How to Fill Out Texas Railroad Commission Form W-3C (w/Examples) + FAQs

Texas Railroad Commission Form W-3C is the Certification of Surface Equipment Removal for an Inactive Well, the form every Texas oil and gas operator files to prove they have cleaned up the surface equipment around a well that has stopped producing. You file it under Oil & Gas Statewide Rule 15 (16 Tex. Admin. Code §3.15), and you certify, under penalty of law, that you have personally confirmed the physical condition of the well site.

Getting this form wrong is not a small problem. A bad W-3C ties directly to your P-5 Organization Report renewal, and Rule 15 inactive-well compliance is one of the most common reasons operators lose their good standing with the Commission. The Railroad Commission oversees more than 165,000 inactive wells across the state, and a single false certification on this form can trigger an administrative penalty of up to $1,000 per filing under Texas Natural Resources Code §91.143.

Here is what you will learn in this guide:

📋 What Form W-3C is, who must file it, and the exact Rule 15 deadlines that govern it
✍️ How to fill out every box and certification line, including the tricky single-well vs. attached-listing choice
🧑‍🔧 Three real, named walkthroughs covering the 12-month, 5-year, and 10-year inactive well rules
💻 How to file online through the new LoneSTAR portal or by paper, with fees, addresses, and proof of filing
⚠️ The most common field-level mistakes that get filings rejected and how to dodge each one

What the Form Is and Who Must File It

Form W-3C is a one-page certification that an operator files with the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) to confirm that surface equipment around an inactive well has been handled the way Statewide Rule 15 demands. The version in use carries a revision date of (Rev. 08/2019) in the lower corner, and since July 2024 it is also filed through the RRC’s online system. The form does not report plugging; it reports cleanup. That single distinction trips up many new filers.

Any operator that holds an active P-5 organization number and has wells that have stopped producing must keep up with W-3C duties. An inactive well is a well that has had no reported production for 12 months or more. When your well crosses that line, the surface-equipment rules in Rule 15 start to apply, and the W-3C is how you tell the Commission you have met them.

The agency that receives the form is the RRC’s Oil and Gas Division, Administrative Compliance section. The statute behind it is the Texas Natural Resources Code, carried out through Rule 15. The deadline is tied to the renewal date of your P-5 organization report each year, because Rule 15 measures inactivity “as of the date of renewal of the operator’s organization report.” Miss the cleanup, and you cannot certify; fail to certify, and your P-5 renewal can stall.

The penalty side is serious. The certification block warns that a false filing falls under Texas Natural Resources Code §91.143, which lets the Commission levy an administrative penalty of up to $1,000 for each false filing. That is on top of the loss of good standing that blocks new drilling permits and transfers.

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Gather everything before you open the form. The W-3C is short, but each box pulls from a different record, and a single wrong number can void the certification. Filers who scramble for data mid-form tend to guess, and guesses on a sworn document are how penalties start.

Here is the pre-filing checklist. Collect each item below before you begin.

Your P-5 organization number. The form must match your P-5 exactly; a mismatch sends the filing to manual review and delays your renewal.
Operator name as printed on the P-5. If the name differs by even one word, the Commission cannot tie the W-3C to your account.
Operator mailing address with city, state, and ZIP. A stale address means you miss the Commission’s response or deficiency notice.
The well’s API number. Every Texas well has a unique 42-prefixed API number; the wrong one certifies cleanup on someone else’s well.
RRC District number. The district routes your filing to the right field office; a wrong district slows review.
Oil Lease or Gas ID number and well number. These pin the certification to the exact well; missing them makes the filing unmatchable.
Lease name and field name from the Proration Schedule. These must read as shown on the schedule, not your internal nickname for the lease.
County where the well sits. The Commission cross-checks county against the API and district.
The date each well went inactive. Inactivity length (12 months, 5 years, or 10 years) decides which certification boxes you check.
Proof of who owns the surface. Surface ownership changes which requirements apply, so confirm the deed before you certify.

If you are filing for many wells at once, you also need a typed, double-spaced attached listing of those wells, prepared the way the instructions require. Missing any one of these items does not just slow you down; it can force you to refile and restart the review clock.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

You can get Form W-3C two ways, and the RRC now prefers the online route. The official blank PDF lives on the agency’s Oil & Gas Forms page, and you can open the W-3C PDF directly to print or type into it. Always pull the form from the RRC site, not a third-party copy, so you know you have the current 08/2019 revision.

The faster path is online. In July 2024 the RRC launched LoneSTAR for filing Forms P-5, W-3C, and W-3X. You reach it through the LoneSTAR portal, sign in with your RRC security credentials, and select the form coded OFD064 W-3C Certification of Surface Equipment Removal for an Inactive Well. The online version walks you through the same fields as the paper form but pre-fills your organization data from your most recently approved P-5.

To file online you need a LoneSTAR account with the right security role tied to your organization. If you do not have access, your organization’s security administrator must grant it before you can launch the form. The portal saves a form “instance” once you start, so you can stop and return later without losing your work.

The paper PDF still works if you prefer it or lack portal access. You complete it, sign it, and mail it to the Oil and Gas Division. Both channels end at the same place, but the online filing gives you an instant confirmation and a tracked status, while paper relies on the postmark and your own copy.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form W-3C Line by Line

Work through the form in the order the boxes appear. The top three boxes identify you, the middle boxes identify the well or wells, the certification letters state what you did, and the bottom block is your sworn signature. All items must be typed or clearly printed in blue or black ink.

Item 1: Operator Name (Exactly as Shown on P-5)

This box asks for your operating company’s legal name. Write it exactly as it appears on your P-5 Organization Report, character for character, because the Commission matches this name against your P-5 record to attach the filing to your account.

For example, Lone Star Production Co., LLC writes its name with the comma, the “Co.,” and the “LLC” all included, since that is how the P-5 reads. Do not shorten it to Lone Star Production.

A nuance comes up when your company name recently changed. If the P-5 still shows the old name, use the old name here and update the P-5 separately; the W-3C must mirror the P-5 on file today, not the name you plan to use tomorrow.

The most common mistake is using a “doing business as” name or a casual short form. If the name does not match the P-5, the filing drops into manual review and your P-5 renewal can stall behind it. A frequent misconception is that close is good enough; the Commission’s system treats the name as an exact key, not a fuzzy search.

Item 2: Operator Address (City, State, ZIP)

This box asks where the Commission should reach you by mail. Enter your full operator mailing address, including city, state, and ZIP code, the same address carried on your P-5.

For example, Lone Star Production Co., LLC enters 1450 Energy Plaza, Suite 300, Midland, TX 79701. The suite number belongs here so mail reaches the right desk.

If you use a P.O. Box for mail, that is fine for this box, because the address is for correspondence, not for locating the well. The well’s location is captured later by the API and county.

The common mistake is listing an old address after a move without updating the P-5. The consequence is that any deficiency letter or approval notice goes to the wrong place, and you may never learn your filing had a problem until your renewal is blocked. People wrongly assume the Commission will email instead; for paper filings, mail is still the primary channel.

Item 3: Operator P-5 Number

This box asks for the six-digit organization number the Commission assigned you. Enter your P-5 number exactly, with no extra spaces or letters.

For example, Lone Star Production Co., LLC enters 123456. This number is the master key that links the W-3C to every other filing your company makes.

If you operate under more than one organization, double-check which P-5 holds the wells on this form, because companies with affiliated entities often mix them up. The wells must belong to the P-5 you enter here.

The most common mistake is transposing two digits, which points the filing at a different operator or no operator at all. The result is a rejected or orphaned filing. A misconception is that the operator name alone identifies you; the P-5 number is what the system actually keys on, so an error here is worse than a name typo.

Contact Person and Phone (If Different)

Just below the P-5 boxes, the form offers a line for a contact person and phone number if they differ from the operator. This is optional but useful when a consultant or compliance staffer, not the signer, handles questions.

For example, if landman Rosa Delgado manages the filing, she writes Rosa Delgado, (432) 555-0188 on this line so the Commission calls her with any question. Leave it blank if the signer is the contact.

The nuance: this line does not replace the signature block. The person here answers questions; the person who signs makes the sworn certification. The common mistake is treating this contact as the certifier, which can confuse who is legally on the hook. People wrongly think filling this line shifts liability; it does not.

Items 4–10: Single-Well Identification

This group asks you to identify one well when you are certifying just a single well. You fill Items 4 through 10 only if you are filing for one well, and you leave Item 11 blank.

Item 4 – Lease Name as shown on the Proration Schedule. Example: Caprock “A”.
Item 5 – Field Name as shown on the Proration Schedule. Example: Spraberry (Trend Area).
Item 6 – API Number, written after the printed 42- prefix. Example: 42-329-31045.
Item 7 – RRC District No. Example: 08.
Item 8 – Oil Lease / Gas ID No. Example: 44567.
Item 9 – Well No. Example: 3.
Item 10 – County. Example: Midland.

For these, operator Lone Star Production Co., LLC enters each value as it appears on official Commission records, not internal paperwork. The lease and field names must read exactly as on the Proration Schedule.

A key nuance: if you are certifying more than one well, do not fill these boxes. Items 4 through 10 are for single-well filings only, and the form tells you to leave Item 11 blank in that case. The most common mistake is filling both the single-well boxes and the attached-listing box, which makes the filing contradict itself and forces a rejection. Many filers wrongly believe they can list a second well in the margins; the form allows exactly one well here or an attached listing, never both.

Item 11: Attached Listing of Wells

This box asks how many wells and pages are in your attached list when you certify multiple wells at once. You write the number of wells in the first blank and the number of pages in the second, then leave Items 4 through 10 blank.

For example, an operator certifying 30 wells across 2 pages writes The 30 wells listed on the attached 2 pages. The attached listing must do the heavy lifting of identifying each well.

The listing has strict rules. It must be typed or printed in blue or black ink, double-spaced, and must identify each well by API number, RRC District, Oil Lease/Gas ID number, well number, and county. Each page must read “Page ___ of ___,” and the certifier must personally initial the bottom right corner of every page.

The common mistake is attaching a single-spaced list or skipping the per-page initials, which violates the listing requirements and voids the batch certification. A misconception is that an internal spreadsheet printout counts; it must match the Commission’s required format, or the filing fails.

Certification A: Electric Service Terminated (12 Months or Longer)

This line certifies that electric service to the production site has been physically cut off, or that the site never had electric service. You check box A for any well inactive 12 months or longer.

For example, Lone Star Production Co., LLC checks A after confirming an electrician disconnected the service line at the point most distant from the production site, toward the main supply line, without cutting power to nearby active operations or cathodic protection units.

The nuance: “physically terminated” has a specific meaning. It is a real disconnection at the service line, not flipping a breaker. The common mistake is checking A when the meter is merely turned off but the line is still connected, which fails the rule and exposes you to a false-filing penalty. People wrongly think a power bill in arrears equals termination; only a physical disconnect qualifies.

Certification B1 / B2: Purged Equipment (5 to 10 Years Inactive)

This pair applies when the operator does not own the surface and the well has been inactive at least 5 years but less than 10 years as of the P-5 renewal date. You check B1 to certify all piping, tanks, vessels, and equipment exclusive to the well have been emptied or purged of production fluids, OR check B2 to certify the operator owns the surface.

For example, operator Permian Legacy Operating, LLC, leasing surface from a rancher, checks B1 after purging the tanks and lines on a well idle for seven years. If that same operator actually owned the land, it would check B2 instead and skip the purge certification.

The nuance: you check B1 OR B2, never both, and only one selection is allowed in this lettered grouping. The common mistake is checking B1 without truly purging every exclusive vessel, leaving fluids that a Commission inspector later finds, which converts the filing into a false certification. A misconception is that “purged” means drained of crude only; it covers all production fluids, including saltwater and other liquids.

Certification C1 / C2 / C3: Full Removal (10 Years or Longer Inactive)

This group applies when the operator does not own the surface and the well has been inactive at least 10 years as of the P-5 renewal date. You check C1 to certify you removed all surface equipment, related piping, tanks, tank batteries, pump jacks, headers, fences, and firewalls, closed all open pits, and removed all junk and trash; OR C2 that the operator owns the surface; OR C3 that the well is part of a Commission-recognized enhanced oil recovery (EOR) project whose remaining equipment serves current or future project operations.

For example, Permian Legacy Operating, LLC checks C1 for a well dead 12 years, after a crew hauled off the pump jack, tanks, and fences and closed the old pit. An operator who bought the surface would check C2 instead, and an active waterflood project would check C3.

The nuance: wells flagged inactive more than 10 years as of 9/1/2010 carry extra requirements under SWR 15(i)(5), so read the instructions for those. The common mistake is leaving “junk and trash” behind while checking C1, which fails an inspection and triggers penalties. A misconception is that pulling the pump jack is enough; C1 demands the full list, including firewalls and pit closure.

Certification D: Temporary Exception

This line lets you ask for a temporary exception when you cannot meet the cleanup rules because of safety concerns or required well-site maintenance. You check D, attach a written affirmation of the facts, and pay a $375.00 non-refundable fee per well.

For example, operator Big Bend Resources, Inc. checks D for a well on unstable terrain, attaches a signed statement explaining the hazard, and pays $375 for that well’s exception under Rule 78 and Tex. Nat. Res. Code §81.0521.

The nuance: the written affirmation is mandatory, not optional, and it must state real facts about the safety or maintenance issue. The common mistake is checking D without attaching the affirmation, which gets the request denied and leaves the well out of compliance. A misconception is that the $375 fee buys permanent relief; it buys a temporary exception only, and you must comply later.

Certification and Signature Block

The bottom block is your sworn statement. By signing, you declare the certifications are based on your personal knowledge of the physical condition of the inactive well, that you or your staff prepared the report, and that you are authorized to make it. You print your name, enter your title, sign, date it, and add your phone number.

For example, Maria Treviño, Compliance Manager, signs her name, prints Maria Treviño, writes Compliance Manager in the Title box, dates it 06/01/2026, and lists (432) 555-0143.

The nuance: “personal knowledge” is the heart of the form. You cannot certify a well you have never confirmed; the signer must know the site’s real condition. The common mistake is having an office clerk sign for wells nobody inspected, which exposes the signer to the $1,000 false-filing penalty under §91.143. A misconception is that the signature is a formality; it is a legal oath, and signing without knowledge is the single riskiest act on this form.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

Below are three named operators filing W-3C for the three most common inactivity situations. Each table walks one filer through the form’s main parts.

Scenario 1 — Carlos files for one well inactive 14 months (operator owns surface): Carlos at Lone Star Production Co., LLC certifies a single well that stopped producing 14 months ago on land his company owns.

Form Section	What Carlos Enters
Item 1 Operator Name	Lone Star Production Co., LLC
Item 3 P-5 Number	123456
Item 6 API Number	42-329-31045
Item 7 RRC District	08
Item 9 Well No.	3
Item 10 County	Midland
Item 11 Listing	Left blank (single well)
Certification A	Checked — electric service physically terminated
Signature Block	Carlos Mendez, Operations Lead, 06/01/2026

Scenario 2 — Aisha files for one well inactive 7 years (operator does NOT own surface): Aisha at Permian Legacy Operating, LLC certifies a leased-surface well idle for seven years.

Form Section	What Aisha Enters
Item 1 Operator Name	Permian Legacy Operating, LLC
Item 3 P-5 Number	654321
Item 6 API Number	42-461-22890
Item 7 RRC District	7C
Item 9 Well No.	1H
Item 10 County	Tom Green
Certification A	Checked — service terminated (12+ months)
Certification B1	Checked — piping and tanks purged of fluids
Signature Block	Aisha Okafor, Compliance Manager, 06/01/2026

Scenario 3 — Marcus files for 30 wells inactive 10+ years (attached listing): Marcus at Big Bend Resources, Inc. certifies a batch of long-idle leased-surface wells using an attached listing.

Form Section	What Marcus Enters
Item 1 Operator Name	Big Bend Resources, Inc.
Item 3 P-5 Number	778899
Items 4–10	Left blank (multi-well filing)
Item 11 Listing	The 30 wells listed on the attached 2 pages
Listing Format	Typed, double-spaced, API/District/ID/Well/County
Per-Page Initials	M.W. initialed bottom right of each page
Certification A	Checked — service terminated on all wells
Certification C1	Checked — all equipment, pits, junk removed
Signature Block	Marcus Webb, President, 06/01/2026

How to File the Completed Form

You can file Form W-3C online or by mail, and each channel has its own steps, fees, and proof of filing. Choose the channel that fits your access and your deadline, but know that the Commission encourages online filing through LoneSTAR.

Online through LoneSTAR. Sign in at the LoneSTAR portal, open the Online Forms tab, and select OFD064 W-3C. Follow the steps in the official W-3C Option A user guide: pick the organization, choose the certification purpose, confirm the pre-filled organization data, select your wells in the Well Selection grid, upload any required documents, enter your submitter title, check the certification box, and click Submit. For most surface-removal certifications there is no fee, and the portal shows an instant confirmation message you should screenshot and save. A temporary exception (box D) is the exception: it carries the $375-per-well fee handled in the Fees and Payment step.

By mail. Print the completed and signed W-3C PDF and mail it to the Railroad Commission of Texas, Oil and Gas Division / Admin. Compliance, P.O. Box 12967, Austin, TX 78711-2967. There is no filing fee for the standard certification; a box-D exception requires a $375-per-well check or money order payable to the Railroad Commission of Texas. Keep a stamped copy and your mailing receipt as proof of filing, and allow extra time for mail handling and manual review.

Whichever channel you use, file before your P-5 organization report renewal date, since Rule 15 measures inactivity as of that date. Keep your confirmation, because if a question arises later, that proof shows you filed on time.

What Happens After You File

After you submit, the Commission’s Oil and Gas Division reviews the W-3C against your P-5 record and the well data on file. Online filings begin workflow processing right away, and you can refresh the LoneSTAR page to watch the status move from submitted to under review to approved. Paper filings take longer because staff must key them in by hand.

If the filing is clean, the certification posts to your account and supports your Rule 15 compliance for those wells. That keeps your P-5 in good standing and your operating privileges intact. If the filing has a problem, the Commission sends a deficiency notice asking you to correct and refile, which restarts part of the review.

Approval does not end your duty. The certification is a sworn statement about a point in time, and the Commission can inspect any well later. If an inspector finds the site does not match what you certified, the agency can pursue enforcement, including the administrative penalty for a false filing. Keep your records and photos so you can show the site matched your certification on the day you signed.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

Each error below has a direct consequence, so check your form against this list before you file.

Operator name does not match the P-5. The filing drops to manual review and your renewal stalls.
Wrong or transposed P-5 number. The form attaches to the wrong operator or none, and gets rejected.
Filling both single-well boxes and Item 11. The form contradicts itself and the Commission rejects it.
Wrong API number. You certify cleanup on the wrong well, creating a false filing.
Checking the wrong certification letter for the inactivity period. The certification does not match Rule 15 and fails review.
Checking A without a physical service disconnect. A later inspection exposes a false certification and penalty.
Checking B1 without truly purging all fluids. Residual fluids found on inspection void the certification.
Checking C1 but leaving junk, trash, or open pits. The site fails inspection and triggers enforcement.
Attaching a single-spaced or unsigned listing. The listing fails the format rules and the batch certification is void.
Skipping per-page initials on the attached listing. The listing does not meet requirements and the filing is rejected.
Checking D without the written affirmation or fee. The exception request is denied and the well stays noncompliant.
Signing without personal knowledge of the site. The signer faces the $1,000-per-filing penalty under §91.143.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

Do match every entry to your P-5, because the Commission keys the filing to that record.
Do confirm the well’s inactivity date, since it decides which certification letter you check.
Do inspect the site before signing, because the form requires personal knowledge.
Do keep photos and records, so you can prove the site’s condition on the filing date.
Do file before your P-5 renewal date, since Rule 15 measures inactivity as of that date.
Do save your confirmation, because it is your proof of timely filing.

Don’t:

Don’t fill both single-well boxes and Item 11, because the form must use one method only.
Don’t check two boxes in one lettered grouping, since only one selection per group is allowed.
Don’t use a nickname or DBA in Item 1, because it breaks the match to your P-5.
Don’t let an uninformed clerk sign, since the signer takes on legal liability.
Don’t attach an informal spreadsheet as the listing, because it must meet the format rules.
Don’t assume “power off” equals “service terminated,” since the rule demands a physical disconnect.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

Many operators file the W-3C themselves, but some hire a consultant or attorney. The table compares the two paths so you can pick what fits your situation.

Filing on Your Own	Filing With Professional Help
Saves money, since there is no consultant fee	Costs more, but a pro catches errors before they reach the Commission
You control the timing and can file the moment cleanup is done	A consultant juggles deadlines for you, which helps if you manage many wells
Builds your in-house knowledge of Rule 15	A pro already knows the rule’s edge cases, like the 9/1/2010 wells
Direct personal knowledge makes your certification stronger	A reputable firm verifies site conditions before you sign
Simple for a single well you inspected yourself	Worth it for large attached listings where one format error voids the batch

More pros of self-filing: You avoid wait times on a third party, and you keep full control of sensitive operational data. More cons of self-filing: You carry all the liability, and one misread box can cost a renewal. More pros of professional help: Firms track the P-5 renewal calendar and reduce rejection risk. More cons of professional help: You still sign the oath, so the personal-knowledge duty never fully transfers, and you pay for service you might handle yourself.

How W-3C Compares to Related Forms

Operators often confuse W-3C with the other Rule 15 and plugging forms. The table sorts them out.

Form	What It Does
W-3C	Certifies surface equipment removal for an inactive well under Rule 15
W-3X	Applies for a plugging extension to keep an inactive well in compliance
W-3 / W-3A	Reports plugging (W-3) and gives notice of intent to plug (W-3A)
P-5	The organization report that establishes you as an operator and sets the renewal date

The W-3C and the W-3X are close cousins because both keep an inactive well in Rule 15 compliance, but the W-3C certifies you cleaned up the surface while the W-3X asks for more time before plugging. The W-3, by contrast, comes later, when you actually plug and abandon the well. All of them tie back to the P-5, which is why a problem on one can ripple into your whole standing with the Commission.

FAQs

Is Form W-3C the same as the plugging report?

No. Form W-3C certifies surface equipment removal for an inactive well under Statewide Rule 15. The plugging report is Form W-3, which you file later when you actually plug and abandon the well.

Is there a fee to file Form W-3C?

No. The standard surface-removal certification has no filing fee. The only charge is the $375.00 non-refundable fee per well if you request a temporary exception by checking box D.

Do I fill out Items 4–10 if I am certifying many wells?

No. Leave Items 4 through 10 blank for multiple wells. Instead, complete Item 11 with the number of wells and pages, and attach a properly formatted listing of those wells.

Do I check both B1 and B2 on the same well?

No. You check only one box per lettered grouping. Check B1 if you purged the equipment, or B2 if you own the surface, but never both in the same group.

Do I write the API number with the 42 prefix?

Yes. The form prints 42- before the box, so you write the rest of the API number after it, like 42-329-31045. The 42 marks the well as a Texas well.

Is online filing through LoneSTAR available for W-3C?

Yes. Since July 2024, the RRC accepts W-3C online through the LoneSTAR portal as form OFD064. You can also still file the paper PDF by mail to the Austin address.

Do I need to own the surface to file W-3C?

No. You file regardless of who owns the surface. Surface ownership only changes which boxes apply; owners check B2 or C2, while non-owners must certify purging (B1) or removal (C1).

Is “turning off the power” enough to check box A?

No. Box A requires physical termination of electric service, meaning a real disconnect at the service line. Simply shutting off a breaker or meter does not satisfy the rule.

Do I have to initial the attached listing pages?

Yes. The certifier must personally initial the bottom right corner of every page of the attached listing. The listing must also be typed, double-spaced, and identify each well by the required fields.

Is the signer personally responsible for the certification?

Yes. The signer swears the certification is based on personal knowledge of the well’s condition. A false filing can bring an administrative penalty of up to $1,000 per filing under Texas Natural Resources Code §91.143.

Do I file W-3C every year?

Yes. Rule 15 measures inactivity as of your P-5 renewal date, so you keep certifying inactive wells in connection with each annual renewal until the wells are returned to production or plugged.

Is a temporary exception under box D permanent?

No. Box D buys only a temporary exception for safety or maintenance reasons, and it requires a written affirmation plus the $375 per-well fee. You must comply with the cleanup rules later.

Do I list the lease name from my own records or the Proration Schedule?

No, not your own records. Item 4 must show the lease name exactly as it appears on the Commission’s Proration Schedule, and Item 5 must show the field name the same way.

Is W-3C filed with a county clerk or with the state?

No, not a county clerk. You file W-3C with the Railroad Commission of Texas, either online through LoneSTAR or by mail to the Oil and Gas Division in Austin. It is a state filing.

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