Mineral rights in Austin County, Texas
Austin County is a quieter corner of Texas's mineral market, with 8 permits in the last 24 months — which can mean motivated owners and less buyer competition.
- 8
- Permits · 24 mo
- 2,329
- Wells on record
- 2,768
- Mineral owners
- 16.6%
- Avg lease royalty
down 53% vs prior 24 months
appraisal-linked records
recorded leases, 5 yrs
Who's drilling Austin County
Operators ranked by drilling permits approved in the 24 months ending 2026-05-23.
| Operator | Permits · 24 mo |
|---|---|
| Enhanced Energy Partners | 7 |
| Strand Energy | 1 |
What the record says
Austin County recorded 8 drilling permits in the 24 months ending 2026-05-23, against 17 in the prior 24 months. Activity centers on the Western Gulf basin.
On the production side, Texas Railroad Commission county cycle data shows Austin County produced roughly 269.9K barrels of oil and 16.2M Mcf of gas in 2025 — the royalty base that mineral values here are priced against.
Ownership is spread across 2,768 mineral owners holding 2,768 appraisal-linked interest records . Fragmented ownership like this is where buyers find deals — and where heirs discover interests they didn't know they had. See our guide to researching mineral ownership.
Leasing has kept pace: 5 leases were recorded in the county over the last 24 months, with recent recorded leases averaging about 16.6% 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.
Austin County mineral rights FAQ
Who is drilling in Austin County, Texas?
The most active operators by permits approved in the last 24 months are Enhanced Energy Partners, Strand Energy. The full table above lists the top five with permit counts.
What royalty are leases paying in Austin County?
Recorded leases over the past five years in Austin County average about 16.6% royalty. Individual terms vary with acreage position, competition, and the operator — treat this as a market reference point, not a quote.
How many mineral owners are there in Austin County?
County appraisal and ownership records show 2,768 distinct mineral owners holding 2,768 interest records in Austin County as of the 2026-05-23 snapshot.
How do I research mineral rights ownership in Austin County?
Start with the Austin 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 Austin County?
Mineral Eagle links every permit above to the owners it affects — 2,768 of them, with the records to back it up.