AUTHORIZED INVESTMENTS: OIL, GAS, AND MINERALS.

(a) In this section:

(1) "Producing" means producing oil, gas, or other minerals in paying quantities. A well that has been shut in is considered to be producing oil, gas, or other minerals in paying quantities if shut-in royalties are being paid.

(2) "Production payment" means a right to oil, gas, or other minerals in place or as produced that entitles the owner of the right to a specified fraction of production until the owner receives a specified amount of money, or a specified number of units of oil, gas, or other minerals.

(3) "Royalty" or "overriding royalty" means a right to oil, gas, and other minerals in place or as produced that entitles the owner of the right to a specified fraction of production without limitation to a specified amount of money or a specified number of units of oil, gas, or other minerals.

(b) Subject to this section, in addition to and without limitation on the purposes for which real property may be acquired, secured, held, or retained under other provisions of this subchapter, an insurance company may secure, hold, retain, and convey production payments, producing royalties, and producing overriding royalties, or participations in production payments, producing royalties, or producing overriding royalties as an investment for the production of income.

(c) An insurance company may not carry an asset described by Subsection (b) in an amount that exceeds 90 percent of the appraised value of the asset.

(d) A single investment under this section may not exceed 10 percent of the amount of the insurance company's capital and surplus that exceeds the statutory minimum capital and surplus applicable to the company.

(e) The aggregate amount of an insurance company's investments under this section may not exceed 10 percent of the company's assets as of December 31 preceding the date of the investment.