Debt

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2022

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt

5. DEBT

On September 1, 2021, the Company entered into a $100,000,000 credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) with a group of banks headed by Independent Bank, which replaced the Company’s prior credit facility with BOKF, NA dba Bank of Oklahoma (“BOKF”), as administrative agent, which the Company repaid in full and terminated. The Credit Facility has a current borrowing base of $50,000,000 as of September 30, 2022, and a maturity date of September 1, 2025. The Credit Facility is secured by the Company’s personal property and at least 80% of the total value of the proved, developed and producing oil and gas properties. The interest rate is based on either (a) the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus an applicable margin ranging from 2.750% to 3.750% per annum based on the Company’s Borrowing Base Utilization or (b) the greater of (1) the Prime Rate in effect for such day, or (2) the overnight cost of federal funds as announced by the US Federal Reserve System in effect on such day plus one-half of one percent (0.50%), plus, in each case, an applicable margin ranging from 1.750% to 2.750% per annum based on the Company’s Borrowing Base Utilization. The election of Independent Bank prime or SOFR is at the Company’s discretion. The interest rate spread from Independent Bank prime or SOFR will be charged based on the ratio of the loan balance to the borrowing base. The interest rate spread from SOFR or the prime rate increases as a larger percent of the borrowing base is advanced. At September 30, 2022, the effective interest rate was 5.93%.

The Company’s debt is recorded at the carrying amount on its balance sheets. The carrying amount of the Credit Facility approximates fair value because the interest rates are reflective of market rates. Debt issuance costs associated with the Credit Facility are presented in Other, net on the Company’s balance sheets. Total debt issuance cost net of amortization as of September 30, 2022, was $336,232. The debt issuance cost is amortized over the life of the Credit Facility.

Determinations of the borrowing base are made semi-annually (usually June and December) or whenever the banks, in their sole discretion, believe that there has been a material change in the value of the Company’s natural gas and oil properties. The Credit Facility contains customary covenants which, among other things, require periodic financial and reserve reporting and place certain limits on the Company’s incurrence of indebtedness, liens, make fundamental changes, and engage in certain transactions with affiliates. The Credit Agreement also restricts the Company’s ability to make certain restricted payments if before or after the Restricted Payment (i) the Available Commitment is less than ten percent (10%) of the Borrowing Base or (ii) the Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis is greater than 2.50 to 1.00. In addition, the Company is required to maintain certain financial ratios, a current ratio (as described in the Credit Agreement) of no less than 1.0 to 1.0 and a funded debt to EBITDAX (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of no more than 3.5 to 1.0 based on the trailing twelve months. At September 30, 2022, the Company was in compliance with the covenants of the Credit Facility, had $28,300,000 outstanding, and had $21,700,000 of borrowing base availability under the Credit Facility. All capitalized terms in this description of the Credit Facility that are not otherwise defined in this Annual Report have the meaning assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.