Mt. Simon Sandstone Mineral Rights

What Is the Mt. Simon Sandstone?

The Mt. Simon Sandstone is a Cambrian-age (~500 million years) sandstone formation that underlies most of the Illinois Basin at depths of 3,000 to 8,000 feet. The Mt. Simon is not a productive oil and gas reservoir — its pore space contains saline brine, not hydrocarbons. But its enormous storage capacity, broad areal extent, and reliable confinement by overlying Eau Claire Shale make it the primary geologic CO2 sequestration target across the midwestern United States.

The Wabash Valley Resources CCS hub targets the Mt. Simon for permanent sequestration of captured CO2 from industrial sources. Multiple other Class VI permits across Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky are also pursuing Mt. Simon storage.

Mineral Rights vs Pore Space Rights

Because the Mt. Simon is not productive of oil or gas, traditional mineral rights typically do not address it. The relevant ownership concept is pore space rights, which most Illinois Basin states (Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky) generally allocate to the surface owner.

For mineral owners, the Mt. Simon's CCS use does not directly generate royalty income but may generate indirect benefit through:

Required notification during EPA Class VI permitting

Coordination with existing oil and gas operations in shallower zones

Potential lease language additions covering CO2 sequestration and 45Q allocation

Mineral Rights in Mt. Simon CCS Areas

Buckhead provides a free written offer. Our offer comes at no cost and no obligation.