Sell Your Mineral Rights in Pecos County County, TX
If you own mineral rights in Pecos County, you're sitting on acreage in one of the most actively drilled sections of the Delaware Basin — a place where major operators are spending billions and wells are hitting both oil and gas in meaningful quantities. Values here are real and, in the right areas, strong. Before you sign anything or ignore that offer in your inbox, let us tell you what your acres are actually worth.
Est. per Acre
$2,000–$8,000
per net royalty acre
Active Wells
1,800+
Drilling Activity
Core Basin
Delaware Basin
Primary Formation
Primary Resource
Oil & Gas
Commodity Type
What's Happening in Pecos County Right Now
Pecos County sits in the heart of the Delaware Basin, the western half of the Permian Basin, and it has been one of the most consistently active drilling counties in Texas for the better part of a decade. Operators are targeting stacked pay zones — meaning multiple productive formations sit on top of each other — which makes acreage here attractive in a way that single-formation counties simply aren't. Both oil and natural gas are produced here in commercial quantities, and the buildout of midstream infrastructure in recent years has improved the economics for producers and, by extension, for mineral owners. If you've received an offer or a division order, don't treat it as routine paperwork — understand what you have first.
Pecos County by the Numbers
1,800+
wells
Estimated Active Wells
$2,000 – $8,000
per net mineral acre (location-dependent estimate)
Estimated Value Range (per NMA)
6,000 – 12,000
feet (Wolfcamp / Bone Spring)
Primary Target Depth
Oil & Natural Gas
both produced commercially
Primary Commodities
Delaware Basin, Permian
western sub-basin
Basin
Who's Operating in Pecos County
Pioneer Natural Resources
PXDOccidental Petroleum
OXYApache Corporation
APACoterra Energy
CTRAChevron
CVXDevon Energy
DVNWhat's in the Ground Under Pecos County
Wolfcamp
The Wolfcamp is the primary target for horizontal drilling across the Delaware Basin and one of the most productive shale formations in the United States. In Pecos County, operators are landing laterals at depths of roughly 8,000 to 12,000 feet and recovering meaningful volumes of both oil and associated gas. Multiple benches — Wolfcamp A, B, and C — give operators the ability to drill the same surface location multiple times into different zones, which is one reason royalty income here can be more durable than in single-zone plays.
Bone Spring
The Bone Spring sits above the Wolfcamp and is another stacked horizontal target that operators have increasingly focused on. The First, Second, and Third Bone Spring sands each offer distinct pay zones. Production tends to be oilier in parts of Pecos County, and many wells have come online with strong initial production rates. It's common for operators to run Wolfcamp and Bone Spring programs on the same acreage, which can substantially increase the total royalty potential for mineral owners.
Delaware Sand
The Delaware Sand is a shallower conventional and semi-conventional target that has been producing in this region for decades. While it doesn't generate the same headline IP rates as the deeper horizontal targets, it provides a steady baseline of production on some leases. Older royalty interests in Pecos County may still be receiving income from Delaware Sand wells that have been producing for 30 or 40 years — sometimes without the mineral owner fully realizing it.
How a Mineral Rights Sale Actually Works
You Get an Offer, or You Request One
It usually starts one of two ways: an operator or mineral buyer reaches out to you with a purchase offer, or you reach out to a buyer to understand what your rights are worth. Either way, the first step is figuring out what you actually own — how many net mineral acres, what formations are included, whether there's a current lease, and what royalty rate is attached.
Title Review
Before any deal closes, the buyer will run a title search through the Pecos County Clerk's records to confirm the chain of ownership going back to the original patent or grant. In Texas, mineral interests can be split, divided, and conveyed many times over generations, so this step matters. If there are title issues — a missing deed, an unresolved estate, a gap in the chain — a reputable buyer will flag them and work with you to resolve them rather than just walking away.
Purchase Agreement
Once the title is confirmed and the parties agree on a price, you'll sign a mineral deed and a purchase and sale agreement. In Texas, mineral deeds must be notarized and filed with the county clerk to be effective. The deed transfers your ownership to the buyer, and you receive payment — typically by wire transfer or check at closing.
You Receive a Lump Sum
Unlike royalty income, which arrives monthly and fluctuates with commodity prices, a sale gives you a single, certain payment. Many sellers find this preferable because it eliminates price risk, operational uncertainty, and the administrative burden of managing interests — especially for inherited rights spread across multiple tracts.
Tax Considerations
A sale of mineral rights is generally treated as a capital gain for federal tax purposes. How it's taxed depends on how long you've held the interest, your cost basis, and your overall tax situation. We strongly recommend talking to a CPA or tax attorney before you close — not after. A good buyer won't rush you past that step.
What Pecos County Mineral Owners Should Know
Recording Deeds at the Pecos County Clerk
All mineral conveyances in Texas must be recorded with the county clerk where the minerals are located — in this case, the Pecos County Clerk's office in Fort Stockton. Texas follows a race-notice recording statute, which means that a properly recorded deed generally takes priority over an earlier unrecorded one. If you're selling, make sure your buyer records the deed promptly. If you're trying to confirm what you own, the county clerk's records are your starting point.
Texas Doesn't Have Forced Pooling
This is one of the most important things to understand as a Texas mineral owner. Unlike many other states, Texas does not have a forced pooling statute that compels you to participate in a drilling unit. However, the Texas Railroad Commission can grant field-wide or spacing rules that affect how wells are drilled. Practically speaking, if you haven't signed a lease, an operator can still drill nearby and drain your minerals through the rule of capture — which is one reason being informed and proactive matters here.
Severance Tax
Texas imposes a severance tax on oil and gas production — 4.6% on oil and 7.5% on gas as of current law. This is deducted by the operator before your royalty check is calculated. If you're receiving royalty income, you should see this reflected in your check stub. It's not something you typically pay separately, but it does reduce your effective royalty rate.
NPRIs and Existing Leases
Pecos County has a long production history, and it's not uncommon to find Non-Participating Royalty Interests (NPRIs) already carved out of older tracts. These are royalty interests that were severed from the mineral estate in past transactions and don't participate in lease bonuses or signing decisions. If you inherited your interest, it's worth having an attorney or landman review the chain of title to understand whether any NPRIs burden your acreage — they reduce the royalty interest an operator would pay you.
Heirship and Probate
Many mineral interests in Pecos County are held by heirs who never formally probated an estate or recorded an affidavit of heirship. Texas allows affidavits of heirship as a practical alternative to probate in many cases, but they need to be drafted carefully and recorded properly to be effective. If you're not sure your name is on the deed, this is the first thing to sort out — both to get paid what you're owed and to sell if you choose to.
Why Some Pecos County Owners Are Selling Right Now
The most common reason we hear is simple: certainty. Royalty income is real money, but it comes with volatility — oil prices move, wells decline, operators change priorities. A sale converts an uncertain income stream into a known number in your account today. For people managing inherited interests — especially those split among siblings or spread across multiple tracts — a sale also eliminates a lot of ongoing administrative complexity. There's also a market timing argument that some sellers are making: Permian Basin values are strong right now compared to historical norms, and some owners want to lock in that value rather than wait and see. That said, if your acreage sits in a high-activity area with wells being drilled or planned, holding your interest and collecting royalties may be the better long-term play. The honest answer is that it depends on your situation — your timeline, your financial needs, and your appetite for the uncertainty that comes with commodity exposure. We're not here to push you toward a sale. We're here to make sure you understand what you have before you decide.
Questions We Hear From Pecos County Owners
I got a letter offering to buy my mineral rights in Pecos County. Is the number they quoted me fair?
I inherited mineral rights in Pecos County from a parent who passed away. I don't even know if I'm getting paid. What do I do first?
How much are mineral rights in Pecos County actually worth per acre?
What formations are being drilled on my land, and does it matter which ones?
If I sell my mineral rights, do I still get royalty checks from wells that are already producing?
Want to Know What Your Pecos County Minerals Are Worth?
Fill out the form and a real person — not a bot, not a call center — will reach out to you within one business day. We'll ask a few questions about your tract, pull what we can from public records, and give you an honest valuation. No pressure, no obligation. Just a straight answer about what you have.
Get My Free ValuationGet a Free Offer for Your Pecos County County Mineral Rights
No obligation. No commissions. We respond within one business day.