VIKING ENERGY GROUP, INC. - Quarter Report: 2022 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 

OR

For the transition period from _______ to _______.

Commission file number: 000-29219

15915 Katy Freeway, Suite 450

Houston, TX 77094

(Address of principal executive offices)

(281) 404 4387

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

______________________________________________

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS

As of November 14, 2022, the registrant had 114,780,967 shares of common stock outstanding.

VIKING ENERGY GROUP, INC.

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2022

For the nine months ended September 30, 2021

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

Note 1 Relationship with and Ownership by Camber Energy, Inc.

On December 23, 2020 Camber Energy, Inc. (“Camber”) acquired a 51% interest in Viking Energy Group, Inc. (“Viking” or the “Company”). On January 8, 2021 and July 29, 2021, Camber acquired additional interests in the Company resulting in Camber owning approximately 62% of the outstanding common shares of the Company after the January transaction and approximately 73% of the outstanding common shares of the Company after the July transaction. As a result of subsequent issuances of the Company’s common shares, Camber’s ownership interest is approximately 61% as of September 30, 2022. The December 2020, January 2021 and July 2021 transactions, along with a new merger agreement executed by Viking and Camber in February 2021 are described further below.

December 23, 2020 Transaction

On December 23, 2020, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with Camber, pursuant to which Camber acquired (“Camber’s Acquisition”) 26,274,510 shares of Viking common stock (“Camber’s Viking Shares”), constituting 51% of the common stock of Viking, in consideration of (i) Camber’s payment of $10,900,000 to Viking (the “Cash Purchase Price”), and (ii) cancelation of $9,200,000 in promissory notes issued by Viking to Camber (“Camber’s Viking Notes”). Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, if at any time between December 23, 2020 and July 2, 2022 Viking issued shares of its common stock to one or more persons such that Camber’s percentage ownership of Viking’s common stock is less than 51%, Viking was obligated to issue additional shares to Camber to ensure that Camber owns at least 51% of the common stock of Viking (the “Adjustment Entitlement”). The Adjustment Entitlement expired on July 1, 2022.

On December 23, 2020, Viking and Camber closed on the Camber Acquisition, with Camber paying the Cash Purchase Price to Viking and cancelling Camber’s Viking Notes, and Viking issuing Camber’s Viking Shares. At the closing, James Doris and Frank Barker, Jr., Viking’s CEO and CFO, were appointed the CEO and CFO of Camber, and Mr. Doris was appointed a member of the Board of Directors of Camber.

January 8, 2021 Transactions

On January 8, 2021, the Company entered into another purchase agreement with Camber pursuant to which Camber agreed to acquire an additional 16,153,846 shares of Company common stock (the “Shares”) in consideration of (i) Camber issuing 1,890 shares of Camber’s Series C Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock to EMC Capital Partners, LLC (“EMC”), one of the Company’s lenders which held a secured promissory note issued by the Company to EMC in the original principal amount of $20,869,218 in connection with the purchase of oil and gas assets on or about February 3, 2020 (the “EMC Note”); and (ii) EMC considering the EMC Note paid in full and cancelled pursuant to the Cancellation Agreement described below. The fair value of the 1,890 shares of Camber’s Series C Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock was determined to be $19,622,000 at the date of the transaction; as a result, the Company recognized a loss on debt settlement in the amount of $926,531.

February 2021 Merger Agreement with Camber

On February 15, 2021, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Camber. The Merger Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, a newly formed wholly owned subsidiary of Camber (“Merger Sub”) will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Camber.

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), each share: (i) of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Viking Common Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than shares owned by Camber, the Company and Merger Sub, will be converted into the right to receive one share of common stock of Camber; and (ii) of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company (the “Viking Preferred Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted into the right to receive one share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of Camber (the “Camber Series A Preferred Stock”). Each share of Camber Series A Preferred Stock will convert into 890 shares of common stock of Camber (subject to a beneficial ownership limitation preventing conversion into Camber common stock if the holder would be deemed to beneficially own more than 9.99% of Camber’s common stock), will be treated equally with Camber’s common stock with respect to dividends and liquidation, and will only have voting rights with respect to voting: (a) on a proposal to increase or reduce Camber’s share capital; (b) on a resolution to approve the terms of a buy-back agreement; (c) on a proposal to wind up Camber; (d) on a proposal for the disposal of all or substantially all of Camber’s property, business and undertaking; (f) during the winding-up of Camber; and/or (g) with respect to a proposed merger or consolidation in which Camber is a party or a subsidiary of Camber is a party. Holders of Viking common stock and Viking Preferred Stock will have any fractional shares of Camber common stock or preferred stock after the Merger rounded up to the nearest whole share.

At the Effective Time, each outstanding Company equity award, will be converted into the right to receive the merger consideration in respect of each share of Viking Common Stock underlying such equity award and, in the case of Company stock options, be converted into vested Camber stock options based on the merger exchange ratio calculated as provided above (the “Exchange Ratio”).

The Merger Agreement provides, among other things, that effective as of the Effective Time, James A. Doris, the current Chief Executive Officer of both the Company and Camber, shall serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Combined Company following the Effective Time. The Merger Agreement provides that, as of the Effective Time, the Combined Company will have its headquarters in Houston, Texas.

The Merger Agreement also provides that, during the period from the date of the Merger Agreement until the Effective Time, each of Camber and Company will be subject to certain restrictions on its ability to solicit alternative acquisition proposals from third parties, to provide non-public information to third parties and to engage in discussions with third parties regarding alternative acquisition proposals, subject to customary exceptions. Company is required to hold a meeting of its stockholders to vote upon the adoption of the Merger Agreement and, subject to certain exceptions, to recommend that its stockholders vote to adopt the Merger Agreement. Camber is required to hold a meeting of its stockholders to approve the issuance of Viking Common Stock and Viking Preferred Stock in connection with the Merger (the “Share Issuance”).

The completion of the Merger is subject to customary conditions, including (i) adoption of the Merger Agreement by Camber’s stockholders and approval of the Share Issuance by Camber’s stockholders, (ii) receipt of required regulatory approvals, (iii) effectiveness of a registration statement on Form S-4 for the Camber common stock to be issued in the Merger (the “Form S-4”), and (iv) the absence of any law, order, injunction, decree or other legal restraint preventing the completion of the Merger or making the completion of the Merger illegal. Each party’s obligation to complete the Merger is also subject to certain additional customary conditions, including (i) subject to certain exceptions, the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the other party, (ii) subject to certain exceptions, performance by the other party of its obligations under the Merger Agreement and (iii) the absence of any material adverse effect on the other party, as defined in the Merger Agreement.

Additional closing conditions to the Merger include that in the event the NYSE American determines that the Merger constitutes, or will constitute, a “back-door listing”/”reverse merger”, Camber (and its common stock) is required to qualify for initial listing on the NYSE American, pursuant to the applicable guidance and requirements of the NYSE as of the Effective Time.

The Merger Agreement can be terminated (i) at any time with the mutual consent of the parties; (ii) by either Camber or Company if any governmental consent or approval required for closing is not obtained, or any governmental entity issues a final non-appealable order or similar decree preventing the Merger; (iii) by either Company or Camber if the Merger shall not have been consummated on or before August 1, 2021; (iv) by Camber or Company, upon the breach by the other of a term of the Merger, which is not cured within 30 days of the date of written notice thereof by the other; (v) by Camber if Company is unable to obtain the affirmative vote of its stockholders for approval of the Merger; (vi) by Company if Camber is unable to obtain the affirmative vote of its stockholders required pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement; and (vii) by Company or Camber if there is a willful breach of the Merger Agreement by the other party thereto. The Merger Agreement contains customary indemnification obligations of the parties and representations and warranties.

As of November 14, 2022, neither Viking nor Camber has advised of its intention to terminate the Merger Agreement. However, given the lapse of time since the date of the Merger Agreement and the lack of progress during that period toward completing certain of the transaction requirements and satisfying certain of the conditions to the merger, we believe it is reasonably likely that certain terms, including economic terms of the merger, would need to be modified by the parties in order for the parties to proceed with the merger. While the parties have discussed this likelihood, neither party has determined the revised terms, if any, upon which it would be prepared to proceed with a revised merger agreement. Any revisions to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement would be subject to the written agreement of the parties, and there is no assurance Viking and Camber will agree on any such proposed modifications or conditions. Moreover, the satisfaction of conditions, whether existing or new, may be outside of Viking’s control.

July 29, 2021 Equity Transaction by Camber in Viking:

On July 29, 2021, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with Camber, pursuant to which Camber acquired an additional 27,500,000 shares of Viking common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $11,000,000. As a result, Camber’s ownership increased as of such date to approximately 73% of the issued and outstanding shares of Viking common stock.

Loan Transactions at Camber (Guaranteed by Viking):

Camber executed and delivered the following promissory notes (each a “Note” and collectively, the “Notes”) in favor of Discover Growth Fund, LLC:

The Notes have the following terms: (i) Maturity Date of January 1, 2027; (ii) interest rate equal to the WSJ Prime Rate, per annum, payable at Maturity, except if Camber is noted in default in which case, at the option of the lender, the principal and interest are due immediately and the interest rate increases to the maximum rate allowed under the laws of Texas; and (iii) all or a portion of the amount owing under the Notes may, at the lender’s option, be converted into shares of common stock of Camber at price of $1.50 per share.

Camber granted Discover a first-priority security interest in Camber’s Viking Shares and Camber’s other assets pursuant to various pledge agreements and general security agreements, respectively. Viking entered into Guaranty Agreements, guaranteeing repayment of the Notes (see Note 3). Viking also entered into a Security Agreement in favor of Discover granting Discover a first-priority security interest in any assets purchased by Viking with funds advanced to Viking by Camber that were loaned by Discover.

Camber’s Series C Preferred Share Designation

The Certificate of Designation(s) (the “COD”) regarding Camber’s Series C Convertible Preferred Shares requires, among other things, Camber to timely file with the Securities and Exchange Commission all reports required to pursuant to the Exchange Act. Any breach under the COD is also a default under the Notes. Camber is currently in compliance with the requirements under the COD.

Note 2 Company Overview and Operations 

Viking is a growth-oriented diversified energy company. Through various majority-owned subsidiaries, Viking provides custom energy and power solutions to commercial and industrial clients in North America and owns interests in oil and natural gas assets in Kansas and Texas. The Company also (i) holds an exclusive license in Canada to a patented carbon-capture system, and: (ii) owns a majority interest in entities with intellectual property rights to a patent pending, proprietary medical & biohazard waste treatment system using ozone technology; and electric transmission and open conductor detection systems. The Company is also exploring other renewable energy-related opportunities and/or technologies, which are currently generating revenue, or have a reasonable prospect of generating revenue within a reasonable period of time.

Custom Energy & Power Solutions:

Simson-Maxwell Acquisition

On August 6, 2021, the Company acquired approximately 60.5% of the issued and outstanding shares of Simson-Maxwell Ltd. (“Simson-Maxwell”), a Canadian federal corporation, for $7,958,159 in cash. Simson-Maxwell manufactures and supplies power generation products, services and custom energy solutions. Simson-Maxwell provides commercial and industrial clients with efficient, flexible, environmentally responsible and clean-tech energy systems involving a wide variety of products, including CHP (combined heat and power), tier 4 final diesel and natural gas industrial engines, solar, wind and storage. Simson-Maxwell also designs and assembles a complete line of electrical control equipment including switch gear, synchronization and paralleling gear, distribution, Bi-Fuel and complete power generation production controls. Operating for over 80 years, Simson-Maxwell’s seven branches assist with servicing a large number of existing maintenance arrangements and meeting the energy and power-solution demands of the company’s other customers.

Clean Energy and Carbon-Capture System:

In August 2021, the Company entered into a license agreement with ESG Clean Energy, LLC (“ESG”), to utilize ESG’s patent rights and know-how related to stationary electric power generation and heat and carbon dioxide capture (the “ESG Clean Energy System”). The intellectual property licensed by Viking includes certain patents and/or patent applications, including: (i) U.S. Patent No.: 10,774,733, File date: October 24, 2018, Issue date: September 15, 2020, Titled: “Bottoming Cycle Power System” (ii) European Patent Application No.: EP18870699.8, International File date: October 24, 2018, Titled: “Bottoming Cycle Power System” (iii) U.S. Patent Application No.: 17/224,200, File date: April 7, 2021, Titled: “Bottoming Cycle Power System” (which was subsequently approved by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office in March, 2022 (No. 11,286,832); (iv) U.S. Patent Application No.: 17/358,197, File date: June 25, 2021, Titled: “Bottoming Cycle Power System” (v) U.S. Patent Application No.: 17/448,943, File date: September 27, 2021, Titled: “Systems and Methods Associated With Bottoming Cycle Power Systems for Generating Power and Capturing Carbon Dioxide” and (vi) U.S. Patent Application No.: 17/448,938, File date: September 27, 2021, Titled: “Systems and Methods Associated With Bottoming Cycle Power Systems for Generating Power, Capturing Carbon Dioxide and Producing Products.

The ESG Clean Energy System is designed to, among other things, generate clean electricity from internal combustion engines and utilize waste heat to capture approximately 100% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from the engine without loss of efficiency, and in a manner to facilitate the production of certain commodities. Patent No. 11,286,832, for example, covers the invention of an “exhaust-gas-to-exhaust-gas heat exchanger” that efficiently cools - and then reheats - exhaust from a primary power generator so greater energy output can be achieved by a secondary power source with safe ventilation. Another key aspect of this patent is the development of a carbon dioxide capture system that utilizes the waste heat of the carbon dioxide pump to heat and regenerate the adsorber that enables carbon dioxide to be safely contained and packaged.

The Company intends to sell, lease and/or sub-license the ESG Clean Energy System to third parties using, among other things, Simson-Maxwell’s existing distribution channels. The Company may also utilize the ESG Clean Energy System for its own account, whether in connection with its petroleum operations, Simson-Maxwell’s power generation operations, or otherwise.

Medical Waste Disposal System Using Ozone Technology:

In January 2022, the Company acquired a 51% interest in Viking Ozone Technology, LLC (“Viking Ozone”), which owns the intellectual property rights to a patent pending (i.e.US Application 17/576,801), proprietary medical and biohazard waste treatment system using ozone technology. Simson-Maxwell has been designated the exclusive worldwide manufacturer and vendor of this system. The technology is designed to be a sustainable alternative to incineration, chemical, autoclave and heat treatment of bio-hazardous waste, and for the treated waste to be classified as renewable fuel for waste-to-energy (“WTE”) facilities in many locations around the world.

Open Conductor Detection Technologies:

In February 2022, the Company acquired a 51% interest in two entities, Viking Sentinel Technology, LLC (“Viking Sentinel”) and Viking Protection Systems, LLC (“Viking Protection”), that own the intellectual property rights to patent pending (i.e., US Applications 16/974,086, 17/672,422 and 17/693,504), proprietary electric transmission and distribution open conductor detection systems. The systems are designed to detect a break in a transmission line, distribution line, or coupling failure, and to immediately terminate the power to the line before it reaches the ground. The technology is intended to increase public safety and reduce the risk of causing an incendiary event, and to be an integral component within grid hardening and stability initiatives by electric utilities to improve the resiliency and reliability of existing infrastructure.

Oil & Gas Properties

Existing Assets:

As of September 30, 2022, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Petrodome Energy, LLC (“Petrodome”), owns working interests in one oil well in Texas.

Additionally, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Mid-Con Petroleum, LLC and Mid-Con Drilling, LLC (collectively, the “Mid-Con Entities”), owns working interests in oil fields in Kansas, which include a combination of producing wells, non-producing wells and water injection wells.

Divestitures in 2022:

On July 8, 2022, four of the wholly owned subsidiaries of Petrodome, a wholly owned subsidiary of Viking, entered into Purchase and Sale Agreements to sell all of their interests in the oil and gas assets owned by those Petrodome subsidiaries, including in the aggregate, interests in 8 producing wells, 8 shut-in wells, 2 salt water disposal wells and 1 inactive well, to third parties for $3,590,000 in cash. The proceeds from the sale were used to fully repay Petrodome’s indebtedness to CrossFirst Bank under the June 13, 2018 revolving line of credit loan.

This transaction resulted in the disposition of most of the Company’s total oil and gas reserves (see Note 6). The Company recorded a loss on the transaction in the amount of $8,961,705, as follows:

Additionally, in July 2022, the Company received an unanticipated refund of a $1,200,000 performance bond as a result of Petrodome ceasing to operate certain assets in the State of Louisiana. The gain from this refund has been included in the “loss from the sale of oil and gas properties and fixed assets’ in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three months ended September 30, 2022.

Divestitures in 2021:

On October 5, 2021, the Company disposed of all of membership interests of Ichor Energy Holdings, LLC (“Ichor”). The third-party purchaser assumed all of the rights and obligations associated with such membership interests, including the debt and derivatives associated with Ichor and/or its subsidiaries. The Company originally acquired the assets owned by Ichor on December 28, 2018, which at the time included interests in approximately 58 producing wells and approximately 31 saltwater disposal wells in Texas and Louisiana.

On October 12, 2021, the Company disposed of all of the membership interests of Elysium Energy Holdings, LLC (“Elysium”). The third-party purchaser assumed all of the rights and obligations associated with such membership interests, including the debt and derivatives associated with Elysium Energy Holdings and/or its subsidiaries. The Company originally acquired the assets owned by Elysium on February 3, 2020, which included interests in approximately 127 wells, along with associated equipment in Texas and Louisiana.

Note 3 Going Concern

The Company’s consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company generated a net loss of $(14,695,711) for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to a net loss of $(27,983,342) for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, was comprised of, among other things, certain non-cash items, including: (i) stock-based compensation of $1,614,334; (ii) accretion of asset retirement obligation of $107,869; (iii) depreciation, depletion & amortization of $1,326,661; (iv) bad debt expense of $1,302,659; (v) amortization of debt discount of $97,296; and; (vi) loss on sale of oil and gas assets of $8,961,705.

As of September 30, 2022, the Company has a stockholders’ equity of $17,968,724, long-term debt of $2,901,097 and a working capital deficiency of $4,302,308. The largest components of current liabilities creating this working capital deficiency is a $6,822,300 million non-interest-bearing loan from Camber Energy, Inc. with no stipulated repayment terms, and drawings against the bank credit facility of $2,995,017.

As further described in Note 1, Viking has guaranteed Camber Energy’s indebtedness to Discover, as well as entered into a Security Agreement in favor of Discover granting Discover a first-priority security interest in any assets purchased by Viking with funds advanced to Viking by Camber that were loaned by Discover. In the event of a default by Camber, Viking may be called upon to honor its obligations under the Guaranty and Security Agreements executed by Viking in favor of Discover. The Company believes the likelihood that it will be required to perform under the guarantee to be remote and has not recognized a liability associated with any performance obligations of the guarantee.

These conditions raise substantial doubt regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to utilize the resources in place to generate future profitable operations, to develop additional acquisition opportunities, and to obtain the necessary financing to meet its obligations and repay its liabilities arising from business operations when they come due. Management believes the Company may be able to continue to develop new opportunities and may be able to obtain additional funds through debt and / or equity financings to facilitate its business strategy; however, there is no assurance of additional funding being available. These consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to the recorded assets or liabilities that might be necessary should the Company have to curtail operations or be unable to continue in existence.

Note 4 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

a) Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and the interim reporting rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto contained in Viking’s latest Annual Report filed with the SEC on Form 10-K. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments (unless otherwise indicated), necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and the results of operations for the interim periods presented have been reflected herein. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

b) Basis of Consolidation

The financial statements presented herein reflect the consolidated financial results of the Company, its wholly owned subsidiaries, Mid-Con Petroleum, LLC, Mid-Con Drilling, LLC, and Mid-Con Development, LLC, which were all formed to provide a base of operations for properties in the Central United States, and Petrodome Energy, LLC, based in Houston, Texas which provides a base of operations to facilitate property acquisitions in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Additionally, these consolidated financial statements also include financial results of Simson-Maxwell using the equity method from August 6, 2021 through October 18, 2021, and consolidated results subsequent to October 18, 2021.

In January 2022, the Company acquired a 51% ownership interest Viking Ozone, and in February 2022, the Company acquired a 51% ownership interest in both Viking Sentinel and Viking Protection. These entities were formed to facilitate the monetization of acquired intellectual properties (see Note 8). These entities are variable interest entities in which the Company owns a controlling financial interest; consequently, these entities are also consolidated.

All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

c) Foreign Currency

Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Results of operations and cash flows of businesses conducted in foreign currency are translated using the average exchange rates throughout the period. The effect of exchange rate fluctuations on translation of assets and liabilities is included as a component of stockholders’ equity in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions have been insignificant.

d) Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and timing of revenues and expenses, the reported amounts and classification of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Significant areas requiring the use of management estimates relate to impairment of long-lived assets, goodwill, fair value of commodity derivatives, stock-based compensation, asset retirement obligations, and the determination of expected tax rates for future income tax recoveries.

The estimates of proved, probable and possible oil and gas reserves are used as significant inputs in determining the depletion of oil and gas properties and the impairment of proved and unproved oil and gas properties. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in the estimation of quantities of proved, probable and possible reserves and in the projection of future rates of production and the timing of development expenditures. Similarly, evaluations for impairment of proved and unproved oil and gas properties are subject to numerous uncertainties including, among others, estimates of future recoverable reserves and commodity price outlooks. Actual results could differ from the estimates and assumptions utilized.

e) Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in banks and highly liquid investment securities that have original maturities of three months or less. Accounts at banks in the United States are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to $250,000, while accounts at banks in Canada are insured by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (“CDIC”) up to CAD $100,000. At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had $4,170,062 and $2,246,407 in excess of the FDIC and CDIC insured limits, respectively.

f) Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable for the Company’s oil and gas operations consist of purchaser receivables and joint interest billing receivables. The Company evaluates these accounts receivable for collectability and, when necessary, records allowances for expected unrecoverable amounts. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company determined that the collectability of certain accounts receivable balances associated with the disposals of Ichor, Elysium and Petrodome, as described in Note 2, were not collectable and should be written off. The amount written off to bad debt expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, net of recovery of allowance for doubtful accounts, was $1,302,659. The Company has recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts on oil and gas accounts of $nil at September 30, 2022 and $754,472 at December 31, 2021.

The Company extends credit to its power generation customers in the normal course of business. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations and generally does not require collateral. Payment terms are generally 30 days. The Company carries its trade accounts receivable at invoice amount less an allowance for doubtful accounts. On a periodic basis, the Company evaluates its accounts receivable and establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon management’s estimates that include a review of the history of past write-offs and collections and an analysis of current credit conditions. As of September 30, 2022, the Company established a reserve for doubtful power generation accounts of $nil. The Company does not accrue interest on past due accounts receivable.

g) Inventory

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, and consist of parts, equipment and work in process. Work-in-process and finished goods included the cost of materials, direct labor and overhead. At the closing of each reporting period, the Company evaluates its inventory in order to adjust the inventory balance for obsolete and slow-moving items.

Inventory consisted of the following at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021:

h) Notes Receivable

Notes receivable consist of secured promissory notes due from New Rise Processing Reno, LLC. The notes are secured by a 20% membership interest in RESC /Renewable Holdings, LLC, and bear interest at a rate of 10% per annum and with a maturity date of June 30, 2022. The Notes were repaid in full in June 2022.

i) Prepaid Expenses

Prepaid expenses include amounts paid in advance for certain operational expenses, as well as amounts paid through the issuance of restricted shares of stock for future contractual benefits to be received. These advances are amortized over the life of the contract using the straight-line method.

j) Oil and Gas Properties

The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for its investment in oil and natural gas properties. Under this method of accounting, all costs associated with acquisition, exploration and development of oil and gas reserves, including directly related overhead costs, are capitalized. General and administrative costs related to production and general overhead are expensed as incurred.

All capitalized costs of oil and gas properties, including the estimated future costs to develop proved reserves, are amortized on the unit of production method using estimates of proved reserves. Disposition of oil and gas properties are accounted for as a reduction of capitalized costs, with no gain or loss recognized unless such adjustment would significantly alter the relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves of oil and gas, in which case the gain or loss is recognized in operations. Unproved properties and major development projects are not amortized until proved reserves associated with the projects can be determined or until impairment occurs. If the results of an assessment indicate that the properties are impaired, the amount of the impairment is included in loss from operations before income taxes.

k) Limitation on Capitalized Costs

Under the full-cost method of accounting, we are required, at the end of each reporting date, to perform a test to determine the limit on the book value of our oil and natural gas properties (the “Ceiling” test). If the capitalized costs of our oil and natural gas properties, net of accumulated amortization and related deferred income taxes, exceed the Ceiling, this excess or impairment is charged to expense. The expense may not be reversed in future periods, even though higher oil and natural gas prices may subsequently increase the Ceiling. The Ceiling is defined as the sum of: