Key takeaways
- API numbers identify wells, not mineral ownership.
- Hyphens, leading zeros, and extra sidetrack or completion digits may differ across systems.
- A statement may use a lease, property, or payor code instead of the API number.
- Well status and production can be updated or revised after the first search.
- Save the source URL, lookup date, and identifier exactly as reported.
Start with every identifier you have
Collect the API or UWI number, well name and number, operator, lease or property name, county/state, and any payor property code. Search the statement, division order, operator portal, permit, completion report, and state database. Do not assume a payor’s internal property number is the regulatory API number.
Normalize carefully
A common 10-digit API form includes a two-digit state code, three-digit county code, and five-digit well identifier. Some systems show 12 or 14 digits for sidetracks, recompletions, or events. Store both a normalized search value and the source-formatted value. The search interface should tolerate spaces and hyphens but should never silently invent missing digits.
Confirm the match
Once a result appears, compare operator, well name/number, county, legal location or coordinates, status, spud/completion dates, and product. One matching field is not enough. Then open the official permit, completion, production, or unit records offered by the regulator.
Connect the well to a payment
A confirmed well record still does not establish that your tract is in the paying unit or that your decimal is correct. Match the well to the lease/unit/property on the statement, obtain unit or pooling records, and compare the payor’s ownership basis. The website should clearly separate ‘well match’ from ‘ownership match.’
Practical checklist
- Capture the number exactly as displayed by the source.
- Normalize punctuation while retaining leading zeros.
- Search the appropriate state regulator.
- Verify operator, name, county, location, and status.
- Open official supporting records and note their dates.
- Separately verify unit participation and ownership.
How Royalty Ridge fits Royalty Ridge can provide one search box that routes to state-specific adapters and official records while preserving the source identifier. It should include a ‘report a data issue’ control and never infer ownership solely from a geographic match.
Sources and editorial notes
Texas RRC GIS Viewer: https://gis.rrc.texas.gov/GISViewer/
Texas RRC well records: https://www.rrc.texas.gov/oil-and-gas/research-and-statistics/obtaining-commission-records/oil-and-gas-well-records/
New Mexico OCD data: https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/ocd/ocd-data/