# Check the RRC data before you trust the answer

A working checklist for engineers reviewing Texas well searches and production tables. Prepared by PatchOps. Sources checked September 14, 2026.

Use this with your existing RRC export or AI tool. You do not need a PatchOps account to use the checklist.

## Start with the question

Write down the county or area, the records you need, and the period you are asking about. Keep a copy of the original question beside the result.

For example: “Which records match my well search?” requires a different check from “How much did this oil lease produce during these months?” A well search and a production table describe different things.

## Before accepting a well match

- Keep the API identifier as text so leading zeros survive exports and spreadsheets.
- Record which API format the source expects. RRC's well-record documentation describes a 10 digit identifier including Texas state code 42, while its record search generally omits that state prefix. Do not remove characters until you know the destination format.
- Compare the county and available lease, well, and operator information with the record you intended to retrieve. A matching name alone is not enough.
- Save the source link and retrieval date. If a source reports its own update date, keep that separately.

The [RRC well-record search guide](https://www.rrc.texas.gov/oil-and-gas/research-and-statistics/obtaining-commission-records/oil-and-gas-well-records-online/) explains the identifier format. The [RRC records guide](https://www.rrc.texas.gov/oil-and-gas/research-and-statistics/obtaining-commission-records/oil-and-gas-well-records/) lists the information useful for identifying a record.

## Before adding up production

Texas oil production is reported by lease. One oil lease can contain multiple wells. Gas leases contain one gas well per lease. A lease volume attached to several well rows must not be summed once for each row. See the [RRC Production Data Query FAQ](https://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/faqs/oil-gas-faq/production-data-query-system-faqs/).

- Record the oil or gas selection, district, lease number, and production month before joining tables. These are the inputs used by the [RRC specific lease query](https://webapps2.rrc.texas.gov/EWA/specificLeaseQueryAction.do).
- Check whether several well rows point to the same lease and month. Review those groups before totaling anything.
- Keep reported lease volumes separate from any estimated allocation to a well. Label an allocation with its method and assumptions.
- Record the units and the actual date range returned. A missing month remains missing until you verify it; it is not automatically zero production.

## Before calling the data current

Production reports can be revised, and reporting periods differ from retrieval dates. The [RRC query directory](https://www.rrc.texas.gov/resource-center/research/research-queries/) lists different refresh schedules for different systems. Keep the reporting period, the source update date when available, and your retrieval date as separate fields.

PatchOps also distinguishes its loaded RRC datasets from methods that query public portals. The [RRC data contract](https://patchops.ai/knowledge/rrc) describes coverage and caveats. Read it before making a claim about freshness.

## Copy this review prompt

> Review the attached result against its source. List the identifiers used, the reporting period, the units, and whether each volume belongs to a lease or an individual well. Flag repeated lease and month combinations before any sum. Keep missing values separate from zero. Distinguish the source update date from the retrieval date. If a field or source is missing, say what needs checking. Do not fill it in from a guess.

An AI review helps organize the checks. Verify the flagged records against their sources before using the result.

## Keep a review record

| Item | Your record |
|---|---|
| Question and intended area | |
| API format and identifiers | |
| Oil or gas, district, lease | |
| Reporting period and units | |
| Duplicate lease/month groups | |
| Source URL | |
| Source update date, if available | |
| Retrieval date | |
| Missing fields and unresolved checks | |
| Reviewer and review date | |

## Try a first task in PatchOps

[Find active wells in Midland County](https://patchops.ai/auth/register?redirect=%2Fstart%3Ftask%3Drrc-active-wells&utm_source=rrc_checklist&utm_medium=resource&utm_campaign=patchops_first_task_202609&utm_content=checklist_cta).

Create an account and verify your email to reach the guided RRC task. PatchOps currently includes 100 free connector calls a month with no card required. Public RRC access does not require a separate provider key. Other connectors may need their own credentials or subscription.

This worksheet includes no query results and makes no claim that a particular well, lease, or production result has been verified. PatchOps is independent of the Railroad Commission of Texas.