Guides

Practical playbooks for mineral research.

Step-by-step walkthroughs of the techniques landmen use to trace ownership, build run sheets, and surface acquisition opportunities.

14 min read·Updated 2026-05

How to Trace a Chain of Title for Mineral Rights

A step-by-step guide to tracing a mineral chain of title from the original government patent to the present owner, including how to handle reservations, probate gaps, and fractional conveyances.

12 min read·Updated 2026-05

What is a Run Sheet? A Practical Introduction

A run sheet is the working document of a landman. This guide explains what one contains, how it's built column by column, and how modern mineral AI automates the process.

12 min read·Updated 2026-05

How to Find Heirs of a Deceased Mineral Owner

A step-by-step guide to locating heirs when a mineral owner dies — covering probate searches, intestate succession under Colorado law, and common pitfalls.

13 min read·Updated 2026-05

How to Determine Fractional Mineral Ownership

A step-by-step guide to calculating fractional mineral ownership — covering how interests split through reservations, conveyances, and inheritance, with worked examples.

11 min read·Updated 2026-05

How to Read an OGDP Filing

Learn how to read and interpret an Oil and Gas Development Plan (OGDP) filing from the COGCC — covering operator info, well locations, spacing units, and mineral interest owners.

11 min read·Updated 2026-05

What is COGCC? A Guide for Mineral Brokerages

An overview of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission — its regulatory role, key databases, and how mineral brokerages use COGCC data for lead generation and due diligence.

13 min read·Updated 2026-05

Severed Mineral Rights, Explained

What severed mineral rights are, how severance happens, the dominant estate doctrine, Colorado-specific statutes, and what severance means for mineral acquisition teams.

14 min read·Updated 2026-05

Probate and Mineral Rights in Colorado

What happens to mineral rights when an owner dies in Colorado: testate vs. intestate succession, out-of-county probate, affidavits of heirship, and how probate gaps affect title chains.