Which type of property right allows ownership access to resources like oil and gas?

The correct answer is mineral rights, as they specifically pertain to the ownership and extraction of minerals located beneath the surface of a property. These rights encompass valuable resources such as oil, gas, metals, and other natural minerals. When someone owns mineral rights, they have the legal authority to explore, extract, and profit from these underground resources, separate from the surface ownership of the land itself.

This distinction is essential in real estate, as surface rights and mineral rights can be owned by different parties. For instance, a landowner might retain the surface rights while selling the mineral rights to another entity, granting the new owner the ability to access and extract the subterranean resources.

The other mentioned types of property rights relate to different aspects of property ownership and use. Real property encompasses land and anything permanently attached to it, but it does not specifically address mineral or resource rights. Leases involve rental agreements for use of property, not ownership of the underlying resources, while easements grant permission for specific uses of property, such as access across a property, but do not confer ownership or rights to extract natural resources. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for navigating the complexities of property ownership and rights in real estate.