Mineral rights in Richland County, Montana
Richland County is an active Montana drilling market: 61 permits in the last 24 months, with the pace accelerating.
- 61
- Permits · 24 mo
- 2
- Rigs running
- 18.6%
- Avg lease royalty
up 1120% vs prior 24 months
as of 2026-06-09
recorded leases, 5 yrs
Who's drilling Richland County
Operators ranked by drilling permits approved in the 24 months ending 2026-06-09.
| Operator | Permits · 24 mo |
|---|---|
| Kraken Resources | 28 |
| Continental Resources | 10 |
| White Rock Oil & Gas | 8 |
| Txo Partners LP | 7 |
| Heritage Energy Operating, LLC | 5 |
What the record says
Richland County recorded 61 drilling permits in the 24 months ending 2026-06-09, against 5 in the prior 24 months. 20% of recent permits are horizontal wells averaging 9,179-foot laterals. Most activity targets the Bakken-Us play of the Williston basin.
Leasing has kept pace: 2,038 leases were recorded in the county over the last 24 months, with recent recorded leases averaging about 18.6% 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.
Richland County mineral rights FAQ
Who is drilling in Richland County, Montana?
The most active operators by permits approved in the last 24 months are Kraken Resources, Continental Resources, White Rock Oil & Gas. The full table above lists the top five with permit counts.
What royalty are leases paying in Richland County?
Recorded leases over the past five years in Richland County average about 18.6% 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 Richland County?
Start with the Richland 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 Richland County?
Mineral Eagle links every permit above to the owners it affects — name by name, with the records to back it up.