Mineral rights in Burke County, North Dakota
Burke County is an active North Dakota drilling market: 54 permits in the last 24 months, with the pace accelerating.
- 54
- Permits · 24 mo
- 2
- Rigs running
- 17.7%
- Avg lease royalty
up 5300% vs prior 24 months
as of 2026-06-09
recorded leases, 5 yrs
Who's drilling Burke County
Operators ranked by drilling permits approved in the 24 months ending 2026-06-09.
| Operator | Permits · 24 mo |
|---|---|
| Hunt | 16 |
| Silver Hill Energy Partners | 15 |
| Formentera Partners | 13 |
| Petro-Hunt | 3 |
| Chord Energy | 3 |
What the record says
Burke County recorded 54 drilling permits in the 24 months ending 2026-06-09, against 1 in the prior 24 months. Development here is overwhelmingly horizontal (56% of recent permits) — modern pad development that drains whole sections at a time. Most activity targets the Bakken-Us play of the Williston basin.
Leasing has kept pace: 2,663 leases were recorded in the county over the last 24 months, with recent recorded leases averaging about 17.7% 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.
Burke County mineral rights FAQ
Who is drilling in Burke County, North Dakota?
The most active operators by permits approved in the last 24 months are Hunt, Silver Hill Energy Partners, Formentera Partners. The full table above lists the top five with permit counts.
What royalty are leases paying in Burke County?
Recorded leases over the past five years in Burke County average about 17.7% 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 Burke County?
Start with the Burke 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 Burke County?
Mineral Eagle links every permit above to the owners it affects — name by name, with the records to back it up.