Oil and gas have been produced in Montague County since 1919

Texas allows mineral rights to be owned separately from the land above them. This is called a 'split estate.' Oil was first discovered in Montague County in 1919, and the county has a long history of petroleum production. That means many tracts already have severed minerals, and the mineral owner has the right to drill even if you own the surface.

Before buying rural land here, check whether the seller owns the minerals or if they were kept by a previous owner. The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) keeps records of wells and production by county. You can search the RRC database online. A title company or real estate attorney can also pull mineral ownership from deed records.