Oil & Gas Filing Checklist From Prospect to Production

 
Austin

P-5  

Before beginning any operations, you must file an organization report showing legal identity (corporation, partnership, etc.), principal officers, and addresses. A form of financial security is required. 
Rule §3.1

RRC Online System

Austin 

W-1  

STANDARD SIZE AND SHAPE TRACT: Attach a plat and a check for the appropriate fee based on total depth, payable to the Railroad Commission. Send the original form and fee to Austin. Send a copy of the form and plat to the appropriate District Office. An additional fee is required for statewide rule exceptions. 
Rules §3.5, §3.37, & §3.78

 
Austin 

W-1A  

NON-STANDARD SIZE OR SHAPE TRACT: Submit this additional form if your tract is sub-standard or non-standard size or shape under applicable spacing and density rules. A fee is required for rule exceptions.
Rules §3.37, §3.38, & §3.78

 
Austin 

W-1D

Application for Permit to Drill, ReComplete, or ReEnter Supplemental Directional Well Information
Rules §3.37, §3.38, & §3.78

 
Austin 

W-1H  

Application for Permit to Drill, ReComplete, or ReEnter Supplemental Horizontal Well Information
Rules §3.37, §3.38, & §3.78

 
Austin 

P-12 

POOLED TRACTS: File Form P-12 with the certified plat for each pooled unit. 
Rules §3.37 & §3.40

Dist. Office

H-9 

SOUR GAS: File Form H-9 in triplicate 30 days prior to drilling if drilling in potential sour gas zones. 
Rule §3.36

Austin

STEP 1: Request information concerning water protection requirements from the Groundwater Advisory Unit at (512) 463-2741. 
Rule §3.13

STEP 2: Verify that drilling fluid pits have been constructed in compliance with Rule 8. Maintain careful surveillance of pit conditions throughout remaining operations. 
Rule §3.8

SOUR GAS WELLS: Verify compliance with Rule 36 prior to drilling potential sour gas zones.
Rule §3.36

 
Austin

W-12  

Have inclination determinations beginning no deeper than 500 feet below surface and each 500 to 1,000 feet thereafter, depending on bit change. File an original when completed. A directional survey is required when the inclination survey shows excessive deviation. 
Rule §3.11

 
Dist. Office

STEP 1: Notify the District Office at least 8 hours prior to running and cementing surface casing. If any deviation from setting the required surface casing is planned, request alternative method in writing prior to drilling.

 
Dist. Office

NOTE: If problems are experienced (cement does not reach surface, etc.), notify District Office for possible corrective measures. 
Rule §3.13

 
Austin

W-15  

STEP 2: Both you and the cementer must fill out and sign portions of Form W-15. File an original with other forms as required. 
Rule §3.13

STEP 3: Install and test blow-out preventer. 
Rule §3.13

 
Dist. Office

STEP 1: Notify the District Office at least 8 hours prior to running and cementing casing.
Rule §3.13

 
Dist. Office

W-15  

STEP 2: Both operator and cementer must fill out and sign portions of Form W-15. File an original and copy with other forms as required.
Rule §3.13

STEP 1: Install wellhead upon completion - before perforation and testing. 
Rule §3.13

STEP 2: Switch production into tanks once completion fluids have been displaced. 
Rule §3.8

Austin

P-4

STEP 3: File a Certificate of Compliance to designate gatherer(s). 
Rule §3.58

 
Dist. Office

P-8 

STEP 4: If lease tanks have been filled during testing, file Form P-8 with a P-4 - Request for Clearance of Storage Tanks for Authorization of Removal of Fluids with the appropriate district office. 
Rule §3.58

 
Dist. Office

STEP 1: Notify the District Office as soon as you are ready to test the well. 
Rules §3.16 & §3.51

Austin

W-2  

STEP 2: File report either within 30 days of well completion or within 10 days of the test showing the 24-hour production capability and gas/oil ratio, whichever is the earlier date. 
Rules §3.16 & §3.51

 
Austin

P-12  

STEP 3: POOLED TRACTS: File Form P-12 and certified plats with the W-2 for each pooled unit. 
Rules §3.31 & §3.40

 
Austin

Plat 

STEP 4: File if special field rules have been granted by hearing. 
Rule §3.16

 
Austin

L-1  

STEP 5: ELECTRIC LOG STATUS REPORT: File with all completion reports . If confidentiality is not requested attach the appropriate log. 
Rule §3.16

Post well and lease identification signs immediately upon assignment of lease number. 
Rule §3.3

 
Dist. Office

STEP 1: Notify the District Office as soon as you are ready to test the well. 
Rules §3.16, §3.28, & §3.31

Austin

G-1  

STEP 2: File report either within 30 days of well completion or within 15 days of the test showing absolute open-flow potential test, whichever is the earlier date.
Rules §3.16, §3.28, & §3.31

 
Austin

G-5 and 
Curve

STEP 3: Attach G-5 and Back Pressure Curve to G-1 if 4 point or 1 point potential test is run.
Rules §3.16, §3.28, §3.31, & §3.53

Austin

P-12

STEP 4: POOLED TRACTS - File Form P-12 and certified plat with the G-1 for each pooled unit. 
Rules §3.31 & §3.40

Austin

P-15  

STEP 5: ACREAGE ALLOCATION - File with the required plat if special field rules have been granted by hearing. (All assigned acreage must be productive.) 
Rule §3.31

 
Austin

L-1  

STEP 6: ELECTRIC LOG STATUS REPORT - File with all completion reports. If confidentiality is not requested, attach the appropriate log. 
Rule §3.16

 
Dist. Office

STEP 7: Notify the District Office 24 hours prior to conducting your 72-hour deliverability test. 
Rules §3.28, §3.53, & §3.55

Austin

G-10  

STEP 8: File an initial deliverability report following testing if the well is connected to a sales line. 
Rules §3.28, §3.53, & §3.55

RRC Online System

Austin

PR

MONTHLY: Report production, disposition and /or storage of both oil and casinghead gas. All production on the lease must be measured and reported. 
Rules §3.27 & §3.58

Austin

W-10  

ANNUALLY: File a well status report showing a 24-hour test. Most producing one well leases are not required to be tested annually. More frequent tests may be required for wells on commingled leases. 
Rules §3.26, §3.27, §3.49, §3.52, & §3.53

RRC Online System

Austin

PR

MONTHLY: Report production and disposition of both gas and condensate. All production on this lease must be measured and reported. A PR is not required if the gas well is shown as shut-in on the gas well schedule unless there is stock on hand. 
Rules §3.27 & §3.54

Austin

G-10  

SEMI-ANNUALLY: File semi-annual 72-hour deliverability test results. Report required information on shut-in and other non-producing wells in accordance with instructions on the form. After initial testing, wells with production and deliverability under 100 MCF per day are exempt from testing unless commingled. 
Rules §3.28, §3.53, & §3.55

Austin

SWR 14(b)(2)

STEP 1: File an application for a Rule 14(b)(2) plugging extension if you do not wish to immediately plug the well. File the P-5PB(2) (Blanket Performance Bond), P-5LC (Irrevocable Documentary Blanket Letter of Credit), P-5PB(1) (Individual Performance Bond), or a W-1X application. (The W-1X requires a fee per well.)
Rule §3.14

 
Dist. Office

W-3A  

STEP 2: At least five days in advance of plugging operations, file in duplicate a request for approval of proposed procedure for plugging. If the rig is on location, plugging approval may be secured by telephone. NOTE: A current (less than five years old) Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission letter showing the depth of fresh water must be on file. 
Rule §3.14

 
Dist. Office

STEP 3: Notify the District Office at least four hours prior to start of plugging operations (a 24-hour notice is requested, if possible). 
Rule §3.14

Dist. Office

W-3  

STEP 4: File in duplicate, a completed plugging report within 30 days of plugging, including the W-15 cementing report. (Also file log, if dry hole.) 
Rules §3.14 & §3.16

STEP 5: ELECTRIC LOG STATUS REPORT - File with plugging reports on dry holes. If confidentiality is not requested, attache the appropriate log. 
§3.16

RESERVE OR MUD PITS WITH CHLORIDE CONCENTRATION OF: 
6,100 mg/L or less: Dewater and backfill within one year of completing drilling.
Over 6,100 mg/L: Dewater within 30 days and backfill within one year of completing drilling operation.
Rule §3.8

COMPLETION PITS: Dewater within 30 days and backfill within 120 days of well completion.
Rule §3.8

 
Dist. Office

STEP 1: Immediately notify the District Office by telephone.
Rules §3.20 & §3.36

 
Dist. Office

STEP 2: Write a letter explaining in detail problems encountered and steps taken to resolve the situation. 
Rules §3.20 & §3.36

 

Dist. Office

H-8  

In the case of a fire, leak, spill, or break causing loss of over five (5) barrels of crude oil, gas well liquids or products, NOTIFY the District Office by telephone and FILE Form H-8 in duplicate when appropriate measures have been taken. 
Rule §3.20

Director

(512) 463-4513

(512) 463-7005

Doug Johnson

(512) 463-6760

Deputy Director

Ramon Fernandez

(512) 463-6830

(512) 463-7328

Assistant Director
Field Operations

William Miertschin

(512) 463-6830

 (512) 463-7328

Assistant Director
Site Remediation

Publications/Oil and Gas Forms

  (512) 463-6882

24 Hour Emergency

  (512) 463-6788