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Oil & Gas

Regulating the exploration, production, & transportation of oil and natural gas in Texas

Oil & Gas ANNOUNCEMENTS

Public Comment Period Open for Forms P-17 and P-17 A


October 15, 2025

The Railroad Commission of Texas is accepting public comments on proposed changes to the following two forms:

  • Form P-17, Application for Permit Exception to Statewide Rules 26 and/or 27
  • Form P-17 A, Application for Commingle Permit Pursuant to Statewide Rules 26 and/or 27

These changes are being made to implement the Final Order in Oil and Gas Docket No. OG-25-00027634, the Application of BPX Operating Company (Operator No. 085408) to Consider Amending the Field Rules for the Phantom (Wolfcamp) Field, Culberson, Loving, Pecos, Reeves, Ward, and Winkler Counties, Texas, in which the Commission authorized an option for an exception to 16 Texas Administrative Code §3.32 if an operator meets certain criteria involving central production facilities, as defined in the field rules. The requirement to use Forms P-17 or P-17A is specified in Field Rule No. 9 of that Final Order.

Section 5 of each form adds a selection box in which an operator may select to affirm that “Proposed commingling will occur at a Central Production Facility for which Operator is making a Flaring Intensity Election. (Additional enforcement requirements are specified; see instructions).”

The proposed revisions to Forms P-17 and P-17A also include concurring changes to the instructions for both forms.

Proposed revisions also include several additional changes to the form instructions that would improve the clarity and usability of the forms.

The proposed revised forms will be available for public comment until 5 p.m. on November 14, 2025.

The forms and comment submission options can be found on the RRC website at https://www.rrc.texas.gov/forms/proposed-form-amendments/ under Oil & Gas Forms.

Oil & Gas Division staff will review the comments and make any necessary changes if needed. Staff will then present the forms to the RRC Commissioners at an open meeting and request adoption.

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What we do

The Railroad Commission, through its Oil and Gas Division, regulates the exploration, production, and transportation of oil and natural gas in Texas. Its statutory role is to:

  1. prevent waste of the state's natural resources,
  2. protect the correlative rights of different interest owners,
  3. prevent pollution, and
  4. provide safety in matters such as hydrogen sulfide.

The division accomplishes these goals by permitting and reporting requirements; by field inspections, testing programs and monitoring industry activities in the field; and through programs to remediate abandoned wells and sites through the use of fees and taxes paid by industry.
The Oil and Gas Division is headquartered in Austin, Texas with nine district offices spread over the state.

Drilling Permit Processing Time
as of March 7th, 2025

Expedited Permits: approximately 2
Business days
Standard Permits: approximately   4
Business days

Tips on submitting a problem-free drilling permit.



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