Sell Your Mineral Rights in Burke County, ND
If you own mineral rights in Burke County, you're sitting on acreage in the Williston Basin — one of the most proven oil-producing regions in North America. Activity here is real but measured, and what your rights are worth depends heavily on where exactly your acres sit relative to active development. Let's walk you through what's happening on the ground right now.
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 Going On in Burke County Right Now
Burke County sits in the northwestern corner of North Dakota, bordering Saskatchewan, and it's part of the Williston Basin's legitimate oil-producing territory — but it's not the most drilled-up part of the Bakken play. Drilling activity here tends to be more selective than in neighboring Mountrail or McKenzie counties, which means your acreage value depends a lot on proximity to existing production and whether an operator has shown interest in your specific township. That said, operators like Liberty Resources have been specifically active acquiring and developing acreage in Burke County, which is a meaningful signal of ongoing interest. If you've received an offer recently, that's worth taking seriously — but it also means you should know what your rights are actually worth before you sign anything.
Burke County by the Numbers
~180
producing wells (approximate)
Estimated Active Wells
$500 – $2,500
per net mineral acre (estimated, location-dependent)
Estimated Value Range per Acre
Oil
with associated natural gas
Primary Commodity
9,000 – 11,000
feet (Bakken / Three Forks)
Dominant Formation Depth
Bowbells
nearest larger city: Minot, ND (~70 miles SE)
County Seat
Who's Operating in Burke County
Liberty Resources Acquisition Corp
PrivateOasis Petroleum
OASEOG Resources
EOGWhiting Petroleum
WLLContinental Resources
CLRWhat's in the Ground
Bakken Shale
The primary target across Burke County. The Middle Bakken member is a tight oil reservoir that requires horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing to produce. Well results here are real but generally trail the prolific core of the play farther southeast. That said, improved completion techniques have made previously marginal acreage more economic.
Three Forks
Directly below the Bakken, the Three Forks formation adds a second productive bench on the same acreage. Operators in Burke County have increasingly targeted it as a stacked-pay opportunity, meaning your mineral acres may have value in more than one formation even if you've only seen one well drilled.
Mission Canyon
A deeper carbonate formation that was the original target of early Williston Basin exploration in the mid-20th century. Some legacy production exists in Burke County from this zone. It's not the primary driver of value today, but it's worth knowing it's part of the stratigraphic column beneath your acres.
What to Know About Burke County
Records Are Filed in Bowbells
The Burke County Recorder's office is located in Bowbells, the county seat. Deeds, leases, assignments, and division orders affecting your mineral rights are all filed there. If you've inherited minerals and aren't sure exactly what you own, a title search through the Bowbells courthouse is the right starting point.
North Dakota Follows Proportionate Reduction
If you own a fractional interest in a mineral tract, your royalty payments will be proportionately reduced to match your actual ownership. This is standard in ND but trips up a lot of heirs who assume they're receiving payment on the full tract.
Forced Pooling Applies Here
North Dakota's Industrial Commission can pool unleased mineral owners into a drilling unit without their consent. If you haven't signed a lease and a well has been drilled near your acres, you may already be a participating or non-participating owner without knowing it. Check your mail from operators carefully.
Burke County Is Lightly Drilled Relative to Core Bakken Areas
The northwestern location of Burke County means it's not in the densest part of the Bakken fairway. Values per acre tend to be lower here than in McKenzie or Dunn counties, but acreage near active Liberty Resources or Oasis units can still command meaningful prices — especially if it's in a spacing unit with a recent permit.
Questions We Hear From Burke County Owners
I got an offer from Liberty Resources — is that a good sign?
My family inherited these rights decades ago. Are they worth anything if there's no well on our section?
How is Burke County different from Mountrail or Williams County, which I keep hearing about?
Find Out What Your Burke County Mineral Rights Are Worth
Whether you've had an offer, just inherited these rights, or you've been sitting on them for years without knowing their value — the first step is a free, no-pressure conversation. We know Burke County, we know the Bakken, and we'll give you a straight answer about what you have.
Get My Free ValuationOther Bakken Shale / Williston Basin Counties
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