Yes, natural gas wells are very easy to control, and that is why production figures do not tell the complete story.  Also, gas drillers can take option on tracts and then just wait to drill it (this is happening out west right now) so you can't assume that just because the gas is not being drilled, it is not there.

The idea of "flaring" natural gas in this day and age is absolutely barbaric.

Roger Conner  known to you as ThatsItImout

  Flaring is only done while drilling or completingon some wells in the US, or to get rid of H2S or other poisons while refining. Nobody throws away money on purpose, except oilceo's paramour, Paris Hilton or Haliburton on a cost plus govt. contract.(I'm just kidding about Paris, I'm sure her moderation is only exceded by her taste and modesty)
  In Oil and Gas Lease contracts the mineral owners can prevent flaring by requiring the producer to pay for all flared gas at the market price.