Fair Value Measurements

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

NOTE 11: Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the amount that would be received from the sale of an asset or paid for the transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants, i.e., an exit price. To estimate an exit price, a three-level hierarchy is used. The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs, which refer broadly to assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability, into three levels. Level 1 inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, a Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. Level 2 inputs include the following: (i) quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; (ii) quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; (iii) inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; or (iv) inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the financial asset or liability.

The following table provides fair value measurement information for financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2014.



	Fair Value Measurement at March 31, 2014
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets		Significant Other Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs		Total Fair
	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Value
Financial Assets (Liabilities):
Derivative Contracts - Swaps	$	-	$	(749,981)	$	-	$	(749,981)
Derivative Contracts - Collars	$	-	$	-	$	(542,348)	$	(542,348)

Level 2 – Market Approach - The fair values of the Company’s natural gas swaps are based on a third-party pricing model which utilizes inputs that are either readily available in the public market, such as natural gas curves, or can be corroborated from active markets. These values are based upon future prices, time to maturity and other factors. These values are then compared to the values given by our counterparties for reasonableness.

Level 3 – The fair values of the Company’s costless collar contracts are based on a pricing model which utilizes inputs that are unobservable or not readily available in the public market. These values are based upon future prices, volatility, time to maturity and other factors. These values are then compared to the values given by our counterparties for reasonableness.

The significant unobservable inputs for Level 3 derivative contracts include market volatility and credit risk of counterparties. Changes in these inputs will impact the fair value measurement of our derivative contracts. An increase (decrease) in the volatility of oil and natural gas prices will decrease (increase) the fair value of oil and natural gas derivatives and adverse changes to our counterparties’ creditworthiness will decrease the fair value of our derivatives.

The following table represents quantitative disclosures about unobservable inputs for Level 3 Fair Value Measurements.



Instrument Type	Unobservable Input	Range	Weighted Average	Fair Value March 31, 2014

Oil Collars	Oil price volatility curve	0% - 15.18%	8.15%	$	(172,656)
Natural Gas Collars	Natural gas price volatility curve	0% - 23.51%	13.17%	$	(369,692)

A reconciliation of the Company’s derivative contracts classified as Level 3 measurements is presented below. All gains and losses are presented on the Gains (losses) on derivative contracts line item on our Statement of Operations.



	Derivatives
Balance of Level 3 as of October 1, 2013	$	242,902
Total gains or (losses)
Included in earnings		(373,999)
Included in other comprehensive income (loss)		-
Purchases, issuances and settlements		(411,251)
Transfers in and out of Level 3		-
Balance of Level 3 as of March 31, 2014	$	(542,348)

The following table presents impairments associated with certain assets that have been measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.



	Quarter Ended March 31,
	2014				2013
	Fair Value		Impairment		Fair Value		Impairment

Producing Properties (a)	$	391,898	$	227,152	$	9,786	$	63,476

	Six Months Ended March 31,
	2014				2013
	Fair Value		Impairment		Fair Value		Impairment

Producing Properties (a)	$	628,097	$	430,143	$	342,006	$	218,441

(a) At the end of each quarter, the Company assesses the carrying value of its producing properties for impairment. This assessment utilizes estimates of future cash flows. Significant judgments and assumptions in these assessments include estimates of future oil and natural gas prices using a forward NYMEX curve adjusted for locational basis differentials, drilling plans, expected capital costs and an applicable discount rate commensurate with risk of the underlying cash flow estimates. These assessments identified certain properties with carrying value in excess of their calculated fair values.

At March 31, 2014, and September 30, 2013, the fair value of financial instruments approximated their carrying amounts. Financial instruments include long-term debt, which the valuation is classified as Level 3 and is based on a valuation technique that requires inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. The fair value measurement of our long-term debt is valued using a discounted cash flow model that calculates the present value of future cash flows pursuant to the terms of the debt agreements and applies estimated current market interest rates. The estimated current market interest rates are based primarily on interest rates currently being offered on borrowings of similar amounts and terms. In addition, no valuation input adjustments were considered necessary relating to nonperformance risk for the debt agreements.

- Definition

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

+ References+ Details