Mineral rights in Lea County, New Mexico
Lea County is one of New Mexico's most drilled counties right now — 818 permits approved in the last 24 months and activity accelerating.
- 818
- Permits · 24 mo
- 38
- Rigs running
- 42,998
- Wells on record
- 22.4%
- Avg lease royalty
up 34% vs prior 24 months
as of 2026-05-23
recorded leases, 5 yrs
Who's drilling Lea County
Operators ranked by drilling permits approved in the 24 months ending 2026-05-23.
| Operator | Permits · 24 mo |
|---|---|
| Devon | 422 |
| EOG | 127 |
| Matador Resources | 79 |
| Sm Energy | 33 |
| Mewbourne Oil | 31 |
What the record says
Lea County recorded 818 drilling permits in the 24 months ending 2026-05-23, against 610 in the prior 24 months. Development here is overwhelmingly horizontal (99% of recent permits, averaging 9,219-foot laterals) — modern pad development that drains whole sections at a time. Activity centers on the Delaware basin.
Leasing has kept pace: 2,073 leases were recorded in the county over the last 24 months, with recent recorded leases averaging about 22.4% 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.
Lea County mineral rights FAQ
Who is drilling in Lea County, New Mexico?
The most active operators by permits approved in the last 24 months are Devon, EOG, Matador Resources. The full table above lists the top five with permit counts.
What royalty are leases paying in Lea County?
Recorded leases over the past five years in Lea County average about 22.4% 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 Lea County?
Start with the Lea 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.
More New Mexico counties
Buying in Lea County?
Mineral Eagle links every permit above to the owners it affects — name by name, with the records to back it up.