Mineral Rights and Oil Production in Harrison County

Oil was discovered in Harrison County in 1928 and the county has had active oil and gas production since then. In Texas, when you buy land, you may not own the minerals underneath it. The mineral estate, meaning the right to drill and produce oil, gas, and other resources, can be sold separately from the surface. Many Harrison County properties have split estates.

The mineral owner has the legal right to use the surface to access the minerals, within limits. The Railroad Commission of Texas regulates oil and gas operations statewide. Harrison County falls under RRC District 06, based in Henderson. You can research wells and production on the RRC's free Public GIS Viewer at rrc.texas.gov. Before buying land, a title search can tell you whether the minerals are included.