According to Pennsylvania law, a property can be divided into mineral rights and surface rights. There are various ways the surface and mineral rights can be separately held that will see the minerals separated such as oil and gas and coal etc. No matter how they hold these interests, under the law they all have rights.

The law recognizes that the mineral holder has the right to recover the mineral, while the landowner has the right to protect his interests from unreasonable encroachment or damage. Regardless of your experience in holding the surface title, someone else could own the mineral rights on the tract.

If you check the historical deeds of properties back in the nineteenth century, you will discover when the oil and gas rights were first separated from the surface estate and the experience the royalty owners went through. If you find any old deed that says “oil and gas excepted and reserved” then the surface was sold separately from the oil and gas property. Whenever you find such a statement in an old deed, you can assume that the oil and gas license have been separated from your estate. This is the first education you need to understand the history of mineral rights.

Interested in Buying Oil & Gas Interests?

Please fill out the following details and we will have someone get back to you as soon as possible…

How do Mineral Rights Work in Pennsylvania?

Mineral Rights in Pennsylvania

When you own the mineral rights to properties in Pennsylvania, you automatically gain the rights to the underground resources (oil and gas) for exploration and production. These mineral rights are different from the surface interest according to US laws.

Surface rights, on the other hand, gives the right to access the surface of a property for residential, commercial, agricultural and other purposes. With these rights, you can exploit the surface of their property to its fullest. Let’s provide more information below.

Acquisition Map Marcellus/Utica

Surface rights vs mineral rights in Pennsylvania

What are mineral rights in Pennsylvania?

Mineral rights in Pennsylvania allow for private individuals to buy lands and own the right to develop and use any natural resources under the surface of the land making them future royalty owners. This system of operation doesn’t work like this in other parts of the world as land ownership in those parts are owned by the state.

Because minerals can be owned privately in the United States, homeowners with valuable resources can sell to private companies, As a result, sometimes generating substantial up-front or ongoing royalties for the exploration and production of oil and gas.

Surface rights in Pennsylvania

These rights in Pennsylvania are those licenses to the surface interest of any property. This right covers the structure, farmland, or any above ground minerals like water bodies, trees and plants. This right was set according to Pennsylvania ordinances and local laws. You’re also allowed to install septic tanks.

With your license, you can lease or sell the title to the surface. However, you may not lease or sell the minerals below the surface area to any oil and gas, or mining company as those rights do not belong to you legally.

How To Sell Your Mineral Rights

Our mineral right brokers have developed a step-by-step guide to help you sell your mineral rights at the best possible price.

How do you find out who owns mineral rights in PA?

Sorting out ownership of mineral rights in Pennsylvania is not an easy process as many landowners have the insight to make moves. Many assume their mineral rights is intact but it may have been excluded during a sale.

To find this information, you will be required to follow these steps;

  • Research the title of the property at the county recorder’s office of the county where the land is located. To make the research faster, you may be required to bring the name of the property owner and the address of the property.
  • With this information, the country recorder can provide you with insight regarding the owner of mineral rights on a property.
  • If the information is missing as in some cases, you would have to acquire a researcher to do the work and find the mineral owner for a fee.

How to search for mineral rights records in PA?

Getting the mineral records you seek in Pennsylvania can be a challenging task because it requires finding all the different owners of mineral rights. At times there are gaps in the search record which would require you to check public records. You have to search for all transactions to accurately determine the mineral owners.

This action makes be too complex and would require the help of professionals to run the title and get the required information. This may cost you quite a lot but you have the opportunity to gather accurate information on property records.

You can also search online on the county’s property records for a small fee. This will save time and would be convenient than showing up at an office to search the records.

How do I claim mineral rights in PA?

To claim mineral rights in Pennsylvania, follow these steps:

  • After confirming you legitimately own the land at the county recorder’s office, your attorney at law will draw up a deed document and register it in your name with the state.
  • Immediately after the registrations all royalties and transactions for oil and gas extraction and production will pass through the county recorder’s office.
  • This department will take care of your minerals rights and transfer all royalties to the mineral’s royalties to you. Whatever is agreed on the lease can lead to an extension of royalties if more reserves are discovered.
  • Your lawyers will contact you regarding the extension of the royalty payment for your minerals

How To Sell Your Mineral Rights

Our mineral right brokers have developed a step-by-step guide to help you sell your mineral rights at the best possible price.

How does mineral rights inheritance work in PA?

  • The best way to claim mineral rights inheritance is to confirm the legitimacy of the rights, to begin with before any other process can occur. This process is usually not free.
  • Once you have confirmed legitimacy, an attorney or title insurance company would search for information regarding the legitimacy of the land with the federal agency before it can be transferred to you.
  • After the legitimacy claim, your attorney will start processing the transferring of rights with the federal agency. This completes the inheritance process for minerals in Pennsylvania. Any additional process would be related to you by your lawyer.

How are mineral rights and leases taxed in PA?

Pennsylvania’s inheritance tax has drawn attention to the valuation of both mineral rights and natural gas benefits associated with the development and leasing of Marcellus shale. Natural gas rights and mineral rights must be reported like all other types of assets on Schedule E of the Inheritance Tax returns.

Mineral rights taxable value is determined by the same method used to value any real or tangible personal property. Generally, a mineral right’s taxable value can be determined by either a bona fide sale or an appraisal. In the absence of a bona fide sale, a computed value can be determined by using the common-level ratio.

Additionally, if the interest was never sold and there is no computed value, then you have to value it at its actual worth.

How much are mineral rights worth in PA?

Oklahoma Mineral Rights Acre Price

How much are mineral rights worth per acre in PA?

Mineral rights can be sold in any Pennsylvania county for anything from $500/acre to $5,000+/acre. Isn’t that a pretty wide range? The reason for such a range is because the ranges depend on where you are located in Pennsylvania. The cost of your property is heavily influenced by where you are located.

Mineral rights value in Pennsylvania is affected by many factors. With all these factors playing an important role in the value, how can you get an exact cost of mineral rights per acre? To determine how much your mineral rights are worth, you have to put them up for sale. If you’re selling mineral rights in Pennsylvania, get the property in front of a large network of buyers.

By doing so, you will ensure that you find the buyer who can pay you the highest possible price for it.

How do I buy mineral rights in Pennsylvania?

Buy Mineral Rights In Oklahoma

The process of buying mineral rights in Pennsylvania is straightforward. Your attorney can begin evaluating the mineral rights to that property once the legibility on the database website has been confirmed.

After the property has been evaluated and purchased, you must register the property with the State’s land office. Pheasant Energy is a trustworthy broker that can handle the deal for you. You can find additional information can be found on their website.

Should I sell my mineral rights in Pennsylvania?

Sell Mineral Rights In Oklahoma

Mineral rights are sold for various reasons, and every seller has their reasons. A debt may have to be repaid, you may want to fund a new project, or pay for education. They are all valid reasons. The sale of the mineral rights will result in you receiving much money upfront, as well as benefits that can be used to take care of these pending problems.

Let Pheasant Energy assist you in selling these rights on your behalf. You will receive the best offer for your royalties and mineral rights. Visit their website for more information.

How to transfer mineral rights in Pennsylvania?

To transfer mineral rights successfully, follow these steps:

  • A copy of the deed for the site must be obtained from a local courthouse in Pennsylvania by the new owner.
  • Verify that the deed matches the description and that the so-called mineral rights are included in the property deed.
  • You have to search the previous deed for minerals if they are excluded from the deed. You will need to consult an attorney once all information is verified to prepare the deed to transfer mineral rights to the new owner.
  • Before signing the new deed, you should review it to make sure your oil and gas license are in there.
Ownership Transfer

Basins / Counties where Pheasant operates

Currently, Pheasant Energy operates in:

  • Susquehanna
  • Bradford
  • Tioga
  • Lycoming
  • Sullivan
  • Wyoming
  • Butler
  • Washington
  • Fayette
  • Greene

These counties are all part of Marcellus/Utica Basin.

FAQ

Do mineral rights expire in Pennsylvania?

Yes, mineral rights (oil and gas) do expire in Pennsylvania. However, these rights are not returned to the surface owner as the mineral rights owner still have some claim over the minerals.

Year Established

2014

Deals Completed

1000+

Gross Acres

1,000,000+

Get Started Today

1.

Icon Request Offer

Request an Offer

Give us a call at (817)251-8282. Request an Offer form in order to take the first step towards getting your offer.

2.

Icon Gather Information

Gather Information

3.

Icon Evaluate

Evaluate
and Appraise

4.

Icons Receive Offer

Receive
Your Offer