1,789 wells across 322 active operators, with 0 drilling permits filed in the last 24 months.
Refreshed monthly from ECMC well-header records. Data current as of 2026-08-23.
Quick answer: The Paradox Basin formation in Colorado has 1,789 wells on record across 322 active operators, with 0 drilling permits filed in the last 24 months (as of 2026-08-23). Its most active operators by well count are Kinder Morgan Co2 Co. LLC, American Helium LLC, Highpoint Operating, Mesa Verde Drilling and Bush Drlg Company. Compiled from Colorado Energy & Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) well-header records, refreshed monthly.
The operators with the most well counts targeting the Paradox Basin formation in Colorado:
| # | Operator | Wells in Paradox Basin |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kinder Morgan Co2 CO LLC | 241 |
| 2 | American Helium LLC | 161 |
| 3 | Highpoint Operating | 67 |
| 4 | Mesa Verde Drilling | 60 |
| 5 | Bush Drlg Company | 47 |
| 6 | Seeley Oil Company | 34 |
| 7 | Shell Oil Company | 31 |
| 8 | Wright Robertllc | 30 |
| 9 | Patara Oil & Gas | 29 |
| 10 | Cabot Oil & Gas | 27 |
The Colorado counties with the most Paradox Basin activity:
Montezuma, San Miguel, Dolores, Montrose, La Plata
The Paradox Basin is one of Colorado's active oil and gas plays, with 1,789 wells on file across 322 distinct operators of record. Operators have filed 0 drilling permits targeting the Paradox Basin in the last 24 months — a measure of how active the play is right now versus its historical baseline.
For mineral owners with interests in Montezuma, San Miguel, Dolores, Montrose, La Plata, knowing whether your tract sits within an active Paradox Basin footprint is a foundational valuation question. Active formations with consistent permit flow command premium pricing; legacy formations with steady but declining production are valued differently.
See all Colorado oil & gas formations & plays · Download the Colorado formations dataset (CSV)
1,789 wells target the Paradox Basin in Colorado, worked by 322 active operators, per ECMC well-header records (as of 2026-08-23).
By well count, the most active Paradox Basin operators in Colorado are Kinder Morgan Co2 Co. LLC, American Helium LLC, Highpoint Operating, Mesa Verde Drilling and Bush Drlg Company. The full ranking is in the table on this page.
Operators filed 0 drilling permits targeting the Paradox Basin in the last 24 months — a live measure of current activity, per ECMC records.
Operators filed 0 new drilling permits targeting the Paradox Basin in Colorado over the last 24 months. New permits and spuds are the clearest signal of active Paradox Basin drilling, per ECMC records (as of 2026-08-23).
Paradox Basin activity in Colorado currently spans 1,789 wells on record and 322 active operators, led by Kinder Morgan Co2 Co. LLC, American Helium LLC, Highpoint Operating, Mesa Verde Drilling and Bush Drlg Company, with 0 drilling permits filed in the last 24 months — refreshed monthly from Colorado Energy & Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) well-header records (as of 2026-08-23).
The most active Paradox Basin counties in Colorado are Montezuma, San Miguel, Dolores, Montrose, La Plata.
Value depends on your net mineral acres or royalty decimal, the operator, the remaining drilling locations, and current oil and gas prices. Buckhead Energy checks your tract against current Paradox Basin well and permit data and puts a free, no-obligation written offer in writing — this page is informational only, not a valuation.
Cite this dataset
Permanently archived and citable via a DOI on Zenodo (CERN), under a CC BY 4.0 license. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21442884 · View on Zenodo
License & attribution: This data is licensed CC BY 4.0. You are free to share and adapt it, including commercially, provided you credit “Buckhead Energy” and link back to this page or the DOI above.
Get a free written offer based on your specific tract, operator, and the current Paradox Basin activity in your area.
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Formation: Paradox Basin
State: Colorado
Total wells: 1,789
Active operators: 322
Permits 24mo: 0
Last refresh: 2026-08-23