Texas Railroad Commission Form L-1, the Electric Log Status Report (Rev. 01-2007), is the one-page form an oil, gas, or geothermal well operator files to tell the Railroad Commission of Texas whether a basic electric log was run on a well and what is happening to that log. You file it alongside your completion report (Form W-2 or G-1) or your plugging report (Form W-3) so the Commission can match each well to its required log under Statewide Rule 16.
Getting this short form wrong has long consequences. The Commission can set a well’s allowable to zero, which stops the operator from producing and selling oil or gas from it. With tens of thousands of wells permitted across Texas each year, a single missed checkbox or a missing log can stall a well that took months and millions of dollars to drill.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 What Form L-1 is, who must file it, and the exact wells it covers
- 🗂️ Every document and number you need before you open the form
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of Section I, Section II, and the signature block
- 👥 Three full examples following real operators through the whole form
- ⚠️ The deadlines, fees, mistakes, and penalties that trip filers up most
What Form L-1 Is and Who Must File It
Form L-1 is the Electric Log Status Report used by the Oil and Gas Division of the Railroad Commission of Texas. It does one job: it tells the Commission the status of the basic electric log for a single well. The form either reports that a log is attached, that confidentiality is requested, that a log is already on file, or that no basic electric log was run. The current version on the Commission’s site is marked Rev. 01-2007, so check that date in the top right corner before you start.
The operator of the well must file it. Under Rule 16, an “operator” is the person who takes responsibility for the regulatory compliance of a well, as shown by a form the Commission approves. In plain terms, the company named as operator on the drilling permit is the party on the hook. A landman, consultant, or filing agent may prepare the form, but the operator’s authorized representative signs it and owns the result.
You file Form L-1 with Forms G-1, W-2, and GT-1 for new and deepened gas, oil, and geothermal wells. You also file it with Form W-3 for plugged dry holes, and when you send in a log that you held under a confidentiality request that has not yet expired. The form is required because the Texas Natural Resources Code, Chapter 91, Subchapter M and Statewide Rule 16 require a legible, unaltered copy of a basic electric log to be filed for most wells.
Form L-1 is not required in several cases. You do not file it with Forms W-2, G-1, and GT-1 for injection wells, disposal wells, water supply wells, service wells, re-test wells, reclassifications, or plugbacks of oil, gas, or geothermal wells. You also skip it with Form W-3 for the plugging of anything other than a dry hole. Knowing when the form is not needed saves you from filing paper the Commission did not ask for.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Form L-1 is short, but each blank pulls from a different record. Gather these items first so you are not hunting for numbers while the clock runs toward the 90-day log deadline set by Rule 16. Missing any one of them can force you to refile or can leave a blank that the district office kicks back.
- Your operator name and Commission operator number. The name must match the operator of record on the drilling permit; a mismatch can stall processing while the office confirms who you are.
- The District No. The Commission splits Texas into numbered districts, and the wrong district routes your form to the wrong office and delays the match to your well.
- The Completion Date. This date drives the 90-day log filing clock, so an error here can make a timely filing look late.
- The Field Name. The Commission ties allowables to fields, and a wrong field name can attach your log to the wrong field record.
- The Drilling Permit No. This is the permit (Form W-1) the Commission issued before you drilled; without it, the office cannot link the log to the permitted operation.
- The Lease Name and Lease/ID No. These identify the lease or consolidated ID; a missing ID number is one of the most common reasons a form is returned.
- The Well No. This separates one well from others on the same lease, and leaving it blank makes the well impossible to identify.
- The API No. (42-prefix). Every Texas well has a unique American Petroleum Institute number that starts with the state code 42; this is the single most important identifier on the form.
- The basic electric log itself, or proof of its status. You need the log to attach, the log header for a confidentiality request, or a record showing the log is already on file.
- The signer’s name, title, and phone number. The person who signs must have authority to bind the operator, so confirm who that is before the form reaches them.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
You get Form L-1 straight from the Railroad Commission. The fillable Form L-1 PDF lives on the Commission’s website, and a Word version of the Form L-1 with instructions is also posted. Both carry the Rev. 01-2007 revision date, and both include the instruction page and the Rule 16 text on the reverse. Download the current copy each time rather than reusing an old saved file, because an outdated form can be rejected.
You can also find Form L-1 through the Commission’s oil and gas forms page, which lists the division’s filings in one place. Print the form on plain white paper, fill it by hand in black ink or type it in the PDF before printing, and keep the layout clean so the district office can scan it. The form prints on one page, with the instructions and the Rule 16 reprint on the back.
Form L-1 does not stand alone. It travels with the completion or plugging report it supports, so you will usually pull Form W-2 (oil well completion), Form G-1 (gas well completion), Form GT-1 (geothermal), or Form W-3 (plugging) at the same time. Because L-1 is filed in paper with the appropriate Commission district office, the way you “access” it is simply to print the official copy and attach it to that report package. Confirm your district office mailing address on the Commission’s district offices contact page before you mail.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form L-1 Line by Line
Form L-1 has two parts plus a signature block. The instructions are firm: Section I and the signature section must be filled out for all wells, and you complete only the appropriate part of Section II. Work top to bottom, use the exact box labels printed on the form, and write sample entries the way the Commission reads them.
Section I, Box 1 — Operator Name
This box asks for the legal name of the company that operates the well. Write the operator name exactly as it appears on the approved drilling permit and on the operator’s P-5 Organization Report record with the Commission. Use the full registered name, not a nickname or a “doing business as” shorthand. For example, Lone Star Exploration LLC writes that exact name, not Lone Star.
The Commission cross-checks this name against the operator number tied to the permit, so the name and number must agree. The most common edge case is a recent name change or a sale of the lease; if the operator changed, the new operator’s name and P-5 number must be on file first. A common mistake is entering a parent company’s name when a subsidiary holds the permit, which breaks the match to the well. People often believe any company in the corporate family can be listed here, but only the operator of record on the permit belongs in this box.
Section I, Box 2 — District No.
This box asks which Commission district the well sits in. Enter the one- or two-digit district number for the county where the well is located, such as 08 for parts of the Permian Basin or 03 for the upper Gulf Coast. The number must match the district that the well’s county falls under, which you can confirm on the Commission’s district map. Maria Reyes enters 7C for a Midland County well.
The district number routes your paper filing to the correct district office, so an error sends the form to the wrong place. The tricky case is a county that the Commission splits between districts, where you must use the specific district code the Commission assigns to that part of the county. A common mistake is guessing the district from memory rather than checking the current map, which can delay your filing by weeks. Many filers think the district is the same as the county number, but it is a separate Commission designation.
Section I, Box 3 — Completion Date
This box asks for the date the well’s drilling operation reached completion. Enter the date in month, day, year order, such as 03/14/2026. Use the same completion date you report on the matching Form W-2, G-1, GT-1, or W-3 so the records line up. Carlos Mendoza writes 03/14/2026 for a well completed on that day.
This date starts the 90-day clock under Rule 16(c), which sets when the basic electric log must be filed, so accuracy here protects your timeline. The edge case is a deepened well, where the completion date reflects the deepening operation, not the original drilling. A common mistake is entering the spud date or the date you signed the form instead of the completion date, which can make an on-time log filing appear late. People often assume the completion date and the filing date are the same, but they are different events.
Section I, Box 4 — Field Name
This box asks for the name of the field in which the well is completed. Write the exact field name as the Commission designates it, not a local or informal name. Field names follow the Commission’s official field list, so match the spelling and wording used there. Lone Star Exploration LLC enters SPRABERRY (TREND AREA) rather than a shortened version.
The Commission ties production allowables and rules to fields, so a wrong field name can attach your log and well to the wrong field. The edge case is a wildcat or new field, where the field may be listed as WILDCAT until a field designation is granted, often through Form P-7. A common mistake is inventing a field name from the lease name, which the office cannot match. Filers sometimes think the field is the same as the lease, but a single field can hold many leases.
Section I, Box 5 — Drilling Permit No.
This box asks for the number of the drilling permit the Commission issued for the well. Enter the permit number from your approved Form W-1, Application for Permit to Drill. This number ties the log to the exact permitted operation, so copy it digit for digit. Janet Okafor enters permit number 876543.
Without the right permit number, the district office cannot link Form L-1 to the drilling that produced the log. The edge case is a deepened well drilled under an amended permit; use the permit number that authorized the deepening. A common mistake is transposing digits, which sends the office searching for a permit that does not exist. People sometimes confuse the permit number with the API number, but they are two separate identifiers and both are required.
Section I, Box 6 — Lease Name
This box asks for the name of the lease on which the well sits. Write the lease name as it appears on the drilling permit and completion report. Keep the spelling consistent across every form in the package so the records match. Carlos Mendoza writes RAFTER M RANCH as the lease name.
The lease name, paired with the Lease/ID number, identifies where the well lives in the Commission’s records. The edge case is a consolidated or unitized lease, where you use the unit name the Commission recognizes. A common mistake is using the surface owner’s name instead of the lease name, which can misroute the filing. Many filers think the lease name and field name are interchangeable, but they describe different things.
Section I, Box 7 — Lease/ID No.
This box asks for the Commission-assigned lease number or identification number. Enter the oil lease number or the gas well ID number exactly as the Commission assigned it. For oil leases this is the lease number; for gas wells it is the gas ID. Maria Reyes enters gas ID 123456.
This number is one of the primary keys the Commission uses, so a wrong or missing ID is a top reason forms get returned. The edge case is a brand-new well that does not yet have an assigned ID; in that case follow the district office’s guidance on what to enter. A common mistake is leaving this blank because the operator “knows” the well, which forces a return. People often believe the lease name alone is enough, but the numeric ID is what the database matches.
Section I, Box 8 — Well No.
This box asks for the well’s number on its lease. Enter the well number exactly as it appears on the permit and completion report, such as 1H for a horizontal well or 2 for the second well on a lease. Match the format used on your Form W-2 or G-1. Janet Okafor enters 1H.
The well number separates one well from the others on the same lease, so leaving it out makes the well impossible to identify. The edge case is a multiple-completion well, where the well number may carry a suffix tied to the completion. A common mistake is entering the API number here instead of the simple well number, which confuses the record. Filers sometimes assume there is only one well per lease, but many leases hold several wells.
Section I, Box 9 — County
This box asks for the Texas county where the well is located. Write the full county name, such as Midland or Karnes. The county must agree with the district number and the API county code, so confirm all three match. Carlos Mendoza writes Karnes.
The county helps the Commission confirm the district routing and the API code. The edge case is a well near a county line, where the surface and bottom-hole locations could differ; use the county the Commission recognizes for the well. A common mistake is naming the wrong county when an operator works in several at once, which contradicts the district and API entries. People often think the county is decorative, but it is checked against the API number’s county digits.
Section I, Box 10 — API No. (42-)
This box asks for the well’s unique American Petroleum Institute number, which on the form already shows the 42- state prefix for Texas. Enter the rest of the API number after the printed 42-, writing the county code and the unique well code, such as 42-329-12345. This is the single most important identifier on the entire form. Lone Star Exploration LLC enters 42-329-31075 for a Midland County well.
The API number is how the Commission permanently tracks the well, so an error here can attach your log to a completely different well. The edge case is a well that has not yet received its API number; coordinate with the district office before filing. A common mistake is dropping a digit or skipping the county-code segment, which breaks the match. Many filers think the 42 is something they must write, but it is preprinted because 42 always means Texas.
Section II — Choosing Part A or Part B
Section II reports the log status, and the form says to complete either A or B, never both. Part A is for when no basic electric log was run. Part B is for when a basic electric log was run, and it then asks you to pick one numbered option that explains what is happening to that log. Read both parts before you check anything, because checking the wrong part is the most consequential error on the form.
A basic electric log, under Rule 16(a)(1), is a density, sonic, or resistivity log (except a dip meter) run over the entire wellbore. The form’s instructions stress that the log must be of the subject well, and that if such a log was not run on the subject well, you do not substitute another log type; you simply select Part A. This single instruction prevents operators from padding the file with the wrong log. Decide A or B based only on whether a qualifying basic electric log exists for this exact well.
Section II, Part A — Basic Electric Log Not Run
This option asks you to confirm that no basic electric log was run on the well. Check box A only when a qualifying density, sonic, or resistivity log over the entire wellbore does not exist for this well. Do not attach any substitute log when you check A; the instruction is explicit that you select Part A instead of swapping in another log type. Janet Okafor checks A for a dry hole where no basic electric log was run.
Checking A tells the Commission there is no log to make public, which matters for the public record. The edge case under Rule 16(c) is that the Commission may, with its approval, accept a lithology or gamma ray log of the entire wellbore when no basic electric log exists, so coordinate with the district office before assuming A is final. A common mistake is checking A to dodge disclosure when a basic log actually exists, which is a misrepresentation that can draw penalty action. People often think A means “I’d rather not share the log,” but it means the log was genuinely never run.
Section II, Part B.1 — Confidentiality Requested
This option asks you to request confidentiality on a log that was run, while attaching the header for each log run on the well. Check B, then box 1, and attach a copy of the header (the title block) for every log run, keeping the full logs in your possession. This is how you trigger the delayed-filing right under Rule 16(d). Maria Reyes checks B.1 and attaches the log headers while holding the full logs.
A timely confidentiality request lets you keep the log private for one year from the date the drilling operation was completed, with a possible two-year renewal and an extra two years for state-water wells, up to five years total. The edge case is that logs filed with a multiple-completion application, a new field designation, or tax exemptions are public and cannot be made confidential. A common mistake is checking B.1 but forgetting to attach the headers, which voids the request. People often believe confidentiality is automatic, but you must request it in writing on or before the 90th day after completion.
Section II, Part B.2 — Confidentiality Already Granted
This option states that confidentiality was already granted on a basic electric log covering this interval, and it applies to deepened wells only. Check B, then box 2, when the Commission has already granted confidentiality on a log for this interval and you are now reporting a deepening. Use this only for a deepened well, never for a brand-new well. Carlos Mendoza checks B.2 when deepening a well whose log interval is already under a granted confidentiality period.
This option keeps the Commission’s records straight by pointing to the existing confidentiality grant rather than starting a new one. The edge case is making sure the interval truly matches the granted log; if the deepening reaches a new interval, a different option may apply. A common mistake is using B.2 for a new well, which the form’s “deepened wells only” limit forbids. People sometimes think any prior confidentiality covers the new work, but it must cover this interval.
Section II, Part B.3 — Basic Electric Log Already on File
This option states that a basic electric log covering this interval is already on file with the Commission, and it also applies to deepened wells only. Check B, then box 3, when a qualifying log for this interval was already filed and made part of the record. Use it only for deepened wells where the existing log already covers the relevant interval. Maria Reyes checks B.3 when the prior log on file already covers the deepened interval.
This tells the Commission not to expect a new log because the requirement is already met for that interval. The edge case is a deepening that goes below the interval the on-file log covers; if the new interval is deeper, Rule 16(c) requires a new log for that deeper interval. A common mistake is checking B.3 when the deepening actually penetrates a new interval, leaving a gap the Commission will flag. People often assume one log covers a well forever, but a deeper interval needs its own coverage.
Section II, Part B.4 — Log Attached
This option states that the log is attached, and it asks you to select where it is attached: (a) to Form L-1 itself, (b) to Form P-7 for a discovery allowable and new field designation, or (c) to Form W-4 for a multiple completion. Check B, then box 4, then the correct sub-letter. If you choose 4(a) and the company or lease name on the log differs from Section I, write that name on the line provided, and check the small box if the log is being submitted after being held confidential. Lone Star Exploration LLC checks B.4(a) and attaches the basic electric log to the form.
Pointing to the right attachment lets the Commission file the public log with the correct application. The edge case for 4(b) and 4(c) is that logs filed with a Form P-7 new field designation or a Form W-4 multiple completion are public and cannot be confidential. A common mistake is checking 4(a) but failing to physically attach the log, which leaves the requirement unmet. People often think they can mark 4(a) and mail the log later without a confidentiality request, but the log must accompany the form unless confidentiality was properly requested.
Signature Section — Signature, Name, Title, Phone, Date
This section asks the operator’s authorized representative to sign and certify the form. Sign on the Signature line, print the signer’s full name on the Name line, enter the Title, write the area code and Phone, and enter the Date. The signer must have authority to bind the operator. Janet Okafor, Regulatory Manager, signs, prints her name, writes Regulatory Manager, enters (432) 555-0142, and dates it 03/20/2026.
The signature certifies that the log status reported is true, which is why an officer or authorized agent must sign. The edge case is a third-party filing agent signing on the operator’s behalf, which is allowed only with proper authority on file. A common mistake is leaving the date blank or signing without a printed name, which makes the certification incomplete and can trigger a return. People often treat the signature as a formality, but a false statement here can support penalty action under Title 3 of the Texas Natural Resources Code.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These three scenarios follow named operators through the most common Form L-1 situations. Each table shows what the operator enters in the key boxes.
Scenario 1 — New gas well with the log attached. Maria Reyes of Lone Star Exploration LLC completes a new gas well, ran a basic resistivity log over the whole wellbore, and attaches it to Form L-1.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Operator Name | Lone Star Exploration LLC |
| District No. | 7C |
| Completion Date | 03/14/2026 |
| Field Name | SPRABERRY (TREND AREA) |
| Drilling Permit No. | 876543 |
| Lease/ID No. | 123456 |
| Well No. | 1H |
| County / API No. | Midland / 42-329-31075 |
| Section II selection | B.4(a) — log attached to Form L-1 |
| Signature block | Maria Reyes, Regulatory Manager, (432) 555-0142, 03/20/2026 |
Scenario 2 — Plugged dry hole, no log run. Janet Okafor of Big Bend Drilling Co. plugs a dry hole on which no basic electric log was run, and files Form L-1 with Form W-3.
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Operator Name | Big Bend Drilling Co. |
| District No. | 08 |
| Completion Date | 02/28/2026 |
| Field Name | WILDCAT |
| Drilling Permit No. | 654321 |
| Lease Name | RAFTER M RANCH |
| Well No. | 1 |
| County / API No. | Pecos / 42-371-20488 |
| Section II selection | A — basic electric log not run |
| Signature block | Janet Okafor, Operations Director, (432) 555-0199, 03/05/2026 |
Scenario 3 — Confidentiality requested on a new well. Carlos Mendoza of Rio Grande Resources runs a basic electric log, wants to keep it private, and requests confidentiality while attaching the log headers.
| Form Section | What Carlos Enters |
|---|---|
| Operator Name | Rio Grande Resources LP |
| District No. | 01 |
| Completion Date | 04/02/2026 |
| Field Name | EAGLEVILLE (EAGLE FORD) |
| Drilling Permit No. | 912233 |
| Lease/ID No. | 445566 |
| Well No. | 3H |
| County / API No. | Karnes / 42-255-40912 |
| Section II selection | B.1 — confidentiality requested, headers attached |
| Signature block | Carlos Mendoza, Land Manager, (830) 555-0177, 04/10/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
Form L-1 is filed in paper with the appropriate Commission district office, and it travels with the report it supports. There is no separate filing fee for Form L-1 itself; it rides along with the completion report (Form W-2 or G-1), the geothermal report (Form GT-1), or the plugging report (Form W-3). Confirm your district office’s mailing address on the Commission’s district offices contact page before you send anything.
To file by mail or in person, print the signed Form L-1, attach the basic electric log if you checked B.4(a), and include the matching completion or plugging report. Mail the package to your district office, or hand-deliver it to the counter. Keep your own date-stamped copy and your certificate of mailing as proof of filing, because the burden is on the operator to show the filing was timely. The basic electric log itself must be filed no later than the 90th day after the drilling operation is completed under Rule 16(c).
Many completion reports are now filed through the Commission’s RRC Online System, and the electronic completion filing process captures log status there. Even so, the official Form L-1 and the physical log are handled with the district office, so follow the current district office instructions for whether the paper log accompanies an electronic completion or a paper one. When you mail a confidential log after a confidentiality period ends, send it to the district office with a cover note identifying the well by API number. Always keep proof of the date you filed.
What Happens After You File
After you file, the district office matches Form L-1 to your completion or plugging report and to the well’s API number. If you attached the log under B.4(a) or P-7 or W-4, the log becomes part of the public record and is available to the public during business hours under Rule 16(d). The Commission uses the log status to confirm the well met its Rule 16 obligation before it assigns or finalizes an allowable.
If you requested confidentiality under B.1, the Commission holds the request and lets you keep the log private for the period you qualified for. The Commission sends a notice before each confidentiality period expires, so watch your mail and your operator contact record. At the end of the final period, you must file the actual log within 30 days, and you refile Form L-1 marking that the log held confidential is now being submitted.
If something is missing or inconsistent, the district office can return the form or contact the operator, which delays the well. If you never file the log or report, the Commission can refuse to assign an allowable, set the allowable to zero, or start penalty action under Title 3 of the Texas Natural Resources Code. A zero allowable means the well cannot legally produce, so the cost of a missing form can far exceed the effort of filing it right.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Checking both Part A and Part B. The form says complete either A or B, and checking both makes the log status unreadable, forcing a return.
- Substituting another log when none was run. Swapping in a dip meter or partial log instead of selecting Part A violates the instruction and can be treated as a misfiling.
- Leaving the API number blank or wrong. A bad API number attaches your log to the wrong well or to no well, breaking the Commission’s match.
- Entering the spud date as the completion date. The wrong date misstates the 90-day clock and can make a timely log look late.
- Using a parent company name instead of the operator of record. A name mismatch with the P-5 record stalls processing.
- Forgetting to attach the log after checking B.4(a). Marking “attached” with nothing attached leaves the Rule 16 requirement unmet.
- Requesting confidentiality without attaching log headers. B.1 requires the header for each log, and missing headers voids the request.
- Using B.2 or B.3 for a new well. Those options apply to deepened wells only, so using them on a new well is invalid.
- Skipping the Lease/ID number. A missing ID is a top reason district offices return forms.
- Signing without a printed name, title, or date. An incomplete certification can void the filing and trigger a return.
- Mailing to the wrong district office. A wrong district number routes the form away from the office that handles the well, costing weeks.
- Assuming confidentiality is automatic. Without a timely written request by the 90th day, the log becomes public and the chance to protect it is lost.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do download the current Rev. 01-2007 form every time, because an outdated form can be rejected.
- Do match every name and number to the drilling permit and P-5, because the Commission cross-checks them.
- Do read both Section II parts before checking one, because the A-versus-B choice drives the whole filing.
- Do attach the basic electric log when you mark B.4(a), because the log is what satisfies Rule 16.
- Do request confidentiality in writing on or before the 90th day, because the right is lost after that.
- Do keep a date-stamped copy and proof of mailing, because the operator carries the burden of showing a timely filing.
Don’t:
- Don’t check both A and B, because it makes the log status contradictory.
- Don’t substitute a non-qualifying log, because the instruction forbids it and Part A exists for that case.
- Don’t guess the district number, because the wrong district misroutes the form.
- Don’t use B.2 or B.3 on a new well, because those options are for deepened wells only.
- Don’t sign without authority to bind the operator, because a false certification can support penalty action.
- Don’t ignore the Commission’s confidentiality-expiration notice, because you must file the log within 30 days of the period’s end.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Operators can file Form L-1 in-house or use a filing agent or consultant. The right choice depends on volume, staff experience, and how complex the well’s log status is.
Pros of filing on your own:
- Lower cost, because you avoid agent fees on a short, one-page form.
- Faster turnaround, because your staff can file the moment the completion report is ready.
- Direct control, because your team knows the well and its records best.
- Builds in-house knowledge, because each filing teaches your staff the Rule 16 process.
- Easier coordination, because L-1 rides with reports your team already files.
Cons of filing on your own:
- Higher error risk, because untrained staff may misread the A-versus-B choice.
- Missed confidentiality deadlines, because the 90-day written-request rule is easy to overlook.
- District routing errors, because staff may not track which district a county falls in.
- No second set of eyes, because a single preparer may repeat the same mistake across wells.
- Penalty exposure, because an in-house slip can lead to a zero allowable.
FAQs
Is Form L-1 required for every well?
No. It is required for new and deepened oil, gas, and geothermal wells and for plugged dry holes, but not for injection, disposal, water supply, service, or re-test wells, or for plugbacks.
Is there a filing fee for Form L-1?
No. Form L-1 itself carries no separate fee; it is filed together with the completion, geothermal, or plugging report it supports.
Do I write the 42 in the API No. box myself?
No. The 42- prefix is preprinted because it always means Texas; you enter only the county code and unique well code after it.
Do I check both Part A and Part B if I am unsure?
No. You complete either A or B, never both; checking both makes the log status contradictory and the form may be returned.
Do I enter the spud date in the Completion Date box?
No. Enter the date the drilling operation was completed, because that date starts the 90-day log filing clock under Rule 16.
Can I use Part B.2 or B.3 for a brand-new well?
No. Boxes B.2 and B.3 apply to deepened wells only, where a prior log or confidentiality grant already covers the interval.
Is confidentiality on my electric log automatic?
No. You must submit a written request on or before the 90th day after completion and attach the log headers when you check B.1.
Is a basic electric log the same as any wireline log?
No. Under Rule 16, a basic electric log is a density, sonic, or resistivity log (except a dip meter) run over the entire wellbore.
Do I file Form L-1 with the appropriate district office?
Yes. Form L-1 is filed in paper with the appropriate Commission district office, along with the matching completion or plugging report.
Can the Commission penalize me for not filing the log?
Yes. The Commission can refuse an allowable, set it to zero, or start penalty action under Title 3 of the Texas Natural Resources Code.
Will my electric log become public?
Yes. Each filed log is public information during business hours unless you timely request and receive confidentiality under Rule 16(d).
Do I write the operator’s name or a subsidiary name in Box 1?
Yes. Write the operator of record on the drilling permit, which must match the P-5 record; a parent company name will not match.
Can I get more than one year of confidentiality?
Yes. You can request a two-year renewal, plus an extra two years for state-water wells, for up to five years total.
Do I have to attach the log if I check B.4(a)?
Yes. Checking B.4(a) means the log is attached to Form L-1, so the physical log must accompany the form.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Texas Railroad Commission Form G-1 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Railroad Commission Form G-10 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Railroad Commission Form W-10 (w/Examples) + FAQs
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