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MARINE PETROLEUM TRUST - Quarter Report: 2010 March (Form 10-Q)

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
Form 10-Q
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010
OR
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     
Commission file number 000-08565
Marine Petroleum Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Texas
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
  75-6008017
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
     
c/o The Corporate Trustee:    
U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management
P. O. Box 830650, Dallas, Texas

(Address of principal executive offices)
  75283-0650
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (800) 985-0794
None
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year
if changed since last report)
 
     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 o
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, 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 and post such files).
Yes o 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 definitions 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 (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)   Smaller reporting company þ
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o No þ
Indicate number of units of beneficial interest outstanding as of the latest practicable date:
As of May 12, 2010, Marine Petroleum Trust had 2,000,000 units of beneficial interest outstanding.
 
 

 


 

MARINE PETROLEUM TRUST
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 EX-31.1
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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
MARINE PETROLEUM TRUST AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND TRUST CORPUS
As of March 31, 2010 and June 30, 2009
                 
    March 31,     June 30,  
    2010     2009  
    (Unaudited)     (Audited)  
ASSETS
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 1,202,540     $ 1,038,850  
Federal income taxes refundable
    14,425       14,425  
Producing oil and gas properties
    7       7  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 1,216,972     $ 1,053,282  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND TRUST CORPUS
               
Current liabilities:
               
Federal income taxes payable
  $     $  
 
           
Total current liabilities
  $     $  
 
           
 
               
Trust corpus — authorized 2,000,000 units of beneficial interest, issued 2,000,000 units at nominal value
  $ 1,216,972     $ 1,053,282  
 
           
 
  $ 1,216,972     $ 1,053,282  
 
           
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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MARINE PETROLEUM TRUST AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF DISTRIBUTABLE INCOME
For the Three and Nine Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009
(Unaudited)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    March 31,     March 31,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Income:
                               
Oil and gas royalties
  $ 604,202     $ 286,774     $ 1,529,633     $ 2,488,022  
Oil and gas royalties from affiliate
    199,111       403,742       633,194       1,032,326  
Interest income
          555       11       12,143  
 
                       
Total income
  $ 803,313     $ 691,071     $ 2,162,838     $ 3,532,491  
 
                               
Expenses:
                               
General and administrative
  $ 60,628     $ 100,788     $ 215,214     $ 303,930  
 
                       
Distributable income before Federal income taxes
    742,685       590,283       1,947,624       3,228,561  
Federal income taxes of subsidiary
                      3,600  
 
                       
Distributable income
  $ 742,685     $ 590,283     $ 1,947,624     $ 3,224,961  
 
                       
Distributable income per unit
  $ 0.37     $ 0.30     $ 0.97     $ 1.61  
 
                       
Distributions per unit
  $ 0.32     $ 0.30     $ 0.89     $ 1.96  
 
                       
Units outstanding
    2,000,000       2,000,000       2,000,000       2,000,000  
 
                       
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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MARINE PETROLEUM TRUST AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN TRUST CORPUS
For the Nine Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009
(Unaudited)
                 
    Nine Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2010     2009  
Trust corpus, beginning of period
  $ 1,053,282     $ 1,670,467  
Distributable income
    1,947,624       3,224,961  
Distributions to unitholders
    1,783,934       3,913,129  
 
           
Trust corpus, end of period
  $ 1,216,972     $ 982,299  
 
           
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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MARINE PETROLEUM TRUST AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2010
(Unaudited)
Note 1. Accounting Policies
     The financial statements include the financial statements of Marine Petroleum Trust (the “Trust”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Marine Petroleum Corporation (“MPC,” and collectively with the Trust, “Marine”). The financial statements are condensed and consolidated and should be read in conjunction with Marine’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009. The financial statements included herein are unaudited, but in the opinion of the trustee of the Trust, they include all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for the periods indicated. Operating results for the interim periods reported herein are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010.
Note 2. Basis of Accounting
     The financial statements of Marine are prepared on the modified cash basis method and are not intended to present financial position and results of operations in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Under the modified cash basis method:
    Royalty income is recognized in the month when received by Marine.
    Marine’s expenses (which include accounting, legal, and other professional fees, trustees’ fees and out-of-pocket expenses) are recorded on an accrual basis. Reserves for liabilities that are contingent or uncertain in amount may also be established if considered necessary.
    Distributions to unitholders are recognized when declared by the trustee of the Trust.
     The financial statements of Marine differ from financial statements prepared in conformity with GAAP because of the following:
    Royalty income is recognized in the month received rather than in the month of production.
    Reserves may be established for contingencies that would not be recorded under GAAP.
     This comprehensive basis of accounting corresponds to the accounting principles permitted for royalty trusts by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as specified by Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 12:E, Financial Statements of Royalty Trusts.
Note 3. Distributable Income
     The Trust’s Indenture (the “Indenture”) provides that the trustee is to distribute all cash in the Trust, less an amount reserved for the payment of accrued liabilities and estimated future expenses, to unitholders on the 28th day of March, June, September and December of each year. If the 28th day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the distribution is payable on the immediately succeeding business day.
     As stated under “Accounting Policies” above, the financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are the condensed and consolidated account balances of the Trust and MPC. However, distributable income is paid from the account balances of the Trust. Distributable income is comprised of (i) royalties from offshore Texas leases owned directly by the Trust, (ii) 98% of the royalties received from offshore Louisiana leases owned by MPC, which are retained by and delivered to the Trust on a quarterly basis, (iii) cash distributions from the Trust’s interest in Tidelands Royalty Trust “B” (“Tidelands”), a separate publicly traded royalty trust, (iv) dividends paid by MPC, less (v) administrative expenses incurred by the Trust. Distributions fluctuate from quarter to quarter primarily due to changes in oil and natural gas prices and production quantities.

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Note 4. Subsequent Event
     Subsequent events have been evaluated through the date of the quarterly report on Form 10-Q in which these financial statements are included.
Note 5. Investment in Affiliate — Tidelands Royalty Trust “B”
     At March 31, 2010 and 2009, the Trust owned 32.6% of the outstanding units of beneficial interest in Tidelands.
     The following summary financial statements have been derived from the unaudited consolidated financial statements of Tidelands:
TIDELANDS CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF DISTRIBUTABLE INCOME
                 
    Nine     Nine  
    Months     Months  
    Ended     Ended  
    March 31,     March 31,  
    2010     2009  
Income
  $ 2,009,401     $ 3,728,868  
 
           
Expenses
    172,158       244,458  
 
           
Distributable income before Federal income taxes
    1,837,243       3,484,410  
Federal income taxes of Tidelands’ subsidiary
    5,800       31,770  
 
           
Distributable income
  $ 1,831,443     $ 3,452,640  
     Tidelands is a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and has filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009. Reference should be made to Tidelands’ public filings for current information concerning Tidelands and its financial position and results of operations.

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Item 2.   Trustee’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Organization
     The Trust is a royalty trust that was created in 1956 under the laws of the State of Texas. U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management serves as corporate trustee (the “Trustee”). The Indenture provides that the term of Trust will expire on June 1, 2021, unless extended by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding units of beneficial interest. The Trust is not permitted to engage in any business activity because it was organized for the sole purpose of providing an efficient, orderly, and practical means for the administration and liquidation of rights to payments from certain oil and natural gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico, pursuant to license agreements and amendments between the Trust’s predecessors and Gulf Oil Corporation (“Gulf”). As a result of various transactions that have occurred since 1956, the Gulf interests now are held by Chevron Corporation (“Chevron”) and its assignees. The Trust holds title to interests in properties that are situated offshore of Texas.
     The Trust’s wholly-owned subsidiary, MPC, holds title to interests in properties that are situated offshore of Louisiana because at the time the Trust was created, trusts could not hold these interests under Louisiana law. MPC is prohibited from engaging in a trade or business and does only those things necessary for the administration and liquidation of its properties.
     Marine’s rights are generally referred to as overriding royalty interests in the oil and natural gas industry. An overriding royalty interest is created by an assignment by the owner of a working interest in an oil or gas lease. The royalty rights associated with an overriding royalty interest terminate when the underlying lease terminates. All production and marketing functions are conducted by the working interest owners of the leases. Income from overriding royalties is paid to Marine either (i) on the basis of the selling price of oil, natural gas and other minerals produced, saved and sold, or (ii) at the value at the wellhead as determined by industry standards, when the selling price does not reflect the value at the wellhead.
     The Trustee assumes that some units of beneficial interest are held by middlemen, as such term is broadly defined in U.S. Treasury Regulations (and includes custodians, nominees, certain joint owners, and brokers holding an interest for a customer in street name). Therefore, the Trustee considers the Trust to be a widely held fixed investment trust (“WHFIT”) for U.S. Federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Trust will provide tax information in accordance with applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations governing the information reporting requirements of the Trust as a WHFIT. The representative of the Trust that will provide the required information is U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management and the contact information for the representative is as follows:

U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management
P.O. Box 830650
Dallas, Texas 75283-0650
Telephone number: (800) 985-0794
Each unitholder should consult his or her own tax advisor for compliance matters.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
     Due to the limited purpose of the Trust as stated in the Trust’s Indenture, there is no requirement for capital. The Trust’s only obligation is to distribute to unitholders the distributable income actually collected. As an administrator of oil and natural gas royalty properties, the Trust collects royalties monthly, pays administration expenses and disburses all net royalties collected to its unitholders each quarter.
     The Trust’s Indenture (and MPC’s charter and by-laws) expressly prohibits the operation of any kind of trade or business. The Trust’s oil and natural gas properties are depleting assets and are not being replaced due to the prohibition against these investments. These restrictions, along with other factors, allow the Trust to be treated as a grantor trust. As a grantor trust, all income and deductions for state and U.S Federal tax purposes generally flow through to each individual unitholder. In May 2006, the State of Texas passed legislation to implement a franchise or “margin” tax. The Trust does not believe that it is subject to the franchise tax because at least 90% of its income is from passive sources. Please see Marine’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June

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30, 2009 for further information. MPC is a taxable entity and pays state and U.S. Federal taxes on its income. However, MPC’s income specifically excludes 98% of oil and natural gas royalties collected by MPC, which are retained by and delivered to the Trust in respect of the Trust’s net profits interest.
The Leases
     Marine relies on public records for information regarding drilling operations. The public records available up to the date of this report indicate that there were 11 new well completions made during the nine months ended March 31, 2010 on leases in which Marine has an interest. Public records also indicate that there were four wells in the process of being drilled and one permit for a well to be drilled in the future.
     Marine holds an overriding royalty interest that is equal to three-fourths of 1% of the working interest and is calculated on the value at the well of any oil, natural gas, or other minerals produced and sold from 57 leases covering 203,616 gross acres located in the Gulf of Mexico. Marine’s overriding royalty interest applies only to existing leases and does not apply to any new leases that Chevron may acquire. The Trust also owns a 32.6% interest in Tidelands. Tidelands has an overriding royalty interest in five leases covering 22,948 gross acres located in the Gulf of Mexico. As a result of this ownership, the Trust receives periodic distributions from Tidelands.
     On April 20, 2010, a deepwater drilling rig exploded and sank in the Gulf of Mexico, which resulted in loss of life and a substantial oil spill. Marine does not receive royalties from the well. To date, Marine has not been directly impacted by the loss of the well or its aftermath. However, how Marine may be affected by this incident in the future, including any new or additional regulation that may be adopted in response to the incident that affects wells from which Marine receives royalties, are unknown at this time.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
     In accordance with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 12:E, Financial Statements of Royalty Trusts, Marine uses the modified cash basis method of accounting. Under this accounting method, royalty income is recorded when received, and distributions to unitholders are recorded when declared by the Trustee of the Trust. Expenses of Marine (which include accounting, legal, and other professional fees, trustees’ fees and out-of-pocket expenses) are recorded on an accrual basis. Marine also reports distributable income instead of net income under the modified cash basis method of accounting. Cash reserves are permitted to be established by the Trustee for certain contingencies that would not be recorded under GAAP.
     Marine did not have any changes in critical accounting policies or in significant accounting estimates during the nine months ended March 31, 2010. Please see Marine’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009 for a detailed discussion of critical accounting policies.
General
     During the nine months ended March 31, 2010, Marine realized 72.6% of its royalty income from the sale of oil and 27.4% from the sale of natural gas, excluding its interest in Tidelands. Royalty income consists of oil and natural gas royalties received from producers. During the nine months ended March 31, 2010, Marine’s interest in Tidelands accounted for 29.3% of its total income.
     Marine’s royalty income is derived from the oil and natural gas production activities of unrelated parties. Marine’s royalty income fluctuates from period to period based upon factors beyond Marine’s control, including, without limitation, the number of productive wells drilled and maintained on leases subject to Marine’s interest, the level of production over time from such wells and the prices at which the oil and natural gas from such wells are sold.
     Important aspects of Marine’s operations are conducted by third parties. Marine’s royalty income is dependent on the operations of the working interest owners of the leases on which Marine has an overriding royalty interest. The oil and natural gas companies that lease tracts subject to Marine’s interests are responsible for the production and sale of oil and natural gas and the calculation of royalty payments to Marine. The only obligation of

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the working interest owners to Marine is to make monthly overriding royalty payments of Marine’s interest in the oil and natural gas sold. Marine’s distributions are processed and paid by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC as the agent for Marine.
     The volume of oil and natural gas produced and its selling price are primary factors in the calculation of overriding royalty payments. Production is affected by the declining capability of the producing wells, the number of new wells drilled and the number of existing wells re-worked and placed back in production. Production from existing wells is anticipated to decrease in the future due to normal well depletion. Marine has no input with the operators regarding future drilling or re-working operations which could impact the oil and natural gas production on the leases on which Marine has an overriding royalty interest.
Summary of Operating Results
     Distributable income per unit for the nine months ended March 31, 2010 decreased 39.8% to $0.97 as compared to $1.61 for the comparable period in 2009. Distributions to unitholders amounted to $0.89 per unit for the nine months ended March 31, 2010, a decrease of $1.07 per unit, or 54.6%, from the distributions for the comparable period in 2009. The decrease is primarily due to a 41.9% decrease in the price of oil and a 58.1% decrease in the price of natural gas. During the nine months ended March 31, 2010, the difference between distributable income per unit and distributions per unit resulted from timing differences between the closing of the financial statements and the determination date of the distribution amount to unitholders.
     For the nine months ended March 31, 2010, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, oil production increased 3,462 barrels and natural gas production increased 1,056 thousand cubic feet (mcf) from the levels realized in the comparable period in 2009. For the nine months ended March 31, 2010, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, the average price realized for a barrel of oil decreased $49.68 from the price realized in the comparable period in 2009 and the average price realized for an mcf of natural gas decreased $5.85 from the price realized in the comparable period in 2009.
     The following table presents the net production quantities of oil and natural gas and distributable income and distributions per unit for the last six quarters.
                                 
    Net Production        
    Quantities(1)        
            Natural   Distributable   Distribution
Quarter Ended   Oil (bbls)   Gas (mcf)   Income Per Unit   Per Unit
December 31, 2008
    3,573       28,385     $ 0.49     $ 0.89  
March 31, 2009
    2,130       28,473     $ 0.30     $ 0.30  
June 30, 2009
    4,210       16,794     $ 0.29     $ 0.26  
September 30, 2009
    4,995       36,074     $ 0.31     $ 0.25  
December 31, 2009
    5,352       30,833     $ 0.29     $ 0.32  
March 31, 2010
    5,790       32,085     $ 0.37     $ 0.32  
 
(1)   Excludes the Trust’s interest in Tidelands.
Results of Operations—Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009
     Income from oil and natural gas royalties increased 110.7% during the three months ended March 31, 2010 from the levels realized in the comparable quarter of 2009.
     Distributable income increased 25.8% to $742,685 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 from $590,283 realized for the comparable three months in 2009. Marine believes that the primary reason royalties were up for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was a 39.8% increase in the price of oil, a 171.8% increase in the production of oil and a 12.7% increase in the production of natural gas. These increases were partially offset by a 15.0% decrease in the price of natural gas.

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     Excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, oil and natural gas production (barrels of oil equivalent) in the three months ended March 31, 2010 increased 62.0% from the volumes realized in the three months ended March 31, 2009.
     Income from oil royalties, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, for the three months ended March 31, 2010 increased 279.9% to $440,613 from $115,968 realized for the comparable three months in 2009. There was a 171.8% increase in production and a 39.8% increase in the price realized.
     Income from natural gas royalties, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, for the three months ended March 31, 2010 decreased 4.2% to $163,590 from $170,806 for the comparable three months in 2009. There was a 12.7% increase in production and a 15.0% decrease in the price realized.
     Income from the Trust’s interest in Tidelands decreased 50.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the comparable three months of 2009.
     The following table presents the quantities of oil and natural gas sold and the average price realized from current operations for the three months ended March 31, 2010, and those realized in the comparable three months in 2009, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands.
                         
    Three Months Ended March 31,    
    2010   2009    
    (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   % Change
Oil
                       
Barrels sold
    5,790       2,130       171.8 %
Average price
  $ 76.10     $ 54.45       39.8 %
 
                       
Natural gas
                       
Mcf sold
    32,085       28,473       12.7 %
Average price
  $ 5.10     $ 6.00       (15.0 )%
     General and administrative expenses decreased 39.8% to $60,628 in the three months ended March 31, 2010 from $100,788 in the prior year period, primarily due to decreased professional fees and expenses.
Results of Operations—Nine Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009
     Distributable income decreased 39.6% to $1,947,624 for the nine months ended March 31, 2010 from $3,224,961 realized for the comparable nine months in 2009. Marine believes that the primary reason royalties were down for the nine months ended March 31, 2010 was the 41.9% decrease in the price of oil and the 58.1% decrease in the price of natural gas.
     Excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, oil and gas production (barrels of oil equivalent) in the nine months ended March 31, 2010 increased 12.5% from the volumes realized in the nine months ended March 31, 2009.
     Income from oil royalties, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, for the nine months ended March 31, 2010 decreased 26.1% to $1,110,060 from $1,501,668 realized for the comparable nine months in 2009. While there was a 27.3% increase in oil production, it was offset by a 41.9% decrease in the price realized.
     Income from natural gas royalties, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, for the nine months ended March 31, 2010 decreased 57.6% to $418,203 from $986,354 realized for the comparable nine months in 2009. There was a 1.1% increase in production and a 58.1% decrease in the price realized.
     Income from the Trust’s interest in Tidelands decreased 38.7% for the nine months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the comparable nine months of 2009.

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     The following table presents the quantities of oil and natural gas sold and the average price realized from current operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2010, and those realized in the comparable nine months in 2009, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands.
                         
    Nine Months Ended March 31,    
    2010   2009    
    (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   % Change
Oil
                       
Barrels sold
    16,137       12,675       27.3 %
Average price
  $ 68.79     $ 118.47       (41.9 )%
 
                       
Natural gas
                       
Mcf sold
    98,992       97,936       1.1 %
Average price
  $ 4.22     $ 10.07       (58.1 )%
     General and administrative expenses decreased 29.2% to $215,214 in the nine months ended March 31, 2010 from $303,930 in the prior year period, primarily due to decreased professional fees and expenses.
Forward-Looking Statements
     The statements discussed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q regarding Marine’s future financial performance and results, and other statements that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933. This report uses the words “may,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” “intend,” “plan,” “budget,” or other similar words to identify forward-looking statements. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they discuss future expectations, contain projections of Marine’s financial condition, and/or state other “forward-looking” information. Actual results may differ from expected results because of: reductions in price or demand for oil and natural gas, which might then lead to decreased production; reductions in production due to the depletion of existing wells or disruptions in service, which may be caused by storm damage to production facilities, blowouts or other production accidents, or geological changes such as cratering of productive formations; changes in regulations; and the expiration or release of leases subject to Marine’s interests. Additional risks are set forth in Marine’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, in Marine’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2009 and in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Events may occur in the future that Marine is unable to accurately predict or over which it has no control. If one or more of these uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those forward-looking statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Website
     Marine has an Internet website and has made available its Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to such reports, filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, at            www.marps-marinepetroleumtrust.com. Each of these reports will be posted on this website as soon as reasonably practicable after such report is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC.
Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
     Marine did not experience any significant changes in market risk during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Marine’s market risk is described in more detail in “Item 7A: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009.
Item 4T.   Controls and Procedures
Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

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     U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management, as Trustee of the Trust, is responsible for establishing and maintaining Marine’s disclosure controls and procedures. These controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to Marine is communicated to the Trustee. As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Trustee carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of Marine’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based upon that evaluation, the Trustee concluded that Marine’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
     There has not been any change in Marine’s internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, Marine’s internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1A.   Risk Factors
     As of the date of this filing, there have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in the “Risk Factors” in Marine’s Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009 and in Marine’s Quarterly Report filed on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2009, except as follows:
Failure to collect royalty payments from working interest owners could adversely affect Marine’s distributions to its unitholders.
     A significant portion of Marine’s royalties are attributable a limited number of working interest owners. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, Chevron USA, Inc. accounted for 57% of the royalty payments to Marine. Marine does not require working interest owners to pledge collateral or otherwise post security for royalty payments. At any time, Marine may encounter collection issues with one or more of the working interest owners, which could result in Marine not receiving payment for some or all of its royalty interests. Any reduction in royalty payments would reduce distributable income to Marine’s unitholders.
Item 6.   Exhibits
     The following exhibits are included herein:
  31.1   Certification of the Corporate Trustee pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
  32.1   Certification of the Corporate Trustee pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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SIGNATURES
     Pursuant to the requirements 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.
         
  MARINE PETROLEUM TRUST
U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth
Management, Trustee
 
 
May 17, 2010  By:   /s/ Ron E. Hooper    
    Ron E. Hooper   
    Senior Vice President   

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