EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 56868
Filing Year: 2024
Filename: 56868_10-K_2024_0001437749-24-011958.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1.
BUSINESS.
General
PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation (the “Company”) was organized in March 1973, under the laws of the State of Delaware. We are an independent oil and natural gas company engaged in acquiring, developing, and producing oil and natural gas. We presently own producing and non-producing properties located primarily in Texas, and Oklahoma. All of our oil and gas properties and interests are located in the United States. Through our subsidiaries Prime Operating Company, Eastern Oil Well Service Company, and EOWS Midland Company, we act as operator and provide well-servicing support operations for many of the onshore oil and gas wells we operate, as well as for third parties. We are also active in the acquisition of producing oil and gas properties through joint ventures with industry partners. In addition, we own a 12.5% overriding royalty interest in over 30,000 acres in the state of West Virginia. We are currently not receiving revenue from this asset, as development has not begun. In addition, through a wholly owned offshore company, we own a 60-mile-long pipeline offshore on the shallow shelf of Texas, not currently in use. We also hold a 33.3% interest in a limited partnership that owns a 138,000-square-foot retail shopping center on ten acres in Prattville, Alabama, which is on our books for $40,000 as of December 31, 2023. There is currently no debt on the shopping center and it has approximately $500,000 of working capital on its balance sheet.
Additional Information
PrimeEnergy files or furnishes annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other documents with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). The SEC maintains a website (www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including PrimeEnergy, that file electronically with the SEC.
The Company makes available, free of charge, through its website (www.primeenergy.com) its Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and, if applicable, amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after it electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the SEC. In addition to the reports filed or furnished with the SEC, the Company publicly discloses information from time to time in its press releases. Such information, including information posted on or connected to the Company’s website, is not a part of, or incorporated by reference in, this Report or any other document the Company files with or furnishes to the SEC.
Information contained on the Company’s website is not part of or incorporated into this Report or any other filings with the SEC.
Exploration, Development, and Recent Activities
The Company’s activities include development and exploratory drilling. Our strategy is to develop the Company’s extensive oil and gas reserves primarily through horizontal drilling. This strategy includes targeting reservoirs with high initial production rates and cash flow as well as targeting reservoirs with lower initial production rates but with higher expected return on investment. We believe that with today’s technology, horizontal development of our reserves provides superior economic results as compared to vertical development, by delivering higher production rates through greater contact and stimulation of a larger volume of reservoir rock while minimizing the surface footprint required to develop those same reserves.
Maintaining a strong balance sheet and ample liquidity are key components of our business strategy. In 2024, we will continue our focus on preserving financial flexibility and liquidity as we manage the risks facing our industry. Our capital budget for the year is reflective of current commodity prices and has been established based on an expectation of available cash flows, with any cash flow deficiencies expected to be funded by borrowings under our revolving credit facility. As we have done historically to preserve or enhance liquidity, we may adjust our capital program throughout the year, divest non-strategic assets, or enter into strategic joint ventures.
Horizontal development of our leasehold acreage is continuing at a fast pace, particularly in West Texas, where in 2023 we participated with Double Eagle, Apache, Civitas, and ConocoPhillips in the drilling and completion of 32 new horizontal wells and in 2024 are on track to complete 54 new horizontals. In Oklahoma, in 2023, we participated with Ovintiv MidContinent with a minor interest in three 3-mile-long horizontal laterals. Now, in the first quarter of 2024, we are participating with Double Eagle in 20 wells and with Civitas in 14 wells located in Reagan County, Texas. These 34 new horizontals are in the process of being drilled or are already being facture-stimulated, and we have additional new-drills slated for drilling later in 2024. The following is a detailed description of the recent, current, and expected near-term drilling activities.
In 2023, the Company participated with five operators in the drilling and completion of 35 horizontal wells: 32 of these are located in West Texas and three in Oklahoma. In total, including the cost of facilities, the Company invested approximately $91 million, 99% of which is attributable to the wells in West Texas where we have been drilling horizontal wells targeting various proven pay intervals in the Wolfcamp and Spraberry formations.
In Reagan County, in 2023, we participated with Hibernia Energy II (Now Civitas) in ten 2-mile-long horizontals having 25% interest and investing $25.6 million in our “Brynn” wells that began production in April 2023. Also in Reagan County, we participated with DE IV, LLC (Double Eagle) in 15 horizontals: five 2-mile-long laterals in which we have nearly 50% interest, called the “Prime East” wells that were placed on production in May 2023, another six 2-mile-long laterals in which we have 7% interest, our “Studley AV” wells, that were brought on production in December 2023, and four 2.5-mile laterals with 20% interest, part of our “Studley CKO” wells, that were completed in December 2023 but not put online until January 2024. All twelve Studley CKO wells were brought on production in January 2024 and were therefore included in the 2023 year-end reserve report as proved developed non-producing.
Also in 2023, in Upton County, Texas we participated for 50% interest in two 3-mile-long horizontals operated by Apache. These wells were brought into production in October 2023 and we invested approximately $17 million in these wells and their associated facilities. In Martin County, Texas we participated with ConocoPhillips for 20.8% interest in five 2.5-mile-long horizontal laterals, investing approximately $12 million. These five wells were completed and brought online in September 2023. Also in 2023, in Oklahoma, the Company joined Ovintiv USA, Inc. in the drilling of three 3-mile-long horizontals located in Canadian County with 2% interest, invested approximately $645,000.
In the first quarter of 2024, in Reagan County, Texas, we have completed eight “Studley CKO” 2.5-mile horizontals with an average 19.7% interest, investing $15.5 million. We are also participating in another 34 horizontal wells that are actively drilling or in the process of being stimulated. Of these 34 wells, twenty are operated by Double Eagle: the “Prime West”, “Pink Floyd”, “Kramer”, and “O’Bannion” wells. In the six Prime West wells we have 50% interest and will invest $24 million, in the 12 Kramer and O’Bannion wells we have an average 8.3% interest and are investing approximately $9.9 million, and in the two Pink Floyd wells we have less than 1% interest and will invest approximately $175,500. With Civitas, we are currently drilling 14 “Christi” wells in Reagan County, Texas, with an average of 39% interest and expect to invest $43 million. Fourteen of the 34 wells now drilling are 2.5-mile-long laterals, while 20 are 2-mile-long laterals. All 34 are expected to be on production in the second quarter of 2024. Additionally, we have 12 horizontals slated to begin drilling in the second quarter of 2024 and be on production in the third quarter of 2024.
In 2024, we expect to complete 54 new horizontal wells, investing approximately $140 million. We are also preparing to invest approximately $95 million in another 23 horizontal wells to be drilled and completed in 2025. In addition, we have identified 28 horizontal locations for future development in West Texas that we anticipate to be drilled in the 2026-2027 timeframe and would require a net investment of approximately $67 million. In total, we are planning to invest in excess of $300 million in horizontal development in West Texas over the next several years.
In the Permian Basin of West Texas and eastern New Mexico we maintain an acreage position of approximately 16,407 gross (9,341 net) acres, 96.4% of which is located in Reagan, Upton, and Martin counties of Texas where our current West Texas horizontal drilling activities are focused. In addition to the wells currently being drilled or completed, we believe this acreage has the resource potential to support the drilling of as many as 190 future horizontal wells.
In Oklahoma, we are focused on the development of our reserves in Canadian, Grady, Kingfisher, Garfield, Major, and Garvin counties where we have approximately 4,113 net leasehold acres in the Scoop/Stack Play. Of this acreage, we believe 2,355 net leasehold acres hold significant additional resource potential that could support the drilling of as many as 43 new horizontal wells based on an estimate of four wells per multi-section drilling unit, two in the Mississippian and two in the Woodford Shale. Proposals may be received on the remaining 2,017 acres, however, rather than participate we may choose to sell the acreage or farm-out, receiving cash and retaining an over-riding royalty interest. In regard to 13 newly drilled wells in 2023, we chose to farm-out our interest and own an over-riding-royalty interest in these wells.
Significant Activity
As of December 31, 2023, we had net capitalized costs related to proved oil and gas properties of $252.9 million. Total expenditures for the acquisition, exploration, and development of our properties during 2023 were $113.8 million as we continue development under the programs discussed above. Proved reserves as of December 31, 2023, were 29,046 MBOE which consisted of 47% proved developed reserves and 53% proved undeveloped reserves.
The Company is actively participating in 34 horizontals that targeted the West Texas Spraberry and Wolfcamp producing intervals. In total, the Company will invest approximately $96 million in these wells that are expected to be in production in the second quarter of 2024. Additional development on these same leasehold blocks and adjacent Company owned blocks is anticipated in the second half of 2024 and in 2025.
In 2023, the Company sold acreage for proceeds of approximately $8 million, and acquired acreage for future development at an expense of $2.3 million. Please see Note 2. Acquisitions and Dispositions of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, included elsewhere in this Report, for details.
We believe that our diversified portfolio approach to our drilling activities produces more consistent and predictable economic results than would otherwise be experienced with a less diversified or higher-risk drilling program profile.
We attempt to assume the position of operator in all acquisitions of producing properties. We will continue to evaluate prospects for leasehold acquisitions and for exploration and development operations in areas in which we own interests and are actively pursuing the acquisition of producing properties. To diversify and broaden our asset base, we will consider acquiring the assets or stock in other entities and companies in the oil and gas business. Our main objective in making any such acquisitions will be to acquire income-producing assets to increase our net worth and increase our oil and gas reserve base.
We presently own producing and non-producing properties located primarily in Texas, and Oklahoma, and we own a substantial amount of well-servicing equipment.
We do not own any refinery or marketing facilities and do not currently own or lease any bulk storage facilities or pipelines other than adjacent to and used in connection with producing wells and the interests in certain gas gathering systems. All of our oil and gas properties and interests are located in the United States.
In the past, the supply of gas has exceeded demand on a cyclical basis, and we are subject to a combination of shut-ins and/or reduced takes of gas production during summer months. Prolonged shut-ins could result in reduced field operating income from properties in which we act as operator.
Exploration for oil and gas requires substantial expenditures, particularly in exploratory drilling in undeveloped areas, or “wildcat drilling.” As is customary in the oil and gas industry, substantially all of our exploration and development activities are conducted through joint drilling and operating agreements with others engaged in the oil and gas business.
Summaries of our oil and gas drilling activities, oil and gas production, and undeveloped leasehold, mineral, and royalty interests are set forth under Item 2., “Properties”, below. Summaries of our oil and gas reserves, future net revenue and present value of future net revenue are also set forth under Item 2., “Properties-Reserves”, below.
Well Operations
Our operations are conducted through our principal offices in Houston, Texas, and district offices in Houston and Midland, Texas, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. We currently operate 542 wells, including producing, saltwater disposal, injection, and supply wells: 33 through the Houston office, 342 through the Midland office, and 167 through the Oklahoma City office. We own a majority interest in nearly all of our operated wells.
We operate wells according to operating agreements that govern the relationship between us, as operator, and the other owners of working interests in the properties and joint venture participants. For each operated well, we receive monthly fees that are competitive in the areas of operations and we also are reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with well operations.
Regulation
Regulation of the Oil and Natural Gas Industry
Our operations are substantially affected by federal, state and local laws and regulations. Failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations can result in substantial penalties. The regulatory burden on the industry increases the cost of doing business and affects profitability. Although we believe we are in substantial compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, such laws and regulations are frequently amended or reinterpreted. Therefore, we are unable to predict the future costs or impact of compliance. Additional proposals and proceedings that affect the oil and natural gas industry are regularly considered by the United States Congress (“Congress”), state governments, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (the “FERC”) and other federal and state regulatory agencies and federal, state and local courts. We cannot predict when or whether any such proposals may become effective. We do not believe that such action or proposal would have a material disproportionate effect on us as compared to similarly situated competitors.
Regulation Affecting Production
Natural gas production and related operations are, or have been, subject to price controls, taxes and numerous other laws and regulations. In addition, all of the jurisdictions in which we own or operate producing oil and natural gas properties have statutory provisions regulating the exploration for and production of oil and natural gas, including provisions related to permits for the drilling of wells, bonding requirements to drill or operate wells, the location of wells, the method of drilling and casing wells, the surface use and restoration of properties upon which wells are drilled, sourcing and disposal of water used in the drilling and completion process and the abandonment of wells. Our operations are also subject to various conservation laws and regulations. These include the regulation of the size of drilling and spacing units or proration units, the number of wells that may be drilled in an area and the unitization or pooling of crude oil or natural gas wells, as well as regulations that generally prohibit the venting or flaring of natural gas and impose certain requirements regarding the ratability or fair apportionment of production from fields and individual wells. These laws and regulations may limit the number of oil and natural gas wells we can drill. Moreover, each state generally imposes a production or severance tax with respect to the production and sale of oil, natural gas and NGLs within its jurisdiction. States do not regulate wellhead prices or engage in other similar direct regulation, but there can be no assurance that they will not do so in the future. The effect of such future regulations may be to limit the amounts of oil and natural gas that may be produced from our wells, negatively affect the economics of production from these wells or limit the number of locations we can drill.
The failure to comply with the rules and regulations of oil and natural gas production and related operations can result in substantial penalties. Our competitors in the oil and natural gas industry are subject to the same regulatory requirements and restrictions that affect our operations.
Regulation Affecting Sales and Transportation of Commodities
Sales prices for oil, natural gas and NGLs are not currently regulated and therefore are dictated by the prevailing market prices. Although prices of these energy commodities are currently unregulated, Congress historically has been active in their regulation. We cannot predict whether new legislation to regulate oil and natural gas, or the prices charged for these commodities, might be proposed, what proposals, if any, might actually be enacted by Congress or the various state legislatures and what effect, if any, the proposals might have on our operations. Sales of oil and natural gas may be subject to certain state and federal reporting requirements.
The price and terms of service of transportation of commodities, including access to pipeline transportation capacity, are subject to extensive federal and state regulation. Such regulation may affect the marketing of oil and natural gas produced, as well as the revenues received for sales of such production. Gathering systems may be subject to state ratable take statutes and common purchaser statutes. Ratable take statutes generally require gatherers to take, without undue discrimination, oil and natural gas production that may be tendered to the gatherer for handling. Similarly, common purchaser statutes generally require gatherers to purchase, or accept for gathering, without undue discrimination as to source of supply or producer. These statutes are designed to prohibit discrimination in favor of one producer over another producer or one source of supply over another source of supply. These statutes may affect whether and to what extent gathering capacity is available for oil and natural gas production, if any, of the drilling program and the cost of such capacity. Further, state laws and regulations govern rates and terms of access to intrastate pipeline systems, which may similarly affect market access and cost.
To the extent that the Company enters into transportation contracts with pipelines that are subject to FERC regulation, the Company is subject to FERC requirements related to use of such capacity. Any failure on the Company’s part to comply with FERC’s regulations and policies related to pipeline transportation, reporting requirements or other regulations, and any failure to comply with a FERC-related pipeline’s tariff, could result in the imposition of civil and criminal penalties. In addition, any changes in FERC or state regulations or requirements on pipeline transportation may result in increased transportation costs on pipelines that are subject to such regulation, thereby negatively impacting the Company’s profitability.
Regulation of Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters
Our operations are subject to stringent and complex federal, state and local laws and regulations governing environmental protection as well as the discharge of materials into the environment and occupational health and safety. These laws and regulations may, among other things: (i) require the acquisition of permits to conduct exploration, drilling and production operations; (ii) restrict the types, quantities and concentration of various substances that can be released into the environment or injected into formations in connection with oil and natural gas drilling and production activities; (iii) limit or prohibit drilling activities on certain lands lying within wilderness, wetlands and other protected areas; (iv) require remedial measures to mitigate pollution from former and ongoing operations, such as requirements to close pits and plug abandoned wells; and (v) impose substantial liabilities for pollution resulting from drilling and production operations. Any failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal penalties, the imposition of corrective or remedial obligations and the issuance of orders enjoining performance of some or all of our operations.
These laws and regulations may also restrict the rate of oil and natural gas production below the rate that would otherwise be possible. The regulatory burden on the oil and natural gas industry increases the cost of doing business in the industry and consequently affects profitability. Additionally, Congress and federal and state agencies frequently revise environmental laws and regulations and any changes that result in more stringent and costly waste handling, disposal and cleanup requirements for the oil and natural gas industry could have a significant impact on our operating costs.
The clear trend in environmental regulation has been to place more restrictions and limitations on activities that may affect the environment and thus any changes in environmental laws and regulations or re-interpretation of enforcement policies that result in more stringent and costly waste handling, storage, transportation, disposal, or remediation requirements could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations. We may be unable to pass on such increased compliance costs to our purchasers. Moreover, accidental releases or spills may occur in the course of our operations and we cannot assure you that we will not incur significant costs and liabilities as a result of such releases or spills, including any third-party claims for damage to property, natural resources or persons. While compliance with existing environmental laws and regulations has not had a material adverse effect on our operations to date, we can provide no assurance that this will continue in the future.
The following is a summary of the more significant existing and proposed environmental, occupational health and safety laws and regulations to which our business operations are or may be subject to and for which compliance may have a material adverse impact on our capital expenditures, results of operations or financial position.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”), and comparable state statutes, regulate the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal and cleanup of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes.
Pursuant to rules issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”), individual state governments administer some or all of the provisions of RCRA, sometimes in conjunction with their own, more stringent requirements. Drilling fluids, produced waters and most of the other wastes associated with the exploration, development and production of crude oil or natural gas are currently regulated under RCRA’s non-hazardous waste provisions. However, it is possible that certain oil and natural gas drilling and production wastes now classified as non-hazardous could be classified as hazardous wastes in the future. A change in the classification of exploration and production wastes has the potential to significantly increase our waste disposal costs to manage, which in turn will result in increased operating costs and could adversely impact our results of operations and financial position. Also, in the course of our operations, we generate some amounts of ordinary industrial wastes, such as paint wastes, waste solvents and waste oils that may be regulated as hazardous wastes if such wastes have hazardous characteristics.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), also known as the Superfund law, imposes joint and several liability, without regard to fault or legality of conduct, on classes of persons who are considered to be responsible for the release of a hazardous substance into the environment. These persons include the current and former owners and operators of the site where the release occurred and anyone who disposed or arranged for the disposal of a hazardous substance released at the site. Under CERCLA, such persons may be subject to joint and several liability for the costs of cleaning up the hazardous substances that have been released into the environment, for damages to natural resources and for the costs of certain health studies. In addition, it is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third-parties to file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the hazardous substances released into the environment. We generate materials in the course of our operations that may be regulated as hazardous substances. Despite the “petroleum exclusion” of CERCLA, which currently encompasses natural gas, we may nonetheless handle hazardous substances within the meaning of CERCLA, or similar state statutes, in the course of our ordinary operations and, as a result, may be jointly and severally liable under CERCLA for all or part of the costs required to clean up sites at which these hazardous substances have been released into the environment. In addition, we currently own, lease, or operate numerous properties that have been used for oil and natural gas exploration, production and processing for many years. Although we believe that we have utilized operating and waste disposal practices that were standard in the industry at the time, hazardous substances, wastes, or hydrocarbons may have been released on, under or from the properties owned or leased by us, or on, under or from other locations, including off-site locations, where such substances have been taken for disposal. In addition, some of our properties have been operated by third parties or by previous owners or operators whose treatment and disposal of hazardous substances, wastes, or hydrocarbons was not under our control. These properties and the substances disposed or released on, under or from them may be subject to CERCLA, RCRA and analogous state and local laws. Under such laws, we could be required to undertake investigatory, response, or corrective measures, which could include soil and groundwater sampling, the removal of previously disposed substances and wastes, the cleanup of contaminated property, or remedial plugging or pit closure operations to prevent future contamination, the costs of which could be substantial.
Water Discharges
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, or the Clean Water Act (the “CWA”), and analogous state laws impose restrictions and strict controls with respect to the discharge of pollutants, including spills and leaks of oil and other substances, into waters of the United States. The discharge of pollutants into regulated waters, including wetland areas, is prohibited, except in accordance with the terms of a permit issued by the EPA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the “USACE”) or an analogous state agency. In September 2015, the EPA and the USACE issued a final rule outlining federal jurisdictional reach under the CWA over waters of the U.S., including wetlands, which has since been subject to several revisions. In May 2023, the Supreme Court decided Sackett v. EPA, which significantly narrowed the scope of “waters of the United States.” Under Sackett, the word “waters” refers only to “those relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing bodies of water forming geographic features that are described in ordinary parlance as streams, oceans, rivers, and lakes” and to “wetlands that are as a practical matter indistinguishable from waters of the United States.” In August 2023, the EPA finalized a rule amending the definition of “waters of the United States” to conform with the recent Supreme Court decision in Sackett. However, litigation challenging aspects of the January 2023 definition not addressed by Sackett is ongoing. To the extent future changes expand the scope of the CWA’s jurisdiction, we could face increased costs and delays with respect to obtaining permits for dredge and fill activities in wetland areas. In addition, federal and state regulatory agencies can impose administrative, civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance with discharge permits or other requirements of the CWA and analogous state laws and regulations. We do not expect the costs to comply with the requirements of the CWA to have a material adverse effect on our operations.
The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 amends the CWA and establishes strict liability for owners and operators of facilities that cause a release of oil into waters of the United States. In addition, this law requires owners and operators of facilities that store oil above specified threshold amounts to develop and implement spill prevention, control and countermeasures plans.
Safe Drinking Water Act and Saltwater Disposal Wells
In the course of our operations, we produce water in addition to oil and natural gas. Water that is not recycled or otherwise disposed of on the lease may be sent to saltwater disposal wells for injection into subsurface formations. Underground injection operations are regulated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and permitting and enforcement authority may be delegated to state governments. In Texas, the Texas Railroad Commission (“RRC”) regulates the disposal of produced water by injection well. The RRC requires operators to obtain a permit from the agency for the operation of saltwater disposal wells and establishes minimum standards for injection well operations. In response to recent seismic events near underground injection wells used for the disposal of oil and natural gas-related waste waters, federal and some state agencies have begun investigating whether such wells have caused increased seismic activity, and some states have shut down or placed volumetric injection limits on existing wells or imposed moratoria on the use of such injection wells. In response to concerns related to induced seismicity, regulators in some states have already adopted or are considering additional requirements related to seismic safety. For example, the RRC has adopted rules for injection wells to address these seismic activity concerns in Texas. Among other things, the rules require companies seeking permits for disposal wells to provide seismic activity data in permit applications, provide for more frequent monitoring and reporting for certain wells and allow the RRC to modify, suspend, or terminate permits on grounds that a disposal well is likely to be, or determined to be, causing seismic activity. More stringent regulation of injection wells could lead to reduced construction or the capacity of such wells, which could in turn impact the availability of injection wells for disposal of wastewater from our operations. Increased costs associated with the transportation and disposal of produced water, including the cost of complying with regulations concerning produced water disposal, may reduce our profitability. The costs associated with the disposal of proposed water are commonly incurred by all oil and natural gas producers, however, and we do not believe that these costs will have a material adverse effect on our operations.
Air Emissions
The federal Clean Air Act and comparable state laws restrict the emission of air pollutants from many sources, such as tank batteries and compressor stations, through air emissions standards, construction and operating permitting programs and the imposition of other compliance requirements. These laws and regulations may require us to obtain pre-approval for the construction or modification of certain projects or facilities expected to produce or significantly increase air emissions, obtain and strictly comply with stringent air permit requirements or utilize specific equipment or technologies to control emissions of certain pollutants. Over the next several years, we may be required to incur certain capital expenditures for air pollution control equipment or other air emissions related issues. For example, in October 2015, the EPA lowered the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone from 75 to 70 parts per billion. The EPA approved final attainment/nonattainment designations with the new ozone standards in July 2018 and currently all of the areas in which we operate are in attainment with such standards. However, state implementation of these revised air quality standards or a change in the attainment status of the areas in which we operate could result in stricter permitting requirements, delay or prohibit our ability to obtain such permits and result in increased expenditures for pollution control equipment, the costs of which could be significant.
Separately, in June 2016, the EPA finalized a rule regarding criteria for aggregating multiple small surface sites into a single source for air-quality permitting purposes applicable to the oil and natural gas industry. This rule could cause small facilities, on an aggregate basis, to be deemed a major source, thereby triggering more stringent air permitting requirements, which in turn could result in operational delays or require us to install costly pollution control equipment. The EPA has also adopted new rules under the Clean Air Act that require the reduction of volatile organic compound emissions from certain fractured and refractured natural gas wells for which well completion operations are conducted and further require that most wells use reduced emission completions, also known as “green completions.” These regulations also establish specific new requirements regarding emissions from production-related wet seal and reciprocating compressors and from pneumatic controllers and storage vessels.
Given the long-term trend toward increasing regulation, these and future laws and air pollution control and permitting requirements have the potential to delay the development of oil and natural gas projects and increase our costs of development and production, which costs could be significant. We do not believe that compliance with such requirements, however, will have a material adverse effect on our operations.
Regulation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
In response to findings that emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases (“GHGs”) endanger public health and the environment, the EPA has adopted regulations under existing provisions of the Clean Air Act that, among other things, establish Prevention of Significant Deterioration (“PSD”), construction and Title V operating permit reviews for certain large stationary sources. Facilities required to obtain PSD permits for their GHG emissions also will be required to meet “best available control technology” standards for these emissions. EPA rulemakings related to GHG emissions could adversely affect our operations and restrict or delay our ability to obtain air permits for new or modified sources. In addition, the EPA has adopted rules requiring the annual reporting of GHG emissions from certain petroleum and natural gas system sources in the U.S., including, among others, onshore and offshore production facilities, which include certain of our operations. In December 2023, the EPA finalized New Source Performance Standard (“NSPS”) Subpart OOOOb, which seeks to reduce methane and volatile organic compound emissions from the oil and natural gas source category and NSPS Subpart OOOOc, which create, for the first-time, emission guidelines for existing oil and natural gas sources that would be included in individual states’ implementation plans. These standards expand upon previously issued NSPS Subparts OOOO and OOOOa published by the EPA in 2012 and 2016, respectively. In January 2024, the EPA issued a proposed rule implementing a methane fee required under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
Substantial limitations on GHG emissions could adversely affect demand for the oil and natural gas we produce and lower the value of our reserves. Notwithstanding potential risks related to climate change, the International Energy Agency estimates that global energy demand will continue to represent a major share of global energy use through 2040, and other private sector studies project continued growth in demand for the next two decades. However, recent activism directed at shifting funding away from companies with energy-related assets could result in limitations or restrictions on certain sources of funding for the energy sector. Finally, it should also be noted that many scientists have concluded that increasing concentrations of GHGs in the Earth’s atmosphere may produce climate changes that have significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, floods, droughts and other climatic events; if any such effects were to occur, they could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Hydraulic Fracturing Activities
Hydraulic fracturing is an important and common practice that is used to stimulate production of natural gas and/or oil from dense subsurface rock formations. Hydraulic fracturing involves the injection of water, sand or alternative proppant and chemicals under pressure into target geological formations to fracture the surrounding rock and stimulate production. We regularly use hydraulic fracturing as part of our operations. Recently, there has been increased public concern regarding an alleged potential for hydraulic fracturing to adversely affect drinking water supplies, resulting in new legislative and regulatory initiatives that seek to increase the regulatory burden imposed on hydraulic fracturing.
At the federal level, the EPA has asserted federal regulatory authority pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act over certain hydraulic fracturing activities involving the use of diesel fuels and published permitting guidance in February 2014 addressing the performance of such activities. Further, the EPA finalized regulations under the CWA in June 2016 that prohibit wastewater discharges from hydraulic fracturing and certain other natural gas operations to publicly owned wastewater treatment plants. Also, in December 2016, the EPA released its final report on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. The final report concluded that “water cycle” activities associated with hydraulic fracturing may impact drinking water resources under certain limited circumstances. Also, the federal Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) published a final rule in 2015 that established new or more stringent standards for performing hydraulic fracturing on federal and Indian lands; however, the BLM rescinded the 2015 rule in 2017.
At the state level, several states have adopted or are considering legal requirements that could impose more stringent permitting, disclosure and well construction requirements on hydraulic fracturing activities, or prohibit hydraulic fracturing or high volume hydraulic fracturing altogether. For example, in May 2013, the RRC adopted new rules governing well casing, cementing and other standards for ensuring that hydraulic fracturing operations do not contaminate nearby water resources. Local governments also may seek to adopt ordinances within their jurisdictions regulating the time, place and manner of, or prohibiting, drilling or hydraulic fracturing activities. We believe that we follow applicable standard industry practices and legal requirements for groundwater protection in our hydraulic fracturing activities. Nonetheless, if new or more stringent federal, state, or local legal restrictions relating to the hydraulic fracturing process are adopted in areas where we operate, we may be required to incur significant added costs to comply with such requirements, experience delays or curtailment in the pursuit of exploration, development or production activities and perhaps even be precluded from drilling wells.
If new federal, state or local laws or regulations that significantly restrict hydraulic fracturing are adopted, such legal requirements could result in delays, eliminate certain drilling and injection activities and make it more difficult or costly to perform fracturing. Any such regulations limiting or prohibiting hydraulic fracturing could reduce oil and natural gas exploration and production activities and, therefore, adversely affect our business. Such laws or regulations could also materially increase our costs of compliance and doing business by more strictly regulating how hydraulic fracturing wastes are handled or disposed.
Endangered Species Act and Migratory Birds
The federal Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) and (in some cases) comparable state laws were established to protect endangered and threatened species. Pursuant to the ESA, if a species is listed as threatened or endangered, restrictions may be imposed on activities adversely affecting that species’ habitat. We may conduct operations on oil and natural gas leases in areas where certain species that are listed as threatened or endangered are known to exist and where other species, such as the sage grouse, that potentially could be listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA may exist. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (the “FWS”) may designate critical habitat and suitable habitat areas that it believes are necessary for the survival of a threatened or endangered species. A critical habitat or suitable habitat designation could result in further material restrictions to federal land use and may materially delay or prohibit land access for oil and natural gas development. Moreover, as a result of a 2011 settlement agreement, the FWS was required to make a determination on listing of more than 250 species as endangered or threatened under the FSA by no later than completion of the agency’s 2017 fiscal year. The FWS missed the deadline but reportedly continues to review new species for protected status under the ESA pursuant to the settlement agreement. Similar protections are offered to migratory birds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. In 2023, Recently, the FWS proposed that the dunes sagebrush lizard, whose habitat includes portions of the Permian Basin, be listed as endangered under the ESA. The designation as threatened or endangered of previously unprotected species in areas where we operate could cause us to incur increased costs arising from species protection measures or could result in limitations on our development and production activities that could have a material adverse impact on our ability to develop and produce our reserves. If we were to have a portion of our leases designated as critical or suitable habitat, it could adversely impact the value of our leases.
OSHA
We are subject to the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) and comparable state statutes whose purpose is to protect the health and safety of workers. In addition, the OSHA hazard communication standard, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act and comparable state statutes and any implementing regulations require that we organize and/or disclose information about hazardous materials used or produced in our operations and that this information be provided to employees, state and local governmental authorities and citizens.
Related Permits and Authorizations
Many environmental laws require us to obtain permits or other authorizations from state and/or federal agencies before initiating certain drilling, construction, production, operation, or other oil and natural gas activities and to maintain these permits and compliance with their requirements for on-going operations. These permits are generally subject to protest, appeal, or litigation, which, in certain cases, can delay or halt projects and cease production or operation of wells, pipelines and other operations.
Related Insurance
We maintain insurance against some risks associated with above or underground contamination that may occur as a result of our exploration and production activities. However, this insurance is limited to activities at the well site, and there can be no assurance that this insurance will continue to be commercially available or that this insurance will be available at premium levels that justify its purchase by us. The occurrence of a significant event that is not fully insured or indemnified against could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operations.
Although we have not experienced any material adverse effect from compliance with environmental requirements, there is no assurance that this will continue. We did not have any material capital or other non-recurring expenditures in connection with complying with environmental laws or environmental remediation matters in 2023, nor do we anticipate that such expenditures will be material in 2024.
Competition and Markets
The business of acquiring producing properties and non-producing leases suitable for exploration and development is highly competitive. Our competition, in our efforts to acquire both producing and non-producing properties, include oil and gas companies, independent concerns, income programs and individual producers and operators, many of which have financial resources, staffs and facilities substantially greater than those available to us. Furthermore, domestic producers of oil and gas must not only compete with each other in marketing their output, but must also compete with producers of imported oil and gas and alternative energy sources such as coal, nuclear power and hydroelectric power. Competition among petroleum companies for favorable oil and gas properties and leases can be expected to increase. The Company also faces competition from companies that supply alternative sources of energy, such as wind, solar and other renewables. Competition will increase as alternative energy technology becomes more reliable and governments throughout the world support or mandate the use of such alternative energy,
The availability of a ready market for any oil and gas produced by us at acceptable prices per unit of production will depend upon numerous factors beyond our control, including the extent of domestic production and importation of oil and gas, the proximity of our producing properties to gas pipelines and the availability and capacity of such pipelines, the marketing of other competitive fuels, fluctuation in demand, governmental regulation of production, refining, transportation and sales, general national and worldwide economic conditions, and use and allocation of oil and gas and their substitute fuels. There is no assurance that we will be able to market all of the oil or gas produced by us or that favorable prices can be obtained for the oil and gas production.
We derive our revenue and cash flow principally from the sale of oil, natural gas and NGLs. As a result, our revenues are determined, to a large degree, by prevailing prices for crude oil, natural gas and NGLs. We sell our oil and natural gas on the open market at prevailing market prices or through forward delivery contracts. Because some of our operations are located outside major markets, we are directly impacted by regional prices regardless of Henry Hub, WTI or other major market pricing. The market price for oil, natural gas and NGLs is dictated by supply and demand; consequently, we cannot accurately predict or control the price we may receive for our oil, natural gas and NGLs.
We have an active hedging program to mitigate risk regarding our cash flow and to protect returns from our development activity in the event of decreases in the prices received for our production; however, hedging arrangements may expose us to risk of financial loss in some circumstances and may limit the benefit we would receive from increases in the prices for oil, natural gas and NGLs.
Oil and Gas Industry Considerations
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a severe worldwide economic downturn, significantly disrupting the demand for oil throughout the world, and created significant volatility, uncertainty and turmoil in the oil and gas industry. Since mid-2020, while oil prices have improved with demand steadily increasing, worldwide oil inventories, from a historical perspective, remain low. In addition, concerns exist with the ability of OPEC and other oil producing nations to meet forecasted future oil demand growth, with many OPEC countries not able to produce at their OPEC agreed upon quota levels due to their limited capital investments directed towards developing incremental oil supplies over the past few years. Furthermore, sanctions, import bans and price caps on Russia have been implemented by various countries in response to the war in Ukraine, further impacting global oil supply. As a result of these and other oil and gas supply constraints, the world has experienced significant increases in energy costs. In March 2024, OPEC announced a continuation of its 2.2 MMBOPD production cut that started in July 2023 related to the uncertainty surrounding the global economy and future oil demand. As a result of the global supply and demand imbalances experienced in 2023, oil and gas prices remained strong with average NYMEX oil and NYMEX gas prices for the three months ended December 31, 2023 being $78.41 per Bbl and $2.84 per Mcf, respectively, as compared to $82.79 per Bbl and $5.76 per Mcf, respectively, for the same period in 2022. In addition, economic volatility and geopolitical tensions have resulted in global supply chain disruptions, which has led to significant cost inflation. Global oil price levels and inflationary pressures will ultimately depend on various factors that are beyond the Company’s control, such as (i) the ability of OPEC and other oil producing nations to manage the global oil supply, (ii) the impact of sanctions and import bans on production from Russia, (iii) the timing and supply impact of any Iranian sanction relief on their ability to export oil, (iv) the global supply chain constraints associated with manufacturing and distribution delays, (v) oilfield service demand and cost inflation, and (vi) political stability of oil consuming countries and oil producing regions. The Company continues to assess and monitor the impact of these factors and consequences on the Company and its operations.
Major Customers
The Company sells its oil and gas production to a number of direct purchasers under direct contracts or through other operators under joint operating agreements. Listed below are the percent of the Company’s total oil and gas sales made which represented more than 10% of the Company’s oil and gas sales in the year 2023.
Oil Purchasers:
APA Corporation
%
Crivitas Resources Inc.
%
Plains All American Inc.
%
DE IV Operating, LLC.
%
Gas Purchasers:
APA Corporation
%
Civitas Resources Inc.
%
Although there are no long-term purchasing agreements with these purchasers, we believe that they will continue to purchase our oil and gas products and, if not, could be readily replaced by other purchasers.
Employees
At December 31, 2023, we had 115 full time employees, 25 of whom were employed at our principal offices in Houston, Texas, at the offices of Prime Operating Company, Eastern Oil Well Service Company and EOWS Midland Company, and 90 employees who were primarily involved in our district operations in Midland and Carrizo Springs, Texas, Elmore City and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A.
RISK FACTORS
General Risk Factors
The prices of oil, NGL and gas are highly volatile. A sustained decline in these commodity prices could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our revenues, operating results, financial condition and ability to borrow funds or obtain additional capital depend substantially on prevailing prices for natural gas and oil. Lower commodity prices may reduce the amount of natural gas and oil that we can produce economically. Natural gas prices, based on the twelve-month average of the first of the month Henry Hub index price, were $2.637 per MMBTU in 2023 as compared to $6.358 per MMBTU in 2022, and have averaged $2.446 per MMBTU for the first three months of 2024. Oil prices, based on West Texas Intermediate(WTI) Light Sweet Crude first of the month prices, averaged $78.22 per barrel in 2023 as compared to $93.67 per barrel in 2022, and in the first three months of 2024, the first of the month price has averaged $77.48 per barrel.
Any substantial or extended decline in future natural gas or crude oil prices would have a material adverse effect on our future business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity or ability to finance planned capital expenditures and commitments. Furthermore, substantial, extended decreases in natural gas and crude oil prices may cause us to delay or postpone a significant portion of our exploration, development and exploitation projects or may render such projects uneconomic, which may result in significant downward adjustments to our estimated proved reserves and could negatively impact our ability to borrow and cost of capital and our ability to access capital markets, increase our costs under our revolving credit facility, and limit our ability to execute aspects of our business plans.
Prices for natural gas and oil are subject to wide fluctuations in response to relatively minor changes in the supply of and demand for natural gas and oil, market uncertainty and a variety of additional factors that are beyond our control. These factors include:
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the level of consumer product demand;
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the domestic and foreign supply of natural gas and oil
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weather conditions and natural disasters;
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political conditions in natural gas and oil producing regions, including the Middle East, Russia, Africa and South America;
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actions by the members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries with respect to oil production levels and announcements of potential changes in such levels;
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the price levels and quantities of foreign imports to the United States;
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actions of governmental authorities;
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the availability, proximity and capacity of gathering, transportation, processing and/or refining facilities in regional or localized areas that may affect the realized price for natural gas and oil;
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inventory storage levels;
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the nature and extent of domestic and foreign governmental regulations and taxation, including environmental and climate change regulation;
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the price, availability and acceptance of alternative fuels;
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technological advances affecting energy consumption;
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speculation by investors in oil and natural gas;
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variations between product prices at sales points and applicable index prices;
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conservation and environmental protection efforts, including activities by non-governmental organizations to restrict the exploration, development and production of natural gas and oil;
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overall economic conditions; and
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global or national health concerns, including the outbreak of pandemic or contagious disease.
In addition, lower oil and natural gas prices may reduce the amount of oil and natural gas that we can produce economically. This may result in our having to make substantial downward adjustments to our estimated proved reserves. If this occurs or if our production estimates change or our exploration or development activities are curtailed, full cost accounting rules may require us to write down, as a noncash charge to earnings, the carrying value of our oil and natural gas properties. Reductions in our reserves could also negatively impact the borrowing base under our revolving credit facility, which could further limit our liquidity and ability to conduct additional exploration and development activities.
Concerns over general economic, business or industry conditions may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, liquidity and financial condition.
Concerns over global economic conditions, energy costs, geopolitical issues, inflation, the availability and cost of credit, the European, Asian and the United States financial markets have in the past contributed, and may in the future contribute, to economic uncertainty and diminished expectations for the global economy. In addition, ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, the occurrence or threat of terrorist attacks in the United States or other countries and global or national health concerns could adversely affect the global economy. These factors, combined with volatility in commodity prices, business and consumer confidence and unemployment rates, may precipitate an economic slowdown. Concerns about global economic growth may have an adverse impact on global financial markets and commodity prices. If the economic climate in the United States or abroad deteriorates, worldwide demand for petroleum products could diminish, which could impact the price at which we can sell our production, affect the ability of our vendors, suppliers and customers to continue operations and ultimately adversely impact our results of operations, liquidity and financial condition. These factors and the volatile nature of the energy markets make it impossible to predict with any certainty the future prices of natural gas and oil. If natural gas and oil prices decline significantly for a sustained period of time, the lower prices may adversely affect our ability to make planned expenditures, raise additional capital or meet our financial obligations.
Financial difficulties encountered by our oil and natural gas purchasers, third-party operators or other third parties could decrease cash flow from operations and adversely affect our exploration and development activities.
We derive essentially all of our revenues from the sale of our oil, natural gas and NGLs to unaffiliated third-party purchasers, independent marketing companies and midstream companies. Any delays in payments from such purchasers caused by their financial difficulties, including those resulting from continued volatility in both credit and commodity markets, will have an immediate negative effect on our results of operations and cash flows.
Additionally, liquidity and cash flow problems encountered by our working interest co-owners or the third- party operators of our non-operated properties may prevent or delay the drilling of a well or the development of a project. Our working interest co-owners may be unwilling or unable to pay their share of the costs of projects as they become due. In the case of a working interest owner, we could be required to pay the working interest owner’s share of the project costs.
We have substantial capital requirements, and we may not be able to obtain needed financing on satisfactory terms, if at all.
We rely upon access to our revolving credit facility as a source of liquidity for any capital requirements not satisfied by cash flow from operations or other sources. Future challenges in the global financial system, including the capital markets, may adversely affect our business and our financial condition. Our ability to access the capital markets may be restricted at a time when we desire, or need, to raise capital, which could have an impact on our flexibility to react to changing economic and business conditions. Adverse economic and market conditions could adversely affect the collectability of our trade receivables and cause our commodity hedging counterparties to be unable to perform their obligations or to seek bankruptcy protection. Future challenges in the economy could also lead to reduced demand for natural gas which could have a negative impact on our revenues.
Our debt agreements also require compliance with covenants to maintain specified financial ratios. If the price that we receive for our natural gas and oil production further deteriorates from current levels or continues for an extended period, it could lead to further reduced revenues, cash flow and earnings, which in turn could lead to a default under those ratios. Because the calculations of the financial ratios are made as of certain dates, the financial ratios can fluctuate significantly from period to period. A prolonged period of decreased natural gas and oil prices or a further decline could further increase the risk of our inability to comply with covenants to maintain specified financial ratios. In order to provide a margin of comfort with regard to these financial covenants, we may seek to reduce our capital expenditure plan, sell non-strategic assets or opportunistically modify or increase our derivative instruments to the extent permitted under our debt agreements. In addition, we may seek to refinance or restructure all or a portion of our indebtedness. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully execute any of these strategies, and such strategies may be unavailable on favorable terms or not at all.
Negative public perception regarding us and/or our industry could have an adverse effect on our operations.
Negative public perception regarding us and/or our industry resulting from, among other things, concerns raised by advocacy groups about hydraulic fracturing, oil spills, GHG emissions, climate change or methane emissions and explosions of natural gas transmission lines, may lead to increased regulatory scrutiny, which may, in turn, lead to new state and federal safety and environmental laws, regulations, guidelines and enforcement interpretations. These actions may cause operational delays or restrictions, increased operating costs, additional regulatory burdens and increased risk of litigation. Moreover, governmental authorities exercise considerable discretion in the timing and scope of permit issuance and the public may engage in the permitting process, including through intervention in the courts. Negative public perception could cause the permits we need to conduct our operations to be withheld, delayed, or burdened by requirements that restrict our ability to profitably conduct our business. In addition, investors currently focused on the potential effectives of climate change may elect to shift some or all of their investments into non-fossil fuel energy related investments. Limitation of investments in and financings for fossil fuel energy could restrict the availability of capital, resulting in the restriction, delay, or cancellation of development and production activities.
We may not be insured against all of the operating risks to which we are exposed.
We maintain insurance coverage against certain, but not all, hazards that could arise from our operations. Such insurance is believed to be reasonable for the hazards and risks faced by us. We do not carry business interruption insurance. In addition, pollution and environmental risks are not fully insurable.
We maintain for our operations total excess liability insurance with limits of $20 million per occurrence and in the aggregate covering certain general liability and certain “sudden and accidental” environmental risks with a deductible of $100,000 per occurrence, subject to all terms, restrictions and sub-limits of the policies. We also maintain general liability insurance limits of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million in the aggregate.
We have several policies that cover environmental risks. We have environmental coverage under the per occurrence and aggregate limits of our general and umbrella liability policies (for a twelve-month term). These policies provide third-party surface cleanup, bodily injury and property damage coverage, and defense costs when a pollution event is sudden and accidental and is discovered within thirty days of commencement and reported to the insurance company within ninety days of discovery. This is standard coverage in oil and gas insurance policies.
We seek to protect ourselves from some but not all operating hazards through insurance coverage. However, some risks are either not insurable or insurance is available only at rates that we consider uneconomical. Depending on competitive conditions and other factors, we attempt to obtain contractual protection against uninsured operating risks from our customers and contractors. However, customers and contractors who provide contractual indemnification protection may not in all cases maintain adequate insurance to support their indemnification obligations. Our insurance or indemnification arrangements may not adequately protect us against liability or loss from all the hazards of our operations. The occurrence of a significant event that we have not fully insured or indemnified against or the failure of a customer to meet its indemnification obligations to us could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Furthermore, we may not be able to maintain adequate insurance in the future at rates we consider reasonable.
From time to time, a small number of our contractors have requested contractual provisions that require us to respond to third-party claims. In some of these instances we have accepted the risk with the understanding that it would be covered under our current coverage. We evaluate these risk-transferring negotiations cautiously, and we feel that we have adequately mitigated this risk through existing coverage or acquiring supplemental coverage when appropriate.
Terrorist activities and the potential for military and other actions could adversely affect our business.
The threat of terrorism and the impact of military and other action have caused instability in world financial markets and could lead to increased volatility in prices for natural gas and oil, all of which could adversely affect the markets for our operations. Future acts of terrorism could be directed against companies operating in the United States. The U.S. government has issued public warnings that indicate that energy assets might be specific targets of terrorist organizations. These developments have subjected our operations to increased risk and, depending on their ultimate magnitude, could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our ability to sell our natural gas and oil production could be materially harmed if we fail to obtain adequate services such as transportation and processing.
The sale of our natural gas and oil production depends on a number of factors beyond our control, including the availability and capacity of transportation and processing facilities. If there were insufficient capacity available on these facilities, if these facilities were unavailable to the Company or if access to these facilities were to become commercially unreasonable, the price offered for the Company's production could be significantly depressed, or the Company could be forced to shut in some production or delay or discontinue drilling plans and commercial production following a discovery of hydrocarbons while it constructs its own facility or awaits the availability of third party facilities. The Company also relies (and expects to rely in the future) on facilities developed and owned by third parties in order to gather, store, process, transport, fractionate, refine, export and sell its oil, NGL and gas production. The Company's plans to develop and sell production from its oil and gas reserves could be materially and adversely affected by the inability or unwillingness of third parties to provide sufficient gathering, transportation, storage, processing, fractionation, refining or export facilities to the Company, especially in areas of planned expansion where such facilities do not currently exist. Our failure to obtain these services on acceptable terms could materially harm our business.
Competition in our industry is intense, and many of our competitors have substantially greater financial and technological resources than we do, which could adversely affect our competitive position.
Competition in the natural gas and oil industry is intense. Major and independent natural gas and oil companies actively bid for desirable natural gas and oil properties, as well as for the equipment and labor required to operate and develop these properties. Our competitive position is affected by price, contract terms and quality of service, including pipeline connection times, distribution efficiencies and reliable delivery record. Many of our competitors have financial and technological resources and exploration and development budgets that are substantially greater than ours. These companies may be able to pay more for exploratory projects and productive natural gas and oil properties and may be able to define, evaluate, bid for and purchase a greater number of properties and prospects than our financial or human resources permit. In addition, these companies may be able to expend greater resources on the existing and changing technologies that we believe are and will be increasingly important to attaining success in the industry.
The loss of key personnel could adversely affect our ability to operate.
Our operations are dependent upon a relatively small group of key management and technical personnel, and one or more of these individuals could leave our employment. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of these individuals could have a detrimental effect on us. In addition, our drilling success and the success of other activities integral to our operations will depend, in part, on our ability to attract and retain experienced geologists, engineers and other professionals. Competition for experienced geologists, engineers and some other professionals is intense. If we cannot retain our technical personnel or attract additional experienced technical personnel, our ability to compete could be harmed.
A failure of technology systems, data breach or cyber incident could materially affect our operations.
Our information technology systems may be vulnerable to security breaches, including those involving cyberattacks using viruses, worms or other destructive software, process breakdowns, phishing or other malicious activities, or any combination of the foregoing. Such breaches could result in unauthorized access to information, including customer, employee, or other confidential data. We do not carry insurance against these risks, although we do invest in security technology, perform penetration tests, and design our business processes to attempt to mitigate the risk of such breaches. However, there can be no assurance that security breaches will not occur. Moreover, cyber and other security threats are constantly evolving, thereby making it more difficult to successfully defend against them or to implement adequate preventative measures. The development and maintenance of these measures requires continuous monitoring as technologies change and security measures evolve. We have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, cyber threats and incidents, none of which has been material to us to date. However, a successful breach or attack could have a material negative impact on our operations or business reputation and subject us to consequences such as litigation and direct costs associated with incident response.
Information technology solution failures, network disruptions, breaches of data security and cyberattacks could disrupt our operations by causing delays, impeding processing of transactions and reporting financial results, resulting in the unintentional disclosure of customer, employee or our information, or damage to our reputation. A system failure, data security breach or cyberattack could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. In the past, we have experienced data security breaches resulting from unauthorized access to our e-mail systems, which to date have not had a material impact on our business; however, there is no assurance that such impacts will not be material in the future.
In addition to the risks presented to our systems and networks, cyber attacks affecting oil and natural gas distribution systems maintained by third parties, or the networks and infrastructure on which they rely, could delay or prevent delivery of our production to markets. Further, cyber attacks on a communications network or power grid could cause operational disruption resulting in loss of revenues. A cyber attack of this nature would be outside our control, but could have a material, adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to our Business
The shut-in of our wells could negatively impact our production, liquidity, and, ultimately, our operations, results, and performance.
Our production depends, in part, upon our wells that are capable of commercial production not being shut-in (i.e., suspended from production). The lack of availability of capacity on third-party systems and facilities or the shut-in of an oil field’s production could result in the shut-in of our wells.
The producing wells in which we have an interest occasionally experience reduced or terminated production. These curtailments can result from mechanical failures, contract terms, pipeline and processing plant interruptions, market conditions, operator priorities, and weather conditions. These curtailments can last from a few days to many months, any of which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
If we experience low oil production volumes due to the shut-in of our wells or other mechanical failures or interruptions, it would impact our ability to generate cash flows from operations and we could experience a reduction in our available liquidity. A decrease in our liquidity could adversely affect our ability to meet our anticipated working capital, debt service, and other liquidity needs.
Drilling natural gas and oil wells is a high-risk activity.
Our growth is materially dependent upon the success of our drilling program. Drilling for natural gas and oil involves numerous risks, including the risk that no commercially productive natural gas or oil reservoirs will be encountered. The cost of drilling, completing and operating wells is substantial and uncertain, and drilling operations may be curtailed, delayed or cancelled as a result of a variety of factors beyond our control, including:
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decreases in natural gas and oil prices;
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unexpected drilling conditions, pressure or irregularities in formations;
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equipment failures or accidents;
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adverse weather conditions;
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loss of title or other title related issues;
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surface access restrictions;
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lack of available gathering or processing facilities or delays in the construction thereof;
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lack of available capacity on interconnecting transmission pipelines;
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lack of available drilling and production equipment or availability of oil field labor;
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compliance with, or changes in, governmental requirements and regulation, including with respect to wastewater disposal, discharge of GHGs and fracturing; and
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shortages or delays in the availability of required goods or services such as drilling rigs or crews, the delivery of equipment and the availability of sufficient water for drilling operations.
Our future drilling activities may not be successful and, if unsuccessful, such failure will have an adverse effect on our future results of operations and financial condition. Our overall drilling success rate or our drilling success rate within a particular geographic area may decline. We may be unable to lease or drill identified or budgeted prospects within our expected time frame, or at all. We may be unable to lease or drill a particular prospect because, in some cases, we identify a prospect or drilling location before seeking an option or lease rights in the prospect or location. Similarly, our drilling schedule may vary from our capital budget. The final determination with respect to the drilling of any scheduled or budgeted wells will be dependent on a number of factors, including:
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the results of exploration efforts and the acquisition, review and analysis of the seismic data;
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the availability of sufficient capital resources to us and the other participants for the drilling of the prospects;
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the approval of the prospects by other participants after additional data has been compiled;
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economic and industry conditions at the time of drilling, including prevailing and anticipated prices for natural gas and oil and the availability of drilling rigs and crews;
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our financial resources and results; and
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the availability of leases and permits on reasonable terms for the prospects.
These projects may not be successfully developed and the wells, if drilled, may not encounter reservoirs of commercially productive natural gas or oil.
Reserve estimates depend on many assumptions that may prove to be inaccurate. Any material inaccuracies in our reserve estimates or underlying assumptions could cause the quantities and net present value of our reserves to be overstated.
Reserve engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of natural gas and oil that cannot be measured in an exact manner. The process of estimating quantities of proved reserves is complex and inherently uncertain, and the reserve data included in this document are only estimates. The process relies on interpretations of available geologic, geophysical, engineering and production data. As a result, estimates of different engineers may vary. In addition, the extent, quality and reliability of this technical data can vary. The differences in the reserve estimation process are substantially due to the geological conditions in which the wells are drilled. The process also requires certain economic assumptions, some of which are mandated by the SEC, such as natural gas and oil prices. Additional assumptions include drilling and operating expenses, capital expenditures, taxes and availability of funds. The accuracy of a reserve estimate is a function of:
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the quality and quantity of available data;
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the interpretation of that data;
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the accuracy of various mandated economic assumptions; and
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the judgment of the persons preparing the estimate.
Results of drilling, testing and production subsequent to the date of an estimate may justify revising the original estimate. Accordingly, initial reserve estimates often vary from the quantities of natural gas and oil that are ultimately recovered, and such variances may be material. Any significant variance could reduce the estimated quantities and present value of our reserves.
You should not assume that the present value of future net cash flows from our proved reserves is the current market value of our estimated natural gas and oil reserves. In accordance with SEC requirements, we base the estimated discounted future net cash flows from our proved reserves on the twelve-month average oil and gas index prices, calculated as the unweighted arithmetic average for the first day of the month price for each month, and costs in effect on the date of the estimate, holding the prices and costs constant throughout the life of the properties. Actual future prices and costs may differ materially from those used in the net present value estimate, and future net present value estimates using then current prices and costs may be significantly less than the current estimate. In addition, the 10% discount factor we use when calculating discounted future net cash flows for reporting requirements in compliance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Section 932 may not be the most appropriate discount factor based on interest rates in effect from time to time and risks associated with us or the natural gas and oil industry in general.
The Company’s expectations for future drilling activities will be realized over several years, making them susceptible to uncertainties that could materially alter the occurrence or timing of such activities.
The Company has identified drilling locations and prospects for future drilling opportunities, including development and infill drilling activities. These drilling locations and prospects represent a significant part of the Company’s future drilling plans. The Company’s ability to drill and develop these locations depends on a number of factors, including the availability of capital, seasonal conditions, regulatory approvals, negotiation of agreements with third parties, commodity prices, costs, access to and availability of equipment, services, resources and personnel and drilling results. Changes in the laws or regulations on which the Company relies in planning and executing its drilling programs could adversely impact the Company’s ability to successfully complete those programs. For example, under current Texas laws and regulations the Company may receive permits to drill, and may drill and complete, certain horizontal wells that traverse one or more units and/or leases; a change in those laws or regulations could adversely impact the Company’s ability to drill those wells. Because of these uncertainties, the Company cannot give any assurance as to the timing of these activities or that they will ultimately meet the Company’s expectations for success. As such, the Company’s actual drilling activities may materially differ from the Company’s current expectations, which could have a significant adverse effect on the Company’s proved reserves, financial condition and results of operations.
Our future performance depends on our ability to find or acquire additional natural gas and oil reserves that are economically recoverable.
In general, the production rate of natural gas and oil properties declines as reserves are depleted, with the rate of decline depending on reservoir characteristics. Unless we successfully replace the reserves that we produce, our reserves will decline, eventually resulting in a decrease in natural gas and oil production and lower revenues and cash flow from operations. Our future natural gas and oil production is, therefore, highly dependent on our level of success in finding or acquiring additional reserves. We may not be able to replace reserves through our exploration, development and exploitation activities or by acquiring properties at acceptable costs. Low natural gas and oil prices may further limit the kinds of reserves that we can develop economically. Lower prices also decrease our cash flow and may cause us to decrease capital expenditures.
Exploration, development and exploitation activities involve numerous risks that may result in dry holes, the failure to produce natural gas and oil in commercial quantities and the inability to fully produce discovered reserves. In addition, there are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved oil and gas reserves, actual future production rates and associated costs and the assumption of potential liabilities with respect to prospective acquisition targets. Actual results may vary substantially from those assumed in the estimates.
We are continually identifying and evaluating opportunities to acquire natural gas and oil properties. We may not be able to successfully consummate any acquisition, to acquire producing natural gas and oil properties that contain economically recoverable reserves, or to integrate the properties into our operations profitably.
The borrowing base under our revolving credit facility may be reduced in light of recent commodity price declines, which could limit us in the future.
The borrowing base under our revolving credit facility is currently $85 million, and lender commitments under our revolving credit facility are $300 million. The borrowing base is redetermined semi-annually under the terms of the revolving credit facility. In addition, either we or the lenders may request an interim redetermination twice a year or in conjunction with certain acquisitions or sales of oil and gas properties. Our borrowing base may decrease as a result of lower natural gas or oil prices, operating difficulties, declines in reserves, lending requirements or regulations, the issuance of new indebtedness or for other reasons set forth in our revolving credit agreement. In the event of a decrease in our borrowing base due to declines in commodity prices or otherwise, our ability to borrow under our revolving credit facility may be limited and we could be required to repay any indebtedness in excess of the redetermined borrowing base. In addition, we may be unable to access the equity or debt capital markets to meet our obligations, including any such debt repayment obligations.
Strategic determinations, including the allocation of capital and other resources to strategic opportunities, are challenging, and our failure to appropriately allocate capital and resources among our strategic opportunities may adversely affect our financial condition and reduce our growth rate.
Our future growth prospects are dependent upon our ability to identify optimal strategies for our business. In developing our business plan, we considered allocating capital and other resources to various aspects of our businesses including well-development (primarily drilling), reserve acquisitions, exploratory activity, corporate items and other alternatives. We also considered our likely sources of capital. Notwithstanding the determinations made in the development of our 2024 plan, business opportunities not previously identified periodically come to our attention, including possible acquisitions and dispositions. If we fail to identify optimal business strategies, or fail to optimize our capital investment and capital raising opportunities and the use of our other resources in furtherance of our business strategies, our financial condition and growth rate may be adversely affected. Moreover, economic or other circumstances may change from those contemplated by our 2024 plan, and our failure to recognize or respond to those changes may limit our ability to achieve our objectives.
We face a variety of hazards and risks that could cause substantial financial losses.
Our business involves a variety of operating risks, including:
●
blowouts, cratering and explosions;
●
mechanical problems;
●
uncontrolled flows of natural gas, oil or well fluids;
●
formations with abnormal pressures;
●
pollution and other environmental risks; and
●
natural disasters.
Our operation of natural gas gathering and pipeline systems also involves various risks, including the risk of explosions and environmental hazards caused by pipeline leaks and ruptures. Any of these risks could adversely affect our ability to conduct operations or result in substantial losses to the Company due to injury or loss of life, damage to or destruction of wells, production facilities, other property or natural resources, clean-up responsibilities, regulatory investigations and penalties and suspension of operations.
The nature of the Company’s assets and production operations may impact the environment or cause environmental contamination, which could result in material liabilities to the Company.
The Company’s assets and production operations may give rise to significant environmental costs and liabilities as a result of the Company’s handling of petroleum hydrocarbons and wastes, because of air emissions and water discharges related to its operations, and due to past industry operations and waste disposal practices. The Company’s oil and gas business involves the generation, handling, treatment, storage, transport and disposal of wastes, hazardous substances and petroleum hydrocarbons and is subject to environmental hazards, such as oil and produced water spills, NGL and gas leaks, pipeline and vessel ruptures and unauthorized discharges of such wastes, substances and hydrocarbons, that could expose the Company to substantial liability due to pollution and other environmental damage. For example, drilling fluids, produced waters and certain other wastes associated with the Company’s exploration, development and production of oil or gas are currently excluded under RCRA from the definition of hazardous waste. These wastes are instead regulated under RCRA’s less stringent non-hazardous waste provisions. There have been efforts from time to time to remove this exclusion. For example, in response to a federal consent decree issued in 2016, the EPA was required during 2019 to determine whether certain Subtitle D criteria regulations required revision in a manner that could result in oil and gas wastes being regulated as RCRA hazardous waste. In April 2019, the EPA made a determination that such revision of the regulations was unnecessary. Any future loss of the RCRA exclusion could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
The Company currently owns, leases or operates, and in the past has owned, leased or operated, properties that for many years have been used for oil and gas exploration and production activities, and petroleum hydrocarbons, hazardous substances and wastes may have been released on or under such properties, or on or under other locations, including off-site locations, where such substances have been taken for treatment or disposal. These wastes, substances and hydrocarbons may also be released during future operations. In addition, some of the Company’s properties have been operated by predecessors or previous owners or operators whose treatment and disposal of hazardous substances, wastes or petroleum hydrocarbons were not under the Company’s control. Joint and several strict liabilities may be incurred in connection with such releases of petroleum hydrocarbons, hazardous substances and wastes on, under or from the Company’s properties. Private parties, including lessors of properties on which the Company operates and the owners or operators of properties adjacent to the Company’s operations and facilities where the Company’s petroleum hydrocarbons, hazardous substances or wastes are taken for reclamation or disposal, may also have the right to pursue legal actions to enforce compliance as well as seek damages for noncompliance with environmental laws and regulations or for personal injury or damage to property or natural resources. Such properties and the substances disposed or released on or under them may be subject to CERCLA, RCRA and analogous state laws, which could require the Company to remove previously disposed substances, wastes and petroleum hydrocarbons, remediate contaminated property or perform remedial plugging or pit closure operations to prevent future contamination, the costs of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company may not be able to recover some or any of these costs from sources of contractual indemnity or insurance, as pollution and similar environmental risks generally are not insurable or fully insurable, either because such insurance is not available or because of the high premium costs and deductibles associated with obtaining such insurance.
We have limited control over the activities on properties we do not operate.
Other companies operate some of the properties in which we have an interest. We have limited ability to influence or control the operation or future development of these non-operated properties or the amount of capital expenditures that we are required to fund with respect to them. The failure of an operator of our wells to adequately perform operations, an operator’s breach of the applicable agreements or an operator’s failure to act in ways that are in our best interest could reduce our production and revenues. Our dependence on the operator and other working interest owners for these projects and our limited ability to influence or control the operation and future development of these properties could materially adversely affect the realization of our targeted returns on capital in drilling or acquisition activities and lead to unexpected future costs.
We may have hedging arrangements that expose us to risk of financial loss and limit the benefit to us of increases in prices for natural gas and oil.
From time to time, when we believe that market conditions are favorable, we use certain derivative financial instruments to manage price risks associated with our production in all of our regions. These hedging arrangements limit the benefit to us of increases in prices. While there are many different types of derivatives available, we generally utilize put options and swap agreements to attempt to manage price risk more effectively.
The put options used to establish floor prices for a fixed volume of production during a certain time period. They provide for payments from the counterparties if the index price falls below the floor. The swap agreements call for payments to, or receipts from, counterparties based on whether the index price for the period is greater or less than the fixed price established for that period when the swap is put in place. These arrangements limit the benefit to us of increases in prices. In addition, these arrangements expose us to risks of financial loss in a variety of circumstances, including when:
●
a counterparty is unable to satisfy its obligations
●
production is less than expected; or
●
there is an adverse change in the expected differential between the underlying price in the derivative instrument and actual prices received for our production.
The CFTC has promulgated regulations to implement statutory requirements for swap transactions. These regulations are intended to implement a regulated market in which most swaps are executed on registered exchanges or swap execution facilities and cleared through central counterparties. While we believe that our use of swap transactions exempt us from certain regulatory requirements, the changes to the swap market due to increased regulation could significantly increase the cost of entering into new swaps or maintaining existing swaps, materially alter the terms of new or existing swap transactions and/or reduce the availability of new or existing swaps. If we reduce our use of swaps as a result of the Dodd-Frank Act and regulations, our results of operations may become more volatile and our cash flows may be less predictable.
Legal and Regulatory Risks
Laws and regulations regarding hydraulic fracturing, as well as governmental reviews of such activities, could result in increased costs and additional operating restrictions, delays or cancellations and have a material adverse effect on the Company’s production.
Hydraulic fracturing is a common practice that is used to stimulate production of hydrocarbons from tight formations. The Company conducts hydraulic fracturing in its drilling and completion programs. The process involves the injection of water, sand or other proppants and additives under pressure into targeted subsurface formations to stimulate oil and gas production. The process is typically regulated by state oil and gas commissions or similar agencies, but in recent years, several federal agencies have conducted investigations or asserted regulatory authority over certain aspects of the process. For example, in 2016, the EPA released its final report on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources, concluding that “water cycle” activities associated with hydraulic fracturing may impact drinking water resources under certain circumstances. Additionally, the EPA has asserted regulatory authority pursuant to the SDWA’s UIC program over hydraulic fracturing activities involving the use of diesel and has issued guidance covering such activities. Moreover, the EPA has published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to collect data on chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing under the Toxic Substances Control Act and has implemented a final rule under the CWA prohibiting the discharge of wastewater from onshore unconventional oil and gas extraction facilities to publicly-owned wastewater treatment plants. Also, the BLM published a final rule in 2015 that established new or more stringent standards for performing hydraulic fracturing on federal and Indian lands. The BLM rescinded the 2015 rule in late 2017; however, new or more stringent regulations may be promulgated in the future.
From time to time, the U.S. Congress has considered adopting legislation intended to provide for federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing and to require disclosure of the additives used in the hydraulic-fracturing process. In addition, certain states, including Texas where the Company operates, have adopted, and other states are considering adopting, regulations that could impose new or more stringent permitting, disclosure, disposal and well-construction requirements on hydraulic-fracturing operations. For example, in April 2019, Colorado passed legislation reforming exploration and production activities by the oil and gas industry in the state including, among other things, revising the mission of the state oil and gas agency from fostering energy development in the state to instead focusing on regulating the industry in a manner that is protective of public health and safety and the environment, as well as authorizing cities and counties to regulate oil and gas operations within their jurisdictions as they do other development. While the Company does not conduct operations in Colorado, passage or enactment of similar legislation in other states in which it does operate could significantly increase the Company’s operating costs and have a significant adverse effect on the Company’s ability to conduct operations. States could elect to prohibit hydraulic fracturing or high volume hydraulic fracturing altogether, following the approach taken by the states of Vermont, Maryland, Washington and New York. Also, local land use restrictions, such as city ordinances, may be adopted to restrict or prohibit drilling in general or hydraulic fracturing in particular. In Texas, legislation was adopted providing that the regulation of oil and gas operations in Texas is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and thus preempts local regulation of those operations. Nonetheless, municipalities and political subdivisions in Texas continue to have the right to enact “commercially reasonable” regulations for surface activities.
In the event federal, state or local restrictions or bans pertaining to hydraulic fracturing are adopted in areas where the Company is currently conducting operations, or in the future plans to conduct operations, the Company may incur additional costs to comply with such requirements, experience restrictions, delays or cancellations in the pursuit of exploration, development or production activities, and perhaps be limited or precluded in the drilling of wells or in the volume that the Company is ultimately able to produce from its reserves; one or more of which developments could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
The Company’s operations are subject to stringent environmental, oil and gas-related and occupational safety and health laws and regulations that could cause it to delay, curtail or cease its operations or expose it to material costs and liabilities.
The Company’s operations are subject to stringent federal, state and local laws and regulations governing, among other things, the drilling of wells, rates of production, the size and shape of drilling and spacing units or proration units, the transportation and sale of oil, NGL and gas, and the discharging of materials into the environment and environmental protection. For example, state laws regulate the size and shape of drilling and spacing units or proration units governing the pooling of oil and gas properties. Some states allow forced pooling or integration of tracts to facilitate development, while other states rely on voluntary pooling of lands and leases. In some instances, forced pooling or unitization may be implemented by third parties and may reduce the Company’s interest in the unitized properties. In addition, state conservation laws (i) establish maximum rates of production from oil and gas wells, (ii) generally prohibit the venting or flaring of gas and (iii) impose requirements regarding production rates. These laws and regulations may limit the amount of oil and gas the Company can produce from the Company’s wells or limit the number of wells or the locations that the Company can drill.
In connection with its operations, the Company must obtain and maintain numerous environmental and oil and gas-related permits, approvals and certificates from various federal, state and local governmental authorities, and may incur substantial costs in doing so. The need to obtain permits has the potential to delay, curtail or cease the development of oil and gas projects. The Company may in the future be charged royalties on gas emissions or required to incur certain capital expenditures for air pollution control equipment or other air emissions related issues. For example, in 2015, the EPA issued a final rule under the CAA lowering the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (“NAAQS”) for ground-level ozone from 75 parts per billion to 70 parts per billion under standards to provide protection of public health and welfare. In subsequent years, the EPA has issued area designations with respect to ground-level ozone and final requirements that apply to state, local and tribal air agencies for implementing the 2015 NAAQS for ground-level ozone. State implementation of the revised NAAQS could, among other things, require installation of new emission controls on some of the Company’s equipment, resulting in longer permitting timelines, and significantly increase the Company’s capital expenditures and operating costs. In another example, the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the “Corps”) released a final rule in 2015 outlining federal jurisdictional reach under the CWA over waters of the U.S., including wetlands, which has since been subject to several revisions. In August 2023, the EPA finalized a rule amending the definition of “waters of the United States” to conform with the recent Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA. However, litigation challenging aspects of the January 2023 definition not addressed by Sackett is ongoing. To the extent that future changes to the definition expand the scope of the CWA’s jurisdiction in areas where the Company conducts operations, the Company could incur (i) delays, restrictions or prohibitions in the issuance of necessary permits, (ii) restrictions or cessations in the development or expansion of projects, or (iii) increases in the Company’s capital expenditures and operating expenses by, for example, requiring installation of new emission controls on some of the Company’s equipment, any one or more of which developments could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
Additionally, the Company’s operations are subject to a number of federal and state laws and regulations, including the federal OSHA and comparable state statutes, whose purpose is to protect the health and safety of employees. Among other things, the OSHA hazard communication standard, the EPA community right-to-know regulations under Title III of the federal Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act and comparable state statutes require that information be maintained concerning hazardous materials used or produced in the Company’s operations and that this information be provided to employees, state and local government authorities and citizens.
There can be no assurance that existing or future regulations will not result in a delay, curtailment or cessation of production or processing activities, result in a material increase in the costs of production, development, exploration or processing operations or materially and adversely affect the Company’s future operations and financial condition. Noncompliance with these laws and regulations may subject the Company to sanctions, including administrative, civil or criminal penalties, remedial cleanups or corrective actions, delays in permitting or performance of projects, natural resource damages and other liabilities. Such laws and regulations may also affect the costs of acquisitions. In addition, these laws and regulations are subject to amendment or replacement in the future with more stringent legal requirements. Further, any delay, reduction or curtailment of the Company’s development and producing operations due to these laws and regulations could result in the loss of acreage through lease expiration.
The Company’s operations are subject to a number of risks arising out of concerns regarding the threat of climate change, including regulatory, political, litigation and financial risks, that could result in increased operating costs and costs of compliance, limit the areas in which oil and gas production may occur, reduce demand for the oil and gas the Company produces, and expose the Company to the risk of increased activism and decreased funding for the industry, while the potential physical effects of climate change could disrupt the Company’s production and cause it to incur significant costs in preparing for or responding to those effects.
The threat of climate change continues to attract considerable attention in the United States and in foreign countries. Numerous initiatives have been proposed and are expected to continue to be proposed at the international, national, regional and state levels of government to monitor and limit existing sources of GHG emissions as well as to restrict or eliminate emissions from new sources. As a result, the Company’s operations are subject to a series of regulatory, political, litigation and financial risks associated with the production and processing of fossil fuels and emission of GHGs.
In the United States, no comprehensive climate change legislation has been implemented at the federal level. However, following the U.S. Supreme Court finding that GHG emissions constitute a pollutant under the CAA, the EPA has adopted regulations that, among other things, (i) establish construction and operating permit reviews for GHG emissions from certain large stationary sources, (ii) require the monitoring and annual reporting of GHG emissions from certain petroleum and gas system sources in the United States, (iii) implement CAA emission standards directing the reduction of methane from certain new, modified, or reconstructed facilities in the oil and gas sector, and (iv) together with the DOT, implement GHG emissions limits on vehicles manufactured for operation in the United States. For example, in December 2023, the EPA finalized NSPS Subpart OOOOb, which seeks to reduce methane and volatile organic compound emissions from the oil and natural gas source category and NSPS Subpart OOOOc, which create, for the first-time, emission guidelines for existing oil and natural gas sources that would be included in individual states’ implementation plans. These standards expand upon previously issued NSPS Subparts OOOO and OOOOa published by the EPA in 2012 and 2016, respectively. Additionally, various states, groups of states, and other countries have adopted or are considering adopting legislation, regulations or other regulatory initiatives that are focused on such areas as GHG cap and trade programs, carbon taxes, reporting and tracking programs, and restriction of emissions. At the international level, there is a non-binding agreement, the United Nations sponsored “Paris Agreement,” for nations to limit their GHG emissions through individually-determined reduction goals every five years after 2020. The United States withdrew from the Paris Agreement in November 2020 but reentered the agreement in February 2021. In April 2021, the Biden administration announced a new goal to reduce GHG emissions by 50% to 52% economy-wide by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. In August 2022, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act, which created a methane emissions reduction program, provided significant funding to reduce emissions of methane from the oil and gas sector, and requires the EPA to impose a charge on certain oil and gas sources.
Governmental, scientific, and public concern over the threat of climate change arising from GHG emissions has resulted in increasing political risks in the United States. President Biden and the Democratic Party have identified climate change as a priority, and it is possible that additional executive orders and/or regulatory action targeting GHG emissions, or prohibiting or restricting oil and gas development activities in certain areas, will be proposed and/or promulgated during the Biden Administration. Litigation risks are also increasing, as a number of cities, local governments or other persons have sought to bring suit against oil and gas exploration and production companies in state or federal court, alleging, among other things, that such companies created public nuisances by producing fuels that contributed to global warming effects, such as rising sea levels, and therefore are responsible for roadway and infrastructure damages, or alleging that the companies have been aware of the adverse effects of climate change for some time but defrauded their investors by failing to adequately disclose those impacts.
There are also financial risks for fossil fuel producers as stockholders or bondholders currently invested in fossil-fuel energy companies concerned about the threat of climate change may elect in the future to shift some or all of their investments into non-fossil fuel energy related sectors. Institutional lenders who provide financing to fossil-fuel energy companies also have become more attentive to sustainable lending practices and some of them may elect not to provide funding for fossil fuel energy companies. Additionally, investing and lending practices of various investment firms and institutional lenders have been the subject of intensive lobbying efforts in recent years, oftentimes public in nature, by environmental activists, proponents of the Paris Agreement, and foreign citizenry concerned about the threat of climate change not to provide funding for fossil fuel producers. For example, there have been efforts in recent years to influence the investment community, including investment advisors and certain sovereign wealth, pension and endowment funds, to divest of fossil fuel equities and lenders to limit funding to companies engaged in the extraction of fossil fuel reserves. Limitation of investments in and financings for fossil fuel energy companies could result in the restriction, delay or cancellation of drilling programs or development or production activities.
The adoption and implementation of new or more stringent international, federal or state regulations or other regulatory initiatives that impose more stringent standards for GHG emissions from the oil and gas sector or otherwise restrict the areas in which this sector may produce oil and gas or generate GHG emissions could result in increased compliance and consumption costs, and thereby reduce demand for the oil and gas the Company produces. Additionally, political, litigation and financial risks could result in the restriction or cancellation of production activities, incurring liability for infrastructure damages as a result of climate change, or impairing the Company’s ability to continue to operate in an economic manner. Finally, if increasing concentrations of GHGs in the Earth’s atmosphere were to result in significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, floods, droughts and other extreme climatic events, then such effects could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s exploration and production operations.
In addition, companies in the oil and gas industry have been the target of activist efforts from both individuals and non-governmental organizations, including instituting litigation and supporting political or regulatory efforts to, among other things, limit or ban hydraulic fracturing, restrict or ban certain operating practices, including the disposal of waste materials, such as hydraulic fracturing fluids and produced water, deny or delay drilling permits, prohibit the venting or flaring of gas, reduce access of the oil and gas industry to federal and state government lands, and delay or cancel oil and gas developmental or expansion projects. The Company may need to incur significant costs associated with responding to these initiatives, and complying with any resulting additional legal or regulatory requirements could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.
Laws and regulations pertaining to protection of threatened and endangered species or to critical habitat, wetlands and natural resources could delay, restrict or prohibit the Company’s operations and cause it to incur substantial costs that may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s development and production of reserves.
The federal ESA and comparable state laws were established to protect endangered and threatened species. Under the ESA, if a species is listed as threatened or endangered, restrictions may be imposed on activities adversely affecting that species’ habitat. Similar protections are offered to migratory birds under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Oil and gas operations in the Company’s operating areas may be adversely affected by seasonal or permanent restrictions imposed on drilling activities by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (the “FWS”) that are designed to protect various wildlife, which may materially restrict the Company’s access to federal or private land use. Permanent restrictions imposed to protect endangered and threatened species could prohibit drilling in certain areas, impact suppliers of critical materials or services, or require the implementation of expensive mitigation measures. Additionally, federal statutes, including the CWA, the OPA and CERCLA, as well as comparable state laws, prohibit certain actions that adversely affect critical habitat, wetlands and natural resources. If harm to species or damages to wetlands, habitat or natural resources occur or may occur, government entities or, at times, private parties may act to prevent oil and gas exploration or development activities or seek damages for harm to species, habitat or natural resources resulting from drilling, construction or releases of petroleum hydrocarbons, wastes, hazardous substances or other regulated materials, and, in some cases, may seek criminal penalties.
Moreover, as a result of one or more settlements entered into by the FWS, the agency is required to make determinations on the potential listing of numerous species as endangered or threatened under the ESA. The designation of previously unprotected species as threatened or endangered in areas where the Company conducts operations could cause the Company to incur increased costs arising from species protection measures or could result in delays, restrictions or prohibitions on its development and production activities that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to develop and produce reserves.
We are subject to complex laws and regulations, including environmental regulations, which can adversely affect the cost, manner or feasibility of doing business.
Our operations are subject to extensive federal, state and local laws and regulations, including tax laws and regulations and those relating to the generation, storage, handling, emission, transportation and discharge of materials into the environment. These laws and regulations can adversely affect the cost, manner or feasibility of doing business. Many laws and regulations require permits for the operation of various facilities, and these permits are subject to revocation, modification and renewal. Governmental authorities have the power to enforce compliance with their regulations, and violations could subject us to fines, injunctions or both. These laws and regulations have increased the costs of planning, designing, drilling, installing and operating natural gas and oil facilities. In addition, we may be liable for environmental damages caused by previous owners of property we purchase or lease. Risks of substantial costs and liabilities related to environmental compliance issues are inherent in natural gas and oil operations.
It is possible that other developments, such as stricter environmental laws and regulations, and claims for damages to property or persons resulting from natural gas and oil production, would result in substantial costs and liabilities.
Increasing scrutiny and changing expectations from investors, lenders and other market participants with respect to our Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) policies may impose additional costs on us or expose us to additional risks.
Companies across all industries are facing increasing scrutiny relating to their ESG policies. Investor advocacy groups, certain institutional investors, investment funds, lenders and other market participants are increasingly focused on ESG practices and in recent years have placed increasing importance on the implications and social cost of their investments. The increased focus and activism related to ESG and similar matters may hinder access to capital, as investors and lenders may decide to reallocate capital or not to commit capital as a result of their assessment of a company’s ESG practices. Companies that do not adapt to or comply with investor, lender or other industry shareholder expectations and standards, which are evolving, or which are perceived to have not responded appropriately to the growing concern for ESG issues, regardless of whether there is a legal requirement to do so, may suffer from reputational damage and the business, financial condition or stock price of such a company could be materially and adversely affected.
We may face increasing pressures from investors, lenders and other market participants, who are increasingly focused on climate change, to prioritize sustainable energy practices, reduce our carbon footprint and promote sustainability. As a result, we may be required to implement more stringent ESG procedures or standards so that our existing and future investors and lenders remain invested in us and make further investments in us. If we do not meet these standards, our business or our ability to access capital could be harmed.
Additionally, certain investors and lenders have and may continue to exclude companies engaged in exploration and production activity, such as us, from their investing portfolios altogether due to ESG factors. These limitations in both the debt and equity capital markets may affect our ability to grow as our plans for growth may include accessing those markets. If those markets are unavailable, or if we are unable to access alternative means of financing on acceptable terms, or at all, we may be unable to implement our business strategy, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations and impair our ability to service our indebtedness. At the same time, some stakeholders and regulators have increasingly expressed or pursued opposing views, legislation, and investment expectations with respect to ESG, including the enactment or proposal of “anti-ESG” legislation or policies.
Further, it is likely that we will incur additional costs and require additional resources to monitor, report and comply with wide ranging ESG requirements, including the SEC climate change disclosure rules. Similarly, these policies may negatively impact the ability of our customers to access debt and capital markets. The occurrence of any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
Changes to the U.S. federal tax laws could adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flow.
Our future effective tax rates could be adversely affected by changes in tax laws, both domestically and internationally, or the interpretation or application thereof. From time to time, U.S. and foreign tax authorities, including state and local governments consider legislation that could increase our effective tax rate.
The IRA includes a 1% tax on publicly traded corporations on the fair market value of stock repurchased during any taxable year. Such tax applies to the extent such buybacks exceed $1 million during such year, which buyback value may be offset by other stock issuances.
Further, the U.S. Congress has advanced a variety of tax legislation proposals, and while the final form of any legislation is uncertain, the current proposals, if enacted, could have a material effect on our effective tax rate. Additionally, in recent years, lawmakers and the U.S. Department of the Treasury have proposed certain significant changes to U.S. tax laws applicable to oil and gas companies. These changes include, but are not limited to; (i) the repeal of the percentage depletion allowance for oil and gas properties, (ii) the elimination of current deductions for intangible drilling and development costs, and (iii) an extension of the amortization period for certain geological and geophysical expenditures. No accurate prediction can be made as to whether any such legislative changes will be proposed or enacted in the future or, if enacted, what the specific provisions or the effective date of any such legislation would be. This legislation or any future similar changes in U.S. federal income tax laws, as well as any similar changes in state law, could eliminate or postpone certain tax deductions that currently are available with respect to natural gas and oil exploration and production, which could negatively affect our results of operations and financial condition.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1B.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.
We are a smaller reporting company and therefore no response is required pursuant to this Item.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Item 2.
PROPERTIES.
Our executive offices, as well as offices of Prime Operating Company, Eastern Oil Well Service Company and EOWS Midland Company are located in leased premises in Houston, Texas.
We maintain district offices in Midland, Texas and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and have field offices in Carrizo Springs and Midland, Texas, as well as, Elmore City, Oklahoma.
Substantially all of our oil and gas properties are subject to a mortgage given to collateralize indebtedness or are subject to being mortgaged upon request by our lenders for additional collateral.
The information set forth below concerning our properties, activities, and oil and gas reserves includes our interests in affiliated entities.
The following table sets forth the exploratory and development drilling experience with respect to wells in which we participated during the three years ended December 31, 2023.
Gross
Net
Gross
Net
Gross
Net
Exploratory:
Oil
-
-
-
-
-
-
Gas
-
-
-
-
-
-
Dry
-
-
-
-
-
-
Development:
Oil
8.37
0.76
4.73
Gas
-
-
-
-
-
-
Dry
-
-
-
-
-
-
Total:
Oil
8.37
0.76
4.73
Gas
-
-
-
-
-
-
Dry
-
-
-
-
-
-
8.37
0.76
4.73
Oil and Gas Production
As of December 31, 2023, we had ownership interest in the following number of gross and net producing oil and gas wells(1).
Gross
Net
Producing Oil Wells(1)
Producing Gas Wells(1)
(1)
A gross well is a well in which a working interest is owned. A net well is the sum of the fractional working interests owned in gross wells.
The following table shows our net production of oil, NGL and natural gas for each of the three years ended December 31, 2023. “Net” production is net after royalty interests of others are deducted and is determined by multiplying the gross production volume of properties in which we have an interest by the percentage of the leasehold, mineral or royalty interest owned by us.
Oil (barrels)
1,144,000
939,000
738,000
NGL (barrels)
606,000
417,000
416,000
Gas (Mcf)
4,127,000
3,325,000
3,236,000
The following table sets forth our average sales prices together with our average production costs per unit of production for the three years ended December 31, 2023.
Average sales price per barrel of oil
$ 76.84
$ 96.70
$ 68.39
Average sales price per barrel of NGL
$ 19.64
$ 35.70
$ 26.97
Average sales price per Mcf of natural gas
$ 1.93
$ 5.54
$ 3.53
Average production costs per net equivalent barrel of oil(1)
$ 12.98
$ 16.07
$ 13.76
(1)
Net equivalent barrels are computed at a rate of 6 Mcf per barrel and costs exclude production taxes.
Average oil, NGL and gas prices received including the impact of derivatives were:
Average sales price per barrel of oil
$ 76.33
$ 87.77
$ 64.04
Average sales price per barrel of NGL
$ 19.64
$ 35.70
$ 26.97
Average sales price per Mcf of natural gas
$ 1.93
$ 4.44
$ 2.97
Acreage
The following table sets forth the approximate gross and net undeveloped acreage in which we have leasehold and mineral interests as of December 31, 2023. “Undeveloped acreage” is acreage on which wells have not been drilled or completed to a point that would permit the production of commercial quantities of oil and gas, regardless of whether or not such acreage contains proved reserves.
Developed
Undeveloped
Total
Gross
Net
Gross
Net
Gross
Net
Leasehold acreage
84,668
24,725
-
-
84,668
24,725
Mineral fee acreage
1,640
19,257
20,897
Total
86,308
24,842
19,257
105,565
25,259
Total Net Undeveloped Acreage Expiration
In the event that production is not established, or we take no action to extend or renew the terms of our leases, our net undeveloped acreage that will expire over the next three years, as of December 31, 2023, is zero acres for the year ending December 31, 2024, zero in 2025, and zero acres in 2026.
Reserves
All of our interests in proved developed and undeveloped oil and gas properties have been evaluated by Ryder Scott Company, L.P. for each of the three years ended December 31, 2023. The professional qualifications of the technical persons primarily responsible for overseeing the preparation of the reserve estimates can be found in Exhibit 99.1, the Ryder Scott Company, L.P. Report on Registrant’s Reserves Estimates. In matters related to the preparation of our reserve estimates, our district managers report to the Engineering Data manager, who maintains oversight and compliance responsibility for the internal reserve estimate process and provides oversight for the annual preparation of reserve estimates of 100% of our year-end reserves by our independent third-party engineers, Ryder Scott Company, L.P. The members of our districts consist of degreed engineers and geologists with over twenty-five years of industry experience and between ten and twenty-five years of experience managing our reserves. Our Engineering Data manager, the technical person primarily responsible for overseeing the preparation of reserves estimates, has over thirty years of experience, holds a Bachelor degree in Geology and an MBA in finance and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and American Association of Petroleum Geologist. See Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”, for additional discussions regarding proved reserves and their related cash flows. All of our reserves are located within the continental United States. The following table summarizes our oil and gas reserves at each of the respective dates:
Reserve Category
Proved Developed
Proved Undeveloped
Total
As of
December 31,
Oil
			(MBbls)
NGLs
			(MBbls)
Gas
			(MMcf)
Total
			(MBoe)
Oil
			(MBbls)
NGLs
			(MBbls)
Gas
			(MMcf)
Total
			(MBoe)
Oil
			(MBbls)
NGLs
			(MBbls)
Gas
			(MMcf)
Total
			(MBoe)
5,386
2,882
23,902
12,252
-
-
-
-
5,386
2,882
23,902
12,252
4,143
2,497
22,277
10,353
3,028
1,833
9,030
6,366
7,171
4,330
31,307
16,719
5,757
3,676
24,749
13,558
6,254
5,156
24,470
15,488
12,011
8,832
49,219
29,046
(a)
In computing total reserves on a barrels of oil equivalent (Boe) basis, gas is converted to oil based on its relative energy content at the rate of six Mcf of gas to one barrel of oil and NGLs are converted based upon volume; one barrel of natural gas liquids equals one barrel of oil.
During 2021, in West Texas, we participated with Apache in the drilling of three additional horizontals on the Kashmir Tract in Upton County, Texas and completed these three wells in September of 2021 along with six other wells drilled in 2020 on the same lease that were drilled but uncompleted at year-end. The Company has an average of 47.8% interest in these nine wells and invested approximately $30 million in these horizontal wells. Also in 2021, the Company participated with Ovintiv Mid-Continent for 11.25% interest in four two-mile horizontal wells in Canadian County, Oklahoma. Twelve of these thirteen horizontal wells were successfully completed and placed into production in the fourth quarter of 2021. One of the Ovintiv wells had a casing leak issue and has been temporarily abandoned. The Company invested approximately $32 million in these thirteen wells. In addition, in 2021, the Company added minor reserves through over-riding royalty interest in two wells drilling and completed in Grady County, Oklahoma.
At December 31, 2021, the Company had 159 Mboe of proved developed shut-in reserves attributable to three horizontals drilled and completed in Canadian County, Oklahoma, but not yet online at year-end. These reserves were converted to proved producing in the first quarter of 2022. At year-end 2021, we did not include proved undeveloped reserves in our reserve report because we had not yet received definitive drilling proposals from third-party operators for the more than fifteen horizontal wells that we planned to participate in located primarily in West Texas.
In 2022, the Company participated in eight horizontal wells that were drilled and completed; four located in Irion County, West Texas, operated by SEM Operating Company, in which we have 10.13% interest, and four located in Canadian County, Oklahoma, operated by Ovintiv Mid-Continent, Inc., in which we have an average 9% interest. Our investment in these eight wells was approximately $4 million and all were brought on production in August of 2022. In addition, the Company added reserves through 15 wells in which we have various minor over-riding royalty interest. Eight of these wells are located in West Texas and seven are located in Oklahoma.
In the fourth quarter of 2022, we began participation in the drilling of 20 horizontal wells located in West Texas operated by three different operators. In Martin County, we participated with ConocoPhillips in five 2.5-mile-long horizontal wells in which the Company has 20.83% interest and had capital investment of $12.1 million. In Reagan County, we participated with Hibernia Energy III (now Civitas Resources) in 10 two-mile horizontals with 25% interest and an investment of approximately $25.6 million. Also in Reagan County, we participated with Double Eagle (DE IV) in five two-mile-long horizontals with nearly 50% interest, carrying a net capital outlay of $23.4 million. All twenty of these West Texas wells were completed and online in the second quarter of 2023.
At year-end 2022, the Company had 6,366 Mboe of proved undeveloped reserves attributable to the 25 horizontal wells described above.
In 2023, the Company participated with five operators in the drilling and completion of 35 horizontal wells: 32 of these are located in West Texas and three are located in Oklahoma. In total, including the cost of facilities, the Company invested approximately $91 million, 99% of which is attributable to the wells in West Texas where we have been drilling horizontal wells targeting various proven pay intervals in the Wolfcamp and Spraberry formations. At December 31, 2023, we had 12 wells completed but not producing that were all brought into production in January of 2024. These 12 wells account for 1,278 MBOE of proved developed reserves at year-end. In addition, as of December 31, 2023, the Company was in the process of drilling and completing 34 wells in West Texas, 28 of which are considered proved undeveloped, and six of which are considered probable undeveloped. The year-end reserve report includes only proved reserves, therefore expected reserves from the six probable undeveloped wells are not included in the reserve report.
At year-end 2023, the Company had 15,489 MBOE of proved undeveloped reserves that are attributable to 52 undeveloped wells, 28 of which were in the process of being drilled or completed at year-end.
The estimated future net revenue (using current prices and costs as of those dates) and the present value of future net revenue (at a 10% discount for estimated timing of cash flow) for our proved developed and proved undeveloped oil and gas reserves at the end of each of the three years ended December 31, 2023, are summarized as follows (in thousands of dollars):
Proved Developed
Proved Undeveloped
Total
As of December 31,
Future Net
			Revenue
Present
			Value 10
			Of Future
			Net
			Revenue
Future Net
			Revenue
Present
			Value 10
			Of Future
			Net
			Revenue
Future Net
			Revenue
Present
			Value 10
			Of Future
			Net
			Revenue
Present
			Value 10
			Of Future
			Income
			Taxes
Standardized
			Measure of
			Discounted
			Cash flow
$ 275,227
$ 171,906
$ -
$ -
$ 275,227
$ 171,906
$ 36,100
$ 135,806
$ 320,146
$ 192,688
$ 200,790
$ 118,081
$ 520,936
$ 310,769
$ 66,233
$ 244,536
$ 314,415
$ 213,281
$ 253,959
$ 138,679
$ 568,374
$ 351,960
$ 73,912
$ 278,048
The PV10 Value represents the discounted future net cash flows attributable to our proved oil and gas reserves before income tax, discounted at 10%. Although this measure is not in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), we believe that the presentation of the PV10 Value is relevant and useful to investors because it presents the discounted future net cash flow attributable to proved reserves prior to taking into account corporate future income taxes and the current tax structure. We use this measure when assessing the potential return on investment related to oil and gas properties. The PV10 of future income taxes represents the sole reconciling item between this non-GAAP PV10 Value versus the GAAP measure presented in the standardized measure of discounted cash flow. A reconciliation of these values is presented in the last three columns of the table above. The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows represents the present value of future cash flows attributable to proved oil and natural gas reserves after income tax, discounted at 10%.
“Proved developed” oil and gas reserves are reserves that can be expected to be recovered from existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods. “Proved undeveloped” oil and gas reserves are reserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion.
In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, product prices are determined using the twelve-month average oil and gas index prices, calculated as the unweighted arithmetic average for the first day of the month price for each month, adjusted for oilfield or gas gathering hub and wellhead price differentials (e.g. grade, transportation, gravity, sulfur, and basic sediment and water) as appropriate. Also, in accordance with SEC specifications and U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, changes in market prices subsequent to December 31 are not considered.
While it may be reasonably anticipated that the prices received for the sale of our production may be higher or lower than the prices used in this evaluation, as described above, and the operating costs relating to such production may also increase or decrease from existing levels, such possible changes in prices and costs were, in accordance with rules adopted by the SEC, omitted from consideration in making this evaluation for the SEC case. Actual volumes produced, prices received and costs incurred may vary significantly from the SEC case.
Natural gas prices, based on the twelve-month average of the first of the month Henry Hub index price, were $2.64 per MMBtu in 2023 as compared to $6.36 per MMBtu in 2022 and $3.60 per MMBtu in 2021. Oil prices, based on the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Light Sweet Crude first of the month average spot price, were $78.22 per barrel in 2023 as compared to $93.67 per barrel in 2022, and $66.56 per barrel in 2021. Since January 1, 2023, we have not filed any estimates of our oil and gas reserves with, nor were any such estimates included in any reports to, any federal authority or agency, other than the Securities and Exchange Commission.
District Information
The following table represents certain reserves and well information as of December 31, 2023.
Gulf
			Coast
Mid-
			Continent
West
			Texas
Other
Total
Proved Reserves as of December 31, 2023 (MBoe)
Developed
2,210
10,778
13,558
Undeveloped
-
-
15,488
-
15,488
Total
2,210
26,266
29,046
Average Net Daily Production (Boe per day)
6,172
7,181
Gross Productive Wells (Working Interest and ORRI Wells)
1,494
Gross Productive Wells (Working Interest Only)
1,118
Net Productive Wells (Working Interest Only)
Gross Operated Productive Wells
-
Gross Operated Water Disposal, Injection and Supply wells
-
In several of our producing regions we have field service groups to service our operated wells and locations as well as third-party operators in the area. These services consist of well service support, site preparation and construction services for drilling and workover operations. Our operations are performed utilizing workover or swab rigs, water transport trucks, saltwater disposal facilities, various land excavating equipment and trucks we own and that are operated by our field employees.
Gulf Coast Region
Our development, exploitation, exploration and production activities in the Gulf Coast region are primarily concentrated in southeast Texas. This region is managed from our office in Houston, Texas. Principal producing intervals are in the Wilcox, San Miguel, Olmos, and Yegua formations at depths ranging from 3,000 to 12,500 feet. We had 114 producing wells (21 net) in the Gulf Coast region as of December 31, 2023, of which 28 wells are operated by us. Average net daily production in our Gulf Coast Region at year-end 2023 was 173 Boe. At December 31, 2023, we had 563 MBoe of proved reserves in the Gulf Coast region, which represented 2% of our total proved reserves. We maintain an acreage position of over 7,468 gross (4,699 net) acres in this region, primarily in Colorado, Newton, and Polk counties. We operate a field service group in this region from a field office in Carrizo Springs, Texas utilizing two workover rigs, twenty water transport trucks, two hot-oil trucks, a cement truck, and two saltwater disposal wells to provide oil field services for third-party operators in South Texas. As of March 31, 2024, the Gulf Coast region has no operated wells in the process of being drilled, no waterfloods in the process of being installed and no other related activities of material importance.
Mid-Continent Region
Our Mid-Continent activities are concentrated in central Oklahoma. This region is managed from our office in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. As of December 31, 2023, we had 511 producing wells (132 net) in the Mid-Continent area, of which 128 wells are operated by us. Principal producing intervals are in the Robberson, Avant, Skinner, Sycamore, Bromide, McLish, Hunton, Mississippian, Oswego, Red Fork, and Chester formations at depths ranging from 1,100 to 10,500 feet. Average net daily production in our Mid-Continent Region in 2023 was 831 Boe. At December 31, 2023, we had 2,210 MBoe of proved reserves in the Mid-Continent area, representing 8% of our total proved reserves. We maintain an acreage position of approximately 46,960 gross (10,137 net) acres in this region, primarily in Canadian, Kingfisher, Grant, Major, and Garvin counties. Our Mid-Continent region is actively participating with third-party operators in the horizontal development of lands that include Company owned interest in several counties in the Stack and Scoop plays of Oklahoma where drilling is primarily targeting reservoirs of the Mississippian, and Woodford formations.
West Texas Region
Our West Texas activities are concentrated in the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico. The oil and gas in this basin are produced primarily from five intervals; the Upper and Lower Spraberry, the Wolfcamp, the Strawn, and the Atoka, at depths ranging from 6,700 feet to 11,300 feet. This region is managed from our office in Midland, Texas. As of December 31, 2023, we had 647 wells (275 net) in the West Texas area, of which 334 wells are operated by us. Principal producing intervals are in the Spraberry, Wolfcamp, and San Andres formations at depths ranging from 4,200 to 12,500 feet. Average net daily production in Our West Texas Region at year-end 2023 was 6,172 Boe. At December 31, 2023, we had 26,267 MBoe of proved reserves in the West Texas area, or 90% of our total proved reserves. We maintain an acreage position of approximately 16,407 gross (9,341 net) acres in the Permian Basin in West Texas, primarily in Reagan, Upton, Martin and Midland counties and believe this acreage has significant resource potential for horizontal drilling in the Spraberry, Jo Mill, and Wolfcamp intervals. We operate a field service group in this region utilizing nine workover rigs, three hot oiler trucks, and one kill truck. Oil field support is provided for drilling and workover operations both to third-party operators as well as for our own operated wells and locations.
As of March 31, 2024, the Company was participating in the drilling or completion of 34 horizontal wells in Reagan County, Texas with an average of 39% interest in 14 wells, 8.3% in 12 wells, 50% in six wells and less than 1% in two wells. Combined, we expect to spend approximately $80 million in these horizontals and their associated facilities. Twenty-eight of these 34 wells and their forecast reserves are included in the 2023 year-end reserve report as proved undeveloped, whereas the reserves of six wells are considered probable undeveloped and not included in the reserve report. Additionally, we have 12 horizontals slated to begin drilling in the second quarter of 2024 and be on production in the third quarter.
In 2024, we expect to complete 54 new horizontal wells, investing approximately $140 million. We are also preparing to invest approximately $95 million in another 23 horizontal wells to be drilled and completed in 2025. In addition, we have identified 28 horizontal locations for future development in West Texas that we anticipate to be drilled in the 2026-2027 timeframe and would require a net investment of approximately $67 million.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
In the ordinary course of conducting our business, we become involved in litigation and other claims from private party actions, as well as judicial and administrative proceedings involving governmental authorities at the federal, state, and local levels. While the outcome of litigation or other proceedings against us cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not expect that any loss resulting from such litigation or other proceedings, in excess of any amounts accrued or covered by insurance, will have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial statements.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.
Not applicable.
PART II-OTHER INFORMATION

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
Our common stock is listed and principally traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol “PNRG”.
As of April 4, 2024 there were 200 registered holders of the common stock.
We have not paid any dividends during the three most recent fiscal years or any subsequent interim period, and we do not intend to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Provisions of our line of credit agreement restrict our ability to pay dividends. Such dividends may be declared out of funds legally available therefore, when and as declared by our Board of Directors.
Issuer Sales and Purchases of Equity Securities
There were no sales of equity securities by the Company during the period covered by this report. The following table details the Company’s purchases of shares for the three months ended December 31, 2023.
2023 Month
Total
Number of
			Shares
Purchased
Average Price
			Paid per share
Maximum Number of Shares
That May Yet Be
			Purchased Under The
Program at Month-End (1)
October
7,000
$ 110.43
275,044
November
1,000
$ 107.39
274,044
December
$ 109.35
273,644
Total/Average
8,400
$ 100.02
(1) In December 1993, we announced that the Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program whereby we may purchase outstanding shares of the common stock from time-to-time, in open market transactions or negotiated sales. On October 31, 2012, June 13, 2018 and June 7, 2023, the Board of Directors of the Company approved an additional 500,000, 200,000 and 300,000 shares respectively, of the Company’s stock to be included in the stock repurchase program. A total of 4,000,000 shares have been authorized to date under this program. Through December 31, 2023, a total of 3,726,356 shares have been repurchased under this program for $89,987,612 at an average price of $24.15 per share. The stock repurchase program has no specific term. Additional purchases of shares may occur as market conditions warrant. We expect future purchases will be funded with internally generated cash flow or from working capital.
` PART II-OTHER INFORMATION
`

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6.
RESERVED

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion is intended to assist you in understanding our results of operations and our present financial condition. Our Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Report contains additional information that should be referred to when reviewing this material. Our subsidiaries are listed in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Overview:
We are an independent oil and natural gas company engaged in acquiring, developing, and producing oil and natural gas. We presently own producing and non-producing properties located primarily in Texas, and Oklahoma. In addition, we own a substantial amount of well servicing equipment. All of our oil and gas properties and interests are located in the United States. Assets in our principal focus areas include mature properties with long-lived reserves and significant development opportunities as well as newer properties with development and exploration potential. We believe our balanced portfolio of assets and our ongoing hedging program position us well for both the current commodity price environment and future potential upside as we develop our attractive resource opportunities. Our primary sources of liquidity are cash generated from our operations and our credit facility.
We attempt to assume the position of operator in all acquisitions of producing properties and will continue to evaluate prospects for leasehold acquisitions and for exploration and development operations in areas in which we own interests. We continue to actively pursue the acquisition of producing properties. To diversify and broaden our asset base, we will consider acquiring the assets or stock in other entities and companies in the oil and gas business. Our main objective in making any such acquisitions will be to acquire income producing assets to build stockholder value through consistent growth in our oil and gas reserve base on a cost-efficient basis.
Our cash flows depend on many factors, including the price of oil and gas, the success of our acquisition and drilling activities and the operational performance of our producing properties. We use derivative instruments to manage our commodity price risk. This practice may prevent us from receiving the full advantage of any increases in oil and gas prices above the maximum fixed amount specified in the derivative agreements and subjects us to the credit risk of the counterparties to such agreements. Since all our derivative contracts are accounted for under mark-to-market accounting, we expect continued volatility in gains and losses on mark-to-market derivative contracts in our consolidated statement of operations as changes occur in the NYMEX price indices.
Market Conditions and Commodity Prices:
Our financial results depend on many factors, particularly the price of natural gas and crude oil and our ability to market our production on economically attractive terms. Commodity prices are affected by many factors outside of our control, including changes in market supply and demand, which are impacted by weather conditions, pipeline capacity constraints, inventory storage levels, basis differentials and other factors. In addition, our realized prices are further impacted by our derivative and hedging activities. We derive our revenue and cash flow principally from the sale of oil, natural gas and NGLs. As a result, our revenues are determined, to a large degree, by prevailing prices for crude oil, natural gas and NGLs. We sell our oil and natural gas on the open market at prevailing market prices or through forward delivery contracts. Because some of our operations are located outside major markets, we are directly impacted by regional prices regardless of Henry Hub, WTI or other major market pricing. The market price for oil, natural gas and NGLs is dictated by supply and demand; consequently, we cannot accurately predict or control the price we may receive for our oil, natural gas and NGLs. Index prices for oil, natural gas, and NGLs have improved since the lows of 2020 however we expect prices to remain volatile and consequently cannot determine with any degree of certainty what effect increases or decreases in these prices will have on our capital program, production volumes or revenues.
Critical Accounting Estimates:
Proved Oil and Gas Reserves
Proved oil and gas reserves directly impact financial accounting estimates, including depreciation, depletion and amortization. Proved reserves represent estimated quantities of natural gas, crude oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids that geological and engineering data demonstrate, with reasonable certainty, to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under economic and operating conditions existing at the time the estimates were made. The process of estimating quantities of proved oil and gas reserves is very complex, requiring significant subjective decisions in the evaluation of all available geological, engineering and economic data for each reservoir. The data for a given reservoir may also change substantially over time as a result of numerous factors including, but not limited to, additional development activity, evolving production history and continual reassessment of the viability of production under varying economic conditions. Consequently, material revisions (upward or downward) to existing reserve estimates may occur from time to time.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization for Oil and Gas Properties
The quantities of estimated proved oil and gas reserves are a significant component of our calculation of depletion expense and revisions in such estimates may alter the rate of future expense. Holding all other factors constant, if reserves were revised upward or downward, earnings would increase or decrease respectively. Depreciation, depletion and amortization of the cost of proved oil and gas properties are calculated using the unit-of-production method. The reserve base used to calculate depletion, depreciation or amortization is the sum of proved developed reserves and proved undeveloped reserves for leasehold acquisition costs and the cost to acquire proved properties. The reserve base includes only proved developed reserves for lease and well equipment costs, which include development costs and successful exploration drilling costs. Estimated future dismantlement, restoration and abandonment costs, net of salvage values, are taken into account.
Asset Retirement Obligation (ARO):
The Company has significant obligations to remove tangible equipment and restore land at the end of oil and gas production operations. The Company’s removal and restoration obligations are primarily associated with plugging and abandoning wells. Estimating the future restoration and removal costs is difficult and requires management to make estimates and judgments. Asset removal technologies and costs are constantly changing, as are regulatory, political, environmental, safety, and public relations considerations. ARO associated with retiring tangible long-lived assets is recognized as a liability in the period in which the legal obligation is incurred and becomes determinable. The liability is offset by a corresponding increase in the underlying asset. The ARO liability reflects the estimated present value of the amount of dismantlement, removal, site reclamation, and similar activities associated with the Company’s oil and gas properties. The Company utilizes current retirement costs to estimate the expected cash outflows for retirement obligations. Inherent in the present value calculation are numerous assumptions and judgments including the ultimate settlement amounts, inflation factors, credit-adjusted discount rates, timing of settlement, and changes in the legal, regulatory, environmental, and political environments. Accretion expense is recognized over time as the discounted liability is accreted to its expected settlement value
Liquidity and Capital Resources:
Our primary sources of liquidity are cash generated from our operations, through our producing oil and gas properties, field services business and sales of acreage, and available capacity under our revolving credit facility.
Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $109.0 million compared to $33.1 million in the prior year. Excluding the effects of significant unforeseen expenses or other income, our cash flow from operations fluctuates primarily because of variations in oil and gas production and prices or changes in working capital accounts. Our oil and gas production will vary based on actual well performance but may be curtailed due to factors beyond our control.
Our realized oil and gas prices vary due to world political events, supply and demand of products, product storage levels, and weather patterns. We sell the majority of our production at spot market prices. Accordingly, product price volatility will affect our cash flow from operations. To mitigate price volatility, we sometimes lock in prices for some portion of our production through the use of derivatives.
If our exploratory drilling results in significant new discoveries, we will have to expend additional capital to finance the completion, development, and potential additional opportunities generated by our success. We believe that, because of the additional reserves resulting from the successful wells and our record of reserve growth in recent years, we will be able to access sufficient additional capital through bank financing.
Maintaining a strong balance sheet and ample liquidity are key components of our business strategy. For 2024, we will continue our focus on preserving financial flexibility and liquidity as we manage the risks facing our industry. Our 2024 capital budget is reflective of commodity prices and has been established based on an expectation of available cash flows, with any cash flow deficiencies expected to be funded by borrowings under our revolving credit facility. As we have done historically to preserve or enhance liquidity, we may adjust our capital program throughout the year, divest assets, or enter into strategic joint ventures.
The Company maintains a Credit Agreement with a maturity date of June 1, 2026, providing for a credit facility totaling $300 million, with a borrowing base of $85 million. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had $4 million in outstanding borrowings and $81 million in availability under this facility. The bank reviews the borrowing base semi-annually and, at its discretion, may decrease or propose an increase to the borrowing base relative to a re-determined estimate of proved oil and gas reserves. The next borrowing base review is scheduled for May 2024. Our oil and gas properties are pledged as collateral for the line of credit and we are subject to certain financial and operational covenants defined in the agreement. We are currently in compliance with these covenants and expect to be in compliance over the next twelve months. If we do not comply with these covenants on a continuing basis, the lenders have the right to refuse to advance additional funds under the facility and/or declare all principal and interest immediately due and payable. Our borrowing base may decrease as a result of lower natural gas or oil prices, operating difficulties, declines in reserves, lending requirements or regulations, the issuance of new indebtedness or for other reasons set forth in our revolving credit agreement. In the event of a decrease in our borrowing base due to declines in commodity prices or otherwise, our ability to borrow under our revolving credit facility may be limited and we could be required to repay any indebtedness in excess of the re-determined borrowing base.
Our credit agreement requires us to hedge a portion of our production as forecasted for the PDP reserves included in our borrowing base review engineering reports. The credit agreement requires that as of the last day of any fiscal quarter, if the borrowing base utilization percentage on such a date is less than the 15%, then the borrower shall not be required to enter into any swap agreements. As of the quarter ended December 31, 2023, the Company had no outstanding borrowings. Accordingly, the Company had no swap agreements in place for oil and natural gas.
The Company’s activities include development and exploratory drilling. Our strategy is to develop a balanced portfolio of drilling prospects that includes lower risk wells with a high probability of success and higher risk wells with greater economic potential. Horizontal development of our resource base provides superior returns relative to vertical development due to the ability of each horizontal wellbore to come in contact with a greater volume of reservoir rock across a greater distance, more efficiently draining the reserves with less infrastructure and thus at a lower cost per acre.
In 2023, including 20 wells spud in the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company participated with five operators in 35 wells: 32 of these are located in West Texas and three are located in Oklahoma. The Company invested approximately $91 million in these wells, including in their production facilities, almost all attributable to wells drilled and completed in West Texas where we are focused on horizontal development of various proven pay intervals in the Wolfcamp and Spraberry formations. On December 31, 2023, we had 12 wells completed that were all brought into production in January of 2024. In addition to $7.9 million of the $91 million invested in these wells in 2023, the Company had an additional $15.5 million investment in these 12 wells. Also at year-end 2023, the Company was in the process of drilling and completing 34 wells in West Texas that carry an expense of $80.6 million, and planning for a 50% participation in an additional 12 wells to be drilled in 2024 that will require an investment of approximately $43 million. In total, the Company expects to invest $140 million in 54 wells in 2024 and, in 2025, to invest $95 million in an additional 23 wells in West Texas.
During 2023, to supplement cash flow and finance our future drilling programs, the Company sold 368 net mineral acres as well as 7.8 surface acres in Midland County, Texas receiving gross proceeds of $436,050 and recognizing a gain of $47,000.
In the second quarter of 2023, the Company acquired 55 net acres in the South Stiles area of Reagan County, Texas for $605,000, and in a separate agreement also in Reagan County, the Company sold 320 non-core acres for proceeds of $6,000,000. In addition, the Company sold 36.51% interest in one well in Midland County, Texas for proceeds of $60,000.
In the third quarter of 2023, the Company sold a non-core 38.25-acre leasehold tract in Martin County, Texas for proceeds of $899,000 and sold 3 surface acres in Liberty County, Texas for net proceeds of $37,053. Also in the third quarter, in various counties of Oklahoma, the Company divested its interest in 39 wells, reducing its future plugging liability by approximately $1.5 million. Effective July 1, 2023, the Company acquired the operations of 36 wells from DE Permian and 50% of DE Permian’s original ownership in such wells. In addition, in Reagan County, Texas, the Company acquired 114.52 net acres from DE Permian for $1,700,853 and assigned to them 203.23 net acres.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company sold 136 surface acres in Oklahoma for net proceeds of $306,000 and in Midland Texas sold 9.35 net acres for proceeds of $280,423.
Proceeds from these sales in 2023, along with our cash flow, were used to eliminate the Company’s outstanding bank debt as of March 31, 2023. As noted above, as of March 31, 2024, the Company had $4 million outstanding borrowings and $81 million in availability under this facility.
The majority of our capital spending is discretionary, and the ultimate level of expenditures will be dependent on our assessment of the oil and gas business environment, the number and quality of oil and gas prospects available, the market for oilfield services, and oil and gas business opportunities in general.
The Company has a stock repurchase program in place, spending under this program in 2023 and 2022 was $7.5 million and $7.4 million, respectively. The Company expects continued spending under the stock repurchase program in 2024.
Results of Operations
2023 and 2022 Compared
We reported a net income of $28.1 million for 2023, or $15.19 per share, compared to $48.7 million, or $24.91 per share for 2022. The current year net income reflects production increases offset by commodity price decreases. The significant components of income and expense are discussed below.
Oil, NGL and gas sales decreased $16.4 million, or 13.19% to $107.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $124.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Crude oil, NGL and natural gas sales vary due to changes in volumes of production sold and realized commodity prices. Our realized prices at the well head decreased an average of $19.86 per barrel, or 20.54% on crude oil, decreased an average of $16.06 per barrel, or 44.99% on NGL and decreased $3.62 per Mcf, or 65.34% on natural gas during 2023 as compared to 2022.
Our crude oil production increased by 205,000 barrels, or 21.83% to 1,144,000 barrels for the year ended December 31, 2023 from 939,000 barrels for the year ended December 31, 2022. Our NGL production increased by 189,000 or 45.32% to 606,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023 from 417,000 barrels for the year ended December 31, 2022. Our natural gas production increased by 802 MMcf, or 24.12% to 4,127 MMcf for the year ended December 31, 2023 from 3,325 MMcf for the year ended December 31, 2022. The changes in crude oil, NGL and natural gas production volumes are a result of new wells placed in production offset by the natural decline of existing properties.
The following table summarizes the primary components of production volumes and average sales prices realized for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (excluding realized gains and losses from derivatives).
Years ended
			December 31,
Increase /
Increase /
(Decrease)
(Decrease)
Barrels of Oil Produced
1,144,000
939,000
205,000
21.83 %
Average Price Received
$ 76.84
$ 96.70
$ (19.86 )
(20.54 )%
Oil Revenue (In 000’s)
$ 87,906
$ 90,803
$ (2,897 )
(3.19 )%
Mcf of Gas Sold
4,127,000
3,325,000
802,000
24.12 %
Average Price Received
$ 1.92
$ 5.54
$ (3.62 )
(65.34 )%
Gas Revenue (In 000’s)
$ 7,935
$ 18,428
$ (10,493 )
(56.94 )%
Barrels of Natural Gas Liquids Sold
606,000
417,000
189,000
45.32 %
Average Price Received
$ 19.64
$ 35.70
$ (16.06 )
(44.99 )%
Natural Gas Liquids Revenue (In 000’s)
$ 11,901
$ 14,887
$ (2,986 )
(20.06 )%
Total Oil & Gas Revenue (In 000’s)
$ 107,742
$ 124,118
$ (16,376 )
(13.19 )%
Oil, Natural Gas and NGL Derivatives We do not apply hedge accounting to any of our commodity based derivatives, thus changes in the fair market value of commodity contracts held at the end of a reported period, referred to as mark-to-market adjustments, are recognized as unrealized gains and losses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. As oil and natural gas prices remain volatile, mark-to-market accounting treatment creates volatility in our revenues.
The following table summarizes the results of our derivative instruments for the years ended December 2023 and 2022:
Years ended
			December 31,
Oil derivatives - realized gains (losses)
$
$ (12,101 )
Oil derivatives - unrealized gains
--
3,713
Total gains (losses) on oil derivatives
$
$ (8,388 )
Natural gas derivatives - realized gains (losses)
(4,543 )
Natural gas derivatives - unrealized gains
--
Total gains (losses) on natural gas derivatives
$
$ (3,651 )
Total gains (losses) on oil and natural gas
$
$ (12,039 )
Prices received for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, including the impact of derivatives were:
Increase /
			(Decrease)
Increase /
			(Decrease)
Oil Price
$ 76.33
$ 87.77
$ (11.44 )
(13.03 )%
Gas Price
$ 1.93
$ 4.44
$ (2.51 )
(56.53 )%
NGL Price
$ 19.64
$ 35.70
$ (16.06 )
(44.99 )%
Oil and gas production expense increased $1.0 million, or 4.0% to 3.11% for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $31.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. These changes reflect the cost savings related to wells that have been plugged offset by rising service costs and additional costs related to the new wells that have been placed on production.
Field service income increased $2.4 million or 18.5% to $15.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $13.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Workover rig services, hot oil treatments, saltwater hauling and disposal represent the bulk of our field service operations. These changes reflect the variance in equipment utilization and service rates during these periods.
Field service expense increased $0.6 million, or 5.4% to $11.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $11.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Field service expenses primarily consist of wages and vehicle operating expenses. The changes reflect the variance in equipment utilization during the periods represented.
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization increased $3.6 million, or 13.1% to $31 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $27.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The DD&A expense is primarily attributable to our properties in West Texas and Oklahoma, reflecting the addition of new properties offset by the declining cost basis of existing properties.
General and administrative expense decreased $4.6 million, or 22.7% to $15.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $20.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. These changes are primarily related to employee compensation and benefits.
Gain on sale and exchange of assets of $8.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 consists of sales of net mineral and surface acres in various locations in Texas and Oklahoma. The $31.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 consists principally of sales of deep rights in undeveloped acreage in West Texas.
Interest expense decreased $0.4 million, or 41.0% to $0.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. This decrease reflects the increase in rates combined with reduced borrowings under our revolving credit agreement
Tax expense of $6.1 million and $10.3 million were recorded for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The change in our income tax provision was primarily due to the decrease in pre-tax income for the year ended December 31, 2023.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
We are a smaller reporting company and therefore no response is required pursuant to this Item.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.
The consolidated financial statements and supplementary information included in this Report are described in the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements at Page of this Report.

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

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
As of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have evaluated the effectiveness of our “disclosure controls and procedures” (“Disclosure Controls”). Disclosure Controls, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are procedures that are designed with the objective of ensuring that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act, such as this Annual Report, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure Controls are also designed with the objective of ensuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Our management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, does not expect that our Disclosure Controls will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.
Members of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined by paragraph (e) of Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15, as of December 31, 2023 the end of the period covered by this Report. Based upon that evaluation, these officers concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2023.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance that assets are safeguarded against loss from unauthorized use or disposition, transactions are executed in accordance with appropriate management authorization and accounting records are reliable for the preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023. Management based this assessment on criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting described in “Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013)” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Management’s assessment included an evaluation of the design of our internal control over financial reporting and testing of the operational effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting. Management reviewed the results of its assessment with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.
As a result of this assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2023, our internal control over financial reporting was effective in providing reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. This Annual Report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this Annual Report.
There have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during the fourth fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2023 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B.
OTHER INFORMATION.
None.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.
Information relating to the Company’s Directors, nominees for Directors and executive officers will be included in the Company’s definitive proxy statement relating the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in June 5, 2024, and which is incorporated herein by reference.
Code of Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (the “Code”) that applies to all officers and employees. The Code is publicly available under the governance tab of our website at www.primeenergy.com. Any amendments to, or waivers of, the Code with respect to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, will be disclosed on our website within four business days following the date of the amendment or waiver. Copies of the Code may also be requested in print by writing to PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation, 9821 Katy Freeway, Suite 1050, Houston, TX 77024.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
Information relating to executive compensation will be included in the Company’s definitive proxy statement relating to the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in June 5, 2024, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
Information relating to security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management will be included in the Company’s definitive proxy statement relating to the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in June 5, 2024, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.
Information relating to certain transactions by Directors and executive officers of the Company will be included in the Company’s definitive proxy statement relating to the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in June 5, 2024, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
Information relating to principal accountant fees and services will be included in the Company’s definitive proxy statement relating to the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in June 5, 2024, and which is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15.
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
The following documents are filed as part of this Report:
1.
Financial statements (Index to Consolidated Financial Statements at page of this Report)
2.
Financial Statement Schedules - All Financial Statement Schedules have been omitted because the required information is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or the notes thereto, or because it is not required.
3.
Exhibits:
3.1
Certificate of Incorporation of PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation, as amended and restated of December 21, 2018, (filed as Exhibit 3.1 of PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation Form 8-K on December 27, 2018, and incorporated herein by reference).
3.2
Bylaws of PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation as amended and restated as of April 24, 2020 (filed as Exhibit 3.2 of PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation Form 8-K on April 27, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference).
4.1
PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation Description of Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, filed herewith.
10.18
Composite copy of Non-Statutory Option Agreements (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004).
10.22.6
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of July 5, 2022, is among PRIMEENERGY RESOURCES CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), each of the Lenders from time to time party hereto and CITIBANK, N.A. (in its individual capacity, “Citibank”), as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) (filed as exhibit 10.22.6 of PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended June 30 2022, and incorporated by reference).
10.22.6.1
FIRST AMENDMENT TO FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of October 31, 2022 (the “First Amendment Effective Date”), is among PRIMEENERGY RESOURCES CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), CITIBANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) and as Issuing Bank, each Guarantor party hereto and the financial institutions party hereto as Lenders and incorporated by reference.
10.22.6.2
Second Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 9, 2024, among PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, the guarantors and the lenders party thereto (filed as exhibit 10.22.6.2) of PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation Form 8-K on February 13, 2024, and incorporated by reference.
Subsidiaries (filed herewith).
Consent of Ryder Scott Company, L.P. (filed herewith).
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (filed herewith).
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (filed herewith).
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
97.1
PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation Compensation Recoupment (CLAWBACK) Policy, (filed herewith).
99.1
Summary Reserve Report dated March 7, 2023, of Ryder Scott Company, L.P. (filed herewith).
101.INS
Inline XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) Instance Document (filed herewith)
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (filed herewith)
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (filed herewith)
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (filed herewith)
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document (filed herewith)
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (filed herewith)
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)