Texas Railroad Commission Form W-12 is the Inclination Report, the form an approved survey company files to prove that an oil or gas well was drilled close to vertical and did not stray across a lease or property line. It is required under Statewide Rule 11 (16 TAC §3.11), and it must be filed with the Railroad Commission of Texas before the agency will approve the well’s completion paperwork.
Most operators never think about W-12 until their Form W-2 or G-1 completion sits stuck in review. The Commission processes thousands of these inclination filings each year, and a single bad data point, a missing certification, or a non-approved survey company can hold up a well’s allowable for weeks. This guide walks you through the form line by line so your filing clears the first time.
Here is what you will learn:
- 📋 What every box on Form W-12 asks and exactly how to fill it in
- 📐 How Statewide Rule 11’s 500-foot and 1,000-foot survey rules shape your data
- ✍️ Three full filled-out examples for a vertical well, a horizontal well, and an over-deviated well
- 🚫 The ten mistakes that get inclination reports rejected or wells held
- ❓ Field-level answers to the questions filers ask most
What Form W-12 Is and Who Must File It
Form W-12 is the Railroad Commission of Texas Inclination Report, carrying form code 3.11 and a long-standing revision date of 1/71. The form records the angle of a wellbore from vertical at set depth points, and it certifies that the hole stayed within the deviation limits the Commission allows. You can pull the current version directly from the RRC oil and gas forms page. Confirm the 1/71 code in the corner before you start so you know you have the active form.
The party that actually completes and signs W-12 is a Commission-approved inclination survey company, not the operator. The operator hires the survey company, but the company’s representative runs the survey, records the data, and signs the certification. The operator’s name still appears on the form because the well is filed under that operator’s Form P-5 Organization Report.
The form solves a real ownership problem. Texas mineral rights are tied to surface tracts, so a well that leans under a neighbor’s lease could drain oil that is not yours. Statewide Rule 11 requires the inclination data to show the bottom of the hole did not wander past the point allowed by Statewide Rule 37 spacing. If the data shows excessive deviation, the well must also file a full directional survey under Statewide Rule 12 (§3.12).
Filing is not optional for wells that need it. The Commission ties W-12 acceptance to the completion package, so a missing or failed inclination report can stall your W-2/G-1 approval and delay the well’s allowable to produce. That delay is the real penalty, since there is no separate dollar fee for the form itself.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather every piece of data before you open the form. Missing items are the top reason an inclination report bounces back, because the Commission cross-checks W-12 against the drilling permit and the completion report.
- API number. The unique well identifier; a wrong API attaches your survey to the wrong well and voids the filing.
- RRC drilling permit number (W-1). Ties the survey to the approved well plan; without it the Commission cannot match the record.
- Operator name as shown on Form P-5. The exact legal operator name; a mismatch with the P-5 triggers a name hold.
- Lease name and well number. Identifies the specific well on a multi-well lease; the wrong well number files data against a different hole.
- Field name and county. Confirms location and spacing rules; a blank field name slows manual review.
- RRC lease number (oil completions only). Links oil wells to their lease record; gas wells use a different identifier and leave this blank.
- The raw inclination data. Depth points and degrees of deviation from the survey instrument; this is the heart of the form.
- The approved survey company’s name and approval status. The company must be on the Commission’s approved list, or the data carries no weight.
- Total depth and surface location. Anchors the survey to the well’s footprint and lets the Commission compute lateral drift.
- The certification and signature authority. The survey representative who can legally certify the readings; an unsigned form is incomplete.
Pull the API and permit number straight from your RRC Online well record so the numbers match the agency database exactly. Confirm the survey company’s approved status before the crew goes to the field, since a survey run by a non-approved company has to be redone.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official Form W-12 lives on the Railroad Commission oil and gas forms page, listed under the well status and survey forms. Download the PDF version, which opens in Adobe Reader, and check the fill-in form instructions and FAQ if the boxes will not type. You need Adobe Reader 6.0 or higher for the fillable fields to work.
For electronic submission, the form moves through the RRC Online System, the agency’s primary portal. You must first set up an RRC Online account, which the online filing page explains step by step. Survey companies and operators both can hold accounts, and the inclination data often rides along with the completion filing handled by the Proration Unit.
You can still file W-12 on paper. Print the completed PDF and mail the original to the Commission’s Oil and Gas Division in Austin, since inclination and directional records are centralized there rather than at district offices. Keep a stamped copy for your own records, because the mailed original is your only proof of filing if the agency cannot locate it.
The RRC Online user guides show screen-by-screen how to upload supporting documents like the survey certification. Read the guide that matches your filing path before you start, since the online flow differs from the paper flow.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form W-12 Line by Line
Form W-12 is a two-sided form. The front captures the well identity and the certification, and the back holds the inclination data table. Work top to bottom and match every entry to your permit and completion records.
Box 1 — Field Name
This box asks for the name of the oil or gas field where the well sits, exactly as it appears in Commission records, or the word Wildcat for an unproven area. Type the field name in capital letters to match the agency’s database format. Permian Basin survey company Acme Directional writes SPRABERRY (TREND AREA) in Box 1 for a Midland County well. If the well is a wildcat with no assigned field, write WILDCAT rather than leaving the box blank.
A common mistake is inventing a short field name instead of using the official one, which forces a reviewer to look the field up by hand and slows acceptance. People often think the field name is optional because the API number already identifies the well, but the Commission uses the field name to apply the correct spacing rules under Statewide Rule 37.
Box 2 — Lease Name
This box asks for the lease name under which the well is permitted and produced. Copy the lease name word for word from the Form W-1 drilling permit so it matches the completion paperwork. Acme Directional enters SMITH RANCH A in Box 2 for the lease named on the permit. If the lease name changed after the permit issued, use the name on record at the time of the survey and note the change in any remarks space.
A frequent error is shortening or abbreviating the lease name, which breaks the match between W-12 and the W-2 completion report. Filers sometimes believe the lease name and the field name are the same thing, but the lease is the surface tract agreement while the field is the geologic reservoir, and the Commission tracks them separately.
Box 3 — Operator Name
This box asks for the operator’s name exactly as it reads on the Form P-5 Organization Report. Enter the full legal operator name with no abbreviations, since the Commission cross-checks this against the active P-5 on file. Acme Directional writes XTO ENERGY INC. in Box 3, matching the operator’s registered P-5 name. If the operator uses a different trade name in the field, ignore it and use only the registered P-5 name.
The most common mistake here is entering the survey company’s name in the operator box, which is wrong because the operator owns the well while the survey company only runs the test. A widespread misconception is that any version of the company name will do, but a name that does not match the P-5 record triggers a hold while staff confirm the operator’s identity.
Box 4 — Operator Address
This box asks for the operator’s mailing address as shown on the P-5. Enter the full street or P.O. Box, city, state, and ZIP so the Commission can reach the operator if questions arise. Acme Directional enters 22777 SPRINGWOODS VILLAGE PKWY, SPRING, TX 77389 in Box 4. A P.O. Box is fine here, since this is a mailing address and not a physical well location.
A common error is using the survey company’s address rather than the operator’s, which routes any Commission notice to the wrong party. Filers sometimes think the address must be a physical office, but the Commission accepts the same mailing address that appears on the P-5, including a post office box.
Box 5 — County
This box asks for the Texas county where the well is located. Write the full county name, since location drives which district office and which spacing rules apply. Acme Directional enters MIDLAND in Box 5 for a well in the Spraberry trend. If the lease straddles two counties, list the county where the surface hole sits, which is where the well is officially located.
A frequent mistake is naming the county where the operator’s office is rather than where the well is drilled, which misroutes the record. People often assume the county is cosmetic, but it ties the well to the correct district office and the right field rules.
Box 6 — Purpose of Filing / Well Type
This box asks why you are filing and what kind of well this is, such as a new oil completion, a gas completion, or a recompletion. Check or write the purpose that matches the completion you are reporting. Acme Directional marks NEW OIL COMPLETION for a first-time oil well producing from the Spraberry. If the well serves more than one purpose, pick the primary reason that matches the W-2 or G-1 you are filing alongside.
A common error is leaving this blank, which leaves the reviewer guessing how to route the inclination data. Filers sometimes think purpose only matters for the completion form, but the W-12 routing depends on whether the well is oil or gas, because oil completions require the RRC lease number in Box 7 and gas completions do not.
Box 7 — RRC Lease Number (Oil Completions Only)
This box asks for the Railroad Commission lease number, and it applies only to oil completions. Enter the assigned oil lease number from the well’s record, and leave it blank for gas wells. For an oil completion, Acme Directional writes 12345 in Box 7; for a gas well, the box stays empty. If the oil lease number has not been assigned yet, note that the number is pending rather than guessing.
The biggest mistake here is entering a gas identification number in the oil lease box, which creates a record mismatch. A common misconception is that every well has an RRC lease number for this box, but gas wells are tracked by a different identifier and correctly leave Box 7 blank.
Box 8 — Well Number
This box asks for the well number that distinguishes this hole from others on the same lease. Copy the well number exactly from the drilling permit and the completion report. Acme Directional enters 3H in Box 8 for the third well, a horizontal, on the Smith Ranch A lease. If the lease has a single well, the number is often 1, but always confirm against the permit rather than assuming.
A frequent error is transposing the well number, which files your survey against a sister well on the same lease. Filers sometimes treat the well number as a formality, but on a multi-well lease the wrong number attaches your inclination data to a completely different wellbore.
Inclination Survey Data Table
This is the heart of the form, and it asks for the depth and the angle of deviation from vertical at each survey point. Record each shot point as a depth in feet and the measured drift in degrees, in the order the survey ran from top to bottom. Statewide Rule 11 sets the spacing: the first shot point must be no deeper than 500 feet below the surface, and the succeeding points may not be more than 1,000 feet apart. Acme Directional lists 450 ft at 1 degree, 1,400 ft at 1.5 degrees, 2,400 ft at 2 degrees, and so on down to total depth.
Enter the data legibly and keep the depth column in increasing order, since a reviewer reads it as a continuous profile of the hole. If your first reading is deeper than 500 feet, the survey does not meet Rule 11 and the Commission will reject it, so confirm the spacing before the crew leaves the location. A common misconception is that only the bottom reading matters, but the rule requires the full set of points to prove the hole stayed straight the whole way down, not just at total depth.
The most damaging mistake in this table is a gap larger than 1,000 feet between points, because that violates the rule outright and forces a re-survey. The angle data must come from a Commission-approved instrument and company, since readings from an unapproved source carry no regulatory weight even if they are accurate.
Certification and Signature Block
This block asks the survey company representative to certify that the readings are true and that the survey followed Commission rules. The authorized representative signs and dates the form and prints their title and company name. John Reyes, field supervisor for Acme Directional, signs the block, prints his title, and dates it 06/01/2026. If the person running the instrument is different from the certifying officer, the certifying officer with signature authority still signs.
The most common mistake is filing the form with the data complete but the signature missing, which makes the report incomplete and unfilable. A widespread misconception is that the operator can sign the certification, but only the approved survey company may certify the inclination readings under Statewide Rule 11, so an operator signature does not count.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These three scenarios show how different wells flow through Form W-12 from top to bottom. Each follows one named filer through the key boxes.
Scenario 1 — Maria Lopez files for a routine vertical oil well within tolerance. Maria runs the survey for Lone Star Surveys on a straight Permian vertical well that easily meets Rule 11.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Box 1 — Field Name | SPRABERRY (TREND AREA) |
| Box 2 — Lease Name | LOPEZ RANCH B |
| Box 3 — Operator Name | PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES |
| Box 5 — County | MIDLAND |
| Box 6 — Purpose | New Oil Completion |
| Box 7 — RRC Lease Number | 45678 |
| Box 8 — Well Number | 1 |
| Data Table | 480 ft at 0.5°, 1,400 ft at 1°, 2,400 ft at 1°, TD 9,200 ft at 1.5° |
| Certification | Signed by Maria Lopez, Lone Star Surveys, 06/01/2026 |
Scenario 2 — Carlos Rivera files for a horizontal well’s vertical portion. Carlos surveys the surface and vertical section of a horizontal well before the kickoff point, where the W-12 inclination data applies.
| Form Section | What Carlos Enters |
|---|---|
| Box 1 — Field Name | WOLFCAMP (TREND AREA) |
| Box 2 — Lease Name | RIVERA UNIT A |
| Box 3 — Operator Name | XTO ENERGY INC. |
| Box 5 — County | REEVES |
| Box 6 — Purpose | New Oil Completion |
| Box 7 — RRC Lease Number | 78901 |
| Box 8 — Well Number | 3H |
| Data Table | 490 ft at 0.5°, 1,400 ft at 1°, 2,400 ft at 1.5°, kickoff noted at 8,500 ft |
| Certification | Signed by Carlos Rivera, Apex Directional, 06/01/2026 |
Scenario 3 — Janet Cole files for a well showing excessive deviation. Janet’s readings exceed the Rule 11 limit, so her W-12 flags the need for a full directional survey under Rule 12.
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Box 1 — Field Name | WILDCAT |
| Box 2 — Lease Name | COLE RANCH 14 |
| Box 3 — Operator Name | DEVON ENERGY PRODUCTION |
| Box 5 — County | LOVING |
| Box 6 — Purpose | New Oil Completion |
| Box 7 — RRC Lease Number | Pending |
| Box 8 — Well Number | 2 |
| Data Table | 500 ft at 2°, 1,500 ft at 5°, 2,500 ft at 7° (exceeds limit) |
| Certification | Signed by Janet Cole, Summit Survey Co., 06/01/2026, directional survey required |
How to File the Completed Form W-12
You can file Form W-12 online, by mail, or as part of the completion package, and each channel has its own steps. Pick the path that matches how your other completion forms move.
For online filing, log in to the RRC Online System with your RRC Online account and upload the completed form and the survey certification through the completion filing flow handled by the Proration Unit, reachable at prorationunit@rrc.texas.gov. There is no filing fee for the inclination report itself. Processing runs alongside your W-2/G-1 completion review, which the Commission targets to clear within its standard completion timeline, and your proof of filing is the system confirmation receipt you should save or print.
For paper filing, mail the signed original Form W-12 to the Railroad Commission of Texas, Oil and Gas Division, P.O. Box 12967, Austin, TX 78711-2967, since inclination and directional records are centralized in Austin rather than at the district offices. There is no fee and no payment method to arrange. Mailed records take longer to post than online uploads, so keep a stamped copy as your proof of filing in case staff cannot locate the original.
For combined filing, many survey companies and operators submit W-12 together with the Form W-2 or G-1 completion report so the inclination data and the completion clear at the same time. Whichever channel you choose, confirm the survey company is on the Commission’s approved list before you file, because an unapproved source forces a re-survey no matter how the form is submitted.
What Happens After You File
After you submit Form W-12, the Commission’s Oil and Gas Division matches the inclination data to the well’s permit and completion record. Staff check that the first shot point is within 500 feet of the surface and that no two points sit more than 1,000 feet apart, the core Statewide Rule 11 limits. If the data shows the hole stayed within tolerance, the inclination requirement is satisfied and your completion review can move forward.
If the readings show excessive deviation, the Commission requires a full directional survey under Statewide Rule 12 before it will accept the completion. That means a gyroscopic or magnetic survey that reports both inclination and azimuth, run by an approved directional survey company. The well’s allowable to produce can sit on hold until that directional survey clears.
A clean W-12 quietly clears the path for the well’s allowable, and you may never hear from the Commission again on it. A flagged W-12 generates a deficiency notice, and the well stays in limbo until you cure it, which is why getting the data and certification right the first time saves weeks.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out Form W-12
Each error below has a direct consequence, and most trace back to a single bad field or a spacing problem in the data table.
- Using a survey company not on the approved list, which voids the readings and forces a complete re-survey.
- Setting the first shot point deeper than 500 feet, which violates Rule 11 and gets the report rejected.
- Leaving more than 1,000 feet between points, which breaks the rule and triggers a re-survey.
- Entering the operator name differently than the P-5, which puts the filing on a name hold.
- Putting the survey company’s name in the operator box, which misidentifies who owns the well.
- Filing an oil completion without the RRC lease number in Box 7, which creates a record mismatch.
- Transposing the well number, which attaches the data to a sister well on the same lease.
- Using a wrong or mistyped API number, which links the survey to the wrong well entirely.
- Submitting the form unsigned, which makes the report incomplete and unfilable.
- Inventing a short field name instead of the official one, which slows manual review and acceptance.
Do’s and Don’ts
These quick rules keep your inclination report clean and your completion on schedule.
Do’s
- Do confirm the survey company is on the approved list, because unapproved data carries no regulatory weight.
- Do match the operator name to the P-5 exactly, since a mismatch triggers a processing hold.
- Do set the first shot point within 500 feet of surface, because Rule 11 requires it.
- Do keep every point within 1,000 feet of the last, since wider gaps violate the rule.
- Do save your filing confirmation or stamped copy, because it is your only proof of filing.
- Do file W-12 with the completion package, so both clear at the same time.
Don’ts
- Don’t let the operator sign the certification, because only the approved survey company may certify.
- Don’t guess the API or lease number, since wrong identifiers attach data to the wrong well.
- Don’t abbreviate the lease or field name, because it breaks the match to your other forms.
- Don’t ignore an excessive deviation reading, since it requires a directional survey under Rule 12.
- Don’t mail the form without keeping a copy, because a lost original leaves you with no proof.
- Don’t assume only the bottom reading matters, since the full profile proves the hole stayed straight.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With a Consulting Firm
Many operators file W-12 in-house, while others hand it to a regulatory consulting firm. Here is how the two paths compare.
Pros of filing on your own
- You save the consultant’s fee, because the form has no filing cost of its own.
- You control the timeline, since you submit the moment the survey company delivers the data.
- You learn your own well records, which helps with future completion filings.
- You keep direct contact with the Proration Unit, so questions get answered first-hand.
- You avoid handing well data to a third party, which some operators prefer.
Cons of filing on your own
- You carry the full risk of a rejection, which can delay the well’s allowable.
- You must track the approved survey company list yourself, since using an unapproved one voids the data.
- You may miss a Rule 11 spacing problem, because the limits are easy to overlook.
- You spend staff time learning the RRC Online flow, which a consulting firm already knows.
- You have no expert to catch a deviation that should trigger a directional survey.
FAQs
Is there a filing fee for Form W-12?
No. The inclination report carries no separate filing fee. The cost is indirect, since a rejected or missing W-12 can delay your completion approval and the well’s allowable to produce.
Does the operator or the survey company fill out Form W-12?
No, the operator does not certify it. A Commission-approved survey company runs the survey and signs the certification, though the operator’s name still appears in Box 3.
Do I enter the operator name or the survey company in Box 3?
No, never the survey company. Box 3 takes the operator name exactly as shown on the Form P-5, because the Commission cross-checks it against the active organization report.
Do I fill in Box 7 for a gas well?
No. The RRC lease number in Box 7 applies only to oil completions. Gas wells are tracked by a different identifier and correctly leave Box 7 blank.
How deep can the first shot point be?
No deeper than 500 feet below the surface. Statewide Rule 11 sets that limit, and a first point beyond 500 feet gets the report rejected for non-compliance.
How far apart can the survey points be?
No more than 1,000 feet between succeeding points. A gap larger than 1,000 feet violates Rule 11 and forces a complete re-survey of the well.
Can I use any survey company I want?
No. The company must be on the Railroad Commission’s approved list. Data from an unapproved company carries no regulatory weight and must be redone.
Do I write the well number from the permit or make one up?
No, never invent it. Copy the well number from the drilling permit and completion report exactly, since the wrong number files data against a sister well.
Can I file Form W-12 online?
Yes. You can upload it through the RRC Online System with an RRC Online account, usually alongside the W-2 or G-1 completion report.
Do I still need a directional survey if W-12 shows high deviation?
Yes. Excessive deviation triggers a full directional survey under Statewide Rule 12, which reports both inclination and azimuth from an approved directional company.
Does Form W-12 go to the district office or to Austin?
No, not the district office. Inclination and directional records are centralized at the Oil and Gas Division in Austin, so paper originals mail there.
Is the 1/71 revision date still the current form?
Yes. Form W-12 still carries the 1/71 revision and form code 3.11. Confirm that code in the corner before filing so you have the active version.
Do I leave the field name blank for an unproven area?
No. Write WILDCAT instead of leaving Box 1 empty, since a blank field name slows manual review while staff look up the location.
Can the person who ran the instrument differ from who signs?
Yes. The certifying officer with signature authority for the approved survey company signs the block, even if a different crew member ran the instrument in the field.
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