Sell McKinley County mineral rights
What McKinley County mineral and royalty interests are worth, who buys them, and how to sell directly to a principal buyer with no commission. Every figure is an estimate subject to verification of your specific interest.
Last updated June 2026.
What are McKinley County mineral rights worth?
McKinley County, around Gallup, sits on the southern San Juan Basin. Producing interests are valued on the 36 to 72 times monthly royalty rule, with mature, lower-volume gas and conventional oil production. Estimate, subject to verification.
McKinley County, around Gallup in northwestern New Mexico, reaches the southern San Juan Basin and has a long history of conventional oil and gas along with coal. Production today is mature and lower-volume than the San Juan and Rio Arriba core, so a McKinley County royalty typically pays a smaller, steady check. A very large share of the county is tribal and federal land, so private fee minerals are comparatively scarce and confirming ownership is an important first step before any sale.
McKinley County oil and gas activity
Public state commission records show 1,387 active oil and gas wells in McKinley County . The most recent drilling on record was spudded in 2013. These figures are pulled from the state oil and gas commission and are an activity snapshot, not a measure of any one owner's interest.
Top operators in McKinley County
The most active operators in McKinley County by well count, from the state commission. We name operators because the record is public; this is not an endorsement and implies no relationship.
- Dominion Production Company, LLC (144 wells)
- Robert L Bayless (46 wells)
- Enerdyne, LLC (43 wells)
- SG Interests I LTD (27 wells)
- Mountain States Petroleum Corp (25 wells)
Producing formations in McKinley County
The formations and pools that actually produce in McKinley County, from the well records:
- Gallup
- Dakota
- Mesaverde
- Fruitland Coal
Producing interests here are valued on the standard income multiple, roughly 36 to 72 times the average monthly royalty check. The San Juan Basin is a mature gas play, so value leans on existing production and prices below the Permian oil counties. This is an estimate, subject to verification, not an offer.
How McKinley County minerals are valued
Producing interests anywhere are valued on a multiple of the income they pay: roughly 36 to 72 times your average monthly royalty check, the same as 3 to 6 times your annual royalty. Average your last three to six checks, then multiply. Where you land inside that band depends mostly on how fast your wells decline, plus the operator, royalty rate, and any undeveloped drilling upside. For the full method and a free on-screen estimate, see what are my mineral rights worth.
Who buys mineral rights in McKinley County
McKinley County owners hear from brokers, marketplaces, and direct buyers. A broker lists your interest and takes a commission, usually up to 6 percent of your proceeds. Ironwood Royalty is a principal buyer, which means the offer comes from us and there is no commission in the middle. We show you a value range before we ask for anything, explain the undeveloped upside instead of quietly keeping it, and never use a 72-hour deadline to rush a decision on a generational asset.
How to sell McKinley County minerals
The order of operations is the same everywhere, and it protects you:
- Know your value range before you talk to any buyer.
- Ask every buyer to quote per net royalty acre so offers are truly comparable.
- Ask directly whether the offer accounts for undeveloped drilling upside.
- Confirm the price is firm and not subject to a quiet reduction during due diligence.
See the full walkthrough in how to sell mineral rights. If you inherited the interest, start with our guide for heirs, which covers recording title and the stepped-up basis that can make a near-term sale very tax-efficient.
McKinley County is part of the Permian Basin. For the basin-wide value bands and the other counties we buy in, see the Permian Basin page.
McKinley County mineral rights questions
- How much are McKinley County mineral rights worth?
- Producing McKinley County interests are valued at roughly 36 to 72 times your average monthly royalty check. As mature, lower-volume San Juan Basin acreage, value leans on existing production and generally prices below the Permian oil counties. This is an estimate, not an offer.
- Are my McKinley County minerals private or tribal/federal?
- A large share of McKinley County is tribal and federal land, so privately owned fee minerals are scarce here. Your royalty stub, lease, or a county records search will confirm whether you hold private fee minerals, which are the interests that can be sold.
- Who buys mineral rights in McKinley County, New Mexico?
- Ironwood Royalty buys McKinley County mineral and royalty interests directly from owners as a principal buyer, valuing them on the same income multiple with an honest range up front.
Activity data for McKinley County: New Mexico Oil Conservation Division, active wells (NMOCD ArcGIS public service) (pulled 2026-06-17) . Public record, used with attribution.
See what your McKinley County minerals could be worth
Run a free estimate for an honest on-screen range, then talk it through with a real person. An estimate, not an offer, and never any pressure.