Texas Railroad Commission Form G-1 is the Gas Well Back Pressure Test, Completion or Recompletion Report, and Log that every operator of a well in a gas field must file with the Railroad Commission of Texas Oil and Gas Division to record how a gas well was built and finished. It is the gas-field twin of Form W-2, which covers oil wells, and it becomes the official well record the state keeps forever.
The version in use today is Form G-1, Rev. 01/2014, and the same field layout appears inside the RRC Online System, where most operators now file it. Miss the filing window set by Statewide Rule 16 and your well can lose its production allowable, which means you may not be able to legally sell gas from it. The Commission keeps a G-1 on file for the entire life of a well, so what you write today still matters decades from now.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- ⛏️ What Form G-1 is, who must file it, and the exact deadline that controls it
- 📋 The papers, ID numbers, and survey data you must gather before you open the form
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of every box, from Field Name to the Operator’s Certification
- 👥 Three full filled-out examples that follow real operators through the whole form
- ⚠️ The field-level mistakes that get a G-1 rejected and how to dodge each one
What Form G-1 Is and Who Must File It
Form G-1 is the completion report for any well that produces, injects, or disposes of fluids in a gas field under Commission jurisdiction. It captures the physical build of the well, such as casing strings, cement, tubing, and the producing interval, plus the back pressure test that proves how much gas the well can flow. The Railroad Commission of Texas receives it through its Oil and Gas Division, and the data feeds the well’s permanent record and its production allowable.
The duty to file comes from Statewide Rule 16, found at 16 Texas Administrative Code §3.16. In plain English, the rule says the operator of a gas well must hand the state a completion report so the public record matches what is actually in the ground. If you ignore it, the Commission can deny the well an allowable, refer the matter for enforcement, and assess penalties under the Texas Natural Resources Code. For example, an operator who drills a new gas well in Reeves County but never files the G-1 may find the well frozen with no allowable, unable to legally produce.
A common misconception is that only large operators file this form. That is false. Every operator, from a one-person independent to a major producer, must file a G-1 for each gas-field well, and you must hold a current Form P-5 Organization Report before you can file anything with the Commission. The form is also used for injection, disposal, storage, and brine mining wells in gas fields, so the filer pool is wider than many people think.
Form G-1 vs. Form W-2 at a Glance
| Feature | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Form G-1 | Completion report for wells in a gas field; uses an RRC Gas ID No. |
| Form W-2 | Completion report for wells in an oil field; uses an Oil Lease No. |
| Shared layout | Both forms share nearly identical fields and both file through RRC Online |
| Governing rule | Both are required by Statewide Rule 16 within the same deadline |
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Filling out a G-1 goes faster when you gather your records first. Opening the form blind and hunting for numbers mid-filing is how mistakes creep in. Pull these items together before you log in to file.
- Active Form P-5 Organization Report because the Commission will not accept a G-1 from an operator whose P-5 has lapsed, and a lapsed P-5 stops the filing cold.
- RRC Operator Number since this six-digit number ties the well to your organization, and a wrong number files the well under the wrong company.
- RRC Gas ID Number and Well Number because these identify the exact well, and a mismatch can attach your data to a different well.
- API number (42-prefix) since Texas wells carry a unique API number, and leaving it blank slows the Commission’s matching of your report.
- Surface latitude and longitude to at least five decimal places because Box 6 demands that precision, and a sloppy location can trigger a location review.
- The drilling permit (Form W-1) and its date and number since Box 25 asks for it, and a missing permit reference can stall approval.
- Casing, cement, and tubing tally sheets because the well diagram pages need exact sizes, depths, and sacks, and guesswork here can flag a casing or cement problem.
- Back pressure (potential) test results since the front-page gas measurement boxes need real test numbers, and missing data leaves the well without a calculated allowable.
- FracFocus confirmation if the well was fracked because Statewide Rule 29 ties your FracFocus upload to the G-1 filing date, and skipping it is a rule violation.
- The signer’s name, title, and phone number since the certification must name a person authorized to file, and an unsigned report is not valid.
Gathering all ten items first means you can fill the form in one sitting. Missing even one, such as the FracFocus upload, can turn a quick filing into a compliance problem that follows the well for years.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
You can reach Form G-1 two ways, and the Commission strongly prefers the online path. The official fill-in PDF lives on the agency’s Oil and Gas Forms page, and the current file is the G-1 Rev. 01/2014 PDF. To open and complete the PDF, you need Adobe Reader 6.0 or higher, as the agency notes on its Fill-In Forms instructions page.
The main route, though, is the RRC Online System, the agency’s electronic filing portal. You log in with an RRC Online account tied to your operator number, pick the completion report filing, and enter the same fields you would see on the paper form. The Commission publishes step-by-step help on its RRC Online User Guides page, and the UIC Completion Reporting page confirms that both G-1 and W-2 are submitted online.
You must have an RRC Online account before you can file, and that account requires a current P-5 on record. If you try to file on paper for a well type that the system requires online, the Commission can reject it and ask you to refile electronically. A frequent misconception is that the printed PDF is the official filing; in most cases it is a worksheet, and the online submission is the record that counts. Plan to file online unless a Commission staffer tells you otherwise for a special case.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form G-1 Line by Line
The G-1 runs across two pages, with header identity boxes, a back pressure test section, well completion data, the well diagram (casing, tubing, liner, formation), several yes/no compliance boxes, and the certification. Work through it in the order the boxes appear. Use the exact field names printed on the form, and type or print only, as the form instructs.
Box 1: Field Name
This box asks for the name of the field where your well produces, exactly as the Commission lists it, or the word Wildcat if no field is yet assigned. Type the field name as it appears in RRC records, with no abbreviations you invent yourself. For example, Karnes Hawkville (Eagle Ford-1) operator Daniel Reyes writes the field name exactly as RRC records show it. If your well is in a brand-new area with no assigned field, you write Wildcat instead. A common mistake is shortening or misspelling the field name, which can attach your well to the wrong reservoir record. Many filers wrongly believe they can name the field themselves; the field name must match the Commission’s official designation.
Box 2: Lease Name
This box asks for the name of the lease the well sits on. Enter the lease name as it appears on your other Commission filings for that lease, so the records line up. For example, Daniel Reyes writes SMITH RANCH UNIT in Box 2. If the well is on a pooled unit, you use the unit name that matches your P-16 acreage filing. A common mistake is using a casual or internal nickname for the lease, which makes it hard for staff to tie the G-1 to the lease record. People often think the lease name and field name are the same thing; they are separate, and both must be correct.
Box 3: Operator’s Name
This box asks for your organization’s name exactly as shown on your Form P-5. Copy the name character for character from your active Form P-5, including punctuation. For example, Lone Star Gas Operating, LLC writes that full name in Box 3. If your company name recently changed, the P-5 must already reflect the new name before you file the G-1. A common mistake is entering a trade name or old name that does not match the P-5, which can cause the Commission to reject the filing. Many filers think a close match is fine; the name must match the P-5 record, not just be similar.
Box 4: Operator’s Address
This box asks for your operator mailing address, including street, city, state, and ZIP code. Enter the same address that appears on your P-5 so the Commission can reach you about the well. For example, Lone Star Gas Operating writes 500 Energy Plaza, Suite 200, Midland, TX 79701. If you use a P.O. Box for mail, enter it here, but make sure it matches your P-5 address of record. A common mistake is listing a field office address that differs from the P-5, which can split your records and delay notices. People often assume the address is cosmetic; the Commission mails real compliance notices here, so a wrong address can mean you miss a deadline.
Box 5a and 5b: Location and Distance to Nearest Town
Box 5a asks for the survey location by section, block, and survey, and Box 5b asks how many miles and in what direction the well lies from the nearest town in the county. Enter the legal survey description from your plat, then fill the blanks in 5b with distance, direction, and town. For example, Daniel Reyes writes Sec 14, Blk A, H&TC RR Co Survey in 5a, and in 5b writes the well is 7 miles in a NW direction from Kenedy. If the survey spans more than one section, list the section your wellhead sits in. A common mistake is leaving 5b blank, which the Commission uses to sanity-check the coordinates against the map. Filers often think the survey call alone is enough; both the survey and the town reference are required.
Box 6: Well Latitude/Longitude
This box asks for the surface location of the well in latitude and longitude, with a minimum of five decimal places, plus the latitude/longitude type. Enter the coordinates from a survey or GPS reading and check the datum type used. For example, Daniel Reyes enters 28.81542, -97.84773 and marks the coordinate type used in the survey. If you only have degrees-minutes-seconds, convert to decimal degrees before you enter them. A common mistake is entering too few decimal places, which fails the five-place requirement and can trigger a location accuracy review. Many filers think any rough coordinate works; the Commission uses these points for mapping and spacing, so precision matters.
Box 7: RRC District No.
This box asks for the Commission district where the well sits. Enter the one- or two-character district code that covers the county. For example, a well in Karnes County falls in District 01, so Daniel Reyes writes 01. If you are unsure of the district, the county-to-district map on the agency site shows it. A common mistake is guessing the wrong district, which routes your filing to the wrong office and slows review. Filers sometimes think the district is the same as the county; districts group several counties together.
Box 8: RRC Gas ID No.
This box asks for the Commission-assigned Gas ID number for the well. Enter the Gas ID exactly as the Commission issued it. For example, Lone Star Gas Operating writes its assigned Gas ID 123456. If the well is brand new and has no Gas ID yet, follow the online system’s prompt, which may assign or request one during filing. A common mistake is transposing digits, which attaches your completion data to a different well. People often confuse the Gas ID with the lease number; on a G-1 the Gas ID is the key well identifier.
Box 9: Well No.
This box asks for your well number on the lease. Enter the well number exactly as you have used it on permits and other filings. For example, Daniel Reyes writes 1H for his first horizontal well. If you renumber a well, the Commission record must already reflect that. A common mistake is using a different well number than the one on the W-1 permit, which breaks the link between permit and completion. Filers sometimes think the well number is informal; it is a fixed identifier the Commission tracks.
Box 10: County
This box asks for the Texas county where the wellhead is located. Enter the full county name. For example, Daniel Reyes writes Karnes. If the lease crosses a county line, use the county where the surface hole sits. A common mistake is naming the county where the bottom hole lands instead of the surface location, which can misfile the well. People often assume any county on the lease will do; the surface county controls.
Boxes 11, 12a, and 12b: Purpose of Filing, Spud Date, and Date of First Production
Box 11 asks why you are filing, split between Producers (initial potential, retest, reclass, recompletion, multiple completion, well record only) and Injection/Disposal/Storage/Brine Mining (initial completion, reclass, well record only). Box 12a asks for the spud date, and Box 12b asks for the date of first production after the rig was released. Check the one purpose that fits and enter both dates in the form’s date format. For example, Daniel Reyes checks Initial potential, enters spud date 03/02/2026 in 12a, and first production 05/18/2026 in 12b. For an injection well, the Commission notes that the spud date is the date work began and first production means the first date of injection. A common mistake is checking more than one purpose box, which confuses the filing intent and can bounce the report. Filers often think well record only is a catch-all; it is for administrative updates with no new test, and you must explain it in Remarks.
Box 13: Former Field and ID for Recompletions or Reclass
This box asks, if you are filing a recompletion or reclass, for the former field with reservoir and the prior Gas ID or Oil Lease No., or for multiple completions, all reservoir names and their IDs. Fill it only when Box 11 marks recompletion, reclass, or multiple completion. For example, when Maria Castillo reclasses an oil well to gas, she writes the former field Giddings (Austin Chalk) and the prior Oil Lease No. 04567. If the well has several completions, list each reservoir and ID on its own line. A common mistake is leaving this blank on a reclass, which leaves the Commission unable to link the old record to the new one. Filers often think a reclass starts a clean slate; the prior identity must carry forward here.
Box 14: Type(s) of Log(s) Run
This box asks which electric or other logs you ran on the well. List each log type, such as gamma ray, resistivity, or density-neutron. For example, Daniel Reyes writes GR, Resistivity, Density-Neutron. If you ran no logs, you explain why in Remarks rather than leaving a void. A common mistake is omitting logs you actually ran, which weakens the well’s geological record. People sometimes think log data is optional fluff; the Commission and future operators rely on it to understand the reservoir.
Boxes 15 through 23: Back Pressure Test and Gas Measurement Data
These boxes capture the back pressure (potential) test: Box 15 date of test, Box 16 gas measurement method (orifice meter, flange taps, positive choke, pitot tube, and others), Box 17 gas production during test in MCF, Boxes 18 to 21 gravities and gas-liquid ratio, and Boxes 22 and 23 shut-in and bottom hole temperatures. Enter the measured values from your test report in each labeled cell, and check every measurement method you used. For example, Daniel Reyes checks Orifice meter and Flange taps, enters test date 05/20/2026, and records the gas rate his prover measured. For an injection well, the Commission says page-one potential test data does not apply, so you skip it. A common mistake is entering estimated rather than measured numbers, which can produce a wrong allowable. Filers often think any flow number works; these readings set the well’s deliverability and its legal production limit.
Box 24: Type of Completion
This box asks what kind of work produced this completion: new well, deepening, side track, plug back, re-entry, recompletion, or other. Check the single option that matches the work done. For example, Daniel Reyes checks New well. If the work mixes types, pick the primary one and explain the rest in Remarks. A common mistake is checking Recompletion for a brand-new well, which misstates the well’s history. People often confuse a recompletion with a retest; a recompletion is physical work in a new interval, not just a fresh flow test.
Box 25: Permit to Drill, Plug Back, or Deepen
This box asks for the permit that authorized the work, with its date and permit number, plus references to any Rule 37 exception, fluid injection permit, or waste disposal permit. Enter the Form W-1 drilling permit date and number, and any related permits. For example, Daniel Reyes writes permit number 876543 with its approval date. If your well needed a Rule 37 spacing exception, you also enter that case number and date. A common mistake is leaving the permit number blank, which breaks the chain from permit to completion and can stall approval. Filers sometimes think the permit reference is redundant; the Commission uses it to confirm the well was legally authorized.
Boxes 26 through 29: Wells on Lease, Acreage, Distances, and Operation Dates
Box 26 asks for the number of producing wells on this lease in this reservoir, Box 27 for total lease acres including this well, Box 28 for the commenced and ended dates of plug back, deepening, recompletion, or drilling, and Box 29 for the distance to the nearest well in this lease and reservoir. Enter each count, acreage, date, and distance from your records and plat. For example, Daniel Reyes writes 1 well in Box 26, 640 acres in Box 27, his operation dates in Box 28, and 1320 feet in Box 29. The acreage should match your Form P-16 acreage filing. A common mistake is reporting acreage that conflicts with the P-16, which can hold up the allowable. Filers often think acreage is an estimate; it directly affects the well’s allowable, so it must match the record.
Boxes 30 through 36: Elevation, Survey, Casing Depth, and Affidavits
These boxes cover Box 30 elevation (DF, RKB, RT, GR), Box 31 whether a directional survey was made (Form W-12), Boxes 32 and 33 total depth and plug back depth, Box 34 how surface casing depth was set including a GAU Groundwater Protection Determination, Box 35 rotation time within surface casing, and Box 36 whether a Cementing Affidavit (Form W-15) is attached. Enter each depth and elevation, check the yes/no boxes, and attach the W-15 if applicable. For example, Daniel Reyes enters total depth 11,250 ft (TVD), checks that a directional survey was made, and marks that the W-15 is attached. The Groundwater Advisory Unit determination protects usable water. A common mistake is marking the W-15 as attached but never uploading it, which leaves the cement record incomplete. Filers often skip the GAU date thinking it is optional; surface casing depth must protect groundwater, and the Commission checks it.
Boxes 37 through 40: Casing, Liner, Tubing, and Producing Interval Record
These boxes build the well diagram: Box 37 the casing record with each string’s type, size, hole size, setting depth, cement class, and sacks, Box 38 the liner record, Box 39 the tubing record with packer depth and type, and Box 40 the producing, injection, or disposal interval, plus whether tubing is set. Enter every casing string and cement job in order from surface down, then the tubing and the perforated interval. For example, Lone Star Gas Operating lists 13-3/8 in surface casing set at 1,500 ft with Class A cement, then production casing, and shows the producing interval from 10,800 to 11,100 ft. If the well has a liner, you record its top, bottom, and cement in Box 38. A common mistake is leaving cement sacks or top-of-cement blank, which can flag a well integrity question. Filers often think the diagram is paperwork; it is the proof that the well isolates groundwater and other zones.
Boxes 41 through 45: Hydraulic Fracturing and FracFocus
These boxes ask Box 41 whether a hydraulic fracturing treatment was performed, Box 42 whether the well has a downhole actuation sleeve and its actuation pressure, Box 43 production casing test pressure before fracturing, Box 44 actual maximum pressure during fracturing, and Box 45 whether the fracturing fluid disclosure was reported to the FracFocus registry under Statewide Rule 29. Check yes or no for each and enter the pressures in PSIG. For example, Daniel Reyes checks YES on Box 41, enters his casing test and maximum fracturing pressures, and checks YES on Box 45 to confirm the FracFocus upload. Under Statewide Rule 29, the operator must upload the disclosure on or before the date the completion report is filed. A common mistake is checking YES on Box 45 before the FracFocus upload is actually done, which is a false certification and a rule violation. Filers often think FracFocus and the G-1 are unrelated; the rule ties the upload deadline directly to the G-1 filing date.
Boxes 46 through 48: Formation Record, H2S, and Downhole Commingling
Box 46 asks for the formation record, listing principal geological markers and formation tops, including all permitted disposal or injection formations within a quarter mile, productive zones, potential flow zones, and corrosive fluid zones. Box 47 asks whether the producing intervals make H2S above 100 ppm under Statewide Rule 36, and Box 48 asks whether the completion is downhole commingled under Statewide Rule 10. List each formation with its depth and isolation status, then check the H2S and commingling boxes. For example, Daniel Reyes lists the Eagle Ford top at its depth, checks NO on H2S Box 47, and NO on commingling Box 48. If H2S exceeds 100 ppm, the well falls under added safety requirements under Statewide Rule 36. A common mistake is answering NO on H2S without testing, which can hide a serious safety hazard. Filers often think commingling is automatic; producing two reservoirs through one wellbore needs a Rule 10 permit, and Box 48 must reflect it.
Operator’s Certification
The certification block asks for the signature, title, and phone number of the operator’s representative, the printed name, the date, and an optional email. Sign as a person authorized to file, declaring under penalties in Section 91.143 of the Texas Natural Resources Code that the data is true and complete. For example, Daniel Reyes, Regulatory Manager, signs, prints his name, and dates it 05/30/2026. Include your email only if you affirmatively consent to its public release, as the form notes. A common mistake is having an unauthorized clerk sign, which can void the filing and expose the company to a false-report finding. Filers often treat the certification as a formality; it is a sworn statement, and false data carries real legal penalties.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These three named operators show how the same form serves different jobs. Each table walks the key sections from top to bottom.
Scenario 1: Daniel Reyes Files an Initial Gas Well Completion
Daniel Reyes is the regulatory manager for a producer that just drilled its first horizontal gas well in Karnes County and needs to file the initial potential report.
| Form Section | What Daniel Enters |
|---|---|
| Box 1 Field Name | Karnes Hawkville (Eagle Ford-1) |
| Box 3 Operator’s Name | Lone Star Gas Operating, LLC (matches P-5) |
| Box 6 Latitude/Longitude | 28.81542, -97.84773 |
| Box 8 RRC Gas ID No. | 123456 |
| Box 11 Purpose of Filing | Initial potential |
| Box 24 Type of Completion | New well |
| Box 25 Permit No. | W-1 permit 876543 with approval date |
| Box 41 / 45 Fracturing / FracFocus | YES fractured, YES reported to FracFocus |
| Box 47 / 48 H2S / Commingling | NO H2S, NO commingling |
| Certification | Daniel Reyes, Regulatory Manager, dated 05/30/2026 |
Scenario 2: Maria Castillo Files a Reclass From Oil to Gas
Maria Castillo runs compliance for a small independent that reclassifies an older Austin Chalk well from an oil lease to a gas field after gas became the main product.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Box 1 Field Name | Giddings (Austin Chalk Gas) |
| Box 2 Lease Name | CASTILLO B UNIT |
| Box 11 Purpose of Filing | Reclass (Producers section) |
| Box 13 Former Field and ID | Former field Giddings (Austin Chalk), prior Oil Lease No. 04567 |
| Box 15 Date of Test | 04/12/2026 |
| Box 24 Type of Completion | Other (explained in Remarks as reclass) |
| Box 26 Producing Wells on Lease | 2 |
| Box 27 Total Acres | 160 (matches P-16) |
| Box 46 Formation Record | Austin Chalk top with depth and isolation status |
| Certification | Maria Castillo, Compliance Officer, dated 04/20/2026 |
Scenario 3: James Okafor Files an Injection Well Record
James Okafor handles UIC filings for a disposal operator and files a G-1 to record a saltwater disposal well in a gas field after a workover that reset the packer.
| Form Section | What James Enters |
|---|---|
| Box 1 Field Name | Spraberry (Trend Area) Gas |
| Box 11 Purpose of Filing | Initial completion (Injection/Disposal section) |
| Box 12b First Production | First date of injection 05/01/2026 |
| Page 1 Potential Test | Skipped (does not apply to injection wells) |
| Box 24 Type of Completion | Other/Recompletion (workover) |
| Box 25 Permit | Fluid Injection Permit number and date |
| Box 39 Tubing Record | Packer depth and type for the reset packer |
| Box 40 Injection Interval | Top and bottom of permitted disposal interval |
| Box 46 Formation Record | Permitted disposal formation, isolation YES |
| Certification | James Okafor, UIC Coordinator, dated 05/10/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form G-1
The Commission wants Form G-1 filed electronically, though a paper path exists for special cases. Choose the channel that fits your situation and keep proof of whatever you submit.
- Online (preferred): File through the RRC Online System using your operator account. There is no separate per-form fee for the completion report itself, and the system accepts your data once your P-5 is current. Processing is faster than paper, and your proof of filing is the on-screen confirmation and tracking number the system issues, which you should save or print.
- By mail (limited cases): When the Commission allows paper for a special situation, mail the completed G-1 PDF and attachments to the Railroad Commission of Texas, Oil and Gas Division, P.O. Box 12967, Austin, TX 78711-2967. Include any required attachments such as the Form W-15 cementing affidavit. Your proof of filing is the certified-mail receipt and a date-stamped copy you keep.
- In person: You may deliver paper filings to the Commission’s Austin headquarters at 1701 N. Congress Avenue during business hours. Ask for a date-stamped copy as your proof of filing. Call ahead, since most completions must go through the online system.
For online filing, you log in, select the completion report, key in the fields, upload attachments like the W-15, certify, and submit. The user guides on the RRC Online User Guides page walk through screen by screen. Always download the confirmation, because it is your only proof the well record is on file.
What Happens After You File
Once your G-1 lands, the Commission’s Oil and Gas Division reviews it against the well’s permit, P-5, and acreage records. Staff check that the casing and cement protect groundwater, that the location matches the plat, and that the back pressure test supports the allowable you are claiming. If everything lines up, the well record is approved and the gas well receives its production allowable.
The G-1 also triggers downstream reporting. The Commission’s production rules note that monthly Production Reports (Form PR) for a gas well are required from the completion date shown in Box 14-related sections of the G-1. So filing the G-1 starts your duty to report monthly production, and missing those reports can also affect the allowable.
If the Commission finds an error, such as a location problem or a missing W-15, staff send a deficiency notice and ask you to correct or refile. The well may sit without an allowable until you fix it, which means you cannot legally sell the gas. Under Statewide Rule 16, you must also file an amended completion report within 30 days of any physical change to the well, so the record never goes stale.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out Form G-1
Each line on the G-1 is its own chance to slip. These are the errors that most often cause rejections, deficiency notices, or lost allowables.
- Entering an operator name that does not match the P-5, which can get the filing rejected outright.
- Filing while the P-5 Organization Report is lapsed, which blocks the G-1 from being accepted.
- Listing latitude and longitude with fewer than five decimal places, which fails the Box 6 requirement.
- Transposing the RRC Gas ID number, which attaches your data to the wrong well.
- Checking more than one Purpose of Filing box, which muddles the intent and can bounce the report.
- Leaving Box 13 blank on a reclass or recompletion, which severs the link to the prior well record.
- Reporting acreage in Box 27 that conflicts with the P-16, which can hold up the allowable.
- Checking YES on FracFocus Box 45 before the disclosure is actually uploaded, which is a false certification.
- Marking the Form W-15 as attached but never uploading it, which leaves the cement record incomplete.
- Answering H2S Box 47 as NO without testing, which can hide a deadly safety hazard.
- Entering estimated instead of measured back pressure test data, which produces a wrong allowable.
- Having an unauthorized person sign the certification, which can void the filing and trigger a false-report finding.
Do’s and Don’ts
Keep these habits in mind to file clean the first time.
Do: – Confirm your P-5 is active before you start, since a lapsed P-5 stops everything. – Copy your operator name and address straight from the P-5, so the records match. – Gather casing, cement, and test data first, because guessing mid-filing breeds errors. – Upload your FracFocus disclosure before you certify Box 45, to keep Rule 29 satisfied. – Save the online confirmation and tracking number, since it is your only proof of filing. – File any amended report within 30 days of a physical change, as Rule 16 demands.
Don’t: – Don’t invent a field name, because it must match the Commission’s official designation. – Don’t round coordinates, since Box 6 needs five decimal places for accurate mapping. – Don’t check multiple completion types in Box 24, as it misstates the well’s history. – Don’t skip the GAU groundwater determination, because surface casing must protect water. – Don’t certify data you have not verified, since the signature is a sworn statement. – Don’t ignore the monthly PR duty the G-1 triggers, or the allowable can suffer.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Many operators file the G-1 in-house, while others lean on a consultant or filing service. Weigh these points.
Pros of filing it yourself: – You save the fee a consultant or service would charge, which helps small operators. – You keep direct control over the data, since you know the well best. – You learn the RRC Online System, which speeds future filings. – You can fix small errors fast without waiting on a third party. – You build an internal record-keeping habit that pays off across all your wells.
Cons of filing it yourself: – A single field error, like a bad Gas ID, can cost you the allowable. – The casing, cement, and test sections demand technical knowledge many clerks lack. – You bear full responsibility for the sworn certification under Section 91.143. – Rule 29 FracFocus timing is easy to miss without an experienced hand. – Deficiency notices can drag out approval if you misread a technical box.
FAQs
Do I have to file Form G-1 online?
Yes. The Commission treats the RRC Online System as the primary channel for completion reports, and most G-1 filings must go through it rather than on paper.
Is Form G-1 the same as Form W-2?
No. Form G-1 covers wells in gas fields and uses a Gas ID, while Form W-2 covers wells in oil fields and uses an Oil Lease No., though their layouts are nearly identical.
Do I need an active Form P-5 before filing?
Yes. You must hold a current Form P-5 Organization Report on file, because the Commission will not accept a G-1 from an operator whose P-5 has lapsed.
Do I write the field name however I want in Box 1?
No. Box 1 must match the Commission’s official field designation exactly, or you enter Wildcat if no field is assigned yet.
Do I really need five decimal places in Box 6?
Yes. Box 6 requires latitude and longitude to a minimum of five decimal places, and fewer can trigger a location accuracy review.
Do I leave Box 13 blank for a brand-new well?
Yes. Box 13 only applies to recompletions, reclassifications, or multiple completions, so a brand-new initial completion leaves it empty.
Do I check more than one box in Box 11 Purpose of Filing?
No. Check only the single purpose that fits your filing, because multiple checks confuse the intent and can cause a rejection.
Do I have to upload to FracFocus before filing the G-1?
Yes. Under Statewide Rule 29, you must upload the fracturing disclosure on or before the date you file the completion report.
Do injection wells skip the page-one potential test?
Yes. The Commission states that page-one potential test data does not apply to injection wells, so you skip it.
Do I owe a filing fee for Form G-1?
No. There is no separate per-form completion-report fee for filing the G-1 itself through the online system once your P-5 is current.
Do I have to file an amended G-1 after a workover?
Yes. Under Statewide Rule 16, you must file an amended completion report within 30 days of any physical change to the well.
Does the G-1 start my monthly production reporting?
Yes. The production rules require monthly Form PR reports for a gas well from the completion date recorded on the G-1.
Can any office clerk sign the Operator’s Certification?
No. Only a person authorized to file may sign, since the certification is a sworn statement under Section 91.143 of the Texas Natural Resources Code.
Does the Commission keep my G-1 forever?
Yes. The G-1 becomes the well’s permanent well record, kept by the Commission for the entire life of the well and beyond.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Texas Railroad Commission Form G-10 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Railroad Commission Form G-5 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Railroad Commission Form H-10 (w/Examples) + FAQs
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