Mineral rights in De Soto County, Louisiana
De Soto County is an active Louisiana drilling market: 197 permits in the last 24 months, with the pace accelerating.
- 197
- Permits · 24 mo
- 7
- Rigs running
- 22.2%
- Avg lease royalty
up 30% vs prior 24 months
as of 2026-06-09
recorded leases, 5 yrs
Who's drilling De Soto County
Operators ranked by drilling permits approved in the 24 months ending 2026-06-09.
| Operator | Permits · 24 mo |
|---|---|
| Expand Energy | 66 |
| Apex Natural Gas, LLC | 30 |
| Exco Resources | 27 |
| Comstock | 23 |
| Gep Haynesville II, LLC | 11 |
What the record says
De Soto County recorded 197 drilling permits in the 24 months ending 2026-06-09, against 151 in the prior 24 months. Development here is overwhelmingly horizontal (97% of recent permits, averaging 8,418-foot laterals) — modern pad development that drains whole sections at a time. Most activity targets the Haynesville play of the Ark-La-Tx basin.
Leasing has kept pace: 526 leases were recorded in the county over the last 24 months, with recent recorded leases averaging about 22.2% royalty. For how royalty terms work, see our royalty guide.
Thinking about value? Start with what drives mineral prices or run the numbers in the value calculator.
De Soto County mineral rights FAQ
Who is drilling in De Soto County, Louisiana?
The most active operators by permits approved in the last 24 months are Expand Energy, Apex Natural Gas, LLC, Exco Resources. The full table above lists the top five with permit counts.
What royalty are leases paying in De Soto County?
Recorded leases over the past five years in De Soto County average about 22.2% royalty. Individual terms vary with acreage position, competition, and the operator — treat this as a market reference point, not a quote.
How do I research mineral rights ownership in De Soto County?
Start with the De Soto County clerk's deed records and the county appraisal roll, then verify against state regulator filings. Our title search guide walks through the process, and the Mineral Eagle platform links these records for the whole county.
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Buying in De Soto County?
Mineral Eagle links every permit above to the owners it affects — name by name, with the records to back it up.