Asset Retirement Obligations

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]

Asset Retirement Obligations

Note 8 - Asset Retirement Obligation

The Company follows accounting for asset retirement obligations ("ARO") in accordance with ASC 410, Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations, which requires that the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation be recognized in the period in which it was incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The Company's ARO primarily represents the estimated present value of the amounts expected to be incurred to plug, abandon and remediate producing and shut-in wells at the end of their productive lives in accordance with applicable state and federal laws. The Company determines the estimated fair value of its ARO by calculating the present value of estimated cash flows related to plugging and abandonment liabilities. The significant inputs used to calculate such liabilities include estimates of costs to be incurred; the Company's credit adjusted discount rates, inflation rates and estimated dates of abandonment. The ARO is accreted to its present value each period and the capitalized asset retirement costs are amortized using the unit of production method.

A reconciliation of the Company's ARO as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, is as follows:

	September 30, 2017			December 31, 2016
Balance, beginning of year	$	1,085,000		$	995,197
Liabilities settled		-			(4,530	)
Accretion expense		75,000			94,333
Balance, end of year		1,160,000			1,085,000
Less: current asset retirement obligations		(445,900	)		(425,200	)
Long-term asset retirement obligations	$	714,100		$	659,800