In the Midland Basin — direct buyer, no brokers, no fees
Howard County, on the eastern flank of the Midland Basin around Big Spring, has emerged as a major horizontal oil play. Once known mainly for legacy vertical production, the county has seen a wave of modern development targeting the same Spraberry and Wolfcamp benches that define the basin's core.
Howard County produces from the Spraberry and stacked Wolfcamp benches, with strong oil-weighted results on the basin side of the county. The eastern portion transitions toward the basin margin, so formation thickness and targets can vary meaningfully across the county.
Operators including SM Energy, Diamondback Energy, and others have driven sustained horizontal development across Howard County. The combination of legacy production and active new drilling creates a deep inventory of producing and developing tracts.
Howard County has transformed into a significant horizontal oil play targeting the Spraberry and Wolfcamp benches, with both legacy production and active new development. Values vary by location within the county and by your specific operator and decimal interest.
ARB is a direct buyer of Howard County mineral and royalty interests. We research your acreage and provide a free, no-obligation offer with no broker and no fees to you.
ARB evaluates both producing and non-producing interests. Even acreage that is not yet producing can have value depending on nearby activity and operator development plans.
Based on state regulatory filings as of June 13, 2026, the operators with the most recent drilling permits in Howard County include Diamondback Energy (18 permits), Ovintiv (4 permits). If you receive royalty checks from any of these operators, that activity is a meaningful driver of what your Howard County mineral or royalty interest is worth. American Royalty Buyers tracks this county-level permit activity and can provide a free, no-obligation valuation of your specific interest.
Selling Howard County mineral rights to American Royalty Buyers takes four steps: (1) gather your most recent check stub, division order, or lease so you can describe your interest; (2) request a free valuation, in which ARB reviews your net mineral acres, the producing and permitted wells on your acreage in the Midland Basin, and current commodity prices; (3) review the written, no-obligation offer, typically delivered within five business days; and (4) if you accept, ARB handles the title research, curative work, and deed preparation, then funds your lump-sum payment by wire — usually within four to six weeks. ARB is a direct buyer: no broker, and no fees or commissions at any point.
Howard County produces from the Midland Basin . Explore the full basin hub for more on geology, operators, and selling your minerals.
Howard County: tracked operators filed 22 drilling permits over the trailing 90 days (as of June 13, 2026). Permit data (JSON) →
Companies among the most active permit filers in Howard County (trailing 90 days, as of June 13, 2026). Receiving royalty checks from one of these? Get a free valuation.
Royalty checks in Howard County come from the operators drilling there — often under subsidiary or legacy payor names. Here is who pays, and the names to look for on your check (as of June 13, 2026).
Royalty checks tied to Diamondback Energy-operated wells in Howard County commonly arrive under: Diamondback E&P LLC, Endeavor Energy Resources.
Royalty checks tied to Ovintiv-operated wells in Howard County commonly arrive under: Ovintiv USA Inc., Newfield Exploration, Encana Oil & Gas.
Full payor-name directory · Find your operator from your check stub
The Permian Basin spans West Texas and southeastern New Mexico — the Delaware Basin straddles the state line. ARB buys mineral rights and royalties across these Permian counties in both states.
American Royalty Buyers buys royalty and working interests beyond traditional mineral rights in Howard County, Texas — directly, with no fees. Every value question gets a free, no-obligation valuation.
Yes — American Royalty Buyers buys an overriding royalty interest (ORRI) in Howard County, Texas: a cost-free interest carved out of the lease rather than the minerals, so its value tracks the productive life of the wells on that leasehold. As a direct, principal buyer, ARB makes a written, no-obligation offer with no fees or commissions. How selling ORRI works · Get a free valuation
Yes — American Royalty Buyers buys a non-participating royalty interest (NPRI) in Howard County, Texas: a cost-free royalty with no leasing or bonus rights, valued on current production and the prospect of future drilling. As a direct, principal buyer, ARB makes a written, no-obligation offer with no fees or commissions. How selling NPRI works · Get a free valuation
Yes — American Royalty Buyers buys a non-operated working interest in Howard County, Texas: a cost-bearing interest — ARB assumes the joint-interest billings, AFEs, and end-of-life plugging liability going forward. As a direct, principal buyer, ARB makes a written, no-obligation offer with no fees or commissions. How selling Non-Op WI works · Get a free valuation