Comparing Illinois Basin and Permian Basin mineral rights — geology, production characteristics, valuations, and operator activity.
Get Your Free Mineral ValuationTL;DR The Illinois Basin and Permian Basin represent two ends of the U.S. oil and gas production spectrum. Illinois Basin is mature conventional waterflood production at 1,500-3,000 feet across IL/IN/KY. Permian is intensive unconventional horizontal Wolfcamp/Bone Spring/Spraberry production at 7,000-12,000 feet across West Texas and SE New Mexico. Per-NRA pricing is materially higher in the Permian reflecting the different production economics; production volatility and decline rates also differ substantially.
The Illinois Basin and the Permian Basin represent two ends of the U.S. oil and gas production spectrum — Illinois Basin is mature conventional waterflood production at modest depths; Permian is intensive unconventional horizontal development at significant depths.
Geography: Illinois Basin = IL, IN, KY. Permian = West Texas + SE New Mexico.
Production type: Illinois Basin = conventional waterflood. Permian = unconventional horizontal Wolfcamp / Bone Spring / Spraberry.
Depth: Illinois Basin 1,500-3,000 ft. Permian 7,000-12,000 ft.
Hydrocarbon profile: Illinois Basin = predominantly oil. Permian = oil + gas + NGL.
Per-NRA pricing: Illinois Basin per-NRA pricing is materially lower than Permian's reflecting the different production economics.
Operator base: Illinois Basin = small private independents. Permian = large public producers (Diamondback, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Permian Resources).
Volatility: Illinois Basin production is stable, low-decline. Permian production has steep initial decline but high IP rates.