Mineral Rights
In Wise County, the Land and What's Under It Can Have Different Owners
Buying land in Wise County does not always mean you own the oil and gas beneath it.
In Texas, the land surface and the minerals below it can belong to different people. This is called a split estate. In much of Wise County, where oil and gas have been produced for decades, the minerals have often already been separated from the surface and sold off.
If you buy the surface only, the mineral owner can still lease to an oil company. That company can then come onto your land to drill. Under Texas law, the mineral estate has more legal power than the surface estate.
Before you buy rural land, ask a title company to check who owns the minerals. The Railroad Commission of Texas has free online records and a map showing wells and oil and gas activity by county.
Source to confirm: Railroad Commission of Texas — Surface Ownership FAQ