Stesal:

Because my family has owned land in Louisiana for over a hundred years, my understanding of the mineral code and the laws that govern oil-and-gas drilling/leasing in my home state is quite strong.

But sadly, I only know a few things about the Texas laws and mineral issues.

Note:  A main concern with Texas landowners is that it's a state with severed mineral rights, which means that once someone owners the minerals in Texas, as I understand it, they can keep the title to the mineral rights in perpetuity, even though the title might transfer and/or change in regards to the surface rights.  Two severed . . . separate issues in many cases.

So when it comes to oil-and-gas drilling and leasing, a Texas landowner needs to first know if he/she actually does own the minerals.   Also, yet another key factor is making sure the taxes are paid on the land.

Anyway, jffree1 will be able to explain much more, since jffree1 knows a great deal more about all of it than I do.

Good luck.  Glad to have you as a member on GHS.