PAPERS Survey

Welcome to the Public Awareness Program Effectiveness Research Survey (PAPERS) Summary Website

Overview of the PAPERS Program

Public Awareness Program Effectiveness Research Survey (PAPERS)

The Public Awareness Program Effectiveness Research Survey (PAPERS) is a best-in-class method for pipeline operators to improve their public awareness programs and follow the requirements of API Recommended Practice (RP) 1162, Public Awareness Programs for Pipeline Operators.

PAPERS was developed by API (American Petroleum Institute), LEPA (Liquid Energy Pipeline Association), and INGAA (the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America) as a robust, uniform, and cost-effective mechanism for satisfying all of the requirements of the Program Evaluation section of RP 1162.

This joint survey program is designed for transmission pipeline companies and is conducted every two years.

Download the 2025 Sign-up form (PDF, 328Kb)

By joining the project companies will:

Save costs for meeting the requirements of RP 1162 because of the economies of scale

Be able to trend and track changes in pipeline awareness over time, as well as to gauge the impact of awareness campaigns on public awareness

Have the ability to benchmark against aggregate results from other participants as opposed to just your own numbers

Receive analytical support in advance of inspections and audits, as well as have an expert analytical resource to support the development and enhancement of company-specific public awareness campaigns

Receive draft responses for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Inspection Questions by providing the survey methodology and results

Be assured that results and the survey are approved by API as well as the other associations

What Operators Are Saying About PAPERS

 

The PAPERS program was the best way to get an overview of our Public Awareness program and its effectiveness; especially through the lenses of someone who sees numerous other sets of data from other operators.

The time taken to go over the data and the team's availability at the drop of a hat to answer questions is invaluable. This team takes an overwhelming amount of information and personalizes it to your program so you can see where the gaps are and can determine the future direction for a better tomorrow.

Liquid Transmission Operator

 

The PAPERS cycle provides an effective methodology for pipeline operators to survey critical external audience groups and improve their public awareness programs.

PAPERS offers exceptional cost-effectiveness through its economy of scale compared with satisfying the requirements of RP 1162 on a one-off basis and sufficiently prepares an operator for a public awareness audit.

Public Awareness Manager,
Liquids Transmission Operator

 

LOOP has been participating in API PAPERS since 2011 and the study has provided significant value to the company's public awareness program.

The PAPERS survey and reporting allows opportunity to benchmark the company's program against peer operators and the overall industry, while continuously searching for improvement opportunities to better engage stakeholders. Participation in PAPERS has also added value in detailing company programs to agency partners as it demonstrates commitment to public safety and exceeding regulatory requirements.

LOOP LLC

 

PAPERS has provided Enbridge the data sets necessary to thoroughly understand how critical safety messaging is resonating with audiences across the country.

This industry initiative helps to control costs while also providing optionality such as measuring select metrics against our peers, something a standalone study would not provide. This, coupled with a thorough analysis and counsel from CCMC, helps our Public Awareness program continually improve while also providing valuable input for other departments that collaborate with Public Awareness.

Kevin Jenkins, Public Awareness Manager, Enbridge

Fielding Methodology

The data collection methodology used for the PAPERS program is designed to maximize the amount of data collected while minimizing any measurement error from the survey responses – all in a manner that is most respondent-centric for survey respondents and budget conscious for program participants.

Affected Public

For the Affected Public, direct mail methodology is used, with an option to participate using an online instrument.

Additional Audiences

For the three Additional Audiences (i.e., Emergency Officials, Public Officials and Excavators), a telephone methodology is used.

Sampling Approach

To provide the most accurate and robust survey results, the desired sampling frame for the Affected Public and Additional Audiences are based on the database used to fulfill an operator's pipeline awareness campaign. With this information, a sufficient number of potential respondents are randomly selected to complete the survey.

The determination of sample size depends on the size of the operator and the number of completed responses desired. A minimum target quota, designed to provide sufficient levels of precision to draw conclusions regarding the levels of effort and success in meeting the regulatory requirements of RP1162, has been developed and applied. Nevertheless, given the best-in-class methodology, the vast majority of participants in the PAPERS program exceed these minimum target quotas (often by levels of 2x, 3x, or 4x+).

The PAPERS sampling structure also allows for oversampling in case a participating operator wants to obtain additional completes for either specific target areas or across the entire pipeline.

Reporting & Analysis

The PAPERS program allows quantifiable measurements over time so that participating pipeline operators have a tool to help understand successes or barriers of the instituted programs. Using a secure reporting portal, companies can review their individual survey results in the form of compliance metrics, including national, regional and other peer group-based benchmark comparisons in order to assess awareness metrics for each of the target survey audience groups.

Companies can apply the findings from the PAPERS program to guide any future improvements in the company's public awareness program.

Reports Overview

The study provides a range of standard, customized and online reports.


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In order to fulfill the objective of providing conclusions and recommendations, an Aggregate Report will be produced displaying the results of all study metrics to identify key findings, trends, and implications across companies.

This cross-company report will fulfill two objectives. First, it will provide a set of universal themes that should be considered for public awareness policy making purposes. Second, it will provide a proper context for understanding and differentiating the results obtained at the individual company level.

To support this Aggregate Report, multiple telephonic briefings with the participating companies to review the findings will be conducted, designed to "connect the dots" between the results, actions, and improved public awareness.

 

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Using the Aggregate Report findings as a guidepost, Company-Specific Reports will be provided. This report will provide operator-specific results for both the current year and trended over time and benchmarked against the industry.

This report will contain operator-specific key findings, trends, and implications which will be shared during a 90-minute telephone or on-site briefing.

 

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In order to assist with PHMSA's reporting compliance, a Compliance Report will be produced for each participating pipeline company.

This report will contain the findings that directly address the Liquid (195.440) and Gas (192.616) Pipeline Public Awareness PHMSA reporting requirements (with the 195.440 and 192.616 language being linked to the relevant results). If available, the most recent two years of historical data will be included in this report to illustrate trending.

This Compliance report will also provide ready-made draft responses to PHMSA Form 21 Questions 18 – 21 to help operators save time and accurately communicate PAPERS results during regulatory inspections.

These responses answer questions such as:

  • What data collection methodology was used to support the effectiveness evaluation?
  • How did operator determine the sample size?
  • What are the operator's Margin Of Error calculations?
  • What was the sampling source used to pull the sample?
  • How successful was the data collection outreach?
  • What percentage of stakeholder audiences understand and retain the key pipeline awareness messaging?
  • Do stakeholder audiences understand appropriate preventative, response and mitigative behaviors?

The report structure is static across all participating companies and will contain just the participating company's results.

 

Download the 2025 Sign-up form (PDF, 328Kb)

Participants

PAPERS is applicable to all operators.
Historically, PAPERS participants range from the largest operators with tens of thousands of miles of assets to very small operators with a limited geographic footprint.

BP Pipelines North America

CHS Inc.

Enbridge

Energy Transfer

Enterprise Products

Explorer Pipeline

Exxon Mobil Pipeline Co.

Flint Hills Resources

LOOP / LOCAP LLC

Magellan Midstream Partners

Marathon Pipe Line LLC

ONEOK, Inc.

Pembina

Phillips 66 Pipeline LLC

Plains Pipeline

Portland Pipe Line Corporation

TC Energy

Williams

 

Boardwalk Pipeline, LP

BP Pipelines North America

CHS Inc.

Colonial Pipeline

Enbridge

Enterprise Products

Explorer Pipeline

Exxon Mobil Pipeline Co.

Kinder Morgan

LOOP / LOCAP LLC

Magellan Midstream Partners

Marathon Pipe Line LLC

Pembina

Phillips 66 Pipeline LLC

Plains All American Pipeline LP

TC Energy

 

BP Pipelines North America

Centurion Pipeline, L.P.

CHS Inc.

Colonial Pipeline

Enable Midstream Partners, LP

Enbridge

Energy Transfer

Enterprise Products

Explorer Pipeline

Exxon Mobil Pipeline Co.

Kinder Morgan

LOOP / LOCAP LLC

ONEOK, Inc.

Pembina Pipeline Corporation

Phillips 66 Pipeline LLC

Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.

Portland Pipe Line Corporation

Magellan Midstream Partners

Marathon Pipe Line LLC

Shell Pipeline Company LP

Williams

 

Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP

BP Pipeline North America, Inc.

CHS Inc.

Colonial Pipeline Company

Enable Midstream Partners

Enbridge

Energy Transfer

Enterprise Partners Operating LLC

Explorer Pipeline

ExxonMobil Pipeline Company

Kinder Morgan

LOOP LLC / LOCAP LLC

Magellan Midstream Partners

Marathon Pipe Line

Pembina Pipeline Corporation

Phillips 66 Company

Plains All American Pipeline

Shell Oil Companies

Wolverine Pipe Line Company

 

BP Pipelines NA

Buckeye Partners, L.P.

Chevron Pipe Line Company

CHS Inc.

Colonial Pipeline

Enbridge Energy Partners

Energy Transfer

Enterprise Partners Operating LLC

Explorer Pipeline

ExxonMobil Pipeline

Interstate Energy Co.

LOOP, LLC

Magellan Midstream Partners

Marathon Pipe Line LLC

Oneok Partners

Phillips 66

Plains All American Pipeline LP

Portland Pipe Line Corp.

SemGroup

Shell Pipeline Company LP

Wolverine Pipe Line Co.

 

Colonial Pipeline

Boardwalk Pipeline Partners

Enbridge

Enterprise Products

Explorer Pipeline

ExxonMobil Pipeline

Kinder Morgan

LOOP LLC

Magellan Midstream Partners

Marathon Pipe Line LLC

Plains All American Pipeline LP

Interstate Energy Co.

Sunoco Pipeline L.P.

Spectra Energy

Wolverine Pipe Line Co.

 

BP Pipelines North America

CenterPoint Energy

Chevron Pipe Line Company

Colonial Pipeline

Energy Transfer/Panhandle Energy

Enbridge

Enterprise Partners Operating LLC

Explorer Pipeline

ExxonMobil Pipeline

Kern River Pipeline

LOOP LLC

Magellan Midstream Partners

Marathon Pipe Line LLC

Oneok Partners, LLC

PG & E

Phillips66 Pipeline LLC

Plains All American Pipeline LP

Portland Pipe Line Corp.

PPL Interstate Energy Co.

SemGroup Corp

Shell Pipeline Company LP

Spectra Energy

Suncor Energy

Sunoco Pipeline LP

Wolverine Pipe Line Co.

 

BP Pipelines NA

Centerpoint Energy Gas Transmission

Colonial Pipeline

ConocoPhillips

Dixie Pipeline Company

Enbridge

Enterprise Crude Pipeline LLC

Enterprise Products Operating LLC

Explorer Pipeline

Gulf Crossing Pipeline Co.

Gulf South Pipeline Co. LP

Kinder Morgan

Koch Pipeline Company

LOOP

Marathon Pipe Line

Nustar Energy LP

Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

Panhandle Energy

Plains All American Pipeline LP

PPL Interstate Energy Co.

Spectra Energy

Texas Gas Transmission LLC

 

Buckeye

Center Point Energy

Chevron

Colonial

CononcoPhillips

Countrymark

Dixie

Enbridge

Enterprise

Explorer

ExxonMobil

Kern River

LOOP

Magellan Midstream Partners

Marathon

Oneok Partners

Panhandle Energy

Plains Pipeline

Portland Montreal Pipeline

PPL Interstate Energy Co.

SemGroup

Shell

Suncor

TEPPCO

TransCanada

Wolverine Pipe Line Company

 

BP

Buckeye

Chevron Pipeline

Colonial

Conoco Phillips Pipeline

Enbridge Energy Partners

Explorer

ExxonMobil Pipeline

Gulf South

Kinder Morgan Pipeline

Koch Pipeline

Marathon Petroleum

Marathon Pipe Line Co.

Magellan Pipeline Company

Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

PG & E

Plains All American

PPL Interstate Energy Co.

Spectra Energy USA

Suncor Energy Pipeline

Texas Gas Transmission

TransCanada

 

Interested In Participating In The 2025 PAPERS Study?

For additional information or to register for 2025 PAPERS please contact Sam Minifie.

Download the 2025 Sign-up form (PDF, 328Kb)

The PAPERS program provides robust, uniform, and cost-effective mechanism for satisfying all of the requirements of the Program Evaluation section of RP 1162.

Study Costs

Consistent with the scoping in previous years, base product costs are based on three potential profiles of participating companies, the smallest of which is 13 participating companies (10 large companies and 3 small companies). Historically, between 15 and 26 operators have participated in each years' study, though if fewer than this minimum number of companies participate in this study the total costs (excluding data collection costs) will be redistributed among the participating companies.

Click to download the 2025 Sign-up form for further details

Sign-up form (PDF, 328Kb)

Base Product Costs

The Base Product Costs will be reduced as more operators participate in PAPERS.

Base Product Cost 10 Large / 3 Small 15 Large / 5 Small 20 Large / 6 Small
Total Cost Per Small Company 1 $32,281 $29,307 $27,885
Total Cost Per Large Company 2 $54,824 $48,557 $46,431

1 Small Company ≤ 500 miles of total pipeline
2 Large Company > 500 miles of total pipeline

Optional Features Costs (Regardless of company size)

Optional Features Costs Small / Large
Company
Custom company-specific ranking report $1,108
Custom company-specific reporting (PowerPoint report and Microsoft Teams or join.me briefing) $5,177
Custom company-specific reporting (PowerPoint and on-site briefing) $6,967+ travel expenses
Oversampling of Affected Public (per 25 additional completes) $1,591
Oversampling of Public Officials (per 1 additional complete) $65
Oversampling of Emergency Officials (per 1 additional complete) $54
Oversampling of Excavators (per 1 additional complete) $110

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should participate in the PAPERS program?

Operators looking to meet the requirements of the Program Evaluation section of RP 1162 can utilize PAPERS - a robust, uniform, and cost-effective program – as part of these efforts.
PAPERS is designed for transmission pipeline companies.

What can the PAPERS program tell a company?

The results from this study will enable participants to answer key questions posed as part of RP 1162, such as:

  • Is the information reaching the intended stakeholder audiences?
  • Are the recipients understanding the messages delivered?
  • Are the recipients motivated to respond appropriately in alignment with the information provided?

The answers to these key questions will help a company determine where and how its public awareness program can be improved. The PAPERS program provides each company with its own results and the aggregated results of all other companies participating in the same survey round. The two data sets allow companies to compare their individual performances against an "industry" average.

How many responses must be tallied for a completed survey?

Depending on company size, a minimum of either 400 or 235. These target quotas were designed to provide sufficient levels of precision to draw conclusions regarding the levels of effort and success in meeting the regulatory requirements of RP1162. Given the best-in-class methodology, the vast majority of participants in the PAPERS program have historically exceeded these minimum target quotas (often by levels of 2x, 3x, or 4x+).

When is the next PAPERS study scheduled to be conducted?

PAPERS is conducted every two years and was fielded in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023. The 2025 PAPERS study is scheduled to be fielded in August, 2025.

When is the signup deadline for participating in the 2025 PAPERS program?

Operators interested in participating in the 2025 PAPERS program should contact Sam Minifie as soon as possible. The deadline for participation is April, 2025.

Who is sponsoring the PAPERS program?

API, LEPA and INGAA developed and support the PAPERS program. Customer Care Measurement & Consulting (CCMC), a survey research firm with over 40 years of experience, has administered the PAPERS study since 2009.

CCMC's vast knowledge and expertise in designing / implementing survey, analyzing data and converting survey results into actionable insights allows operators to have a ready-made, turnkey quantitative evaluation of the their program.

Who should I contact to take part in PAPERS?

Companies interested in participating in future surveys should contact Sam Minifie (202-682-8407 or MinifieS@api.org). He can provide information about how the program works, including services offered and costs.

Program Sponsors

API, LEPA and INGAA developed and supported the PAPERS program.