Mineral rights in Arapahoe County, Colorado
Arapahoe County is an active Colorado drilling market: 57 permits in the last 24 months, with the pace holding steady.
- 57
- Permits · 24 mo
- 1
- Rigs running
- 18.7%
- Avg lease royalty
approved through 2026-06-09
as of 2026-06-09
recorded leases, 5 yrs
Who's drilling Arapahoe County
Operators ranked by drilling permits approved in the 24 months ending 2026-06-09.
| Operator | Permits · 24 mo |
|---|---|
| Sm Energy | 40 |
| Gmt Exploration | 12 |
| Occidental | 5 |
What the record says
Arapahoe County recorded 57 drilling permits in the 24 months ending 2026-06-09. Development here is overwhelmingly horizontal (100% of recent permits, averaging 7,877-foot laterals) — modern pad development that drains whole sections at a time. Most activity targets the Dj play of the Denver-Julesburg basin.
Leasing has kept pace: 142 leases were recorded in the county over the last 24 months, with recent recorded leases averaging about 18.7% royalty. For how royalty terms work, see our royalty guide.
Thinking about value? Start with what drives mineral prices or run the numbers in the value calculator.
Arapahoe County mineral rights FAQ
Who is drilling in Arapahoe County, Colorado?
The most active operators by permits approved in the last 24 months are Sm Energy, Gmt Exploration, Occidental. The full table above lists the top five with permit counts.
What royalty are leases paying in Arapahoe County?
Recorded leases over the past five years in Arapahoe County average about 18.7% royalty. Individual terms vary with acreage position, competition, and the operator — treat this as a market reference point, not a quote.
How do I research mineral rights ownership in Arapahoe County?
Start with the Arapahoe County clerk's deed records and the county appraisal roll, then verify against state regulator filings. Our title search guide walks through the process, and the Mineral Eagle platform links these records for the whole county.
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Buying in Arapahoe County?
Mineral Eagle links every permit above to the owners it affects — name by name, with the records to back it up.