EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 319655
Filing Year: 2022
Filename: 319655_10-K_2022_0001193125-22-091987.json

---

ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
The Trust is an express trust created under the laws of the State of Texas by the San Juan Basin Royalty Trust Indenture entered into on November 1, 1980, between Southland Royalty Company (“Southland”) and The Fort Worth National Bank. Effective as of September 30, 2002, the original indenture was amended and restated and, effective as of December 12, 2007, the restated indenture was amended and restated, which we refer to as the “Indenture.” As a result of a series of mergers and other transactions, the current Trustee of the Trust is PNC Bank.
The Conveyance and the Royalty
Pursuant to the Net Overriding Royalty Conveyance (the “Conveyance”) effective November 1, 1980, Southland conveyed to the Trust a 75% net overriding royalty interest (the “Royalty”) that burdens certain of Southland’s oil and natural gas interests (the “Subject Interests”) in properties located in the San Juan Basin of northwestern New Mexico (the “San Juan Basin”). Subsequent to the Conveyance of the Royalty, through a series of sales, assignments and mergers, Hilcorp became Southland’s successor. Hilcorp acquired the Subject Interests from Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP (“Burlington”), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of ConocoPhillips on July 31, 2017. The Royalty functions generally as a net profits interest. Under the terms of the Conveyance, the Trust receives royalty income (“Royalty Income”) equal to 75% of Net Proceeds attributable to the Subject Interests. The term “Net Proceeds,” as used in the Conveyance, means the excess of Gross Proceeds received by Hilcorp during a particular period over production costs for such period. “Gross Proceeds” means the amount received by Hilcorp (or any subsequent owner of the Subject Interests) from the sale of the production attributable to the Subject Interests, subject to certain adjustments (e.g., fuel, gathering, and transportation). “Production costs” generally means costs incurred on an accrual basis by Hilcorp in operating the Subject Interests, including both capital and non-capital costs. For example, these costs include development drilling, production and processing costs, applicable taxes and operating charges. However, Hilcorp informed the Trust that, for wells operated by Hilcorp, it generally did not intend to accrue lease operating expenses to the Trust. If production costs exceed Gross Proceeds in any month, the excess is recovered out of future Gross Proceeds prior to the making of further payment to the Trust. The Trust is not otherwise liable for any production costs or other costs or liabilities attributable to the Subject Interests or the minerals produced therefrom. If at any time the Trust receives more than the amount due under the Royalty, it is not obligated to return such overpayment, but the amounts payable to it for any subsequent period are reduced by such amount, plus interest, at a rate specified in the Conveyance.
The Royalty constitutes the principal asset of the Trust. The Trust’s beneficial interest in the Royalty is divided into 46,608,796 units (the “Units”) representing undivided fractional interests in the beneficial interest of the Trust equal to the number of shares of the common stock of Southland outstanding as of the close of business on November 3, 1980. Each stockholder of Southland of record at the close of business on November 3, 1980 received one freely tradable Unit for each share of the common stock of Southland then held. Holders of Units are referred to herein as “Unit Holders.”
As of December 31, 2021, 98% of the Trust’s estimated proved reserves consisted of natural gas reserves, and 94% of the Gross Proceeds from the Subject Interests in 2021 were attributable to the production and sale of natural gas by Hilcorp as well as other proceeds. Accordingly, the market price for natural gas produced and sold from the San Juan Basin heavily influences the amount of Trust income available for distribution to the Unit Holders by the Trust and, by extension, the price of the Units. However, due to a variety of reasons, the market price index for natural gas produced from the San Juan basin does not completely align with the market price paid to Hilcorp. In addition, the market price paid for natural gas is seasonal because there is greater demand for natural gas used for heating purposes in the winter months and more energy requirements for air conditioning in the summer months than during the rest of the year.
The Trustee
The primary function of the Trustee is to collect the Royalty Income, to pay all expenses and charges of the Trust and to distribute the remaining available income to the Unit Holders. The Trust received approximately $37.6 million and $8.8 million in Royalty Income from Hilcorp in each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. After deducting administrative expenses and accounting for interest income and any change in cash reserves, the Trust distributed approximately $36 million and $7.4 million to Unit Holders in each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Trust’s corpus was approximately $3.7 million and $5.1 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Proceeds from production in the first month are generally received by Hilcorp in the second month, the Royalty Income is paid by Hilcorp to the Trustee in the third month, and distribution by the Trustee to the Unit Holders is made in the fourth month. Unit Holders of record as of the last business day of each month (the “monthly record date”) will be entitled to receive the calculated monthly distribution amount for such month on or before ten business days after the monthly record date. The amount of each monthly distribution will generally be determined and announced ten days before the monthly record date. The aggregate monthly distribution amount is the excess of (i) the Royalty Income paid to the Trustee, plus any decrease in cash reserves previously established for liabilities and contingencies of the Trust, over (ii) the expenses and payments of liabilities of the Trust, plus any net increase in cash reserves.
The Trustee may, in its sole discretion, establish a cash reserve for payment of Trust liabilities that are contingent or uncertain or otherwise not currently due and payable. As of December 31, 2021, the Trustee had established cash reserves of $1.0 million. In August 2021, the Trust utilized cash reserves of $150,148 to pay Trust administrative expenses. The Trustee replenished the cash reserves by $150,148 in September 2021 to bring the cash reserve balance to the previously established amount of $1.0 million. The Trustee does not anticipate any increase or decrease to the cash reserves in 2022.
Cash being held by the Trustee as cash reserves or pending distribution may be placed, in the Trustee’s discretion, in obligations issued by (or unconditionally guaranteed by) the United States or any agency thereof, repurchase agreements secured by obligations issued by the United States or any agency thereof, certificates of deposit of banks having capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $50 million or money market funds that have been rated at least AAm by Standard & Poor’s and at least Aa by Moody’s, subject, in each case, to certain other qualifying conditions. Currently, such funds are placed in interest-bearing money market accounts.
The other powers and duties of the Trustee are set forth in the Indenture and include the prosecution and defense of claims by and against the Trust, the engagement of consultants and professionals and the payment of Trust liabilities. If the Trustee determines that the Trust does not have sufficient funds to pay its liabilities, the Trustee may borrow funds on behalf of the Trust, in which case no distributions will be made to Unit Holders until such borrowings are repaid in full. The Trustee may not sell or dispose of any part of the assets of the Trust without the affirmative vote from the Unit Holders of 75% of all of the Units outstanding; however, the Trustee may sell up to 1% of the value of the Royalty (as determined pursuant to the Indenture) during any 12-month period without the consent of the Unit Holders if it determines such a sale is in the best interest of the Unit Holders. The Trust does not operate the Subject Interests and is not empowered to carry on any business activity. The Trust has no employees, officers or directors. All administrative functions of the Trust are performed by the Trustee.
Under the Indenture, the Trustee may act in its discretion in carrying out its powers and performing its duties and is liable only for fraud or for acts and omissions in bad faith. The Trustee is not liable for any act or omission of its agents or employees unless the Trustee acted in bad faith in its selection and retention of such agents or employees. The Indenture provides that the Trustee and its officers, agents and employees must be indemnified and receive reimbursement of expenses from the assets of the Trust for liabilities and claims incurred in the administration of the Trust, except for liabilities and claims arising from the Trustee’s fraud or bad faith.
The Trust has no employees, directors, or executive officers, and thus does not have a business need to focus on its human capital resources.
Duration of the Trust
The Trust will terminate if (a) its gross revenue for each of two successive years is less than $1 million per year or, if earlier, (b) the Unit Holders of at least 75% of all of the Units outstanding vote in favor of termination. Upon termination of the Trust, the Trustee must sell the Royalty and distribute the proceeds to Unit Holders after satisfying or establishing reserves to satisfy the liabilities of the Trust.
Hilcorp
The sale of San Juan Basin assets from Burlington to Hilcorp closed on July 31, 2017. Hilcorp is the operator of the majority of the Subject Interests, and as a result, Hilcorp’s actions could have a material impact on the results of operations and Hilcorp could have interests that conflict with the interests of the Trust and the Unit Holders. The Subject Interests that are not operated by Hilcorp are operated by other operators, some of which may be affiliated with Hilcorp. As an operator, Hilcorp has the obligation under the Conveyance to conduct its operations in accordance with reasonable and prudent business judgment and good oil and natural gas field practices. The development of the Subject Interests is conducted pursuant to operating and similar agreements to which the Trust is not a party and under which the Trust has no control or other rights to determine the location, timing and other key aspects of development and maintenance that may materially impact results of operations. Neither the Trustee nor the Unit Holders can influence or control the operation or future development of the Subject Interests.
Hilcorp’s interests may conflict with those of the Trust and the Unit Holders in situations involving the development, maintenance, operation or abandonment of the Subject Interests. Hilcorp has the right to abandon any well when, in its opinion, such well ceases to produce or is not capable of producing oil and natural gas in paying quantities, even though such well is still generating revenue for the Unit Holders. Hilcorp reserves the right to not participate in operations on the Subject Interests when it has a right to do so under the applicable operating or similar agreement. Hilcorp may make decisions with respect to expenditures and decisions to allocate resources to projects in other areas that adversely affect the Subject Interests, including reducing expenditures on these properties, which could cause oil and natural gas production to decline at a faster rate and thereby result in lower cash distributions by the Trust in the future. In addition, Hilcorp is not obligated to the Trust to maintain any particular types or amounts of insurance, and insurance may not be commercially available at adequate levels to cover its operational hazards at all times during the life of the Trust. If a well is damaged, Hilcorp would have no obligation to drill a replacement well or otherwise compensate the Trust for the loss. The Trust does not have insurance or indemnification to protect against losses or delays in receiving proceeds from such events.
Hilcorp also is responsible, subject to the terms of an agreement with the Trust, for marketing the production from such properties, either under existing sales contracts or under future arrangements, at the best prices and on the best terms it shall deem reasonably obtainable in the circumstances. Additionally, Hilcorp is obligated under the Conveyance to maintain books and records sufficient to determine the amounts payable to the Trustee.
Additional Information
The principal office of the Trust is located at 2200 Post Oak Blvd., Floor 18, Houston, Texas 77056 (toll-free telephone number (866) 809-4553). The Trust makes available (free of charge) its annual, quarterly and current reports (and any amendments thereto) filed with the SEC through its website at www.sjbrt.com as soon as reasonably practicable after electronically filing or furnishing such material with or to the SEC. The Trust’s materials filed with the SEC are available at the SEC’s internet site, www.sec.gov. This site contains reports and,
as applicable, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding the Trust and other issuers that file electronically with the SEC.
The Trust is a widely held fixed investment trust (“WHFIT”) classified as a non-mortgage widely held fixed investment trust (“NMWHFIT”) for federal income tax purposes. The Trustee, 2200 Post Oak Blvd., Floor 18, Houston, Texas 77056 (toll-free telephone number (866) 809-4553, email address: sjt@pnc.com), is the representative of the Trust that will provide tax information in accordance with the applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations governing the information reporting requirements of the Trust as a WHFIT and a NMWHFIT. The tax information is generally posted by the Trustee on the Trust’s website: www.sjbrt.com.

---

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Not required.

---

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.

---

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Royalty conveyed to the Trust was carved out of Southland’s (now Hilcorp’s) working interests and royalty interests in certain properties situated in the San Juan Basin. See Item 1. Business for information on the conveyance of the Royalty to the Trust. References below to “gross” wells and acres are to the interests of all persons owning interests therein, while references to “net” are to the interests of Hilcorp (from which the Royalty was carved) in such wells and acres.
Unless otherwise indicated, the following information in this Item 2 is based upon data and information furnished to the Trustee by Hilcorp.
The Subject Interests
The Subject Interests consist of working interests, royalty interests, overriding royalty interests and other contractual rights in 151,900 gross (119,000 net) producing acres in San Juan, Rio Arriba and Sandoval Counties of northwestern New Mexico. According to the information provided by Hilcorp, there were, as of December 31, 2021, 4,322 gross (824.1 net) wells on the properties underlying the Subject Interests, calculated on a well bore basis and not including multiple completions as separate wells, of which approximately 991 gross (283.7 net) wells were Multiple Completion Wells, resulting in a total of 5,390 gross (1,140.0 net) completions.
Hilcorp has informed the Trust that all of the subject acreage is held by production, and even though it has not been fully developed in every formation, Hilcorp has classified all of such acreage as developed. Production from conventional natural gas wells is primarily from the Pictured Cliffs, Mesaverde and Dakota formations, ranging in depth from 1,500 to 8,000 feet. Additional production is attributable to coal seam reserves in the Fruitland Coal formation.
Coal seam natural gas constituted approximately 17% of our proved natural gas reserves as of December 31, 2021. The process of removing coal seam natural gas is often referred to as degasification or desorption. Millions of years ago, natural gas was generated in the process of coal formation and absorbed into the coal. Water later filled the natural fracture system. When the water is removed from the natural fracture system, reservoir pressure is lowered and the natural gas desorbs from the coal. The desorbed natural gas then flows through the fracture system and is produced at the well bore. The volume of formation water production typically declines with time and the natural gas production may increase for a period of time before starting to decline. Typically, the volumes of natural gas produced from a Coal Seam Well decline more rapidly than those of Conventional Wells.
In order to dispose of the formation water, surface facilities including pumping units are required. The price of coal seam natural gas is typically lower than the price of conventional natural gas. This is because the heating value of coal seam natural gas is much lower than that of conventional natural gas due to (a) ever increasing percentages of carbon dioxide in coal seam natural gas (carbon dioxide has no heating value), and (b) the absence of heavier hydrocarbons such as ethanes, propanes, and butanes, which are present in conventional natural gas. Furthermore, the production costs and processing fees for coal seam natural gas are typically higher than the processing fees for conventional natural gas due to the cost of extracting the carbon dioxide.
The Royalty conveyed to the Trust is limited to the base of the Dakota formation, which is currently the deepest significant producing formation under acreage affected by the Royalty. Rights to production, if any, from deeper formations are retained by Hilcorp.
2022 Capital Expenditure Budget
On February 17, 2022, the Trust announced that Hilcorp had provided the Trust with its 2022 capital project plan for the Subject Interests (the “2022 Plan”), and Hilcorp has estimated its 2022 capital expenditures for the Subject Interests to be $1.9 million.
Hilcorp informed the Trust that its 2022 Plan will allocate approximately $1.5 million of the 2022 Plan’s budget towards 24 well recompletions and workovers scheduled to be completed in the Mesaverde, Pictured Cliffs and Fruitland Coal formations. Approximately $300,000 of the 2022 Plan’s budget will be allocated to facilities projects related to natural gas compression, and approximately $100,000 will be spent for permitting and surveying costs for future new drill projects that are being considered for 2023 and 2024. Hilcorp further informed the Trust that its planned project status for 2022 is subject to revision if Hilcorp revises its assumptions underlying the 2022 Plan, and that actual capital costs may vary from these estimates.
Oil and Natural Gas Production
The natural gas volumes reported to the Trust by Hilcorp are based on plant residue gas volumes plus equivalent volumes for natural gas liquids. Hilcorp converts one barrel of natural gas liquids to six Mcf of natural gas using industry standards. Production of oil and natural gas and related average sales prices attributable to each of the Subject Interests and the Royalty for each of the two years ended December 31, 2021, were as follows:
For the year ended December 31,
Natural Gas
(Mcf)
Oil and
Condensate
(Bbls)
Natural Gas
(Mcf)
Oil and
Condensate
(Bbls)
Production
Subject Interests
24,209,889
47,058
25,778,912
51,123
Royalty
11,029,493
31,323
3,558,084
27,951
Average Price (per Mcf/Bbl)
$ 3.20
$ 54.72
$ 1.51
$ 31.47
Production costs for natural gas and oil attributable to the Subject Interests for the two years ended December 31, 2021 were as follows:
Total Production Costs (including capital expenses)
$ 31,964,198 **
$ 28,286,866 **
Average Production Costs per unit of Production
$ 1.3051
$ 1.0844
Lease Operating Expenses
$ 22,298,269
$ 23,321,252
Average Lifting Cost per unit of Production
$ 0.9104
$ 0.8940
Based on Hilcorp’s reporting methodology, the Trust recognizes production during the month in which the related Royalty Income is paid to the Trust. Royalty Income for a calendar year is based on the actual natural gas and oil production during the period beginning with November of the preceding calendar year through October of the current calendar year. Sales volumes attributable to the Royalty are determined by dividing the net profits by the Trust from the sale of oil and natural gas, respectively, by the prices received for sales of such volumes from the Subject Interests, taking into consideration production taxes attributable to the Subject Interests. Because the oil and natural gas sales attributable to the Royalty are based upon an allocation formula dependent on such factors as price and cost, including capital expenditures, the aggregate sales amounts from the Subject Interests may not provide a meaningful comparison to sales attributable to the Royalty.
The fluctuations in annual natural gas production that have occurred during these two years generally resulted from large increases in commodity prices, including natural gas, and slight decreases in production from new and existing wells. Also, production from the Subject Interests is influenced by the line pressure of the natural gas gathering systems in the San Juan Basin. As noted above, oil and natural gas sales attributable to the Royalty are based on an allocation formula dependent on many factors, including oil and natural gas prices and capital expenditures.
Marketing
Natural gas produced in the San Juan Basin is sold in both interstate and intrastate commerce. Please refer to the discussion contained herein under “Regulation” for information as to federal regulation of prices of oil and natural gas. As part of the transition from Burlington to Hilcorp, Hilcorp has assumed, or been assigned, all the natural gas purchase, gathering and processing contracts affecting the Subject Interests. Natural gas produced from the Subject Interests is processed at the following sites: Chaco, Val Verde, Milagro, Ignacio or Kutz plants, all located in the San Juan Basin. Hilcorp sells natural gas produced from the Subject Interests under various contracts.
Hilcorp’s sales contracts with Chevron Natural Gas (“Chevron”) and EDF Trading North America LLC (“EDF”) automatically renewed for an additional one-year term and now expire on March 31, 2023. Each of Hilcorp’s sales contracts with EDF and Chevron provides for (i) the delivery of such natural gas at various delivery points through their respective termination dates and (ii) the sale of such natural gas at prices that fluctuate in accordance with published indices for natural gas sold in the San Juan Basin. Hilcorp’s natural gas sales contract with New Mexico Gas Company, Inc. automatically renewed for an additional one-year term and now expires on March 31, 2023. The contract provides for the sale of certain winter-only natural gas supplies processed at the Kutz plant at prices that fluctuate in accordance with published indices for natural gas sold in the San Juan Basin.
Hilcorp contracts with Enterprise Field Services, LLC (“EFS”) for the gathering and processing of certain natural gas produced from the Subject Interests. Hilcorp’s predecessor signed an agreement with EFS which was effective November 1, 2011 for a term of 15 years. Hilcorp’s predecessor has disclosed to the Trust a summary of that agreement which the Trust has reviewed with its consultants, subject to conditions of confidentiality.
Hilcorp’s predecessor entered into four contracts with Williams Four Corners, LLC (“WFC”), each of which is effective for a term of 15 years commencing April 1, 2010. The EFS and WFC contracts covered the gathering and processing of virtually all of the natural gas produced from the Subject Interests. On October 1, 2018, Harvest Midstream I, L.P., an affiliated midstream company of Hilcorp, completed the acquisition of WFC’s gas pipeline and processing facilities in the San Juan Basin. The Conveyance sets forth the processing costs that Hilcorp can charge for both non-affiliates and affiliates.
The Trust is not a party to any of the purchase, gathering or processing contracts, and thus the Trust has limited ability to know or affect all of the terms of such contracts. As part of the 1996 settlement of litigation filed by the Trustee in 1992 against Burlington and Southland, the Trustee and Burlington established a formal
protocol pursuant to which compliance auditors retained by the Trustee have access to Burlington and its successors’ books and records, which protocol has been adopted by Hilcorp.
Oil and Natural Gas Reserves
Proved Reserves
All of the Trust’s reserves are located in the San Juan Basin. Total proved Developed and Undeveloped Oil and Natural Gas Reserves attributable to the Royalty as of December 31, 2021 were as follows:
Proved Reserves(1)(2)
Reserves Category
Natural Gas
(MMcf)
Crude Oil and
Condensate
(MBbls)
Developed
84,142
Undeveloped
-
-
Total Proved
84,142
(1) Proved reserves were calculated using prices equal to the twelve-month unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month commodity prices for each of the preceding twelve months, which were $ 3.598 per MMBtu (Henry Hub) of natural gas and $66.56 per Bbl (West Texas Intermediate) of oil. The adjusted volume-weighted average prices over the life of the properties were $3.05 per Mcf of gas and $55.73 per Bbl of oil.
(2) The Trust does not own a specific percentage of the oil and gas reserves because the Conveyance has defined the Trust’s interest as a net overriding royalty interest. Because the Trust’s reserve quantities are determined using an allocation formula, any fluctuations in actual or assumed prices or costs will result in revisions to the estimated reserve quantities allocated to the net overriding royalty interest.
Estimated quantities of proved Developed Oil and Natural Gas Reserves attributable to the Royalty as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:
Natural Gas (MMcf)
84,142
38,003
Crude Oil and Condensate (MBbls)
Proved Undeveloped Reserves
Based on information provided by Hilcorp and analysis by our independent reserve engineer, there were no proved undeveloped reserves identified as of December 31, 2021 or 2020.
Internal Controls over Reserves Estimates
The process of estimating oil and natural gas reserves is complex and requires significant judgment. The Trust, however, does not have the same level of information that generally would be available to a company with oil and natural gas operations because detailed information generally is not available to owners of royalty interests. Thus, the Trustee relies upon accumulated information and data solely provided by Hilcorp regarding the Royalty derived from the Subject Interests and provides such information for the Trust’s auditing purposes to Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc. (“CG&A”). CG&A extrapolates from such Hilcorp-provided information estimates of the reserves attributable to the Subject Interests based on its expertise in the oil and natural gas fields where the Subject Interests are situated, as well as other publicly available information, and provides the results to the Trust.
The Trust maintains internal controls and procedures applicable to reserve estimation which are reviewed annually and updated as required and reviews the reserve reports prepared by CG&A for reasonableness. The Trust’s internal controls and procedures regarding reserve estimates require proved reserves to be determined and disclosed in compliance with the SEC definitions and guidance.
Third-Party Reserves
The Trust does not maintain an internal petroleum engineering department and instead relies upon CG&A for a qualified, independent report of estimated reserves. The Trust has verified the qualifications and credentials of CG&A to prepare reserve estimates on behalf of the Trust. The independent petroleum engineers’ reports as to the proved oil and natural gas reserves as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 were prepared by CG&A. CG&A, whose firm registration number is, was founded in 1961 and is nationally recognized in the evaluation of oil and natural gas properties. The technical person at CG&A primarily responsible for overseeing the reserve estimate with respect to the Trust is Zane Meekins. Mr. Meekins has been a practicing petroleum engineering consultant since 1989, with over 33 years of practice experience in petroleum engineering and is a registered professional engineer in the State of Texas (License No. 71055). Mr. Meekins graduated from Texas A&M University in 1987, summa cum laude, with a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering. Both CG&A and Mr. Meekins have indicated that they meet or exceed all requirements set forth in Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Regulation
General
Exploration for and production and sale of oil and natural gas are extensively regulated at the national, state, and local levels. These laws may govern a wide variety of matters, including allowable rates of production, transportation, marketing, pricing, well construction, water use, prevention of waste, waste disposal, pollution and protection of the environment. These laws, regulations and orders have in the past, and may again, restrict the rate of oil and natural gas production below the rate that would otherwise exist in the absence of such laws, regulations and orders.
Laws affecting the oil and natural gas industry and the distribution of its products are under constant review for amendment or expansion, frequently increasing the regulatory burden on operations. Numerous governmental departments and agencies are authorized by statute to issue, and have issued, rules and regulations binding on the oil and natural gas industry. Compliance with applicable laws is often difficult and costly, while non-compliance may result in substantial penalties. Such costs and penalties may affect the amount of Net Proceeds attributable to the Royalty that are paid to the Trust by Hilcorp or by subsequent operators of the Subject Interests.
Natural Gas
The transportation and resale of natural gas in interstate commerce, historically, have been regulated pursuant to several laws enacted by Congress and the regulations promulgated under these laws by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) and its predecessor. In the past, the federal government has regulated the prices at which natural gas could be sold in interstate commerce. Congress removed all price and non-price controls affecting wellhead sales of natural gas under the Natural Gas Wellhead Decontrol Act effective January 1, 1993. Congress could, however, reenact controls in the future.
Sales of natural gas are affected by the availability, terms and cost of transportation. The price and terms for pipeline transportation remain subject to extensive federal and state regulation. Several major regulatory changes have been implemented by Congress and FERC from 1985 to the present that affect the economics of natural gas production, transportation and sales. In addition, FERC continues to promulgate revisions to various aspects of the rules and regulations affecting those segments of the natural gas industry, most notably interstate natural gas
transmission companies that remain subject to FERC’s jurisdiction. These initiatives may also affect the intrastate transportation of gas under certain circumstances. The stated purpose of many of these regulatory changes is to promote competition among the various sectors of the natural gas industry.
Additional proposals and proceedings that might affect the natural gas industry are considered from time to time by Congress, FERC, state regulatory bodies and the courts. The Trust cannot predict when or if any such proposals might become effective, or their effect, if any, on the Trust. The natural gas industry historically has been very heavily regulated; therefore, there is no assurance that the less stringent regulatory approach to natural gas sales pursued since 1993 by FERC and Congress will continue.
Sales of crude oil, condensate and gas liquids are not currently regulated and are made at market prices. The ability to transport and sell petroleum products depends on pipelines that transport such products in interstate commerce and FERC regulates the rates, terms and conditions of service by such pipelines under the Interstate Commerce Act.
Any such price or non-price control regulations may affect the amount of Royalty and Royalty Income that is paid to the Trust by Hilcorp or subsequent operators of the Subject Interests.
Cyber Security
The Trust falls under PNC Bank’s Operational Risk Management Framework and cyber security program. The cyber security program is designed to identify risks to sensitive information, protect that information, detect threats and events, and maintain an appropriate response and recovery capability to help ensure resilience against information security incidents. The program includes, among other things, annual security and privacy training for all PNC Bank employees (including those assigned to the Trust) and quarterly phishing exercises to raise employee awareness. PNC Bank’s cyber security program is also regularly examined by federal regulators for compliance with financial regulations and standards. The program also establishes expectations for information asset management, system development security, identity and access management, incident management, threat and vulnerability management, security operations management and third and fourth party security.
Environmental Regulation
General. Activities on the Subject Interests are subject to existing stringent and complex federal, state and local laws (including case law) and regulations governing health, safety, environmental quality and pollution control. Failure to comply with these laws, rules and regulations, however, may result in the assessment of administrative, civil or criminal penalties; the imposition of investigatory or remedial obligations; and the issuance of injunctions limiting or preventing some or all of the operations on the Subject Interests.
Cleanup. Under certain environmental laws and regulations, the operators of the Subject Interests could be subject to strict, joint and several liability for the removal or remediation of property contamination, whether at a drill site or a waste disposal facility, even when the operators did not cause the contamination, or their activities were in compliance with all applicable laws at the time the actions were taken. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), also known as the “superfund” law, for example, imposes liability, regardless of fault or the legality of the original conduct, on certain classes of persons for releases into the environment of a “hazardous substance.” Liable persons may include the current or previous owner and operator of a site where a hazardous substance has been disposed and persons who arranged for the disposal of a hazardous substance at a site. Under CERCLA and similar statutes, government authorities or private parties may take actions in response to threats to the public health or the environment or sue responsible persons for the associated costs. In the course of operations, the working interest owner and/or the operator of Subject Interests may have generated and may generate materials that could trigger cleanup liabilities. In addition, the Subject Interests have produced oil and/or natural gas for many years, and previous operators may have disposed or released hydrocarbons, wastes or hazardous substances at the Subject Interests. The operator of
the Subject Interests or the working interest owners may be responsible for all or part of the costs to clean up any such contamination. Although the Trust is not the operator of any Subject Interests, or the owner of any working interest, its ownership of the Royalty could cause it to be responsible for all or part of such costs to the extent CERCLA or any similar statute imposes responsibility on such parties as “owners.”
Climate Change. Mitigating climate change has become the subject of an important public policy debate and the basis for new legislation proposed by the United States Congress and certain states. Some states have adopted climate change statutes and regulations, and in one of the first acts of his presidency, President Biden signed an executive order to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord, a voluntary international agreement with the goal of limiting global climate change to not more than 2 degrees Celsius (or less); preparing, maintaining and publishing national greenhouse gas (“GHG”) reduction targets; and creating a “carbon-neutral” world by 2050. The Biden administration has also set ambitious domestic targets for curbing climate change, such as making the US power sector climate neutral by 2035. Due to factors such as environmental concerns and increased competition from renewables, the International Energy Agency (“IEA”) estimates that natural gas demand in established markets such as the U.S. and the European Union will begin to deteriorate by the mid-2020s, and oil demand will plateau after 2030. Notwithstanding potential risks related to climate change, the IEA estimates that global energy demand will continue to rise and will not peak until after 2040 and that oil and natural gas will continue to represent a substantial percentage of global energy use over that time.
The EPA has issued greenhouse gas monitoring and reporting regulations. Under those rules, since 2012, annual reporting of greenhouse gases has been required for persons operating certain types of industrial operations, including oil and natural gas production, transmission and storage operations that emit 25,000 metric tons or more of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.
Beyond measuring and reporting, EPA issued an “Endangerment Finding” under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act, concluding GHG pollution threatens the public health and welfare of future generations. EPA indicated that it will use data collected through the reporting rules to decide whether to promulgate future greenhouse gas emission limits. On August 16, 2012, EPA issued a final rule that established new source performance standards for volatile organic compounds (“VOCs”) and sulfur dioxide, an air toxics standard for sources of oil and natural gas production, and an air toxics standard for sources of natural gas transmission and storage. The rule required that, since January 1, 2015, all hydraulically fractured or refractured natural gas wells must have been completed using so-called “green completion” technology, which significantly reduces VOC emissions. Limiting emissions of VOCs will have the co-benefit of also limiting methane, a greenhouse gas. These regulations, referred to as New Source Performance Standards (“NSPS”) Subpart OOOO, also apply to storage tanks, natural gas wells, and other equipment in the affected oil and natural gas industry segments. In May 2016, EPA issued a suite of new final regulations, referred to as NSPS Subpart OOOOa, designed to limit methane, VOCs and other emissions from new and existing sources in the oil and natural gas sector. Among other things, these new rules apply green completion requirements to newly fractured and re-fractured oil wells. And rulemaking concerning regulation of greenhouse gas and other emissions from the oil and natural gas industry continues: in October 2018, the EPA released proposed revisions to some of the NSPS Subpart OOOOa requirements, including reducing the required frequency of fugitive emissions monitoring at well site and compressor stations. Most recently, EPA published two new rules on September 14 and 15, 2020 that remove the transmission and storage sectors of the oil and natural gas industry from regulation under the NSPS and rescind methane-specific standards for the production and processing segments of the industry. However, states and environmental groups brought suit challenging the new rules almost immediately. Although the bulk of the 2012 and 2016 standards are currently in effect, future implementation and the ultimate scope of the 2012 and 2016 standards are uncertain at this time as a result of these challenges and current uncertainty regarding how the standards may be altered under the administration of recently elected U.S. President Biden. Accordingly, the ultimate scope of these regulations remains uncertain.
In addition, on January 19, 2021, the D.C. Circuit vacated former President Trump’s administration’s Affordable Clean Energy rule, which had interpreted the Clean Air Act as limiting the scope of the federal
government’s authority to establishing only source-specific (or “inside the fence line”) emissions reduction requirements for coal-fired power plants. The decision remanded the rule back to the agency, and leaves the door open for the EPA under President Biden’s administration to adopt more stringent rules on fossil fuel-fired power plants, as well as other measures to reduce GHG emissions associated with power generation and incentivize low-carbon emitting power generation sources. Adoption of such rules that either place additional limits on GHG emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants or otherwise incentivize non-fossil fuel generated sources of energy could reduce demand for oil and gas generally, including oil and natural gas produced from the Subject Interests and could increase the cost of operations of the Subject Interests, which could result in a loss of reserves or revenues to the Trust. The impact such regulation may have on the amount of Royalty and Royalty Income paid to the Trust by Hilcorp or subsequent operators of the Subject Interests is difficult to predict.
Certain Tax Considerations
The classification of the Trust’s income for purposes of the passive loss rules may be important to a Unit Holder. As a result of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, royalty income such as that derived through the Trust will generally be treated as portfolio income that may not be offset or reduced by passive losses.
The Trustee has been informed that the New Mexico Oil and Gas Proceeds and Pass-Through Entity Withholding Tax Act (the “Withholding Tax Act”) requires remitters who pay certain oil and natural gas proceeds from production on New Mexico wells to withhold income taxes from such proceeds in the case of certain nonresident recipients. The Trustee, on advice of New Mexico counsel, has observed that “net profits interests,” such as the Royalty, and other types of interests, the extent of which cannot be determined with respect to a specific share of the oil and natural gas production, as well as amounts deducted from payments that are for expenses related to oil and natural gas production, are excluded from the withholding requirements of the Withholding Tax Act. Unit Holders should consult with their individual tax advisors regarding the applicability of the Withholding Tax Act and other tax matters to distributions received from the Trust by a Unit Holder.

---

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
None.

---

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II

---

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S UNITS, RELATED UNIT HOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF UNITS
Units of Beneficial Interest
The Trust’s units of beneficial interest (the “Units”) are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SJT.”
Dividend Policy
The Trust makes monthly cash distributions to the Unit Holders. The aggregate monthly distribution amount is the excess of (i) the Royalty Income attributable to the Royalty paid to the trustee of the Trust, plus any decrease in cash reserves previously established for liabilities and contingencies of the Trust, over (ii) the expenses and payments of liabilities of the Trust, plus any net increase in cash reserves. Future payments of cash distributions are dependent on such factors as prevailing natural gas and oil prices, expenses, increases in cash reserves and the actual production from the Subject Interests. Actualizations from prior periods may also impact the ability of the Trust to pay distributions or may affect the amount of distributions payable to the Unit Holders.
Unit Holders
According to the records of our transfer agent, as of March 21, 2022, there were 46,608,796 Units outstanding held by 800 Unit Holders of record. The actual number of Unit Holders is greater than these numbers of Unit Holders of record and includes Unit Holders who are beneficial owners, but whose shares are held in street name by brokers and nominees. The number of Unit Holders of record also does not include Unit Holders whose Units may be held in trust by other entities.
Equity Compensation Plans
The Trust has no directors, executive officers or employees. Accordingly, the Trust does not maintain any equity compensation plans and there are no Units reserved for issuance under any such plans.

---

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Not Required.

---

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7. TRUSTEE’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
As discussed herein under Part II, Item 9A (Controls and Procedures), due to the pass-through nature of the Trust, Hilcorp is the primary source of the information disclosed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other periodic reports filed by the Trust with the SEC. Although the Trustee receives periodic updates from Hilcorp regarding activities which may relate to the Trust, the Trust’s ability to timely report certain information required to be disclosed in the Trust’s periodic reports is dependent on Hilcorp’s timely delivery of the information to the Trust.
Overview
The principal asset of the Trust is the Royalty, which consists of a 75% net overriding royalty interest that burdens the Subject Interests located in the San Juan Basin. The primary function of the Trustee is to collect the Royalty Income, to pay all expenses and charges of the Trust and to distribute the remaining available income to the Unit Holders. The amount of income distributable to Unit Holders, which we refer to as “Distributable Income,” depends on the amount of Royalty Income and interest received by the Trust, as well as the amount of expenses paid by the Trust and any change in cash reserves.
Royalty Income. The Royalty functions generally as a net profits interest in the Subject Interests. The Royalty Income paid to the Trust is 75% of Net Proceeds from the Subject Interests. The term “Net Proceeds,” as used in the Conveyance, means the excess of Gross Proceeds received by Hilcorp during a particular period over production costs for such period. “Gross Proceeds” means the amount received by Hilcorp (or any subsequent owner of the Subject Interests) from the sale of the production attributable to the Subject Interests, subject to certain adjustments (e.g., fuel, gathering, and transportation).
The amount of Gross Proceeds attributable to the Subject Interests depends on prevailing natural gas prices and, to a lesser extent, crude oil prices. As a result, commodity prices affect the amount of Royalty Income available for distribution to the Unit Holders. During 2021, the price of natural gas Gross Proceeds for production from the Subject Interests increased from an average price for natural gas of $1.51 per Mcf in 2020 to $3.20 per Mcf in 2021. The price for oil Gross Proceeds increased from an average price of $31.47 per Bbl in 2020 to $54.72 per Bbl in 2021.
The amount of Gross Proceeds also depends on the volumes of natural gas and oil produced from the Subject Interests. Under the terms of the Indenture, the Trust cannot acquire new natural gas and oil assets, and as a result, Royalty Income is dependent on the natural gas and oil volumes attributable to the Subject Interests. Although Hilcorp and other operators of the Subject Interests may conduct drilling operations or well recompletions in the near term, the Subject Interests are depleting assets, and Hilcorp has informed the Trust that it is unable to estimate the productive life of the Subject Interests. The reduction in proved reserve quantities is a common measure of depletion. Hilcorp’s (or a future operator’s) capital investments in the Subject Interests will affect the quantity of proved reserves and can offset any reduction in proved reserves. Lower commodity prices may also reduce the volume of natural gas and oil produced from the Subject Interests by Hilcorp. Hilcorp did not conduct any new drill projects or recompletions within the Subject Interests in 2021.
On February 17, 2022, the Trust announced that Hilcorp had provided the Trust with its 2022 capital project plan for the Subject Interests (the “2022 Plan”), and Hilcorp has estimated its 2022 capital expenditures for the Subject Interests to be $1.9 million.
Hilcorp informed the Trust that its 2022 Plan will allocate approximately $1.5 million of the 2022 Plan’s budget towards 24 well recompletions and workovers scheduled to be completed in the Mesaverde, Pictured Cliffs and Fruitland Coal formations. Approximately $300,000 of the 2022 Plan’s budget will be allocated to facilities projects related to natural gas compression, and approximately $100,000 will be spent for permitting and surveying costs for future new drill projects that are being considered for 2023 and 2024. Hilcorp further informed the Trust that its planned project status for 2022 is subject to revision if Hilcorp revises its assumptions underlying the 2022 Plan, and that actual capital costs may vary from these estimates.
Under the terms of the Conveyance, production costs are deducted from Gross Proceeds in calculating Royalty Income. “Production costs” generally means costs incurred on an accrual basis by Hilcorp in operating the Subject Interests, including both capital and non-capital costs. For example, these costs include development drilling, production and processing costs, applicable taxes and operating charges. However, Hilcorp informed the Trust that, for wells operated by Hilcorp, it generally did not intend to accrue lease operating expenses to the Trust. If production costs exceed Gross Proceeds in any month, the excess is recovered out of future Gross Proceeds prior to the making of further payment to the Trust, but the Trust is not otherwise liable for any production costs or other costs or liabilities attributable to the Subject Interests or the minerals produced therefrom. If at any time the Trust receives more than the amount due under the Royalty, it is not obligated to return such overpayment, but the amounts payable to it for any subsequent period are reduced by such amount, plus interest, at a rate specified in the Conveyance. The Trust and the Trustee has very limited authority to control the amount and timing of production costs.
Distributable Income. In addition to Royalty Income, the Trust receives interest income, typically from interest paid on cash deposits. General and administrative expenses constitute the Trust’s primary expense and include, among other items, the Trustee’s fees, audit, consulting and legal fees and reporting costs.
The Trustee is authorized to determine in its discretion the amount of cash reserves needed to pay liabilities and contingencies of the Trust. Total cash reserves were $1.0 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2021. In August 2021, the Trust utilized cash reserves of $150,148 to pay Trust administrative expenses. The Trust replenished its cash reserves by $150,148 in September 2021 to bring the cash reserve balance back to the previously established amount of $1.0 million. The Trustee does not anticipate any increase or decrease to the cash reserves in 2022.
Hilcorp
The sale of San Juan Basin assets, including the Subject Interests, from Burlington to Hilcorp closed on July 31, 2017. Hilcorp has advised the Trust that for certain months (since the closing of its purchase of the assets), it has reported estimates of cash revenues and expenses based on the best information available to it at the time, instead of reporting actual amounts. Hilcorp further has informed the Trust that it believes that its estimates have been prepared in accordance with the Conveyance, and the Trust and its advisors continue to review such estimates for compliance with the Conveyance.
Gross Proceeds and Severance Tax Estimates. Hilcorp’s process of reconciling actual revenue and severance taxes to previously reported estimates (which the Trust refers to as “true-ups”) during fiscal years 2018 and 2020 were still occurring and being reported in 2021. At the beginning of 2021, Hilcorp informed the Trust that it planned to refine further its estimating and reporting processes, and that Hilcorp would review prior periods to ensure greater accuracy and consistency, both for prior periods as well as future reporting periods. As part of that review process, Hilcorp informed the Trust that it would reverse and rebook revenue for certain prior periods. Thus, distributions to the Trust from Hilcorp in certain months during 2021 were subject to adjustments based upon prior months’ true-ups and rebooking, plus interest.
Hilcorp has informed the Trust that it has completed its transition to its new accounting system that began in March 2021. Therefore, revenue and expenses for the production months of January through May 2021 were based on estimates, but Hilcorp began reporting actual revenue and expenses for operated wells beginning with the June 2021 production month. As of December 31, 2021, Hilcorp believes that all prior month actualizations have occurred, and does not expect to need to report any further actualizations in future distribution reports.
In 2021, Hilcorp made total actualizations and other adjustments resulting in an additional $4,650,061 Royalty Income paid to the Trust based on the production months of June 2018 through December 2018, July 2020 through October 2020, and January 2021 through May 2021.
Results of Operations
Royalty Income consists of 75% of the monthly Net Proceeds attributable to the Royalty. Royalty Income for the two years ended December 31, 2021 was determined as shown in the following table:
For the years ended December 31,
Gross Proceeds from the Subject Interests:
Natural Gas
$ 77,443,286
$ 38,937,359
Oil
2,575,053
1,608,922
Other
2,110,676 (1)
(467,053 )(2)
Total
82,129,015
40,079,228
Capital Expenditures
313,440
259,746
Severance Tax - Natural Gas
8,934,773
4,239,797
Severance Tax - Oil
265,340
240,302
Other
-
16,064 (3)
Lease Operating Expenses and Property Taxes
22,450,645
23,530,957
Total
31,964,198
28,286,866
Net Proceeds
50,164,817
11,792,362
Net Overriding Royalty Interest
%
%
Royalty Income
$ 37,623,612
$ 8,844,272
(1) Estimated revenue from non-operated properties and granted audit exceptions with interest as a result of the 2019 audit, offset by Hilcorp’s true-ups and adjustments of non-operated revenue for the production months of June through December 2018 and July through October 2020.
(2) Estimated revenue from non-operated properties and granted audit exceptions with interest as a result of the 2018 audit, negatively offset by a reduction of $2.0 million in “Other” Gross Proceeds included in the December 2017 and January 2018 distribution months, and further offset by Hilcorp’s true-ups and adjustments of non-operated revenue for the production months of August through December 2017, January through May 2018, February through July 2019, October through November 2019, and March through June 2020.
(3) Interest charges on excess production costs.
Gross Proceeds from Subject Interests. Gross Proceeds increased $42 million, or 105%, to $82.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to $40.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase was due primarily to increased natural gas prices.
Capital Expenditures. The capital expenditures reported by Hilcorp for 2021 included amounts attributable to the capital budgets for prior years because capital expenditures are deducted in calculating Net Proceeds in the month they accrue, and projects within a given year’s budget often extend into subsequent years. With respect to any wells operated by third parties other than Hilcorp, Hilcorp’s share, if any, of capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2021 may not be paid until 2022 or later. For a summary of Hilcorp’s planned 2022 capital expenditures, see Liquidity and Capital Resources-2022 Capital Expenditure Budget.
Capital expenditures increased approximately $54,000, or 21%, to $0.31 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to $0.26 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Hilcorp allocated its 2021 capital spending primarily towards facilities projects related to natural gas compression. Hilcorp did not conduct any new drill projects or recompletions within the Subject Interests in 2021.
Severance Taxes. Aggregate severance taxes increased $4.7 million, or 105%, to $9.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to $4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase was primarily attributable to higher revenue in 2021.
Lease Operating Expenses and Property Taxes. Lease operating expenses and property taxes decreased $1.0 million, or 4.6%, to $22.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to $23.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Monthly operating expenses of the Subject Interests, including property taxes, in 2021 averaged approximately $1.9 million, compared to $2.0 million in 2020. The decrease is primarily attributable to lower compression, contract pumper and well servicing expenses in addition to decreases across other cost categories as Hilcorp was able to reduce operating costs in the current price environment.
Distributable Income
For the years ended December 31,
Royalty Income
$ 37,623,612
$ 8,844,272
Interest Income
1,150
6,248
Total Income
37,624,762
8,850,520
Expenditures - General and Administrative
1,654,674
1,432,038
Distributable Income
$ 35,970,088
$ 7,418,482
Distributable Income per Unit (46,608,796 Units)
$ 0.771744
$ 0.159164
Distributable Income increased $28.6 million, or 385%, to $36 million ($0.771744 per Unit) for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to $7.4 million ($0.159164 per Unit) for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase in Distributable Income from 2020 to 2021 was primarily attributable to higher natural gas prices and to lower Royalty Income in 2020.
The Trust did not receive Royalty Income from Hilcorp for August 2021 due primarily to the true-ups of the January 2021 through May 2021 lease operating and capital expenditures and the May 2021 revenues. The true-ups resulted in excess production costs for the June 2021 production month, which led to no Distributable Income in August 2021. Per the Trust’s internal policies and procedures, the Trust applied the Royalty Income that it received in September 2021, after the payment of the excess production costs, to the Trust’s accumulated administrative expense that replenished cash reserves, with remaining funds distributed to Unit Holders.
Interest Income. Interest Income in 2021 decreased as compared to 2020 due to lower yields on short-term investments.
General & Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses increased $0.2 million, or 16%, to $1.65 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase was primarily attributable to higher third-party compliance auditor costs and increased legal expenses during the period of transition from BBVA USA to PNC Bank as the Trustee.
Cash Reserves. Total cash reserves were $1.0 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2021.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Trust’s principal source of liquidity and capital is Royalty Income. The Trust’s distribution of income to Unit Holders is funded by Royalty Income after payment of Trust expenses. The Trust is not liable for any production costs or liabilities attributable to the Royalty. If at any time the Trust receives more than the amount due under the Royalty, it is not obligated to return such overpayment, but the amounts payable to it for any
subsequent period are reduced by such amount, plus interest, at a rate specified in the Conveyance. If the Trustee determines that the Trust does not have sufficient funds to pay its liabilities, the Trustee may borrow funds on behalf of the Trust, in which case no distributions will be made to Unit Holders until such borrowings are repaid in full. The Trustee may not sell or dispose of any part of the assets of the Trust without the affirmative vote of the Unit Holders of 75% of all of the Units outstanding; however, the Trustee may sell up to 1% of the value of the Royalty (as determined pursuant to the Indenture) during any 12-month period without the consent of the Unit Holders.
In the event the Trust does not receive sufficient net cash payments from Hilcorp, the Trust believes it has sufficient capacity to draw upon the cash reserve amount or borrow funds against the Royalty to cover the Trust’s operating expenses for the following twelve-month period.
2022 Capital Expenditure Budget
On February 17, 2022, the Trust announced that Hilcorp had provided the Trust with its 2022 capital project plan for the Subject Interests (the “2022 Plan”), and Hilcorp has estimated its 2022 capital expenditures for the Subject Interests to be $1.9 million.
Hilcorp informed the Trust that its 2022 Plan will allocate approximately $1.5 million of the 2022 Plan’s budget towards 24 well recompletions and workovers scheduled to be completed in the Mesaverde, Pictured Cliffs and Fruitland Coal formations. Approximately $300,000 of the 2022 Plan’s budget will be allocated to facilities projects related to natural gas compression, and approximately $100,000 will be spent for permitting and surveying costs for future new drill projects that are being considered for 2023 and 2024. Hilcorp further informed the Trust that its planned project status for 2022 is subject to revision if Hilcorp revises its assumptions underlying the 2022 Plan, and that actual capital costs may vary from these estimates.
Contractual Obligations
As of December 31, 2021, the Trust had no obligations or commitments to make future contractual payments other than the trustee fee payable to the Trustee. Under the Indenture, the Trustee is entitled to an administrative fee for its administrative services and the preparation of quarterly and annual statements, computed as (i) 1/20 of 1% of the first $100 million of the annual gross revenue of the Trust, and 1/30 of 1% of the annual gross revenue of the Trust in excess of $100 million and (ii) the Trustee’s standard hourly rates for time in excess of 300 hours annually. The minimum administrative fee due under items (i) and (ii) is $36,000 per year. Administrative fees paid to the Trustee were $127,000 and $159,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
None.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
For a description of critical accounting policies and estimates, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 3.
Results of the 4th Quarters of 2021 and 2020
For the three months ended December 31, 2021, Distributable Income increased to $15.4 million ($0.329957 per Unit), or 594%, as compared to $2.2 million ($0.047522 per Unit) for the three months ended December 31, 2020.
The increase in Distributable Income in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the fourth quarter of 2020 resulted primarily from increased revenue from sales of natural gas and oil, decreased production costs, and non-recurring additional revenue received in November 2021.
In the November 2021 reporting month, the Trust received other revenues of $0.5 million for the September production month related to granted audit exceptions and interest, estimated non-operated revenue, and interest due to the Trust from prior actualizations and adjustments. Hilcorp also reported a credit of $2.0 million of production costs for the production month of September for severance tax true-ups, and credits for corrections to lease operating expenses for the January through July 2021 production months. Hilcorp informed the Trust that it had discovered errors made in the setup of a few of its general ledger accounts during its SAP conversion process. Specifically, Hilcorp stated that these accounts had been mislabeled as billable, including three of the Trust’s general ledger accounts. Hilcorp believes that its accounting internal control systems have been corrected.
The Trustee is authorized to determine in its discretion the amount of cash reserves needed to pay liabilities and contingencies of the Trust. Total cash reserves were $1.0 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2021. In August 2021 the Trust utilized cash reserves of $150,148 to pay Trust administrative expenses. The Trustee replenished the cash reserves by $150,148 in September 2021 to bring the cash reserve balance to the previously established amount of $1.0 million. The Trustee does not anticipate increasing or decreasing the established amount of cash reserves in 2022, although it cannot predict whether it will need to utilize some portion of those cash reserves during 2022.
Royalty Income of the Trust for the fourth quarter is based on actual gas and oil production during August through October of each year. Gas and oil sales for the quarters ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:
Three months ended December 31,
Subject Interests
Gas - Mcf
4,578,028
6,257,089
Mcf per Day
49,761
68,012
Average Gross Proceeds Price (per Mcf)
$ 5.24
$ 1.65
Oil - Bbls
13,661
17,606
Bbls per Day
Average Gross Proceeds Price (per Bbl)
$ 65.70
$ 32.14
Attributable to the Royalty
Gas - Mcf
2,510,507
1,606,733
Oil - Bbls
9,838
11,543
The average price of gas increased in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the same period of 2020 by $3.59 per Mcf. The average price per barrel of oil during the fourth quarter of 2021 was $33.56 higher than the price during the fourth quarter of 2020.
Capital costs for the fourth quarter of 2021 totaled approximately $300,000 as compared to approximately $0.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. The reduced capital costs in the fourth quarter of 2021 primarily was due to a reduction in spending due to reduced production.
Lease operating expenses and property taxes for the fourth quarter of 2021 averaged $0.88 million per month compared to $1.9 million per month in the fourth quarter of 2020. Lease operating expenses and property taxes were lower in the fourth quarter of 2021 than for the fourth quarter of 2020 due primarily to the receipt from and application by Hilcorp of an approximately $2 million credit towards prior operating costs.
Based on 46,608,796 Units outstanding, the per-Unit distributions during the fourth quarters of 2021 and 2020 were as follows:
Three months ended December 31,
October
0.067705
0.013969
November
0.149811
0.027407
December
0.112441
0.006146

---

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not Applicable.
Commodity Price Risk
The Trust’s most significant market risk relates to the prices received for natural gas and oil production. The revenues derived from the Subject Interests depend substantially on prevailing natural gas prices and, to a lesser extent, oil prices. As a result, commodity prices also affect the amount of Distributable Income to the Unit Holders. Lower prices may also reduce the amount of natural gas and oil that Hilcorp or the third-party operators can economically produce. It is uncertain how the war in Ukraine and resulting sanctions against Russia will affect oil and natural gas prices in the coming months.
Hilcorp has informed the Trust that it does not believe that recent actions undertaken by President Biden’s new administration to curtail future leases for natural gas and oil drilling on federally-owned land will impact the Subject Interests because at the present, they do not impact current leases.
On January 20, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order that reversed the United States withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, and the United States formally rejoined the Paris Agreement on February 19, 2021. At the federal regulatory level, both the EPA and the BLM have adopted regulations for the control of methane emissions, which also include leak detection and repair requirements, from the oil and gas industry. Additionally, President Biden has issued an executive order seeking to adopt new regulations and policies to address climate change and suspend, revise or rescind prior agency actions that are identified as conflicting with the Biden Administration’s climate policies. In addition, President Biden has declared that he supports federal government efforts to limit or prohibit hydraulic fracturing and banning new leases for production of minerals on federal properties, including onshore lands. Any of these actions could require Hilcorp to increase capital expenditures for the Subject Interests, decrease demand for natural gas and oil production, or limit the Subject Interests’ ability to produce natural gas or oil production. The Trust is unable to determine what, if any, the effects of such actions will have on the Subject Interests’ ability to produce natural gas and oil, and Hilcorp’s ability to pay royalty income to the Trust.

---

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PNC Bank, Trustee
San Juan Basin Royalty Trust
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets, liabilities, and trust corpus of San Juan Basin Royalty Trust as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related statements of distributable income and changes in trust corpus for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the assets, liabilities and trust corpus of San Juan Basin Royalty Trust as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and its distributable income and changes in trust corpus for the years then ended, on the basis of accounting described in Note 3 to the financial statements.
As described in Note 3 to the financial statements, these financial statements were prepared on a modified cash basis of accounting, which is a comprehensive basis of accounting other than generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Trustee. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to San Juan Basin Royalty Trust in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
Critical audit matters are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. We determined that there are no critical audit matters.
WEAVER AND TIDWELL, L.L.P.
We have served as San Juan Basin Royalty Trust’s auditor since 2001.
Fort Worth, Texas
March 31, 2022
PCAOB ID: 410
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Trust Corpus
December 31, 2021 and 2020
ASSETS
Cash and Short-Term Investments
$ 6,240,726
$ 1,286,468
Net Overriding Royalty Interests in Producing Oil and Gas Properties - Net
3,690,847
5,123,834
TOTAL
$ 9,931,573
$ 6,410,302
LIABILITIES & TRUST CORPUS
Distribution Payable to Unit holders
$ 5,240,726
$ 286,468
Cash Reserves
1,000,000
1,000,000
Trust Corpus - 46,608,796 Units Authorized and Outstanding
3,690,847
5,123,834
TOTAL
$ 9,931,573
$ 6,410,302
Statements of Distributable Income
December 31, 2021 and 2020
Royalty Income
$ 37,623,612
$ 8,844,272
Interest Income
1,150
6,248
Total Income
37,624,762
8,850,520
Expenditures - General and Administrative
1,654,674
1,432,038
Distributable Income
$ 35,970,088
$ 7,418,482
Distributable Income per Unit (46,608,796 Units)
$ 0.771744
$ 0.159164
Statements of Changes in Trust Corpus
December 31, 2021 and 2020
Trust Corpus, Beginning of Period
$ 5,123,834
$ 5,452,207
Amortization of Net Overriding Royalty Interest
(1,432,987 )
(328,373 )
Distributable Income
35,970,088
7,418,482
Distributions Declared
(35,970,088 )
(7,418,482 )
Trust Corpus, End of Period
$ 3,690,847
$ 5,123,834
Distributable Income per Unit (46,608,796 Units)
$ 0.771744
$ 0.159164
These Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements included herein.
Notes to Financial Statements
1. Trust Organization and Provisions
The San Juan Basin Royalty Trust (the “Trust”) was established on November 1, 1980. Southland Royalty Company (“Southland”) conveyed to the Trust a 75% net overriding royalty interest (the “Royalty”) which burdens certain of Southland’s oil and natural gas interests (the “Subject Interests”) in properties located in the San Juan Basin in northwestern New Mexico. Subsequent to the Conveyance of the Royalty, through a series of sales, assignments and mergers, Southland’s successor became Hilcorp San Juan L.P. (“Hilcorp”), which acquired the Subject Interests from Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP (“Burlington”) on July 31, 2017. Burlington is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of ConocoPhillips. Through an acquisition completed on March 24, 2006, Compass Bank succeeded Texas Bank as “Trustee” (herein so called) of the Trust. On September 7, 2007, Compass Bancshares, Inc. was acquired by Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (“BBVA”) and became a wholly-owned subsidiary of BBVA. Effective June 10, 2019, Compass Bank changed its name to BBVA USA. On June 1, 2021, The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (“PNC”) announced that it had completed the purchase of BBVA USA Bancshares, Inc., a financial holding company, including its U.S. banking subsidiary, BBVA USA, an Alabama-chartered bank and trustee of the Trust (“BBVA USA”). On October 8, 2021, PNC Bank, National Association (“PNC Bank”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of PNC, succeeded BBVA USA as the trustee of the Trust following BBVA USA’s merger with and into PNC Bank.
On November 3, 1980, 46,608,796 Units in the Trust were distributed to the Trustee for the benefit of Southland shareholders of record as of November 3, 1980, who received one Unit in the Trust for each share of Southland common stock held. The Trust’s initial public offering was completed in 1980. The Units are traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Holders of Units are referred to herein as “Unit Holders.”
The terms of the Trust Indenture provide, among other things, that:
•
The Trust shall not engage in any business or commercial activity of any kind or acquire any assets other than those initially conveyed to the Trust;
•
The Trustee may sell up to one percent (1%) of the value (based on prior year engineering reports) of the Royalty in any 12- month period, but otherwise may not sell all or any part of the Royalty unless approved by holders of 75% of all Units outstanding. In either case, the sale must be for cash and the proceeds promptly distributed;
•
The Trustee may establish a cash reserve for the payment of any liability which is contingent or uncertain in amount;
•
The Trustee is authorized to borrow funds to pay liabilities of the Trust;
•
The Trustee will make monthly cash distributions to Unit Holders (see Note 2); and
•
The Trust will generally terminate upon the first to occur of the following events: (a) at such time as the Trust’s gross revenue for each of two successive years is less than $1.0 million per year or (b) the Unit Holders of at least 75% of all of the Units outstanding vote in favor of termination.
2. Net Overriding Royalty Interest and Distribution to Unit Holders
The amounts to be distributed to Unit Holders (“Monthly Distribution Amounts”) are determined on a monthly basis by the Trustee. The Monthly Distribution Amount is an amount equal to the sum of cash received by the Trustee during a calendar month attributable to the Royalty, any reduction in cash reserves and any other cash receipts of the Trust, including interest, reduced by the sum of liabilities paid and any increase in cash reserves. If the Monthly Distribution Amount for any monthly period is a negative number, then the distribution will be zero for such month and such negative amount will be carried forward and deducted from future monthly distributions until the cumulative distribution calculation becomes a positive number, at which time a distribution will be made. Unit Holders of record will be entitled to receive the calculated Monthly Distribution Amount for
Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)
each month on or before 10 business days after the monthly record date, which is generally the last business day of each calendar month.
The cash received by the Trustee consists of the Net Proceeds generated by the owner of the Subject Interests multiplied by 75%.
The initial carrying value of the Royalty of $133,275,528 represented Southland’s historical net book value at the date of the transfer of the Trust. Accumulated amortization as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 were $129,584,681 and $128,151,694, respectively.
3. Basis of Accounting
The financial statements of the Trust are prepared on the following basis and are not intended to present financial position and results of operations in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles:
•
The Royalty Income recorded for a month is the amount computed and paid by the owner of the Subject Interests, Hilcorp San Juan L.P. (“Hilcorp”), the present owner of the Subject Interests, to the Trustee for the Trust. Royalty Income consists of the Net Proceeds generated by Hilcorp multiplied by 75%. The calculation of Net Proceeds by Hilcorp for any month includes true-ups and adjustments to Net Proceeds for prior months and impacts the Royalty Income paid to the Trust and the distribution to Unit Holders for that month.
•
Although permitted under the Conveyance, Hilcorp has informed the Trust that, for wells operated by Hilcorp, it generally did not intend to accrue lease operating expenses to the Trust.
•
Hilcorp has informed the Trust that oil revenue is typically reported to the Trust based on actual volumes and pricing.
•
Trust expenses recorded are based on liabilities paid and cash reserves established from Royalty Income for liabilities and contingencies.
•
Distributions to Unit Holders are recorded when declared by the Trustee.
•
The conveyance which transferred the Royalty to the Trust provides that any excess of production costs applicable to the Subject Interests over Gross Proceeds from such properties must be recovered from future Net Proceeds before Royalty Income is again paid to the Trust.
•
Depletion and any impairment are recorded as a reduction in trust corpus instead of an expense.
The financial statements of the Trust differ from financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP because revenues are not accrued in the month of production; certain cash reserves may be established for liabilities and contingencies which would not be accrued in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP; expenses are recorded when paid instead of when incurred; and amortization of the Royalty calculated on a unit-of-production basis is charged directly to trust corpus instead of as an expense. Most accounting pronouncements apply to entities whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, directing such entities to accrue or defer revenues and expenses in a period other than when such revenues were received or expenses were paid. Because the trust’s financial statements are prepared on the modified cash basis, as described above, most accounting pronouncements are not applicable to the Trust’s financial statements. This comprehensive basis of accounting corresponds to the accounting permitted for royalty trusts by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as specified by Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 12:E, Financial Statements of Royalty Trusts.
The Trustee routinely reviews its royalty interests in oil and gas properties for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If an impairment event
Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)
occurs and it is determined that the carrying value of the Trust’s royalty interests may not be recoverable, an impairment will be recognized as measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the royalty interests exceeds the fair value of these assets, which would likely be measured by discounting projected cash flows and recorded as a reduction of trust corpus. There was no impairment of the assets as of December 31, 2021 or 2020.
4. Federal Income Taxes
For federal income tax purposes, the Trust constitutes a fixed investment trust which is taxed as a Grantor Trust. A Grantor Trust is not subject to tax at the trust level. The Unit Holders are considered to own the Trust’s income and principal as though no trust were in existence. The income of the Trust is deemed to have been received or accrued by each Unit Holder at the time such income is received or accrued by the Trust rather than when distributed by the Trust.
The Trust is a widely held fixed investment trust (“WHFIT”) classified as a non-mortgage widely held fixed investment trust (“NMWHFIT”) for federal income tax purposes. The Trustee is the representative of the Trust that will provide tax information in accordance with the applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations governing the information reporting requirements of the Trust as a WHFIT and a NMWHFIT.
The Royalty constitutes an “economic interest” in oil and natural gas properties for federal income tax purposes. Unit Holders must report their share of the production revenues of the Trust as ordinary income from oil and natural gas royalties and are entitled to claim depletion with respect to such income. The Royalty is treated as a single property for depletion purposes. The Trust has on file technical advice memoranda confirming such tax treatment.
Under present law, the Trust’s production and sale of natural gas from Coal Seam Wells does not qualify for tax credit under Section 45K of the Code (the “Section 45 Tax Credit”). Congress has at various times since 2002 considered energy legislation, including provisions to reinstate the Section 45 Tax Credit in various ways and to various extents, but no legislation that would qualify the Trust’s current production for such credit has been enacted. No prediction can be made as to what future tax legislation affecting Section 45K of the Code may be proposed or enacted or, if enacted, its impact, if any, on the Trust and the Unit Holders.
The classification of the Trust’s income for purposes of the passive loss rules may be important to a Unit Holder. As a result of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, royalty income such as that derived through the Trust will generally be treated as portfolio income that may not be offset or reduced by passive losses.
Tax positions taken by the Trust related to the Trust’s pass-through status and state tax positions have been reviewed, and the Trustee is of the opinion that material positions taken would more likely than not be sustained by examination. As of December 31, 2021, the Trust’s tax years 2018 and thereafter remain subject to examination.
5. Certain Contracts
As part of the transition from Burlington to Hilcorp, Hilcorp has assumed, or been assigned, all the natural gas purchase, gathering and processing contracts affecting the Subject Interests. Natural gas produced from the Subject Interests is processed at the following sites: Chaco, Val Verde, Milagro, Ignacio or Kutz plants, all located in the San Juan Basin. Hilcorp sells natural gas produced from the Subject Interests under various contracts. The Trust is not a party to any of the purchase, gathering or processing contracts, and thus the Trust has limited knowledge over the terms of the various contracts and lacks the ability to influence such terms. As part of the 1996 settlement of litigation filed by the Trustee in 1992 against Burlington and Southland, the Trustee and Burlington established a formal protocol pursuant to which compliance auditors retained by the Trustee have access to Burlington and its successors’ books and records, which protocol has been adopted by Hilcorp.
Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)
6. Significant Customers
Information as to significant purchasers of oil and natural gas production attributable to the Trust’s economic interests is included in Note 5 above.
7. Development Costs
Hilcorp’s capital budget plans for the Subject Interests are delivered to the Trustee at the beginning of each calendar year. The estimates are subject to change, based on, among other things, Hilcorp’s actual capital requirements, the pace of regulatory approvals, the mix of projects and swings in the price of natural gas.
Both the estimated annual capital expenditures and the actual expenses reported by Hilcorp include amounts attributable to capital budgets for prior years because capital expenditures are deducted in calculating Royalty Income in the month they accrue and projects within a given year’s budget often extend into subsequent years. Further, Hilcorp’s accounting period for capital expenditures runs from January through December 31 of each calendar year, which corresponds and is reported in Trust Distribution months March of the same calendar year through February of the following calendar year. In addition, with respect to wells not operated by Hilcorp, Hilcorp’s share of capital expenditures may not be paid until the following year(s) after those expenses were incurred by the operator.
Hilcorp’s 2021 capital expenditures plan for the Subject Interests estimated capital expenditures of $0.3 million for facility projects primarily related to natural gas compression. Actual capital expenditures of approximately $0.3 million were included in calculating royalty income paid to the Trust in calendar year 2021.
Hilcorp estimated its 2020 capital expenditure budget at $0.3 million. Actual capital expenditures of approximately $0.3 million were included in calculating royalty income paid to the Trust in calendar year 2020.
On January 20, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order that reversed the United States withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, and the United States formally rejoined the Paris Agreement on February 19, 2021. At the federal regulatory level, both the EPA and the BLM have adopted regulations for the control of methane emissions, which also include leak detection and repair requirements, from the oil and gas industry. Additionally, President Biden has issued an executive order seeking to adopt new regulations and policies to address climate change and suspend, revise or rescind prior agency actions that are identified as conflicting with the Biden Administration’s climate policies. In addition, President Biden has declared that he supports federal government efforts to limit or prohibit hydraulic fracturing and banning new leases for production of minerals on federal properties, including onshore lands. Any of these actions could require Hilcorp to increase capital expenditures for the Subject Interests, decrease demand for natural gas and oil production, or limit the Subject Interests’ ability to produce natural gas or oil production. The Trust is unable to determine what, if any, the effects of such actions will have on the Subject Interests’ ability to produce natural gas and oil, and Hilcorp’s ability to pay royalty income to the Trust.
8. Settlements and Litigation
None.
9. Supplemental Oil and Gas Reserve Information (Unaudited)
Proved Oil and Natural Gas Reserves
Proved oil and gas reserves have been estimated by independent petroleum engineers. Proved reserves are those quantities of oil and natural gas, which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data can be estimated
Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)
with reasonable certainty to be economically producible from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulation before the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain. Proved developed reserves are the quantities expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods in which the cost of the required equipment is relatively minor compared with the cost of a new well. Due to the inherent uncertainties and the limited nature of reservoir data, such estimates are subject to change as additional information becomes available. The reserves actually recovered and the timing of production of these reserves may be substantially different from the original estimate. Revisions result primarily from new information obtained from development drilling and production history and from changes in economic factors.
The following table presents a reconciliation of proved reserve quantities attributable to the Royalty from December 31, 2018 to December 31, 2021:
Crude Oil and
Condensate
(MBbls)
Natural Gas
(MMcf)
Reserves as of December 31, 2018
75,844
Revisions of previous estimates
(25,270 )
Extensions, discoveries and other additions
Production
(40 )
(2,193 )
Reserves as of December 31, 2019
49,334
Revisions of previous estimates
(7,773 )
Extensions, discoveries and other additions
-
-
Production
(28 )
(3,558 )
Reserves as of December 31, 2020
38,003
Revisions of previous estimates
56,309
Extensions, discoveries and other additions
Production
(31 )
(11,029 )
Reserves as of December 31, 2021
84,142
Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows
The following is a summary of a standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows related to the Trust’s total proved natural gas and oil reserve quantities. Information presented is based upon valuation of proved reserves by using discounted cash flows based upon average oil and gas prices during the 12-month period prior to the fiscal year-end, determined as an unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within such period, unless prices are defined by contractual arrangements, excluding escalations based upon future conditions and severance and ad valorem taxes, if any, and economic conditions, discounted at the required rate of 10%. As the Trust is not subject to taxation at the trust level, no provision for income taxes has been made in the following disclosure. Trust prices may differ from posted NYMEX prices due to differences in product quality and property location. The impact of changes in current prices on reserves could vary significantly from year to year. Accordingly, the information presented below should not be viewed as an
Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)
estimate of the fair market value of the Trust’s oil and natural gas reserves or the costs that would be incurred to acquire equivalent reserves. A market value determination would require the analysis of additional parameters.
December 31,
(in thousands)
Future cash inflows
$ 278,614
$ 60,431
Future costs
( 31,683 )
(7,200 )
Future net cash flows
$ 246,931
$ 53,231
Discount of future net cash flows at 10%
(112,704 )
(20,587 )
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows
$ 134,227
$ 32,644
Estimates of proved oil and natural gas reserves are by their nature imprecise. Estimates of future net revenue attributable to proved reserves are sensitive to the unpredictable prices of oil and natural gas and other variables. Accordingly, under the allocation method used to derive the Trust’s quantity of proved reserves, changes in prices will result in changes in quantities of proved oil and natural gas reserves and estimated future net revenues.
The 2021 and 2020 changes in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows related to future Royalty Income from proved reserves are as follows:
(in thousands)
Balance, January 1
$ 32,644
$ 55,281
Revisions of prior-year estimates, change in prices and other
134,975
(19,321 )
Extensions, discoveries and other additions
-
Accretion of discount
3,264
5,528
Royalty Income
37,624
(8,844 )
Balance, December 31
$ 134,227
$ 32,644
Reserve quantities and revenues shown in the tables above for the Royalty were estimated from projections of reserves and revenues attributable to the combined Hilcorp and Trust interests. Reserve quantities attributable to the Royalty were derived from estimates by allocating to the Royalty a portion of the total net reserve quantities of the interests, based upon gross revenue less production taxes. Because the reserve quantities attributable to the Royalty are estimated using an allocation of the reserves, any changes in prices or costs will result in changes in the estimated reserve quantities allocated to the Royalty. Therefore, the reserve quantities estimated will vary if different future price and cost assumptions occur. The future net cash flows were determined without regard to future federal income tax credits, if any, available to production from Coal Seam Wells.
For 2021, $3.05 per Mcf of natural gas and $55.73 per Bbl of oil were used in determining future net revenue. These prices were based on a 12-month unweighted average of the first-day-of-the-month pricing of $3.598 per MMBtu of Henry Hub natural gas and $66.56 per Bbl of West Texas Intermediate oil. The increase in reserve quantities for 2021 is due primarily to higher natural gas prices.
For 2020, $1.44 per Mcf of natural gas and $29.57 per Bbl of oil were used in determining future net revenue. These prices were based on a 12-month unweighted average of the first-day-of-the-month pricing of $1.985 per MMBtu of Henry Hub natural gas and $39.57 per Bbl of West Texas Intermediate oil. The decrease in reserve quantities for 2020 is due primarily to lower natural gas prices.
Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)
10. Quarterly Schedule of Distributable Income (Unaudited)
The following is a summary of the unaudited quarterly schedule of distributable income for the two years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands, except per unit amounts):
Royalty
Income
Distributable
Income
Distributable
Income Per
Unit
First Quarter
$ 8,212
$ 7,751
$ 0.166304
Second Quarter
7,566
7,166
0.153748
Third Quarter
6,060
5,674
0.121735
Fourth Quarter
15,786
15,379
0.329957
Total
$ 37,624
$ 35,970
$ 0.771744
Royalty
Income
Distributable
Income
Distributable
Income Per
Unit
First Quarter
$ 5,068
$ 4,618
$ 0.099085
Second Quarter
0.012557
Third Quarter
-
-
0.000000
Fourth Quarter
2,805
2,215
0.047522
Total
$ 8,844
$ 7,418
$ 0.159164
11. Commitments and Contingencies
Contingencies related to the Subject Interests that are unfavorably resolved would generally be reflected by the Trust as reductions to future Royalty Income payments to the Trust with corresponding reductions to cash distributions to Unit holders.
Gross Proceeds and Severance Tax Estimates. Hilcorp’s process of reconciling actual revenue and severance taxes to previously reported estimates (which the Trust refers to as “true-ups”) during fiscal years 2018 and 2020 are still occurring and being reported in 2021. Hilcorp has informed the Trust that as it continues to refine further its estimating and reporting processes, Hilcorp will review prior periods to ensure greater accuracy and consistency, both for prior periods as well as future reporting periods. As part of that review process, Hilcorp informed the Trust that it will reverse and rebook revenue for certain prior periods. Thus, distributions to the Trust from Hilcorp in any given month may be subject to adjustments based upon prior months’ true-ups and rebooking, plus interest.
In 2020, Hilcorp made true-up and rebooking adjustments resulting in a reduction of $0.5 million gross ($0.4 million net) Royalty Income to the Trust based on the production months of August through December 2017, January through May 2018, and January 2019 through June 2020.
Covid-19 Pandemic. The Trust continues to request periodic updates from Hilcorp as to its production and financial expectations with respect to the Subject Interests due to any effects caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the recent fluctuations in oil and gas pricing. Hilcorp has informed the Trust that, given the current natural gas pricing environment, Hilcorp does not anticipate materially reducing any of the Subject Interests’ production or taking any of the Subject Interests’ wells offline; however, both the Trust and Hilcorp continue to monitor the impact that future Covid-19 restrictions or outbreaks may have on production, including as it relates to personnel availability in New Mexico and other Subject Interest areas. Hilcorp further informed the Trust that it does not anticipate that the current state of the Covid-19 pandemic will have any material impact on its operation of the Subject Interests or on its payments of Royalty Income to the Trust. However, the impact of the
Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)
continued Covid-19 pandemic or future restrictions or outbreaks on Hilcorp and the Subject Interests is still unknown and any such impact could result in actual results being different from Hilcorp’s expectations.
12. Subsequent Events
Since January 1, 2022, the Trust has announced the following three monthly cash distributions to the holders of its Units:
•
On January 21, 2022, the Trust announced a cash distribution of $4,821,486.55 or $0.103446 per Unit, based primarily upon production during the month of November 2021, that was subsequently paid on February 14, 2022.
•
On February 17, 2022, the Trust announced a cash distribution of $3,996,441.96 or $0.085744 per Unit, based primarily upon production during the month of December 2021, that was subsequently paid on March 14, 2022.
•
On March 21, 2022, the Trust announced a cash distribution of $5,551,298.95 or $0.119104 per Unit, based primarily upon production during the month of January 2022, payable on April 14, 2022.

---

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.

---

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Trust maintains a system of internal disclosure controls and procedures that is designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed in the Trust’s filings under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the times specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. In its evaluation of its disclosure controls and procedures, the Trustee has relied, to the extent considered reasonable, on information provided by Hilcorp, the owner of the properties. Consequently, the Trust’s ability to timely and accurately disclose relevant information in its periodic reports is dependent upon Hilcorp’s timely delivery of accurate oil and gas revenue and production cost information and, therefore, the Royalty Income owed to the Trust.
The Conveyance that transferred the royalty to the Trust obligates Hilcorp to provide the Trust with certain financial and operational information, including information concerning calculations of Royalty Income owed to the Trust. Once the Trust receives the financial information from Hilcorp, the Trust engages independent public accountants, compliance auditors, attorneys and petroleum engineers in order to assist the Trustee to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information required to be disclosed in the Trust’s periodic reports. These outside professionals advise the Trustee in its review and compilation of this information for inclusion in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other periodic reports provided by the Trust to the SEC.
Hilcorp’s process of reconciling actual revenue and severance taxes to previously reported estimates (which the Trust refers to as “true-ups”) during fiscal years 2018 and 2020 were still occurring and being reported in 2021. At the beginning of 2021, Hilcorp informed the Trust that planned to refine further its estimating and reporting processes, and that Hilcorp would review prior periods to ensure greater accuracy and consistency, both for prior periods as well as future reporting periods. As part of that review process, Hilcorp informed the Trust that it would reverse and rebook revenue for certain prior periods. Thus, distributions to the Trust from Hilcorp in any given month in 2021 could be subject to adjustments based upon prior months’ true-ups and rebooking, plus interest.
The Trustee has evaluated the Trust’s internal disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2021, and has concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures are effective, at the “reasonable assurance” level
Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)
(as such term is used in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act), to ensure that material information received from Hilcorp is gathered on a timely basis to be included in the Trust’s periodic reports and recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
Additionally, during the quarter ended December 31, 2021, there were no changes to the Trust’s internal controls over financial reporting (as such term is used in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Because the Trust does not have, nor does the Indenture provide for, officers, a board of directors or an independent audit committee, the Trustee has reviewed neither the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures nor the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting in concert with management, a board of directors or an independent audit committee.
Trustee’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
PNC Bank, in its capacity as trustee of the Trust, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Trust’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of the Trustee to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Trust’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with a modified cash basis of accounting, which is a comprehensive basis of accounting other than U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
As of December 31, 2021, the Trustee assessed the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting established in “Internal Control - Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 Framework). Based on the assessment, the Trustee determined that the Trust maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on those criteria.

---

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III

---

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
The Trust is managed by a corporate trustee and has no directors, executive officers or employees. Accordingly, the Trust does not have an audit committee, audit committee financial expert, nominating committee or a code of ethics applicable to executive officers. The Trustee has adopted a policy regarding standards of conduct and conflicts of interest applicable to all directors, officers and employees of the Trustee. The Trustee is a corporate trustee which may be removed, with or without cause, at a meeting of the Unit Holders, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of all the Units then outstanding.
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
The Trust has no directors or officers. Accordingly, only holders of more than 10% of the Trust’s Units are required to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership of Units and reports of changes in such ownership. Based solely on a review of these reports, the Trust believes that the applicable reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act were complied with for all transactions that occurred in 2021.

---

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Trust has no directors, executive officers or employees to whom it pays compensation. The Trust is administered by employees of the Trustee in the ordinary course of their employment who receive no compensation specifically related to their services to the Trust. Accordingly, the Trust does not have a compensation committee or maintain any equity compensation plans, and there are no Units reserved for issuance under any such plans.

---

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED SECURITY HOLDER MATTERS
The Trust has no directors, executive officers or employees. Accordingly, the Trust does not maintain any equity compensation plans and there are no Units reserved for issuance under any such plans.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
The following table sets forth as of March 31, 2022, information with respect to the Unit Holders who were known to the Trustee to be the beneficial owners of more than five percent (5.0%) of the outstanding Units.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
Number of Units
Beneficially Owned
Percent
Nevada Capital Corporation Ltd.
20 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 1900
Toronto ON, Canada M4R 1K8(1)
2,415,000
5.18%
The K2 Principal Fund, L.P.
2 Bloor St West, Suite 801
Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3E2(2)
2,339,968
5.02%
(1) This information was provided in a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on December 20, 2018 by Nevada Capital Corporation, Ltd., and which stated that Nevada Capital Corporation, Ltd. beneficially holds such Units on behalf of its investment advisory clients and is deemed to have sole voting power with respect to, and the sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of, 2,415,000 Units.
(2) This information was provided in a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on January 18, 2022 by Shawn Kimel Investments, Inc., an Ontario corporation (“SKI”), The K2 Principal Fund, L.P., an Ontario limited partnership (the “Fund”), K2 Genpar 2017 Inc., an Ontario corporation and the General Partner to the Fund (“Genpar 2017”), and K2 & Associates Investment Management Inc., an Ontario corporation (“K2 & Associates”). Together SKI, the Fund, Genpar2017, and K2 & Associates are the “Reporting Persons”. The Fund is the record holder of 2,339,968 Units, and each of the Reporting Persons may be deemed to be beneficial owners of the 2,339,968 Units that are held by the Fund. Mr. Daniel Gosselin is vice president of SKI, Secretary of GenPar 2017 and President of K2 & Associates, and exercises ultimate voting and investment powers over the 2,339,968 Units that are held of record by the Fund.
Security Ownership of Trustee
PNC Bank, N.A. serves as agent and custodian for certain customer accounts. As of March 31, 2021, BBVA USA could be deemed to beneficially own 40,000 Units related to these accounts, or less than one percent of the outstanding Units. BBVA USA has no voting or disposal power over the 40,000 Units. BBVA USA does not have a pecuniary interest in any of these Units.
Changes in Control
The Trustee knows of no arrangement, including any pledge by any person of Units of the Trust, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change of control of the Trust.

---

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The Trust has no directors or executive officers; therefore, no determination been made relative to director independence. See Item 11 for the remuneration received by the Trustee during the year ended December 31, 2021 and Item 12 for information concerning Units owned by the Trustee.

---

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P., the Trust’s principal accountants, for the audit of the Trust’s annual financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 and fees billed for other services rendered to the Trust by Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P. during those periods.
Audit Fees
$ 76,350
$ 74,450
Audit-Related Fees
-
-
Tax Fees
2,550
All Other Fees
-
-
Total
$ 76,875
$ 77,000
Audit Fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of the Trust’s annual financial statements, review of the interim financial statements included in the Trust’s quarterly reports and services that are normally provided by Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P. in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
Audit-Related Fees consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Trust’s financial statements. This category includes fees related to audit and attest services not required by statute or regulations and consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards.
Tax Fees consist of fees for professional services billed for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. These services include assistance regarding federal and state tax compliance.
All Other Fees consist of fees billed for products and services other than the services reported above.
The Trust has no directors or executive officers. Accordingly, the Trust does not have an audit committee and there are no audit committee pre-approval policies or procedures relating to services provided by the Trust’s independent accountants. Pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Trustee engages and approves all services rendered by the Trust’s independent accountants.
PART IV

---

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
The following documents are filed as a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
Financial Statements
Included in Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Trust Corpus
Statements of Distributable Income
Statements of Changes in Trust Corpus
Notes to Financial Statements
Financial Statement Schedules
Financial statement schedules are omitted because of the absence of conditions under which they are required or because the required information is given in the financial statements or notes thereto.
Exhibits
Exhibit
Number
Description
4(a)
San Juan Basin Amended and Restated Royalty Trust Indenture, dated December 12, 2007, filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Trust’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 14, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference.*
4(b)
Net Overriding Royalty Conveyance from Southland Royalty Company to The Fort Worth National Bank, as Trustee, dated November 3, 1980 (without Schedules), filed as Exhibit 4(b) to the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2006, incorporated herein by reference.*
4(c)
Assignment of Net Overriding Interest (San Juan Basin Royalty Trust), dated September 30, 2002, between Bank One, N.A. and TexasBank, filed as Exhibit 4(c) to the Trust’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for the quarter ended September 30, 2002, incorporated herein by reference.*
4(d)
Description of San Juan Basin Royalty Trust’s Securities, filed as Exhibit 4(d) to the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K file with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2019, incorporated herein by reference.*
Indemnification Agreement, dated May 13, 2003, with effectiveness as of July 30, 2002, by and between Lee Ann Anderson and San Juan Basin Royalty Trust, heretofore filed as Exhibit 10(a) to the Trust’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for the quarter ended March 31, 2003, is incorporated herein by reference.*
Consent of Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc., reservoir engineer.**
Certification required by Rule 13a-14(a), dated March 31, 2022, by James R. Wilharm, Senior Vice President and Director of Trust Real Estate Services of PNC Bank, the Trustee of the Trust.**
Certification required by Rule 13a-14(b), dated March 31, 2022, by James R. Wilharm, Senior Vice President and Director of Trust Real Estate Services of PNC Bank, on behalf of PNC Bank, the Trustee of the Trust.***
99.1
Independent Petroleum Engineers’ Report prepared by Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc., dated March 1, 2022.**
* A copy of this Exhibit is available to any Unit Holder (free of charge) upon written request to the Trustee, PNC Bank, National Association, 2200 Post Oak Blvd., Floor 18, Houston, Texas 77056.
** Filed herewith.
*** Furnished herewith.