The Oil And Gas Information System
Authors: Zareski Gordon K. 
Published: December 2007

The Oil and Gas Information System (OGIS) had its origin in several recent laws and in the National Energy Plan of 1977. The OGIS is responsible for obtaining data needed to develop reliable estimates of reserves and resources, of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids for the United States.

Introduction

In response to the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Congressionally mandated energy data responsibilities, the OGIS is developing a consolidated program to obtain verifiable basic estimates of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids reserves and production for calendar year 1977 and thereafter. By means of proposed Form EIA-23, the OGIS plans to survey domestic operators of oil and gas wells annually to develop credible and verifiable estimates of crude oil and natural gas reserves, to obtain reliable and timely production information, to provide a vehicle for the regular reporting of reserves ownership data, and to identify nonproducing reserves. A program of in-depth validation will be performed on a sample of reserves every year to verify the data collected. The information collected will establish the data base needed to develop reliable production profiles for crude oil and natural gas.

Results of the surveys are to be published annually. These reports will eventually replace reports on United States reserves and production now published by industry associations and those published by other government agencies.

The data on ownership of reserves will aid the Executive Branch, Congress, and Federal agencies in appraising competition in the oil and gas industry. Similarly, information on nonproducing reserves will be useful in considering what legislative or regulatory actions may be necessary to increase hydrocarbon supplies. Finally, the data acquired will be used intensively by Department of Energy analysts in assessing the United States' energy position.

Legislative authority for collecting information on production, reserves, and ownership of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and its Outer Continental Shelf is contained in the Department of Energy Organization Act (DOEA, Public Law 95-91), the Federal Energy Administration Act (FEAA, Public Law 93-275), as amended by the Energy Conservation and Production Act (ECPA, Public Law 94-385) and the Natural Gas Act (NGA, Public Law 75-688).

Description of Survey Plan

The universe of respondents is that of all operators of oil and gas wells located in the United States and its Outer Continental Shelf. Operators whose production during the report year was less than 200,000 barrels (&lt;31,797.5 m3) of crude oil, and at the same time whose production of natural as was less than one billion cubic feet (&lt;28,316,850 m3), will only report total operated crude oil and natural gas production and, when available from existing records, total operated crude oil and natural gas reserves, by state and certain geographical regions. Respondents will be selected from this group by statistical sampling techniques. An abbreviated form and instructions will be utilized to collect information from these respondents.