth
Whether you've gotten an offer, inherited mineral rights, or just want to understand what you own, the first step is a free, no-pressure conversation. We'll look at the actual well data around your acreage and give you a straight answer about what it's worth in today's market.
Get My Free ValuationGet a Free Offer for Your Burke County County Mineral Rights
No obligation. No commissions. We respond within one business day.