Description Of Business And Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

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, although the Company believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation for the periods presented have been included as required by Regulation S-X, Rule 10-01.  Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended December 31, 2015. It is suggested that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with 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, 2014.

Principles Of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying condensed 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 requires 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 impairment 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 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, natural gas, methane, and electricity 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.  There were no natural gas imbalances at September 30, 2015 or December 31, 2014.  Methane gas and electricity sales meters are located at the Carter Valley landfill site and any sales of methane or electricity are billed each month.  No methane gas was sold during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 or 2014.

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.

Restricted Cash

Restricted Cash

During the 4th quarter of 2012, the Company placed $386,000 as collateral for a bond with RLI Insurance Company to appeal a civil penalty related to issuance of an “Incident of Non-Compliance” by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (“BSEE”) concerning one of the Hoactzin properties operated by the Company pursuant to the Management Agreement (see Note 5).  At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, this amount was recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets under “Restricted cash” (see Note 11).

Inventory

Inventory

Inventory consists of crude oil in tanks and is carried at lower of cost or market value.  The cost component of the oil inventory is calculated using the average cost per barrel for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.  These costs include production costs and taxes, allocated general and administrative costs, depreciation, and allocated interest cost.  The market component is calculated using the average September 2015 and December 2014 oil sales prices received from the Company’s Kansas properties.  In addition, the Company also carries equipment and materials in inventory to be used in its Kansas operation which are carried at the lower of cost or market value.  The cost component of the equipment and materials inventory represents the original cost paid for the equipment and materials.  The market component is based on estimated sales value for similar equipment and materials as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.  The following table sets forth information concerning the Company’s inventory (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2015		2014
Oil – carried at market	$	425	$	573
Equipment and materials – carried at cost		231		231
Total inventory	$	656	$	804

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 acquisition costs, seismic related costs, certain internal exploration costs, 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.  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 unevaluated properties of $552,000 and $462,000 at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.  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).  If the net capitalized cost is greater than the ceiling, a write-down or impairment is required.  A write-down of the carrying value of the asset is a non-cash charge that reduces earnings in the current period.  Once incurred, a write-down cannot be reversed in a later period.  During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company recorded an impairment of oil and gas properties in the amount of $7.2 million.  No impairment of oil and gas properties were recorded during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consist of uncollateralized joint interest owner obligations due within 30 days of the invoice date, uncollateralized accrued revenues due under normal trade terms, generally requiring payment within 30 days of production, and other miscellaneous receivables. No interest is charged on past-due balances. Payments made on accounts receivable are applied to the earliest unpaid items. We review accounts receivable periodically and reduce the carrying amount by a valuation allowance that reflects our best estimate of the amount that may not be collectible. An allowance was recorded at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

The following table sets forth information concerning the Company’s accounts receivable (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2015		2014
Revenue	$	565	$	845
Joint interest		22		24
Other		22		22
Allowance for doubtful accounts		(14)		(14)
Total accounts receivable	$	595	$	877