[Dog Gone]

While the land owner may not have mineral rights and subsequently benefit from an oil royalty, the oil company can't just force themselves on to the land.

I have to correct you on that. In Texas, the mineral estate is definitely superior to the surface estate, and an oil company definitely can force themselves onto the land. The Sheriff will help, if necessary.

That's not customary practice, and oil companies definitely want to maintain good relations with surface owners, so financial arrangements are almost always reached.

But if you only own surface rights and are dead set against allowing the owner of the mineral rights to get what is lawfully his, you're going to lose. That's the law.

[TexasCowboy]

Thank you, Dog.
I'm glad I checked back before I posted.

DZ, this is just like an easement.
The oil company has the legal right to go in, no matter what the surface owner says.
They try to negotiate damages first, but, if necessary, they'll go in and talk later.