Lea County, New Mexico — Mineral Rights Overview
Lea County is a major hub for oil and gas development in New Mexico, with 48,156 recorded drilling sites across the region.
Market Snapshot
Drilling Status Distribution
The following table shows the current operational status of all registered oil and gas sites in Lea County.
| Operational Status | Number of Sites |
|---|---|
| Plugged (site released) | 16,878 |
| Active | 16,297 |
| New | 8,155 |
| Cancelled | 5,182 |
| Plugged (not released) | 1,108 |
| Temporary Abandonment | 278 |
| Temporary Abandonment (expired) | 168 |
| Reclamation Fund Approved | 52 |
| Never Drilled | 31 |
| Reclamation Fund Pending | 3 |
| Zone Plugged (permanent) | 3 |
| Zone Plugged (temporary) | 1 |
Leading Operators
These companies hold the most drilling permits and operate the greatest number of sites in Lea County.
| Company | Sites Operated |
|---|---|
| Pre-Ongard Well Operator | 6,890 |
| Eog Resources Inc | 3,820 |
| Devon Energy Production Company, Lp | 2,011 |
| Coterra Energy Operating Co. | 1,615 |
| Hilcorp Energy Company | 1,547 |
| Matador Production Company | 1,472 |
| Cog Operating Llc | 1,232 |
| Southwest Royalties Inc | 1,175 |
| Chevron U S A Inc | 1,159 |
| Oxy Usa Inc | 1,018 |
Recorded Transactions
1,209 mineral-related deed recordings have been documented in Lea County, with the most recent on 9/2/2025.
View Recent ActivityNearby New Mexico Counties
Learn More
- How Mineral Rights Work — A complete guide to understanding ownership and subsurface interests
- Valuation Factors & Methods — What drives mineral rights pricing in this region
- How to Sell Mineral Rights — Step-by-step process for listing and closing a sale
- What Are My Mineral Rights Worth? — Valuation factors and how to get an estimate
- Basin & Formation Data — Formation data, operators, and production for major basins
- Value Estimator — Get a free preliminary estimate for your property
Public Records
Search Lea County Clerk records online.
Available Listings
No current listings in Lea County — be the first to list your mineral rights.
List Your Minerals for FreeWhat Are Your Mineral Rights Worth?
Our valuation tool analyzes nearby production data, recent transactions, and operator activity in Lea County, New Mexico to provide a preliminary estimate.
- ✓ Production data from state regulatory agencies
- ✓ Recent deed transactions and sale prices
- ✓ Active operator and lease activity
- ✓ County-level market intelligence
Research Mineral Activity
Access detailed data on wells, production volumes, active operators, and recent deed recordings in your area.
- Well Data — Drilling permits, well status, and operator records
- Production — Gas and oil output by county and formation
- Operators — Company profiles and areas of operation
- Recent Sales — Deed recordings and transaction activity
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