ZION OIL & GAS INC - Quarter Report: 2018 June (Form 10-Q)

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, 2018; 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)

(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.

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 25, 2018, Zion Oil & Gas, Inc. had outstanding 59,333,575 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share.

INDEX PAGE

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Balance Sheets as of (Unaudited)

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

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

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

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (Unaudited)

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

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

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

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, are comprised as follows:

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Note 1 - Nature of Operations, Basis of Presentation and Going Concern

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 18 years of oil & gas exploration in Israel. As of June 30, 2018, the Company has no revenues from its oil and gas operations.

Exploration Rights/Exploration Activities

The Company currently holds one active petroleum exploration license onshore Israel, the Megiddo-Jezreel License, comprising approximately 99,000 acres. The Megiddo Jezreel #1 (“MJ #1”) site was completed in early March 2017, after which the drilling rig and associated equipment were mobilized to the site. Performance and endurance tests were completed, and the MJ #1 exploratory well was spud on June 5, 2017, ahead of the June 30, 2017 deadline under the then-existing license terms. The MJ #1 well has been drilled to a total depth (“TD”) of 5,060 meters (approximately 16,600 feet). Thereafter, the Company obtained three open-hole wireline log suites (including a formation image log) and the well was successfully cased and cemented. The Ministry of Energy approved the well testing protocol on April 29, 2018. We have begun our testing program and the Company expects that testing will be concluded in the third quarter of 2018.

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

Megiddo-Jezreel Petroleum License, No. 401 (“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 a maximum of seven years. The MJL lies onshore, south and west of the Sea of Galilee, and the Company continues its exploration focus here as it appears to possess the key geologic ingredients of an active petroleum system with significant exploration potential. In late November 2016, The State of Israel’s Petroleum Commissioner officially approved Zion’s drilling date and license extension request.

On October 30, 2017, the Company sought a multi-year extension to its existing license. After receiving feedback from Israel’s Petroleum Commissioner, the Company submitted a revised extension request on November 9, 2017. On November 20, 2017, Israel’s Petroleum Commissioner officially approved the Company’s multi-year extension request on its Megiddo-Jezreel License No. 401, extending its validity to December 2, 2019. Until recently, the Company remained subject to the following updated key license terms:

On June 1, 2018, Zion submitted its Megiddo-Jezreel #1 End of Well Report (EOWR) for the MJL, thus fulfilling our item No. 1 Final Report license work plan obligation, shown above. 

On June 14, 2018 Zion submitted its Application for Extension of Continued Work Program Due Date on the Megiddo-Jezreel License No. 401. The additional time was necessary because the Company had still not completed testing and evaluating all planned testing zones. On July 1, 2018, Israel’s Petroleum Commissioner granted Zion’s work program report extension to November 1, 2018, as shown below.

Therefore, Zion now has until November 1, 2018 to decide on and provide a continued work program for our license area and until late in 2019 to spud a 2^nd well.

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

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

As previously disclosed, the Company required authorization from the Israel Land Authority (the “ILA”), the formal lessor of the land to Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu, on whose property the drilling pad is currently situated, to access and utilize the drill site (“surface use agreement”). The Company received this authorization on July 4, 2016. This was preceded by the Company’s May 15, 2016 signed agreement with the kibbutz. On January 11, 2017, an agreement was signed by the Company and the ILA by which the surface usage permission agreement was extended through December 3, 2017. On December 31, 2017, an agreement was signed by the Company and the ILA by which the surface usage permission agreement was extended through December 3, 2019.

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, 2017. 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, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the year ending December 31, 2018 or for any other subsequent interim period.

C. Going Concern 

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. 

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, 2018, the Company incurred a net loss of approximately $7.5 million and had an accumulated deficit of approximately $168 million. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

To carry out planned operations, 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.

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

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 9,265,636 and 9,588,898 Common Stock equivalents in the six-month period ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 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.

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.

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, and 2017, the Company did not record a non-cash impairment charge of its unproved oil and gas properties (see Note 4).

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 $30,339,000 and $21,695,000 as of June 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017, 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.

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 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

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”) in order to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for those leases classified as operating leases under previous GAAP. ASU 2016-02 requires that a lessee should recognize a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term on the balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (including interim periods within those periods) using a modified retrospective approach and early adoption is permitted. Zion will adopt ASU 2016-02 in the first quarter of 2019. Presently, Zion has operating leases for office space in Dallas, Texas and in Caesarea, Israel plus various leases for motor vehicles, among others. Those leases, and new leases entered in the future, will be accounted for under ASU 2016-02 in 2019 by establishing a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) (“ASU 2016-18”) to address the diversity that exists in the classification and presentation of restricted cash on the Statement of Cash Flows. The Company has adopted ASU 2016-18 and any applicable changes in the classification and presentation of restricted cash have been reflected in its Statement of Cash Flows.

Note 3 - Stockholders’ Equity

A. 2011 Equity Incentive Stock Option Plan

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company granted the following options from the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan for employees, directors and consultants, to purchase as non-cash compensation (the exercise of penny stock options is taxable at full market value on the date of exercise):

B. 2011 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, 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:

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 3 - Stockholders’ Equity (cont’d)

C. Stock Options

The stock option transactions since January 1, 2018 are shown in the table below:

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding as of June 30, 2018:

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:

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:

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.

D. 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 non-employees and capitalized to Unproved Oil & Gas properties:

As of June 30, 2018, there was approximately $191,000 of unrecognized compensation cost, related to non-vested stock options granted under the Company’s various stock option plans. The cost is expected to be recognized during the years 2018 and 2019.

E. 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 directly from the Company. 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.

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 3 - Stockholders’ Equity (cont’d)

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 participant the opportunity to purchase the Company’s Common Stock at a warrant exercise price of $1.00. Each of the three warrants series has different expiration dates that have been extended.

The warrants became exercisable on May 2, 2016 and, in the case of ZNWAB continued to be exercisable through May 2, 2017 (1 year) and, in the case of ZNWAC continued to be exercisable through 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.

As of May 2, 2018, any outstanding ZNWAC warrants expired.

On November 1, 2016, the Company launched a unit offering (the “Unit Program”) under the Company’s DSPP pursuant to which participants could purchase units comprised of seven shares of Common Stock and seven Common Stock purchase warrants, at a per unit purchase price of $10. The warrant is referred to as “ZNWAE.”

The ZNWAE warrants became exercisable on May 1, 2017 and continue to be exercisable through May 1, 2020 at a per share exercise price of $1.00. The warrant terms provide that 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 may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the termination of the warrant upon providing 60 days advanced notice to the 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), 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 New Unit Program 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) the 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 Common Stock as reported on the NASDAQ on the unit purchase date and (ii) Common Stock purchase warrants to purchase an additional 25 shares of Common Stock at a warrant exercise price of $1.00 per share. The warrant is referred to as ZNWAF.”

All ZNWAF warrants became exercisable on August 14, 2017 and continue to be exercisable through August 14, 2020 at a per share exercise price of $1.00. The warrant terms provide that if the Company’s Common Stock trades above $5.00 per share as 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 accelerate the termination date of the warrant upon providing 60 days advanced notice to the warrant holders.

On October 16, 2017, the Company initiated another Unit Option Program which terminated on December 6, 2017. This 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 Common Stock as reported on the NASDAQ on the unit purchase date and (ii) Common Stock purchase warrants to purchase an additional 15 shares of Common Stock at a warrant exercise price of $1.00 per share. The warrant is referred to as “ZNWAG.”

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 3 - Stockholders’ Equity (cont’d)

The warrants became exercisable on January 8, 2018 and continue to be exercisable through January 8, 2021 at a per share exercise price of $1.00. The warrant terms provide that if the Company’s Common Stock trades above $5.00 per share as 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 accelerate the termination date of the warrant upon providing 60 days advanced notice to the warrant holders.

On February 1, 2018, the Company’s latest Unit Option began and terminated on February 28, 2018. The Unit Option consisted of Units of our securities where each Unit (priced at $250.00 each) was comprised of (i) 50 shares of Common Stock and (ii) Common Stock purchase warrants to purchase an additional 50 shares of Common Stock. The investor’s Plan account was credited with the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock acquired under the Units purchased. Each warrant affords the investor the opportunity to purchase one share of Company Common Stock at a warrant exercise price of $5.00. The warrant is referred to as “ZNWAH.”

The warrants became exercisable on April 2, 2018 and continue to be exercisable through April 2, 2019 at a per share exercise price of $5.00.

For the six months ended June 30, 2018, approximately $5,953,000 was raised under the DSPP program.

The warrants represented by the ticker ZNWAA are tradable on the NASDAQ market. However, all of the other warrants characterized above, in the table below, and throughout this Form 10-Q, are not tradeable and are used internally for classification and accounting purposes only.

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 3 - Stockholders’ Equity (cont’d)

E. Warrant Descriptions

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

F. Subscription Rights Offering

On April 2, 2018 the Company announced an offering (“2018 Subscription Rights Offering”) through American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “Subscription Agent”), at no cost to the shareholders, of non-transferable Subscription Rights to purchase Rights (each “Right” and collectively, the “Rights”) of its securities to persons who owned shares of our Common Stock on April 13, 2018 (“the Record Date”). Pursuant to the 2018 Subscription Rights Offering, each holder of shares of common stock on the Record Date received non-transferable rights to subscribe for Rights, with each Right comprised of one share of the Company Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”) and one Common Stock Purchase Warrant to purchase an additional one share of Common Stock. Each Right may be purchased at a per Right subscription price of $5.00. Each Warrant affords the investor the opportunity to purchase one share of the Company Common Stock at a warrant exercise price of $3.00. The warrants will become exercisable on June 29, 2018 and will continue to be exercisable for one year thereafter. The warrant has the symbol “ZNWAI.”

Each shareholder received .10 (one tenth) of a subscription right (i.e. one subscription right for each 10 shares owned) for each share of the Company’s Common Stock owned on the Record Date.

The 2018 Subscription Rights Offering terminated on May 31, 2018. The Company raised net proceeds of approximately $3,081,000, from the sale of the Rights, after deducting fees and expenses of $200,000 incurred in connection with the rights offering.

G. Warrant Table

The warrant transactions since January 1, 2018 are shown in the table below:

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:

Changes in Unproved oil and gas properties during the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:

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 shareholders 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”).

On March 31, 2016, the rights offering terminated.

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 5 - Senior Convertible Bonds (cont’d)

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 6). 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, 2018, the Company recorded approximately $13,000 in amortization expense related to the deferred financing costs, approximately $161,000 in debt discount amortization, and approximately $84,000 related to financing costs associated with notes converted to shares. 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.

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.

On May 2, 2018, the Company paid its annual 10% interest to its bondholders of record on April 18, 2018. The interest was paid-in-kind (“PIK”) in the form of Common Stock. An average of the Company stock price of $4.68 was determined based on the 30 trading days prior to the record date of April 18, 2018. This figure was used to divide into 10% of the par value of the bonds held by the holders. The Company issued 70,780 shares to the accounts of its bondholders.

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 was 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 due May 2021.

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 5 - Senior Convertible Bonds (cont’d)

Through the six months ended June 30, 2018 approximately 844 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 37,000 shares of its Common Stock and recorded approximately $84,000 in financial expenses during the same period.

The Company recognized $156,000 in capitalized interest for the six months ended June 30, 2018.

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, 2018, the Company’s liabilities that are measured at fair value are as follows:

Change in value of derivative liability during 2018 are as follows:

The following table presents the assumptions that were used for the model as of June 30, 2018:

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company recorded a loss of approximately $2,566,000 (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.

B. Investigation

On June 21, 2018, Zion received a subpoena to produce documents from the Fort Worth office of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), informing the Company of the existence of a non-public, fact-finding inquiry into the Company. Zion, an SEC-reporting company with audited financial statements in the US and Israel for over a decade, is fully cooperating with this investigation. Until receipt of the subpoena on June 21, 2018, Zion had no previous communication with the SEC on this issue and was unaware of this investigation. The SEC stated that “the investigation and the subpoena do not mean that we have concluded that [Zion] or anyone else has violated the law.”

On July 11, 2018, Zion filed a current report on Form 8-K disclosing the SEC investigation and stating that it will fully cooperate with the investigation. Until the receipt of the subpoena on June 21, 2018, Zion had no previous communication with the SEC on this issue and was unaware of this investigation.

The Company cannot predict with certainty the outcome or effect of any such investigation or whether it will lead to any claim or litigation.

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 7 - Commitments and Contingencies (cont’d)

C. 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 as it pertains to oil and gas activities. Mention of these older guidelines was included in previous Zion Oil & Gas filings.

On December 27, 2017, the Energy Ministry published a document entitled The Petroleum Commissioner’s Guidelines for Approving a Discovery. New field discoveries will need to adhere to these new regulations.

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

D. Bank Guarantees

As of June 30, 2018, the Company provided Israeli-required bank guarantees to various governmental bodies (approximately $1,290,000) and others (approximately $82,000) with respect to its drilling operation in an aggregate amount of approximately $1,372,000. 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, and fixed long-term bank deposits – restricted.

Note 8 - Governmental Receivables

At June 30, 2018, governmental receivables included approximately $537,000 due from The State of Israel for VAT refunds and an additional $31,000 from the State of Israel for BLO refunds.

Note 9 - Subsequent Events

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, 2017, 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:

Overview

Zion Oil and Gas, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is an oil and gas exploration company with a history of over 18 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” and our Common Stock warrant under the symbol “ZNWAA.”

The Company currently holds one active petroleum exploration license onshore Israel, the Megiddo-Jezreel License, comprising approximately 99,000 acres. The Megiddo Jezreel #1 (“MJ #1”) site was completed in early March 2017, after which the drilling rig and associated equipment were mobilized to the site. Performance and endurance tests were completed, and the MJ #1 exploratory well was spud on June 5, 2017, ahead of the June 30, 2017 deadline under the then-existing license terms. The MJ #1 well has been drilled to a total depth (“TD”) of 5,060 meters (approximately 16,600 feet). Thereafter, the Company obtained three open-hole wireline log suites (including a formation image log) and the well was successfully cased and cemented. The Ministry of Energy approved the well testing protocol on April 29, 2018. We have begun our testing program and depending on the success of the MJ#1 testing results, the Company expects that testing will be concluded in the third quarter of 2018.

Zion encountered movable oil and gas in the well’s drilling mud during drilling. However, as of the date of this report on Form 10-Q, we are not able to confirm whether the well will be commercially productive and we will not be able to do so until after we complete testing and evaluating the MJ#1 well.

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 are reachable 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 2018.

The Megiddo-Jezreel License (No. 401) 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 Megiddo-Jezreel License lies onshore, south and west of the Sea of Galilee and we continue our exploration focus here as it appears to possess the key geologic ingredients of an active petroleum system with significant exploration potential. In late November 2016, The State of Israel’s Petroleum Commissioner officially approved Zion’s drilling date extension request.

On October 30, 2017, the Company sought a multi-year extension to its existing license. After receiving feedback from Israel’s Petroleum Commissioner, the Company submitted a revised extension request on November 9, 2017. On November 20, 2017, Israel’s Petroleum Commissioner officially approved Zion’s multi-year extension request on its Megiddo-Jezreel License No. 401, extending its validity to December 2, 2019. Until recently, the Company remained subject to the following updated key license terms:

On June 1, 2018, Zion submitted its Megiddo-Jezreel #1 End of Well Report (EOWR) for the Megiddo-Jezreel License No.  401, thus fulfilling its No. 1 Final Report license work plan obligation, shown above. 

On June 14, 2018 Zion submitted its Application for Extension of Continued Work Program Due Date on the Megiddo-Jezreel License No. 401.  The additional time was necessary because we had still not completed testing and evaluating all planned testing zones. On July 1, 2018, Israel’s Petroleum Commissioner granted Zion’s work program report extension to November 1, 2018, as shown below.

Therefore, Zion has until November 1, 2018 to decide on and provide a continued work program for its license area and until late in 2019 to spud a 2^nd well.

Although the Company’s MJ #1 well has reached its total depth and is currently undergoing formation testing, as of the date of this report on Form 10-Q, the Company is not able to confirm whether the well will be commercially productive and will not be able to do so until after fully testing and evaluating the well.

Depending on the final outcome and results of the currently active MJ #1 well and having adequate cash resources, multiple wells could be drilled from this pad site as several subsurface geologic targets are reachable using directional well trajectories.

We continue our exploration focus on our Megiddo-Jezreel License area as that area appears to possess the key geologic ingredients of an active petroleum system.

Zion’s Former Asher-Menashe and Joseph Licenses

Zion has plugged all of its 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.

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 in recent years as it pertains to oil and gas activities. Mention of these guidelines was included in previous Zion Oil & Gas filings.

On December 27, 2017, the Energy Ministry published a document entitled The Petroleum Commissioner’s Guidelines for Approving a Discovery. New field discoveries will need to adhere to these new regulations.

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

Capital Resources Highlights

We need to raise significant funds to finance the continued exploration and production efforts and maintain orderly operations. 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). No assurance can be provided that we will be successful in raising the needed equity on terms favorable to us (or at all).

The Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan

On March 27, 2014, the Company launched its Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (the “DSPP”) pursuant to which stockholders and interested investors could 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 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), in which the three (3) year period was ending 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.

Please see Footnote 3E (“Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (“DSPP”)), which is a part of this Form 10-Q filing, for details about specific unit programs, dates, and filings during the years 2015 through 2017.

For the six months ended June 30, 2018, approximately $5,953,000 was raised under the DSPP program. Of this amount, approximately $1,439,000 was received through the exercise of warrants, representing 24% of the $5,953,000 total received.

The Warrants transactions since January 1, 2018 are shown in the table below:

According to the warrant table, the Company could potentially raise up to approximately $9,839,000 if all outstanding warrants were exercised by its holders.

10% Senior Convertible Notes due May 2, 2021

Please see Footnote 5 (“Senior Convertible Bonds”), which is a part of this Form 10-Q filing, for a description and details about the Bonds.”

2018 Subscription Rights Offering

Please see Footnote 3F (“Subscription Rights Offering”), which is a part of this Form 10-Q filing, for a description of and details about said Subscription Rights Offering.

Principal Components of our Cost Structure

Our operating and other expenses primarily consist of the following:

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 properties represent 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. 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.

During the six months end June 30, 2018, and 2017, the Company did not record any non-cash impairment.

The total net book value of our unproved oil and gas properties under the full cost method was $30,339,000 at June 30, 2018.

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.

Fair Value Considerations

We follow 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. We use Level 1 inputs for fair value measurements whenever there is an active market, with actual quotes, market prices, and observable inputs on the measurement date. We use 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. We use observable market data whenever available. We use 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

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, 2018 were $2,016,000 and $4,528,000 compared to $2,007,000 and $5,530,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017. The slight increase in operating costs and expenses during the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017 is immaterial. The decrease in operating costs and expenses during the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017 is primarily attributable to decrease in general and administrative expenses driven by the non-cash expenses associated with stock option grants, and by a decrease in other expenses.

General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 were $1,336,000 and $3,295,000, compared to $1,233,000 and $4,080,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017. The increase in general and administrative expenses during the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017 is primarily attributable to higher non-cash expenses recognized and recorded in connection with stock option grants during 2018. The decrease in general and administrative expenses during the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017 is primarily attributable to higher non-cash expenses recorded in connection with stock option granted during 2017.

Other expenses. Other expenses during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 were $680,000 and $1,233,000, compared to $774,000 and $1,450,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017. Other general and administrative expenses are comprised of non-compensation and non-professional expenses incurred. The decrease in other general and administrative expenses during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017 is primarily attributable to less marketing expenses associated with investor relations activities.

Loss, (gain) on derivative liability. Loss, (gain) on derivative liability during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 were ($968,000) and $2,566,000, compared to $2,853,000 and $2,580,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017. An embedded derivative is contained within the valuation of Zion’s $100 convertible bond offering which closed in March 2016. The (gain) loss on derivative liability during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the loss on derivative liability during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 is primarily due to the change in the share price of our common stock that occurred during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018.

Other expense, net. Other expense, net for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 were $193,000 and $398,000, compared to $111,000 and $236,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017. The increase in other expense, net during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017 is primarily attributable to exchange rate differences associated with the fluctuating exchange rates of the New Israeli Shekels (“NIS”) with the U.S. Dollar (“USD”).

Net Loss. Net loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 were $1,241,000 and $7,492,000 compared to $4,971,000 and $8,346,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017.

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, 2018 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, 2018, we had approximately $5,937,000 in cash and cash equivalents compared to $6,892,000 at December 31, 2017, which does not include any restricted funds. Our working capital (current assets minus current liabilities) was $(1,182,000) at June 30, 2018 and $3,646,000 at December 31, 2017. The derivative liability at June 30, 2018 was $4,432,000 and this non-cash liability negatively impacts the working capital figure. Our working capital balances, exclusive of the non-cash derivative liability amounts, were $3,250,000 at June 30, 2018 and $5,512,000 at December 31, 2017.

As of June 30, 2018, we provided bank guarantees to various governmental bodies (approximately $1,290,000) and others (approximately $82,000) in respect of our drilling operation in the aggregate amount of approximately $1,372,000. 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, and fixed long-term bank deposits – restricted.

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, cash used in operating activities totaled $2,325,000. Cash provided by financing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $9,047,000 and is primarily attributable to proceeds received from the DSPP and the Subscription Rights Offering. Net cash used in investing activities, primarily for oil and gas exploration and testing on the MJ#1 well, and other assets was $8,413,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2018.

We expect to incur additional significant expenditures to further our exploration and development programs. We estimate that, when we are not actively drilling a well, our expenditures are approximately $600,000 per month excluding exploratory operational activities. However, when we are actively drilling, testing or completing a well, we estimate an additional minimum expenditure of approximately $1,600,000 per month. The above estimates are subject to change. Management believes that our existing cash balance, coupled with anticipated proceeds under the DSPP, will be sufficient to finance our plan of operations, through September 2018.

We will need to raise funds in order to drill our next exploratory well to the desired depth and to conduct any post drilling testing that may be required.

Reference is made to the discussion above under Capital Resources Highlights for information relating to working capital that we raised through June 30, 2018.

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 2018 had a significant impact on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flow.

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. During the period January 1, 2018 through June 30, 2018, the USD has fluctuated by approximately 5.3% against the NIS. During the period January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017, the USD fluctuated by approximately (9.8%) against the NIS. Continuing devaluation of the US dollar against the NIS will result in higher 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, 2018, we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term bank deposits, inclusive of restricted cash, of approximately $6,458,000. The weighted average annual interest rate related to our cash and cash equivalents for the six months ended June 30, 2018 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.

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, 2018, 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, 2018.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the quarter ended June 30, 2018, 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

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.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Subpoena

On June 21, 2018, we received a subpoena to produce documents from the Fort Worth office of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), informing the Company of the existence of a non-public, fact-finding inquiry into the Company. Until receipt of the subpoena on June 21, 2018, Zion had no previous communication with the SEC on this issue and was unaware of this investigation. The SEC stated that “the investigation and the subpoena do not mean that we have concluded that [Zion] or anyone else has violated the law.”   

We are cooperating with the SEC in this investigation. We are unable to predict when this matter will be resolved or what further action, if any, SEC may take in connection with it.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2018, Zion added one additional risk factor when compared to the risk factors previously reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. The new risk factor pertains to the SEC subpoena to produce documents on June 21, 2018.

On June 21, 2018, the Fort Worth Regional Office of the SEC informed Zion that it is conducting an investigation and requested that we voluntarily provide certain information and documents in connection with its investigation. We are cooperating fully with the SEC in connection with its investigation. Investigations of this nature are inherently uncertain and their results cannot be predicted with certainty. Regardless of the outcome, the SEC investigation can have an adverse impact on us because of legal costs, diversion of management resources, and other factors. Determining reserves for this investigation is a fact-intensive process that requires significant judgment. The investigation could also result in reputational harm to Zion and may have a material adverse effect on Zion’s current and future business and exploratory activities and its ability to raise capital to continue our oil and gas exploratory activities.