Mineral rights in Mckenzie County, North Dakota
Mckenzie County is one of North Dakota's most drilled counties right now — 312 permits approved in the last 24 months and activity accelerating.
- 312
- Permits · 24 mo
- 8
- Rigs running
- 18.6%
- Avg lease royalty
up 767% vs prior 24 months
as of 2026-06-09
recorded leases, 5 yrs
Who's drilling Mckenzie County
Operators ranked by drilling permits approved in the 24 months ending 2026-06-09.
| Operator | Permits · 24 mo |
|---|---|
| Chord Energy | 74 |
| Conocophillips | 73 |
| Devon | 57 |
| Chevron | 35 |
| Kraken Resources | 15 |
What the record says
Mckenzie County recorded 312 drilling permits in the 24 months ending 2026-06-09, against 36 in the prior 24 months. Development here is overwhelmingly horizontal (92% of recent permits, averaging 9,655-foot laterals) — 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: 628 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.
Mckenzie County mineral rights FAQ
Who is drilling in Mckenzie County, North Dakota?
The most active operators by permits approved in the last 24 months are Chord Energy, Conocophillips, Devon. The full table above lists the top five with permit counts.
What royalty are leases paying in Mckenzie County?
Recorded leases over the past five years in Mckenzie 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 Mckenzie County?
Start with the Mckenzie 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 Mckenzie County?
Mineral Eagle links every permit above to the owners it affects — name by name, with the records to back it up.