Sell Your Mineral Rights in Renville County, ND
If you own mineral rights in Renville County, North Dakota, you're sitting on acreage within the Williston Basin — one of the most significant oil-producing regions in the United States. With 1,500 producing wells recorded in the county and a roster of active operators working the ground, your rights have real value worth understanding. Let's help you figure out exactly what you're holding and what your options are.
Est. per Acre
$500–$2,500
per net royalty acre
Active Wells
1,500+
Drilling Activity
Core Basin
Williston Basin
Primary Formation
Primary Resource
Oil
Commodity Type
What You Should Know About Mineral Rights in Renville County
Renville County sits within the Williston Basin, the same basin that made North Dakota one of the top oil-producing states in the country. With 1,500 producing wells in the county, this is not undeveloped speculation territory — there is real, documented activity here. That said, Renville County is a smaller, more rural part of the basin, with a population of about 2,282, and the level of drilling intensity differs from the highest-activity counties closer to the core of the Bakken play. What that means for you: your rights may have solid value, but the range can vary meaningfully depending on exactly where your acreage sits, whether it's held by production, and how close the nearest active wells are to your tract. Don't make any decisions — whether that's selling, leasing, or simply holding — until you have a clear picture of what you actually own.
Renville County by the Numbers
1,500
wells
Producing Wells (state regulator data)
$500 – $2,500
per acre
Estimated Value Range Per Acre (estimate only — varies by location and lease status)
Oil
Primary Commodity
Williston Basin / Bakken Shale
Primary Basin
32,800
BBL
Cumulative Oil Production (county record)
Who's Operating in Renville County
Berenergy Corporation
Cobra Oil & Gas Corporation
Eagle Operating, Inc.
High Plains Operating, LLC
Murex Petroleum Corporation
Sparrow Oil & Gas LLC
Swanson Oil & Gas LLC
T2 Operating Corporation
Zargon Oil (ND) Inc.
What's in the Ground
Bakken Shale
The Bakken is the primary target across the Williston Basin and the formation that put North Dakota on the national energy map. It's a tight oil formation that requires horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing to produce economically. Most of the significant leasing and acquisition activity in Renville County is tied to Bakken potential or production.
Three Forks
The Three Forks formation sits directly below the Bakken and is often developed in tandem with it. Operators frequently target both formations from the same well pad, which means if you're in a Bakken-active area, Three Forks rights may add additional value to your minerals.
Madison
The Madison is a shallower carbonate formation that has produced oil in the Williston Basin for decades — well before the Bakken shale era. It represents a more conventional, lower-intensity production type and may be relevant to older wells or leases in parts of Renville County.
Questions We Hear From Renville County Owners
I got an offer from an operator active in Renville County — should I just take it?
Renville County doesn't seem as big as other Bakken counties I've read about — does that mean my rights aren't worth much?
What does it mean if my mineral rights are 'held by production'?
What to Know About Renville County
North Dakota's Mineral Rights Framework
North Dakota law separates surface rights from mineral rights, and mineral rights can be — and very commonly are — owned by someone completely different from the surface landowner. If you inherited mineral rights here, it's worth confirming exactly what you own through a title search, since decades of family transfers can sometimes leave ownership records fragmented or incomplete.
The North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC)
The NDIC regulates oil and gas production in North Dakota and maintains public records of all permitted and producing wells. You can look up wells near your acreage on their website. This is a good starting point to understand whether there's already a producing well associated with your minerals — and who the operator is.
Renville County's Small-County Character
With a population of about 2,282, Renville County is one of North Dakota's smaller counties. Local resources for navigating mineral rights questions — attorneys, landmen, title companies — may be limited compared to larger metro areas. Working with someone who knows this specific county and the operators active here can save you significant time and mistakes.
Royalty vs. Lease vs. Sale — Know What You're Being Asked to Sign
Mineral owners in North Dakota can lease their rights to an operator (in exchange for a bonus payment and future royalties), sell a royalty interest, or sell the mineral rights outright. These are very different transactions with very different long-term implications. Before you agree to anything, make sure you understand which type of deal is on the table.
Find Out What Your Renville County Minerals Are Actually Worth
Whether you just got an offer, inherited rights you don't know much about, or have simply been wondering what your minerals are worth — the first step is a free, no-pressure conversation. We know this county, we know the operators working it, and we'll give you a straight answer about what you're holding and what your realistic options are. No obligation, no sales pitch.
Get My Free ValuationData Sources
Production and operator figures for Renville 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
Renville County is part of the Williston Basin (Bakken). See the full basin overview, operators, and counties we serve.
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