Sell Your Mineral Rights in Burke County, ND
If you own mineral rights in Burke County, North Dakota, you're sitting on acreage in the Williston Basin — one of the most productive oil-bearing regions in the United States. With over 2,100 producing wells and established operators like Continental Resources and EOG Resources active here, this is real, working acreage worth understanding before you make any decisions. Whether you've just received an offer or are trying to figure out what you inherited, we can help you get a clear picture of what your rights are actually worth.
Est. per Acre
$500–$2,500
per net royalty acre
Active Wells
2,100+
Drilling Activity
Core Basin
Williston Basin
Primary Formation
Primary Resource
Oil
Commodity Type
What's Happening With Mineral Rights in Burke County Right Now
Burke County sits in the heart of North Dakota's Bakken oil country, and the development here is genuine — over 2,100 producing wells and a roster of serious operators including Continental Resources, EOG Resources, and Oasis Petroleum. That said, Burke County is a quieter corner of the Williston Basin compared to some of its neighbors to the south and east, which means values can vary significantly depending on exactly where your acreage sits and whether an operator has active plans nearby. If you've gotten an unsolicited offer from an operator or landman, that's a signal someone sees value in your specific location — and you should understand what you have before you respond. The good news is that with this level of established production around Bowbells and Powers Lake, your rights are almost certainly worth a real conversation.
Burke County by the Numbers
2,100
wells
Producing Wells
471,800
BBL
Cumulative Oil Production
715,900
MCF
Cumulative Gas Production
$500 – $2,500
per acre
Estimated Value Range (per acre, estimate only)
Oil
Primary Commodity
Who's Operating in Burke County
Continental Resources, Inc.
CLREOG Resources, Inc.
EOGOasis Petroleum North America LLC
OASHunt Oil Company
Lime Rock Resources III-A, L.P.
Formentera Operations, LLC
What's in the Ground
Bakken Shale
The Bakken is the primary target formation across Burke County and the broader Williston Basin. It's a tight oil formation that became economically viable with the spread of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. When operators are eyeing your acreage, the Bakken is almost certainly what they're after.
Three Forks
The Three Forks sits just below the Bakken and is often developed in tandem with it. On the right acreage, operators will run multiple horizontal laterals stacked through both formations, which can meaningfully increase the value of your mineral rights if your land sits in a productive area.
Questions We Hear From Burke County Owners
I got an offer from an operator near Bowbells. Should I just take it?
Burke County feels like a small, rural county. Does that mean my mineral rights aren't worth much?
I inherited these mineral rights and have never received a royalty check. Does that mean nothing is producing under my land?
What to Know About Burke County
County Seat and Records
Burke County's county seat is Bowbells, where you'll find land and title records for the county. If you're researching your ownership history or need to verify legal descriptions, that's your starting point. Powers Lake is the largest city in the county, but Bowbells is where county government functions are based.
North Dakota Mineral Rights Are Severed Property
In North Dakota, mineral rights can be — and often are — severed from surface rights. If you inherited or purchased land here, you may own the surface without owning what's below it, or vice versa. Always verify exactly what you own before assuming.
North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC) Oversight
The NDIC regulates oil and gas production in Burke County. Their public GIS and well data tools let you look up producing wells near your acreage, check operator activity, and review production history. It's publicly available and a useful first step in understanding your situation.
Royalty Rates in North Dakota
Royalty rates in North Dakota Bakken leases typically range from 1/8 (12.5%) to 1/5 (20%) or higher for well-positioned owners who negotiate. The rate locked in at signing matters a great deal over the life of a producing well, so don't sign a lease without understanding what's standard in today's market.
How a Sale Works
Outright Sale
You sell your mineral rights — all of them — for a lump sum. You walk away with cash now and no future involvement. This works well for owners who want certainty, need liquidity, or simply don't want to manage the asset anymore. The tradeoff is that if a big well gets drilled later, you won't see any of that upside.
Partial Sale
You sell a portion of your mineral interest and keep the rest. This lets you take some money off the table while maintaining a stake in future production. It's a reasonable middle ground for owners who want current value but aren't ready to let go entirely.
Lease (Operator Agreement)
If an operator approaches you, they may be offering a lease rather than a purchase. You receive a bonus payment upfront and royalties if and when a well produces. You keep ownership of the mineral rights. The risk is that you're locked in at whatever rate you sign — and leases can last for years before a well is ever drilled.
Do Nothing
A legitimate choice. If you're not under any pressure and your rights aren't currently leased, you can wait and see how development in Burke County evolves. The downside is that values and interest from buyers can shift with oil prices and operator priorities. Staying informed costs you nothing.
Find Out What Your Burke County Mineral Rights Are Worth
You don't need to figure this out on your own. Whether you've just received an offer, inherited rights you've never looked into, or are simply curious what the market looks like right now — a free, no-pressure conversation is the right first step. We'll look at your specific acreage, what's producing nearby, and give you an honest read on what you have.
Get My Free ValuationData Sources
Production and operator figures for Burke 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
Burke County is part of the Williston Basin (Bakken). See the full basin overview, operators, and counties we serve.
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