Mineral rights in Rio Blanco County, Colorado
Rio Blanco County is an active Colorado drilling market: 60 permits in the last 24 months, with the pace accelerating.
- 60
- Permits · 24 mo
- 2
- Rigs running
- 14.6%
- Avg lease royalty
up 28% vs prior 24 months
as of 2026-06-09
recorded leases, 5 yrs
Who's drilling Rio Blanco County
Operators ranked by drilling permits approved in the 24 months ending 2026-06-09.
| Operator | Permits · 24 mo |
|---|---|
| Flywheel Energy | 24 |
| Qb Energy Operating LLC | 23 |
| Anschutz CORP | 7 |
| Scout Energy Partners | 6 |
What the record says
Rio Blanco County recorded 60 drilling permits in the 24 months ending 2026-06-09, against 47 in the prior 24 months. 10% of recent permits are horizontal wells averaging 8,075-foot laterals. Activity centers on the Piceance basin.
Leasing has kept pace: 89 leases were recorded in the county over the last 24 months, with recent recorded leases averaging about 14.6% royalty. For how royalty terms work, see our royalty guide.
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Rio Blanco County mineral rights FAQ
Who is drilling in Rio Blanco County, Colorado?
The most active operators by permits approved in the last 24 months are Flywheel Energy, Qb Energy Operating LLC, Anschutz CORP. The full table above lists the top five with permit counts.
What royalty are leases paying in Rio Blanco County?
Recorded leases over the past five years in Rio Blanco County average about 14.6% 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 Rio Blanco County?
Start with the Rio Blanco 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 Rio Blanco County?
Mineral Eagle links every permit above to the owners it affects — name by name, with the records to back it up.