<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-02-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001086319</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GASCO ENERGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GSX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001186867</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CROWELL CHARLES B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6440 N. CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>#503</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75206</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>644759</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F10"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-06-10</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-02-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-04-16</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-12-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.15</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-12-12</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-08-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.39</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-09-30</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-06-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>125000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>125000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.80</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-01-18</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-09-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-03-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-12-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>31250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>31250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.52</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-01-17</value>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-09-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>175000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>175000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.35</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-06-02</value>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-03-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>175000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>175000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.36</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-10-29</value>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-06-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>60000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.37</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-04-23</value>
                <footnoteId id="F11"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-12-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>150000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>150000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.35</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-06-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-06-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>312500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F12"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>312500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.30</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-02-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F13"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F13"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-06-28</value>
                <footnoteId id="F13"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-02-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Granted 100,000 options as compensation.  These options vest over a 2 year period, with 1/6th of the amount vesting every 4 months commencing 6/10/03, and all option expiring 2/10/2013.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Granted 50,000 options as compensation.  These options vest over a 2 year period with 1/6th of the amount vesting every 4 months commencing 4/16/04, and all options expiring 12/16/2013.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Granted 100,000 options under the Issuer's 1999 Stock Option Plan, subject to stockholder approval.  These options vest over a 2 year period, with 1/6th of the amount vesting every 4 months commencing 12/12/04, and all options expiring 8/12/14.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Granted 125,000 options.  These options vest over a one year period with 25% of the amount vesting each calendar quarter commencing 9/30/05, and all options expiring 6/9/2015.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Granted 100,000 options under the Issuer's 1999 Stock Option Plan, subject to stockholder approval.  These options vest over a 2 year period, with 1/6th of the amount vesting every 4 months commencing 1/18/09, and all options expiring 9/18/13.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Granted 31,250 options under Issuer's 1999 Stock Option Plan, subject to stockholder approval.  These options vest over a 1 year period, with 1/4 of the amount vesting every 3 months commencing 3/15/09, and all options expiring 12/15/2013.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">These options vest over a 2 year period, with 1/6th of the amount vesting every 4 months commencing 1/17/2010, and all options expiring 9/17/2014.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Granted 175,000 options under the Issuer's 1999 Stock Option Plan, subject to stockholder approval. These options vest over a 1 year period, with 1/4 of the amount vesting every 3 months commencing 6/2/10, and all options expiring 3/2/2020.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Granted 60,000 options under the Issuer's 1999 Stock Option Plan, subject to stockholder approval.  These options vest over a 2 year period, with 16th of the amount vesting every 4 months commencing 10/29/10, and all options expiring 6/29/15.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">On 12/23/10, Mr. Crowell was granted a restricted stock award of 50,000 shares of the Issuer's common stock pursuant to the Issuer's 2003 Restricted Stock Plan.  These shares are subject to forfeiture with Mr. Crowell having the right to retain 16,666 shares on or after 12/23/11, an additional 16,666 shares on or after 12/23/12, and the remaining 16,668 shares on or after 12/23/13.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F11">Granted 150,000 options under the Issuer's 1999 Stock Option Plan, subject to stockholder approval.  These options vest over a 2 year period, with 1/6th of the amount vesting every 4 months commencing 4/23/11, and all options expiring 12/23/15.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F12">Mr. Crowell purchased 416,667 units in Issuer's offering.  Each unit consists of one share of common stock and a warrant to buy 0.75 of a share at $0.35.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F13">Granted 100,000 options under the Issuer's 2011 Long Term Incentive Plan.  These options vest over a 2 year period, with 1/6th of the amount vesting every 4 months commencing 6/28/12, and all options expiring 2/28/17.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Charles B. Crowell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-03-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
