Texas Railroad Commission Form W-1X is the application an oil and gas operator files to ask the Railroad Commission of Texas for more time to plug an inactive well under Statewide Rule 14(b)(2). When a well stops producing for 12 months, state law says you must plug it. Form W-1X is how you say, “Not yet — here is my proof the well is safe and my $300 fee,” and keep the well legally on the books a while longer.
If you skip it or fill it out wrong, the Commission can sever the well, seal it, block your Form P-5 Organization Report renewal, and refer you for enforcement with daily penalties. The Railroad Commission tracks tens of thousands of inactive wells across Texas, and plugging-related fees (Form W-1, W-1X, and 14(b)(2) filings) have pulled in millions of dollars in a single year, so the agency watches these filings closely. This guide walks you through every box on the form, shows three real filled-out examples, and answers the questions operators ask most.
Here is what you will learn:
- 📋 What Form W-1X is, who must file it, and the exact rule that requires it
- 🗂️ Every document and number you must gather before you open the form
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of each field, with sample entries you can copy
- ⚠️ The 10 mistakes that get W-1X filings rejected and how to dodge them
- ❓ Plain answers to the field-level questions operators get stuck on
A note on form versions: The Railroad Commission has modernized its inactive-well program. The legacy Form W-1X (the 14(b)(2) plugging-extension application, paired with a $300 fee and H-15 test evidence) has largely been folded into Form W-3X, Application for an Extension of Deadline for Plugging an Inactive Well, filed under Statewide Rule 15. This article explains the W-1X extension process and points you to the current W-3X path where the two overlap, so you file the right paper no matter which name your district office uses. Always confirm the revision date printed at the bottom of the PDF before you sign.
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
Form W-1X is the application for an extension of the deadline to plug an inactive well in Texas. An “inactive well” is one that has not produced oil or gas, or served as an active injection or disposal well, for at least 12 straight months. Under Statewide Rule 14, 16 Texas Administrative Code §3.14, every such well must be plugged unless the operator wins an extension. Form W-1X is the request for that extension, and the RRC Oil and Gas Division is the agency that receives and rules on it.
You must file if you are the operator of record (the company or person shown on the well’s last Form P-5) and you want to keep an inactive well unplugged. This includes small one-well operators, family-owned leases, and large producers with hundreds of shut-in wells. Marcus, who runs a single stripper-well lease in Eastland County, files W-1X to avoid a plugging order. So does a mid-size firm holding 80 idle wells across the Permian Basin.
The form ties together five things: the purpose (more time, not permission to keep a well idle forever), the agency (the RRC), the statute (Statewide Rule 14(b)(2), backed by Texas Natural Resources Code Chapter 89), the deadline (your next Form P-5 renewal date), and the penalty (severance, sealing, and enforcement if you miss it). Each piece depends on the others. The extension only lasts as long as your P-5 is current, so a lapsed P-5 cancels every W-1X extension you hold. A common misconception is that an approved W-1X means the well never has to be plugged. It does not — it only resets the clock to your next renewal, and you must re-file each cycle.
For wells more than 25 years old, recent law has tightened the rules. Senate Bill 1150, passed in 2025, pushes operators to plug wells inactive 15 years or more unless they meet narrow criteria and pass annual mechanical-integrity testing. That makes a clean W-1X (or W-3X) filing more important than ever.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything below before you open the form. Filing with a missing number is the fastest way to draw a deficiency letter, and a deficiency letter freezes your extension while the plugging clock keeps running.
- Your RRC Operator Number (P-5 number). This 6-digit number ties the filing to your company; a wrong number routes the form to the wrong operator and stalls processing.
- A current Form P-5 Organization Report. Your P-5 must be active and unexpired, because the Commission rejects any W-1X filed by an operator whose P-5 has lapsed.
- The API number for each well. This 14-digit number (starting with 42 for Texas) identifies the exact wellbore; the wrong API can attach your extension to someone else’s well.
- The lease name and lease (gas ID or oil) number. These match the well to its production records, so the RRC can confirm the shut-in date.
- The RRC district number. Texas is split into districts; the form must reach the district office that serves the well’s county.
- The well’s last production date / shut-in date. This proves the well is inactive and sets the deadline math; an inaccurate date can void the extension.
- Form H-15 mechanical-integrity test results. For wells that must be tested, you need a passed fluid-level or pressure test on Form H-15 showing the well will not harm fresh water; without it, the extension is denied.
- The $300 filing fee (per the legacy W-1X path). The Commission will not process the form without payment; under the W-3X individual-well options, fees differ ($50 with an H-15 test, or $100 with an abeyance report).
- Surface-equipment and electricity status. For wells shut in 10 years or more, you must confirm surface equipment is removed and electricity is disconnected, or the extension fails.
- Your financial assurance (bond or letter of credit) details, if unbonded options apply. Unbonded operators historically used the $300 W-1X route; bonded operators may use blanket options instead.
Aisha, a compliance clerk at a 40-well operator, keeps all of these in one folder before each P-5 renewal. That habit lets her file every extension in one sitting instead of chasing numbers field by field.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
You can pull the current extension form straight from the RRC website. The legacy W-1X lives in the agency’s Oil & Gas Forms library, and its modern replacement, Form W-3X, is posted as a fillable PDF. Download the PDF, do not photocopy an old blank, because the Commission updates field labels and mailing addresses, and an outdated form can bounce.
Most operators now file electronically through the RRC Online System. You log in with your RRC Online account, select the inactive-well or extension filing, and the system pulls your P-5 data so you do not retype it. Electronic filing flags missing fields before you submit, which cuts down on deficiency letters.
If you file on paper, you print the PDF, complete it in black ink or type, and mail it to the RRC in Austin or deliver it to your district office. The mailing address for the plugging-extension form is the Railroad Commission of Texas, Oil and Gas Division, P.O. Box 12967, Austin, TX 78711-2967. Keep a stamped copy and your certified-mail receipt as proof of filing.
A misconception worth clearing up: some operators think any version of the form works as long as it has the right boxes. It does not. The Commission matches the revision date on your form against the version it accepts, and a superseded form can be returned unfiled, costing you days you may not have before the plugging deadline.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form W-1X Line by Line
The extension form is short compared to a drilling permit, but every field carries weight. Fill it out in the order the boxes appear. Type when you can; if you handwrite, use ALL CAPS in black ink. Below, each field gets its own walkthrough with a sample entry you can copy.
1. Operator Name (as shown on Form P-5)
What it asks: The legal name of the company or person who operates the well, exactly as it appears on your Form P-5 Organization Report.
How to answer: Type the full legal name with no abbreviations the P-5 does not use. Match capitalization and punctuation to the P-5 record.
Example: Marcus files as EASTLAND PETROLEUM LLC, the exact name on his P-5, not “Eastland Pete” or “Eastland Petroleum Co.”
Nuance: If your company recently changed names, your P-5 must reflect the new name first; file the P-5 update before the W-1X, or the names will not match.
Common mistake and consequence: Using a “doing business as” name that is not on the P-5 makes the Commission unable to match the filer, and the form sits unprocessed while the plugging clock runs.
Misconception: Many operators think a close match is fine. The RRC cross-checks this field against the exact P-5 record, so even a missing “LLC” can trigger a hold.
2. RRC Operator Number (P-5 Number)
What it asks: Your 6-digit Railroad Commission operator number assigned when you registered your P-5.
How to answer: Enter all six digits with no spaces or dashes. Leading zeros count, so write them in.
Example: Aisha enters 061234 for her company, keeping the leading zero.
Nuance: If you operate under more than one P-5 number (for example, after a merger), use the number tied to the lease where this well sits.
Common mistake and consequence: Transposing two digits routes your extension to a different operator’s account, so your well shows no extension on file and faces a severance order.
Misconception: Some filers believe the lease number can stand in for the operator number. It cannot — these are separate identifiers, and the Commission needs both.
3. RRC District Number
What it asks: The Railroad Commission district that covers the county where the well is located.
How to answer: Enter the one- or two-character district code (for example, 7C or 08). Check the RRC district map if you are unsure.
Example: For a well in Midland County, the operator enters 08.
Nuance: A few counties span district lines for certain fields, so verify by the well’s exact location, not just the county name.
Common mistake and consequence: Listing the wrong district sends the form to an office that does not handle the well, adding days or weeks of routing delay.
Misconception: People assume the district matches their headquarters. It is set by the well’s location, not the company’s address.
4. Lease Name and Lease (Identifier) Number
What it asks: The name of the lease and its RRC-assigned lease number (oil lease number or gas well ID).
How to answer: Copy the lease name and number exactly as they appear on your production reports and prior filings.
Example: Marcus writes SIMMS-HOOKS “A” with lease number 03905, matching his last production report.
Nuance: Gas wells use a gas well ID rather than an oil lease number; use whichever applies to this well’s classification.
Common mistake and consequence: Mixing up oil and gas identifiers attaches the extension to the wrong record, leaving the target well unprotected from plugging.
Misconception: Operators sometimes think the lease name alone is enough. The Commission keys on the number, so the name without the number can stall the match.
5. Well Number
What it asks: The specific well number on the lease that you want to extend.
How to answer: Enter the well number as shown on the completion record (for example, 1, 2H, or 4-A).
Example: Aisha lists well No. 2 on the Caldwell lease.
Nuance: If you are extending several wells on one lease, list each well number separately; do not lump them under one entry unless the form provides a multi-well grid.
Common mistake and consequence: Skipping the well number when a lease has many wells leaves the RRC unsure which well you mean, and none of them gets the extension.
Misconception: Some assume one filing covers every well on the lease automatically. Each well must be identified, and fees often apply per well.
6. API Number
What it asks: The unique 14-digit American Petroleum Institute number that identifies the exact wellbore.
How to answer: Enter all digits, starting with the Texas state code 42, then the county code and the unique well sequence (format 42-XXX-XXXXX).
Example: The operator enters 42-003-XXXXX for a Brown County well, matching the API on the completion report.
Nuance: Re-entered or recompleted wells keep their original API; do not create a new one.
Common mistake and consequence: An incorrect API can tie your extension to a stranger’s well, so your well shows no valid filing and draws an enforcement flag.
Misconception: Filers think the API is optional for old wells. The Commission uses it as the primary wellbore key, so an inaccurate API undermines the whole filing.
7. Field Name and Field Number
What it asks: The name and RRC number of the field in which the well is completed.
How to answer: Copy the field name and number from your last completion or production filing.
Example: The operator enters SPRABERRY (TREND AREA) with the matching field number.
Nuance: A wellbore completed in multiple fields may have more than one field listing; report the field tied to the inactive completion you are extending.
Common mistake and consequence: Using a wrong field number can misroute the inactivity-date check, causing the RRC to question whether the well qualifies.
Misconception: Some believe the field name is just a label. It anchors the well to its production allowable and shut-in history, so it matters.
8. County
What it asks: The Texas county where the well’s surface location sits.
How to answer: Spell out the county name in full, with no abbreviation.
Example: Marcus writes EASTLAND.
Nuance: If the surface and bottomhole locations fall in different counties, list the surface-location county here unless the form asks otherwise.
Common mistake and consequence: Naming the wrong county can send the form to the wrong district office, delaying review past your deadline.
Misconception: People think the county is obvious and skip double-checking it; a single wrong county on a multi-well filing can derail the batch.
9. Well Status / Last Production (Shut-In) Date
What it asks: The date the well last produced or was last active, which proves it is inactive.
How to answer: Enter the date as MM/DD/YYYY. Use the actual last-production or shut-in date from your records.
Example: Aisha enters 03/01/2023 as the last production date for the well she is extending.
Nuance: If the well was briefly returned to production and stopped again, use the most recent date production ended, not the original shut-in.
Common mistake and consequence: Reporting a more recent date than the records show looks like a misstatement, and the RRC can deny the extension and flag the filing for review.
Misconception: Operators sometimes think any old date is harmless. The shut-in date drives the well’s “years inactive” status, which controls which testing and equipment rules apply.
10. Reason for Extension / Basis Claimed
What it asks: The ground you are relying on to keep the well unplugged — for example, intent to return to production, an approved test, or financial assurance.
How to answer: Check or write the basis that fits your situation. Under the modern W-3X options, individual-well bases include an abeyance-of-plugging report, an enhanced-oil-recovery statement, or an H-15 fluid-level/pressure test on file.
Example: The operator checks the box for fluid level / pressure test performed and submitted on Form H-15.
Nuance: The H-15 test option is not available for a well more than 25 years old that is already required to be tested, or for a well that must undergo H-5 testing under an injection permit; those wells need a different basis.
Common mistake and consequence: Claiming a basis you cannot back up with a document makes the filing incomplete, and the Commission denies the extension.
Misconception: Some think stating an intent to reactivate is enough on its own. It usually must be paired with proof — a test, a bond, or an approved report.
11. Mechanical-Integrity Test / H-15 Reference
What it asks: Whether a fluid-level or mechanical-integrity test has been run and the date it was performed, tied to your Form H-15 filing.
How to answer: Enter the test type (fluid level or pressure), the test date in MM/DD/YYYY, and confirm the H-15 is on file. The H-15 must be filed within 30 days after the test is run.
Example: The operator enters Fluid Level, 04/15/2026 and notes the H-15 was submitted within 30 days.
Nuance: For wells over 25 years old, annual testing is generally required, so an expired test will not support the extension.
Common mistake and consequence: Listing a test date but never filing the matching H-15 leaves the record incomplete, and the extension is rejected for lack of integrity proof.
Misconception: Filers believe running the test is enough. The test only counts once the H-15 reaches the RRC, on time and complete.
12. Surface Equipment and Electricity Certification
What it asks: Confirmation that, for wells inactive long enough, surface equipment is removed and electricity is disconnected.
How to answer: Check the certification box that matches the well’s age. Wells shut in 10 years or more generally require surface-equipment removal and electricity disconnection; this is often certified on Form W-3C.
Example: For a 12-year-idle well, the operator certifies surface equipment is removed and power is disconnected.
Nuance: Wells shut in 5 to 10 years must have fluids purged from tanks and vessels even if equipment stays; match the certification to the exact inactivity band.
Common mistake and consequence: Certifying compliance you have not completed is a false certification, exposing you to enforcement on top of a denied extension.
Misconception: Operators think this rule is phased in forever. The phase-in for older wells has passed for most, so current filings need full compliance.
13. Filing Fee
What it asks: The fee that must accompany the application.
How to answer: Pay the fee that matches your option. The legacy W-1X carried a $300 fee for unbonded operators; the W-3X individual-well options carry $50 (with an H-15 test) or $100 (with an abeyance report). Pay by check, money order, or the online payment method.
Example: An unbonded operator using the legacy route encloses a $300 check payable to the Railroad Commission of Texas.
Nuance: Fees can apply per well, so a multi-well filing multiplies the cost; confirm the per-well math before you send one check.
Common mistake and consequence: Underpaying by even a few dollars makes the filing deficient, and the Commission holds the entire application until the balance arrives.
Misconception: Some assume the fee is annual and one payment covers all future years. It is due each filing cycle.
14. Operator Signature, Title, and Date
What it asks: The signature of a person authorized to bind the operator, that person’s title, and the date signed.
How to answer: Sign in ink (or apply the authorized electronic signature), print the title (for example, President or Authorized Agent), and date it MM/DD/YYYY.
Example: Marcus signs, prints Owner / Operator, and dates it 05/20/2026.
Nuance: A third-party filing agent may sign only if they hold proper authorization on file with the RRC; otherwise an officer of the operator must sign.
Common mistake and consequence: An unsigned form is automatically incomplete, and the RRC returns it unfiled, which can blow past your deadline.
Misconception: People think a typed name equals a signature on paper filings. On paper, an actual signature is required; only the RRC Online System accepts its own e-signature.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three common fact patterns. Each follows one named operator through the key fields of the extension filing.
Scenario 1 — Marcus, a single inactive stripper well (bonded, intent to reactivate). Marcus operates one shut-in well in Eastland County and plans to return it to production next year.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Operator Name | EASTLAND PETROLEUM LLC |
| RRC Operator Number | 061234 |
| District Number | 7B |
| Lease Name / Number | SIMMS-HOOKS “A” / 03905 |
| Well Number | 1 |
| API Number | 42-133-XXXXX |
| Last Production Date | 03/01/2024 |
| Basis Claimed | Fluid level test on Form H-15 |
| Surface Equipment Cert | Fluids purged (well shut in under 10 years) |
| Filing Fee | $50 (H-15 test option) |
| Signature / Title / Date | Marcus / Owner-Operator / 05/20/2026 |
Scenario 2 — Aisha, a 40-well operator filing a blanket extension. Aisha’s company is bonded and extends all inactive wells through a blanket option, then handles one well needing extra documentation.
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Operator Name | CALDWELL ENERGY PARTNERS LP |
| RRC Operator Number | 544210 |
| District Number | 03 |
| Lease Name / Number | CALDWELL UNIT / 11820 |
| Well Number | 2 |
| API Number | 42-089-XXXXX |
| Last Production Date | 07/15/2022 |
| Basis Claimed | Blanket performance bond on file |
| Surface Equipment Cert | Equipment removed, electricity disconnected (10+ yrs) |
| Filing Fee | Blanket option (no per-well H-15 fee) |
| Signature / Title / Date | A. Rahman / Compliance Manager / 05/18/2026 |
Scenario 3 — David, an unbonded operator using the legacy $300 W-1X route. David is unbonded and relies on H-15 test evidence to keep a single older well unplugged.
| Form Section | What David Enters |
|---|---|
| Operator Name | LONE STAR WELL SERVICES INC |
| RRC Operator Number | 078556 |
| District Number | 08 |
| Lease Name / Number | MORGAN “B” / 27744 |
| Well Number | 4-A |
| API Number | 42-003-XXXXX |
| Last Production Date | 11/30/2020 |
| Basis Claimed | H-15 fluid level test (unbonded operator) |
| Mechanical Integrity Test | Fluid Level, 04/15/2026 |
| Filing Fee | $300 |
| Signature / Title / Date | D. Nguyen / President / 05/19/2026 |
A fourth filer, Janet, who inherited two idle wells from a family lease, follows Scenario 3’s path because she carries no blanket bond. A fifth filer, a startup operator named Priya, mirrors Scenario 1 once she confirms her P-5 is active before filing.
How to File the Completed Form
You have three ways to get the extension to the Railroad Commission, and the agency encourages electronic filing.
Online (RRC Online System). Log in at the RRC Online filing portal, select the inactive-well extension filing, attach your H-15 and any certifications as PDFs, and pay by the accepted electronic method. Processing is the quickest here, often days rather than weeks, and the system gives you a confirmation number — save it as your proof of filing.
By mail. Print and complete the PDF, enclose your check or money order, and mail it to the Railroad Commission of Texas, Oil and Gas Division, P.O. Box 12967, Austin, TX 78711-2967. Use certified mail with return receipt; the postmark and green card are your proof of filing, and mailed filings take longer because of routing and data entry.
In person at the district office. Deliver the completed form, attachments, and payment to the RRC district office that serves the well’s county. Ask for a date-stamped copy at the counter. This is useful when a deadline is days away and you cannot risk mail delay.
For every channel, payment is by check, money order, or the portal’s electronic option, and the fee depends on your basis ($300 legacy unbonded, or $50/$100 under the W-3X individual-well options). Keep a complete copy of everything you submit. A misconception here is that emailing the district office “counts” as filing — it does not unless the office confirms acceptance, so use an official channel and keep proof.
What Happens After You File
After you submit, the RRC reviews the form against your P-5, your production records, and any required test or certification. If everything matches, the Commission grants the extension, and the well’s status updates so it no longer shows as out of compliance. The extension runs until your next P-5 renewal, when you must file again.
If the form is incomplete or a document is missing, you get a deficiency letter explaining what to fix. You have a limited window to respond; if you do not cure the deficiency in time, the extension is denied and the plugging deadline stands. The well can then be referred for a severance order, which cuts off the legal right to produce or move product, and for a seal order on the wellhead.
A denied or ignored extension can roll into formal enforcement under Texas Natural Resources Code Chapter 89, with daily penalties and, in serious cases, the well being plugged by the state with costs charged against your bond. A misconception is that no news means approval. Silence is not approval — confirm the well’s updated status in the RRC system before you rely on the extension.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Wrong operator number. A bad P-5 number detaches the filing from your account, so the well shows no extension.
- Lapsed P-5. Filing while your P-5 is expired voids the application, because an active P-5 is a precondition.
- Incorrect API number. A wrong API ties the extension to the wrong wellbore, leaving your well exposed to plugging.
- Missing H-15 test. Claiming a test basis without filing the H-15 makes the application incomplete and gets it denied.
- Late H-15. Filing the H-15 more than 30 days after the test breaks the timing rule, so the test will not support the extension.
- Underpaid fee. Paying less than the required $300 (or the $50/$100 option) holds the entire filing until you cure the balance.
- Wrong inactivity band. Misstating the shut-in date can place the well in the wrong age band, triggering the wrong equipment or testing rule.
- False surface-equipment certification. Certifying removal you did not complete exposes you to enforcement beyond a simple denial.
- Unsigned form. An unsigned paper filing is automatically returned unfiled, often after your deadline has passed.
- Outdated form version. Using a superseded PDF can get the form bounced, costing days you may not have.
- Wrong district office. Sending the form to the wrong district delays routing and review.
- Assuming one filing is permanent. Forgetting to re-file each P-5 cycle lets the extension expire and the plugging clock restart.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
- Do confirm your P-5 is active first, because no extension survives a lapsed organization report.
- Do match every name and number to your P-5 and production records, so the RRC can verify the well without a deficiency letter.
- Do file the H-15 within 30 days of the test, since the test only counts once the form is on file on time.
- Do keep proof of filing (confirmation number, certified-mail receipt, or stamped copy) to show you met the deadline.
- Do file electronically when you can, because the portal catches missing fields before you submit.
- Do calendar your next P-5 renewal, so you re-file the extension before it lapses.
Don’ts
- Don’t guess at the API or operator number, because a single wrong digit can attach the filing to the wrong well or account.
- Don’t certify equipment removal you have not done, since a false certification invites enforcement.
- Don’t use an old form version, because the RRC may return a superseded PDF unfiled.
- Don’t assume silence means approval, since you must confirm the well’s updated status yourself.
- Don’t underpay the fee, because the Commission holds the whole filing until it is paid in full.
- Don’t wait until the deadline day to mail it, since routing and data entry take time you may not have.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Filing pro se (on your own)
- Pro: Lower cost, because you avoid consultant or attorney fees on a relatively short form.
- Pro: Full control, since you know your wells and shut-in dates better than anyone.
- Pro: Faster start, because you can file the moment your H-15 and P-5 are ready.
- Pro: Builds in-house knowledge for future filing cycles.
- Con: Higher error risk, since field-level mistakes can trigger denials you might not catch.
- Con: Time cost, because gathering API numbers and tests pulls you off operations.
Filing with professional help (consultant or attorney)
- Pro: Fewer rejections, because experienced filers know the field-level traps.
- Pro: Handles multi-well batches, which saves time for operators with many idle wells.
- Pro: Reads the rules for you, including testing exceptions for wells over 25 years old.
- Pro: Manages deadlines and renewals, lowering the odds of a lapsed extension.
- Con: Added cost, which can outweigh the benefit for a single-well operator.
- Con: Less direct control, since you rely on someone else to enter your data correctly.
How Form W-1X / W-3X Compares to Related Filings
| Form | What It Does |
|---|---|
| W-1X / W-3X | Requests more time to plug an inactive well (the extension) |
| Form W-1 | Applies for a permit to drill, recomplete, or re-enter a well |
| Form H-15 | Reports a fluid-level or pressure test on a well over 25 years old |
| Form W-3 | Files the plugging record after a well is actually plugged |
| Form W-3C | Certifies surface-equipment removal for an inactive well |
| Form P-5 | Registers the operator and keeps the organization report current |
FAQs
Is Form W-1X the same as Form W-3X?
Mostly yes. The legacy W-1X 14(b)(2) extension has largely been folded into Form W-3X, the current Application for an Extension of Deadline for Plugging an Inactive Well under Statewide Rule 15.
Do I need a current Form P-5 to file?
Yes. Your P-5 Organization Report must be active and unexpired, because the Commission rejects any extension filed by an operator whose P-5 has lapsed.
Does an approved extension mean I never have to plug the well?
No. The extension only lasts until your next P-5 renewal, so you must re-file each cycle or the plugging deadline returns.
Do I write the operator number or the lease number in the operator-number box?
No lease number goes there. Enter only your 6-digit RRC operator (P-5) number, including any leading zeros, since the two identifiers are separate.
Should I list each well separately if my lease has several inactive wells?
Yes. Each well needs its own well number and API entry, because one blanket line will not tell the RRC which wells you mean.
Do I use the surface-location county or the bottomhole county in the county box?
Yes, use the surface-location county unless the form states otherwise, since that controls which district office handles the filing.
Is the $300 fee charged every year?
No, it is due each filing cycle, not as a single permanent payment, and the amount depends on the option you choose.
Can I claim the H-15 test option for a 30-year-old well?
No, that option is not available for a well over 25 years old that is already required to be tested, so you need a different basis.
Does running the H-15 test count if I never file the form?
No. The test only supports your extension once the H-15 reaches the RRC, and it must be filed within 30 days of the test.
Can a third-party agent sign the form for me?
Yes, but only if that agent has proper authorization on file with the Commission; otherwise an officer of the operator must sign.
Will the RRC tell me if my extension is approved?
No automatic approval notice should be assumed; confirm the well’s updated status in the RRC system, since silence is not approval.
Can I file the extension by email to my district office?
No, email does not count as filing unless the office confirms acceptance, so use the online portal, mail, or in-person delivery and keep proof.
Does removing surface equipment apply to every inactive well?
No, full removal and electricity disconnection generally apply to wells shut in 10 years or more, while shorter-idle wells may only need fluids purged.
Will newer 2025 laws change how long I can extend an old well?
Yes. Senate Bill 1150 tightens extensions for wells inactive 15 years or more and adds annual integrity testing, so older wells face stricter limits.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Texas Railroad Commission Form W-10 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Railroad Commission Form W-2 (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-3C (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Railroad Commission Form W-3X (w/Examples) + FAQs