Landman
A professional who researches mineral title, negotiates leases, and tracks down owners. The boots-on-the-ground role in any oil and gas deal.
A landman is the professional who handles the land and title side of an oil and gas deal. The work runs from researching ownership in county deed records, to building a chain of title, to negotiating leases and tracking down heirs. Operators and mineral buyers both rely on landmen to confirm who owns what before money changes hands.
The job splits into two broad types. A field landman works the courthouse — pulling deeds, plats, and probate records. An in-house or broker landman handles lease negotiation, due diligence, and curing title defects. Both lean heavily on county clerk records and state production data.
If you are buying minerals yourself, you are doing landman work whether you call it that or not. Our guide on running a title search covers the core of it.