Independent profiles of the operators most actively drilling the Permian Basin and Appalachia — who they are, where they're permitting, and what it means for your minerals. Data as of August 25, 2026.
American Royalty Buyers maintains independent, dated profiles of the 34 operators most actively permitting the Permian Basin, Appalachia, and the Williston Basin, ranked by new drilling permits over the trailing 90 days (May 27 – August 25, 2026) from Texas RRC, New Mexico OCD, and Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia state filings via Energy Domain. Each profile explains who the operator is, the payor names its royalties arrive under, and where it is currently drilling — so a mineral owner can recognize the operator on a check stub and understand what its activity means for their interest. ARB is an independent buyer, not affiliated with any operator listed, and provides a free, no-obligation valuation.
If you receive royalty checks, the operator's name on your check stub is one of the most important facts about your minerals — it tells you who is developing your acreage and how active they are. Below are the operators leading Permian Basin and Appalachian permitting over the trailing 90 days (May 27 – August 25, 2026), ranked by new drilling permits filed (source: Texas RRC, New Mexico OCD, and Ohio/Pennsylvania/West Virginia state filings via Energy Domain).
American Royalty Buyers is an independent mineral buyer and is not affiliated with any operator listed below.
See the full ranked leaderboard of the most active Permian operators →
Don't see your operator? ARB buys mineral and royalty interests under any operator, in 28 states. Request a free, no-obligation valuation and we'll evaluate your specific interest.
You're welcome to cite these operator profiles. Suggested format: "Oil & Gas Operators, American Royalty Buyers, data as of August 25, 2026 (americanroyaltybuyers.com/operators)." Underlying data: Texas RRC, New Mexico OCD, and Ohio/Pennsylvania/West Virginia state permit filings via Energy Domain. Updated quarterly.
Operators are ranked by the number of new drilling permits they filed over the trailing 90 days (May 27 – August 25, 2026), compiled from the Texas Railroad Commission, New Mexico Oil Conservation Division, and Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia state filings via Energy Domain. Permit counts are the clearest public signal of where an operator is putting capital next — more forward-looking than production, which reflects past drilling. The directory is updated quarterly.
An active, well-capitalized operator drilling near your tract is one of the strongest drivers of mineral and royalty value: it means new wells, new royalty income, and more competition for your interest if you sell. A tract under an operator with deep remaining inventory and recent permits is generally worth more than one under an operator that has stopped drilling. Each profile here shows how active its operator has been over the last 90 days and in which counties.
No. American Royalty Buyers is an independent buyer of mineral and royalty interests and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any operator profiled here. These are factual, independently compiled profiles built from public regulatory filings, provided as a resource for mineral owners — who can request a free, no-obligation valuation of their interest at any time.
Yes. This directory covers the operators most actively permitting the Permian, Appalachian, and Williston basins, but ARB buys mineral and royalty interests under any operator, in 28 states. If you do not see your operator, request a free valuation and ARB will research the operator, formations, and production tied to your specific acreage.