Careers

Leasing Agent Job Summary:

Conduct negotiations with mineral owners to acquire oil and gas leases and mineral purchases. Serve as a liaison between the client and mineral owners.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Manage multiple negotiations.
• Keep a detailed log of contact attempts and progress.
• Ability to use online resources to locate contact information.
• Draft documents.
• Basic title research. Includes locating vesting documents and tax assessment data.
• Ability to understand title and heirship reporting.
• Draft leasing reports for internal review by DPS and the client.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Strong negotiation skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to prepare well-written and accurate documents and reports.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalency required.
• At least one year of leasing experience. DPS will note in job posting if no experience is required.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to legally drive to meetings with mineral owners and public offices for research.
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
• Visual acuity to read records and documents.

Title Agent Job Summary:

Title Agent will locate and analyze public and private records in order to determine surface, mineral, leasehold, and coal ownership. Agent will compile any and all documents pertaining to property titles and ownership history.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Conduct extensive title research through the compiling of deeds, leases, judgments, mortgages and other encumbrances to generate reports or abstracts on the oil and gas ownership underlying properties in PA, OH and WV.
• Research current and historic well data to determine if all or a portion of a property is held by production.
• Verify leasehold ownership through the research and analysis of leases and subsequent assignments, farm outs, DPUs, JVs, JOAs, etc.
• Acquire maps or drawings from surveyor/assessor’s offices.
• Deed plot and utilize historic farm maps to verify location of subject property.
• Draft ownership reports for internal review by DPS and/or third-party legal affiliates.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to use findings to prepare well-written, accurate reports.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong research, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, deed plotting and/or related software.

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalency required.
• Successful completion of title search training course, OR;
• At least one year of title research experience.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Prolonged periods of working and pulling books in the courthouse.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
• Must be able to legally drive to public offices for searches.
• Visual acuity to read records and documents.

Heirship Agent Job Summary:

Heirship Agent will conduct extensive genealogical research in order to determine the heirs and assigns of surface, mineral, leasehold, and/or coal owners. Agent will compile any and all documents pertaining to ownership history.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Follow the Genealogical Proof Standard or client directed search guidelines to conduct research and generate heirship reports on the oil and gas ownership underlying properties in PA, OH and WV.
• Acquire copies of relevant estate documents and genealogical records.
• Verify all located heirs through the research and analysis of documentation recorded in the subject county.
• Draft flowcharts and ownership reports for internal review by DPS and/or third-party legal affiliates.
• Comply with company policies and adhere to client specific guidelines and preferences.
• Provide updates weekly via email and/or any other requested platforms.
• Perform other work-related duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Comprehensive understanding of legal intestate succession, including PA, OH and WV Intestate Laws.
• Ability to accurately calculate fractional interests devised through complex heirship succession.
• Understanding of genealogical study and Genealogical Proof Standard.
• Proficient with genealogical research databases such as Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent research, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Must be self-starter with ability to work independently.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, including flowcharting software Microsoft Visio.

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalency required.
• At least one year of heirship specific research experience.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• May be required to commute to office(s).
• Visual acuity to read records and documents.

Curative Agent Job Summary:

Curative Agent will review legal documents pertaining to mineral and leasehold ownership in order to clear unit laterals for drilling. Agent will populate spreadsheets and draft accurate reports that clearly identify all issues that may pose a risk to drilling.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Conduct extensive review of title opinions, abstracts, oil and gas leases, deeds, estate documents, tax assessments, judgments, mortgages, liens and other encumbrances, heirship research, etc.
• Responsible for identifying title defects and other curative requirements and formulating curative solutions.
• Follow project directives in drafting curative memorandums and other deliverables.
• Verify leasehold ownership through the analysis of assignments, farmouts, DPUs, JVs, JOAs, etc.
• Review current and historic well data to determine if all or a portion of a property is held by production.
• Accurately calculate WI, NRI, fractional ownership interests associated with complex heirships, etc.
• Obtain curative documents and copies of relevant records in accordance with client directives.
• Comply with company policies and adhere to client specific guidelines and preferences.
• Provide updates regularly via email and/or any other requested platforms.
• Perform other work-related duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Must be a self-starter with ability to work independently.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalency required.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree is preferred.
• Juris Doctor degree or previous in-house experience preferred.
• Minimum 2-5 years of extensive title and curative experience.
• Comprehensive understanding of oil and gas law and intestate succession statutes in WV, PA, and OH.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Visual acuity to read records and documents.
• May be required to commute to office(s).

Lease Analyst Job Summary:

The Lease Analyst is responsible for the review and analysis of oil and gas leases and related documents along with title and heirship documents for the purpose of verifying accuracy, summarizing obligations and determining ownership.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Prepare and process land related electronic and hard copy files.
• Review leases and other land documents for accuracy.
• Review title and heirship reports.
• Confirm and summarize surface, oil and gas, coal and leasehold ownership.
• Collaborate with DPS Land Team, including Project Managers, Land Agents and Heirship Agents.
• Prepare documents for recording, such as memorandums of lease, leases, deeds, ratifications, DPUs, etc.
• Maintain and organize status of leases and other land related documents on a weekly basis.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong understanding of oil and gas lease terms.
• Working knowledge of lease and title related documents, including but not limited to leases, deeds, amendments, ratifications, trust documents, wills and estates, etc.
• Exemplary planning and time management skills.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize daily workload.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• High level verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalency required. College degree preferred.
• Prior experience in the oil and gas industry, preferably in lease/land administration.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to legally drive to public offices.
• Visual acuity to read records and documents.