Mineral Rights
Mineral Rights Can Be Sold Separately from Surface Rights
In Texas, the owner of a property's surface and the owner of its mineral rights may be different people.
Texas law allows mineral rights to be severed from surface ownership and sold or leased separately. If someone else owns the minerals under your land, under Texas law the mineral estate is the dominant estate, meaning the mineral owner — or their lessee — has an implied right to use the surface as reasonably necessary for exploration, development, and production, without needing the surface owner's permission.
Before buying land in Dallas County, check the deed and title records to see whether mineral rights are included. If they were previously severed, ask a Texas real estate attorney about your surface rights protections. The RRC at rrc.texas.gov tracks well activity.
Source to confirm: Railroad Commission of Texas – Oil & Gas Exploration and Surface Ownership