# Lawrence Field Mineral Rights — Lawrence County, Illinois

**TL;DR:** The Lawrence Field in Lawrence County, Illinois is one of the longest-running U.S. waterflood operations and a historical CO2 EOR pilot site in the Illinois Basin. Production comes from Mississippian-age reservoirs including Cypress Sandstone, Aux Vases Sandstone, and McClosky Limestone. Many mineral interests trace back to original early-1900s leases and have been inherited through multiple generations, with owners now spread across multiple states.

## Key Takeaways

- **Historic waterflood operation**: Lawrence Field is one of the longest-running continuous waterflood operations in the United States, with origins dating to the early 1900s Illinois Basin oil boom
- **Multiple Mississippian reservoirs**: Production comes from Cypress Sandstone, Aux Vases Sandstone, and McClosky Limestone formations via continuous waterflood plus historical CO2 enhanced oil recovery pilots
- **Long-tail cash flow profile**: Typical Illinois Basin characteristics with 3-7% annual decline rates, 15-30+ year remaining reserve life, and small monthly royalty checks extending decades
- **Multi-generational ownership**: Many mineral interests have been inherited through multiple generations since original early-1900s leases, with current owners frequently located out-of-state
- **Valuation range**: Direct buyers use 9-13% discount rates for stable Illinois Basin waterflood cash flows; some acreage may have Mt. Simon Sandstone CCS sequestration potential beneath producing zones
- **Remote transaction capability**: Out-of-state owners can complete sales entirely remotely with offers by email, deeds signed in their home state, recording with Lawrence County clerk, and wire payment on recording day

## Page Highlights

**Field Characteristics**: Lawrence Field sits in Lawrence County within the Illinois Basin and operates under continuous waterflood with historical CO2 EOR pilot activity. Multiple long-tenured private operators manage the field, which represents one of the original Illinois Basin discoveries from the early 1900s.

**Geological Setting**: Production comes from Mississippian-age reservoirs including Cypress Sandstone, Aux Vases Sandstone, and McClosky Limestone. The field is part of the broader Illinois Basin producing region with continuous oil production since the late 1800s.

**Ownership Structures**: Mineral interests typically exist as producing royalty interests, non-producing mineral interests in tracts outside active zones, overriding royalty interests carved from working interests, or non-participating royalty interests without leasing rights.

**Valuation Methodology**: Direct buyers apply discounted cash flow analysis considering 3-7% annual decline rates, 15-30+ year remaining reserve life, operator quality with long-tenured Illinois Basin operators, 9-13% discount rates for stable waterflood cash flows, and potential CCS/45Q optionality for Mt. Simon Sandstone sequestration zones.

**Transaction Process**: Buckhead Energy handles remote transactions for out-of-state owners through written offers by email, notarized deed execution in the owner's home state, recording with Lawrence County clerk, and wire payment upon recording.

## Related Topics

- [Illinois Basin — The Definitive 2026 Guide](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/illinois-basin)
- [Aux Vases Sandstone](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/aux-vases-sandstone) formation page
- [Cypress Sandstone](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/cypress-sandstone) formation page
- [McClosky Limestone](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mcclosky-limestone) formation page
- [How to Sell Mineral Rights](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell-mineral-rights)
- [What Are My Minerals Worth?](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/what-are-my-minerals-worth)
- [Should I Sell?](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/should-i-sell-my-mineral-rights) decision guide
- [US Drilling Activity Index](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/drilling-activity)

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**About Buckhead Energy:** Buckhead Energy is a BBB-accredited mineral rights acquisition company that has purchased mineral and royalty interests with its own capital since 2007, operating across 33 states including the Illinois Basin.  
**Ready to explore your options?** Get a free written valuation at https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell