Texas Porch
Mineral Rights & Oil/Gas Stories & local character

Oil and Gas Activity Is Long-Standing in Duval County

Oil was first found in Duval County in 1905. Production grew through the 20th century and the county ranked third in the state for oil output in the late 1930s. If you buy land here, the mineral rights may already be severed — meaning someone else owns the oil and gas under your property.

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) regulates all oil and gas activity in the state. Duval County falls under RRC District 4, based in Corpus Christi. You can search well records and active permits on the RRC website. Before buying rural land, check whether mineral rights are included in the deed.

Content last revised 2026-07-11

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