Home / Where We Buy / North Dakota / Dunn County
North Dakota · Williston Basin · Southern Bakken

Sell Mineral Rights
in Dunn County,
North Dakota.

Dunn County is the second-largest oil-producing county in North Dakota and a meaningful piece of the Bakken story. Production runs strong, the inventory is durable, and the operator landscape includes some of the most efficient drillers in the basin. We are happy to help you understand what you have.

24%
of ND Oil
2024 state production
~10,500ft
Bakken Depth
typical TVD
10,000ft
Standard Lateral
with longer pilots
3,450
Producing Wells
as of 2024
1,280ac
Standard DSU
2 section spacing
01 The Basin

The southern reach of the
Bakken core.

Dunn County sits directly south of McKenzie County and represents the southern half of the Bakken core fairway. Production here was about 281,000 barrels per day on average in 2024, putting Dunn behind only McKenzie in North Dakota oil output and ahead of every other county in the state.

The county includes Killdeer, the regional service hub at the foot of the Killdeer Mountains, and runs from the Little Missouri River south to the Stark and Hettinger county lines. The northern part of Dunn shares the geology that has made McKenzie famous. The southern part transitions toward the basin edge but still sees meaningful drilling activity, particularly with longer laterals.

Dunn County is what McKenzie looks like with a slightly thinner but still very real story. The economics are strong, the inventory holds up, and the mineral ownership is meaningful.

If you are reading this, you probably own a piece of that. Maybe it came through a will, an offer letter showed up in the mail, or you are trying to make sense of royalty statements that have been arriving for years. This page is for you. Below we walk through the rock, who is drilling, where in the county your minerals sit, what shapes value, and how the regulatory side actually works.

Starting point

Have minerals in Dunn County? Send us what you have and we will take a look.

Send Us the Details →
02 The Rock

Two formations. One spacing unit.
Stacked pay across the column.

Dunn County's productive geology mirrors the broader Bakken core: Middle Bakken and Three Forks as the two primary horizontal targets, with multiple wells per spacing unit drilled over the life of development. Three Forks is particularly thick and well-developed in parts of Dunn, which gives some spacing units exceptional inventory depth.

Middle Bakkensiltstone and dolomite

The Middle Bakken is the original Bakken target and remains the workhorse formation in Dunn County. It sits between the Upper and Lower Bakken shales, which act as the source rock charging the entire petroleum system. Most early horizontal Bakken development in Dunn targeted this interval, and it remains the primary formation for a substantial portion of new permits.

For mineral owners, Middle Bakken wells are typically the first drilled when a spacing unit is developed. Standard development patterns often include multiple Middle Bakken wells per 1,280-acre unit, with completion designs that have evolved significantly over the past decade.

Depth Range
9,500 to 11,500 ft
Type
Siltstone and dolomite
Typical Lateral
10,000 ft, longer pilots
Lead Operators
Continental, ConocoPhillips, Chord
Three Forksmultiple benches

Below the Bakken sits the Three Forks formation, which is particularly well-developed in Dunn County. The Three Forks contains multiple distinct benches, often referred to as Bench 1 through Bench 4 from top to bottom. In parts of Dunn, the upper Three Forks benches are thick enough to support multiple horizontal wells per spacing unit, each targeting a different bench.

For Dunn County mineral owners, the Three Forks is the reason many spacing units have substantially more remaining inventory than the well count alone might suggest. Each additional Three Forks bench drilled is another revenue stream tied to the same minerals.

Depth Range
10,500 to 12,000 ft
Type
Carbonate and shale
Active Benches
Bench 1 and Bench 2 primarily
Common Pairing
Stacked with Bakken
Pronghornand southern variations

Toward the southern part of Dunn County, transitional Bakken intervals including the Pronghorn member become more relevant. These are typically secondary targets compared to Middle Bakken and Three Forks, but they add to the inventory of drillable locations on certain spacing units.

The practical implication for mineral owners is that even spacing units with several existing wells often have meaningful undeveloped inventory left, particularly as operators experiment with longer laterals and tighter spacing.

Depth Range
10,000 to 11,500 ft
Type
Transitional siltstone
Status
Secondary target
Where Active
Southern Dunn
03 The Operators

Who is drilling on your
Dunn County minerals.

Dunn County's operator landscape consolidated significantly through the 2020 to 2024 mergers and divestitures. The five operators below cover the bulk of current drilling and royalty activity, though many smaller operators hold pieces of specific townships.

i.
Continental Resources
Continental is the largest oil producer in North Dakota, accounting for roughly 16 percent of state production. Founder Harold Hamm took the company private in late 2022. Dunn County is a meaningful part of Continental's Bakken footprint, and the company has been one of the more active drillers in the southern Bakken core.
Private · Largest in ND
16% of ND Oil
ii.
ConocoPhillips (Marathon / Burlington)
ConocoPhillips holds the legacy Burlington Resources Bakken position and added the Marathon Oil position through its 2024 acquisition. Marathon's Dunn County position was particularly strong, and ConocoPhillips is now one of the most active drillers in Dunn. The combined company tends to focus on efficient long-lateral development.
Major · Marathon legacy
Top 5 in ND
iii.
Chord Energy
Chord Energy was formed by the 2022 merger of Oasis Petroleum and Whiting Petroleum, and expanded further by acquiring Enerplus in 2024. Chord has significant Dunn County acreage with development concentrated in the central and northern parts of the county. The company is the third-largest oil producer in North Dakota.
Public · Pure-play Bakken
8% of ND Oil
iv.
Chevron (Hess Bakken)
Chevron acquired Hess Corporation in 2024, inheriting Hess's substantial Bakken position. The Hess Bakken assets, now Chevron-operated, account for roughly 10 percent of North Dakota oil production with meaningful exposure to Dunn County. Hess had built one of the more efficient Bakken drilling programs before the acquisition.
Major · Hess legacy
10% of ND Oil
v.
ExxonMobil (XTO) & Long Tail
ExxonMobil holds a significant Bakken position through its XTO Energy subsidiary, with development in Dunn and surrounding counties. Beyond XTO, Dunn has a long tail of smaller operators including EOG, various private operators that took over assets in divestitures, and historic operators of record on legacy wells.
Mixed · Multiple operators
Several Mid-Sized
See a familiar name?

We know how these operators develop in Dunn County. Happy to give you context on yours.

Ask About Your Operator →
04 The Geography

Not all Dunn County
minerals are built the same.

Dunn County covers about 2,000 square miles and runs from the Little Missouri River north of Killdeer down to the Stark and Hettinger county lines. The Bakken core fairway runs through the central and northern part of the county, with productivity thinning toward the southern and eastern margins. Where in the county your minerals sit shapes everything from operator activity to remaining drilling inventory.

Killdeer Core
T146N-T149N R94W-R97W
The geographic and operational center of Dunn County's Bakken core. Killdeer is the regional hub for service activity. Spacing units here have seen multiple Middle Bakken and Three Forks wells, but inventory remains meaningful as operators continue to drill additional benches and longer laterals.
Activity: Highest Development: Mature, infill
Northern Dunn / McKenzie Border
T149N-T151N R94W-R98W
The northern part of the county runs up to the McKenzie line and shares the geology of the Bakken core. Activity here remains very active, with all the major operators running programs. Some of the longest laterals in the basin have been drilled crossing the county boundary.
Activity: High Development: Active
Western Dunn / Little Missouri Corridor
T144N-T149N R98W-R101W
The western edge of Dunn includes the Little Missouri River and parts of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit. Federal land restrictions and surface considerations limit some development here, but mineral interests in producing units along the corridor continue to receive royalty income.
Activity: Constrained Development: Permit-sensitive
Fort Berthold Reservation
T147N-T150N R91W-R94W
Eastern Dunn County overlaps with the Fort Berthold reservation. Mineral interests on tribal trust land are administered through the Bureau of Indian Affairs and have a different leasing process than fee minerals. Activity remains substantial in this area, with operators including Hess (Chevron) and Continental having historically been active.
Activity: High Development: Active, BIA-administered
Southern Dunn
T142N-T146N R94W-R99W
Southern Dunn transitions toward the basin edge and includes some of the play's earliest development. Newer activity here has emphasized longer laterals and tighter well spacing as operators try to extract more inventory from already-developed spacing units.
Activity: Moderate Development: Selective infill
Killdeer Mountains Vicinity
T146N-T148N R95W-R96W
The Killdeer Mountains and surrounding terrain create surface complexity that shapes development patterns in the immediate area. Operators tend to drill from offsetting locations and use longer laterals to reach acreage under or near the mountains. Mineral interests in this area can still be highly productive.
Activity: Moderate Development: Surface-constrained
05 Your Valuation

What your Dunn County
mineral rights are worth.

Valuation in Dunn County is shaped by current production, future drilling inventory, operator quality, lease terms, and commodity prices. Dunn's distinguishing feature relative to other Bakken counties is the depth of remaining Three Forks inventory in many spacing units, which keeps mineral values supported even as the surface program matures.

01
Producing Minerals with Active Royalty Income
Valued on cash flow plus remaining inventory
If your Dunn County minerals are actively producing, valuation typically starts with the trailing twelve months of royalty income. A buyer applies a multiple based on expected remaining well life, future drilling potential on the spacing unit, and commodity outlook. Many Dunn spacing units have unusually deep Three Forks inventory, which can support stronger valuations than the existing well count alone would suggest.
What shapes the number: well vintage and remaining productive life, how many additional Middle Bakken or Three Forks locations remain undrilled, your royalty rate, the operator quality, and whether your lease permits cost deductions for transportation and processing.
02
Unleased Minerals in Active Development
Valued on drilling proximity and future potential
Unleased Dunn County minerals, particularly in the Killdeer area or northern townships, are valued on expected development timing and operator activity within a few miles. Unleased minerals also carry optionality because the buyer can negotiate lease terms directly with the operator before pooling.
What shapes the number: nearby permit activity, the operator's recent drilling pace in your township, formation quality beneath your specific section, comparable lease bonuses paid on surrounding tracts, and whether the section is likely to be force pooled.
03
Small Fractional Interests & Inherited Positions
Often overlooked, often worth more than expected
Many Dunn County mineral owners hold small fractional interests inherited across multiple generations, often spread across heirs in different states. These positions sometimes get ignored by larger buyers because they are administratively cumbersome. We pay them the same attention as larger interests and we are comfortable doing the title research on fractional chains, including positions held by descendants of original homestead patentees.
What shapes the number: net mineral acre count, royalty rate if leased, producing status, operator quality, remaining drilling inventory on the spacing unit, and whether other heirs holding the same chain are also ready to move.
04
Leased but Not Yet Producing
Valued on lease terms and proximity to activity
If your minerals are leased but not yet producing, value depends on the lease terms and how close active drilling has moved toward your acreage. Bakken leases typically have three to five year primary terms with extension by production. A lease held by a major active driller is worth materially more than one held by a passive leaseholder.
What shapes the number: your royalty rate, primary term expiration, the specific operator holding the lease, recent drilling activity in adjacent spacing units, and whether your lease has a Pugh clause or similar acreage-protection language.
Your specific situation

We would rather look at real facts than speak in generalities. Send us what you have.

Request an Analysis →
06 The Regulatory Landscape

North Dakota rules,
Bakken realities.

Dunn County operates under the standard North Dakota oil and gas regime, administered primarily by the North Dakota Industrial Commission. The on-the-ground realities reflect Dunn's mix of private land, federal land, and meaningful overlap with the Fort Berthold reservation in the eastern part of the county.

The NDIC and how forced pooling works

The North Dakota Industrial Commission, through its Department of Mineral Resources Oil and Gas Division, regulates oil and gas activity on state and private minerals in Dunn County. The NDIC permits wells, sets spacing, conducts public hearings on pooling and unitization applications, and maintains the public well database. North Dakota allows compulsory pooling of unleased minerals into spacing units, which is the standard framework here.

Standard 1,280 acre DSU pattern

Modern Bakken development in Dunn County typically uses 1,280-acre drilling and spacing units, which is two adjacent sections combined. This matches the design of two-mile horizontal laterals and is the most common unit pattern across the basin.

The BLM and Fort Berthold reservation

Dunn County has substantial federal mineral acreage administered by the BLM Williston Field Office, plus a significant portion of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in the eastern part of the county. Mineral interests on tribal trust land are administered through the Bureau of Indian Affairs and have a different leasing process than state or private minerals. If your minerals are on or adjacent to the reservation, the analysis is more involved than for fee minerals.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park surface considerations

The South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park lies partly in western Dunn County. Federal land restrictions on surface use can complicate development on adjacent acreage, but the minerals themselves remain developable. Operators may drill from offsetting surface locations and use longer laterals to reach the target acreage.

07 Questions We Hear Often

The real questions
mineral owners ask.

We have been through these conversations hundreds of times. Below are honest answers to the things people actually want to know.

01
How much are mineral rights worth in Dunn County, North Dakota?
Values in Dunn County vary widely depending on where in the county you own, whether your minerals are leased or producing, who the operator is, and how much remaining drilling inventory exists on your spacing unit. Dunn minerals tend to carry strong valuations because Three Forks inventory is particularly deep here, but the same mineral interest can have a meaningfully different value from one section to the next. The only way to know what your specific minerals are worth is to look at the actual facts. We are happy to do that for you, at no cost and with no obligation to sell.
02
How is Dunn County different from McKenzie County for mineral owners?
The two counties share most of the same geology and operator landscape. The main difference is that McKenzie has a slightly thicker productive Bakken section and historically deeper inventory expectations, while Dunn has unusually thick Three Forks development potential in certain areas. Practical valuation and process differences are usually small. Where in the county your specific minerals sit matters more than which county they are in.
03
I inherited mineral rights in Dunn County but I do not have any documents. What do I do?
You are not alone. This is a common situation. Start by gathering anything you do have: old letters from operators, tax statements, probate records, royalty stubs, division orders. The Dunn County Recorder's office in Manning keeps deed records, and the NDIC maintains a public database of wells, operators, and production by section. We can usually identify what someone owns with just a name and a rough idea of where the minerals are located, because North Dakota mineral records are publicly accessible and reasonably well-organized when you know where to look.
04
Should I sell my Dunn County mineral rights now or hold them?
That depends on your situation. People who hold typically want long-term royalty income, do not need cash for other priorities, and are comfortable with commodity price volatility. People who sell typically want to convert future uncertain income into certain present value, simplify their estate, or use the capital for something else. Neither is wrong. The Bakken is a mature play with predictable behavior, which makes both holding and selling defensible strategies depending on your goals. We can help you think through the tradeoffs without pressure to pick a side.
05
What is the difference between an offer to lease and an offer to buy my minerals?
Leasing gives an operator the right to develop your minerals for a period of time, typically three to five years, with extension if production is established. In exchange you receive a bonus payment per net mineral acre and a royalty percentage on any production. You still own the minerals. Buying transfers ownership entirely, in exchange for a lump sum. After a sale, you no longer own the minerals and you receive no future royalties. Both have their place. Buying typically delivers more value up front, leasing preserves long-term upside.
06
I just received a pooling notice from the NDIC. What does that mean?
A pooling notice is a strong signal that an operator is preparing to drill on a spacing unit that includes your minerals. North Dakota allows compulsory pooling, so the operator can typically move forward whether or not you sign a voluntary lease. Your options are roughly three: negotiate a voluntary lease with the operator before the hearing (usually preferable), participate as a working interest owner (rarely the right move for passive owners), or accept the default terms of the pooling order. Most owners benefit from the negotiation path.
07
My minerals are on or near the Fort Berthold reservation. Does that change anything?
Yes, somewhat. Mineral interests held in trust for the Three Affiliated Tribes or for individual tribal members are administered through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, not the NDIC. The leasing and royalty payment processes are different from fee minerals. If your minerals are fee minerals adjacent to the reservation, the analysis is similar to other Dunn minerals. If they are tribal trust minerals, additional considerations apply. We can help sort out which category your specific minerals fall into.
08
Can I sell mineral rights I inherited if other family members inherited the same minerals?
Yes, you can sell your undivided fractional interest without needing the other heirs to participate. This is extremely common in Dunn County, where many interests have been subdivided across generations of heirs, often spread across multiple states. A good buyer will work with your specific interest, not require you to round up cousins. We do this all the time.
09
How does the sale process actually work?
Step one, we do the research. You send us what you have, we pull NDIC and BLM records, we check operator activity in the spacing unit, and we build an analysis. Step two, we send you a written summary with our reasoning. Step three, if you want to proceed, we handle the mineral deed preparation, you sign at a notary, and funds are wired at close. We move on your timeline, whether that is quick or deliberate. There is no charge for the research and no obligation to sell.
10
Why should I sell to Timberline Minerals specifically?
We are a family-owned office with roots in Texas and Montana. We work across the primary US basins but we spend most of our time in the Powder River Basin, the DJ Basin, and the Williston Basin. That means we know Dunn County geology, the operators working here, and the way the NDIC handles things. We work with mineral interests of all sizes. You should always get multiple offers and we encourage it. If ours is not the best one you receive, that is useful information for you. Either way, we are happy to help you understand what you have.

Find out what your
Dunn County minerals
are actually worth.

Send us what you have, or what you think you have. We will pull NDIC and BLM records, check operator activity in your section, and put together a plain-English summary with our reasoning laid out. If it makes sense to go further, we move on your timeline. If not, you have a free breakdown you can take anywhere.

Request a Valuation (512) 626-7267
Free · No Obligation · Your Timeline
08 Keep Reading

More for Dunn County
mineral owners.

Guide · 6 min read
I inherited mineral rights. What now?
A walkthrough of the first few things to look at, whether you just found out or have been sitting on it for years.
Read the guide  →
Guide · 6 min read
What is a pooling order?
If you received a pooling notice, here is what it actually means, what your options are, and how owners typically respond.
Read the guide  →
Guide · 8 min read
How mineral rights are valued
The core inputs that go into a mineral valuation. Production, inventory, operator, lease terms, and what each one actually means in practice.
Read the guide  →
Market Pulse

Bakken status, April 2026

The Bakken produced approximately 1.18 million barrels per day of crude oil in March 2026, the most recent month with confirmed data, roughly flat against February and modestly below year-ago levels. Per-rig productivity continues to improve even as the active rig count has trended lower over the past twelve months. For McKenzie, Dunn, and Mountrail mineral owners, the practical takeaway is sustained operator focus on infill drilling within the most productive Three Forks and Middle Bakken intervals rather than aggressive expansion onto the play margins.

12 month oil production trend
1,180
thousand barrels per day
Latest month
+5(+0.4%)
thousand barrels per day
Month over month
-10(-0.8%)
thousand barrels per day
Year over year
Last updated April 2026. Source: US Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook (April 2026).