Fair Value Measurements

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

The carrying values of financial instruments comprising cash and cash equivalents, accounts payable, accounts receivable and related party accounts receivable approximate fair values due to the short-term maturities of these instruments. The carrying value reported for the revolving line of credit approximates fair value because the underlying instruments are at interest rates which approximate current market rates.

Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis

The following table presents the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2021 and September 30, 2020, by level within the fair value hierarchy:


	March 31, 2021
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	($ in thousands)
Financial assets:
Commodity derivative assets	$	—	$	916	$	—	$	916
Financial liabilities:
Commodity derivative liabilities	$	—	$	(20,084)	$	—	$	(20,084)
Interest rate liabilities	$	—	$	(302)	$	—	$	(302)

	September 30, 2020
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	($ in thousands)
Financial assets:
Commodity derivative assets	$	—	$	24,341	$	—	$	24,341
Financial liabilities:
Commodity derivative liabilities	$	—	$	(1,672)	$	—	$	(1,672)
Interest rate liabilities	$	—	$	(748)	$	—	$	(748)

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis

Assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value on a non-recurring basis in accordance with the fair value hierarchy include the initial recognition of asset retirement obligations, the fair value of oil and natural gas properties, and goodwill when acquired in a business combination or assessed for impairment.

The fair value measurements of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are measured on a nonrecurring basis on the acquisition date using an income valuation technique based on inputs that are not observable in the market and therefore represent Level 3 inputs. Significant inputs used to determine the fair value include estimates of: (i) reserves; (ii) future commodity prices; (iii) operating and development costs; and (iv) a market-based weighted average cost of capital rate. The underlying commodity prices embedded in the Company's estimated cash flows are the product of a process that begins with NYMEX forward curve pricing, adjusted for estimated location and quality differentials, as well as other factors that the Company’s management believes will impact realizable prices. These inputs require significant judgments and estimates by the Company’s management at the time of the valuation.

The fair value of asset retirement obligations incurred and acquired during the six months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, totaled approximately $53 thousand and $889 thousand, respectively. The fair value of additions to the asset retirement obligation liabilities is measured using valuation techniques consistent with the income approach, which converts future cash flows to a single discounted amount. Significant inputs to the valuation include: (i) $50 thousand estimated plug and abandonment cost per well for all oil and natural gas wells and $52 thousand for estimated plug and abandonment cost per well for all disposal wells for the six months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020; (ii) a 27 year and 12 year weighted average by fair value of the estimated remaining life per well for the six months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020; (iii) future inflation factors; and (iv) our average credit-adjusted risk-free rate of 5.17% and 8.34% for the six months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020. These assumptions represent Level 3 inputs.

If the carrying amount of our oil and natural gas properties exceeds the estimated undiscounted future cash flows, we will adjust the carrying amount of the oil and natural gas properties to fair value. The fair value of our oil and natural gas properties is determined using valuation techniques consistent with the income and market approach. The factors used to determine fair value are subject to management’s judgment and expertise and include, but are not limited to, recent sales prices of comparable properties, the present value of future cash flows, net of estimated operating and development costs using estimates of proved reserves, future commodity pricing, future production estimates, anticipated capital expenditures, and various discount rates commensurate with the risk and current market conditions associated with the expected cash flow projected. These assumptions represent Level 3 inputs.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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