Mineral Resources contracts Halliburton to fracture its wells, which residents can see as they drive to work or glance out their kitchen windows. But what they may not notice is the tedious work the company does to lease mineral rights.

It’s not the city of Greeley that makes the work tedious, nor is it the state of Colorado, Richardson said.

Instead, the nature of mineral ownership in Greeley makes securing leases difficult. Whereas just one person may own mineral rights on a ranch where an oil producer may want to drill, thousands of mineral-rights owners exist in urban Greeley.

And many of those rights have changed hands several times through the years.

“We’re really in the title business,” Mineral Resources’ Arlo Richardson said. “The byproduct is oil and gas.”

A dozen employees make it all possible, including Richardson’s children.

Residents who own mineral rights receive a small check in the mail when they sign a lease with Mineral Resources.