Concentration of Credit Risk

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Concentration of Credit Risk [Abstract]

Concentration of Credit Risk

(3)  Concentration of Credit Risk

Credit risk represents the amount of loss the Company would absorb if its customers failed to perform pursuant to contractual terms.  Management of credit risk involves a number of considerations, such as the financial profile of the customer, the value of collateral held, if any, specific terms and duration of the contractual agreement, and the customer's sensitivity to economic developments.  The Company has established various procedures to manage credit exposure, including initial credit approval, credit limits, and rights of offset.  Letters of credit and guarantees are also utilized to limit credit risk. Accounts receivable associated with crude oil and natural gas marketing activities comprise approximately 90 percent of the Company's total receivables and industry practice requires payment for such sales to occur within 25 days of the end of the month following a transaction.  The Company's customer mix, credit policies and the relatively short duration of receivables mitigate the uncertainty typically associated with receivables management.

The Company's largest customers consist of large multinational integrated oil companies and utilities.  In addition, the Company transacts business with independent oil producers, major chemical concerns, crude oil and natural gas trading companies and a variety of commercial energy users.  Within this group of customers the Company generally derives up to 50 percent of its revenues from two to three large crude oil refining concerns.  While the Company has ongoing established relationships with certain domestic refiners of crude oil, alternative markets are readily available since the Company supplies less than one percent of U. S. domestic refiner demand.  As a fungible commodity delivered to major Gulf Coast supply points, the Company's crude oil sales can be readily delivered to alternative end markets.  Management believes that a loss of any of those customers where the Company currently derives more than 10 percent of its revenues would not have a material adverse effect on the Company's operations.

The Company had accounts receivable from two customers that comprised 24.5 percent and 21.5 percent, respectively, of total accounts receivable at December 31, 2011.  Four customers comprised 18.2 percent, 15.4 percent, 13.4 percent, and 11.3 percent, respectively, of total revenues during 2011.  The Company had accounts receivable from four customers that comprised 22.4 percent, 16.2 percent, 13.7 percent and 10.6 percent, respectively, of total accounts receivable at December 31, 2010.  Five customers comprised 35.8 percent, 20.2 percent, 17.9 percent, 13 percent and 11 percent, respectively, of total revenues during 2010.  The Company had accounts receivable from three customers that comprised 17.8 percent, 12.6 percent and 10.8 percent, respectively of total accounts receivables at December 31, 2009.  Three customers comprised 39.4 percent, 17.7 percent and 15.7 percent, respectively, of total revenues during 2009.

An allowance for doubtful accounts is provided where appropriate and accounts receivable presented herein are net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $2,205,000 and $1,064,000 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  As reflected in the table below, during 2011 and 2009 the  Company's provision for bad debt was elevated as a result of deteriorating  collectability  primarily attributable to diesel fuel sales to the construction industry.

An analysis of the changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts is presented as follows (in thousands):

	2011			2010			2009
Balance, beginning of year	$	1,064		$	1,681		$	1,251
Provisions for bad debts		1,223			29			704
Less:  Write-offs and recoveries		(82	)		(646	)		(274	)
Balance, end of year	$	2,205		$	1,064		$	1,681