Texas Oil and Gas Land Leases

The use of oil and gas land leases in Houston is prevalent for the exploration and extraction of oil or gas from properties that are not owned.  Instead of purchasing Texas mineral rights for properties that may or may not contain oil or gas, leases convey rights to the minerals to the oil and gas company and they pay a royalty to the landowner, if oil or gas is produced.  Well executed Houston oil and gas land leases will help the Texas oil and gas company reduce financial risk and avoid legal disputes with the Texas surface rights or mineral rights landowner.

Drafting a Oil and Gas Land Lease in Texas

Oil and gas exploration companies benefit from the use of a standard Texas oil and gas land lease forms.  The standardized forms reduce the amount of time it takes to execute a Texas or Houston oil and gas land lease and minimize the required effort to manage the lease agreement terms going forward.  Drafting an oil and gas land lease requires knowledge of the Texas oil and gas regulations, as well as an understanding of drilling and extraction operations.  Knowing Texas oil law can be used to develop terms that are favorable for use of the land and for dispute-free exploration and extraction.

Houston oil and gas land lease negotiation

Landowners in Houston may or may not accept the terms of a standardized oil and gas land lease. Often landowners will hire mineral rights attorneys to review and negotiate land lease terms for them.  Terms that are negotiated include:

  • Length of the lease
  • Amount of royalties and royalty calculations
  • Amount and calculation of bonus payments
  • Lease renewal and expiration terms
  • Use of surface property and restrictions
  • Responsibility for returning property to original condition at expiration


When the landowner and the oil and gas company come to an agreement on the terms, the land lease is executed and defines the rights and obligations of the lessee and lessor.

Contact us

The services of a Houston mineral rights attorney may be required to construct standard oil and gas land leases to avoid disputes, financial risk and administration expense. 

A Texas oil and gas attorney from Sprouse Shrader Smith P.C has an in-depth understanding of the legal and financial implications of a broad range of oil, gas, and mineral law matters in Houston. Use our email form and contact our Texas oil and gas attorneys for assistance with your Texas oil and gas leases at (888) 364-0658.


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