EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORP - Quarter Report: 2008 December (Form 10-Q)

Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2008

 

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT

 

For the transition period from               to

 

Commission File Number 001-32942

 

EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

2500 CityWest Blvd., Suite 1300, Houston, Texas 77042

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

 

(713) 935-0122

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 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:  x  No: o

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer  o

Accelerated filer  o

Non-accelerated filer  o

Smaller reporting company  x

 

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

 

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001, as of February 17, 2009, was 26,259,147.

 

 

Table of Contents

 

EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1.	CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	3
	Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) as of December 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008	3
	Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the three and six months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007	4
	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the six months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007	5
	Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements (unaudited)	6
ITEM 2.	MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS	16
ITEM 3.	QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK	26
ITEM 4.	CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES	27
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1.	LEGAL PROCEEDINGS	27
ITEM 1A.	RISK FACTORS	28
ITEM 2.	UNREGISTERED SALE OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS	28
ITEM 3.	DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES	28
ITEM 4.	SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS	29
ITEM 5.	OTHER INFORMATION	29
ITEM 6.	EXHIBITS	30
SIGNATURES		31

 

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Table of Contents

 

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Evolution Petroleum Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

 

		December 31, 2008			June 30, 2008
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	8,514,708		$	11,272,280
Certificates of deposit		1,500,000			—
Receivables
Oil and natural gas sales		407,775			2,066,300
Income tax		—			478,599
Other		159,638			86,966
Income taxes recoverable		—			3,625,987
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		156,996			270,938
Total current assets		10,739,117			17,801,070
Property and equipment, net of depreciation, depletion, and amortization
Oil and natural gas properties — full cost method of accounting, of which $9,467,090 at December 31, 2008 and $7,573,507 at June 30, 2008 were excluded from amortization)		27,496,976			22,047,233
Other property and equipment		168,011			161,027
Total property and equipment		27,664,987			22,208,260
Other assets, net		353,400			356,518
Total assets		$	38,757,504		$	40,365,848
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable		$	2,374,360		$	2,892,459
Accrued expenses		555,130			805,262
Royalties payable		191,276			473,327
Total current liabilities		3,120,766			4,171,048
Long term liabilities
Deferred income taxes		2,682,921			2,901,929
Asset retirement obligations		334,668			215,056
Deferred rent		75,969			74,081
Total liabilities		6,214,324			7,362,114
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Stockholders’ equity
Common Stock; par value $0.001; 100,000,000 shares authorized; issued 27,007,234 shares; outstanding 26,219,034 and 26,870,439 as of December 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008, respectively.		27,007			26,870
Additional paid-in capital		15,465,506			14,188,841
Retained earnings		17,932,689			18,788,023
		33,425,202			33,003,734
Less cost of common stock in treasury, 788,200 shares as of December 31, 2008.		(882,022		)	—
Total stockholders’ equity		32,543,180			33,003,734
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	38,757,504		$	40,365,848

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Evolution Petroleum Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(unaudited)

 

		Three Months Ended December 31,						Six Months Ended December 31,
		2008			2007			2008			2007
Revenues
Crude oil		$	407,194		$	607,877		$	1,986,264		$	1,110,150
Natural gas liquids		235,293			21,294			990,738			21,294
Natural gas		389,295			23,478			969,766			23,478
Total revenues		1,031,782			652,649			3,946,768			1,154,922
Operating Costs
Lease operating expense		313,406			361,192			649,310			671,502
Production taxes		21,776			15,808			107,772			33,364
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		504,291			123,116			1,149,173			233,559
Accretion of asset retirement obligations		6,124			4,851			11,861			9,546
General and administrative *		1,662,627			1,467,678			3,127,467			2,795,996
Total operating costs		2,508,224			1,972,645			5,045,583			3,743,967
Loss from operations		(1,476,442		)	(1,319,996		)	(1,098,815		)	(2,589,045		)
Other income
Interest income		17,782			266,740			91,428			607,821
Net loss before income tax benefit		(1,458,660		)	(1,053,256		)	(1,007,387		)	(1,981,224		)
Income tax benefit		(454,889		)	(282,399		)	(152,053		)	(568,986		)
Net loss		$	(1,003,771	)	$	(770,857	)	$	(855,334	)	$	(1,412,238	)
Loss per common share
Basic and Diluted		$	(0.04	)	$	(0.03	)	$	(0.03	)	$	(0.05	)
Weighted average number of common shares
Basic and Diluted		26,351,277			26,777,366			26,598,473			26,776,800

*General and administrative expenses for the three month period ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 included non cash stock-based compensation expense of $584,525 and $441,564, respectively. General and administrative expenses for the six month period ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 included non cash stock-based compensation expense of $1,108,250 and $817,571, respectively.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

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Evolution Petroleum Corporation and Subsidiaries

 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow

(Unaudited)

 

		Six Months Ended December 31,
		2008			2007
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss		$	(855,334	)	$	(1,412,238	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by(used in) operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		1,149,173			233,559
Stock-based compensation		1,108,250			817,571
Accretion of asset retirement obligations		11,861			9,546
Deferred income taxes		(219,008		)	—
Deferred rent		1,888			24,903
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables from oil and natural gas sales		1,658,525			(176,593		)
Receivables from income taxes and other		4,031,914			(811,595		)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		113,942			85,261
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(314,436		)	(102,658		)
Royalties payable		(282,051		)	9,767
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		6,404,724			(1,322,477		)
Cash flows from investing activities
Development of oil and natural gas properties		(4,723,006		)	(529,262		)
Acquisitions of oil and natural gas properties		(2,033,874		)	(4,395,050		)
Proceeds from asset sale		—			31,582
Capital expenditures for other equipment		(26,602		)	(53,625		)
Purchases of certificates of deposit		(1,500,000		)	—
Other assets		3,118			(2,020		)
Net cash used in investing activities		(8,280,364		)	(4,948,375		)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of restricted stock		90			26
Purchase of treasury stock		(882,022		)	—
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(881,932		)	26
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(2,757,572		)	(6,270,826		)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		11,272,280			27,746,942
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$	8,514,708		$	21,476,116
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Income taxes paid		$	15,000		$	—
Income tax refunds and net operating loss carry-back received		$	4,052,631		$	—
Non-cash transactions:
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable used to acquire oiland natural gas leasehold interests and develop oil andnatural gas properties.		$	(285,333	)	$	985,571
Oil and natural gas properties incurred through recognitionof asset retirement obligations.		$	107,751		$	—
Common stock issued in lieu of a portion of 2008 cash bonusaccrued at June 30, 2008.		$	168,462		$	—

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 1 — Organization and Basis of Preparation

 

Nature of Operations.  Evolution Petroleum Corporation (“EPM”) and its subsidiaries (the “Company”, “we”, “our” or “us”), is an independent petroleum company headquartered in Houston, Texas and incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada.  We are engaged primarily in the acquisition, exploitation and development of properties for the production of crude oil and natural gas.  We acquire properties with known oil and natural gas resources and exploit them through the application of conventional and specialized technology to increase production, ultimate recoveries, or both.

 

Interim Financial Statements.  The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the appropriate rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.  All adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations for the interim periods presented have been included.  The interim financial information and notes hereto should be read in conjunction with the Company’s 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2008, as filed with the SEC. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for a full fiscal year.

 

Principles of Consolidation and Reporting.  Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of EPM and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated financial statements for the previous year include certain reclassifications that were made to conform to the current presentation.  Such reclassifications have no impact on previously reported income or stockholders’ equity.

 

Use of Estimates.  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.  Significant estimates include reserve quantities and estimated future cash flows associated with proved reserves, which significantly impact depletion expense and potential impairments of oil and natural gas properties, income taxes and the valuation of deferred tax assets, stock-based compensation and commitments and contingencies.  We analyze our estimates based on historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable. While we believe that our estimates and assumptions used in preparation of the consolidated financial statements are appropriate, actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Note 2 — Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

New Accounting Standards.  The following discloses the existence and effect of accounting standards issued but not yet adopted by us with respect to accounting standards that may have an impact on the Company when adopted in the future.

 

Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting.  On December 31, 2008 the SEC released new requirements for reporting oil and gas reserves.  The new disclosure requirements, when effective, provide for consideration of new technologies in evaluating reserves, allows companies to disclose their probable and possible reserves to investors, requires reporting of oil and gas reserves using an average price based on the prior 12-month period rather than year-end prices, revises the disclosure requirements for oil and gas operations, and revises accounting for the limitation on capitalized costs for full cost companies.  The new rule is expected to be effective for fiscal years ending on or after December 31, 2009, although the transition may be extended.  A company may not apply the new rules to disclosures in quarterly reports prior to the first annual report in which the revised disclosures are required.  We have not yet evaluated the effects the new rule will have on our financial statements.

 

Accounting for Business Combinations.  In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, Business Combinations (“SFAS No. 141R”), which replaces SFAS No. 141,  Business Combinations.  SFAS No. 141R establishes principles and requirements for determining how an enterprise recognizes and measures the fair value of certain assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination, including non-controlling interests, contingent consideration, and certain acquired contingencies.  SFAS No. 141R also requires acquisition-related transaction expenses and restructuring costs be expensed as incurred rather than capitalized as a component of the business combination.  SFAS No. 141R will be applicable prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting

 

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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 2 — Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Continued)

 

period beginning on or after December 15, 2008.  SFAS No. 141R would have an impact on accounting for any businesses acquired after the effective date of this pronouncement.

 

Accounting for Fair Value Measurements.  In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS No. 157”).  SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007.  The provisions of SFAS No. 157 will be applied prospectively as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which it is initially applied except for, among other items, a financial instrument that was measured at fair value at initial recognition under Statement 133 using the transaction price in accordance with the guidance in footnote 3 of Issue 02-3 prior to initial application of SFAS No. 157.  In February 2008, the FASB deferred the effective date of SFAS No. 157 by one year for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a nonrecurring basis and amended SFAS No. 157 to exclude SFAS No. 13, Accounting for Leases, and its related interpretive accounting pronouncements that address leasing transactions.  SFAS No. 157 did not have an impact on our financial statements when adopted on July 1, 2008.  We are currently evaluating what the impact, if any, of SFAS No. 157 for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities will have on our financial statements.

 

 

Note 3 — Sale of Oil and Natural Gas Properties

 

On March 3, 2008, NGS Sub Corp., a Delaware corporation wholly owned by EPM (“NGS Sub”), pursuant to an Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Asset Sale Agreement”) dated February 15, 2008, completed the sale of its 100% working interest and approximately 79% average net revenue interest in producing and shut-in crude oil wells, water disposal wells, equipment and improvements located in the Tullos Urania, Colgrade and Crossroads Fields in LaSalle and Winn Parishes, Louisiana (the “Tullos Field Area”).  The following table presents the transaction and its affect on our financial statements.

 

Proceeds from sale of properties in the Tullos Field Area		$	4,649,241
Less payout of a third party carried interest arrangement		(168,106		)
Less miscellaneous transaction costs		(60,267		)
Net proceeds		4,420,868
Net book value of our properties in the Tullos Field Area on March 3, 2008
Asset retirement obligation		153,886
Oil and natural gas properties		(1,721,990		)
Other property and equipment		(26,721		)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(178,826		)
Other assets		(13,347		)
Remaining credit recorded to oil and natural gas properties		$	2,633,870

 

The following unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information is presented for illustrative purposes only and presents the pro forma operating results for the Company for the three and six months ended December 31, 2007 as though the disposition of our properties in the Tullos Field Area occurred at October 1, 2007 and July 1, 2007, respectively.  The unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information is not intended to be indicative of the operating results that actually would have occurred if the transaction had been consummated at the beginning of the period presented, nor is the information intended to be indicative of future operating results.

 

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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 3 — Sale of Oil and Natural Gas Properties (Continued)

 

The unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information for the three and six months ended December 31, 2007 are as follows:

 

		Three Months Ended December 31, 2007						Six Months Ended December 31, 2007
		As Reported			Pro Forma			As Reported			Pro Forma
Oil and natural gas revenues		$	652,649		$	60,116		$	1,154,922		$	70,422
Loss from operations		(1,319,996		)	(1,425,170		)	(2,589,045		)	(2,743,395		)
Net loss		(770,857		)	(847,831		)	(1,412,238		)	(1,522,260		)
Loss per common share — basic and diluted		$	(0.03	)	$	(0.03	)	$	(0.05	)	$	(0.06	)

 

Note 4 — Property and Equipment

 

As of December 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008 our oil and natural gas properties and other property and equipment consisted of the following:

 

		December 31, 2008			June 30, 2008
Oil and natural gas properties
Property costs subject to amortization		$	19,791,481		$	15,105,766
Less: Accumulated depreciation, depletion, and amortization		(1,761,595		)	(632,040		)
Unproved properties not subject to amortization		9,467,090			7,573,507
Oil and natural gas properties, net		$	27,496,976		$	22,047,233
Other property and equipment
Furniture, fixtures and office equipment, at cost		258,443			231,841
Less: Accumulated depreciation		(90,432		)	(70,814		)
Other property and equipment, net		$	168,011		$	161,027

 

Unproved properties not subject to amortization includes unevaluated acreage of $7.5 and $5.6 million as of December 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008, respectively.  As of December 31, 2008, this acreage consists of properties in the Giddings Field, our projects in the Woodford Shale trend in Oklahoma, and our Neptune project in South Texas.  As of June 30, 2008, the unevaluated acreage consist of properties in the Giddings Field and our projects in the Woodford Shale trend in Oklahoma.  Unproved properties also consist of approximately $2.0 million as of December 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008 of participating interests through separately acquired royalty and overriding royalty interests aggregating 7.4% of the Delhi Holt Bryant Unit in the Delhi Field in Louisiana.  Subject to industry conditions, evaluation of these properties is expected to be completed within three years.  Our evaluation of impairment of unproved properties occurs, at a minimum, on a quarterly basis.

 

If our net oil and natural gas properties, net of related deferred income taxes, exceed the present value of estimated future net cash flows based on period-end commodity prices discounted at 10 percent and plus the cost of unproved oil and natural gas properties not subject to amortization, net of related tax effects, the excess is charged to expense.  Although, we did not have a “ceiling test” impairment as of December 2008, if prices for crude oil and natural gas decline an additional ten percent from their spot price on December 31, 2008, without an equal dollar reduction in capital costs, we would expect to have a write-down of our oil and natural gas properties of approximately $2.6 million.

 

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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 5 — Asset Retirement Obligations

 

Our asset retirement obligations represent the estimated present value of the amount we will incur to plug, abandon and remediate our producing properties at the end of their productive lives in accordance with applicable laws. The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending asset retirement obligation for the six months ended December 31, 2008:

 

Asset retirement obligations - July 1, 2008		$	215,056
Liabilities incurred		22,480
Accretion expense		11,861
Revisions to previous estimates		85,271
Asset retirement obligations — December 31, 2008		$	4,668

 

Note 6 — Stockholders’ Equity

 

On August 19, 2008, the Board of Directors authorized the issuance of 46,795 shares of common stock to certain employees who elected to receive these shares in lieu of a portion of their fiscal 2008 cash bonus.  The value of the shares issued was $168,462, based on the fair market value on the date of issuance.

 

On October 30, 2008, we repurchased 788,200 shares of common stock at an average price of $1.10 per share, plus approximately $15,000 of transaction costs, from an unaffiliated accredited investor.  At this time, we currently have no plan to repurchase any more common shares.

 

On December 9, 2008, three outside directors each received 30,000 shares of restricted common stock as part of a compensation plan for directors.  The same outside directors each received 8,633 shares of restricted common stock as part of their compensation plan during the year ended June 30, 2008.  All issuances of common stock were subject to vesting terms per individual stock agreements.

 

Note 7 — Stock-Based Incentive Plan

 

We have granted option awards to purchase common stock (the “Stock Options”) and restricted common stock awards  (“Restricted Stock”) to employees, directors, and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries under the Natural Gas Systems Inc. 2003 Stock Plan (the “2003 Stock Plan”) and the Evolution Petroleum Corporation Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan (the “2004 Stock Plan” or together, the “EPM Stock Plans”).  A total of 600,000 awards to purchase an equal number of shares of common stock were issued under the 2003 Stock Plan.  The 2004 Stock Plan authorized the issuance of 5,500,000 shares of common stock.  There are no shares available for grant under the 2003 Stock Plan and, as of December 31, 2008, 597,974 shares remain available for grant under the 2004 Stock Plan.

 

We have also granted common stock warrants, as authorized by the Board of Directors, to employees in lieu of cash bonuses or as incentive awards to reward previous service or provide incentives to individuals to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company’s success and to remain in the service of the Company (the “Incentive Warrants”).  These Incentive Warrants have similar characteristics of the Stock Options.  A total of 1,037,500 Incentive Warrants have been issued, through December 31, 2008, with Board of Directors approval, outside of the EPM Stock Plans.

 

Stock Options and Incentive Warrants

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to Stock Options and Incentive Warrants for the three month period ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $499,994 and $403,109, respectively.  Stock-based compensation expense related to Stock Options and Incentive Warrants for the six month period ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $945,987 and $704,206, respectively.

 

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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Note 7 — Stock-Based Incentive Plan (Continued)

 

During the six months ended December 31, 2008, we granted Stock Options to purchase 591,090 shares of common stock under the 2004 Stock Plan with a weighted average exercise price of $4.27.  During the six months ended December 31, 2007, we granted Stock Options to purchase 1,335,000 shares of common stock under the 2004 Stock Plan with a weighted average exercise price of $2.43.  The exercise price was determined based on the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.  The Stock Options granted during the six months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 generally vest quarterly, on a straight line basis, over a period of four years.  The Stock Options granted during the six months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 have a contractual life of seven and ten years, respectively.  The weighted average assumptions used to calculate the fair value of these Stock Options and the weighted average fair value of each Stock Option granted is as follows:

 

 

We estimated the fair value of Stock Options and Incentive Warrants issued to employees and directors under SFAS No. 123R at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model.  The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.  The expected term (estimated period of time outstanding) of Stock Options and Incentive Warrants is based on the “simplified” method of the estimated expected term for “plain vanilla” options allowed by the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 107 and SAB No. 110, and varied based on the vesting period and contractual

 

The following summary presents information regarding outstanding Stock Options and Incentive Warrants as of December 31, 2008, and the changes during the six months then ended:

 

		Number of  Stock Options and Incentive Warrants		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value  (1)		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)
Stock Options and Incentive Warrants outstanding at July 1, 2008		5,483,500		$1.81
Granted		591,090		$4.27
Exercised		—		—
Canceled, forfeited, or expired		—		—
Stock Options and Incentive Warrants outstanding at December 31, 2008		6,074,590		$2.05		$543,600		7.0
Vested or expected to vest at December 31, 2008		6,074,590		$2.05		$543,600
Exercisable at December 31, 2008		3,935,063		$1.59		$543,038		6.6

 

(1) Based upon the difference between the market price of our common stock on the last trading date of the fiscal quarter ($1.20) and the Stock Option or Incentive Warrant exercise price of in-the-money Stock Options and Incentive Warrants.

 

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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 7 — Stock-Based Incentive Plan (Continued)

 

There were no Stock Options or Incentive Warrants that were exercised during the six months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.

 

A summary of the status of our unvested Stock Options and Incentive Warrants as of December 31, 2008 and the changes during the six months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, is presented below:

 

		Number of Stock Options and Incentive Warrants		Weighted Average Grant- Date Fair Value
Unvested at July 1, 2007		1,573,125		$	1.50
Granted		1,335,000		$	1.90
Vested		(375,625	)	$	1.35
Canceled, forfeited, or expired		—		—
Unvested at December 31, 2007		2,532,500		$	1.73
Unvested at July 1, 2008		2,003,437		$	1.83
Granted		591,090		$	2.62
Vested		(455,000	)	$	1.69
Canceled, forfeited, or expired		—		—
Unvested at December 31, 2008		2,139,527		$	2.08

 

The total unrecognized compensation cost at December 31, 2008, relating to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the EPM Stock Plans and Incentive Warrants was $4,151,838.  Such unrecognized expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.8 years.

 

Restricted Stock

 

For the six months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, we issued 90,000 and 25,899 shares of restricted common stock, respectively, to three outside directors.  All issuances of common stock are subject to vesting terms per individual stock agreements.

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to Restricted Stock grants for the three month period ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $84,531 and $38,455, respectively.  Stock-based compensation expense related to Restricted Stock grants for the six month period ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $162,263 and $113,365, respectively.

 

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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 7 — Stock-Based Incentive Plan (Continued)

 

The following table sets forth the Restricted Stock transactions for the six months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007:

 

		Number of Restricted Shares		Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested at July 1, 2007		59,449		$	2.78
Granted		25,899		$	4.17
Vested		(59,449	)	$	2.78
Forfeited		—		—
Unvested at December 31, 2007		25,899		$	4.17
Unvested at July 1, 2008		50,898		$	4.11
Granted		90,000		$	1.20
Vested		(50,898	)	$	4.11
Forfeited		—		—
Unvested at December 31, 2008		90,000		$	1.20

 

At December 31, 2008, unrecognized stock compensation expense related to Restricted Stock grants totaled $101,110.  Such unrecognized expense will be recognized over a weighted average period of 0.9 years.

 

Note 8 — Income Taxes

 

We file a consolidated federal income tax return in the United States and various combined and separate filings in several state and local jurisdictions.

 

There were no unrecognized tax benefits nor any accrued interest or penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits as of the date of adoption of FIN 48 and through December 31, 2008.

 

We recognized a tax benefit of 31% and 27% for the three months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and a tax benefit of 15% and 29% for the six months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.  The primary reconciling item of our income tax benefit at the statutory federal rate to our effective income tax benefit is stock-based compensation related to our qualified incentive stock option awards.

 

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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 9 — Related Party Transactions

 

Laird Q. Cagan, a member of our Board of Directors, is a Managing Director and co-owner of Cagan McAfee Capital Partners, LLC (“CMCP”). CMCP has performed financial advisory services to us pursuant to a written agreement amended in November 2005 (the “Agreement”), providing for a retainer of $5,000 per month.  Also pursuant to the Agreement, Mr. Cagan, as a registered representative of Chadbourn Securities Inc. (“Chadbourn”) and as a partner of CMCP could serve as our placement agent in private equity financings, wherein CMCP could earn cash fees equal to 8% of gross equity proceeds, declining to 4% subject to the amount of equity raised through CMCP, and a fixed 4% warrant fee.  During the term of the Agreement , Mr. Cagan received no compensation for serving as a director or as the Chairman of our Board of Directors.  Effective December 31, 2008, the Agreement was modified to remove the monthly retainer and Mr. Cagan was re-elected as a director of our Board with remuneration consistent with other outside directors of our Board.

 

Eric A. McAfee, a major shareholder of the Company, is also a Managing Director of CMCP.

 

During the three and six months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, we expensed and paid CMCP $15,000 and $30,000, respectively, through monthly retainers of $5,000.  There were no other earned fees by CMCP during these periods.

 

See also Note 6 for equity transactions with related parties.

 

Note 10 — Earnings (loss) Per Share (“EPS”)

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted loss per share:

 

		Three Months Ended December 31,						Six Months Ended December 31,
		2008			2007			2008			2007
Numerator
Net loss		$	(1,003,771	)	$	(770,857	)	$	(855,334	)	$	(1,412,238	)
Denominator
Weighted average number of common shares — basic and diluted		26,351,277			26,777,366			26,598,473			26,776,800
Net Loss per common share — basic and diluted		$	(0.04	)	$	(0.03	)	$	(0.03	)	$	(0.05	)

 

Total potentially dilutive securities outstanding as of December 31, 2008 are as follows:

 

Outstanding Potential Dilutive Securities		Weighted  Average Exercise Price			Outstanding at December 31, 2008
Common stock warrants issued in connection with equity and financing transactions		$	1.40		401,058
Stock Options and Incentive Warrants		$	2.05		6,074,590
Non-vested Restricted Stock		N/A			90,000
					6,565,648

 

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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 11 — Commitments and Contingencies

 

Environmental clean-up.  On August 3, 2007, we were advised of an oil spill in the Tullos Field near one of our leases. At the request of field agents of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), we agreed to commence a clean-up operation that was completed by the end of August 2007. A detailed analysis of the oil in the spill compared to the Company’s produced oil was conducted by an EPA approved laboratory.  We believe that the oil in the spill did not originate from our operations, supported by the formal findings of the laboratory.  We received insurance reimbursements of $484,197 in October 2007 and $217,668 in March 2008.  These reimbursements covered all of our actual cleanup costs except a $5,000 insurance deductible and excluding our legal fees, in-house administrative costs, and any possible EPA expense reimbursements and fines that might be billed.

 

On May 5, 2008, we received a letter from the EPA proposing a  $5,500 fine related to the oil spill.  In August we paid the fine under a settlement with the EPA where we agreed to pay the $5,500 fine with no admission of liability.  We have also received a bill from the United States Coast Guard of approximately $76,000 for expense reimbursement.  We believe this claim is not supported by independent investigation.  As of the date of this filing, we have requested further verification from the United States Coast Guard to support their claim. If ultimately paid, we believe that such reimbursements are covered by our insurance.

 

Litigation.  The Company is subject to various lawsuits and other claims in the normal course of business.  In addition, from time to time, we receive communications from government or regulatory agencies concerning investigations or allegations of noncompliance with laws or regulations in jurisdiction in which we operate.  We establish reserves for specific liabilities in connection with regulatory and legal actions that we deem to be probable and estimable.  No amounts have been accrued in our financial statements with respect to any legal or regulatory matters as we believe the matters have a remote chance of resulting in a significant judgment.

 

In July 2008, a multi-plaintiff lawsuit was filed in the twenty-eighth Judicial District Court, Lasalle Parish, Louisiana, against 15 defendants, including Four Star Development Corporation, a former indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, which was sold on March 3, 2008, as part of our sale of the Tullos Field Area.  Plaintiffs claim that the defendants’ oil and natural gas exploration, development and production activities on their properties have caused soil and ground water contamination as a result of the release of hydrocarbons and drilling fluids. Plaintiffs seek damages for testing, clean-up and remediation of the properties as well as diminution in their value and mental anguish and emotional distress to the individual plaintiffs, unjust enrichment and punitive damages for alleged concealment of ongoing activities.  At this time, we are not a party to the litigation and are unable at this time to determine the exposure, if any, to the Company.

 

In November 2005, a multi-plaintiff lawsuit was filed in the Fifth Judicial District Court, Richland Parish, Louisiana, against 18 defendants including NGS Sub Corp. and Arkla Petroleum LLC, the Company’s direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries (the “Subsidiaries”), as working interest owners/operators of various oil and natural gas leases in the Delhi Field.  Plaintiffs claim that the defendants’ oil and natural gas exploration, development and production activities on their properties have caused soil and ground water contamination as a result of the release of hydrocarbons and drilling fluids. Plaintiffs seek damages for testing, clean-up and remediation of the properties as well as diminution in their value and mental anguish to the individual plaintiffs, unjust enrichment and punitive damages for alleged concealment of ongoing activities.

 

Defendants have answered Plaintiffs’ suit denying all claims. Trial is set before a jury in Richland Parish for July 13, 2009.  We are vigorously contesting all of Plaintiffs’ claims.  The case is currently in discovery and, at this time, we are unable to predict the outcome of the litigation.

 

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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 11 — Commitments and Contingencies (Continued)

 

Lease Commitments.  We have a non-cancelable operating lease for office space that expires on August 1, 2016. Future minimum lease commitments as of December 31, 2008 under this operating lease are as follows:

 

 

Rent expense for the three months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 was 35,466.  Rent expense for the six months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 was 70,933.

 

Employment Contracts.  We have entered into employment agreements with the Company’s three senior executives.  The employment contracts provide for a severance package for termination by the Company for any reason other than cause or permanent disability, or in the event of a constructive termination, that includes payment of base pay and certain medical and disability benefits from six months to a year after termination.   The total contingent obligation under the employment contracts as of December 31, 2008 is approximately $499,000.

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

This Form 10-Q and the information referenced herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigations Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The words “plan,” “expect,” “project,” “estimate,” “assume,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “budget,” “forecast,” “predict” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements appear in a number of places and include statements regarding our plans, beliefs or current expectations, including the plans, beliefs and expectations of our officers and directors. When considering any forward-looking statement, you should keep in mind the risk factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements herein include the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices for oil and natural gas, operating risks and other risk factors as described in our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2008 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Furthermore, the assumptions that support our forward-looking statements are based upon information that is currently available and is subject to change. We specifically disclaim all responsibility to publicly update any information contained in a forward-looking statement or any forward-looking statement in its entirety and therefore disclaim any resulting liability for potentially related damages. All forward-looking statements attributable to Evolution Petroleum Corporation are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

 

We use the terms, “EPM,” “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” to refer to Evolution Petroleum Corporation.

 

Executive Overview

 

General

 

We are a petroleum company engaged primarily in the acquisition, exploitation and development of properties for the production of crude oil and natural gas. We acquire known, underdeveloped oil and natural gas resources and exploit them through the application of capital and technology to increase production, ultimate recoveries, or both.

 

Our strategy is intended to generate scalable development opportunities at normally pressured depths, exhibiting relatively low completion risk, generally longer and more predictable production lives, less expenditures on infrastructure and lower operational risks.

 

Within this overall strategy, we pursue three specific initiatives:

 

I		Enhanced oil recovery (“EOR”), using miscible and immiscible gas flooding;
II		Conventional redevelopment of bypassed primary resources within mature oil and natural gas fields utilizing modern technology and our expertise; and
III		Unconventional gas resource development, using modern stimulation and completion technologies.

 

Our most significant asset is within our EOR Initiative in the 13,636 acre Delhi Field, located in northeast Louisiana.  Our non-operated interests consist of 7.4% in overriding and mineral royalty interests and a 25% after pay-out reversionary working interest in the Delhi Field Holt Bryant Unit, along with a 25% working interest in certain other depths in the Delhi Field resulting from the Farmout we completed on June 12, 2006 with Denbury Onshore LLC, a subsidiary of Denbury Resources Inc. (“Denbury”) (the “Delhi Farmout”).  The Holt Bryant Unit is currently being redeveloped by the operator, Denbury, using CO2 enhanced oil recovery technology and a dedicated portion of Denbury’s proved CO2 reserves in the Jackson Dome, located approximately 100 miles east of Delhi.  According to public presentations released by Denbury, injection of CO2 is expected to begin during the first half of calendar 2009, followed by projected increases in oil production about late calendar 2009.

 

Since our closing of the Delhi Farmout, we have focused on developing projects in our other initiatives, particularly through conventional redevelopment of bypassed resources in the Giddings Field using horizontal drilling methods, and the leasing of unconventional gas shale projects in the Woodford Shale Trend in Oklahoma.  Conceptually, our plan going forward can be illustrated as follows:

 

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As indicated by the above chart, (volumes are representative and not to scale), we are funding our current development projects in the Giddings Field and leasing and development activities in our gas shale projects with our working capital resources.  We expect that net cash flows from our properties in the Giddings Field, our current cash resources and cash flows from the Delhi Project will be used to fund our gas shale projects and other new projects.

 

Our long term strategy and primary focus continue to be on increasing share value through the identification and acquisition of resources and conversion of those resources into proved reserves through our expertise and technology.  Our focus is on the following value-added activities, including (i) project identification and leasing of reserves that we believe will be categorized as proved undeveloped, and (ii) selective drilling activities to move existing reserves into the proved category.

 

Highlights for our Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2009

 

·                  The redeployment of our proceeds from the sale of our properties in the Tullos Field Area into the Giddings Field continues to generate positive results

 

Sales volumes increased 228% during our second quarter in fiscal year 2009 vs. our second quarter in fiscal year 2008.  Our increase in sales volumes for the quarter were solely attributable to our production in the Giddings Field.  Our properties in the Tullos Field Area, which were sold on March 3, 2008, accounted for approximately 85% of total sales volumes for the three months ended December 31, 2007.

 

We lowered per barrel lifting costs by 72% during our most recent quarter vs. the prior year quarter, while depletion increased approximately $6 per BOE. Lifting costs (lease operating and severance tax, on a combined per unit of sales basis) were $12.54 per BOE during the quarter ended December 31, 2008, which included only production from our properties in the Giddings Field.  During the quarter ended December 31, 2007, where our production was primarily from our properties in the Tullos Field Area, lifting costs averaged $44.63 per Bbl of crude oil.  Due to additions of higher valued, higher cost reserves at the Giddings Field during the period, our depletion rate rose from $13.29 to $19.07 per BOE.

 

·                  We remained financially strong

 

We ended the quarter with $10.0  million of cash and cash equivalents and short-term certificates of deposit and $7.6 million of working capital, compared to $11.3 million of cash and cash equivalents and $13.6 million of working capital  at June 30, 2008.   We incurred $6.6 million in capital expenditures for oil and natural gas leasehold and development costs during the six months ended December 31, 2008.

 

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We protected our short-term investments during difficult credit market conditions.  We have continually avoided structurally enhanced investment securities, auction rate securities and other higher risk credit instruments.  Instead, we relied upon lower yielding U.S. Government Agency money market funds until July 2008, when we shifted all of our cash equivalents into short-term U.S. Treasury money market funds.  During the most recent quarter, we redeployed some of our cash and cash equivalents into certificates of deposit that mature within a year and that are fully insured by the FDIC.

 

We  repurchased 788,200 shares of our common shares at an average price of $1.10 per share, plus transaction costs, from an unaffiliated accredited investor.  We believe the acquisition of our shares at these levels is highly accretive to existing shareholder value based on our internal calculations of the net present value of our proved and unproved assets.  At this time, we currently have no plan to repurchase any more common shares.

 

We are still debt free, and expect to remain so during fiscal 2009.

 

Looking Forward in 2009

 

·                  We will focus our efforts on increasing underlying value per share by converting unproved resources to proved reserves.

 

Increased production from two re-entry wells beginning in our third fiscal quarter 2009.  The first fiscal 2009 Giddings Field re-entry well, the Hilton Yeagua #1, was recently completed and placed onto production during mid-January 2009.  A second re-entry well, the Pearson #1, began drilling in late December 2008 and was completed and placed on production in late January 2009.  As of early February, the two wells were producing at a combined rate of 580 boepd, and we own a 100% working interest and approximately 79% revenue interest in the two wells. Wells of this type in the Giddings Field  generally exhibit high initial decline rates, however, the initial production rates were higher than projected

 

Completion of the CO2 pipeline to Delhi and initiation ofCO2  injection is expected in the second calendar quarter of 2009 (source: public presentations by Operator).

 

Production from Delhi expected in calendar 2009.  First oil production is expected to begin within six months following first injection of CO2, or sometime in late calendar 2009. We believe that production response in the Delhi Field resulting from the injection of CO2 will lead to substantial net proved reserves.

 

We expect to initiate pilot drilling within our shallow Woodford Shale projects. Current plans for fiscal 2009 include the drilling of up to five vertical wells to depths of about 1500’ to utilize air drilling to develop what we believe will be substantial low cost gas reserves.

 

We expect to initiate pilot drilling within our Neptune heavy oil project in South Texas.  We recently completed the leasing of approximately 1500 net acres where we intend to drill infill wells within an existing moderately heavy oil field.  The infill, or downspaced, wells have already been proved in expected reserves by another operator and we expect to apply our specialized completion technology to enhance recovery.

 

·                  Further declines of oil and natural gas prices could result in a significant impairment of our full-cost pool.

 

The current recessionary economic environment has resulted in lower demand for oil and natural gas, resulting in severely declining commodity prices, while the decline in oilfield capital costs has lagged.  If prices for crude oil and natural gas decline an additional ten percent from their spot price on December 31, 2008, without an equal dollar reduction in capital costs, we would expect to have a write-down of our oil and natural gas properties of approximately $2.6 million.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our primary liquidity needs are to fund strategic property acquisitions, our drilling program, and general and administrative costs.   As disclosed in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, we revised our 2009 capital expenditures budget for fiscal 2009 (the “Revised 2009 Plan”), reducing the overall program by more than half to less than $10 million.  Due to our substantial working capital, cash flows from producing properties, no debt and no near term expiring leases, we believe we have the ability to fund or further adjust our capital expenditure budget to capture select opportunities that may arise for the benefit of our shareholders, without the need of additional financing.  Therefore, we believe that our current sources of liquidity are sufficient to fund our ongoing cash requirements.

 

At December 31, 2008, our working capital was $7.6 million and we continued to be debt free.  This compares to working capital of $13.6 million at June 30, 2008.  The decrease in working capital of $6.0 million since June 2008 was due to cash of $6.8 million used for investing activities, primarily for investments in oil and natural gas properties, cash used of  $0.9 million to repurchase our common stock, a decrease of $5.8 million in receivables and other current assets, primarily from the collection of income tax receivables, partially offset by cash of $6.4 million provided by operations and a decrease of $1.1 million in current liabilities.

 

Cash flows provided by operating activities for the six months ended December 31, 2008 were $6.4 million.  Cash flows provided by operations includes cash proceeds of $5.3 million from oil and natural gas production primarily from our properties in the Giddings Field, cash proceeds of $0.1 million from interest income, cash proceeds of $4.1 million from income tax refunds, primarily from our 2008 tax year net operating loss carry-back, offset by $3.1 million of cash payments for operating activities, including lease operating expenses, production taxes, and salaries and wages.  This compares to $1.3 million of cash used in operations for the six months ended December 31, 2007, which includes $0.9 million of cash proceeds from oil and natural gas production primarily from our properties in the Tullos Field Area, which we sold on March 3, 2008, cash proceeds from interest income of $0.6 million, offset by $2.8 million of cash payments for operating activities, including lease operating expenses, production taxes, and salaries and wages.

 

Cash flows used in investing activities totaled $8.3 million during the six months ended December 31, 2008, and notwithstanding the purchase of certificates of deposit of $1.5 million with maturities no greater than twelve months, our investing activities were primarily for development activities in the Giddings Field and leasehold acquisition costs in the Giddings Field, our Woodford Shale projects in Oklahoma and our Neptune project in South Texas.  Our cash flows from investing activities includes net payments on accounts payable of $0.3 million from June 30, 2008, relating to expenditures for oil and natural gas properties.  This compared to $4.9 million used in investing activities for the six months ended December 31, 2007, primarily for investments in oil and natural gas properties at the Giddings Field.

 

Cash flows used in financing activities for the six months ended December 31, 2008 were $0.9 million.  On October 30, 2008, we repurchased 788,200 shares of common stock at an average price of $1.10 per share, plus approximately $15,000 of transaction costs, from an unaffiliated accredited investor.  At this time, the company has no plan to repurchase any more common shares.  Cash flows from financing activities for the six months ended December 31, 2007 were insignificant.

 

We incurred $6.6 million in capital expenditures for oil and natural gas leasehold and development costs during the six months ended December 31, 2008, which includes $0.1 million related to costs incurred due to the recognition of asset retirement obligations. Of the $6.6 million, $2.0 million was incurred for leasehold acquisitions and $4.6 million was incurred for development activities.  For the six months ended December 31, 2007, we incurred $5.9 million in capital expenditures (which includes a net increase in accounts payable of $1.0 million from June 30, 2007 related to capital expenditures) for oil and natural gas leasehold and development costs, primarily leasehold acquisitions in the Giddings Field.

 

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Since our wells in the Giddings Field tend to produce a large portion of their reserves relatively quickly, we believe that it is in our shareholders’ best interests to slow the development of our properties in the Giddings Field until expectations of higher commodity prices may be realized.  Our Revised 2009 Plan provides for drilling up to three re-entry wells in the Giddings Field, which is a reduction from the previous ten well re-entry plan, subject to future changes in commodity prices and market conditions.  The first fiscal 2009 Giddings Field re-entry well, the Hilton Yeagua #1, was recently completed and placed onto production during mid-January 2009.  A second re-entry well, the Pearson #1, began drilling in late December 2008 and was completed and placed on production in late January 2009.  As of early February, the two wells were producing at a combined rate of 580 boepd, and we own a 100% working interest and approximately 78-80% revenue interest in the two wells.

 

Additionally, initial test drilling of up to five low-cost vertical wells is planned within our shallow Woodford Shale project in Oklahoma.  It is our intention to potentially quantify and convert that potential resource into proved and probable reserves, with possible further proved extensions from these wells if the SEC implements its proposed new rules on proved reserves.  Similarly, we expect to drill up to three low cost wells in our new Texas project, with the expectation of potentially establishing additional proved reserves of moderately heavy oil associated with water at shallow depths.

 

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Results of Operations

 

Three months ended December 31, 2008 compared with the three months ended December 31, 2007

 

The following table sets forth certain financial information with respect to our oil and natural gas operations:

 

		Three Months Ended
		December 31									%
		2008			2007			Variance			change
Production Volumes, net to the Company:
Crude oil (Bbl)		7,346			6,481			865			13	%
Natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) (Bbl)		7,682			388			7,294			1,880	%
Natural gas (Mcf)		66,929			3,617			63,312			1,750	%
Crude oil, NGLs and natural gas (BOE)		26,183			7,472			18,711			250	%
Sales Volumes, net to the Company:
Crude oil (Bbl)		7,098			6,927			171			2	%
NGLs (Bbl)		7,682			388			7,294			1,880	%
Natural gas (Mcf)		66,929			3,617			63,312			1,750	%
Crude oil, NGLs and natural gas (BOE)		25,935			7,918			18,017			228	%
Revenue data:
Crude oil		$	407,194		$	607,877		$	(200,683	)	(33	)%
NGLs		235,293			21,294			213,999			1,005	%
Natural gas		389,295			23,478			365,817			1,558	%
Total revenues		$	1,031,782		$	652,649		$	379,133		58	%
Average price:
Crude oil (per Bbl)		$	57.37		$	87.75		$	(30.38	)	(35	)%
NGLs (per Bbl)		30.63			54.88			(24.25		)	(44	)%
Natural gas (per Mcf)		5.82			6.49			(0.67		)	(10	)%
Crude oil, NGLs and natural gas (per BOE)		$	39.78		$	82.43		$	(42.65	)	(52	)%
Expenses (per BOE)
Lease operating expenses and production taxes (a)		$	12.54		$	44.63		$	(32.09	)	(72	)%
Depletion expense on oil and natural gas properties (b)		$	19.07		$	13.29		$	5.78		43	%

(a)          Excludes non-recurring expenses related to the oil spill in the Tullos Field Area of $10,000 and $23,591 for the three months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

(b)         Excludes depreciation of furniture and fixtures of $9,794 and $17,870, for the three months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

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