OIL & GAS BASINS
The United States has several major oil and gas basins, each with its own geology, formations, production history, and development activity. Understanding the basin connected to your mineral interest can provide important context about the property and the wells around it.
Information on the most active oil and gas basins across the U.S.
Learn about formation, development, and production characteristics.
Every mineral interest is unique and should be reviewed based on the available records.
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OVERVIEW
Oil and gas basins are large geological areas that contain formations capable of producing oil and natural gas. Each basin has its own geology, formations, types of production, and development history.
Knowing which basin your mineral interest is connected to can help put the property, wells, and production into context.
WHY BASIN INFORMATION MATTERS
The basin associated with your mineral interest can provide valuable context about the formations, development activity, and production history connected to the area.
Each basin contains different formations with unique geological characteristics.
Levels of current and future development can vary by basin.
Some areas have decades of production, while others are relatively newer.
Your specific property, wells, leases, and ownership records still matter most.
OUR APPROACH
Provide your county or parish, legal description, ownership information, royalty statement, or other documents you have.
We look at the available records, including formations, wells, production, and information related to the basin.
We'll explain what the available information shows and discuss the next steps available to you.
MAJOR OIL & GAS BASINS
Each basin has its own story, formations, and development activity. Explore the individual basin pages to learn more about the areas connected to U.S. oil and gas production.
West Texas & New Mexico
One of the country’s major oil and gas producing regions, with the Delaware and Midland sub-basins forming important parts of the broader Permian.
South Texas
A major South Texas shale play with both oil and natural gas production and distinct geological characteristics across the play.
North Dakota & Montana
Part of the Williston Basin, the Bakken and Three Forks are important producing formations in the northern Great Plains.
Northeastern U.S.
A major natural gas formation within the Appalachian Basin, extending through areas including Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and New York.
Louisiana & East Texas
A major natural gas play within the Texas-Louisiana Salt Basin, with development concentrated across northern Louisiana and nearby East Texas.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s SCOOP and STACK development areas are associated with multiple formations and horizontal oil and gas development.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
While basin information can be very useful, it’s just one piece of the puzzle. The specific formation, well information, unit participation, ownership records, and lease terms are also important when evaluating a mineral interest.
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COMMON QUESTIONS
Get quick answers to common questions about Oil & Gas Basins
An oil and gas basin is a large geological region containing sedimentary rocks and formations where oil and/or natural gas may occur. Different basins contain different formations and development characteristics.
Activity changes over time and depends on whether you are looking at oil, natural gas, drilling, production, or another measure. Major U.S. regions tracked by EIA include the Permian, Bakken, Eagle Ford, Appalachia, and Haynesville.
Basin information provides geological and regional context. It can help identify the formations and development history associated with an area, but it is only one part of understanding a specific mineral interest.
No. Basin location alone does not establish that a particular mineral interest is producing. The specific property, well, formation, ownership, lease, and applicable unit need to be considered.
The legal location of the property can be compared with geological and basin maps and available well records. The exact property and formation are more useful than relying only on a broad regional label.
Royalty Ridge can review the information available for your mineral interest and help put the property, ownership, wells, and production information into context.
OIL & GAS BASINS
Start with the information you have. A better understanding of the basin, formations, wells, and development connected to your property can help you make a more informed decision.
