Western Gulf basin

Mineral rights in Brazos County, Texas

Brazos County sees steady, selective drilling — 21 permits over the last 24 months, holding steady versus the prior period.

21
Permits · 24 mo

steady vs prior 24 months

2,637
Wells on record
34,040
Mineral owners

appraisal-linked records

20.1%
Avg lease royalty

recorded leases, 5 yrs

Who's drilling Brazos County

Operators ranked by drilling permits approved in the 24 months ending 2026-05-23.

Operator Permits · 24 mo
Wildfire Energy 17
Cml Exploration 3
Ogden Resources 1

What the record says

Brazos County recorded 21 drilling permits in the 24 months ending 2026-05-23, against 22 in the prior 24 months. Development here is overwhelmingly horizontal (100% of recent permits, averaging 7,378-foot laterals) — modern pad development that drains whole sections at a time. Most activity targets the Eagle Ford play of the Western Gulf basin.

On the production side, Texas Railroad Commission county cycle data shows Brazos County produced roughly 4.1M barrels of oil and 6.1M Mcf of gas in 2025 — the royalty base that mineral values here are priced against.

Ownership is spread across 34,040 mineral owners holding 57,928 appraisal-linked interest records with a combined appraised value around $172M. 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: 302 leases were recorded in the county over the last 24 months, with recent recorded leases averaging about 20.1% 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.

Brazos County mineral rights FAQ

Who is drilling in Brazos County, Texas?

The most active operators by permits approved in the last 24 months are Wildfire Energy, Cml Exploration, Ogden Resources. The full table above lists the top five with permit counts.

What royalty are leases paying in Brazos County?

Recorded leases over the past five years in Brazos County average about 20.1% 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 Brazos County?

County appraisal and ownership records show 34,040 distinct mineral owners holding 57,928 interest records in Brazos County as of the 2026-05-23 snapshot.

How do I research mineral rights ownership in Brazos County?

Start with the Brazos 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.

For buyers · investors · landmen

Buying in Brazos County?

Mineral Eagle links every permit above to the owners it affects — 34,040 of them, with the records to back it up.