621 wells across 98 recorded operators, with 0 drilling permits filed in the 24-month window at summary refresh.
Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
Quick answer: The Michigan Basin formation in Illinois has 621 wells on record across 98 recorded operators, with 0 drilling permits filed in the 24-month window at source refresh. Its operators with the most wells on record are Il State Geological Survey, Illinois State Geological Survey, Miller J P Art Well, Isgs and Keiferassociates. Source: Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
The operators with the most well counts targeting the Michigan Basin formation in Illinois:
| # | Operator | Wells in Michigan Basin |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Il State Geological Survey | 193 |
| 2 | Illinois State Geological Survey | 74 |
| 3 | Miller J P Art Well | 28 |
| 4 | Isgs | 26 |
| 5 | Keiferassociates | 25 |
| 6 | Northern Illinois Gas Company | 24 |
| 7 | Alco Oil & Gas | 16 |
| 8 | Geiger S B Company | 13 |
| 9 | Perry Edward | 10 |
| 10 | Snelton Brothers | 10 |
The Illinois counties with the most Michigan Basin activity:
Lake, Cook, Mc Henry, Du Page, Will
The Michigan Basin is not among the Illinois formations tracked separately in the yearly permit mix, so only statewide permit counts are shown.
| Year | State permits | This formation | Share | Median lateral |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 190 | — | — | — |
| 2025 | 247 | — | — | — |
| 2024 | 309 | — | — | — |
| 2023 | 238 | — | — | — |
| 2022 | 325 | — | — | — |
| 2021 | 262 | — | — | — |
| 2020 | 207 | — | — | — |
| 2019 | 405 | — | — | — |
Share of each year’s Illinois drilling permits by target formation, for the formations with the most permits.
| Year | Illinois Basin | Wisconsin Arch |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 100% | — |
| 2025 | 97.6% | 2.4% |
| 2024 | 97.4% | 2.6% |
| 2023 | 100% | — |
| 2022 | 100% | — |
| 2021 | 100% | — |
| 2020 | 97.6% | 2.4% |
| 2019 | 100% | — |
Buckhead Energy computes every figure on this page from grouped records in public oil and gas data. The page shows counts, sums, percentiles and indexes only; it does not list individual wells, leases or permits.
Counts under 3 wells and percentiles under 5 wells are withheld; totals are floors.
Share is the formation’s permits as a percent of the state’s permits that year. Median lateral length is published only when at least 5 permits stand behind it.
Last computed: 2026-11-01. These figures are informational only and are not a valuation of any mineral or royalty interest.
The Michigan Basin is a formation/play group recorded in Illinois, with 621 wells on file across 98 distinct operators of record. Operators have filed 0 drilling permits targeting the Michigan Basin in the 24-month window at summary refresh. These are stored records, not a live measure of drilling.
Recorded formation activity provides regional context. It does not establish ownership, future production, royalty payments or a value for an individual tract. Consult qualified professionals about your specific interest.
621 wells target the Michigan Basin in Illinois, worked by 98 recorded operators, per Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
The Michigan Basin operators with the most wells on record in Illinois are Il State Geological Survey, Illinois State Geological Survey, Miller J P Art Well, Isgs and Keiferassociates. The full ranking is in the table on this page. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
Operators filed 0 drilling permits targeting the Michigan Basin in the 24-month window at source refresh, per Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
Operators filed 0 new drilling permits targeting the Michigan Basin in Illinois in the 24-month window at source refresh. New permits and spuds record reported activity stages; they do not establish ongoing drilling, per Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
Michigan Basin activity in Illinois includes 621 wells on record and 98 recorded operators, with 0 drilling permits filed in the 24-month window at source refresh — from Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
The primary counties recorded for Michigan Basin in Illinois are Lake, Cook, Mc Henry, Du Page, Will. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
Value depends on your net mineral acres or royalty decimal, the operator, the remaining drilling locations, and current oil and gas prices. This page is informational only, not a valuation. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
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Get Your Free Written OfferFormation: Michigan Basin
State: Illinois
Total wells: 621
Recorded operators: 98
Permits 24mo: 0
Summary date: 2026-11-01
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