Oklahoma has been at the heart of American oil and gas production for over a century. As the 5th largest oil-producing state, it offers qualified investors direct access to some of the most productive formations in the country — and it's where we've built our business from the ground up.
We're headquartered in Oklahoma City and operate primarily in Oklahoma's proven basins, giving our investors the advantage of local expertise, established industry relationships, and deep knowledge of the state's geological formations.
Why Oklahoma for Oil and Gas Investment
Oklahoma's oil and gas industry is one of the state's economic pillars. Why does it work so well for investors? Proven reserves, advanced infrastructure, a skilled workforce, and a regulatory environment that supports responsible development. It's an ideal location for direct oil well investing.
The state's geology is uniquely favorable. Multiple productive formations sit stacked on top of each other across wide areas, giving operators the flexibility to target different zones as commodity prices and completion technology evolve. Oklahoma also benefits from over a century of production data, which means geological risk is significantly lower than in frontier basins. Operators like BassEXP can reference thousands of offset wells, detailed well logs, and publicly available production records when evaluating new prospects.
From an economic standpoint, the oil and gas industry supports roughly one in six jobs in Oklahoma and contributes tens of billions of dollars annually to the state economy. That economic importance translates into a business environment that understands and supports energy development — from county courthouses where mineral rights are recorded to state agencies that process permits efficiently.
400,000+
Barrels per day
5th largest oil producing state
100+
Years of production
Established infrastructure
52,000+
Active wells
Across multiple formations
$30B+
Annual industry value
To Oklahoma's economy
Oklahoma's Premier Oil & Gas Formations
SCOOP (South Central Oklahoma Oil Province)
One of the most prolific unconventional plays in the US, producing oil and NGLs from the Woodford Shale at depths of 9,000 to 14,000 feet. The SCOOP covers portions of Grady, Stephens, Garvin, McClain, and Carter counties. Wells in the volatile oil window routinely deliver strong initial production rates, and the thick Woodford interval supports extended lateral lengths that improve per-well economics. Operators have reported EURs (estimated ultimate recoveries) ranging from 500,000 to over 1 million BOE per well depending on spacing and completion design.
Learn more →STACK (Sooner Trend Anadarko Canadian Kingfisher)
A multi-zone play producing from the Meramec, Osage, and Woodford formations in Blaine, Canadian, and Kingfisher counties. The STACK's defining advantage is stacked pay: multiple productive intervals sit directly on top of each other, allowing operators to drill several wells per spacing unit from a single pad location. The Meramec alone contains multiple benches, each with distinct reservoir properties. This stacked geology maximizes acreage value and gives operators flexibility to target oil-weighted or liquids-rich zones depending on commodity prices.
Learn more →Anadarko Basin
One of the deepest and most productive sedimentary basins in North America, extending across western Oklahoma into the Texas panhandle. The basin reaches depths exceeding 40,000 feet and contains dozens of productive formations spanning the geological column from Cambrian to Permian age. It has produced billions of barrels of oil and tens of trillions of cubic feet of natural gas over the past century. Both conventional vertical wells and modern horizontal completions are active in the basin, giving operators a wide range of development strategies.
Learn more →Oklahoma's Regulatory Advantages
Oklahoma's oil and gas industry is regulated by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC), one of the oldest and most experienced energy regulatory bodies in the country. The OCC oversees well permitting, spacing orders, pooling applications, and environmental compliance. For investors, a well-established regulatory framework means predictability: permits are processed on defined timelines, spacing rules are clear, and the legal framework for mineral rights and working interests is well-tested in Oklahoma courts.
The permitting process in Oklahoma is efficient compared to many other producing states. Operators can typically secure drilling permits within weeks rather than months, which reduces the time between capital deployment and first production. The OCC's forced pooling statutes also provide a clear legal mechanism for assembling drilling units, which helps operators move forward on projects without being blocked by a single holdout mineral owner.
Oklahoma's severance tax structure is also competitive. The state applies a gross production tax on oil and natural gas, with incentive rates available for certain well types including horizontal wells and enhanced recovery projects. These incentives can improve early-year cash flow for investors, particularly during the period when production rates are highest.
Infrastructure and Service Company Advantages
One of the most overlooked advantages of investing in Oklahoma oil and gas is the state's mature infrastructure network. Oklahoma has one of the densest pipeline systems in the United States, with major trunk lines connecting producing basins to refineries, processing plants, and storage hubs across the Midcontinent. That means BassEXP wells typically have pipeline access within close proximity to the wellhead, reducing transportation costs and eliminating the need for trucking oil to distant sales points.
Natural gas processing capacity is equally well-developed. Multiple gas processing plants operate throughout the SCOOP and STACK regions, providing competitive processing fees and reliable takeaway for natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs). Cushing, Oklahoma — one of the most important oil storage and pricing hubs in the world — is located in the heart of the state, giving Oklahoma producers direct access to benchmark WTI pricing.
The depth of Oklahoma's oilfield service industry is another advantage. Drilling contractors, completion crews, wireline companies, workover rigs, and equipment suppliers are all based locally, which keeps mobilization costs low and response times fast. When BassEXP needs to call in a workover rig or schedule a frac crew, the supply chain is right here. That operational efficiency translates directly into lower costs and faster execution for our investors.
How to Invest in Oklahoma Oil Wells
Investing in Oklahoma oil and gas wells through BassEXP is straightforward. For a complete walkthrough of the process, see our guide to investing in oil and gas. Here's how it works:
Initial Consultation
Connect with the BassEXP team to discuss your investment goals, risk tolerance, and qualified investor status.
Prospect Review
Review detailed prospect packages including geological analysis, AFE cost breakdowns, expected production profiles, and return scenarios.
Due Diligence
Evaluate operator track record, formation data, offset well production, and legal documentation with your advisors.
Execute Investment
Complete subscription documents and fund your working interest position in the selected Oklahoma well or project.
Production & Distributions
Receive monthly production reports and revenue distributions from your Oklahoma oil well investment.
Tax Benefits of Oklahoma Oil Well Investments
Oklahoma oil well investments qualify for the same powerful federal tax benefits as any domestic oil and gas investment. Bottom line: these deductions can significantly improve your after-tax returns.
65-80%
Year 1 IDC Deduction
Intangible drilling costs deductible in the year incurred
15%
Depletion Allowance
Of gross production revenue is tax-free
BassEXP: Oklahoma's Investor-First Operator
We're independently owned and operated by the Bass family right here in Oklahoma City. Our team brings over 100 years of collective experience in Oklahoma oil and gas exploration, with a focus on transparency, investor education, and responsible drilling.
Local Expertise
Headquartered in Oklahoma City with deep knowledge of Oklahoma formations, regulatory requirements, and industry relationships.
Proven Track Record
Multiple successful drilling programs across Oklahoma's SCOOP, STACK, and Anadarko Basin formations.
Investor Transparency
Detailed reporting, direct communication, and full visibility into well operations and production data.
Aligned Interests
The Bass family invests alongside our partners in every well. When you succeed, we succeed.
Run the Numbers on Oklahoma Wells
Model your potential tax savings from IDC deductions and depletion, or estimate well-level returns for Oklahoma drilling programs.
