Sell Your Mineral Rights in Divide County, ND
If you own mineral rights in Divide County, North Dakota, you're holding acreage in the Williston Basin — one of the most significant oil-producing regions in the United States. With 856 producing wells and operators like Continental Resources and Oasis Petroleum active here, there's real development happening in your backyard. Whether you just got an offer or are simply wondering what you have, the honest answer is: it's worth understanding before you do anything with it.
Est. per Acre
$500–$2,500
per net royalty acre
Active Wells
856+
Drilling Activity
Core Basin
Bakken Shale / Williston Basin
Primary Formation
Primary Resource
Oil
Commodity Type
What's Actually Going On in Divide County Right Now
Divide County sits in the northwestern corner of North Dakota, right in the heart of Bakken country. The county has 856 producing wells and has generated over 1.1 million barrels of cumulative oil production — this is not a speculative play, it's an established producing basin. That said, Divide County is less densely drilled than some central Bakken counties, which means your per-acre values will depend heavily on where exactly your minerals sit and whether there's active or likely future development nearby. If you've received an offer from an operator, that's a signal someone has already done the math on your acreage — and you should too, before you respond.
Divide County by the Numbers
856
wells
Producing Wells
1,110,000
barrels
Cumulative Oil Production
2,000,000
MCF
Cumulative Gas Production
$500 – $2,500
per mineral acre
Estimated Value Range (per acre, estimate only)
Oil
Primary Commodity
Who's Operating in Divide County
Continental Resources, Inc.
CLROasis Petroleum North America LLC
OASPetro-Hunt, L.L.C.
Hunt Oil Company
Murex Petroleum Corporation
Formentera Operations, LLC
What's in the Ground
Bakken Shale
The primary target in Divide County. The Bakken is a tight oil formation drilled with horizontal wells and hydraulic fracturing. It's the reason North Dakota became a top oil-producing state, and it's what most of the 856 wells in this county are targeting.
Three Forks
The Three Forks sits just below the Bakken and is often developed alongside it. Operators will sometimes stack lateral wells across both formations from a single surface location, which can increase the value of mineral acres that see development.
Madison
A deeper carbonate formation that has historically produced oil in the Williston Basin. Less commonly the primary target in today's development environment, but worth noting if your lease language covers all depths.
Questions We Hear From Divide County Owners
I got an offer from an operator in Divide County. Is it a fair price?
Divide County is pretty rural. Does that affect what my minerals are worth?
I inherited these minerals and have never received a royalty check. What does that mean?
What to Know About Divide County
Northwestern North Dakota's Unique Position
Divide County borders both Montana and Canada, which makes it geographically distinct from most other Bakken counties. The county seat is Crosby. Because the county sits on the western fringe of the main Bakken development corridor, some mineral acres here are more speculative than comparable acreage in McKenzie or Mountrail counties — but others sit directly on producing trends. Location within the county is everything.
North Dakota Mineral Rights Law
North Dakota follows the rule of capture and uses a forced pooling statute that allows operators to include non-consenting mineral owners in a drilling unit. If you don't sign a lease, you can be pooled into a well anyway — usually at less favorable terms. Understanding your options before an operator approaches you is worth your time.
Royalty Rates and Lease Terms
Standard royalty rates in the Bakken typically range from 1/8 (12.5%) to 1/5 (20%), with some leases reaching higher. The royalty rate, lease term, and any deductions for post-production costs can significantly affect what you actually receive. These terms are negotiable, and many mineral owners don't realize that until after they've already signed.
How a Sale Works
Outright Sale
You sell your mineral rights permanently in exchange for a lump sum. The buyer takes on all future risk and reward. This makes sense for owners who want certainty, liquidity, or who are distant from the property and not relying on royalty income.
Lease (Keep the Minerals, License the Development)
You grant an operator the right to drill for a set term in exchange for a signing bonus and a royalty on production. You keep ownership of the minerals. This is the most common path for active development areas — but the terms you negotiate matter a great deal.
Partial Sale
You sell a portion of your mineral interest and retain the rest. This can provide near-term cash while keeping exposure to future upside. Worth discussing if you own a larger tract and don't need to monetize everything at once.
Find Out What Your Divide County Minerals Are Actually Worth
You don't need to figure this out alone. We'll take a look at your specific acreage, the activity around it, and give you an honest estimate — no pressure, no obligation. If now isn't the right time to sell, we'll tell you that too.
Get My Free ValuationData Sources
Production and operator figures for Divide County are drawn from U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-Year), and DrillingEdge (state regulator production data). Per-acre values are estimates and not an offer.
Other Williston Basin (Bakken) Counties
Divide County is part of the Williston Basin (Bakken). See the full basin overview, operators, and counties we serve.
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