EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP - Quarter Report: 2022 March (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM 10-Q

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or

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EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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(539) 444-8002

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name or former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes  þ     No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).     Yes  þ     No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒ 

The number of shares of the registrant's common stock, $0.001 par value, outstanding as of the latest practicable date of May 1, 2022 was 20,090,121.

EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited) 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 and 2021

(Unaudited)

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

March 31, 2022

Note 1 - Organization and Basis of Presentation

Empire Petroleum Corporation (“Empire” or the “Company”, collectively with its subsidiaries) is an independent energy company operator engaged in optimizing developed production by employing field management methods to maximize reserve recovery while minimizing costs. Empire has four wholly-owned subsidiaries in its areas of operations:

Empire was incorporated in the State of Utah in August 1983 and subsequently in the State of Delaware in 1985. The consolidated financial statements of Empire Petroleum Corporation and subsidiaries include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Company's financial position, the results of operations, and the cash flows for the interim period are included. All adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature. Operating results for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2022.

All intercompany accounts and transactions, including revenues and expenses, have been eliminated in consolidation.

The information contained in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2021 which are contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on March 31, 2022.

Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Significant Accounting Policies

There have been no material changes to significant accounting policies and estimates from the information provided in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Fair Value Measurements

The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") fair value measurement standards define fair value, establish a consistent framework for measuring fair value and establish a fair value hierarchy based on the observability of inputs used to measure fair value.

The three-level fair value hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements defined by ASC Topic 820 is as follows:

Level 1 – Unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities. An active market is defined as a market where transactions for the financial instrument occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

Level 2 – Inputs, other than quoted prices within Level 1, that are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability through correlation with market data at the measurement date and for the duration of the instrument’s anticipated life.

Level 3 – Prices or valuations that require unobservable inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable. Valuation under Level 3 generally involves a significant degree of judgment from management.

A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Where available, fair value is based on observable market prices or parameters or derived from such prices or parameters. Where observable prices or inputs are not available, valuation models are applied. These valuation techniques involve some level of management estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the price transparency for the instruments or market and the instrument’s complexity. The Company reflects transfers between the three levels at the beginning of the reporting period in which the availability of observable inputs no longer justifies classification in the original level. There were no transfers between fair value hierarchy levels for the quarter ended March 31, 2022.

Financial instruments and other- The fair values determined for accounts receivable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities were equivalent to the carrying value due to their short-term nature.

Derivatives – Derivative financial instruments are carried at fair value and measured on a recurring basis. The Company’s commodity price hedges are valued based on discounted future cash flow models that are primarily based on published forward commodity price curves; thus, these inputs are designated as Level 2 within the valuation hierarchy.

The fair values of derivative instruments in asset positions include measures of counterparty nonperformance risk, and the fair values of derivative instruments in liability positions include measures of the Company’s nonperformance risk. These measurements were not material to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

The Company applies the provisions of fair value measurement on a non-recurring basis to its non-financial assets and liabilities, including oil and gas properties and asset retirement obligations. These assets and liabilities are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments if events or changes in certain circumstances indicate that adjustments may be necessary. No triggering events that require assessment of such items were observed during the three months ended March 31, 2022.

Related Party Transactions

Transactions between related parties are considered to be related party transactions even though they may not be given accounting recognition. FASB ASC 850, Related Party Disclosures (“FASB ASC 850”) requires that transactions with related parties that would have influence in decision making shall be disclosed so that users of the financial statements can evaluate their significance. Related party transactions typically occur within the context of the following relationships: affiliates of the entity; entities for which investments in their equity securities is typically accounted for under the equity method by the investing entity; trusts for the benefit of employees; principal owners of the entity and members of their immediate families; management of the entity and members of their immediate families; and other parties that can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the transacting parties and can significantly influence the other to an extent that one or more of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

FASB periodically issues new accounting standards in a continuing effort to improve standards of financial accounting and reporting. The Company has reviewed the recently issued pronouncements and concluded that the following new accounting standards are applicable:

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. The amendments in this ASU affect entities that issue convertible instruments and/or contracts in an entity’s own equity. The amendments in this ASU primarily affect convertible instruments issued with beneficial conversion features or cash conversion features because the accounting models for those specific features are removed. However, all entities that issue convertible instruments are affected by the amendments to the disclosure requirements of this ASU. For contracts in an entity’s own equity, the contracts primarily affected are freestanding instruments and embedded features that are accounted for as derivatives under the current guidance because of failure to meet the settlement conditions of the derivatives scope exception related to certain requirements of the settlement assessment. Also affected is the assessment of whether an embedded conversion feature in a convertible instrument qualifies for the derivatives scope exception. Additionally, the amendments in this ASU affect the diluted EPS calculation for instruments that may be settled in cash or shares and for convertible instruments. The amendments in this ASU are effective for public business entities, excluding entities eligible to be smaller reporting companies, for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Board specified that an entity should adopt the guidance as of the beginning of its annual fiscal year. The Board decided to allow entities to adopt the guidance through either a modified retrospective method of transition or a fully retrospective method of transition. The Company is analyzing the effect that adoption will have but does not expect a material impact as a result of adopting these standards.

Note 3 – Property

The Company follows the successful efforts method of accounting for its oil and natural gas properties. Under this method, costs to acquire oil and natural gas properties and costs incurred to drill and equip development and exploratory wells are capitalized. Exploration costs are charged to operations as incurred. Upon sale or retirement of oil and natural gas properties, the costs and related accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization are eliminated from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is recognized.

Costs incurred to maintain wells and related equipment and lease and well operating costs are charged to expense as incurred.

Depletion is calculated on a units-of-production basis at the field level based on total proved developed reserves.

Proved Properties and Impairments

Proved oil and natural gas properties are reviewed for impairment at least annually, or as indicators of impairment arise. There were no indicators of impairment in the current quarter or for the same quarter in the previous period.

In May 2021 the Company purchased oil and natural gas properties in New Mexico (see Note 4).

The aggregate capitalized costs of oil and natural gas properties as of March 31, 2022 are as follows:

Other property and equipment consists of operating lease assets, vehicles, office furniture, and equipment with lives ranging from three to five years.

Note 4 – Acquisition of XTO Properties

On March 12, 2021 the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary Empire New Mexico, entered into a purchase and sale agreement with XTO Holdings, LLC (a subsidiary of ExxonMobil) (the “Seller’) to acquire, among other things, certain oil and natural gas properties in New Mexico. The purchase price was $17,800,000 subject to customary adjustments. The transaction closed on May 14, 2021 with an effective date of January 1, 2021.

The XTO acquisition has been assessed under the screen test for business combinations under FASB ASC 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”). The XTO acquisition met the screen test and has been accounted for as an asset acquisition using the acquisition method of accounting. Under the accounting for asset acquisitions, the acquisition is recorded using a cost accumulation and allocation model under which the cost of the acquisition is allocated on a relative fair value basis to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Acquisition-related transaction costs are capitalized as a component of the cost of the assets acquired.

As a condition of the sale, the Company purchased a $5,000,000 performance bond for the benefit of the seller for proper plugging, abandonment and restoration of the purchased properties. The performance bond is collateralized with a letter of credit in the amount of $3,750,000. To effect the letter of credit, the Company entered into a Promissory Note Agreement with Bank of Oklahoma, NA in the amount of $3,750,000 which is due on demand with an interest rate established by the Bank, currently at 4%. The Promissory Note, and associated letter of credit, is collateralized with a bank certificate of deposit in a corresponding amount. In addition, the Company is required to deposit $100,000 per month, up to $1,250,000, into a sinking fund to be held by the surety. Subsequent amendments increased the monthly payment amounts to $160,000 in response to additional bonding requested by the State of New Mexico.

The following table sets forth the Company's purchase price allocation:

The value of oil and gas properties was based on an allocation of the purchase price which included assignment of values to the other identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The value of inventory, vehicles, and royalty suspense was based on their relative fair values as described above.

The fair value of asset retirement obligations are included in proved oil and natural gas properties with a corresponding liability in the table above. The fair value was determined based on a discounted cash flow model, which included assumptions of the estimated current abandonment costs, discount rate, inflation rate and timing associated with the incurrence of these costs.

The Company has approximately $400,000 recorded as a final settlement receivable from the seller as of March 31, 2022. On April 25, 2022, the Company entered into an amendment to the Purchase and Sale Agreement which defined certain assets and liabilities which were included in and excluded from the acquisition. The Company anticipates final settlement to occur in 2022 and anticipates fully collecting the outstanding receivable at that time.

Note 5 – Joint Development Agreement

On August 6, 2020 the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Empire Texas, entered into a joint development agreement (the “JDA”) with Petroleum & Independent Exploration, LLC and related entities (“PIE”), a related party (See Note 13), dated August 1, 2020. Under the terms of the JDA, PIE will perform recompletion or workover on specified mutually agreed upon wells (“Workover Wells”) owned by Empire Texas. To fund the work, PIE entered into a term loan agreement with Empire Texas dated August 1, 2020, whereby PIE will loan up to $2,000,000, at an interest rate of 6% per annum, maturing August 7, 2024 unless terminated earlier by PIE. Proceeds of the loan will be used for recompletion or workover of the Workover Wells. Refer to Note 8 for the amount advanced on the loan as of period-end. As part of the JDA, Empire Texas will assign to PIE a combined 85% working and revenue interest in the Workover Wells. Of the assigned interest, 70% working and revenue interest will be used to repay the obligations under the term loan agreement. Once the term loan is repaid, PIE will reassign a 35% working and revenue interest to Empire Texas in each of the Workover Wells and retain a 50% working and revenue interest. To the extent the cash flows from the revenue interest are insufficient to repay the obligations under the term loan, the Company remains required to repay the obligation and the activity resulting from the JDA is being treated as a carried interest with a corresponding term loan.

In addition, PIE and Empire entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (“Securities Agreement”) whereby PIE purchased for $525,000 (a) 875,000 shares of Empire common stock, (b) warrants to purchase 656,250 shares of Empire common stock at an exercise price of $0.80 per share, (c) warrants to purchase 450,000 shares of Empire common stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share, (d) warrants to purchase 2,034,129 shares of Empire common stock at an exercise price of $0.40 per share, and (e) warrants to purchase up to 2,766,666 shares of Empire common stock at an exercise price of $0.564 per share, pursuant to various vesting provisions as detailed in the Securities Agreement. On March 11, 2021 the Company amended the Securities Agreement to remove the vesting provisions for the warrants and PIE exercised all of its warrants for an aggregate exercise price of $3,349,052.

Note 6 - Asset Retirement Obligations

The Company’s asset retirement obligations represent the estimated present value of the estimated cash flows the Company will incur to plug, abandon and remediate its producing properties at the end of their productive lives, in accordance with applicable state laws. Market risk premiums associated with asset retirement obligations are estimated to represent a component of the Company’s credit-adjusted risk-free rate that is utilized in the calculations of asset retirement obligations.

The Company’s asset retirement obligation activity is as follows for the quarter ended March 31, 2022:

Note 7 – Commodity Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to commodity price fluctuations. Commodity derivative instruments are used to reduce the effect of volatility of price changes on the oil and natural gas the Company produces and sells. The Company does not enter into derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes. The Company’s derivative financial instruments consist of put options.

The Company does not designate its derivative instruments to qualify for hedge accounting. Accordingly, the Company reflects changes in the fair value of its derivative instruments in its consolidated statements of operations as they occur. Unrealized gains and losses related to the contracts are recognized and recorded as an asset or liability on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

The following table summarizes the net realized and unrealized losses reported in earnings related to the commodity derivative instruments for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021:

The following represents the Company’s net cash payments on derivatives for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021:

The following table sets forth the Company’s outstanding derivative contracts at March 31, 2022:

Note 8 - Debt

The following table represents the Company’s outstanding debt as of March 31, 2022:

On July 7, 2021 the Company entered into the Fourth Amendment to its Senior Revolver Loan Agreement (“the Amended Agreement”) with CrossFirst Bank (“CrossFirst”). The maximum amount that can be advanced under the Agreement is $20,000,000 and the existing commitment amount is $7,680,000 which is reduced by $300,000 per calendar quarter beginning September 30, 2021 and includes interest at Wall Street Journal Prime plus 150 basis points (5.0% as of March 31, 2022). The Amended Agreement matures on March 27, 2024. Collateral for the loan is a lien on all of the assets of Empire Louisiana and Empire North Dakota, wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company, and a first priority mortgage lien, pledge of and security interest in not less than 80% of Empire Louisiana’s and Empire North Dakota’s producing oil, gas and other leasehold and mineral interests. The Amended Agreement requires the Company maintain commodity derivatives at certain thresholds based on projected production and, beginning March 31, 2021, to maintain certain covenants including an EBITDAX to interest expense of at least 3:1 and funded debt to EBITDAX of 4:1 on a trailing twelve-month basis. The amount of current maturities related to the Amended Agreement is $1,200,000. The Company was in compliance with the loan covenants at March 31, 2022.

In August 2020, concurrent with the Joint Development Agreement with Petroleum and Independent Exploration, LLC (“PIE”), a related party, the Company entered into a term loan agreement dated August 1, 2020, whereby PIE will loan up to $2,000,000, at an interest rate of 6% per annum, maturing August 7, 2024 unless terminated earlier by PIE. The loan proceeds will be used for recompletion or workover of certain designated wells. Refer to Note 5 for additional information regarding this arrangement.

Note 9 - Leases

As a lessee, the Company leases its corporate office headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma and three field offices. The leases expire between 2024 and 2027. The corporate office has an option to renew for an additional five-year term. The option to renew the lease is generally not considered reasonably certain to be exercised. Therefore, the period covered by such optional period is not included in the determination of the term of the lease and the lease payments during these periods are similarly excluded from the calculation of right-of-use lease asset and lease liability balances.

The Company recognizes right-of-use lease expense on a straight-line basis, except for certain variable expenses that are recognized when the variability is resolved, typically during the period in which they are paid. Variable right-of-use lease payments typically include charges for property taxes, insurance, and variable payments related to non-lease components, including common area maintenance.

Right of use lease expense was approximately $60,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022.

Supplemental balance sheet information related to the right of use leases is as follows as of March 31, 2022:

The weighted average remaining term for the Company’s right of use leases is 3.7 years.

Maturities of lease liabilities are as follows as of March 31, 2022:

Note 10 – Common and Preferred Stock

As a result of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (“Charter”) that was effective in March 2022, the total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Company has the authority to issue is 200,000,000, consisting of 190,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share.

Preferred Stock

Preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series at the direction of the board of directors and the directors also have the ability to fix dividend rates and rights, liquidation preferences, voting rights, conversion rights, rights and terms of redemption and other rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions as determined by the board of directors, subject to certain limitations set forth in the Charter.

 Series A Voting Preferred Stock

On March 8, 2022, the Company formalized the issuance of preferred stock as was required under the terms of the Company's May 2021 financing agreements with Energy Evolution (Master Fund), Ltd. (the "Fund") and issued six shares of Series A Voting Preferred Stock. The Series A Voting Preferred Stock was issued in connection with the strategic investment in the Company by Energy Evolution (Master Fund), Ltd. (the “Fund”). For so long as the Series A Voting Preferred Stock is outstanding, the Company’s board of directors will consist of six directors. Three of the directors are designated as the Series A Directors and the three other directors (each, a “common director”) are elected by the holders of common stock and/or any preferred stock (other than the Series A Voting Preferred Stock) granted the right to vote on the common directors. Any Series A Director may be removed with or without cause but only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Series A Voting Preferred Stock voting separately and as a single class. The holders of the Series A Voting Preferred Stock have the exclusive right, voting separately and as a single class, to vote on the election, removal and/or replacement of the Series A Directors. Holders of common stock or other preferred stock have no right to vote on the Series A Directors. The approval of the holders of the Series A Voting Preferred Stock, voting separately and as a single class, is required to authorize any resolution or other action to issue or modify the number, voting rights or any other rights, privileges, benefits or characteristics of the Series A Voting Preferred Stock, including without limitation, any action to modify the number, structure and/or composition of the Company’s current board of directors.

The Series A Voting Preferred Stock is held by Phil Mulacek, co-chairman of the board of directors and one of the principals of the Fund, as the Fund’s designee (the “Initial Holder”). The Series A Voting Preferred Stock may be transferred only to certain controlled affiliates of the Initial Holder (“Permitted Transferees”), and the voting rights of the Series A Voting Preferred Stock are contingent upon the Initial Holder and Permitted Transferees (collectively, the “Series A Holders”) holding together at least 3,000,000 shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock.

The Series A Voting Preferred Stock is not entitled to receive any dividends or distributions of cash or other property except in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company’s affairs. In such event, before any amount is paid to the holders of the Company’s common stock but after any amount is paid to the holders of the Company’s senior securities, the holders of the Series A Voting Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive an amount per share equal to $1.00.

Except as discussed above or as otherwise set forth in the certificate of designation of the Series A Voting Preferred Stock, the holders of the Series A Voting Preferred Stock have no voting rights.

The Series A Voting Preferred Stock is not redeemable at the Company’s election or the election of any holder, except the Company may elect to redeem the Series A Voting Preferred Stock for $1.00 per share following satisfaction of its notice and cure requirements in the event that:

The Series A Voting Preferred Stock is not convertible into common stock or any other security.

Common Stock

The holders of shares of common stock are entitled to one vote per share for all matters on which common stockholders are authorized to vote on. Examples of matters that common stockholders are entitled to vote on include, but are not limited to, election of three of the six directors and other common voting situations afforded to common stockholders.

Note 11 - Equity

On August 27, 2021 the Company’s Board of Directors approved a one for four reverse stock split such that every holder of the Company’s common stock shall receive one share of common stock for every four shares owned. The reverse stock split was made effective on March 7, 2022, simultaneous with the Company’s listing of its common stock on the NYSE American. All share amounts have retrospectively been stated at post-reverse split amounts and pricing.

During February and March 2021, the Company issued to a group of accredited investors 2,248,464 shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase 2,248,464 shares of its common stock for $2.00 per share which expire on December 31, 2022. Proceeds from the sale were $3,147,850. The value allocated to the warrants was the fair value determined using the Black-Scholes option valuation with the following assumptions:  no dividend yield, expected annual volatility of 180%, risk free interest rate of .14% and an expected useful life of 21 months. The fair value of the warrants of $2,350,407 was allocated to Additional Paid-in Capital. During the quarter ended March 31, 2022, 48,750 shares of common stock were issued as a result of warrant exercises. As of March 31, 2022, warrants for 749,464 shares of common stock have been exercised.

Note 12 – Stock-Based Compensation

Stock Options

On April 3, 2019, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the Empire Petroleum Corporation 2019 Stock Option Plan (the “Stock Option Plan”). The total number of shares of common stock that may be issued pursuant to stock options under the Stock Option Plan is 2,500,000. Further, on April 3, 2019 the Company granted Mr. Pritchard and Mr. Morrisett each, options to purchase 625,000 shares of common stock of the Company at an exercise price of $1.32 per share. Each option vested in three installments with 312,500 vesting immediately and 156,250 vesting each in April 2020 and April 2021. All of the options expire in April 2029. The value allocated to the vested options was the fair value determined using the Black-Scholes option valuation with the following assumptions:  no dividend yield, expected annual volatility of 213%, risk free interest rate of 2.32% and an expected useful life of 5.375 years. As a result of the adoption of a 2021 plan, the board of directors and management have determined that there would be no further issuances from the Stock Option Plan. As of March 31, 2022, there were 1,178,200 unexercised options under the Stock Option Plan.

On August 27, 2021, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the Empire Petroleum Corporation 2021 Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Incentive Plan”). The total number of shares of common stock that may be issued pursuant to the Incentive Plan is 750,000. Four grants were made in 2021 that amounted to 187,500 options. Two of the grants were for a cumulative amount of 62,500 options and vested immediately upon grant in November 2021. Valuation was calculated using the Black-Scholes option valuation model with the following assumptions: no dividend yield, expected annual volatility of 229%, risk free interest rate of .81%, and expected useful life of 3 years. The third grant was for 62,500 options and the valuation used the following inputs: no dividend yield, expected annual volatility of 277%, risk free interest rate of .99%, and expected useful life of 4 years. The fourth grant was for 250,000 options and inputs used to value the grant included no dividend yield, expected annual volatility of 335%, risk free interest rate of 1.16%, and expected useful life of 5 years.

On February 28, 2022, management issued a combination of stock options and restricted stock units under the Incentive Plan. 249,000 stock options were granted to employees and members of management with three year vesting terms and expirations of August 2025 and 2026. Stock option values were calculated using a Black-Scholes option valuation with the following assumptions: no dividend yield, expected annual volatility of 56% as calculated by utilizing the stock price from the date of the XTO acquisition through grant date, risk free interest rate of 1.62% and 1.67% for the 2025 and 2026 options, respectively, and expected useful lives of 2.75 and 3.75 years for the 2025 and 2026 options, respectively. Total fair value of the stock option grants was approximately $1.2 million. The value of these options are being recognized to expense in a straight-line method from date of grant through expiration date.

Restricted Stock Units

The Incentive Plan allows for the grant of restricted stock units (“RSUs”). Any RSU grants fall under the total grants available to be made under the Incentive Plan of 750,000 shares of common stock.

Each RSU represents the contingent right to receive one share of common stock. The holders of outstanding RSUs do not receive dividends or have voting rights prior to vesting and settlement. The Company determines the fair value of granted RSUs based on the market price of the common stock on the date of the grant. Compensation expense for granted RSUs is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting and is net of forfeitures, as incurred. Stock-based compensation is included in General and Administrative expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and is recorded with a corresponding increase in Additional Paid-in Capital within the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

RSUs were granted on February 28, 2022 with 12- and 13-month service periods. Total value assigned to the RSUs based on grant date approximated $585,000. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, approximately $45,000 of compensation expense related to RSUs was recognized, leaving approximately $540,000 of unrecognized compensation expense which will be recognized on a straight-line basis depending on the service period of each grant.

Note 13 – Related Party Transactions

The Energy Evolution (Master Fund), Ltd. (“Energy Evolution”) is a related party of the Company as it beneficially owns approximately 27% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock as of March 31, 2022. Additionally, a board member of Energy Evolution was appointed to the Company’s board in October 2021 as the board co-chairman. This board member separately beneficially owns approximately 17% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock as of March 31, 2022 and held all of the outstanding shares of preferred stock at March 31, 2022. The board member also is a majority owner of Petroleum & Independent Exploration, LLC and related entities (“PIE”). In October 2021 another Energy Evolution member was appointed to the Company’s board of directors and has an ownership percentage of approximately 3%.

The Company has a joint development agreement with PIE to perform recompletion or workover on specified mutually agreed upon wells (See Note 5). This joint development agreement has a note payable whose balance increases as work is performed until payout terms have been reached per the agreement (See Note 8).

Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies

From time to time, the Company is subject to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, including proceedings for which the Company may not have insurance coverage. While many of these matters involve inherent uncertainty, as of the date hereof, the Company does not currently believe that any such legal proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

The Company is subject to extensive federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. These laws, among other things, regulate the discharge of materials into the environment and may require the Company to remove or mitigate the environmental effects of the disposal or release of petroleum or chemical substances at various sites. Management believes no materially significant liabilities of this nature existed as of the balance sheet date.

The Company has undergone a sales tax audit related to its Texas entity and received the initial assessment notice in April 2022. The maximum exposure of this sales tax assessment is approximately $1.3 million though the Company is confident that the final assessment will be less than the maximum as previously stated. The Company has accrued $650,000 for this contingency for the quarter ended March 31, 2022.

Note 15 – Subsequent Events

In February 2022, the Company entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with a third party to purchase certain oil and gas properties located in North Dakota for a preliminary purchase price of $1.5 million. The acquisition closed in April 2022 for approximately $1.4 million.

In April 2022, Anthony Kamin, co-chairman of the board, resigned his position. Vice Admiral Andrew Lewis joined the board upon Mr. Kamin’s departure. 

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including this section, includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, which address activities, events, or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including future sources of financing and other possible business developments, are forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties and could be affected by a number of distinct factors, including the Company's failure to secure short and long-term financing necessary to sustain and grow its operations, increased competition, changes in the markets in which the Company participates and the technology utilized by the Company and new legislation regarding environmental matters. These risks and other risks that could affect the Company's business are more fully described in reports the Company files with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. Actual results may vary materially from the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements in this Form 10-Q.

Overview

The Company’s primary business is the exploration and development of oil and natural gas interests. The Company has incurred significant losses from operations, and there is no assurance that it will achieve sustained profitability or obtain the funds necessary to finance its operations. For all periods presented, the Company’s effective tax rate is 0%. The Company has generated net operating losses since inception, which would normally reflect a tax benefit in the condensed consolidated statement of operations and a deferred asset on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. However, because of the current uncertainty as to the Company’s ability to achieve sustained profitability, a valuation reserve has been established that offsets the amount of any tax benefit available for each period presented in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires us to use our judgment to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain amounts reported in our financial statements. As additional information becomes available, these estimates and assumptions are subject to change and thus impact amounts reported in the future. Critical accounting policies are those accounting policies that involve judgment and uncertainties affecting the application of those policies and the likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using differing assumptions. We periodically update our estimates used in the preparation of the financial statements based on our latest assessment of the current and projected business and general economic environment. There have been no significant changes to our critical accounting policies during the three months ended March 31, 2022.

Production and Operating Data

The following table sets forth a summary of our production and operating data for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021. Because of normal production declines, increased or decreased production due to future acquisitions, divestitures, and development, fluctuations in commodity prices and the effects of acquisitions or divestitures, the historical information presented below should not be interpreted as being indicative of future results.

Bbl – One stock tank barrel, of 42 U.S. gallons liquid volume, used herein in reference to oil, condensate, or natural gas liquids.

Mcf – One thousand cubic feet of natural gas

Gal – One gallon of natural gas liquid

Boe – One barrel of oil equivalent, a standard convention used to express oil and natural gas volumes on a comparable oil equivalent basis. Natural gas equivalents are determined under the relative energy content method by using the ratio of 6.0 Mcf of natural gas to 1.0 Bbl of oil or condensate.

*Prior to the acquisition of the New Mexico properties, natural gas liquids production was minimal and included as a component of natural gas on the financial statements.

Results of Operations

The following table reflects our summary operating information. Because of normal production declines, increased or decreased drilling activity and the effects of acquisitions, the historical information presented below should not be interpreted as indicative of future results.

Revenues

Revenues increased as a result of more volumes produced from legacy assets due to successful execution of the Company’s mission to cost-effectively produce more volumes paired with the XTO acquisition’s revenues and volumes brought online from efforts to make the field produce more volumes combined with favorable pricing environments in the Company’s core operating areas. Approximately $5.7 million in oil revenues, $740,000 in gas revenue, and $1.6 million in NGL revenue was attributed to production acquired with the XTO acquisition in the current quarter for a total revenue impact of the XTO assets of approximately $8.1 million of the total revenue variance between periods.

Lease Operating Expense and Taxes

Lease operating expense rose with the XTO acquisition and in response to the Company’s execution of its mission to increase production in its legacy assets. The Company has worked to cost-effectively increase production throughout its asset base utilizing experienced personnel and third-party service providers. Production and ad valorem taxes have increased as a direct result of the XTO acquisition’s properties and increased volumes produced and sold. The acquisition of New Mexico assets accounted for approximately $2.7 million of the increase in lease operating expenses and $655,000 of the increase in production and ad valorem taxes.

Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization and Accretion and Impairment

There were no indicators of impairment on the Company’s properties at period-end. The addition of PDP reserves and producing volumes in New Mexico served as the primary driver of the change in this line item period over period.

General and Administrative Expense

The Company’s headcount increased as a result of the New Mexico acquisition, including administrative personnel. Increase in salaries period-over-period was approximately $170,000. Addition of the New Mexico assets resulted in additional costs for accounting and other professional services of approximately $300,000. The Company also accrued for a loss contingency related to a Texas sales tax audit for which the initial assessment was received in April 2022. The Company accrued $650,000 related to that contingency based on currently available information. The Company intends to seek redetermination of this assessment. The final payment related to this sales tax audit may be more or less than the accrued amount.

The Company utilizes stock-based compensation to compensate members of management and retain talented personnel. The Company anticipates stock-based compensation to continue to be utilized in 2022 and beyond to attract and retain talented personnel.

Interest Expense

Cash-based interest expense declined with a corresponding decrease in the Company’s Credit Facility.

Liquidity

As of March 31, 2022, the Company had approximately $5.4 million cash on hand and approximately $300,000 available on its Credit Facility.  The Company expects to incur costs related to future oil and natural gas acquisitions for the foreseeable future.  It is expected that management will use a combination of cash flows from operations as well as seeking additional debt and equity funding for these acquisitions and to fund ongoing operations.

Working Capital

Working capital (presented below) was approximately $4.7 million as of March 31, 2022 compared to approximately $1.1 million as of December 31, 2021, resulting in an increase of approximately $3.7 million. This change is primarily a result of a consistently strong pricing environment in the first quarter of 2022 that increased the Company’s cash balance by approximately $1.7 million. Drilling on the four non-operated properties that had begun in the fourth quarter of 2021 was completed in early 2022, which was a primary reason for the decrease in accounts payable of approximately $1.7 million between period ends.

Cash Flows

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

The Company closed on its New Mexico properties in May 2021 (See Note 4). These properties significantly increased the volume produced by the Company, and the Company was also able to capitalize on higher pricing in the first quarter of 2022 compared to that in the first quarter of 2021. The Company had net income in the first three months of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, further increasing cash provided by operating activities compared to the cash used in operating activities for the same period last year.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company deposited approximately $1.8 million in an escrow account ahead of the New Mexico acquisition (See Note 4). This cash outflow was the primary driver for the net cash used in investing activities in the prior year. In the current period, there were no similar cash outflows and additions to oil and natural gas properties was minimal in comparison, totaling approximately $425,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company made principal payments on debt of approximately $460,000 that was offset by approximately $98,000 of cash received for warrant exercises. During the same period in the prior year, the Company received cash totaling approximately $6.5 million related to stock and warrant issuances and exercises.

Capital Resources

Capital Expenditures

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company spent approximately $425,000 on additions to oil and natural gas properties, primarily as a result of non-operated drilling. The Company anticipates additional capital expenditures in the coming quarters that will be funded with cash flows from operations.

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Not applicable.

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company conducted an evaluation under the supervision of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and President (and principal financial officer) of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a - 15(e) and 15d - 15(e). Based on this evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and President (and principal financial officer) have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report are not effective. As described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2022, our Chief Executive Officer and President (principal financial officer) concluded that, as of December 31, 2021, our internal control over financial reporting was not effective at a reasonable assurance level as we do not have sufficient resources in our accounting function, which restricts the Company’s ability to gather, analyze and properly review information related to financial reporting in a timely manner.

Upon hiring the Chief Accounting Officer in October 2021, additional controls were implemented, and other controls were enhanced as initial steps to mitigate the risk of a material weakness on a go-forward basis. In the first quarter of 2022, the Chief Accounting Officer engaged an outside company to undertake an internal controls review. This review is scheduled to conclude in the second quarter of 2022. Controls that would strengthen the Company’s internal control structure that are identified during the course of the review are being implemented on an ongoing basis.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

New and enhanced controls have been implemented in 2022 as identified by the Chief Accounting Officer to aid in the mitigation of the weakness discussed in the Annual Report on the Form 10-K that was filed on March 31, 2022. It is management’s expectation that the Company will implement enhanced controls throughout 2022 with additional controls implemented as they are identified by the outside consultants. Management will continue to diligently and rigorously review the financial reporting controls and procedures on an ongoing basis.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

For information regarding legal proceedings, see Note 14 of the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Not applicable.

As previously reported, on March 8, 2022, as partial consideration for a strategic investment in the Company by Energy Evolution (Master Fund), Ltd. (the “Fund”), the Company issued six shares of Series A Voting Preferred Stock to Phil Mulacek, one of the principals of the Fund, as the Fund’s designee.

None.

Not applicable.

None.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

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