how do oil companys have to pay landowners roylty payments?

If an oil and gas company signs a mineral rights lease, then it must pay a royalty to either produce the oil and/or gas or to maintain the right to produce in the future.  You should contact a local oil and gas attorney if you are considering signing a lease of your mineral rights in order to protect your interests. This is not intended to be legal advice, and is general in its nature. No attorney-client relationship exists or is formed by this information. Furthermore, this does not represent the views or opinions of LexisNexis or its affiliated companies.