Lee County Austin Chalk Mineral Rights

Lee County in the Giddings Trend

Lee County (Giddings) is positioned in the discovery county and Giddings field namesake of the Austin Chalk Giddings trend. The county has been part of the Austin Chalk producing region since the play's commercial development in the 1960s, and modern long-lateral horizontal redevelopment from approximately 2018 onward has revitalized many sections.

Lee County is the historic heart of the play — the town of Giddings is the field namesake, and the original 1960 discovery well was drilled in Lee County. Mineral interests in Lee County frequently have the longest production histories on the Giddings trend, with original 1970s leases often still active under continuous production.

Producing Formations in Lee County

Austin Chalk — primary producing formation; Upper Cretaceous fractured carbonate; depths typically 7,000-10,000 ft TVD across Lee County

Eagle Ford Shale — sits stratigraphically below the Austin Chalk; many Lee County leases cover both depths

Buda Limestone — sits above the Austin Chalk; selective production in some Lee County areas

Lee County Operators

Lee County hosts the original Giddings field discovery. Bayswater Exploration and several private operators are active. EOG Resources has selective long-lateral positions. Multiple long-tenured private operators continue to work legacy vertical wells across the county.

For the broader operator landscape, see our Austin Chalk Operators List.

Texas RRC Permits in Lee County

Active permit filings in Lee County are visible at the Texas Railroad Commission. Two filing types matter most for mineral owners:

RRC Form W-1 — drilling permit application; a new W-1 on your section signals the operator intends to drill

RRC Form P-12 — Pooled Unit Designation; precedes a multi-tract long-lateral horizontal

For the latest permit + rig intelligence across the Giddings trend, see Austin Chalk Rigs & Permits 2026.

Selling Lee County Mineral Rights

Buckhead Energy buys mineral rights and royalty interests across Lee County. Whether your interest is currently producing under a modern long-lateral, an original 1970s vertical well, or held under an unproduced lease, we'll provide a free written valuation. Out-of-state owners are common — many Lee County mineral interests are inherited from earlier generations and now held by heirs across multiple states.

Lee County Stacked-Pay Considerations

Many Lee County leases cover both Austin Chalk and Eagle Ford depths. A current valuation should account for both — the actively producing zone, the unproduced zone's optionality, and any zone-specific lease terms. See our Austin Chalk vs Eagle Ford comparison for a deeper look.

Get a Free Lee County Valuation

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