Mineral Rights & Oil/Gas
Oil and gas production is a big part of life in Gaines County
Gaines County has active oil and gas production, so buyers of land here should know that mineral rights may be owned separately from the surface.
Oil production in Gaines County began in 1935, and the Seminole Pool — one of the county's major fields — was discovered in 1936. The county is now one of the more active producing counties in Texas, covered by Railroad Commission District 8A out of Lubbock. The Railroad Commission of Texas regulates oil and gas drilling and production here.
In Texas, the mineral rights to a property can be owned by someone other than the landowner. This is called a severed mineral estate. When you buy land in Gaines County, review the deed carefully to see if mineral rights are included. If they are not, a previous owner may still be able to lease the land to an oil company for drilling. Check the Railroad Commission's online research tools to look up well activity near a property.
Source to confirm: Railroad Commission of Texas — Oil and Gas Counties and Districts