Title Opinion
An attorney's written opinion of who owns the minerals and on what terms, built from the abstract or runsheet; comes as drilling and division order types.
A title opinion is a formal written conclusion by an oil and gas attorney about who owns the mineral and leasehold interests in a tract, the burdens against them, and any defects that need fixing. It is built by examining the recorded record — typically an abstract of title or a landman's runsheet — and it is the document operators rely on before spending drilling dollars.
Two types matter most. A drilling title opinion (or original title opinion) covers ownership down to the moment of drilling and lists curative requirements. A division order title opinion is run after first production to set each owner's decimal interest for revenue — it's what the division order you sign is based on.
A title opinion is an opinion, not a guarantee, and it usually comes with a list of curative items the operator wants cleared before paying you. This is general information, not legal advice.