Mineral rights in Zapata County, Texas
Zapata County sees steady, selective drilling — 31 permits over the last 24 months, accelerating versus the prior period.
- 31
- Permits · 24 mo
- 11,700
- Wells on record
- 2,831
- Mineral owners
- 23.8%
- Avg lease royalty
up 138% vs prior 24 months
appraisal-linked records
recorded leases, 5 yrs
Who's drilling Zapata County
Operators ranked by drilling permits approved in the 24 months ending 2026-05-23.
| Operator | Permits · 24 mo |
|---|---|
| Eagle 5 Energy Services LLC | 26 |
| Hilcorp | 3 |
| Bordertown Energy Resources, LLC | 1 |
| Texas Operating Partners LLC | 1 |
What the record says
Zapata County recorded 31 drilling permits in the 24 months ending 2026-05-23, against 13 in the prior 24 months. Activity centers on the Western Gulf basin.
On the production side, Texas Railroad Commission county cycle data shows Zapata County produced roughly 19.1K barrels of oil and 43.3M Mcf of gas in 2025 — the royalty base that mineral values here are priced against.
Ownership is spread across 2,831 mineral owners holding 2,831 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.
Thinking about value? Start with what drives mineral prices or run the numbers in the value calculator.
Zapata County mineral rights FAQ
Who is drilling in Zapata County, Texas?
The most active operators by permits approved in the last 24 months are Eagle 5 Energy Services LLC, Hilcorp, Bordertown Energy Resources, LLC. The full table above lists the top five with permit counts.
What royalty are leases paying in Zapata County?
Recorded leases over the past five years in Zapata County average about 23.8% 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 Zapata County?
County appraisal and ownership records show 2,831 distinct mineral owners holding 2,831 interest records in Zapata County as of the 2026-05-23 snapshot.
How do I research mineral rights ownership in Zapata County?
Start with the Zapata 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 Zapata County?
Mineral Eagle links every permit above to the owners it affects — 2,831 of them, with the records to back it up.