Oil & Gas / Mineral Rights
Mineral Rights Matter Here — Oil Has Run Deep Since 1948
The Kelly-Snyder oilfield in western Scurry County is one of the most productive fields in Texas history, so mineral rights and surface-owner issues matter for anyone buying land here.
Drillers found the Kelly-Snyder field in November 1948. They tapped a Canyon Reef limestone formation about 6,700 feet underground. That formation is part of the Horseshoe Atoll in the Permian Basin. By fall 1950, the field was producing roughly 130,000 barrels of oil a day. Cumulative production passed one billion barrels around mid-year 1979.
If you buy land in Scurry County, ask whether mineral rights are included or have been severed. Severed minerals mean someone else owns the oil and gas below your land. Under Texas law, that person can lease or drill — even if you own the surface. The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) regulates oil and gas activity here. It keeps public records on wells, operators, and permits. Check the RRC's online tools before you buy rural property.
Source to confirm: TSHA Handbook — Kelly-Snyder Oilfield