ZION OIL & GAS INC - Quarter Report: 2010 March (Form 10-Q)
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
MARK
ONE
x Quarterly Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the
Quarterly Period ended March 31, 2010; or
o Transition Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the
transition period from
________
to ________
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER:
001-33228
ZION
OIL & GAS, INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
|
20-0065053
|
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization)
|
(I.R.S. Employer Identification
No.)
|
6510
Abrams Rd., Suite 300
Dallas,
Texas
|
75231
|
(Address of principal executive offices)
|
Zip
Code
|
(214)
221-4610
(Registrant's
telephone number, including area code)
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 o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on
its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be
submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this
chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to submit and post such
files). Yes o No o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See
the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller
reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large
accelerated filer o
|
Accelerated
filer x
|
Non-accelerated
filer o (Do
not check if a smaller reporting company)
|
Smaller
reporting company o
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x
As of May
14, 2010, Zion Oil & Gas, Inc. had outstanding 18,749,398 shares of common
stock, par value $0.01 per share.
INDEX
PAGE
PART
1 – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Page
|
|
Item
1 - Financial Statements – Unaudited
|
|
Balance
Sheets - March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009
|
1
|
Statements
of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 and the
period from April 6, 2000 (inception) to March 31, 2010
|
2
|
Statements
of Changes in Stockholders' Equity for the three months ended March 31,
2010 and the period from April 6, 2000 (inception) to March 31,
2010
|
3
|
Statements
of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 and the
period from April 6, 2000 (inception) to March 31, 2010
|
13
|
Notes
to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements
|
15
|
Item
2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations
|
34
|
Item
3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market
Risk
|
40
|
Item
4 - Controls and Procedures
|
41
|
PART
II — OTHER INFORMATION
|
|
Item
1 – Legal Proceedings
|
41
|
Item
A – Risk Factors
|
41
|
Item
2 - Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of
Proceeds
|
41
|
Item
3 - Defaults upon Senior Securities
|
41
|
Item
4 – (Removed and Reserved)
|
41
|
Item
5 - Other Information
|
41
|
Item
6 – Exhibits
|
41
|
SIGNATURES
|
42
|
Zion Oil
& Gas, Inc.
(A
Development Stage Company)
Balance
Sheets (unaudited) as of
March
31
|
December
31
|
|||||||
2010
|
2009
|
|||||||
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
|||||||
Current
assets
|
||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
12,349 | 20,734 | ||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other
|
659 | 647 | ||||||
Deferred
offering costs
|
50 | - | ||||||
Tax
refunds receivable
|
1,352 | 961 | ||||||
Total
current assets
|
14,410 | 22,342 | ||||||
Unproved
oil and gas properties, full cost method (see Note 2A and Note
6)
|
30,353 | 23,759 | ||||||
Property
and equipment
|
||||||||
Net
of accumulated depreciation of $88,000 and $82,000, at March 31, 2010 and
December 31, 2009 respectively
|
167 | 78 | ||||||
Other
assets
|
||||||||
Assets
held for severance benefits
|
54 | 46 | ||||||
Total
other assets
|
54 | 46 | ||||||
Total
assets
|
44,984 | 46,225 | ||||||
Liabilities
and Stockholders’ Equity
|
||||||||
Current
liabilities
|
||||||||
Accounts
payable
|
487 | 159 | ||||||
Asset
retirement obligation
|
50 | 50 | ||||||
Accrued
liabilities
|
1,759 | 1,915 | ||||||
Deferred
officers compensation
|
145 | 477 | ||||||
Total
current liabilities
|
2,441 | 2,601 | ||||||
Provision
for severance pay
|
191 | 185 | ||||||
Total
liabilities
|
2,632 | 2,786 | ||||||
Commitments
and contingencies (see Note 5)
|
||||||||
Stockholders’
equity
|
||||||||
Common
stock, par value $.01; 50,000,000 shares authorized:
|
||||||||
2010
– 18,748,923 shares and 2009 – 18,706,601 shares
|
||||||||
issued
and outstanding
|
187 | 187 | ||||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
72,354 | 72,081 | ||||||
Deficit
accumulated in development stage
|
(30,189 | ) | (28,829 | ) | ||||
Total
stockholders’ equity
|
42,352 | 43,439 | ||||||
Total
liabilities and stockholders' equity
|
44,984 | 46,225 |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited interim financial
statements.
1
Zion Oil
& Gas, Inc.
(A
Development Stage Company)
Statements
of Operations (unaudited)
Period
from
|
||||||||||||
April
6, 2000
|
||||||||||||
For
the three month period
|
(inception)
to
|
|||||||||||
ended
March 31
|
March
31
|
|||||||||||
2010
|
2009
|
2010
|
||||||||||
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
||||||||||
Revenues
|
- | - | - | |||||||||
General
and administrative expenses
|
||||||||||||
Legal
and professional
|
352 | 234 | 6,307 | |||||||||
Salaries
|
686 | 500 | 8,754 | |||||||||
Other
|
319 | 261 | 5,317 | |||||||||
Impairment
of unproved oil and gas properties
|
- | - | 9,494 | |||||||||
Loss
from operations
|
(1,357 | ) | (995 | ) | (29,872 | ) | ||||||
Other
expense, net
|
||||||||||||
Termination
of initial public offering
|
- | - | (527 | ) | ||||||||
Other
income, net
|
- | 76 | 80 | |||||||||
Interest
(expense) income, net
|
(3 | ) | 3 | 130 | ||||||||
Loss
before income taxes
|
(1,360 | ) | (916 | ) | (30,189 | ) | ||||||
Income
taxes
|
- | - | - | |||||||||
Net
loss
|
(1,360 | ) | (916 | ) | (30,189 | ) | ||||||
Net
loss per share of common stock -
basic
and diluted (in US$)
|
||||||||||||
(0.07 | ) | (0.08 | ) | (4.18 | ) | |||||||
Weighted-average
shares outstanding –
basic
and diluted (in thousands)
|
||||||||||||
18,731 | 11,307 | 7,214 |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited interim financial
statements.
2
Zion Oil
& Gas, Inc.
(A
Development Stage Company)
Statement
of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (unaudited)
Deficit
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional
|
accumulated
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred
Stock
|
Common
Stock
|
paid-in
|
in
development
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amount
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
capital
|
stage
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
Thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Balances
April 6, 2000
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||
Issued
for cash ($0.001 per share)
|
- | - | 2,400 | * - | 2 | - | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares and warrants in a private offering ($1 per
share)
|
- | - | 100 | * - | 100 | - | 100 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Costs
associated with the issuance of shares
|
- | - | - | - | (24 | ) | - | (24 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Waived
interest on conversion of debt
|
- | - | - | - | * - | - | * - | |||||||||||||||||||||
Value
of warrants granted to employees
|
- | - | - | - | 2 | - | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
- | - | - | - | - | (5 | ) | (5 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Balances,
December 31, 2000
|
- | - | 2,500 | * - | 80 | (5 | ) | 75 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares and warrants in a private offering in January 2001 ($1 per
share)
|
- | - | 135 | * - | 135 | - | 135 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares and warrants in a private offering which
closed in September 2001 ($1 per share)
|
- | - | 125 | * - | 125 | - | 125 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Payment
of accounts payable through issuance of shares and
warrants
|
- | - | 40 | * - | 40 | - | 40 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Payment
of note payable through issuance of shares and warrants
|
- | - | 25 | * - | 25 | - | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares and warrants in a private offering which closed in November 2001
($1 per share)
|
- | - | 175 | * - | 175 | - | 175 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Costs
associated with the issuance of shares
|
- | - | - | - | (85 | ) | - | (85 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Waived
interest on conversion of debt
|
- | - | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Value
of warrants granted to employees
|
- | - | - | - | 37 | - | 37 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Value
of warrants granted to directors and consultants
|
- | - | - | - | 3 | - | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
- | - | - | - | - | (207 | ) | (207 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Balances,
December 31, 2001
|
- | - | 3,000 | * - | 536 | (212 | ) | 324 |
* Represents
an amount less than US$ 1 thousand.
3
Zion Oil
& Gas, Inc.
(A
Development Stage Company)
Statement
of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (unaudited)(cont’d)
Deficit
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional
|
accumulated
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred
Stock
|
Common
Stock
|
paid-in
|
in
development
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amount
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
capital
|
stage
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
Thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Change
in par value of common shares from $ 0.0001 per share to $0.01 per
share
|
- | - | - | 30 | (30 | ) | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares and warrants in a private offering which closed in January 2002
($1 per share)
|
- | - | 20 | * - | 20 | - | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares and warrants in a private offering which closed in November 2002
($10 per share)
|
25 | * - | 22 | * - | 254 | - | 254 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Payment
of accounts payable through issuance of preferred shares and
warrants
|
13 | * - | - | - | 127 | - | 127 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Payment
of accounts payable through issuance of common shares and
warrants
|
- | - | 111 | 1 | 131 | - | 132 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Payment
of note payable through issuance of shares and warrants
|
5 | * - | - | - | 50 | - | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Payment
of accounts payable to employee through issuance of shares upon exercise
of warrants
|
- | - | 400 | 4 | 76 | - | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Costs
associated with the issuance of shares
|
- | - | - | - | (160 | ) | - | (160 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Waived
interest on conversion of debt
|
- | - | - | - | 3 | - | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Deferred
financing costs on debt conversions / modifications
|
- | - | - | - | 21 | - | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Value
of warrants granted to employees
|
- | - | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Value
of warrants granted to directors and consultants
|
- | - | - | - | 13 | - | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
- | - | - | - | - | (403 | ) | (403 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Balances,
December 31, 2002
|
43 | * - | 3,553 | 35 | 1,042 | (615 | ) | 462 |
* Represents
an amount less than US$ 1 thousand.
4
Zion Oil
& Gas, Inc.
(A
Development Stage Company)
Statement
of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (unaudited) (cont’d)
Deficit
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional
|
accumulated
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred
Stock
|
Common
Stock
|
paid-in
|
in
development
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amount
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
capital
|
stage
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
Thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares in connection with executive employment
|
- | - | 50 | 1 | 49 | - | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of share on warrants exercise
|
- | - | 165 | 2 | 31 | - | 33 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of dividend shares to record holders as of December 31,
2002
|
4 | * - | - | - | * - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares and warrants in a private offering which closed in February 2003
($10 per share):
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
for
cash consideration
|
10 | * - | - | - | 105 | - | 105 | |||||||||||||||||||||
for
reduction of accounts payable
|
5 | * - | - | - | 45 | - | 45 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares and warrants as compensation for extension of $100,000 line of
credit
|
1 | * - | - | - | 10 | - | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Payment
of account payable through issuance of shares and warrants
|
* - | * - | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Conversion
of preferred shares to common shares in reincorporation
merger
|
(63 | ) | *- | 763 | 7 | (7 | ) | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares in a private offering which closed in July 2003 ($3 per
share):
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
for cash consideration
|
- | - | 33 | * - | 99 | - | 99 | |||||||||||||||||||||
for reduction of accounts payable
|
- | - | 3 | * - | 9 | - | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares upon exercise of warrants:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
for
cash consideration
|
- | - | 25 | * - | 25 | - | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||
for
reduction of accounts payable
|
- | - | 124 | 1 | 142 | - | 143 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares upon exercise of warrants for cash consideration
|
- | - | 63 | 1 | 82 | - | 83 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Payment
of account payable through issuance of shares
|
- | - | 80 | 1 | 139 | - | 140 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Costs
associated with the issuance of shares
|
- | - | - | - | (58 | ) | - | (58 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Value
of warrants granted to employees
|
- | - | - | - | 47 | - | 47 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Deferred
financing costs on debt conversions / modifications
|
- | - | - | - | (10 | ) | - | (10 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
- | - | - | - | - | (873 | ) | (873 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Balances
as at December 31, 2003
|
- | - | 4,859 | 48 | 1,751 | (1,488 | ) | 311 |
* Represents
an amount less than US$ 1 thousand.
5
Zion Oil
& Gas, Inc.
(A
Development Stage Company)
Statement
of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (unaudited)(cont’d)
Deficit
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Additional
|
accumulated
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Common
Stock
|
paid-in
|
in
development
|
||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amounts
|
capital
|
stage
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||
Thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares on warrants exercise
|
123 | 1 | 183 | - | 184 | |||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares and warrants in a private offering
|
251 | 3 | 1,002 | - | 1,005 | |||||||||||||||
Payment
of officer salaries through issuance of shares and
warrants
|
46 | 1 | 184 | - | 185 | |||||||||||||||
Payment
of accounts payable to officers and consultants upon exercise of
warrants
|
80 | 1 | 99 | - | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Payment
of director honorariums through issuance of shares and
warrants
|
11 | * - | 45 | - | 45 | |||||||||||||||
Payment
of account payable through issuance of shares and warrants
|
13 | * - | 50 | - | 50 | |||||||||||||||
Payment
of bridge loan through issuance of shares and warrants
|
125 | 1 | 499 | - | 500 | |||||||||||||||
Payment
of bridge loan interest and commitment fee through issuance of shares and
warrants
|
8 | * - | 30 | - | 30 | |||||||||||||||
Payment
of bridge loan finders fee through issuance of shares and
warrants
|
2 | * - | 7 | - | 7 | |||||||||||||||
Payment
of service bonus through issuance of shares and warrants
|
20 | * - | 20 | - | 20 | |||||||||||||||
Costs
associated with the issuance of shares
|
- | - | (59 | ) | - | (59 | ) | |||||||||||||
Value
of warrants granted to employees
|
- | - | 41 | - | 41 | |||||||||||||||
Deferred
financing costs on debt conversions / modifications
|
- | - | 30 | - | 30 | |||||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
- | - | - | (1,737 | ) | (1,737 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balances,
December 31, 2004
|
5,538 | 55 | 3,882 | (3,225 | ) | 712 |
* Represents
an amount less than US$ 1 thousand.
6
Zion Oil
& Gas, Inc.
(A
Development Stage Company)
Statement
of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (unaudited) (cont’d)
Deficit
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Additional
|
accumulated
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Common
Stock
|
paid-in
|
in
development
|
||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amounts
|
capital
|
stage
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||
Thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares on warrants exercised:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
For
cash
|
493 | 5 | 872 | - | 877 | |||||||||||||||
For
payment of deferred officer salaries
|
17 | * - | 21 | - | 21 | |||||||||||||||
For
exchange of shares of common stock
|
120 | 1 | (1 | ) | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares and warrants in a private offering that closed in March
2005:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
For
cash
|
519 | 5 | 2,070 | - | 2,075 | |||||||||||||||
For
payment of deferred officer salaries
|
10 | * - | 40 | - | 40 | |||||||||||||||
For
payment of accounts payable
|
6 | * - | 25 | - | 25 | |||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares and warrants in a private offering that closed in June
2005:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
For
cash
|
259 | 3 | 1,292 | - | 1,295 | |||||||||||||||
For
payment of directors honoraria
|
14 | * - | 70 | - | 70 | |||||||||||||||
For
payment of accounts payable
|
3 | * - | 15 | - | 15 | |||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares in a private offering that closed in October
2005:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
For
cash
|
584 | 6 | 2,914 | - | 2,920 | |||||||||||||||
For
payment of deferred officer salaries
|
40 | * - | 200 | - | 200 | |||||||||||||||
For
payment of accounts payable
|
22 | * - | 110 | - | 110 | |||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares in a private offering that closed in December
2005
|
80 | 1 | 439 | - | 440 | |||||||||||||||
Shares
to be issued for services provided by director
|
- | - | 42 | - | 42 | |||||||||||||||
Value
of warrants and options granted to employees
|
- | - | 216 | - | 216 | |||||||||||||||
Value
of warrants granted to directors and consultants
|
- | - | 16 | - | 16 | |||||||||||||||
Deferred
financing costs on debt conversions /modifications
|
- | - | 44 | - | 44 | |||||||||||||||
Costs
associated with the issuance of shares
|
- | - | (275 | ) | - | (275 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
- | - | - | (1,605 | ) | (1,605 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balances,
December 31, 2005
|
7,705 | 76 | 11,992 | (4,830 | ) | 7,238 |
* Represents
an amount less than US$ 1 thousand.
7
Zion Oil
& Gas, Inc.
(A
Development Stage Company)
Statement
of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (unaudited) (cont’d)
Deficit
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Additional
|
accumulated
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Common
Stock
|
paid-in
|
in
development
|
||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amounts
|
capital
|
stage
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||
Thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares on warrants exercised:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
For
cash
|
253 | 3 | 1,151 | - | 1,154 | |||||||||||||||
For
debt
|
60 | 1 | 276 | - | 277 | |||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares and warrants in private offering closings in first quarter
2006:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
For
cash
|
66 | 1 | 362 | - | 363 | |||||||||||||||
For
payment of accounts
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Payable
|
3 | * - | 14 | - | 14 | |||||||||||||||
Shares
issued for services provided by officer
|
200 | 2 | 248 | - | 250 | |||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares and warrants in a private offering that closed in September 2006
for cash
|
23 | * - | 126 | - | 126 | |||||||||||||||
Value
of options granted to employees
|
- | - | 162 | - | 162 | |||||||||||||||
Value
of warrants granted to underwriter
|
- | - | 20 | - | 20 | |||||||||||||||
Value
of shares gifted to directors, employees and service
providers
|
- | - | 147 | - | 147 | |||||||||||||||
Costs
associated with the issuance of shares
|
- | - | (681 | ) | - | (681 | ) | |||||||||||||
Funds
received from public offering for subscription shares:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
For
cash
|
410 | 4 | 2,867 | - | 2,871 | |||||||||||||||
For debt
|
27 | * - | 188 | - | 188 | |||||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
- | - | - | (2,510 | ) | (2,510 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balances
December 31, 2006
|
8,747 | 87 | 16,872 | (7,340 | ) | 9,619 |
* Represents
an amount less than US$ 1 thousand.
8
Zion Oil
& Gas, Inc.
(A
Development Stage Company)
Statement
of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (unaudited) (cont’d)
Deficit
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Additional
|
accumulated
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Common
Stock
|
paid-in
|
in
development
|
||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amounts
|
capital
|
stage
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||
Thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
||||||||||||||||
Funds
received from public offering for subscription shares:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
For
cash
|
1,336 | 14 | 9,338 | - | 9,352 | |||||||||||||||
For
debt
|
33 | * - | 235 | - | 235 | |||||||||||||||
Compensation
in respect of shares previously issued for services provided by
officer
|
- | - | 208 | - | 208 | |||||||||||||||
Value
of options granted to employees
|
- | - | 337 | - | 337 | |||||||||||||||
Value
of warrants granted to underwriter
|
- | - | 79 | - | 79 | |||||||||||||||
Value
of shares granted to employees
|
5 | *- | 25 | - | 25 | |||||||||||||||
Value
of shares gifted to employees
|
- | - | 7 | - | 7 | |||||||||||||||
Costs
associated with the issuance of shares
|
- | - | (1,027 | ) | - | (1,027 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
- | - | - | (13,047 | ) | (13,047 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balances
December 31, 2007
|
10,121 | 101 | 26,074 | (20,387 | ) | 5,788 |
* Represents
an amount less than US$ 1 thousand.
9
Zion Oil
& Gas, Inc.
(A
Development Stage Company)
Statement
of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (unaudited) (cont’d)
Deficit
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Additional
|
accumulated
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Common
Stock
|
paid-in
|
in
development
|
||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amounts
|
capital
|
stage
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||
Thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
||||||||||||||||
Funds
received from Unit Offering
for subscription shares:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
For
cash
|
405 | 4 | 4,040 | - | 4,044 | |||||||||||||||
For
debt
|
12 | *- | 120 | - | 120 | |||||||||||||||
Value
of warrants granted to employees
|
- | - | 266 | - | 266 | |||||||||||||||
Value
of options granted to directors and consultants
|
- | - | 44 | - | 44 | |||||||||||||||
Value
of shares granted to employees
|
4 | *- | 25 | - | 25 | |||||||||||||||
Value
of shares gifted to employees
|
- | - | 101 | - | 101 | |||||||||||||||
Costs
associated with the issuance of shares
|
- | - | (815 | ) | - | (815 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
- | - | - | (4,018 | ) | (4,018 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balances
December 31, 2008
|
10,542 | 105 | 29,855 | (24,405 | ) | 5,555 |
* Represents
an amount less than US$ 1 thousand.
10
Zion Oil
& Gas, Inc.
(A
Development Stage Company)
Statement
of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (unaudited) (cont’d)
Deficit
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Additional
|
accumulated
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Common
Stock
|
paid-in
|
in
development
|
||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amounts
|
capital
|
stage
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||
Thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
||||||||||||||||
Funds
received from Unit Offering
for subscription shares:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
For
cash
|
237 | 3 | 2,370 | - | 2,373 | |||||||||||||||
For
debt
|
13 | *- | 126 | - | 126 | |||||||||||||||
Funds
received from Rights Offering
|
4,200 | 42 | 20,958 | - | 21,000 | |||||||||||||||
Funds
received from Second Rights Offering
|
3,600 | 36 | 17,964 | - | 18,000 | |||||||||||||||
Funds
received from warrant exercises
|
59 | 1 | 414 | - | 415 | |||||||||||||||
Underwriter
warrants exercised in cashless exercise
|
13 | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Director
warrants and options exercised in cashless exercises
|
37 | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Value
of options granted to employees
|
- | - | 494 | - | 494 | |||||||||||||||
Value
of options granted to directors and consultants
|
- | - | 328 | - | 328 | |||||||||||||||
Value
of shares granted to consultants for services
|
5 | *- | 46 | - | 46 | |||||||||||||||
Value
of shares gifted to employees
|
- | - | 4 | - | 4 | |||||||||||||||
Costs
associated with the issuance of shares
|
- | - | (478 | ) | - | (478 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
- | - | - | (4,424 | ) | (4,424 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balances
as of December 31, 2009
|
18,706 | 187 | 72,081 | (28,829 | ) | 43,439 |
* Represents
an amount less than US$ 1 thousand.
11
Zion Oil
& Gas, Inc.
(A
Development Stage Company)
Statement
of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (unaudited) (cont’d)
Deficit
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Additional
|
accumulated
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Common
Stock
|
paid-in
|
in
development
|
||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amounts
|
capital
|
stage
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||
Thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
||||||||||||||||
Funds
received from option exercises
|
40 | *- | *- | - | *- | |||||||||||||||
Value
of shares granted to consultants for services
|
2 | *- | 15 | - | 15 | |||||||||||||||
Value
of options or warrants granted to employees
|
- | - | 271 | - | 271 | |||||||||||||||
Costs
associated with the issuance of shares
|
- | - | (13 | ) | - | (13 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
- | - | - | (1,360 | ) | (1,360 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balances
March 31, 2010
|
18,748 | 187 | 72,354 | (30,189 | ) | 42,352 |
* Represents
an amount less than US$ 1 thousand.
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial
statements.
12
Zion Oil
& Gas, Inc.
(A
Development Stage Company)
Statement
of Cash Flows (unaudited)
Period
from
|
||||||||||||
April
6, 2000
|
||||||||||||
For
the three month
|
(inception)
to
|
|||||||||||
period ended
March 31
|
March
31
|
|||||||||||
2010
|
2009
|
2010
|
||||||||||
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
||||||||||
Cash
flows from operating activities
|
||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
(1,360 | ) | (916 | ) | (30,189 | ) | ||||||
Adjustments
required to reconcile net loss to net cash
|
||||||||||||
used
in operating activities:
|
||||||||||||
Depreciation
|
6 | 5 | 94 | |||||||||
Officer,
director and other fees, paid via common stock
|
15 | 6 | 2,330 | |||||||||
Cost
of options or warrants issued to employees, directors &
others
|
271 | 156 | 2,377 | |||||||||
Interest
paid through issuance of common stock
|
- | - | 17 | |||||||||
Write-off
of costs associated with public offering
|
- | - | 507 | |||||||||
Loss
on disposal of equipment
|
- | - | 4 | |||||||||
Impairment
of unproved oil and gas properties
|
- | - | 9,494 | |||||||||
Asset
retirement obligation
|
- | - | 50 | |||||||||
Change
in assets and liabilities, net:
|
||||||||||||
Decrease
in inventories
|
- | - | 150 | |||||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other
|
(12 | ) | (116 | ) | (659 | ) | ||||||
Increase
in deferred offering costs
|
(50 | ) | (15 | ) | (50 | ) | ||||||
Tax
refunds receivable
|
(391 | ) | (236 | ) | (1,352 | ) | ||||||
Provision
for severance pay, net
|
(2 | ) | (2 | ) | 137 | |||||||
Accounts
payable
|
328 | 8 | 1,135 | |||||||||
Accrued
liabilities
|
(156 | ) | (26 | ) | 1,759 | |||||||
Increase(decrease)
in deferred officers' compensation
|
(332 | ) | 119 | 385 | ||||||||
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
(1,683 | ) | (1,017 | ) | (13,811 | ) | ||||||
Cash
flows from investing activities
|
||||||||||||
Acquisition
of property and equipment
|
(95 | ) | (1 | ) | (263 | ) | ||||||
Investment
in unproved oil and gas properties
|
(6,594 | ) | (584 | ) | (39,997 | ) | ||||||
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(6,689 | ) | (585 | ) | (40,260 | ) | ||||||
Cash
flows from financing activities
|
||||||||||||
Deferred
financing costs on debt conversions and modification
|
- | - | 89 | |||||||||
Loan
proceeds – related party
|
- | - | 259 | |||||||||
Loan
principal repayments – related party
|
- | - | (259 | ) | ||||||||
Loan
proceeds – other
|
- | - | 500 | |||||||||
Proceeds
from sale of stock
|
- | 2,520 | 69,607 | |||||||||
Costs
associated with the issuance of shares
|
(13 | ) | (219 | ) | (3,776 | ) | ||||||
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
(13 | ) | - | 66,420 | ||||||||
Net
increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
(8,385 | ) | 699 | 12,349 | ||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents – beginning of period
|
20,734 | 1,726 | - | |||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents– end of period
|
12,349 | 2,425 | 12,349 |
13
Zion Oil
& Gas, Inc.
(A
Development Stage Company)
Statement
of Cash Flows (unaudited) (cont'd)
Period
from
|
||||||||||||
April
6, 2000
|
||||||||||||
For
the three month
|
(inception)
to
|
|||||||||||
period ended
March 31
|
March
31
|
|||||||||||
2010
|
2009
|
2010
|
||||||||||
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
||||||||||
Supplemental
information
|
||||||||||||
Cash
paid for interest
|
14 | 1 | 78 | |||||||||
Cash
paid for income taxes
|
- | - | - | |||||||||
Non-cash
investing and financing activities:
|
||||||||||||
Payment
of note payable through
issuance
of common stock
|
- | - | 575 | |||||||||
Payment
of accounts payable through
issuance
of note payable
|
- | - | 35 | |||||||||
Financing
costs paid through issuance of common stock
|
- | - | 25 | |||||||||
Increase
in accounts payable for financing costs
|
- | - | 382 | |||||||||
Waived
interest on debt conversions
|
- | - | 4 | |||||||||
Shares
issued for debt conversion
|
- | 120 | 940 | |||||||||
Value
of warrants granted to underwriters
|
- | - | 99 | |||||||||
Deferred
financing costs
|
- | - | 85 | |||||||||
Transfer
of inventory to oil and gas properties
|
- | - | 150 |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited interim financial
statements.
14
Zion Oil
& Gas Inc
(A
Development Stage Company)
Notes
to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements as of March 31,
2010
Note
1 - Nature of Operations and Basis of
Presentation
|
A.
|
Nature
of Operations
|
Effective
July 9, 2003, Zion Oil & Gas, Inc., a Florida corporation (“Zion Florida”)
was merged into its wholly owned Delaware subsidiary, Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.
(sometimes referred to herein as “we,” “our,” “us,” “Zion,” or the “Company,”),
the purpose of which was solely to reincorporate from Florida to Delaware in
anticipation of a public offering. Upon the reincorporation, all the
outstanding shares of common stock in Zion Florida were converted into common
stock, par value $0.01 (the “Common Stock”), of the Company on a one-to-one
basis and all the outstanding shares of preferred stock in Zion Florida were
converted into Common Stock of the Company at the ratio of twelve shares of
common stock for each share of preferred stock. All of the
outstanding warrants and options of Zion Florida were converted into equivalent
warrants and options of the Company.
The
Company currently holds two petroleum exploration licenses and one preliminary
exclusive petroleum exploration permit with priority rights under the Israeli
Petroleum Law, 5712-1952 (the “Petroleum Law”). Zion’s petroleum rights extend
from the Mediterranean at Caesarea across the Carmel Mountains to Megiddo and
through to the Jordan River immediately south of the Sea of
Galilee. Zion’s total petroleum exploration rights area is
approximately 327,100 acres. Below is a summary of the licenses and
the permit.
Licenses
(1) The
“Asher-Menashe License” covers an area of approximately 78,824 acres located on
the Israeli coastal plain and the Mt. Carmel range between Caesarea in the south
and Haifa in the north. The Asher-Menashe License has a three-year term, which
commenced on June 10, 2007 and runs through June 9, 2010, and may be extended
for four additional, years as provided by the Petroleum Law. The Asher-Menashe
License was issued following the Company's successful completion of the work
program under the 121,000 acre Asher Permit, originally granted to the Company
effective August 1, 2005, in the course of which the Company developed three
leads. Under the revised terms of the Asher-Menashe License, the
Company must commence the drilling of a well to a depth of at least 4,000 meters
(about 13,200 feet) by January 1, 2010. During October 2009, the
Company commenced the drilling of the Elijah #3 well within the Asher-Menashe
License thereby satisfying this condition. During early February
2010, the drilling on this well was temporarily suspended pending the
acquisition of additional seismic data.
(2) The
“Joseph License” covers approximately 83,272 acres on the Israeli coastal plain
south of the Asher-Menashe License between Caesarea in the north and Netanya in
the south. The Joseph License had a three-year term which commenced
on October 11, 2007 and ran through October 10, 2010 and was recently extended
by one year to October 10, 2011. The license may be extended for up to an
additional three years through 2014, as provided by the Petroleum
Law. The area covered by the Company’s Joseph License covers
approximately 85% of the area subject to the 98,100 acre Ma’anit-Joseph License
which had been held by the Company until it was formally surrendered on June 22,
2007 in accordance with the provisions of the Petroleum Law following the
abandonment of the Ma’anit #1 well, drilled by the Company. The areas
covered by the Joseph License include the Ma’anit structure, on which the
company drilled the Ma’anit #1 and Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 wells and the Joseph lead
developed by the Company under the Ma’anit-Joseph License and its previously
held Joseph Permit. Under the terms of the Joseph License, the
Company was required to commence the drilling of a well to a depth of at least
4,500 meters (14,764 feet) by July 1, 2009. Between May 2009 and October 2009,
the Company drilled the Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well to a depth of approximately
5,460 meters (17,913 feet), thereby satisfying the drilling
obligation. Work on this well was subsequently suspended and an
impairment charge will be recognized for the quarter ended June 30,
2010. (See Note 6). Under the terms of the recently
granted extension, we must start the drilling of a well to the Permian geologic
formation by no later than January 1, 2011.
15
Zion Oil
& Gas Inc
(A
Development Stage Company)
Notes
to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements as of March 31,
2010
Note
1 - Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation (cont’d)
|
A.
|
Nature
of Operations (cont’d)
|
In the
event of a discovery on either of the licenses held, Zion will be entitled to
convert the relevant portions of the license to a 30-year production lease,
extendable to 50 years, subject to compliance with a field development work
program and production.
Permit
In August
2009, Zion was awarded a preliminary exclusive petroleum exploration permit (the
“Issachar-Zebulun Permit”) on approximately 165,000 acres onshore
Israel. The Issachar-Zebulun Permit is adjacent to and to the east of
the Company's Asher-Menashe License and is in the area that was formerly within
Issachar’s and Zebulun’s ancient biblical tribal areas.
The
Issachar-Zebulun Permit allows the Company to conduct, on an exclusive basis
through February 23, 2011, preliminary investigations to ascertain the prospects
for discovering petroleum in the area covered by the permit. Unlike a
license area, where test drilling may take place, no test drilling is allowed on
a permit area.
Drilling
Activities
In 2005,
in accordance with terms of the Ma’anit-Joseph License, the Company drilled the
Ma’anit #1 well on the Ma’anit prospect. Drilling breaks and shows of
hydrocarbons were recorded from approximately 12,000 feet to the total depth of
approximately 15,500 feet. Due to mechanical problems that prevented the Company
from isolating highly conductive water bearing zones from the tighter
hydrocarbon bearing formations, the shows were never successfully
tested. Despite the encouraging, but inconclusive results, the
Company determined that the well was incapable of producing oil and/or gas in
commercial quantities. As a result, the well was abandoned in June
2007, following analysis of the results of the remedial workover operations
conducted between April and June 2007. (See Note 2A).
In May
2009, the Company commenced drilling the Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well to a depth of
approximately 5,460 meters (17,913 feet), utilizing a 2,000 horsepower drilling
rig (the “AME Rig”) and rig crews. The Company completed drilling and logging
the well in September 2009. During the drilling of this well, the Company
reported that it had positive indications that the well contained hydrocarbon
bearing zones and identified several such ‘zones of
interest'. In December 2009, using a workover rig, swabbing and
preliminary completion testing took place. During the preliminary completion
testing, small quantities of crude oil were produced, but further testing
procedures were required to determine whether the Company made a discovery of a
hydrocarbon reservoir and, if so, whether it is commercially
viable. Production testing of the Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well commenced
in February 2010. In April 2010, following the completion of the
production testing procedures, the Company determined that commercial quantities
of hydrocarbons were not present in the Ma'anit-Rehoboth #2 well and has
accordingly suspended drilling operations in that well and will take an
impairment charge during the quarter ended June 30, 2010. (See Note 2A and Note
6).
16
Zion Oil
& Gas Inc
(A
Development Stage Company)
Notes
to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements as of March 31,
2010
Note
1 - Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation (cont’d)
|
A.
|
Nature
of Operations (cont’d)
|
On
October 20, 2009, the Company commenced drilling the Elijah #3 well on the
Asher-Menashe License. The Company targeted the Elijah #3 well to be drilled
toward the Triassic geological formation. The Company also planned to
continue drilling to the Permian geological formation, down to a total depth
below 5,182 meters (17,000 feet). As of January 15, 2010, the Company
drilled the Elijah #3 well to a depth of 10,938 feet (3,334
meters). In early February 2010, the Company temporarily suspended
drilling operations in the well following our unsuccessful efforts to retrieve a
stuck pipe. Following the decision to temporarily suspend drilling
operations at the Elijah #3 well, the Company transferred the Rig to the
Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well to conduct testing procedures.
.
The
drilling rig and crew, utilized in the Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well and the Elijah
#3 well, were obtained from Aladdin Middle East Ltd. (“Aladdin”), a Turkish
based drilling rig operator. (See Note 5J).
Operations
in Israel are conducted through a branch office. The Asher-Menashe License, the
Joseph License and the Issachar-Zebulun Permit are held directly in the name of
the Company.
At
present it is expected that, other than investment income, any and all future
income will be derived from Israeli based operations.
|
B.
|
Basis
of Presentation
|
The
unaudited interim financial statements have been prepared on a going concern
basis, which contemplates realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities
in the ordinary course of business. Since the Company is in the development
stage, it has limited capital resources, no revenue, and a loss from operations.
The appropriateness of using the going concern basis is dependent upon the
Company's ability to obtain additional financing or equity capital to finance
its current operations and, ultimately, to realize profitable
operations.
The
accompanying unaudited interim financial statements were prepared in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for the
preparation of interim financial statements and, therefore, do not include all
disclosures necessary for a complete presentation of financial condition,
results of operations, and cash flows in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles used in annual financial statements. All adjustments,
which are, in the opinion of management, of a normal recurring nature and are
necessary for a fair presentation of the interim financial statements, have been
included. Nevertheless, these financial statements should be read in conjunction
with the financial statements and related notes included in the Company's annual
financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009. The results of
operations for the period ended March 31, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of
the results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year or any other interim
period.
17
Zion Oil
& Gas Inc
(A
Development Stage Company)
Notes
to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements as of March 31,
2010
Note
2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
|
A.
|
Oil
and Gas Properties and Impairment
|
The
Company follows the full-cost method of accounting for oil and gas
properties. Accordingly, all costs associated with acquisition,
exploration and development of oil and gas reserves, including directly related
overhead costs, are capitalized.
All
capitalized costs of oil and gas properties, including the estimated future
costs to develop proved reserves, are amortized by the unit-of-production method
using estimates of proved reserves. Investments in 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 income from continuing
operations before income taxes and the adjusted carrying amount of the unproved
properties is amortized by the unit-of-production method.
The
Company’s oil and gas property represents our investment in our unproved
properties. These costs are excluded from the amortized cost pool
until proved reserves are found or until it is determined that the costs are
impaired. All costs excluded are reviewed at least quarterly to
determine if impairment has occurred. The amount of any impairment is
charged to expense since a reserve base has not yet been
established. A further impairment requiring a charge to expense may
be indicated through evaluation of drilling results, relinquishing drilling
rights or other information.
An
abandonment of properties is accounted for as an adjustment to capitalized
costs. The net capitalized costs are subject to a “ceiling test,” which limits
such costs to the aggregate of the estimated present value of future net
revenues from proved reserves discounted at ten percent based on current
economic and operating conditions, plus the lower of cost or fair market value
of unproved properties. The recoverability of amounts capitalized for oil and
gas properties is dependent upon the identification of economically recoverable
reserves, together with obtaining the necessary financing to exploit such
reserves and the achievement of profitable operations.
In June
2007, following the analysis of the results of the testing of the Company’s
Ma’anit #1 well workover and an evaluation of the mechanical condition of the
well, the Company determined that the well was incapable of producing oil and/or
gas in commercial quantities. In order to optimize drilling
operations on the Company’s then planned Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well, the Company
ceased operations on the Ma’anit #1 well and, as required by the Petroleum Law,
formally relinquished the Ma’anit-Joseph License. Immediately after the
relinquishment of the Ma’anit-Joseph License, the Company filed an application
with the Israeli Petroleum Commissioner for a petroleum exploration license, the
Joseph License, covering approximately 83,272 acres of the original
Ma’anit-Joseph License including the Ma’anit structure on which the Ma’anit #1
well was drilled, which License was subsequently granted on October 11,
2007. As a result of the unsuccessful Ma’anit #1 well and formal
relinquishment of the Ma’anit-Joseph License, the Company recorded in June 2007
an impairment of $9,494,000 to its unproved oil and gas
properties.
18
Zion Oil
& Gas Inc
(A
Development Stage Company)
Notes
to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements as of March 31,
2010
Note
2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (cont’d)
|
A.
|
Oil
and Gas Properties and Impairment
(cont’d)
|
As
planned, the Company used the Ma’anit #1 wellbore, down to approximately 3,000
meters (9,842 feet), as the upper part of the wellbore for the Ma’anit-Rehoboth
#2 well. This well was directionally drilled from that point to
penetrate the middle and the lower Triassic. The Company drilled this
well to a depth of 5,460 meters (17,913 feet). In April 2010, following
production and other testing, management concluded that commercial quantities of
hydrocarbons were not present in the Ma'anit-Rehoboth # 2 well. Accordingly, the
Company will record a non-cash impairment charge in the quarter ended June 30,
2010 to its unproved oil and gas properties.
The
Company’s ability to maintain present operations is dependent on two petroleum
exploration licenses and one petroleum exploration permit: (a) The Joseph
License, in respect of which two wells have been drilled and planning is under
way for a third well, the Ma’anit-Joseph #3 well; (b) the Asher-Menashe License,
in respect of which drilling operations have been temporarily suspended on the
Elijah #3 well pending the acquisition of additional seismici data; and (c) the
Issachar-Zebulun Permit, in respect of which a work program to obtain seismic
data is underway.
The
Company has no economically recoverable reserves and no amortization base.
Excluding the impairment charges discussed above in the aggregate amount of
$29,095,000, the Company’s unproved oil and gas properties consist of
capitalized exploration costs of $30,353,000 at March 31, 2010.
Unproved
oil and gas properties, under the full cost method, are comprised as
follows:
March
31
2010
|
December
31 2009
|
|||||||
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
|||||||
Excluded
from amortization base:
|
||||||||
Drilling
operations, completion costs and other related costs
|
26,728 | 20,823 | ||||||
Capitalized
salary costs
|
1,015 | 1,003 | ||||||
Legal
costs and license fees
|
944 | 922 | ||||||
Other
costs
|
1,666 | 1,011 | ||||||
$ | 30,353 | $ | 23,759 |
19
Zion Oil
& Gas Inc
(A
Development Stage Company)
Notes
to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements as of March 31,
2010
Note
2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (cont’d)
|
A.
|
Oil
and Gas Properties and Impairment
(cont’d)
|
Impairment
of unproved oil and gas properties comprised as follows:
Period
ended March 31 2010
|
Year
ended December 31 2009
|
Period
from April 6, 2000 (inception) to March 31, 2010
|
||||||||||
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
US$
thousands
|
||||||||||
Drilling
operations, completion costs and other related costs
|
- | - | 7,959 | |||||||||
Capitalized
salary costs
|
- | - | 683 | |||||||||
Legal
costs and license fees
|
- | - | 509 | |||||||||
Other
costs
|
- | - | 343 | |||||||||
- | - | 9,494 |
|
B.
|
Net
Loss per Share Data
|
Diluted
net loss per share is the same as basic net loss per share as the inclusion of
1,053,723 and 1,020,817, common stock equivalents in the first quarter of 2010
and 2009, respectively, would be anti-dilutive.
|
C.
|
Recently
Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
|
|
1.
|
SEC
Final Rule - Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting / Accounting Standards
Update (ASU) 2010-03 – Oil and Gas Reserve Estimation and
Disclosures
|
|
In
December 2008, the SEC published authoritative guidance as the Final Rule
“Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting” and in January 2010, ASU 2010-03
was issued in order to align the oil and gas reserve estimation and
disclosure requirements of Extractive Activities – Oil and Gas (Topic 932)
with the requirements in the SEC’s final rule. The new guidance
permits the use of new technologies to determine proved reserves if those
technologies have been demonstrated to lead to reliable conclusions about
reserves volumes. The new requirements also will allow
companies to disclose their probable and possible reserves to
investors. In addition, the new disclosure requirements require
companies to, among other things: (a) report the independence
and qualifications of its reserves preparer or auditor; (b) file reports
when a third party is relied upon to prepare reserves estimates or
conducts a reserves audit; and (c) report oil and gas reserves using an
average price based upon the prior 12-month period rather than period-end
prices. The use of the new proved reserve definitions and
average prices in developing the Company’s reserve estimates will affect
future impairment and depletion
calculations.
|
20
Zion Oil
& Gas Inc
(A
Development Stage Company)
Notes
to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements as of March 31,
2010
Note
2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (cont’d)
|
C.
|
Recently
Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
(cont’d)
|
|
1.
|
SEC
Final Rule - Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting / Accounting Standards
Update (ASU) 2010-03 – Oil and Gas Reserve Estimation and Disclosures
(cont’d)
|
The new
disclosure requirements are effective for annual reports on Form 10-K for fiscal
years ending on or after December 31, 2009. A company may not apply
the new rules to disclosures in quarterly reports prior to the first annual
report in which the revised disclosures are required. Since the
Company does not yet have any proved reserves, the adoption of this Final Rule
has had no material effect on the Company’s disclosures, financial position or
results of operations.
Note
3 - Stockholders’ Equity
|
A.
|
Third
Rights Offering
|
On
January 28, 2010, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with
the SEC with respect to a shelf offering, which registration statement was
amended on March 26, 2010. The shelf registration statement was declared
effective on April 16, 2010.
In May
2010, the Company launched a rights offering to raise up to $50
million. The pending rights offering is being conducted, as
referenced above, utilizing the effective shelf registration statement on Form
S-3. The rights offering is scheduled to terminate on June 30, 2010, subject to
the Company’s right to extend the offering. No assurance can be
provided that the Company will be able to raise significant funds from the
rights offering. (See Note 6).
|
B.
|
2005
Stock Option Plan
|
In
January 2010, the Company’s Board agreed to and approved the following option
award grants under the 2005 Stock Option Plan: (a) to one employee for the
purchase of 20,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per
share through January 31, 2020 (these options vest in four equal tranches of
four vesting periods of 5,000 options each, on March 31, 2010, June 30, 2010,
September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2010), which will be charged according to
the vesting periods (b) to one employee for the purchase of 40,000 shares of
common stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share through December 3, 2017
(these options vest in four equal tranches of four vesting periods of 10,000
options each, on March 31, 2010, June 30, 2010, September 30, 2010 and December
31, 2010), which will be charged according to the vesting periods (c) to one
employee for the purchase of 2,022 shares of common stock at an exercise price
of $0.01 per share through January 31, 2020 (these options were fully vested
upon grant) (d) to one employee for the purchase of 25,000 shares of common
stock at an exercise price of $7.15 per share through December 31, 2014 (these
options vest in four equal tranches of four vesting periods of 6,250 options
each, on March 31, 2010, June 30, 2010, September 30, 2010 and December 31,
2010), which will be charged according to the vesting periods (e) to one
employee for the purchase of 12,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price
of $7.15 per share through December 31, 2014 (these options vest in four equal
tranches of four vesting periods of 3,000 options each, on March 31,
2010, June 30, 2010, September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2010), which will be
charged according to the vesting periods. The expenses are amortized
based on the vesting periods, posting appropriate amounts each
quarter.
21
Zion Oil
& Gas Inc
(A
Development Stage Company)
Notes
to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements as of March 31,
2010
Note
3 - Stockholders’ Equity (cont’d)
|
C.
|
Fair
Value of Warrants and Options
|
The
Company has reserved 1,557,154 shares of common stock as of March 31, 2010 for
the exercise of warrants and options to employees and non-employees, of which
1,053,723 are outstanding. These warrants and options have been excluded from
earnings per share calculations because they are anti-dilutive at March 31, 2010
and 2009 and the period from April 6, 2000 (inception) to March 31, 2010. These
warrants and options could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in future
years. The warrants and options exercise prices and expiration dates are as
follows:
Exercise
|
Number
of
|
Expiration
|
Warrants
or
|
||||||||
price
|
shares
|
Date
|
Options
|
||||||||
US$
|
|||||||||||
To
non-employees
|
|||||||||||
8.25 | 59,000 |
June
16, 2012
|
Options
|
||||||||
To
employees and directors
|
|||||||||||
5.00 | 66,667 |
December
31, 2010
|
Options
|
||||||||
8.25 | 53,000 |
June
16, 2012
|
Options
|
||||||||
5.60 | 35,000 |
December
31, 2012
|
Options
|
||||||||
7.97 | 50,000 |
December
31, 2014
|
Options
|
||||||||
7.15 | 37,000 |
December
31, 2014
|
Options
|
||||||||
0.01 | 123,882 |
December
3, 2017
|
Options
|
||||||||
0.01 | 22,020 |
January
31, 2020
|
Options
|
||||||||
To
investors
|
|||||||||||
7.00 | 607,154 |
January
31, 2012
|
Warrants
|
||||||||
6.04* | 1,053,723 |
* Weighted
Average
The
warrant and option transactions since April 6, 2000 (inception) are shown in the
table below:
Number
of
|
Weighted Average
|
|||||||
shares
|
exercise
price
|
|||||||
US$
|
||||||||
Granted
from April 6, 2000 (inception) to December 31, 2008 to:
|
||||||||
Employees,
officers and directors
|
1,884,818 | 1.76 | ||||||
Underwriters
(in connection with IPO)
|
46,621 | 8.75 | ||||||
Private
placement investors and others
|
1,105,492 | 2.84 | ||||||
Investors
in Follow On Public Offering
|
416,404 | 7.00 | ||||||
Expired/Canceled
|
(705,684 | ) | 2.61 | |||||
Exercised
|
(1,984,077 | ) | 1.59 | |||||
Outstanding,
December 31, 2008
|
763,574 | 4.52 |
22
Zion Oil
& Gas Inc
(A
Development Stage Company)
Notes
to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements as of March 31,
2010
Note
3 - Stockholders’ Equity (cont’d)
|
C.
|
Fair
Value of Warrants and Options
(cont’d)
|
Granted
to:
|
||||||||
Employees,
officers and directors
|
202,000 | 6.55 | ||||||
Investors
in Follow On Public Offering
|
249,939 | 7.00 | ||||||
Expired/Canceled
|
(40,000 | ) | 5.22 | |||||
Exercised
|
(180,810 | ) | 6.62 | |||||
Outstanding,
December 31, 2009
|
994,703 | 6.14 | ||||||
Granted
to:
|
||||||||
Employees,
officers and directors
|
99,020 | 2.68 | ||||||
Exercised
|
(40,000 | ) | 0.01 | |||||
Outstanding,
March 31, 2010
|
1,053,723 | 6.04 | ||||||
Exercisable,
March 31, 2010
|
950,973 | 6.24 |
The
following table summarizes information about stock warrants and options
outstanding as of March 31, 2010:
Shares
underlying outstanding
|
Shares
underlying outstanding
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
warrants
and options (nonvested)
|
warrants
and options (all fully vested)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted
|
Weighted
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
average
|
average
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
remaining
|
Weighted
|
remaining
|
Weighted
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Range
of
|
Number
|
contractual
|
Average
|
Range
of
|
Number
|
contractual
|
Average
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
exercise
price
|
outstanding
|
life
(years)
|
Exercise
price
|
exercise
price
|
Outstanding
|
Life
(years)
|
exercise
price
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
US$
|
US$
|
US$
|
US$
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0.01 | 30,000 | 7.68 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 93,882 | 7.68 | 0.01 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
0.01 | 15,000 | 9.84 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 7,020 | 9.84 | 0.01 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
- | - | - | - | 5.00 | 66,667 | 0.75 | 5.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
- | - | - | - | 5.60 | 35,000 | 2.76 | 5.60 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
7.00 | 607,154 | 1.84 | 7.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7.15 | 27,750 | 4.76 | 7.15 | 7.15 | 9,250 | 4.76 | 7.15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
7.97 | 30,000 | 4.76 | 7.97 | 7.97 | 20,000 | 4.76 | 7.97 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
- | - | - | - | 8.25 | 112,000 | 2.21 | 8.25 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
0.01-7.97 | 102,750 | 4.26 | 0.01-8.25 | 950,973 | 6.24 |
Granted
to employees
The
following table sets forth information about the weighted-average fair value of
warrants granted to employees and directors during the three month periods ended
March 31, 2010 and 2009, and the period from April 6, 2000 (inception) to March
31, 2010, using the Black Scholes option-pricing model and the weighted-average
assumptions used for such grants:
23
Zion Oil
& Gas Inc
(A
Development Stage Company)
Notes
to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements as of March 31,
2010
Note
3 - Stockholders’ Equity (cont’d)
|
C.
|
Fair
Value of Warrants and Options
(cont’d)
|
For
the three month period
|
Period
from April 6,
|
|||||||||||
ended
March 31,
|
2000
(inception) to
|
|||||||||||
2010
|
2009
|
March 31, 2010
|
||||||||||
US$
|
US$
|
US$
|
||||||||||
Weighted-average
fair value of underlying stock at grant date
|
6.52 | 7.54 | 3.00 – 7.54 | |||||||||
Dividend
yields
|
- | - | - | |||||||||
Expected
volatility
|
71-79 | % | 59.2 | % | 28.2% - 79 | % | ||||||
Risk-free
interest rates
|
2.38-3.84 | % | 2.13 | % | 2.1% - 5.15 | % | ||||||
Expected
lives
|
2.19-4.88 | 4.23 |
1.74
– 4.88 years
|
|||||||||
Weighted-average
grant date fair
value
|
2.80-6.51 | 5.58 | 0.76 - 6.51 |
Granted
to non-employees
The
following table sets forth information about the weighted-average fair value of
warrants granted to non-employees during the three month periods ended March 31,
2010 and 2009 and the period from April 6, 2000 (inception) to March 31, 2010,
using the Black Scholes option-pricing model and the weighted-average
assumptions used for such grants:
For
the three month period
|
Period
from April 6,
|
|||||||||||
ended
March 31,
|
2000
(inception) to
|
|||||||||||
2010
|
2009
|
March 31, 2010
|
||||||||||
US$
|
US$
|
US$
|
||||||||||
Weighted-average
fair value of underlying stock at grant date
|
- | - | 1.00 – 8.75 | |||||||||
Dividend
yields
|
- | - | - | |||||||||
Expected
volatility
|
- | - | 32.2% - 99.8 | % | ||||||||
Risk-free
interest rates
|
- | - | 2.8% - 5.50 | % | ||||||||
Contractual
lives
|
- | - |
0.56
– 3.17 years
|
|||||||||
Weighted-average
grant date fair value
|
- | - | 0.68 – 2.74 |
The
risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at
the time of grant for periods corresponding with the expected life of the
options.
The
expected life represents the weighted average period of time that options
granted are expected to be outstanding. The expected life of the options granted
to employees and directors during 2009 is calculated based on the Simplified
Method as allowed under Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 110 (“SAB 110”), giving
consideration to the contractual term of the options and their vesting
schedules, as the Company does not have sufficient historical exercise data at
this time. The expected life of the option granted to non-employees equals their
contractual term. In the case of an extension of the option life, the
calculation was made on the basis of the extended life.
24
Zion Oil
& Gas Inc
(A
Development Stage Company)
Notes
to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements as of March 31,
2010
Note
3 - Stockholders’ Equity (cont’d)
|
C.
|
Fair
Value of Warrants and Options
(cont’d)
|
Prior to
2008, due to the lack of sufficient history of the Company’s stock volatility,
the Company estimated its own expected stock volatility based on the historic
volatility for other oil exploration companies. Beginning in 2008 and
continuing through March 31, 2010, the Company’s stock volatility is based on
actual trading of the Company’s stock.
|
D.
|
Compensation
Cost for Warrant and Option
Issuances
|
The
compensation cost of warrant and option issuances recognized for the three month
periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 and from April 6, 2000 (inception) to
March 31, 2010 amounted to $271,000, $156,000 and $1,873,000,
respectively.
As of
March 31, 2010, there was $252,000 of unrecognized compensation cost, related to
nonvested stock options granted under the Company’s various stock option plans.
That cost is expected to be recognized as follows:
US$
thousands
|
||||
April
1 - December 31, 2010
|
223 | |||
For
the year ended December 31, 2011
|
27 | |||
For
the year ended December 31, 2012
|
2 | |||
252 |
|
E.
|
Warrant
Descriptions
|
Through
the balance sheet date the Company issued nine different series of warrants to
employees, non-employees and investors. The price and the expiration dates are
as follows:
Period of Grant
|
US$
|
Expiration Date
|
||||
A
Warrants
|
January
2001 – December 2001
|
1.00 |
January
31, 2005
|
|||
B
Warrants
|
November
2001 – February 2003
|
1.50 |
January
31, 2005
|
|||
C
Warrants
|
July
2003 – March 2004
|
3.00 |
December
31, 2005
|
|||
$3.00
Warrants
|
June
2004 – August 2004
|
3.00 |
December
31, 2006
|
|||
D
Warrants
|
September
2004 – April 2005
|
4.00 |
December
31, 2006
|
|||
E
Warrants
|
September
2004 – June 2005
|
5.00 |
December
31, 2006
|
|||
F
and FF Warrants
|
October
2005
|
5.00 |
*
December 31, 2008
|
|||
G
Warrants
|
December
2005 – January 2006
|
5.50 |
December
31, 2008
|
|||
H
Warrants
|
December
2006 –May 2007
|
8.75 |
September
26, 2009
|
|||
Unit
Warrants
|
October
2008 – December 2008
|
7.00 |
January
31, 2012
|
* Subsequently
extended to December 31, 2009 for some of this class of warrants
Other
than price and date details, all of the warrants, except for the Unit Warrants,
were issued on the same conditions, except that the F, FF and G Warrants were
not exercisable before July 1, 2007, on which date the Company had the right to
extend for up to six months (which right was not exercised by the Company), and
H warrants were not exercisable before November 25, 2007, which was six months
following the final closing date of the Initial Public Offering (See Note
3C). The Unit Warrants were issued as a component of a Unit that
consisted of one share of common stock and one warrant during the Company’s
Follow On Public Offering (See Note 3D). On February 9, 2009, the
Unit split into its two components. The warrant became exercisable as
of February 9, 2009.
25
Zion Oil
& Gas Inc
(A
Development Stage Company)
Notes
to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements as of March 31,
2010
Note
3 - Stockholders’ Equity (cont’d)
|
F.
|
Gift
Shares
|
During
the third quarter of 2007, three employees received 1,042 registered shares from
one of the executive officers. The related cost of $7,000 was charged
to the statement of operations and credited as additional paid in
capital.
During
the fourth quarter of 2008, sixteen persons who were either employees, vendors
or other affiliates of the company received a total of 15,600
shares. Since the gift was being issued from shares that were subject
to 144 restrictions, held by one of the executive officers,
the
shares were transferred with the restrictive legend
affixed. Recipients could seek the removal of this restriction on an
individual basis as the donor had held the shares in excess of the required time
period under Rule 144. The related cost of $101,000 was charged to
the statement of operations and credited as additional paid in
capital.
During
the second quarter of 2009, two persons who are employees of the Company
received a total of 400 shares from one of the executive
officers. The related value of $4,000 was charged to the statement of
operations and credited as additional paid in capital.
Note
4 - Related Party Transactions
The
Company had $145,000 of deferred officers’ compensation at March 31, 2010 which
represents payables to officers and directors of the Company. Such officers have
committed to defer payments of these sums through 2010. (See Note
5F).
At
December 31, 2008, deferred officer compensation was
$1,487,000. During 2009, this balance was cleared. At
December 2009, deferred officers’ compensation was $477,000, which was paid
during the first quarter of 2010.
In
December 2008 and January 2009 two of the Company’s then senior officers
purchased Units in the Follow On Public Offering through the non-cash conversion
of amounts then owed to them in respect of deferred salaries and other payments
in the aggregate amount of $140,000. (See Note 3D).
Richard
J. Rinberg
In
October 2005 Mr. Rinberg was elected President of the Company and effective
November 1, 2005, entered into a two year Retention and Management Agreement
with the Company (the “Retention Agreement”). Pursuant to the
Retention Agreement, Mr. Rinberg was awarded 200,000 shares of common stock of
the Company valued at $500,000 as compensation for his services during the
two-year period beginning November 1, 2005, subject to restrictions and vesting
requirements. The Rinberg Shares were subject to repurchase by the
Company at $0.01 per share if Mr. Rinberg had left his position with the Company
prior to October 31, 2007. In May 2006, the Company issued the
referenced 200,000 shares of common stock to a trust company for the benefit of
Mr. Rinberg.
26
Zion Oil
& Gas Inc
(A
Development Stage Company)
Notes
to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements as of March 31,
2010
Note
4 - Related Party Transactions (cont’d)
Richard
J. Rinberg (cont’d)
In March
2007, upon the resignation of the previous Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of
the Company, Mr. Rinberg was appointed to the position of CEO under his existing
Retention Agreement. Effective November 1, 2007, the Company entered
into an employment agreement with Mr. Rinberg with an initial expiration term
through December 31, 2008, which term is automatically renewed for additional
two year terms unless either the Company or Mr. Rinberg gives notice to the
other at least 90 days prior to the end of a scheduled term of its election to
not renew the agreement. The Rinberg Employment Agreement
automatically extended for a two-year term, per the terms of the agreement,
through December 2010. In connection with the Rinberg Employment
Agreement, Mr. Rinberg was granted options to purchase 40,000 shares of the
Company’s common stock. An additional 40,000 options were granted in
January 2009 upon the extension of the Rinberg Employment Agreement, per the
terms of the agreement. (See Note 3H). In January 2010,
another 40,000 options were granted per the terms of the Rinberg Employment
Agreement. (See Note 3B).
Note
5 - Commitments and Contingencies
|
A.
|
Environmental
Matters
|
The
Company is engaged in oil and gas exploration and production and may become
subject to certain liabilities as they relate to environmental cleanup of well
sites or other environmental restoration procedures as they relate to the
drilling of oil and gas wells or the operation thereof.
The
Company currently estimates that environmental clean up/restoration of the well
sites will be approximately $50,000. Although the timing of such
payment is uncertain a provision has been made and is included in the oil and
gas properties. No other environmental claims have been made, nor is
the Company aware of any contingent demands relating thereto. Liabilities for
expenditures are recorded when environmental assessment and/or remediation is
probable and the timing and costs can be reasonably estimated.
|
B.
|
Royalty
Commitments
|
The
Company is obligated, according to the Petroleum Law, to pay royalties to the
Government of Israel on the gross production of oil and gas from the oil and gas
properties of the Company located in Israel (except those reserves serving to
operate the wells and related equipment and facilities). The royalty rate stated
in the Petroleum Law is 12.5% of the produced reserves. At March 31,
2010 or December 31, 2009, the Company did not have any outstanding obligation
with respect to royalty payments, since it is at the “exploration stage” and, to
this date, no proved reserves have been found.
27
Zion Oil
& Gas Inc
(A
Development Stage Company)
Notes
to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements as of March 31,
2010
Note
5 - Commitments and Contingencies (cont’d)
|
C.
|
Long-term
Incentive Plan
|
The
Company may initiate the establishment of a long-term management incentive plan
for key employees whereby a 1.5% overriding royalty or equivalent interest in
the Asher-Menashe License and Joseph License and such other oil and gas
exploration and development rights as may in the future be acquired by the
Company would be assigned to key employees. As the plan has not been
established as of March 31, 2010 or December 31, 2009, the Company did not have
any outstanding obligation in respect of the plan.
|
D.
|
Charitable
Foundations
|
The
Company has established two charitable foundations, one in Israel and one in
Switzerland, for the purpose of supporting charitable projects and other
charities in Israel, the United States and internationally. A 3% overriding
royalty in the Company's current Israeli oil and gas interests has been assigned
to each charitable organization (6% overriding interest in the
aggregate). At March 31, 2010 or December 31, 2009, the Company did
not have any outstanding obligation in respect of the charitable foundations,
since it is at the “exploration stage” and, to this date, no proved reserves
have been found.
|
E.
|
Surface
Rights of Drilling Operations
|
The
surface rights to the drill site from which the Company drilled the Ma’anit #1
and Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 and plan to drill the Ma’anit-Joseph #3 well, are held
under long-term lease by Kibbutz Ma’anit. The rights are owned by the State of
Israel and administered by the Israel Lands Authority. Permission necessary to
reenter and use the drill site for the Ma’anit #1 and Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 wells
to conduct petroleum operations has previously been granted to the Company by
the Kibbutz in consideration for a monthly fee of $350. Negotiations are
currently underway for access to the site for the Ma’anit-Joseph #3
well. Permission of the Israel Lands Authority for the use of the
surface rights is also required, which permission the Authority must grant under
the Petroleum Law. On August 14, 2008, the Authority granted the required
permission for a two-year period (which period may be extended), subject to our
paying a one-time surface use fee of approximately $455, signing a land use
agreement and providing a bank guarantee in the amount of NIS 50,000
(approximately $14,200). The use fee has been paid, the agreement
executed and the bank guarantee provided.
The
surface rights to the drill site from which the Company drilled the Elijah #3
are held under long-term lease by Kibbutz Ein Carmel. The rights are owned by
the State of Israel and administered by the Israel Lands Authority. Permission
necessary to enter and use the drill site to conduct petroleum operations has
been granted to the Company by the Kibbutz in consideration for a one-time fee
of approximately $124,000. Permission of the Israel Lands Authority for the use
of the surface rights is also required, which permission the Authority must
grant under the Petroleum Law. We are currently working with the
Authority to finalize their approval.
28
Zion Oil
& Gas Inc
(A
Development Stage Company)
Notes
to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements as of March 31,
2010
Note
5 - Commitments and Contingencies (cont’d)
|
F.
|
Payments
to executives and deferral of
compensation
|
Under
existing compensation agreements, the Company is committed to pay certain of its
executive officers and other employees an aggregate amount of $1,277,000 on an
annual basis. Most of these officers and employees have agreed to
continue to defer a portion of their pay during 2010 (See Note
4). During the three month period ended March 31, 2010, $433,000 of
amounts previously deferred were paid to executives and employees.
|
H.
|
Lease
Commitments
|
The
Company leases approximately 3,600 square feet of office space in Dallas, Texas
under a lease which expires on October 31, 2011. The monthly rent was $4,000
during the twelve-month period ending October 31, 2008 and is $4,500 during the
twelve-month period ending October 31, 2009 and will be $4,600 for the
twelve-month period ending October 31, 2010 and $4,700 during the twelve-month
period ending October 31, 2011.
During
July 2005, the Company entered into a rental agreement for office premises in
the industrial area of Caesarea, Israel. The rental was for a six-month period
commencing August 1, 2005 with two additional three-month option periods at a
monthly rental cost of $3,000. The Company subsequently extended the rental
agreement through January 31, 2009, and then exercised the option to extend the
lease for two additional periods of six months each (through January 31,
2010). The Company has subsequently entered into an additional
six-month extension, followed by two additional six-month option
periods. The monthly rental cost during this extended period
continues at $3,000.
In March
2010, the Company leased approximately 500 square feet of office space in State
College, Pennsylvania for its President and Chief Operating
Officer. The initial lease is for 12 months, expiring at the end of
February 2011. The monthly rental amount is $525.
The
future minimum lease payments as of March 31, 2010 are as follows:
US$
thousands
|
||||
2010
|
91 | |||
2011
|
68 | |||
159 |
|
I.
|
Contract
with Geophysical Institute of
Israel
|
In
September 2007, the Company entered into an agreement with the
Geophysical Institute of Israel (“GII”) that provided for the Company to acquire
necessary data from GII. The agreement provided for the survey to be performed
by GII on a per kilometer basis at a rate of NIS 40,000 (approximately $11,000
at the representative rate of NIS 3.607 per US dollar published on February 5,
2008) per kilometer.
29
Zion Oil
& Gas Inc
(A
Development Stage Company)
Notes
to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements as of March 31,
2010
Note
5 - Commitments and Contingencies (cont’d)
|
I.
|
Contract
with Geophysical Institute of Israel
(cont’d)
|
In
addition, the agreement provided for an NIS 80,000 (approximately $22,000)
mobilization and demobilization fee and for the Company to reimburse GII certain
payments made to third parties, including permitting fees and damages other than
those caused by fault of GII. Under the agreement, the Company paid NIS
2,281,000 (approximately $631,000 at the representative rate of NIS 3.607 per US
dollar published on February 5, 2008). In the survey a total of 52.5
kilometers of new seismic data were acquired, related to the Asher-Menashe
license area. This data has been instrumental in determining the
location of the Company’s planned Elijah #3 well and in evaluating the Ma’anit
structure on which the Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well has been drilled and the
Ma’anit-Joseph #3 well is planned.
On
January 31, 2010, in connection with planned seismic, magnetic and gravimetric
surveys on the Issachar-Zebulun permit area, the Company entered into another
agreement with GII to acquire necessary data. The agreement provides
for a 30-kilometer program, subject to increase or decrease by the
Company. The agreement provides for the survey to be performed by GII
on a per kilometer basis at a rate of NIS 48,000 (approximately $12,950 at the
representative rate of NIS 3.707 per US dollar published on February 2, 2010)
per kilometer. An initial amount of NIS 150,000 (approximately
US $40,000) was paid upon signing of the agreement. The Company is in
the process of amending the agreement in order to also obtain additional seismic
data from the area of the Elijah #3 well.
|
J.
|
Drilling
Contract
|
On
September 12, 2008, the Company entered into a drilling contract with Aladdin
Middle East Ltd. pursuant to which Aladdin shipped into Israel its 2,000
horsepower rig for use in the drilling contemplated by the Company’s business
plan. The rig arrived in Israel, cleared customs in April 2009 and was used to
drill the Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well and subsequently the Elijah #3 well. The
contract provided for the wells to be drilled on a daywork basis with payment to
Aladdin at the rate of $28,500 per drilling day, and other scheduled rates for
non-operating days. The contract originally provided for mobilization and
de-mobilization fees of $675,000 each. The Company paid Aladdin $475,000 on
account of mobilization fees, which are included in the well cost. Subsequent
amendments provided that the remaining $200,000 payment was to be offset against
the amount paid by the Company for the drilling and no additional cash outlay
was due upon mobilization. The contract, as further amended, provided for a
demobilization fee of $550,000, but also provided that, in the event that
Aladdin enters into a drilling contract with another operator in Israel, then
the demobilization fee will be reduced if and to the extent that Aladdin
receives funds from such other operator. As security for these and related fees,
the contract, as amended, called for the Company to provide a letter of credit
to Aladdin in the amount of $550,000. However, in April 2009, the parties
further amended the contract to eliminate the letter of credit
requirement. In exchange, the Company provided Aladdin with a cash
advance in the amount of $300,000 that was to be offset against future payments
to Aladdin under the contract. The contract was again amended in
December 2009 when the Company agreed to the $300,000 April 2009 payment to be
applied against demobilization fees and agreed to a further pre-payment for
services under the contract advance of $250,000 which the parties agreed would
be applied against the remaining $250,000 due against demobilization. Aladdin
continues to be bound to reimburse the Company with respect to any
demobilization fee it may receive from another operator.
30
Zion Oil
& Gas Inc
(A
Development Stage Company)
Notes
to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements as of March 31,
2010
Note
5 - Commitments and Contingencies (cont’d)
|
J.
|
Drilling
Contract (cont’d)
|
Drilling
activities on the Company’s Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well commenced in April 2009 and
were completed in September 2009. At that time, the rig was released
from the Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well site and moved to the Elijah #3 well site
pursuant to the parties’ agreement to extend the contract, under the existing
terms, to Elijah #3 well. During the year ended December 31, 2009 and
through March 31, 2010, the Company made payments of $6,330,000 to Aladdin after
the deduction of $935,000 for reimbursement of the drill pipe expenditures and
$151,000 for reimbursement of expenses paid by the Company on Aladdin’s
behalf. The Company has also paid $260,000 to Aladdin for corporate
taxes due by Aladdin and paid $550,000 for advance payment of the demobilization
fee.
|
K.
|
Employment
Agreement with Chairman of the Board and Other
Executives
|
On
January 21, 2010, the Company and Mr. John Brown, the Chairman of the Company,
entered into an Employment Agreement (the “Chairman Agreement”) pursuant to
which Mr. Brown will serve as the Executive Chairman of the Company’s Board of
Directors. The Chairman Agreement was entered into following the scheduled
termination on December 31, 2009 of the Chairman of the Board Retention
Agreement under which Mr. Brown served as Chairman of the Board since January 1,
2008. Since the Company’s establishment in April of 2000, Mr. Brown has
continuously served as Chairman of the Board.
The
Chairman Agreement has an initial term that extends through December 31, 2012;
thereafter, the agreement provides that it is to be renewed automatically for
successive two- year terms unless either party shall advise the other 90 days
before expiration of the initial or renewed term of its intention to not renew
the agreement beyond its then scheduled expiration date. Under the agreement,
Mr. Brown will be paid an annual salary of $165,000, payable monthly,
notwithstanding which, consistent with the current arrangement with the
Company's senior officers where only up to 80% of their respective salaries are
paid (up to a maximum of $15,500 per month) with the remainder deferred until
such time as the Company's cash position permits payment of salary in full
without interfering with the Company's ability to pursue its plan of operations.
Mr. Brown was paid a sign up bonus in the amount of $25,000. Mr. Brown can
terminate the employment agreement and the relationship thereunder at any time
upon 60 business days' notice. If during the initial term the Company were to
terminate the agreement, for any reason other than "Just Cause" (as defined in
the Chairman Agreement), then the Company is to pay to Mr. Brown the salary then
payable under the agreement through the longer of (i) the scheduled expiration
of the initial term as if the agreement had not been so terminated or not
renewed or (ii) twelve months, as well as all bonuses and benefits earned and
accrued through such date. If the Company were not to renew the term of the
agreement after the Initial term or were to terminate the agreement during any
renewal term, for any reason other than "Just Cause" (as defined the Agreement),
then the Company is to pay to Mr. Brown an amount equal to the base salary, if
any, then payable to him for a period of twelve months as if the Chairman
Agreement had not been so terminated or had been renewed. Mr. Brown may also
terminate the agreement for "Good Reason" (as defined in the Agreement),
whereupon he will be entitled to the same benefits as if the Company had
terminated the agreement for any reason other than Just Cause. The Chairman
Agreement provides for customary protections of the Company's confidential
information and intellectual property. The Agreement also provides that in
connection with his services during the initial term of the Agreement and
subject to the entry into an Option Award Agreement under the Company's 2005
Stock Option Plan, Mr. Brown be awarded options at a per share exercise price of
$0.01 to purchase 20,000 shares of the Company's common stock under the Plan,
which options would vest at the rate of 5,000 shares at the termination of each
calendar 90 day period, beginning March 31, 2010 until such options are vested
in full. In the event of an extension of the term of the Agreement, the
agreement provides that Mr. Brown be granted additional options to purchase
common stock in the Company in amounts of not less than 20,000 shares per term
on such terms to be agreed by the parties. On January 21, 2010, the Board
authorized the entry by the Company into an Option Award Agreement pursuant to
which Mr. Brown was granted options to purchase 20,000 shares under the Plan on
the terms set forth above.
31
Zion Oil
& Gas Inc
(A
Development Stage Company)
Notes
to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements as of March 31,
2010
Note
5 - Commitments and Contingencies (cont’d)
|
K.
|
Employment
Agreement with Chairman of the Board and Other Executives
(cont’d)
|
On
January 31, 2010, the Board of Directors approved an Employment Agreement with
William L. Ottaviani as the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer,
effective as of January 1, 2010, pursuant to which Mr. Ottaviani is being paid
an annual salary of $250,000, payable monthly; notwithstanding which, consistent
with the existing arrangement with Company senior officers where 80% of their
respective salaries are paid (up to a limit of $15,500 per month) with the
remainder deferred until such time as the Company’s cash position permits
payment of salary in full without interfering with the Company's ability to
pursue its plan of operations.
Pursuant
to the agreement, Mr. Ottaviani also is to be awarded at the end of each
calendar quarter stock options, from the Company’s 2005 Stock Option Plan, to
purchase such number of shares of the Company Common Stock as shall equal
$12,500 divided by the closing price on the last trading day of the calendar
quarter of the Company’s publicly traded share of Common Stock, but in no event
at a per share price of less than $5.00. The options are exercisable at a per
share exercise price of $0.01.
Note
6 - Subsequent Events
On May 6,
2010 the Company launched a rights offering for up to $50 million (the “Third
Rights Offering”). The pending rights offering is being conducted utilizing the
effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 of the Company that was
declared effective on April 16, 2010. Under the pending rights offering, the
Company distributed (or is in the process of distributing) to each holder of
record as of close of business on May 6, 2010, at no charge, .5 of a
subscription right for each share held as of such date (i.e., one subscription
right for each two shares). Each whole subscription right entitled the
stockholder to purchase one share of common stock at the purchase price of $5.00
per share. The rights offering is scheduled to terminate on June 30, 2010,
subject to the Company’s right to extend the offering. The rights are
non-transferable. No assurance can be provided that the Company will be able to
raise significant funds from the Third Rights Offering.
32
Zion Oil
& Gas Inc
(A
Development Stage Company)
Notes
to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements as of March 31,
2010
Note
6 - Subsequent Events (cont’d)
On April
9, 2010, the Company and Aladdin, the drilling rig operator who oversaw the
drilling of the Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well and the Elijah #3 well, signed a
Memorandum of Understanding which outlines plans to establish a subsidiary,
tentatively named Zion Drilling, Inc., for the purpose of purchasing and
operating Aladdin’s 2,000 horsepower drilling rig (currently located at Zion's
Ma'anit-Rehoboth #2 wellsite, in Israel). The planned subsidiary,
which would be 51% owned by the Company and 49% by Aladdin, is to purchase
Aladdin’s drilling rig for an initial payment of $7 million and a series of $1
million additional payments that are anticipated to coincide with our planned
drilling of seven additional wells in Israel during the next few years. The
funds for the purchase of the rig are to be provided by the Company. The Company
plans with Aladdin are subject to a number of events, including satisfactory
completion of due diligence, the raising of additional capital and the
negotiation and execution of definitive agreements relating to the establishment
of Zion Drilling, Inc.
In April
2010, following production and other testing, management concluded that
commercial quantities of hydrocarbons were not present in the Ma'anit-Rehoboth #
2 well and, accordingly, it temporarily suspended operations on the
Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well. As a result, the Company has determined that it will
be recording a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $19,500,000 to its
unproved oil and gas properties for the quarter ended June 30,
2010.
33
ITEM
2.
|
MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATION
|
THE
FOLLOWING DISCUSSION SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR UNAUDITED INTERIM
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE RELATED NOTES TO THOSE STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN THIS
FORM 10-Q. SOME OF OUR DISCUSSION IS FORWARD-LOOKING AND INVOLVES RISKS AND
UNCERTAINTIES. FOR INFORMATION REGARDING RISK FACTORS THAT COULD HAVE A MATERIAL
ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR BUSINESS, REFER TO THE DISCUSSION OF RISK FACTORS IN
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS SECTION OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009 FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION.
Forward-Looking
Statements
Certain
statements made in this discussion are “forward-looking statements” within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
statements may materially differ from actual results.
Forward-looking
statements can be identified by terminology such as “may”, “should”, “expects”,
“intends”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “estimates”, “predicts”, or “continue” or
the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology and include, without
limitation, statements regarding:
·
|
exploration,
development, and drilling plans;
|
·
|
future
general and administrative expenses;
|
·
|
future
exploration;
|
·
|
future
geophysical and geological data;
|
·
|
growth
strategies;
|
·
|
new
prospects and drilling locations;
|
·
|
future
capital expenditures;
|
·
|
sufficiency
of working capital;
|
·
|
plans
regarding and ability to raise additional capital;
|
·
|
drilling
plans;
|
·
|
availability
and costs of drilling rigs;
|
·
|
timing
or results of any wells;
|
·
|
interpretation
and results of seismic surveys or seismic data;
|
·
|
permit,
license and lease rights;
|
·
|
participation
of operating partners;
|
·
|
legislative
and regulatory initiatives, their potential results and effects;
and
|
·
|
any
other statements regarding future operations, financial results,
opportunities, growth, business plans, and
strategies.
|
Because
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although we believe
that expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we
cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither
we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness
of these forward-looking statements. We undertake no duty to update any
forward-looking statements after the date of this report to conform such
statements to actual results.
34
Overview
Zion Oil
is an initial stage oil and gas exploration company with a history of over ten
years of oil and gas exploration in Israel. We have no revenues or operating
income and we are classified as an "exploration stage" company. The
Company currently holds two petroleum exploration licenses, named the “Joseph
License” and the “Asher-Menashe License” and one preliminary exclusive petroleum
exploration permit named the Issachar-Zebulun” permit. In total, Zion’s total
petroleum exploration areas is approximately 327,100 acres.
The
Joseph License and Asher-Menashe License areas, as well as the Issachar-Zebulun
permit area, are contiguous in a similar geologic environment. They are located
on a continuous regional high associated with the basement to a Paleozoic Age
structure (approximately 280 million years old) that runs parallel to the
current coast of Israel primarily onshore from just off of Haifa to south of Tel
Aviv. The regional high is evidenced by gravimetric anomalies in both license
areas. This structure and other geologic elements common to both areas,
including particularly the Triassic Age (approximately 205-245 million years
ago) Ma'anit structure that extends from the Joseph License area into the
Asher-Menashe License area, lend themselves to an integrated exploratory program
(and, if successful, may lend themselves to an integrated development
program).
To date,
we have completed drilling two exploratory wells in the Joseph License area and
are in the process of drilling one exploratory well in the Asher Menashe License
Area. The first exploratory well, named the Ma’anit #1 well, was drilled to a
depth of 15,842 feet (4,829 meters) to the Triassic formation with encouraging
but inconclusive results. However, notwithstanding these results, due to the
mechanical condition of the well-bore, we determined that the well was incapable
of producing oil and/or gas in commercial quantities and, consequently, in June
2007 we abandoned the well. In 2009, we drilled an additional well (the
Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well), ‘directionally’ to a depth of 17,913 feet (5,460
meters). The purpose of the Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well was both to appraise the
apparent findings of the Ma’anit #1 in the Triassic (at a depth of between
approximately 12,000 and 15,400 feet) and to test the deeper Permian horizons at
a depth of between approximately (16,000 and 18,000 feet). The well penetrated a
number of geologic formations that have been preliminarily deemed to have
hydrocarbon potential and, during the drilling, we retrieved a small quantity of
crude oil. In February 2010, we began completions/testing of the
Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well. In April 2010, following the completion
of testing procedures, we determined that commercial quantities of
hydrocarbons were not present in the Ma'anit-Rehoboth #2 well and, accordingly,
we suspended drilling operations in that well. In connection with
this decision, we will recognize a non-cash impairment charge to our unproved
oil and gas properties for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.
In
October 2009, utilizing the 2,000 horsepower drilling rig used to drill Zion’s
Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well, we commenced drilling an additional well (the Elijah
#3 well), within the Asher-Menashe License area, toward the Triassic geological
formation, which is expected below approximately 10,000 feet (3,048 meters). As
of February 2, 2010, we drilled to a depth of 10,938 feet (3,334 meters). In
early February 2010, we temporarily suspended drilling operations in the well
following our unsuccessful efforts to retrieve a stuck pipe. Following the
decision to temporarily suspend drilling operations at the Elijah #3 well, we
transferred the rig to the Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well to conduct testing
procedures. During 2010, we plan to acquire field seismic in the vicinity of the
Elijah #3 well and intend to resume drilling activity in the Elijah #3 well at
the earliest appropriate time.
35
As the
Ma'anit-Rehoboth #2 well did not reach the Permian geological formation beneath
the Joseph license area, we are currently planning to drill a subsequent well,
named by us the "Ma'anit-Joseph #3 well" at a final location likely near the
Ma'anit-Rehoboth #2 well. The drilling of the Ma'anit-Joseph #3 well
is planned to test the Permian geological formation. We have started the
permitting process and are in discussions with the owners of our current
drilling rig to drill this future well.
Recent
Development
On April
9, 2010, we and Aladdin Middle East Ltd (AME), the drilling rig operator who
oversaw the drilling of the Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well and the Elijah #3 well,
signed a Memorandum of Understanding which outlines plans to establish a
subsidiary, tentatively named Zion Drilling, Inc., for the purpose of purchasing
and operating Aladdin’s 2,000 horsepower drilling rig (currently located at
Zion's Ma'anit-Rehoboth #2 wellsite, in Israel). The planned
subsidiary, which would be 51% owned by us and 49% by Aladdin, is to purchase
Aladdin’s drilling rig for an initial payment of $7 million and a series of $1
million additional payments that are anticipated to coincide with our planned
drilling of seven additional wells in Israel during the next few years. As the
funds for the purchase of the rig are to be provided by us, we need to raise
sufficient funds to effect these plans. Our plans with Aladdin are subject to a
number of events, including satisfactory completion of due diligence, the
raising of additional capital and the negotiation and execution of definitive
agreements relating to the establishment of Zion Drilling, Inc.
Going
Concern Basis
Our
unaudited interim financial statements for the period ended March 31, 2010 have
been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates realization of assets
and liquidation of liabilities in the ordinary course of
business. Since we are in the development stage, we have limited
capital resources, no revenue, and a loss from operations. The
appropriateness of using the going concern basis is dependent upon our ability
to obtain additional financing or equity capital and, ultimately, to achieve
profitable operations. The uncertainty of these conditions in the
past has raised substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going
concern. The unaudited financial statements do not include any
adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Critical
Accounting Policies
Management's
discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is
based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to
make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date
of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expense
during the reporting period.
We have
identified the accounting principles which we believe are most critical to the
reported financial status by considering accounting policies that involve the
most complex of subjective decisions or assessment.
36
Accounting
for Oil and Gas Properties
We follow
the full-cost method of accounting for oil and gas properties. Accordingly, all
costs associated with acquisition, exploration and development of oil and gas
reserves, including directly related overhead costs, are
capitalized.
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. Investments in 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 income from continuing
operations before income taxes and the adjusted carrying amount of the unproved
properties is amortized on the unit-of-production method.
The
Company’s oil and gas property represents an investment in unproved properties
and two major development projects on that property. These costs are
excluded from the amortized cost pool until proved reserves are found or until
it is determined that the costs are impaired. All costs excluded are
reviewed at least quarterly to determine if impairment has
occurred. The amount of any impairment is charged to expense since a
reserve base has not yet been established. A further impairment
requiring a charge to expense may be indicated through evaluation of drilling
results, relinquishing drilling rights or other information.
Abandonment
of properties is accounted for as adjustments to capitalized costs. The net
capitalized costs are subject to a “ceiling test” which limits such costs to the
aggregate of the estimated present value of future net revenues from proved
reserves discounted at ten percent based on current economic and operating
conditions, plus the lower of cost or fair market value of unproved properties.
The recoverability of amounts capitalized for oil and gas properties is
dependent upon the identification of economically recoverable reserves, together
with obtaining the necessary financing to exploit such reserves and the
achievement of profitable operations.
In June
2007, following the analysis of the results of the testing of the Company’s
Ma’anit #1 well workover and an evaluation of the mechanical condition of the
well, the Company determined that the well was incapable of producing oil and/or
gas in commercial quantities. In order to optimize drilling
operations on the Company’s planned Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well, the Company ceased
operations on the Ma’anit #1 well and, as required by the Petroleum Law,
formally relinquished the Ma’anit-Joseph License. Immediately after the
relinquishment of the Ma’anit-Joseph License, the Company filed an application
with the Petroleum Commissioner for a petroleum exploration license, the Joseph
License, covering approximately 83,272 acres of the original Ma’anit-Joseph
License including the Ma’anit structure on which the Ma’anit #1 well was
drilled, which license was subsequently granted on October 11,
2007. As a result of the abandonment of the Ma’anit #1 well and
formal relinquishment of the Ma’anit-Joseph License, the Company recorded in
June 2007 an impairment of $9,494,000 to its unproved oil and gas
properties.
As
planned, the Company used the Ma’anit #1 wellbore, down to approximately 9,842
feet (3,000 meters), as the upper part of the wellbore for the Ma’anit-Rehoboth
#2 well. This well was directionally drilled from that point to
penetrate the middle and the lower Triassic. The Company drilled this
well to a depth of 17,913 feet (5,460 meters) and, after initial testing of the
lower open hole section of the well using a workover rig, in December 2009,
conducted further testing of the well in 2010. Subsequent to drilling
the Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well and after analysis of all the data collected, we
identified several ‘zones of interest' warranting further investigation. In
February 2010, we began completion and production testing of the
Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well. In April 2010, following the completion of our testing
procedures, we determined that commercial quantities of hydrocarbons were not
present in the Ma'anit-Rehoboth #2 well and have accordingly suspended drilling
operations in that well. As a result, we will be recording a non-cash impairment
charge of approximately $19,500,000 to our unproved oil and gas properties for
the quarter ending June 30, 2010.
37
Financial
Statements in United States Dollars
Although
both our properties and our principal operations are in Israel, we report all
our transactions in United States dollars. Certain of the dollar amounts in the
financial statements may represent the dollar equivalent of other
currencies.
Accounting
for Income Taxes
We record
a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax asset to the amount that we
believe, is likely to be realized in the future. In assessing the
need for the valuation allowance we have considered not only future taxable
income but also feasible and prudent tax planning strategies. In the event that
we were to determine that it would be likely that we would, in the future,
realize our deferred tax assets in excess of the net recorded amount, an
adjustment to the deferred tax asset would be made. In the period
that such a determination was made, the adjustment to the deferred tax asset
would produce an increase in our net income.
We do not
participate in, nor have we created, any off-balance sheet special purpose
entities or other off-balance sheet financing. In addition, we do not enter into
any derivative financial instruments.
Asset
Retirement Obligation
We record
a liability for asset retirement obligation at fair value in the period in which
it is incurred and a corresponding increase in the carrying amount of the
related long lived assets.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
We
believe that our currently available cash resources will be sufficient to enable
us to meet our needs in carrying out our plans through September 2010. We will
need to raise additional funds to maintain operations beyond that date in order
to realize our business plan, including establishing Zion Drilling, Inc. We will
need to raise funds by attracting additional investment in our company or
additional parties to join our drilling operations. We have no commitments for
any such financing or participation and no assurance can be provided that we
will be successful in attracting any such investment.
In May
2010, we launched a rights offering to raise up to $50 million. Under the
pending rights offering, we distributed to each holder of record as of close of
business on May 6, 2010, at no charge, .5 of a subscription right for each share
held as of such date (i.e., one subscription right for each two shares of common
stock). Each whole subscription right entitles the stockholder to purchase one
share of common stock at the purchase price of $5.00 per share. The rights
offering is scheduled to terminate on June 30, 2010, subject to
our right to extend the offering. No assurance can be provided that
we will be able to raise any significant funds from the rights offering. The
pending rights offering is being conducted via an existing effective shelf
registration statement on Form S-3 that was declared effective on April 16,
2010.
38
Our
working capital (current assets minus current liabilities) was $11,969,000 at
March 31, 2010 and $19,741,000 at December 31, 2009. The decrease in working
capital is primarily attributable to drilling-related expenditures.
We
recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2010 expenses that we paid in
the amount of $13,000 related to the rights offering from 2009. No
cash was provided by financing activities during the three month period ended
March 31, 2009. Net cash used investing activities was $6,689,000 for
the three months ended March 31, 2010 and $585,000 for the three month period
ended March 31, 2009, which was used primarily for drilling related
expenditures.
On March
31, 2010, we had cash and cash equivalents in the amount of $12,349,000,
compared to $20,734,000 at December 31, 2009. On May 13, 2010, we had
cash and cash equivalents in the amount of $5,159,000. The decrease in cash
resources at March 31, 2010 is primarily attributable to drilling related
expenditures.
To date,
we have funded our operations primarily through the issuance of our securities.
Our recent financings are discussed below.
Between
October 24, 2008 and January 9, 2009, we raised from a follow-on public offering
gross proceeds of $6,663,000 from the sale of units of our securities, of which
$240,000 was for debt conversion. Each unit offered in the follow-on
offering consisted of (i) one share of common stock, par value $.01 per share
and (ii) one warrant to purchase one share of common stock at a per share
exercise price equal to $7.00. We utilized the amounts raised in the follow on
public offering to commence drilling the above referenced Ma’anit Rehoboth #2
well.
In June
2009, we raised gross proceeds of $21 million from a rights offering to common
stockholders of up to 4.2 million shares of our common stock. The rights
offering was fully subscribed, resulting in our distribution of all of the 4.2
million shares that were offered. Thereafter, in November 2009, we
raised an additional $18 million from a follow-on rights offering to common
stockholders of up to 3.6 million shares of our common stock. The rights
offering was fully subscribed, resulting in our distribution of all of the 3.6
million shares that were offered.
Results
of Operations
COMPARISON
OF THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2010 COMPARED TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31, 2009
Revenue. We have
no revenue generating operations as we are still an exploration stage
company.
General and administrative
expenses. General and administrative expenses were $1,357,000
for the three month period ended March 31, 2010 compared to $995,000 for the
three month period ended March 31, 2009. The increase is attributable
to higher salary expenses and legal and professional fees. Legal and
professional fees were $352,000 for the three month period ended March 31, 2010
compared to $234,000 for the three month period ended March 31,
2009. This increase is due to legal fees incurred in connection with
contract negotiations and review for drilling related service providers, as well
as for the Memorandum of Understanding related to Zion Drilling,
Inc. Salary expenses were $686,000 for the three month period ended
March 31, 2010 compared to $500,000 for the three month period ended March 31,
2009. The higher salary expenses are related to additional staff and
management being added. Other general and administrative expenses
were $319,000 for the three month period ended March 31, 2010 compared to
$261,000 for the three month period ended March 31, 2009. The
increase is related to increased marketing efforts and travel
costs.
39
Interest income,
net. Interest income, net was ($3,000) for the three-month
period ended March 31, 2010 as compared to $3,000 for the three months ended
March 31, 2009. The decline in interest income was due to a severe
decline in the interest rates being paid on cash balances by the
banks. Interest expense for these periods was
negligible.
Net
Loss. Net loss was $1,360,000 for the three-month period
ended March 31, 2010 compared to $916,000 for the three month period ended March
31, 2009. The increase in net loss during the three months ended March 31, 2010
compared to the corresponding period in 2009 is attributable to expanded staff
and higher legal and professional fees.
ITEM
3.
|
QUANTITATIVE AND
QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET
RISK
|
Market
risk is a broad term for the risk of economic loss due to adverse changes in the
fair value of a financial instrument. These changes may be the result of various
factors, including interest rates, foreign exchange rates, commodity prices
and/or equity prices. In the normal course of doing business, we are exposed to
the risks associated with foreign currency exchange rates and changes in
interest rates.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate
Risks. A portion of our expenses, primarily labor expenses and certain
supplier contracts, are nominated in New Israeli Shekels “NIS”. As a result, we
have significant exposure to the risk of fluctuating exchange rates with the US
Dollar, our primary reporting currency. The recent weakness of the US Dollar in
the international markets has been equally reflected against NIS and this may
continue in the future. Since December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, to the current
date, the US Dollar has devalued by approximately 1%, 2% and 11% respectively
against the NIS. Continuing devaluation of the US dollar against the NIS will
result in higher operating costs from NIS denominated expenses. We do not
currently hedge against currency exchange rate risks.
Interest Rate
Risk. Our exposure to market risk relates to our cash and
investments. We maintain an investment portfolio of short term bank deposits and
money market funds. The securities in our investment portfolio are not
leveraged, and are, due to their very short-term nature, subject to minimal
interest rate risk. We currently do not hedge interest rate exposure. Because of
the short-term maturities of our investments, we do not believe that a change in
market interest rates would have a significant negative impact on the value of
our investment portfolio except for reduced income in a low interest rate
environment. At March 31, 2010, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable
securities of approximately $ 12.3 million. The weighted average annual interest
rate related to our cash and cash equivalents for the three months ended March
31, 2010 was approximately 1%.
The primary objective of our investment
activities is to preserve principal while at the same time maximizing yields
without significantly increasing risk. To achieve this objective, we invest our
excess cash in short term bank deposits and money market funds that may invest
in high quality debt instruments.
40
CONTROLS AND
PROCEDURES
|
We
maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information
required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported
within the time period specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and
Exchange Commission. As of March 31, 2010, our chief executive officer and our
chief financial officer conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our
disclosure controls and procedures. Based on this evaluation, our chief
executive officer and our chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure
controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2010.
During
the quarter ended March 31, 2010, there have been no changes in our internal
controls over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are
reasonably likely to materially affect, these controls.
PART
II—OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM
1.
|
LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS
|
None.
ITEM
1A.
|
RISK
FACTORS
|
During
the quarter ended March 31, 2010, there were no material changes to the
risk factors previously reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2009.
ITEM
2.
|
UNREGISTERED SALES OF
SECURITIES AND USE OF
PROCEEDS
|
None.
ITEM
3.
|
DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR
SECURITIES
|
None.
ITEM
4.
|
(REMOVED
AND RESERVED)
|
None.
ITEM
5.
|
OTHER
INFORMATION
|
None.
ITEM
6.
|
EXHIBITS
|
Exhibit Index:
31.1
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 under the Exchange Act
|
||
31.2
|
Certification
of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
||
32.1
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 (furnished only).
|
||
32.2
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 o4f the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 (furnished only).
|
41
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized.
ZION
OIL & GAS, INC.
|
||||
(Registrant)
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
Richard J. Rinberg
|
By:
|
/s/
Sandra F. Green
|
|
Richard
J. Rinberg
Chief
Executive Officer
(Principal
Executive Officer)
|
Sandra
F. Green,
Senior
Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal
Financial Officer)
|
|||
Date:
|
May
14, 2010
|
Date:
|
May
14, 2010
|
42