Mineral Management Excellence in the San Juan Basin
The San Juan Basin spans the Four Corners region of New Mexico and Colorado, representing one of the most historically significant natural gas-producing regions in North America. With decades of production history, mineral ownership in the basin often involves complex title chains and diverse working interest arrangements.
Valor provides comprehensive mineral management services tailored to the unique characteristics of the San Juan Basin. Whether you own interests in conventional gas wells, coalbed methane production, or emerging tight gas developments, our team delivers the expertise needed to maximize the value of your mineral assets.
Basin Overview
- Location: NW New Mexico, SW Colorado
- Primary Product: Natural Gas
- Key Formations: Mesaverde, Dakota, Fruitland Coal
- Basin Type: Mature Conventional + CBM
- Key Counties: San Juan, Rio Arriba, La Plata
Our San Juan Basin Services
Lease Negotiation
Expert negotiation with major San Juan Basin operators including ConocoPhillips, Hilcorp, and BP. We secure competitive bonus payments, favorable royalty rates, and protective lease terms.
Royalty Auditing
Comprehensive auditing of natural gas royalty payments including gas processing deductions, gathering fees, and compression charges. We recover underpayments and ensure ongoing accuracy.
Title Research
Deep expertise in San Juan Basin title work including complex ownership chains, federal and state mineral interests, and Native American trust lands. We ensure your interests are properly documented.
CBM Asset Management
Specialized expertise in coalbed methane production, water disposal requirements, and the unique operational characteristics of CBM wells in the Fruitland Coal formation.
Regulatory Compliance
Navigation of New Mexico OCD and Colorado OGCC requirements, federal BLM lease obligations, and environmental compliance. We keep your interests in good standing.
Production Analysis
Monitoring of well performance, decline curve analysis, and identification of optimization opportunities in mature gas fields. We help maintain value as production evolves.
Understanding the San Juan Basin
Production History & Current Activity
The San Juan Basin has been producing natural gas since the early 1900s and was instrumental in developing coalbed methane production technology in the 1980s. While classified as a mature basin, it continues to produce significant volumes of natural gas.
Current activity focuses on optimizing existing production, infill drilling in proven areas, and development of tight gas resources in the Mancos Shale. Major operators continue to invest in infrastructure and well maintenance to extend the productive life of their assets.
Key Producing Formations
- Mesaverde Group: Tight gas sandstones with significant remaining reserves
- Dakota Formation: Conventional gas production from sandstone reservoirs
- Fruitland Coal: Prolific coalbed methane producer, one of the first commercial CBM plays
- Pictured Cliffs: Shallow gas production throughout the basin
- Mancos Shale: Emerging unconventional play with development potential
Geographic Coverage
New Mexico Counties
Primary San Juan Basin coverage in New Mexico:
- San Juan County
- Rio Arriba County
- Sandoval County
- McKinley County
Colorado Counties
Primary San Juan Basin coverage in Colorado:
- La Plata County
- Archuleta County
- Montezuma County
Frequently Asked Questions
The San Juan Basin is one of the oldest and most prolific natural gas-producing regions in the United States. Located in the Four Corners area of New Mexico and Colorado, it contains significant conventional gas reserves, coalbed methane deposits, and emerging tight gas plays. The basin's long production history means many mineral interests have complex ownership histories requiring specialized title expertise.
The San Juan Basin primarily produces natural gas, including conventional gas from the Mesaverde and Dakota formations, coalbed methane from the Fruitland Coal, and some oil production. The basin was a pioneer in coalbed methane development and remains one of the nation's leading producers of this unconventional gas resource.
A significant portion of minerals in the San Juan Basin are federally owned and managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Federal mineral leases have different terms than private leases, including set royalty rates, specific lease durations, and additional environmental requirements. Many areas also involve Native American tribal lands with their own leasing frameworks.
San Juan Basin mineral owners often face challenges including declining production in mature fields, complex federal and state regulatory requirements, split estate issues between surface and mineral owners, and navigating the transition as operators shift focus to more profitable basins. Professional management helps optimize value from existing production and identify new development opportunities.
Valor provides comprehensive mineral management for San Juan Basin owners including lease negotiation with major operators, royalty auditing to ensure accurate payments, division order analysis, regulatory compliance monitoring, and strategic planning to maximize long-term value. We have deep experience with both New Mexico and Colorado mineral regulations.
Ready to Optimize Your San Juan Basin Minerals?
Contact Valor today for a free consultation on your New Mexico or Colorado mineral interests.
Schedule Your Free Consultation