ZION OIL & GAS INC - Quarter Report: 2017 June (Form 10-Q)

For the six months ended June 30,

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

MARK ONE

☒ Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

for the Quarterly Period ended June 30, 2017; or

☐ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

for the transition period from ________ to ________

ZION OIL & GAS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		20-0065053
(State or other jurisdiction of		(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)		Identification No.)

12655 N Central Expressway, Suite 1000, Dallas, TX		75243
(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 ☒ No ☐

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 ☒ No ☐

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

Large accelerated filer	☐		Accelerated filer	☐
Non-accelerated filer	☐	(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	☒
			Emerging growth company	☐

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

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

As of July 28, 2017, Zion Oil & Gas, Inc. had outstanding 51,912,554 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share.

INDEX PAGE

PART 1 – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

		Page

Item 1 – Financial Statements – Unaudited		1

Balance Sheets – June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016		1

Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016		2

Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2017		3

Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016		4

Notes to Financial Statements		5

Item 2 – Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		19

Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		30

Item 4 – Controls and Procedures		31

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1 – Legal Proceedings		32

Item 1A – Risk Factors		32

Item 2 – Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		32

Item 3 – Defaults upon Senior Securities		32

Item 4 – Mine Safety Disclosures		32

Item 5 – Other Information		33

Item 6 – Exhibits		33

Exhibit Index		33

SIGNATURES		34

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Balance Sheets as of (Unaudited)

	June 30, 2017			December 31, 2016
	US$ thousands			US$ thousands
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		3,828			3,192
Fixed short term bank deposits – restricted		2,092			1,295
Prepaid expenses and other		410			347
Other deposits		533			—
Other receivables		720			144
Total current assets		7,583			4,978

Unproved oil and gas properties, full cost method (see Note 4)		11,455			6,397

Property and equipment at cost
Net of accumulated depreciation of $427 and $442		200			113

Other assets
Assets held for severance benefits		205			162

Total assets		19,443			11,650

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Current liabilities
Accounts payable		622			181
Asset retirement obligation		470			200
Derivative liability (see Note 6)		3,475			895
Accrued liabilities		1,820			677
Total current liabilities		6,387			1,953

Long-term liabilities
10% Senior convertible bonds, net of unamortized deferred financing cost of $104 and $118 and unamortized debt discount of $1,389 and $1,513 at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 respectively (see Note 5)		1,915			1,826
Provision for severance pay		248			206
Obligation under capital lease, net of current maturities of $9 (see Note 7C)		44			—
Total long-term liabilities		2,207			2,032

Total liabilities		8,594			3,985

Commitments and contingencies (see Note 7)

Stockholders’ equity
Common stock, par value $.01; Authorized: 200,000,000 shares at June 30, 2017: Issued and outstanding: 49,991,444 and 42,577,541 shares at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 respectively		500			426
Additional paid-in capital		169,310			157,854
Accumulated deficit		(158,961	)		(150,615	)
Total stockholders’ equity		10,849			7,665

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		19,443			11,650

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited interim financial statements.

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

	For the three months						For the six months
	ended June 30,						ended June 30,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
	US$ thousands			US$ thousands			US$ thousands			US$ thousands

General and administrative		1,233			3,260			4,080			4,432
Other		774			614			1,450			1,005
Loss from operations		(2,007	)		(3,874	)		(5,530	)		(5,437	)

Other income (expense), net
(Loss), gain on derivative liability		(2,853	)		502			(2,580	)		502
Other income, net		-			-			10			-
Foreign exchange (loss), gain		79			(10	)		110			11
Financial expenses, net		(190	)		(88	)		(356	)		(98	)

Loss before income taxes		(4,971	)		(3,470	)		(8,346	)		(5,022	)
Income taxes		-			-			-			-

Net loss		(4,971	)		(3,470	)		(8,346	)		(5,022	)

Net loss per share of common stock - basic and diluted (in US$)		(0.10	)		(0.08	)		(0.17	)		(0.12	)

Weighted-average shares outstanding - basic and diluted (in thousands)		50,245			40,873			48,714			40,337

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited interim financial statements.

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (Unaudited)

	Common Stock				Additional paid-in		Accumulated
	Shares		Amounts		Capital		deficit			Total
	thousands		US$ thousands		US$ thousands		US$ thousands			US$ thousands

Balances as of December 31, 2016		42,578		426		157,854		(150,615	)		7,665
Funds received from sale of DSPP units and shares		5,718		57		8,482		—			8,539
Value of bonds converted to shares		21		*		57		—			57
Funds received from option exercises		1,385		14		—		—			14
Bond interest paid in shares		289		3		343		—			346
Value of options granted to employees, directors and others as non-cash compensation		—		—		2,574		—			2,574
Net loss		—		—		—		(8,346	)		(8,346	)
Balances as of June 30, 2017		49,991		500		169,310		(158,961	)		10,849

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited interim financial statements.

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

	For the six months ended June 30,
	2017			2016
	US$ thousands			US$ thousands

Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss		(8,346	)		(5,022	)
Adjustments required to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation		22			31
Capital gain on sale of property and equipment		(10	)		-
Cost of options issued to employees, directors and others as non-cash compensation		2,383			2,580
Interest on short term bank deposits		(52	)		(6	)
Interest and finance expense accrued on convertible bonds and amortization of debt discount		317			81
Change in derivative liability		2,580			(502	)
Change in assets and liabilities, net:
Change in other deposits		(533	)		-
Prepaid expenses and other		(63	)		133
Change in other receivables		(576	)		245
Severance pay, net		(1	)		7
Accounts payable		(12	)		(320	)
Accrued liabilities		85			(509	)
Asset retirement obligation		-			(3	)
Net cash used in operating activities		(4,206	)		(3,285	)

Cash flows from investing activities
Investment in short term bank deposits		(745	)		31
Acquisition of property and equipment		(42	)		(16	)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		14			-
Investment in unproved oil and gas properties		(2,920	)		(631	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(3,693	)		(616	)

Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from sale of 10% Senior Convertible Bonds		-			3,470
Repayments of capital loan		(18	)		-
Deferred offering cost		-			(84	)
Proceeds from sale of stock and exercise of options		8,553			2,112
Net cash provided by financing activities		8,535			5,498

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		636			1,597
Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of period		3,192			2,871
Cash and cash equivalents – end of period		3,828			4,468

Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Cost of options capitalized to oil & gas properties		191			213
Debt discount related to the derivative liability		-			1,626
Unpaid investments in oil & gas properties		1,947			53
Convertible Bond interest paid in shares		346			-
10% Senior Convertible Bonds converted to shares		57			-
Acquisition of property and equipment under capital lease		71			-
Deferred offering cost		-			136

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited interim financial statements.

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Note 1 - Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation

A. Nature of Operations

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“we,” “our,” “Zion” or the “Company”) is an oil and gas exploration company with a history of 17 years of oil & gas exploration in Israel. As of June 30, 2017, the Company had no revenues from its oil and gas operations.

Exploration Rights/Exploration Activities

Zion currently holds one active petroleum exploration license onshore Israel, the Megiddo-Jezreel License, comprising approximately 99,000 acres. In December 2016, Zion and a local Israeli construction company executed a contract for the civil works and drill site construction at the MJ #1 location. The site was completed in early March 2017. The drilling rig and associated equipment were mobilized to the site, performance and endurance tested, and the Megiddo-Jezreel #1 (“MJ #1) well was spud on June 5, 2017, well in advance of the June 30, 2017 deadline under the terms of the current license.

Depending on the results of the currently drilling exploratory well and having adequate cash resources, multiple wells could be drilled from this pad site as several subsurface geologic targets can be reached using directional well trajectories.

Megiddo-Jezreel Petroleum License (“MJL”)

The MJL was awarded on December 3, 2013 for a three-year primary term through December 2, 2016, with the possibility of additional one-year extensions up to an aggregate maximum of seven years. The MJL is onshore, south and west of the Sea of Galilee.

Since late November 2016 when the State of Israel’s Petroleum Commissioner officially approved Zion’s drilling date and license extension request, the Company remains subject to the following key license terms:

No.	Activity Description	To be carried out by:
1	Begin drilling / spud well	30 June 2017
2	Submit final report on the results of drilling	1 November 2017
3	Submit a plan for continued work in the license area	1 December 2017

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 1 - Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation (cont’d)

As previously disclosed, the Company needed authorization from the Israel land Authority (the “ILA”), the formal lessor of the land to the kibbutz, to access and utilize the drill site. The Company received this authorization on July 4, 2016. This is in conjunction with our May 15, 2016 signed agreement with Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu on whose property the drilling pad is currently situated. On January 11, 2017, an agreement was signed by the Company and the ILA by which the land usage permission agreement was extended up to and including December 3, 2017.

The drill site plan was prepared by an outside engineering firm to accommodate DAFORA’s F-400 rig. The Company awarded the drill site construction contract to an Israeli company and the construction of the drill site and road was completed in March 2017. As previously mentioned, the MJ #1 well was spud on June 5, 2017 and is currently drilling.

Zion’s Former Jordan Valley, Joseph, and Asher-Menashe Licenses

On March 29, 2015, the Energy Ministry formally approved the Company’s application to merge the southernmost portion of the Jordan Valley License into the Megiddo-Jezreel License. The Company has plugged all of its exploratory wells (in the former Joseph and Asher-Menashe Licenses) but acknowledges its obligation to complete the abandonment of these well sites in accordance with guidance from the Environmental Ministry and local officials.

B. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited interim financial statements of Zion Oil & Gas, Inc. have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with Article 8-03 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals necessary for a fair statement of financial position, results of operations and cash flows, have been included. The information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the accompanying notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. The year-end balance sheet data presented for comparative purposes was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. The results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the year ending December 31, 2017 or for any other subsequent interim period.

To date, the Company has not achieved a discovery of either oil or gas in commercial quantities. The Company incurs cash outflows from operations, and all exploration activities and overhead expenses to date have been financed by way of equity or debt financing. The recoverability of the costs incurred to date is uncertain and dependent upon achieving significant commercial production.

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 1 - Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation (cont’d)

The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon obtaining the necessary financing to undertake further exploration and development activities and ultimately generating profitable operations from its oil and natural gas interests in the future. The Company’s current operations are dependent upon the adequacy of its current assets to meet its current expenditure requirements and the accuracy of management’s estimates of those requirements. Should those estimates be materially incorrect, the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern may be impaired. The 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. During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company incurred a net loss of approximately $8.3 million and had an accumulated deficit of approximately $159 million. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

The Company expects to incur additional significant expenditures to further its exploration programs. Management is of the opinion that its currently available cash resources are sufficient to finance its plan of operations, including the drilling of the MJ#1 well to the desired depth and the subsequent testing, through January 2018.

To carry out further planned operations beyond that date, the Company must raise additional funds through additional equity and/or debt issuances or through profitable operations. There can be no assurance that this capital or positive operational income will be available to the Company, and if it is not, the Company may be forced to curtail or cease exploration and development activities. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty (See also Note 7).

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

A. Net Loss per Share Data

Basic and diluted net loss per share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), is presented in conformity with ASC 260-10 “Earnings Per Share.” Diluted net loss per share is the same as basic net loss per share, as the inclusion of 9,588,898 and 5,943,929 Common Stock equivalents in the six-month period ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 respectively, would be anti-dilutive.

B. Use of Estimates

The preparation of the accompanying financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported, disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Such estimates include the valuation of unproved oil and gas properties, deferred tax assets, asset retirement obligations and legal contingencies. These estimates and assumptions are based on management’s best estimates and judgment. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment, which management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Company adjusts such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Illiquid credit markets, volatile equity, foreign currency, and energy markets have combined to increase the uncertainty inherent in such estimates and assumptions. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. Changes in those estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the financial statements in future periods.

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (cont’d)

C. 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 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 loss from continuing operations before income taxes, and the adjusted carrying amount of the proved properties is amortized on the unit-of-production method.

The Company’s oil and gas property represents an investment in 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. Impairment requiring a charge to expense may be indicated through evaluation of drilling results, relinquishing drilling rights or other information.

Currently, the Company has no economically recoverable reserves and no amortization base. The Company’s unproved oil and gas properties consist of capitalized exploration costs of $11,455,000 and $6,397,000 as of June 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively.

D. Fair Value Measurements

The Company follows Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” as amended by Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Financial Staff Position (FSP) No. 157 and related guidance. Those provisions relate to the Company’s financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value and the fair value disclosures related to financial assets and liabilities. ASC 820 defines fair value, expands related disclosure requirements, and specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on the nature of the inputs used to develop the fair value measures. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, assuming the transaction occurs in the principal or most advantageous market for that asset or liability.

The Company uses Level 1 inputs for its fair value measurements whenever there is an active market, with actual quotes, market prices, and observable inputs on the measurement date. The Company uses Level 2 inputs for fair value measurements whenever there are quoted prices for similar securities in an active market or quoted prices for identical securities in an inactive market. The Company uses Level 3 inputs in the Binomial Model used for the valuation of the derivative liability.

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (cont’d)

E. Derivative Liabilities

In accordance with ASC 815-40-25 and ASC 815-10-15 Derivatives and Hedging and ASC 480-10-25 Liabilities-Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, the embedded derivatives associated with the Convertible Bonds are accounted for as a liability during the term of the related Convertible Bonds (see Note 6).

F. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

The Company does not believe that the adoption of any recently issued accounting pronouncements in 2017 had a significant impact on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flow.

Note 3 - Stockholders’ Equity

A. 2011 Equity Incentive Stock Option Plan

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company granted the following non-qualified options from the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan for employees, directors and consultants, to purchase as non-cash compensation (taxable on the date of exercise):

i.	Options to purchase 25,000 shares of Common Stock to a senior officer at an exercise price of $0.01 per share. The options vested upon grant and are exercisable through December 31, 2026. The fair value of the options at the date of grant amounted to approximately $34,000.

ii.	Options to purchase 1,555,000 shares of Common Stock to twenty three (23) senior officers, staff members and consultants at an exercise price of $0.01 per share. The options vested upon grant and are exercisable through January 1, 2027. The fair value of the options at the date of grant amounted to approximately $2,116,000.

iii.	Options to purchase 35,000 shares of Common Stock to two (2) senior officers at an exercise price of $0.01 per share. The options vested upon grant and are exercisable through January 4, 2027. The fair value of the options at the date of grant amounted to approximately $48,000.

iv.	Options to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock to a consultant at an exercise price of $0.01 per share. The options vested upon grant and are exercisable through January 11, 2027. The fair value of the options at the date of grant amounted to approximately $27,000.

v.	Options to purchase 90,000 shares of Common Stock to five (5) staff members at an exercise price of $0.01 per share. The options vested upon grant and are exercisable through January 1, 2027. The fair value of the options at the date of grant amounted to approximately $104,000.

B. 2011 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company granted the following qualified (market value) options from the 2011 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan for directors to purchase as non-cash compensation:

i.	Options to purchase 25,000 shares of Common Stock to a new board member at an exercise price of $1.33 per share. The options vested upon grant and are exercisable through May 1, 2023. The fair value of the options at the date of grant amounted to approximately $10,000.

ii.	Options to purchase 400,000 shares of Common Stock to eight (8) board members at an exercise price of $1.75 per share. The options vested upon grant and are exercisable through June 6, 2023. The fair value of the options at the date of grant amounted to approximately $235,000.

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 3 - Stockholders’ Equity (cont’d)

C. Stock Options

The stock option transactions since January 1, 2017 are shown in the table below:

	Number of shares			Weighted Average exercise price
				US$
Outstanding, December 31, 2016		4,166,943			1.58

Changes during 2017 to:
Granted to employees, officers, directors and others *		2,150,000			0.35
Expired/Cancelled/Forfeited		(210,000	)		2.12
Exercised		(1,384,500	)		0.01
Outstanding, June 30, 2017		4,722,443			1.45
Exercisable, June 30, 2017		4,722,443			1.45

* The receipt of a non-qualified stock option grant by the grantee recipient is a non-taxable event according to the Internal Revenue Service, but the grantee who later chooses to exercise stock options must recognize the market value in income in the year of exercise.

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding as of June 30, 2017:

Shares underlying outstanding options (fully vested)
Range of exercise price		Number Outstanding		Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)		Weighted Average Exercise price
US$						US$
	0.01		15,000		6.37		0.01
	0.01		15,000		6.76		0.01
	0.01		5,000		6.95		0.01
	0.01		4,500		7.80		0.01
	0.01		15,000		8.10		0.01
	0.01		10,000		8.26		0.01
	0.01		25,000		8.50		0.01
	0.01		378,000		8.93		0.01
	0.01		625,000		9.50		0.01
	0.01		10,000		9.51		0.01
	0.01		80,000		9.79		0.01
	1.33		25,000		5.83		1.33
	1.38		108,000		3.51		1.38
	1.38		133,057		7.52		1.38
	1.55		400,000		4.93		1.55
	1.67		390,000		3.26		1.67
	1.67		458,886		7.26		1.67
	1.70		120,000		1.48		1.70
	1.70		298,500		5.48		1.70
	1.73		25,000		1.53		1.73
	1.75		400,000		6.02		1.75
	1.86		25,000		1.43		1.86
	1.87		25,000		4.59		1.87
	1.95		25,000		2.76		1.95
	1.96		25,000		2.18		1.96
	2.03		25,000		3.84		2.03
	2.28		25,000		2.03		2.28
	2.61		150,000		0.43		2.61
	2.61		881,500		4.43		2.61
	0.01-2.61		4,722,443				1.45

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 3 - Stockholders’ Equity (cont’d)

Granted to employees

The following table sets forth information about the weighted-average fair value of options granted to employees and directors during the year, using the Black Scholes option-pricing model and the weighted-average assumptions used for such grants:

	For the six months ended June 30,
	2017			2016
Weighted-average fair value of underlying stock at grant date	$	1.44		$	1.57
Dividend yields		—			—
Expected volatility		45%-60	%		57%-69	%
Risk-free interest rates		1.45%-1.94	%		0.94%-1.76	%
Expected lives (in years)		3.00-5.00			3.00-5.50
Weighted-average grant date fair value	$	1.18		$	1.34

Granted to non-employees

The following table sets forth information about the weighted-average fair value of options granted to non-employees during the year, using the Black Scholes option-pricing model and the weighted-average assumptions used for such grants:

	For the six months ended June 30,
	2017			2016
Weighted-average fair value of underlying stock at grant date	$	1.36		$	1.55
Dividend yields		—			—
Expected volatility		68	%		70	%
%Risk-free interest rates		2.36%-2.45	%		1.73	%
Expected lives (in years)		10.00			10.00
Weighted-average grant date fair value	$	1.36		$	1.54

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 3 - Stockholders’ Equity (cont’d)

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 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.

C. Compensation Cost for Warrant and Option Issuances

The following table sets forth information about the compensation cost of warrant and option issuances recognized for employees and directors:

The following table sets forth information about the compensation cost of warrant and option issuances recognized for non-employees:

The following table sets forth information about the compensation cost of option issuances recognized for employees and capitalized to Unproved Oil & Gas properties:

D. Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (“DSPP”)

On March 27, 2014, the Company launched its Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (the “DSPP”) pursuant to which stockholders and interested investors can purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock as well as units of the Company’s securities. The terms of the DSPP are described in the Prospectus Supplement originally filed on March 31, 2014 (the “Original Prospectus Supplement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Company’s effective registration Statement on Form S-3, as thereafter amended.

On January 13, 2015, the Company amended the Original Prospectus Supplement (“Amendment No. 3”) to provide for a unit option (the “Unit Option”) under the DSPP comprised of one share of Common Stock and three Common Stock purchase warrants with each unit priced at $4.00. Each warrant afforded the investor or stockholder the opportunity to purchase the Company’s Common Stock at a warrant exercise price of $1.00. Each of the three warrants series have different expiration dates that have been extended.

The warrants became first exercisable on May 2, 2016 and, in the case of ZNWAB continued to be exercisable through May 2, 2017 (1 year), May 2, 2018 for ZNWAC (2 years) and May 2, 2019 for ZNWAD (3 years), respectively, at a per share exercise price of $1.00.

As of May 2, 2017, any outstanding ZNWAB warrants expired.

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 3 - Stockholders’ Equity (cont’d)

On November 1, 2016, the Company launched a unit offering (the “Unit Program”) under the Company’s DSPP pursuant to which stockholders and interested investors could purchase units comprised of seven (7) shares of Common Stock and seven (7) Common Stock purchase warrants, at a per unit purchase price of $10. The warrant has the symbol “ZNWAE.” On January 30, 2017, the Company extended the Unit Program that was filed under Amendment No. 7, dated November 1, 2016. The Unit Program continued as under Amendment No. 7, but with a revised time period. Otherwise, the same Unit Program features, conditions and terms in the Prospectus Supplement and Amendment No. 2 applied. The Company’s Unit Program began on November 1, 2016 and was scheduled to terminate January 31, 2017, but was extended until March 31, 2017, when it terminated.

The ZNWAE warrants became exercisable on May 1, 2017, which is the 31^st day following the Unit Option Termination Date (i.e., on March 31, 2017) and continue to be exercisable through May 1, 2020 (3 years) at a per share exercise price of $1.00. If the Company’s Common Stock trades above $5.00 per share at the closing price for 15 consecutive trading days at any time prior to the expiration date of the warrant, the Company has the sole discretion to terminate the warrant early upon providing 60 days advanced notice to warrant holders.

On February 23, 2017, the Company filed a Form S-3 with the SEC (Registration No. 333-216191) as a replacement for the Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-193336), for which the three (3) year period ended March 31, 2017, along with the base Prospectus and Supplemental Prospectus. The Form S-3, as amended, and the new base Prospectus became effective on March 10, 2017, along with the Prospectus Supplement that was filed and became effective on March 10, 2017. The Prospectus Supplement under Registration No. 333-216191 describes the terms of the DSPP and replaces the prior Prospectus Supplement, as amended, under the prior Registration No. 333-193336.

On May 22, 2017, the Company launched a new unit offering (the "New Unit Program”). The New Unit Program consisted of a new combination of common stock and warrants, a new time period in which to purchase under the program, and a new unit price, but otherwise the same unit program features, conditions and terms in the Prospectus Supplement applied. The Company’s new unit program began on May 22, 2017 and terminated on July 12, 2017. This new Unit Option Program enabled participants to purchase Units of the Company's securities where each Unit (priced at $250.00 each) was comprised of (i) a certain number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing $250.00 (the price of one Unit) by the average of the high and low sale prices of the Company’s publicly traded common stock as reported on the NASDAQ on the unit purchase date and (ii) Common Stock purchase warrants to purchase an additional twenty five (25) shares of Common Stock. Each warrant affords the investor or stockholder the opportunity to purchase one share of the Company’s Common Stock at a warrant exercise price of $1.00.

The warrant has the symbol “ZNWAF.”

All ZNWAF warrants will first become exercisable on August 14, 2017, which is the first trading day after the 31st day following the Unit Option Termination Date (i.e., on July 12, 2017) and continue to be exercisable through August 14, 2020 (3 years) at a per share exercise price of $1.00. If the Common Stock of the Company trades above $5.00 per share as the closing price for fifteen (15) consecutive trading days at any time prior to the expiration date of the warrant, the Company has the sole discretion to provide a Notice to warrant holders of an early termination of the warrant within sixty (60) days of the Notice.

As of June 30, 2017, the number of outstanding warrants for each warrant issue is shown below:

Warrant	ZNWAA		ZNWAC		ZNWAD		ZNWAE		ZNWAF
Exercise Price/Warrant	$	2.00	$	1.00	$	1.00	$	1.00	$	1.00
Outstanding/Exercisable Warrants as of June 30, 2017		1,561,595		300,912		316,637		3,706,361		163,450

For the six months ended June 30, 2017, approximately $8,539,000 was raised under the DSPP program

The total amount of funds received from the DSPP, including the exercise of warrants, from the inception date through June 30, 2017 is approximately $21,564,000.

E. Warrant Descriptions

The price and the expiration dates for the series of warrants to investors are as follows:

	Period of Grant	US$		Expiration Date

ZNWAA Warrants	March 2013 – December 2014		2.00	January 31, 2020
ZNWAC Warrants	January 2015 – March 2016		1.00	May 02, 2018
ZNWAD Warrants	January 2015 – March 2016		1.00	May 02, 2019
ZNWAE Warrants	November 2016 – March 2017		1.00	May 01, 2020
ZNWAF Warrants	May 2017– July 2017		1.00	August 14, 2020

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 4 - Unproved Oil and Gas Properties, Full Cost Method

Unproved oil and gas properties, under the full cost method, are comprised as follows:

	June 30, 2017		December 31, 2016
	US$ thousands		US$ thousands

Excluded from amortization base:
Inventory, and other operational related costs		6,219		1,770
Capitalized salary costs		1,890		1,579
Legal costs, license fees and other preparation costs		3,276		3,018
Other costs		70		30
		11,455		6,397

Note 5 - Senior Convertible Bonds

Rights Offering -10% Senior Convertible Notes due May 2, 2021

On October 21, 2015, the Company filed with the SEC a prospectus supplement for a rights offering. Under the rights offering, the Company distributed at no cost, 360,000 non-transferable subscription rights to subscribe for, on a per right basis, two 10% Convertible Senior Bonds par $100 due May 2, 2021 (the “Notes”), to persons who owned shares of the Company’s Common Stock on October 15, 2015, the record date for the offering. Each whole subscription right entitled the participant to purchase two convertible bonds at a purchase price of $100 per bond. Effective October 21, 2015, the Company executed a Supplemental Indenture, as issuer, with the American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, a New York limited liability trust company (“AST”), as trustee for the Notes (the “Indenture”).

The offering was scheduled to terminate on January 15, 2016 but was extended to March 31, 2016. On March 31, 2016, the rights offering terminated.

On May 2, 2016, the Company issued approximately $3,470,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes in connection with the rights offering. The Company received net proceeds of approximately $3,334,000, from the sale of the Notes, after deducting fees and expenses of $136,000 incurred in connection with the offering. These costs have been discounted as deferred offering costs.

The Notes contain a convertible option that gives rise to a derivative liability, which is accounted for separately from the Notes (see below and Note 8). Accordingly, the Notes were initially recognized at fair value of approximately $1,844,000, which represents the principal amount of $3,470,000 from which a debt discount of approximately $1,626,000 (which is equal to the fair value of the convertible option) was deducted.

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company recorded approximately $14,000 in amortization expense related to the deferred financing costs, and approximately $123,000 in debt discount amortization, net. The Notes are governed by the terms of the Indenture. The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and bear interest at a rate of 10% per year, payable annually in arrears on May 2 of each year, commencing May 2, 2017. The Notes will mature on May 2, 2021, unless earlier redeemed by the Company or converted by the holder.

On May 2, 2017, the Company paid its annual 10% interest to its bondholders of record on April 18, 2017. The interest was paid-in-kind (“PIK”) in the form of Common Stock. An average Zion stock price of $1.196 was determined based on the 30 trading days prior to the record date of April 18, 2017. This figure was used to divide into 10% of the par value of the bonds held by the holders. The Company issued 289,213 shares to the accounts of its bondholders.

Interest and principal may be paid, at the Company’s option, in cash or in shares of the Company’s Common Stock. The number of shares for the payment of interest in shares of Common Stock, in lieu of the cash amount, will be based on the average of the closing prices of the Company’s Common Stock as reported by Bloomberg L.P. for the 30 trading days preceding the record date for the payment of interest; such record date has been designated and will always be the 10^th business day prior to the interest payment date on May 2 of each year. The number of shares for the payment of principal, in lieu of the cash amount, shall be based upon the average of the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock as reported by Bloomberg L.P. for the 30 trading days preceding the principal repayment date; such record date has been designated as the trading day immediately prior to the 30-day period preceding the maturity date of May 2, 2021. Fractional shares will not be issued and the final number of shares will be rounded up to the next whole share.

At any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding April 2, 2021, holders may convert their notes into Common Stock at the conversion rate of 44 shares per $100 bond (which is equivalent to a conversion rate of approximately $2.27 per share). The conversion rate is subject to adjustment from time to time upon the occurrence of certain events, including, but not limited to, the issuance of stock dividends and payment of cash dividends.

Beginning May 3, 2018, the Company is entitled to redeem for cash the outstanding Notes at an amount equal to the principal and accrued and unpaid interest, plus a 10% premium. No “sinking fund” is provided for the Notes due May 2021, which means that the Company is not required to periodically redeem or retire the Notes.

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 5 - Senior Convertible Bonds (cont’d)

Through the six months ended June 30, 2017, approximately 484 convertible bonds of $100 each have been converted under this offering at a conversion rate of approximately $2.27 per share. As a result, the Company issued approximately 21,000 shares of its Common Stock during the same period.

	June 30, 2017			December 31, 2016
	US$			US$

10% Senior Convertible Bonds, net of debt discount on derivative liability of $1,626,000 on the day of issuance	$	1,844,000		$	1,844,000
Debt discount amortization, net	$	236,000		$	113,000
Bonds converted to shares	$	(61,000	)	$	(13,000	)
Offering cost, net	$	(104,000	)	$	(118,000	)
10% senior Convertible bonds – Long Term Liability	$	1,915,000		$	1,826,000

The Company recognized $171,000 and $231,000 in interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2017, and for the year ended December 31, 2016, respectively, related to the Notes, payable for the first time and in arrears on May 2, 2017. On May 2, 2017, the Company paid its annual 10% interest to its bondholders of record on April 18, 2017. The interest was paid-in-kind.

Note 6 - Derivative Liability

The Notes issued by the Company and discussed in Note 5 contain a convertible option that gives rise to a derivative liability.

The debt instrument the Company issued includes a make-whole provision, which provides that in the event of conversion by the investor under certain circumstances, the issuer is required to deliver to the holder additional consideration beyond the settlement of the conversion obligation.

Because time value make-whole provisions are not clearly and closely related to the debt host and would meet the definition of a derivative if considered freestanding, they should be evaluated under the indexation guidance to determine whether they would be afforded the scope exception pursuant to ASC 815-10-15-74(a). This evaluation is generally performed in conjunction with the analysis of the embedded conversion feature.

The Company has measured its derivative liability at fair value and recognized the derivative value as a current liability and recorded the derivative value on its balance sheet. The fair value of the shares to be issued upon conversion of the Notes was recorded as a derivative liability, with the change in the fair value recorded as a gain or loss in the accompanying statement of operations.

The valuation of the Notes was done by using the Binomial Model, a well-accepted option-pricing model, and based on the Notes’ terms and other parameters the Company identified as relevant for the valuation of the Notes’ Fair Value.

The Binomial Model used the forecast of the Company share price during the Note’s contractual term.

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 6 - Derivative Liability (cont’d)

As of June 30, 2017, the Company’s liabilities that are measured at fair value are as follows:

	June 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
	Level 3		Total		Level 3		Total
	US$				US$
Fair value of derivative liability at June 30, 2017	$	3,475,000	$	3,475,000	$	895,000	$	895,000

Change in value of derivative liability during 2017 are as follows:

	US$

Derivative liability fair value at December 31, 2016		895,000
Loss on derivative liability		2,580,000
Derivative liability fair value at June 30, 2017		3,475,000

The following table presents the assumptions that were used for the model as of June 30, 2017:

	June 30, 2017			December 31, 2016
Convertible Option Fair Value of approximately	$	3,475,000		$	895,000
Annual Risk-free Rate		1.75	%		1.86	%
Volatility		51.89	%		57.56	%
Expected Term (years)		3.84			4.34
Convertible Notes Face Value	$	3,048,700		$	3,457,100
Expected annual yield on Regular Notes		28.77	%		28.77	%
Price of the Underlying Stock	$	3.43		$	1.37

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company recorded a loss of approximately $2,580,000 (net) within the Statements of Operations line item, (loss) gain on derivative liability. A slight change in an unobservable input like volatility could have a significant impact on the fair value measurement of the derivative liability.

Note 7 - Commitments and Contingencies

A. Litigation

From time to time, the Company may be subject to routine litigation, claims, or disputes in the ordinary course of business. The Company defends itself vigorously in all such matters. In the opinion of management, no pending or known threatened claims, actions or proceedings against the Company are expected to have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, the Company cannot predict with certainty the outcome or effect of any such litigation or investigatory matters or any other pending litigation or claims. There can be no assurance as to the ultimate outcome of any such lawsuits and investigations.

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 7 - Commitments and Contingencies (cont’d)

B. Environmental and Onshore Licensing Regulatory 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 and other obligations as they relate to the drilling of oil and gas wells or the operation thereof. Various guidelines have been published in Israel by the State of Israel’s Petroleum Commissioner and Energy and Environmental Ministries since 2012 as it pertains to oil and gas activities. Mention of these guidelines was included in previous Zion Oil & Gas filings.

On May 16, 2016, the Energy Ministry issued new guidelines for the preparation and submission of a drilling program in accordance with industry best practices or “Good Oilfield Practice.”

On May 17, 2016, the Energy Ministry issued new guidelines for production testing in accordance with “Good Industry Practice” detailing the applicable measures and reporting requirements.

On June 28, 2016, the Energy Ministry issued new guidelines for occupational health and safety practices regarding oil and gas drilling and production activities per international norms, coupled with Israeli legal safety guidelines. These regulations focus on industry best practices in the area of health, safety, and environmental (HS&E) factors as well as risk management. In addition, there is a new requirement to have the Petroleum Commissioner’s approval over the safety standards which the operator seeks to apply.

The Company believes that these new regulations are likely increase both the time and the expenditures associated with obtaining new exploration rights and drilling new wells.

C. Capitalized lease

During 2017, the Company signed a capital lease agreement to purchase a vehicle, on which a down payment of $15,000 was paid by the Company. The lease period is for 44 months (approximately 3.7 years, hereinafter the “lease period”) starting on March 25, 2017 and ending on October 24, 2020. The lease bears a monthly payment in the amount of approximately NIS 4,000 (approximately $1,100) per month, at the exchange rate in effect for the date of this report and is linked to an increase (but not a decrease) in CPI. The lease bears a purchase option in the end of the lease period in the amount of approximately NIS 75,000 (approximately $21,000) at the exchange rate in effect on the date of this report and is linked to an increase (but not a decrease) in CPI.

A capital lease asset and a capital lease obligation were recognized in the Company's balance sheet in the amount of approximately $71,000, based on the fair value of the vehicle at the starting date of the lease. The net carrying value of the capital lease asset was approximately $68,000 as of June 30, 2017. The capital lease asset is being depreciated using the straight-line method over its estimated useful life expectancy of approximately seven years. As of June 30, 2017, the accumulated depreciation of the capital lease asset amounted to approximately $3,000.

At June 30, 2017, future minimum payments due under capital lease were:

	US$ thousands

2017		7
2018		13
2019		13
2020		32
Less: portion representing imputed interest		(12	)
Capital lease obligations		53

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) has been contemplating changes that impact capital leases. Any final changes resulting from the FASB are not expected to have a material impact on Zion’s financial statements as it relates to the capital lease described above.

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 7 - Commitments and Contingencies (cont’d)

D. Bank Guarantees

As of June 30, 2017, the Company provided bank guarantees to various governmental bodies (approximately $1,803,000) and others (approximately $85,000) with respect to its drilling operation in an aggregate amount of approximately $1,888,000. The (cash) funds backing these guarantees and additional amounts added to support currency fluctuations as required by the bank are held in restricted interest-bearing accounts and are reported on the Company’s balance sheets as fixed short-term bank deposits – restricted.

Note 8 - Subsequent Events

Between July 1, 2017 through July 31, 2017, approximately $6,650,000 was raised through the Company’s DSPP Program, including its most recent New Unit Program which terminated on July 12, 2017, as well as the exercise of outstanding warrants (ZNWAA, ZNWAC, ZNWAD, and ZNWAE) into Common Stock.

ITEM 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

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 THE “DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS” SECTION OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016, 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:

	●	our ability to explore for and develop oil and natural gas resources successfully and economically;

	●	our liquidity and our ability to raise capital to finance our exploration and development activities;

	●	the quality of our license areas with regard to, among other things, the existence of reserves in economic quantities;

	●	the likelihood of being granted new or revised petroleum exploration rights by Israeli authorities;

	●	the availability of equipment, such as drilling rigs, oil transport trucks, and transportation pipelines and the cost thereof;

	●	the impact of governmental regulations, permitting and other legal requirements in Israel relating to onshore exploratory drilling and production;

	●	our estimates of the timing and number of exploratory wells we expect to drill and other exploration activities and planned expenditures and the time frame within which they will be undertaken;

	●	changes in our drilling plans and related budgets;

	●	anticipated trends in our business;

	●	our future results of operations;

	●	our capital expenditure program;

	●	future market conditions in the oil and gas industry; and

	●	demand for oil and natural gas, both locally in Israel, regionally, and globally.

Overview

Zion Oil and Gas, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is an oil and gas exploration company with a history of over 17 years of oil and gas exploration in Israel. We were incorporated in Florida on April 6, 2000 and reincorporated in Delaware on July 9, 2003. We completed our initial public offering in January 2007. Our common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), currently trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “ZN.”

Zion currently holds one active petroleum exploration license onshore Israel, the Megiddo-Jezreel License (“MJL”), comprising approximately 99,000 acres. In December 2016, Zion and a local Israeli construction company executed a contract for the civil works and drill site construction at the Megiddo-Jezreel #1 location. The site was completed in early March, 2017. The drilling rig and associated equipment were mobilized to the site, performance and endurance tested, and the Megiddo-Jezreel #1 (“MJ #1) well was spud on June 5, 2017 and continues to drill as of the date of this report.

Depending on the results of the MJ#1 exploratory well and having adequate cash resources, multiple wells could be drilled from this pad site, as several subsurface geologic targets can be reached using directional well trajectories.

At present, we have no revenues or operating income. Our ability to generate future revenues and operating cash flow will depend on the successful exploration and exploitation of our current and any future petroleum rights or the acquisition of oil and/or gas producing properties, and the volume and timing of such production. In addition, even if we are successful in producing oil and gas in commercial quantities, our results will depend upon commodity prices for oil and gas, as well as operating expenses including taxes and royalties.

Our executive offices are located at 12655 North Central Expressway, Suite 1000, Dallas, Texas 75243, and our telephone number is (214) 221-4610. Our branch office’s address in Israel is 9 Halamish Street, North Industrial Park, Caesarea 3088900, and the telephone number is +972-4-623-8500. Our website address is: www.zionoil.com.

Current Exploration and Operation Efforts

Megiddo-Jezreel Petroleum License

Zion currently holds one active petroleum exploration license onshore Israel, the Megiddo-Jezreel License (covering an area of approximately 99,000 acres – See Map 1). Under Israeli law, Zion has an exclusive right to oil and gas exploration in our license area in that no other company may drill there. In the event we drill an oil or gas discovery in our license area, current Israeli law entitles us to convert the relevant portions of our license to a 30-year production lease, extendable to 50 years, subject to compliance with a field development work program and production.

Map 1. Zion’s Megiddo-Jezreel Petroleum Exploration License as of July, 2017.

The Megiddo-Jezreel License was awarded on December 3, 2013 for a three-year primary term through December 2, 2016, with the possibility of additional one-year extensions up to a maximum of seven years. The MJL (~99,000 acres) is onshore, south and west of the Sea of Galilee.

On October 6, 2016, Zion entered into a drilling contract with S.A. DAFLOG S.R.L., an Israeli-registered affiliate of DAFORA S.A. DAFORA is the largest drilling company in Romania and has drilled over 1,000 wells in Romania, Eastern Europe and East Africa. Zion is using DAFORA’s F-400 drilling rig which has a 3,000 HP capacity drawworks capable of drilling to over 7,000 meters (approximately 23,000 feet). This provides sufficient horsepower and safety factor to drill our planned well with a target depth of up to 4,500 meters (approximately 15,000 feet).

The process of securing an appropriate drilling rig and crew with which to drill the MJ #1 exploratory well was long and complicated. As such, Zion submitted a drilling date extension request to the Petroleum Commissioner on November 7, 2016. On November 29, 2016, the Company received notification from the State of Israel’s Petroleum Commissioner officially approving the Company’s drilling date extension.

The MJ #1 well was spud on June 5, 2017 and is currently drilling. As of the date of this report, the Company has cash resources to drill the well to the planned total depth of 4,500 meters (approximately 15,000 feet) and perform its completion services.

Zion’s Former Asher-Menashe and Joseph Licenses

Zion has plugged all of its previous exploratory wells on its former Asher-Menashe and Joseph License areas, and the reserve pits have been evacuated, but acknowledges its obligation to complete the abandonment of these well sites in accordance with guidance from the Energy Ministry, Environmental Ministry and local officials. We continue to make significant progress toward fully abandoning all these sites.

Onshore Licensing, Oil and Gas Exploration and Environmental Guidelines

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 and other obligations as they relate to the drilling of oil and gas wells or the operation thereof. Various guidelines have been published in Israel by the State of Israel’s Petroleum Commissioner, the Energy Ministry, and the Environmental Ministry since 2012 as it pertains to oil and gas activities. Mention of these guidelines was included in previous Zion Oil & Gas filings.

We believe that these new regulations are likely to increase the expenditures associated with obtaining new exploration rights and drilling new wells. The company expects that an additional financial burden could occur as a result of the Ministry requiring cash reserves that could otherwise be used for operational purposes.

Capital Resources Highlights

As of the date of this report, Zion has adequate funds to finance the drilling and completion of our MJ #1 exploratory well and maintain orderly operations through January 2018. To date, we have funded our operations through the issuance of our securities and convertible debt. We will need to continue to raise funds through the issuance of equity and/or debt securities (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities) or have positive operational income in order to finance our exploration activities beyond January 2018. No assurance can be provided that we will be successful in raising the needed equity or obtaining positive operational income on terms favorable to us (or at all).

The Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan

As of May 2, 2017, any outstanding ZNWAB warrants expired.

On May 22, 2017, the Company launched a new unit offering (the "New Unit Program”). The New Unit Program consisted of a new combination of common stock and warrants, a new time period in which to purchase through the program, and a new unit price, but otherwise the same unit program features, conditions and terms in the Prospectus Supplement applied. The Company’s New Unit Program began on May 22, 2017 and terminated on July 12, 2017. This New Unit Program enabled participants to purchase Units of the Company's securities where each Unit (priced at $250.00 each) was comprised of (i) a certain number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing $250.00 (the price of one Unit) by the average of the high and low sale prices of the Company’s publicly traded common stock as reported on the NASDAQ on the unit purchase date and (ii) Common Stock purchase warrants to purchase an additional twenty five (25) shares of Common Stock. Each warrant affords the investor or stockholder the opportunity to purchase one share of the Company’s Common Stock at a warrant exercise price of $1.00.

The warrant has the symbol “ZNWAF.”

All ZNWAF warrants will first become exercisable on August 14, 2017, which is the first trading day after the 31st day following the unit option termination date (i.e., on July 12, 2017) and continue to be exercisable through August 14, 2020 (3 years) at a per share exercise price of $1.00. If the Common Stock of the Company trades above $5.00 per share as the closing price for fifteen (15) consecutive trading days at any time prior to the expiration date of the warrant, the Company has the sole discretion to provide a Notice to warrant holders of an early termination of the warrant within sixty (60) days of the Notice.

As of June 30, 2017, the number of outstanding warrants for each warrant issue is shown below:

Warrant	ZNWAA		ZNWAC		ZNWAD		ZNWAE		ZNWAF
Exercise Price/Warrant	$	2.00	$	1.00	$	1.00	$	1.00	$	1.00
Outstanding/Exercisable Warrants as of June 30, 2017		1,561,595		300,912		316,637		3,706,361		163,450

For the six months ended June 30, 2017, approximately $8,539,000 was raised under the DSPP program

The total amount of funds received from the DSPP, including the exercise of warrants, from the inception date through June 30, 2017 is approximately $21,564,000.

The price and the expiration dates for the series of warrants to investors are as follows:

	Period of Grant	US$	Expiration Date

ZNWAA Warrants	March 2013 – December 2014	2.00	January 31, 2020
ZNWAC Warrants	January 2015 – March 2016	1.00	May 02, 2018
ZNWAD Warrants	January 2015 – March 2016	1.00	May 02, 2019
ZNWAE Warrants	November 2016 – March 2017	1.00	May 01, 2020
ZNWAF Warrants	May 2017– July 2017	1.00	August 14, 2020

10% Senior Convertible Notes due May 2, 2021

On October 21, 2015, we filed with the SEC a prospectus supplement for a rights offering. Under the rights offering, the Company distributed at no cost, 360,000 non-transferable subscription rights to subscribe for, on a per right basis, two 10% Convertible Senior Bonds par $100 due May 2, 2021 (the “Notes”), to persons who owned shares of the Company’s Common Stock on October 15, 2015, the record date for the offering. Each whole subscription right entitled the participant to purchase two convertible bonds at a purchase price of $100 per bond. Effective October 21, 2015, the Company executed a Supplemental Indenture, as issuer, with the American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, a New York limited liability trust company (“AST”), as trustee for the Notes (the “Indenture”).

The offering was originally scheduled to terminate on January 15, 2016 but was extended to March 31, 2016. On March 31, 2016, the rights offering terminated.

Interest and principal may be paid, at the Company’s option, in cash or in shares of the Company’s Common Stock. The number of shares for the payment of interest in shares of Common Stock, in lieu of the cash amount, will be based on the average of the closing prices of the Company’s Common Stock as reported by Bloomberg L.P. for the 30 trading days preceding the record date for the payment of interest; such record date has been designated and will always be the 10th business day prior to the interest payment date on May 2 of each year. The number of shares for the payment of principal, in lieu of the cash amount, shall be based upon the average of the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock as reported by Bloomberg L.P. for the 30 trading days preceding the principal repayment date; such record date has been designated as the trading day immediately prior to the 30-day period preceding the maturity date of May 2, 2021. Fractional shares will not be issued, and the final number of shares will be rounded up to the next whole share.

For the six months ended June 30, 2017, and for the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company recognized interest expense of approximately $171,000 and $231,000, respectively, related to the Notes, payable for the first time and in arrears on May 2, 2017.

On May 2, 2017, the Company paid its annual 10% interest to its bondholders of record on April 18, 2017. The interest was paid-in-kind.

Principal Components of our Cost Structure

Our operating and other expenses primarily consist of the following:

●

Impairment of Unproved Oil and Gas Properties: Impairment expense is recognized if a determination is made that a well will not be able to be commercially productive. The amounts include amounts paid in respect of the drilling operations as well as geological and geophysical costs and various amounts that were paid to Israeli regulatory authorities.

	●	General and Administrative Expenses: Overhead, including payroll and benefits for our corporate staff, costs of managing our exploratory operations, audit and other professional fees, and legal compliance are included in general and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses also include non-cash stock-based compensation expense, investor relations related expenses, lease and insurance and related expenses.

	●	Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization and Accretion: The systematic expensing of the capital costs incurred to explore for natural gas and oil represents a principal component of our cost structure. As a full cost company, we capitalize all costs associated with our exploration, and apportion these costs to each unit of production, if any, through depreciation, depletion and amortization expense. As we have yet to have production, the costs of abandoned wells are written off immediately versus being included in this amortization pool.

Going Concern Basis

Since we have limited capital resources, no revenue to date and a loss from operations, our 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. 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. Therefore, there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The 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.

Impairment of 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.

Our oil and gas property represents an investment in unproved properties. Oil and gas property in general is 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. 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 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.

The total net book value of our unproved oil and gas properties under the full cost method was $11,455,000 at June 30, 2017.

Asset Retirement Obligation

We record a liability for any 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.

Fair Value Considerations

The Company follows ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” as amended by Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Financial Staff Position (FSP) No. 157 and related guidance. Those provisions relate to the Company’s financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value and the fair value disclosures related to financial assets and liabilities. ASC 820 defines fair value, expands related disclosure requirements, and specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on the nature of the inputs used to develop the fair value measures. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received from the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, assuming the transaction occurs in the principal or most advantageous market for that asset or liability.

There are three levels of inputs to fair value measurements - Level 1, meaning the use of quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets; Level 2, meaning the use of quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active or are directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, meaning the use of unobservable inputs. The Company uses Level 1 inputs for its fair value measurements whenever there is an active market, with actual quotes, market prices, and observable inputs on the measurement date. The Company uses Level 2 inputs for fair value measurements whenever there are quoted prices for similar securities in an active market or quoted prices for identical securities in an inactive market. The Company uses observable market data whenever available. The company uses Level 3 inputs in the Binomial Model used for the valuation of the derivative liability.

Derivative Liabilities

In accordance with ASC 815-40-25 and ASC 815-10-15 Derivatives and Hedging and ASC 480-10-25 Liabilities-Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, the embedded derivatives associated with the Convertible Bonds are accounted for as liabilities during the term of the related Convertible Bonds.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

	For the three months ended June 30					For the six months ended June 30
	2017		2016			2017		2016
	(US $ in thousands)					(US $ in thousands)

Operating costs and expenses:
General and administrative expenses		1,233		3,260			4,080		4,432
Other		774		614			1,450		1,005
Subtotal Operating costs and expenses		2,007		3,874			5,530		5,437

Loss (gain) on derivative liability		2,853		(502	)		2,580		(502	)

Other expense, net		111		98			236		87

Net loss		4,971		3,470			8,346		5,022

Revenue. We currently have no revenue generating operations.

Operating costs and expenses. Operating costs and expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 were $2,007,000 and $5,530,000, respectively, compared to $3,874,000 and $5,437,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016. The decrease in operating costs and expenses during the three months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 is primarily attributable to a decrease in general and administrative expenses driven by the non-cash expenses associated with stock option grants, offset by an increase in other expenses. The increase in operating costs and expenses during the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 is immaterial.

General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 were $1,233,000 and $4,080,000, respectively, compared to $3,260,000 and $4,432,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016. The decrease in general and administrative expenses during each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding periods in 2016 is primarily attributable to higher non-cash expenses recorded in connection with stock option grants during 2016.

Other expenses. Other expenses during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 were $774,000 and $1,450,000, respectively, compared to $614,000 and $1,005,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016. Other general and administrative expenses are comprised of non-compensation and non-professional expenses incurred. The increase in other general and administrative expenses during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 is primarily attributable to higher marketing expenses. During 2017, Zion increased its spending on Facebook which in turn increased the numbers of new Zion followers. Requests for Zion marketing packs increased which caused an increase in postage expenses.

Other expense, net. Other expense, net for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 were $111,000 and $236,000, respectively, compared to $98,000 and $87,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016. The increase in other expense, net during each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 is primarily attributable to interest expense associated with our convertible bonds recorded during 2017.

Net Loss. Net loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 was $4,971,000 and $8,346,000, respectively, compared to $3,470,000 and $5,022,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity is a measure of a company’s ability to meet potential cash requirements. As discussed above, we have historically met our capital requirements through the issuance of our securities as well as proceeds from the issuance of convertible debt, as well as proceeds from the exercise of warrants and options to purchase common equity.

Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon obtaining the necessary financing to complete further exploration and development activities and generate profitable operations from our oil and natural gas interests in the future. Our current operations are dependent upon the adequacy of our current assets to meet our current expenditure requirements and the accuracy of management’s estimates of those requirements. Should those estimates be materially incorrect, our ability to continue as a going concern will be impaired. Our unaudited interim financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2017 have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. We have incurred a history of operating losses and negative cash flows from operations. Therefore, there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

At June 30, 2017, we had approximately $3,828,000 in cash and cash equivalents compared to $3,192,000 at December 31, 2016, which does not include any restricted funds (see below). Our working capital (current assets minus current liabilities) was $1,196,000 at June 30, 2017 and $3,025,000 at December 31, 2016.

As of June 30, 2017, we provided bank guarantees required by various governmental bodies (approximately $1,803,000) and others (approximately $85,000) with respect to our planned exploratory drilling operations in the aggregate amount of approximately $1,888,000. The (cash) funds securing these guarantees and additional amounts added to support currency fluctuations as required by the bank are held in interest-bearing accounts and are reported on the Company’s balance sheets as fixed short- term bank deposits – restricted.

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, cash used in operating activities totaled $4,206,000. Cash provided by financing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2017 was $8,535,000 and is primarily attributable to proceeds received from the DSPP. Net cash used in investing activities such as unproved oil and gas properties, other assets and restricted bank deposits was $3,693,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2017.

We expect to incur additional significant expenditures to further our exploration program. We estimate that, when we are not actively drilling a well, our expenditures are approximately $530,000 per month excluding exploratory operational activities. However, when we become engaged in active drilling operations, we estimate an additional minimum expenditure of approximately $2,500,000 per month. The above estimates are subject to change. Management believes that our existing cash balance, coupled with anticipated proceeds under the DSPP and/or proceeds from the exercise of warrants (ZNWAA, ZNWAC, ZNWAD, ZNWAE, and ZNWAF (beginning August 14, 2017)), will be sufficient to finance our plan of operations through January 2018. However, as of the date of this report, while we have more than enough cash on hand to drill and perform completion testing on the MJL exploratory well, we would need to raise additional capital to fund our activities beyond January 2018, including drilling any future exploratory wells.

There are factors that can adversely impact our ability to fund our operating needs, including (without limitation), unexpected or unforeseen cost overruns in our exploratory work (e.g., drilling and environmental permit acquisition costs, etc.) in our existing license area or plugging and abandonment activities.

Reference is made to the discussion above under Capital Resources Highlights for information relating to working capital that we raised through June 30, 2017.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not currently use any off-balance sheet arrangements to enhance our liquidity or capital resource position, or for any other purpose.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

The Company does not believe that the adoption of any recently issued accounting pronouncements in 2017 had a significant impact on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flow.

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 denominated in New Israeli Shekels (“NIS”). As a result, we have significant exposure to the risk of fluctuating exchange rates with the U.S. Dollar (“USD”), our primary reporting currency. Since December 31, 2016 and 2015 to June 30, 2017, the USD has fluctuated by approximately (9.1%) and (10.4%) respectively against the NIS. Continuing devaluation of the US dollar against the NIS will result in lower operating costs from NIS denominated expenses. To date, we have not hedged any of our currency exchange rate risks, but we may do so in the future.

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 June 30, 2017, we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term bank deposits, inclusive of restricted cash, of approximately $5,920,000. The weighted average annual interest rate related to our cash and cash equivalents for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was approximately 0.10%.

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.

ITEM 4.

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 SEC’s rules and forms. As of June 30, 2017, 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 June 30, 2017.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the quarter ended June 30, 2017, there were no changes made in our internal controls over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

From time to time, we may be subject to routine litigation, claims, or disputes in the ordinary course of business. We defend our company vigorously in all such matters. However, we cannot predict with certainty the outcome or effect of any of the litigation or investigatory matters or any other pending litigation or claims. There can be no assurance as to the ultimate outcome of these lawsuits and investigations.

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

During the quarter ended June 30, 2017, 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, 2016.

ITEM 2.

UNREGISTERED SALES OF SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

ITEM 3.

DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4.

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

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 under the Exchange Act

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 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished only)

101.INS*		XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH*		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

101.CAL*		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase

101.DEF*		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

101.LAB*		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase

101.PRE*		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

* Furnished herewith, XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) information is furnished and not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Section 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and otherwise not subject to liability under these sections.

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/ Victor G. Carrillo	By:	/s/ Michael B. Croswell Jr.
	Victor G. Carrillo		Michael B. Croswell Jr.
	Chief Executive Officer		Chief Financial Officer
	(Principal Executive Officer)		(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

Date:	August 11, 2017	Date:	August 11, 2017