UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017
OR
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: 1-35532
PACIFIC COAST OIL TRUST
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware |
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80-6216242 |
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., |
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78701 |
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(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
1-512-236-6555
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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 website, 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 whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Large accelerated filer o |
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Accelerated filer x |
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Non-accelerated filer o |
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Smaller reporting company o |
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(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
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Emerging growth company x |
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
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 As of October 30, 2017, 38,583,158 Units of Beneficial Interest in Pacific Coast Oil Trust were outstanding.
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “report”) contains “forward-looking statements” about Pacific Coast Oil Trust (the “Trust”) and its sponsor, Pacific Coast Energy Company LP, a privately held Delaware partnership (“PCEC”), that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this report, including, without limitation, statements under “Trustee’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” are forward-looking statements. When used in this document, the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The following important factors, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this report, could affect the future results of the energy industry in general, and PCEC and the Trust in particular, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements:
· the effect of changes in commodity prices or alternative fuel prices;
· risks associated with the drilling and operation of oil and natural gas wells;
· the amount of future direct operating expenses and development expenses;
· the effect of existing and future laws and regulatory actions, including the failure to obtain necessary discretionary permits;
· conditions in the capital markets;
· competition from others in the energy industry;
· uncertainty of estimates of oil and natural gas reserves and production; and
· cost inflation.
You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report. The Trust does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to the forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, unless required by law.
This report describes other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations of PCEC and the Trust. All written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to PCEC or the Trust or persons acting on behalf of PCEC or the Trust are expressly qualified in their entirety by such factors.
GLOSSARY OF CERTAIN OIL AND NATURAL GAS TERMS
In this report the following terms have the meanings specified below.
API—The specific gravity or density of oil expressed in terms of a scale devised by the American Petroleum Institute.
Bbl—One stock tank barrel of 42 U.S. gallons liquid volume, used herein in reference to crude oil and other liquid hydrocarbons.
Bbl/d—Bbl per day.
Boe—One stock tank barrel of oil equivalent, computed on an approximate energy equivalent basis that one Bbl of crude oil equals six Mcf of natural gas.
Brent—Global benchmark price used for light sweet crude oil.
Btu—A British Thermal Unit, a common unit of energy measurement.
Completion—The installation of permanent equipment for the production of oil or natural gas, or in the case of a dry hole, the reporting of abandonment to the appropriate agency.
Dry hole—A well found to be incapable of producing either oil or natural gas in sufficient quantities to justify completion as an oil or natural gas well.
Economically producible—A resource which generates revenue that exceeds, or is reasonably expected to exceed, the costs of the operation.
Field—An area consisting of a single reservoir or multiple reservoirs all grouped on or related to the same individual geological structural feature and/or stratigraphic condition.
Henry Hub— The Henry Hub is a distribution hub on the natural gas pipeline system in Erath, Louisiana. Due to its importance, it lends its name to the pricing point for natural gas futures contracts traded on the NYMEX and the OTC swaps traded on the Intercontinental Exchange.
MBbl—One thousand barrels of crude oil or condensate.
MBoe—One thousand barrels of oil equivalent.
Mcf—One thousand cubic feet of natural gas.
MMBtu—One million British Thermal Units.
Net profits interest, or NPI—A nonoperating interest that creates a share in gross production from an operating or working interest in oil and natural gas properties. The share is measured by net profits from the sale of production after deducting costs associated with that production.
Oil—Crude oil and condensate.
Overriding royalty interest —A fractional, undivided interest or right of participation in the oil or natural gas, or in the proceeds from the sale of oil and natural gas, that is limited in duration to the term of an existing lease and that is not subject to the expenses of development, operation or maintenance.
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.
Proved reserves—The estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be economically producible in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions and government regulations. 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. This definition of proved reserves has been abbreviated from the applicable definitions contained in Rule 4-10(a)(2-4) of Regulation S-X.
Proved undeveloped reserves or PUDs—Proved 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. This definition of proved undeveloped reserves has been abbreviated from the applicable definitions contained in Rule 4-10(a)(2-4) of Regulation S-X.
Recompletion —The completion for production of an existing well bore in another formation from which that well has been previously completed.
Reservoir—A porous and permeable underground formation containing a natural accumulation of producible oil and/or natural gas that is confined by impermeable rock or water barriers and is individual and separate from other reservoirs.
Working interest—The right granted to the lessee of a property to explore for and to produce and own oil, natural gas, or other minerals. The working interest owners bear the exploration, development, and operating costs on either a cash, penalty, or carried basis.
PACIFIC COAST OIL TRUST
Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Trust Corpus
(Unaudited)
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Thousands of dollars, except unit amounts |
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September 30, 2017 |
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December 31, 2016 |
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ASSETS |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
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$ |
59 |
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$ |
16 |
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Investment in conveyed interests, net of amortization |
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218,999 |
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227,660 |
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Total assets |
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$ |
219,058 |
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$ |
227,676 |
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LIABILITIES AND TRUST CORPUS |
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Note payable to PCEC (Note 4) |
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— |
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1,132 |
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Trust corpus (38,583,158 Trust units issued and outstanding) |
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219,058 |
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226,544 |
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Total Liabilities and Trust Corpus |
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$ |
219,058 |
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$ |
227,676 |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
PACIFIC COAST OIL TRUST
Statements of Distributable Income
(Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended |
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Nine Months Ended |
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Thousands of dollars, exept unit and per unit amounts |
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September 30, 2017 |
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September 30, 2016 |
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September 30, 2017 |
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September 30, 2016 |
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Income from conveyed interests |
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$ |
1,999 |
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$ |
110 |
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$ |
5,874 |
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$ |
588 |
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PCEC operating and services fee |
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(267 |
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(264 |
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(795 |
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(790 |
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General and adminstrative expenses |
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(143 |
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(76 |
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(695 |
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(578 |
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Cash receipt from borrowing (Note 4) |
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— |
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290 |
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10 |
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1,037 |
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Repayments on borrowing (Note 4) |
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— |
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— |
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(1,142 |
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— |
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Promissory note interest expenses |
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— |
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(17 |
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(10 |
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(26 |
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Cash reserves used for Trust expenses |
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(58 |
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(43 |
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(43 |
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(2 |
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Distributable income |
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$ |
1,531 |
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$ |
— |
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$ |
3,199 |
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$ |
229 |
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Distributable income per unit (38,583,158 units) |
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$ |
0.03973 |
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$ |
— |
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$ |
0.08291 |
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$ |
0.00593 |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
PACIFIC COAST OIL TRUST
Statements of Changes in Trust Corpus
(Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended |
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Nine Months Ended |
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Thousands of dollars |
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September 30, 2017 |
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September 30, 2016 |
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September 30, 2017 |
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September 30, 2016 |
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Trust corpus, beginning of period |
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$ |
221,678 |
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$ |
227,528 |
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$ |
226,544 |
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$ |
229,090 |
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Cash reserves used for Trust expenses |
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58 |
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43 |
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43 |
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2 |
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Borrowing used for Trust expenses (Note 4) |
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— |
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(290 |
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(10 |
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(1,037 |
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Repayments on borrowings (Note 4) |
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— |
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— |
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1,142 |
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— |
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Distributable income |
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1,531 |
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— |
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3,199 |
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229 |
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Distributions to unitholders |
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(1,531 |
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— |
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(3,199 |
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(229 |
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Amortization of conveyed interests |
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(2,678 |
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(184 |
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(8,661 |
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(958 |
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Trust corpus, end of period |
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$ |
219,058 |
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$ |
227,097 |
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$ |
219,058 |
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$ |
227,097 |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
PACIFIC COAST OIL TRUST
(Unaudited)
Note 1. Organization of the Trust and Basis of Accounting
Formation of the Trust
Pacific Coast Oil Trust (the “Trust”) is a statutory trust formed in January 2012 under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act pursuant to a Trust Agreement among Pacific Coast Energy Company LP (“PCEC”), as trustor, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the “Trustee”), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Delaware Trustee (the “Delaware Trustee”). The Trust Agreement was amended and restated by PCEC, the Trustee and the Delaware Trustee on the inception date (May 8, 2012). References in this report to the “Trust Agreement” are to the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement.
The Trust was created to acquire and hold net profits and royalty interests in certain oil and natural gas properties located in California (the “Conveyed Interests”) for the benefit of the Trust unitholders pursuant to the Trust Agreement. The Conveyed Interests represent undivided interests in underlying properties consisting of PCEC’s interests in its oil and natural gas properties located onshore in California (the “Underlying Properties”). The Conveyed Interests were conveyed by PCEC to the Trust concurrently with the initial public offering of the Trust’s units of beneficial interest (“Trust Units”) in May 2012.
The Conveyed Interests are passive in nature and neither the Trust nor the Trustee has any control over, or responsibility for, costs relating to the operation of the Underlying Properties. The Conveyed Interests entitle the Trust to receive 80% of the net profits from the sale of oil and natural gas production from proved developed reserves on the Underlying Properties as of December 31, 2011 (the “Developed Properties”) and either a 25% net profits interest from the sale of oil and natural gas production from all other development potential on the Underlying Properties (the “Remaining Properties”) or a 7.5% royalty interest (free of any production or development costs but bearing the proportionate share of production and property taxes and post-production cost) from the sale of oil and natural gas production from the Remaining Properties located on PCEC’s Orcutt properties (the “Royalty Interest Proceeds”).
Basis of Accounting
The accompanying Statement of Assets and Trust Corpus as of December 31, 2016, which has been derived from audited financial statements, and the unaudited interim financial statements as of September 30, 2017 and for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. Accordingly, certain information and disclosures normally included in annual financial statements have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations. Therefore, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 (“2016 Annual Report”).
In the opinion of the Trustee, the accompanying unaudited financial statements reflect all adjustments that are necessary for a fair statement of the interim period presented and include all the disclosures necessary to make the information presented not misleading.
Note 2. Distributions to Unitholders
Each month, the Trustee determines the amount of funds available for distribution to the Trust unitholders. Available funds are the excess cash, if any, received by the Trust from the Conveyed Interests and other sources from that month (such as interest earned on any amounts reserved by the Trustee), over the Trust’s liabilities for that month, subject to adjustments for changes made by the Trustee during the month in any cash reserves established for future liabilities of the Trust. Distributions are made to the holders of Trust units as of the applicable record date (generally within five business days after the last business day of each calendar month) and are payable on or before the 10th business day after the record date.
The following table illustrates information regarding the Trust’s distributions paid during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
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Declaration Date |
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Record Date |
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Payment Date |
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Distribution per Unit |
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December 22, 2016 |
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January 15, 2017 |
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n/a |
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$ |
— |
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January 31, 2017 |
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February 15, 2017 |
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n/a |
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$ |
— |
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February 27, 2017 |
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March 9, 2017 |
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March 17, 2017 |
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$ |
0.00487 |
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March 28, 2017 |
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April 7, 2017 |
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April 14, 2017 |
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$ |
0.02617 |
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April 26, 2017 |
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May 8, 2017 |
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May 18, 2017 |
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$ |
0.00542 |
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May 24, 2017 |
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June 5, 2017 |
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June 15, 2017 |
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$ |
0.00673 |
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June 30, 2017 |
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July 10, 2017 |
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July 20, 2017 |
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$ |
0.02776 |
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July 28, 2017 |
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August 7, 2017 |
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August 17, 2017 |
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$ |
0.00266 |
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August 25, 2017 |
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September 5, 2017 |
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September 15, 2017 |
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$ |
0.00931 |
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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
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Declaration Date |
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Record Date |
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Payment Date |
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Distribution per Unit |
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December 23, 2015 |
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January 6, 2016 |
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January 13, 2016 |
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$ |
0.00593 |
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January 25, 2016 |
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February 5, 2016 |
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n/a |
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$ |
— |
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February 25, 2016 |
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March 7, 2016 |
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n/a |
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$ |
— |
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March 24, 2016 |
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April 5, 2016 |
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n/a |
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$ |
— |
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April 25, 2016 |
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May 5, 2016 |
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n/a |
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$ |
— |
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May 24, 2016 |
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June 3, 2016 |
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n/a |
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$ |
— |
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June 27, 2016 |
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July 7, 2016 |
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n/a |
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$ |
— |
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July 25, 2016 |
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August 5, 2016 |
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n/a |
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$ |
— |
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August 25, 2016 |
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September 7, 2016 |
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n/a |
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$ |
— |
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Note 3. Related Party Transactions
Trustee Administrative Fee. Under the terms of the Trust Agreement, the Trust pays an annual administrative fee of $200,000 to the Trustee and $2,000 to the Delaware Trustee. During the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017, the Trust paid $50,000 and $150,000, respectively, to the Trustee. During the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017, the Trust paid $0 and $2,000, respectively, to the Delaware Trustee. During the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016, the Trust paid $50,000 and $150,000, respectively, to the Trustee. During the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016, the Trust paid $0 and $2,000, respectively, to the Delaware Trustee.
PCEC Operating and Services Fee. The Trust and PCEC are parties to an Operating and Services Agreement (the “Operating and Services Agreement”), pursuant to which PCEC provides the Trust with certain operating and informational services relating to the Conveyed Interests in exchange for a monthly fee which is revised annually based on changes to the Consumer Price Index. The monthly operating and services fee was $87,330 during the first quarter of 2016 and was $87,834 through the end of the first quarter of 2017. As of April 1, 2017, the monthly operating and services fee changed to $88,942. The Operating and Services Agreement will terminate upon the termination of the Conveyed Interests unless earlier terminated by mutual agreement of the Trustee and PCEC. During the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017, PCEC charged the Trust $266,827 and $794,940, respectively, for the operating and services fee. During the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016, PCEC charged the Trust $263,502 and $789,987, respectively, for the operating and services fee. The Trust paid the operating and services fee in full for each month during the first nine months of 2017. The Trust paid the operating and services fee in full for the month of January 2016. However, because the Trust did not have sufficient cash to pay the operating and services fee in full for the months of February 2016 and March 2016, the Trust made partial payments of $55,977 for February and $26,392 for March. For the months of April, May, June, July, August and September 2016, it was necessary for the Trust to execute a promissory note and borrow funds from PCEC (as discussed in Note 4 below) to make payments of $87,730, $87,730, $87,834, $87,834, $87,834 and $87,834, respectively. All operating and services fees were completely paid through September 30, 2016 as a part of the borrowings under the Promissory Note (as discussed in Note 4 below).
Note 4. Funding Commitment and Letter of Credit
On February 25, 2016, the Trust entered into a promissory note with PCEC (as amended, the “Promissory Note”) and borrowed $232,000 to pay general and administrative expenses, as the Trust did not otherwise have sufficient cash to pay its ordinary course administrative expenses as they became due. Under the initial terms of the Promissory Note, the Trust agreed to pay interest on the principal amount at a rate of 8.5% per annum from February 25, 2016 until maturity. The Promissory Note, as amended and restated on August 10, 2016, bore interest at (1) 8.5% per annum from February 25, 2016 to August 9, 2016, and (2) 4.0% per annum from August 10, 2016 until maturity (March 31, 2018). Subsequent borrowings and repayments, including interest thereon, added an additional $900,450 to the original $232,000 amount, resulting in an outstanding note balance as of December 31, 2016 of $1,132,450 owed to PCEC. The Trust repaid the entire amount of the Promissory Note in the first quarter of 2017, and no amount remains outstanding as of September 30, 2017. Interest expense on the outstanding borrowings was recorded as it was paid to PCEC. For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017, the Trust incurred interest totaling $0 and $10,141, respectively, which was included in the borrowings under the Promissory Note. For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016, the Trust incurred interest totaling $17,495 and $26,717, respectively.
PCEC has provided the Trust with a $1.0 million letter of credit to be used by the Trust if its cash on hand (including available cash reserves) is not sufficient to pay ordinary course administrative expenses as they become due. Any funds provided under the letter of credit or loaned by PCEC may only be used for the payment of current accounts or other obligations to trade creditors in connection with obtaining goods or services or for the payment of other accrued current liabilities arising in the ordinary course of the Trust’s business, and may not be used to satisfy Trust indebtedness. No distributions will be made to Trust unitholders (except in respect of any previously determined monthly cash distribution amount) until such amounts drawn on the letter of credit, or borrowed from PCEC or any other source, including interest thereon, are repaid. PCEC has agreed to loan funds to the Trust necessary to pay such expenses (evidenced by written promissory notes) as stipulated by the Trust Agreement. As of September 30, 2017, the letter of credit remains unused.
Note 5. Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings. The Trust has been named as a defendant in a putative class action as described below.
On July 1, 2014, Thomas Welch, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a putative class action complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, against the Trust, PCEC, PCEC (GP) LLC, Pacific Coast Energy Holdings LLC, certain executive officers of PCEC (GP) LLC and others.
The complaint asserts federal securities law claims against the Trust and other defendants and states that the claims are made on behalf of a class of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Trust securities pursuant or traceable to the registration statement that became effective on May 2, 2012 and the prospectuses issued thereto and the registration statement that became effective purportedly on September 19, 2013 and the prospectuses issued thereto. The complaint states that the plaintiff is pursuing negligence and strict liability claims under the Securities Act and alleges that both such registration statements contained numerous untrue statements of material facts and omitted material facts. The plaintiff seeks class certification, unspecified compensatory damages, rescission on certain of plaintiff’s claims, pre-judgment and post-judgment interest, attorneys’ fees and costs and any other relief the Court may deem just and proper.
On October 16, 2014, Ralph Berliner, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a second putative class action complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, against the Trust, PCEC, PCEC (GP) LLC, Pacific Coast Energy Holdings LLC, certain executive officers of PCEC (GP) LLC and others. The Berliner complaint asserts the same claims and makes the same allegations, against the same defendants, as are made in the Welch complaint. In November 2014, the Welch and Berliner actions were consolidated into a single action.
On December 8, 2015, the above referenced parties agreed in principle to settle the consolidated action. On June 12, 2017, the Court entered a final judgment in the action approving the settlement in the amount of $7.6 million. The Court set a hearing for February 28, 2018 regarding compliance with the approved settlement. The Trust believes that it is fully indemnified by PCEC against any liability or expense it might incur in connection with the consolidated action. The approved settlement does not require any payment from the Trust.
On July 7, 2016, PCEC received a letter from the California Department of Conservation, Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources (“DOGGR”) revising regulations on injection operations, impacting West Pico’s three active water injection wells. During the second half of 2016 all three injectors were successfully reworked to optimize their injection capacity while remaining below the new maximum injection pressures allowable. All three injectors were inspected by DOGGR and signed off as in compliance with the revised regulations. The result has been a reduction in water injection capacity by approximately 30% and approximately 75 Bbl/d of reduced oil production (60 Bbl/d net to the Trust’s 80% interest). PCEC is exploring opportunities to increase injection capacity which may require additional capital expenditures.
PCEC previously had submitted permit applications relating to the drilling of an additional 96 steam injection wells on certain oil and natural gas properties located onshore in California in the Diatomite zone at Orcutt (the “Orcutt Hill Resource Enhancement Plan” or “OHREP”). At a hearing on June 29, 2016, the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission (the “Planning Commission”) instructed its staff to prepare Findings for Denial, which the Planning Commission adopted by a 3-2 vote on July 13, 2016. On July 21, 2016, PCEC filed an appeal to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. On November 1, 2016, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors heard PCEC’s appeal and voted 3-2 to deny the project, with the exception of approving permanent permits for the installation of seep cans on the Company’s Orcutt Hill property. As a result of the Board of Supervisors’ decision, future cash flows associated with new permits for drilling in the Diatomite Zone at Orcutt, all of which would be attributable to Remaining Properties, is uncertain. As of the date of this report, PCEC has not filed any additional permits for drilling in the Diatomite Zone at Orcutt and is not able to provide an estimate for when PCEC will submit such permits to Santa Barbara County. If submitted in the future, there can be no assurance that Santa Barbara County will approve such permits or that PCEC will be able to generate additional cash flows as a result.
Note 6. Property Tax Settlement
On March 23, 2016, PCEC reached a settlement agreement with the Santa Barbara County Assessor’s Office on supplemental property tax bills related to the tax years covering the periods July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2016. The supplemental tax bills relate to the settlement of disputed property values for Orcutt and Orcutt Diatomite field locations for these periods. Amounts attributable to the periods from April 1, 2012 through June 30, 2016 total $2,121,621 for the Developed Properties and $1,280,275 for the Remaining Properties and were chargeable in part to the Trust in the March 2016 production month calculation of the net profits. The property tax adjustment amounts attributable to the Trust increased the cumulative Net Profits Interest deficits of the Developed Properties and the Remaining Properties by $1,394,937 and $245,394, respectively, in the second quarter of 2016. As of the October 2016 production month calculation, the Developed Properties cumulative Net Profits Interest deficit had been reduced to zero.
Item 2. Trustee’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following review of the Trust’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto, as well as “Trustee’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in Part II, Item 7 of the Trust’s 2016 Annual Report. The following review should also be read in conjunction with “Forward-Looking Statements” in this report and with “Part I—Item 1A—Risk Factors” in the Trust’s 2016 Annual Report.
Overview
The Trust is a statutory trust formed in January 2012 under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. The business and affairs of the Trust are administered by the Trustee. The Trust’s purpose is to hold the Conveyed Interests (described below), to distribute to the Trust unitholders cash that the Trust receives in respect of the Conveyed Interests and to perform certain administrative functions in respect of the Conveyed Interests and the Trust Units. The Trust does not conduct any operations or activities. The Trustee has no authority over or responsibility for, and no involvement with, any aspect of the oil and natural gas operations or other activities on the Underlying Properties. The Delaware Trustee, has only minimal rights and duties as are necessary to satisfy the requirements of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. The Trust derives all or substantially all of its income and cash flow from the Conveyed Interests, subject to the effects of the commodity derivative contracts. The Trust is treated as a grantor trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
The Trust was created to acquire and hold net profits and royalty interests in certain oil and natural gas properties located in California. The Conveyed Interests represent undivided interests in underlying properties consisting of PCEC’s interests in its oil and natural gas properties located onshore in California (the “Underlying Properties”).
Concurrently with the Trust’s initial public offering in May 2012, the Trust and PCEC entered into a Conveyance of Net Profits Interests and Overriding Royalty Interest (the “Conveyance”), pursuant to which PCEC conveyed to the Trust net profits interest and an overriding royalty interest (the “Conveyed Interests”) in the Underlying Properties. The Conveyed Interests entitle the Trust to receive 80% of the net profits from the sale of oil and natural gas production from the proved developed reserves as of December 31, 2011 on the Underlying Properties (the “Developed Properties”) and either 25% of the net profits from the sale of oil and natural gas production from all other development potential on the Underlying Properties (the “Remaining Properties”) or a 7.5% royalty interest from the sale of oil and natural gas production from the Remaining Properties located in PCEC’s Orcutt properties (the “Royalty Interest Proceeds”).
The Trust calculates the net profits and royalties for the Developed Properties and Remaining Properties monthly. For any monthly period during which costs for the Remaining Properties exceed gross proceeds, if any, the Trust is entitled to receive the Royalty Interest Proceeds, if any, and the Trust will continue to receive such proceeds until the first day of the month following the day on which cumulative gross proceeds for the Remaining Properties exceed the cumulative total excess costs for the Remaining Properties (such occurrence being herein called a “NPI Payout”). Due to significant planned expenditures associated with the Remaining Properties for the benefit of the Trust, PCEC expects the Trust to receive payments associated with the Remaining Properties in the form of Royalty Interest Proceeds until the NPI Payout occurs in approximately 2020. The estimated date on which the NPI Payout is expected to occur is an estimate based on the annual reserve report and changes from time to time. In any monthly period following an NPI Payout, the Trust is entitled to receive Royalty Interest Proceeds if costs for the Remaining Properties exceed gross proceeds.
The Trust makes monthly cash distributions of all of its monthly cash receipts, after deduction of fees and expenses for the administration of the Trust, to holders of Trust Units as of the applicable record date (generally within five business days after the last business day of each calendar month) on or before the 10th business day after the record date. Actual cash distributions to the Trust unitholders fluctuate monthly based upon the quantity of oil and natural gas produced from the Underlying Properties, the prices received for oil and natural gas production, costs to develop and produce the oil and natural gas and other factors. Because payments to the Trust are generated by depleting assets with the production from the Underlying Properties diminishing over time, a portion of each distribution represents, in effect, a return of a unitholder’s original investment. Oil and natural gas production from proved reserves attributable to the Underlying Properties will continue to decline over time.
The Trust is exposed to fluctuation in energy prices in the normal course of business due to the Net Profits Interest in the Underlying Properties. The revenues derived from the Underlying Properties depend substantially on prevailing crude oil prices and, to a substantially lesser extent, natural gas prices. As a result, commodity prices affect the amount of cash flow available for distribution to the Trust unitholders. For example, from February 2016 through January 2017, primarily because of a decline in average realized prices, no cash distributions were made as Trust expenses exceeded the proceeds received from the Conveyed Interests. Lower prices may also reduce the amount of oil and natural gas that PCEC and its third party operators can economically produce. Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, no distributions are permitted to be made to Trust unitholders until amounts borrowed by the Trust under the Promissory Note described in Note 4 to the financial statements, including interest thereon, or otherwise borrowed, have been paid in full.
Commodity Prices
In the third quarter of 2017, the Brent crude oil spot price averaged $52.10 per Bbl, compared with $45.80 per Bbl in the third quarter of 2016. Lower crude oil prices not only decrease the Trust’s distributable income, but may also reduce the amount of crude oil that PCEC can produce economically and therefore may decrease the Trust’s crude oil reserves. In the third quarter of 2017, approximately 98% of production from the Developed Properties consisted of oil and 100% of production from the Remaining Properties consisted of oil.
Prices for natural gas in many markets are aligned both with supply and demand conditions in their respective regional markets and with the overall U.S. market. Natural gas prices are also typically higher during the winter period when demand for heating is greatest in the U.S. In the third quarter of 2017, the Henry Hub price averaged $2.94 per MMBtu, compared with $2.88 per MMBtu in the third quarter of 2016.
The significant decline in oil and natural gas prices since 2014 increases the uncertainty as to the impact of commodity prices on proved oil and gas reserves attributable to the Trust. We are unable to predict future commodity prices. A prolonged period of depressed commodity prices may have a significant impact on the volumetric quantities of our proved reserve portfolio. Fluctuations in commodity prices impact the value of proved oil and gas reserves attributable to the Trust.
2017 Capital Program Summary
PCEC informed the Trustee at the beginning of 2017 that its 2017 capital program is expected to total approximately $4.5 million, consisting of $2.7 million of mandatory facility upgrades at Orcutt Field, $1.0 million of capital expenditures for non-operated properties, $0.5 million for Orcutt Diatomite projects and $0.3 million for West Pico mandatory facility upgrades. This total includes expected investments of approximately $4.2 million ($3.3 million net to the Trust’s interest) in the Developed Properties and approximately $0.3 million expected to be spent on the Remaining Properties ($0.1 million net to the Trust’s interest).
Properties
The Underlying Properties consist of the Developed Properties and the Remaining Properties. Production from the Developed Properties that will be attributable to the Trust is produced from wells that, because they have already been drilled, require limited additional capital expenditures associated with new drilling but may require capital expenditures associated with regulatory capital expenditures or drilling capital expenditures associated with utilizing the existing wellbores. Production from the Remaining Properties that will be attributable to the Trust will require capital expenditures for the drilling of wells and installation of infrastructure. PCEC will supply required capital on behalf of the Trust during this period; however, because the costs initially incurred will exceed gross proceeds, the Remaining Properties will have negative net profits during the drilling and development period. During this period of negative net profits, instead of being paid net profits, the Trust will be paid a 7.5% overriding royalty on the portion of the Remaining Properties located on PCEC’s Orcutt properties. Once revenues from the Remaining Properties have repaid PCEC for the cumulative costs it has advanced on behalf of the Trust, including the aggregate amount of the 7.5% overriding royalty, the Net Profits Interests on the Remaining Properties will be paid out in place of the Royalty Interest Proceeds, as described below. The Conveyed Interests entitle the Trust to receive the following:
Developed Properties
· 80% of the net profits from the sale of oil and natural gas production from the Developed Properties.
Remaining Properties
· 25% of the net profits from the sale of oil and natural gas production from all of the Remaining Properties, or
· 7.5% of the proceeds (free of any production or development costs but bearing the proportionate share of production and property taxes and post-production costs) attributable to the sale of all oil and natural gas production from the Remaining Properties located on PCEC’s Orcutt properties, including but not limited to PCEC’s interest in such production (the “Royalty Interest Proceeds”).
The Trust calculates the net profits and royalties for the Developed Properties and the Remaining Properties separately. Any excess costs for either the Developed Properties or the Remaining Properties will not reduce net profits calculated for the other. The amount of Royalty Interest Proceeds paid is deducted in the calculation of the Net Profits Interest for the Remaining Properties, and PCEC will be repaid the aggregate amount of the Royalty Interest Proceeds prior to payment of the 25% Net Profits Interest to unitholders. If at any time cumulative costs for the Developed Properties or the Remaining Properties exceed cumulative gross proceeds associated with such properties, neither the Trust nor the Trust unitholders would be liable for the excess costs, but the Trust would not receive any net profits from the Developed Properties or the Remaining Properties, as the case may be, until future cumulative net profits for such properties exceed the cumulative total excess costs for such properties.
The Trust is not subject to any pre-set termination provisions based on a maximum volume of oil or natural gas to be produced or the passage of time. The Trust will dissolve upon the earliest to occur of the following: (1) the Trust, upon approval of the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding Trust Units, sells all of the Conveyed Interests and any assets constituting the Trust estate, (2) the annual cash proceeds received by the Trust attributable to the Conveyed Interests, in the aggregate, are less than $2 million for each of any two consecutive calendar years (the “Revenue Termination Provision”), (3) the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding Trust Units vote in favor of dissolution or (4) the Trust is judicially dissolved. The cumulative proceeds received by the Trust attributable to the Conveyed Interests from production months November 2016 through July 2017 (related to Trust fiscal months January through September 2017) was $5.9 million. Therefore, because the Trust has received more than $2 million of proceeds attributable to the Conveyed Interests in 2017, the Trust will not be at risk of termination at the end of 2017 as a result of the Revenue Termination Provision.
On April 6, 2015, PCEC received a letter from the California Department of Conservation, Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources (“DOGGR”) mandating the suspension of cyclic steaming operations in PODS 2 and 4 at Orcutt Diatomite, citing concern over surface expressions related to two wells occurring late in 2014 and the potential for landslides on the property. This resulted in the suspension of steaming to 22 wells and curtailed production by approximately 300 barrels of oil per day. PCEC undertook significant testing and has installed monitoring equipment pursuant to direction from DOGGR. In May 2016, following approximately 12 months of slope monitoring showing no significant ground movement, DOGGR granted permission to PCEC to resume cyclic steaming operations at POD 4. In December 2016, two wells at POD 2 were also granted permission to resume cyclic steaming operations. In May 2017, DOGGR conditionally approved PCEC’s request to resume cyclic steaming operations on five additional wells at POD 2. PCEC has since complied with the condition of approval and commenced cyclic steaming operations in early July 2017. Two wells at POD 2 will remain permanently shut in.
During 2015, DOGGR discussed with PCEC the modification of existing well permits for approximately 25 water injection wells located at the Orcutt Field, which could require certain changes to operating procedures or well modifications. In September 2015, PCEC proposed, and has since implemented, a schedule to modify one of the affected wells each quarter until all have been modified. The first four such modifications were successfully completed in 2016. PCEC has completed two such modifications to date in 2017, and PCEC’s capital budget for 2017 includes two additional modifications. If DOGGR were to order the modifications to be carried out more rapidly, PCEC’s capital costs could significantly increase. Alternatively, PCEC could choose or be required financially to shut in all or a portion of the affected injection wells, which would result in a loss of production.
PCEC previously had submitted permit applications relating to the drilling of an additional 96 steam injection wells on certain oil and natural gas properties located onshore in California in the Diatomite zone at Orcutt (the “Orcutt Hill Resource Enhancement Plan” or “OHREP”). At a hearing on June 29, 2016, the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission (the “Planning Commission”) instructed its staff to prepare Findings for Denial, which the Planning Commission adopted by a 3-2 vote on July 13, 2016. On July 21, 2016, PCEC filed an appeal to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. On November 1, 2016, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors heard PCEC’s appeal and voted 3-2 to deny the project, with the exception of approving permanent permits for the installation of seep cans on the Company’s Orcutt Hill property. As a result of the Board of Supervisors’ decision, new permits for drilling in the Diatomite Zone at Orcutt, and any associated future cash flows attributable to the Remaining Properties, are uncertain. As of the date of this report, PCEC has not filed any additional permits for drilling in the Diatomite Zone at Orcutt and is not able to provide an estimate for when PCEC will submit such permits to Santa Barbara County. If submitted in the future, there can be no assurance that Santa Barbara County will approve such permits or that PCEC will be able to generate additional cash flows as a result.
Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016
For the three months ended September 30, 2017, income from Conveyed Interests received by the Trust amounted to $2.0 million compared with $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. The increase in income was primarily due to higher oil prices, lower production and other taxes and lower development expenses, partially offset by lower production volumes and higher lease operating expenses. The net profits income received by the Trust during the three months ended September 30, 2017 was associated with net profits for oil and natural gas production from the Developed Properties during the months of May, June and July 2017, and with the Royalty Interest Proceeds relating to production during those same months. The net profits income received by the Trust during the three months ended September 30, 2016 was associated with the Royalty Interest Proceeds relating to production during the months of May, June and July 2016. However, the Trust did not receive any net profits income for oil and natural gas production from the Developed Properties during the months of May, June and July 2016, as operating expenses and capital expenditures exceeded revenues.
Oil and natural gas sales volumes are allocated to the net profits interests based upon a formula that considers oil and natural gas prices and the total amount of production expense and development costs. As oil and natural gas prices change, the Trust’s share of the production volumes is impacted as the quantity of production to cover expenses and development costs in reaching the net profits break-even level changes inversely with price. Accordingly, the Underlying Property production volumes do not correlate with the Trust’s net profits share of those volumes in any given period. Therefore, the comparative discussion of oil and natural gas volumes is based on the Underlying Properties as stated in the table below.
The following table displays PCEC’s underlying sales volumes and average realized prices for the Underlying Properties, representing the amounts included in the net profits calculation during the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
| ||||
|
|
|
September 30, |
| ||||
|
|
|
2017 |
|
2016 |
| ||
|
Developed Properties: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Underlying sales volmes (Boe) (a) |
|
222,673 |
|
241,022 |
| ||
|
Average daily production (Boe/d) |
|
2,420 |
|
2,620 |
| ||
|
Average price (per Boe) |
|
$ |
43.49 |
|
$ |
39.70 |
|
|
Production cost (per Boe) (b) |
|
$ |
31.94 |
|
$ |
28.66 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Remaining Properties: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Underlying sales volmes (Boe) (c) |
|
47,139 |
|
45,396 |
| ||
|
Average daily production (Boe/d) |
|
512 |
|
493 |
| ||
|
Average price (per Boe) |
|
$ |
41.21 |
|
$ |
39.28 |
|
|
Production cost (per Boe) (b) |
|
$ |
28.02 |
|
$ |
28.44 |
|
(a) Crude oil sales represented 98% and 99% of sales volumes from the Developed Properties for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
(b) Production costs include lease operating expenses and production and other taxes.
(c) Crude oil sales represented 100% of total sales volumes from the Remaining Properties for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Computation of Net Profits and Royalty Income Received by the Trust
The Trust’s net profits and royalty income consist of monthly net profits and royalty income attributable to the Conveyed Interests. Net profits and royalty income for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was determined as shown in the following table:
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
| ||||
|
|
|
September 30, |
| ||||
|
Thousands of dollars |
|
2017 |
|
2016 |
| ||
|
Developed Properties—80% Net Profits Interest |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Oil sales |
|
$ |
9,598 |
|
$ |
9,455 |
|
|
Natural gas sales |
|
86 |
|
114 |
| ||
|
Total revenues |
|
9,684 |
|
9,569 |
| ||
|
Costs: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Direct operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Lease operating expenses |
|
6,655 |
|
6,068 |
| ||
|
Production and other taxes |
|
457 |
|
840 |
| ||
|
Development expenses |
|
232 |
|
508 |
| ||
|
Total costs |
|
7,344 |
|
7,416 |
| ||
|
Total income |
|
2,340 |
|
2,153 |
| ||
|
Net Profits Interest |
|
80 |
% |
80 |
% | ||
|
Income from 80% Net Profits Interest: |
|
1,872 |
|
1,723 |
| ||
|
First six months 2016 80% Net Profits Interest Deficit (1) |
|
— |
|
(1,721 |
) | ||
|
Income from 80% Net Profits Interest |
|
$ |
1,872 |
|
$ |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Remaining Properties—25% Net Profits Interest |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Oil sales |
|
$ |
1,939 |
|
$ |
1,783 |
|
|
Natural gas sales |
|
3 |
|
— |
| ||
|
Total revenues |
|
1,942 |
|
1,783 |
| ||
|
7.5% ORRI |
|
127 |
|
108 |
| ||
|
Costs: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Direct operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Lease operating expenses |
|
1,210 |
|
986 |
| ||
|
Production and other taxes |
|
111 |
|
305 |
| ||
|
Development expenses |
|
46 |
|
414 |
| ||
|
Total costs |
|
1,367 |
|
1,705 |
| ||
|
Total income (loss) |
|
448 |
|
(30 |
) | ||
|
Net Profits Interest |
|
25 |
% |
25 |
% | ||
|
Income from 25% Net Profits Interest (2) |
|
$ |
112 |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
25% Net Profits Interest Deficict (2) |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
(8 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Total Trust Cash Flow |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Income from 80% Net Profits Interest |
|
$ |
1,872 |
|
$ |
2 |
|
|
7.5% ORRI |
|
127 |
|
108 |
| ||
|
Total income |
|
1,999 |
|
110 |
| ||
|
PCEC operating and services fee |
|
(267 |
) |
(264 |
) | ||
|
Total cash received (paid) |
|
1,732 |
|
(154 |
) | ||
|
Trust general and administrative expenses and cash withheld for expenses |
|
(201 |
) |
(120 |
) | ||
|
Promissory note amount borrowed from PCEC |
|
— |
|
291 |
| ||
|
Promissory note interest amounts |
|
— |
|
(17 |
) | ||
|
Distributable Income |
|
$ |
1,531 |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
| ||||
|
|
|
September 30, |
| ||||
|
|
|
2017 |
|
2016 |
| ||
|
(1) 80% Net Profits Interest Accrued Deficit |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Beginning balance |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
(1,721 |
) |
|
Current period |
|
— |
|
1,721 |
| ||
|
Ending balance |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
(2) 25% Net Profits Interest Accrued Deficit |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Beginning balance |
|
$ |
(1,936 |
) |
$ |
(2,168 |
) |
|
Current period |
|
112 |
|
(8 |
) | ||
|
Ending balance |
|
$ |
(1,824 |
) |
$ |
(2,176 |
) |
Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016
Developed Properties — For the three months ended September 30, 2017, revenues from the Developed Properties exceeded direct operating expenses and development expenses by $2.3 million. For the three months ended September 30, 2016, revenues were $2.2 million more than direct operating expenses and development expenses. The $0.1 million period-over-period increase is attributable principally to higher oil prices, lower production and other taxes and lower development expenses, partially offset by lower production and higher lease operating expenses in the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2016. Average realized prices increased by $3.79 per Boe, or 10%, and sales volumes decreased 18 MBoe, or 8%. The decrease in production period over period is primarily due to a decline in the steam flow between wells in the Orcutt Diatomite area, increased regulatory requirements in West Pico and natural production declines. Total lease operating expenses included in the net profits calculation were $6.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $6.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. The overall increase period over period is mainly related to the non-operated properties. Total production and other taxes included in the net profits calculation during the quarter were $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. Ad valorem taxes decreased in 2017 due to decreased assessed values on the county property tax rolls associated with lower commodity prices. Total capital expenditures were approximately $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016.
Remaining Properties — For the three months ended September 30, 2017, revenues from the Remaining Properties exceeded direct operating expenses and development expenses by $0.4 million. For the three months ended September 30, 2016, revenues were approximately equivalent to direct operating expenses and development expenses. The approximately $0.5 million period-over-period increase is attributable principally to higher oil prices, lower production and other taxes and lower development expenses, partially offset by higher lease operating expenses in the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2016. Average realized prices increased by $1.93 per Boe, or 5%, and sales volumes increased 2 MBoe, or 4%. Total lease operating expenses included in the net profits calculation during the quarter were $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. Total production and other taxes included in the net profits calculation were $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. Ad valorem taxes decreased in 2017 due to decreased assessed values on the county property tax rolls associated with lower commodity prices. Capital expenditures were less than $0.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 compared to $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. Since a cumulative deficit existed on the 25% net profits interest, the Trust received approximately $0.1 million during the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, from the 7.5% overriding royalty interest attributable to the sale of all production from the Remaining Properties located on PCEC’s Orcutt Field and Orcutt Diatomite properties. The cumulative deficit of the net profits interest on the Remaining Properties, including payments to the Trust pursuant to the 7.5% overriding royalty interest, decreased to approximately $1.8 million at September 30, 2017 compared to $2.2 million at September 30, 2016.
PCEC Operating & Services Fee — PCEC charged the Trust approximately $0.3 million for operating and services fees for each of the three-month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. The Trust paid the operating and services fee with respect to the 2017 period in full in the third quarter of 2017. The Trust did not have enough cash to pay its expenses with respect to the 2016 period and entered into the Promissory Note with PCEC (see Note 4 to the accompanying financial statements). The Trust borrowed funds under the Promissory Note to pay all operating and services fees due during the three months ended September 30, 2016.
Trust Administrative Expenses — The Trustee paid general and administrative expenses of $0.1 million for each of the three-month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Since the Trust did not have enough cash to pay its expenses in the third quarter of 2016, it borrowed $0.3 million from PCEC from June 30, 2016 to September 30, 2016.
Distributable Income — The total cash received by the Trust from PCEC through income from conveyed interests, net of PCEC operating and service fees and principal repayments, for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $1.7 million. The Trust general and administrative expenses and cash reserves used for expenses were $0.2 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2017, primarily consisting of Trustee, audit and legal fees, resulting in distributable income of $1.5 million. The total cash received by the Trust from PCEC for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was $0. There was no cash transferred to the Trustee from distributable income for the months of July, August, and September 2016 as income from the Conveyed Interests was not sufficient to recoup the cumulative deficit generated during the first six months of 2016 and repay the borrowings under the Promissory Note. Distributable income was also $0 for the three months ended September 30, 2016.
Results of Operations for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, income from Conveyed Interests received by the Trust amounted to $5.9 million compared with $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The increase in income was primarily due to higher oil prices and lower production and other taxes, partially offset by lower production volumes and higher lease operating expenses and development expenses. The net profits income received by the Trust during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was associated with net profits for oil and natural gas production from the Developed Properties during the months of November and December 2016 and January through July 2017, and with the Royalty Interest Proceeds relating to production during these same months. The net profits received by the Trust during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was associated with net profits for oil and natural gas production from the Developed Properties during the months of November and December 2015, and with the Royalty Interest Proceeds relating to production during the months of November and December 2015 and January through July 2016. The Trust did not receive any net profits income for oil and natural gas production from the Developed Properties during the months of January through July 2016, as operating expenses and capital expenditures exceeded revenues.
Oil and natural gas sales volumes are allocated to the net profits interests based upon a formula that considers oil and natural gas prices and the total amount of production expense and development costs. As oil and natural gas prices change, the Trust’s share of the production volumes is impacted as the quantity of production to cover expenses and development costs in reaching the net profits break-even level changes inversely with price. Accordingly, the Underlying Property production volumes do not correlate with the Trust’s net profits share of those volumes in any given period. Therefore, the comparative discussion of oil and natural gas volumes is based on the Underlying Properties as stated in the table below.
The following table displays PCEC’s underlying sales volumes and average realized prices for the Underlying Properties, representing the amounts included in the net profits calculation during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| ||||
|
|
|
2017 |
|
2016 |
| ||
|
Developed Properties: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Underlying sales volmes (Boe) (a) |
|
670,302 |
|
742,591 |
| ||
|
Average daily production (Boe/d) |
|
2,455 |
|
2,710 |
| ||
|
Average price (per Boe) |
|
$ |
45.54 |
|
$ |
32.55 |
|
|
Production cost (per Boe) (b) |
|
$ |
31.44 |
|
$ |
30.54 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Remaining Properties: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Underlying sales volmes (Boe) (c) |
|
141,805 |
|
176,502 |
| ||
|
Average daily production (Boe/d) |
|
519 |
|
644 |
| ||
|
Average price (per Boe) |
|
$ |
43.11 |
|
$ |
29.28 |
|
|
Production cost (per Boe) (b) |
|
$ |
27.09 |
|
$ |
31.48 |
|
(a) Crude oil sales represented 98% and 96% of sales volumes from the Developed Properties for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
(b) Production costs include lease operating expenses and production and other taxes.
(c) Crude oil sales represented 100% of total sales volumes from the Remaining Properties for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Computation of Net Profits and Royalty Income Received by the Trust
The Trust’s net profits and royalty income consist of monthly net profits and royalty income attributable to the Conveyed Interests. Net profits and royalty income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was determined as shown in the following table:
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended |
| ||||
|
|
|
September 30, |
| ||||
|
Thousands of dollars |
|
2017 |
|
2016 |
| ||
|
Developed Properties—80% Net Profits Interest |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Oil sales |
|
$ |
30,289 |
|
$ |
23,810 |
|
|
Natural gas sales |
|
237 |
|
365 |
| ||
|
Total revenues |
|
30,526 |
|
24,175 |
| ||
|
Costs: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Direct operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Lease operating expenses |
|
19,693 |
|
18,515 |
| ||
|
Production and other taxes (1) |
|
1,382 |
|
4,167 |
| ||
|
Development expenses |
|
2,697 |
|
1,447 |
| ||
|
Total costs |
|
23,772 |
|
24,129 |
| ||
|
Total income |
|
6,754 |
|
46 |
| ||
|
Net Profits Interest |
|
80 |
% |
80 |
% | ||
|
Income from 80% Net Profits Interest: |
|
5,403 |
|
37 |
| ||
|
Property taxes related to PCEC (2) |
|
45 |
|
303 |
| ||
|
Income from 80% Net Profits Interest |
|
$ |
5,448 |
|
$ |
340 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Remaining Properties—25% Net Profits Interest |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Oil sales |
|
$ |
6,102 |
|
$ |
5,160 |
|
|
Natural gas sales |
|
10 |
|
8 |
| ||
|
Total revenues |
|
6,112 |
|
5,168 |
| ||
|
7.5% ORRI |
|
426 |
|
248 |
| ||
|
Costs: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Direct operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Lease operating expenses |
|
3,795 |
|
3,082 |
| ||
|
Production and other taxes (1) |
|
47 |
|
2,475 |
| ||
|
Development expenses |
|
786 |
|
1,261 |
| ||
|
Total costs |
|
4,628 |
|
6,818 |
| ||
|
Total income (loss) |
|
1,058 |
|
(1,898 |
) | ||
|
Net Profits Interest |
|
25 |
% |
25 |
% | ||
|
Income (loss) from 25% Net Profits Interest |
|
265 |
|
(475 |
) | ||
|
Property taxes related to PCEC (4) |
|
(14 |
) |
51 |
| ||
|
Income from 25% Net Profits Interest (3) |
|
$ |
251 |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
25% Net Profits Interest Deficit (3) |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
(424 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Total Trust Cash Flow |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Income from 80% Net Profits Interest |
|
$ |
5,448 |
|
$ |
340 |
|
|
7.5% ORRI |
|
426 |
|
248 |
| ||
|
Total income |
|
5,874 |
|
588 |
| ||
|
PCEC operating and services fee |
|
(795 |
) |
(790 |
) | ||
|
Total cash received (paid) |
|
5,079 |
|
(202 |
) | ||
|
Trust general and administrative expenses and cash withheld for expenses |
|
(738 |
) |
(580 |
) | ||
|
Promissory note amount borrowed from PCEC |
|
10 |
|
1,037 |
| ||
|
Promissory note amount repayment to PCEC |
|
(1,142 |
) |
— |
| ||
|
Promissory note interest amounts |
|
(10 |
) |
(26 |
) | ||
|
Distributable Income |
|
$ |
3,199 |
|
$ |
229 |
|
(1) Production and other taxes in the second quarter of 2016 include supplemental property tax bills from the Santa Barbara County Assessor’s Office related to the tax years covering the periods July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2016. Amounts attributable to the periods from April 1, 2012 through June 30, 2016 total approximately $2.1 million for the Developed Properties and $1.3 million for the Remaining Properties.
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended |
| ||||
|
|
|
September 30, |
| ||||
|
|
|
2017 |
|
2016 |
| ||
|
(2) 80% Net Profits Interest PCEC Property Tax Adjustments |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Related to PCEC Property Tax Adjustment Not Applicable to the Trust |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Based on PCEC % ownership after IPO but prior to PCEC 100% divestiture of Trust |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Amount related to PCEC ownership from May 8, 2012 through September 23, 2013 |
|
$ |
45 |
|
$ |
247 |
|
|
Amount related to PCEC ownership from September 23, 2013 through June 9, 2014 |
|
— |
|
56 |
| ||
|
Total PCEC Property Tax Adjustment Not Related to the Trust |
|
$ |
45 |
|
$ |
303 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
(3) 25% Net Profits Interest Accrued Deficit |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Beginning balance |
|
$ |
(2,075 |
) |
$ |
(1,752 |
) |
|
Current period |
|
251 |
|
(424 |
) | ||
|
Ending balance |
|
$ |
(1,824 |
) |
$ |
(2,176 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
(4) 25% Net Profits Interest PCEC Property Tax Adjustments |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Related to PCEC Property Tax Adjustment Not Applicable to the Trust |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Based on PCEC % ownership after IPO but prior to PCEC 100% divestiture of Trust |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Amount related to PCEC ownership from May 8, 2012 through September 23, 2013 |
|
$ |
(11 |
) |
$ |
40 |
|
|
Amount related to PCEC ownership from September 23, 2013 through June 9, 2014 |
|
(3 |
) |
11 |
| ||
|
Total PCEC Property Tax Adjustment Not Related to the Trust |
|
$ |
(14 |
) |
$ |
51 |
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016
Developed Properties — For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, revenues from the Developed Properties exceeded direct operating expenses and development expenses by $6.8 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, revenues were approximately equivalent to direct operating expenses and development expenses. The approximately $6.7 million period-over-period increase is attributable principally to higher oil prices and lower production and other taxes, partially offset by lower production and higher lease operating expenses and development costs in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Average realized prices increased by $12.99 per Boe, or 40%, and sales volumes decreased 72 MBoe, or 10%. The decrease in production period over period is primarily due to a decline in the steam flow between wells in the Orcutt Diatomite area, increased regulatory requirements in West Pico and natural production declines. Total lease operating expenses included in the net profits calculation were $19.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $18.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The overall increase period over period is mainly due to two pods of Orcutt Diatomite wells coming back online in 2017 and also increases related to the non-operated properties. These increases were offset by decreased chemical costs in the Orcutt field due to price reductions. Production and other taxes were approximately $1.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $4.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Ad valorem taxes were unusually high in 2016 due to a settlement of supplemental tax bills (see Note 6 to the accompanying financial statements). Total capital expenditures were approximately $2.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $1.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The increase is primarily due to DOGGR-mandated injector upgrades in the Orcutt field and West Pico, increased costs in the non-operated properties, and additional perforation projects in Orcutt Diatomite.
Remaining Properties — For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, revenues from the Remaining Properties exceeded direct operating expenses and development expenses by $1.1 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, revenues were $1.9 million less than direct operating expenses and development expenses. The $3.0 million period-over-period increase is attributable principally to higher oil prices and lower production and other taxes, partially offset by lower production and higher lease operating expenses in the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Average realized prices increased by $13.83 per Boe, or 47%, and sales volumes decreased 35 MBoe, or 20%. The decrease in production period over period is primarily due to a decline in the steam flow between wells in the Orcutt Diatomite area and natural production declines. Total lease operating expenses included in the net profits calculation were $3.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $3.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The overall increase period over period is mainly
due to two pods of Orcutt Diatomite wells coming back online in 2017 and also increases related to the non-operated properties. Production and other taxes were less than $0.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $2.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Ad valorem taxes were unusually high in 2016 due to a settlement of supplemental tax bills (see Note 6 to the accompanying financial statements). Capital expenditures were approximately $0.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Since a cumulative deficit existed on the 25% net profits interest, the Trust received approximately $0.4 million and $0.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, from the 7.5% overriding royalty interest attributable to the sale of all production from the Remaining Properties located on PCEC’s Orcutt Field and Orcutt Diatomite properties. The cumulative deficit of the net profits interest on the Remaining Properties, including payments to the Trust pursuant to the 7.5% overriding royalty interest, decreased to approximately $1.8 million at September 30, 2017 compared to $2.2 million at September 30, 2016.
PCEC Operating & Services Fee — PCEC charged the Trust approximately $0.8 million for operating and services fees for each of the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. The Trust paid the operating and services fee in full for each month in the first nine months of 2017, and for the month of January 2016. The Trust did not have enough cash to pay its expenses with respect to the 2016 period and entered into the Promissory Note with PCEC (see Note 4 to the accompanying financial statements) . The Trust borrowed funds under the Promissory Note to pay all operating and services fees due during the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
Trust Administrative Expenses — The Trustee paid general and administrative expenses of $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to the timing of payments related to auditing fees. Since the Trust did not have enough cash to pay its expenses with respect to the 2016 period, it borrowed $1.0 million from PCEC in the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
Distributable Income — The total cash received by the Trust from PCEC through income from conveyed interests, net of PCEC operating and service fees and principal repayments, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $3.9 million. The Trust used cash received in January, February and March 2017 to repay the Promissory Note. The Trust general and administrative expenses less cash reserves used for Trust expenses were $0.7 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017, primarily consisting of Trustee, legal and accounting fees, resulting in distributable income of $3.2 million. The total cash received by the Trust from PCEC for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $0.3 million, which represents the cash received for the month of January 2016. The Trust general and administrative expenses and cash withheld for expenses were $35,000 for the month of January 2016, primarily consisting of Trustee fees and legal fees, resulting in distributable income of $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. There was no cash transferred to the Trustee from distributable income for the months of February through September 2016 as the PCEC operating and service fee exceeded income from the Conveyed Interests.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Trust has no source of capital or liquidity other than cash, if any, it receives from the Conveyed Interests, borrowings from PCEC pursuant to PCEC’s loan commitment as described below or, if available, from other lenders, the $1.0 million letter of credit provided by PCEC as described below, and other immaterial sources (such as interest earned on any amounts reserved by the Trustee). Other than Trust administrative expenses, including payment of the PCEC operating and services fee, payment of any Trust liabilities and the funding of any reserves established by the Trustee for future liabilities, the Trust’s only use of cash is for distributions to Trust unitholders. Available funds are the excess cash, if any, received by the Trust from the Conveyed Interests and other sources (such as interest earned on any amounts reserved by the Trustee) in that month, over the Trust’s expenses paid for that month. Available funds are reduced by any cash the Trustee determines to hold as a reserve against future expenses.
The Trustee may create a cash reserve to pay for future liabilities of the Trust. If the Trustee determines that the cash on hand and the cash to be received are, or will be, insufficient to cover the Trust’s liabilities, the Trustee may cause the Trust to borrow funds to pay liabilities of the Trust. The Trustee may also cause the Trust to mortgage its assets to secure payment of the indebtedness. If the Trustee causes the Trust to borrow funds, as it did from March 2016 to March 2017 as described below, the Trust unitholders will not receive distributions until the borrowed funds, including interest thereon, are repaid.
Each month, the Trustee pays Trust obligations and expenses and distributes to the Trust unitholders the remaining proceeds, if any, received from the Conveyed Interests. The cash held by the Trustee as a reserve against future liabilities or for distribution at the next distribution date may be invested in a limited number of permitted investments. Alternatively, cash held for distribution at the next distribution date may be held in a non-interest-bearing account.
PCEC has provided the Trust with a $1.0 million letter of credit to be used by the Trust if its cash on hand (including available cash reserves) is not sufficient to pay ordinary course administrative expenses as they become due. Further, if the Trust requires more than the $1.0 million under the letter of credit to pay administrative expenses, PCEC has agreed to loan additional funds to the Trust to pay necessary expenses. Any funds provided under the letter of credit may only be used for the payment of current accounts or other obligations to trade creditors in connection with obtaining goods or services or for the payment of other accrued current liabilities arising in the ordinary course of the Trust’s business, and may not be used to satisfy Trust indebtedness.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Trust has no off-balance sheet arrangements and does not have any transactions, arrangements or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or persons that could materially affect the Trust’s liquidity or the availability of capital resources.
New Accounting Pronouncements
As the Trust’s financial statements are prepared on the modified cash basis, most accounting pronouncements are not applicable to the Trust’s financial statements. No new accounting pronouncements have been adopted or issued that would impact the financial statements of the Trust.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Please read “Item 7. Trustee’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” of the Trust’s 2016 Annual Report for additional information regarding the Trust’s critical accounting policies and estimates. There were no material changes to the Trust’s critical accounting policies or estimates during the quarter ended September 30, 2017.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
Commodity Price Risk. The Trust’s most significant market risk relates to the prices received for oil and natural gas production. The revenues derived from the Underlying Properties depend substantially on prevailing oil prices and, to a substantially lesser extent, natural gas prices. As a result, commodity prices also affect the amount of cash flow available for distribution to the Trust unitholders. Lower prices may also reduce the amount of oil and natural gas that PCEC or the third-party operators can economically produce.
Credit Risk. The Trust’s most significant credit risk is the risk of the bankruptcy of PCEC. The bankruptcy of PCEC could impede the operation of wells and the development of the proved undeveloped reserves. The bankruptcy of PCEC also could adversely affect PCEC’s ability to make loans to the Trust. Further, in the event of the bankruptcy of PCEC, if a court were to hold that the Net Profits Interests were part of the bankruptcy estate, the Trust might be treated as an unsecured creditor with respect to the Net Profits Interests.
In addition, Phillips 66 accounted for 94% of PCEC’s net sales in 2016. Phillips 66’s purchase of production from the Orcutt and West Pico properties therefore presents a credit risk to PCEC and consequently the Trust.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
The Trustee maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in the reports that it files or submits under Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust is accumulated and communicated by PCEC to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee of the Trust, and its employees who participate in the preparation of the Trust’s periodic reports as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Trustee carried out an evaluation of the Trustee’s disclosure controls and procedures. Sarah Newell, as Trust Officer of the Trustee, has concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures of the Trust are effective.
Due to the nature of the Trust as a passive entity and in light of the contractual arrangements pursuant to which the Trust was created, including the provisions of (i) the Trust Agreement, (ii) the Operating and Services Agreement and (iii) the Conveyance, the Trustee’s disclosure controls and procedures related to the Trust necessarily rely on (A) information provided by PCEC, including information relating to results of operations, the costs and revenues attributable to the Trust’s interests under the Conveyance and other operating and historical data, plans for future operating and capital expenditures, reserve information, information relating to projected production, and other information relating to the status and results of operations of the Underlying Properties and the Conveyed Interests and settlements under the commodity derivative contracts between PCEC and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association for the periods during which those contracts were in effect, and (B) conclusions and reports regarding reserves by the Trust’s independent reserve engineers.
During the quarter ended September 30, 2017, there was no change in the Trustee’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trustee’s internal control over financial reporting related to the Trust. The Trustee notes for purposes of clarification that it has no authority over, and makes no statement concerning, the internal control over financial reporting of PCEC.
The Trust has been named as a defendant in a putative class action as described below.
On July 1, 2014, Thomas Welch, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a putative class action complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, against the Trust, PCEC, PCEC (GP) LLC, Pacific Coast Energy Holdings LLC, certain executive officers of PCEC (GP) LLC and others.
The complaint asserts federal securities law claims against the Trust and other defendants and states that the claims are made on behalf of a class of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Trust securities pursuant or traceable to the registration statement that became effective on May 2, 2012 and the prospectuses issued thereto and the registration statement that became effective purportedly on September 19, 2013 and the prospectuses issued thereto. The complaint states that the plaintiff is pursuing negligence and strict liability claims under the Securities Act and alleges that both such registration statements contained numerous untrue statements of material facts and omitted material facts. The plaintiff seeks class certification, unspecified compensatory damages, rescission on certain of plaintiff’s claims, pre-judgment and post-judgment interest, attorneys’ fees and costs and any other relief the Court may deem just and proper.
On October 16, 2014, Ralph Berliner, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a second putative class action complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, against the Trust, PCEC, PCEC (GP) LLC, Pacific Coast Energy Holdings LLC, certain executive officers of PCEC (GP) LLC and others. The Berliner complaint asserts the same claims and makes the same allegations, against the same defendants, as are made in the Welch complaint. In November 2014, the Welch and Berliner actions were consolidated into a single action.
On December 8, 2015, the above referenced parties agreed in principle to settle the consolidated action. On June 12, 2017, the Court entered a final judgment in the action approving the settlement. The Court set a hearing for February 28, 2018 regarding compliance with the approved settlement in the amount of $7.6 million. The Trust believes that it is fully indemnified by PCEC against any liability or expense it might incur in connection with the consolidated action. The approved settlement does not require any payment from the Trust.
There have been no material changes to the Risk Factors disclosed in “Part I—Item 1A.—Risk Factors” of our 2016 Annual Report.
The following exhibits are filed as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:
|
Exhibit |
|
Description |
|
3.1 * |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.2 * |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.3 * |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.1 * |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.2 * |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.3 * |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31.1 |
|
Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
|
|
|
|
|
32.1 |
|
Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
* Asterisk indicates exhibit previously filed with SEC and incorporated herein by reference.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
|
|
PACIFIC COAST OIL TRUST | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Sarah Newell |
|
|
|
Sarah Newell |
|
|
|
Vice President |
Date: October 30, 2017
The Registrant, Pacific Coast Oil Trust, has no principal executive officer, principal financial officer, board of directors or persons performing similar functions. Accordingly, no additional signatures are available and none have been provided. In signing the report above, the Trustee does not imply that it has performed any such function or that any such function exists pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement under which it serves.
CERTIFICATION
I, Sarah Newell, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Pacific Coast Oil Trust, for which The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., acts as Trustee;
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, distributable income and changes in Trust corpus of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. I am 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)), or for causing such controls and procedures to be established and maintained, for the registrant and I have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such controls and procedures to be designed under my supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to me 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 my supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report my 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. I have disclosed, based on my most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors:
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 any persons who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
In giving the foregoing certifications in paragraphs 4 and 5 I have relied to the extent I consider reasonable on information provided to me by Pacific Coast Energy Company LP.
|
Date: October 30, 2017 |
/s/ SARAH NEWELL |
|
|
Sarah Newell |
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee |
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 (18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350)
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Pacific Coast Oil Trust (the “Trust”) on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned, not in its individual capacity but solely as the Trustee of the Trust, certifies pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to its knowledge:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Trust.
The above certification is furnished solely pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. 1350) and is not being filed as part of the Report or as a separate disclosure document.
|
|
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., Trustee for Pacific Coast Oil Trust | |
|
|
|
|
|
Date: October 30, 2017 |
By: |
/s/ SARAH NEWELL |
|
|
|
Sarah Newell |
|
|
|
Vice President and Trust Officer |