What type of interest does Ohio consider ownership of oil and gas in place to be?

Ohio considers ownership of oil and gas in place to be real estate because these resources are inherently tied to the land itself. Under Ohio law, the mineral rights, including oil and gas, are considered a natural part of the property. When someone owns the land, they also gain ownership of the resources beneath the surface unless those rights have been severed or otherwise transferred.

The classification of mineral rights as part of real property aligns with the legal understanding that these resources require the land for their extraction and existence. In many cases, ownership of these resources can significantly affect the value and utility of the property, making it crucial to recognize them as real estate.

Severed estate, which refers to a situation where the surface rights and mineral rights have been separated, is a different concept and does not apply to ownership that hasn’t been divided. Personal property, on the other hand, typically refers to items that can be moved and are not fixed to the land. Common estate does not accurately describe the nature of mineral rights as they relate specifically to real estate law in Ohio.