Buckhead Energy purchases CRC-operated mineral rights across California including Elk Hills, Wilmington, Buena Vista Hills, and all CRC operating areas.
Get a competitive cash offer for your California Resources Corporation mineral rights
Start NowOwning mineral rights operated by California Resources Corporation comes with unique complexities that many owners prefer to convert to immediate cash.
California's oil and gas regulatory environment is among the most stringent in the nation. CalGEM (California Geologic Energy Management Division) imposes permitting requirements, setback rules, and operational restrictions that directly affect production timelines and volumes.
Selling allows you to convert uncertain future production into guaranteed cash today, removing regulatory risk from your portfolio.
After emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020, CRC restructured its operations and balance sheet significantly. While the company has stabilized, some mineral owners prefer the certainty of a lump-sum payment over continued exposure to an operator that went through reorganization.
Buckhead Energy provides a clean exit with a competitive cash offer regardless of CRC's corporate history.
CRC's 2024 acquisition of Aera Energy -- the Shell and ExxonMobil joint venture -- made CRC the dominant force in California oil production. If your minerals were previously operated by Aera, your operator has changed to CRC. Transitions between operators can create confusion around division orders, royalty payments, and lease administration.
Simplify your mineral ownership by selling to Buckhead Energy during the integration period.
Many CRC-operated fields have been producing for decades, with some exceeding 100 years of production history. Mature fields rely on enhanced recovery techniques like steam injection that carry higher operating costs, which can impact the net revenue interest mineral owners receive.
Lock in value now before natural decline curves further reduce future royalty income.
We purchase mineral rights across every county and field where California Resources Corporation operates.
Kern County is CRC's largest operating area and the heart of California oil production. CRC operates major fields here including Elk Hills (the former Naval Petroleum Reserve), Buena Vista Hills, and Lost Hills. The 2024 Aera Energy acquisition added significant additional Kern County acreage including properties in the Midway-Sunset and Kern River fields.
Elk Hills Field -- Former Naval Petroleum Reserve, 2.2B+ BOE produced
Buena Vista Hills -- Major conventional production
Lost Hills Field -- Western Kern County operations
Midway-Sunset Field -- California's largest oil field (via Aera)
Kern River Field -- Steam flood operations (via Aera)
Multiple mature fields -- Enhanced recovery operations
CRC operates some of the most historically significant oil fields in the United States within the Los Angeles Basin. The Wilmington Field and Long Beach operations represent major urban oil production assets with complex operating environments and strict local regulations.
Wilmington Field -- One of the largest U.S. oil fields
Long Beach operations -- Urban production complex
LA Basin fields -- Established production infrastructure
Urban setback compliance -- Strict local regulations
CRC maintains operations in the Ventura Basin, one of California's historic oil-producing regions. Fields in Ventura County feature both conventional and heavy oil production with established infrastructure dating back decades.
Ventura Basin fields -- Historic California production
Conventional operations -- Mature field management
Central coast production -- Coastal basin operations
Enhanced recovery -- Steam flood and waterflooding
CRC holds acreage and operations in Santa Barbara and Monterey counties, where production faces additional regulatory scrutiny due to coastal proximity. These areas present unique challenges for mineral owners including heightened permitting requirements and local opposition to drilling activities.
Santa Barbara operations -- Coastal basin production
Cat Canyon Field -- Heavy oil production
Monterey County -- Central California operations
San Ardo Field -- Significant Monterey County production
California mineral rights require specialized valuation expertise due to unique state-specific factors
Current monthly royalty income and production volumes
Historical decline curve analysis across CRC fields
Heavy and medium crude pricing differentials (not WTI)
Net revenue interest and royalty rate verification
CalGEM regulatory environment and permitting outlook
County-level drilling ordinances and setback requirements
Enhanced recovery method (steam injection, waterflood) costs
Aera Energy integration status and production impact
Remaining recoverable reserves in mature fields
Enhanced oil recovery potential and current sweep efficiency
Well density and infill drilling opportunities
API gravity and crude quality impact on pricing
Lease terms, royalty rates, and depth restrictions
Title chain and mineral interest fractional ownership
Post-bankruptcy lease continuity and division order status
Pooling and unitization agreements in CRC-operated units
Buying California mineral rights requires deep understanding of the state's unique operating environment. Buckhead Energy brings that expertise to every transaction.
We understand CalGEM's permitting processes, well stimulation treatment regulations, and idle well management requirements -- factors that directly impact how we value CRC-operated minerals.
California crude trades at a differential to WTI due to API gravity and transportation costs. We accurately model these differentials in our valuations, ensuring you receive fair market value.
CRC operates fields with 100+ years of production history. Our engineering team has extensive experience modeling enhanced recovery operations and forecasting remaining reserves in mature California fields.
California mineral title can be complex, particularly in older fields where mineral interests have been subdivided over generations. Our title team handles the intricacies so you don't have to.
We close purchases in 30 to 45 days on average. Our familiarity with California county recording offices and CRC's division order process streamlines the transaction timeline.
We walk you through exactly how we arrive at our offer price. No hidden fees, no last-minute adjustments. The offer you accept is the amount you receive at closing.
Buckhead Energy makes selling your California Resources Corporation mineral rights straightforward.
Fill out our contact form or call us directly. Share your CRC royalty statements, county and field location, and any lease documents you have available.
Our team analyzes your CRC production data, field characteristics, and California-specific factors to prepare a competitive cash offer, typically within days.
Once you accept our offer, we handle the title examination, prepare all conveyance documents, and coordinate with the California county recorder's office.
Receive your lump-sum payment at closing. We handle notifying CRC of the ownership transfer and updating division orders on your behalf.
Common questions from mineral owners with CRC-operated properties
Contact Buckhead Energy for a free valuation of your CRC-operated mineral rights. We need your most recent royalty statement, the county where your minerals are located, and your lease or division order information. Our team evaluates your minerals based on current production, field characteristics, and California-specific factors, then provides a competitive cash offer typically within days. The entire process from initial contact to closing generally takes 30 to 45 days.
CRC emerged from Chapter 11 in late 2020 with a restructured balance sheet and has resumed normal operations including royalty payments to mineral owners. Your mineral rights and lease terms were generally preserved through the bankruptcy process. Buckhead Energy evaluates CRC-operated minerals based on current production volumes, field potential, and the company's ongoing operational capabilities rather than its historical financial difficulties.
CRC completed the acquisition of Aera Energy in 2024, absorbing the former Shell and ExxonMobil joint venture into its operations. If your minerals were previously operated by Aera Energy, California Resources Corporation is now your operator. This means your royalty payments, division orders, and owner relations contacts have transitioned to CRC. Buckhead Energy purchases minerals across both legacy CRC and former Aera Energy properties and can help you navigate the transition.
Buckhead Energy purchases mineral rights across all CRC operating areas in California. This includes Kern County (Elk Hills, Buena Vista Hills, Lost Hills, Midway-Sunset, Kern River), Los Angeles County (Wilmington, Long Beach), Ventura County, Santa Barbara County (Cat Canyon), and Monterey County (San Ardo). Whether your minerals are in CRC's legacy properties or former Aera Energy fields, we are actively buying.
Buckhead Energy typically provides an initial valuation within days of receiving your information. Once terms are agreed upon, the closing process generally takes 30 to 45 days depending on title review complexity and county recording timelines in California. Our experience with California county recorder offices and CRC's division order process helps ensure a smooth and efficient transaction.
Get a competitive cash offer for your California Resources Corporation mineral rights. No obligation, no fees, and we close in as few as 30 days.
Disclaimer: Buckhead Energy is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by California Resources Corporation (CRC). CRC, California Resources Corporation, and related trademarks are the property of their respective owners. This page is provided for informational purposes to mineral owners considering selling their mineral rights. Buckhead Energy is an independent mineral rights acquisition company.