Mineral Rights
Oil and Gas Activity Is Common in Howard County — Know Who Owns the Minerals
Howard County sits in the Permian Basin, where active oil and gas drilling is common — and mineral rights are often owned separately from the surface land.
When you buy land in Howard County, you may not be buying the oil and gas beneath it. In Texas, mineral rights can be split from surface rights. The previous owner may have sold or reserved those rights years ago. Before you close on a property, check the deed records at the Howard County Clerk's office to see whether minerals were severed.
The Railroad Commission of Texas regulates all oil and gas drilling in the state. It does not control who owns the minerals — that is a private property matter. But operators must hold a valid lease from mineral owners before drilling. If a company wants to drill on your land and you own the surface but not the minerals, you have some surface-use protections under Texas law. The RRC website has information on how the permitting process works.
Source to confirm: Railroad Commission of Texas — Permian Basin FAQs