drilling rights
nounUK /ˈdrɪlɪŋ raɪts/
US /ˈdrɪlɪŋ raɪts/
The permission to dig deep holes in the ground to get oil or gas.
The company bought drilling rights so they could look for oil under the land.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The legal right to bore into the earth for water.
The farm obtained drilling rights to reach the underground water supply.
3. Permission to make holes for testing what is under the ground.
Scientists needed drilling rights before they could study the rock layers.
4. A deal that lets a company dig on someone else's property.
The landowner signed a contract giving drilling rights to a gas company.