Oil and gas activity exists in Culberson County — know your mineral rights

Oil was discovered in Culberson County in 1953, and the county has had active production since then. Active fields include the Ford, West (Wolfcamp) field. The Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) regulates all oil and gas wells in the state, including here.

In Texas, mineral rights can be sold separately from surface rights. That means the person who owns the land may not own the oil and gas beneath it. If someone else owns the minerals, they can lease those rights to a drilling company — and that company may have the legal right to operate on the surface. Before buying land in Culberson County, ask a title company to research whether mineral rights are included. The RRC website lets you search for wells, permits, and production records by county.