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Texas · Permian Basin · Midland Sub-Basin

Sell Mineral Rights
in Upton County,
Texas.

Upton County sits in the southern Midland Basin, where the Wolfcamp and Spraberry stack to create some of the deepest drilling inventory in Texas. If you own mineral rights here, the operators developing them are among the largest in the country. We are happy to help you understand what you have.

~1,242sq mi
County Area
southern Midland Basin
~9,000ft
Wolfcamp Depth
typical TVD range
10,000ft
Standard Lateral
with longer pilots
Multiple
Stacked Targets
Wolfcamp A/B, Spraberry
Rankin
County Seat
deed records
01 The Basin

Southern Midland Basin stacked pay.

Upton County sits in the southern half of the Midland Basin, the eastern sub-basin of the Permian. Where the Delaware sub-basin to the west is known for the Bone Spring sands, the Midland Basin's signature stack is the Spraberry over the Wolfcamp. Upton, along with neighboring Reagan, Glasscock, and Midland counties, has been one of the most consistently developed parts of that stack.

The Permian as a whole is the largest oil-producing basin in the United States. Within it, the Midland Basin has been a heavy contributor for decades, with vertical Spraberry production going back to the 1950s and modern horizontal Wolfcamp and Spraberry development beginning in the early 2010s. Upton County, with Rankin as its county seat, has carried steady operator activity throughout.

Upton sits in the operating footprint of some of the largest companies in the basin. Operator consolidation in 2023 and 2024 has reshaped who shows up on royalty checks, but the underlying drilling pace remains steady.

If you are reading this, you may own a piece of that. Maybe you inherited minerals through a chain that goes back to family ranching land. 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 that shapes Upton County mineral ownership.

Starting point

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

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02 The Rock

Wolfcamp under Spraberry,
stacked together.

Upton County's productive geology is the classic Midland Basin stack. The Wolfcamp formation is the deepest active target, divided into multiple benches. Above it sits the Spraberry, itself divided into the Lower, Middle, and Jo Mill intervals. Modern operators routinely develop multiple zones from the same surface pad, with some pads supporting numerous wells targeting different formations within the same spacing unit.

WolfcampMidland Basin core target

The Wolfcamp formation is the deepest and most consistently productive unconventional target in Upton County. It is divided into multiple distinct benches (Wolfcamp A, B, C, and D), each capable of supporting horizontal development. Wolfcamp A and B are the primary current targets in this part of the Midland Basin, with operators drilling multiple horizontals per spacing unit across the two benches.

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 11,000 ft
Type
Calcareous mudstone
Active Benches
Wolfcamp A and B primarily
Typical Lateral
10,000 ft, longer pilots
SpraberryLower, Middle, Jo Mill

Above the Wolfcamp sits the Spraberry, the original Midland Basin producer. The Spraberry has been developed vertically since the 1950s and horizontally since the early 2010s. It is divided into the Lower Spraberry, Middle Spraberry, and Jo Mill intervals, each a separate horizontal target where operators have established meaningful production. The Lower Spraberry has been the most consistently developed interval in recent vintages.

For mineral owners, Spraberry inventory is one of the reasons Upton County valuations carry meaningful multiples. The combination of remaining Spraberry and Wolfcamp locations supports continued royalty income for many years even after early development is complete on a given spacing unit.

Depth Range
7,000 to 8,500 ft
Type
Mixed sandstone, siltstone, shale
Active Intervals
Lower, Middle, Jo Mill
Status
Heavily developed
Dean & Shallower Targetssecondary horizons

Between the Spraberry and the Wolfcamp sits the Dean sand, which has produced both vertically and through selective horizontal development. Above the Spraberry, shallower formations including the Clear Fork and San Andres also produce in parts of the southern Midland Basin. Older vertical production from these shallower zones still continues across many parts of the county.

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

Dean Depth
~8,000 ft
Clear Fork Depth
5,000 to 6,500 ft
Status
Selective horizontal, legacy vertical
Where Active
Variable across county
03 The Operators

Who is drilling on your
Upton County minerals.

The Permian operator landscape consolidated dramatically through 2023 and 2024, with multiple multi-billion-dollar mergers reshaping the operator list. The operators below are leaders in current Upton County activity, but Upton has additional meaningful operators beyond what this list captures.

i.
ExxonMobil (formerly Pioneer Natural Resources)
Pioneer Natural Resources was the dominant operator across the southern Midland Basin for many years and held one of the largest leasehold positions in Upton County. ExxonMobil completed its acquisition of Pioneer in 2024, folding Pioneer's operations into XTO Energy and ExxonMobil's broader Permian organization. For Upton mineral owners, this transition has shifted the operator name on royalty statements and check stubs.
Major · Pioneer legacy
Top 1 in Upton
ii.
Diamondback Energy (with Endeavor Energy)
Endeavor Energy Resources, a long-time private Permian operator, held substantial Midland Basin acreage including positions in and around Upton County. Diamondback Energy combined with Endeavor in 2024, creating one of the largest pure-play Permian producers. The combined entity is among the most active drillers across the southern Midland Basin.
Public · Endeavor legacy
Top 3 in Upton
iii.
Permian Deep Rock
Permian Deep Rock is a private operator with focused acreage in the southern Midland Basin including Upton and surrounding counties. Privately held operators of this size report less public information than the majors, but their drilling pace and well permitting in Upton has been visible through Texas Railroad Commission records.
Private · Focused operator
Active Private Operator
iv.
ConocoPhillips
ConocoPhillips holds substantial Midland Basin acreage from its 2021 acquisition of Concho Resources and its 2024 acquisition of Marathon Oil. Both legacy positions included Upton County exposure. ConocoPhillips is among the larger Midland Basin developers and continues active Wolfcamp and Spraberry drilling across its leasehold.
Major · Concho / Marathon legacy
Top 5 in Upton
v.
Long Tail of Public and Private Operators
Upton County has additional meaningful operators including Apache Corporation, SM Energy, Callon Petroleum (now part of APA Corporation), Vital Energy, and various private operators including the long history of family-owned Permian companies. Mineral owners may see different operator names on different wells within the same general area depending on which operator drilled which spacing unit.
Mixed · Many active
Many Active Operators
See a familiar name?

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

Ask About Your Operator →
04 The Geography

Not all Upton County
minerals are built the same.

Upton County covers about 1,242 square miles in West Texas, with Rankin as the county seat near the southern edge of the Midland Basin. The Wolfcamp and Spraberry trends run through the county with productivity varying by location. McCamey lies just south, in the next county over, but serves as a regional hub for parts of southern Upton. Where in the county your minerals sit shapes operator activity, formation depth, and quality.

Rankin / Central Upton
Central County
The geographic and operational center of the county, including the Rankin area. Spacing units in this area have typically seen extensive Wolfcamp and Spraberry development, with many already at multi-vintage well counts. Remaining inventory is meaningful given the depth of stacked pay.
Activity: High Development: Mature, infill
Northern Upton / Midland Border
Northern County
Northern Upton transitions toward Midland County and the basin core. Activity here has been heavy, with operators drilling continuously across the county boundary. Wolfcamp and Spraberry quality is generally strong, and many spacing units sit in active development rotation.
Activity: High Development: Active
Eastern Upton / Reagan Border
Eastern County
Eastern Upton borders Reagan County, another heavily developed Midland Basin county. Cross-county spacing units are common, and the operator footprint extends across the boundary. This area has been one of the more consistently drilled parts of Upton.
Activity: High Development: Active
Southern Upton / Crockett Border
Southern County
Southern Upton transitions toward Crockett County and the southern edge of the Midland Basin. Activity thins somewhat toward the basin edge, but selective drilling continues where the geology supports it. Some areas here have meaningful legacy vertical production from shallower zones.
Activity: Moderate Development: Selective
McCamey Area
SW Upton & into Upton
The McCamey area, technically in Upton County, is one of the older oilfield communities in West Texas. Some legacy vertical production continues here from earlier development, alongside selective modern horizontal drilling. The area has a long oilfield history that predates the horizontal era.
Activity: Mixed Development: Legacy plus horizontal
Western Upton
Western County
Western Upton transitions toward the Central Basin Platform, the structural feature that separates the Midland Basin from the Delaware Basin. Geology shifts in this direction and reservoir characteristics vary. Activity is generally lighter than in the central and eastern parts of the county.
Activity: Moderate to Light Development: Selective
05 Your Valuation

What your Upton County
mineral rights are worth.

Valuation in Upton County reflects its position in the Midland Basin operator footprint. Stacked Wolfcamp and Spraberry pay, well-capitalized operators after recent consolidation, and consistent infrastructure all support meaningful mineral valuations. The four scenarios below cover what we see most often.

01
Producing Minerals with Active Royalty Income
Valued on cash flow plus deep remaining inventory
If your Upton 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. Upton County multiples reflect the inventory depth that supports years of additional development on most spacing units.
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
Valued on drilling proximity and future potential
Unleased Upton County minerals, particularly in the Rankin core, northern Upton, or active operator footprints, are valued on expected development timing. Operators have been competing for acreage across the Midland Basin, which supports 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 Upton County mineral owners hold small fractional interests inherited across multiple generations, often spread across heirs in different states. Upton's stacked pay and active operator presence 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 several generations.
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 Upton 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 major operator is worth materially more than one held by a passive leaseholder waiting on conditions.
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.

Request an Analysis →
06 The Regulatory Landscape

Texas rules,
Permian realities.

Upton County operates under the Texas oil and gas regime, administered primarily by the Texas Railroad Commission. The on-the-ground realities reflect a long history of vertical Permian development, modern horizontal drilling overlaid on legacy lease patterns, and the Texas tradition of strong mineral owner property rights and lease enforcement.

The Railroad Commission and how spacing works

The Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) regulates oil and gas activity on private and state minerals across Texas. The RRC permits wells, conducts hearings, and maintains the public well database. Texas has historically used field-specific spacing rules, with horizontal wells now generally drilled within larger pooled units that match modern lateral lengths. The RRC's online records are publicly accessible and are typically the first place we look when researching Upton County minerals.

Texas General Land Office and state acreage

The Texas General Land Office manages Permanent School Fund mineral acreage across the state, including some positions in the southern Midland Basin. Most Upton County minerals are privately owned fee minerals, but where state acreage is involved, GLO leasing and royalty terms apply. Royalties from state minerals flow into the Permanent School Fund.

Texas lease law and post-production costs

Texas courts have generally enforced lease terms as written. Whether your operator can deduct post-production costs (gathering, processing, transportation) from your royalty depends on your specific lease language. Older leases often allow these deductions; newer leases negotiated by sophisticated mineral owners typically include cost-free royalty language. Reading your lease carefully matters.

County records and title research

Mineral title in Texas runs through the county clerk's office where the minerals are located. The Upton County Clerk in Rankin maintains deed records, oil and gas leases, and probate filings. Many older Upton County mineral chains run back to original land grants and ranch family history. Tracing title is generally straightforward but occasionally complicated by gaps in probate or unrecorded conveyances.

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 Upton County, Texas?
Upton County values reflect its position in the southern Midland Basin, where the Wolfcamp and Spraberry formations stack to create deep remaining drilling inventory. Values vary based 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
Why is the southern Midland Basin so active?
The southern Midland Basin, including Upton, Reagan, and Glasscock counties, has unusually thick stacked unconventional reservoirs across the Wolfcamp and Spraberry intervals. Modern horizontal drilling has unlocked multiple benches in each formation. Operators continue to drill infill wells across spacing units that already have multiple wells producing, because the rock supports it. The combination of stacked pay and well-capitalized operators keeps Upton in steady rotation.
03
I inherited mineral rights in Upton 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 Upton County Clerk's office in Rankin 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 Upton 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. Upton County's stacked Wolfcamp and Spraberry inventory 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 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 any 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
My operator was acquired. How does that affect me?
Permian operator consolidation has been heavy in recent years. Pioneer was acquired by ExxonMobil in 2024. Endeavor Energy combined with Diamondback the same year. For mineral owners, an acquisition typically means your royalty checks come from a different entity, sometimes with a transition gap as systems migrate. Lease terms transfer with the acreage. Drilling pace can change under new ownership. We track these transitions for the operators active in Upton.
07
My royalty statements have post-production cost deductions. Is that allowed in Texas?
Whether deductions are permitted depends entirely on your specific lease language. Texas courts have generally enforced lease terms as written, so a lease that allows post-production deductions will allow them, and a lease with proper cost-free royalty language will not. 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.
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 Upton 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 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 Midland Basin specifics including the Wolfcamp and Spraberry stacked development pattern, Texas Railroad Commission records, and the operator landscape after recent consolidation. 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
Upton 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.

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

More for Upton 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).