About this role
Job Summary
The Subsurface Landman plays a critical role in supporting exploration and development activities by managing subsurface rights, negotiating agreements, ensuring compliance, and coordinating with geoscience, engineering, and legal teams. This position focuses on securing the rights necessary for drilling, pooling, and unitization, while maintaining strong relationships with mineral owners, regulatory agencies, and internal/external stakeholders.
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Key Responsibilities
- Identify, research, and verify mineral ownership using county records, title documents, and land databases.
- Negotiate Oil & Gas leases, amendments, top leases, and subsurface agreements.
- Cure title defects by coordinating with title attorneys, abstractors, and landowners.
- Prepare mineral ownership reports, title summaries, and run sheets.
- Prepare and file regulatory applications related to spacing, pooling, unitization, and drilling permits.
- Ensure compliance with state oil & gas regulations and company land standards.
- Track obligations such as shut-in payments, lease expirations, royalty provisions, and contractual deadlines.
- Work closely with geologists, geophysicists, reservoir engineers, and drilling teams to support development planning.
- Provide subsurface land insights for prospect generation, well planning, and acreage evaluations.
- Participate in asset evaluations, including due diligence on acquisitions and divestitures.
- Serve as a primary point of contact for mineral and royalty owners.
- Communicate project plans, negotiate terms, and resolve conflicts or concerns.
- Maintain positive, professional relationships that support long-term operational success.
- Maintain accurate digital land records, maps, and lease data.
- Prepare contracts, exhibits, and correspondence using land software.
- Support internal audits and reporting requirements.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelors degree in Energy Management, Petroleum Land Management, Business, or related field, or equivalent industry experience.
- 5+ years of experience as Petroleum Landman with either a Major and/or Independent Oil & Gas Company.
- Previous surface and right-of-way experience preferred.
- Knowledge of State Regulatory rules and procedures.
- Strong understanding of oil & gas title, land law, leases, pooling, and unitization practices.
- Experience reading and interpreting legal descriptions, surveys, and title documents.
- Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Proficiency with land systems and mapping tools.
Preferred Qualifications:
- RPL or CPL certification through AAPL.
- Prior experience in unconventional resource plays.
- Familiarity with state-specific regulations.
- Experience working directly with subsurface teams on development planning.