Texas · Permian Basin · Midland / Northwest Shelf

Sell Mineral Rights
in Andrews County,
Texas.

Andrews County sits at the transition between the northern Midland Basin and the Northwest Shelf. That dual character matters: stacked Wolfcamp and Spraberry inventory across most of the county, plus meaningful San Andres conventional production along the shelf. If you own minerals here, the geology probably looks different than your neighbor's. We are happy to help you understand what you have.

~1,500sq mi
County Area
Northern Midland Basin
~9,500ft
Wolfcamp Depth
typical TVD
10,000ft
Standard Lateral
two-mile common
Stacked
Pay Targets
Wolfcamp, Spraberry, San Andres
Decades
Conventional Legacy
San Andres production
01 The Basin

Where the Midland Basin
meets the Northwest Shelf.

Andrews County sits in the far western edge of Texas, just south of the New Mexico state line and immediately east of the Central Basin Platform. Geologically, the southern and central parts of the county sit within the northern Midland Basin, while the western and northern edges transition onto the Northwest Shelf. That transition is the defining geological fact of Andrews County.

The practical implication is that mineral owners in Andrews can have very different rocks under their feet depending on where in the county the minerals sit. Sections in the southern and eastern county tend to have deep, stacked Wolfcamp and Spraberry inventory typical of the Midland Basin core. Sections in the western and northern county sit closer to the shelf, where San Andres carbonate production has been developed conventionally for decades and where the Wolfcamp section is shallower and thinner.

Andrews is one of those counties where two different mineral owners, separated by ten miles, can be looking at completely different geology, completely different operators, and completely different valuations.

If you are reading this, you may own a piece of any of that. Maybe you inherited minerals through a chain that goes back to original Texas patents or old family ranches. Maybe you have been receiving royalty checks for decades from San Andres waterfloods. Maybe an operator just sent you a letter asking to lease unleased acreage for a new Wolfcamp horizontal. This page walks through the rock, the operators, the geography, valuation, and the regulatory landscape.

Starting point

Have minerals in Andrews County? Send us what you have and we will take a look.

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02 The Rock

Stacked unconventional and
shelf carbonate targets.

Andrews County's productive section spans the deep Wolfcamp and Spraberry intervals across most of the county and the shallower San Andres carbonate along the Northwest Shelf. The combination produces a different opportunity set than a pure Midland Basin core county or a pure shelf county. Modern operators develop multiple zones from the same surface pad in the unconventional core, while shelf production continues from a mix of vertical wells, waterfloods, and selective horizontals.

WolfcampMidland Basin unconventional

The Wolfcamp formation is the deepest and most productive unconventional target across the southern and central parts of Andrews County. It is divided into multiple distinct benches (Wolfcamp A, B, C, and D), with Wolfcamp A and B as the primary current targets in the Midland Basin. The section is typically thinner and shallower in Andrews than in core Midland Basin counties further south.

For mineral owners, Wolfcamp development typically means multiple wells per spacing unit drilled over the life of development, with each well representing a separate revenue stream tied to the same minerals. Modern Wolfcamp completions use very large amounts of proppant and have steeper initial decline curves than older vintage wells.

Depth Range
8,500 to 10,500 ft
Type
Calcareous mudstone
Active Benches
Wolfcamp A and B primarily
Typical Lateral
10,000 ft, two-mile common
SpraberryLower, Middle, Jo Mill

Above the Wolfcamp sits the Spraberry, divided into the Lower Spraberry, Middle Spraberry, and Jo Mill intervals. The Spraberry has been productive in this area for decades, originally through vertical wells, and is now a primary horizontal target across much of the Midland Basin including parts of Andrews. The Lower Spraberry and Jo Mill are the most consistently developed horizontal targets.

For mineral owners, Spraberry inventory adds meaningful additional locations on top of the Wolfcamp section. Some spacing units in the southern county now have horizontals in multiple Spraberry intervals plus multiple Wolfcamp benches, leading to substantial accumulated well counts per surface unit.

Depth Range
6,500 to 8,500 ft
Type
Mixed sandstones and shales
Active Intervals
Lower, Middle, Jo Mill
Status
Heavily developed in core
San Andres & Shelf Targetsconventional carbonate

Along the Northwest Shelf in the western and northern parts of Andrews County, the San Andres formation is a shallow carbonate that has been developed for decades. Production comes from a mix of vertical wells, waterflood projects, and more recently selective horizontal completions. Decline curves are typically much flatter than unconventional wells, which gives San Andres royalty interests a different cash flow profile.

The practical implication for mineral owners along the shelf is that legacy production may continue for many years even with little new drilling activity, and that valuation depends heavily on remaining reserves under existing waterfloods rather than future horizontal locations.

San Andres Depth
4,500 to 5,500 ft
Type
Carbonate, dolomite
Status
Long-life conventional
Where Active
Western and northern county
03 The Operators

Who is drilling on your
Andrews County minerals.

The Permian operator landscape consolidated dramatically through 2023 and 2024, with multiple multi-billion-dollar mergers reshaping the operator list. The four operators below are leaders in current Andrews County activity, but the county has many additional meaningful operators on conventional shelf production and selective unconventional development.

i.
Diamondback Energy (with Endeavor)
Diamondback Energy completed its acquisition of Endeavor Energy Resources in 2024, combining two of the largest Midland Basin operators into a single entity. Both legacy companies held significant Andrews County positions, and the combined operator is now among the most active drillers across the county, particularly in the southern and central Wolfcamp and Spraberry sections.
Public · Largest Midland operator
Top in Andrews
ii.
ExxonMobil / XTO Energy
ExxonMobil holds a substantial Andrews County position through XTO Energy and the 2024 acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources, which had significant Midland Basin acreage. The combined operator is a major presence across the southern county. ExxonMobil tends to develop large multi-well pads with extended-reach laterals.
Major · Pioneer / XTO legacy
Top 5 in Andrews
iii.
Apache (APA Corporation)
Apache, now operating under APA Corporation, has held Andrews County acreage for many years and continues to develop both Wolfcamp and Spraberry inventory. Apache's Permian footprint spans Andrews and adjacent counties, and the company has been a consistent driller across multiple commodity cycles.
Public · Long-tenure operator
Active Driller
iv.
Long Tail of Operators & Shelf Producers
Andrews County has many additional meaningful operators including Permian Resources, ConocoPhillips through legacy Concho acreage, and various private operators on the unconventional side. On the Northwest Shelf side, multiple smaller operators run long-life San Andres production through waterfloods and vertical wells. Mineral owners may see different operator names on different wells within the same general area depending on which operator drilled which spacing unit and which formation.
Mixed · Many active
Many Active Operators
See a familiar name?

We know how these operators develop in Andrews County. Happy to give you context on yours.

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04 The Geography

Not all Andrews County
minerals are built the same.

Andrews County covers about 1,500 square miles in far western Texas. The county sits at a geological transition, and where in the county your minerals sit shapes everything from formation depth to operator activity to whether the relevant production is unconventional horizontal or conventional shelf. The town of Andrews, the county seat, is the regional service hub.

Southern Andrews / Martin Border
Southern county Toward Martin Co.
The southern part of the county transitions toward Martin County and the Midland Basin core. Wolfcamp and Spraberry development is most active here, with operators drilling across the county boundary. Spacing units in this area have typically seen multi-vintage horizontal development, with meaningful remaining inventory across stacked benches.
Activity: Highest Development: Mature unconventional
Central Andrews
Around Andrews County center
The central county around the town of Andrews sits in the transition zone. Both unconventional Wolfcamp and Spraberry development and conventional shelf production occur here. Many spacing units have a mix of older vertical production and newer horizontal wells, which can create interesting royalty histories for inherited interests.
Activity: High Development: Mixed
Western Andrews / NM Border
Toward Lea Co. NM border
Western Andrews runs to the New Mexico state line and the eastern edge of Lea County. Activity here transitions toward the Northwest Shelf, with shallower formations becoming more relevant. San Andres production is meaningful in parts of this area, and selective Wolfcamp horizontals are drilled where geology supports it.
Activity: Moderate Development: Mixed shelf and unconventional
Northern Andrews / Gaines Border
Northern county Toward Gaines Co.
Northern Andrews transitions toward Gaines County and the Northwest Shelf proper. San Andres conventional production has been developed here for decades, including extensive waterflood projects. Wolfcamp inventory exists but is shallower and generally less productive than in the southern county. Long-life shelf royalties are common.
Activity: Moderate Development: Conventional shelf, selective horizontal
Eastern Andrews / Martin Border
Eastern county Toward Martin Co.
Eastern Andrews sits closer to the Midland Basin core. Wolfcamp and Spraberry quality improves moving east, and operator activity is consistent. Spacing units here are valued on stacked-pay inventory and active drilling cadence rather than legacy conventional production.
Activity: High Development: Active unconventional
Waterflood Units & Legacy Production
Scattered · Shelf areas
Across the western and northern county, multiple long-running San Andres waterflood units continue to produce. These units often span dozens of original tracts and have generated decades of royalty income for participating mineral owners. Valuation here depends on remaining reserves, water cut, and operator economics rather than future horizontal locations.
Activity: Steady, low-decline Development: Secondary recovery
05 Your Valuation

What your Andrews County
mineral rights are worth.

Valuation in Andrews County reflects the county's split character. Unconventional Midland Basin minerals are valued on stacked Wolfcamp and Spraberry inventory and ongoing horizontal development. Northwest Shelf minerals are valued on long-life conventional production, often through established waterflood units. The four scenarios below cover what we see most often.

01
Producing Minerals with Active Royalty Income
Valued on cash flow plus remaining inventory
If your Andrews County minerals are actively producing, valuation typically starts with the trailing twelve months of royalty income. A buyer applies a multiple based on expected remaining well life, future drilling potential across stacked Wolfcamp and Spraberry intervals, and commodity outlook. Andrews County multiples vary meaningfully depending on whether the production is from a modern horizontal well with stacked pay below it, or from a long-life shelf waterflood with a flatter decline.
What shapes the number: well vintage and remaining life across existing wells, how many additional Wolfcamp and Spraberry locations remain undrilled, your royalty rate, the operator quality, and your lease cost-deduction language.
02
Unleased Minerals in Active Development
Valued on drilling proximity and future potential
Unleased Andrews County minerals, particularly in the southern and eastern county, are valued aggressively on expected development timing. Operators are competing for acreage to round out drilling units, which supports lease bonus and royalty rate negotiations. Unleased minerals also carry optionality across future commodity cycles.
What shapes the number: nearby permit activity, the operator's recent drilling pace in your survey, formation quality beneath your specific section, comparable lease bonuses paid on surrounding tracts, and whether the section is part of an operator's near-term drilling plan.
03
Long-Life Shelf Royalties & Waterfloods
Valued on decline curve and remaining reserves
Many Andrews County mineral owners hold royalty interests in long-running San Andres production, including waterflood units that have been operating for many years or decades. These interests are valued differently than unconventional positions. The decline curve is typically flatter, the operator economics are sensitive to oil price, and the reserves remaining depend on the quality of the waterflood operation.
What shapes the number: the trailing royalty history, the unit operator and their historical performance, water cut trends, oil price sensitivity, and whether enhanced recovery or selective horizontal redevelopment is being considered.
04
Small Fractional Interests & Inherited Positions
Often worth more than expected
Many Andrews County mineral owners hold small fractional interests inherited across multiple generations, often spread across heirs in different states. The county's mix of stacked unconventional pay and long-life conventional production means even small fractional interests can carry meaningful value. We pay these interests the same attention as larger ones and are comfortable doing the title research, including chains that go back to original Texas patents.
What shapes the number: net mineral acre count, royalty rate if leased, producing status, accumulated unpaid suspense (sometimes meaningful for inherited interests), and whether other heirs holding the same chain are also active.
Your specific situation

We would rather look at real facts than speak in generalities. Send us what you have.

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06 The Regulatory Landscape

Texas rules,
Permian realities.

Andrews County operates under the Texas oil and gas regime, administered primarily by the Texas Railroad Commission. The on-the-ground realities reflect Texas's strong fee mineral tradition, the Railroad Commission's permitting and spacing rules, and the practical effects of operator consolidation across the Permian.

The Railroad Commission and how spacing works

The Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) regulates oil and gas activity in Andrews County. The RRC permits wells, conducts hearings on spacing and pooling exceptions, and maintains the public well database. Texas does not have forced pooling in the same form as some other states, which means operators must lease or otherwise secure rights from individual mineral owners to drill across a unit. This generally favors mineral owners in negotiation.

Spacing units and field rules

Most Andrews County activity occurs under field-specific spacing rules established for the relevant Wolfcamp, Spraberry, or San Andres fields. Modern horizontal development typically uses larger units that match two-mile or longer laterals. Older legacy patterns vary, particularly for shallower San Andres production where vertical spacing rules may still apply.

Texas fee mineral tradition and lease language

Texas has a strong fee mineral tradition, with most minerals owned privately rather than by state or federal entities. Lease language is the dominant document governing royalty calculation, deductions, drilling obligations, and continuation. Older Texas leases often have less protective language for mineral owners than newer leases. Reading your specific lease's post-production cost language matters in Texas because the state allows broad latitude for deductions unless the lease prohibits them.

State and University Lands

While most Andrews County minerals are privately owned, certain tracts are owned by the State of Texas or by the Permanent University Fund, which holds mineral rights granted to fund the University of Texas and Texas A&M systems. State and University Lands are leased through public processes and on different terms than private fee minerals. If your minerals are adjacent to state or PUF acreage, the leasing dynamics nearby may differ.

07 Questions We Hear Often

The real questions
mineral owners ask.

We have been through these conversations hundreds of times. Below are honest answers to the things people actually want to know.

01
How much are mineral rights worth in Andrews County, Texas?
Andrews County values reflect the county's mixed character: deep Wolfcamp and Spraberry inventory across the southern and central county, and meaningful conventional San Andres production on the western and northwestern shelf. Values vary widely depending on where in the county you own, whether your minerals are leased or producing, the operator, your royalty rate, and lease cost-deduction language. The only way to know what your specific minerals are worth is to look at the actual facts. We are happy to do that for you, at no cost and with no obligation to sell.
02
Is Andrews County in the Midland Basin or the Delaware Basin?
Andrews County sits primarily in the northern Midland Basin and transitions toward the Northwest Shelf along the western and northern edges. It is not part of the Delaware Basin, which lies further west across the Central Basin Platform in counties like Loving, Reeves, and Ward. The geology in Andrews supports both unconventional Wolfcamp and Spraberry development across most of the county and conventional San Andres production along the shelf transition.
03
I inherited mineral rights in Andrews County but I do not have any documents. What do I do?
You are not alone. This is a common situation. Start by gathering anything you do have: old letters from operators, tax statements, probate records, royalty stubs, division orders. The Andrews County Clerk's office in the town of Andrews keeps deed records. The Texas Railroad Commission maintains a public database of wells, operators, and production. We can usually identify what someone owns with just a name and a rough idea of where the minerals are located, because Texas mineral records are publicly accessible.
04
Should I sell my Andrews County mineral rights now or hold them?
That depends on your situation. People who hold typically want long-term royalty income, do not need cash for other priorities, and are comfortable with commodity price volatility. People who sell typically want to convert future uncertain income into certain present value, simplify their estate, or use the capital for something else. Andrews County's mix of stacked unconventional inventory and shallower conventional production makes the holding case real, but the same characteristics also support strong sale valuations. Neither is wrong. We can help you think through the tradeoffs without pressure to pick a side.
05
What is the San Andres formation and why does it matter in Andrews County?
The San Andres is a shallower carbonate formation that produces meaningfully across the Northwest Shelf, including the western and northern parts of Andrews County. It has been developed for decades through vertical wells and waterflood projects, and more recently through horizontal drilling. Many Andrews County mineral owners have legacy royalty income from San Andres production that has continued for many years. The formation tends to have flatter decline curves than unconventional Wolfcamp wells, which gives it a different cash flow profile.
06
My royalty statements have a lot of cost deductions. Is that normal in Texas?
Whether deductions are permitted depends entirely on your lease language. Texas allows operators broad latitude to deduct post-production costs unless the lease specifically prohibits it. Older leases often have minimal protective language, while newer leases sometimes include cost-free royalty clauses. Reading your lease carefully and checking how the operator is calculating deductions is worth doing. We can help review your statements and lease language together if helpful.
07
My minerals are held by Endeavor or Diamondback. Does the recent merger change anything?
Endeavor Energy Resources and Diamondback Energy combined in 2024, creating one of the largest pure-play Permian operators. For mineral owners, the combined operator now controls a very large position across Andrews County and the broader Midland Basin. The practical effect is usually continuity: existing leases stay in place under their terms, royalty payments continue, and drilling plans get reorganized over time. If you have specific questions about how the combined entity is developing your spacing unit, we can usually pull recent permit and completion records.
08
Can I sell mineral rights I inherited if other family members inherited the same minerals?
Yes, you can sell your undivided fractional interest without needing the other heirs to participate. This is extremely common in Andrews County, where many interests have been subdivided across generations of heirs, often spread across multiple states. A good buyer will work with your specific interest, not require you to round up cousins. We do this all the time.
09
How does the sale process actually work?
Step one, we do the research. You send us what you have, we pull Texas Railroad Commission records, we check operator activity in the spacing unit, and we build an analysis. Step two, we send you a written summary with our reasoning. Step three, if you want to proceed, we handle the mineral deed preparation, you sign at a notary, and funds are wired at close. We move on your timeline, whether that is quick or deliberate. There is no charge for the research and no obligation to sell.
10
Why should I sell to Timberline Minerals specifically?
We are a family-owned office with roots in Texas and Montana. We work across the primary US basins and we are comfortable with Permian specifics including Midland Basin stacked pay, Northwest Shelf San Andres production, and the Texas Railroad Commission process. We work with mineral interests of all sizes including small fractional positions. Our process is straightforward: we research the tract, share what we find, and make an offer. The decision to sell is yours, and we are happy to help you understand what you have either way.

Find out what your
Andrews County minerals
are actually worth.

Send us what you have, or what you think you have. We will pull Texas Railroad Commission records, check operator activity in your section, and put together a plain-English summary with our reasoning laid out. If it makes sense to go further, we move on your timeline. If not, you have a free breakdown you can take anywhere.

Free · No Obligation · Your Timeline
Market Pulse

Permian status, April 2026

The Permian produced approximately 6.7 million barrels per day of crude oil in March 2026, the most recent month with confirmed data, accounting for roughly forty-eight percent of total US crude production. Year-over-year growth has slowed from prior peaks but remains positive. For Lea and Eddy mineral owners, the practical takeaway is that operator activity continues to be concentrated in stacked Wolfcamp and Bone Spring development across the Delaware sub-basin, with consolidation among public producers reshaping who operates which spacing units.

12 month oil production trend
6,700
thousand barrels per day
Latest month
+20(+0.3%)
thousand barrels per day
Month over month
+280(+4.4%)
thousand barrels per day
Year over year