Texas Railroad Commission Form H-15, Test on an Inactive Well More than 25 Years Old, is the report that every oil and gas operator must file to prove an old, idle well is not harming Texas water or letting fluids escape underground. The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) requires this form under Statewide Rule 15, and you must file it within 30 days after you run a fluid level or mechanical integrity test on the well.
If you operate a well that is more than 25 years old and has not produced for a year, the RRC will mail you a test request. Miss the deadline and the agency denies your plugging extension, then mails a 30-day pre-severance notice that can shut down your lease. Every year the RRC tracks thousands of these aging inactive wells through its H-15 program, and a single late or wrong filing can trigger penalties, severance, or a forced plugging order.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 🛢️ What Form H-15 is, who must file it, and the exact law that requires it
- 📋 The documents and numbers you must gather before you open the form
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of all 16 boxes plus the certification block
- 👷 Three real filled-out examples you can copy for your own well
- ⚠️ The field-level mistakes that get H-15 forms rejected and how to dodge them
What Form H-15 Is and Who Must File It
Form H-15 is the official test report an operator sends the RRC to show that an inactive well over 25 years old is not a threat to natural resources. The form proves the well is not polluting ground or surface water and is not letting formation fluids escape from the zone where they started. The current version of the paper form is Rev. 8/93, and you should confirm that revision date in the bottom corner before you use a downloaded copy.
You must file Form H-15 if the RRC mails you a test request for a well that meets all of these tests. The well is more than 25 years old, measured from the drilling (spud) date. The well is inactive, meaning it has not reported production in the previous twelve months. And the well sits in a field that is up for its annual G-10 or W-10 survey, which sets the testing schedule.
The agency that receives the form is the Railroad Commission of Texas, Oil and Gas Division. The law behind it is Statewide Rule 15 (16 Texas Administrative Code §3.15), and the certification carries felony penalties under Texas Natural Resources Code §91.143. The deadline, the penalty, and the agency all link together: the rule sets the test, the test feeds the form, the form proves safety, and the missed form ends in severance.
Statewide Rule 15 in plain English says an old, idle well must be tested on a schedule to keep its plugging extension alive. If you ignore the rule, the RRC denies the extension and starts severance, which strips your right to produce other wells on the lease. For example, Dale runs a 1968 oil well in Eastland County that stopped producing last spring, so the RRC mails him an H-15 test request tied to his field’s annual survey. A common misconception is that “inactive” means “abandoned” and the rule no longer applies, but the rule applies because the well is inactive, not in spite of it.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather every number and document before you open Form H-15, because the form cross-checks against RRC records and one wrong digit can stall the review. Below is your pre-filing checklist with the reason each item matters and what happens if it is missing.
- Your P-5 Organization Report number. The RRC matches your operator name to your active P-5; if the name does not match the P-5 exactly, the form bounces back unreviewed.
- Operator mailing address. The RRC mails approval letters and failed-test notices here, so an old address means you miss deadlines you did not know existed.
- RRC District number. Mechanical integrity test reports go to the district office, so the wrong district routes your form to the wrong reviewer and delays approval.
- Field name from the Proration Schedule. The field name ties the well to its testing schedule; a mismatch can leave the well flagged as untested.
- Lease name and Oil Lease or Gas ID number. These identify the exact lease on RRC records, and a wrong ID can credit the test to the wrong property.
- API number (the 42- well identifier). This is the unique fingerprint for the wellbore, and a typo here means the RRC cannot confirm which well you tested.
- Base of deepest usable-quality water depth. The RRC uses this depth to judge pollution risk, and leaving it blank signals you did not assess the water threat.
- The test data itself (fluid level or pressure test results). The numbers from your testing crew are the heart of the form, and missing data makes the report meaningless.
- The Notification ID from your 72-hour pre-test call. You must contact the district office at least 72 hours before testing for approval, and skipping that call can void the test.
- Historical wellbore date (spud date or earliest completion date). This proves the well is over 25 years old, which is the whole reason the form exists.
Aisha, a compliance clerk for a small operator, keeps a one-page intake sheet with all ten items filled in before she ever logs into the system. That habit means her forms clear RRC review on the first pass instead of cycling back for corrections.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
You can download Form H-15 from the RRC oil and gas forms page, or file it through the RRC Online System. The RRC strongly encourages online filing as part of the Texas Oilfield Relief Initiative because it is faster and skips the duplicate-mailing step.
The printable PDF is the Rev. 8/93 version and prints on one page with instructions on the back. Read the back instructions before you write anything, because the location and historical-date boxes have rules that are easy to miss.
To file online, your organization’s designated Security Administrator must add the External H15 Filer filing right to your RRC Online System account. Without that right, you can log in but you will not see the H-15 form. If your company has never set up a Security Administrator, follow the online filing setup instructions first, since that step can take a day or two to process.
When you file online, the system accepts both the fluid level test and the mechanical integrity test, lets you upload attachments, and generates a print-friendly PDF once you submit. You do not have to mail duplicates to the district office when you file online. The RRC also posts a user guide for H-15 reports that walks through every screen.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form H-15 Line by Line
This is the heart of the form. Fill in the boxes in the order they appear, use ALL CAPS for names and IDs to match RRC records, and write dates as MM/DD/YYYY. Each box below explains what it asks, how to answer, a sample entry, an edge case, the common mistake, and the misconception people carry into it.
Box 1 – Operator Name (exactly as on P-5)
This box asks for your company’s legal operator name. Write it letter-for-letter as it appears on your P-5 Organization Report, including abbreviations like “LLC” or “INC.” For example, DALE BROTHERS OPERATING LLC must match the P-5, not a shortened “Dale Bros.”
The edge case is a company that recently changed names or merged. If your P-5 still shows the old name, use the old name on the H-15 until your P-5 is updated, because the form follows the P-5, not your letterhead.
The most common mistake is shortening or rephrasing the name, which breaks the automatic match to your P-5 record. When that match fails, the RRC cannot tie the test to your account and the form sits unreviewed. People wrongly believe the RRC will “figure out who you are” from the address, but the system keys on the exact name string, not your mailing address.
Box 2 – Operator P-5 No.
This box asks for the six-digit operator number tied to your P-5. Enter it exactly, with no extra spaces, such as 123456. This number is the master key that links the well, the lease, and your financial assurance.
The edge case is operators who confuse the P-5 number with a lease or field number. The P-5 number identifies your company, not the property, so pull it from your organization report, not the proration schedule.
The common mistake is transposing two digits, which points the form at another company’s account or at no account at all. That error can route an approval letter to a stranger and leave your well marked untested. A frequent misconception is that the P-5 number changes each year; it stays the same as long as your organization keeps the same RRC registration.
Box 3 – RRC District No.
This box asks which RRC oil and gas district the well sits in. Enter the district number for the county where the well is located, such as 7B. The district matters because mechanical integrity test reports are reviewed at the district office, while fluid level reports go to Austin.
The edge case is a well near a county line. The district follows the well’s actual surface location, so verify the county before you guess the district.
The common mistake is using your company headquarters’ district instead of the well’s district, which sends a paper MIT report to the wrong office. That misrouting can add weeks to your review while the form is forwarded. People often assume all RRC filings go to Austin, but H-15 mechanical integrity reports are district business.
Box 4 – Operator Address (including city, state, and zip)
This box asks for your company’s current mailing address. Write the full street or P.O. Box, city, state, and ZIP, such as PO BOX 410, CISCO, TX 76437. The RRC mails approval and failed-test letters to this address.
The edge case is a P.O. Box versus a physical address. A P.O. Box is fine here because the box is for mail delivery, not for the well location.
The common mistake is using an outdated address after a move, which means severance notices and failed-test letters never reach you. Missing those letters can cost you the well before you know there is a problem. A misconception is that updating the H-15 address also updates your P-5; it does not, so fix your P-5 separately.
Box 5 – Field Name (exactly as on Proration Schedule)
This box asks for the producing field name as it appears on the RRC Proration Schedule. Copy it word-for-word, such as EASTLAND (CADDO). The field name ties your well to its annual testing schedule.
The edge case is a well completed in a field with a long official name that includes a reservoir in parentheses. Include the parenthetical part, because the short name alone may match the wrong field.
The common mistake is using a nickname or the lease’s informal field name, which fails to match the schedule and can leave the well flagged untested. That gap can trigger the very severance notice you filed to avoid. People wrongly think any close field name will do, but the RRC matches the exact schedule entry.
Box 6 – Lease Name (exactly as on Proration Schedule)
This box asks for the lease name as printed on the Proration Schedule. Write it exactly, such as J. SMITH “A”. This name links the test to the correct property and production records.
The edge case is leases that share a similar name with a unit suffix or a letter, like “A” or “B.” Include the suffix exactly, because dropping the letter points at the wrong lease.
The common mistake is using the surface owner’s name instead of the RRC lease name, which credits the test to a property that may not exist on file. That mismatch can leave the actual well untested in RRC eyes. A misconception is that the lease name equals the landowner’s name; it is the RRC’s official lease label, which can differ.
Box 7 – Historical Wellbore Date
This box asks for the well’s age proof. Enter the drilling (spud) date of the wellbore as MM/DD/YYYY, such as 06/15/1968. If you do not know the drilling date, enter the earliest completion date in the wellbore instead, which the form allows as a substitute.
The edge case is a very old well with sparse records. Use the earliest completion record you can document, because the box explicitly accepts the earliest completion date when the spud date is unknown.
The common mistake is guessing a round year like “1970” with no record, which can misstate the well’s age and undercut the form’s purpose. If the date does not support “more than 25 years old,” a reviewer may question the filing. People assume recompletion dates count here, but this box wants the original wellbore date, not a later recompletion.
Box 8 – Oil Lease or Gas ID No.
This box asks for the RRC oil lease number or gas well ID. Enter the number that matches the well type, such as oil lease 09876 or a gas ID. This number connects the H-15 to the lease’s RRC production file.
The edge case is a wellbore that has both oil and gas history. Use the ID that matches the lease’s current classification on the proration schedule.
The common mistake is swapping an oil lease number for a gas ID or vice versa, which files the test against the wrong record type. That error can leave your actual well showing no test on file. A misconception is that the API number can replace this ID; the form wants both, in their own boxes.
Box 9 – Well No.
This box asks for the individual well number within the lease. Enter it exactly as the RRC lists it, such as 3 or 3-W. A lease can hold many wells, so this number isolates the one you tested.
The edge case is a well with a letter or directional suffix. Include the full designation, because “3” and “3-W” are different wells on the same lease.
The common mistake is reporting the wrong well on a multi-well lease, which credits the test to a well you did not test. That leaves the tested well unproven and the untested well falsely cleared. People assume a one-well-per-lease setup, but many old leases carry several wellbores.
Box 10 – Date Test Performed
This box asks for the date the field test actually happened. Enter it as MM/DD/YYYY, such as 05/12/2026. This date starts your 30-day filing clock and ties the test to the approval window.
The edge case is a test that spans two days, such as a pressure test set up one evening and read the next morning. Use the date the test was completed and read.
The common mistake is entering the filing date instead of the test date, which can make an on-time filing look late or early. A wrong test date can also fall outside your 72-hour approval window. People think the date is a formality, but the RRC measures the 30-day deadline from this exact day.
Box 11 – Base of Deepest Usable-Quality Water (subsurface)
This box asks for the depth, in feet below the surface, of the base of the deepest usable-quality water. Enter the depth from your Groundwater Advisory Unit determination, such as 1,250 ft. This depth is how the RRC judges whether the well threatens drinking water.
The edge case is a well with no recent GAU letter. Request the depth determination before testing, because guessing this number undermines the safety certification.
The common mistake is leaving this box blank, which signals you did not assess the water-pollution risk the form exists to prove. A blank here invites a reviewer to reject the filing. A misconception is that this is the well’s total depth; it is the water base depth, which is usually far shallower than the well bottom.
Box 12 – County
This box asks for the Texas county where the well sits. Spell out the county name, such as EASTLAND. The county confirms the district and the field schedule.
The edge case is a lease that crosses a county line. Use the county of the actual surface location of the wellbore you tested.
The common mistake is naming the county where your office sits instead of the well, which clashes with the district number in Box 3. That clash slows routing and review. People assume the county is obvious, but cross-county leases trip up filers every year.
Box 13 – API No.
This box asks for the well’s American Petroleum Institute number, which already starts with 42- (the Texas state code). Fill in the remaining digits, such as 42-133-12345. The API number is the well’s unique national identifier.
The edge case is an old well that predates API numbering in your records. The RRC has assigned API numbers to nearly all wells, so pull it from the RRC well record rather than leaving it blank.
The common mistake is dropping or transposing digits, which means the RRC cannot match the exact wellbore you tested. A wrong API can credit the test to a different well entirely. A misconception is that the API number and the lease ID are the same; they are different identifiers in different boxes.
Box 14 – Type of Test (Complete either A or B)
This is the most important box, and you complete only one of the two options. Choose A. Annual Fluid Level Test or B. Mechanical Integrity Test based on the test your crew ran. Picking both, or the wrong one, confuses the reviewer and can route your form to the wrong office.
For A. Annual Fluid Level Test, enter the top of fluid in the wellbore depth, such as Top of fluid: 1,840 ft. If no fluid is found, give the total depth of the wellbore instead. Then check how the level was determined by: sonic survey, wireline, visual (only when fluid is visible from the surface), or other (specify). Finally, write the performed by name of the individual and the testing company, such as J. Ruiz, OILCAT Services.
For B. Mechanical Integrity Test, check the type performed: Hydraulic Pressure with the cast iron bridge plug/packer depth (for example Packer depth: 1,900 ft), or other (specify). Then check the reason for the MIT: substitute for annual fluid level test, or required for a well 25 or more years old AND inactive 10 years or more (effective January 1, 1997).
The common mistake is checking option A but writing pressure-test data, or checking neither sub-box for determination method. That mismatch makes the data unreadable and the form rejectable. A misconception is that you must run both tests; you run and report only one, and an MIT can stand in for the fluid level test.
Box 15 – Operator Remarks
This box asks for any notes that explain the test or unusual conditions. Write short, factual remarks, such as Well shut-in since 03/2025; tested per annual survey. Use it to explain anything a reviewer might question.
The edge case is a well that could not be tested by the standard method. Note the reason here and request an exception from Austin Field Operations, which evaluates each request case by case.
The common mistake is leaving relevant context out, so a reviewer who sees odd data has no explanation and sends a failed-test letter. A short note can prevent that bounce. People treat this box as optional filler, but it is your chance to head off questions before they delay approval.
Box 16 – Location (See Instruction No. 3)
This box asks for the well’s legal survey location. Fill in the section, block, abstract, and survey, then the well’s perpendicular surface location: _ feet from line and _ feet from line. For example, 990 feet from the North line and 660 feet from the East line.
The edge case is a well described by abstract only, with no section or block. Enter the abstract and survey you have and leave truly blank items empty rather than inventing data.
The common mistake is reversing the two footage-and-line callouts or guessing the nearest survey lines, which misplaces the well on RRC maps. A misplaced well can fail to match the lease plat. A misconception is that GPS coordinates can replace this survey description; the form wants the legal land-survey callout from the back-page instructions.
Certification Block – Signature, Name, Title, Date, Phone
This block is where you swear the report is true under felony conviction penalties prescribed in Texas Natural Resources Code §91.143. Sign your name, then print or type your name, your title, the date, and your phone number, such as Signature: D. Garza; Name: DALE GARZA; Title: OPERATOR; Date: 06/01/2026; Phone: (254) 555-0143.
The edge case is a third-party testing company filing for you. The person who signs must be authorized to make the report for the operator, so a vendor signs only with that authority in place.
The common mistake is leaving the signature or title blank, which voids the certification and makes the form unenforceable, so the RRC rejects it. An unsigned form is treated as not filed, which can blow your 30-day deadline. A misconception is that the certification is routine boilerplate, but it carries felony liability for a false statement, so every fact must be true.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
The three scenarios below show the most common ways operators complete Form H-15. Each follows one named filer through the key boxes. Sample entries are shown so you can model your own.
Scenario 1: Annual Fluid Level Test by Sonic Survey
Dale Garza runs a 1968 oil well in Eastland County that stopped producing last year, and his crew ran a sonic fluid level test.
| Form Section | What Dale Enters |
|---|---|
| Box 1 – Operator Name | DALE BROTHERS OPERATING LLC |
| Box 2 – Operator P-5 No. | 123456 |
| Box 3 – RRC District No. | 7B |
| Box 7 – Historical Wellbore Date | 06/15/1968 (drilling/spud) |
| Box 10 – Date Test Performed | 05/12/2026 |
| Box 11 – Base of Usable Water | 1,250 ft |
| Box 13 – API No. | 42-133-12345 |
| Box 14 – Type of Test | A. Fluid level — top of fluid 1,840 ft; sonic survey; performed by J. Ruiz, OILCAT Services |
| Box 16 – Location | 990 ft from North line and 660 ft from East line |
| Certification | Signed DALE GARZA, Operator, 06/01/2026 |
Scenario 2: Mechanical Integrity Test as a Substitute
Marcus Lane operates a 1972 gas well in Pecos County and runs a hydraulic pressure test instead of a fluid level test, filing the MIT report with the district office.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Box 1 – Operator Name | LANE ENERGY INC |
| Box 3 – RRC District No. | 8 |
| Box 5 – Field Name | COYANOSA (DEVONIAN) |
| Box 7 – Historical Wellbore Date | 09/03/1972 (spud) |
| Box 9 – Well No. | 2-W |
| Box 10 – Date Test Performed | 04/22/2026 |
| Box 13 – API No. | 42-371-65432 |
| Box 14 – Type of Test | B. Hydraulic Pressure — packer depth 1,900 ft; reason: substitute for annual fluid level test |
| Box 15 – Operator Remarks | Pressure held 30 min, no loss |
| Certification | Signed MARCUS LANE, President, 05/05/2026 |
Scenario 3: MIT to Keep a Long-Idle Well
Janet Pruitt operates a 1965 oil well in Gregg County that has been inactive for over 10 years, so she runs the MIT required for wells 25+ years old and inactive 10+ years.
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Box 1 – Operator Name | PRUITT OIL CO |
| Box 3 – RRC District No. | 6 |
| Box 6 – Lease Name | J. SMITH “A” |
| Box 7 – Historical Wellbore Date | 11/20/1965 (earliest completion, spud unknown) |
| Box 8 – Oil Lease ID No. | 09876 |
| Box 11 – Base of Usable Water | 900 ft |
| Box 13 – API No. | 42-183-77890 |
| Box 14 – Type of Test | B. Hydraulic Pressure — packer depth 1,500 ft; reason: required for well 25+ years and inactive 10+ years |
| Box 15 – Operator Remarks | Well idle since 2014; tested for plugging extension |
| Certification | Signed JANET PRUITT, Owner, 05/30/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
You can file Form H-15 online or on paper, and the RRC strongly prefers online filing. The 30-day deadline and the 72-hour pre-test call apply no matter which channel you choose.
Online (preferred): File through the RRC Online System at the security login page. There is no filing fee for the H-15 itself. You need the External H15 Filer right added by your Security Administrator, you can upload attachments in the same session, and the system generates a print-friendly PDF on submission. Reports become viewable in the system after RRC review, usually within a few weeks. Keep the system-generated PDF as your proof of filing.
Paper – Fluid Level (FL) tests: Mail the original report and attachments to the RRC Oil and Gas Division in Austin, since fluid level reports go to Austin Field Operations. There is no filing fee. Send it by certified mail and keep the green card and a stamped copy as proof of filing.
Paper – Mechanical Integrity (MIT) tests: Mail the original report and attachments to the appropriate oil and gas district office for the county where the well sits, because MIT reports are reviewed at the district. There is no filing fee. Use certified mail and retain your receipt and copy as proof.
For help, contact Austin Field Operations for H-15 at (512) 463-6830 or by email at h15info@rrc.texas.gov, or call the Field Operations department at 512-463-6838. If you cannot meet the test due date, ask Austin Field Operations for an extension, which is granted for good cause on a case-by-case basis.
What Happens After You File
After you file, the RRC reviews the report and marks it pending while data is forwarded to the district for review. The reviewer then marks the form Approved or Not Approved in the RRC Use Only block, and for an approved MIT they note the number of years the test is good for if other than the standard five years.
If the test passes, your well keeps its plugging extension and the well stays compliant under Statewide Rule 15. If the test fails, the RRC sends a “failed test” letter that explains your options, which may include retesting, plugging, or requesting an exception. A fluid level test is generally good for 12 months, while a mechanical integrity test is generally good for 60 months.
If you do not file by the due date, the RRC denies the plugging extension and mails a 30-day pre-severance certified notice. Severance strips your authority to sell production from the lease, and continued non-compliance can be referred for legal enforcement. That enforcement can bring administrative penalties, a Commission order to plug the wells, collection against your financial assurance, and even cancellation of your authority to operate oil and gas leases in Texas.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Operator name does not match the P-5. The form fails the automatic match and sits unreviewed.
- Wrong or transposed P-5 number. The test posts to the wrong account or no account at all.
- Using your office district instead of the well’s district. A paper MIT report lands at the wrong office and stalls.
- Field or lease name that does not match the Proration Schedule. The well can stay flagged as untested.
- Typo in the API number. The RRC cannot confirm which wellbore you tested.
- Leaving Box 11 (usable water depth) blank. The reviewer sees no pollution-risk assessment and rejects the form.
- Entering the filing date in Box 10 instead of the test date. Your 30-day clock looks wrong and the filing can read as late.
- Checking both Test A and Test B in Box 14. The reviewer cannot tell which test you ran.
- Forgetting the 72-hour pre-test call. The test can be voided because you skipped required approval.
- Leaving the certification unsigned or untitled. The form is treated as not filed and your deadline passes.
- Reversing the footage-and-line callouts in Box 16. The well is misplaced on RRC maps and may not match the plat.
- Mailing an MIT report to Austin instead of the district. The report is misrouted and review is delayed.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do copy names and IDs exactly from the P-5 and Proration Schedule, because the RRC matches exact strings, not close guesses.
- Do call the district office at least 72 hours before testing, because the test needs approval to count.
- Do file within 30 days of the test date, because that deadline protects your plugging extension.
- Do file online when you can, because it skips duplicate mailing and gives you an instant PDF receipt.
- Do keep proof of filing, because you may need it if the RRC has no record.
- Do explain odd conditions in Box 15, because a short note can stop a failed-test letter.
Don’t:
- Don’t guess the historical wellbore date, because a wrong age weakens the whole filing.
- Don’t leave the usable-water depth blank, because that box is the safety core of the form.
- Don’t check both test types, because only one test applies per filing.
- Don’t mail an MIT report to Austin, because MIT reports are reviewed at the district.
- Don’t sign without authority, because the certification carries felony liability under §91.143.
- Don’t ignore a test request, because silence triggers severance and enforcement.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Many small operators file H-15 themselves, while others hire a testing company that files for them. Here is how the two compare.
Pros of filing yourself:
- You save the vendor’s filing fee, because you only pay for the field test itself.
- You control the deadline, because you are not waiting on a third party to submit.
- You learn your own records, which helps with future RRC filings.
- You see the RRC review status directly, because the online filing is under your account.
- You can explain your well’s quirks firsthand in Box 15.
Cons of filing yourself:
- You carry the felony certification risk, because you sign under §91.143.
- You must learn the exact field names and box rules, which takes time.
- You handle the Security Administrator setup, which can delay your first online filing.
- You absorb the cost of any rejection, because corrections fall on you.
- You must track the 30-day and 72-hour timing yourself, with no vendor reminder.
FAQs
Who must file Form H-15?
Yes — any operator the RRC notifies about a well more than 25 years old that is inactive and due for testing under Statewide Rule 15 must file Form H-15.
Is there a filing fee for Form H-15?
No — the RRC does not charge a fee to file the H-15 report itself, though you pay your own testing company for the field test.
Do I have to call before testing?
Yes — you must contact the appropriate district office at least 72 hours before testing to receive testing approval before you run the test.
Is there a deadline to file?
Yes — you must file Form H-15 within 30 days after the fluid level or mechanical integrity test is conducted.
Can a mechanical integrity test replace the fluid level test?
Yes — in Box 14 you can mark the MIT as a “substitute for annual fluid level test,” and it satisfies the requirement.
Do I write the spud date or completion date in Box 7?
Yes — enter the drilling (spud) date, but if the drilling date is unknown, the box lets you use the earliest completion date in the wellbore instead.
Should Box 11 be the well’s total depth?
No — Box 11 is the base of the deepest usable-quality water, which is usually far shallower than the well’s total depth.
Do I check both Test A and Test B in Box 14?
No — you complete only one option, either the Annual Fluid Level Test (A) or the Mechanical Integrity Test (B), never both.
Does the API number go where the lease ID goes?
No — the API number (starting 42-) goes in Box 13, and the oil lease or gas ID goes in Box 8; they are separate.
Where do I mail a mechanical integrity test report?
No — not to Austin; MIT reports go to the appropriate district office, while fluid level reports go to Austin Field Operations.
Can a testing company sign the certification for me?
Yes — but only a person authorized to make the report for the operator may sign, because the certification carries felony penalties under §91.143.
Can I get more time if I cannot test on schedule?
Yes — Austin Field Operations may grant an extension for good cause on a case-by-case basis if you contact them before the due date.
What happens if I do not file?
No — you will not keep your extension; the RRC denies the plugging extension and mails a 30-day pre-severance certified notice that can shut down your lease.
Do I file online or on paper?
Yes — you can do either, but the RRC strongly encourages online filing through the RRC Online System for faster, duplicate-free processing.
Does returning the well to active status end the testing?
Yes — but only after you file a Form W-10 or G-10 retest and the well produces 5 barrels of oil or 50 mcf of gas per month for three straight months.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Texas Railroad Commission Form H-1A (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Railroad Commission Form H-5 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Railroad Commission Form W-10 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Railroad Commission Form W-3 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Railroad Commission Form W-3A (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Railroad Commission Form W-3X (w/Examples) + FAQs