To find out whether your land has oil or gas, you check three things: whether you actually own the mineral rights, what wells and production exist near you in the state regulator's records, and whether your area sits over a productive basin or play.
Owning the surface does not mean you own what is beneath it. Because minerals can be severed from the surface, the first step is confirming whether you own the mineral rights at all — by checking the deed and the chain of title in the county records. If a prior owner reserved the minerals, the oil and gas beneath your land may belong to someone else, and researching further is academic until that is settled.
If you own the minerals, look at the evidence around you. State oil and gas regulators (the Texas Railroad Commission, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, and their equivalents) publish well locations, permits, and production — nearby producing wells are the strongest signal your acreage has potential. Buckhead's free county production data and permit tracker show current activity by county. Finally, whether your land sits over a productive basin or play — the Permian, Bakken, Marcellus, and so on — sets the ceiling: land far from any producing trend is unlikely to have commercial oil or gas regardless of what is directly below it.
You cannot truly confirm oil or gas without drilling, but nearby production and permits are the practical way owners gauge potential short of that.
If the records show activity around you and you own the minerals, you may receive lease offers, or you can research operators active in your area. If you would rather convert the potential to cash now rather than wait on someone else to drill, Buckhead Energy evaluates and buys mineral interests — including non-producing acreage with nearby activity — and can tell you what the potential is worth today.
How to prove you own mineral rights
Educational information only — not legal, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified attorney, CPA, or landman about your specific situation.
Confirm you own the mineral rights (check the deed and chain of title), then look at state regulator records for nearby wells, permits, and production, and whether your land sits over a productive basin. Nearby producing wells are the strongest signal of potential.
Not necessarily. Mineral rights can be severed from the surface, so a prior owner may have kept the minerals. Confirming mineral ownership in the county records is the first step before researching potential.
Not without drilling. Short of that, nearby producing wells, permits, and the geology of your basin are the practical way owners gauge potential — and strong nearby activity is the best available indicator.
Yes — Buckhead Energy is a direct buyer of mineral, royalty, NPRI, and ORRI interests across the United States, producing or non-producing. Buckhead Energy makes a free written offer, pays the title and closing costs, and charges no broker commission.
Buckhead Energy buys mineral and royalty interests across all 50 states and has completed acquisitions in 33 states. Buckhead Energy is a direct buyer, not a broker — we purchase mineral and royalty interests with our own capital. Buckhead Energy has been buying mineral and royalty interests since 2006. Buckhead Energy holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
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