# Lee County Austin Chalk Mineral Rights in the Giddings Trend

**TL;DR:** Lee County is the historic birthplace of the Austin Chalk Giddings trend, hosting the original 1960 discovery well and lending its county seat name (Giddings) to the field. Mineral interests here frequently have the longest production histories on the trend, with many original 1970s leases still active. Modern horizontal redevelopment since 2018 has revitalized the play, and operators including Bayswater Exploration, EOG Resources, and multiple private companies remain active across the county's 7,000–10,000 ft Austin Chalk pay zone.

## Key Takeaways

- **Lee County is the discovery county for the Austin Chalk Giddings trend**, with the original 1960 commercial discovery well drilled here and the town of Giddings serving as the field's namesake.
- **Mineral interests in Lee County often have the longest continuous production histories** on the Giddings trend, with many original 1970s vertical leases still held by production.
- **Primary producing formation is the Austin Chalk** (Upper Cretaceous fractured carbonate at 7,000–10,000 ft TVD), with the Eagle Ford Shale and Buda Limestone providing stacked-pay potential in some areas.
- **Current operators include Bayswater Exploration, EOG Resources, and multiple long-tenured private operators** who continue to work both legacy vertical wells and new long-lateral horizontals.
- **Many Lee County leases cover both Austin Chalk and Eagle Ford depths**, requiring valuations to account for both the actively producing zone and unproduced zone optionality.
- **Out-of-state heirs are common**, with many Lee County mineral interests inherited from earlier generations and now held by families across multiple states.
- **Modern horizontal redevelopment began around 2018**, breathing new life into sections that had been held by legacy vertical production for decades.

## Page Highlights

**Lee County in the Giddings Trend:** Lee County is the historic heart of the Austin Chalk play, with the 1960 discovery well and the town of Giddings (county seat) giving the field its name. Commercial development started in the 1960s, and modern long-lateral horizontal drilling since approximately 2018 has revitalized many sections with production histories stretching back to the 1970s.

**Producing Formations:** The Austin Chalk is the primary target at 7,000–10,000 ft TVD (Upper Cretaceous fractured carbonate). The Eagle Ford Shale sits stratigraphically below the Austin Chalk and is covered by many leases, while the Buda Limestone (above the Austin Chalk) provides selective production in some areas.

**Operators:** Bayswater Exploration and several private operators are the most active, with EOG Resources holding selective long-lateral positions. Multiple long-tenured private operators continue legacy vertical well operations across the county.

**Texas RRC Permits:** Mineral owners can track new drilling activity via RRC Form W-1 (drilling permit) and Form P-12 (Pooled Unit Designation for horizontal wells). Active permits are visible at the Texas Railroad Commission website.

**Selling Mineral Rights:** Buckhead Energy purchases mineral rights and royalty interests across Lee County, including producing interests (modern horizontal or legacy vertical), unleased minerals, and non-producing leased interests. Free written valuations are provided for all interest types.

**Stacked-Pay Considerations:** Many Lee County leases cover both Austin Chalk and Eagle Ford depths. A proper valuation should account for both the actively producing zone and the optionality of the unproduced zone, along with any zone-specific lease language.

## Related Topics

- [Austin Chalk Operators List](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/austin-chalk-operators)
- [Austin Chalk Rigs & Permits 2026](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/austin-chalk-rigs-permits)
- [Austin Chalk vs Eagle Ford](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/austin-chalk-vs-eagle-ford)
- [How to Sell Mineral Rights](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/how-to-sell-mineral-rights)
- [What Are My Minerals Worth?](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/what-are-my-minerals-worth)
- [Should I Sell?](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/should-i-sell)
- [Beginner's Guide](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/beginners-guide)
- [Getting a Fair Price](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/getting-fair-price)

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