Part-B-ss-EIA-914-2007

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods
B1. Description of Respondent Universe and Sampling Plan
The universe consists of all operators of producing wells in the United States
(excluding Alaska) that produce natural gas, including Offshore wells. A natural
gas operator forms the responding unit. A cut-off sample of well operators is
selected. It is refined to give the targeted coverage in all areas with the minimum
amount of operators. For the 2007 survey, EIA met its quality goal with 220
operator respondents. The cut-off sample is designed to provide about 90 percent
coverage at the lower-48 level and an adequate percent coverage in seven areas.
The seven areas include the Gulf of Mexico Federal Offshore, Louisiana, New
Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming, and Other States (defined as all remaining
States excluding Alaska).
The cut-off sample is selected from a current commercially available data source
(HPDI LLC) and the EIA-23 frame. These provide the most recent and accurate
available data. All estimates are based on the adjusted ratio estimate method with
the exception of Other States which is currently determined by applying the ratio
of 2005 total gross natural gas production published in the EIA Natural Gas
Annual to the 2005 EIA-914 survey production. The 2007 EIA-914 frame
consisted of roughly 8,300 operators who produced at least 1,000,000 cubic feet
of gas per day in 2005.
B2. Data Aggregation Procedures
Currently, well operator respondents are asked to submit monthly reports of their
natural gas production for seven areas. The respondent data submitted for each
area are processed by EIA using its Standard Energy Processing System (STEPS),
a general-purpose survey processing system originally developed by the Bureau
of Census. EIA has an established procedure for both follow-up of nonrespondents and for verification of data filed. Data filed on the EIA-914 are
aggregated in STEPS and undergo a series of mathematical checks for
reasonableness and accuracy. EIA uses documented techniques to estimate total
monthly natural gas production volumes for the total US and the seven areas
(techniques described at
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/natural_gas/data_publications/eia914/eia914meth.
pdf).
B2.1 Revisions
Revisions to aggregated data are published when respondents submit revised
data for prior months or late data for the current month; see EIA-914 revision
policy at

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/natural_gas/data_publications/eia914/revision
policy.pdf.
B2.2 Security
Several steps have been taken to assure confidentiality and security of
respondent data and estimates during data processing and report preparation.
One example is that respondent data can be submitted to EIA using the secure
file transfer (SFT) system. SFT is based on the secure hypertext transfer
protocol (HTTPS), an industry standard method to send information over the
web using a secure, encrypted process. All information is protected by 128-bit
encryption to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of transmitted data. See
Section A10 for a discussion on confidentiality of the data.
B3. Methods to Maximize Response Rates
Form EIA-914 is collected under EIA’s mandatory data collection authority and
its response rate has been good. For example, the 2006 production weighted
response rate for the eight areas averaged 99 percent. To maximize response
rates, the form was designed for ease of completion, and instructions were written
in a clear and concise manner to make them easily understood. Potential
respondents initially tested the form and instructions, which were modified based
on their feedback. Furthermore, small operators who usually have low response
rates are not sampled.
Forms are e-mailed as early as possible to maximize the time that respondents
have to complete the surveys; the forms and instructions are available on the EIA
Website. Survey non-respondents are contacted by telephone to discuss the
requirement to file and any problems or questions that are delaying filing.
Follow-up letters regarding the failure to file are also mailed to non-respondents.
Specific schedules are followed for telephone calls and letters to non-respondents.
Every effort is made to assist respondents in completing the survey and
submitting it in a timely manner.
B4. Contacts
For additional information concerning the survey design, please contact Rhonda Green at
(214) 720-6161. For more information regarding the approval request, please contact
Grace Sutherland at (202) 586-6264.