Company: REI
Filing Date: 2025-03-05
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0001628280-25-010585
Chunk: 10

Company: RING ENERGY, INC.
Filing Date: 2025-03-05
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 7
Chunk 10
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retion decreased by $45,388 to $1,380,298 in 2024 from $1,425,686 in 2023. The primary drivers in this reduction of ARO accretion were the sale of our operated New Mexico assets, which closed in September of 2023 and the divestiture of our Delaware Basin assets, which closed in May 2023, along with other wells sold. This was offset by additional ARO accretion from wells acquired in the Founders Acquisition, which closed in August 2023, as well as new wells drilled in 2024.

Operating lease expense. Our operating lease expense increased by $158,561 to $700,362 in 2024 from $541,801 in 2023 due to additional office space leased in The Woodlands office, which was substantially completed in September 2023.

General and administrative expenses (including share-based compensation). General and administrative expenses increased approximately $0.5 million to $29.6 million in 2024 from $29.2 million in 2023. The increase was primarily related to an increase of $3.1 million increase in salaries, wages, and bonuses in 2024 coupled with the $0.6 million G&A costs reduction in 2023 related to the employee retention tax credit. This was offset by a $3.3 million reduction in share-based compensation.

Interest income. Interest income increased by $234,791 to $491,946 in 2024 from $257,155 in 2023. This was driven by the increase of $239,797 in sweep accounts interest income and $25,834 for severance tax refund interest income, offset by a decrease of $29,042 from the employee retention tax credit interest income of 2023, as well as $1,798 from the  interest earned on the escrow deposit made for the Founders Acquisition in 2023.

Interest expense. Interest expense decreased approximately $0.6 million to $43.3 million in 2024 from $43.9 million in 2023. The decrease was primarily the result of the deferred cash payment accretion of $0.6 million which was incurred in 2023, which was not required in 2024. Other changes include reductions in interest from our long-term credit facility, offset by an increase of interest on royalty suspense and deferred financing costs.

Gain (loss) on derivative contracts. During 2024, the Company incurred a loss