The Land Department

Every royalty check starts with work most people never see. After a lease is signed and a well starts producing, someone has to review title, build the deck, and make sure every owner's decimal interest adds up to a perfect 1.0 before anyone gets paid. That someone is a division order analyst, one of the most important and least understood roles in the land business. Rebekah Stringer, Presiden...

AI gets all the headlines, but the data centers behind it don't run without fuel. Natural gas is a huge part of that story, and so is the land underneath it. Peter Snell, founder and CEO of PetroVybe, joins Brent and Khalil to explain how he's building a natural gas company designed for the AI era from the ground up. They dig into why so much Permian gas stays trapped, why PetroVybe operat...

Kenneth Knott didn't set out to become a landman. His engineering plans got derailed by the 1985 downturn, a friend pulled him into petroleum land management at UL Lafayette, and an ARCO internship hooked him for life. Thirty-nine years later, he just wrapped up a career that included over 25 years at SM Energy, billions in transactions, and a leadership style that kept landmen with him for de...

Every landman is asking the same question right now: what do you actually do with AI? You've watched conference rooms argue about it, you've watched coworkers paste client emails into ChatGPT, and you still don't have a policy that tells anyone where the line is. In this freestyle episode, Brent and Khalil unpack what's actually working in their daily AI use, why most MSAs leave th...

The energy and infrastructure landscape is shifting faster than most land professionals can track. Lithium prices crashed 85% in two years, yet leasing activity stayed strong. The Smackover Formation emerged as a world-class brine source. Data centers from the East Coast are flooding into Texas, unfamiliar with mineral estates and the landmen who navigate them. Regulatory frameworks are still catc...

Energy attorney Ben Holliday breaks down how the oil and gas industry evolved from traditional pooling to today's allocation wells, tackling the complex challenge of drilling long laterals across multiple existing units. From the first Devon allocation well breakthrough to New Mexico's compulsory pooling framework, discover the practical solutions land professionals use to maximize development whi...

Two years after AI entered the conversation, the real question is what’s actually working in the field and what’s still hype. Jerris Johnson returns to share ground-level insight on how AI is being used in land management today, from runsheet generation to document review. This conversation cuts through marketing noise to focus on practical use cases, real implementation challenges, and why measur...

AAPL President Kyle Reynolds sheds light on the landman compensation crisis that's threatening the industry's future. While attorney salaries jumped 76% since 2000, field landmen still earn the same $400-500 day rates they have for the past 25 years. That puts them below the living wage in most markets. Reynolds shares AAPL's strategic plan to address the talent shortage before 40-50% of field lan...

Dudley Land executives review their record-breaking 2025 performance, hitting a 10-year high in business activity, while addressing the critical field landman workforce shortage through strategic rate increases and aggressive hiring plans. Get the inside perspective on leadership transitions, technology development, and 2026 expansion into right-of-way acquisition. What You’ll Learn How Dudley ach...

Two industry experts break down the complete oil and gas M&A due diligence process from both buyer and broker perspectives. Kyle Dubiel from Eagle Mountain and Bryce Winters from Dudley Land Company walk through everything from pre-bid VDR evaluation to post-close integration, sharing real-world insights on team mobilization, defect identification, and timeline management. What You’ll Learn Ho...

After 24 years as a landman, host Brent Broussard finally faced his first deposition—and it opened his eyes to how unprepared most landmen are for litigation. Oil and gas attorneys Lee Carr and Brian Wittpenn share street-smart strategies for avoiding lawsuits, handling depositions, and protecting yourself when litigation becomes inevitable. What You’ll Learn Why avoiding litigation entirely is im...

Veteran landman David Dachner shares his remarkable career journey, from having $1,000 to his name to building a multi-million-dollar oil and gas portfolio in the Austin Chalk. This candid conversation reveals how integrity, relationship-building, and strategic persistence transformed both his professional success and personal mission to give back through philanthropy in Honduras and personal deve...

Texas Tech Energy Commerce faculty Kellie Estes and Jeremy Martin join us for an in-depth look at how one of the industry's premier energy education programs prepares students for careers spanning oil & gas, renewables, and commercial energy markets. From their rigorous capstone projects to alumni networks that span decades, discover what makes Tech graduates stand out and how the program...

Summary Texas moves closer to primacy for carbon capture and sequestration projects as legal frameworks evolve and landmen navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape. Our expert guests break down the latest developments in CCS permitting, pore space ownership, and the practical challenges of putting these massive projects together in today's market. What You’ll Learn Current status...

We talk team growth, recruitment struggles, and the trends shaping the next wave of energy projects. From promotions and new hires to the ongoing challenge of finding top talent, the conversation sheds light on what’s happening behind the scenes. With humor and real-world insights, Brent, Brandon, and Steve share how they’re adapting to a busy, ever-changing market. Time Stamps 01:00 - Episode Int...

How do you scale teams, develop leaders, and stay ahead of AI changes? From staffing shortages in division order roles to implementing quarterly "rocks" for execution, this behind-the-scenes look covers the real challenges of running land projects in today's market. Time Stamps 00:51 - Episode Intro 01:31 - New Projects and Kickoff Calls 03:10 - Due Diligence and Planning 08:45 - In-...

From being a VP of Land at 26, to teaching high school English, to leading a national energy association — Nancy McCaskell’s journey is anything but ordinary. In this episode, she shares powerful lessons on leadership, resilience, and how to inspire the next generation. Time Stamps 00:52 - Episode & Guest Intro 03:39 - Nancy's Career Beginnings 07:09 - VP of Land at 26 11:59 - Transition to Te...

How do successful leaders balance work and personal life while building incredible teams? Join Brent Broussard and Zack Oliva as they share their experiences and lessons on energy leadership. Time Stamps 00:41 - Episode & Guest Intro 03:41 - Elevating Leadership Through Perspective 10:18 - Importance of Feedback and Communication 19:06 - Balancing Work and Personal Life 24:29 - Encouraging Wor...

Discover how Kudu is transforming land management! Learn how this revolutionary suite is streamlining processes, improving accuracy, and saving time and money. Tune in! Time Stamps 02:00 - Episode & Guest Intro 02:46 - Historical Land Management Practices 04:25 - Transition to Digital Databases 05:24 - Advantages of Using Databases 07:17 - Kudu Suite 101 15:26 - Generating Reports with Kudu 17...

Dive into an inspiring conversation with industry powerhouse Abigail Hopper as she shares her journey of leadership, authenticity, and tackling legislative challenges. Discover how her candid approach is shaping the future of renewable energy. Time Stamps 01:12 - Episode & Guest Intro 03:13 - Legislation Impacting the Renewable Energy Sector 13:24 - The Power of Vulnerability and Authentic Lea...

Dive into the world of geothermal with Brent Broussard and industry expert Jason Peart. From traditional systems to next-gen innovations, explore how geothermal could revolutionize our energy solutions. Time Stamps 00:55 Episode & Guest Intro 02:49 Understanding Geothermal Technology 03:38 Next-Gen Geothermal Innovations 10:24 Scaling and Economic Viability 14:03 Regulatory and Market Consider...

Join Brent Broussard and Colin Westmoreland as they delve into the journey of Enverus in shaping the future of land data, innovative mapping techniques, and how technology like generative AI is revolutionizing the energy sector. Tune in to find out how to stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of energy tech! Time Stamps 01:10 - Episode & Guest Intro 04:37 - The Genesis of Drilling Info and Env...

Dr. Michelle Foss breaks down the intricate web of energy transition, what it means for the future of resources, and the role of the U.S. in the global mining landscape. Don't miss this deep dive into a critical topic! Time Stamps 00:58 - Episode & Guest Intro 02:32 - Dr. Foss' Background and Career Journey 08:32 - Historical Context of Energy and Mining 14:19 - Challenges in Modern En...

Discover how to streamline your financial operations as an independent landman with practical tips from CPA Josh Mullins. From establishing the right business entity to the best practices in bookkeeping, this episode is packed with invaluable advice! Time Stamps 00:48 - Episode & Guest Intro 01:57 -Understanding Contractor vs. Employee 08:17 -Navigating Business Entities for Landmen 13:59 - Ta...

Ever wondered what Hollywood gets right and wrong about landmen? In this special episode, we share the “Landman Now: Landman TV Series Companion Podcast” where Chad Smith, Jodi Gallegos, Robert Rice, and our very own Brent Broussard sit down to review the episode 8 of the Landman series on Paramount Plus. Don't miss these insider critiques and stories! Time Stamps 00:00 - Episode Intro 01:02 - Gue...