Sell or lease your mineral rights in Williams County, North Dakota

Williams County (including Williston) is the operational hub of the Bakken oil play. With over 10,000 active wells county-wide and continuing development, Williams mineral rights remain one of the most active categories in US oil & gas land deals.

Williams County signing bonus ranges in 2026

• Core Bakken (proven producing area): $1,500-$5,000 per net mineral acre
• Bakken flank: $300-$1,500 per net mineral acre
• Outside Bakken fairway: $100-$500 per net mineral acre

Royalty rates: 20-22.5% achievable in core; 18.75% minimum.

Active Williams County operators

• Continental Resources (largest Bakken operator)
• Hess Corporation
• ConocoPhillips
• Marathon Oil
• Chord Energy (Whiting + Oasis merger)

Verify mineral ownership

North Dakota has frequent mineral severances dating to homestead-era conveyances. Order a title opinion ($1,500-$4,000) from a Williston-based O&G attorney if your chain is unclear. Many Williams County landowners discover they hold only fractional mineral interests inherited across generations.

Sell or lease?

Williams is past peak production growth but the existing well stock continues to produce at meaningful rates. Most landowners with producing-area minerals should:

• Lease new acreage where developable inventory remains
• Sell partial mineral interests on producing acreage to capture cash while retaining future royalty
• Hold if you have predictable royalty income and don't need lump-sum cash

Key Williams County lease terms

• Pugh clause (critical)
• No deductions (Tawney-style)
• Depth severance (Bakken/Three Forks targets)
• Continuous drilling obligation
• Surface use payments ($5k-$20k per pad)

North Dakota Industrial Commission data

The NDIC publishes free real-time well data including operator, production, and lease history. Search at dmr.nd.gov.

Next step

Run a free Landholder.com assessment — we confirm your parcel's basin position and surface considerations.