Railroad Commission Streamlines Oil and Gas Filings

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) continues to make significant technological advancements with its LoneSTAR launch.

The agency's State Tracking and Reporting is intended to improve efficiencies by saving time and resources for oil and gas operators and RRC staff, according to a news release.

It allows operators to make online filings for Form P-5, required to become or renew as an oil, gas or pipeline operator. Other forms associated with the P-5 process can also be filed online: Form W-3C, for Certification of Surface Equipment Removal for an Inactive Well; and Form W-3X, the Application for an Extension of Deadline for Plugging an Inactive Well.

LoneSTAR gives operators the ability to monitor the P-5 approval process online, fix any compliance issues related to filings in real time and view records online, the release said.

The project reduces the extensive paperwork that operators were required to send and streamlines the daily review process by RRC staff.

“Overhauling the IT system at the Railroad Commission has been a top priority for me since I was first elected,” RRC Chairman Christi Craddick said in the release. “The LoneSTAR launch marks a significant advancement to the way the agency interacts with operators and will improve the agency's ability to prioritize health and safety for all Texans and the environment, while ensuring the state's economic powerhouse can continue to thrive.”

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