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Texas · Permian Basin · Midland Sub-Basin

Sell Mineral Rights
in Howard County,
Texas.

Howard County sits in the eastern Midland Basin, with Big Spring as the county seat. Operators have produced some of the strongest Wolfcamp B and Lower Spraberry results in the basin here. If you own minerals in Howard, you are sitting on stacked-pay rock that continues to attract serious capital. We are happy to help you understand what you have.

EasternMidland
Basin Position
core fairway
~9,500ft
Wolfcamp Depth
typical TVD
10,000ft
Standard Lateral
two-mile common
Stacked
Wolfcamp / Spraberry
multi-bench targets
BigSpring
County Seat
regional service hub
01 The Basin

Eastern Midland Basin,
stacked pay at the core.

Howard County sits in the eastern Midland Basin, the eastern sub-basin of the broader Permian. Where the Delaware Basin to the west has thicker stacked unconventional intervals, the Midland Basin counters with strong Wolfcamp and Spraberry rock that has supported some of the most productive horizontal wells in Texas. Howard sits in a particularly productive part of that fairway.

For much of the conventional era, Howard County produced from shallower zones around the Spraberry trend. Big Spring, the county seat, was a regional oil town long before horizontal drilling arrived. The modern unconventional era has reframed Howard from a mature legacy area into one of the more interesting Wolfcamp B and Lower Spraberry locations in the Midland Basin. Operators have repeatedly highlighted Howard County wells in their public results.

Howard County has shifted from a legacy Spraberry vertical area into one of the strongest Wolfcamp B and Lower Spraberry parts of the eastern Midland Basin, with operators continuing to deploy meaningful capital here.

If you are reading this, you may own a piece of that. Maybe you inherited minerals through a chain that goes back to old family ranches around Big Spring or Coahoma. Maybe you have been receiving royalty checks for decades. Maybe an operator just sent you a letter asking to lease unleased acreage. This page walks through the rock, the operators, the geography, valuation, and the regulatory landscape under the Texas Railroad Commission.

Starting point

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

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02 The Rock

Wolfcamp, Spraberry,
and Dean.

Howard County's productive geology is built around the Spraberry / Wolfcamp stack that defines the Midland Basin. Operators target the Wolfcamp A and B benches at depth, the Lower Spraberry above that, and selectively the Middle Spraberry, Dean, and Jo Mill. Modern development typically pulls multiple horizontals from the same surface pad.

WolfcampA and B benches

The Wolfcamp formation is the deepest active horizontal target in Howard County. The Wolfcamp B in particular has produced some of the strongest results in the eastern Midland Basin here, with operators repeatedly highlighting Howard wells in public well summaries. The Wolfcamp A is also developed across most of the county.

For mineral owners, Wolfcamp development typically means multiple wells per spacing unit drilled over the life of development, with the Wolfcamp B often serving as the anchor target. Modern Wolfcamp completions use very large amounts of proppant and have steep initial decline curves followed by long, slowly declining tails.

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

Above the Wolfcamp sits the Spraberry, divided into Lower, Middle, and Upper intervals plus the Jo Mill. The Lower Spraberry is the most consistent horizontal target in Howard County and has produced exceptional results across many spacing units. The Middle Spraberry and Jo Mill are also developed selectively, with operators choosing benches based on local geology.

For mineral owners, Lower Spraberry inventory adds materially to the value of Howard County minerals because it represents another full layer of horizontal development on top of any Wolfcamp drilling. Some spacing units have horizontals across both Spraberry and multiple Wolfcamp benches.

Depth Range
6,500 to 8,500 ft
Type
Sandstones and shales
Primary Target
Lower Spraberry
Status
Heavily developed
Dean & Shallower Targetssecondary horizons

Between the Spraberry and Wolfcamp sits the Dean formation, a tighter sandstone and silt interval that is selectively developed in Howard County depending on local rock quality. Above the Spraberry, older vertical Spraberry and Clearfork production has been part of the county's history for generations and continues across many leases.

The practical implication for mineral owners is that even spacing units with extensive Wolfcamp and Lower Spraberry development may have additional inventory in the Dean or other intervals, plus legacy vertical production that continues to generate income.

Dean Depth
~8,000 ft
Clearfork / Shallower
3,500 to 6,000 ft
Status
Selective horizontal, legacy vertical
Where Active
Variable across county
03 The Operators

Who is drilling on your
Howard County minerals.

The Permian Basin operator landscape consolidated dramatically through 2023 and 2024. The operators below are leaders in current Howard County activity, but the county has additional meaningful operators beyond this list. Operator quality matters because it shapes drilling pace, well design, and how royalties are calculated.

i.
SM Energy
SM Energy has been one of the most active operators in Howard County for years. The company has highlighted Howard wells repeatedly in public results, particularly in the Wolfcamp B and Lower Spraberry. SM has continued to deploy capital across its Howard position, with multi-well pads developing stacked benches.
Public · Howard core
Top in Howard
ii.
Civitas Resources
Civitas, originally a DJ Basin operator, expanded into the Permian through the 2023 acquisitions of Tap Rock Resources and Hibernia Energy. The Hibernia transaction added meaningful Midland Basin acreage, including positions across Howard and surrounding counties. Civitas has continued to develop Wolfcamp and Spraberry inventory in the area.
Public · Permian growth
Major Operator
iii.
Endeavor Energy Resources
Endeavor, founded by the Autry Stephens family, was one of the largest privately held Permian operators before its 2024 combination with Diamondback Energy. The combined Diamondback / Endeavor entity holds substantial Midland Basin acreage, with Howard County representing part of the legacy Endeavor footprint. Drilling continues under the combined operator.
Now part of Diamondback
Major Operator
iv.
Apache Corporation
Apache, now operating under APA Corporation, has historically held meaningful Permian acreage with activity across the Midland Basin including Howard. Apache's footprint in the area reflects long-running positions and ongoing horizontal development across stacked benches.
Public · Long-running Permian
Active Operator
v.
Long Tail of Public and Private Operators
Howard County has additional meaningful operators including Diamondback Energy in its own right, ExxonMobil through XTO Energy and the 2024 Pioneer acquisition, ConocoPhillips, and various private operators. Mineral owners may see different operator names on different wells within the same general area depending on which operator drilled which spacing unit. Trade transactions across operators happen regularly.
Mixed · Many active
Many Active Operators
See a familiar name?

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

Ask About Your Operator →
04 The Geography

Not all Howard County
minerals are built the same.

Howard County covers about 900 square miles in West Texas, with Big Spring as the county seat near the southern part of the county. The Wolfcamp and Spraberry trends run through most of the county, with productivity varying by section. Where in the county your minerals sit shapes operator activity, formation depth, and bench quality.

Big Spring Area
T1S-T2S Around city
The geographic and operational center of Howard County. Big Spring has been an oil town for generations and remains the regional service hub. Spacing units in this area have typically seen extensive Wolfcamp and Lower Spraberry development, with many already at multi-vintage well counts. Remaining inventory varies by section.
Activity: High Development: Mature, infill
Northern Howard
Northern townships
Northern Howard transitions toward the Borden County line and the deeper part of the Midland Basin core. Wolfcamp B and Lower Spraberry results have been particularly strong here, with operators highlighting wells from this part of the county in public summaries. Active development continues.
Activity: High Development: Active
Eastern Howard / Mitchell Border
Eastern townships
Eastern Howard runs toward the Mitchell County line. The basin transitions toward the eastern shelf here, with Wolfcamp and Spraberry quality varying as you move east. Operators drill selectively where rock quality supports it. Some legacy vertical production continues across this area.
Activity: Moderate Development: Selective
Southern Howard / Glasscock Border
Southern townships
Southern Howard transitions toward Glasscock County, another core Midland Basin county. Wolfcamp and Lower Spraberry quality is generally strong here, with operators drilling continuously across the county boundary. Many spacing units sit in active rotation.
Activity: High Development: Active
Coahoma Area
Eastern Howard
The Coahoma area sits in eastern Howard County and has been part of the historic Spraberry trend area for generations. Modern horizontal development has reframed older legacy production with stacked Wolfcamp and Spraberry wells. Many family ranches in this area carry long mineral chains of title.
Activity: Moderate to High Development: Active
Western Howard / Martin Border
Western townships
Western Howard transitions toward Martin County, also a Midland Basin core county with intense Wolfcamp and Spraberry activity. Cross-border drilling is common, with operators developing units that span the county line. Activity in western Howard tends to track Martin's pace.
Activity: High Development: Active
05 Your Valuation

What your Howard County
mineral rights are worth.

Valuation in Howard County reflects its position in the eastern Midland Basin core. Strong Wolfcamp B and Lower Spraberry results, well-capitalized operators, and stacked-pay inventory all support solid mineral valuations. 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 Howard 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. Howard County multiples reflect the strong Wolfcamp B and Lower Spraberry inventory remaining in much of the county.
What shapes the number: well vintage and remaining life across multiple 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 Areas
Valued on drilling proximity and future potential
Unleased Howard County minerals, particularly in northern Howard and the Big Spring core, are valued aggressively on expected development timing. Operators have continued to lease and drill across the county, which supports strong lease bonus and royalty rate negotiations. Unleased minerals also carry optionality.
What shapes the number: nearby permit activity, the operator's recent drilling pace in your area, 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
Small Fractional Interests & Inherited Positions
Often worth more than expected
Many Howard County mineral owners hold small fractional interests inherited across generations of family ranches around Big Spring and Coahoma, often spread across heirs in different states. The county's stacked pay and active operator footprint mean 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 land grants.
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.
04
Leased but Not Yet Producing
Valued on lease terms and proximity to activity
If your Howard County minerals are leased but not yet producing, value depends substantially on the lease terms and how quickly the operator is moving toward drilling. Permian leases typically have three to five year primary terms with extension by production. A lease held by an active operator with a strong Howard footprint is worth materially more than one held by a passive leaseholder.
What shapes the number: your royalty rate, primary term expiration, the specific operator holding the lease, recent drilling activity in adjacent spacing units, and whether your lease has a Pugh clause or similar acreage-protection language.
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.

Howard County operates under the Texas oil and gas regime, administered by the Railroad Commission of Texas. Texas mineral law is well-developed and broadly favorable to mineral owners, with strong protections built up across more than a century of case law. The on-the-ground realities reflect Texas RRC permitting practice, the dominance of fee minerals, and the standard practices of Permian operators.

The Railroad Commission and spacing rules

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) regulates oil and gas activity statewide, including permitting wells, conducting hearings on spacing and pooling applications, and maintaining the public well database. Texas has a well-established statewide spacing rule (Statewide Rule 37) and density rule (Statewide Rule 38), with field-specific rules layered on top. Modern Howard County horizontal development typically uses larger units that match two-mile or longer laterals across the Wolfcamp and Spraberry.

Pooling and unit formation

Texas does not have force pooling in the same way some other states do. Operators typically form units through voluntary pooling provisions in leases, or through ratification by mineral owners. If your lease has a pooling clause, your minerals can be combined with adjacent acreage to form a development unit. Reading the pooling provisions of your lease matters because they shape how your royalty is calculated when your tract is part of a larger unit.

Fee minerals and Texas land tradition

Texas is a fee mineral state, meaning the bulk of minerals are privately owned rather than held by federal or state agencies. This shapes the leasing market in important ways. Lease terms are negotiated directly between mineral owners and operators or their landmen, with no federal lease auction process to set baseline terms. Howard County mineral chains often go back through generations of family ranches, with some chains tracing to original land grants.

Post-production costs and lease language

Texas case law on post-production cost deductions is well developed. Whether an operator can deduct gathering, processing, and transportation costs from your royalty depends substantially on the specific language of your lease. Some leases prohibit deductions, some permit them, and some are silent (which Texas courts generally interpret as permitting reasonable deductions). Reading your lease language matters in Texas.

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 Howard County, Texas?
Howard County mineral values reflect its position in the eastern Midland Basin, where the Wolfcamp B and Lower Spraberry have produced strong results in recent years. Values vary widely by section, depending on whether your minerals are leased or producing, the operator, your royalty rate, the depth of remaining inventory, 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
What formations are operators targeting in Howard County?
The primary horizontal targets are Wolfcamp A and B and the Lower Spraberry, with the Dean and Middle Spraberry also developed in parts of the county. Howard County has produced some of the strongest Wolfcamp B and Lower Spraberry results in the eastern Midland Basin, which is why operators have continued to focus capital here. Most modern spacing units support multiple horizontal wells across stacked benches.
03
I inherited mineral rights in Howard County but I do not have any documents. What do I do?
You are not alone. This happens often. Start by gathering anything you do have: old letters from operators, tax statements, probate records, royalty stubs, division orders. The Howard County Clerk's office in Big Spring 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 sit, because Texas mineral records are publicly accessible.
04
Should I sell my Howard 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. Howard County's stacked-pay inventory makes the holding case reasonable, but the same characteristics support solid sale valuations. Neither is wrong. We can help you think through the tradeoffs without pressure to pick a side.
05
What is the difference between an offer to lease and an offer to buy my minerals?
Leasing gives an operator the right to develop your minerals for a period of time, typically three to five years, with extension if production is established. In exchange you receive a bonus payment per net mineral acre and a royalty percentage on production. You still own the minerals. Buying transfers ownership entirely, in exchange for a lump sum. After a sale, you no longer own the minerals and you receive no future royalties. Both have their place. Buying typically delivers more value up front, leasing preserves long-term upside.
06
How do Texas Railroad Commission rules affect my Howard County minerals?
The Railroad Commission of Texas regulates oil and gas activity in Howard County, including permitting, spacing, allowable production, and plugging. For mineral owners the most practical effects involve spacing and pooling rules that determine how a unit is formed around your acreage. Modern Howard County development typically uses larger units that match two-mile or longer laterals across the Wolfcamp and Spraberry.
07
My lease has a pooling clause. What does that mean?
Texas relies on voluntary pooling through lease provisions rather than force pooling like some other states. A pooling clause lets the operator combine your tract with adjacent acreage to form a development unit. Your royalty on a pooled unit is then calculated based on your share of the unit (your acres divided by total unit acres) times your royalty rate times unit production. The specific language matters because some pooling clauses cap unit size, require ratification, or include other limits. We can review yours if helpful.
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 common in Howard 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
My Howard County royalty checks are smaller than they used to be. Why?
Several reasons are possible, sometimes in combination. Wells decline naturally over time, particularly horizontal wells which have steep first-year declines. Commodity prices fluctuate. Operators may have shifted production allocation across a unit. Cost deductions and post-production charges sometimes change. If a check seems off, comparing recent stubs to older ones and looking at the operator's recent production filings with the Railroad Commission usually explains it. We are happy to help you read through statements.
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 know the Midland Basin well, including Howard County's Wolfcamp B and Lower Spraberry development patterns. 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
Howard County minerals
are actually worth.

Send us what you have, or what you think you have. We will pull Railroad Commission and county 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.

Request a Valuation (512) 626-7267
Free · No Obligation · Your Timeline
08 Keep Reading

More for Howard County
mineral owners.

Guide · 6 min read
I inherited mineral rights. What now?
A walkthrough of the first few things to look at, whether you just found out or have been sitting on it for years.
Read the guide  →
Guide · 8 min read
How mineral rights are valued
The core inputs that go into a mineral valuation. Production, inventory, operator, lease terms, and what each one actually means in practice.
Read the guide  →
Guide · 5 min read
What to look for in an offer
Reading an offer letter, understanding what is and is not included, and the questions worth asking before responding.
Read the guide  →
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
Last updated April 2026. Source: US Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook (April 2026).