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VAALCO ENERGY INC /DE/ - Annual Report: 2008 (Form 10-K)

Form 10-K For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark One)

 

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

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008

 

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from                      to                     

 

Commission file number: 0-20928

 

VAALCO Energy, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified on its charter)

 

Delaware   76-0274813

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

4600 Post Oak Place

Suite 309

Houston, Texas

  77027
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code): (713) 623-0801

 

Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

 

Title of each class      Name of exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $.10 par value

     New York Stock Exchange

 

Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act:

None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act    Yes    ¨    No    x

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15d of the Act    Yes    ¨    No    x

 

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    x    No    ¨.

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K    x.

 

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    ¨            Accelerated filer    x            Non-accelerated filer    ¨            Smaller reporting company    ¨

 

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

 

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity of the registrant held by non-affiliates, as of June 30, 2008 was $493,315,517 based on a closing price of $8.47 on June 30, 2008.

 

As of February 28, 2009, there were outstanding 58,261,682 shares of common stock, $0.10 par value per share, of the registrant.

 

Documents incorporated by reference: Definitive proxy statement of VAALCO Energy, Inc. relating to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form, which is incorporated into Part III of this 10-K.

 



Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I     
    

Glossary of Oil and Gas Terms

   3

Item 1.

   Business    6

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors    13

Item 1B.

   Unresolved Staff Comments    18

Item 2.

   Properties    18

Item 3.

   Legal Proceedings    22

Item 4.

   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    22
PART II     

Item 5.

   Market for Registrants Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchase of Equity Securities    23

Item 6.

   Selected Financial Data    25

Item 7.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    26

Item 7A.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    32

Item 8.

   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data    32

Item 9.

   Changes In and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure    32

Item 9A.

   Controls and Procedures    33

Item 9B.

   Other Information    35
PART III     

Item 10.

   Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance    35

Item 11.

   Executive Compensation    35

Item 12.

   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters    35

Item 13.

   Certain Relationships, Related Transactions and Director Independence    35

Item 14.

   Principal Accountant Fees and Services    35
PART IV     

Item 15.

   Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules    36

Index to Consolidated Financial Information

   F-1

 

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Glossary of Oil and Gas Terms

 

Terms used to describe quantities of oil and natural gas

 

   

Bbl—One stock tank barrel, or 42 US gallons liquid volume, of crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons.

 

   

Bcf—One billion cubic feet of natural gas.

 

   

Bcfe—One billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent.

 

   

BOE—One barrel of oil equivalent, converting gas to oil at the ratio of 6 Mcf of gas to 1 Bbl of oil.

 

   

BOPD—One barrel of oil per day.

 

   

MBbl—One thousand Bbls.

 

   

Mcf—One thousand cubic feet of natural gas.

 

   

McfD—One thousand cubic feet of natural gas per day.

 

   

Mcfe—One thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalent.

 

   

MMBbl—One million Bbls of oil or other liquid hydrocarbons.

 

   

MMcf—One million cubic feet of natural gas.

 

   

MBOE—One thousand BOE.

 

   

MMBOE—One million BOE.

 

Terms used to describe the Company’s interests in wells and acreage

 

   

Gross oil and gas wells or acres—The Company’s gross wells or gross acres represent the total number of wells or acres in which the Company owns a working interest.

 

   

Net oil and gas wells or acres—Determined by multiplying “gross” oil and natural gas wells or acres by the working interest that the Company owns in such wells or acres represented by the underlying properties.

 

Terms used to assign a present value to the Company’s reserves

 

   

Standard measure of proved reserves—The present value, discounted at 10%, of the pre-United States income tax future net cash flows attributable to estimated net proved reserves. The Company calculates this amount by assuming that it will sell the oil and gas production attributable to the proved reserves estimated in its independent engineer’s reserve report for the prices it received for the production on the date of the report, unless it had a contract to sell the production for a different price. The Company also assumes that the cost to produce the reserves will remain constant at the costs prevailing on the date of the report. The assumed costs are subtracted from the assumed revenues resulting in a stream of future net cash flows. Estimated future income taxes using rates in effect on the date of the report are deducted from the net cash flow stream. The after-tax cash flows are discounted at 10% to result in the standardized measure of the Company’s proved reserves.

 

Terms used to classify the Company’s reserve quantities

 

   

Proved reserves—The estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids which, upon analysis of geological and engineering data, appear with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in the future from known oil and natural gas reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions.

 

The SEC definition of proved oil and gas reserves, per Article 4-10(a) (2) of Regulation S-X, is as follows:

 

Proved oil and gas reserves. Proved oil and gas reserves are the estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be

 

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recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions, i.e., prices and costs as of the date the estimate is made. Prices include consideration of changes in existing prices provided only by contractual arrangements, but not on escalations based upon future conditions.

 

(a) Reservoirs are considered proved if economic producibility is supported by either actual production or conclusive formation test. The area of a reservoir considered proved includes (A) that portion delineated by drilling and defined by gas-oil and/or oil-water contacts, if any; and (B) the immediately adjoining portions not yet drilled, but which can be reasonably judged as economically productive on the basis of available geological and engineering data. In the absence of information on fluid contacts, the lowest known structural occurrence of hydrocarbons controls the lower proved limit of the reservoir.

 

(b) Reserves which can be produced economically through application of improved recovery techniques (such as fluid injection) are included in the “proved” classification when successful testing by a pilot project, or the operation of an installed program in the reservoir, provides support for the engineering analysis on which the project or program was based.

 

(c) Estimates of proved reserves do not include the following: (1) oil that may become available from known reservoirs but is classified separately as “indicated additional reserves” (2) crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids, the recovery of which is subject to reasonable doubt because of uncertainty as to geology, reservoir characteristics, or economic factors; (3) crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids, that may occur in undrilled prospects; and (4) crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids, that may be recovered from oil shales, coal, gilsonite and other such sources.

 

   

Proved developed reserves—Proved reserves that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods.

 

   

Proved undeveloped reserves—Proved reserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required.

 

Terms which describe the productive life of a property or group of properties

 

   

Reserve life—A measure of the productive life of an oil and gas property or a group of oil and gas properties, expressed in years. Reserve life for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 or 2006 equal the estimated net proved reserves attributable to a property or group of properties divided by production from the property or group of properties for the four fiscal quarters preceding the date as of which the proved reserves were estimated.

 

Terms used to describe the legal ownership of the Company’s oil and gas properties

 

   

Royalty interest—A real property interest entitling the owner to receive a specified portion of the gross proceeds of the sale of oil and natural gas production or, if the conveyance creating the interest provides, a specific portion of oil and natural gas produced, without any deduction for the costs to explore for, develop or produce the oil and natural gas. A royalty interest owner has no right to consent to or approve the operation and development of the property, while the owners of the working interests have the exclusive right to exploit the mineral on the land.

 

   

Working interest—A real property interest entitling the owner to receive a specified percentage of the proceeds of the sale of oil and natural gas production or a percentage of the production, but requiring the owner of the working interest to bear the cost to explore for, develop and produce such oil and natural gas. A working interest owner who owns a portion of the working interest may participate either as operator or by voting his percentage interest to approve or disapprove the appointment of an operator and drilling and other major activities in connection with the development and operation of a property.

 

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Terms used to describe seismic operations

 

   

Seismic data—Oil and gas companies use seismic data as their principal source of information to locate oil and gas deposits, both to aid in exploration for new deposits and to manage or enhance production from known reservoirs. To gather seismic data, an energy source is used to send sound waves into the subsurface strata. These waves are reflected back to the surface by underground formations, where they are detected by geophones which digitize and record the reflected waves. Computers are then used to process the raw data to develop an image of underground formations.

 

   

2-D seismic data—2-D seismic survey data has been the standard acquisition technique used to image geologic formations over a broad area. 2-D seismic data is collected by a single line of energy sources which reflect seismic waves to a single line of geophones. When processed, 2-D seismic data produces an image of a single vertical plane of sub-surface data.

 

   

3-D seismic data—3-D seismic data is collected using a grid of energy sources, which are generally spread over several miles. A 3-D survey produces a three dimensional image of the subsurface geology by collecting seismic data along parallel lines and creating a cube of information that can be divided into various planes, thus improving visualization. Consequently, 3-D seismic data is a more reliable indicator of potential oil and natural gas reservoirs in the area evaluated.

 

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PART I

 

Item 1. Business

 

BACKGROUND

 

VAALCO Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation incorporated in 1985, is a Houston-based independent energy company principally engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas. VAALCO owns producing properties and conducts exploration activities as operator in Gabon, West Africa and conducts exploration activities as operator in Angola, Africa. The Company has also organized a British subsidiary which participated in its first exploration well in the British North Sea in late 2007 and is currently participating in another well. Domestically, the Company has minor interests in the Texas Gulf Coast area and offshore Louisiana. As used herein, the terms “Company” and “VAALCO” mean VAALCO Energy, Inc. and its subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires. The Company’s corporate headquarters are located at 4600 Post Oak Place, Suite 309, Houston, Texas 77027 where the telephone number is (713) 623-0801.

 

VAALCO’s international subsidiaries are VAALCO Gabon (Etame), Inc., VAALCO Production (Gabon), Inc., VAALCO Angola (Kwanza), Inc., VAALCO UK (North Sea), Ltd., and VAALCO International Inc. VAALCO Energy (USA), Inc. holds interests in certain properties located in the United States.

 

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

 

The Company’s primary source of revenue is from the Etame Production Sharing Contract related to the Etame Marin block located offshore the Republic of Gabon. The Company produces from the Etame, Avouma, South Tchibala and Ebouri fields on the block. Oil production commenced from the Etame field in September 2002 and from the Avouma and South Tchibala fields in January 2007. During 2008, the Etame, Avouma and South Tchibala fields produced approximately 7.8 million bbls (1.9 million bbls net to the Company). In addition to the Etame, Avouma and South Tchibala fields, the Company developed the Ebouri field, which was discovered in 2004. A platform was installed in August 2008 and the first development well was drilled in late 2008. First production from this well began in January 2009. A second development well was drilled in early 2009, with production expected to begin from that well later in the first quarter of 2009.

 

Beginning in November 2008, drilling began on the first of three planned exploration wells, all of which are located within the Etame Marin block. The first of these wells, the North Ebouri, encountered substantial oil-filled Gamba sandstone, proving-up significant additional reserves north of the originally mapped field development outline. The second well, the North Etame prospect, encountered water bearing sands and has been abandoned. The third prospect, the South East Etame, is scheduled to be drilled during the second or third quarter of 2009.

 

Onshore Gabon, the Company has a 100% working interest in the Mutamba Iroru block located near the coast in central Gabon. The Mutamba Iroru block contains approximately 270,000 acres for exploration. The Company acquired aeromagnetic gravity data in 2008, and together with seismic data acquired from previous operators over the block in 2006 and 2007, has begun to drill two exploration wells on the block. Drilling on the first well began in February 2009 and encountered water bearing sands and has been abandoned. The second well is expected to begin drilling in March or April 2009.

 

In November 2006, the Company signed a production sharing contract for a 40% working interest in Block 5 offshore Angola. The seven year contract awards the Company exploration rights to approximately 1.4 million acres along the central coast of Angola. The Company has acquired approximately 1,700 square kilometers of seismic data over a portion of the Block 5 and has been interpreting the seismic data. Assuming consortium agreement on the well objective and rig availability, the Company expects the first exploration well to be drilled in the fourth quarter of 2009.

 

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In January 2008, the Company signed a farm-in agreement for a 25% working interest in Block 48/25c offshore in the British North Sea. The Company is obligated to pay its share of the drilling of one exploratory well on the block, the drilling of which commenced in February 2009 and a portion of the farminee’s share of the well. Block 48/25c is located in the Southern Gas Basin.

 

See Note 12 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for financial information about the Company’s segments.

 

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

 

The Company files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may read and copy any document the Company files at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the SEC’s Public Reference Room. The Company’s SEC filings are also available to the public at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

You may also obtain copies of the Company’s annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and certain other information filed with the SEC, as well as amendments thereto, free of charge from the Company’s website at www.vaalco.com. No information from the SEC’s or the Company’s website is incorporated by reference herein. The Company has placed on its website copies of its Audit Committee Charter, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and Code of Ethics for the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Stockholders may request a printed copy of these governance materials by writing to the Corporate Secretary, VAALCO Energy Inc., 4600 Post Oak Place, Suite 309, Houston, Texas 77027.

 

GENERAL

 

The Company’s current production strategy is to maximize the value of the reserves discovered in Gabon through exploitation of the Etame Marin block (comprised of the Etame, Avouma, South Tchibala and Ebouri fields). The Company also owns a 100% working interest in the 270,000 acre Mutamba Iroru block onshore Gabon and a 40% working interest in the 1.4 million acre Block 5 offshore Angola. During 2008, the Company mapped prospects on these blocks using available seismic data in order to develop exploration drilling prospects for 2009 and 2010. The Company has a 25% working interest in two blocks in the British North Sea.

 

International

 

The Company’s international strategy is to pursue selected opportunities that are characterized by reasonable entry costs, favorable economic terms, high reserve potential relative to capital expenditures and the availability of existing technical data that may be further developed. The Company believes that it has unique management and technical expertise in identifying international opportunities and establishing favorable operating relationships with host governments and local partners familiar with the local practices and infrastructure. The Company owns producing properties and conducts exploration activities as operator of two exploration licenses in Gabon, one exploration license in Angola and as non-operator in two blocks in the British North Sea.

 

Domestic

 

The Company’s domestic strategy is to produce existing reserves. There are no plans to drill new domestic wells at this time. Current domestic properties are located in Brazos County, Texas and offshore Louisiana in the Ship Shoal area.

 

CUSTOMERS

 

Substantially all of the Company’s oil and gas is sold at the well head at posted or indexed prices under short-term contracts, as is customary in the industry. In Gabon, the Company sold oil under a contract with Shell Western Supply and Trading Limited which ran through calendar year 2008. For the 2009 calendar year, the

 

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Company will sell its oil under a contract with Total Oil Trading SA. While the loss of Total as a buyer might have a material effect on the Company in the short term, management believes that the Company would be able to obtain other customers for its crude oil. Domestic production is sold via two contracts, one for oil and one for gas. The Company has access to several alternative buyers for oil and gas sales domestically.

 

EMPLOYEES

 

As of December 31, 2008, the Company had 75 full-time employees and consultant contractors, 41 of whom were located in Gabon and ten of whom were located in Angola. The Company is not subject to any collective bargaining agreements and believes its relations with its employees are satisfactory.

 

COMPETITION

 

The oil and gas industry is highly competitive. Competition is particularly intense with respect to acquisitions of desirable oil and gas reserves. There is also competition for the acquisition of oil and gas leases suitable for exploration and the hiring of experienced personnel. In addition, the producing, processing and marketing of oil and gas is affected by a number of factors beyond the control of the Company, the effects of which cannot be accurately predicted.

 

The Company’s competition for acquisitions, exploration, development and production include the major oil and gas companies in addition to numerous independent oil companies, individual proprietors, drilling and acquisition programs and others. Many of these competitors possess financial and personnel resources substantially in excess of those available to the Company, giving those competitors an enhanced ability to pay for desirable leases and to evaluate, bid for and purchase properties or prospects. The ability of the Company to generate reserves in the future will depend on its ability to select and acquire suitable producing properties and prospects for future drilling and exploration.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS

 

General

 

The Company’s activities are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations governing environmental quality and pollution control in the United States, Gabon and Great Britain and will be subject to the laws and regulations of Angola when exploration begins. In addition the Company is subject to the International Finance Corporation environmental guidelines. Although no assurances can be made, the Company believes that, absent the occurrence of an extraordinary event, compliance with existing laws, rules and regulations and the International Finance Corporation environmental guidelines regulating the release of materials in the environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment will not have a material effect upon the Company’s capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position with respect to its existing assets and operations. The Company cannot predict what effect future regulation or legislation, enforcement policies, changes in International Finance Corporation environmental guidelines, and claims for damages to property, employees, other persons and the environment resulting from the Company’s operations could have on its activities. In part because they are developing countries, it is unclear how quickly and to what extent Gabon or Angola will increase their regulation of environmental issues in the future; any significant increase in the regulation or enforcement of environmental issues by Gabon or Angola could have a material effect on the Company. Developing countries, in certain instances, have patterned environmental laws after those in the United States which are discussed below. However, the extent to which any environmental laws are enforced in developing countries varies significantly.

 

Environmental Regulations in the United States

 

Solid and Hazardous Waste

 

The Company currently owns or leases, and in the past has owned or leased, properties that have been used for the exploration and production of oil and gas for many years. Although the Company has utilized operating

 

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and disposal practices that were standard in the industry at the time, hydrocarbons or other solid wastes may have been disposed or released on or under the properties owned or leased by the Company or on or under locations where such wastes have been taken for disposal. In addition, some of these properties are or have been operated by third parties. The Company has no control over such entities’ treatment of hydrocarbons or other solid wastes and the manner in which such substances may have been disposed or released. State and federal laws applicable to oil and gas wastes and properties have gradually become stricter over time. The Company, could in the future, be required to remediate property, including groundwater, containing or impacted by previously disposed wastes (including wastes disposed or released by prior owners or operators, or property contamination, including groundwater contamination by prior owners or operators) or to perform remedial plugging operations to prevent future or mitigate existing contamination.

 

The Company generates wastes, including hazardous wastes that are subject to the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”) and comparable state statutes. The Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and various state agencies have limited the disposal options for certain wastes, including wastes designated as hazardous under RCRA and state analogs (“Hazardous Wastes”). Furthermore, although oil and gas wastes generally are exempt from regulation as hazardous waste, it is possible that certain wastes generated by the Company’s oil and gas operations that are currently exempt may in the future be designated as Hazardous Wastes under RCRA or other applicable statutes and, therefore, may be subject to more rigorous and costly disposal requirements.

 

Superfund

 

The federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), also known as the “Superfund” law, generally imposes joint and several liability for costs of investigation and remediation and for natural resource damages, without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct, on certain classes of persons with respect to the release into the environment of substances designated under CERCLA as hazardous substances (“Hazardous Substances”). These classes of persons, or so-called potentially responsible parties (“PRPs”), include the current and certain past owners and operators of a facility where there has been a release or threat of release of a Hazardous Substance and persons who disposed of or arranged for the disposal of Hazardous Substances found at a site. CERCLA also authorizes the EPA and, in some cases, third parties to take actions in response to threats to the public health or the environment and to seek to recover from the PRPs the costs of such action.

 

Although CERCLA generally exempts “petroleum” from the definition of Hazardous Substance, in the course of its operations, the Company has generated and will generate wastes that may fall within CERCLA’s definition of Hazardous Substance and may have disposed of these wastes at disposal sites owned and operated by others. The Company may also be the owner or operator of sites on which Hazardous Substances have been released. To its knowledge, neither the Company nor its predecessors have been designated as a PRP by the EPA under CERCLA; the Company also does not know of any prior owners or operators of its properties that are named as PRPs related to their ownership or operation of such properties. States such as Texas have comparable statutes. In the event contamination is discovered at a site on which the Company is or has been an owner or operator or to which the Company sent Hazardous Substances, the Company could be liable for costs of investigation and remediation and natural resources damages.

 

Clean Water Act

 

The Clean Water Act (“CWA”) imposes restrictions and strict controls regarding the discharge of wastes, including produced waters and other oil and natural gas wastes, into waters of the United States, a term broadly defined. These controls have become more stringent over the years, and it is probable that additional restrictions will be imposed in the future. Permits must be obtained to discharge pollutants into federal waters. The CWA provides for civil, criminal and administrative penalties for unauthorized discharges of oil and hazardous substances and of other pollutants. It imposes substantial potential liability for the costs of removal or

 

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remediation associated with discharges of oil or hazardous substances and other pollutants. State laws governing discharges to water also provide varying civil, criminal and administrative penalties and impose liabilities in the case of a discharge of petroleum or its derivatives, or other hazardous substances, into state waters. In addition, the EPA has promulgated regulations that may require the Company to obtain permits to discharge storm water runoff, including discharges associated with construction activities. In the event of an unauthorized discharge of wastes, the Company may be liable for penalties and costs.

 

Oil Pollution Act

 

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (“OPA”), which amends and augments oil spill provisions of CWA, imposes certain duties and liabilities on certain “responsible parties” related to the prevention of oil spills and damages resulting from such spills in or threatening United States waters or adjoining shorelines. A liable “responsible party” includes the owner or operator of a facility, vessel or pipeline that is a source of an oil discharge or that poses the substantial threat of discharge, or in the case of offshore facilities, the lessee or permittee of the area in which a discharging facility is located. OPA assigns joint and several liability, without regard to fault, to each liable party for oil removal costs and a variety of public and private damages. Although defenses exist to the liability imposed by OPA, they are limited. In the event of an oil discharge or substantial threat of discharge, the Company may be liable for costs and damages.

 

The OPA also imposes ongoing requirements on a responsible party, including proof of financial responsibility to cover at least some costs in a potential spill. Certain amendments to the OPA that were enacted in 1996 require owners and operators of offshore facilities that have a worst case oil spill potential of more than 1,000 bbls to demonstrate financial responsibility in amounts ranging from $10 million in specified state waters and $35 million in federal outer continental shelf (“OCS”) waters, with higher amounts, up to $150 million based upon worst case oil-spill discharge volume calculations. The Company believes that it has established adequate proof of financial responsibility for its offshore facilities.

 

Endangered Species Act.

 

The Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) was established to protect endangered and threatened species. Pursuant to that act, if a species is listed as threatened or endangered, restrictions may be imposed on activities adversely affecting that species’ habitat. Similar protections are offered to migratory birds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must also designate the species’ critical habitat and suitable habitat as part of the effort to ensure survival of the species. A critical habitat or suitable habitat designation could result in further material restrictions to land use and may materially delay or prohibit land access for oil and natural gas development. If the Company were to have a portion of its leases designated as critical or suitable habitat, it may adversely impact the value of the affected leases.

 

Climate Change Legislation

 

More stringent laws and regulations relating to climate change and greenhouse gases (GHGs) may be adopted in the future and could cause us to incur material expenses in complying with them. The U.S. Congress last session considered climate change related legislation to regulate GHG emissions that could affect our operations and our regulatory costs, as well as the value of oil and natural gas generally. Although that legislation did not pass, expectations are that Congress will continue to consider some type of climate change legislation and that EPA may consider climate change-related regulatory initiatives. As a result, there is a great deal of uncertainty as to how and when federal regulation of GHGs might take place. In addition to possible federal regulation, a number of states, individually and regionally, also are considering or have implemented GHG regulatory programs. These potential federal and state initiatives may result in so-called cap-and-trade programs, under which overall GHG emissions are limited and GHG emissions are then allocated and sold, and possibly other regulatory requirements, that could result in our incurring material expenses to comply, e.g., by being required to purchase or to surrender allowances for GHGs resulting from our operations. These regulatory

 

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initiatives also could adversely affect the marketability of the oil and natural gas the Company produces. The impact of such future programs cannot be predicted, but the Company does not expect its operations to be affected any differently than other similarly situated domestic competitors.

 

Air Emissions

 

The Company’s operations are subject to local, state and federal regulations for the control of emissions from sources of air pollution. Federal and state laws require new and modified sources of air pollutants to obtain permits prior to commencing construction. Major sources of air pollutants are subject to more stringent, federally imposed requirements including additional permits. Federal and state laws designed to control hazardous (toxic) air pollutants, might require installation of additional controls. Administrative enforcement actions for failure to comply strictly with air pollution regulations or permits are generally resolved by payment of monetary fines and correction of any identified deficiencies. Alternatively, regulatory agencies could bring lawsuits for civil penalties or require the Company to forego construction, modification or operation of certain air emission sources.

 

Coastal Coordination

 

There are various federal and state programs that regulate the conservation and development of coastal resources. The federal Coastal Zone Management Act (“CZMA”) was passed in 1972 to preserve and, where possible, restore the natural resources of the Nation’s coastal zone. The CZMA provides for federal grants for state management programs that regulate land use, water use and coastal development.

 

In Texas, the Legislature enacted the Coastal Coordination Act (“CCA”), which provides for the coordination among local and state authorities to protect coastal resources through regulating land use, water, and coastal development. The act establishes the Texas Coastal Management Program (“CMP”). The CMP is limited to the nineteen counties that border the Gulf of Mexico and its tidal bays. The act provides for the review of state and federal agency rules and agency actions for consistency with the goals and policies of the Coastal Management Plan. This review may impact agency permitting and review activities and add an additional layer of review to certain activities undertaken by the Company.

 

OSHA and other Regulations

 

The Company is subject to the requirements of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”) and comparable state statutes. The OSHA hazard communication standard, the EPA community right-to-know regulations under Title III of CERCLA and similar state statutes require the Company to organize and/or disclose information about hazardous materials used or produced in its operations. The Company believes that it is in substantial compliance with these applicable requirements.

 

International Finance Corporation Environmental Guidelines

 

The loan agreement signed in June 2005 between one of the Company’s subsidiaries and the International Finance Corporation requires the Company to comply with specified environmental guidelines. These guidelines set maximum air emission levels and liquid effluent amounts, impose requirements for proper onshore disposal of all solid and hazardous wastes, and require compliance with other similar environmental guidelines. In addition, the Company is required to utilize environmental best practices for drilling activities and produced water and chemical management, prepare emergency response and oil spill response plans, and implement monitoring and reporting procedures. The Company believes that it is in substantial compliance with all applicable International Finance Corporation environmental guidelines. However, if a project were found to be not in compliance with the guidelines, the International Finance Corporation financing could be in jeopardy.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Report includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe

 

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Index to Financial Statements

harbors created by those laws. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of the Company’s operations. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this Report that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates may occur in the future, including without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s financial position, reserve quantities and net present values, business strategy, plans and objectives of the Company’s management for future operations are forward-looking statements. When the Company uses words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “probably” or similar expressions, the Company is making forward-looking statements. Many risks and uncertainties may impact the matters addressed in these forward-looking statements.

 

Some of the events or factors that could affect the Company’s future results and could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the Company’s forward-looking statements include:

 

   

the volatility of oil and natural gas prices;

 

   

the uncertainty of estimates of oil and natural gas reserves;

 

   

the impact of competition;

 

   

the availability and cost of seismic, drilling and other equipment;

 

   

operating hazards inherent in the exploration for and production of oil and natural gas;

 

   

difficulties encountered during the exploration for and production of oil and natural gas;

 

   

difficulties encountered in delivering oil to commercial markets;

 

   

general economic conditions, including the current economic and financial market crisis;

 

   

changes in customer demand and producers’ supply;

 

   

the uncertainty of the Company’s ability to attract capital;

 

   

compliance with, or the effect of changes in, the foreign governmental regulations regarding the Company’s exploration and production, including those related to climate change;

 

   

actions of operators of the Company’s oil and gas properties; and

 

   

weather conditions.

 

The information contained in this Report, including the information set forth under the heading “Risk Factors,” identifies additional factors that could cause the Company’s results or performance to differ materially from those the Company expresses in its forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying its forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of these assumptions and therefore also the forward-looking statements based on these assumptions, could themselves prove to be inaccurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements which are included in this Report, the Company’s inclusion of this information is not a representation by the Company or any other person that the Company’s objectives and plans will be achieved. When you consider the Company’s forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind these risk factors and the other cautionary statements in this Report.

 

The Company’s forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and the Company will not update these forward-looking statements unless the securities laws require the Company to do so. The Company’s forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, any forward-looking events discussed in this Report may not occur.

 

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

You should carefully consider the following risk factors in addition to the other information included in this report. If any of these risks or uncertainties actually occurs, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. Additional risks not presently known to us or which we consider immaterial based on information currently available to us may also materially adversely affect us. In this section, the terms “VAALCO”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to VAALCO and its subsidiaries, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

 

Almost all of the value of our production and reserves is concentrated in a single block offshore Gabon, and any production problems or inaccuracies in reserve estimates related to this property would adversely impact our business.

 

The Etame field, consisting of four producing wells and the Avouma and South Tchibala fields, consisting of one producing well each, constituted almost 100% of our total production for the year ended December 31, 2008. In addition, at December 31, 2008, almost 100% of our total net proved reserves were attributable to these fields and the Ebouri field where first production began in early 2009. If mechanical problems, storms or other events curtailed a substantial portion of this production, or if the actual reserves associated with this producing property are less than our estimated reserves, our results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

 

Our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected by changes in currency exchange rates.

 

Our results of operations and financial condition are affected by currency exchange rates. While oil sales are denominated in U.S. dollars, portions of our operating costs in Gabon are denominated in the local currency. An increase in the exchange rate of the local currency to the dollar will have the effect of increasing operating costs while a decrease in the exchange rate will reduce operating costs. The Gabon local currency is tied to the Euro. The exchange rate between the Euro and the U.S. dollar has fluctuated widely in response to international political conditions, general economic conditions and other factors beyond our control.

 

A decrease in oil and gas prices may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

 

Our revenues, cash flow, profitability and future rate of growth are substantially dependent upon prevailing prices for oil and gas. Our ability to borrow funds and to obtain additional capital on attractive terms is also substantially dependent on oil and gas prices. Historically, world-wide oil and gas prices and markets have been volatile, particularly in 2008, and are likely to continue to be volatile in the future. In fact, in 2008, the quarterly average for crude oil we sold ranged from a high of $119.24 per barrel to a low of $41.31 per barrel.

 

Prices for oil and gas are subject to wide fluctuations in response to relatively minor changes in the supply of and demand for oil and gas, market uncertainty and a variety of additional factors that are beyond our control. These factors include international political conditions, the domestic and foreign supply of oil and gas, the level of consumer demand, weather conditions, domestic and foreign governmental regulations, the price and availability of alternative fuels, the international economic and credit crisis, and general economic conditions. In addition, various factors, including the effect of federal, state and foreign regulation of production and transportation, general economic conditions, changes in supply due to drilling by other producers and changes in demand may adversely affect our ability to market our oil and gas production. Any significant decline in the price of oil or gas would adversely affect our revenues, operating income, cash flows and borrowing capacity and may require a reduction in the carrying value of our oil and gas properties and our planned level of capital expenditures.

 

Oil and gas prices have recently declined substantially. If there is a sustained economic downturn or recession in the United States or globally, oil and natural gas prices may continue to fall and may become and remain depressed for a long period of time, which may adversely affect our results of operations.

 

We are experiencing an economic downturn or a recession in the United States and globally. The reduced economic activity associated with an economic downturn or recession may continue to reduce the demand for,

 

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Index to Financial Statements

and the prices we receive for, our oil and gas production. A sustained reduction in the prices we receive for our oil and gas production will have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

Unless we are able to replace reserves which we have produced, our cash flows and production will decrease over time.

 

Our future success depends upon our ability to find, develop or acquire additional oil and gas reserves that are economically recoverable. Except to the extent that we conduct successful exploration or development activities or acquire properties containing proved reserves, our estimated net proved reserves will generally decline as reserves are produced. There can be no assurance that our planned development and exploration projects and acquisition activities will result in significant additional reserves or that we will have continuing success drilling productive wells at economic finding costs. The drilling of oil and gas wells involves a high degree of risk, especially the risk of dry holes or of wells that are not sufficiently productive to provide an economic return on the capital expended to drill the wells. In addition, our drilling operations may be curtailed, delayed or canceled as a result of numerous factors, including title problems, weather conditions, political instability, economic/currency imbalances, compliance with governmental requirements, receipt of additional seismic data or the reprocessing of existing data, material changes in oil or gas prices, prolonged periods of historically low oil and gas prices, failure of wells drilled in similar formations or delays in the delivery of equipment and availability of drilling rigs. Our current domestic and British North Sea oil and gas properties are operated by third parties and, as a result, we have limited control over the nature and timing of exploration and development of such properties or the manner in which operations are conducted on such properties.

 

Substantial capital, which may not be available to us in the future, is required to replace and grow reserves.

 

We make, and will continue to make, substantial capital expenditures for the acquisition, exploitation, development, exploration and production of oil and gas reserves. Historically, we have financed these expenditures primarily with cash flow from operations, debt, asset sales, and private sales of equity. During 2008, we have participated, and in 2009 we expect to continue to participate, in the further exploration and development projects on our international properties. In Gabon and Angola, we are the operator of the blocks and thus responsible for contracting on behalf of all the remaining parties participating in the project. We rely on the timely payment of cash calls by our partners to pay for the 69.65% share of the Etame budget and 50% of the Angola Block 5 budget for which they are responsible. However, if lower oil and gas prices, operating difficulties or declines in reserves result in our revenues being less than expected or limit our ability to borrow funds, or our partners fail to pay their share of project costs, we may have a limited ability, particularly in the current economic environment, to expend the capital necessary to undertake or complete future drilling programs. We cannot assure that additional debt or equity financing or cash generated by operations will be available to meet these requirements.

 

We may need access to the capital markets to fund a portion of our growth strategy. Currently, the capital markets are experiencing an unprecedented disruption which, if it continues for an extended period of time, may adversely affect our growth strategy.

 

We are experiencing unprecedented volatility and disruption in the U.S. and international financial markets. The current disruption in the financial markets will make it difficult to successfully issue common stock or debt securities to fund growth in the near future. In addition, the current markets for bank credit facilities are unfavorable to borrowers. If the disruption in the financial markets continues for a substantial period of time, our ability to fund growth may be adversely affected.

 

Our drilling activities require us to risk significant amounts of capital that may not be recovered.

 

Drilling activities are subject to many risks, including the risk that no commercially productive reservoirs will be encountered. There can be no assurance that new wells drilled by us will be productive or that we will

 

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recover all or any portion of our investment. Drilling for oil and gas may involve unprofitable efforts, not only from dry wells, but also from wells that are productive but do not produce sufficient net revenues to return a profit after drilling, operating and other costs. The cost of drilling, completing and operating wells is often uncertain and cost overruns are common. Our drilling operations may be curtailed, delayed or canceled as a result of numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including title problems, weather conditions, compliance with governmental requirements and shortages or delays in the delivery of equipment and services.

 

Weather, unexpected subsurface conditions and other unforeseen operating hazards may adversely impact our oil and gas activities.

 

The oil and gas business involves a variety of operating risks, including fire, explosions, blow-outs, pipe failure, casing collapse, abnormally pressured formations and environmental hazards such as oil spills, gas leaks, ruptures and discharges of toxic gases, the occurrence of any of which could result in substantial losses to us due to injury and loss of life, severe damage to and destruction of property, natural resources and equipment, pollution and other environmental damage, clean-up responsibilities, regulatory investigation and penalties and suspension of operations. Our production facilities are also subject to hazards inherent in marine operations, such as capsizing, sinking, grounding, collision and damage from severe weather conditions. The relatively deep offshore drilling conducted by us overseas involves increased drilling risks of high pressures and mechanical difficulties, including stuck pipe, collapsed casing and separated cable. The impact that any of these risks may have upon us is increased due to the low number of producing properties we own.

 

We maintain insurance against some, but not all, potential risks; however, there can be no assurance that such insurance will be adequate to cover any losses or exposure for liability. The occurrence of a significant unfavorable event not fully covered by insurance could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Furthermore, we cannot predict whether insurance will continue to be available at a reasonable cost or at all.

 

Our reserve information represents estimates that may turn out to be incorrect if the assumptions upon which these estimates are based are inaccurate. Any material inaccuracies in these reserve estimates or underlying assumptions will materially affect the quantities and present values of our reserves.

 

There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved oil and gas reserves, including many factors beyond our control. Reserve engineering is a subjective process of estimating the underground accumulations of oil and gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner. The estimates included in this document are based on various assumptions required by the SEC, including unescalated prices and costs and capital expenditures, and, therefore, are inherently imprecise indications of future net revenues. Actual future production, revenues, taxes, operating expenses, development expenditures and quantities of recoverable oil and gas reserves may vary substantially from those assumed in the estimates. Any significant variance in these assumptions could materially affect the estimated quantity and value of reserves incorporated by reference in this document. In addition, our reserves may be subject to downward or upward revision based upon production history, results of future development, availability of funds to acquire additional reserves, prevailing oil and gas prices and other factors. Moreover, the calculation of the estimated present value of the future net revenue using a 10% discount rate as required by the SEC is not necessarily the most appropriate discount factor based on interest rates in effect from time to time and risks associated with our reserves or the oil and gas industry in general. It is also possible that reserve engineers may make different estimates of reserves and future net revenues based on the same available data.

 

The estimated future net revenues attributable to our net proved reserves are prepared in accordance with current SEC guidelines, and are not intended to reflect the fair market value of our reserves. In accordance with the rules of the SEC, our reserve estimates are prepared using period-end prices received for oil and gas. Future reductions in prices below those prevailing at year-end 2008 would result in the estimated quantities and present values of our reserves being reduced.

 

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A substantial portion of our proved reserves are or will be subject to service contracts, production sharing contracts and other arrangements. The quantity of oil and gas that we will ultimately receive under these arrangements will differ based on numerous factors, including the price of oil and gas, production rates, production costs, cost recovery provisions and local tax and royalty regimes. Changes in many of these factors do not affect estimates of U.S. reserves in the same way they affect estimates of proved reserves in foreign jurisdictions, or will have a different effect on reserves in foreign countries than in the United States. As a result, proved reserves in foreign jurisdictions may not be comparable to proved reserve estimates in the United States.

 

We have less control over our foreign investments than domestic investments and turmoil in foreign countries may affect our foreign investments.

 

Our international assets and operations are subject to various political, economic and other uncertainties, including, among other things, the risks of war, expropriation, nationalization, renegotiation or nullification of existing contracts, taxation policies, foreign exchange restrictions, changing political conditions, international monetary fluctuations, currency controls and foreign governmental regulations that favor or require the awarding of drilling contracts to local contractors or require foreign contractors to employ citizens of, or purchase supplies from, a particular jurisdiction. In addition, if a dispute arises with foreign operations, we may be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of foreign courts or may not be successful in subjecting foreign persons, especially foreign oil ministries and national oil companies, to the jurisdiction of the United States.

 

Private ownership of oil and gas reserves under oil and gas leases in the United States differs distinctly from our ownership of foreign oil and gas properties. In the foreign countries in which we do business, the state generally retains ownership of the minerals and consequently retains control of, and in many cases participates in, the exploration and production of hydrocarbon reserves. Accordingly, operations outside the United States may be materially affected by host governments through royalty payments, export taxes and regulations, surcharges, value added taxes, production bonuses and other charges.

 

Almost all of our proven reserves are located offshore of the Republic of Gabon. As of December 31, 2008, we carried a gross investment of approximately $124.6 million on our balance sheet associated with the Etame, Avouma, South Tchibala and Ebouri fields in Gabon. We have operated in Gabon since 1995 and believe we have good relations with the current Gabonese government. However, there can be no assurance that present or future administrations or governmental regulations in Gabon will not materially adversely affect our operations or cash flows.

 

Competitive industry conditions may negatively affect our ability to conduct operations.

 

We operate in the highly competitive areas of oil exploration, development and production. We compete for the acquisition of exploration and production rights in oil and gas properties from foreign governments and from other oil and gas companies. These properties include exploration prospects as well as properties with proved reserves. Factors that affect our ability to compete in the marketplace include:

 

   

our access to the capital necessary to drill wells and acquire properties;

 

   

our ability to acquire and analyze seismic, geological and other information relating to a property;

 

   

our ability to retain the personnel necessary to properly evaluate seismic and other information relating to a property;

 

   

the location of, and our ability to access, platforms, pipelines and other facilities used to produce and transport oil and gas production; and

 

   

the standards we establish for the minimum projected return on an investment of our capital.

 

Our competitors include major integrated oil companies and substantial independent energy companies, many of which possess greater financial, technological, personnel and other resources than we do. Our competitors may use superior technology which we may be unable to afford or which would require costly investment by us in order to compete.

 

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Compliance with environmental and other government regulations could be costly and could negatively impact production.

 

The laws and regulations of the United States, Gabon, Angola and Great Britain regulate our current business. Our operations could result in liability for personal injuries, property damage, natural resource damages, oil spills, discharge of hazardous materials, remediation and clean-up costs and other environmental damages. In addition, we could be liable for environmental damages caused by, among others, previous property owners or operators. The Company could also be affected by more stringent laws and regulations adopted in the future, including any related to climate change and greenhouse gases. As a result, substantial liabilities to third parties or governmental entities may be incurred, the payment of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.

 

These laws and governmental regulations, which cover matters including drilling operations, taxation and environmental protection, may be changed from time to time in response to economic or political conditions and could have a significant impact on our operating costs, as wells as the oil and gas industry in general. In addition, the Company is subject to International Finance Corporation environmental guidelines published by the World Bank. While we believe that we are currently in compliance with environmental laws and regulations applicable to our operations in Gabon, Great Britain and the U.S., including those required by the International Finance Corporation, and that we will be able to comply with applicable laws and regulations in Angola, no assurances can be given that we will be able to continue to comply with such environmental laws and regulations without incurring substantial costs.

 

If our assumptions underlying accruals for abandonment costs are too low, we could be required to expend greater amounts than expected.

 

Almost all of our producing properties are located offshore. The costs to abandon offshore wells may be substantial. For financial accounting purposes, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 143,—Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations on January 1, 2003. This statement requires that the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation be recognized in the period in which it is incurred by capitalizing it as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived assets. No assurances can be given that such reserves will be sufficient to cover such costs in the future as they are incurred.

 

From time to time we may hedge a portion of our production, which may result in our making cash payments or prevent us from receiving the full benefit of increases in prices for oil and gas.

 

We may reduce our exposure to the volatility of oil and gas prices by hedging a portion of our production. Hedging also prevents us from receiving the full advantage of increases in oil or gas prices above the maximum fixed amount specified in the hedge agreement. In a typical hedge transaction, we have the right to receive from the hedge counterparty the excess of the maximum fixed price specified in the hedge agreement over a floating price based on a market index, multiplied by the quantity hedged. If the floating price exceeds the maximum fixed price, we must pay the counterparty this difference multiplied by the quantity hedged even if we had insufficient production to cover the quantities specified in the hedge agreement. Accordingly, if we have less production than we have hedged when the floating price exceeds the fixed price, we must make payments against which there are no offsetting sales of production. If these payments become too large, the remainder of our business may be adversely affected.

 

In addition, our hedging agreements expose us to risk of financial loss if the counterparty to a hedging contract defaults on its contract obligations. This risk of counterparty performance is of particular concern given the current disruptions occurring in the financial markets that could lead to sudden changes in a counterparty’s liquidity and hence their ability to perform under the hedging contract.

 

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We rely on our senior management team and the loss of a single member could adversely affect our operations.

 

We are highly dependent upon our executive officers and key employees, particularly Messrs. Gerry and Scheirman. The unexpected loss of the services of any of these individuals could have a detrimental effect on us. We do not maintain key man life insurance on any of our employees.

 

We rely on a single purchaser of our Gabon production, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

We sell all of our crude oil production in Gabon to Total Oil Trading SA. The loss of Total as a purchaser of our Gabon production could force the shut in of our Gabon production until the purchaser is replaced, and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

There are inherent limitations in all control systems, and misstatements due to error or fraud that could seriously harm our business may occur and not be detected.

 

Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, do not expect that our internal controls and disclosure controls will prevent all possible error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. In addition, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and the benefit of controls must be relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, an evaluation of controls can only provide reasonable assurance that all material control issues and instances of fraud, if any, in our company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Further, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons or by collusion of two or more persons. The design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Because of inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. A failure of our controls and procedures to detect error or fraud could seriously harm our business and results of operations.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

 

None.

 

Item 2. Properties

 

Gabon

 

Etame Marin

 

VAALCO has an interest in a 1,186 square mile offshore block in Gabon, the Etame Marin block where it signed a production sharing contract in 1995. The block contains the Etame, Avouma and South Tchibala fields, which are on production, plus the Ebouri field, which began production in early 2009, and the North Tchibala discovery for which there are no development plans at this time. These fields and discoveries consist of subsalt reservoirs that lie 20 miles offshore in approximately 250 feet of water depth.

 

VAALCO operates the Etame Marin block on behalf of a consortium of companies. At December 31, 2008, VAALCO owned a 30.35% interest in the exploration acreage within the Etame Marin block. The Company owns a 28.1% interest in the development areas surrounding the Etame, Avouma, and South Tchibala fields. The development areas were subject to a 7.5% back-in by the Government of Gabon, which occurred for these fields after their successful development. The Company has a 30.35% interest in the Ebouri field, pending back-in by the Government of Gabon, which is expected to occur in 2009.

 

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The Etame consortium approved the development of the Etame field in 2001. An application for commerciality was filed with the government of Gabon, and in November 2001, the consortium was awarded a 19 square mile exploitation area surrounding the field. The exploitation area has a term of up to 20 years (through 2021).

 

The Etame field has been developed at an aggregate cost of approximately $117.3 million ($35.6 million net to the Company). The development included completing subsea wells connected to a contracted floating production, storage and offloading vessel (“FPSO”). There are currently four wells producing at the Etame field.

 

In April 2005, a development plan for the joint development of the Avouma and South Tchibala fields was approved by the Gabon government. The Company was awarded a 20 square mile exploitation area which has a term of twenty years (until 2025). In 2006, the Company installed a platform in approximately 250 feet of water and drilled two development wells from the platform, one into each field. The two development wells are tied back to the FPSO via a ten mile pipeline. Through December 31, 2008, the cost of developing the Avouma and South Tchibala fields was $121.0 million, ($34.0 million net to the Company). The Company has sold a total of 40.1 million gross bbls (9.6 million net bbls) from the fields within the Etame Marin block since startup through December 31, 2008. During 2008, the Etame, Avouma and South Tchibala fields produced approximately 7.8 million gross bbls (1.9 million net bbls).

 

The Company drilled the Ebouri discovery well to total depth in January 2004. In October 2006, the Gabon government approved the development plan for the Ebouri field. A platform was installed in July 2008 approximately seven miles from the FPSO and is tied back to the FPSO via a pipeline as was done for the Avouma and South Tchibala fields. The cost of developing the Ebouri field as of December 31, 2008 totaled $121.1 million ($38.3 million net to the Company). The first development well began production in February 2009 and a second development well is being drilled with initial production expected from that well in March 2009.

 

Beginning in November 2008, drilling began on the first of three planned exploration wells, all of which are located within the Etame Marin block. The first of these wells, the North Ebouri, encountered substantial oil-filled Gamba sandstone, proving-up significant additional reserves north of the originally mapped field development outline. The second well, the North Etame prospect, encountered water bearing sands and has been abandoned. The third prospect, the South East Etame, is scheduled to be drilled during the second or third quarter of 2009.

 

Mutamba Iroru

 

In November 2005, the Company signed a production sharing contract for the Mutamba Iroru block onshore Gabon. The five year contract awarded the Company exploration rights to approximately 270,000 acres along the central coast of Gabon. The Mutamba Iroru block was previously held by Shell Gabon. The Company has a 100% interest in the Mutamba Iroru block. The Company acquired aeromagnetic gravity data in 2008, and together with seismic data acquired from previous operators over the block in 2006 and 2007, has begun to drill two exploration wells on the block. Drilling on the first well began in February 2009 and encountered water bearing sands and has been abandoned. The Company expects to commence drilling the second well in March or April 2009.

 

Angola

 

Block 5

 

Effective December 1, 2006, the Company acquired a 40% working interest in Block 5 offshore Angola. The seven year contract awarded the Company exploration rights to approximately 1.4 million acres offshore Angola. The Company has acquired approximately 1,700 square kilometers of seismic data over a portion of Block 5. Depending on members of the consortium agreeing on the well objective and rig availability, drilling an exploration well is expected to occur in late-2009.

 

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Great Britain

 

In December 2007, the Company signed a farm-in agreement for a 25% working interest in Block 9/28d offshore in the British North Sea. The Company was obligated to pay its share of the drilling of one well on the block and a portion of the share of the farminee’s share of the well. The well was spudded in December 2007 and reached total depth in January 2008. The well was suspended as a non-commercial discovery in January 2008.

 

In January 2008 the Company signed a farm-in agreement for a 25% working interest in Block 48/25c offshore in the British North Sea. The Company is obligated to pay its share of the drilling of one exploration well on the block, the drilling of which commenced in February 2009, and a portion of the share of the farminee’s share of the well. The block is located in the Southern Gas Basin and an exploration well began drilling in February 2009.

 

Domestic United States Properties

 

The Company has interests in four producing wells in Brazos County Texas producing from the Buda/Georgetown formations. The Company also owns certain non-operated interests in Ship Shoal areas of the Gulf of Mexico. During 2008, the wells produced approximately 1,800 bbls of oil and 15 million cubic feet of gas net to the Company. No capital expenditures are anticipated in 2009 for these properties.

 

Aggregate Production

 

Aggregate production data (net to the Company) for all of the Company’s operations for the years 2008, 2007, and 2006 are shown below. The production figures exclude discontinued operations:

 

Company Owned Production

 

     Year Ended December 31,

     2008

   2007

   2006

     BOE

   Bbl

   Mcf

   BOE

   Bbl

   Mcf

   BOE

   Bbl

   Mcf

Average Daily Production

                                            

(Oil in BOPD, gas in MCFD)

   4,991    4,984    40    4,819    4,809    47    4,258    4,253    30

Average Sales Price ($/unit)

   92.81    92.87    7.51    71.10    71.16    6.51    63.26    63.29    5.91

Average Production Cost ($/unit)

   10.11    10.11    1.69    8.57    8.57    1.43    7.90    7.90    1.32

 

RESERVE INFORMATION

 

A reserve report as of December 31, 2008 has been prepared by Netherland Sewell & Associates, independent petroleum engineers. There have been no estimates of total proved net oil or gas reserves filed with or included in reports to any federal authority or agency other than the Securities and Exchange Commission since the beginning of the last fiscal year. The reserves are located in Gabon (offshore) and in Texas and Louisiana (onshore and offshore).

 

    As of December 31,

    2008

  2007

  2006

Crude Oil

                 

Proved Developed Reserves (MBbls)

    4,751     4,506     4,691

Proved Undeveloped Reserves (MBbls)

    2,671     1,708     1,305
   

 

 

Total Proved Reserves (MBbls)

    7,422     6,214     5,996
   

 

 

Natural Gas

                 

Proved Developed Reserves (MMcf)

    30     61     17

Proved Undeveloped Reserves (MMcf)

    —       —       —  
   

 

 

Total Proved Reserves (MMcf)

    30     61     17
   

 

 

Standardized measure of proved reserves (in thousands)

  $ 64,953   $ 191,669   $ 133,602
   

 

 

 

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The following tables set forth the net proved reserves of the Company as of December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, and the changes during such periods.

 

     Oil (MBbls)

    Gas (MMcf)

 

PROVED RESERVES:

            

BALANCE AT JANUARY 1, 2006

   7,827     21  

Production

   (1,552 )   (11 )

Revisions of previous estimates

   (1,585 )   7  

Extensions and discoveries

   1,306     —    
    

 

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2006

   5,996     17  

Production

   (1,756 )   (20 )

Revisions of previous estimates

   1,979     64  
    

 

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2007

   6,214     61  

Production

   (1,824 )   (15 )

Revisions of previous estimates

   1,242     (16 )

Extensions and discoveries

   1,790     —    
    

 

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2008

   7,422     30  
    

 

 

     Oil (MBbls)

   Gas (MMcf)

PROVED DEVELOPED RESERVES

         

Balance at December 31, 2005

   6,620    21

Balance at December 31, 2006

   4,691    17

Balance at December 31, 2007

   4,506    61

Balance at December 31, 2008

   4,751    30

 

The Company does not book proved reserves on discoveries until such time as a development plan has been prepared and approved by the Company’s partners in the discovery. Furthermore, if a government agreement that the reserves are commercial is required to develop the field, this approval must have been received prior to booking any reserves.

 

There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves and in projecting future rates of production and timing of development expenditures, including many factors beyond the control of the Company. Reserve engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of oil and gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner and the accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. The quantities of oil and gas that are ultimately recovered, production and operating costs, the amount and timing of future development expenditures and future oil and gas sales prices may all differ from those assumed in these estimates. The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow should not be construed as the current market value of the estimated oil and natural gas reserves attributable to the Company’s properties. The information set forth in the foregoing tables includes revisions for certain reserve estimates attributable to proved properties included in the preceding year’s estimates. Such revisions are the result of additional information from subsequent completions and production history from the properties involved or the result of a decrease (or increase) in the projected economic life of such properties resulting from changes in product prices. Moreover, crude oil amounts shown for Gabon are recoverable under a service contract and the reserves in place remain the property of the Gabon government.

 

In accordance with the current guidelines of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company’s estimates of future net cash flow from the Company’s properties and the present value thereof are made using oil and gas contract prices in effect as of yearend and are held constant throughout the life of the properties except where such guidelines permit alternate treatment, including the use of fixed and determinable contractual price escalations. In Gabon, the price was $35.30 per bbl. In the United States, the price was $44.30 per bbl of oil and $6.07 per Mcf of gas. See Supplemental Information on Oil and Gas Producing Properties for certain additional information concerning the proved reserves of the Company.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

Drilling History

 

The Company participated in one exploration well during 2007-2008 in the British North Sea and a development well and an exploration well during 2008 in the Etame Marin block. In 2006, the Company participated in two development wells in Gabon.

 

     United States

   International

     Gross

   Net

   Gross

   Net

Wells Drilled


   2008

   2007

   2006

   2008

   2007

   2006

   2008

   2007

   2006

   2008

   2007

   2006

Exploration Wells

                                                           

Productive

   0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.00    0.00    0.00

Dry

   0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    1.0    0.0    0.0    0.25    0.00    0.00

In progress(1)

   0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    1.0    1.0    0.0    0.43    0.25    0.00

Development Wells

                                                           

Productive

   0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    2.0    0.00    0.00    0.56

Dry

   0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.00    0.00    0.00

In progress(2)

   0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    1.0    0.0    0.0    0.30    0.00    0.00
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Total Wells

   0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    3.0    1.0    2.0    0.98    0.25    0.56
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

(1) The 2008 well was drilling in the Etame Marin Block at December 31, 2008 and resulted in a successful exploration test in 2009. The 2007 well was drilling in the North Sea and resulted in a dry hole and was suspended in 2008.

 

(2) The well was drilling in the Etame Marin Block at December 31, 2008 and was completed as a productive development well in 2009.

 

Acreage and Productive Wells

 

Below is the total acreage under lease and the total number of productive oil and gas wells of the Company as of December 31, 2008:

 

     United States

   International

     Gross

   Net(1)

   Gross

   Net(1)

     (Acreage In thousands)

Developed acreage

   6.7    0.8    25.0    7.0

Undeveloped acreage

   0.0    0.0    2,432.8    1,062.3

Productive gas wells

   1    0.1    0    0

Productive oil wells

   9    1.4    6    1.7

(1) Net acreage and net productive wells are based upon the Company’s working interest in the properties.

 

Office Space

 

The Company leases its offices in Houston, Texas (approximately 9,000 square feet), in Port Gentil, Gabon (approximately 10,000 square feet) and in Luanda, Angola (approximately 6,000 thousand square feet), which management believes are suitable and adequate for the Company’s operations.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

 

The Company is currently not a party to any material litigation.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

None.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrants Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchase of Equity Securities

 

General

 

The Company’s common stock is traded on the New York Exchange under the symbol EGY. The following table sets forth the range of high and low sales prices of the common stock for the periods indicated.

 

Period


   High

   Low

2007:

             

First Quarter

   $ 6.93    $ 4.61

Second Quarter

     5.84      4.62

Third Quarter

     5.41      3.68

Fourth Quarter

     5.40      4.12

2008:

             

First Quarter

   $ 5.41    $ 4.19

Second Quarter

     8.86      5.02

Third Quarter

     8.56      5.69

Fourth Quarter

     7.44      3.92

2009:

             

First Quarter (through February 27, 2009)

   $ 8.54    $ 5.60

 

On February 27, 2009 the last reported sale price of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $5.70 per share.

 

As of February 28, 2009 there were approximately 16,000 holders of record of the Company’s common stock.

 

Dividends

 

The Company has not paid cash dividends and does not anticipate paying cash dividends on the common stock in the foreseeable future.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

Performance Graph

 

The following graph compares the yearly percentage change in the Company’s cumulative total shareholder return on its common shares with the cumulative total return of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P/ 3/8TSX Capped Energy Index. For this purpose, the yearly percentage change in the Company’s cumulative total shareholder return is calculated by dividing (a) the sum of the dividends paid during the “measurement period,” and the difference between the price for the Company’s shares at the end and the beginning of the measurement period, by (b) the price for the Company’s common shares at the beginning of the measurement period. “Measurement period” means the period beginning at the market close on the last trading day before the beginning of the Company’s fifth preceding fiscal year, through and including the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year. The Corporation first became listed on the New York Stock Exchange on October 12, 2006.

 

LOGO

 

     2003

   2004

   2005

   2006

   2007

   2008

VAALCO Energy, Inc

   $ 100    $ 277    $ 303    $ 482    $ 332         $ 531

S&P 500 Composite

   $ 100    $ 109    $ 112    $ 128    $ 132         $ 81

S&P/TSX Capped Energy

   $ 100    $ 129    $ 206    $ 209    $ 225         $ 139

 

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Index to Financial Statements

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

 

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2008 regarding the number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the Company’s compensation plans. Please refer to Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements for additional plan information on stock based compensation.

 

Plan Category


   Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights


   Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights


   Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans (excluding
securities reflected
in the first column)


Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

   2,097,167    $ 4.17    1,328,336

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

   2,666,120    $ 6.24    218,880
    
  

  

Total

   4,763,287    $ 5.33    1,547,216
    
  

  

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities for Year Ended December 31, 2008

 

On September 14, 2007, the Company announced its intention to purchase up to $20 million of shares of its common stock for the treasury. The announcement did not specify an amount of shares or expiration date. The Corporation has purchased 1,800,300 shares at an average price of $6.20 per share since this announcement and on a quarterly basis reports purchased share volumes on its Forms 10-Q and 10-K. Purchases may be made in both the open market and through negotiated transactions, and purchases may be increased, decreased or discontinued at any time without prior notice. The Company did not purchase any shares of common stock during the fourth quarter of 2008.

 

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

 

The following table sets forth, as of the dates and for the periods indicated, selected financial information about the Company. The financial information for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2008 has been derived from the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements for such periods. The information should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto. The following information is not necessarily indicative of the Company’s future results.

 

     Years Ended December 31,

     2008

   2007

   2006(1)

   2005

   2004

     (In thousands, except per share amounts)

Total revenues

   $ 169,525    $ 125,044    $ 98,325    $ 84,935    $ 56,502

Income from continuing operations

   $ 29,722    $ 19,103    $ 40,585    $ 29,251    $ 25,029

Net income

   $ 29,722    $ 19,052    $ 40,343    $ 29,182    $ 22,938

Basic income per common share from continuing operations

   $ 0.51    $ 0.32    $ 0.69    $ 0.56    $ 0.94

Diluted income per common share from continuing operations

   $ 0.50    $ 0.32    $ 0.67    $ 0.50    $ 0.43

Total assets

   $ 252,030    $ 186,558    $ 167,942    $ 98,162    $ 68,371

Total debt

   $ 5,000    $ 5,000    $ 5,000    $ 1,500    $ 3,750

(1) Effective January 1, 2006 the Company adopted SFAS 123(R) resulting in expense of $1.1 million in 2006, $2.2 million in 2007, and $2.6 million in 2008.

 

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Index to Financial Statements
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The Company’s results of operations are dependent upon the difference between prices received for its oil and gas production and the costs to find and produce such oil and gas. Oil and gas prices have been and are expected in the future to be volatile and subject to fluctuations based on a number of factors beyond the control of the Company.

 

The Company operates the Etame, Avouma, South Tchibala and Ebouri fields on behalf of a consortium of five companies offshore of the Republic of Gabon. Production commenced from the Etame field in 2002 and was subsequently expanded through additional development wells in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, the Company developed the Avouma and South Tchibala fields by setting a platform and tying the field back to the FPSO via a pipeline. Oil production commenced from the Avouma and South Tchibala fields in January 2007. Oil production began in January 2009 from the Ebouri field utilizing a platform that was installed in August 2008 and connected to the FPSO by pipeline.

 

Impact of the Current Financial and Credit Markets

 

The U.S. and other world economies are currently in a recession which could last well into 2009 and beyond. Additionally, the financial and credit markets are undergoing unprecedented disruptions. Many financial institutions have liquidity concerns prompting intervention from governments. The Company’s exposure to the disruptions in the financial markets includes the Company’s credit facility, ability to access the capital markets and investments exposure.

 

The Company’s credit facility extends through October 2009 and may be extended or converted into a term loan, at the Company’s option. If the disruption in the financial markets continues for an extended period of time, replacement of the credit facility may be more expensive.

 

Current market conditions also elevate concerns with the Company’s cash investments (including funds in escrow), which at December 31, 2008 totaled $148.5 million. The Company has reviewed the creditworthiness of the banks and financial institutions with which the Company maintains investments as well as the securities underlying these investments. With regard to the Company’s cash investments, the Company invests in bankers acceptances and money market instruments primarily with JPMorgan Chase & Co., which the Company believes to be creditworthy.

 

The Company’s production in Gabon is purchased by Total Oil Trading SA, which the Company believes to be a creditworthy purchaser.

 

Oil and gas prices are also volatile as evidenced by the significant decline during 2008 and 2009. Continued lower commodity prices will reduce the Company’s cash flows from operations.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The following describes the critical accounting policies used by the Company in reporting its financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, accounting standards allow more than one alternative accounting method for reporting, such is the case with accounting for oil and gas activities described below. In those cases, the Company’s reported results of operations would be different should it employ an alternative accounting method.

 

Successful Efforts Method of Accounting for Oil and Gas activities

 

The SEC prescribes in Regulation S-X the financial accounting and reporting standards for companies engaged in oil and gas producing activities. Two methods are prescribed: the successful efforts method and the

 

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Index to Financial Statements

full cost method. Like many other oil and gas companies, the Company has chosen to follow the successful efforts method. Management believes that this method is preferable, as the Company has focused on exploration activities wherein there is risk associated with future success and as such earnings are best represented by attachment to the drilling operations of the Company. Costs of successful wells, development dry holes and leases containing productive reserves are capitalized and amortized on a unit-of-production basis over the life of the related reserves. Other exploration costs, including geological and geophysical expenses applicable to undeveloped leasehold, leasehold expiration costs and delay rentals are expensed as incurred.

 

In accordance with accounting under successful efforts method of accounting, the Company reviews proved oil and gas properties for indications of impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of its oil and gas properties may not be recoverable. When it is determined that an oil and gas property’s estimated future net cash flows will not be sufficient to recover its carrying amount, an impairment charge must be recorded to reduce the carrying amount of the asset to its estimated fair value. This may occur if a field contains lower than anticipated reserves or if commodity prices fall below a level that significantly effects anticipated future cash flows on the field.

 

Suspended Well Costs

 

Under the successful efforts method of accounting used by the Company for its oil and gas exploration and development costs, all expenditures related to exploration, with the exception of costs of drilling exploratory wells are charged to expense as incurred. The costs of exploratory wells are capitalized on the balance sheet pending determination of whether commercially producible oil and gas reserves have been discovered. If the determination is made that a well did not encounter potentially economic oil and gas quantities, the well costs are charged to expense. These determinations are re-evaluated quarterly.

 

For capitalized exploration drilling costs, if it is determined that a development plan is feasible, and the development plan is approved by the Gabon government, costs associated with the exploratory wells will be transferred along with the costs spent on the development to “wells, platforms and other production facilities” at the time of first production. The costs will subsequently be amortized on a unit-of-production based method over the life of the reserves as they are produced. In the event it were determined that the discoveries are not commercial, the costs of the exploratory wells would be expensed.

 

For offshore exploratory discoveries, it is not unusual to have exploratory well costs remain suspended while additional appraisal and engineering work on the potential oil and gas field is performed and regulatory and government approvals are sought. In Gabon, the government must approve the commerciality of the reserves, assign a development area and approve a formal development plan prior to a field being developed.

 

On April 4, 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Staff Position No. FAS 19-1 (“FSP FAS 19-1”), which addressed a discussion that was ongoing within the oil industry regarding capitalization of costs of drilling exploratory wells. Paragraph 19 of FASB Statement No. 19, Financial Accounting and Reporting by Oil and Gas Producing Companies (“FASB No. 19”), requires costs of drilling exploratory wells to be capitalized pending determination of whether the well has found proved reserves. If the well has found proved reserves, the capitalized costs become part of the entity’s wells, equipment, and facilities. If, however, the well has not found proved reserves, the capitalized costs of drilling the well are expensed. Questions arose in practice about the application of this guidance due to changes in oil and gas exploration processes and lifecycles. The issue was whether there are circumstances that would permit the continued capitalization of exploratory well costs if reserves cannot be classified as proved within one year following the completion of drilling, other than when additional exploration wells are necessary to justify major capital expenditures and those wells are underway or firmly planned for the near future. FSP FAS 19-1 amends FASB No. 19 to allow for the continued capitalization of suspended well costs when the well has found a sufficient quantity of reserves to justify its completion as a producing well and the enterprise is making sufficient progress assessing the reserves and the economic and operating viability of the plan.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

In January 2009, the Company drilled a well in the North Etame prospect located in the Etame Marin block in Gabon. The well encountered water bearing sands and has been abandoned. In February 2009, the Company drilled a well in the Mutamba Iroru block onshore Gabon and found the sands to be water bearing and this well also has been abandoned. Accordingly, the Company expensed all costs incurred on these two wells through December 31, 2008.

 

In December 2007 the Company spudded a well in block 9/28b in the British North Sea. The well was suspended as a non-commercial discovery in January 2008. Accordingly the Company expensed all costs incurred through December 31, 2007. The Company also expensed the additional costs incurred while drilling the well in 2008.

 

CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY

 

Cash Flows

 

Net cash provided by operating activities for 2008 was $106.6 million, as compared to $43.2 million in 2007 and $61.8 million in 2006. The increase in cash provided by operations in 2008 compared to 2007 was primarily due to higher net income and more favorable changes in working capital other than cash. The decrease in 2007 compared to 2006 was primarily due to an increase in cash used for geological and geophysical exploration activities of $7.2 million and an increase in working capital other than cash of $9.0 million, primarily associated with Gabon operations, compared to a decrease in working capital other than cash of $7.9 million in 2006.

 

Net cash used in investing activities in 2008 was $42.4 million, compared to net cash used in investing activities for 2007 of $22.6 million and net cash used in investing activities in 2006 of $47.4 million. In 2008, the Company invested $25.7 million primarily for the development of the Ebouri field, FPSO upgrades and onshore Gabon drilling activities. The Company incurred $9.2 million in dry hole costs, and placed $7.4 million in escrow for a well to be drilled in the North Sea.

 

In 2007, the Company invested $14.5 million in the Etame Marin block operations for the development of the Avouma, South Tchibala and Ebouri fields and drilled a dry well in the North Sea at a cost of $8.1 million.

 

In 2006, the Company invested $22.4 million in Etame Marin block operations primarily for development of the Avouma and South Tchibala fields and $10.8 million in bonus and leasehold payments for Block 5 offshore Angola. The Company also placed $14.8 million of funds in escrow to secure obligations in Angola, which was partially offset by the release of $1.1 million of funds in escrow associated with Gabon operations at year end 2005.

 

In 2008, cash used in financing activities was $15.2 million, consisting of distributions to a minority interest owner of $6.5 million and purchase of treasury shares of $8.9 million. In 2007, cash used in financing activities was $5.2 million, consisting of distributions to a minority interest owner of $4.0 million and purchase of treasury shares of $2.3 million which was partially offset by proceeds from the issuance of common stock of $1.1 million. In 2006, cash provided by financing activities of $2.7 million consisted of $3.5 million net borrowings, $2.5 million proceeds from issuance of common stock and $3.0 used for distributions to minority interest holders. In addition, the Company capitalized $0.3 million of debt issuance costs.

 

Capital Expenditures

 

In 2008, the Company spent approximately $25.7 million consisting primarily of Ebouri platform costs of $15.5 million, the Ebouri appraisal well ($1.1 million), and the first Ebouri development well ($1.6 million) and drilling inventory ($1.4 million). Other expenditures during the year were for FPSO upgrades ($2.0 million), onshore Gabon ($2.2 million) and a well in the British North Sea ($0.8 million). During 2007, the Company spent approximately $14.5 million for the development of the Avouma and South Tchibala fields ($6.0 million) and for the development of the Ebouri field ($8.5 million). During 2006, the Company spent approximately $22.4 million for the development of the Avouma and South Tchibala fields, and $10.8 million for the acquisition of Block 5 offshore Angola.

 

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In 2008, the Company also spent $14.9 million in exploration expense including $9.2 million of unsuccessful well costs (British North Sea—$6.4 million, offshore Gabon—$0.3 million and onshore Gabon—$2.5 million), $3.5 million to acquire and process seismic in Angola, $1.1 million for aeromagnetic gravity data acquired over the Mutamba Iroru block onshore Gabon and seismic acquisition and processing costs associated with the Etame Marin block of $0.7 million. In 2007, the Company spent $15.3 million to acquire and process seismic in Angola ($4.3 million), to acquire and process seismic in Gabon ($2.6 million), to drill an unsuccessful exploration well in the British North Sea ($8.1 million) and for other seismic costs in the North Sea ($0.3 million). In 2006, the Company spent $2.7 million to acquire seismic in Gabon and on North Sea projects.

 

Historically, the Company’s primary sources of capital resources has been from cash flows from operations, private sales of equity, borrowings and purchase money debt. On December 31, 2008, the Company had cash balances of $125.4 million and funds in escrow of $23.1 million. The Company believes that these cash balances combined with cash flow from operations will be sufficient to fund the Company’s 2009 non-discretionary capital expenditure budget of approximately $56.7 million to further develop the Ebouri field, for exploration programs in Gabon, Angola and the British North Sea and for additional investments in working capital resulting from potential growth. The Company invests cash, not required for immediate operational and capital expenditure needs, in short-term bankers acceptance and money market instruments primarily with JPMorgan Chase & Co. The Company does not invest in asset-backed commercial paper market which has been subject to a liquidity crisis over the last year. As operator of the Etame, Avouma, South Tchibala and Ebouri fields the Company enters into project related activities on behalf of its working interest partners. The Company generally obtains advances from its partners prior to significant funding commitments.

 

In June 2005, the Company executed a loan agreement for a $30.0 million revolving credit facility secured by the assets of the Company’s Gabon subsidiary. The facility is available to finance the Ebouri field development activities and other Etame Marin block activities. The facility extends through October 2009 at which point it can be extended, or converted to a term loan. This facility became effective during the first quarter of 2006.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

The table below summarizes the Company’s obligations and commitments at December 31, 2008:

 

Payment Period

 

(in thousands $)


   2009

   2010

   2011

   2012

   2013

   Thereafter

   Total

Long term debt(1)

   $ 5,000    $ —      $ —      $ —      $ —      $ —      $ 5,000

Interest on long term debt(2)

     311      —        —        —        —        —        311

Operating leases(3)

     13,968      10,873      4,987      4,940      4,740      7,958      47,466

(1) The facility extends through October 2009 at which point it can be extended or converted to a term loan at the Company’s option.

 

(2) Interest is based on rates and principal payments in effect at 12/31/2008

 

(3) The Company is Guarantor of a lease for the FPSO utilized in Gabon, which has remaining obligations of $113.4 million. The Company’s share of these payments is included in the table above. The Company can cancel the lease anytime after September 14, 2015, with 12 months prior notice. Approximately 72% of the payment is co-guaranteed by the Company’s partners in Gabon.

 

In addition to the contractual obligations described above, the Company is required to spend $2.1 million for its share of an exploration well on the Etame Marin block by July 6, 2009 (well was drilled in early 2009), and $4.0 million for its share of an exploration well on the Mutamba Iroru block, originally by November 11, 2008. The 2008 date was extended and the Company drilled the exploration well to fulfill the commitment in February 2009. The well was abandoned as it encountered water bearing formations. The Company has elected to enter

 

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Index to Financial Statements

into the second exploration period for Mutamba which requires a minimum expenditure of $5.0 million to acquire 2-D seismic and drill one additional well by November 2010. In addition, the Company is required to spend $10.0 million for its share of two exploration wells on Block 5 in Angola by November 30, 2010 and $8.0 million for its share of an exploration well in Block 48/25c in the British North Sea (currently being drilled).

 

The Company is carrying $10.1 million of asset retirement obligations as of December 31, 2008, representing the present value of these obligations as of that date. The Company does not anticipate incurring expenditures for any material asset retirement obligations over the next five years.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Year Ended December 31, 2008 Compared to Years Ended December 31, 2007 and 2006

 

Revenues

 

Total oil and gas sales for 2008 were $169.5 million as compared to $125.0 million and $98.3 million for 2007 and 2006 respectively. In 2008, the Company sold approximately 1,822,000 bbls at an average price of $92.87 per bbl from the Etame Marin block. Revenues from the United States were $0.3 million. In 2007, the Company sold approximately 1,753,000 bbls at an average price of $71.16 per bbl from the Etame Marin block. Revenues from the United States were $0.3 million. In 2006, the Company sold approximately 1,554,000 net bbls at an average price of $63.26 per bbl from the Etame field in Gabon. Revenues from the United States were $0.2 million. Crude oil sales are a function of the number and size of crude oil liftings from the FPSO and thus crude oil sales do not always coincide with oil volumes produced. Average daily production in 2008 was 5% higher than in 2007 which correlate with the increased sales volume year to year. The increased volumes from the Etame Marin block in 2007 versus 2006 were due to the addition of Avouma and South Tchibala fields in January 2007.

 

Operating Costs and Expenses

 

Production expenses for 2008 were $18.5 million as compared to $15.1 million and $12.2 million for 2007 and 2006. Production expenses were higher in 2008 due to increased volumes sold (17 liftings in 2008 versus 14 liftings in 2007) as well as higher boat rental costs, higher FPSO costs, higher helicopter costs and higher fuel costs. In 2007, operating expenses increased versus 2006 due to the addition of the Avouma and South Tchibala fields, as well as increased costs for support vessels for liftings, fuel costs and personnel costs.

 

Exploration costs for 2008 were $14.9 million as compared to $15.3 million and $2.7 million for 2007 and 2006 respectively. In 2008, the Company spent $9.2 million on unsuccessful exploration wells including the remaining costs of a well in the British North Sea ($6.4 million), plus two wells drilled in early 2009 and determined to be an unsuccessful. On both of the wells, the costs incurred as of December 31, 2008 were charged to expense. For the well in the Mutamba Iroru block, onshore Gabon the amount charged to expense was $2.5 million and $0.3 million was charged to expense for the well in the North Etame area of the Etame Marin block. The Company’s share of the additional estimated costs to be charged to expense in 2009 for the Mutamba Iroru well is $5.5 million and for the North Etame well the estimated amount is $3.5 million. Additionally, the Company spent $3.0 million for acquiring 524 square kilometers of 3-D seismic in Angola in 2008. Also included in exploration expenses in 2008 were aeromagnetic gravity data acquired over the Mutamba Iroru block, seismic acquisition and processing costs associated with the Company’s Etame Marin block and seismic processing costs in Angola.

 

In 2007, amounts were spent to acquire and process seismic in Angola ($4.3 million), to acquire and process seismic in Gabon ($2.6 million), to drill an unsuccessful exploration well in the British North Sea ($8.1 million) and for other seismic costs in the North Sea ($0.3 million). In 2006, the Company incurred exploration expenses associated with seismic acquisition and reprocessing in the Etame Marin block ($1.1 million), preparations for possible entry into the North Sea ($1.1 million), seismic processing for the Mutamba Iroru block onshore Gabon ($0.3 million), and in Angola ($0.1 million).

 

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Index to Financial Statements

Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense was $18.9 million for 2008, and was $18.0 million and $6.7 million for 2007 and 2006 respectively. Depletion, depreciation and amortization expense increased in 2008 versus 2007 due to higher production volumes. The 2007 versus 2006 significant increase was due to the addition of the platform and pipeline for the development of the Avouma and South Tchibala fields. In 2008, depletion rates for the Avouma and South Tchibala fields averaged $16.01 per bbl compared to $4.98 per bbl from the Etame field.

 

General and administrative expenses for 2008 were $10.8 million as compared to $8.0 million and $2.4 million for 2007 and 2006. General and administrative expenses increased in 2008 versus 2007 due in part to non-recurring legal and solicitation costs associated with corporate matters relating to the Company’s annual meeting and increases in stock based compensation. The Company also incurred $1.2 million in costs related to the operation of the Company office in Angola. The increase in costs in 2007 versus 2006 was due to increased administrative activity for the Mutamba Iroru block in Gabon, Block 5 in Angola and North Sea activity. The Company also received lower administrative reimbursements from the Etame Marin block due to lower capital expenditure activity in 2007 compared to 2006. Additionally, the Company incurred $2.6 million in non-cash stock based compensation expense in 2008 compared to $2.2 million and $1.1 million in 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

Operating Income

 

Operating income for 2008 was $106.5 million as compared to a $68.7 million and $74.3 million operating income for 2007 and 2006. The increase in operating income in 2008 versus 2007 is attributable to the higher average crude sales price of $92.87 per bbl, an increase of $21.71 per bbl, which was partially offset by increased operating costs, primarily consisting of fuel related costs and depletion. Increased revenues due to higher production rates and oil prices in 2007 versus 2006 were offset by higher exploration costs in Gabon, Angola and the North Sea, and higher depletion expense in Gabon.

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

Interest income for 2008 was $2.5 million compared to $3.9 million and $3.0 million in 2007 and 2006. All the 2008, 2007, and 2006 amounts represent interest earned and accrued on cash balances and funds in escrow. Lower interest rates in 2008 versus 2007 account for the decrease in interest income.

 

Interest expense of $0.2 million was recorded in 2008 as compared to $1.1 million and $1.0 million in 2007 and 2006. Interest in all three years was associated with the financings from the IFC for use on Etame Marin block activities. The reduction in interest expense compared to the two prior years is attributable to an increase in the amount of loan interest that could be capitalized and lower amortization of capitalized financing costs of $0.1 million in 2008, compared to $0.6 million and $0.5 million in 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

Income Taxes

 

In 2008, the Company incurred $73.0 million of income taxes compared to $48.1 million paid in 2007 which were associated with the Etame Marin block production, and which were paid in Gabon. In 2006, the Company incurred $30.5 million of income taxes associated with the Etame field production, which were paid in Gabon. The increased tax in Gabon 2008 versus 2007 and 2007 versus 2006 was due to higher production rates and oil prices.

 

Minority Interest

 

Income attributable to the minority interest in the Gabon subsidiary was $6.0 million, $4.4 million and $5.2 million in 2008, 2007, and 2006 respectively.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

Loss from Discontinued Operations

 

No amounts were recorded in 2008 in this category. In 2007, the loss from discontinued operations in the Philippines was $51,000 as the Company achieved the final closeout of the branch offices. Loss from discontinued operations in 2006 was $0.2 million consisting of final branch profit remittance taxes paid in the Philippines.

 

Net Income

 

Net income for 2008 was $29.7 million as compared to a net income of $19.1 million and $40.3 million in 2007 and 2006. The net income increase in 2008 versus 2007 is attributable to the increased sales and oil prices partially offset by higher costs, primarily fuel-related costs and depletion. In 2007, higher production, exploration, depletion and general and administrative costs, and higher taxes in Gabon, more than offset increases in production and oil prices as compared to 2006.

 

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

For a discussion of new accounting pronouncements, see Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

 

For a discussion of off balance sheet arrangements associated with the guarantee by the Company of the charter payments for the FPSO located in Gabon, see Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Market Risk

 

The Company’s major market risk exposure continues to be the prices applicable to its oil and gas production. Sales prices are primarily driven by the prevailing market price. Historically, prices received for oil and gas production have been volatile and unpredictable.

 

Interest Rate Market Risk

 

At December 31, 2008 total debt was $5.0 million. The debt is tied to floating or market interest rates. Fluctuations in floating interest rates will cause the Company’s annual interest costs to fluctuate. During the fourth quarter of 2008 the interest rate on the Company’s bank debt averaged 7.88%. If the balance of the bank debt at December 31, 2008 were to remain constant, a 1% change in market interest rates would impact our cash flow by an estimated $12,500 per quarter.

 

Commodity Risk

 

The Company had no derivatives in place as of the date of this report, or in 2008, 2007 or 2006.

 

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

The information required here is included in the report as set forth in the “Index to Consolidated Financial Information on page F-1.

 

Item 9. Changes In and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

None.

 

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Index to Financial Statements
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

 

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

 

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it file or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company’s management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s last year that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the “COSO Framework”). Based on this evaluation under the COSO Framework which was completed on March 13, 2009, management concluded that its internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2008.

 

The Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008 has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm who audited the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2008, as stated in their report which follows.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

No change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during the fourth quarter of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 that has materially affected, or is reasonable likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of VAALCO Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries:

Houston, Texas

 

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of VAALCO Energy, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based upon the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

 

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2008 of the Company and our report dated March 13, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

 

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Houston, Texas

March 13, 2009

 

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Index to Financial Statements
Item 9B. Other Information

 

The Company has disclosed all information required to be disclosed in a current report on Form 8-K during the year ended December 31, 2008 in previously filed reports on Form 8-K.

 

PART III

 

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

 

Information required by this item will be included in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2009 annual meeting, which will be filed with the Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2008, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 11. Executive Compensation

 

Information required by this item will be included in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2009 annual meeting, which will be filed with the Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2008, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

 

Information required by this Item 403 of Regulation S-K concerning the security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management will be included in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2009 annual meeting, which will be filed with the Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2008, and which is incorporated herein by reference. Please see “Item 5 Market for Registrants Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchase of Equity Securities” information on securities that may be issued under the Company’s stock incentive plans.

 

Item 13. Certain Relationships, Related Transactions and Director Independence

 

Information required by this item will be included in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2009 annual meeting, which will be filed with the Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2008, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

The information required by Item 14 is incorporated by reference from the Company’s definitive proxy statement for its 2009 annual meeting, which will be filed with the Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2008, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

  (a) 1. The following is an index to the financial statements that are filed as part of this Form 10-K.

 

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

    

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31, 2008 and 2007

   F-3

Statements of Consolidated Operations
Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

   F-4

Statements of Consolidated Stockholders’ Equity
Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

   F-5

Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows
Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

   F-6

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-7

 

  (a) 2. Schedules are omitted because they are not required, not applicable or the required information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.

 

  (a) 3. Exhibits:

 

  3. Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

 

3.1(a)    Restated Certificate of Incorporation
3.2(a)    Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation
3.3(k)    Amended and Restated Bylaws

 

  10. Material Contracts

 

10.1(b)    Indemnity Agreement entered into among the Company and certain of its officers and directors listed therein.
10.2(c)    Exploration and Production Sharing contract between the Republic of Gabon and VAALCO Gabon (Etame), Inc. dated July 7, 1995.
10.3(c)    Deed of Assignment and Assumption between VAALCO Gabon (Etame), Inc., VAALCO Energy (Gabon), Inc. and Petrofields Exploration & Development Co., Inc. dated September 28, 1995.
10.4(d)    Letter of Intent for Etame Marin block, Offshore Gabon dated January 22, 1998 between the Company and Western Atlas International, Inc.
10.5(e)    2001 Stock Incentive Plan dated August 16, 2001.
10.6(f)    Trustee and Paying Agent Agreement by and between VAALCO Gabon (Etame), Inc., J.P. Morgan Trustee and Depositary Company Limited and JPMorgan Chase Bank, London Branch, dated June 26, 2002.
10.7(g)    2003 Stock Incentive Plan dated December 16, 2003.

 

36


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Index to Financial Statements
10.8(h)    Exploration and Production Sharing contract between the Republic of Gabon and VAALCO Production (Gabon), Inc., Permit Mutamba Iroru dated November 11, 2005.
10.9(i)    Loan Agreement between VAALCO Gabon (Etame), Inc. and International Finance Corporation dated June 13, 2005.
10.10(j)    2007 Stock Incentive Plan dated May 1, 2007.
10.11(l)    Settlement Agreement, dated as of May 23, 2008 by and among the Company and Nanes Delorme Partners I LP, Nanes Balkany Partners LLC, Nanes Balkany Management LLC, Julien Balkany and Daryl Nanes.

 

  21. Subsidiaries of the Company

 

21.1    Subsidiaries of the Registrant

 

  23. Consents of Experts and Counsel

 

23.1    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
23.2    Consent of Netherland Sewell

 

  31. Rule 13a-14(a) Certifications

 

31.1    Certification pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2    Certification pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

  32. Section 1350 Certifications

 

32.1    Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act Of 2002.
32.2    Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act Of 2002.

(a) Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the Commission on July 15, 1998, and hereby incorporated by reference herein.

 

(b) Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10 (File No. 0-20928) filed on December 3, 1992, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 8 on January 7, 1993, and by Amendment No. 2 on Form 8 on January 25, 1993, and hereby incorporated by reference herein.

 

(c) Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-QSB for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1995, and hereby incorporated by reference herein.

 

(d) Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-KSB for the annual period ended December 31, 1996, and hereby incorporated by reference herein.

 

(e) Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement Form S-8 filed with the Commission on August 18, 2001, and incorporated by reference herein.

 

37


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Index to Financial Statements
(f) Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-QSB for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2002, and hereby incorporated by reference herein.

 

(g) Filed as an exhibit to Form10-KSB for the annual period ended December 31, 2004, and hereby incorporated by reference herein.

 

(h) Filed as an exhibit to Form 10-K for the annual period ended December 31, 2005, and hereby incorporated by reference herein.

 

(i) Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on February 21, 2006, and hereby incorporated by reference herein.

 

(j) Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement Form S-8 filed with the Commission on July 25, 2007 and hereby incorporated by reference herein.

 

(k) Filed as an exhibit to Company’s Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 12, 2007, and hereby incorporated by reference herein.

 

(l) Filed as an exhibit to Company’s Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May 28, 2008, and hereby incorporated by reference herein.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

SIGNATURES

 

In accordance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

VAALCO ENERGY, INC.

(Registrant)

 

By

 

/s/    GREGORY R. HULLINGER        


   

Gregory R. Hullinger

Chief Financial Officer

 

Dated March 16, 2009

 

In accordance with the Exchange Act, this report has been signed below on the 16th day of March, by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated.

 

   

Signature


  

Title


By:

 

/s/ ROBERT L. GERRY, III.


Robert L. Gerry, III.

  

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

By:

 

/s/ W. RUSSELL SCHEIRMAN


W. Russell Scheirman

  

President, Chief Operating Officer
And Director

By:

 

/s/ GREGORY R. HULLINGER


Gregory R. Hullinger

  

Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and
Principal Accounting Officer)

By:

 

/s/ ROBERT H. ALLEN


Robert H. Allen

  

Director

By:

 

/s/ LUIGI CAFLISCH


Luigi Caflisch

  

Director

By:

 

/s/ O. DONALD CHAPOLTON


O. Donald Chapolton

  

Director

By:

 

/s/ WILLIAM S. FARISH


William S. Farish

  

Director

By:

 

/s/ ARNE R. NIELSEN


Arne R. Nielsen

  

Director

By:

 

/s/ FREDERICK W. BRAZELTON


Frederick W. Brazelton

  

Director

 

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Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

    

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31, 2008 and 2007

  

F-3

Statements of Consolidated Operations
Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

  

F-4

Statements of Consolidated Stockholders’ Equity
Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

  

F-5

Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows
Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

  

F-6

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-7

 

F-1


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of VAALCO Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries:

Houston, Texas

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of VAALCO Energy, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related statements of consolidated operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of VAALCO Energy, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 13, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Houston, Texas

March 13, 2009

 

F-2


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands of dollars, except number of shares and par value amounts)

 

     December 31,
2008


    December 31,
2007


 
ASSETS                 

Current assets:

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 125,425     $ 76,450  

Funds in escrow

     7,445       4,764  

Receivables:

                

Trade

     9,513       19,766  

Accounts with partners

     3,796       3,829  

Other

     2,074       1,646  

Crude oil inventory

     1,381       927  

Materials and supplies

     425       339  

Prepayments and other

     2,351       2,162  
    


 


Total current assets

     152,410       109,883  
    


 


Property and equipment—successful efforts method:

                

Wells, platforms and other production facilities

     84,693       80,052  

Undeveloped acreage

     12,841       12,841  

Work in progress

     43,288       11,822  

Equipment and other

     2,844       2,261  
    


 


       143,666       106,976  

Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

     (61,379 )     (42,984 )
    


 


Net property and equipment

     82,287       63,992  
    


 


Other assets:

                

Deferred tax asset

     1,349       1,457  

Funds in escrow

     15,637       10,871  

Other long term assets

     347       355  
    


 


TOTAL

   $ 252,030     $ 186,558  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                 

Current liabilities:

                

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

   $ 57,773     $ 23,904  

Accounts with partners

     5,394       —    

Income taxes payable

     —         200  
    


 


Total current liabilities

     63,167       24,104  
    


 


Long term debt

     5,000       5,000  

Asset retirement obligations

     10,071       6,728  
    


 


Total liabilities

     78,238       35,832  
    


 


Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)

                

Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries

     7,914       8,396  

Stockholders’ equity:

                

Common stock, $0.10 par value, 100,000,000 authorized shares 61,116,324 and 61,054,824 shares issued with 2,860,642 and 1,560,342 shares in treasury at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively

     6,112       6,105  

Additional paid-in capital

     53,983       51,294  

Retained earnings

     117,205       87,483  

Less treasury stock, at cost

     (11,422 )     (2,552 )
    


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     165,878       142,330  
    


 


TOTAL

   $ 252,030     $ 186,558  
    


 


 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-3


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Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS

(in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)

 

     Year Ended December 31

 
     2008

    2007

    2006

 

Revenues:

                        

Oil and gas sales

   $ 169,525     $ 125,044     $ 98,325  
    


 


 


Operating costs and expenses:

                        

Production expenses

     18,468       15,080       12,217  

Exploration expense

     14,872       15,340       2,672  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     18,937       17,952       6,720  
                          

General and administrative expenses

     10,776       7,999       2,386  
    


 


 


Total operating costs and expenses

     63,053       56,371       23,995  
    


 


 


Operating income

     106,472       68,673       74,330  

Other income (expense):

                        

Interest income

     2,520       3,928       2,987  

Interest expense

     (240 )     (1,094 )     (1,026 )

Other, net

     (5 )     106       (36 )
    


 


 


Total other income (expense)

     2,275       2,940       1,925  
    


 


 


Income from continuing operations before income taxes, and minority interest

     108,747       71,613       76,255  

Income tax expense

     73,014       48,081       30,496  
    


 


 


Income from continuing operations before minority interest

     35,733       23,532       45,759  

Minority interest in earnings of subsidiaries

     (6,011 )     (4,429 )     (5,174 )
    


 


 


Income from continuing operations

     29,722       19,103       40,585  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     —         (51 )     (242 )
    


 


 


Net income

   $ 29,722     $ 19,052     $ 40,343  
    


 


 


Basic income per share from continuing operations

   $ 0.51     $ 0.32     $ 0.69  

Loss per share from discontinued operations

     —         —         —    
    


 


 


Basic net income per share

   $ 0.51     $ 0.32     $ 0.69  
    


 


 


Diluted income per share from continuing operations

   $ 0.50     $ 0.32     $ 0.67  

Loss per share from discontinued operations

     —         —         —    
    


 


 


Diluted net income per share

   $ 0.50     $ 0.32     $ 0.67  
    


 


 


Basic weighted shares outstanding

     58,676       59,134       58,136  
    


 


 


Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

     59,287       60,091       60,476  
    


 


 


 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-4


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(in thousands of dollars)

 

               Additional
Paid-in
Capital

   Retained
Earnings

   Treasury
Stock

    Total
Stockholders’
Equity

 
     Common Stock

          
     Shares

   Amount

          

Balance at January 1, 2006

   58,314,792    $ 5,831    $ 44,662    $ 28,088    $ (266 )   $ 78,315  
    
  

  

  

  


 


Proceeds from stock issuance

   1,743,363      175      2,366      —        —         2,541  

Stock based compensation

   —        —        1,065      —        —         1,065  

Net Income

   —        —        —        40,343      —         40,343  
    
  

  

  

  


 


Balance at December 31, 2006

   60,058,155      6,006      48,093      68,431      (266 )     122,264  
    
  

  

  

  


 


Proceeds from stock issuance

   996,669      99      1,023      —        —         1,122  

Stock based compensation

   —        —        2,178      —        —         2,178  

Purchase of treasury shares

   —        —        —        —        (2,286 )     (2,286 )

Net Income

   —        —        —        19,052      —         19,052  
    
  

  

  

  


 


Balance at December 31, 2007

   61,054,824      6,105      51,294      87,483      (2,552 )     142,330  
    
  

  

  

  


 


Proceeds from stock issuance

   61,500      7      123      —        —         130  

Stock based compensation

   —        —        2,566      —        —         2,566  

Purchase of treasury shares

   —        —        —        —        (8,870 )     (8,870 )

Net Income

   —        —        —        29,722      —         29,722  
    
  

  

  

  


 


Balance at December 31, 2008

   61,116,324    $ 6,112    $ 53,983    $ 117,205    $ (11,422 )   $ 165,878  
    
  

  

  

  


 


 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-5


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS

(in thousands of dollars)

 

     Year Ended December 31,

 
     2008

    2007

    2006

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

                        

Net income

   $ 29,722     $ 19,052     $ 40,343  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

                        

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     18,937       17,952       6,720  

Amortization of debt issuance costs

     125       556       596  

Dry hole costs

     9,217       8,053       —    

Stock based compensation

     2,566       2,178       1,065  

Minority interest in earnings of subsidiary

     6,011       4,429       5,174  

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

                        

Trade receivables

     10,253       (12,158 )     (1,155 )

Accounts with partners

     5,427       1,711       (3,285 )

Other receivables

     (428 )     (313 )     (99 )

Crude oil inventory

     (454 )     (367 )     (42 )

Materials and supplies

     (86 )     (15 )     (34 )

Deferred tax asset

     108       (200 )     —    

Other long term assets

     (117 )     243       —    

Prepayments and other

     (189 )     910       (889 )

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     25,686       1,001       13,370  

Income taxes payable

     (200 )     200       —    
    


 


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     106,578       43,232       61,764  
    


 


 


CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

                        

Funds in escrow, net

     (7,447 )     (28 )     (13,657 )

Additions to property and equipment

     (25,705 )     (14,520 )     (33,244 )

Dry hole costs

     (9,217 )     (8,053 )     —    

Other—net

     —         —         (473 )
    


 


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (42,369 )     (22,601 )     (47,374 )
    


 


 


CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

                        

Proceeds from the issuance of common stock

     130       1,122       2,541  

Debt issuance costs capitalized

     —         —         (335 )

Borrowings

     —         —         5,000  

Debt repayment

     —         —         (1,500 )

Purchase of treasury shares

     (8,870 )     (2,286 )     —    

Distribution to minority interest

     (6,494 )     (3,996 )     (2,997 )
    


 


 


Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (15,234 )     (5,160 )     2,709  
    


 


 


NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     48,975       15,471       17,099  

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD

     76,450       60,979       43,880  
    


 


 


CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

   $ 125,425     $ 76,450     $ 60,979  
    


 


 


Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

                        

Income taxes paid

   $ 72,812     $ 50,016     $ 30,496  
    


 


 


Interest paid

   $ 633     $ 523     $ 333  
    


 


 


Supplemental disclosure of non cash flow information

                        

Change in investment in property and equipment not paid

   $ 8,184     $ (3,783 )   $ 4,371  
    


 


 


 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-6


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1. ORGANIZATION

 

VAALCO Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is a Houston-based independent energy company principally engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas. As used herein, the terms “Company” and “VAALCO” mean VAALCO Energy, Inc. and its subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires. VAALCO owns producing properties and conducts exploration activities as operator of consortiums internationally in Gabon and Angola and as a non-operator in the British North Sea. Domestically, the Company has interests in the Texas Gulf Coast area. In Gabon and Angola, VAALCO serves as the operator for groups of companies which own the working interest in the production sharing contract, collectively referred to as a consortium.

 

VAALCO’s active subsidiaries include VAALCO Gabon (Etame), Inc., VAALCO Production (Gabon), Inc., VAALCO Angola (Kwanza), Inc., VAALCO Energy (USA), Inc. and VAALCO (UK) North Sea, Limited.

 

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Principles of Consolidation—The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. The portion of the income and net assets applicable to the non-controlling interest in the majority-owned operations of the Company’s Gabon subsidiary is reflected as minority interest. All significant transactions within the consolidated group have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents—For purposes of the statements of consolidated cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents.

 

Funds in Escrow—Escrow cash includes cash that is contractually restricted for non-operational purposes such as debt service and capital expenditures. Restricted cash and cash equivalents are classified as a current or non-current asset based on their designated purpose. Current amounts at December 31, 2008 and 2007 represent an escrow securing the Company’s seismic obligations for a North Sea well. Long term amounts represent amounts to secure the Company’s drilling and seismic obligations in Block 5 in Angola ($14.8 million), an escrow to secure charter payments for the Floating Production Storage and Offloading tanker (“FPSO”) in Gabon ($0.8 million) and for the abandonment of certain Gulf of Mexico properties ($44 thousand). The Company invests funds in escrow and excess cash in certificates of deposit and commercial paper issued by banks with maturities typically not exceeding 90 days.

 

Inventory—Materials and supplies are valued at the lower of cost, determined by the weighted-average method, or market. Crude oil inventories are carried at the lower of cost or market and represent the Company’s share of crude oil production produced and stored on the tanker, but unsold. Inventory cost represents the production expenses including depletion.

 

Income Taxes—VAALCO accounts for income taxes under an asset and liability approach that recognizes deferred income tax assets and liabilities for the estimated future tax consequences of differences between the financial statements and tax bases of assets and liabilities. Valuation allowances are provided against deferred tax assets that are not likely to be realized.

 

Property and Equipment—The Company follows the successful efforts method of accounting for exploration and development costs. Under this method, exploration costs, other than the cost of exploratory wells, are charged to expense as incurred. Exploratory well costs are initially capitalized until a determination as

 

F-7


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

to whether proved reserves have been discovered. If an exploratory well is deemed to not have found proved reserves, the associated costs are expensed at that time. All development costs, including developmental dry hole costs, are capitalized. Provisions for impairment of undeveloped oil and gas leases are based on periodic evaluations and other factors. The Company recognizes gains/losses for the sale of developed properties based upon an allocation of property costs between the interests sold and the interests retained based on the fair value of those interests.

 

The Company records the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred by capitalizing it as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived assets.

 

The Company reviews its oil and gas properties for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such properties may not be recoverable. When it is determined that an oil and gas property’s estimated future net cash flows will not be sufficient to recover its carrying amount, an impairment charge must be recorded to reduce the carrying amount of the asset to its estimated fair value. Other exploration costs, including geological and geophysical expenses applicable to undeveloped leasehold, leasehold expiration costs and delay rentals are expensed as incurred.

 

Depletion of wells, platforms and other production facilities are provided on a field basis under the unit-of-production method based upon estimates of proved developed reserves. Provision for depreciation of other property is made primarily on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the property. The annual rates of depreciation are as follows:

 

Office and miscellaneous equipment:

   3-5 years

Leasehold improvements:

   8-12 years

 

Foreign Exchange Transactions—For financial reporting purposes, the subsidiaries use the United States dollar as their functional currency. Gains and losses on foreign currency transactions are included in income currently. The Company incurred a loss on foreign currency transactions of $42,000, compared to gains of $105,000 in 2007, and $110,000 in 2006.

 

Accounts With Partners—Accounts with partners represent cash calls due or excess cash calls paid by the partners for exploration, development and production expenditures made by VAALCO Gabon (Etame), Inc. and VAALCO Angola (Kwanza), Inc.

 

Revenue Recognition—The Company recognizes revenues from crude oil and natural gas sales upon delivery to the buyer.

 

Stock-Based Compensation—On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS 123(R), Share-Based Payment. Prior to the adoption of SFAS 123(R), the Company had adopted the disclosure-only provisions of SFAS 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, and continued to account for stock-based compensation using the intrinsic value method prescribed in APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” Accordingly, no compensation cost had been recognized for the Company’s stock-based plans prior to January 1, 2006. (See Note 5—Stock Based Compensation)

 

SFAS 123(R) eliminates the intrinsic value measurement objective in Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion 25 and generally requires the Company to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the fair value of the award on the date of the grant. The standard requires grant date fair value to be estimated using either an option-pricing model which is consistent with the

 

F-8


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

terms of the award or a market observed price, if such a price exists. Such cost must be recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award (which is usually the vesting period). The standard also requires the Company to estimate the number of instruments that will ultimately be issued, rather than accounting for forfeitures as they occur.

 

The Company adopted SFAS 123(R) on January 1, 2006. The Company has elected to use the “modified prospective method.” Under the modified prospective method, the Company recognizes compensation cost for all awards granted after the Company adopts the standard and for the unvested portion of previously granted awards that are outstanding on that date.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments—The Company’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash, funds in escrow, trade accounts, trade payables and debt. The book values of cash, trade receivables, and trade payables are representative of their respective fair values due to the short-term maturity of these instruments. The book value of the Company’s debt instruments are considered to approximate the fair value, as the interest rates are adjusted based on rates currently in effect.

 

Risks and Uncertainties—The Company’s interests are located overseas in certain onshore and offshore areas in Gabon, offshore in Angola and the British North Sea and in Texas and Louisiana.

 

Substantially all of the Company’s crude oil and natural gas is sold at the well head at posted or index prices under short-term contracts, as is customary in the industry. In Gabon, effective January 1, 2009, the Company sells crude oil under a contract with Total Oil Trading SA. In 2008, Shell Western Supply and Trading Limited and in 2007, Addax B.V. were the crude oil buyers in Gabon and accounted for all of the Company’s revenues in Gabon for those years. While the loss of the Company’s buyer might have a material effect on the Company in the near term, management believes that the Company would be able to obtain other customers for its crude oil. Domestic production is sold under two types of contracts, one for oil and one for gas. The Company has access to several alternative buyers for oil and gas sales domestically.

 

Estimates of oil and gas reserves used in the financial statements to estimate depletion expense require extensive judgments and are generally less precise than other estimates made in connection with financial disclosures. The Company considers its estimates to be reasonable; however, due to inherent uncertainties and the limited nature of data, estimates are imprecise and subject to change over time as additional information become available.

 

Use of Estimates in Financial Statement Preparation—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as well as certain disclosures. The Company’s financial statements include amounts that are based on management’s best estimates and judgments. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

3. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

FASB Interpretation 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an Interpretation of FASB Statement 109—The Company adopted Financial Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN 48”) on January 1, 2007. FIN 48 addresses the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. FIN 48 prescribes specific criteria for the financial statement recognition and measurement of the tax effects of a position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. This interpretation also provides guidance on derecognition of previously recognized tax benefits, classification of tax

 

F-9


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

liabilities on the balance sheet, recording interest and penalties on tax underpayments, accounting in interim periods, and disclosure requirements. The adoption of this interpretation did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. See Note 7—Income Taxes for disclosures required by FIN 48.

 

FASB Statement 157, Fair Value Measurements—In September 2006, the FASB issued FASB Statement 157 Fair Value Measurements, (“SFAS 157”), which provides a single definition of fair value, together with a framework for measuring it, and requires additional disclosure about the use of fair value to measure assets and liabilities. SFAS 157 emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement, and sets out a fair value hierarchy with the highest priority being quoted prices in active markets. Under SFAS 157, fair value measurements are disclosed by level within that hierarchy. While SFAS 157 does not add any new fair value measurements, it does change current practice. Changes to practice include:

 

In January 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. FAS 157-b, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157,” which delays the effective date of SFAS 157 for all nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis, until fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. SFAS 157 will be applied prospectively as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which SFAS 157 is initially applied. The Company adopted SFAS 157, as amended by FSP No. 157-b, on January 1, 2008 and the standard did not have a material impact on its financial statements.

 

FASB Statement 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115—In February 2007, the FASB issued FASB Statement 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115, (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 permits companies to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value, with changes in fair value reflected in earnings. SFAS 159 is effective as of the beginning of the first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007. The Company adopted SFAS 159 as of January 1, 2008 and did not elect the fair value option for any instruments that were not previously reported at fair value.

 

FASB Statement 141(R), Business Combinations, and FASB Statement 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of ARB No. 51In December 2007, the FASB issued FASB Statement 141(R), Business Combinations, which replaced FASB Statement 141, Business Combinations, (“SFAS 141(R)”). In December 2007, the FASB also issued FASB Statement 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of ARB No. 51, (“SFAS 160”). These statements significantly change the accounting for business combinations and noncontrolling interests. Among other things, and compared to the predecessor guidance, these statements will require more assets acquired and liabilities assumed to be measured at fair value as of the acquisition date, liabilities related to contingent consideration to be remeasured to fair value each subsequent reporting period, an acquirer in preacquisition periods to expense all acquisition-related costs, and noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries initially to be measured at fair value and classified as a separate component of equity. SFAS 160 will change the accounting and reporting for minority interests, which will be re-characterized as noncontrolling interests, and classified as a component of equity. These statements are to be applied prospectively for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company is evaluating SFAS 141(R) and SFAS 160 to determine the impact of these statements on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Final Rule, Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting—In December 2008, the SEC released Final Rule, Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting to revise the existing Regulation S-K and Regulation S-X reporting requirements to align with current industry practices and technological advances. Further, the SEC on December 31, 2008, published the final rules and interpretations. Many of the revisions are updates to definitions in the existing oil and gas rules to make them consistent with the petroleum resource management system, which

 

F-10


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

is a widely accepted standard for the management of petroleum resources that was developed by several industry organizations. Key revisions include the ability to include nontraditional resources in reserves, the use of new technology for determining reserves, permitting disclosure of probable and possible reserves, and changes to the pricing used to determine reserves in that companies must use a 12-month average price. The average is calculated using the first-day-of-the-month price for each of the 12 months that make up the reporting period. The SEC will require companies to comply with the amended disclosure requirements for registration statements filed after January 1, 2010, and for annual reports for fiscal years ending on or after December 15, 2009. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact that the adoption will have on our disclosures, operating results, financial position and cash flows.

 

4. SUSPENDED WELL COSTS

 

On April 4, 2005, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position FAS 19-1 (“FSP FAS 19-1”), which addressed a discussion that was ongoing within the oil industry regarding capitalization of costs of drilling exploratory wells. Paragraph 19 of FASB Statement No. 19, Financial Accounting and Reporting by Oil and Gas Producing Companies (“FASB 19”), requires costs of drilling exploratory wells to be capitalized pending determination of whether the well has found proved reserves. If the well has found proved reserves, the capitalized costs become part of the entity’s wells, equipment, and facilities. If, however, the well has not found proved reserves, the capitalized costs of drilling the well are expensed. Questions arose in practice about the application of this guidance due to changes in oil and gas exploration processes and lifecycles. The issue was whether there are circumstances that would permit the continued capitalization of exploratory well costs if reserves cannot be classified as proved within one year following the completion of drilling, other than when additional exploration wells are necessary to justify major capital expenditures and those wells are underway or firmly planned for the near future. FSP FAS 19-1 amends FASB 19 to allow for the continued capitalization of suspended well costs when the well has found a sufficient quantity of reserves to justify its completion as a producing well and the enterprise is making sufficient progress assessing the reserves and the economic and operating viability of the plan.

 

The Company had $2.6 million of suspended well costs associated with the exploration well in the Ebouri field in Gabon which was being carried as work in progress at December 31, 2005. In July 2006, the Company received approval to declare the Ebouri field’s reserves commercial from the Gabon government and in October 2006 the Gabon government approved a development plan for the Ebouri field, and assigned a twenty year development area surrounding the field. The Company did not have any suspended well costs at December 31, 2008 or December 31, 2007.

 

The table below provides additional information with respect to the Company’s capitalized exploration drilling costs.

 

     2008

   2007

   2006

 

Beginning balance at January 1

   $ —      $ —      $ 2,607  

Additions to capitalized exploratory drilling costs

     —        —        —    

Capitalized exploratory drilling costs reclassified to property and equipment

     —        —        (2,607 )

Capitalized exploratory drilling costs expensed

     —        —        —    
    

  

  


Ending balance at December 31

   $ —      $ —      $ —    
    

  

  


Number of wells requiring major capital expenditures where additional drilling efforts are not underway or firmly planned for the near future

     —        —        —    

Amount capitalized for wells requiring major capital expenditures where additional drilling efforts are not underway or firmly planned

     —        —        —    

 

F-11


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

5. STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

 

Stock options are granted under the Company’s long-term incentive plan and have an exercise price that may not be less than the fair market value of the underlying shares on the date of grant. In general, stock options granted will become exercisable over a period determined by the Compensation Committee which in the past has been a five year life, with the options vesting over a three year period. In addition, stock options will become exercisable upon a change in control, unless provided otherwise by the Compensation Committee. At December 31, 2008 there were 1,547,216 shares subject to options authorized but not granted.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company recognized non-cash compensation expense of $2.6 million and $2.2 million, respectively. These amounts were recorded as general and administrative expense. Because the Company does not pay significant United States taxes, no amounts were recorded for tax benefits.

 

A summary of the stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2008 is provided below:

 

     Number of
Shares
Underlying
Options

(in thousands)

    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price


   Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term


   Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value

(in millions)

Outstanding—beginning of period

   3,251     $ 5.91    3.44       

Granted

   1,725       4.25    4.78       

Exercised

   (62 )     2.12    3.53       

Forfeited

   (151 )     6.86    3.82       
    

 

  
      

Outstanding—end of period

   4,763       5.33    3.24    $ 10.9
    

 

  
  

Vested—end of period

   2,830     $ 5.43    2.51    $ 6.3
    

 

  
  

Vested and expected to vest—end of period

   4,473     $ 5.34    3.17    $ 10.2
    

 

  
  

 

The intrinsic value of a stock option is the amount by which the current market value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of the option. As of December 31, 2008, unrecognized compensation costs totaled $2.4 million. The expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.3 years.

 

A summary of the values of options granted, exercised and vested for each of the years ending December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 is provided below:

 

     2008

   2007

   2006

Options granted—(thousands)

     1,725      —        1,911

Weighted average exercise price—($/share)

   $ 4.25      —      $ 7.88

Weighted average grant-date fair value—($/share)

   $ 1.88      —      $ 3.00

Options exercised (thousands)

     62      997      1,744

Total intrinsic value of options exercised—($thousands)

   $ 340    $ 3,664    $ 10,885

Options vested—(thousands)

     713      914      694

Total fair value of options vested ($thousands)

   $ 839    $ 311    $ 1,558

 

The Company received cash proceeds of $0.1 million from options exercised in 2008.

 

The total stock based employee compensation expense was determined under the fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects. The effects of applying SFAS No. 123 in the disclosure may not be indicative of future amounts as additional awards in future years are anticipated.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The valuation of the options is based upon a Black Scholes model. The table below summarizes the assumptions used to value the options issued in 2008 and 2006. There were no options issued in 2007.

 

Year


   Options
Issued

   Weighted
Avg. Volatility

    Expected
Term

   Risk Free
Interest Rate

    Expected
Dividend Yield

 

2008

   1,725    70 %   2.5-5 years    3.4 %   0 %

2006

   1,911    56 %   2.5-5 years    4.67-5.5 %   0 %

 

The Company has no set policy for sourcing shares for options grants. Historically the shares issued under options grants have been new shares.

 

6. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

The Company is authorized to issue up to 100 million shares of common stock. Stockholders’ equity consists of common stock and options.

 

A reconciliation of diluted shares consists of the following:

 

     Year Ended

Item


   December 31,
2008


   December 31,
2007


   December 31,
2006


Basic weighted average common stock issued and outstanding

   58,675,789    59,133,888    58,135,850

Dilutive options

   611,081    957,034    2,340,023
    
  
  

Total diluted shares

   59,286,871    60,090,922    60,475,874
    
  
  

 

A total of 1,108,446, 749,213, and 125,000 shares under option were not included because they were anti-dilutive during the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 respectively.

 

In September 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to $20 million of the Company’s common stock. Under the stock buy-back program shares of common stock will be purchased on the open market or through privately negotiated transactions from time-to-time during the 12 month period following the board’s authorization. Under the authorization, the timing and amount of purchases will be based upon market conditions, securities law limitations and other factors. The stock buy-back program does not obligate the Company to acquire any specific number of shares in any period, and may be modified, suspended, extended or discontinued at any time without prior notice. A total of 1,800,300 shares have been acquired under the program through December 31, 2008 at an average price of $6.20 per share.

 

On September 14, 2007, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted a Rights Agreement dated as of September 14, 2007 between the Company and the Registrar and Transfer agent of the Company, as Rights Agent. The Plan creates a dividend of one right for each outstanding share of the Company’s Common Stock. The rights are represented by and traded with the Company’s Common Stock. Initially, there will be no separate certificates or market for the rights. The rights do not separate from the Common Stock unless one or both of the following conditions are met: a public announcement that a person has acquired 15% or more of the Common Stock of the Company, or a tender or exchange offer is made which, if completed, would result in the bidder beneficially owning 15% or more of the Common Stock of the Company. The Rights Agreement will be voted upon at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders scheduled in June 2009.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

7. INCOME TAXES

 

The Company and its domestic subsidiaries file a consolidated United States income tax return. Certain subsidiaries’ operations are also subject to foreign income taxes. Provision for income taxes consists of the following:

 

(In thousands)    Year Ended December 31,

     2008

   2007

    2006

U.S. federal:

                     

Current

   $ 86    $ (60 )   $ —  

Deferred

     —        (200 )     —  

Foreign:

                     

Current

     72,928      48,341       30,496

Deferred

     —        —         —  
    

  


 

Total

     73,014      48,081     $ 30,496
    

  


 

 

The primary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities at December 31, 2007 and 2006 are as follows: (In thousands)

 

     2008

    2007

 

Deferred Tax Assets:

                

Basis difference in fixed assets

   $ 7,422     $ 3,042  

Foreign tax credit carry forwards

     15,219       6,303  

Alternative minimum tax credit carryover

     1,349       1,457  

Foreign net operating losses

     8,695       4,434  

Asset retirement obligations

     3,525       2,355  
    


 


       36,209       17,591  

Valuation allowance

     (34,861 )     (16,134 )
    


 


Total deferred tax asset

   $ 1,349     $ 1,457  
    


 


 

Pretax income (loss) is comprised of the following:

 

(In thousands)    Year Ended December 31,

     2008

   2007

   2006

United States

   $ 193    $ 125    $ 91

Foreign

     108,554      71,488      76,164
    

  

  

     $ 108,747    $ 71,613    $ 76,255
    

  

  

 

The statutory rate reconciliation is as follows:

 

(In thousands)    Year Ended December 31,

     2008

   2007

   2006

Pre-tax income multiplied by 35%

   $ 38,061    $ 25,065    $ 26,690

Foreign taxes not offset by U.S. foreign tax credits

     34,952      23,016      3,806
    

  

  

Total income tax

   $ 73,014    $ 48,081    $ 30,496
    

  

  

 

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Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

At December 31, 2008, the Company was subject to foreign and United States federal taxes only, with no allocations made to state and local taxes.

 

The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48 on January 1, 2007. There was no impact related to the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle. As of the adoption date, the Company had no unrecognized tax benefits.

 

The following table summarizes the activity to our unrecognized tax benefits:

 

(In thousands)    2008

   2007

Balance at January 1,

   $ 13,201      —  

Increases related to prior year positions

     —      $ 13,201
    

  

Balance at December 31,

   $ 13,201    $ 13,201
    

  

 

The 2007 increases related to prior year positions reduced the Company’s gross deferred tax assets and valuation allowance. If recognized, none of the uncertain tax positions would impact the effective rate because they would be offset by valuation allowance.

 

Our accounting policy is to recognize interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. The Company has no accruals for the payment of interest and penalties.

 

The following table summarizes the tax years that remain subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions:

 

United States

   2005-2008

Gabon

   2007-2008

 

8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

In October 2007, the Company entered into an amendment with the owner of the FPSO chartered for the Etame field to extend the contract until September 2015. In connection with the charter of the FPSO, the Company as operator of the Etame field guaranteed the charter payments through the same period. The charter continues for two years beyond that period unless one year’s prior notice is given to the owner of the FPSO. The Company obtained several guarantees from its partners for their share of the charter payment. The Company’s share of the charter payment is 28.1%. The Company believes the need for performance under the charter guarantee is remote. The estimated obligations for the annual charter payment and the Company’s share of the charter payments through the end of the charter are as follows: (in thousands)

 

Year


   Full Charter Payment

   Company Share

2009

   $ 17,426    $ 4,892

2010

   $ 17,105    $ 4,802

2011

   $ 16,906    $ 4,746

2012

   $ 16,769    $ 4,708

2013

   $ 16,814    $ 4,720

Thereafter

   $ 28,346    $ 7,958

 

The Company has recorded a liability of $0.6 million at December 31, 2008 representing the guarantee’s fair value.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The Company’s share of charter expense, including a $0.25 per bbl charter fee for production up to 20,000 bopd and a $2.50 per bbl charter fee for those bbls produced in excess of 20,000 bopd was $6.3 million, $5.7 million and $5.6 million for the years ending December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 respectively.

 

In addition to the FPSO, the Company has gross operating lease obligations for rentals as follows: (In thousands)

 

2009


   2010

   2011

   2012

   2013

   Thereafter

   Total

$9,077    $6,072    $241    $232    $19    $0    $15,641

 

The Company incurred rent expense of $1.2 million, $0.7 million and $0.6 million under operating leases for the years December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

In January 2006 the consortium elected to extend the Etame Marin block for an additional five-year term commencing July 2006. The extension consists of a three-year and a two-year follow-on term. The first term carries a minimum work obligation of one exploration well for a minimum $7.0 million exploration expenditure commitment ($2.1 million net to the Company). The exploration well commitment was met with the drilling of the North Etame prospect in February 2009, which was abandoned after encountering water bearing sands. The Company will incur approximately $3.8 million in dry hole costs associated with the well, $3.5 million of which will be recognized in 2009. For the optional two year extension, an additional exploration well is required.

 

Under the terms of the Etame Production Sharing Contract, the consortium is required to provide to the local government refinery a volume of crude at a 25% discount to market price (the “Domestic Obligation”). The volume required to be furnished is the amount of the Etame Marin block production divided by the total Gabon production times the volume of oil refined by the refinery per year. In 2008, the Company paid $1.9 million for its share of the 2007 obligation. In 2007, the Company paid $1.6 million for its share of the 2006 obligation. In 2006, the Company paid $1.1 million for its share of the 2005 obligation. The Company accrues an amount for the Domestic Obligation based on management’s best estimate of the volume of crude required, because the refinery does not publish its throughput figures. The amount accrued at December 31, 2008 is $2.4 million.

 

In November 2005, the Company signed a production sharing contract for the Mutamba Iroru block onshore Gabon. The five year contract awards the Company exploration rights along the central coast of Gabon. During the first three years of the contract the Company is required to drill one exploration well and expend a minimum of $4.0 million. During the optional two year extension to the contract, the Company is required to acquire specified levels of seismic data, drill one exploration well and expend a minimum of $5.0 million. In February 2009, the Company drilled the exploration well required under the first exploration period after receiving an extension on the first period to complete the well. The well was abandoned after encountering water bearing sands. The Company anticipates incurring $8.0 million in dry hole costs associated with the well, $5.5 million of which will be recognized in 2009. The Company has given notice that it will enter into the second exploration period and will drill the exploration well required for that period in March or April 2009.

 

In November 2006, the Company signed a production sharing contract for Block 5 offshore Angola. The seven year contract awards the Company exploration rights to 1.4 million acres offshore central Angola. The Company’s working interest in the Contract is 40%. Additionally, the Company is required to carry the Angolan National Oil Company, Sonangol P&P, for 10% of the work program. During the first four years of the contract the Company is required to acquire and process 1,000 square kilometers of 3-D seismic, drill two exploration wells and expend a minimum of $29.5 million ($14.8 million net to the Company). During the optional three year extension to the contract, the Company is required to acquire 600 square kilometers of 3-D seismic data, drill two

 

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Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

exploration wells and expend a minimum of $27.2 million ($13.6 million net to the Company). The Company acquired the 1,175 square kilometers of 3-D data called for in the first exploration period at a cost of $7.5 million ($3.75 million net to the Company) in January 2007. Subsequently, the Company acquired 524 square kilometers of proprietary 3-D seismic data on the block during the fourth quarter of 2008 at a cost of $6.0 million ($3.0 million net to the Company). The Company has identified several potential exploration well locations and is seeking partner approval for the first exploration well in 2009.

 

In December 2007, the Company signed a farm-in agreement for Block 9/28d offshore the United Kingdom in the British North Sea. The Company was obligated to pay its share of the drilling of one well on the block and a portion of the share of the farminee’s share of the well. The well was spudded in December 2007 and reached total depth in January 2008. The well was suspended as a non-commercial discovery in January 2008. In 2007, the Company incurred $8.0 million in exploration costs associated with the well. An additional $6.4 million in exploration costs was incurred in 2008 associated with this well. The Company is carrying no capitalized amounts on its books for this well.

 

In January 2008, the Company signed a farm-in agreement for a 25% working interest in Block 48/25c offshore in the British North Sea. The Company is obligated to pay its share of the drilling of one well on the block and a portion of the share of the farminee’s share of the well. The block is located in the Southern Gas Basin and an exploration well began drilling in February 2009. It is anticipated that the Company share of costs for this well will be approximately $8.0 million.

 

9. LONG TERM DEBT

 

In June 2005, the Company executed a loan agreement with the International Finance Corporation (“IFC”) for a $30.0 million revolving credit facility secured by the assets of the Company’s Gabon subsidiary. The loan bears interest at LIBOR plus 3.5% payable quarterly. The Company is required to comply with certain covenants including maintaining certain loan to property value ratios and interest coverage ratios. The Company was in compliance with all covenants at December 31, 2008 and had drawn a balance of $5.0 million on the facility at December 31, 2008.

 

The facility is available to finance the Ebouri field development activities or other Etame Marin block projects. The facility extends through October 2009 at which point it can be extended, or converted to a term loan at the Company’s option. This facility became effective during the first quarter of 2006 and replaced an existing term credit facility, which was paid in full on February 15, 2006.

 

Under the loan agreements, the IFC holds a pledge of the Company’s interest in the Etame Marin block, and pledge of the shares of VAALCO Gabon (Etame), Inc., the subsidiary which owns the Company’s interest in the Etame Marin block. The IFC also has a security interest in the crude oil sales contract with Total Oil Trading SA.

 

10. ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

 

The Company accounts for asset retirement obligations in accordance with SFAS No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, which requires that the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation be recognized in the period in which it is incurred by capitalizing it as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived assets. The statement requires the systematic accretion and depreciation of future abandonment costs of tangible assets such as platforms, wells, service assets, pipelines, and other facilities. SFAS No. 143 requires that the fair value of a liability for an asset’s retirement obligation be recorded in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made, and that the corresponding cost is capitalized as part of the

 

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Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. The liability is accreted to its then present value each period, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. If the liability is settled for an amount other than the recorded amount, a gain or loss is recognized.

 

A summary of the recording of the estimated fair value of the Company’s asset retirement obligations is presented as follows: (In thousands)

 

     2008

   2007

   2006

Balance January 1,

   $ 6,731    $ 6,029    $ 3,615

Accretion Expense

     540      415      210

Additions

     2,678      —        1,807

Revisions

     122      286      397
    

  

  

Balance December 31,

   $ 10,071    $ 6,731    $ 6,029
    

  

  

 

During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company increased the ARO liabilities to recognize the abandonment liability for the addition of the Ebouri platform. The platform was installed in July 2008. The increases in the ARO liabilities from revisions during the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 are primarily due to increases in oil service prices resulting in higher abandonment cost estimates. During the year ended December 31, 2006 the Company increased ARO liabilities primarily due to the increased abandonment liability associated with the addition of the Avouma platform and revisions due to earlier abandonment timing.

 

As of December 31, 2008, the Company had $44,000 legally restricted for settling asset retirement obligations in the United States.

 

11. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 

On April 30, 2004, the Company closed the sale to its former partners of all of its assets associated with Service Contract 6 and Service Contract 14 in the Philippines (Matinloc and Nido fields). In 2006, the Company settled all remaining tax liabilities with the Philippines government. The Company paid additional tax amounts over and above what had been accrued at year end 2005 of $169,000. The Company closed the branches and liquidating the subsidiaries during 2007 and incurred final net costs of $51,000 for that year. A summary of discontinued operations for the years ending December 31, 2007 and 2006 follows.

 

     Year ended December 31,

 
     (thousands of dollars)  
       2008  

     2007  

      2006  

 

Loss from discontinued operations

                       

Revenues from oil sales

   $ —      $ —       $ —    

Operating costs and expenses:

                       

General and administrative expenses

     —        56       88  
    

  


 


Total operating costs and expenses

     —        56       88  

Other revenues (expenses):

                       

Interest income

     —        5       15  
    

  


 


Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes

     —        (51 )     (73 )

Income tax expense

     —        —         169  
    

  


 


Loss from discontinued operations

   $ —      $ (51 )   $ (242 )
    

  


 


 

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Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

12. SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

The Company’s operations are based in Gabon, Angola, the British North Sea and in the United States. Beginning in 2007 and in particular, during the fourth quarter of 2007 with our entry into the North Sea, the Company began making significant expenditures in its operations outside of Gabon. Management reviews and evaluates the operation of each geographic segment separately. The operations of all segments include exploration for and production of hydrocarbons where commercial reserves have been found and developed. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Revenues are based on the location of hydrocarbon production. The Company evaluates each segment based on income (loss) from operations. Segment activity for the years ending December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 are as follows: (in thousands)

 

     Gabon

   Angola

    North
Sea


    Corporate
and Other


    Total

2008

                                     

Revenues

   $ 169,270    $ —       $ —       $ 254     $ 169,525

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     19,138      (219 )     —         18       18,937

Income from operations

     131,141      (4,546 )     (6,543 )     (13,580 )     106,472

Interest income

     1,244      —         —         1,276       2,520

Interest expense

     140      —         56       44       240

Income taxes

     72,962      —         —         53       73,014

Additions to properties and equipment

     35,784      72       794       40       36,691

Long lived assets

     70,386      10,978       794       129       82,287

Total assets

     181,958      14,953       794       54,326       252,030

2007

                                     

Revenues

     124,745      —         —         298       125,044

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     17,876      —         —         75       17,952

Income from operations

     90,063      (4,775 )     (8,053 )     (8,562 )     68,673

Interest income

     2,190      —         —         1,739       3,928

Interest expense

     947      —         147       —         1,094

Income taxes

     48,341      —         —         (260 )     48,081

Additions to properties and equipment

     10,926      24       —         55       11,004

Long lived assets

     53,207      10,688       —         98       63,993

Total assets

     119,600      11,149       —         55,809       186,558

2006

                                     

Revenues

     98,170      —         —         155       98,325

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     6,429      219       —         72       6,720

Income from operations

     80,771      (865 )     —         (5,576 )     74,330

Interest income

     2,063      —         —         924       2,987

Interest expense

     1,026      —         —         —         1,026

Income taxes

     30,496      —         —         —         30,496

Additions to (disposals of) properties and equipment

     28,911      10,829       —         (188 )     39,552

 

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Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

13. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)

 

The following represents our unaudited quarterly results for years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007. The quarterly results were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results. These adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.

 

(In thousands of dollars except per share information)    1st
Quarter


    2nd
Quarter


    3rd
Quarter


    4th
Quarter


 

2008

                                

Total revenues

   $ 42,158     $ 55,354     $ 55,543     $ 16,470  

Total operating costs and expenses

     18,027       14,679       13,788       16,559  

Operating Income

     24,131       40,675       41,755       (89 )

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     2,865       14,980       25,043       (7,155 )

Minority interest

     (1,064 )     (1,953 )     (2,697 )     (297 )
    


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 1,801     $ 13,027     $ 22,346     $ (7,452 )
    


 


 


 


Basic income per share from continuing operations before discontinued operations

   $ 0.03     $ 0.22     $ 0.38     $ (0.13 )

Loss from discontinued operations

     —         —         —         —    
    


 


 


 


Basic income per common share

   $ 0.03     $ 0.22     $ 0.38     $ (0.13 )
    


 


 


 


Diluted income per share from continuing operations before discontinued operations

   $ 0.03     $ 0.22     $ 0.38     $ (0.13 )

Loss from discontinued operations

     —         —         —         —    
    


 


 


 


Diluted income per common share

   $ 0.03     $ 0.22     $ 0.38     $ (0.13 )
    


 


 


 


2007

                                

Total revenues

   $ 29,131     $ 24,128     $ 34,828     $ 36,957  

Total operating costs and expenses

     16,830       8,940       11,071       19,529  

Operating Income

     12,301       15,188       23,757       17,428  

Income from continuing operations

     5,785       4,323       10,002       3,422  

Minority interest

     (1,203 )     (582 )     (1,206 )     (1,438 )

Loss on discontinued operations

     (27 )     (24 )     —         —    
    


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 4,555     $ 3,717     $ 8,796     $ 1,985  
    


 


 


 


Basic income per share from continuing operations before discontinued operations

   $ 0.08     $ 0.06     $ 0.15     $ 0.03  

Loss from discontinued operations

     —         —         —         —    
    


 


 


 


Basic income per common share

   $ 0.08     $ 0.06     $ 0.15     $ 0.03  
    


 


 


 


Diluted income per share from continuing operations before discontinued operations

   $ 0.08     $ 0.06     $ 0.15     $ 0.03  

Loss from discontinued operations

     —         —         —         —    
    


 


 


 


Diluted income per common share

   $ 0.08     $ 0.06     $ 0.15     $ 0.03  
    


 


 


 


 

Quarterly income per share is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the quarter. Because of changes in the number of shares outstanding during the quarters due to the exercise of stock options and issuance of common stock, the sum of quarterly earnings per share may not equal earnings per share for the year.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ON OIL AND GAS PRODUCING PROPERTIES

(Unaudited)

 

14. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ON OIL AND GAS PRODUCING ACTIVITIES

 

The following information is being provided as supplemental information in accordance with certain provisions of SFAS No. 69, Disclosures about Oil and Gas Producing Activities. The Company’s reserves are located offshore of Gabon and Texas. The following tables set forth costs incurred, capitalized costs, and results of operations relating to oil and natural gas producing activities for each of the periods. (See Footnote 1—“ORGANIZATION”)

 

Costs Incurred in Oil and Gas Property

    Acquisition, Exploration and Development Activities

 

(In thousands)    United States

     2008

   2007

   2006

Costs incurred during the year:

                    

Exploration—capitalized

   $ —      $ —      $ —  

Exploration—expensed

     —        —        —  

Development

     —        —        1
    

  

  

Total

   $ —      $ —      $ 1
    

  

  

(In thousands)    International

     2008

   2007

   2006

Costs incurred during the year:

                    

Exploration—capitalized

   $ 5,173    $ —      $ 11,138

Exploration—expensed

     14,872      15,340      2,672

Development

     20,532      14,520      24,520
    

  

  

Total

   $ 40,577    $ 29,860    $ 38,330
    

  

  

 

Exploration expense includes $9.2 million and $8.1 million for dry hole expense in 2008 and 2007, respectively. No amounts of exploration costs were for dry hole expense in 2006.

 

Capitalized Costs Relating to Oil and Gas Producing Activities:

 

(In thousands)    December 31,
2008


    December 31,
2007

    December 31,
2006

 

Capitalized costs—

                        

Properties not being amortized

   $ 56,129     $ 24,663     $ 16,561  

Properties being amortized(1)

     84,693       80,052       77,557  
    


 


 


Total capitalized costs

     140,822       104,715       94,118  

Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, and amortization

     (61,379 )     (42,984 )     (25,465 )
    


 


 


Net capitalized costs

   $ 79,443     $ 61,731     $ 68,653  
    


 


 



(1) Includes $5.9 million, 5.8 million, and $5.5 million asset retirement cost in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively.

 

The capitalized costs pertain to the Company’s producing activities in Gabon, leasehold acreage in Gabon and Angola, and U.S. activities.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ON OIL AND GAS PRODUCING PROPERTIES

(Unaudited)

 

Results of Operations for Oil and Gas Producing Activities:

 

(In thousands)    United States

    International

 
     2008

    2007

    2006

    2008

    2007

    2006

 
                       Gabon

    Gabon

    Gabon

 

Crude oil and gas sales

   $ 254     $ 298     $ 155     $ 169,270     $ 124,745     $ 98,170  

Production expense

     (76 )     (118 )     (89 )     (16,889 )     (14,175 )     (12,128 )

Exploration expense

     —         —         —         (996 )     (1,349 )     (1,128 )

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     (16 )     (56 )     (36 )     (18,921 )     (17,876 )     (6,149 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income before taxes

     162       124       30       132,464       91,345       78,765  

Income tax

     57       43       11       73,014       48,038       30,496  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Results from oil and gas producing activities

   $ 105     $ 81     $ 19     $ 59,450     $ 43,307     $ 48,269  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 

Proved Reserves

 

A reserve report as of December 31, 2008 has been prepared by Netherland Sewell & Associates, independent petroleum engineers. The following tables set forth the net proved reserves of the Company as of December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, and the changes during such periods.

 

     Oil (MBbls)

    Gas (MMcf)

 

PROVED RESERVES:

            

BALANCE AT JANUARY 1, 2006

   7,827     21  

Production

   (1,552 )   (11 )

Revisions of previous estimates

   (1,585 )   7  

Extensions and discoveries

   1,306     —    
    

 

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2006

   5,996     17  

Production

   (1,756 )   (20 )

Revisions of previous estimates

   1,979     64  
    

 

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2007

   6,214     61  

Production

   (1,824 )   (15 )

Revisions of previous estimates

   1,242     (16 )

Extensions and discoveries

   1,790     —    
    

 

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2008

   7,422     30  
    

 

     Oil (MBbls)

    Gas (MMcf)

 

PROVED DEVELOPED RESERVES

            

Balance at December 31, 2005

   6,620     21  

Balance at December 31, 2006

   4,691     17  

Balance at December 31, 2007

   4,506     61  

Balance at December 31, 2008

   4,751     30  

 

The Company’s proved developed reserves are located offshore Gabon and in Texas. The reserves in Gabon include the minority interest share of reserves held by the 9.99% owner of VAALCO International, Inc., which owns VAALCO Gabon (Etame), Inc.

 

Revisions in 2006 were associated primarily with the Etame field as higher operating costs led to a shorter projected economic life. Revisions in 2007 were associated with Etame, South Tchibala and Avouma reservoir

 

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Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ON OIL AND GAS PRODUCING PROPERTIES

(Unaudited)

 

performance, changes in oil prices, operating costs and taxes. Higher projected oil prices resulted in upward revision in reserves, but were partially offset by higher taxes. Total remaining operating costs for the fields declined due to shorter remaining field life after another year’s production. Revisions in 2008 were primarily associated with better reservoir performance at the Avouma field. Extensions and discoveries in 2008 were the result of successful drilling of step out wells at the Ebouri field that increased the amount of proven acreage for the field.

 

The Company maintains a policy of not booking proved reserves on discoveries until such time as a development plan has been prepared for the discovery. Additionally, the development plan is required to have the approval of the Company’s partners in the discovery. Furthermore, if a government agreement that the reserves are commercial is required to develop the field, this approval must have been received prior to booking any reserves.

 

Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash

    Flows Relating to Proved Oil Reserves

 

The information that follows has been developed pursuant to procedures prescribed by SFAS No. 69 and utilizes reserve and production data estimated by independent petroleum consultants. The information may be useful for certain comparison purposes, but should not be solely relied upon in evaluating VAALCO Energy, Inc. or its performance.

 

The future cash flows are based on sales prices and costs in existence at the dates of the projections, excluding Gabon royalties, and the interests of other consortium members. Future production costs do not include overhead charges allowed under joint operating agreements or headquarters general and administrative overhead expenses. Future development costs include $14.5 million attributable to future abandonment when the wells become uneconomic to produce.

 

(In thousands)   United States

    International

    Total

 
    December 31,

    December 31,

    December 31,

 
    2008

    2007

    2006

    2008

    2007

    2006

    2008

    2007

    2006

 
                      Gabon

    Gabon

    Gabon

                   

Future cash inflows

  389     $ 1,146     $ 374     $ 261,824     $ 592,053     $ 341,930     $ 262,213     $ 593,199     $ 342,304  

Future production costs

  (197 )     (405 )     (203 )     (76,878 )     (68,589 )     (81,121 )     (77,075 )     (68,994 )     (81,324 )

Future development costs

  —         —         —         (30,178 )     (41,954 )     (37,575 )     (30,178 )     (41,954 )     (37,575 )

Future income tax expense

  (36 )     (101 )     (32 )     (81,932 )     (252,111 )     (59,518 )     (81,968 )     (252,212 )     (59,550 )
   

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Future net cash flows

  156       640       139       72,836       229,399       163,716       72,992       230,039       163,855  

Discount to present value at 10% annual rate

  (26 )     (157 )     (20 )     (8,013 )     (38,213 )     (30,233 )     (8,039 )     (38,370 )     (30,253 )
   

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows

  130     $ 483     $ 119     $ 64,823     $ 191,186     $ 133,483     $ 64,953       191,669     $ 133,602  
   

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Income taxes represent amounts payable to the Government of Gabon on profit oil as final payment of corporate income taxes and for severance taxes in Texas.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ON OIL AND GAS PRODUCING PROPERTIES

(Unaudited)

 

Changes in Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows:

 

The following table sets forth the changes in standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows as follows:

 

(In thousands)    December 31,

 
     2008

    2007

    2006

 

BALANCE AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD

   $ 191,669     $ 133,602     $ 161,209  

Sales of oil and gas, net of production costs

     (151,057 )     (108,964 )     (86,108 )

Net changes in prices and production costs

     (445,763 )     228,256       1,254  

Revisions of previous quantity estimates

     79,042       86,014       (51,797 )

Additions

     130,431       —         52,320  

Changes in estimated future development costs

     (10,820 )     (21,815 )     (8,124 )

Development costs incurred during the period

     34,305       14,520       22,106  

Accretion of discount

     19,167       13,360       16,141  

Net change in income taxes

     138,485       (161,616 )     8,585  

Change in production rates (timing) and other

     79,494       8,311       18,022  
    


 


 


BALANCE AT END OF PERIOD

   $ 64,953     $ 191,669     $ 133,602  
    


 


 


 

There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves and in projecting future rates of production and timing of development expenditures, including many factors beyond the control of the Company. Reserve engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of oil and gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner and the accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. The quantities of oil and gas that are ultimately recovered, production and operating costs, the amount and timing of future development expenditures and future oil and gas sales prices may all differ from those assumed in these estimates. The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow should not be construed as the current market value of the estimated oil and natural gas reserves attributable to the Company’s properties. The information set forth in the foregoing tables includes revisions for certain reserve estimates attributable to proved properties included in the preceding year’s estimates. Such revisions are the result of additional information from subsequent completions and production history from the properties involved or the result of a decrease (or increase) in the projected economic life of such properties resulting from changes in product prices. Moreover, crude oil amounts shown for Gabon are recoverable under a service contract and the reserves in place remain the property of the Gabon government.

 

In accordance with the guidelines of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company’s estimates of future net cash flow from the Company’s properties and the present value thereof are made using oil and gas contract prices in effect as of yearend and are held constant throughout the life of the properties except where such guidelines permit alternate treatment, including the use of fixed and determinable contractual price escalations. In Gabon, the price was $35.30 per bbl. In the United States, the price was $44.30 per bbl of oil and $6.07 per Mcf of gas.

 

Under the Production Sharing Contract in Gabon, the Gabonese government is the owner of all oil and gas mineral rights. The right to produce the oil and gas is stewarded by the Directorate Generale de Hydrocarbeures and the Production Sharing contract was awarded by a decree from the State. Pursuant to the service contract, the Gabon government receives a variable royalty depending on production rate.

 

The consortium maintains a Cost Account, which entitles it to receive 70% of the production remaining after deducting the royalty so long as there are amounts remaining in the Cost Account. At December 31, 2008,

 

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Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ON OIL AND GAS PRODUCING PROPERTIES

(Unaudited)

 

there was $41.5 million in the cost account ($14.0 million net to the Company). As payment of corporate income taxes the consortium pays the government an allocation of the remaining “profit oil” production from the contract area ranging from 50% to 60% of the oil remaining after deducting the royalty and the cost oil. The percentage of “profit oil” paid to the government as tax is a function of production rates. So long as amounts remain in the Cost Account, the net share that the consortium receives from production can range from a low of 67.7% of production at production rate in excess of 25,000 BOPD to a high of 82.5% of production at rates below 5,000 bopd. However, when the Cost Account becomes substantially recovered, the Company only recovers ongoing operating expenses and new project capital expenditures, resulting in a higher tax rate. The Cost Account has been substantially recovered since the first quarter of 2005. During 2006, the Company cost recovered 629,000 bbls for ongoing operating expenses and capital expenditures out of a theoretical maximum Cost Oil of 1,070,000 bbls which would have been recoverable if the Cost Account was full. In 2007, the Company cost recovered 418,000 bbls for ongoing operating expenses and capital expenditures out of a theoretical maximum of 1,220,000 bbls which would have been recoverable if the Cost Account was full. The lower number of bbls cost recovered in 2007 versus 2006 was primarily due to lower capital expenditures in 2007. In 2008, the Company cost recovered 436,000 barrels out of a theoretical maximum of 1,815,000 barrels which would have been recoverable if the Cost Account was full. Also because of the nature of the Cost Account, increases in oil prices result in a lesser number of barrels required to recover costs, therefore at higher oil prices, the Company’s net reserves after taxes would decrease, but at lower prices the Company’s Cost Oil barrels increase. The Company also paid $29.7 million of royalties to the Gabon government, which is not reflected in the Company’s financial statements.

 

The Etame Production Sharing Contract allows for the carve-out of a development area, which was performed for the Etame, Avouma and Ebouri fields. The Etame development area has a term of 20 years and will expire in 2021. The Avouma field development area has a term of 20 years and will expire in 2025. The Ebouri field development area has a term of 20 years and will expire in 2026. The balance of the Etame Marin block comprises the exploration area, which expires in July 2009 but is extendable to 2011 via an exploration well work commitment.

 

Under the service contract, it is not anticipated that the Gabonese government will take physical delivery of its allocated production. Instead, the Company is authorized to sell the Gabonese government’s share of production and remit the proceeds to the Gabonese government.

 

The Mutamba Iroru production sharing contract entitles the Company to receive 70% of any future production remaining after deducting the royalty so long as there are amounts remaining in the Cost Account. At December 31, 2008 there was $7.4 million in the Cost Account. As payment of corporate income taxes the consortium pays the government an allocation of the remaining “profit oil” production from the contract area ranging from 50% to 63% of the oil remaining after deducting the royalty and the cost oil. The percentage of “profit oil” paid to the government as tax is a function of production rates. So long as amounts remain in the Cost Account, the net share that the consortium receives from production can range from a low of 72% of production at production rate in excess of 20,000 bopd to a high of 85% of production at rates below 7,500 bbl per day. However, when the Cost Account becomes substantially recovered, the Company only recovers ongoing operating expenses and new project capital expenditures, resulting in a higher tax rate. The Mutamba Iroru service contract provides for all commercial discoveries to be reclassified into a development area with a term of twenty years.

 

The Block 5 production sharing contract in Angola entitles the Company to receive 50% of the any future production so long as there are amounts remaining in the Cost Account. There are no royalty payments under the contract. The consortium pays the government an allocation of the remaining “profit oil” production from the

 

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Index to Financial Statements

VAALCO ENERGY, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ON OIL AND GAS PRODUCING PROPERTIES

(Unaudited)

 

contract area ranging from 30% to 90% of the oil remaining after deducting the cost oil. The percentage of “profit oil” paid to the government as tax is a function of the Company’s rate of return for each development area. In addition, the Company will pay 50% of its share of the profit oil as income tax to the government of Angola. The Block 5 production sharing contract provides for a discovery to be reclassified into a development area with a term of twenty years.

 

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