This year’s National Association of Royalty Owners (NARO) National Convention was held in Houston and Mercer Capital’s Bryce Erickson, ASA, MRICS and David Smith, CFA, ASA had the privilege of attending.  NARO has represented the interests of oil and gas royalty owners for over 40 years, seeking to support, advocate and educate for the empowerment of mineral and royalty owners.

NARO’s conventions are held to help mineral owners learn more about mineral management, hear from industry experts, and to be made aware of legislative developments affecting mineral owners.

The convention featured a keynote address by Nancy McCaskell, President of Masonboro Energy, LLC, on key considerations and challenges in hiring a landman.  Breakout sessions and panel discussions addressed a wide range of relevant topics including the basics of mineral ownership, the growing demand for lithium, the learning curve of mineral and royalty ownership, informational content of division orders, unlocking the Utica shale, upstream trends, retained acreage, the intersection of natural gas flaring and crypto-mining, escheated funds, an update on carbon capture, negotiating cost free royalties, measurement and hydrocarbon allocation audits, accommodation of surface mineral estates, estate planning for mineral and royalty owners, and fraud identification.

In addition to offering beneficial education opportunities, the event served as a valuable networking opportunity, connecting mineral and royalty owners with fellow owners as well as professional service providers specific to these assets. For Mercer Capital, it was an opportunity to meet and engage with those active in the management of mineral and royalty assets while gaining insights into the challenges of mineral ownership and the continued evolution of the energy industry’s landscape. We are proud to have been part of this year’s event and look forward to seeing how innovation will continue to shape the future of mineral and royalty ownership.

Resources for Royalty Owners

Mercer Capital has extensive experience valuing oil and gas mineral and royalty interests. Below are a few resources for you that we hope you will find helpful.

• Mineral Aggregator Valuation Multiples Study Released (with Market Data as of September 3, 2024)
• What Does the Valuation Process Entail for an Oil and Gas Royalty Interest?
• Mineral Interest Owners: How to Know What You Own
• Before Selling Your Oil and Gas Royalty Interest, Read This
• How to Value an Oil & Gas Royalty Interest Whitepaper

We encourage you to extend your wealth planning dialogue to include valuation of any mineral interests, because sooner or later, a valuation is likely to happen. Proactive planning and valuation services can alleviate the potential for a negative surprise. For more information on the valuation of mineral and royalty interests, please reach out to one of our professionals.