Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Consolidation

Basis of Consolidation

These condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of two wholly owned subsidiaries: (1) Northern Alberta Oil Ltd. (“Northern”) from the date of acquisition, being June 7, 2005, incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta), Canada; and (2) Deep Well Oil & Gas (Alberta) Ltd., incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta), Canada on September 15, 2005. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid instruments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of issuance to be cash equivalents.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company determines allowances for doubtful accounts based on aging of specific accounts. Accounts receivable are stated at the historical carrying amounts net of allowances for doubtful accounts and include only the amounts the Company deems to be collectable. The allowance for bad debts was $nil and $nil at March 31, 2015 and September 30, 2014, respectively.

Crude oil and natural gas properties

Crude oil and natural gas properties

The Company uses the successful efforts method of accounting for crude oil and natural gas properties whereby costs incurred to acquire mineral interests in crude oil and natural gas properties, to drill and equip exploratory wells that find proved reserves, to drill and equip development wells, and expenditures for enhanced recovery operations are capitalized. Geological and geophysical costs, seismic costs incurred for exploratory projects, lease rentals and costs associated with unsuccessful exploratory wells or projects are expensed as incurred. Costs of seismic studies that are utilized in development drilling within an area of proved reserves are capitalized as development costs. To the extent a seismic project covers areas of both developmental and exploratory drilling, those seismic costs are proportionately allocated between capitalized development costs and exploration expense. Maintenance, repairs and costs of injection are expensed as incurred, except that the costs of replacements or renewals that expand capacity or improve production are capitalized.

Under the successful efforts method of accounting, the Company capitalizes exploratory drilling, equipping and facility costs on the balance sheet pending determination of whether the project has found proved reserves in economically producible quantities. The Company capitalizes costs associated with the acquisition or construction of support equipment and facilities with the drilling and development costs to which they relate. If proved reserves are assigned to a project, the associated capitalized costs become part of well equipment and facilities. However, if proved reserves are not found in a project, the capitalized costs associated with the project are expensed, net of any salvage value. Total capitalized costs pending the determination of proved reserves were $19.6 million and $19.6 million at March 31, 2015 and September 30, 2014, respectively.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation expense is computed using the declining balance method over the estimated useful life of the asset. Only half of the depreciation rate is taken in the year of acquisition. The following is a summary of the depreciation rates used in computing depreciation expense:

	%
Software		100
Computer equipment		55
Portable work camp		30
Vehicles		30
Road Mats		30
Wellhead		25
Office furniture and equipment		20
Oilfield Equipment		20
Tanks		10

Expenditures for major repairs and renewals that extend the useful life of the asset are capitalized. Minor repair expenditures are charged to expense as incurred. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the greater of five years or the remaining life of the lease agreement.

Long-Lived Assets

Long-Lived Assets

Oil and Gas Properties - Proved crude oil and natural gas properties are reviewed for impairment on a field-by-field basis each quarter, or when events and circumstances indicate a possible decline in the recoverability of the carrying value of such field. The estimated future cash flows expected in connection with the field are compared to the carrying amount of the field to determine if the carrying amount is recoverable. If the carrying amount of the field exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, the carrying amount of the field is reduced to its estimated fair value. Due to the unavailability of relevant comparable market data, a discounted cash flow method is used to determine the fair value of proved properties. The discounted cash flow method estimates future cash flows based on management’s estimates of future crude oil and natural gas production, commodity prices based on commodity futures price strips, operating and development costs, and a risk-adjusted discount rate.

Non-producing crude oil and natural gas properties primarily consist of undeveloped leasehold costs and costs associated with the purchase of certain proved undeveloped reserves. Individually significant non-producing properties, if any, are assessed for impairment on a property-by-property basis and, if the assessment indicates an impairment, a loss is recognized by providing a valuation allowance consistent with the level at which impairment was assessed. For individually insignificant non-producing properties, impairment losses are recognized by amortizing the portion of the properties’ costs which management estimates will not be transferred to proved properties over the lives of the leases based on experience of successful drilling and the average holding period. The Company’s impairment assessments are affected by economic factors such as the results of exploration activities, commodity price outlooks, anticipated drilling programs, remaining lease terms, and potential shifts in business strategy employed by management.

Non Oil and Gas Assets - The Company reviews for the impairment of long-lived assets annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss would be recognized when estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition is less than its carrying amount. Impairment is measured as the amount by which the assets’ carrying value exceeds its fair value. No impairments to the Company’s long-lived assets were identified or recorded in the six months ended March 31, 2015 or in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014.

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

Depreciation, depletion and amortization of capitalized drilling and development costs of producing crude oil and natural gas properties, including related support equipment and facilities, are computed using the unit-of-production method on a field basis based on total estimated proved developed crude oil and natural gas reserves. Amortization of producing leaseholds is based on the unit-of-production method using total estimated proved reserves. In arriving at rates under the unit-of-production method, the quantities of recoverable crude oil and natural gas reserves are established based on estimates made by the Company’s internal geologists and engineers and external independent reserve engineers. Upon sale or retirement of properties, the cost and related accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization are eliminated from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss, if any, is recognized. Unit of production rates are revised whenever there is an indication of a need, but at least in conjunction with annual reserve reports. Revisions are accounted for prospectively as changes in accounting estimates.

Asset Retirement Obligations

Asset Retirement Obligations

The Company accounts for asset retirement obligations by recording the fair value of the estimated future cost of the Company’s plugging and abandonment obligations. The asset retirement obligation is recorded when there is a legal obligation associated with the retirement of a tangible long-lived asset and the fair value of the liability can reasonably be estimated. Upon initial recognition of an asset retirement obligation, the Company increases the carrying amount of the long-lived asset by the same amount as the liability. Over time, the liabilities are accreted for the change in their present value through charges to oil and gas production and well operations costs. The initial capitalized costs are depleted over the useful lives of the related assets through charges to depreciation, depletion, and amortization. If the fair value of the estimated asset retirement obligation changes, an adjustment is recorded to both the asset retirement obligation and the asset retirement cost.

Revisions in estimated liabilities can result from revisions of estimated inflation rates, escalating retirement costs, and changes in the estimated timing of settling asset retirement obligations. As at March 31, 2015 and September 30, 2014, asset retirement obligations amount to $421,645 and $469,013, respectively. The Company has posted bonds, where required, with the Government of Alberta based on the amount the government estimates the cost of abandonment and reclamation to be.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency of the Canadian subsidiaries is the United States dollar. However, the Canadian subsidiaries transact in Canadian dollars. Consequently, monetary assets and liabilities are remeasured into United States dollars at the exchange rate on the balance sheet date and non-monetary items are remeasured at the rate of exchange in effect when the assets are acquired or obligations incurred. Revenues and expenses are remeasured at the average exchange rate prevailing during the period. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in results of operations.

Accounting Methods

Accounting Method

The Company recognizes income and expenses based on the accrual method of accounting.

Dividend Policy

Dividend Policy

The Company has not yet adopted a policy regarding payment of dividends.

Financial, Concentration and Credit Risk

Financial, Concentration and Credit Risk

The Company does not have any concentration or related financial credit risk related to cash as most of the Company’s funds are maintained in a financial institution which has its deposits fully guaranteed by the Government of Alberta.

The Company is not directly subject to credit risk resulting from the concentration of its crude oil sales. For the period ending March 31, 2015 and for the year ended September 30, 2014, the Company has recorded oil sales received from the operator of the Company’s producing properties. The Company’s joint venture partner is the operator of the Company’s producing properties and it is the Company’s joint venture partner who sells 100% of the Company’s oil production to one or more purchasers in the oil and gas industry. The Company does not require collateral and management periodically evaluates the operator’s financial statements and the collectability of oil sales receivables from the operator and believes that the Company’s oil sales receivables are fully collectable and that the risk of loss is minimal.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company utilizes the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between financial reporting and the tax bases of the assets and liabilities, and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. An allowance against deferred tax assets is recorded when it is more likely than not that such tax benefits will not be realized.

Due to the uncertainty regarding the Company’s profitability, a valuation allowance has been recorded against the future tax benefits of its losses and no net benefit has been recorded in the consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

The Company is in the business of exploring for, developing, producing, and selling crude oil. Crude oil revenue is recognized when the product is taken from the storage tanks on the lease and delivered to the purchaser and title transfers to the purchaser. Payment is generally received one to three months after the sale has occurred.

Occasionally the Company may sell specific leases, and the gain or loss associated with these transactions will be shown separately from the profit or loss from the operations or sales of oil products. Such gain or losses will be measured and recognized when all of the following have occurred: (1) there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement to sell; (2) the price of the sale is fixed or determinable; (3) the title to the lease has transferred; and (4) collection is reasonably assured.

Advertising and Market Development

Advertising and Market Development

The Company expenses advertising and market development costs as incurred.

Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share

Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share

Basic net income (loss) per share amounts are computed based on the weighted average number of shares actually outstanding. Diluted net income (loss) per share amounts are computed using the weighted average number of common shares and common equivalent shares outstanding as if shares had been issued on the exercise of the common share rights, unless the exercise becomes antidilutive and then the basic and diluted per share amounts are the same. There were 1,293,684 common stock equivalents excluded from the calculation because their effect would be antidilutive.

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments

Financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, long term investments, investment in equity securities, accounts payable and accounts payable - related parties. The fair value of these financial instruments approximates their carrying value because of the short-term maturity of these items unless otherwise noted. The fair value of the investment in equity securities cannot be determined as the market value is not readily obtainable. The equity securities are reported using the cost method.

Environmental Requirements

Environmental Requirements

At the report date, environmental requirements related to the oil properties acquired are unknown and therefore an estimate of any future cost cannot be made.

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock options granted to directors, officers, employees and non-employees using the fair value method of accounting. The fair value of stock options for directors, officers and employees are calculated at the date of grant and is expensed over the vesting period of the options on a straight-line basis. For non-employees, the fair value of the options is measured on the earlier of the date at which the counterparty performance is complete or the date at which the performance commitment is reached. The Company uses the Black-Scholes model to calculate the fair value of stock options issued, which requires certain assumptions to be made at the time the options are awarded, including the expected life of the option, the expected number of granted options that will vest and the expected future volatility of the stock. The Company reflects estimates of award forfeitures at the time of grant and revises in subsequent periods, if necessary, when forfeiture rates are expected to change.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-10, “Development Stage Entities (Topic 915): Elimination of Certain Financial Reporting Requirements, Including an Amendment to Variable Interest Entities Guidance in Topic 810, Consolidation”. The guidance eliminates the definition of a development stage entity thereby removing the incremental financial reporting requirements from U.S. GAAP for development or exploration stage entities, primarily presentation of inception to date financial information. The provisions of the amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014, and the interim periods therein. However, early adoption is permitted. Accordingly, the Company has adopted this standard as of September 30, 2014.

The Company does not expect the adoption of any other recent accounting pronouncements to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

Estimates and Assumptions

Estimates and Assumptions

Management uses estimates and assumptions in preparing financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Those estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of the assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported revenues and expenses. Actual results could vary from the estimates that were used in preparing these consolidated financial statements.

Significant estimates by management include valuations of oil properties, valuation of accounts receivable, useful lives of long-lived assets, asset retirement obligations, valuation of share-based compensation, and the realizability of future income taxes.