The Company is exposed to fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas prices on its production. It utilizes derivative strategies that consist of either a single derivative instrument or a combination of instruments to manage the variability in cash flows associated with the forecasted sale of our future domestic oil and natural gas production. While the use of derivative instruments may limit or partially reduce the downside risk of adverse commodity price movements, their use also may limit future income from favorable commodity price movements.

From time to time, the Company enters into derivative contracts to protect the Company’s cash flow from price fluctuation and maintain its capital programs. The Company has historically used costless collars, deferred premium puts, or swaps for this purpose. Oil derivative contracts are based on WTI ("West Texas Intermediate") crude oil prices and natural gas contacts are based on the Henry Hub. A “costless collar” is the combination of two options, a put option (floor) and call option (ceiling) with the options structured so that the premium paid for the put option will be offset by the premium

received from selling the call option. Similar to costless collars, there is no cost to enter into the swap contracts. A deferred premium put contract has the premium established upon entering the contract, and due upon settlement of the contract.

The use of derivative transactions involves the risk that the counterparties, which generally are financial institutions, will be unable to meet the financial terms of such transactions. All of our derivative contracts are with lenders under our Credit Facility. Non-performance risk is incorporated in the discount rate by adding the quoted bank (counterparty) credit default swap (CDS) rates to the risk free rate. Although the counterparties hold the right to offset (i.e. netting) the settlement amounts with the Company, in accordance with ASC 815-10-50-4B, the Company classifies the fair value of all its derivative positions on a gross basis in the Company's Condensed Balance Sheets.

The Company’s derivative financial instruments are recorded at fair value and included as either assets or liabilities in the accompanying Condensed Balance Sheets. The Company has not designated its derivative instruments as hedges for accounting purposes, and, as a result, any gains or losses resulting from changes in fair value of outstanding derivative financial instruments and from the settlement of derivative financial instruments are recognized in earnings and included as a component of "Other Income (Expense)" under the heading "Gain (loss) on derivative contracts" in the accompanying Condensed Statements of Operations.


	As of
	March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
Commodity derivative instruments, marked to market:

Derivative assets, current	$	4,493,001	$	7,768,697
Discounted deferred premiums	(788,555)		(1,553,323)
Derivatives assets, current, net of premiums	$	3,704,446	$	6,215,374

Derivative assets, noncurrent	$	5,092,176	$	11,634,714
Discounted deferred premiums	—		—
Derivative assets, noncurrent, net of premiums	$	5,092,176	$	11,634,714

Derivative liabilities, current	$	17,517,656	$	7,520,336

Derivative liabilities, noncurrent	$	10,012,561	$	11,510,368


	For the Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2024		March 31, 2023
Oil derivatives:
Realized loss on oil derivatives		$	(2,738,970)	$	(663,762)
Unrealized gain (loss) on oil derivatives		(16,994,322)		8,107,021
Gain (loss) on oil derivatives		$	(19,733,292)	$	7,443,259

Natural gas derivatives:
Realized gain on natural gas derivatives		$	1,277,455	$	5,237
Unrealized gain (loss) on natural gas derivatives		(558,658)		2,026,409
Gain on natural gas derivatives		$	718,797	$	2,031,646

Gain (loss) on derivative contracts		$	(19,014,495)	$	9,474,905

The components of “Cash received (paid) for derivative settlements, net” within the Condensed Statements of Cash Flows are as follows for the respective periods:


	For the Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2024		March 31, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash paid for oil derivatives		$	(2,738,970)	$	(663,762)
Cash received from natural gas derivatives		1,277,455		5,237
Cash received (paid) for derivative settlements, net		$	(1,461,515)	$	(658,525)

The following tables reflect the details of current derivative contracts as of March 31, 2024 (Quantities are in barrels (Bbl) for the oil derivative contracts and in million British thermal units (MMBtu) for the natural gas derivative contracts):


	Oil Hedges (WTI)
	Q2 2024		Q3 2024		Q4 2024		Q1 2025		Q2 2025		Q3 2025		Q4 2025		Q1 2026

Swaps:
Hedged volume (Bbl)	156,975		282,900		368,000		—		—		184,000		—		387,000
Weighted average swap price	$	66.40	$	65.49	$	68.43	$	—	$	—	$	73.35	$	—	$	70.11

Deferred premium puts:
Hedged volume (Bbl)	45,500		—		—		—		—		—		—		—
Weighted average strike price	$	82.80	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
Weighted average deferred premium price	$	17.49	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—

Two-way collars:
Hedged volume (Bbl)	334,947		230,000		128,800		474,750		464,100		225,400		404,800		—
Weighted average put price	$	64.32	$	64.00	$	60.00	$	57.06	$	60.00	$	65.00	$	60.00	$	—
Weighted average call price	$	79.16	$	76.50	$	73.24	$	75.82	$	69.85	$	78.91	$	75.68	$	—


	Gas Hedges (Henry Hub)
	Q2 2024		Q3 2024		Q4 2024		Q1 2025		Q2 2025		Q3 2025		Q4 2025		Q1 2026

NYMEX Swaps:
Hedged volume (MMBtu)	86,059		121,587		644,946		616,199		591,725		285,200		—		—
Weighted average swap price	$	3.62	$	3.59	$	4.45	$	3.78	$	3.43	$	3.73	$	—	$	—

Two-way collars:
Hedged volume (MMBtu)	405,650		584,200		27,600		27,000		27,300		308,200		598,000		553,500
Weighted average put price	$	3.94	$	3.94	$	3.00	$	3.00	$	3.00	$	3.00	$	3.00	$	3.50

Weighted average call price	$	6.16	$	6.17	$	4.15	$	4.15	$	4.15	$	4.75	$	4.15	$	5.03