Description Of Business And Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Description Of Business And Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis Of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

     The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Item 210 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended December 31, 2012. For further information, refer to the Company's consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Principles Of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

     The accompanying consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries after elimination of all significant intercompany transactions and balances.

Use Of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP which require management 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.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

     Revenues are recognized based on actual volumes of oil and gas sold to purchasers at a fixed or determinable price, when delivery has occurred and title has transferred, and collectability is reasonably assured. Crude oil is stored and at the time of delivery to the purchasers, revenues are recognized. Natural gas meters are placed at the customer's location and usage is billed each month. There were no material natural gas imbalances at September 30, 2012.

Cash And Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

     Cash and cash equivalents include temporary cash investments with a maturity of ninety days or less at date of purchase. The Company has elected to enter into a sweep account arrangement allowing excess cash balances to be used to temporarily pay down the Company's credit facility with F&M Bank & Trust Company, thereby, reducing overall interest cost.

Restricted Cash

Restricted Cash

     As security required by Tennessee oil and gas regulations, the Company placed $120,500 in a Certificate of Deposit to cover future asset retirement obligations for the Company's Tennessee wells.

Inventory

Inventory

     Inventory consists of crude oil in tanks and equipment and materials to be used in its Kansas operations. Inventory is carried at lower of cost or market value. At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, inventory consisted of the following (in thousands):

		September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Oil	$	493	$	679
Equipment and materials		812		144
	$	1,305	$	823

Full Cost Method Of Accounting

Full Cost Method of Accounting

     The Company follows the full cost method of accounting for oil and gas property acquisition, exploration, and development activities. Under this method, all costs incurred in connection with acquisition, exploration and development of oil and gas reserves are capitalized. Capitalized costs include lease acquisitions, seismic surveys, drilling, completion, and estimated asset retirement costs. The capitalized costs of oil and gas properties, plus estimated future development costs relating to proved reserves and estimated asset retirement costs, which are not already included net of estimated salvage value, are amortized on the unit-of-production method based on total proved reserves. The Company has determined its reserves based upon reserve reports provided by LaRoche Petroleum Consultants Ltd. in 2011, 2010, and 2009. The costs of unproved properties are excluded from amortization until the properties are evaluated, subject to an annual assessment of whether impairment has occurred. The Company had $0.46 million in unevaluated properties as of September 30, 2012 and $0.27 million as of December 31, 2011. Proceeds from the sale of oil and gas properties are accounted for as reductions to capitalized costs unless such sales cause a significant change in the relationship between costs and the estimated value of proved reserves, in which case a gain or loss is recognized.

     At the end of each reporting period, the Company performs a "ceiling test" on the value of the net capitalized cost of oil and gas properties. This test compares the net capitalized cost (capitalized cost of oil and gas properties, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization and related deferred income taxes) to the present value of estimated future net revenues from oil and gas properties using an average price (arithmetic average of the beginning of month prices for the prior 12 months) and current cost discounted at 10% plus cost of properties not being amortized and the lower of cost or estimated fair value of unproven properties included in the cost being amortized (ceiling).

Reclassifications

Reclassifications

     Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation with no effect on net income.