# Upshur County East Texas Oilfield Mineral Rights

Upshur County sits in the northern extension of the East Texas Oilfield and has produced oil from the Cretaceous Woodbine Sandstone since the field's discovery era in the 1930s. The county remains an active waterflood producer today, delivering predictable long-life royalty income to mineral owners across multiple generations. The Lou Della Crim well (December 1930) extended the field 12 miles north of the original Daisy Bradford discovery.

## Key Takeaways

- **Northern extension of the Black Giant**: Upshur County hosts the northern portion of the East Texas Oilfield, one of the largest oil discoveries in U.S. history
- **Lou Della Crim well significance**: Drilled in December 1930 in the Gregg/Upshur region, this well extended the field 12 miles north of Dad Joiner's original discovery
- **Waterflood production**: The county has been on continuous waterflood operations since the 1960s, producing from Woodbine Sandstone at depths of 3,200-3,800 feet
- **Long-life royalty income**: Per-well rates typically range 1-15 BOPD with high water cuts and 2-6% annual decline rates on long-life waterflood wells
- **Multi-generational ownership**: Many Upshur County interests have produced continuously since the 1930s, with ownership now spread across multiple heirs
- **Predictable valuations**: The field's long waterflood production history makes mineral rights valuations relatively straightforward using DCF frameworks
- **Remote selling capability**: Out-of-state heirs can complete mineral rights sales entirely remotely without traveling to Texas

## Page Highlights

**Geographic Context**: Upshur County forms part of the northern extension of the East Texas Oilfield, centered on the Gladewater area. The county has been a producing region since the field's discovery era and continues active operations today.

**Producing Formations**: The primary producing formation is the Cretaceous Woodbine Sandstone at depths of 3,200-3,800 feet TVD, on continuous waterflood since the 1960s. The Eagle Ford Shale sits stratigraphically below the Woodbine and has seen selective horizontal exploration, though the East Texas Eagle Ford differs from the more prolific south Texas Eagle Ford play.

**Operator Profile**: Upshur County is dominated by long-tenured private waterflood operators managing East Texas Oilfield units. Major operators include Crawford Oil & Gas, Texas Petroleum Investment, Hilcorp, and Riley Exploration, along with small private stripper-well operators and selective Eagle Ford horizontal explorers.

**Royalty Income Characteristics**: Mineral interests typically generate small monthly royalty checks over many decades. Production wells deliver 1-15 BOPD with high water cuts and shallow decline rates of 2-6% annually, reflecting the mature waterflood nature of the field.

**Selling Considerations**: Upshur County interests are well-suited for mineral owners considering a sale because the predictable waterflood production enables straightforward valuations. DCF models incorporate remaining waterflood reserve life plus any prospective Eagle Ford optionality.

## Related Topics

- [East Texas Oilfield Operators List](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/2026/upshur-county-east-texas-oilfield) (referenced in operator section)
- [How to Sell Mineral Rights](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/2026/upshur-county-east-texas-oilfield) (selling guide)
- [What Are My Minerals Worth?](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/2026/upshur-county-east-texas-oilfield) (valuation guide)
- [Should I Sell?](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/2026/upshur-county-east-texas-oilfield) (decision framework)
- [Beginner's Guide](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/2026/upshur-county-east-texas-oilfield) (mineral rights fundamentals)
- [Getting a Fair Price](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/2026/upshur-county-east-texas-oilfield) (pricing considerations)

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**About Buckhead Energy**: Buckhead Energy is a BBB-accredited mineral rights acquisition company with 18+ years of experience purchasing mineral and royalty interests directly from owners across 33 states since 2007.

**Ready to explore your options?** Get a free, no-obligation valuation of your Upshur County mineral rights at https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell