Survey Forms

FAQs for Survey Form 914

General

Why does my company have to submit its data to EIA? We already submit our data to the states in which we operate.

EIA requires accurate production data for publication or use in other EIA products within two months after the production month. Only 3 or 4 states out of 36 can provide complete and correct data within this time frame. Therefore, EIA endeavors to make accurate estimates of what the states will eventually report as final production. To do this we use statistically engineered data collection forms like the EIA-914, which is based on a statistical sample data set.

Is reporting data on Form EIA-914 mandatory?

For those companies identified as respondents, yes, reporting is mandatory based on the Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974, Public Law 93-275.

Does Form EIA-914 replace any EIA form that I currently submit to EIA?

No. This form does not replace any other EIA survey.

If our company submits oil volumes on the EIA-813, does the EIA-914 replace the need to submit the EIA-813?

You should continue to submit the EIA-813 report. The EIA-813 is not currently available in the Data xChange Portal, so you must continue to submit the EIA-813 as you have in the past.

If I report oil volumes on the EIA-813, do I also have to report oil volumes on the EIA-914?

Yes. The EIA-813 collects stocks/inventories of crude oil. The EIA-914 collects production and sales from wells/leases. Reporting on both forms is not a duplication of reporting. If you currently report on the EIA-813 you must continue reporting crude oil stocks/inventories as before. On Form EIA-914, crude oil and lease condensate production is required in Part 3, and sales by API gravity category are required in Part 4.

What parts of Form EIA-914 are new?

The title of the survey is now Monthly Crude Oil and Lease Condensate, and Natural Gas Production Report.

Do you request the same data information from oil purchasers as well as operators?

No. Oil purchasers are surveyed using Form EIA-182, which is used to calculate a weighted-average first purchase price for various crude oil streams. Purchased volumes are included on the EIA-182 to allow the calculation of the weighted-average price.

What will the information collected be used for?

Generally, EIA will use the information to estimate state-level oil and natural gas production and production by API gravity category. These estimates will be reported on EIA’s website, used in several EIA reports, and support EIA forecasting activities. These estimates are also used by other federal government and state agencies, congress, industry analysts, and academia.

What is the purpose of reporting oil sales per API gravity category?

The purpose is to gather more complete and current information about the changing quality of U.S. crude oil and lease condensate production in general and also regionally. Ultimately, this information will improve EIA reporting and forecasting, and will inform related public debates on topics such as refining capacity, crude oil imports and exports, and legislative initiatives.

If a state is not listed separately on the survey, how do we report that volume?

If you have production in a state that is not listed separately, report the oil and gas volumes in the "Other States" category. Do not include Alaska production in the "Other States." Alaska production should not be included anywhere on the form.

Why doesn’t EIA gather these data from the states or the BSEE to which the operators have already submitted in one form or another?

Some states take several months and as much as two years to report “complete” (final) data, rendering these data of limited usefulness for current months. Only three or four states report final data in a sufficiently timely manner. EIA is collecting data from a sample of roughly 400 out of 10 - 12,000 currently active operators. Data from this relatively small number of operators makes it possible to generate statistically sound estimates of production within two months of the production month.

Selection of Respondent Companies

How does EIA identify companies that must respond to Form EIA-914?

Generally, the companies in the top 85 percent in terms of production for a state for either crude oil and lease condensate, or natural gas are identified as respondents. More information is available in Supporting Statement B for Form EIA-914, which is available on the U.S. Office of Management and Budget’s website at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewDocument?ref_nbr=201709-1905-001.
EIA-914 methodology.

My company does not currently report EIA-914 data, will we have to report?

Only if EIA has informed your company that it must report.

Why do small companies have to report at all --- can companies opt out?

EIA strongly attempts to limit the burden of its reports. The smallest companies of a state (or group of states) are omitted from the set of respondents. However, a few smaller companies are included among the respondents. Fortunately, most small companies also have limited operations, which may be fully reported comparatively simply and at a small cost. Companies that are identified as respondents do not have the option to opt out of the report.

Reporting Deadlines

What is the reporting deadline?

Your company's deadline for reporting is forty days after the end of the report month. For example, December 2017 production will be due to EIA on February 9, 2018. If the 40th day falls on a weekend or Federal holiday, the data must be submitted by the next business day.

My company does not currently report EIA-914 data, when does my company begin reporting?

When you are selected you will be told what month to begin reporting production for. Your report will be due 40 days after the end of that production month.

My company does not have the information required on the Form EIA-914 before the due date. Can we get an extension?

No, but the reporting of reasonable estimates is encouraged if necessary to meet the due date.

If we make an estimate every month because the data are not available by the deadline, and the variance is less than your stated difference standards (that is, the variance is 1,000 barrels of oil or less for oil, or 150 million cubic feet or less of natural gas), can we let our company's originally submitted data report stand?

Yes. However, revisions are welcome.

Survey Definitions

What units should I use to report the production volumes?

Report the monthly natural gas volumes in million cubic feet (MMCF) and the monthly crude oil and lease condensate volumes in barrels (BBLS).

What if I don't know what my company's lease production (sales) natural gas volumes are?

Gas gross withdrawals is the gas that comes off the separator/heater treater. Lease production (sales) is the gas volume that leaves the lease. The two volumes can be the same if there is nothing happening to the gas between these two points. If there is any venting, flaring, injection, fuel use, or processing of the gas to remove CO2 or H2S on the lease, then the lease production (sales) volume is less than the gross withdrawals. Both the gross withdrawals and lease production (sales) may not be measured or metered. Sometimes gas is only measured at one place, that being as the gas leaves the lease. If no reasonable estimates can be made for venting, flaring, injection, fuel use, or processing of the gas that may happen on the lease, then gross withdrawals and lease production (sales) can be the same. Often the meter that measures the gas as it leaves the lease (lease production or sales meter) is owned by a pipeline company. The pipeline company can provide the lease production (sales) volumes to you. As mentioned above, gross withdrawals of gas can be equal to the lease production (sales) or greater depending on what happens between the separator and the pipeline meter.

At what pressure base should the gas volumes be reported?

Gas production volumes should be reported at a standard pressure of 14.73 psia and a standard temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Our pressure base is different from the 14.73 psia cited in the form. Should I just note this in the comments section of the form?

No. Convert your natural gas volumes to a pressure base of 14.73 psia. To do this, calculate a pressure adjustment factor for your data in each state. This adjustment factor is the value of your pressure base divided by 14.73. Multiply your natural gas volumes by the appropriate state pressure adjustment factor and report the resulting values. For example, if your pressure base is 15.025 psia, your pressure adjustment factor will be 15.025/14.73 = 1.02. Gas volumes should always be reported at a standard temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit. If you need assistance with this calculation, please call 1-855-EIA-4USA (1-855-342-4872) or email EIA-914@eia.gov.

How do I convert thousand cubic feet to million cubic feet? My company collects natural gas volumes in thousand cubic feet (mcf), but EIA asks me to report million cubic feet (mmcf).

Divide by 1,000. For example, if your company’s gross withdrawals during the reporting month were 123,456 mcf, then you would report 123 mmcf (i.e., 123,456 ÷ 1,000). However, if your company’s gross withdrawals during the reporting month were 123,546 mcf, then you would report 124 mmcf (i.e., 123,546 ÷ 1,000). Please round and report to the nearest whole MMCF. Do not include any decimal or fraction of an MMCF.

For oil, do we report production or sales?

You may report either sales or production volumes, whichever is easier for your company, when reporting API gravity volumes in Part 4. In Part 3, however, you should report production volumes.

What volumes should I report in the API gravity categories?

Report the total crude oil and lease condensate volumes (in barrels) sold during the reporting month that fall within each API gravity category for the state/area in which the production occurred. If it is easier for your company to report production volumes by API gravity category than sales volumes, please do so and indicate this in the comments section for the relevant areas in Section 4.2.

What if the volumes I report in the API gravity categories do not match my reported production volumes?

EIA understands that company reported sales volumes by API gravity category will not exactly match its reported production in Part 3. However, we anticipate that the differences will tend to be relatively small. We also understand that if produced volumes are small and, therefore, sales are infrequent, there will be discrepancies between Parts 3 and 4. If an unusual or unexpected event results in an unusually large difference between production volumes and sales volume by API category, then please provide an explanation in Section 4.2 for the relevant state or area.

What if I don't know what the API gravity is?

Report the total crude oil and lease condensate volumes sold/produced during the reporting month for which the API gravity is unknown in the "Unknown" category for the state or area in which the production occurred. We anticipate that the volumes reported in this category will be negligible. The information on run tickets or sales receipts usually includes API gravity. However, if the documents fail to include API gravity, then you may be able to obtain the gravity information from the purchaser.

How do I convert the measured API gravity and oil volume to an API gravity and volume at 60 degrees Fahrenheit?

The standard conversion method is found in the API Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards, Chapter 11.1. Revenue accounting software used by most of the industry automatically includes this conversion of gravity and volume to 60 degrees. Smaller companies may not have access to these accounting software programs. Where these programs are not in use and the API Manual is not available, the website http://www.thermotab.net/TAB/main.aspx, for example, can be used to generate a set of correction tables that can be used to convert the API gravity and oil volume to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The website is listed as an example and is not an endorsement. Other sources for temperature conversion that are based on the API Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards, Chapter 11.1 may also be used. Also, the oil volume should be reduced for basic/bottom sediment and water (BS&W;).

Do I calculate the average API gravity of all my production in a single state and report the total state volume in a single category?

No, do not average your volumes. Report the total volume (after adjusting the measured API gravity to a gravity at 60-degrees Fahrenheit) for each category that falls within each state. The following example may make this clear. (Sales volumes should be adjusted for basic/bottom sediment and water (BS&W;)).

For the reporting period, Operator X has 5,000 barrels sold in Arkansas as reported on their run tickets. Of those 5,000 barrels sold, 2,500 barrels have an API gravity of 34 and 2,500 barrels have an API gravity of 36.

For the reporting period, Operator X has another 3,000 barrels sold in California as reported on their run tickets. These 3,000 barrels are from one well in California. However, 1,500 of these barrels are reported on the run tickets as having an API gravity of 39. The remaining 1,500 barrels, from the same well, are reported as having an API gravity of 41.

Operator X has no sales in Ohio during the reporting period.

Operator X operates many wells in Texas. Operator X groups all of their Texas run tickets by these API gravity categories and then sums them for each API gravity category. For the reporting period, Operator X reports 40,000 barrels in the 20.1-25.0 API gravity category, 60,000 barrels in the 30.1-35.0 API gravity category, 30,000 barrels in the 35.1-40.0 API gravity category, 40,000 barrels in the 40.1-45.0 API gravity category, and 2,000 barrels in the greater than 55.0 API gravity category, for a total of 172,000 barrels in Texas.

This is how Operator X would complete the table.

State/Region	API Gravity Categories
State/Region	Less Than or Equal to 20.0	20.1-25.0	25.1-30.0	30.1-35.0	35.1-40.0	40.1-45.0	45.1-50.0	50.1-55.0	Greater than 55.0	Unknown
Arkansas				2,500	2,500
California					1,500	1,500
Ohio
Texas		40,000		60,000	30,000	40,000			2,000

We operate wells in New Mexico and Texas. Can you elaborate on API gravity categories? We know what the API gravity is, but are not familiar with your terminology.

API gravity categories are ranges of API gravity. Rather than reporting the specific API gravity and volumes of individual run tickets, companies are asked to sum the volumes of oil sales (or production, if that is easier for a company to report) within each category for each geographic area and report those summed volumes. Typically, a company would sort and group its run tickets by the API gravity categories on the form, sum them by category, and then report these sums.

Is there a threshold we need to meet before crude and condensate needs to be reported?

No. In Parts 2 and 3, you should report oil and gas production for all states/areas where you have operated properties. If there is no production from your operated properties in a particular month, report zero for that month. If there are no operated properties in an area, leave the cell blank for that area. In Part 4, if you have no sales from any state/area where you have operated properties for an API gravity category, leave the category blank; do not enter zero.

Under what circumstances should I enter a comment?

Comments should be entered when there is a large or unusual change from month to month. There is no "official rule" or a specific definition of what constitutes a large or unusual change in production. All comments are appreciated and providing comments can minimize follow up phone calls and emails from EIA.

Do we have to report zeros for states in which we have one phase produced, but not the other? For example, we have gas produced in Texas, but no oil at all. Does Texas oil have to be reported as zero, or left blank?

In Parts 2 and 3, for any state/area where you have operated properties, you should report a volume for both gas and oil production even if the volume is zero. For any state/area where you have no operated properties, leave both the gas and oil production blank. In Part 4, for any state/area where you have operated properties but no sales leave blank (do not report a zero). Also leave blank any state/area where you have no operated properties.

Company and Contact Information

Should I inform EIA of a change in the contact person in our company for Form EIA-914?

Yes. Please inform us as soon as possible of any change in the name, phone number, email address, etc., of the contact person of your company for Form EIA-914. The designated contact should be the person who can answer questions about the data your company reports. You may send an email with the contact information for the new contact to eia4usa@eia.gov, or telephone 1-855-EIA-4USA (1-855-342-4872) and leave a message containing the information.

Should I inform EIA about a change in operatorship?

Yes. A change in operatorship would be reported under question 1.7 or 1.8, depending on whether the change is due to an acquisition or divestiture. If the operatorship is transferred to a newly formed subsidiary/affiliate company, it may also be reported under question 1.9 if your company continues to report for that subsidiary/affiliate.

Should I inform EIA if our company is sold, merged with another company, or buys another production company?

Yes, if the transaction causes a change in your reported production of more than 150 million cubic feet of natural gas, or more than 1000 barrels of crude oil and lease condensate per month. Please inform us as soon as possible of any such changes in your business. Please also list the other companies involved in these transactions in Item 1.7 and/or 1.8 on your next form submission. Also, list the other company involved in any acquisition or sale of producing properties (not an entire company) in item 1.7 and/or 1.8. Also, list the states where the properties are located. Please remember to list any affiliated or subsidiary companies included in your monthly report in Item 1.9.

Should I report acquisitions and/or divestitures above the 1,000 bbl/150 MMCF per month thresholds?

Yes, if the net effect of all acquisitions and divestitures for a particular month is greater than 1,000 barrels or 150 mmcf per month for a state, federal Gulf of Mexico, or “Other States,” then report information about the acquisitions and divestitures in Sections 1.7 and 1.8. Transactions resulting in lesser changes are also welcome but not required.

Do I include new wells added and wells that have been plugged in questions 1.7 and 1.8?

These questions are concerned only with bought and sold properties, properties you acquired from another company or sold to another company. New wells added from drilling and wells that have been plugged and abandoned should not be included in these questions. However, these changes can be noted in the state/line comments for Sections 2 and 3.

What about differences due to new wells coming online?

This information should be included in the comments box for Sections 2, 3, and 4 and for relevant geographic area(s). Comments are encouraged to explain changes in reported volumes. Providing additional information with comments can prevent follow-up phone calls from EIA.

Assistance Completing the Survey

Where is lease condensate reported on EIA-914?

Lease condensate is combined with crude oil and reported in parts 3 (crude oil and lease condensate production volumes) and 4 (crude oil and lease condensate production/sales by API category) of EIA-914.

What definition for lease condensate should I use for reporting on EIA-914?

Use whatever definition your company already uses for state reporting. If the definitions are different across the states in which your company has operated production, then use the relevant state definition for reporting condensate on EIA-914. Crude oil and lease condensate should be combined on Form EIA-914.

Does "Lease Condensate" as defined also include drip condensate that is derived by pigging gathering system lines each night?

If the state requires that drip condensate from gathering systems be allocated back to the lease/well and reported to the state as wellhead/lease production, then include it in the oil and condensate volumes reported on the EIA-914. If the state does not require the drip condensate to be included in wellhead or lease production reporting to the state, then exclude it from the volumes reported on the EIA-914. Use the same definition(s) of “Lease Condensate” that you use for your company’s state reporting.

Where is state offshore production reported on the EIA-914?

Offshore production in state waters, for both oil and gas, should be included in the total state production. Federal offshore Gulf of Mexico production is reported separately. Federal Offshore Pacific is included in Other States.

May I report a negative volume?

No. Do not report any negative values on any part of Form EIA-914.

Should I report a volume of zero?

If operated properties in any states or area produce no crude oil and lease condensate, or natural gas, a value of zero (0) should be reported for that state or area in Parts 2 and 3. If there are no operated properties in a state or area, leave the cell blank for that area. In Part 4 leave the cell blank if there are no operated properties or no sales of oil and condensate from operated properties.

What if our gas wells don't produce enough volume to be recorded as 1 mmcf?

Report 0 (zero) if your production does not round to 1 mmcf per month.

Do sections 3 and 4 have to balance? If we report oil production in section 3 and oil sales by API gravity in section 4, then the totals may not balance.

No. EIA understands that production and sales for a given time period are unlikely to match exactly. However, you may be able to avoid follow up phone calls and emails if you explain a large difference in a comment box.

I have questions about the form. How do I request help?

If you have any questions about this U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) survey after reading the instructions, please contact the EIA Survey Support Team Contact Center at 1-855-EIA-4USA (1-855-342-4872) or send an email to eia4usa@eia.gov.

How can I avoid getting calls from EIA asking about my data?

File the form on time.

Allocate "accounting adjustments," "prior period adjustments," or "accrual entries" to the months in which the production or sales actually occurred.

Do not report any negative values.

Do not report any decimal fractions for gas volumes or oil volumes

Examine your form carefully and ensure that all information is entered on the correct line.

Use the comment sections of the form to explain large changes in your company's reported production volumes including sales and acquisitions.

Inform EIA as soon as possible of any change in the name, phone number, email, etc., of the contact person for Form EIA-914. The designated contact should be the person who can answer questions about the data you report.

Submission Assistance

How does my company submit Form EIA-914 data?

Companies that must submit EIA-914 data will receive the required credentials and information on the methods of reporting that are available at least one month prior to their initial data submission. Instructional videos are available on EIA’s YouTube channel. This video series walks users through the use of the EIA Data xChange Portal (i.e., where respondents will submit their 914 data), including how to submit data, how to contact EIA, and how to find answers to questions.

The form must be submitted to EIA via electronic filing using the Data xChange Portal. Two options to submit data are available. Please contact EIA at 1-855-EIA-4USA (1-855-342-4872) or eia4usa@eia.gov if you need assistance submitting your data.

Secure File Upload: You may upload the required data securely to the Data xChange Portal using the pre-formatted PDF file layout provided by EIA in the Data xChange Portal. Any other formats or file types will not be accepted. Follow the instructions found on the Data xChange Portal to securely upload your file. We recommend downloading a new blank PDF form every month from the Data xChange Portal.

Web Form: You may enter the required data manually via a web form directly into the Data xChange Portal. The Web Form is the preferred method of submission. Follow the instructions found on the Data xChange Portal to complete the online form.

How will I learn how to submit data via EIA's Data xChange Portal?

Training is available via EIA's YouTube Channel to assist with the training of new companies or refresher training for incumbent contacts. You can always contact EIA for assistance at eia4usa@eia.gov or call 1-855-EIA-4USA (1-855-342-4872).

What is the campaign name?

You will have a list of available campaigns to report under when you log into the Data xChange Portal. The report month is part of the campaign name. Resubmissions are reported using an "Other Campaign." Additional information is available by sending an email to eia4usa@eia.gov, or by calling 1-855-EIA-4USA (1-855-342-4872).

May the oil or gas volumes be submitted separately?

Contact EIA at eia4usa@eia.gov or 1-855-EIA-4USA (1-855-342-4872) for instructions on how oil and gas production may be reported separately.

Where are oil sales submitted (web or PDF)?

Oil sales may be submitted with either the web form or the PDF form in the Data xChange Portal.

If we forget to report a state's production but previously had production in that state, will we get an error message?

No. You will not get an immediate automated message or notification for this kind of error. You will get some notification later from a data analyst asking for an explanation.

How do I print my submissions?

Respondents have the ability to download Accepted data submissions. After you have made your final submission to EIA, and it is accepted, you can download and save or print a copy for your records.
Follow these steps to access your Accepted data submission:

Log in to the Data xChange Portal, and navigate to Accepted Campaigns at the bottom of the Home screen.
Click on the link "View Submission" to open the submitted file.
Click on "Download Submission" to download the PDF file to your local PC and/or print a copy for your records.

Revisions

Should I report revised data?

Yes. Submit a revised report as soon as possible if your reported data for any state, "Other States," or the federal Gulf of Mexico, changes by more than +/- 150 mmcf per month for either or both of the previous two months for the gross withdrawals or lease production in Part 2, or more than +/- 1000 barrels per month for either or both of the previous two months for the oil and condensate volumes reported in Part 3 (crude oil and lease condensate production) or Part 4 (API gravity). Note that the threshold for reporting revised API gravity information applies to the total state volume reported.

What do I report when I report revised data?

Submit a complete form, including revised and unrevised values. This applies to changes in the values of natural gas Gross Withdrawals and/or Lease Production, Crude Oil and Lease Condensate Production, and Crude Oil and Lease Condensate volumes reported by API gravity categories for any of the 17 states/areas on the form. When reporting revisions, report volumes for all states/areas, not only those with revised volumes. Report the original data for areas with no corrections and revised data for areas with corrections. Submit a revised report as soon as changes are known.

What reporting system do I use when reporting revised data?

Revised data should be reported using the EIA Data xChange Portal. You must let us know if you need to submit revisions so a campaign can be created for the revised submission.

There is a revision/resubmission threshold for natural gas volumes reported in Part 2 and crude oil and lease condensate volumes reported in Part 3, is there a resubmission threshold for volumes reported in Part 4?

Yes. The crude oil and lease condensate threshold of more than +/- 1000 barrels applies to the total reported volume for each state in Part 4 (that is, the sum of all volumes for all API gravity categories for the state). If the revision to total sales in any state is greater than +/- 1000 barrels for either or both of the prior 2 months, then a revised form should be submitted.

If after submitting a report, a corrected run ticket arrives, do we need to revise our EIA report for that month?

Yes, if the resulting change to the total is more than 1,000 barrels per month for any state/area in which your company operates producing properties. If the change only moves oil to a different API gravity category, please call or email at eia4usa@eia.gov or 1-855-EIA-4USA (1-855-342-4872) for instructions. It may be possible to avoid having to make a resubmission.

EIA-914

Survey form & instructions

Contact: Jeffrey Little,
(202) 586-6284

Phone: 1-877-434-2914 - toll free
Email: oog.eia914@eia.gov
Fax: 1-214-720-6155 - Attn EIA-914