Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Oil and Natural Gas Properties

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Oil and Natural Gas Properties
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Oil and Natural Gas Properties [Abstract]  
Oil and Natural Gas Properties

Note 2 - Oil and Natural Gas Properties 

 

The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for its exploration and development activities. Under this method of accounting, the cost of both successful and unsuccessful exploration and development activities are capitalized as oil and gas properties. Such amounts include the cost of drilling and equipping productive wells, dry hole costs, lease acquisition costs, delay rentals, interest capitalized on unevaluated leases, other costs related to exploration and development activities, and site restoration, dismantlement and abandonment costs capitalized in accordance with asset retirement obligation accounting guidance. Costs capitalized also include any internal costs that are directly related to exploration and development activities, including salaries and benefits, but do not include any costs related to production, general corporate overhead or similar activities.

 

Under full cost accounting rules, the Company reviews the carrying value of its proved oil and natural gas properties each quarter. Under these rules, capitalized costs of oil and natural gas properties, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization and deferred income taxes, may not exceed the present value of estimated future net cash flows from proved oil and natural gas reserves, discounted at 10%, plus the lower of cost or fair value of unevaluated properties, net of related tax effects (the full cost ceiling). These rules generally require pricing based on the preceding 12-months’ average oil and natural gas prices based on closing prices on the first day of each month and require a write-down if the net capitalized costs of proved oil and natural gas properties exceeds the full cost ceiling. At September 30, 2015, the prices used in determining the estimated future net cash flows from proved reserves were $54.48 per barrel of oil and $3.53 per Mcf of natural gas. For the period ended September 30, 2015, the Company recognized a write-down of oil and natural gas properties of $87,301 as a result of the ceiling test limitation.