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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

x      ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010

 

o         TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from              to             

 

Commission File Number 001-32942

 

EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada

 

41-1781991

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

2500 CityWest Blvd., Suite 1300, Houston, Texas 77042

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

 

(713) 935-0122

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class

 

Name of Each Exchange On Which Registered

Common Stock, $0.001 par value

 

NYSE Amex

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

 

None

(Title of Class)

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes: ¨  No: x

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes: ¨  No: x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes: x  No: o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes: o  No: o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

Large accelerated filer  o

 

Accelerated filer  o

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer  o

 

Smaller reporting company  x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.).  Yes: o  No: x

 

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates on December 31, 2009, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, based on the closing price on that date of $4.37 on the NYSE Amex was $63,301,941.

 

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001, as of September 24, 2010, was 27,441,674.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the proxy statement related to the registrant’s 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed within 120 days of the end of the fiscal year covered by this report are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.

 

 

 



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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

2010 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

Page

PART I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

 

Business

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

 

13

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1B.

 

Unresolved Staff Comments

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

 

Properties

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

28

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

28

 

 

 

 

 

PART II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 5.

 

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

29

 

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

 

Selected Financial Data

 

31

 

 

 

 

 

Item 7.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

32

 

 

 

 

 

Item 7A.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

40

 

 

 

 

 

Item 8.

 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

41

 

 

 

 

 

Item 9.

 

Changes In and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

63

 

 

 

 

 

Item 9A.

 

Controls and Procedures

 

63

 

 

 

 

 

Item 9B.

 

Other Information

 

64

 

 

 

 

 

PART III

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 10.

 

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

 

64

 

 

 

 

 

Item 11.

 

Executive Compensation

 

64

 

 

 

 

 

Item 12.

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

 

64

 

 

 

 

 

Item 13.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

 

64

 

 

 

 

 

Item 14.

 

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

 

64

 

 

 

 

 

PART IV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 15.

 

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

65

 

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This Form 10-K and the information referenced herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigations Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The words “plan,” “expect,” “project,” “estimate,” “assume,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “budget,” “forecast,” “predict” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements appear in a number of places and include statements regarding our plans, beliefs or current expectations, including the plans, beliefs and expectations of our officers and directors. When considering any forward-looking statement, you should keep in mind the risk factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements herein include the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices for oil and natural gas, operating risks and other risk factors as described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Furthermore, the assumptions that support our forward-looking statements are based upon information that is currently available and is subject to change. We specifically disclaim all responsibility to publicly update any information contained in a forward-looking statement or any forward-looking statement in its entirety and therefore disclaim any resulting liability for potentially related damages. All forward-looking statements attributable to Evolution Petroleum Corporation are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

 

We use the terms, “EPM,” “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” to refer to Evolution Petroleum Corporation.

 

GLOSSARY OF SELECTED PETROLEUM TERMS

 

The following abbreviations and definitions are terms commonly used in the crude oil and natural gas industry and throughout this form 10-K:

 

“BBL.” A standard measure of volume for crude oil and liquid petroleum products; one barrel equals 42 U.S. gallons.

 

“BCF.” Billion Cubic Feet of natural gas at standard temperature and pressure.

 

“BOE.” Barrels of oil equivalent. BOE is calculated by converting 6 MCF of natural gas to 1 BBL of oil.

 

“BTU” or “British Thermal Unit.” The standard unit of measure of energy equal to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water 1 degree Fahrenheit. One Bbl of crude is typically 5.8 MMBTU, and one standard MCF is typically one MMBTU.

 

“CO2.” Carbon dioxide, a gas that can be found in naturally occurring reservoirs, typically associated with ancient volcanoes, and also is a major byproduct from manufacturing and power production also utilized in enhanced oil recovery through injection into an oil reservoir.

 

“EOR.” Enhanced Oil Recovery projects involve injection of heat, miscible or immiscible gas, or chemicals into oil reservoirs, typically following full primary and secondary waterflood recovery efforts, in order to gain incremental recovery of oil from the reservoir.

 

“Field ..” An area consisting of a single reservoir or multiple reservoirs all grouped on or related to the same individual geologic structural feature and/or stratigraphic feature. *

 

“Farmout.” Sale or transfer of all or part of the operating rights from the working interest owner (the assignor or farm-out party), to an assignee (the farm-in party) who assumes all or some of the burden of development, in return for an interest in the property. The assignor may retain an overriding royalty or any other type of interest. For Federal tax purposes, a farm-out may be structured as a sale or lease, depending on the specific rights and carved out interests retained by the assignor.

 

“Gross Acres or Gross Wells.” The total acres or number of wells participated in, regardless of the amount of working interest owned.

 

“Horizontal Drilling” Involves drilling horizontally out from a vertical well bore, thereby potentially increasing the area and reach of the well bore that is in contact with the reservoir.

 

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“Hydraulic Fracturing” Involves pumping a fluid with or without particulates into a formation at high pressure, thereby creating fractures in the rock and leaving the particulates in the fractures to ensure that the fractures remain open, thereby potentially increasing the ability of the reservoir to produce oil or gas.

 

“LOE.” Means lease operating expense(s), a current period expense incurred to operate a well.

 

“MBOE.” One thousand barrels of oil equivalent.

 

“MCF.” One thousand cubic feet of natural gas at standard conditions, being approximately sea level pressure and 60 degrees Fahrenheit temperature. Standard pressure in the state of Louisiana is deemed to be 15.025 psi by regulation, but varies in other states.

 

“MMBTU.” One million British thermal units.

 

“MMCF.” One million cubic feet of natural gas at standard temperature and pressure.

 

“Mineral Royalty Interest.” A royalty interest that is retained by the owner of the minerals underlying a lease.  See “Royalty Interest”.

 

“Net Acres or Net Wells.” The sum of the fractional working interests owned in gross acres or gross wells.

 

“NGL.” Natural gas liquids, being the combination of ethane, propane, butane and natural gasolines that can be removed from natural gas through processing, typically through refrigeration plants that utilize low temperatures, or through J-T plants that utilize compression, temperature reduction and expansion to a lower pressure.

 

“NYMEX.” New York Mercantile Exchange.

 

“Operator.”  An oil and gas joint venture participant that manages the joint venture, pays venture costs and bills the venture’s non-operators for their share of venture costs. The operator is also responsible to market all oil and gas production, except for those non-operators who take their production in-kind.

 

“Overriding Royalty Interest or ORRI.” A royalty interest that is created out of the operating or working interest. Unlike a royalty interest, an overriding royalty interest terminates with the operating interest from which it was created or carved out of. See “Royalty Interest”.

 

“Permeability.” The measure of ease with which a fluid can move through a reservoir.

 

“Porosity.” (of sand or sandstone). The relative volume of the pore space (or open area) compared to the total bulk volume of the reservoir.

 

“Probable reserves.” Probable reserves are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than proved reserves but which, together with proved reserves, are as likely as not to be recovered. *

 

“Proved Developed Reserves.” Proved Reserves  that can be expected to be recovered (i) through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods or in which the cost of the required equipment is relatively minor compared to the cost of a new well; and (ii) through installed extraction equipment and infrastructure operational at the time of the reserves estimate if the extraction is by means not involving a well.

 

“Proved Developed Nonproducing Reserves (“PDNP”).” Proved Reserves that have been developed and no material amount of capital expenditures are required to bring on production, but production has not yet been initiated due to timing, markets, or lack of third party completed connection to a gas sales pipeline.

 

“Proved Developed Producing Reserves (“PDP”).” Proved Reserves that have been developed and production has been initiated.

 

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“Proved Reserves.” Estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic, operating methods, and government regulations-prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation. The project to extract the hydrocarbons must have commenced or the operator must be reasonably certain that it will commence the project within a reasonable time. *

 

“Proved Undeveloped Reserves (“PUD”).” Reserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion.

 

(i) Reserves on undrilled acreage shall be limited to those directly offsetting development spacing areas that are reasonably certain of production when drilled, unless evidence using reliable technology exists that establishes reasonable certainty of economic producibility at greater distances.

 

(ii) Undrilled locations can be classified as having undeveloped reserves only if a development plan has been adopted indicating that they are scheduled to be drilled within five years, unless the specific circumstances, justify a longer time.

 

(iii) Under no circumstances shall estimates for undeveloped reserves be attributable to any acreage for which an application of fluid injection or other improved recovery technique is contemplated, unless such techniques have been proved effective by actual projects in the same reservoir or an analogous reservoir or by other evidence using reliable technology establishing reasonable certainty.

 

“PSI,” or pounds per square inch, a measure of pressure. Pressure is typically measured as “psig”, or the pressure in excess of standard atmospheric pressure.

 

“Present Value.” When used with respect to oil and gas reserves, present value means the estimated future net revenues computed by applying current prices of oil and gas reserves (with consideration of price changes only to the extent provided by contractual arrangements) to estimated future production of proved oil and gas reserves as of the date of the latest balance sheet presented, less estimated future expenditures (based on current costs to be incurred in developing and producing the proved reserves) computed using a discount factor and assuming continuation of existing economic conditions.

 

“Productive Well.” A well that is producing oil or gas or that is capable of production.

 

“PV-10.” Means the present value, discounted at 10% per annum, of future net revenues (estimated future gross revenues less estimated future costs of production, development, and asset retirement costs) associated with reserves and is not necessarily the same as market value.  PV-10 does not include estimated future income taxes.  Unless otherwise noted, PV-10 is calculated using the pricing scheme as required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  PV-10 of proved reserves is calculated the same as the Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows, except that the Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows includes future estimated income taxes discounted at 10% per annum.  See the definition of Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows below.

 

“Royalty” or “Royalty Interest.” 1) The mineral owner’s share of oil or gas production (typically between 1/8 and 1/4), free of costs, but subject to severance taxes unless the lessor is a government. In certain circumstances, the royalty owner bears a proportionate share of the costs of making the natural gas saleable, such as processing, compression and gathering. 2) When a royalty interest is coterminous with and carved out of an operating or working interest, it is an “Overriding Royalty Interest,” which also may generically be referred to as a Royalty.

 

“Shut-in Well.” A well that is not on production, but has not yet been plugged and abandoned. Wells may be shut-in in anticipation of future utility as a producing well, plugging and abandonment or other use.

 

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“Standardized Measure.” The Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows is an estimate of future net cash flows associated with proved reserves, discounted at 10% per annum.  Future net cash flows is calculated by reducing future net revenues by estimated future income tax expenses and discounting at 10% per annum.  The Standardized Measure and the PV-10 of proved reserves is calculated in the same exact fashion, except that the Standardized Measure includes future estimated income taxes discounted at 10% per annum.  The determination of Standardized Measured is in accordance with accounting standards generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

 

“Working Interest.” The interest in the oil and gas in place which is burdened with the cost of development and operation of the property.  Also called the operating interest.

 

“Workover.” A remedial operation on a completed well to restore, maintain or improve the well’s production.

 


* This definition is an abbreviated version of the complete definition as defined by the SEC in Rule 4-10(a) of Regulation S-X.

 

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Item 1.  Business

 

General

 

The terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “our Company” and “EPM” refer to Evolution Petroleum Corporation, a Nevada corporation formerly known as Natural Gas Systems, Inc. (Nevada, “NGS”), and, unless the context indicates otherwise, also includes our wholly-owned subsidiaries.  Natural Gas Systems, Inc. (Delaware, “Old NGS”), a private Delaware corporation formed in September 2003 was subsequently merged into NGS.

 

Our petroleum operations began in September of 2003. We acquire known crude oil and natural gas resources and exploit them through the application of conventional and specialized technology, with the objective of increasing production, ultimate recoveries, or both.

 

Our team is broadly experienced in oil and gas operations, development, acquisitions and financing. We follow a strategy of outsourcing most of our property accounting, human resources, administrative and non-core functions.

 

Our principal executive offices are located at 2500 City West Blvd, Suite 1300, Houston, Texas 77042, and our telephone number is (713) 935-0122. We maintain a website at www.evolutionpetroleum.com, but information contained on our website does not constitute part of this document.

 

Our stock is traded on the NYSE Amex under the ticker symbol “EPM”.  Prior to July 17, 2006, our stock was quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol “NGSY.OB”.  Prior to May 26, 2004, our stock was quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol “RLYI.OB”.

 

At June 30, 2010, we had ten full-time employees, not including contract personnel and outsourced service providers.

 

Corporate History of Reverse Merger

 

Reality Interactive, Inc. (“Reality”), a Nevada corporation that previously traded on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol RLYI.OB and the predecessor of Evolution Petroleum Corporation, was incorporated on May 24, 1994, for the purpose of developing technology-based knowledge solutions for the industrial marketplace.  On April 30, 1999, Reality ceased business operations, sold substantially all of its assets and terminated all of its employees.  Subsequent to ceasing operations, Reality explored other potential business opportunities to acquire or merge with another entity while continuing to file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

 

On May 26, 2004, Old NGS merged into a wholly owned subsidiary of Reality.  Reality was thereafter renamed Natural Gas Systems, Inc. (“NGS”) and adopted a June 30 fiscal year end.  As part of the merger, the officers and directors of Reality resigned, the officers and directors of Old NGS became the officers and directors of NGS, and the crude oil and natural gas business of Old NGS became that of NGS.  Concurrently with the listing of NGS shares on the NYSE Amex (formerly the American Stock Exchange) during July 2006, NGS was renamed Evolution Petroleum Corporation to avoid confusion with similar names traded on the NYSE Amex and to better reflect our business model.

 

All regulatory filings and other historical information prior to May 26, 2004 that applied to Reality continue to apply to EPM after the merger.

 

Business Strategy

 

We are a petroleum company engaged primarily in the acquisition, exploitation and development of properties for the production of crude oil and natural gas, onshore in the United States. We acquire known, underdeveloped oil and natural gas resources and exploit them through the application of capital, sound engineering and modern technology to increase production, ultimate recoveries, or both.

 

We are focused on increasing underlying asset values on a per share basis.  In doing so, we depend on a conservative capital structure, allowing us to maintain control of our assets for the benefit of our shareholders, including approximately 20% beneficially owned by all of our employees.

 

Our strategy is intended to generate scalable, low unit cost, development and re-development opportunities that minimize or eliminate exploration risks.  These opportunities involve the application of modern technology, our own proprietary technology and our specific expertise in overlooked areas of the United States.

 

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The assets we exploit currently fit into three types of project opportunities:

 

·                  Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR),

 

·                  Bypassed Primary Resources, and

 

·                  Unconventional Shale Gas Development.

 

Our active projects in these categories are:

 

Delhi Field CO2 EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery) Project

 

Our interests in the Delhi Holt Bryant Unit in the Delhi Field located in Northeast Louisiana are currently our most significant asset.  The Unit is currently being redeveloped as an EOR project utilizing CO2 technology by a subsidiary of Denbury Resources Inc. as Operator.

 

We own royalty interests in the Unit aggregating 7.4%.  The royalties bear no operating or capital cost burdens to us and are in effect throughout the life of the project.

 

We also own a 23.9% reversionary working interest with an associated 19.2% net revenue interest.  The working interest reverts to us when the Operator has generated $200 million of field revenue from the 100% working interest and associated revenue interest, less  direct operating expenses including the cost of purchased CO2.  Upon reversion of the deemed $200 million payout, regardless of the Operator’s actual capital expenditures, we begin bearing 23.9% of all future operating and capital expense.  Also at payout reversion, our net revenue interest increases from 7.4% to 26.6%.

 

During Fiscal 2010:

 

·      Our independent reservoir engineers, DeGolyer & MacNaughton (“D&M”) assigned the following net reserves to our interests at Delhi as of June 30, 2010:

 

·                  9.4 MMBBLs of proved oil reserves, with a PV-10 of $224.5 million *

 

·                  5.7 MMBBLS of probable oil reserves, with a PV-10 of $51.2 million *

 


* PV-10 of proved reserves is a non-GAAP measure, reconciled to the Standardized Measure of Future Net Cash Flows at “Estimated Oil and Natural Gas Reserves and Estimated Future Net Revenues” under Item 2. Properties of this Form 10-K.  Probable reserves are not recognized by GAAP, and therefore the PV-10 of probable reserves can not be reconciled to a GAAP measure.

 

·      On April 5, 2010, we announced that oil production in the Delhi enhanced oil recovery project (EOR) began in March 2010, approximately three to four months earlier than we expected.

 

·      On November 12, 2009 CO2 injection commenced.

 

We believe that the Delhi Holt Bryant Unit is a strong candidate for a CO2-EOR project due to its favorable rock characteristics, large unproven reserves remaining in place, low cost of drilling due to a relatively shallow depth and relatively close location to naturally occurring CO2 reserves approximately 100 miles east of the Delhi Field.  We base our belief on (i) our internal analyses of CO2 pilot tests successfully completed in the Delhi Holt Bryant Unit by a prior field operator, (ii) our analysis of favorable analogous comparisons to successful full scale projects in the same or similar geological formation, (iii) a competitive offering process, wherein we solicited multiple major participants with CO2-EOR expertise, funding and operating abilities, leading to confidential competitive offers made to us in writing, (iv) our qualitative assessment that the competitive offers were based on the CO2-EOR potential of the Unit and not on the relatively minor associated proved reserves existing at that time, (v) the buyer’s willingness to commit a portion of its proved CO2 reserves and a $100 million minimum future investment, subject to penalties for non-performance, in a CO2 project in the Unit, (vi) the early oil production response following the initiation of CO2 injection, and (vii) D&M’s reserve assignments.

 

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According to published reports and field records, the Delhi Field was discovered in the mid-1940’s and was extensively developed by various operators including the Sun Oil and Murphy Oil companies through the drilling and completion of approximately 450 wells, most within the first few years after discovery.  According to D&M, an independent reservoir engineering firm experienced in CO2-EOR projects who is engaged by Denbury and us to review the project, the Delhi Field has produced approximately 192 million barrels of crude oil and substantial amounts of natural gas to date. Much of the natural gas production was processed to remove natural gas liquids and re-injected for pressure maintenance. Beginning in the late 1950’s, the field was unitized to conduct a pressure maintenance project through the injection of water into the producing reservoir in down dip injection wells (unitization is the process of combining multiple leases into a single ownership entity in order to simplify operations and equitably distribute royalties when common operations are conducted over multiple leases). Drilling operations resulted in primarily 40-acre spacing across the unit’s 13,636 acres. A few wells were drilled below the targeted Tuscaloosa and Paluxy formations. The water injection pressure maintenance operations did not utilize a more traditional and effective five spot flood pattern water flood that generally results in a more complete reservoir sweep and oil recovery.

 

At the time we began our oil and natural gas operations in late September 2003, we purchased approximately 95.8% of the working interest in the Delhi Field (from the surface to the top of the Massive Anhydride formation, but excepting the Mengel Unit), for approximately $2.8 million, including the assumption of a plugging and abandonment reclamation bond.  All but 43 wells in Richland, Franklin and Madison Parishes, Louisiana had been plugged and abandoned.  At that time, production averaged approximately 18 BOPD with no natural gas being sold due to a lack of natural gas processing and transportation facilities.  The best producing well was immediately lost during a periodic sand wash work-over when water from a lower reservoir broke through along the casing exterior and into the producing reservoir.

 

In October of 2003, we applied an unproven lateral re-entry technology that resulted in no increase in production.  In December 2003, we initiated a conventional development program based on re-completion of wells to other reservoirs and restoring non-producing wells to producing status.  During 2004, we refurbished a gas injection line, converting it to a gas gathering and sales line, and placed a gas processing plant in the field to begin natural gas production in July of 2004.  During 2005, we began a five well development drilling program aimed at reaching mostly proved undeveloped reserves left in primary “attic” positions.  The culmination of these activities caused production to increase from 18 BOPD to a monthly average rate of 145 BOEPD during our peak production month in late 2005, at a capital cost of about $2.5 million.

 

Concurrent with these activities, we completed internal studies indicating that the reservoirs in the Delhi Holt Bryant Unit, the dominant oil producing reservoirs, had substantial remaining recoverable oil in place.  Based on positive CO2 pilots conducted by Sun Oil in 1985, and favorable rock characteristics shown in multiple cores previously taken throughout the Delhi Field, we began discussions in late 2004 with potential industry partners skilled in CO2-EOR recovery methods,.

 

During this time we also began to acquire royalty and overriding royalty interests that ultimately aggregated 7.4%, at a capital cost of approximately $1.5 million.

 

With positive industry reception, and following extended negotiations with three candidates as prospective partners, we accelerated our redevelopment plan in June 2006 by selling all of our working interest in the Holt Bryant Unit, in the form of a Farmout, to Denbury Onshore LLC, a subsidiary of the Operator, and 75% of our working interests in certain other depths of the Delhi Field (the “Delhi Farmout”).  Important aspects of this transaction include:

 

·       We received $50 million in cash (pre-tax) to redeploy to other projects and repay all of our then outstanding debt.

 

·       We retained significant participating interests through a reversionary working interest equal to 23.9% (25% of our original working interest delivered to Denbury), with an associated 19.2% net revenue interest.  We expected that the value of these interests (along with the separately acquired mineral royalty and overriding royalty interests aggregating 7.4% would substantially exceed the $50 million cash component of the Delhi Farmout, subject to future oil prices, operating expenses, anticipated EOR performance and project completion by the Operator.

 

·       The Operator committed to install a CO2-EOR project in the Holt Bryant Unit and expend a minimum additional $100 million on the project over the first 6-1/2 years, subject to penalty payments to us for shortfalls in such expenditures.  All capital expenditures related to our interests in the project are borne by the Operator prior to payout.

 

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·      The Operator is the dominant CO2-EOR operator on the Gulf Coast and owns naturally occurring proved CO2 reserves that we believe to be sufficient to meet the needs of the Delhi project and which have been dedicated to the Delhi project.

 

·      Our reversionary working interest in the CO2-EOR project is based on a defined $200 million threshold, subject only to expansion of the project through acquisitions, and our reversionary working interest occurs when cumulative project revenues less direct operating costs in the field reach the threshold.  Direct operating costs include an established cost for each purchased Mcf of CO2  equal to 1% of the price of a barrel of crude oil sold from the Holt Bryant Unit plus $0.20 for transportation.  CO2 injection volumes are primarily from purchases during the initial years of a CO2-EOR project, and are gradually displaced by cheaper recycling costs (currently about $0.15 per Mcf) later in the project.

 

Bypassed Primary Resource Projects

 

Following the closing of our Delhi Farmout in June 2006, we began the process of identifying new conventional development and/or redevelopment projects targeting primary petroleum resources previously bypassed by industry in historically productive formations, generally due to inadequate technology or commodity prices.  In selecting our candidates:

 

·                  We leveraged our staff’s extensive experience, gained over many years while employed at various large independent oil and gas companies in the pioneering of horizontal drilling practices adapted to further develop and produce the Austin Chalk, Georgetown and Buda formations in the Giddings Field in central Texas;

 

·                  We sought projects that could provide substantial early revenues, production and net cash flows prior to future expected production from the Delhi Field;

 

·                  We sought projects that could generate multiple, scalable drilling opportunities with long term production growth; and

 

·                  We sought exposure to both crude oil and natural gas opportunities.

 

Giddings Field

 

We began leasing activities in the Giddings Field in December 2006 and acquired 20,899 and 19,147 gross and net acres, respectively, of which 5,027 net acres are developed and 7,255 net acres remain as net undeveloped and associated with our proved and probable drilling locations as of June 30, 2010.  In late calendar 2007, we initiated a redevelopment drilling program in the Giddings Field targeting the Austin Chalk and Georgetown formations.  As of June 30, 2010, we have placed ten wells into production, including seven wells that were re-entered and re-drilled, one new well that was drilled and two wells that were restored to production through workovers.  Total net proved reserves assigned to our properties in the Giddings Field by our independent reservoir engineer, W.D. Von Gonten & Associates, are 2,983 MBOE as of June 30, 2010, a slight decrease of 30 MBOE from June 30, 2009 despite Giddings production during the year of 119.2 MBOE.  Our total investment of $26.7 million to date has generated cash flows from 286.3 MBOE of total net production and our proved PV-10 at June 30, 2010 of $41.3 million.  In addition, we have two probable drilling locations and probable undeveloped reserves associated with proved drilling locations totaling 978 MBOE with a PV-10 of $11.7 million.  See “Estimated Oil and Natural Gas Reserves and Estimated Future Net Revenues” under Item 2. Properties of this Form 10-K for a reconciliation of PV-10 to the Standardized Measure.

 

On July 16, 2010, we entered into a joint development agreement (“JDA”) with an industry partner.  The JDA provides that we operate the drilling of two firm commitment wells on our proved and probable locations in the Giddings Field, with the potential to add up to three option wells as elected by our partner.  Under the terms of the JDA, we retain a 10% carried working interest in recognition of our costs to date, a 10% cost bearing working interest for our cash participation, and a 22.5% back-in working interest on each well drilled on our partner’s 80% working interest following a simple 2 well basket payout and well-by-well simple pay-out on subsequent wells (bringing our after-payout working interest in each well to 38%).  The leases carry an approximate 80% net revenue interest to the 100% working interests.

 

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Lopez Field (Neptune Oil Project)

 

We acquired 1,721 net acres through leasing in our Neptune Oil Project in the Lopez Field in South Texas.  We believe that previous drilling and production in this field by another operator established reserves potential on infill spacing.  As of June 30, 2009, our independent reservoir engineer recognized four proved well locations with 47.6 MBO of proved undeveloped reserves on approximately 40 net acres of our holdings.  We began field testing late in the second fiscal quarter of 2010 with the drilling of two infill producers and the re-entry of two previously abandoned wells for water injection.  Due to delays in obtaining electric power service and mechanical problems with the re-entered injection wells, we were not able to begin effective testing until the fourth quarter of 2010, thus we elected to reclassify the proved reserves as probable as of June 30, 2010.  Our independent engineer, W.D. Von Gonten & Associates, has concurred with this position and has assigned 21 additional probable drilling locations.  Should further testing warrant full development, we have identified up to 92 additional prospective infill drilling locations in the balance of our leasehold.

 

Tullos Field

 

On March 3, 2008, we completed the sale of our properties in the Tullos Field, located in LaSalle and Winn Parishes in Louisiana, for gross cash proceeds of approximately $4.6 million.

 

Producing about 100 gross and 79 net barrels of oil production per day from over 150 producing wells at the time of our divestiture, the Tullos Field required a disproportionate amount of staff effort and vendor services, thereby adversely affecting our ability to develop other projects utilizing our expertise and working capital, particularly in the Giddings Field. The field produced large volumes of water associated with the oil production after being downsized to only two acre spacing. Furthermore, we believe that the potential upside in the Tullos Field was substantially less than that offered in our other projects, where the cash proceeds from the sale of our properties in the Tullos Field could be expected to yield a much higher return.  Last, we had completed the testing of our oil-on-water completion technology utilizing the one well we drilled in the Tullos Field and determined that the potential of that technology could be best realized in other fields with greater potential.

 

Unconventional Gas Resources

 

Woodford Shale Projects in Oklahoma

 

Also following the closing of our Delhi Farmout in June 2006, we began the process of identifying unconventional natural gas resource projects, to balance the oily nature of our anticipated Delhi reserves.  Following are the parameters we sought.

 

·                  Low drilling risks, with well AFE costs in the $200,000 to $2 million range.

 

·                  Low reserve risk.

 

·                  Repeatable development performance across a substantial acreage position.

 

·                  Acceptable profitability at $5 NYMEX natural gas prices.

 

These parameters led us to the shallower sections of the Woodford Shale in Eastern Oklahoma.

 

Wagoner County

 

The Woodford Shale formation in our leasehold in Wagoner County generally lies at a depth of 1200’ to 1600’. Our 9,176 net acre leasehold is offset by two operators that have combined to drill commercial wells extensively in the Woodford to date in a much shallower portion of the formation. During 2010, we continued our deliberate testing program with wells in three of our four acreage blocks, tests of the Woodford and Caney formations, and tests of three types of completions including two types of fracs.  These tests indicated that:

 

·                  The Caney Shale is an incremental target that may add long term value as a secondary target to the Woodford.

 

·                  The frac tests, when combined with information obtained from other operators, have better defined optimum completion practices.

 

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·                  Henry #19-2 in our western most block was more successful than expected, reaching a peak production rate of 90-100 mcfd before power failures from storms ended the test.  Our independent reservoir engineer has assigned proved developed nonproducing reserves of 138 MMCF to the Henry well and further assigned ten offset probable drilling locations (1.4 BCF net) surrounding the well.

 

·                  The Knoche well in our southern leasehold block utilized a different completion method and was substantially less productive than expected.  A second test well in the leasehold will be required prior to a full development decision regarding this block..

 

·                  The Limon well in our eastern leasehold block was tested in the Caney Shale and is currently being prepared for testing in the Woodford Shale.

 

Haskell County

 

The Woodford Shale formation in our 8,441 net acre leasehold in Haskell County generally lies at a depth of 4000’ to 6000’. Our leasehold is just north of a short horizontal Woodford well with extensive production history that indicates substantial ultimate recovery and good commerciality.  As of July 1, 2010, development and production testing had not yet begun on our leasehold, although we plan to begin initial test operations during fiscal 2011.

 

Markets and Customers

 

We market our production to third parties in a manner consistent with industry practices.

 

In the U.S. market where we operate, crude oil and natural gas liquids are readily transportable and marketable.  Since March 2005 and into 2008, we sold all of our operated crude oil production to Plains Marketing LP, a crude oil purchaser, at competitive field prices.  In January of 2008, we also began selling crude oil to Enterprise Crude Oil LLC, a crude oil gathering, transportation, storage and marketing company.  Our agreements with both Plains Marketing LP and Enterprise Crude Oil LLC are under a normal (thirty day “evergreen”) sales contracts.  During our fiscal 2010 year we amended our contracts to sell essentially all of our crude oil from our operated properties to Enterprise Crude Oil LLC.  We believe that other crude oil purchasers are readily available.

 

We sell our natural gas and natural gas liquids from our properties in the Giddings Field, under the terms of normal evergreen sales contracts at competitive prices with DCP Midstream, LP,  ETC Texas Pipeline, LTD., and Copano Field Services/Upper Gulf Coast, L.P.  Gas sold to DCP and ETC is processed for removal of natural gas liquids, and we receive the proceeds from the sale of the NGL product less a fee and certain operating expenses. The price of natural gas sold to Copano is adjusted upward for the high BTU content.  We have no other business relationships with our crude oil, natural gas or natural gas liquids purchasers.

 

The following table sets forth purchasers of our oil and natural gas that accounted for more than 10% of total revenues for 2010, 2009, and 2008.

 

 

 

Year Ended June 30,

 

Customer

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plains Marketing L.P.

 

12

%

40

%

67

%

Enterprise Crude Oil LLC

 

31

%

5

%

 

ETC Texas Pipeline, LTD.

 

19

%

36

%

26

%

DCP Midstream, LP

 

15

%

16

%

 

Copano Field Services/Upper Gulf Coast, L.P.

 

23

%

2

%

 

 

The loss of any single purchaser would not be expected to have a material adverse effect upon our operations; however, the loss of a large single purchaser could potentially reduce the competition for our oil and natural gas production, which in turn could negatively impact the prices we receive.

 

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Market Conditions

 

Marketing of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids is influenced by many factors that are beyond our control, the exact effect of which is difficult to predict. These factors include changes in supply and demand, market prices, government regulation and actions of major foreign producers.

 

Over the past 25 years, crude oil price fluctuations have been extremely volatile, with crude oil prices varying from less than $10, to in excess of $140 per barrel. Worldwide factors such as geopolitical, macroeconomic, supply and demand, refining capacity, petrochemical production and derivatives trading, among others, influence prices for crude oil.  Local factors also influence prices for crude oil and include quality differences, regulation and transportation issues unique to certain producing regions and reservoirs.

 

Also over the past 25 years, domestic natural gas prices have been extremely volatile, ranging from $1 to $15 per MMBTU. The spot market for natural gas, changes in supply and demand, derivatives trading, pipeline availability, BTU content of the natural gas and weather patterns, among others, cause natural gas prices to be subject to significant fluctuations.  Due to the practical difficulties in transporting natural gas, local and regional factors tend to influence product prices more for natural gas than for crude oil.

 

Similarly, domestic natural gas liquids prices have been volatile, influenced by crude oil price, NGL supply and demand, consolidation among NGL fractionators and natural gas price.

 

Competition

 

The oil and natural gas industry is highly competitive for prospects, acreage and capital.  Our competitors include major integrated crude oil and natural gas companies and numerous independent crude oil and natural gas companies, individuals and drilling and income programs. Many of our competitors are large, well-established companies with substantially larger operating staffs and greater capital resources than us. Competitors are national, regional or local in scope and compete on the basis of financial resources, technical prowess or local knowledge. The principal competitive factors in our industry are expertise in given geographical and geological areas and the abilities to efficiently conduct operations, achieve technological advantages, identify and acquire economically producible reserves and obtain affordable capital.

 

Government Regulation

 

Numerous federal and state laws and regulations govern the oil and gas industry. These laws and regulations are often changed in response to changes in the political or economic environment. Compliance with this evolving regulatory burden is often difficult and costly, and substantial penalties may be incurred for noncompliance.  We believe that we are in substantial compliance with all laws and regulations applicable to our operations and that continued compliance with existing requirements will not have a material adverse impact on us. The future annual capital cost of complying with the regulations applicable to our operations is uncertain and will be governed by several factors, including future changes to regulatory requirements which are unpredictable. However, we do not currently anticipate that future compliance with existing laws and regulations will have a materially adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

See “Government regulation and liability for environmental matters may adversely affect our business and results of operations” under Item 1A Risk Factors of this Form 10-K, for additional information regarding government regulation.

 

Insurance

 

We maintain insurance on our properties and operations for risks and in amounts customary in the industry.  Such insurance includes general liability, excess liability, control of well, operators extra expense, casualty, fraud and directors & officer’s liability coverage.  Not all losses are insured, and we retain certain risks of loss through deductibles, limits and self-retentions.  We do not carry lost profits coverage.

 

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

Risks related to the Company

 

Operating results from oil and natural gas production may decline.

 

In the near term, our production is totally dependent on ten wellbores at our Giddings Field and our 7.4% royalty interests in EOR production that began at our Delhi Field in March 2010.  The targeted reservoirs in the Giddings Field typically experience flush initial production, followed by steep harmonic decline rates that steadily flatten to much shallower decline rates.  Although EOR production from proved reserves at Delhi is expected to grow over time, without further development activities in the Giddings Field, Delhi or our other properties, or without acquisitions of producing properties, our net production of oil and natural gas could decline significantly over time, which could have a material adverse affect on our financial condition.

 

The types of resources we focus on have substantial operational risks.

 

Our business plan focuses on the acquisition and development of known resources in partially depleted reservoirs, naturally fractured or low permeability reservoirs, or relatively shallow reservoirs. Shallower reservoirs usually have lower pressure, which translates into fewer natural gas volumes in place; low permeability reservoirs require more wells and substantial stimulation for development of commercial production; naturally fractured reservoirs require penetration of sufficient undepleted fractures to establish commercial production; and depleted reservoirs require successful application of newer technology to unlock incremental reserves.

 

Our CO2-EOR project in the Delhi Field, operated by a subsidiary of Denbury Resources Inc., requires significant amounts of CO2 reserves, development capital and technical expertise, the sources of which have been committed by the Operator.  Although initial CO2 injection began at Delhi in November 2009 and an initial oil production response began in March 2010, substantial capital remains to be invested to fully develop the EOR project and further increase production.  The Operator’s failure to manage these and other technical, strategic, financial and logistical risks may render ultimate enhanced recoveries from the planned CO2-EOR project to fall short of our expectations in volume and or timing. Such occurrences would have a material adverse effect on the Company and its results of operations.

 

The existing well bores we are re-entering in the Giddings Field were originally drilled as far back as the 1980’s.  As such, they contain older casing that could be more subject to failure, or the well files, if available, may be incomplete or incorrect.  Such problems can result in the complete loss of a well or a much higher drilling and completion cost.  Our proved undeveloped locations in the Giddings Field are direct offsets to current or previously producing wells, and there may be unusually long fractures that will connect our well to another producing or depleted well, thus reducing the potential recovery, increasing our drilling costs, or delaying production due to recovery of drilling fluid lost during drilling into the depleted fractures.

 

Our other projects in Oklahoma and Texas, although believed to have oil and/or gas resources, have yet to exhibit significant proved reserves.  Therefore, their economic outcome is uncertain.

 

Our projects generally require that we acquire new leases in and around established fields or other known resources, and drill and complete wells, some of which may be horizontal, as well as negotiate the purchase of existing well bores and production equipment or install our proprietary artificial lift technology that has yet to be universally proven.  Leases may not be available and required oil field services may not be obtainable on the desired schedule or at the expected costs.  While the projected drilling results may be considered to be low to moderate in risk, there is no assurance as to what productive results may be obtained, if any.

 

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Our limited operating history and limited production makes it difficult to predict future results and increases the risk of an investment in our company.

 

We commenced our crude oil and natural gas operations in late 2003 and have a limited operating history, particularly in our currently producing fields.  All of our current production is the result of recent operational activities, thus our future production retains substantial variability.  Therefore, we face all the risks common to companies in their early stage of development, including uncertainty of funding sources, high initial expenditure levels and uncertain revenue streams, an unproven business model, and difficulties in managing growth.  Our prospects must be considered in light of the risks, expenses, delays and difficulties frequently encountered in establishing a new business. Any forward-looking statements in this report do not reflect any possible effects on us from the outcome of these types of uncertainty.  Prior to the Delhi Farmout, we had incurred significant losses since the inception of our oil and natural gas operations and we have since resumed incurring losses.  We cannot assure future profitability or success.  While members of our management team have previously carried out or been involved with acquisition and production activities in the crude oil and natural gas industry while employed by us and other companies, we cannot assure you that our intended acquisition targets and development plans will lead to the successful development of crude oil and natural gas production or additional revenue.

 

The loss of a large single purchaser of our oil and natural gas could reduce the competition of our production.

 

For the year ended June 30, 2010, five purchasers each accounted for all of  our oil and natural gas revenues.  The loss of a large single purchaser could potentially reduce the competition for our oil and natural gas production, which in turn could negatively impact the prices we receive.

 

We may be unable to continue licensing from third parties the technologies that we use in our business operations.

 

As is customary in the crude oil and natural gas industry, we utilize a variety of widely available technologies in the crude oil and natural gas development and drilling process.  We do not have any patents or copyrights for the technology we currently utilize, but a patent application is pending on one of our technologies. We generally license or purchase services from the holders of such technology, or outsource the technology integral to our business from third parties.  Our commercial success will depend in part on these sources of technology and assumes that such sources will not infringe on the proprietary rights of others. We cannot be certain whether any third-party patents will require us to utilize or develop alternative technology or to alter our business plan, obtain additional licenses, or cease activities that infringe on third-parties’ intellectual property rights. Our inability to acquire any third-party licenses, or to integrate the related third-party products into our business plan, could result in delays in development unless and until equivalent products can be identified, licensed, and integrated. Existing or future licenses may not continue to be available to us on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Litigation, which could result in substantial cost to us, may be necessary to enforce any patents licensed to us or to determine the scope and validity of third-party obligations.

 

Our proprietary technology may not be awarded patent protection and may not result in a commercial service or product.

 

We have developed and field tested our artificial lift technology that we hope to commercialize and generate material value. Our success in commercializing the technology will depend upon additional positive field tests, acceptance by industry and our ability to defend the technology from competitors through confidentiality and/or patent protection.  Although our patent is pending, there is no assurance that a patent will be awarded or that we will have the ability to exercise patent defense against competitors.

 

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Regulatory and accounting requirements may require substantial reductions in reporting proven reserves.

 

We review on a periodic basis the carrying value of our crude oil and natural gas properties under the applicable rules of the various regulatory agencies, including the SEC. Under the full cost method of accounting that we use, the after-tax carrying value of our oil and natural gas properties may not exceed the present value of estimated future net after-tax cash flows from proved reserves, discounted at 10%. Application of this “ceiling” test requires pricing future revenues at the previous 12-month average beginning-of-month price and requires a write down of the carrying value for accounting purposes if the ceiling is exceeded. We may in the future be required to write down the carrying value of our crude oil and natural gas properties when crude oil and natural gas prices are depressed or unusually volatile. Whether we will be required to take such a charge will depend in part on the prices for crude oil and natural gas during the previous period and the effect of reserve additions or revisions and capital expenditures during such period. If a write down is required, it would result in a current charge to our earnings but would not impact our current cash flow from operating activities.

 

Our profitability is highly dependent on the prices of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids, which have historically been very volatile.

 

Our estimated proved reserves, revenues, profitability, operating cash flow and future rate of growth are highly dependent on the prices of crude oil, natural gas and NGLs, which are affected by numerous factors beyond our control.  Historically, these prices have been very volatile and are likely to remain volatile in the future.  A significant and extended downward trend in commodity prices would have a material adverse effect on our revenues, profitability and cash flow, and could result in a reduction in the carrying value of our oil and natural gas properties and the amounts of our estimated proved oil and natural gas reserves.  To the extent that we have not hedged our production with derivative contracts or fixed-price contracts, any significant and extended decline in oil and natural gas prices may adversely affect our financial position.

 

We may be unable to acquire and develop the additional oil and natural gas reserves that are required in order to sustain our business operations.

 

In general, the volumes of production from crude oil and natural gas properties decline as reserves are depleted, with the rate of decline depending on reservoir characteristics. Except to the extent we acquire properties containing proved reserves or conduct successful development activities, or both, our proved reserves will decline. Our future crude oil and natural gas production is, therefore, highly dependent upon our level of success in finding or acquiring additional reserves. Due to decline characteristics of our Giddings wells, our near-term future growth and financial condition are dependent upon our ability to realize production increases expected at Delhi, and /or the development of additional oil and natural gas reserves.

 

We are subject to substantial operating risks that may adversely affect our results of operations.

 

The crude oil and natural gas business involves numerous operating hazards such as well blowouts, mechanical failures, explosions, uncontrollable flows of crude oil, natural gas or well fluids, fires, formations with abnormal pressures, hurricanes, flooding, pollution, releases of toxic gas and other environmental hazards and risks. We could suffer substantial losses as a result of any of these events. While we carry general liability, control of well, and operator’s extra expense coverage typical in our industry, we are not fully insured against all risks incident to our business.

 

We may not be the operator of some of our wells in the future, and we are not the operator of our high value assets in the Delhi Field.  As a result, our operating risks for those wells and our ability to influence the operations for these wells will be less subject to our control. Operators of these wells may act in ways that are not in our best interests. If this occurs, the development of, and production of crude oil and natural gas from, some wells may not occur timely or at all, which would have an adverse affect on our results of operations.

 

The loss of key personnel could adversely affect us.

 

We depend to a large extent on the services of certain key management personnel, including our executive officers, the loss of any of whom could have a material adverse affect on our operations.  In particular, our future success is dependent upon Robert S. Herlin, our President and Chief Executive Officer, Sterling H. McDonald, our Chief Financial Officer, and Daryl V. Mazzanti, our Vice-President of Operations, for sourcing, evaluating and closing deals, capital raising, and oversight of development and operations.  Presently, the Company is not a beneficiary of any key man insurance.

 

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The loss of any of our skilled technical personnel could adversely affect our business.

 

We depend to a large extent on the services of skilled technical personnel to lease, drill, complete, operate and maintain our crude oil and natural gas fields. We do not have the resources to perform all of these services and therefore we outsource many of our requirements. Additionally, as our production increases, so does our need for such services. Generally, we do not have long-term agreements with our drilling and maintenance service providers. Accordingly, there is a risk that any of our service providers could discontinue servicing our crude oil and natural gas fields for any reason. Although we believe that we could establish alternative sources for most of our operational and maintenance needs, any delay in locating, establishing relationships, and training our sources could result in production shortages and maintenance problems, with a resulting loss of revenue to us. We also rely on third-party carriers for the transportation and distribution of our production, the loss of any of which could have a material adverse affect on our operations.

 

We may have difficulty managing future growth and the related demands on our resources and may have difficulty in achieving future growth.

 

Although we hope to experience growth through acquisitions and development activity, any such growth may place a significant strain on our financial, technical, operational and administrative resources. Our ability to grow will depend upon a number of factors, including:

 

·                    our ability to identify and acquire new development or acquisition projects;

·                    our ability to develop existing properties;

·                    our ability to continue to retain and attract skilled personnel;

·                    the results of our development program and acquisition efforts;

·                    the success of our technologies;

·                    hydrocarbon prices;

·                    drilling, completion and equipment prices;

·                    our ability to successfully integrate new properties;

·                    our access to capital; and

·                    the Delhi Field operator’s ability to: deliver sufficient quantities of CO2 from its reserves in the Jackson Dome, secure all of the development capital necessary to fund its and Evolution’s cost interests and to successfully manage technical, strategic and logistical development and operating risks.

 

We can not assure you that we will be able to successfully grow or manage any such growth.

 

We face strong competition from larger oil and gas companies.

 

Our competitors include major integrated crude oil and natural gas companies and numerous independent crude oil and natural gas companies, individuals and drilling and income programs. Many of our competitors are large, well-established companies with substantially larger operating staffs and greater capital resources than we have. We may not be able to successfully conduct our operations, evaluate and select suitable properties and consummate transactions in this highly competitive environment. Specifically, these larger competitors may be able to pay more for development projects and productive crude oil and natural gas properties and may be able to define, evaluate, bid for and purchase a greater number of properties and prospects than our financial or human resources permit. In addition, such companies may be able to expend greater resources on hiring contract service providers, obtaining oilfield equipment and acquiring the existing and changing technologies that we believe are and will be increasingly important to attaining success in our industry.

 

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The crude oil and natural gas reserves included in this report are only estimates and may prove to be inaccurate.

 

There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating crude oil and natural gas reserves and their estimated values. The reserves discussed in this report are only estimates that may prove to be inaccurate because of these uncertainties. Reservoir engineering is a subjective and inexact process of estimating underground accumulations of crude oil and natural gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner. Estimates of economically recoverable crude oil and natural gas reserves depend upon a number of variable factors, such as historical production from the area compared with production from other producing areas and assumptions concerning effects of regulations by governmental agencies, future crude oil and natural gas product prices, future operating costs, severance and excise taxes, development costs and work-over and remedial costs. Some or all of these assumptions may in fact vary considerably from actual results. For these reasons, estimates of the economically recoverable quantities of crude oil and natural gas attributable to any particular group of properties, classifications of such reserves based on risk of recovery, and estimates of the future net cash flows expected there from prepared by different engineers or by the same engineers but at different times, may vary substantially. Accordingly, reserve estimates may be subject to downward or upward adjustment. Actual production, revenue and expenditures with respect to our reserves will likely vary from estimates, and such variances may be material. The information regarding discounted future net cash flows included in this report should not be considered as the current market value of the estimated crude oil and natural gas reserves attributable to our properties. The estimated discounted future net cash flows from proved reserves are based on the previous 12-month average beginning-of-month price and costs as of the date of the estimate, while actual future prices and costs may be materially higher or lower. Actual future net cash flows also will be affected by factors such as the amount and timing of actual production, supply and demand for crude oil and natural gas, increases or decreases in consumption, and changes in governmental regulations or taxation. In addition, the 10% discount factor, which is required by the SEC to be used in calculating discounted future net cash flows for reporting purposes, is not necessarily the most appropriate discount factor based on interest rates in effect from time to time and risks associated with us or the crude oil and natural gas industry in general.  PV-10 does not necessarily correspond to market value.

 

We cannot market the crude oil and natural gas that we produce without the assistance of third parties.

 

The marketability of the crude oil and natural gas that we produce depends upon the proximity of our reserves to, and the capacity of, facilities and third-party services, including crude oil and natural gas gathering systems, pipelines, trucking or terminal facilities, and processing facilities necessary to make the products marketable for end use. The unavailability or lack of capacity of such services and facilities could result in the shut-in of producing wells or the delay or discontinuance of development plans for properties. A shut-in or delay or discontinuance could adversely affect our financial condition. In addition, federal and state regulation of crude oil and natural gas production and transportation could affect our ability to produce and market our crude oil and natural gas on a profitable basis.

 

Risks Relating to the Oil and Gas Industry

 

Crude oil and natural gas development, re-completion of wells from one reservoir to another reservoir, restoring wells to production and drilling and completing new wells are speculative activities and involve numerous risks and substantial and uncertain costs.

 

Our growth will be materially dependent upon the success of our future development program.  Drilling for crude oil and natural gas and re-working existing wells involve numerous risks, including the risk that no commercially productive crude oil or natural gas reservoirs will be encountered.  The cost of drilling, completing and operating wells is substantial and uncertain, and drilling operations may be curtailed, delayed or cancelled as a result of a variety of factors beyond our control, including:

 

·                    unexpected drilling conditions;

·                    pressure fluctuations or irregularities in formations;

·                    equipment failures or accidents;

·                    inability to obtain leases on economic terms, where applicable;

·                    adverse weather conditions;

·                    compliance with governmental requirements; and

·                    shortages or delays in the availability of drilling rigs or crews and the delivery of equipment.

 

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Drilling or re-working is a highly speculative activity.  Even when fully and correctly utilized, modern well completion techniques such as hydraulic fracturing , horizontal drilling or CO2 or other injectants do not guarantee that we will find and produce crude oil and/or natural gas in our wells in economic quantities.  Our future drilling activities may not be successful and, if unsuccessful, such failure would have an adverse affect on our future results of operations and financial condition.  We cannot assure you that our overall drilling success rate or our drilling success rate for activities within a particular geographic area will not decline.  We may identify and develop prospects through a number of methods, some of which do not include horizontal drilling, hydraulic fracturing or tertiary injectants, and some of which may be unproven.  The drilling and results for these prospects may be particularly uncertain.  Our drilling schedule and costs may vary from our capital budget.  The final determination with respect to the drilling of any scheduled or budgeted prospects will be dependent on a number of factors, including, but not limited to:

 

·                    the results of previous development efforts and the acquisition, review and analysis of data;

·                    the availability of sufficient capital resources to us and the other participants, if any, for the drilling of the prospects;

·                    the approval of the prospects by other participants, if any, after additional data has been compiled;

·                    economic and industry conditions at the time of drilling, including prevailing and anticipated prices for crude oil and natural gas and the availability of drilling rigs and crews;

·                    our financial resources and results;

·                    the availability of leases and permits on reasonable terms for the prospects; and

·                    the success of our drilling technology.

 

We cannot assure you that these projects can be successfully developed or that the wells discussed will, if drilled, encounter reservoirs of commercially productive crude oil or natural gas.  There are numerous uncertainties in estimating quantities of proved reserves, including many factors beyond our control.

 

Crude oil and natural gas prices are highly volatile in general and low prices will negatively affect our financial results.

 

Our revenues, operating results, profitability, cash flow, future rate of growth and ability to borrow funds or obtain additional capital, as well as the carrying value of our properties, are substantially dependent upon prevailing prices of crude oil and natural gas.  Lower crude oil and natural gas prices also may reduce the amount of crude oil and natural gas that we can produce economically.  Historically, the markets for crude oil and natural gas have been very volatile, and such markets are likely to continue to be volatile in the future.  Prices for crude oil and natural gas are subject to wide fluctuation in response to relatively minor changes in the supply of and demand for crude oil and natural gas, market uncertainty and a variety of additional factors that are beyond our control, including:

 

·                    worldwide and domestic supplies of crude oil, natural gas and NGLs;

·                    the level of consumer product demand;

·                    weather conditions;

·                    domestic and foreign governmental regulations;

·                    the price and availability of alternative fuels;

·                    political instability or armed conflict in oil-producing regions;

·                    the price and level of foreign imports; and

·                    overall domestic and global economic conditions.

 

It is extremely difficult to predict future crude oil and natural gas price movements with any certainty.  Declines in crude oil and natural gas prices may materially adversely affect our financial condition, liquidity, ability to finance planned capital expenditures and results of operations.  Further, crude oil and natural gas prices do not move in tandem.  Because approximately 83% of our proved reserves at June 30, 2010 are crude oil reserves and 8% are natural gas liquids reserves, we are heavily impacted by movements in crude oil prices, which also influence natural gas liquids prices.

 

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Oil field service and materials’ prices may increase, and the availability of such services may be inadequate to meet our needs.

 

Our business plan to develop or redevelop crude oil and natural gas resources requires third party oilfield service vendors and various materials such as steel tubulars, which we do not control.  Long lead times and spot shortages may prevent us from, or delay us in, maintaining or increasing the production volumes we expect.  In addition, if costs for such services and materials increase, it may render certain or all of our projects uneconomic, as compared to the earlier prices we may have assumed when deciding to redevelop newly purchased or existing properties.  Further adverse economic outcomes may result from the long lead times often necessary to execute and complete our redevelop plans.

 

Government regulation and liability for environmental matters may adversely affect our business and results of operations.

 

Crude oil and natural gas operations are subject to extensive federal, state and local government regulations, which may be changed from time to time. Matters subject to regulation include discharge permits for drilling operations, drilling bonds, reports concerning operations, the spacing of wells, unitization and pooling of properties and taxation. From time to time, regulatory agencies have imposed price controls and limitations on production by restricting the rate of flow of crude oil and natural gas wells below actual production capacity in order to conserve supplies of crude oil and natural gas. There are federal, state and local laws and regulations primarily relating to protection of human health and the environment applicable to the development, production, handling, storage, transportation and disposal of crude oil and natural gas, by-products thereof and other substances and materials produced or used in connection with crude oil and natural gas operations. In addition, we may inherit liability for environmental damages, whether actual or not, caused by previous owners of property we purchase or lease or nearby properties. As a result, we may incur substantial liabilities to third parties or governmental entities. We are also subject to changing and extensive tax laws, the effects of which cannot be predicted. The implementation of new, or the modification of existing, laws or regulations could have a material adverse affect on us, such as diminishing the demand for our products through legislative enactment of proposed new penalties, fines and/or taxes on carbon that could have the effect of raising prices to the end user.

 

For example, currently proposed federal legislation, that, if adopted, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, includes the following:

 

·                  Climate Change.  On June 26, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009,” or “ACESA,” which would establish an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane. ACESA would require a 17 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2020 and just over an 80 percent reduction of such emissions by 2050. Under this legislation, the EPA would issue a capped and steadily declining number of tradable emissions allowances to certain major sources of greenhouse gas emissions so that such sources could continue to emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These allowances would be expected to escalate significantly in cost over time. The net effect of ACESA would be to impose increasing costs on the combustion of carbon-based fuels such as oil, refined petroleum products, and natural gas.  President Obama has indicated his support of legislation to reduce greenhouse emissions through an emission allowance system. At the state level, more than one-third of the states, either individually or through multi-state regional initiatives, already have begun implementing legal measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also taken recent action related to greenhouse gasses. Based on recent developments, the EPA now purports to have a basis to begin regulating emissions of greenhouse gasses under existing provisions of the federal Clean Air Act.   It is not possible at this time to predict whether or when the U.S. Senate may act on climate-change legislation, however any future federal laws or implementing regulations that may be adopted to address greenhouse gas emissions could require us to incur increased operating costs and could adversely affect demand for the oil and natural gas that we produce.

 

·                  Taxes.  President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Proposal includes provisions that would, if enacted, repeal of the percentage depletion allowance for oil and natural gas properties, eliminate the immediate deduction for intangible drilling and development costs and eliminating the deduction from income for domestic production activities relating to oil and natural-gas exploration and development, and

 

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·                  Hydraulic Fracturing.  The U.S. Congress is currently considering legislation that could adversely affect the use of the hydraulic-fracturing process.  Currently, regulation of hydraulic fracturing is primarily conducted at the state level through permitting and other compliance requirements. This legislation, if adopted, could establish an additional level of regulation, permitting and restrictions at the federal level, that could adversely affect the development of unconventional oil and natural gas resources, particularly our Oklahoma shale projects.

 

We could be adversely affected by a weak domestic or global economy.

 

The current anemic recovery from a recessionary economic environment has limited the recovery in demand for oil and natural gas and, therefore, in commodity prices, particularly natural gas.  If the current economic environment continues, lower realized prices may result, and result in continued or increased operating losses.  These factors could negatively impact our operations and may limit our growth.

 

Risks Associated with Our Stock

 

Our stock prices has been and may continue to be very volatile.

 

Our common stock is thinly traded and the market price has been, and is likely to continue to be, highly volatile. For example, during the year prior to June 30, 2010, our stock price as traded on the NYSE Amex ranged from $2.21 to $6.25.  The variance in our stock price makes it extremely difficult to forecast with any certainty the stock price at which an investor may be able to buy or sell shares of our common stock.  The market price for our common stock could be subject to wide fluctuations as a result of factors that are out of our control, such as:

 

·                    actual or anticipated variations in our results of operations;

·                    naked short selling of our common stock and stock price manipulation;

·                    changes or fluctuations in the commodity prices of crude oil and natural gas;

·                    general conditions and trends in the crude oil and natural gas industry; and

·                    general economic, political and market conditions.

 

Our executive officers, directors and affiliates may be able to control the election of our directors and all other matters submitted to our stockholders for approval.

 

Our executive officers and directors, in the aggregate, beneficially own approximately 7.0 million shares or approximately 26% of our outstanding common stock.  Our former Chairman, and current director of the Board, Mr. Laird Q. Cagan, is a  Managing Director of Cagan McAfee Capital Partners, LLC (“CMCP”).  Mr. Eric McAfee, also a Managing Director of CMCP, currently owns or controls, directly or indirectly, approximately 2.9 million shares, or approximately 11% of our outstanding common stock, but is neither an officer, employee nor a member of our board of directors.  Collectively, the two managing directors of CMCP currently own or control, directly or indirectly, approximately 3.2 million shares, or approximately 12% of our outstanding common stock.  Institutional affiliates, including JVL Advisors LLC and Peninsula Capital Management, LP, collectively own approximately 6.7 million shares or approximately 25% of our outstanding common stock.  As a result, these holders, could exercise significant influence over matters submitted to our stockholders for approval (including the election and removal of directors and any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets). This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company, impede a merger, consolidation, takeover or other business combination involving our company or discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company, which in turn could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

 

The market for our common stock is limited and may not provide adequate liquidity.

 

Our common stock is currently thinly traded on the NYSE Amex. In the year prior to June 30, 2010, the actual daily trading volume in our common stock ranged from 2,795 shares of common stock to a high of 1,097,969 shares of common stock traded, with only 89 days exceeding a trading volume of 50,000 shares. On most days, this trading volume means there is limited liquidity in our shares of common stock. Selling our shares is more difficult because smaller quantities of shares are bought and sold and news media coverage about us is limited. These factors result in a limited trading market for our common stock and therefore holders of our stock may be unable to sell shares purchased, should they desire to do so.

 

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If securities or industry analyst do not publish research reports about our business, or if they downgrade our stock, the price of our common stock could decline.

 

Small, relatively unknown companies can achieve visibility in the trading market through research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish.  However, to our knowledge, only three independent analysts cover our company.  The lack of published reports by independent securities analysts could limit the interest in our common stock and negatively affect our stock price.  We do not have any control over the research and reports these analysts publish or whether they will be published at all. If any analyst who does cover us downgrades our stock, our stock price could decline.  If any analyst ceases coverage of our company or fails to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price to decline.

 

The issuance of additional common stock and preferred stock could dilute existing stockholders.

 

From time to time, we may have an effective shelf registration that allows us to publicly offer various securities, including common or preferred stock, and at any time we may make private offerings of our securities.  We are authorized to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of common stock.  To the extent of such authorization, our board of directors has the ability, without seeking stockholder approval, to issue additional shares of common stock in the future for such consideration as our board may consider sufficient.  The issuance of additional common stock in the future would reduce the proportionate ownership and voting power of the common stock now outstanding.  We are also authorized to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, the rights and preferences of which may be designated in series by our board of directors.  Such designation of new series of preferred stock may be made without stockholder approval, and could create additional securities which would have dividend and liquidation preferences over the common stock now outstanding. Preferred stockholders could adversely affect the rights of holders of common stock by:

 

·                    exercising voting, redemption and conversion rights to the detriment of the holders of common stock;

·                    receiving preferences over the holders of common stock regarding our surplus funds in the event of our dissolution, liquidation or the payment of dividends to Preferred stockholders;

·                    delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company; and

·                    discouraging bids for our common stock.

 

We do not plan to pay any cash dividends on our common stock.

 

We have not paid any dividends on our common stock to date and do not anticipate that we will be paying dividends in the foreseeable future.  Any payment of cash dividends on our common stock in the future will be dependent upon the amount of funds legally available, our earnings, if any, our financial condition, our anticipated capital requirements and other factors that our board of directors may think are relevant.  However, we currently intend for the foreseeable future to follow a policy of retaining all of our earnings, if any, to finance the development and expansion of our business and, therefore, do not expect to pay any dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.

 

Item 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments

 

None.

 

Item 2.  Properties

 

Company Location

 

Our corporate headquarters are located at 2500 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 1300, Houston, Texas.  We entered into a sublease agreement, effective on March 1, 2007, to rent approximately 8,400 square feet of Class “A” office space in the Westchase District area in West Houston.  The current monthly base rent is $11,507 with the base rent escalating to a monthly base rate of $13,251 in August 2011. The sublease expires by its term on July 1, 2016.  Prior to  March 1, 2007, we occupied a leased headquarters containing 2,259 square feet in an office building located on the west side of Houston, Texas.  In April 2007, this lease expired.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Oil & Gas Properties

 

Additional detailed information describing the types of properties we own can be found in “Business Strategy” under Item 1. Business of this Form 10-K.

 

Estimated Oil and Natural Gas Reserves and Estimated Future Net Revenues

 

In December 2008, the SEC adopted new rules related to modernizing reserve estimation and disclosure requirements for oil and natural gas companies (the “Modernization Requirements”), which became effective for annual reporting periods ending on or after December 31, 2009. The Modernization Requirements require disclosure of oil and gas proved reserves by significant geographic area, using the 12-month average beginning-of-month price for the year, rather than year-end prices, and allows the use of new technologies in the determination of proved reserves if those technologies have been demonstrated empirically to lead to reliable conclusions about reserve volumes.  Another significant provision of the new rules is a general requirement that, subject to limited exceptions, proved undeveloped reserves may only be classified as such if a development plan has been adopted indicating that they are scheduled to be drilled within five years.

 

There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves and estimates of reserves quantities and values must be viewed as being subject to significant change as more data about the properties becomes available.

 

Estimated future net revenues discounted at 10% or PV-10 is a financial measure that is not recognized by GAAP.  We believe that the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measure of PV-10 provides useful information to investors because it is widely used by analysts and investors in evaluating oil and natural gas companies.  We believe that PV-10 is relevant and useful for evaluating the relative monetary significance of oil and natural gas properties. Further, analysts and investors may utilize the measure as a basis for comparison of the relative size and value of our reserves to other companies’ reserves.  We also use this pre-tax measure when assessing the potential return on investment related to oil and natural gas properties and in evaluating acquisition opportunities.  Because there are many unique factors that can impact an individual company when estimating the amount of future income taxes to be paid, we believe the use of a pre-tax measure is valuable for evaluating our Company.  PV-10 is not a measure of financial or operating performance under GAAP, nor is it intended to represent the current market value of our estimated oil and natural gas reserves. PV-10 should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the Standardized Measure as defined under GAAP, and reconciled below.

 

Proved Reserves Fiscal Year Ended 2010

 

Applying the new rules, our proved reserves at June 30, 2010, denominated in equivalent barrels using a six Mcf of gas and 42 gallons of natural gas liquids to one barrel of oil conversion ratio, totaled 12,418 MBOE. Approximately 9% of our reserves were classified as proved developed and 91% were classified as proved undeveloped. Classified by product, 83% of our reserves were crude oil, 8% were natural gas liquids, and 9% were natural gas. Our proved reserves as of June 30, 2010 were estimated by our independent petroleum consultants, W.D. Von Gonten & Co. (“Von Gonten”), DeGolyer and MacNaughton (“D&M”), and Lee Keeling and Associates, Inc. (“Keeling”).  Von Gonten and Keeling were engaged for our Texas and Oklahoma properties, respectively, due to their particular expertise in the geographic and geologic areas covered by their reports.  D&M was selected for our properties in the Delhi Field due to their expertise in CO2-EOR projects and to ensure consistency with the Operator who has utilized D&M for their reserves estimates in the Delhi Field.   The scope and results of their procedures are summarized in letters from each of those firms, which are included as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

The following table sets forth our estimated proved reserves as of June 30, 2010.  See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements, where additional reserve information is provided.  The New York Mercantile Exchange 12-month average beginning-of-month price used to calculate estimated revenues was $76.45 per barrel of crude oil and $4.09 per MMbtu of natural gas.  The price of natural gas liquids utilized was based on the historical price received versus the NYMEX basis oil price.  Pricing differentials were applied to all properties, on an individual property basis.  Quality adjustments have been applied based on actual BTU factors for each well and a shrinkage factor has been applied based on production volumes versus actual sales volumes.

 

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Table of Contents

 

June 30, 2010

 

 

 

Proved

 

Proved

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Developed

 

Developed

 

Proved

 

Total Proved

 

 

 

Producing

 

Non-producing

 

Undeveloped

 

Reserves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude Oil (MBbls)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delhi Field

 

584

 

29

 

8,799

 

9,412

 

Giddings Field

 

81

 

12

 

750

 

843

 

Total Crude Oil (MBbls)

 

665

 

41

 

9,549

 

10,255

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NGLs (MBbls)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giddings Field

 

143

 

15

 

879

 

1,037

 

Total NGLs (MBbls)

 

143

 

15

 

879

 

1,037

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas (MMcf)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giddings Field

 

1,348

 

51

 

5,226

 

6,625

 

Oklahoma

 

 

138

 

 

138

 

Total Natural gas (MMcf)

 

1,348

 

189

 

5,226

 

6,763

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total (MBOE)

 

1,032

 

87

 

11,299

 

12,418

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated future net revenues

 

$

45,604,219

 

$

3,483,121

 

$

521,964,756

 

$

571,052,096

 

Estimated future net revenues discounted at 10% (PV-10)

 

$

29,306,414

 

$

2,415,600

 

$

234,256,329

 

$

265,978,343

 

 

Proved Reserves Fiscal Year Ended 2009

 

We engaged Von Gonten to prepare an independent report of our proved reserves as of June 30, 2009. Denominated in equivalent barrels using a six Mcf of gas and 42 gallons of natural gas liquids to one barrel of oil conversion ratio, we recognized proved reserves of 3,060,040 at June 30, 2009.  Of our proved reserves, natural gas represented 35%, natural gas liquids represented 34%, and crude oil represented 31% as of June 30, 2009.

 

The following table sets forth our estimated proved reserves as of June 30, 2009.  See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements, where additional reserve information is provided.  The NYMEX spot prices used to calculate estimated revenues were $69.89 per barrel of crude oil and $3.885 per MMbtu of natural gas as of June 30, 2009.  The price of natural gas liquids utilized was based on the historical price received versus the NYMEX basis oil price.  Pricing differentials were applied to all properties, on an individual property basis, in order to reflect prices actually received at the wellhead.  Quality adjustments have been applied based on actual BTU factors for each well and a shrinkage factor has been applied based on production volumes versus actual sales volumes.

 

June 30, 2009

 

 

 

Proved

 

Proved

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Developed

 

Developed

 

Proved

 

Total Proved

 

 

 

Producing

 

Non-producing

 

Undeveloped

 

Reserves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude Oil (MBbls)

 

105

 

 

841

 

946

 

NGLs (MBbls)

 

141

 

 

913

 

1,054

 

Natural gas (MMcf)

 

1,106

 

 

5,253

 

6,359

 

Total (MBOE)

 

430

 

 

2,630

 

3,060

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated future net revenues

 

$

9,714,324

 

 

$

48,480,128

 

$

58,194,452

 

Estimated future net revenues discounted at 10% (PV-10)

 

$

7,640,456

 

 

$

28,185,766

 

$

35,826,222

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

Changes in Proved Reserves

 

Total proved reserves increased 9.4 million BOE from 3,060,040 BOE at June 30, 2009 to 12,418,256 BOE at June 30, 2010.  The increase is primarily attributable to 9,411,841 barrels of proved oil reserves we added to our properties in the Delhi Field, based on approximately $300 million of development capital spent by the Operator since project inception, the start-up of CO2 injection operations during fiscal year 2010, and an oil production response during fiscal year 2010.  The additions in our properties in the Delhi Field along with extensions in Giddings and Oklahoma of 127,905 BOE, were offset by production of 125,515 BOE and negative revisions of 60,943 BOE primarily related to the transfer of four well locations in the Lopez Field in South Texas from the proved classification to probable on June 30, 2010.

 

 

 

Delhi

 

Giddings

 

Lopez

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Field

 

Field

 

Field

 

Oklahoma

 

Total

 

Proved reserves, MBOE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 1, 2009

 

 

3,012

 

48

 

 

3,060

 

Production

 

(6

)

(120

)

 

 

(126

)

Revisions

 

 

(13

)

(48

)

 

(61

)

Improved recovery, extensions and discoveries

 

9,418

 

104

 

 

23

 

9,545

 

June 30, 2010

 

9,412

 

2,983

 

 

23

 

12,418

 

 

Reconciliation of PV-10 to the Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of PV-10 to the Standardized Measure as shown in Note 16 of the consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

For the Years Ended June 30

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated future net revenues

 

$

571,052,096

 

$

58,194,452

 

10% annual discount for estimated timing of future cash flows

 

(305,073,753

)

(22,368,230

)

Estimated future net revenues discounted at 10% (PV-10)

 

265,978,343

 

35,826,222

 

Estimated future income tax expenses discounted at 10%

 

(104,351,694

)

(12,276,431

)

Standardized Measure

 

$

161,626,649

 

$

23,549,791

 

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of PV-10 of each of our proved properties to the Standardized Measure as shown in Note 16 of the consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

For the Years Ended June 30

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delhi Field

 

$

224,462,846

 

$

 

Giddings Field

 

41,337,594

 

35,286,887

 

Lopez Field

 

 

539,335

 

Oklahoma

 

177,903

 

 

Estimated future net revenues discounted at 10% (PV-10)

 

$

265,978,343

 

$

35,826,222

 

Estimated future income tax expenses discounted at 10%

 

(104,351,694

)

(12,276,431

)

Standardized Measure

 

$

161,626,649

 

$

23,549,791

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

2010 Reserves Pricing Sensitivities

 

In addition to the proved reserves determined using SEC pricing, our independent engineers prepared estimates of our year-end proved reserves using two alternative commodity price assumptions. The following table summarizes our total proved reserves as of June 30, 2010 under each of the three assumptions:

 

 

 

Total Proved Reserves as of June 30, 2010

 

 

 

Oil

 

NGLs

 

Natural Gas

 

Total Reserves

 

 

 

Pricing

 

(MBbls)

 

(MBbls)

 

(MMcf)

 

(MBOE)

 

PV-10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEC

 

10,255

 

1,037

 

6,763

 

12,418

 

$

265,978,343

 

Spot price (1)

 

10,106

 

1,036

 

6,773

 

12,270

 

$

251,930,278

 

Forward curve (2)

 

10,482

 

1,049

 

6,894

 

12,679

 

$

308,738,147

 

 


(1)  The Spot price case is based on the NYMEX spot crude oil, natural gas liquid, and natural gas price as of June 30, 2010. For oil and natural gas liquids, the NYMEX posted price of $75.63 per barrel was adjusted by lease for quality, transportation fees and regional price differentials. For natural gas, the NYMEX spot price of $4.53 per MMBtu was adjusted by lease for energy content, transportation fees and regional price differentials. Such prices were held constant throughout the estimated lives of the reserves. Future production and development costs are based on year-end costs with no escalations.

 

(2) The Forward curve case is based on the five year applicable monthly forward closing prices on the NYMEX for oil and natural gas as of June 30, 2010. For oil and natural gas liquids, the price was based on a crude oil price which increased from $75.63 per Bbl to $84.43 per Bbl during the first five years and then held constant during the remaining life of the reserves, adjusted by lease for quality, transportation fees and regional price differentials. For natural gas, the price was based on a natural gas price which increased from $4.53 per MMBtu to $6.07 per MMBtu  during the first five years and then held constant over the remaining life of the properties, adjusted by lease for energy content, transportation fees and regional price differentials. Future production and development costs are based on year-end costs with no escalations.

 

Probable Reserves Fiscal Year Ended 2010

 

The Modernization Requirements also permitted the disclosure of probable reserves.  Probable reserves are additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than proved reserves but which, in sum with proved reserves, are as likely as not to be recovered.  The various reserve categories have different risks associated with them. Proved reserves are more likely to be produced than probable reserves. Because of these risks, the different reserve categories should not be considered to be directly additive.

 

 

 

Oil

 

NGLs

 

Natural Gas

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

(MBbls)

 

(MBbls)

 

(MMcf)

 

(MBOE)

 

PV-10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Probable undeveloped reserves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delhi Field

 

5,682

 

 

 

5,682

 

$

51,185,283

 

Giddings Field

 

206

 

226

 

3,272

 

977

 

$

11,767,618

 

Lopez Field

 

283

 

 

 

283

 

$

785,921

 

Oklahoma

 

 

 

1,360

 

227

 

$

53,907

 

Total probable undeveloped reserves

 

6,171

 

226

 

4,632

 

7,169

 

$

63,792,729

 

 

Additional detailed information describing the types of properties we own can be found in Item 1. Business — Business Strategy.

 

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Internal Controls Over Reserves Estimation Process and Qualifications of Technical Persons and

 

Our policies regarding internal controls over reserve estimates require reserves to be prepared by an independent engineering firm under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer and Vice President of Operations and to be in compliance with generally accepted petroleum engineering and evaluation principles and definitions and guidelines established by the SEC.  We provide each engineering firm with property interests, production, current operating costs, current production prices and other information.  This information is reviewed by our Vice President of Operations and our Chief Executive Officer to ensure accuracy and completeness of the data prior to submission to our third party engineering firm. The scope and results of our third party engineering firms’ procedures are summarized in a letter included as an exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  A letter which identifies the professional qualifications of each of the independent engineering firms who prepared the reserve reports are also filed as exhibits to this Annual report on Form 10-K.

 

Proved Undeveloped Reserves

 

Our proved undeveloped reserves at June 30, 2010 were 11.3 MMBOE. Future development costs associated with our proved undeveloped reserves at June 30, 2010 totaled approximately $32.9 million.  The increase in proved undeveloped reserves is primarily attributable to 8.8 MMBOE of proved undeveloped oil reserves we added to our properties in the Delhi Field, based on approximately $300 million of development capital spent by the Operator since project inception, the start-up of CO2 injection operations during fiscal year 2010, and an oil production response during fiscal year 2010.  None of our proved undeveloped locations remain undeveloped for five years from the date of initial recognition as proved undeveloped reserves.

 

Sales Volumes, Average Sales Prices and Average Production Costs

 

The following table shows the Company’s sales volumes and average sales prices received for crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Year Ended

 

Year Ended

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

June 30, 2010

 

June 30, 2009

 

June 30, 2008

 

Product

 

Volume

 

Price

 

Volume

 

Price

 

Volume

 

Price

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil (Bbls)

 

29,749

 

$

73.56

 

36,026

 

$

76.26

 

29,466

 

$

99.03

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas liquids (Bbls)

 

27,820

 

$

38.80

 

44,125

 

$

36.83

 

10,639

 

$

63.02

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas (Mcf)

 

407,674

 

$

4.30

 

323,301

 

$

5.33

 

69,051

 

$

9.67

 

 

Average production costs, including production taxes, per unit of production (using a six to one conversion ratio of Mcf’s to barrels) were approximately $13, $11 and $25 per BOE for the years ended June 30, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

Crude oil, NGLs, and natural gas sales volumes, net to our interest, for the year ended June 30, 2010 decreased 6% to 125,515 BOE, compared to 134,035 BOE for the year ended June 30, 2009.  Our sales volumes for the year ended June 30, 2010 included 6,333 Bbls of oil from Delhi (of which 5,721 bbls of oil were sold during the 4th quarter of 2010) and 119,182 BOE from our properties in the Giddings Field in Texas.

 

First EOR oil production at Delhi began in the last two weeks of March 2010.  Total sales volumes from Delhi, net to our interest, for the year ended June 30, 2010 was 6,333 Bbls of oil compared to 172 Bbls of oil during the year ended June 30, 2009.  Our interests in the Delhi Field consist of more than 76% of our total proved reserves as of June 30, 2010.  The average sales price per barrel of crude oil at Delhi was $76.59 for the year ended June 30, 2010, with no associated production costs.

 

Production from our properties in the Giddings Field decreased 11% from 133,863 BOE during the fiscal year ended June 2009 to 119,182 BOE during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010. Production of natural gas from our properties in the Giddings Field increased 26%, while production of crude oil and NGLs decreased 31% compared to the year ended June 30, 2009.  Our interests in the Giddings Field consist of 24% of our total proved reserves as of June 30, 2010.  The average sales price per BOE at Giddings was $38.07 for the year ended June 30, 2010, and associated production costs (not including ad valorem and production taxes) were $12.52 per BOE.

 

26



Table of Contents

 

The increase in volumes from fiscal 2008 to fiscal 2009 were attributable to the development of our properties in the Giddings Field, which accounted for almost 100 percent of our production during the year ended June 30, 2009.  Our production in the Giddings Field began late in the third fiscal quarter of the year ended June 30, 2008.  Our properties in the Tullos Field, which were sold on March 3, 2008, accounted for 35% of total sales volumes for the year ended June 30, 2008.

 

Drilling Activity

 

The following table sets forth our drilling activity.

 

 

 

Year Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

Gross

 

Net

 

Gross

 

Net

 

Gross

 

Net

 

Productive wells drilled

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Development

 

1.0

 

1.0

 

2.0

 

2.0

 

6.0

 

6.0

 

Exploratory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

1.0

 

1.0

 

2.0

 

2.0

 

6.0

 

6.0

 

Non productive dry wells drilled

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Development

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exploratory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Present Activities

 

We are currently drilling the Supak-Brinkman-1H in the Giddings Field under of joint development agreement with an industry partner.  The Supak-Brinkman-1H is a $1.7 million gross AFE re-entry operation to add a single Austin Chalk lateral to an existing wellbore.   We will receive a 10% carried working interest, a 10% cost bearing working interest for our cash participation, and a 22.5% back-in working interest on our partner’s 80% working interest.

 

We are continuing to test the Garcia #1 of our Neptune South Texas Project through a workover.

 

In Oklahoma, we have temporarily suspended the Henry 19-2 waiting on pipeline connection and we are moving our test of the Limon from the Caney to the Woodford Shale in the same well bore.  Further testing of the Knoche 1 and Knoche 2 are pending.

 

For further discussion, seeHighlights for our fiscal year 2010” and “Looking forward into 2011” under Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of this Form 10-K.

 

Delivery Commitments

 

As of June 30, 2010, we had no delivery commitments.

 

Productive Wells and Developed Acreage

 

Our developed acreage at June 30, 2010 totaled 5,040 net acres in the Giddings Field, consisting of a 100% working interest in nine producing and one developed non-producing gross and net wells, and 153 net acres in Wagoner County, OK with one nonproducing shut-in well.  We also own mineral and overriding royalty interests aggregating 7.4% in our CO2-EOR project in the Delhi Field.

 

27


 


Table of Contents

 

Our developed acreage at June 30, 2009 totaled 5,040 net acres in the Giddings Field, consisting of a 100% working interest in ten gross and net producing wells.

 

Our developed acreage at June 30, 2008 totaled 3,469 net acres in the Giddings Field, consisting of a 100% working interest in seven gross and net producing wells.

 

Undeveloped Acreage

 

Proved undeveloped acreage includes nineteen proved drilling locations and two probable drilling locations in the Giddings Field.

 

The reduction of six proved locations from the 25 proved locations as of the end of fiscal 2009 includes the addition of one proved drilling location in Giddings offset by the removal of three drilling locations in Giddings and the reclassification of four drilling locations from proved to probable in the Lopez Field in South Texas. Probable undeveloped acreage includes two drilling locations in Giddings, ten drilling locations in Oklahoma and twenty-five drilling locations in the Lopez Field.  Additional drilling locations are associated with our acreage, but require further leasing, step out drilling, and/or an increase in commodity prices before being considered for inclusion.

 

As of June 30, 2010, we held approximately 55,007 gross and 36,298 net undeveloped acres in the Gulf Coast and Mid-Continent regions of the United States, as follows:

 

Field/Area

 

Gross Acreage

 

Net Acreage

 

Giddings Field, Texas

 

15,642

 

13,891

 

Woodford, Oklahoma

 

23,925

 

17,421

 

Neptune Oil Project (Lopez Field, South Texas)

 

1,804

 

1,721

 

Delhi Field, Louisiana *

 

13,636

 

3,265

 

Total

 

55,007

 

36,298

 

 


* Includes from the surface of the Earth to the top of the Massive Anhydride, less and except the Delhi Holt Bryant CO2 and Mengel Units. With respect to the Delhi Holt Bryant Unit, currently being redeveloped using CO2-EOR operations within this same acreage, we currently own royalty interests aggregating approximately 7.4%.  Separately, we own a 23.9% reversionary working interest (19% net revenue interest) that will revert to us, as, if and when payout occurs, as defined. We are not the operator of the Delhi CO2-EOR project.

 

Our net undeveloped acreage that is subject to expiration over the next three years, if not renewed or extended by option,  (consisting of our acreage in the Giddings Field, Woodford, and South Texas) is approximately 18,122 acres in fiscal 2011, 4,112 acres in fiscal 2012 and 8,505 acres in fiscal 2013.

 

For more complete information regarding current year activities, including crude oil and natural gas production, refer to Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of this Form 10-K.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

 

None.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

No matters were submitted to a vote of our security holders, through solicitation of proxies or otherwise, during the fourth quarter ended June 30, 2010.

 

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Table of Contents

 

PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Common Stock

 

Our common stock is currently traded on the NYSE Amex under the ticker symbol “EPM”.

 

We initiated trading of our common stock on the OTC Bulletin Board in May 2004, under the symbol “NGSY”.  On July 17, 2006 we qualified for trading on the American Stock Exchange.  The American Stock Exchange was acquired by the NYSE Euronext (NYX) in 2008 and is now known as NYSE Amex.  The following table shows, for each quarter of fiscal year 2010 and 2009, the high and low sales prices for EPM as reported by the NYSE Amex.

 

NYSE Amex

 

2010:

 

High

 

Low

 

Fourth quarter ended June 30, 2010

 

$

6.25

 

$

4.61

 

Third quarter ended March 31, 2010

 

$

5.10

 

$

4.36

 

Second quarter ended December 31, 2009

 

$

4.67

 

$

2.90

 

First quarter ended September 30, 2009

 

$

3.34

 

$

2.21

 

 

2009:

 

High

 

Low

 

Fourth quarter ended June 30, 2009

 

$

3.13

 

$

1.85

 

Third quarter ended March 31, 2009

 

$

1.99

 

$

1.17

 

Second quarter ended December 31, 2008

 

$

3.06

 

$

1.00

 

First quarter ended September 30, 2008

 

$

6.05

 

$

2.60

 

 

Holders

 

As of June 30, 2010, there were 27,061,376 shares of common stock issued and outstanding, held by approximately 3,050 holders of record.

 

Dividends

 

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends with respect to our common stock. We anticipate that we will retain future earnings for use in the operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate paying cash dividends on the common stock in the foreseeable future. Any future determination with regard to the payment of dividends will be at the discretion of the board of directors and will be dependent upon our future earnings, financial condition, applicable dividend restrictions and capital requirements and other factors deemed relevant by the board of directors.

 

Securities Authorized For Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

 

Number of securities

 

 

 

securities to

 

Weighted-average

 

remaining

 

 

 

be issued

 

exercise

 

available for future

 

 

 

upon exercise

 

price of

 

issuance under

 

 

 

of outstanding

 

outstanding

 

equity compensation

 

 

 

options,

 

options, warrants

 

plans (excluding

 

 

 

warrants and

 

and

 

securities reflected

 

 

 

rights

 

rights

 

in column (a))

 

Plan category

 

(a)

 

(b)

 

(c)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

 

4,445,320

(1)

$

1.90

 

611,407

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

 

1,196,808

(2)

$

1.60

 

 

Total

 

5,642,128

 

$

1.83

 

611,407

 

 

29



Table of Contents

 


(1) On May 26, 2004, we, as Reality Interactive, Inc., executed an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Natural Gas Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Merger”).  In connection with the Merger, we assumed the obligations of 600,000 stock options under our acquired subsidiary’s 2003 Stock Option Plan.  As of June 30, 2010, 500,000 shares remain issuable upon exercise of stock options under the 2003 Stock Option Plan and no further options shall be issued there-under.  As of June 30, 2010, there were 3,945,320 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options, 3,000 options that were exercised and 940,273 shares of common stock issued directly under the 2004 Stock Plan, leaving 611,407 shares of common stock available for issuance.

 

(2) In addition to assuming certain obligations listed in footnote 1 above, in connection with the Merger, we also assumed outstanding warrants to purchase shares of common stock issued in connection with arranging the merger and in connection with capital raising.  Total warrants outstanding as of June 30, 2010 related to these activities were 159,308 with a weighted average exercise price of $1.87.  Also included were 1,037,500 warrants with a weighted average exercise price of $1.56 issued in connection with employment and or compensation arrangements, including a warrant to purchase 287,500 shares of common stock in connection with Mr. Herlin’s employment agreement with the Company, a warrant to purchase 200,000 shares in connection with Mr. Mazzanti’s employment agreement with the Company, a warrant to purchase 400,000 shares of common stock in connection with Mr. Herlin’s annual performance incentives, including warrants in lieu of cash bonus, and a warrant to purchase 150,000 shares of common stock in connection with Mr. McDonald’s annual performance incentives, including warrants in lieu of cash bonus.

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

None.

 

30



Table of Contents

 

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

 

The selected consolidated financial data, set forth below should be read in conjunction with Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and with the consolidated financial statements and notes to those consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

 

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

 

 

June 30,
 2010

 

March 31,
 2010

 

December 31,
 2009

 

September 30,
 2009

 

June 30,
 2009

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil

 

$

759,344

 

$

469,418

 

$

456,375

 

$

503,122

 

$

409,546

 

Natural gas liquids (“NGLs”)

 

231,460

 

282,400

 

280,212

 

285,311

 

283,434

 

Natural gas

 

368,387

 

539,563

 

464,715

 

381,594

 

290,971

 

Total operating revenues

 

1,359,191

 

1,291,381

 

1,201,302

 

1,170,027

 

983,951

 

Operating Expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lease operating expense (“LOE”)

 

482,160

 

399,833

 

369,928

 

364,846

 

379,969

 

Production taxes

 

8,054

 

5,432

 

16,459

 

18,367

 

21,272

 

Depreciation, depletion, and amortization (“DD&A”)

 

144,766

 

505,445

 

550,142

 

617,757

 

552,153

 

Accretion expense

 

15,954

 

15,562

 

15,200

 

14,338

 

13,149

 

G&A (excluding stock-based compensation) (1)

 

433,064

 

810,171

 

828,796

 

861,480

 

413,132

 

G&A: Stock-based compensation (2)

 

957,595

 

384,701

 

424,800

 

391,636

 

760,365

 

Total operating expense

 

2,041,593

 

2,121,144

 

2,205,325

 

2,268,424

 

2,137,040

 

Operating loss

 

(682,402

)

(829,763

)

(1,004,023

)

(1,098,397

)

(1,153,089

)

Interest income, net

 

7,269

 

18,776

 

13,785

 

15,224

 

22,820

 

Net loss before income tax benefit

 

(675,133

)

(810,987

)

(990,238

)

(1,083,173

)

(1,130,269

)

Income tax benefit

 

245,712

 

259,466

 

288,298

 

378,348

 

420,627

 

Net loss

 

$

(429,421

)

$

(551,521

)

$

(701,940

)

$

(704,825

)

$

(709,642

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss per share — basic and diluted

 

$

(.02

)

$

(.02

)

$

(.03

)

(.03

)

$

(.03

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

 

27,137,611

 

27,144,174

 

27,092,954

 

26,646,022

 

26,297,444

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales volumes per day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil (Bbls)

 

109.5

 

66.8

 

66.6

 

82.3

 

78.9

 

NGL (Bbls)

 

64.2

 

68.3

 

74.9

 

96.4

 

113.1

 

Natural gas (Mcf)

 

972.7

 

1,082.0

 

1,188.2

 

1,210.7

 

934.1

 

Total (BOE)

 

335.8

 

315.5

 

339.5

 

380.5

 

347.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average sales price

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil per Bbl

 

$

76.18

 

$

77.17

 

$

74.47

 

$

66.46

 

$

57.02

 

NGL per Bbl

 

39.63

 

45.42

 

40.66

 

32.16

 

27.55

 

Natural gas per Mcf

 

4.16

 

5.48

 

4.25

 

3.43

 

3.42

 

Total per BOE

 

44.47

 

44.98

 

38.46

 

33.43

 

31.10

 

Per BOE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOE and production taxes

 

16.04

 

14.12

 

12.37

 

10.95

 

12.59

 

DD&A

 

4.74

 

17.61

 

17.61

 

17.65

 

17.45

 

Accretion expense

 

0.52

 

0.54

 

0.49

 

0.41

 

0.42

 

G&A (excluding stock-based compensation) (1)

 

14.17

 

28.22

 

26.53

 

24.61

 

13.06

 

G&A: Stock-based compensation (2)

 

31.33

 

13.40

 

13.60

 

11.19

 

24.03

 

Total operating expense

 

66.80

 

73.88

 

70.60

 

64.80

 

67.55

 

Operating (loss) income

 

$

(22.33

)

$

(28.90

)

$

(32.14

)

$

(31.38

)

$

(36.45

)

Net income (loss) before income taxes

 

$

(22.09

)

$

(28.25

)

$

(31.70

)

$

(30.94

)

$

(35.72

)

 


(1)   G&A for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, includes the reversal of accrued bonuses of $587,033 ($19.21 per BOE of production), due to the decision to issue common stock to employees in lieu of a cash bonus.

 

(2)   G&A: Stock-based compensation for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, includes a charge of $587,033 ($19.21 per BOE of production), related to the payment of 2010 bonuses through the issuance of common stock.

 

31



Table of Contents

 

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Executive Overview

 

General

 

We are a petroleum company engaged primarily in the acquisition, exploitation and development of properties for the production of crude oil and natural gas, onshore in the United States. We acquire known, underdeveloped oil and natural gas resources and exploit them through the application of capital, sound engineering and modern technology to increase production, ultimate recoveries, or both.

 

We are focused on increasing underlying asset values on a per share basis.  In doing so, we depend on a conservative capital structure, allowing us to maintain control of our assets for the benefit of our shareholders, including approximately 20% beneficially owned by all of our employees.

 

Our strategy is intended to generate scalable, low unit cost, development and re-development opportunities that minimize or eliminate exploration risks.  These opportunities involve the application of modern technology, our own proprietary technology and our specific expertise in overlooked areas of the United States.

 

The assets we exploit currently fit into three types of project opportunities:

 

·      Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR),

 

·      Bypassed Primary Resources, and

 

·      Unconventional Shale Gas Development.

 

We expect to fund our fiscal 2011 development plan from working capital and net cash flows from our properties in the Giddings and Delhi Fields, although we also may utilize appropriate financing to fund additional development above our 2011 development plan.

 

Highlights for our fiscal year 2010

 

Oil & Gas Reserves

 

·      Proved reserves increased 306% to 12.4 million BOE.  Proved and probable combined reserves increased 10% to 19.6 million BOE.  This compares to 3.1 million BOE of proved and 17.8 million BOE of proved and probable reserves at June 30, 2009.

 

·      Proved reserves are 83% oil and 9% liquids, as compared to 31% and 34% at June 30, 2009.

 

·      PV-10 of Proved reserves increased 642%, from $36 million to $266 million .  PV-10 of proved and probable reserves increased 34%, from $245 million to $330 million.  We believe the presentation of PV-10 provides useful information to investors because it is widely used by analysts and investors in evaluating oil and natural gas companies and the relative monetary significance of their oil and natural gas properties.  PV-10 is not intended to represent the current market value of our estimated oil and natural gas reserves, nor should it be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the Standardized Measure as defined under GAAP.  See “Estimated Oil and Natural Gas Reserves and Estimated Future Net Revenues” under Item 2. Properties of this Form 10-K for a reconciliation of PV-10 to the Standardized Measure.

 

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Table of Contents

 

·                  We added 9.4 million net barrels of proved oil reserves at Delhi.  Net proved and probable reserves at Delhi increased 11% to 15.1 million barrels of oil due to greater expected recovery based on the earlier and stronger than anticipated EOR response, and the inclusion of additional pay zones.  Fiscal 2010 was a pivotal year for the Delhi Field.  Following four years of field development and $300 million of related capital expended by the Operator, we obtained first EOR production in March 2010, three months earlier than the anticipated mid-summer response date.  This early response further supported our independent reservoir engineer’s assignment of 15.1 million net barrels of proved and probable oil reserves, 9.4 million of which are classified as proved reserves.  Of the 15.1 million net barrels of proved and probable oil reserves approximately five million are associated with our royalty interests.  This compares to 13.6 million barrels of probable reserves, and no proved reserves, assigned to Delhi by D&M at the end of fiscal 2009.  The current reserve report includes changes to the Delhi EOR development plan that resulted in both positive and negative impacts on our Delhi reserves.  The expected future purchase volumes of CO2 were substantially increased, particularly during the pre-payout period, thereby extending the pre-payout period.  In addition, title work by DNR has determined that a small amount of the working interest is owned by third parties, resulting in a minor reduction to our after payout working interest from 25% to 23.9%.   These adverse effects are more than offset by three positive revisions.  First, the early strong production response, combined with further analysis, have led to a higher expected peak production rate and an increase in the recovery rate from 15% to 17% of original oil in place.  Second, D&M has concurred with the expansion of the EOR project to several additional , analogous reservoirs within the field.  The combination of these two revisions brings total expected proved and probable gross recoveries to 68 MMBO.  Third, reserves now include the benefit of the EOR severance tax holiday granted by the State of Louisiana.  For Evolution shareholders, the combination of these effects equates to 1.5 MMBO of added proved and probable reserves and a $79 million increase in PV-10 associated with our proved and probable reserves, offset by an approximate 20 month delay in reversionary payout compared to the 2009 report.  At June 30, 2010, proved PV-10 at Delhi is $224.5 million and probable PV-10 is $51.2 million. See “Estimated Oil and Natural Gas Reserves and Estimated Future Net Revenues” under Item 2. Properties of this Form 10-K for a reconciliation of PV-10 to the Standardized Measure.

 

·      Our fourth quarter depletion rate of $4.39 per BOE is a proxy for our average historical full-cycle F&D costs. Since we have never had a ceiling test write-down of our oil and gas properties, our current depletion rate is equal to our average historical, full-cycle finding and development costs for proved reserves.

 

·      Our proved reserves are 9% developed, but we bear no expected future capital expenditures related to our 8.8 MMBo of proved undeveloped reserves at Delhi.  While less than 10% of Delhi’s planned producing wells were online at June 30, 2010, approximately 65% of budgeted project costs had been expended by the Operator through June 30, 2010.

 

·      Due to delayed testing at our Neptune Oil Project in South Texas, we have elected to revise our 48 MBO of proved undeveloped reserves as probable reserves as of June 30, 2010.  Delay in obtaining power and then unforeseen mechanical difficulties in obtaining adequate saltwater injection capacity delayed the start of our production testing to the fourth fiscal quarter.  We will continue to test the project through a workover of the existing producer and re-entry of potentially two additional producer wells during fiscal 2011.

 

·      We made progress with our first producing test well in our shallow Woodford shale project in Wagoner County, OK, establishing 1.6 BCF of proved and probable reserves in and around the Henry 19-2 vertical test well.  In late February we began steady-state production by flaring production from the Henry.  Production steadily increased from an initial low rate as the localized area of the reservoir dewatered.  At the end of April, water rates were decreasing while gas production rates were increasing past our targeted peak rate of 80 Mcfd, reaching a rate of 93 Mcfd of gas before the well was shut in due to power failure due to lightning.  Although we are unable to predict the final peak gas rate capability of this well, we believe this result is very encouraging and suggests that the dewatering process relieves the hydrostatic formation pressure to allow increasing gas rates, typically followed by a long slow decline curve.  An additional test well was put on production in the southern block of our Wagoner leasehold with a different frac application and was disappointing.  We expect to again test this block in a different location using the frac utilized in the Henry well.  As previously reported, in a separate well we also performed a brief production test of the Caney Shale and determined its modest economic potential to be limited to an add-on to the Woodford Shale.

 

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Table of Contents

 

·                  We replaced 76% of our 120 MBOE net production at the Giddings Field in Central Texas and ended the fiscal year with proved reserves of 3.0 MMBOE and probable reserves of 1.0 MBOE.  Due to upgrading of our portfolio of drilling locations, proved PV-10 at Giddings increased 17% from the prior year to $41.3 million.  See  Looking Forward to 2011 for a discussion of the joint development agreement entered into subsequent to our year ended June 30, 2010.  See “Estimated Oil and Natural Gas Reserves and Estimated Future Net Revenues” under Item 2. Properties of this Form 10-K for a reconciliation of PV-10 to the Standardized Measure.

 

Operations

 

·                  First tertiary oil production began at Delhi in March 2010.  Our share of production from Delhi, net to our royalty interests for the year ended June 30, 2010, was 6,333 Bbls of oil compared to 172 Bbls of oil during the year ended June 30, 2009.  In June, gross field production was slightly over 800 BOPD.  Denbury is continuing its multi-year roll out of the project by installing Phase II and Phase III in the field through the addition of producer and injector wells and associated facilities in the field, which is expected to provide a continued steady increase in oil production.  Once Denbury has generated sufficient net revenues to offset direct operating expenses of the project by the deemed $200 million payout, we will receive a 23.9% working interest (25% of Denbury’s interest), and an incremental estimated 19.2% revenue interest (increasing our revenue interest to 26.56%). We expect to continue bearing no capital expenditures or operating costs until such payout occurs, after which we begin paying our working interest share of future costs.

 

·                  Sales volumes decreased 6% in fiscal 2010 versus fiscal 2009.  Our decrease in sales volumes for the year was solely attributable to our normal production decline in the Giddings Field.  Production from our properties in the Giddings Field decreased 11% from 133,863 BOE during the fiscal year ended June 2009 to 119,182 BOE during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010. Production of natural gas from our properties in the Giddings Field increased 26%, while production of crude oil and NGLs decreased 31% compared to the year ended June 30, 2009.  First EOR oil production at Delhi began in the last two weeks of March 2010.  Our net production from Delhi for the year ended June 30, 2010 was 6,333 Bbls of oil compared to 172 Bbls of oil during the year ended June 30, 2009.

 

·                  We lowered our depletion rate 75% to less than $5 per BOE during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010.  Our depletion rate for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010 was $4.39 per BOE, compared to $17.61 for the third quarter of 2010.  The decrease in our depletion rate was due to the addition of 9.4 million barrels of proved oil reserves at Delhi, while associated legacy capital costs of only $1.2 million ($0.13 of costs per incremental barrel) were transferred to our full cost pool.

 

·                  The product prices we received declined 12% in fiscal 2010 versus fiscal 2009.  During the year ended June 30, 2010, the average price we received was $40.01 per BOE, as compared to $45.47 per BOE during the year ended June 30, 2009.

 

Finances

 

·                  We ended the year with $4.9 million of working capital, compared to $7.6 million at June 30, 2009.  At June 30, 2010, working capital included $4.5 million of cash, cash equivalents and short-term certificates of deposit, and $0.7 million of recoverable income taxes arising from current year tax losses carried back to a prior tax year.  The $2.7 million reduction in our working capital since June 30, 2009 was due primarily to investments of $3.8 million in oil and natural gas properties, offset by positive cash flow generated from our oil and gas properties

 

·                  Cash flows from operations covered our general and administrative expenses and funded a portion of our capital expenditures.  Cash flows from operations were $2.3 million during the year ended June 30, 2010, which includes $2.1 million received in January 2010 from the Internal Revenue Service as a result of a carry-back of our tax loss for the year ended June 30, 2009.

 

·                  Non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $2.1 million comprised over 42% of G&A for fiscal year 2010.  Non-cash stock-based compensation expense remains an important part of our total compensation program to help motivate and retain high performing employees and consultants, in addition to conserving our cash resources.

 

·                  We nearly completed negotiations with an industry partner to help finance the resumption of development drilling at Giddings.  For details, see the Looking Forward section below.

 

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·                  We filed a universal shelf registration with the SEC.  With considerable market price volatility becoming more common, we view a shelf registration as an important part of prudent capital management.

 

·                  We remained debt free. All of our expenditures were funded solely by working capital and we ended our fiscal year with no funded debt.

 

Looking forward into 2011

 

Our Base Case capital budget of $4 million will focus on selective low cost testing and development of our current portfolio properties within the following major operations:

 

·                  Continue the roll out of the CO2 EOR project at Delhi that is operated and funded by Denbury.  The Operator is continuing development activities through its installation of Phases II and III that began earlier in calendar 2010, and the rate of CO2 injection has continued to increase. Further roll out is expected to continue during our fiscal 2011.  Gross oil production, and our resulting net production from our royalty interests, is expected to substantially increase during the year accordingly.

 

·                  Resume development drilling at Giddings on up to 5 of our 19 proved and 2 probable drilling locations.  Immediately following the close of our recently completed fiscal year, we entered into a joint development agreement (“JDA”) with an industry partner.  The JDA provides that we operate the drilling of two firm commitment wells on our proved locations in the Giddings Field, with the potential to add up to three option wells as elected by our partner.  Under the terms of the JDA, we will receive a 10% carried working interest in recognition of our costs to date, a 10% cost bearing working interest for our cash participation, and a 22.5% back-in working interest on each well drilled on our partner’s 80% working interest following a simple 2 well basket payout and well-by-well simple pay-out on the subsequent wells (bringing our after-payout working interest to 38%).  The leases carry approximately 80% net revenue interest to the 100% working interest.

 

The first location, the Supak-Brinkman-1H located in Burleson County, is a $1.7 million gross AFE re-entry operation to add a single Austin Chalk lateral to an existing wellbore.  We began operations on this location in late August, 2010.  We expect to follow with drilling operations on a $2.9 million gross AFE grass roots location (new well), the Dodd, in northern Grimes County to complete two 4,000’ opposing laterals into the Georgetown formation. Our outside engineers have assigned to the 100% working interest approximately 164,000 net BOE of proved reserves to the Supak and 244,000 net BOE of reserves to the Dodd.  The Dodd reserves are split evenly between proved and probable reserve categories.  Our share of expected net capital expenditures for the JV program is $1.18 million, assuming all five wells are drilled.  We are also exploring opportunities to enter into a second joint venture to develop additional drilling locations, which would require an increase in our capital subject to the terms of such joint venture.

 

·                  Increase our Woodford Shale test activity.  We plan to complete up to two more test wells at our shallow 1,500’ depth Woodford acreage block in Wagoner County, OK during fiscal 2011 to add to our knowledge base.  Separately, in our mid-depth Haskell County, OK, Woodford Shale leasehold, we expect to begin re-entry operations on the first of a two vertical well program to begin testing vertical completions in the Woodford between 4,000’ and 6,000’ depth. We intend to use the information gained to attract candidates for joint venture development.

 

·                  Pursue commercial joint ventures utilizing our proprietary artificial lift technology.  Based on tests results at Giddings, we believe our technology could re-establish production in many wells throughout Giddings and other fields developed with horizontal wells where liquids are associated with their production.  We are currently negotiating with a major producer at Giddings, and have entered into discussions with a second producer, to provide our lift technology with the intent of gaining an interest in the newly re-established production.  We also plan on approaching other producers during fiscal 2011 for potential applications both within and outside of Giddings.

 

·                  Continue testing of our Neptune Oil Project in South Texas.  Now that adequate water injection capacity exists in the field, we plan to conduct a workover on the Garcia #1 producer to re-complete in a different portion of the Mirando Sand and re-enter up to two additional producer wells to complete our testing program.

 

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·                  Exercise lease options and renew other leases. We plan to exercise lease options and renew other leases to maintain high value drilling locations at Giddings and our leasehold in Oklahoma, as well as provide funds for forced pooling associated with producing Woodford wells in Oklahoma.

 

Continued conservative financial management.

 

·                  Emphasize long-term share value over near-term earnings during the current period of low natural gas prices.

 

·                  Retain financial strength and flexibility to assure we obtain proper value of our core assets.

 

·                  Primarily use internally generated funds and our working capital to achieve our goals for fiscal 2011. We may accelerate our development operations where warranted by utilizing joint ventures, project financing, selective divestments of noncore assets or minor equity offerings at attractive stock valuations when capital market conditions improve.

 

·                  Improve financial results through reductions in depletion expense and expected increases in Delhi production.  The fourfold increase in proved reserves, without a substantial increase in future capital costs, is expected to dramatically reduce our depletion expense in future periods.  When combined with our expected revenue growth from our Delhi royalty interests bearing no future operating expense or incremental expenditures for capital, our financial results are expected to improve.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

At June 30, 2010, our working capital was $4.9 million and we continued to be debt free.  This compares to working capital of $7.6 million at June 30, 2009.  The $2.7 million decrease in working capital since June 30, 2009, was due primarily to investments of $3.7 million in oil and natural gas properties (not including $0.1 million incurred related to recognition of asset retirement obligations).  Of the $3.7 million of incurred capital expenditures during the year ended June 30, 2010, $0.5 million was for leasehold acquisitions and $3.2 million was for development activities.  Development activities were in the Giddings Field in Texas, our Neptune Oil Project in the Lopez Field in South Texas, and our gas shale project in Eastern Oklahoma.

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

Cash flows provided by operating activities for the year ended June 30, 2010 were $2.4 million.  Cash flows provided by operations include cash receipts of $5.0 million from oil and natural gas sales, primarily from our properties in the Giddings Field, cash receipts of $2.1 million from the Internal Revenue Service due to our 2009 tax year net operating loss carry-back, and interest received of $0.1 million.  Total cash received of $7.2 million was partially offset by $4.5 million of cash payments for operating expenses, including lease operating expenses, production taxes, salaries and wages, and payment of $0.3 million in state income taxes.

 

Cash flows provided by operating activities for the year ended June 30, 2009 were $6.0 million.  Cash flows provided by operations for fiscal year ended June 30, 2009 included cash proceeds of $7.3 million from oil and natural gas production, primarily from our properties in the Giddings Field, cash proceeds of $0.1 million from interest income and cash proceeds of $4.1 million from income tax refunds, primarily from our 2008 tax year net operating loss carry-back.  Sources of cash were offset by $5.5 million of cash payments for operating activities, including lease operating expenses, production taxes, salaries and wages and general administrative expense.

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

Cash paid for oil and gas capital expenditures during the year ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, was $3.8 million and $10.7 million, respectively, which includes net payments on accounts payable of $0.1 million and $2.1 million, respectively, relating to prior period expenditures for oil and natural gas properties.

 

We purchased $1.4 million and $1.8 million in short-term certificates of deposit during the year ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  During the year ended June 30, 2010, $2.1 million of certificates of deposit matured.

 

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Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

There were no significant cash flows from financing activities during the year ended June 30, 2010.  During the previous fiscal year, on October 30, 2008, we repurchased 788,200 shares of common stock at an average price of $1.10 per share plus $0.02 in transaction costs from an unaffiliated accredited investor.

 

Capital Budget

 

For our fiscal 2011 Plan, we expect to incur capital expenditures of approximately $4.0 million (for expenditure details, see the “Looking Forward” section above).

 

We expect to fund our fiscal 2011 Plan with internally generated funds, our working capital and the JDA we signed in July 2010.  Increases in our activity level over the planned operations will be funded from joint ventures, project financing, selective divestments of noncore assets or potentially from minor equity offerings at attractive stock valuations when capital market conditions improve.

 

Results of Operations

 

Year ended June 30, 2010 compared with the year ended June 30, 2009

 

The following table sets forth certain financial information with respect to our oil and natural gas operations:

 

 

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30

 

 

 

%

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Variance

 

change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales Volumes, net to the Company:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil (Bbl)

 

29,749

 

36,026

 

(6,277

)

(17

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NGLs (Bbl)

 

27,820

 

44,125

 

(16,305

)

(36

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas (Mcf)

 

407,674

 

323,301

 

84,373

 

26

%

Crude oil, NGLs and natural gas (BOE)

 

125,515

 

134,035

 

(8,520

)

(6

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil

 

$

2,188,259

 

$

2,747,494

 

$

(559,235

)

(20

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NGLs

 

1,079,383

 

1,625,063

 

(545,680

)

(34

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas

 

1,754,259

 

1,722,626

 

31,633

 

2

%

Total revenues

 

5,021,901

 

$

6,095,183

 

$

(1,073,282

)

(18

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average price:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil (per Bbl)

 

$

73.56

 

$

76.26

 

$

(2.70

)

(4

)%

NGLs (per Bbl)

 

38.80

 

36.83

 

1.97

 

5

%

Natural gas (per Mcf)

 

4.30

 

5.33

 

(1.03

)

(19

)%

Crude oil, NGLs and natural gas (per BOE)

 

$

40.01

 

$

45.47

 

$

(5.46

)

(12

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses (per BOE)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lease operating expenses and production taxes

 

$

13.27

 

$

10.69

 

$

2.58

 

24

%

Depletion expense on oil and natural gas properties (a)

 

$

14.10

 

$

18.07

 

$

(3.97

)

(22

)%

 


(a)   Excludes depreciation of office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and other of $48,699 and $38,965, for the year ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

Net loss.  For the year ended June 30, 2010, we reported a net loss of $2,387,707, or $0.09 loss per share (which includes $2,148,400 of non-cash stock-based compensation expense) on total oil and natural gas revenues of $5,021,901.  This compares to a net loss of $2,601,593, or $0.10 loss per share (which includes $2,405,900 of non-cash stock-based compensation expense) on total oil and natural gas revenues of $6,095,183 for the year ended June 30, 2009.  A decrease in our revenues of $1,073,282 was offset by decreases in operating costs of $1,199,426 (primarily related to a decrease in G&A and depreciation, depletion, and amortization), and an increase in our income tax benefit of $154,960.  Additional details of the components of net loss are explained in greater detail below.

 

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Sales Volumes.  Crude oil, NGLs, and natural gas sales volumes, net to our interest, for the year ended June 30, 2010 decreased 6% to 125,515 BOE, compared to 134,035 BOE for the year ended June 30, 2009.  Our sales volumes for the year ended June 30, 2010 included 6,333 Bbls of oil from Delhi (of which 5,721 bbls of oil were sold during the 4th quarter of 2010) and 119,182 BOE from our properties in the Giddings Field in Texas.

 

First EOR oil production at Delhi began in the last two weeks of March 2010.  Total production from Delhi, net to our interest, for the year ended June 30, 2010 was 6,333 Bbls of oil compared to 172 Bbls of oil during the year ended June 30, 2009.

 

Production from our properties in the Giddings Field decreased 11% from 133,863 BOE during the fiscal year ended June 2009 to 119,182 BOE during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010. Production of natural gas from our properties in the Giddings Field increased 26%, while production of crude oil and NGLs decreased 31% compared to the year ended June 30, 2009.

 

Petroleum Revenues.  Crude oil, NGLs and natural gas revenues for the year ended June 30, 2010 decreased 18% from the year ended June 30, 2009.  This was due to a 6% decline in sales volumes and a 12% decline in the average price received per BOE, from $45 per BOE for the year ended June 30, 2009 to $40 per BOE for the year ended June 30, 2010.

 

Lease Operating Expenses (including production severance taxes).  Lease operating expenses and production taxes for the year ended June 30, 2010 increased 16% compared to the year ended June 30, 2009, primarily due to the additions of three producing wells and an increase in workover expense from $232 thousand during fiscal 2009 to $452 thousand during fiscal 2010.  Lease operating expense and production taxes per barrel of oil equivalent increased 24% from $10.69 per BOE during fiscal 2009, to $13.27 per BOE during fiscal 2010.

 

General and Administrative Expenses (“G&A”).  G&A expenses decreased 14% to $5.1 million for the year ended June 30, 2010, compared to $5.9 million for the year ended June 30, 2009.  The reduction was due to a decrease in non-cash stock-based compensation expense, which was $2,148,400 (42% of total G&A) and $2,405,900 (41% of total G&A) for the year ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and a reduction of legal fees of approximately $380 thousand due to the settlement of the Delhi litigation in July 2009.  Non-cash stock-based compensation is an integral part of total staff compensation utilized to recruit quality staff from other, more established companies and, as a result, will likely continue to be a significant component of our G&A costs.

 

Depreciation, Depletion & Amortization Expense (“DD&A”).  DD&A decreased by 26% to $1,818,110 for year ended June 30, 2010, compared to $2,461,162 for the year ended June 30, 2009.  The decrease is primarily due to a 6% decrease in net sales volumes, and a lower annual depletion rate ($14.10 vs. $18.07) per BOE.

 

Our depletion rate for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010 was $4.39 per BOE compared to $17.23 for the 3rd quarter of 2010, due to the addition of 9.4 million proved oil reserves at Delhi with associated legacy costs of only $1.2 million transferred to our full cost pool.  The lower fourth quarter rate is the primary cause of the lower annual depletion rate.

 

Interest Income.  Interest income for the year ended June 30, 2010 decreased $67,218 to $55,054, compared to $122,272 for the year ended June 30, 2009.  The decrease in interest income is due to lower average daily balances of cash and short term certificates of deposit and a reduction in market interest rates received on invested cash.

 

Inflation.  Although the general inflation rate in the United States, as measured by the Consumer Price Index and the Producer Price Index, has been relatively low in recent years, the oil and gas industry has experienced unusually volatile price movements in commodity prices, vendor goods and oilfield services.  Prices for drilling and oilfield services, oilfield equipment, tubulars, labor, expertise and other services greatly impact our lease operating expenses and our capital expenditures.  During fiscal 2009 and into fiscal 2010, we saw a substantial decline in both petroleum product prices and drilling and oilfield services costs from prior years, followed more recently by moderate increases in products and services.  Product prices, operating costs and development costs may not always move in tandem.

 

Known Trends and Uncertainties.  While general worldwide economic conditions improved during fiscal 2010, they continue to be uncertain and volatile.  Concerns over uncertain future economic growth are affecting numerous industries, companies, as well as consumers, which impact demand for crude oil and natural gas.  If demand decreases in the future, it may put downward pressure on crude oil and natural gas prices, thereby lowering our revenues and working capital going forward.

 

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Seasonality.  Our business is generally not directly seasonal, except for instances when weather conditions may adversely affect access to our properties or delivery of our petroleum products.  Although we do not generally modify our production for changes in market demand, we do experience seasonality in the product prices we receive, driven by summer cooling and driving, winter heating, and extremes in seasonal weather including hurricanes that may substantially affect oil and natural gas production and imports.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires that we select certain accounting policies and make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of the assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  These policies, together with our estimates have a significant affect on our consolidated financial statements.  Our significant accounting policies are included in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.  Following is a discussion of our most critical accounting estimates, judgments and uncertainties that are inherent in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

 

Oil and Natural Gas PropertiesCompanies engaged in the production of oil and natural gas are required to follow accounting rules that are unique to the oil and gas industry.  We apply the full cost accounting method for our oil and natural gas properties as prescribed by SEC Regulation S-X Rule 4-10.  Under this method of accounting, the costs of unsuccessful, as well as successful, exploration and development activities are capitalized as properties and equipment. This includes any internal costs that are directly related to property acquisition, exploration and development activities but does not include any costs related to production, general corporate overhead or similar activities. Gain or loss on the sale or other disposition of oil and gas properties is not recognized, unless the gain or loss would significantly alter the relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves.  Oil and natural gas properties include costs that are excluded from costs being depleted or amortized. Oil and natural gas property costs excluded represent investments in unevaluated properties and include non-producing leasehold, geological and geophysical costs associated with leasehold or drilling interests and exploration drilling costs. We exclude these costs until the property has been evaluated. Costs are transferred to the full cost pool as the properties are evaluated.  As of June 30, 2010, our total unevaluated costs were $7.9 million.  If these costs were evaluated and included in our full cost pool, with no increases in our proved reserves as of June 30, 2010, our depreciation, depletion and amortization expense would have increased by approximately $20 thousand.

 

Estimates of Proved Reserves.  The estimated quantities of proved oil and natural gas reserves have a significant impact on the underlying financial statements.  The estimated quantities of proved reserves are used to calculate depletion expense, and the estimated future net cash flows associated with those proved reserves is the basis in determining impairment under the quarterly ceiling test calculation.  The process of estimating oil and natural gas reserves is very complex, requiring significant decisions in the evaluation of all available geological, geophysical, engineering and economic data. Estimated reserves are often subject to future revisions, which could be substantial, based on the availability of additional information, including reservoir performance, additional development activity, new geological and geophysical data, additional drilling, technological advancements, price changes and other economic factors.  As a result, material revisions to existing reserve estimates may occur from time to time. Although every reasonable effort is made to ensure that the reported reserve estimates represent the most accurate assessments possible, including the hiring of independent engineers to prepare our reserve estimates, the subjective decisions and variances in available data for the properties make these estimates generally less precise than other estimates included in our financial statements.  Material revisions to reserve estimates and / or significant changes in commodity prices could substantially affect our estimated future net cash flows of our proved reserves, affecting our quarterly ceiling test calculation and could significantly affect our depletion rate.  A 10% decrease in commodity prices used to determine our proved reserves and Standardized Measure as of June 30, 2010, would not have resulted in an impairment of our oil and natural gas properties.  Holding all other factors constant, a reduction in the Company’s proved reserve estimate at June 30, 2010 of 5%, 10% and 15% would affect depreciation, depletion and amortization expense by approximately $7 thousand, $16 thousand, and $25 thousand, respectively.

 

On December 31, 2008, the SEC issued its final rule on the modernization of reporting oil and gas reserves.  The new rule allows consideration of new technologies in evaluating reserves, allow companies to disclose their probable and possible reserves to investors, require reporting of oil and gas reserves using an average price based on the prior 12-month period rather than year-end prices, revises the disclosure requirements for oil and gas operations, and revises accounting for the limitation on capitalized costs for full-cost companies.  The new rule became effective for our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal ended June 30, 2010 and did not have a material affect on our financial statements.

 

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Valuation of Deferred Tax AssetsWe make certain estimates and judgments in determining our income tax expense for financial reporting purposes.  These estimates and judgments occur in the calculation of certain tax assets and liabilities that arise from differences in the timing and recognition of revenue and expense for tax and financial reporting purposes.  Our federal and state income tax returns are generally not prepared or filed before the consolidated financial statements are prepared or filed; therefore, we estimate the tax basis of our assets and liabilities at the end of each period as well as the effects of tax rate changes, tax credits, and net operating loss carry backs and carry forwards.  Adjustments related to these estimates are recorded in our tax provision in the period in which we file our income tax returns. Further, we must assess the likelihood that we will be able to recover or utilize our deferred tax assets (primarily our net operating loss).  If recovery is not likely, we must record a valuation allowance against such deferred tax assets for the amount we would not expect to recover, which would result in an increase to our income tax expense.  As of June 30, 2010, we have recorded a valuation allowance for the portion of our net operating loss that is limited by IRS Section 382.

 

Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making the assessment of the ultimate realization of deferred tax assets.  Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods for which the deferred tax assets are deductible, as of end of the current fiscal year, we believe that it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefits of its net deferred tax assets. If our estimates and judgments change regarding our ability to utilize our deferred tax assets, our tax provision would increase in the period it is determined that recovery is not probable.

 

Stock-based Compensation.  We estimate the fair value of stock option awards on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.  This valuation method requires the input of certain assumptions, including expected stock price volatility, expected term of the award, the expected risk-free interest rate, and the expected dividend yield of the Company’s stock .  The risk-free interest rate used is the U.S. Treasury yield for bonds matching the expected term of the option on the date of grant.  Our dividend yield is zero, as we do not pay a dividend.  Because of our limited trading experience of our common stock and limited exercise history of our stock option awards, estimating the volatility and expected term is very subjective.  We base our estimate of our expected future volatility, on peer companies whose common stock has been trading longer than ours, along with our own limited trading history while operating as an oil and natural gas producer.  Future estimates of our stock volatility could be substantially different from our current estimate, which could significantly affect the amount of expense we recognize for our stock-based compensation awards.

 

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements as of June 30, 2010.

 

ITEM 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISKS

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

We are exposed to changes in interest rates. Changes in interest rates affect the interest earned on our cash and cash equivalents.  Under our current policies, we do not use interest rate derivative instruments to manage exposure to interest rate changes.

 

Commodity Price Risk

 

Our most significant market risk is the pricing for crude oil, natural gas and NGLs. We expect energy prices to remain volatile and unpredictable. If energy prices decline significantly, revenues and cash flow would significantly decline. In addition, a non-cash write-down of our oil and gas properties could be required under full cost accounting rules if future oil and gas commodity prices sustained a significant decline. Prices also affect the amount of cash flow available for capital expenditures and our ability to borrow and raise additional capital, as, if and when needed.  Although our current production base may not be sufficient enough to effectively allow hedging, we may use derivative instruments to hedge our commodity price risk.

 

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Item 8. Financial Statements

 

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

42

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2010 and 2009.

43

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years ended June 30, 2010 and 2009.

44

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years ended June 30, 2010 and 2009.

45

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years ended June 30, 2010 and 2009

46

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

47

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Board of Directors and Stockholders

Evolution Petroleum Corporation

Houston, Texas

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Evolution Petroleum Corporation as of June 30, 2010 and 2009 and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2010.  These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Evolution Petroleum Corporation as of June 30, 2010 and 2009, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2010 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

We were not engaged to examine management’s assertion about the effectiveness of Evolution Petroleum Corporation’s internal controls over financial reporting as of June 30, 2010 included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting and, accordingly, we do not express an opinion thereon.

 

 

HEIN & ASSOCIATES LLP

 

Houston, Texas

September 27, 2010

 

42



Table of Contents

 

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Evolution Petroleum Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

 

 

June 30,

 

June 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

3,138,259

 

$

3,891,764

 

Certificates of deposit

 

1,350,000

 

2,059,147

 

Receivables

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and natural gas sales

 

536,366

 

532,318

 

Income taxes

 

25,200

 

 

Other

 

147,059

 

172,314

 

Income taxes recoverable

 

716,973

 

2,055,802

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

315,494

 

162,441

 

Total current assets

 

6,229,351

 

8,873,786

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net of depreciation, depletion, and amortization

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and natural gas properties — full-cost method of accounting, of which $7,851,068 and $9,819,465 at June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, were excluded from amortization.

 

30,803,061

 

28,751,178

 

Other property and equipment

 

101,998

 

150,697

 

Total property and equipment

 

30,905,059

 

28,901,875

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other assets

 

60,665

 

53,162

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

37,195,075

 

$

37,828,823

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

678,609

 

$

690,639

 

Accrued payroll

 

75,692

 

71,427

 

Royalties payable

 

221,062

 

218,477

 

State taxes payable

 

202,334

 

157,736

 

Other current liabilities

 

110,002

 

99,625

 

Total current liabilities

 

1,287,699

 

1,237,904

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long term liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

2,949,880

 

3,721,317

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

811,635

 

664,710

 

Stock-based compensation (Note 6 and 15)

 

587,033

 

370,440

 

Deferred rent

 

81,635

 

77,858

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

5,717,882

 

6,072,229

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, par value $0.001; 5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding

 

 

 

Common stock; par value $0.001; 100,000,000 shares authorized; issued 27,849,576 shares; outstanding 27,061,376 shares and 26,530,317 shares as of June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

27,849

 

27,318

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

18,532,643

 

16,424,868

 

Retained earnings

 

13,798,723

 

16,186,430

 

 

 

32,359,215

 

32,638,616

 

Treasury stock, at cost, 788,200 shares as of June 30, 2010 and June 30, 2009.

 

(882,022

)

(882,022

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

31,477,193

 

31,756,594

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

37,195,075

 

$

37,828,823

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

43



Table of Contents

 

Evolution Petroleum Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

 

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

June 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil

 

$

2,188,259

 

$

2,747,494

 

Natural gas liquids

 

1,079,383

 

1,625,063

 

Natural gas

 

1,754,259

 

1,722,626

 

Total revenues

 

5,021,901

 

6,095,183

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Costs

 

 

 

 

 

Lease operating expenses

 

1,616,767

 

1,281,989

 

Production taxes

 

48,312

 

158,794

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

1,818,110

 

2,461,162

 

Accretion of asset retirement obligations

 

61,054

 

37,601

 

General and administrative expenses *

 

5,092,243

 

5,896,366

 

Total operating costs

 

8,636,486

 

9,835,912

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from operations

 

(3,614,585

)

(3,740,729

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

55,054

 

122,272

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss before income tax benefit

 

(3,559,531

)

(3,618,457

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax benefit

 

1,171,824

 

1,016,864

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(2,387,707

)

$

(2,601,593

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss per common share

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and Diluted

 

$

(0.09

)

$

(0.10

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and Diluted

 

27,004,066

 

26,461,057

 

 


*General and administrative expenses for the year ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 included non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $2,148,400 and $2,405,900, respectively.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

44



Table of Contents

 

Evolution Petroleum Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow

 

 

 

Year Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(2,387,707

)

$

(2,601,593

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

1,818,110

 

2,461,162

 

Stock-based compensation

 

2,148,400

 

2,405,900

 

Issuance of common stock for charitable donation

 

 

28,600

 

Accretion of asset retirement obligations

 

61,054

 

37,601

 

Settlement of asset retirement obligations

 

 

(90,761

)

Deferred income taxes

 

(771,437

)

819,388

 

Deferred rent

 

3,777

 

3,777

 

Other assets

 

5,717

 

6,236

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables from oil and natural gas sales

 

(4,048

)

1,533,982

 

Receivables from income taxes and other

 

1,512,041

 

1,963,436

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

(153,053

)

108,497

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

65,144

 

(624,333

)

Royalties payable

 

2,585

 

(254,850

)

Income taxes payable

 

44,598

 

157,736

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

2,345,181

 

5,954,778

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Development of oil and natural gas properties

 

(3,280,425

)

(8,063,465

)

Acquisitions of oil and natural gas properties

 

(517,530

)

(2,603,098

)

Capital expenditures for other equipment

 

 

(28,635

)

Maturities of certificates of deposit

 

2,059,147

 

 

Purchases of certificates of deposit

 

(1,350,000

)

(1,757,312

)

Other assets

 

(13,220

)

(4,715

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(3,102,028

)

(12,457,225

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of restricted stock

 

42

 

130

 

Proceeds from the exercise of stock options

 

3,300

 

 

Purchase of treasury stock

 

 

(882,022

)

Other

 

 

3,823

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

3,342

 

(878,069

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(753,505

)

(7,380,516

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

3,891,764

 

11,272,280

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

3,138,259

 

$

3,891,764

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

45



Table of Contents

 

Evolution Petroleum Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

For the Years ended June 30, 2010 and 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

Paid-in

 

Retained

 

Treasury

 

Stockholders’

 

 

 

Shares

 

Par Value

 

Capital

 

Earnings

 

Stock

 

Equity

 

Balance, July 1, 2008

 

26,870,439

 

$

26,870

 

$

14,188,841

 

$

18,788,023

 

$

 

$

33,003,734

 

Issuance of common stock to certain employees in lieu of partial payment of 2008 cash bonus

 

46,795

 

47

 

168,415

 

 

 

168,462

 

Issuance of restricted common stock

 

390,283

 

390

 

(260

)

 

 

130

 

Issuance of common stock for charitable donation

 

11,000

 

11

 

28,589

 

 

 

28,600

 

Purchase of 788,200 treasury shares

 

(788,200

)

 

 

 

(882,022

)

(882,022

)

Other

 

 

 

3,823

 

 

 

3,823

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

2,035,460

 

 

 

2,035,460

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

(2,601,593

)

 

(2,601,593

)

Balance, June 30, 2009

 

26,530,317

 

$

27,318

 

$

16,424,868

 

$

16,186,430

 

(882,022

)

$

31,756,594

 

Issuance of common stock to certain employees in lieu of cash payment of 2009 bonus

 

138,224

 

138

 

370,302

 

 

 

370,440

 

Issuance of restricted common stock

 

386,914

 

387

 

(345

)

 

 

42

 

Exercise of stock warrants

 

133,005

 

133

 

(133

)

 

 

 

Exercise of stock options

 

3,000

 

3

 

3,297

 

 

 

3,300

 

Forfeiture of restricted common stock

 

(130,084

)

(130

)

130

 

 

 

 

Windfall tax benefit

 

 

 

173,157

 

 

 

173,157

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

1,561,367

 

 

 

1,561,367

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

(2,387,707

)

 

(2,387,707

)

Balance, June 30, 2010

 

27,061,376

 

$

27,849

 

$

18,532,643

 

$

13,798,723

 

$

(882,022

)

$

31,477,193

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

46


 

 


Table of Contents

 

EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 1 Organization and Basis of Preparation

 

Nature of Operations.  Evolution Petroleum Corporation (“EPM”) and its subsidiaries (the “Company”, “we”, “our” or “us”), is an independent petroleum company headquartered in Houston, Texas and incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada.  We are engaged primarily in the acquisition, exploitation and development of properties for the production of crude oil and natural gas.  We acquire properties with known oil and natural gas resources and exploit them through the application of conventional and specialized technology to increase production, ultimate recoveries, or both.

 

Principles of Consolidation and Reporting.  Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of EPM and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: NGS Sub Corp and its wholly owned subsidiary, Tertiaire Resources Company, NGS Technologies, Inc., and Evolution Operating Corp.  All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated financial statements for the previous year include certain reclassifications that were made to conform to the current presentation.  Such reclassifications have no impact on previously reported income or stockholders’ equity.

 

Use of Estimates.  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.  Significant estimates include reserve quantities and estimated future cash flows associated with proved reserves, which significantly impact depletion expense and potential impairments of oil and natural gas properties, income taxes and the valuation of deferred tax assets, stock-based compensation and commitments and contingencies.  We analyze our estimates based on historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable. While we believe that our estimates and assumptions used in preparation of the consolidated financial statements are appropriate, actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents.  We consider all highly liquid investments, with original maturities of 90 days or less when purchased, to be cash and cash equivalents.

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.  We establish provisions for losses on accounts receivables if it is determined that collection of all or a part of an outstanding balance is not probable.  Collectability is reviewed regularly and an allowance is established or adjusted, as necessary, using the specific identification method.  As of June 30, 2010 and 2009, no allowance for doubtful accounts was considered necessary.

 

Oil and Natural Gas Properties.  We use the full cost method of accounting for our investments in oil and natural gas properties.  Under this method of accounting, all costs incurred in the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties, including unproductive wells, are capitalized.  This includes any internal costs that are directly related to property acquisition, exploration and development activities but does not include any costs related to production, general corporate overhead or similar activities.  Gain or loss on the sale or other disposition of oil and natural gas properties is not recognized, unless the gain or loss would significantly alter the relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves.

 

Oil and natural gas properties include costs that are excluded from costs being depleted or amortized. Excluded costs represent investments in unproved and unevaluated properties and include non-producing leasehold, geological and geophysical costs associated with leasehold or drilling interests and exploration drilling costs. We exclude these costs until the project is evaluated and proved reserves are established or impairment is determined. Excluded costs are reviewed at least quarterly to determine if impairment has occurred. The amount of any evaluated or impaired oil and natural gas properties is transferred to capitalized costs being amortized (the “Full-cost Pool”).

 

Limitation on Capitalized Costs. Under the full-cost method of accounting, we are required, at the end of each fiscal quarter, to perform a test to determine the limit on the book value of our oil and natural gas properties (the “Ceiling Test”). If the capitalized cost of our oil and natural gas properties, net of accumulated amortization and related deferred income taxes (the “Net Capitalized Costs”), exceed the “Ceiling”, this excess or impairment is charged to expense and reflected as additional accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization or as a credit to oil and natural gas properties.  The expense may not be reversed in future periods, even though higher oil and natural gas prices may subsequently increase the Ceiling.  The Ceiling is defined as the sum of: (a) the present value, discounted at 10 percent, and assuming continuation of existing economic

 

47



Table of Contents

 

EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

conditions, of 1) estimated future gross revenues from proved reserves, which is computed using oil and natural gas prices determined as the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within the 12-month period prior to the end of the reporting period (with consideration of price changes only to the extent provided by contractual arrangements including hedging arrangements pursuant to SAB 103), less 2) estimated future expenditures (based on current costs) to be incurred in developing and producing the proved reserves; plus (b) the cost of properties not being amortized (pursuant to Reg. S-X Rule 4-10 (c)(3)(ii)); plus (c) the lower of cost or estimated fair value of unproven properties included in the costs being amortized; net of (d) the related tax effects related to the difference between the book and tax basis of our oil and natural gas properties.   Our Ceiling Test did not result in an impairment of our oil and natural gas properties during the years ended June 30, 2010 and 2009.

 

Other Property and Equipment.  Other property and equipment includes buildings, data processing and telecommunications equipment, office furniture and equipment, and other fixed assets. These items are recorded at cost and are depreciated using the straight-line method based on expected lives of the individual assets or group of assets, which ranges from three to five years. Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed in the period incurred.

 

Asset Retirement Obligations.  An asset retirement obligation associated with the retirement of a tangible long-lived asset is recognized as a liability in the period incurred, with an associated increase in the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset, our oil and natural gas properties. The cost of the tangible asset, including the asset retirement cost, is depleted over the useful life of the asset. The asset retirement obligation is recorded at its estimated fair value, measured by reference to the expected future cash outflows required to satisfy the retirement obligation discounted at our credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate. Accretion expense is recognized over time as the discounted liability is accreted to its expected settlement value. If the estimated future cost of the asset retirement obligation changes, an adjustment is recorded to both the asset retirement obligation and the long-lived asset. Revisions to estimated asset retirement obligations can result from changes in retirement cost estimates, revisions to estimated inflation rates and changes in the estimated timing of abandonment.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments.  Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, certificates of deposit, accounts receivable, and accounts payable. The carrying amounts of these approximate fair value, due to the highly liquid nature of these short-term instruments.

 

Stock-based Compensation.  We record all share-based payment expense in our financial statements based on the fair value of the award on the grant date.  We use the Black-Scholes option-pricing model as the most appropriate fair-value method for our stock option awards.  Restricted stock awards are valued using the market price of our common stock on the grant date.  We record compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, for stock-based compensation awards over the requisite service period on a straight-line basis as the awards vest.  As each award vests, an adjustment is made to compensation cost for any difference between the estimated forfeitures and the actual forfeitures related to the vested awards.

 

Revenue Recognition.  We recognize oil and natural gas revenue from our interests in producing wells at the time that title passes to the purchaser.  As a result, we accrue revenues related to production sold for which we have not received payment.

 

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization.  The depreciable base for oil and natural gas properties includes the sum of all capitalized costs net of DD&A, estimated future development costs and asset retirement costs not included in oil and natural gas properties, less costs excluded from amortization. The depreciable base of oil and natural gas properties is amortized using the unit-of-production method. Other property including, leasehold improvements, office and computer equipment and vehicles which are stated at original cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the useful life of the assets, which ranges from three to five years.

 

Income Taxes.  We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements that may result in taxable or deductible amounts in future years. The measurement of deferred tax assets may be reduced by a valuation allowance based upon management’s assessment of available evidence if it is deemed more likely than not some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realizable.  We recognize a tax benefit from an uncertain position when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position and will record the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement with a taxing authority.

 

48



Table of Contents

 

EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

Earnings (loss) per share.  Basic Earnings (loss) per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing earnings or loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding less any non-vested restricted common stock outstanding.  The computation of diluted EPS is similar to the computation of basic EPS, except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if potential dilutive common shares had been issued.  Our potential dilutive common shares are our outstanding stock options, warrants, and non-vested restricted common stock.  The dilutive effect of our potential dilutive common shares is reflected in diluted EPS by application of the treasury stock method.  Under the treasury stock method, exercise of stock options and warrants shall be assumed at the beginning of the period (or at time of issuance, if later) and common shares shall be assumed to be issued; the proceeds from exercise shall be assumed to be used to purchase common stock at the average market price during the period; and the incremental shares (the difference between the number of shares assumed issued and the number of shares assumed purchased) shall be included in the denominator of the diluted EPS computation.  Potential dilutive common shares are excluded from the computation if their effect is anti-dilutive.   Including potential dilutive common shares in the denominator of a diluted EPS computation for continuing operations always will result in an anti-dilutive per-share amount when an entity has a loss from continuing operations and no potential dilutive common shares shall be included in the computation of  diluted EPS when a loss from continuing operations exists.

 

Note 3 — Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

New Accounting Standards.  We disclose the existence and potential effect of accounting standards issued but not yet adopted by us or recently adopted by us with respect to accounting standards that may have an impact on us in the future.

 

On December 31, 2008, the SEC released new requirements for reporting oil and gas reserves (the “Modernization Requirements”).  The Modernization Requirements, when effective, provide for consideration of current technology in evaluating reserves, allow companies to disclose their probable and possible reserves to investors, require reporting of oil and gas reserves using an average price based on the prior 12-month period rather than period-end prices, revise the disclosure requirements for oil and gas operations, and revise accounting for the limitation on capitalized costs for full cost companies.  The Modernization Requirements are effective for fiscal years ending on or after December 31, 2009.  A company may not apply the Modernization Requirements to disclosures in quarterly reports prior to the first annual report in which the revised disclosures are required.  The Modernization Requirements did not have material affect on our financial statements.

 

The SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 113 (“SAB 113”), which revises portions of the guidance included in SAB Topic 12, Oil and Gas Producing Activities.  Specifically, SAB 113 revises the relevant interpretive guidance in SAB Topic 12 to conform it to the Modernization Requirements.

 

On January 6, 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update 2010-03 Extractive Activities - Oil and Gas (Topic 932): Oil and Gas Reserve Estimation and Disclosures, an update of ASC Topic 932 Extractive Activities - Oil and Gas (“Topic 932”), which substantially aligns the reserve estimation, disclosure requirements, and definitions of Topic 932 with the disclosure requirements of the Modernization Requirements issued by the SEC.

 

EPS

 

49



Table of Contents

 

EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 4 — Property and Equipment

 

As of June 30, 2010 and June 30, 2009 our oil and natural gas properties and other property and equipment consisted of the following:

 

 

 

June 30,
2010

 

June 30, 
2009

 

Oil and natural gas properties

 

 

 

 

 

Property costs subject to amortization

 

$

27,775,641

 

$

21,985,950

 

Less: Accumulated depreciation, depletion, and amortization

 

(4,823,648

)

(3,054,237

)

Unproved properties not subject to amortization

 

7,851,068

 

9,819,465

 

Oil and natural gas properties, net

 

$

30,803,061

 

$

28,751,178

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other property and equipment

 

 

 

 

 

Furniture, fixtures and office equipment, at cost

 

260,476

 

260,476

 

Less: Accumulated depreciation

 

(158,478

)

(109,779

)

Other property and equipment, net

 

$

101,998

 

$

150,697

 

 

Unproved properties not subject to amortization includes unevaluated acreage of $6.0 and $7.5 million as of June 30, 2010 and June 30, 2009, respectively, consisting of properties in the Giddings Field in Central Texas, the Woodford Shale trend in Oklahoma, and the Lopez Field in South Texas (our “Neptune Oil Project”).    Unproved properties include $0.7 million and $2.0 million as of June 30, 2010 and June 30, 2009, respectively, of participating interests through royalty and overriding royalty interests aggregating 7.4% in the Delhi Holt Bryant Unit of the Delhi Field in Louisiana and a 23.9% after payout reversionary working interest in the Delhi Holt Bryant Unit along with a 23.9% working interest in certain other depths in the Delhi Field.  Unproved properties also include $1.2 million and $0.3 million as of June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, related to the drilling of three test wells and re-entry of four test wells on our acreage in Wagoner County in Oklahoma.  Production testing of our wells in Oklahoma is ongoing.  Development of our unproved properties is expected to be completed within one to five years.  Our evaluation of impairment of unproved properties occurs, at a minimum, on a quarterly basis.

 

The following table provides a summary of costs that are not being amortized as of June 30, 2010, by the fiscal year in which the costs were incurred:

 

 

 

 

 

During the Year Ended June 30,

 

Costs excluded from amortization

 

Total

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leasehold acquisition costs and other

 

$

5,957,924

 

$

158,586

 

$

1,135,971

 

$

3,847,312

 

$

816,056

 

Royalty and overriding royalty interests

 

735,627

 

 

3,636

 

 

731,991

 

Test drilling (exploration)

 

1,157,517

 

865,211

 

292,306

 

 

 

 

 

$

7,851,068

 

$

1,023,797

 

$

1,431,913

 

$

3,847,312

 

$

1,548,047

 

 

Note 5 Asset Retirement Obligations

 

Our asset retirement obligations represent the estimated present value of the amount we will incur to plug, abandon and remediate our producing properties at the end of their productive lives in accordance with applicable laws. The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending asset retirement obligation for the years ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:

 

 

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Asset retirement obligations — beginning of period

 

$

664,710

 

$

215,056

 

Liabilities incurred

 

85,871

 

238,702

 

Liabilities settled

 

 

(90,761

)

Accretion

 

61,054

 

37,601

 

Revisions to previous estimates

 

 

264,112

 

Asset retirement obligations — end of period

 

$

811,635

 

$

664,710

 

 

50



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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 6 — Stockholders’ Equity

 

On August 19, 2008, the Board of Directors authorized the issuance of 46,795 shares of common stock to certain employees who elected to receive these shares in lieu of a portion of their fiscal 2008 cash bonus.  The value of the shares issued was $168,462, based on the fair market value on the date of issuance, or $3.60 per share.

 

On October 30, 2008, we repurchased 788,200 shares of our common stock at an average price of $1.10 per share, plus approximately $15,000 of transaction costs, from an unaffiliated accredited investor.  There is currently no plan to repurchase additional common shares.

 

On December 9, 2008, three outside directors each received 30,000 shares of restricted common stock, with a per share price of $1.20, as part of their board compensation for calendar 2009.   The value of the shares issued was $108,000, based on the fair market value on the date of issuance, or $1.20 per share.  All issuances of common stock were subject to vesting terms per individual stock agreements, which is generally one year for directors.

 

On January 16 and February 10, 2009, we issued 24,324 and 15,789 shares of restricted common stock, respectively, to a director as compensation for his services for calendar year 2009.   The 15,789 share award was elected by the director in lieu of cash retainers for his board service during calendar 2009.   The value of the shares issued was $60,000, based on the fair market value on the date of issuance.  These issuances of common stock are subject to vesting terms per the individual stock agreements, which is generally one year for directors.

 

On May 29, 2009, we issued 11,000 shares of unregistered common stock to various non-profit entities as a charitable donation.  We recognized an expense of $28,600 based on the per share price of $2.60 on the date of issue.  These shares of common stock are subject to restrictions on transfer and cannot be sold until registered or the earlier of April 17, 2014, or written release by a duly appointed officer of the Company.

 

On June 19, 2009, pursuant to an offer by the Company as discussed in Note 7, we issued 260,170 shares of restricted common stock to certain employees in exchange for stock options to purchase 449,390 shares of common stock with a weighted average exercise price of $4.67.  See Note 7.

 

On September 8, 2009, the Board of Directors authorized and the Company issued 138,224 unrestricted and fully vested shares of common stock from the 2004 Stock Plan to certain employees for the payment of fiscal 2009 bonuses.  The value of the shares issued was $370,440, based on the fair market value on the date of issuance, or $2.68 per share.  The amount of bonus was accrued as of June 30, 2009 and recognized as a long-term liability. On September 8, 2009, when the shares were issued, the liability was reclassified to stockholders’ equity.  See Note 7.

 

On September 8, 2009, the Board of Directors authorized and the Company issued 324,597 shares of restricted common stock from the 2004 Stock Plan to employees as a long-term incentive award.  Total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense of $869,917 related to the long-term incentive award will be recognized ratably over a four year vesting period.  See Note 7.

 

On October 27, 2009, 119,795 shares of common stock were issued through a net cashless exercise of a placement warrant.  The placement warrant, which was issued to Cagan McAfee Capital Partners, LLC (“CMCP”), a related party (See Note 10), on May 26, 2004 in connection with a financing transaction, gave CMCP the right to purchase 165,000 shares, with an exercise price of $1.00 per share.

 

On November 10, 2009, 5,833 shares of common stock were issued through a net cashless exercise of a placement warrant.  The placement warrant, issued on November 30, 2004 in connection with a financing transaction, gave the holder the right to purchase 10,000 shares, with an exercise price of $1.50 per share.

 

On December 9, 2009, a total of 42,317 shares of restricted common stock were issued to four outside directors as part of their board compensation for calendar year 2010.  The value of the shares issued was $168,000, based on the fair market value on the date of issuance.  All issuances of common stock were subject to vesting terms per individual stock agreements, which is generally one year for directors.  See Note 7.

 

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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 6 — Stockholders’ Equity  (Continued)

 

On February 6, 2010, a total of 38,182 shares of restricted common stock were forfeited by an employee.  Total unrecognized  stock-based compensation expense related to the shares was $187,965.  The shares were cancelled and are available for a future grant in the 2004 Stock Plan.  See Note 7.

 

On March 5, 2010, a total of 20,000 shares of restricted stock were issued to a new employee as long-term incentive compensation.  The value of the shares issued was $90,000, based on the fair market value on the date of issuance.  The shares are subject to a four year vesting term.  See Note 7.

 

On April 14, 2010 and April 16, 2010, a total of 7,377 shares of common stock were issued through a net cashless exercise of a placement warrant.  The placement warrants, issued on June 22, 2006 in connection with a financing transaction, gave the holder the right to purchase 12,000 shares, with an exercise price of $2.25 per share.

 

On June 14, 2010, an employee of the Company exercised 3,000 stock options granted in 2005 at an exercise price of $1.10. See Note 7.

 

On June 19, 2010, a total of 91,902 shares of restricted common stock were forfeited by an employee.  Total unrecognized  stock-based compensation expense related to the shares was $436,522.  The shares were cancelled and are available for a future grant in the 2004 Stock Plan.  See Note 7.

 

Note 7 Stock-Based Incentive Plan

 

We may grant option awards to purchase common stock (the “Stock Options”), restricted common stock awards (“Restricted Stock”), and unrestricted and fully vested common stock, to employees, directors, and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries under the Natural Gas Systems Inc. 2003 Stock Plan (the “2003 Stock Plan”) and the Evolution Petroleum Corporation Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan (the “2004 Stock Plan” or together, the “EPM Stock Plans”).  Option awards for the purchase of 600,000 shares of common stock were issued under the 2003 Stock Plan.  The 2004 Stock Plan authorized the issuance of 5,500,000 shares of common stock.  No shares are available for grant under the 2003 Stock Plan and, as of June 30, 2010, 611,407 shares remain available for grant under the 2004 Stock Plan.

 

We have also granted common stock warrants, as authorized by the Board of Directors, to employees in lieu of cash bonuses or as incentive awards to reward previous service or provide incentives to individuals to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company’s success and to remain in the service of the Company (the “Incentive Warrants”).  These Incentive Warrants have similar characteristics of the Stock Options.  A total of 1,037,500 Incentive Warrants have been issued, with Board of Directors approval, outside of the EPM Stock Plans.  We have not issued Incentive Warrants since the listing of our shares on the NYSE Amex (formerly, the American Stock Exchange) in July 2006.

 

Short-term Incentive Compensation

 

On September 8, 2009, the Board of Directors authorized the issuance of 138,224 shares of common stock from the 2004 Stock Plan to certain employees for the payment of fiscal 2009 bonuses in lieu of cash.  The value of the shares issued was $370,440, based on the fair market value on the date of issuance, or $2.68 per share.  The amount of bonus was accrued as of June 30, 2009, and recognized as a  long term liability.  On September 8, 2009, the liability was reclassified as additional paid-in capital.

 

On September 10, 2010, the Board of Directors authorized the issuance of 106,927 shares of common stock from the 2004 Stock Plan to certain employees for the payment of fiscal 2010 bonuses in lieu of cash.  The value of the shares issued was $587,033, based on the fair market value on the date of issuance, or $5.49 per share.  The amount of bonus was accrued as of June 30, 2010, and recognized as a  long term liability.  On September 10, 2010, the liability was reclassified as additional paid-in capital.

 

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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 7 Stock-Based Incentive Plan (Continued)

 

Offer to Exchange

 

The extreme financial market volatility encountered during fiscal 2009 caused us to reassess the continued effectiveness of our outstanding stock options granted to employees for the purposes of retention and equity participation.  Based on management’s analysis and considerable review, our Board of Directors approved an “exchange offer” to employees with “out-of-the-money” options, excluding Executive Officers and Directors.  Under the terms of the offer, each eligible option to purchase 1.727 shares could be exchanged for one share of restricted common stock.  In return, the company and shareholders benefited by (i) re-establishing the retention incentive for nonexecutive employees, (ii) adding one additional year of vesting to all awards exchanged, as further described below, (iii) reduced dilution as the number of restricted shares issued was substantially less than the options exchanged and the exchanged options were returned to the 2004 Plan, and (iv) spread the expense of the incentives over a longer period of time.

 

Accordingly, we filed a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO with the SEC on May 15, 2009, and amendments on May 21, 2009, June 9, 2009, and a final filing on July 2, 2009 announcing termination of the offer, relating to an offer by us to certain employees (excluding Named Executive Officers) to exchange certain outstanding Stock Options granted under the 2004 Stock Plan, with shares of Restricted Stock (the “Offer to Exchange”).  The Offer to Exchange expired on June 19, 2009 (the “Expiration Date”).  Pursuant to the Offer to Exchange, 449,390 eligible Stock Options were tendered and subsequently cancelled, representing 54% of the total Stock Options that were eligible for exchange in the Offer to Exchange.  The shares of common stock that were subject to the cancelled Stock Options will be available for future awards under our 2004 Stock Plan.  On June 19, 2009 the Company granted an aggregate of 260,170 shares of Restricted Stock in exchange for the Stock Options surrendered in the Offer to Exchange.

 

We will recognize the unrecognized compensation cost associated with the 449,390 Stock Options cancelled pursuant to the Offer to Exchange of approximately $1,068,430 along with the incremental compensation cost of $78,891 ratably over the vesting period of the Restricted Stock.  The incremental compensation, determined on June 19, 2009, was measured as the excess of the fair value of the Restricted Stock granted in the Offer to Exchange, over the fair value of the Stock Options surrendered prior to cancellation.  The price of our common stock as of June 19, 2009 was $2.85, however, due to the stock-based compensation requirements, we will recognize expense ratably over the vesting period of the Restricted Stock granted in the Offer to Exchange of approximately $4.41 per share.

 

The shares of Restricted Stock granted in the Offer to Exchange were unvested at the time of grant and will become vested on the basis of continued service with the Company in accordance with and subject to the terms of the Offer to Exchange as follows:  If and to the extent the Stock Options surrendered were vested on the Expiration Date, the Restricted Stock exchanged for those vested Stock Options will become vested on the first anniversary of the Expiration Date, being June 19, 2010.  If and to the extent any Stock Options surrendered were not vested on the Expiration Date the Restricted Stock exchanged for those unvested Stock Options will become vested on the first anniversary of the original vesting dates on which such unvested Stock Options would have otherwise become vested.  The Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Offer to Exchange will vest over a weighted average period of approximately four years.

 

Stock Options and Incentive Warrants

 

Non-cash stock-based compensation expense related to Stock Options and Incentive Warrants for the year ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 was $985,060 and $1,786,055, respectively.

 

There were no Stock Options granted during the year ended June 30, 2010.  We granted Stock Options to purchase 591,090 shares of common stock under the 2004 Stock Plan with a weighted average exercise price of $4.27.  The exercise price was determined based on the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.  The Stock Options granted during the years ended June 30, 2009 generally vest quarterly, on a straight line basis, over a period of four years.  The Stock Options granted during the year ended June 30, 2009 have a contractual life of seven.  The weighted average assumptions used to calculate the fair value of these Stock Options and the weighted average fair value of each option granted are as follows:

 

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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 7 Stock-Based Incentive Plan (Continued)

 

 

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

June 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Expected volatility

 

 

87.1

%

Expected dividends

 

 

 

Expected term (in years)

 

 

4.6

 

Risk-free rate

 

 

3.10

%

Fair value

 

 

$

2.62

 

 

We estimated the fair value of Stock Options and Incentive Warrants issued to employees and directors at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model.  The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.  The expected term (estimated period of time outstanding) of Stock Options and Incentive Warrants is based on the “simplified” method of the estimated expected term for “plain vanilla” options allowed by the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 107 and SAB No. 110, and varied based on the vesting period and contractual term of the Stock Options or Incentive Warrants.   Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s closing common stock price and that of an evaluation of a peer group of similar companies trading activity.  We have not declared any cash dividends on the Company’s common stock.

 

The following summary presents information regarding outstanding Stock Options and Incentive Warrants as of June 30, 2010, and the changes during the fiscal year:

 

 

 

Number of Stock
Options
and Incentive Warrants

 

Weighted Average
Exercise Price

 

Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
(1)

 

Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (in
years)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock Options and Incentive Warrants outstanding at July 1, 2009

 

5,485,820

 

$

1.83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(3,000

)

$

1.10

 

 

 

 

 

Cancelled or forfeited

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expired

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock Options and Incentive Warrants outstanding at June 30, 2010

 

5,482,820

 

$

1.83

 

$

17,421,302

 

5.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vested or expected to vest at June 30, 2010

 

5,482,820

 

$

1.83

 

$

17,235,235

 

5.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercisable at June 30, 2010

 

4,930,238

 

$

1.72

 

$

16,235,235

 

5.3

 

 


(1) Based upon the difference between the market price of our common stock on the last trading date of the period ($5.01 as of June 30, 2010) and the Stock Option or Incentive Warrant exercise price of in-the-money Stock Options and Incentive Warrants.

 

There were 3,000 Stock Options exercised during the year ended June 30, 2010 with an aggregate intrinsic value of $13,620.  There were no Stock Options or Incentive Warrants that were exercised during the year ended June 30, 2009.

 

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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 7 Stock-Based Incentive Plan (Continued)

 

A summary of the status of our unvested Stock Options and Incentive Warrants as of June 30, 2010 and the changes during the year ended June 30, 2010, is presented below:

 

 

 

Number of
Stock Options

and Incentive
Warrants

 

Weighted
Average Grant-
Date Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unvested at July 1, 2009

 

1,091,912

 

$

1.97

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vested

 

(539,330

)

$

1.90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unvested at June 30, 2010

 

552,582

 

$

2.04

 

 

During the years ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, there were 539,330 and 1,063,029 Stock Options and Incentive Warrants that vested with a total grant date fair value of $1,024,727 and $1,870,931, respectively.

 

The total unrecognized compensation cost at June 30, 2010, relating to non-vested Stock Options and Incentive Warrants was $1,069,075.  Such unrecognized expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.5 years.

 

Restricted Stock

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to Restricted Stock grants for the years ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 was $576,307 and $249,405, respectively.  See Note 6 for a detail of Restricted Stock transactions during the years ended June 30, 2010 and 2009.

 

The following table sets forth the Restricted Stock transactions for the year ended June 30, 2010:

 

 

 

Number of
Restricted
Shares

 

Weighted
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unvested at July 1, 2009

 

390,283

 

$

3.37

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

386,914

 

$

2.91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vested

 

(243,954

)

$

2.26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

(130,084

)

$

4.80

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unvested at June 30, 2010

 

403,159

 

$

3.15

 

 

At June 30, 2010, unrecognized stock compensation expense related to Restricted Stock grants totaled $1,135,229.  Such unrecognized expense will be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.0 years.

 

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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 8 — Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information

 

Our supplemental disclosures of cash flow information for the year ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:

 

 

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

June 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Income taxes paid:

 

$

329,800

 

$

15,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax refunds and net operating loss carry-back received:

 

$

2,095,126

 

4,057,772

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash transactions:

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease in accounts payable used to acquire oil and natural gas leasehold interests and develop oil and natural gas properties:

 

$

(62,532

)

$

(2,043,235

)

Oil and natural gas properties incurred through recognition of asset retirement obligations:

 

$

85,871

 

$

502,814

 

Windfall tax benefit recognized in income taxes recoverable:

 

$

173,157

 

 

 

Note 9 Income Taxes

 

We file a consolidated federal income tax return in the United States and various combined and separate filings in several state and local jurisdictions.

 

There were no unrecognized tax benefits nor any accrued interest or penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits during the year ended June 30, 2010 and 2009.  We believe that we have appropriate support for the income tax positions taken and to be taken on the Company’s tax returns and that the accruals for tax liabilities are adequate for all open years based on our assessment of many factors including past experience and interpretations of tax law applied to the facts of each matter. The Company’s federal and state income tax returns are open to audit under the statute of limitations for the years ending June 30, 2007 through June 30, 2009.

 

The components of our income tax benefit are as follows:

 

 

 

June 30,
2010

 

June 30,
2009

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$

(608,339

)

$

(1,993,988

)

State

 

207,952

 

157,736

 

Total current income tax benefit

 

(400,387

)

(1,836,252

)

Deferred:

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

(553,326

)

528,787

 

State

 

(218,111

)

290,601

 

Total deferred income tax (benefit) provision

 

(771,437

)

819,388

 

Total income tax benefit

 

$

(1,171,824

)

$

(1,016,864

)

 

The following is a reconciliation of statutory income tax expense to our income tax provision:

 

 

 

June 30,
2010

 

June 30,
2009

 

Income tax benefit computed at the statutory federal rate:

 

$

(1,210,241

)

$

(1,230,275

)

Reconciling items:

 

 

 

 

 

State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit

 

(10,413

)

148,134

 

Stock-based compensation (primarily incentive stock options)

 

105,402

 

264,060

 

Deferred tax asset valuation adjustment

 

 

(152,588

)

Rate adjustment

 

(42,651

)

21,931

 

Other

 

(13,921

)

(68,126

)

Income tax benefit

 

$

(1,171,824

)

$

(1,016,864

)

 

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Table of Contents

 

EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 9 Income Taxes (Continued)

 

Deferred income taxes primarily represent the net tax effect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The components of our deferred taxes are detailed in the table below:

 

 

 

June 30,
2010

 

June 30,
2009

 

Deferred tax assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Non qualified stock-based compensation

 

$

866,035

 

$

657,369

 

Net operating loss carryforwards

 

5,389,065

 

5,389,065

 

AMT credit carryforward*

 

645,938

 

 

Other

 

21,306

 

22,841

 

Gross deferred tax assets

 

6,922,344

 

6,069,275

 

Valuation allowance

 

(5,187,983

)

(5,187,983

)

Total deferred tax assets

 

1,734,361

 

881,292

 

Deferred tax liability:

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and natural gas properties

 

(4,684,241

)

(4,602,609

)

Total deferred tax liability

 

(4,684,241

)

(4,602,609

)

Net deferred tax liability

 

$

(2,949,880

)

$

(3,721,317

)

 


*                      The total AMT credit carryforward is $775,807.  Our net deferred tax liability does not include $129,869 of AMT credit carryforward associated with the windfall tax benefit.

 

We expect to recover approximately $0.7 million in federal income taxes paid during the tax year ended June 30, 2007, as a result of the carry-back of our 2010 income tax loss.  Significant intangible drilling costs were incurred during the 2010 fiscal year, of which, we elected to deduct (expense) approximately $1.3 million for federal and state income tax purposes.    During the year ended June 30, 2009, we received approximately $2.1 million in federal income taxes paid during the tax years ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, as a result of the carry-back of our 2009 income tax loss.  Significant intangible drilling costs were incurred during the 2009 fiscal year, of which, we elected to deduct (expense) approximately $4.8 million for federal and state income tax purposes.  Under GAAP, and specifically the full-cost accounting method, intangible drilling costs are capitalized as part of oil and natural gas properties, and depleted using the unit-of-production method.  The deduction of intangible drilling costs resulted in a significant difference in the income tax and book basis of our oil and natural gas properties.

 

At June 30, 2010, we have a federal tax loss carryforward of approximately $15.9 million that we acquired through the reverse merger in May 2004, of which, approximately $0.6  million is available to us to use in equal amounts through 2023.  We have applied a valuation allowance against the portion of the federal tax loss carryforward that has been disallowed through IRC Section 382.

 

Note 10 Related Party Transactions

 

Laird Q. Cagan, a member of our Board of Directors, is a Managing Director and co-owner of Cagan McAfee Capital Partners, LLC (“CMCP”).  CMCP has performed financial advisory services to us pursuant to a written agreement amended in December 2008.  Also pursuant to the Agreement, Mr. Cagan, as a registered representative of Colorado Financial Services Corporation and as a partner of CMCP, could serve as our placement agent in private equity financings, wherein CMCP could earn cash fees equal to 8% of gross equity proceeds, declining to 4% subject to the amount of equity raised through CMCP, and a fixed 4% warrant fee.  We have not paid placement fees to CMCP under this agreement since May 2006.

 

Eric A. McAfee, a major shareholder of the Company, is also a Managing Director of CMCP.

 

On October 27, 2009, we issued CMCP 119,795 shares of common stock through a net cashless exercise of a placement warrant.  The placement warrant, which was issued to CMCP on May 26, 2004 in connection with a financing transaction, gave CMCP the right to purchase 165,000 shares of common stock, with an exercise price of $1.00 per share.

 

See also Note 6 for equity transactions with related parties.

 

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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 11 — Net loss Per Share

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted loss per share:

 

 

 

Year Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Numerator

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(2,387,707

)

$

(2,601,593

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares – basic and diluted

 

27,004,066

 

26,461,057

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Loss per common share – basic and diluted

 

$

(0.09

)

$

(0.10

)

 

Outstanding potentially dilutive securities as of June 30, 2010 are as follows:

 

Outstanding Potential Dilutive Securities

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise Price

 

Outstanding at
June 30, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock warrants issued in connection with equity and financing transactions

 

$

1.87

 

159,308

 

Stock Options and Incentive Warrants

 

$

1.83

 

5,482,820

 

Total

 

$

1.83

 

5,642,128

 

 

Outstanding potentially dilutive securities as of June 30, 2009 are as follows:

 

Outstanding Potential Dilutive Securities

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise Price

 

Outstanding at
June 30, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock warrants issued in connection with equity and financing transactions

 

$

1.46

 

348,058

 

Stock Options and Incentive Warrants

 

$

1.83

 

5,485,820

 

Total

 

$

1.81

 

5,833,878

 

 

Note 12 — Commitments and Contingencies

 

We are subject to various claims and contingencies in the normal course of business.  In addition, from time to time, we receive communications from government or regulatory agencies concerning investigations or allegations of noncompliance with laws or regulations in jurisdiction in which we operate.  We disclose such matters if we believe it is reasonably possible that a future event or events will confirm a loss through impairment of an asset or the incurrence of a liability. We establish reserves if we believe it is probable that a future event or events will confirm a loss and we can reasonably estimate such loss.  Furthermore, we will disclose any matter that is unasserted if we consider it probable that a claim will be asserted and there is a reasonable possibility that the outcome will be unfavorable.

 

Lease Commitments.  We have a non-cancelable operating lease for office space that expires on August 1, 2016. Future minimum lease commitments as of June 30, 2010 under this operating lease are as follows:

 

For the year ended June 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

$

138,089

 

2012

 

157,268

 

2013

 

159,011

 

2014

 

159,011

 

2015

 

159,011

 

Thereafter

 

172,262

 

Total

 

$

944,652

 

 

58



Table of Contents

 

EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 12 — Commitments and Contingencies (Continued)

 

Rent expense for the year ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 was $138,823 and $149,397, respectively.

 

Employment Contracts.  We have entered into employment agreements with the Company’s three senior executives.  The employment contracts provide for a severance package for termination by the Company for any reason other than cause or permanent disability, or in the event of a constructive termination, that includes payment of base pay and certain medical and disability benefits from six months to a year after termination.   The total contingent obligation under the employment contracts as of June 30, 2010 is approximately $499,000.

 

Note 13 — Concentrations of Credit Risk

 

Major Customers.  We market all of our oil and natural gas production from the properties we operate.  The majority of our operated gas, oil and condensate production is sold to a variety of purchasers under short-term (less than 12 months) contracts at market-based prices. The following table identifies customers from whom we derived 10 percent or more our net oil and natural gas revenues during the years ended June 30, 2010 and 2009.  Based on the current demand for oil and natural gas and availability of other customers, we do not believe the loss of any of these customers would have a significant affect on our operations or financial condition.

 

 

 

Percent of Total Revenue

 

Customer

 

Year Ended
June 30, 2010

 

Year Ended
June 30, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enterprise Crude Oil LLC

 

31

%

 

Copano Field Services/Upper Gulf Coast, L.P.

 

23

%

2

%

Plains Marketing L.P.

 

12

%

40

%

ETC Texas Pipeline, LTD.

 

19

%

36

%

DCP Midstream, LP

 

15

%

16

%

 

Accounts Receivable.  Substantially all of our accounts receivable result from oil and natural gas sales to third parties in the oil and natural gas industry. This concentration of customers may impact our overall credit risk in that these entities may be similarly affected by changes in economic and other conditions.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Certificates of Deposit.  We are subject to concentrations of credit risk with respect to our cash and cash equivalents, which we attempt to minimize by maintaining our cash and cash equivalents in high quality money market funds. At times cash balances may exceed limits federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”).  Our certificates of deposit are below or at the maximum federally insured limit set by the FDIC.

 

Note 14 Retirement Plan

 

Effective February 1, 2007, we implemented a 401(k) Savings Plan which covers all full-time employees.  At our discretion, we may match a certain percentage of the employees’ contributions to the plan. The matching percentage is currently 100% of the first 4% of each participant’s compensation, vesting fully upon our contributions.  Our matching contribution to the plan was $87,846 and $58,884 for the years ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

59



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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 15 Subsequent Events

 

On August 9, 2010, a total of 30,233 shares of restricted stock were issued to a new employee as long-term incentive compensation.  The value of the shares issued was $156,000, based on the fair market value on the date of issuance.  The shares are subject to a four year vesting term.

 

On September 10, 2010, the Board of Directors authorized and the Company issued 106,927 shares of common stock from the 2004 Stock Plan to certain employees for the payment of fiscal 2010 bonuses.  The value of the shares issued were $587,033, based on the fair market value on the date of issuance, or $5.49 per share.  The amount of bonus was accrued as of June 30, 2010, and recognized as a long term liability.  On September 10, 2010, the liability was reclassified to additional paid-in capital.

 

On September 10, 2010, the Board of Directors authorized and the Company issued 240,478 shares of restricted common stock from the 2004 Stock Plan to certain employees as a long-term incentive award.  Total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense of $1,320,224 related to the long-term incentive award will be recognized ratably over a four year period as the restricted common stock vests.

 

Note 16 Supplemental Disclosures about Oil and Natural Gas Producing Properties (unaudited)

 

Costs incurred for oil and natural gas property acquisition, exploration and development activities

 

The following table summarizes costs incurred and capitalized in oil and natural gas property acquisition, exploration and development activities.  Property acquisition costs are those costs incurred to lease property, including both undeveloped leasehold and the purchase of reserves in place.  Exploration costs include costs of identifying areas that may warrant examination and examining specific areas that are considered to have prospects containing oil and natural gas reserves, including costs of drilling exploratory wells, geological and geophysical costs and carrying costs on undeveloped properties. Development costs are incurred to obtain access to proved reserves, including the cost of drilling.  Development costs also include amounts incurred due to the recognition of asset retirement obligations, of $85,871 and $502,814, during the years ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

 

 

For the Years Ended June 30

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and Natural Gas Activities

 

 

 

 

 

Property acquisition costs:

 

 

 

 

 

Proved property

 

$

391,785

 

$

876,640

 

Unproved property

 

185,154

 

1,413,941

 

Exploration costs

 

2,354,239

 

349,403

 

Development costs

 

890,116

 

6,486,158

 

Total costs incurred for oil and natural gas activities

 

$

3,821,294

 

$

9,126,142

 

 

Estimated Net Quantities of Proved Oil and Natural Gas Reserves (Unaudited)

 

We adopted revised oil and gas reserve estimation and disclosure requirements as of June 30, 2010. The primary impact of the new disclosures is to conform the definition of proved reserves with the Modernization Requirements, which were issued by the SEC at the end of calendar year 2008. The accounting standards update revised the definition of proved oil and gas reserves to require that the average, first-day-of-the-month price during the 12-month period before the end of the year rather than the year-end price, must be used when estimating whether reserve quantities are economical to produce. This same 12-month average price is also used in calculating the aggregate amount of (and changes in) future cash inflows related to the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows. The rules also allow for the use of reliable technology to estimate proved oil and gas reserves if those technologies have been demonstrated to result in reliable conclusions about reserve volumes. The unaudited supplemental information on oil and gas exploration and production activities for 2010 has been presented in accordance with the new reserve estimation and disclosure rules, which may not be applied retrospectively. The 2008 and 2009 data are presented in accordance with oil and gas disclosure requirements effective during those periods. The effect of applying the new definition of reliable technology and other non-price related aspects of the updated

 

60



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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 16 Supplemental Disclosures about Oil and Natural Gas Producing Properties (unaudited) (Continued)

 

rules did not impact 2010 net proved reserve volumes. The effect of applying the 12-month average price, versus the June 30, 2010 year-end price, increased proved reserves by less than 2% of total proved reserves. The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows as of June 30, 2010 increased by approximately $8.5 million as a result of using the 12-month average price rather than the year-end 2010 price.

 

Proved oil and natural gas reserves are estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions. Proved developed oil and natural gas reserves are reserves that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods. There are uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved oil and natural gas reserves, projecting future production rates, and timing of development expenditures. Accordingly, reserve estimates often differ from the quantities of oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered.  All of our proved reserves are located in the United States. The following information about our proved oil and natural gas reserves was prepared by independent reserve engineers:

 

 

 

Crude Oil
(Bbls)

 

Natural Gas
Liquids

(Bbls)

 

Natural Gas
(Mcf)

 

BOE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30, 2008

 

952,041

 

1,310,460

 

10,534,391

 

4,018,233

 

Revisions of previous estimates

 

(92,729

)

(272,689

)

(4,498,026

)

(1,115,089

)

Purchases of minerals in place

 

122,662

 

60,648

 

645,724

 

290,931

 

Production (sales volumes)

 

(36,026

)

(44,125

)

(323,301

)

(134,035

)

June 30, 2009

 

945,948

 

1,054,294

 

6,358,788

 

3,060,040

 

Revisions of previous estimates

 

(113,487

)

(19,147

)

430,145

 

(60,943

)

Improved recovery, extensions and discoveries

 

9,451,758

 

29,300

 

381,695

 

9,544,674

 

Production (sales volumes)

 

(29,749

)

(27,820

)

(407,674

)

(125,515

)

June 30, 2010

 

10,254,470

 

1,036,627

 

6,762,954

 

12,418,256

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proved developed reserves:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30, 2008

 

96,167

 

109,716

 

561,001

 

299,383

 

June 30, 2009

 

104,731

 

141,372

 

1,106,028

 

430,441

 

June 30, 2010

 

706,053

 

157,302

 

1,536,858

 

1,119,498

 

 

Total proved reserves increased 9.4 million BOE from 3,060,040 BOE at June 30, 2009 to 12,418,256 BOE at June 30, 2010.  The increase is primarily attributable to improved recovery of 9,411,841 barrels of proved oil reserves added to our properties in the Delhi Field, based on approximately $300 million of development capital spent by the Operator since project inception, the start-up of CO2 injection operations during fiscal year 2010, and oil production response during fiscal year 2010.  The additions to our properties in the Delhi Field along with extensions in Giddings and Oklahoma of 127,905 BOE, were offset by production of 125,515 BOE and negative revisions of 60,943 BOE primarily related to the transfer of four well locations in the Lopez Field in South Texas from the proved classification to probable during 2010.

 

The revisions of previous estimates during our fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, were due primarily to the decline in the price of natural gas.  During the year ended June 30, 2008, the revisions of previous estimates were primarily due to the identification and separation of natural gas liquids in 2008 and the effects of the new SEC guideline on PUD locations with fractured reservoirs.  Natural gas liquids were not separately identified in the June 30, 2007 independent report prepared by Von Gonten.

 

Purchases of minerals in place during 2009 resulted from leasehold acquisitions of proved undeveloped reserves in the Giddings Field and in our Neptune Oil Project in South Texas.

 

Purchases of minerals in place during 2008 resulted from leasehold acquisitions of proved undeveloped reserves that directly offset currently or historically productive wells in the same fracture trend in the Giddings Field.

 

61



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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 16 Supplemental Disclosures about Oil and Natural Gas Producing Properties (unaudited) (Continued)

 

Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows

 

Future oil and natural gas sales and production and development costs have been estimated using prices and costs in effect at the end of the years indicated, as required by ASC 932, Disclosures about Oil and Gas Producing Activities (“ASC 932”).  ASC 932 requires that net cash flow amounts be discounted at 10%. Future production and development costs are computed by estimating the expenditures to be incurred in developing and producing our proved oil and natural gas reserves assuming continuation of existing economic conditions. Future income tax expenses are computed by applying the appropriate period-end statutory tax rates to the future pretax net cash flow relating to our proved oil and natural gas reserves, less the tax basis of the related properties. The future income tax expenses do not give effect to tax credits, allowances, or the impact of general and administrative costs of ongoing operations relating to the Company’s proved oil and natural gas reserves.  Changes in the demand for oil and natural gas, inflation, and other factors make such estimates inherently imprecise and subject to substantial revision. The table below should not be construed to be an estimate of the current market value of the our proved reserves.

 

The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows related to proved oil and natural gas reserves as of June 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:

 

 

 

For the Years Ended June 30

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Future cash inflows

 

$

827,902,260

 

$

127,639,699

 

Future production costs and severance taxes

 

(222,826,052

)

(36,128,247

)

Future development costs

 

(34,024,112

)

(33,317,000

)

Future income tax expenses

 

(213,063,769

)

(15,697,532

)

Future net cash flows

 

357,988,327

 

42,496,920

 

10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash flows

 

(196,361,678

)

(18,947,129

)

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows

 

$

161,626,649

 

$

23,549,791

 

 

Future cash inflows represent expected revenues from production of period-end quantities of proved reserves based on the unweighted average of first-day-of-the-month commodity prices for the year ended June 30, 2010 and period-end commodity prices for the years ended June 30, 2009. The unweighted average of first-day-of-the-month commodity prices over the period July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010 adjusted by lease for quality, transportation fees, energy content and regional price differentials related to proved reserves of crude oil and natural gas liquids approximated $73.88 and $39.91, respectively, and natural gas approximated $4.10 per MMbtu.  At June 30, 2009, the end-of-period prices adjusted by lease for quality, transportation fees, energy content and regional price differentials related to proved reserves of crude oil and natural gas liquids approximated $69.89 and $36.96 per barrel, respectively, and natural gas approximated $3.885 per MMbtu.

 

A summary of the changes in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows applicable to proved crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas reserves is as follows:

 

 

 

For the Years Ended June 30

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of year

 

$

23,549,791

 

$

97,072,641

 

Net changes in sales prices and production costs related to future production

 

3,935,863

 

(144,680,473

)

Changes in estimated future development costs

 

(3,502,403

)

24,399,826

 

Sales of oil and gas produced during the period, net of production costs

 

(3,356,822

)

(4,654,400

)

Net change due to purchases of minerals in place

 

 

2,683,261

 

Net change due to extensions, discoveries, and improved recovery

 

236,828,138

 

 

Net change due to revisions in quantity estimates

 

(934,602

)

(20,564,731

)

Development costs incurred during the period

 

 

5,960,423

 

Accretion of discount

 

3,582,622

 

13,315,725

 

Net change in discounted income taxes

 

(91,991,767

)

50,903,834

 

Other

 

(6,484,171

)

(886,315

)

Balance, end of year

 

$

161,626,649

 

$

23,549,791

 

 

62



Table of Contents

 

Item 9.  Changes In and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

None.

 

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to this Company’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

As required by Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 13a-15(b), we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that the information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms.

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act), as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by the Company’s board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and includes those policies and procedures that:

 

·                  Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company;

 

·                  Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and

 

·                  Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material affect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.  Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.  Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, an evaluation was conducted on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on criteria established in the Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.  Management concluded that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2010.

 

This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting.  Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

63



Table of Contents

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter ended June 30, 2010 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 9B. Other Information

 

None.

 

PART III

 

Item 10.  Directors, Executive Officers And Corporate Governance

 

Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days of the end of the Company’s 2010 fiscal year.

 

Item 11. Executive Compensation

 

Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days of the end of the Company’s 2010 fiscal year.

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

 

Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days of the end of the Company’s 2010 fiscal year.

 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, Director Independence

 

Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days of the end of the Company’s 2010 fiscal year.

 

Item 14.  Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days of the end of the Company’s 2010 fiscal year.

 

64



Table of Contents

 

PART IV.

 

Item 15.  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

The following documents are filed as part of this report:

 

1.

Financial Statements.

 

 

 

 

 

Our consolidated financial statements are included in Part II, Item 8 of this report:

 

 

 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

2.

Financial Statements Schedules and supplementary information required to be submitted:

 

 

 

 

 

None.

 

 

 

 

3.

Exhibits

 

 

 

 

 

A list of the exhibits filed or furnished with this report on Form 10-K (or incorporated by reference to exhibits previously filed or furnished by us) is provided in the Exhibit Index of this report.  Those exhibits incorporated by reference herein are indicated as such by the information supplied in the parenthetical thereafter.  Otherwise, the exhibits are filed herewith.

 

 

65



Table of Contents

 

SIGNATURES

 

In accordance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Houston, Texas, on the date indicated.

 

Evolution Petroleum Corporation

 

 

By:

/s/

ROBERT S. HERLIN

 

 

 

Robert S. Herlin

 

 

 

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

Date: September 27, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

In accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Date

 

Signature

 

Title

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 27, 2010

 

/s/

ROBERT S. HERLIN

 

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief

 

 

 

Robert S. Herlin

 

Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 27, 2010

 

/s/

STERLING H. MCDONALD

 

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

Sterling H. McDonald

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 27, 2010

 

/s/

GREG S. GOODALE

 

Chief Accounting Officer

 

 

 

Greg S. Goodale

 

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 27, 2010

 

/s/

EDWARD J. DIPAOLO

 

Director

 

 

 

Edward J. DiPaolo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 27, 2010

 

/s/

GENE STOEVER

 

Director

 

 

 

Gene Stoever

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 27, 2010

 

/s/

WILLIAM DOZIER

 

Director

 

 

 

William Dozier

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 27, 2010

 

/s/

KELLY W. LOYD

 

Director

 

 

 

Kelly W. Loyd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 27, 2010

 

/s/

LAIRD Q. CAGAN

 

Director

 

 

 

Laird Q. Cagan

 

 

 

66



Table of Contents

 

INDEX OF EXHIBITS

 

MASTER EXHIBIT INDEX

 

EXHIBIT 
NUMBER

 

DESCRIPTION

2.1

 

Asset Purchase Agreement for Tullos Field, dated September 3, 2004 (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K on September 9, 2004)

 

 

 

2.2

 

Definitive Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 2, 2005, by and between Chadco, Inc., Alan Chadwick McCartney, Sonya McCartney and NGS Sub. Corp. (Previously filed as an exhibit in Form 8-K on February 8, 2005)

 

 

 

2.3

 

Purchase and Sale Agreement, by and between NGS Sub Corp. and Denbury Onshore, LLC, dated May 8, 2006 (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K on May 11, 2006)

 

 

 

2.4

 

Purchase and Sale Agreement I, by and between NGS Sub Corp. and Denbury Onshore, LLC, dated May 8, 2006 (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K on June 16, 2006)

 

 

 

2.5

 

Purchase and Sale Agreement II, by and between NGS Sub Corp. and Denbury Onshore, LLC, dated May 8, 2006 (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K on June 16, 2006)

 

 

 

2.6

 

Conveyance, Assignment and Bill of Sale Agreement, by and between NGS Sub Corp. and Denbury Onshore, LLC, dated May 8, 2006 (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K on June 16, 2006)

 

 

 

2.7

 

Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as of April 12, 2004 among Reality Interactive, Inc., Reality Acquisition Corp., Global Marketing Associates, Inc., Dean H. Becker and Natural Gas Systems, Inc. (incorporated by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed by Natural Gas Systems, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2004) (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form Schedule 13D on July 11, 2008)

 

 

 

3.1

 

Articles of Incorporation (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on February 7, 2002)

 

 

 

3.2

 

Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on February 7, 2002)

 

 

 

3.3

 

Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form SB 2/A on October 19, 2005)

 

 

 

3.4

 

Bylaws (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on February 7, 2002)

 

 

 

3.5

 

Amended Bylaws (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 10KSB on March 31, 2004)

 

 

 

4.1

 

Form of Stock Option Agreement for the Natural Gas Systems 2004 Stock Plan (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8—K on April 8, 2005)

 

 

 

4.2

 

Articles of Merger (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form SB — 2/A on October 19, 2005)

 

 

 

4.3

 

Form of Warrant Agreement between Natural Gas Systems, Inc. and Tatum CFO Partners, LLP (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on April 8, 2005)

 

 

 

4.4

 

Revocable Warrant Agreement between Natural Gas Systems, Inc. and Daryl V. Mazzanti (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on June 29, 2005)

 

 

 

4.5

 

Specimen form of the Company’s Common Stock Certificate (Previously filed herewith as an exhibit to Form SB — 2/A on October 19, 2005)

 

 

 

4.6

 

Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of May 6, 2005, by and between Natural Gas Systems, Inc. and Rubicon Master Fund (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on May 11, 2005)

 

 

 

4.7

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated as of May 6, 2005, by and between Natural Gas Systems, Inc. and Rubicon Master Fund (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on May 11, 2005)

 

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4.8

 

Stock Grant Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2005, by and between Natural Gas Systems, Inc. and Liviakis Financial Communications, Inc. (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on May 11, 2005)

 

 

 

4.9

 

Herlin Stock Option Agreement, dated April 4, 2005 (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on April 8, 2005)

 

 

 

4.10

 

Revocable Warrant Agreement between Natural Gas Systems, Inc. and Robert S. Herlin, dated April 4, 2005 (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on April 8, 2005)

 

 

 

4.11

 

Amended and Restated Tatum Resources Agreement, dated January 1, 2005 (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on April 8, 2005)

 

 

 

4.12

 

Warrant Agreement between Natural Gas Systems, Inc. and Tatum CFO Partners, LLP, dated January 1, 2005 (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on April 8, 2005)

 

 

 

4.13

 

McDonald Stock Option Agreement, dated April 4, 2005 (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on April 8, 2005)

 

 

 

4.14

 

Warrant Agreement, dated as of February 2, 2005, between Natural Gas Systems, Inc. and Prospect Energy Corporation (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on February 8, 2005)

 

 

 

4.15

 

Natural Gas Systems, Inc. Common Stock Purchase Warrant in favor of Prospect Energy Corporation, dated as of February 2, 2005 (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on February 8, 2005)

 

 

 

4.16

 

Revocable Warrant Agreement, dated as of February 2, 2005, between Natural Gas Systems, Inc. and Prospect Energy Corporation (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on February 8, 2005)

 

 

 

4.17

 

Natural Gas Systems, Inc. Revocable Common Stock Purchase Warrant in favor of Prospect Energy Corporation, dated as of February 2, 2005 (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on February 8, 2005)

 

 

 

4.18

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 2, 2005, between Natural Gas Systems, Inc. and Holders of Common Stock of Natural Gas Systems, Inc. (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on February 8, 2005)

 

 

 

4.19

 

Form of Registration Rights Agreement (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on October 26, 2004)

 

 

 

4.20

 

2004 Stock Plan (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Definitive Information Statement on Schedule 14C on August 9, 2004)

 

 

 

4.21

 

2003 Stock Option Plan, adopted September 25, 2003 (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K on January 24, 2007)

 

 

 

4.22

 

Second Revocable Warrant Agreement , dated as of September 27, 2005, between Natural Gas Systems, Inc. and Prospect Energy Corporation (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Report on Form 10-KSB on September 28, 2005)

 

 

 

4.23

 

Stock Option Agreement, dated June 23, 2005 between Natural Gas Systems, Inc. and Daryl V. Mazzanti (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on June 29, 2005)

 

 

 

4.24

 

Stock Option Grant Agreement, dated June 23, 2005 between Natural Gas Systems, Inc. and Daryl V. Mazzanti (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on June 29, 2005)

 

 

 

4.25

 

Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of January 13, 2006, by and between Natural Gas Systems, Inc. and Rubicon Master Fund (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on January 20, 2006)

 

 

 

4.26

 

Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement dated as of January 13, 2006, by and between Natural Gas Systems, Inc. and Rubicon Master Fund (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on January 20, 2006)

 

 

 

4.27

 

Third Revocable Warrant Agreement, by and between Prospect Energy Corporation and Natural Gas Systems, Inc., dated January 31, 2006 (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form SB — 2/A on March 3, 2006)

 

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Table of Contents

 

4.28

 

Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Rights Agreement, by and between Prospect Energy Corporation and Natural Gas Systems, Inc., dated January 31, 2006 (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form SB — 2/A on March 3, 2006)

 

 

 

4.29

 

Subordinated Promissory Note, dated March 3, 2006, between Natural Gas Systems, Inc. and Laird Q. Cagan (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K on March 8, 2006)

 

 

 

4.30

 

Form of Restricted Stock Agreement (Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Schedule TO on May 15, 2009)

 

 

 

4.31

 

Form of Senior Indenture (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form S-3 on July 14, 2010)

 

 

 

4.32

 

Form of Subordinated Indenture (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form S-3 on July 14, 2010)

 

 

 

10.1

 

Third Amendment to Consulting Agreement between Liviakis Financial Communications, Inc. and Evolution Petroleum dated November 14, 2006 (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 10-QSB on February 14, 2007)

 

 

 

10.2

 

Executive Employment Agreement of Robert S. Herlin, dated April 4, 2005 (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K on April 8, 2005)

 

 

 

10.3

 

Executive Employment Agreement of Sterling H. McDonald, dated April 4, 2005 (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K on April 8, 2005)

 

 

 

10.4

 

Executive Employment Agreement of Daryl V. Mazzanti, dated June 23, 2005 (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K on June 29, 2005)

 

 

 

10.5

 

Master Services Agreement, dated September 29, 2005, by and between the NGS Technologies, Inc. and MTEM, Ltd. (Previously filed as an exhibit on Form 8-K on October 7, 2005)

 

 

 

10.6

 

Agreement with Chadbourn Securities, Inc., dated February 13, 2006 (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 10QSB on February 14, 2006)

 

 

 

10.7

 

Agreement with Cagan McAfee Capital Partners, LLC, dated February 13, 2006 (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 10QSB on February 14, 2006)

 

 

 

10.8

 

Unit Operating Agreement, by and between NGS Sub Corp. and Denbury Onshore, LLC, dated May 8, 2006 (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K on June 16, 2006)

 

 

 

10.9

 

Form of Indemnification Agreement for Officers and Directors, as adopted on September 20, 2006 (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K on September 22, 2006)

 

 

 

10.10

 

Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement by and between NGS SUB. CORP. (Seller) and MWM Energy, LLC (Buyer), dated February 15, 2008 (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 10-Q on May 14, 2008)

 

 

 

10.11

 

Evolution Petroleum Corporation Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan (Previously filed as Annex A to Form Schedule 14A on October 29, 2007)

 

 

 

10.12

 

Gas Purchase and Gas Processing Contract by and between EVOLUTION OPERATION CO., INC. (Seller) and ETC TEXAS PIPELINE LTD. (Buyer) dated October 8, 2007 (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 10-K/A on April 7, 2009)

 

 

 

10.13

 

Gas Purchase Contract by and between EVOLUTION OPERATION CO., INC. (Seller) and DCP MIDSTREAM, LP (Buyer) dated December 1, 2007 (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 10-K/A on April 7, 2009)

 

 

 

10.14

 

Gas Purchase and Sale Agreement by and between EVOLUTION OPERATION CO., INC. (Seller) and COPANO FIELD SERVICES/UPPER GULF COAST, L.P. (Buyer) dated February 1, 2009 (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 10-Q on May 15, 2009)

 

 

 

14.1

 

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Natural Gas Systems, Inc. (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K on May 4, 2006)

 

 

 

21.1

 

List of Subsidiaries of Evolution Petroleum Corporation (Filed herein)

 

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of Hein & Associates, LLP, independent auditors (Filed herein)

 

69



Table of Contents

 

23.2

 

Consent of W. D. Von Gonten & Co. (Filed herein)

 

 

 

23.3

 

Consent of DeGolyer and MacNaughton (filed herein)

 

 

 

23.4

 

Consent of Lee Keeling & Associates, (filed herein)

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Robert S. Herlin Pursuant to Rule 15D-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Amended as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Filed herein)

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Sterling H. McDonald Pursuant to Rule 15D-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Amended as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Filed herein)

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Robert S. Herlin Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Filed herein)

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Sterling H. McDonald Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Filed herein)

 

 

 

99.1

 

Audit Committee Charter of the Board of Directors of Natural Gas Systems, Inc. (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K on May 4, 2006)

 

 

 

99.2

 

Compensation Committee Charter of the Board of Directors of Natural Gas Systems, Inc. (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K on May 4, 2006)

 

 

 

99.3

 

Nominating Committee Charter of the Board of Directors of Natural Gas Systems, Inc. (Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K on May 4, 2006)

 

 

 

99.4

 

The summary of W.D. Von Gonten & Co. Report as of June 30, 2010, on oil and gas reserves (SEC Case) dated August 17, 2010 and certificate of experience (Filed herein)

 

 

 

99.5

 

The summary of DeGolyer and MacNaughton’s Report as of June 30, 2010, on oil and gas reserves (SEC Case) dated August 10, 2010 and certificate of experience (Filed herein)

 

 

 

99.6

 

The summary of Lee Keeling & Associates Report as of June 30, 2010, on oil and gas reserves (SEC Case) dated August 23, 2010 and certificate of experience (Filed herein)

 

70


Exhibit 21.1

 

List of Subsidiaries

 

Evolution Petroleum Corporation — A Nevada Corporation

 

Officers:

 

Robert S. Herlin, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Sterling H. McDonald, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

Daryl V. Mazzanti, Vice President, Operations

 

Greg S. Goodale, Chief Accounting Officer

 

David Joe, Secretary

 

 

 

Directors:

 

Robert S. Herlin, Chairman

 

Laird Q. Cagan

 

Edward DiPaolo

 

Gene Stoever

 

William Dozier

 

Kelly Loyd

 

 

NGS Sub. Corp. — A Delaware Corporation

 

Officers:

 

Robert S. Herlin, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Sterling H. McDonald, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

David Joe, Secretary

 

 

 

Directors:

 

Robert S. Herlin

 

Sterling H. McDonald

 

 

Arkla Petroleum, L.L.C. — A Louisiana Corporation

 

NGS Sub Corp, Member

 

Robert S. Herlin, Manager

 

Sterling H. McDonald, Manager

 

 

NGS Technologies, Inc. — A Delaware Corporation

 

Officers:

 

Robert S. Herlin, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Sterling H. McDonald, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

David Joe, Secretary

 

 

 

Directors:

 

Robert S. Herlin

 

 

Evolution Operating Co. Inc. — A Texas Corporation

 

Officers:

 

Robert S. Herlin, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Sterling H. McDonald, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary

 

Daryl V. Mazzanti, Vice President, Operations

 

David Joe, Controller

 

 

 

Directors:

 

Robert S. Herlin

 

Sterling H. McDonald

 

 

Tertiaire Resources Company — A Texas Corporation

 

Officers:

 

Robert S. Herlin, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Sterling H. McDonald, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary

 

Daryl V. Mazzanti, Vice President, Operations

 

 

 

Directors:

 

Robert S. Herlin

 

Sterling H. McDonald

 

Daryl V. Mazzanti

 


EXHIBIT 23.1

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT’S CONSENT

 

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements filed on Form S-8 and Form S-3 of our report dated September 27, 2010, relating to the financial statements of Evolution Petroleum Corporation and subsidiaries appearing in the Form 10-K for the period ended June 30, 2010.

 

/s/ Hein & Associates LLP

 

Hein & Associates LLP

 

 

 

Houston, Texas

 

September 27, 2010

 

 

 

500 Dallas, Suite 2900

Houston, Texas 77002

Phone: 713-850-9814

Fax: 713-850-0725

www.heincpa.com

 


EXHIBIT 23.2

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM ENGINEERS

 

We the firm of W.D. Von Gonten & Co. consents to the use of our name and to the use of our report regarding Evolution Petroleum Corporation Estimated Reserves and Revenues “as of July 1, 2005 through July 1, 2010” in the relevant pages of the Form 10-K of Evolution Petroleum Corporation for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010.  We further consent to the incorporation by reference of information contained in our report as of June 30, 2010, in the Evolution Petroleum Corporation Registration Statement No. 333-152136 on Form S-8 and Registration Statement No. 333-168107 on Form S-3.

 

 

Yours truly,

 

W.D. VON GONTEN & CO.

 

/s/ William D. Von Gonten, Jr.

 

 

William D. Von Gonten, Jr.

President

TX #73244

 

September 20, 2010

 


EXHIBIT 23.3

 

DEGOLYER AND MACNAUGHTON

5001 SPRING VALLEY ROAD

SUITE 800 EAST

DALLAS, TEXAS 75244

 

September 20, 2010

 

Evolution Petroleum Corporation

2500 CityWest Blvd.

Suite 1300

Houston, Texas 77042

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We hereby consent to the use of the name DeGolyer and MacNaughton, to references to DeGolyer and MacNaughton, to the inclusion of our “Appraisal Report as of June 30, 2010 on Certain Delhi Field Properties owned by Evolution Petroleum Corporation” (our Report), and to the inclusion of information taken from our Report in the sections Business Strategy-Delhi Field CO2 EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery) Project, Estimated Oil and Natural Gas Reserves and Estimated Future Net Revenues, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the Form 10-K of Evolution Petroleum Corporation for the year ended June 30, 2010.  We further consent to the incorporation by reference of information contained in our report as of June 30, 2010, in the Evolution Petroleum Corporation Registration Statement No. 333-152136 on Form S-8 and Registration Statement No. 333-168107 on Form S-3.

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

/s/DeGolyer and MacNaughton/

 

 

 

DeGOLYER and MacNAUGHTON

 

Texas Registered Engineering Firm F-716

 


EXHIBIT 23.4

 

LEE KEELING & ASSOCIATES, INC.

 

PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS

 

First Place Tower

15 East Fifth Street, Suite 3500

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103-4350

(918) 587-5521 Telefax (918) 587-2881

 

 

September 20, 2010

 

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS

 

We hereby consent to the use of the name Lee Keeling & Associates, Inc. and to the incorporation by reference of our report entitled “Estimated Reserves and Future Net Revenue Major Oil and Gas Properties Evolution Petroleum” with an effective date of June 30, 2010, which appears in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Evolution Petroleum Corporation for the year ended June 30, 2010.  We further consent to the incorporation by reference of information contained in our report as of June 30, 2010, in the Evolution Petroleum Corporation Registration Statement No. 333-152136 on Form S-8 and Registration Statement No. 333-168107 on Form S-3.

 

 

/s/ Lee Keeling & Associates, Inc.

 

Lee Keeling & Associates, Inc.

Oklahoma Registered Engineering Firm CA 49 PE

Tulsa, Oklahoma

 


EXHIBIT 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Robert S. Herlin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Evolution Petroleum Corporation, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Evolution Petroleum Corporation;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s Board of Directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: September 27, 2010

 

/s / ROBERT S. HERLIN

 

 

Robert S. Herlin

 

 

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

 


EXHIBIT 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Sterling H. McDonald, Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of Evolution Petroleum Corporation, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Evolution Petroleum Corporation;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s Board of Directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: September 27, 2010

 

/s / STERLING H. MCDONALD

 

 

Sterling H. McDonald

 

 

Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer

 


EXHIBIT 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

The undersigned, Robert S. Herlin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Evolution Petroleum Corporation (the “Company”), certifies in connection with the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2010 (the “Report”) pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to his knowledge, that:

 

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this certification as of the 27th day of September, 2010.

 

 

/s/ ROBERT S. HERLIN

 

Robert S. Herlin

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Evolution Petroleum Corporation and will be retained by Evolution Petroleum Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.  The foregoing certificate is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to this Form 10-K and shall not be considered filed as part of the Form 10-K.

 


EXHIBIT 32.2

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

The undersigned, Sterling H. McDonald, Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of Evolution Petroleum Corporation (the “Company”), certifies in connection with the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2010 (the “Report”) pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to his knowledge, that:

 

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this certification as of the 27th day of September, 2010.

 

 

/s/ STERLING H. MCDONALD

 

Sterling H. McDonald

 

Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Evolution Petroleum Corporation and will be retained by Evolution Petroleum Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.  The foregoing certificate is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to this Form 10-K and shall not be considered filed as part of the Form 10-K.

 


EXHIBIT 99.4

 

August 17, 2010

 

Mr. Robert Herlin

Evolution Petroleum Corp.

2500 City West Blvd. Suite 1300

Houston, Texas 77042

 

 

Re:

Evolution Petroleum Corporation

 

 

Estimated Reserves and Revenues

 

 

“As of” July 1, 2010

 

Mr. Herlin:

 

At your request, W.D. Von Gonten & Co. has estimated future reserves and projected net revenues attributable to interests in certain oil and gas properties owned by Evolution Petroleum Corp. (Evolution), “As of” July 1, 2010.  The properties represented in this report are located in Brazos, Burleson, Duval, Fayette, Grimes, Lee, Washington, and Webb Counties, Texas.  All net revenue projections were prepared utilizing mid year 2010 SEC pricing, as per SEC guidelines.

 

Summaries of our conclusions, “As of” July 1, 2010, are as follows:

 

 

 

Net to Evolution Petroleum Corporation

 

 

 

Proved Developed

 

Proved

 

Total

 

Total

 

Total

 

SEC Pricing

 

Producing

 

Non-Producing

 

Undeveloped

 

Proved

 

Probable

 

Possible

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reserve Estimates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil/Cond., Mbbl

 

81.2

 

11.9

 

749.5

 

842.6

 

489.5

 

241,843.0

 

Gas, MMcf

 

1,347.7

 

51.5

 

5,226.1

 

6,625.3

 

3,271.5

 

0.0

 

NGL, Mbbl

 

142.8

 

14.5

 

879.3

 

1,036.6

 

226.1

 

0.0

 

Gas Equivalent, MMcfe

 

2,691.5

 

210.1

 

14,999.1

 

17,900.7

 

7,564.8

 

1,451,058.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil, $ (48.1) %

 

6,087,289

 

900,546

 

56,568,859

 

63,556,703

 

37,019,484

 

18,322,047

 

Gas, $ (20.6) %

 

5,375,119

 

208,835

 

21,587,465

 

27,171,416

 

13,496,356

 

0

 

NGL, $ (31.3) %

 

5,713,927

 

606,669

 

35,050,789

 

41,371,383

 

8,231,312

 

0

 

Total, $

 

17,176,334

 

1,716,050

 

113,207,109

 

132,099,516

 

58,747,152

 

18,322,047

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenditures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ad Valorem Tax, $

 

669,783

 

65,886

 

4,442,016

 

5,177,686

 

2,236,962

 

699,169

 

Severance Tax, $

 

431,755

 

68,892

 

2,156,717

 

2,657,364

 

2,823,095

 

842,814

 

Direct Operating Expense, $

 

3,073,603

 

191,520

 

16,421,250

 

19,686,365

 

15,177,800

 

0

 

Variable Operating Expense, $

 

674,624

 

3,106

 

0

 

677,730

 

0

 

2,908,714

 

Transporation Expense, $

 

695,272

 

52,689

 

4,309,962

 

5,057,923

 

1,719,476

 

0

 

Total, $

 

5,545,038

 

382,093

 

27,329,936

 

33,257,066

 

21,957,334

 

4,450,697

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments including Abandonment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total, $

 

225,000

 

280,000

 

32,878,949

 

33,383,949

 

14,080,500

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated Future Net Revenues (FNR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Undiscounted FNR, $

 

11,406,298

 

1,053,957

 

52,998,230

 

65,458,488

 

22,709,320

 

13,871,348

 

FNR Disc. @ 10%, $

 

8,114,521

 

534,732

 

32,688,342

 

41,337,594

 

12,553,537

 

7,602,077

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allocation Percentage by Classification

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FNR Disc. @ 10%

 

19.6

%

1.3

%

79.1

%

100.0

%

 

 

 

 

 


*Due to computer rounding, numbers in the above table may not sum exactly.

 



 

Report Qualifications

 

Purpose of Report — The purpose of this report is to provide Evolution with an estimate of future reserves and revenues attributable to certain oil and gas interests owned by Evolution.

 

Scope of Work — W. D. Von Gonten & Co. was engaged by Evolution to estimate the reserves and revenues associated with the properties included in this report.  Once the reserves were estimated, future revenue projections were made based on a SEC constant price deck.

 

Reporting Requirements — Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Regulation S-X 210, Rule 4-10 and Regulation S-K 229, Item 1200 (as revised in December 2008, effective 1-1-10), and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement No. 69 require oil and gas reserve information to be reported by publicly held companies as supplemental financial data. These regulations and standards provide for estimates of Proved reserves and revenues discounted at 10% and based on unescalated prices and costs.  Revenues based on alternate product price scenarios may be reported in addition to the current pricing case.  Reporting probable and possible reserves is optional. Probable and Possible reserves must be reported separately from Proved reserves.

 

The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) requires Proved reserves to be economically recoverable with prices and costs in effect on the “as of” date of the report.  In conjunction with the World Petroleum Council (WPC), American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), and the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers (SPEE), the SPE has issued Petroleum Resources Management System (2007 ed.), which sets forth the definitions and requirements associated with the classification of both reserves and resources.  In addition, the SPE has issued Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserve Information, which sets requirements for the qualifications and independence of reserve estimators and auditors.

 

The estimated Proved reserves herein have been prepared in conformance with all SEC, SPE, WPC, AAPG, and SPEE definitions and requirements.

 

Projections — The attached reserve and revenue projections are on a calendar year basis, with the first time period beginning July 1, 2010 and ending December 31, 2010.

 

Property Discussion

 

Evolution’s operations are centered on two sets of assets, the Giddings Field area located in central Texas and the Lopez Field in south Texas.

 

Evolution’s core assets are located in the Giddings Field area spanning over six counties in Texas which include Brazos, Burleson, Fayette, Grimes, Lee, and Washington. Within the Giddings Field area, there are three reservoirs targeted by Evolution. These three reservoirs are the Austin Chalk, Buda, and Georgetown.  Evolution is planning infill, as-well-as stepout locations mainly focusing on the Georgetown reservoir in north Grimes County and the Austin Chalk reservoir in north Washington County.  In addition to the scheduled drilling locations, Evolution has several re-entry candidates planned for existing vertical well bores.  After cleaning out the vertical well bore, Evolution would either extend a single lateral or two opposing laterals.  Currently, Evolution is producing from ten leases.  The net production of these leases, located in Brazos, Burleson, Fayette, and Grimes Counties, is approximately 55 barrels of oil and 1.1 Mmcf of gas per day from the Austin Chalk and Georgetown reservoirs.

 

Evolution has leased acreage in the South Lopez Unit located in the Lopez Field. Lopez Field is located on the border of Duval and Webb Counties, Texas. Evolution plans to re-enter existing wellbores and reactivate completions in the Miranda-Jackson reservoir. In addition to re-entering four wellbores, Evolution plans to drill 21 infill wells down spacing to five acres.

 

Reserves Estimates

 

Proved Developed Producing — Reserve estimates for the producing properties were based on a combination of the extrapolation of production history and analogy to offset production.  The majority of the producing properties were re-entries of vertical well bores with Evolution adding a horizontal

 

2



 

lateral into the Austin Chalk or Georgetown.  Our future projections of the current producing rates were based on the extrapolation of the previous historical production trends adjusting for the current measured rates.

 

Proved Undeveloped — Analysis was performed on the re-entries completed by Evolution in Austin Chalk wells since 2008.  It was determined that a distance of 4,000’ from the closest adjacent horizontal producer was necessary to encounter non-depleted reservoir. After it was determined that the proposed lateral met this minimum distance requirement, reserve estimates were then assigned to the location in conjunction with lateral length and historical performance of adjacent producers.

 

Reserve estimates were also determined for three locations and one re-entry candidate in north Grimes County, Texas.  These wells are offsets to producing wells in the Georgetown reservoir.  Analogy to offset production was used to determine the reserves.

 

Probable Undeveloped — The reserve estimations of the twenty-one five acre infill wells scheduled for Lopez Field were determined by analyzing the results of the past two infill drilling programs in the 1970’s and the 1980’s. Probable initial rates and incremental reserves associated with the additional wells were based on historical production rate increases and test data from the historical infill programs in Lopez Field.

 

Possible Undeveloped — In addition to the Probable Undeveloped reserves, twenty-one incremental Possible Undeveloped cases were estimated. The reserve estimations associated with this reserve category represent the possibility of the infill well initially producing at higher oil and water rates which would add incremental reserves to the Probable Undeveloped.

 

Reserves and schedules of production included in this report are only estimates. The amount of available data, reservoir and geological complexity, reservoir drive mechanism, and possible future mechanical problems with wellbores or production facilities can have a material effect on the accuracy of these reserve estimates. Substantially more data was reviewed for properties having higher overall value than marginal properties. Reserve estimates should be considered in context with the overall or total estimated value.

 

Product Prices

 

SEC pricing is determined by averaging the first day of each month’s closing price for the previous calendar year using published benchmark oil and gas prices.  This method renders a price of $75.76 per barrel of oil and $4.10 per MMBtu of gas.

 

The NGL price that was utilized in this evaluation was based on the historical price received versus the NYMEX basis oil price.  The average historical differential received for NGL volumes was extracted from Percent of Proceeds statements from a ten month time period from July 1, 2009 through April 30, 2010.

 

Pricing differentials were applied to all properties, on an individual property basis, in order to reflect prices actually received at the wellhead. The price received for the oil production was represented by Evolution as the NYMEX price with a deduction depending on the oil marketer. Pricing differentials typically account for transportation, geographical differentials, and any marketing bonuses or reductions.

 

Quality adjustments have been applied based on actual BTU factors for each well.  A shrinkage factor has been applied based on production volumes versus actual sales volumes, this shrinkage accounts for the generation of natural gas liquids, any line loss, or fuel usage before the actual sales point.

 

All prices have been held constant throughout the life of the properties.

 

Lease Operating and Capital Costs

 

Monthly operating expenses for each well were derived from the average of the twelve-month historical cost from April 1, 2009 — March 31, 2010, which were extracted from the profit and loss statements. All expenses associated with Lopez Field were provided by Evolution.

 

3



 

Capital costs necessary to perform workover and/or remedial operations were supplied by Evolution for all properties.

 

All expenses and costs were held constant for the life of the properties with no escalation.

 

Other Considerations

 

Abandonment Costs — Cost estimates regarding future plugging and abandonment procedures associated with the remaining properties were supplied by Evolution for the purposes of this report.  Based on analysis performed by Evolution, net of salvage, the cost of the plug and abandoning would be $25,000 for the properties located in Giddings Field while the scheduled abandonment cost is $10,000 for the properties located in Lopez Field.  As we have not inspected the properties personally, a third party study would be necessary in order to accurately estimate all future abandonment liabilities.

 

Additional Costs — Costs were not deducted for depletion, depreciation and/or amortization (a non-cash item), or federal income tax.

 

Data Sources — Data furnished by Evolution included basic well information, operating cost, capital cost, ownership, pricing, and production information on certain leases.

 

Context — We specifically advise that any particular reserve estimate for a specific property not be used out of context with the overall report.  The revenues and present worth of future net revenues are not represented to be market value either for individual properties or on a total property basis. The estimation of fair market value for oil and gas properties requires additional analysis other than evaluating undiscounted and discounted future net revenues.

 

We have not inspected the properties included in this report, nor have we conducted independent well tests. W.D. Von Gonten & Co. and our employees have no direct ownership in any of the properties included in this report. Our fees are based on hourly expense and are not related to the reserve and revenue estimates produced in this report.

 

Thank you for the opportunity to assist Evolution Petroleum Corporation with this project.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

William D. Von Gonten, Jr., P.E.

 

TX #73244

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jason P. Warren

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4



 

GRAPHIC

 

Qualifications of Reserve Estimator

 

William D. Von Gonten, Jr, a Registered Texas Professional Engineer, and owner of W.D. Von Gonten and Co. Petroleum Engineering since 1995, is primarily responsible for overseeing the preparation of the reserve report.  His professional qualifications meet or exceed the qualifications of reserve estimators set forth in the “Standards Pertaining to Estimation and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information” promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers.  His qualifications include: Bachelor’s of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A & M University 1987; member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers , member of the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers; and more than 22 years of practical experience in estimating and evaluating reserve information and estimating and evaluating reserves.

 

The technical person primarily responsible for the preparation of the reserve report is, Jason Warren, Engineer.  He earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering at Texas A & M University in 2005. Jason has been employed with W.D. Von Gonten and Co. since graduation in May, 2005. He has more than five years of experience in the estimation and evaluation of oil and gas reserves. Jason is also a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

 


EXHIBIT 99.5

 

DeGolyer and MacNaughton

5001 Spring Valley Road

Suite 800 East

Dallas, Texas 75244

 

APPRAISAL REPORT

as of

JUNE 30, 2010

on

CERTAIN DELHI FIELD PROPERTIES

owned by

EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION

 

FOREWORD

 

Scope of Investigation                                                                                                                                                               &# 160;       This report is an appraisal, as of June 30, 2010, of the extent and value of the proved and probable crude oil and natural gas reserves of certain properties owned by Evolution Petroleum Corporation (Evolution). The reserves estimated in this report are in the Delhi field located in Richland Parish, Louisiana. The properties appraised consist of an overriding royalty interest in the Delhi Holt Bryant Unit that is convertible to a working interest after payout of certain operating expenses. The overriding royalty interest is 7.405185 percent, and the additional interest to be gained after payout is a 23.9425-percent working interest with a 19.069515-percent net revenue interest, which is additive to the overriding royalty interest. This unit is operated by Denbury Onshore LLC (Denbury).

 

Estimates of reserves presented in this report have been prepared in compliance with the regulations promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These reserves definitions are discussed in detail in the Definition of Reserves section of this report.

 

Reserves estimated in this report are expressed as gross and net reserves. Gross reserves are defined as the total estimated petroleum remaining to be produced after June 30, 2010. Net reserves are defined as that portion of the gross reserves attributable to the interests owned by Evolution after deducting royalties and interests owned by others.

 



 

This report also presents values for proved and probable reserves using initial prices and costs provided by Evolution. Future prices were estimated using guidelines established by the SEC and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). In general, a NYMEX price of $76.21 per barrel was held constant for the life of the properties. A detailed explanation of the future price and cost assumptions is included in the Valuation of Reserves section of this report.

 

Values of proved and probable are expressed in terms of future gross revenue, future net revenue, and present worth. Future gross revenue is that revenue which will accrue to the appraised interests from the production and sale of the estimated net reserves. Future net revenue is calculated by deducting estimated production taxes, ad valorem taxes, operating expenses, and capital costs from the future gross revenue. Operating expenses include field operating expenses, transportation expenses, compression charges, and an allocation of overhead that directly relates to production activities. Future income tax expenses were not taken into account in the preparation of these estimates. Present worth is defined as future net revenue discounted at a specified arbitrary discount rate compounded monthly over the expected period of realization. In this report, present worth values using a discount rate of 10 percent are reported in detail and values using discount rates of 8, 12, 15, 18, 20, 25, and 30 percent are reported as totals.

 

Estimates of oil and gas reserves and future net revenue should be regarded only as estimates that may change as further production history and additional information become available. Not only are such reserves and revenue estimates based on that information which is currently available, but such estimates are also subject to the uncertainties inherent in the application of judgmental factors in interpreting such information.

 

Authority                                                                                                                                           &# 160;                                                                                               This report was prepared at the request of Mr.   Daryl Mazzanti, Vice President — Operations, Evolution.

 

Source of Information                                                                                                                                                                0;            Data used in the preparation of this report were obtained from Evolution, from reports filed with the appropriate regulatory agencies, and from other public

 

2



 

sources. In addition, we used information provided by Denbury regarding plans and expected operations of the carbon dioxide flood that it is in the process of implementing. In the preparation of this report we have relied, without independent verification, upon information furnished by Evolution with respect to property interests being appraised, production from such properties, current costs of operation and development, current prices for production, agreements relating to current and future operations and sale of production, and various other information and data that were accepted as represented. It was not considered necessary to make a field examination of the physical condition and operation of the properties.

 

3



 

DEFINITION of RESERVES

 

Petroleum reserves included in this report are classified by degree of proof as proved or probable. Only proved and probable reserves have been evaluated for this report. Reserves classifications used in this report are in accordance with the reserves definitions of Rules 4—10(a) (1)—(32) of Regulation S—X of the SEC. Reserves are judged to be economically producible in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions and assuming continuation of current regulatory practices using conventional production methods and equipment. In the analyses of production-decline curves, reserves were estimated only to the limit of economic rates of production under existing economic and operating conditions using prices and costs consistent with the effective date of this report, including consideration of changes in existing prices provided only by contractual arrangements but not including escalations based upon future conditions. The petroleum reserves are classified as follows:

 

Proved oil and gas reserves — Proved oil and gas reserves are those quantities of oil and gas, which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible—from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations—prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation. The project to extract the hydrocarbons must have commenced or the operator must be reasonably certain that it will commence the project within a reasonable time.

 

(i) The area of the reservoir considered as proved includes:

(A) The area identified by drilling and limited by fluid contacts, if any, and (B) Adjacent undrilled portions of the reservoir that can, with reasonable certainty, be judged to be continuous with it and to contain economically producible oil or gas on the basis of available geoscience and engineering data.

 

(ii) In the absence of data on fluid contacts, proved quantities in a reservoir are limited by the lowest known hydrocarbons

 

4



 

(LKH) as seen in a well penetration unless geoscience, engineering, or performance data and reliable technology establishes a lower contact with reasonable certainty.

 

(iii) Where direct observation from well penetrations has defined a highest known oil (HKO) elevation and the potential exists for an associated gas cap, proved oil reserves may be assigned in the structurally higher portions of the reservoir only if geoscience, engineering, or performance data and reliable technology establish the higher contact with reasonable certainty.

 

(iv) Reserves which can be produced economically through application of improved recovery techniques (including, but not limited to, fluid injection) are included in the proved classification when:

(A) Successful testing by a pilot project in an area of the reservoir with properties no more favorable than in the reservoir as a whole, the operation of an installed program in the reservoir or an analogous reservoir, or other evidence using reliable technology establishes the reasonable certainty of the engineering analysis on which the project or program was based; and (B) The project has been approved for development by all necessary parties and entities, including governmental entities.

 

(v) Existing economic conditions include prices and costs at which economic producibility from a reservoir is to be determined. The price shall be the average price during the 12-month period prior to the ending date of the period covered by the report, determined as an unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within such period, unless prices are defined by contractual arrangements, excluding escalations based upon future conditions.

 

Probable reserves — Probable reserves are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than proved reserves but which, together with proved reserves, are as likely as not to be recovered.

 

5



 

(i) When deterministic methods are used, it is as likely as not that actual remaining quantities recovered will exceed the sum of estimated proved plus probable reserves. When probabilistic methods are used, there should be at least a 50% probability that the actual quantities recovered will equal or exceed the proved plus probable reserves estimates.

 

(ii) Probable reserves may be assigned to areas of a reservoir adjacent to proved reserves where data control or interpretations of available data are less certain, even if the interpreted reservoir continuity of structure or productivity does not meet the reasonable certainty criterion. Probable reserves may be assigned to areas that are structurally higher than the proved area if these areas are in communication with the proved reservoir.

 

(iii) Probable reserves estimates also include potential incremental quantities associated with a greater percentage recovery of the hydrocarbons in place than assumed for proved reserves.

 

(iv) See also guidelines in paragraphs (iv) and (vi) of the definition of possible reserves.

 

Possible reserves — Possible reserves are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than probable reserves.

 

(i) When deterministic methods are used, the total quantities ultimately recovered from a project have a low probability of exceeding proved plus probable plus possible reserves. When probabilistic methods are used, there should be at least a 10% probability that the total quantities ultimately recovered will equal or exceed the proved plus probable plus possible reserves estimates.

 

(ii) Possible reserves may be assigned to areas of a reservoir adjacent to probable reserves where data control and interpretations of available data are progressively less certain. Frequently, this will be in areas where geoscience and

 

6



 

engineering data are unable to define clearly the area and vertical limits of commercial production from the reservoir by a defined project.

 

(iii) Possible reserves also include incremental quantities associated with a greater percentage recovery of the hydrocarbons in place than the recovery quantities assumed for probable reserves.

 

(iv) The proved plus probable and proved plus probable plus possible reserves estimates must be based on reasonable alternative technical and commercial interpretations within the reservoir or subject project that are clearly documented, including comparisons to results in successful similar projects.

 

(v) Possible reserves may be assigned where geoscience and engineering data identify directly adjacent portions of a reservoir within the same accumulation that may be separated from proved areas by faults with displacement less than formation thickness or other geological discontinuities and that have not been penetrated by a wellbore, and the registrant believes that such adjacent portions are in communication with the known (proved) reservoir. Possible reserves may be assigned to areas that are structurally higher or lower than the proved area if these areas are in communication with the proved reservoir.

 

(vi) Pursuant to paragraph (iii) of the proved oil and gas definition, where direct observation has defined a highest known oil (HKO) elevation and the potential exists for an associated gas cap, proved oil reserves should be assigned in the structurally higher portions of the reservoir above the HKO only if the higher contact can be established with reasonable certainty through reliable technology. Portions of the reservoir that do not meet this reasonable certainty criterion may be assigned as probable and possible oil or gas based on reservoir fluid properties and pressure gradient interpretations.

 

7



 

Developed oil and gas reserves — Developed oil and gas reserves are reserves of any category that can be expected to be recovered:

 

(i) Through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods or in which the cost of the required equipment is relatively minor compared to the cost of a new well; and

 

(ii) Through installed extraction equipment and infrastructure operational at the time of the reserves estimate if the extraction is by means not involving a well.

 

Undeveloped oil and gas reserves — Undeveloped oil and gas reserves are reserves of any category that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion.

 

(i) Reserves on undrilled acreage shall be limited to those directly offsetting development spacing areas that are reasonably certain of production when drilled, unless evidence using reliable technology exists that establishes reasonable certainty of economic producibility at greater distances.

 

(ii) Undrilled locations can be classified as having undeveloped reserves only if a development plan has been adopted indicating that they are scheduled to be drilled within five years, unless the specific circumstances justify a longer time.

 

(iii) Under no circumstances shall estimates for undeveloped reserves be attributable to any acreage for which an application of fluid injection or other improved recovery technique is contemplated, unless such techniques have been proved effective by actual projects in the same reservoir or an analogous reservoir, as defined in [section 210.4—10 (a) Definitions], or by other evidence using reliable technology establishing reasonable certainty.

 

The extent to which probable and possible reserves ultimately may be reclassified as proved reserves is dependent upon future

 

8



 

drilling, testing, and well performance. The degree of risk to be applied in evaluating probable and possible reserves is influenced by economic and technological factors as well as the time element. Probable reserves in this report have not been adjusted in consideration of these additional risks and therefore are not comparable with proved reserves. No possible reserves have been evaluated for this report.

 

9



 

ESTIMATION of RESERVES

 

The proved and probable reserves estimated for the appraised interests are located in the Holt Bryant reservoir. This reservoir was originally discovered in 1944, produced under primary means until unitized for water injection in 1953, and purchased by Denbury in 2006 in order to initiate a carbon dioxide injection program. Average depth is 3,235 feet subsea, and the unit area is about 6,189 acres. Denbury began carbon dioxide injection in three patterns of the Paluxy and Tuscaloosa reservoirs in November 2009.

 

The volumetric method was used to estimate the original oil in place (OOIP). Structure maps were utilized to delineate each reservoir, and isopach maps were utilized to estimate reservoir volume. Electrical logs, radioactivity logs, core analyses, and other available data were used to prepare these maps as well as to estimate representative values for porosity and water saturation. Estimates of OOIP were prepared during unitization and later refined during waterflood operations. Cumulative recovery is about 192 million barrels. Estimates of ultimate recovery to result from carbon dioxide injection in the Holt-Bryant reservoir were obtained after applying a recovery factor to an estimated OOIP of 357 million barrels. This recovery factor is based on consideration of the type of energy inherent in the reservoirs, analyses of the petroleum, the structural positions of the properties, and the production histories. Oil production response to the carbon dioxide was experienced in March 2010, and oil production in May and June 2010 has been about 800 barrels of oil per day. Based on the production response from a number of producers, and noting the amount of carbon dioxide injection to date, it is estimated that the recovery of proved reserves will be about 13 percent of OOIP, and probable reserves about 4 percent of OOIP.

 

In addition, Evolution has noted that four additional reservoirs exist that could also be suitable for carbon dioxide injection. These are identified as the Baughman, Beard, May Equivalent, and May Libby reservoirs. Estimated OOIP for these reservoirs is about 51.8 million barrels. After estimating the pattern area that could be developed, it is estimated that recovery from these reservoirs is 7.767 million barrels. These reserves are classified as probable undeveloped, and are subject to Denbury expanding its flood program to these reservoirs after Evolution backs into a working interest.

 

Data available from wells drilled through June 30, 2010, were used in this report.

 

10



 

The estimated proved and probable reserves, as of June 30, 2010, of the properties appraised are summarized as follows, expressed in thousands of barrels (Mbbl) or millions of cubic feet (MMcf):

 

 

 

Gross Proved Reserves

 

Net Proved Reserves

 

 

 

Oil
(Mbbl)

 

Wet
Gas
(MMcf)

 

Oil
(Mbbl)

 

Sales
Gas
(MMcf)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Developed Producing

 

4,567

 

0

 

584

 

0

 

Developed Nonproducing

 

390

 

0

 

29

 

0

 

Undeveloped

 

41,351

 

0

 

8,799

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

46,308

 

0

 

9,412

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Probable

 

22,044

 

0

 

5,681

 

0

 

 

Note: Probable reserves have not been risk adjusted to make them comparable to proved reserves.

 

11



 

VALUATION of RESERVES

 

This report has been prepared using initial prices and costs specified by Evolution. Future prices were estimated using guidelines established by the SEC and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).

 

In this report, values for proved and probable reserves are based on projections of estimated future production and revenue with no risk adjustment applied to the probable reserves. Probable reserves involve substantially higher risks than proved reserves. Revenue values for probable reserves have not been adjusted to account for such risks; this adjustment would be necessary to make probable reserves values comparable with values for proved reserves.

 

The assumptions that were used for estimating future prices and costs are as follows:

 

Oil Prices

 

An oil price differential for each property was provided by Evolution. The price for each property was calculated by applying this differential to a NYMEX crude oil price of $76.21 per barrel and was held constant over the life of each property. The NYMEX price of $76.21 is the 12-month average price calculated as the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within the 12-month period prior to June 30, 2010. The weighted average effective price attributable to the estimated proved reserves over the lives of the properties was $73.88 per barrel.

 

Operating Expenses and Capital Costs

 

Estimates of operating expenses and capital costs based on current costs were used for the lives of the properties with no increases in the future based on inflation. Future expenditures are estimated to be much higher than current levels due to the installation of a carbon dioxide injection program, which began in November 2009 and to be expanded through 2014. Evolution

 

12



 

is expected to pay $0.94 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) of carbon dioxide, based on a rate of 1 percent of oil price plus transportation charges of 20 cents per Mcf. Recycled carbon dioxide is expected to cost 15 cents per Mcf. Total carbon dioxide injection is expected to be 5,182 billion cubic feet (Bcf), and purchased carbon dioxide is expected to be 958 Bcf over the project life. Operating expenses are based on typical expenditures incurred by Denbury in its other injection projects. Future capital costs were estimated using expected 2010 values and were not adjusted for inflation. No significant investments other than abandonment are expected after 2023.

 

Severance and Ad Valorem Taxes

 

Severance taxes were based on current Louisiana State tax rates. The Delhi CO2 flood has been qualified as a tertiary recovery project. As such, no oil severance taxes will be charged until a payout is achieved of investment and certain interest expenses by all revenue from the project. Taxes then revert to the normal 12.5-percent rate, which was held constant until average oil production per well dropped below 25 barrels per day. Changes are expected to occur in August 2017 and June 2029. Evolution has stated that no ad valorem taxes are charged to the royalty owners, so no such taxes were included until conversion to a working interest.

 

13



 

The estimated future revenue to be derived from the production and sale of the net proved and probable reserves, as of June 30, 2010, of the properties appraised is summarized as follows, expressed in thousands of dollars (M$):

 

 

 

Proved
Developed
Producing

 

Proved
Developed
Nonproducing

 

Proved
Undeveloped

 

Total
Proved

 

Probable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Future Gross Revenue, M$

 

43,131

 

2,153

 

650,044

 

695,328

 

419,717

 

Production Taxes, M$

 

2,143

 

0

 

57,359

 

59,502

 

45,187

 

Ad Valorem Taxes, M$

 

144

 

0

 

3,354

 

3,498

 

2,367

 

Operating Expenses, M$

 

6,052

 

12

 

120,322

 

126,386

 

135,240

 

Investment, M$

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

12,915

 

Abandonment Costs, M$

 

594

 

3

 

43

 

640

 

12

 

Future Net Revenue, M$

 

34,198

 

2,138

 

468,966

 

505,302

 

223,996

 

Present Worth at 10 Percent, M$

 

21,192

 

1,703

 

201,568

 

224,463

 

51,185

 

 

Notes:

1. Future income tax expenses were not taken into account in the preparation of these estimates.

2. Values for probable reserves have not been risk adjusted to make them comparable to values for proved reserves.

 

The development of production and the resulting timing of capital expenditures were based on a development plan provided by Denbury on behalf of Evolution. The estimated payout to be recovered from Denbury’s interest is 212,395 thousand dollars, as provided by Evolution.

 

To the extent the above-enumerated rules, regulations, and statements require determinations of an accounting or legal nature, we are necessarily unable to express an opinion as to whether the above-described information is in accordance therewith or sufficient therefor.

 

In our opinion, the information relating to estimated proved and probable reserves, estimated future net revenue from proved and probable reserves, and present worth of estimated future net revenue from proved and probable reserves of oil, condensate, natural gas liquids, and gas contained in this report has been prepared in accordance with Paragraphs 932-235-50-4, 932-235-50-6, 932-235-50-7, 932-235-50-9, 932-235-50-30, and 932-235-50-31(a), (b), and (e) of the Accounting Standards Update 932-235-50, Extractive Industries — Oil and Gas (Topic 932): Oil and Gas Reserve Estimation and Disclosures (January 2010) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board and Rules 4—10(a) (1)—(32) of Regulation S—X and Rules 302(b), 1201, 1202(a) (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (8)(i), (ii), and (v)—(x), and 1203(a) of Regulation S—K of the Securities and Exchange Commission; provided, however, future income tax expenses have not

 

14



 

been taken into account in estimating the future net revenue and present worth values set forth herein.

 

The appendix bound with this report includes summary projections of proved and probable reserves and revenue by reserves classification, tabulations of proved and probable reserves by reserves classification and lease, and projections of proved and probable reserves and revenue by reserves classification and lease.

 

15



 

SUMMARY and CONCLUSIONS

 

Evolution owns interests in certain properties located in the Delhi field located in Richland Parish, Louisiana. The estimated net proved and probable reserves of the properties appraised, as of June 30, 2010, are summarized and expressed in thousands of barrels (Mbbl) or millions of cubic feet (MMcf) as follows:

 

 

 

Net Proved Reserves

 

 

 

Oil
(Mbbl)

 

Sales
Gas
(MMcf)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Developed Producing

 

584

 

0

 

Developed Nonproducing

 

29

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Developed

 

613

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Undeveloped

 

8,799

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

9,412

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Probable

 

5,681

 

0

 

 

Note: Probable reserves have not been risk adjusted to make them comparable to proved reserves.

 

Estimated revenue and costs attributable to the Evolution interests in the proved and probable reserves, as of June 30, 2010, of the properties appraised under the aforementioned assumptions concerning future prices and costs are summarized as follows, expressed in thousands of dollars (M$):

 

 

 

Proved
Developed
Producing

 

Proved
Developed
Nonproducing

 

Proved
Undeveloped

 

Total
Proved

 

Probable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Future Gross Revenue, M$ 

 

43,131

 

2,153

 

650,044

 

695,328

 

419,717

 

Production Taxes, M$ 

 

2,143

 

0

 

57,359

 

59,502

 

45,187

 

Ad Valorem Taxes, M$ 

 

144

 

0

 

3,354

 

3,498

 

2,367

 

Operating Expenses, M$ 

 

6,052

 

12

 

120,322

 

126,386

 

135,240

 

Investment, M$ 

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

12,915

 

Abandonment Costs, M$ 

 

594

 

3

 

43

 

640

 

12

 

Future Net Revenue, M$ 

 

34,198

 

2,138

 

468,966

 

505,302

 

223,996

 

Present Worth at 10 Percent, M$ 

 

21,192

 

1,703

 

201,568

 

224,463

 

51,185

 

 

Notes:

1. Future income tax expenses were not taken into account in the preparation of these estimates.

2. Values for probable reserves have not been risk adjusted to make them comparable to values for proved reserves.

 

16



 

All gas quantities shown herein are expressed at a temperature base of 60 °F and at the legal pressure base of 15.025 pounds per square inch.

 

 

 

Submitted,

 

 

 

 

 

DeGOLYER and MacNAUGHTON

 

Texas Registered Engineering Firm F-716

 

 

SIGNED: August 10, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul J. Szatkowski, P.E.

 

Senior Vice President

 

DeGolyer and MacNaughton

 

17



 

TABLE of CONTENTS

 

 

Page

FOREWORD

1

Scope of Investigation

1

Authority

2

Source of Information

2

DEFINITION of RESERVES

4

ESTIMATION of RESERVES

10

VALUATION of RESERVES

12

SUMMARY and CONCLUSIONS

16

APPENDIX — Bound with Report

 

 



 

DeGolyer and MacNaughton

 

CERTIFICATE of QUALIFICATION

 

I, Paul J. Szatkowski, Petroleum Engineer with DeGolyer and MacNaughton, 5001 Spring Valley Road, Suite 800 East, Dallas, Texas, 75244 U.S.A., hereby certify:

 

1.               That I am a Senior Vice President with DeGolyer and MacNaughton, which company prepared our “Appraisal Report as of June 30, 2010 on Certain Delhi Field Properties owned by Evolution Petroleum Corporation”, and that I, as Senior Vice President, was responsible for the preparation of this report.

 

2.               That I attended Texas A&M University, and that I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering in the year 1974; that I am a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas; that I am a member of the International Society of Petroleum Engineers and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists; and that I have in excess of 36 years of experience in the oil and gas reservoir studies and reserves evaluations.

 

3.               That DeGolyer and MacNaughton or its officers have no direct or indirect interest, nor do they expect to receive and direct interest in any properties or securities of Evolution or affiliate thereof.

 

Signed: August 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul J. Szatkowski, P.E.

 

Senior Vice President

 

DeGolyer and MacNaughton

 


Exhibit 99.6

 

LEE KEELING AND ASSOCIATES, INC.

 

PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS

 

First Place Tower
15 East Fifth Street
· Suite 3500
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103-4350
(918) 587-5521
· Fax: (918) 587-2881

 

August 23, 2010

 

Evolution Petroleum Corporation

2500 City West Blvd., Suite 1300

Houston, Texas 77042

 

Attn: Mr. Daryl Mazzanti

Vice President-Operations

 

 

Re: Estimated Reserves and Future Net Revenue Proved Developed Non-Producing and Undeveloped Reserves

 

Oil and Gas Properties Owned by

 

Evolution Petroleum Corporation

 

Constant Prices and Expenses

 

Gentlemen:

 

In accordance with your request, we have prepared an estimate of net proved developed non-producing, probable and possible undeveloped reserves and the future net revenue to be realized from the interests owned by Evolution Petroleum Corporation (Evolution) in oil and gas properties located in Wagoner County, Oklahoma. Our estimate includes less than five per cent of Evolution’s net reserves. The effective date of this estimate is June 30, 2010, and the results are summarized as follows:

 

 

 

ESTIMATED REMAINING

 

 

 

NET RESERVES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Present Worth

 

RESERVE

 

Oil

 

Gas

 

TOTAL

 

Disc. @ 10%

 

CLASSIFICATION

 

(BBLS)

 

(MCF)

 

($)

 

($)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proved Developed Non-Producing

 

 

 

137.695

 

291,247

 

177,903

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Probable Undeveloped

 

 

 

1,360.431

 

1,019,537

 

53,907

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Possible Undeveloped

 

 

 

1,768.561

 

1,325,399

 

67,277

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total All Reserves

 

 

 

3,266.687

 

2,636,183

 

299,087

 

 

Note: Totals may not agree with schedules due to roundoff.

 

Future net revenue is the amount, exclusive of state and federal income taxes, which will accrue to the subject interests from continued operation of the properties to depletion. It should not be construed as a fair market or trading value.

 

WWW.LKAENGINEERS.COM

 



 

No attempt has been made to determine whether the wells and facilities are in compliance with various governmental regulations, nor have costs been included in the event they are not.

 

This report consists of various summaries. Schedule No. 1 presents summary forecasts by reserve type of annual gross and net production, severance and ad valorem taxes, operating income and net revenue. Schedule No. 2 is a sequential listing of the forecast entities based on discounted future net revenue. A one-line alphabetical listing of the forecast entities is presented on Schedule No. 3. Schedule 4 includes the individual cash flows for the various entities. These are accompanied by the production decline curve that shows our projection of future producing rates from the Henry No. 19-2.

 

BACKGROUND

 

This estimate is concerned with one (1) gas well which was not selling gas on the effective date. This well is located in Wagoner County, Oklahoma. The associated ten (10) probable and thirteen (13) possible undeveloped locations are also located in Wagoner County, Oklahoma.

 

CLASSIFICATION OF RESERVES

 

Reserves assigned to the drilled gas well have been classified as “proved developed non-producing.” The undeveloped associated locations are classified as “probable undeveloped” and “possible undeveloped” in accordance with the definitions of the proved reserves as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These are as follows:

 

Proved Developed Oil and Gas Reserves are reserves that can be recovered with reasonable certainty through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods. Additional oil and gas to be recovered through the application of fluid injection or other improved recovery techniques for supplementing the natural forces and mechanisms of primary recovery should be included as “proved developed reserves” only after testing by a pilot project or after the operation of an installed program has confirmed through production response that increased recovery will be achieved.

 

Proved Developed Oil and Gas Reserves attributed to the subject leases have been further classified as “proved developed non-producing.”

 

Proved Developed Non-Producing Reserves are those reserves to be recovered with reasonable certainty from zones that have been completed and tested but are not yet producing due to situations including, but not limited to, lack of market, minor completion problems that are expected to be corrected, or reserves to be recovered from future stimulation treatments with reasonable certainty based on analogy to nearby wells.

 

Probable Undeveloped Reserves are those additional reserves which analysis of geoscience and engineering data indicate are less certain to be recovered than Proved Reserves but which, together with proved reserves, are as likely as not to be recovered.

 

Possible Undeveloped Reserves are those additional reserves which analysis of geoscience and engineering data indicate are less likely to be recoverable than Probable Reserves.

 

2



 

ESTIMATION OF RESERVES

 

The proved developed non-producing well production estimate was based on the well’s 140-day production test.

 

Reserves anticipated from undeveloped locations were based upon analogy with nearby wells which are producing from the same horizon.

 

Our estimate of reserves used all methods and procedures considered necessary, under the circumstances, to prepare this report.

 

FUTURE NET REVENUE

 

Oil and Gas Income

 

Income from the recovery and sale of the estimated gas reserves was based on the average of prices received on the first day of each month of the twelve months prior to the effective date. This price supplied by Evolution was $4.09 per MCF and was held constant with provisions made for state severance taxes.

 

Projected produced gas volumes from the Oklahoma well was reduced to estimated sales volumes based on shrinkage data as provided by Evolution.

 

Operating Expenses

 

Anticipated monthly expenses were based on estimated expenses as supplied by Evolution and upon analogy with nearby wells which are producing from the same horizon. Expenses were not escalated but held constant for the various recovery periods

 

Future Expenses

 

As provided by Evolution, provisions have been made for future expenses required for workovers, drilling, and completion of wells drilled to capture the probable and possible undeveloped reserves. These costs have been held constant from current estimates.

 

GENERAL

 

The assumptions, data, methods and procedures used are appropriate for the purpose served by the report.

 

Information upon which this estimate of net reserves and future net revenue has been based was furnished by the staff of Evolution or was obtained by us from outside sources we consider to be reliable. This information is assumed to be correct. No attempt has been made to verify title or ownership of the subject properties. The well was not inspected by a representative of this firm, nor was it tested under our supervision; however, its performance was discussed with the employees of Evolution.

 

3



 

This report has been prepared utilizing methods and procedures regularly used by petroleum engineers to estimate oil and gas reserves for properties of this type and character. The recovery of oil and gas reserves and projection of producing rates are dependent upon many variable factors including, prudent operation, compression of gas when needed, market demand, installation of lifting equipment, and remedial work when required. The reserves included in this report have been based upon the assumption that the wells will be operated in a prudent manner under the same conditions existing on the effective date. Actual production results and future well data may yield additional facts, not presently available to us, which may require an adjustment to our estimates.

 

You should be aware that state regulatory authorities could, in the future, change the allocation of reserves allowed to be produced from a particular well in any reservoir, thereby altering the material premise upon which our reserve estimate may be based.

 

The projection of cash flow has been made assuming constant prices. There is no assurance that prices will not vary. For this reason and those listed in the previous paragraph, the future net cash from the sale of production from the subject properties may vary from the estimates contained in this report.

 

The information developed during the course of this investigation, basic data, maps and worksheets showing recovery determinations are available for inspection in our office.

 

We appreciate this opportunity to be of service to you.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

LEE KEELING AND ASSOCIATES, INC.

 

LKA7008

 

4



 

CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFICATION

 

I, Gordon L. Romine, Registered Petroleum Engineer, of 15 East 5 th Street, Suite 3500, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103, U.S.A., hereby certify:

 

1.          I am an employee of Lee Keeling and Associates, Inc., which was incorporated in the state of Oklahoma in 1960. The firm is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Our firm prepared a detailed analysis of Evolution Petroleum Corporation’s oil and gas properties located in Wagoner County, Oklahoma.

 

2.          Lee Keeling and Associates, Inc. is a professional engineering firm registered in the state of Oklahoma. Our firm’s Oklahoma Professional Engineer license number is P.E. CA 49 PE.

 

3.          This work was performed under my direction by the firm’s engineering and geological staff. Each of the staff has a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized and accredited university.

 

4.          Lee Keeling and Associates, Inc. has prepared reserve evaluation studies and reserve audits for public and private companies for the purpose of reserve certification filings in foreign countries, domestic regulatory filings, financial disclosures and corporate strategic planning.

 

5.          We do not have, nor do we expect to receive, any direct or indirect interest in the securities of Evolution Petroleum Corporation its affiliated companies.

 

6.          A personal field inspection of the properties was not made, however, such an inspection was not considered necessary in view of the information available from public information, records and the files of Evolution Petroleum Corporation.

 

 

Gordon L. Romine, Oklahoma P. E. #6057

 

Lee Keeling and Associates, Inc., Oklahoma PE #CA 49 PE

 

Tulsa, Oklahoma U.S.A.

 

September 1, 2010