The American Association of Professional Landmen is a professional organization that unites approximately 12,000 landmen and land-related persons through professional development and service. AAPL's mission is to promote the highest standards of performance for all land professionals, to advance their stature and to encourage sound stewardship of energy and mineral resources.
AAPL is made up of men and women with varied educational backgrounds. The majority have business degrees; many have expanded their scope with law degrees. In the past 25 years, numerous landmen have come from the petroleum and minerals land management degree programs offered by several universities. AAPL members work for major oil companies, large and small independent companies and as self-employed independent landmen. AAPL is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, and has 43 affiliated local associations throughout the United States and Canada.
Under the direction of its volunteer leadership and a professional staff, AAPL provides its members professional development opportunities through:
- Seminars
- Workshops
- Home study programs
- Conferences
- Annual meetings
- Bimonthly Landman magazine
- Bimonthly Landman 2 mini-magazine
- Annual Directory and Guidebook
- Workbooks, institute proceedings, industry forms and contracts
- Certified Professional Landman and Certified Professional Landman/ESA programs
- Registered Professional Landman and Registered Landman programs
- The AAPL Web site
- The NAPE® Expo
AAPL provides service to the land profession and the industry with the enforcement of the AAPL Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. AAPL works closely with six universities, which have approved land management degree programs. AAPL provides scholarships, curriculum direction and industry speakers and advisors.
What is a Landman?
Landmen constitute the business side of the oil and gas and mineral exploration and production team.
Company landmen negotiate deals and trades with other companies and individuals, draft contracts (and administer their compliance), acquire leases and ensure compliance with governmental regulations.
Independent field landmen serve clients on a contract basis and are generally the industry’s contact with the public as they research courthouse records to determine ownership and prepare necessary reports, locate mineral/land owners and negotiate oil and gas leases and various other agreements, obtain necessary curative documents and conduct surface inspections before drilling.
Independent land consultants serve clients on a contract basis and much effort is directed to due diligence examinations required in the purchase and sale of companies and properties.