EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1928446
Filing Year: 2025
Filename: 1928446_10-K_2025_0001928446-25-000010.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1. Business
In this “Business” section, unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires, “Granite Ridge,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. The following discussion of our business should be read in conjunction with the accompanying audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Overview
Granite Ridge is a scaled energy company which aims to provide shareholders with exposure similar to energy private equity through operated partnerships and traditional non-operated assets. We own assets in six prolific unconventional basins across the United States. We aim to deliver a diversified portfolio with best-in-class full cycle returns by investing in a large number of high-graded opportunities developed by proven public and private operators. We focus on success as measured by total shareholder returns, which we seek to balance with a low leverage profile.
To this end, we aim to:
•manage our current portfolio of assets to generate cash flow;
•participate in the development of new wells alongside operators with significant expertise in our core asset areas;
•source and evaluate new opportunities which provide healthy risk-adjusted returns; and
•return cash to shareholders as appropriate while maintaining a low leverage profile.
Business Combination
Granite Ridge is a Delaware corporation, formed on May 9, 2022 to consummate the Business Combination (as defined below). On October 24, 2022 (the “Closing Date”), Granite Ridge and Executive Network Partnering Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ENPC”) consummated a business combination pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of May 16, 2022 (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among ENPC, Granite Ridge, ENPC Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Granite Ridge (“ENPC Merger Sub”), GREP Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Granite Ridge (“GREP Merger Sub”), and GREP Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“GREP”).
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, on the Closing Date, (i) ENPC Merger Sub merged with and into ENPC (the “ENPC Merger”), with ENPC surviving the ENPC Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Granite Ridge and (ii) GREP Merger Sub merged with and into GREP (the “GREP Merger,” and together with the ENPC Merger, the “Mergers”), with GREP surviving the GREP Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Granite Ridge (the transactions contemplated by the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) the “Business Combination,” and together with the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, the “Transactions”). Immediately prior to the Transactions, the net assets of certain funds managed by Grey Rock Energy Management, LLC (“Grey Rock”) were contributed to GREP and are now held by the Company.
Assets of Granite Ridge
We hold assets in the Permian (Delaware and Midland basins), Eagle Ford, Bakken, Haynesville, Denver-Julesburg (“DJ”) and Appalachian basins (collectively, our “Properties”). The operators of our Properties include other public companies and experienced private companies. Operated partnerships are comprised of transactions where Granite Ridge makes controlled investments with proven teams in their area of expertise. Traditional non-operated assets are comprised of minority interests in core areas managed by experienced operators.
Operated Partnerships
We create operated partnerships by investing in assets which are drilled, developed and operated by private operators. We aim to partner with energy entrepreneurs who are experts within concentrated areas and back them with sufficient capital to develop a defined project. In these partnerships, we account for a significant majority of the capital at risk, so we have significant control over acquisition costs and strategy, development costs, timing and rig schedules, and well design. While it's unlikely that we would choose to do so, we also have a right to remove the operator of the position if need be and bring in a substitute operator for the asset. These partnerships resemble traditional energy private equity structures for the private operators as well as for Granite Ridge's investors. Typically, we structure these transactions to have an economic interest in the wells that benefits the operator after certain return hurdles are met to incentivize and align the operator with our interest.
Traditional Non-Operated Assets
Our non-operated asset base is built by investing in minority interests which give us a right to participate on a proportionate basis alongside third-party operators who propose, drill, and operate the assets. Once we own an asset in our portfolio, we assess each well proposal on a case-by-case basis to see if the well meets our return thresholds based upon our estimates of production from such well, capital expenditures, operating costs, expected oil and gas prices, operator expertise, as well as other factors. Our team uses an extensive proprietary data set to make these investment decisions. Given our acreage footprint and substantial number of well participations, we believe we can make reliably accurate decisions regarding the economics of participating in any proposed development project.
The following is a summary of information regarding our assets as of December 31, 2024, including reserves information as estimated by our third-party independent reserve engineers, Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.
As of December 31, 2024
Productive Oil Wells Productive Gas Wells
Net Acres Gross Net Gross Net Average Daily
Production
(Boe per day) Proved Reserves
(MBoe) % Oil % Proved
Developed
Permian 15,065 714 64.70 - - 13,191 37,232 56% 61%
Eagle Ford 6,587 129 27.40 100 7.30 3,495 4,835 58% 94%
Bakken 13,167 985 39.80 - - 2,095 3,739 71% 99%
Haynesville 5,495 - - 127 17.20 4,219 3,288 0% 92%
DJ 2,502 1,070 44.60 15 1.30 1,947 4,426 37% 93%
Appalachian 1,067 6 0.10 - - 26 795 45% 86%
Total 43,883 2,904 176.60 242 25.80 24,973 54,315 52% 72%
Business Strategy
Key elements of our business strategy include:
Build a Diversified Portfolio: We invest in a large number of high-graded (typically directly sourced) opportunities which allow us to build a portfolio of oil and gas assets across the United States that is highly diversified in terms of geography, geology, hydrocarbon mix, and operator (both public and private) as well as operatorship. This diversification reduces the risk of our portfolio across commodity price cycles and idiosyncratic project-level risks.
Directly Source Accretive Opportunities: We are highly selective and focused only on investments that offer the best full cycle returns. We typically find higher risk-adjusted returns from aggregating multiple smaller transactions rather than larger marketed packages. As such, we seek to capture opportunities at an attractive entry cost by targeting non-marketed packages and developing creative partnerships.
Capture Accretive Opportunities with Upside: We focus on investments with high-graded drilling inventory. Historically, we have achieved higher returns by focusing on projects with near-term development rather than buying assets with a higher proportion of flowing production. We have a diverse range of opportunities, significantly reducing the risk associated with any single capital allocation decision. We allocate capital towards investments with compelling risk-reward balances and best-in-class full cycle returns.
Leverage Proprietary Data: As an owner in thousands of wells with dozens of operators across almost every core basin, we collect and analyze an immense amount of data. We invest in technology to drive accuracy and efficiency when evaluating opportunities, using our significant data set to gain unique insights for each transaction. Our robust technology capabilities allow for streamlined engineering processes, enabling our team to focus on value drivers to help us make effective and efficient investment decisions.
Maintain a Healthy Balance Sheet: Prudent balance sheet management is a core tenet of both our risk management and value-creation strategies. In a challenging commodity price environment, our goal is to maintain liquidity to capitalize on accretive opportunities and to stay comfortably within credit covenants across commodity price cycles.
Pay a Quarterly Dividend: We believe that a quarterly cash dividend is the cornerstone of a sustainable and resilient business model. Subject to compliance with applicable law, and depending on, among other things, economic conditions, financial condition, results of operations, projections, liquidity, earnings, legal requirements, and restrictions in the Credit Agreement, we expect that Granite Ridge will pay quarterly cash dividends.
Mitigate Price Risk: We take a programmatic approach to commodity price risk management by hedging new drilling and acquisitions to protect near-term cash flow and provide through-cycle financial stability. While we cannot remove commodity price risk, we use a significant amount of hedging to help reduce that risk within a rolling 18 to 24-month period. In addition to entering into hedging derivative instruments tied to the price of oil or natural gas, we actively pursue diversification across hydrocarbon, basin, and operator to mitigate price swings specific to any particular area, company or contract.
Be a Good Partner: We lean heavily on our operating partners. By building relationships across multiple disciplines and actively seeking creative opportunities to be a value-added partner, we can often access off-market opportunities and mitigate risks inherent in the energy business.
Empower People: Our people are the lifeblood of our organization. We aim to encourage, support, and incentivize our team to develop and implement ideas that make us better.
Operating Areas
Permian
The Permian Basin extends from southeastern New Mexico into west Texas and is currently one of the most active drilling regions in the United States. The Permian Basin consists of mature legacy onshore oil and liquids-rich natural gas reservoirs. The extensive operating history, favorable operating environment, mature infrastructure, long reserve life, multiple producing horizons, horizontal development potential and liquids-rich reserves make the Permian Basin one of the most prolific oil-producing regions in the United States. At December 31, 2024, 69% of our total proved reserves were located in the Permian Basin. During the year ended December 31, 2024, operators completed 133 gross (16.81 net) wells in the Permian Basin.
Eagle Ford
The Eagle Ford shale formation stretches across south Texas and includes Austin Chalk and Buda formations. At December 31, 2024, 9% of our total proved reserves were located in the Eagle Ford Basin. During the year ended December 31, 2024, operators completed 18 gross (3.36 net) wells in the Eagle Ford Basin.
Bakken
The Williston Basin stretches through North Dakota, the northwest part of South Dakota, and eastern Montana and is best known for the Bakken/Three Forks shale formations. The Bakken ranks as one of the largest oil developments in the United States. At December 31, 2024, 7% of our total proved reserves were located in the Bakken Basin. During the year ended December 31, 2024, operators completed 56 gross (1.00 net) wells in the Bakken Basin.
Haynesville
The Haynesville Basin is a premier natural gas basin located in northwestern Louisiana and east Texas. At December 31, 2024, 6% of our total proved reserves were located in the Haynesville Basin. During the year ended December 31, 2024, operators completed 6 gross (0.34 net) wells in the Haynesville Basin.
DJ
The Denver-Julesburg Basin, also known as the DJ Basin, is a geologic basin centered in eastern Colorado stretching into southeast Wyoming, western Nebraska and western Kansas. Development in this area is currently focused on horizontal drilling in the Niobrara and Codell formations. At December 31, 2024, 8% of our total proved reserves were located in the DJ Basin. During the year ended December 31, 2024, operators completed 80 gross (1.78 net) wells in the DJ Basin.
Appalachian
The Appalachian Basin is a geologic basin in the eastern United States. Our acquisition and development efforts in this area are currently focused in the northern Utica Shale play within Ohio. At December 31, 2024, 1% of our total proved reserves were located in the Appalachian Basin. During the year ended December 31, 2024, operators completed 6 gross (0.14 net) wells in the Appalachian Basin.
Industry Operating Environment
The oil and natural gas industry is a global market impacted by many factors, including government regulations, particularly in the areas of taxation, energy, climate change and the environment, political and social developments in the Middle East and Russia, demand in Asian and European markets, and the extent to which members of OPEC and other oil exporting nations manage oil supply through export quotas. Natural gas prices are generally determined by North American supply and demand and are also affected by imports and exports of liquefied natural gas. Weather also has a significant impact on demand for natural gas as it is a primary heating source.
Oil and natural gas prices have been volatile and may continue to be volatile in the future. Lower oil and gas prices not only decrease our revenues, but an extended decline in oil or natural gas prices may affect planned capital expenditures and the oil and natural gas reserves that the Properties can economically produce. If commodity prices decline, the cost of developing, completing, and operating a well may not decline in proportion to prices received for the production, resulting in higher operating and capital costs as a percentage of revenues.
Development
We primarily engage in oil and natural gas development and production by participating on a proportionate basis alongside third-party interests in wells drilled and completed in spacing units that include our acreage. In addition, we acquire wellbore-only working interests in wells separate from the underlying leasehold interests from third parties unable or unwilling to participate in particular well proposals. We typically depend on drilling partners to propose, permit, and initiate the drilling of wells. Prior to commencing drilling, our operating partners are required to provide all owners of oil, natural gas, and mineral interests within the designated spacing unit the opportunity to participate in the drilling costs and revenues of the well proportionate to their pro-rata share of such interest within the spacing unit. We assess each participation opportunity in any given well on a case-by-case basis and expect to meet our return thresholds based upon our estimates of ultimate recoverable oil and natural gas from such well, forward curve pricing, expected oil and gas prices, expertise of the operator in such well, and completed well costs from each project, as well as other factors.
Historically, we have participated, pursuant to our working interests, in a vast majority of the wells proposed to us. However, declines in oil and natural gas prices typically reduce both the number of well proposals we receive and the proportion of well proposals in which we elect to participate. Our land and engineering team uses an extensive proprietary data set to assist us in making these investment decisions. Given our acreage footprint and substantial number of well participations, we believe we can make relatively accurate decisions regarding the economics of well participation.
While we regularly have the right to take a portion of our production in kind, we typically elect to have our operating partners market and sell oil and natural gas produced from wells in which we have an interest. Our operating partners coordinate the transportation of our oil and natural gas production from their wells to appropriate pipelines or rail transport
facilities pursuant to arrangements that they negotiate and maintain with various parties purchasing the production. We may, from time to time, enter into financial hedging contracts to help mitigate pricing risk and volatility with respect to differentials.
Competition
Although we focus on a target asset class and transaction size where we believe competition and costs are reduced as compared to the broader oil and natural gas industry, the overall industry remains intensely competitive. We compete with other oil and natural gas exploration and production companies, some of which have substantially greater resources and may be able to pay more for exploratory prospects and productive oil and natural gas properties, and competition for our target asset classes is subject to increase in the future. Our larger or integrated competitors may be better able to absorb the burden of existing, as well as any changes to, federal, state, and local laws and regulations, which would adversely affect our competitive position. Our ability to acquire additional properties in the future is dependent upon our ability and resources to evaluate and select suitable properties and to consummate transactions in this highly competitive environment.
Marketing and Customers
The market for oil and natural gas produced from our Properties depends on many factors, including the extent of domestic production and imports of oil and natural gas, the proximity and capacity of pipelines and other transportation and storage facilities, demand for oil and natural gas, the marketing of competitive fuels and the effects of state and federal regulation. The oil and natural gas industry also competes with other industries in supplying the energy and fuel requirements of industrial, commercial, and individual consumers.
Our oil production is expected to be sold at prices tied to the spot oil markets. Our natural gas production is expected to be sold under short-term contracts and priced based on first of the month index prices or on daily spot market prices. We generally rely on our operating partners to market and sell our production. Our operating partners include a variety of exploration and production companies, from large publicly traded companies to privately-owned companies.
The following table sets forth the percentage of revenues attributable to third-party operating partners who have accounted for 10% or more of revenues attributable to our assets during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022.
Major Operators 2024 2023 2022
Operator A * 11 % 12 %
Operator B * 12 % 10 %
Operator C * * 10 %
Operator D 14 % * *
__________________________________________
*Less than 10%
No other operator accounted for 10% or more of revenue attributable to our assets on a combined basis in the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, or 2022. The loss of any such operator could adversely affect revenues attributable to the Company’s assets in the short term.
Title to Properties
Our oil and natural gas properties are subject to customary royalty and other interests, liens under indebtedness, liens incident to operating agreements, liens for current taxes, and other burdens, including other mineral encumbrances and restrictions. At the closing of the Business Combination, we entered into a credit agreement with a syndicate of lenders, currently led by Bank of America, N.A, as administrative agent (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”), secured by a first priority mortgage and security interest in substantially all of our and our restricted subsidiaries' assets.
We believe that we have satisfactory title to, or rights in, the Properties. As is customary in the oil and natural gas industry, due diligence investigation of title is made at the time of acquisition of any properties.
Seasonality
Weather events and conditions, such as ice storms, freezing conditions, droughts, floods, and tornados can limit or temporarily halt the drilling and producing activities of our operating partners and other oil and natural gas operations. These constraints and the resulting shortages or high costs could delay or temporarily halt the operations of our operating partners and materially increase our operating and capital costs. Such seasonal anomalies can also pose challenges for meeting well drilling objectives and may increase competition for equipment, supplies, and personnel during the spring and summer months, which could lead to shortages and increase costs or delay or temporarily halt our operating partners’ operations.
Principal Agreements Affecting Our Business
We generally do not own physical real estate but, instead, our assets are primarily comprised of leasehold interests subject to the terms and provisions of lease agreements that provide us with the right to participate in drilling and maintenance of wells in specific geographic areas. Lease arrangements that comprise our acreage positions are generally established using industry-standard terms that have been established and used in the oil and natural gas industry for many years. Many of our leases are or were acquired from other parties that obtained the original leasehold interest prior to our acquisition of the leasehold interest.
In general, our lease agreements stipulate three-year primary terms. Bonuses and royalty rates are negotiated on a case-by-case basis consistent with industry standard pricing. Once a well is drilled and production is established, the leased acreage in the applicable spacing unit is considered developed acreage and is held by production or continuous drilling obligations. Other locations within the drilling unit created for a well may also be drilled at any time with no time limit as long as the lease is held by production and continuous drilling obligations are satisfied. Given the current pace of drilling in the areas of our operations, we do not believe lease expiration issues will materially affect our acreage position.
Our operated partnerships are governed by joint development agreements that outline the terms for the joint evaluation, acquisition, exploration, development, and production of hydrocarbons from jointly owned interests subject to such agreements. These agreements designate a third party as the operator of all jointly owned interests in the applicable development area, while Granite Ridge retains the right to manage and control acquisition costs and strategy, development costs, timing and rig schedules, well design and other development operations in exchange for a fee.
At the closing of the Business Combination, we entered into a Management Services Agreement (“MSA”) with Grey Rock Administration, LLC (the "Manager"), pursuant to which the Manager supplies land, accounting, engineering, finance, and other back-office services to us in connection with continued management of the Properties contributed to us as part of the Business Combination.
Governmental Regulation and Environmental Matters
Our operations are subject to various rules, regulations, and limitations impacting the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry as a whole.
Regulation of Oil and Natural Gas Production
Our oil and natural gas exploration and production business and development and operation of the Properties are subject to extensive rules and regulations promulgated by federal, state, tribal and local authorities and agencies. For example, North Dakota, Montana, Louisiana, Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Ohio, and Texas require permits for drilling operations, drilling bonds or other forms of financial security, and reports concerning operations, and impose other requirements relating to the exploration and production of oil and natural gas. Such states may also have statutes or regulations addressing conservation matters, including provisions for the unitization or pooling of oil and natural gas properties, the location of wells, the method of drilling and casing wells, the surface use and restoration of properties upon which wells are drilled, the sourcing and disposal of water used in the process of drilling, completion, and production, the establishment of maximum rates of production from wells, and the regulation of spacing, plugging and abandonment of such wells. The effect of these regulations is to limit the amount of oil and natural gas that can be produced from the wells in which we participate and to limit the number of wells or the locations at which our operating partners can drill. Moreover, many states impose a production or severance tax with respect to the production and sale of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids within their jurisdictions. Failure to comply with any such rules and regulations can result in substantial penalties or other liabilities. The regulatory burden on the oil and natural gas industry will most likely increase our cost of
doing business and may affect our profitability. Because such rules and regulations are frequently amended or reinterpreted, and typically become more stringent over time, we are unable to predict the future cost or impact of our and our operating partners’ compliance with such laws. Significant expenditures may be required to comply with governmental laws and regulations and may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and profitability. Additionally, unforeseen environmental incidents may occur on the Properties or past non-compliance with environmental laws or regulations may be discovered, resulting in unforeseen liabilities. Additional proposals, proceedings, and regulations that affect the oil and natural gas industry are regularly considered by Congress; the courts; federal regulatory agencies such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Bureau of Land Management; and state legislatures and regulatory authorities. We cannot predict when or whether any such proposals may become effective, the substance of those regulations, or the outcome of such proceedings. Therefore, we are unable to predict with certainty the future compliance costs or implications of compliance on profitability.
Regulation of Transportation of Oil
Sales of crude oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids are not currently regulated and are made at negotiated prices. Nevertheless, Congress could reenact price controls in the future. Sales of crude oil are affected by the availability, terms, and cost of transportation. The transportation of oil by common carrier pipelines is also subject to rate and access regulation. The FERC regulates interstate oil pipeline transportation rates under the Interstate Commerce Act. In general, interstate oil pipeline rates must be cost-based, although settlement rates agreed to by all shippers are permitted, and market-based rates may be permitted in certain circumstances.
Effective January 1, 1995, the FERC implemented regulations establishing an indexing system (based on inflation) for transportation rates for oil pipelines that allows a pipeline to increase its rates annually up to a prescribed ceiling, without making a cost of service filing. Every five years, the FERC reviews the appropriateness of the index level in relation to changes in industry costs. On January 20, 2022, the FERC established a new price index for the five-year period which commenced on July 1, 2021.
Intrastate oil pipeline transportation rates are subject to regulation by state regulatory commissions. The basis for intrastate oil pipeline regulation, and the degree of regulatory oversight and scrutiny given to intrastate oil pipeline rates varies from state to state. Insofar as effective interstate and intrastate rates are equally applicable to all comparable shippers, we believe that the regulation of oil transportation rates will not affect operations on the Properties in any way that is of material difference from those of our competitors who are similarly situated.
Further, interstate and intrastate common carrier oil pipelines must provide service on a non-discriminatory basis. Under this open access standard, common carriers must offer service to all similarly situated shippers requesting service on the same terms and under the same rates. In Texas, when oil or natural gas pipelines operate at full capacity, access is generally governed by pro-rationing rules established by the Railroad Commission of Texas (“RRC”), in addition to certain pro-rationing provisions that may be set forth in the pipelines’ published tariffs. Accordingly, we believe that access to oil pipeline transportation services generally will be available to our operating partners to the same extent as to our similarly situated competitors.
Regulation of Transportation and Sales of Natural Gas
Historically, the transportation and sale for resale of natural gas in interstate commerce has been regulated by the FERC under the Natural Gas Act of 1938 (“NGA”), the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 (“NGPA”) and regulations issued under those statutes. In the past, the federal government has regulated the prices at which natural gas could be sold. While sales by producers of natural gas can currently be made at market prices, Congress could reenact price controls in the future.
Onshore gathering services, which occur upstream of FERC jurisdictional transmission services, are regulated by the states. Although the FERC has set forth a general test for determining whether facilities perform a non-jurisdictional gathering function or a jurisdictional transmission function, the FERC’s determinations as to the classification of facilities is done on a case-by-case basis. State regulation of natural gas gathering facilities generally includes various safety, environmental and, in some circumstances, nondiscriminatory take requirements. Although such regulation has not generally been affirmatively applied by state agencies, natural gas gathering may receive greater regulatory scrutiny in the future.
Intrastate natural gas transportation and facilities are also subject to regulation by state regulatory agencies, and certain transportation services provided by intrastate pipelines are also regulated by FERC. The basis for intrastate regulation of natural gas transportation and the degree of regulatory oversight and scrutiny given to intrastate natural gas pipeline rates and services varies from state to state. Insofar as such regulation within a particular state will generally affect all intrastate natural gas shippers within the state on a comparable basis, we believe that the regulation of similarly situated intrastate natural gas transportation in any states in which our operating partners operate and ship natural gas on an intrastate basis will not affect our operations in any way that is of material difference from those of our competitors. Like the regulation of interstate transportation rates, the regulation of intrastate transportation rates affects the marketing of natural gas that is produced from wells in which we hold an interest, as well as the revenues we receive from sales of natural gas.
Environmental Matters
A variety of stringent federal, tribal, state, and local laws and regulations govern the environmental aspects of the oil and gas business. The recent trend in environmental legislation and regulation generally is toward stricter standards, and this trend will likely continue. These laws and regulations may: (i) require the acquisition of a permit or other authorization and procurement of financial assurance before construction or drilling commences and for certain other activities; (ii) limit or prohibit construction, drilling or other activities on certain lands lying within wilderness and other protected areas; and (iii) impose substantial liabilities for pollution resulting from our operations. Any noncompliance with these laws and regulations could subject us or any of our properties to material administrative, civil, or criminal penalties; investigatory or remedial obligations; injunctive relief; or other liabilities. Additionally, compliance with these laws and regulations may, from time to time, result in increased costs of operations, delay in operations, or decreased production, and may affect acquisition costs.
The permits required for development and construction of and operations on the Properties may be subject to revocation, modification, and renewal by issuing authorities, and such permitting could cause delays in development, construction, or operation of the Properties, thus increasing costs and potentially affecting our profitability. Governmental authorities have the power to enforce their regulations, and violations are subject to fines or injunctions, or both. In the opinion of our management, the operators of the Properties are in substantial compliance with current applicable environmental laws and regulations, and we have no material commitments for capital expenditures to comply with existing environmental requirements. Nevertheless, changes in existing environmental laws and regulations or in interpretations thereof could have a significant impact on us or any of our properties or operating partners, as well as the oil and natural gas industry in general.
The federal Clean Air Act (“CAA”) and comparable state laws and regulations impose obligations related to the emission of air pollutants, including emissions from oil and gas sources. Under the CAA and comparable state laws, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and state environmental regulatory agencies have developed stringent regulations governing both permitting of emissions and emissions of certain air pollutants at specified sources, including certain oil and gas sources. Both existing CAA and state regulations, and any future regulations, may require pre-approval for the construction, expansion, or modification of certain facilities that produce, or which are expected to produce, air emissions. Such regulations may also impose stringent air permit requirements, limit natural gas venting and flaring activity, and require the use of specific equipment or technologies to control emissions. Under the CAA, the EPA has enacted final regulations requiring owners and operators of certain facilities that emit greenhouse gases above certain thresholds to report those emissions. The EPA has also promulgated regulations establishing construction and operating permit requirements for greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources that already emit conventional pollutants (i.e., sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, and lead) above certain thresholds. Further, the CAA requires that owners and operators of stationary sources producing, processing, and storing extremely hazardous substances have a general duty to identify hazards associated with an accidental release, design and maintain a safe facility, and minimize the consequences of any releases that occur. The CAA further requires such facilities that handle more than threshold amounts of extremely hazardous substances to develop risk management plans intended to prevent and minimize impacts if releases do occur.
CAA regulations also include New Source Performance Standards (“NSPS”) for the oil and natural gas source category to address emissions of sulfur dioxide and volatile organic compounds (“VOCs”) and a separate set of emission standards to address hazardous air pollutants frequently associated with oil and natural gas production, storage, transportation, and processing activities. Additionally, the CAA regulates the emission of methane from oil and gas facilities, which has been subject to uncertainty in recent years. Most recently, in December 2023, the EPA finalized more stringent methane rules for new, modified, and reconstructed facilities, known as OOOOb, as well as standards for existing sources for the first time ever, known as OOOOc. Under the final rules, states have two years to prepare and submit their
plants to impose methane emission controls on existing sources. The presumptive standards established under the final rule are generally the same for both new and existing sources and include enhanced leak detection survey requirements using optical gas imaging and other advanced monitoring to encourage the deployment of innovative technologies to detect and reduce methane emissions, reduction of emissions by 95% through capture and control systems, zero-emission requirements for certain devices, and the establishment of a "super emitter" response program that would allow third parties to make reports to EPA of large methane emission events, triggering certain investigation and repair requirements. Fines and penalties for violations of these rules can be substantial. The rules have been subject to legal challenge, and in February 2025, the D.C. Circuit Court granted the EPA’s motion to hold the cases in abeyance while the agency reviews the final rules. While the Trump Administration may take action to repeal or modify the final rules, we cannot predict the substance or timing of such changes. The requirements of the EPA's final methane rules have the potential to increase the operating costs of our operators and thus may adversely affect our financial results and cash flows. Moreover, failure to comply with these CAA requirements can result in the imposition of substantial fines and penalties as well as costly injunctive relief.
The federal Clean Water Act (“CWA”) and comparable state laws and regulations impose strict obligations related to discharges of pollutants and dredge and fill material into regulated bodies of water, including wetlands. The discharge of pollutants into regulated waters is prohibited except in accordance with a permit issued by the EPA, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (“USACE”), or state agency or tribe with a delegated CWA permit program. Permitting of discharges of stormwater associated with oil and gas facility construction or operation activities may also be required. Compliance with permitting requirements could increase the length of time it takes to construct an oil and gas facility, and impose heightened operating standards, which in turn could increase our operators' cost of construction and operation. In addition, compliance with CWA requirements could limit the locations where wells, other oil and natural gas facilities, and associated access resources can be constructed.
The scope of regulated waters has been subject to substantial controversy. In 2015 and 2020, respectively, the Obama and Trump Administrations each published final rules attempting to define the federal jurisdictional reach over waters of the United States (“WOTUS”). However, both of these rulemakings were subject to legal challenge. In January 2023, the EPA and Corps published a final rule based on the pre-2015 definition, with updates to incorporate existing Supreme Court decisions and regulatory guidance. However, the January 2023 rule was challenged and is currently enjoined in 27 states. In May 2023 the U.S. Supreme Court released its opinion in Sackett v. EPA, which involved issues relating to the legal tests used to determine whether wetlands qualify as WOTUS. The Sackett decision invalidated certain parts of the January 2023 rule and significantly narrowed its scope, resulting in a revised rule being issued in September 2023. However, due to the injunction on the January 2023 rule, the implementation of the September 2023 rule currently varies by state. In the 27 states subject to the injunction, the agencies are interpreting the definition of WOTUS consistent with the pre-2015 regulatory regime and the changes made by the Sackett decision, which utilizes the “continuous surface connection” test to determine if wetlands qualify as WOTUS. In the remaining 23 states, the agencies are implementing the September 2023 rule, which did not define the term “continuous surface connection.” Therefore, some uncertainty remains as to how broadly the September 2023 rule and the Sackett decision will be interpreted by the agencies. To the extent the implementation of the final rule, results of the litigation, or any action further expands the scope of the CWA’s jurisdiction, operators could face increased costs and delays with respect to obtaining permits for dredge and fill activities in wetland areas.
The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (“OPA”), which amends and augments the oil spill provisions of the federal CWA, imposes duties and liabilities on certain “responsible parties” related to the prevention of oil spills and damages resulting from such spills into or threatening waters of the United States or adjoining shorelines. For example, operators of certain oil and natural gas facilities that store oil in more than threshold quantities, the release of which could reasonably be expected to reach jurisdictional waters, must develop, implement, and maintain Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (“SPCC”) Plans.
The federal Safe Drinking Water Act (“SDWA”), its implementing regulations, and delegated regulatory programs (e.g., state programs) impose requirements on drilling and operation of underground injection wells, including injection wells used for the injection disposal of oil and gas wastes, such as produced water. In addition, the EPA has asserted authority under the SDWA to regulate hydraulic fracturing that uses diesel fuel. The EPA directly administers the Underground Injection Control (“UIC”) program in some states, and in others, administration of all or portions of the program is delegated to the state. Permits must be obtained before drilling salt water disposal wells, and casing integrity monitoring must be conducted periodically to ensure that the disposed waters are not leaking into groundwater. In addition, because some states, including Oklahoma and Texas, have become concerned that the injection or disposal of produced water could, under certain circumstances, trigger or contribute to earthquakes, they have issued directives to operators and/or have adopted or are considering additional regulations regarding such disposal methods. Changes in regulations or the inability to obtain permits for new disposal wells in the future may affect the ability of the operators of the Properties to
dispose of produced water and ultimately increase the cost of operation of the Properties or delay production schedules. For example, in response to a number of earthquakes in recent years in the Midland Basin, in September 2021 the RRC announced that it will not issue any new saltwater disposal (“SWD”) well permits in an area known as the Gardendale Seismic Response Area (“SRA”), and will require existing SWD wells in that area to reduce their maximum daily injection rate to 10,000 barrels per day per well. In December 2021, the RRC went on to suspend all well activity in deep formations in the Gardendale SRA, effectively terminating 33 disposal well permits. And in October 2021 and January 2022, respectively, the RRC identified two additional SRAs: the Northern Culberson-Reeves SRA and the Stanton SRA. Operators in the Northern Culberson-Reeves and Stanton SRAs have implemented seismic response plans, which include expanded data collection efforts, contingency responses for future seismicity, and scheduled checkpoint updates with RRC staff. In December 2023, the RRC suspended the permits of 23 deep disposal wells in the Northern Culberson-Reeves SRA.
In addition, several cases have in recent years put a spotlight on the issue of whether injection wells may be regulated under the CWA if a direct hydrological connection to a jurisdictional surface water can be established. The EPA has also brought attention to the reach of the CWA’s jurisdiction in such instances by issuing a request for comment in February 2018 regarding the applicability of the CWA permitting program to discharges into groundwater with a direct hydrological connection to jurisdictional surface water, which hydrological connections should be considered “direct,” and whether such discharges would be better addressed through other federal or state programs. In a statement issued by EPA in April 2019, the Agency concluded that the CWA should not be interpreted to require permits for discharges of pollutants that reach surface waters via groundwater. However, in April 2020, the Supreme Court issued a ruling in County of Maui, Hawaii v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund, holding that discharges into groundwater may be regulated under the CWA if the discharge is the “functional equivalent” of a direct discharge into navigable waters. On January 14, 2021, the EPA issued a guidance on the ruling, which emphasized that discharges to groundwater are not necessarily the “functional equivalent” of a direct discharge based solely on proximity to jurisdictional waters. However, on September 16, 2021, the EPA rescinded its January 14, 2021 guidance. If in the future CWA permitting is required for saltwater injection wells as a result of the Supreme Court’s ruling in County of Maui, Hawaii v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund, the costs of permitting and compliance for injection well operations by the companies that operate the Properties could increase.
The federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), also known as the “Superfund” law, and comparable state statutes impose strict liability, and in some cases joint and several liability, 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 or previous owner and operator of a site where a hazardous substance has been disposed and persons who generated, transported, disposed or arranged for the transport or disposal of a hazardous substance. Such persons may be responsible for the costs of investigating releases of hazardous substances, remediating releases of hazardous substances, and compensating for damages to natural resources. CERCLA also authorizes the EPA and, in some cases, private parties to take actions in response to threats to public health or the environment and to seek recovery from such responsible classes of persons of the costs of such an action, including the costs of certain health studies. From time to time, the EPA may designate additional materials as hazardous substances under CERCLA, which could result in additional investigation and remediation at current Superfund sites, or the reopening of Superfund sites that previously received regulatory closure. For example, in May 2024, the EPA designated perfluorooctanoic acid (“PFOA”) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (“PFOS”), which have been commonly used in a variety of industrial and consumer products, as hazardous substances. While CERCLA does contain an exclusion for petroleum, the exclusion is limited and could ultimately be repealed, and oil and gas facilities often contain hazardous substances subject to regulation under CERCLA. Although the non-operating status of our interests in the Properties likely presents a lower risk that we would be held subject to CERCLA liability, should we or any of our operating partners become subject to strict liability under federal or state laws for environmental damages caused by previous owners or operators of properties we purchase, without regard to fault, our profitability could be negatively affected.
The federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”) and comparable state laws regulate the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, and cleanup of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. Most wastes associated with the exploration, development, and production of oil or gas, including drilling fluids and produced water, are currently regulated as non-hazardous wastes pursuant to an exemption from regulation as a hazardous waste under RCRA. However, certain wastes generated at oil and gas exploration, development, production, and transmission sites are regulated as hazardous under RCRA. It is also possible that “RCRA-exempt” exploration and production wastes currently regulated as non- hazardous could be regulated as hazardous wastes in the future.
Various state and federal statutes prohibit certain actions that adversely affect endangered or threatened species and their habitat, migratory birds and their habitat, and natural resources. These statutes include the federal Endangered Species
Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (“MTBA”), the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Clean Water Act, CERCLA, analogous state laws, and each of their implementing regulations. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“USFWS”) may designate critical habitat and suitable habitat areas that it believes are necessary for the survival of threatened or endangered species. A critical habitat or suitable habitat designation could result in further material restrictions to federal land use and private land use and could delay or prohibit land access or development. Where takings of, or harm to, species or damages to habitat or natural resources occur or may occur, government entities or at times private parties may act to restrict or prevent oil and gas exploration or production activities or seek damages for harm to species, habitat or natural resources resulting from drilling or construction or production activities, including, for example, for releases of oil, wastes, hazardous substances, sediments, or other regulated materials, and may seek natural resources damages and, in some cases, criminal penalties. For example, the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard (“DSL”) was listed as endangered by the USFWS in May 2024. The DSL is found in southeastern New Mexico and adjacent portions of Texas. Operations in any area that is designated as the DSL’s habitat may be limited, delayed or, in some circumstances, prohibited, and our operators could be required to comply with expensive mitigation measures intended to protect the dunes sagebrush lizard and its habitat, thereby impacting our profitability.
The purpose of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”), comparable state statutes, and each of their implementing regulations 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 (“EPCRA”), and comparable state statutes and any implementing regulations thereof may require disclosure of information about hazardous materials stored, used, or produced in operations on the Properties and that such information be provided to employees, state and local governmental authorities, and/or citizens, as applicable.
These regulations and proposals and any other new regulations requiring the installation of more sophisticated pollution control equipment, additional evaluation or assessment, or more stringent permitting or environmental protection measures could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Several states, including states where the Properties are located, have also proposed or adopted legislative or regulatory restrictions on hydraulic fracturing. A number of municipalities in other states, including Colorado and Texas, have enacted bans on hydraulic fracturing. However, in May 2015, the Texas legislature enacted a bill preempting local bans on hydraulic fracturing. Colorado has also begun to increasingly regulate oil and gas operations with consideration towards GHG emissions and cumulative impacts. In October 2024, the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (formerly the Colorado Oil and Gas Conversation Commission) finalized rules that require regulators to consider cumulative impacts of oil and gas operations in permitting decisions and increase scrutiny on the project’s proximity to other industrial sites, residential and school areas, “disproportionately impacted communities,” and “cumulatively impacted communities.” The rules also set GHG emissions intensity targets for oil and gas operators and require regulators to consider such targets in their cumulative impacts analysis, as well as the potential to restrict operations during the summer in Ozone Nonattainment Areas. We cannot predict whether other similar legislation in other states will ever be enacted and if so, what the provisions of such legislation would be. If additional levels of regulation and permits were required through the adoption of new laws and regulations at the federal or state level, it could lead to delays, increased operating costs and process prohibitions that would materially adversely affect our operating partners and our revenues and results of operations.
The National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) establishes a national environmental policy and goals for the protection, maintenance and enhancement of the environment and provides a process for implementing these goals within federal agencies. A major federal agency action having the potential to significantly impact the environment requires review under NEPA. If, for example, our third-party operating partners conduct activities on federal land, receive federal funding, or require federal permits, such activities may be covered under NEPA. Certain activities are subject to robust NEPA review which could lead to delays and increased costs that could materially adversely affect our revenues and results of operations. Other activities are covered under categorical exclusions which results in a shorter NEPA review process. In April 2022, the Biden Administration’s Council on Environmental Quality (“CEQ”) issued a final rule considered as “Phase I” of a two-phased approach to modifying the NEPA. Then, in May 2024, the CEQ finalized “Phase 2,” which revised the implementing regulations of the procedural provisions of NEPA. The final rule was challenged by various states. Most recently, in November 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit held that the CEQ lacks authority to issue NEPA regulations. As a result of this ruling and the new Trump Administration, there is significant uncertainty with respect to current and future NEPA regulations. For example, on January 20, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order directing the CEQ to issue new guidance and propose rescinding the existing NEPA regulations to “expedite and simplify the permitting process.” And, on February 25, 2025, in response to this direction, the CEQ published an Interim Final Rule, requesting public comment through March 27, 2025. Any changes to the NEPA review
process would affect the assessment of projects ranging from oil and natural gas leasing to development on public and Indian lands.
Climate Change
The energy industry is affected from time to time in varying degrees by political developments and a wide range of federal, tribal, state and local statutes, rules, orders and regulations that may, in turn, affect the operations and costs of the companies engaged in the energy industry. In response to findings that emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases (“GHGs”) present an endangerment to public health and the environment, the EPA has adopted regulations under existing provisions of the CAA that, among other things, require preconstruction and operating permits for GHG emissions from certain large stationary sources that already emit conventional pollutants above a certain threshold. In addition, the EPA has adopted rules requiring the monitoring and reporting of GHG emissions from specified onshore and offshore oil and gas production sources in the United States on an annual basis, which may include operations on the Properties. Further, the Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”), which passed in August 2022, includes a charge for methane emissions from specific types of facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent or more per year, and, although the IRA generally provides for a conditional exemption under certain circumstances, the charge applies to emissions that exceed an established emissions threshold for each type of covered facility. The charge starts at $900 per metric ton of methane in 2025 (using 2024 data), and increases to $1,500 after two years. While Congress has from time to time considered legislation to reduce emissions of GHGs, in recent years there has not been significant activity at the federal level in the form of adopted legislation aimed at reducing GHG emissions.
In the absence of comprehensive federal climate legislation, a number of state and regional efforts have emerged that are aimed at tracking or reducing GHG emissions by means of cap and trade programs. These programs typically require major sources of GHG emissions to acquire and surrender emission allowances in return for emitting those GHGs. Although it is not possible at this time to predict how legislation or new regulations that may be adopted to address GHG emissions would impact us, any future laws and regulations imposing reporting obligations on, or limiting emissions of GHGs from, operators’ equipment and operations could require it to incur costs to reduce emissions of GHGs associated with its operations. In addition, substantial limitations on GHG emissions could adversely affect demand for the oil and gas produced from the Properties. Restrictions on emissions of methane or carbon dioxide, such as restrictions on venting and flaring of natural gas or increased fuel or energy efficiency requirements, that may be imposed in various states, as well as state and local climate change initiatives, could adversely affect the oil and natural gas industry, and, at this time, it is not possible to accurately estimate how potential future laws or regulations addressing GHG emissions would impact oil and natural gas assets.
Additionally, various states and groups of states have adopted or are considering adopting legislation, regulations or other regulatory initiatives that are focused on such areas as greenhouse gas cap and trade programs, carbon taxes, reporting and tracking programs, and restriction of emissions. At the international level, there exists the United Nations-sponsored Paris Agreement, which is a non-binding agreement for nations to limit their greenhouse gas emissions through individually determined reduction goals every five years after 2020. President Biden recommitted the United States to the Paris Agreement on January 20, 2021; however, on January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order once again withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement and from any commitments made under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Additionally, President Trump revoked any purported financial commitment made by the U.S. pursuant to the same. The full impact of these actions is uncertain at this time. Finally, it should be noted that climate changes may have significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, freezes, floods, drought, hurricanes and other climatic events; if any of these effects were to occur, they could have an adverse effect on the operations of our operating partners, and ultimately, our business. In addition, spurred by increasing concerns regarding climate change, the oil and gas industry faces growing demand for corporate transparency and a demonstrated commitment to sustainability goals.
There have also recently been increasing financial risks for fossil fuel producers as certain shareholders currently invested in fossil-fuel energy companies may elect in the future to shift some or all of their investments into non-fossil fuel 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, although this trend has waned recently, with several high-profile banks and institutional investors withdrawing from various associations that aim to limit the financing of such industries. 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.
Environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) programs and goals, which are often aspirational, typically include voluntary targets related to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and corporate governance matters, have become an increasing focus of certain investors and stockholders across the industry that often have conflicting priorities and perspectives. While reporting on ESG metrics, generally speaking, is currently voluntary, access to capital and investors has frequently favored companies with robust perceived strength in ESG topics or ESG programs in place. In March 2024, the SEC finalized rules establishing a framework for the reporting of climate risks, targets, and metrics. However, the future of the rule is uncertain at this time given that its implementation has been stayed pending the outcome of legal challenges. Similarly, certain states have enacted or are otherwise considering disclosure requirements for certain climate-related risks. Enhanced climate-related disclosure requirements could increase our operators’ operating costs and lead to reputational or other harm with customers, regulators, or other stakeholders to the extent our, disclosures do not meet their own standards or expectations. These rules, if adopted, along with increasing pressure related to ESG from the investor community could lead to increased operating costs that would materially adversely affect our operating partners and our revenues and results of operations.
Certain public statements with respect to ESG matters, such as emissions reduction goals, other environmental targets, or other commitments addressing certain social issues, are becoming increasingly subject to heightened scrutiny from public and governmental authorities related to the risk of potential “greenwashing,” i.e., misleading information or false claims overstating potential ESG benefits. For example, the SEC has recently taken enforcement action against companies for ESG-related misconduct, including alleged greenwashing. Consequently, we may also be exposed to increased litigation risks relating to alleged climate-related damages resulting from our operators’ operations, statements alleged to have been made by us or others in our industry regarding climate change risks, or in connection with any future disclosures we may make regarding reported emissions, particularly given the inherent uncertainties, estimation and evolving methodologies required with respect to collecting, calculating and reporting GHG emissions. Additionally, certain institutional lenders may, of their own accord, decide not to provide funding for fossil fuel energy companies or related infrastructure projects based on climate or other ESG-related concerns, which could affect our access to capital.
In addition, scientific studies on climate change suggest that extreme weather conditions and other risks may occur in the future in the areas where we operate, although the scientific studies are not unanimous. Although operators may take steps to mitigate any such risks, no assurance can be given that they will not have material adverse effect on our business.
Human Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2024, we had three full time employees. We have an MSA with the Manager, pursuant to which the Manager provides general and administrative, engineering, land, contract administration, tax, accounting, legal and compliance services to us.
We believe, and the Manager believes, that our future success depends partially on our ability to attract, retain, and motivate qualified personnel. We and the Manager strive to provide employees with a rewarding work environment, including the opportunity for success and a platform for personal and professional development. Together with our Manager, we seek to provide a working environment that empowers employees, allows them to execute at their highest potential, keeps them safe, and promotes their professional growth. We and our Manager offer a competitive total rewards program to employees, comprised of base salary, short-term incentives tied to our performance, comprehensive employee benefits that include medical and dental coverage, and paid parental leave for both birth and non-birth parents. Our Manager also offers a 401(k) program, which includes fully-vested employer matched contributions. We believe that our values, rewarding work environment, and competitive pay help us retain our employees and those of our Manager and minimize employee turnover in a very challenging personnel market.
Office Locations, Internet Website and Availability of Public Filings
Our principal office is located at 5217 McKinney Avenue, Suite 400, Dallas, TX 75205. Our website address is www.graniteridge.com.
We share a portion of the Manager’s office space (which consists of approximately 11,700 square feet), pursuant to the MSA. We believe our office space is sufficient to meet our needs and that additional office space can be obtained if necessary.
We furnish or file our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments and exhibits to such reports or other documents with the SEC under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). The SEC also maintains an internet website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, including us, that file electronically with the SEC.
We also make these documents available free of charge at www.graniteridge.com under the "Investors" link as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed or furnished with the SEC.
Information on our website is not incorporated into this Annual Report or our other filings with the SEC and is not a part of them.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A. Risk Factors
The following risk factors apply to our business and operations. These risk factors are not exhaustive, and investors are encouraged to perform their own investigation with respect to our business, financial condition and prospects. You should carefully consider the following risk factors in addition to the other information included in this Annual Report, including matters addressed in the section entitled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and the financial statements and notes to the financial statements included herein. We may face additional risks and uncertainties that are not presently known to us, or that we currently deem immaterial, which may also impair our business or financial condition. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes to the financial statements included herein. As used in the risks described in this subsection, references to “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” are intended to refer to Granite Ridge and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Risks Related to Our Business and Operations
As a non-operator, our development of successful operations relies extensively on third parties, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operation.
We have only participated in wells operated by third parties. The success of our business operations depends on the timing of drilling activities and success of our third-party operators. If our operators are not successful in the development, exploitation, production, and exploration activities relating to our leasehold interests, or are unable or unwilling to perform, our financial condition and results of operation would be materially adversely affected.
Our operators will make decisions in connection with their operations (subject to their contractual and legal obligations to other owners of working interests), which may not be in our best interests. We may have no ability to exercise influence over the operational decisions of our operators, including the setting of capital expenditure budgets and drilling locations and schedules. Dependence on third-party operators could prevent us from realizing target returns for those locations. The success and timing of development activities by our operators will depend on a number of factors that will largely be outside of our control, including oil and natural gas prices and other factors generally affecting the industry operating environment; the timing and amount of capital expenditures; their expertise and financial resources; approval of other participants in drilling wells; selection of technology; and the rate of production of reserves, if any.
In recent years, we have also made investments in operated partnerships, which comprise of investments in assets that are drilled, developed and operated by private operators. Our operated partnerships are structured such that we retain significant control over acquisition costs and strategy, development costs, timing and rig schedules, and well design. In these partnerships, while we have more influence over development decisions, we still rely on third-party operators for the execution of these decisions. The success of these partnerships is contingent upon the third-party operators’ ability to effectively implement our development plans. Any failure or delay by these operators in executing our development strategies could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
These risks are heightened in a low commodity price environment, which may present significant challenges to our operators. The challenges and risks faced by our operators may be similar to or greater than our own, including with respect to their ability to service their debt, remain in compliance with their debt instruments and, if necessary, access additional capital. Commodity prices and/or other conditions have in the past and may in the future cause oil and gas operators to file for bankruptcy. The insolvency of an operator of any of the Properties, the failure of an operator of any of the Properties to adequately perform operations or an operator’s breach of applicable agreements (including failure to spud or place wells into production) could result in penalties, reduce our production and revenue and result in our liability to governmental authorities for compliance with environmental, safety, and other regulatory requirements, to the operator’s
suppliers and vendors and to royalty owners under oil and gas leases jointly owned with the operator or another insolvent owner. Finally, an operator of the Properties may have the right, if another non-operator fails to pay its share of costs because of its insolvency or otherwise, to require us to pay its proportionate share of the defaulting party’s share of costs.
The inability of one or more of our operating partners to meet their obligations to us may adversely affect our financial results.
Our exposures to credit risk, in part, are through receivables resulting from the sale of our oil and natural gas production, which operating partners market on our behalf to energy marketing companies, refineries, and their affiliates. We are subject to credit risk due to the relative concentration of our oil and natural gas receivables with a limited number of operating partners. This may impact our overall credit risk since these entities may be similarly affected by changes in economic and other conditions. A low commodity price environment may strain our operating partners, which could heighten this risk. The inability or failure of our operating partners to meet their obligations to us or their insolvency or liquidation may adversely affect our financial results.
Our business depends on transportation and processing facilities and other assets that are owned by third parties.
The marketability of our oil and natural gas depends in part on the availability, proximity and capacity of pipeline systems, processing facilities, oil trucking fleets and rail transportation assets owned by third parties. The lack of available capacity on these systems and facilities, whether as a result of proration, growth in demand outpacing growth in capacity, physical damage, adverse weather events or natural disasters, equipment malfunctions or failures, scheduled or unscheduled maintenance, legal or other reasons, could result in a substantial increase in costs, declines in realized commodity prices, the shut-in of producing wells, or the delay or discontinuance of development plans for the Properties. In many cases, operators are provided only with limited, if any, notice as to when these circumstances will arise and their duration. In addition, our wells may be drilled in locations that are serviced to a limited extent, if at all, by gathering and transportation pipelines, which may or may not have sufficient capacity to transport production from all of the wells in the area. As a result, we may rely on third-party oil trucking to transport a significant portion of our production to third-party transportation pipelines, rail loading facilities, and other market access points.
In addition, the third parties on whom operators rely for transportation services are subject to complex federal, state, tribal, and local laws that could adversely affect the cost, manner, or feasibility of conducting business on the Properties. Further, concerns about the safety and security of oil and gas transportation by pipeline may result in public opposition to pipeline development and increased regulation of pipelines by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and therefore less capacity to transport our products by pipeline. Any significant curtailment in gathering system or transportation, processing, or refining-facility capacity could reduce our operating partners’ ability to market oil production and have an adverse effect on us. Operators’ access to transportation options and the prices they receive can also be affected by federal and state regulation - including regulation of oil production, transportation, and pipeline safety - as well as by general economic conditions and changes in supply and demand.
The loss of a key member of the Manager’s management team, upon whose knowledge, relationships with industry participants, leadership and technical expertise we rely, could diminish our ability to conduct our operations and harm our ability to execute our business plan.
We rely on continued contributions of the members of the Manager’s management team by virtue of the MSA. Our success depends heavily upon the continued contributions of those members of the Manager’s management team whose knowledge, relationships with industry participants, leadership, and technical expertise would be difficult to replace. In particular, our ability to successfully acquire additional properties, to increase our reserves, to participate in drilling opportunities, and to identify and enter into commercial arrangements depends on developing and maintaining close working relationships with industry participants. In addition, our ability to select and evaluate suitable properties and to consummate transactions in a highly competitive environment is dependent on the Manager’s management team’s knowledge and expertise in the industry. To continue to develop our business, we rely on the Manager’s management team’s knowledge and expertise in the industry and will use the Manager’s management team’s relationships with industry participants to enter into strategic relationships. The members of the Manager’s management team may terminate their employment with the Manager at any time. If the Manager were to lose key members of its management team, neither the Manager nor we may be able to replace the knowledge or relationships that they possess, and our ability to execute our business plan could be materially harmed. As a result, our operations and financial condition could suffer.
Oil and natural gas prices are volatile. Extended declines in such prices have adversely affected, and could in the future adversely affect, our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flow.
The oil and natural gas markets are very volatile, and we cannot predict future oil and natural gas prices. Oil and natural gas prices have fluctuated significantly, including periods of rapid and material decline, in recent years. The prices we receive for the oil and natural gas production associated with our working interests heavily influence our production, revenue, cash flows, profitability, reserve bookings and access to capital. Although we seek to mitigate volatility and potential declines in commodity prices through derivative arrangements that hedge a portion of the expected production associated with our working interests, this merely seeks to mitigate (not eliminate) these risks, and such activities come with their own risks.
The prices we receive for the production and the levels of the production associated with our working interests depend on numerous factors beyond our control. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
•changes in global supply and demand for oil and natural gas;
•the actions of OPEC and other major oil producing countries;
•worldwide and regional economic, political and social conditions impacting the global supply and demand for oil and natural gas, which may be driven by various risks including war, terrorism, political unrest, or health epidemics;
•the price and quantity of imports of foreign oil and natural gas;
•political and economic conditions, including embargoes, in oil-producing countries or affecting other oil-producing activity, particularly those in the Middle East, Russia, South America and Africa;
•the outbreak or escalation of military hostilities, including between Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Hamas, continued instability in the Middle East, and the potential destabilizing effect such conflicts may pose for the European continent or the global oil and natural gas markets;
•the level of global oil and natural gas exploration, production activity and inventories;
•changes in U.S. energy policy;
•weather conditions and world health events;
•technological advances affecting energy consumption;
•domestic, local and foreign governmental taxes, tariffs and/or regulations;
•proximity and capacity of processing, gathering, storage, oil and natural gas pipelines and other transportation facilities;
•the price and availability of competitors’ supplies of oil and natural gas in captive market areas; and
•the price and availability of alternative fuels.
These factors and the volatility of the energy markets make it extremely difficult to predict oil and natural gas prices. A substantial or extended decline in oil or natural gas prices, such as the significant and rapid decline that occurred in 2020, has resulted in and could result in future impairments of our proved oil and natural gas properties and may materially and adversely affect our future business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity or ability to finance planned capital expenditures. To the extent commodity prices received from production are insufficient to fund planned capital expenditures, we may be required to reduce spending or borrow or issue additional equity to cover any such shortfall. Lower oil and natural gas prices may limit our ability to comply with the covenants under any credit facilities (or other debt instruments) and/or limit our ability to access borrowing availability thereunder, which is dependent on many factors including the value of our proved reserves.
Drilling for and producing oil and natural gas are high risk activities with many uncertainties that could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.
Our operating partners’ drilling activities are subject to many risks, including the risk that they will not discover commercially productive reservoirs. Drilling for oil or natural gas can be uneconomical, not only from dry holes, but also from productive wells that do not produce sufficient revenues to be commercially viable. In addition, drilling and producing operations on our acreage may be curtailed, delayed, or canceled by the operators of the Properties as a result of other factors, including:
•declines in oil or natural gas prices;
•infrastructure limitations, such as gas gathering and processing constraints;
•the high cost, shortages or delays of equipment, materials and services;
•unexpected operational events, adverse weather conditions and natural disasters, facility or equipment malfunctions, and equipment failures or accidents;
•title problems;
•pipe or cement failures and casing collapses;
•lost or damaged oilfield development and service tools;
•compliance with environmental, health, safety and other governmental requirements;
•increases in severance taxes;
•regulations, restrictions, moratoria and bans on hydraulic fracturing;
•unusual or unexpected geological formations, and pressure or irregularities in formations;
•loss of drilling fluid circulation;
•environmental hazards, such as oil, natural gas or well fluids spills or releases, pipeline or tank ruptures and discharges of toxic gas;
•fires, blowouts, craterings and explosions;
•uncontrollable flows of oil, natural gas or well fluids; and
•pipeline capacity curtailments.
In addition to causing curtailments, delays and cancellations of drilling and producing operations, many of these events can cause substantial losses, including personal injury or loss of life, damage to or destruction of property, natural resources and equipment, pollution, environmental contamination, loss of wells, regulatory penalties and third party claims. We ordinarily maintain insurance against various losses and liabilities arising from our operations; however, insurance against all operational risks is not available to us. Additionally, we may elect not to obtain insurance if we believe that the cost of available insurance is excessive relative to the perceived risks presented. Losses could therefore occur for uninsurable or uninsured risks or in amounts in excess of existing insurance coverage. The occurrence of an event that is not fully covered by insurance could have a material adverse impact on our business activities, financial condition and results of operations.
Certain of our undeveloped leasehold acreage is subject to leases that will expire over the next several years unless production is established or operations are commenced on units containing the acreage or the leases are extended.
A portion of our acreage is not currently held by production or held by operations. Unless production in paying quantities is established or operations are commenced on units containing these leases during their terms, the leases will
expire. If our leases expire and we are unable to renew the leases, we will lose our right to participate in the development of the related Properties. Drilling plans for these areas are generally in the discretion of third-party operators and are subject to change based on various factors that are beyond our control, such as: the availability and cost of capital, equipment, services and personnel; seasonal conditions; regulatory and third-party approvals; oil and natural gas prices; results of title work; gathering system and other transportation constraints; drilling costs and results; and production costs. As of December 31, 2024, we had leases that were not developed that represented 6,160 net acres potentially expiring in 2025, 3,208 net acres potentially expiring in 2026 and 1,844 net acres potentially expiring in 2027 and beyond.
We could experience periods of higher costs as activity levels fluctuate or if commodity prices rise. These increases could reduce our profitability, cash flow, and ability to complete development activities as planned.
An increase in commodity prices or other factors could result in increased development activity and investment in our areas of operations, which may increase competition for and cost of equipment, labor and supplies. Shortages of, or increasing costs for, experienced drilling crews and equipment, labor or supplies could restrict our operating partners’ ability to conduct desired or expected operations. In addition, capital and operating costs in the oil and natural gas industry have generally risen during periods of increasing commodity prices as producers seek to increase production in order to capitalize on higher commodity prices. In situations where cost inflation exceeds commodity price inflation, our profitability and cash flow, and our operators’ ability to complete development activities as scheduled and on budget, may be negatively impacted. Any delay in the drilling of new wells or significant increase in drilling costs could reduce our revenues and cash flows.
New technologies may cause the current exploration and drilling methods of our operating partners to become obsolete, and such operators may not be able to keep pace with technological developments in the oil and gas industry.
The oil and natural gas industry is subject to rapid and significant advancements in technology, including the introduction of new products and services using new technologies. As competitors use or develop new technologies, we may be placed at a competitive disadvantage, and competitive pressures may force our operating partners to implement new technologies at a substantial cost. In addition, competitors may have greater financial, technical and personnel resources that allow them to enjoy technological advantages, and that may in the future, allow them to implement new technologies before we or our operating partners can. We cannot be certain that we or our operators will be able to implement technologies on a timely basis or at a cost that is acceptable to us. If our operators are unable to maintain technological advancements consistent with industry standards, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially adversely affected.
Due to previous declines in oil and natural gas prices, we have in the past taken writedowns of the properties that constitute our oil and natural gas properties. We may be required to record further writedowns of our oil and natural gas properties in the future.
In 2024 and 2023, we were required to write down the carrying value of certain properties that constitute our oil and natural gas properties, and further writedowns could be required by us in the future. Under the successful efforts method of accounting, capitalized costs related to proved oil and natural gas properties, including wells and related support equipment and facilities, are evaluated for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist. If undiscounted cash flows are insufficient to recover the net capitalized costs, an impairment charge for the difference between the net capitalized cost of proved properties and their estimated fair values is recognized. A substantial or extended decline in oil or natural gas prices, could result in future impairments of our proved oil and natural gas properties.
Our estimated reserves are based on many assumptions that may prove to be inaccurate. Any material inaccuracies in these reserve estimates or underlying assumptions will materially affect the quantities and present value of our reserves.
Determining the amount of oil and natural gas recoverable from various formations involves significant complexity and uncertainty. No one can measure underground accumulations of oil or natural gas in an exact way. Oil and natural gas reserve engineering requires subjective estimates of underground accumulations of oil and/or natural gas and assumptions concerning future oil and natural gas prices, production levels, and operating, exploration and development costs. Some of our reserve estimates are made without the benefit of a lengthy production history and are less reliable than estimates based on a lengthy production history. As a result, estimated quantities of proved reserves and projections of future production rates and the timing of development expenditures may prove to be inaccurate.
We routinely make estimates of oil and natural gas reserves in connection with managing our business and preparing reports to our lenders and investors, including estimates prepared by our independent reserve engineering firm. Although the reserve information contained herein is reviewed by our independent reserve engineers, estimates of crude oil and natural gas reserves are inherently imprecise. The process also requires economic assumptions about matters such as oil and natural gas prices, development schedules, drilling and operating expenses, capital expenditures, taxes and availability of funds. Some of these assumptions are inherently subjective, and the accuracy of our estimated reserves relies in part on the ability of the Manager’s reserve engineers to make accurate assumptions. Any significant variance from these assumptions by actual figures could greatly affect our estimated reserves, the economically recoverable quantities of oil and natural gas attributable to any particular group of properties, the classifications of reserves based on risk of recovery, and estimates of the future net cash flows. Numerous changes over time to the assumptions on which our estimated reserves are based result in the actual quantities of oil and natural gas our operating partners ultimately recover being different from our estimated reserves. Any significant variance could materially affect the estimated quantities and present value of reserves shown in this Annual Report, subsequent reports we file with the SEC or other Company materials.
The present value of future net cash flows from our proved reserves is not necessarily the same as the current market value of our estimated proved reserves.
We base the estimated discounted future net cash flows from our proved reserves using specified pricing and cost assumptions. However, actual future net cash flows from our oil and natural gas properties will be affected by factors such as the volume, pricing and duration of our oil and natural gas hedging contracts; actual prices we receive for oil and natural gas; our actual operating costs in producing oil and natural gas; the amount and timing of our capital expenditures; the amount and timing of actual production; and changes in governmental regulations or taxation. In addition, the 10% discount factor we use when calculating discounted future net cash flows may not be the most appropriate discount factor based on interest rates in effect from time to time and risks associated with our or the oil and natural gas industry in general. Any material inaccuracies in these reserve estimates or underlying assumptions will materially affect the quantities and present value of our reserves, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our future success depends on our ability to replace reserves that our operators produce.
Because the rate of production from oil and natural gas properties generally declines as reserves are depleted, our future success depends upon our ability to economically find or acquire and produce additional oil and natural gas reserves. Except to the extent that we acquire additional properties containing proved reserves, conduct successful exploration and development activities or, through engineering studies, identify additional behind-pipe zones or secondary recovery reserves, our proved reserves will decline as our reserves are produced. Future oil and natural gas production, therefore, is highly dependent upon our level of success in acquiring or finding additional reserves that are economically recoverable. We cannot assure you that we will be able to find or acquire and develop additional reserves at an acceptable cost.
We may acquire significant amounts of unproved property to further our development efforts. Development and exploratory drilling and production activities are subject to many risks, including the risk that no commercially productive reservoirs will be discovered. We seek to acquire both proved and producing properties as well as undeveloped acreage that we believe will enhance growth potential and increase our earnings over time. However, we cannot assure you that all of these properties will contain economically viable reserves or that we will not abandon our initial investments. Additionally, we cannot assure you that unproved reserves or undeveloped acreage that we acquire will be profitably developed, that new wells drilled on the Properties will be productive or that we will recover all or any portion of our investments in the Properties and our reserves.
Extreme weather conditions could adversely affect operators’ ability to conduct drilling activities in some of the areas where the Properties are located.
Drilling and producing activities and other operations in some of our operating areas could be adversely affected by extreme weather conditions, such as floods, lightning, drought, ice and other storms, prolonged freeze events, and tornadoes, which may cause a loss of production from temporary cessation of activity, or lost or damaged facilities and equipment on the part of our operating partners. Such extreme weather conditions could also impact other areas of operations for our operating partners, including access to drilling and production facilities for routine operations, maintenance and repairs and the availability of, and access to, necessary third-party services, such as electrical power, water, gathering, processing, compression and transportation services. These constraints and the resulting shortages or high costs could delay or temporarily halt operations on the affected Properties and materially increase operation and capital costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The development of our proved undeveloped reserves may take longer and may require higher levels of capital expenditures than we currently anticipate. Therefore, our undeveloped reserves may not be ultimately developed or produced.
Approximately 28% of our estimated net proved reserves volumes were classified as proved undeveloped as of December 31, 2024. Development of these reserves may take longer and require higher levels of capital expenditures than we currently anticipate. Delays in the development of our reserves or increases in costs to drill and develop such reserves will reduce the PV-10 value of our estimated proved undeveloped reserves and future net revenues estimated for such reserves and may result in some projects becoming uneconomic. In addition, delays in the development of reserves could cause us to have to reclassify our proved reserves as unproved reserves.
Our acquisition strategy will subject us to certain risks associated with the inherent uncertainty in evaluating properties for which we have limited information.
We intend to continue to expand our operations in part through acquisitions. Our decision to acquire a property will depend in part on the evaluation of data obtained from production reports and engineering studies, geophysical and geological analyses and seismic and other information, the results of which are often inconclusive and subject to various interpretations. Also, our reviews of acquired properties are inherently incomplete because it generally is not economically feasible to perform an in-depth review of the individual properties involved in each acquisition. Even a detailed review of records and properties may not necessarily reveal existing or potential problems, nor will it permit us to become sufficiently familiar with the properties to fully assess their deficiencies and potential. Inspections are often not performed on properties being acquired, and environmental matters, such as subsurface contamination, are not necessarily observable even when an inspection is undertaken. Any acquisition involves other potential risks, including, among other things:
•the validity of our assumptions about reserves, future production, revenues and costs;
•a decrease in our liquidity by using a significant portion of our cash from operations or borrowing capacity to finance acquisitions;
•a significant increase in our interest expense or financial leverage if we incur additional debt to finance acquisitions;
•the ultimate value of any contingent consideration agreed to be paid in an acquisition;
•the assumption of unknown liabilities, losses or costs for which we are not indemnified or for which our indemnity is inadequate;
•“geological risk,” which refers to the risk that hydrocarbons may not be present or, if present, may not be recoverable economically;
•an inability to hire, train or retain qualified personnel to manage and operate our growing business and assets; and
•an increase in our costs or a decrease in our revenues associated with any potential royalty owner or landowner claims or disputes, or other litigation encountered in connection with an acquisition.
We may also acquire multiple assets in a single transaction. Portfolio acquisitions via joint-venture or other structures are more complex and expensive than single project acquisitions, and the risk that a multiple-project acquisition will not close may be greater than in a single-project acquisition. An acquisition of a portfolio of projects may result in our ownership of projects in geographically dispersed markets which place additional demands on our ability to manage such operations. A seller may require that a group of projects be purchased as a package, even though one or more of the projects in the portfolio does not meet our investment criteria. In such cases, we may attempt to make a joint bid with another buyer, and such other buyer may default on its obligations.
Further, we may acquire properties subject to known or unknown liabilities and with limited or no recourse to the former owners or operators. As a result, if liability were asserted against us based upon such properties, we may have to pay substantial sums to dispute or remedy the matter, which could adversely affect our cash flow. Unknown liabilities with respect to assets acquired could include, for example: liabilities for clean-up of undiscovered or undisclosed environmental contamination; claims by developers, site owners, vendors or other persons relating to the asset or project site; liabilities
incurred in the ordinary course of business; and claims for indemnification by general partners, directors, officers and others indemnified by the former owners of the asset or project sites.
We may not be able to successfully integrate future acquisitions or realize all of the anticipated benefits from our future acquisitions, and our future results will suffer if we do not effectively manage our expanded operations.
Our growth strategy will, in part, rely on acquisitions. We have to plan and manage acquisitions effectively to achieve revenue growth and maintain profitability in our evolving market. Our future success will depend, in part, upon our ability to manage our expanded business, which may pose substantial challenges for management, including challenges related to the management and monitoring of new operations and basins and associated increased costs and complexity. We may also face increased scrutiny from governmental authorities as a result of increases in the size of our business. There can be no assurances that we will be successful or that we will realize the expected benefits currently anticipated from our acquisitions. In addition, the process of integrating our operations could cause an interruption of, or loss of momentum in, the activities of our business. Members of our and the Manager’s management may be required to devote considerable amounts of time to this integration process, which decreases the time they have to manage our business. If management is not able to effectively manage the integration process, or if any business activities are interrupted as a result of the integration process, our business could suffer.
Deficiencies of title to our leased interests could significantly affect our financial condition.
Prior to drilling an oil or natural gas well, it is the normal practice in the oil and natural gas industry for the person or company acting as the operator of the well to obtain a preliminary title review of the spacing unit within which the proposed oil or natural gas well is to be drilled to ensure there are no obvious deficiencies in title to the well. Frequently, as a result of such examinations, certain curative work must be done to correct deficiencies in the marketability of the title, such as obtaining affidavits of heirship or causing an estate to be administered. Such curative work entails expense, and the operator may elect to proceed with a well despite defects to the title identified in the preliminary title opinion. Furthermore, title issues may arise at a later date that were not initially detected in any title review or examination. Any one or more of the foregoing could require us to reverse revenues previously recognized and potentially negatively affect our cash flows and results of operations. While we typically conduct title examination prior to our acquisition of oil and natural gas leases or undivided interests in oil and natural gas leases or other developed rights, any failure to obtain perfect title to our leaseholds may adversely affect our current production and reserves and our ability in the future to increase production and reserves.
Our derivatives activities could adversely affect our cash flow, results of operations and financial condition.
To achieve more predictable cash flows and reduce our exposure to adverse fluctuations in the price of oil and natural gas, we enter into derivative instrument contracts for a portion of our expected production, which may include swaps, collars, puts and other structures. In accordance with applicable accounting principles, we are required to record our derivatives at fair market value, and recognize all gains and losses on such instruments in earnings in the period in which they occur. Accordingly, our earnings may fluctuate significantly as a result of changes in the fair market value of our derivative instruments. In addition, while intended to mitigate the effects of volatile oil and natural gas prices, our derivatives transactions may limit our potential gains and increase our potential losses if oil and natural gas prices were to rise substantially over the price established by the hedge.
Our actual future production may be significantly higher or lower than our estimates at the time we enter into derivative contracts for such period. If the actual amount of production is higher than we estimate, we will have greater commodity price exposure than we intended. If the actual amount of production is lower than the notional amount that is subject to our derivative financial instruments, we may be forced to satisfy all or a portion of our derivative transactions without the benefit of the cash flow from our sale of the underlying physical commodity, resulting in a substantial diminution of our liquidity. As a result of these factors, our hedging activities may not be as effective as we intend in reducing the volatility of our cash flows, and in certain circumstances may actually increase the volatility of our cash flows. In addition, such transactions may expose us to the risk of loss in certain circumstances, including instances in which a counterparty to our derivative contracts is unable to satisfy our obligations under the contracts; our production is less than expected; or there is a widening of price differentials between delivery points for our production and the delivery point assumed in the derivative arrangement.
Decommissioning costs are unknown and may be substantial. Unplanned costs could divert resources from other projects.
We may become responsible for costs associated with plugging, abandoning and reclaiming wells, pipelines and other facilities that our operators use for production of oil and natural gas reserves. Abandonment and reclamation of these facilities and the costs associated therewith is often referred to as “decommissioning.” We accrue a liability for decommissioning costs associated with our operators' wells but have not established any cash reserve account for these potential costs in respect of any of the Properties. If decommissioning is required before economic depletion of the Properties or if our estimates of the costs of decommissioning exceed the value of the reserves remaining at any particular time to cover such decommissioning costs, we may have to draw on funds from other sources to satisfy such costs. The use of other funds to satisfy such decommissioning costs could impair our ability to focus capital investment in other areas of our business.
We are not insured against all of the operating risks to which our business is exposed.
In accordance with industry practice, we maintain insurance against some, but not all, of the operating risks to which our business is exposed. We insure some, but not all, of the Properties from operational loss-related events. We have insurance policies that include coverage for general liability, operational control of well, oil pollution, workers’ compensation and employers’ liability and other coverage. Our insurance coverage includes deductibles that have to be met prior to recovery, as well as sub-limits or self-insurance. Additionally, our insurance is subject to exclusions and limitations, and there is no assurance that such coverage will adequately protect us against liability from all potential consequences, damages or losses.
We may be liable for damages from an event relating to a project in which we own a non-operating working interest. Such events may also cause a significant interruption to our business, which might also severely impact our financial position. We may experience production interruptions for which we do not have production interruption insurance.
We intend to reevaluate the purchase of insurance, policy limits and terms annually. Future insurance coverage for our industry could increase in cost and may include higher deductibles or retentions. In addition, some forms of insurance may become unavailable in the future or unavailable on terms that we believe are economically acceptable. No assurance can be given that we will be able to maintain insurance in the future at rates that we consider reasonable, and we may elect to maintain minimal or no insurance coverage. We may not be able to secure additional insurance or bonding that might be required by new governmental regulations. This may cause us to restrict our operations, which might severely impact our financial position. The occurrence of a significant event, not fully insured against, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We conduct business in a highly competitive industry.
The oil and natural gas industry is highly competitive. The key areas in respect of which we face competition include: acquisition of assets offered for sale by other companies; access to capital (debt and equity) for financing and operational purposes; purchasing, leasing, hiring, chartering or other procuring of equipment by our operators that may be scarce; and employment of qualified and experienced skilled management and oil and natural gas professionals.
Competition in our markets is intense and depends, among other things, on the number of competitors in the market, their financial resources, their degree of geological, geophysical, engineering and management expertise and capabilities, their pricing policies, their ability to develop properties on time and on budget, their ability to select, acquire and develop reserves and their ability to foster and maintain relationships with the relevant authorities.
Our competitors also include entities with greater technical, physical and financial resources. Finally, companies and certain private equity firms not previously investing in oil and natural gas may choose to acquire reserves to establish a firm supply or simply as an investment. Any such companies will also increase market competition which may directly affect our business. If we are unsuccessful in competing against other companies, our business, results of operations, financial condition or prospects could be materially adversely affected.
We and our operating partners depend on computer and telecommunications systems, and failures in those systems or cybersecurity threats, attacks and other disruptions could significantly disrupt our business operations.
We and the Manager have entered into agreements with third parties for hardware, software, telecommunications and other information technology services in connection with our business. In addition, we and the Manager have developed or may develop proprietary software systems, management techniques and other information and operational technologies incorporating software licensed from third parties. It is possible that we, the Manager, or these third parties, could incur interruptions from cybersecurity attacks, computer viruses or malware, user error, or that third-party service providers could cause a breach of our systems or our data. We believe that we and the Manager have positive relations with their information and operational technology vendors; however, any interruptions to our or the Manager’s arrangements with third parties for their computing, communications, or operational infrastructure or any other interruptions to, or breaches of, their information or operational systems could lead to data corruption, communication interruption, corruption or loss of sensitive or confidential information, misdirected wire transfers, and an inability to perform services for our customers; complete or settle transactions; maintain our books and records; prevent environmental damage; and maintain communications or operations; or otherwise significantly disrupt our business operations. Although we and the Manager utilize various procedures and controls designed to monitor these threats and mitigate exposure to such threats, there can be no assurance that these procedures and controls will be sufficient in preventing security threats from materializing. Furthermore, various third-party resources that we or the Manager rely on, directly or indirectly, in the operation of our business (such as pipelines and other infrastructure) could suffer interruptions or breaches from cyberattacks or similar events that are entirely outside the control of us or the Manager, and any such events could significantly disrupt our business operations and/or have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. As of the date of this Annual Report, we have not, to our knowledge, experienced any material losses relating to cyberattacks; however, there can be no assurance that we will not suffer material losses in the future.
We are not able to anticipate, detect or prevent all cyberattacks, particularly because the methodologies used by attackers change frequently or may not be recognized until an attack is already underway or significantly thereafter, and because attackers are increasingly using technologies designed to circumvent cybersecurity measures and avoid detection. Cybersecurity attacks are also becoming more sophisticated and include, but are not limited to, ransomware, credential stuffing, spear phishing, social engineering, use of deepfakes (i.e., highly realistic synthetic media generated by artificial intelligence) and other attempts to gain unauthorized access to data for purposes of extortion or other malfeasance. Additionally, as cyberattacks become more sophisticated, we may incur significant cost to upgrade or enhance our security measures and procedures to protect against such cyberattacks.
In addition, our operating partners face various security threats, including cybersecurity threats to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or to render data or systems unusable, threats to the security of their facilities and infrastructure or third-party facilities and infrastructure, such as processing plants and pipelines, and threats from terrorist acts. If any of these security breaches were to occur, they could lead to losses of sensitive information, critical infrastructure or capabilities essential to our operations and could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The U.S. government has issued warnings that U.S. energy assets may be the future targets of terrorist organizations. These developments subject our operations to increased risks. Any future terrorist attack at our operating partners’ facilities, or those of their purchasers or vendors, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operations.
We are subject to various laws related to data privacy and cybersecurity. These data laws are not uniform and as the privacy legal landscape develops, we may need to incur additional costs to upgrade or enhance our compliance measures. Any failure or perceived failure by us, the Manager, or our third-party service providers to comply with such data privacy and cybersecurity laws or any unauthorized access or improper disclosure of our data could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operations.
A variety of stringent federal, tribal, state, and local laws and regulations govern the environmental aspects of the oil and gas business, and noncompliance with these laws and regulations could subject us to material administrative, civil or criminal penalties, injunctive relief, or other liabilities.
A variety of stringent federal, tribal, state, and local laws and regulations govern the environmental aspects of the oil and gas business. Any noncompliance with these laws and regulations could subject us to material administrative, civil or criminal penalties, injunctive relief, or other liabilities.
Additionally, compliance with these laws and regulations may, from time to time, result in increased costs of operations, delay in operations, or decreased production, and may affect acquisition costs. Examples of laws and regulations that govern the environmental aspects of the oil and gas business include the following:
•the CAA, which restricts the emission of air pollutants from many sources, imposes various pre-construction, operating, permitting monitoring, control, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements and is relied upon by the EPA as an authority for adopting climate change regulatory initiatives, including relating to GHG emissions;
•the CWA, which regulates discharges of pollutants and dredge and fill material to state and federal waters and establishes the extent to which waterways are subject to federal jurisdiction as protected waters of the United States;
•the OPA, which requires oil spill prevention, control, and countermeasure planning and imposes liabilities for removal costs and damages arising from an oil spill into waters of the United States;
•the SDWA, which protects the quality of the nation’s public drinking water sources through adoption of drinking water standards and control over the subsurface injection of fluids into belowground formations;
•the CERCLA, which imposes liability without regard to fault on certain categories of potentially responsible parties including generators, transporters and arrangers of hazardous substances at sites where hazardous substance releases have occurred or are threatening to occur, as well as on present and certain past owners and operators of sites were hazardous substance releases have occurred or are threatening to occur;
•the RCRA, which imposes requirements for the generation, treatment, storage, transport, disposal and cleanup of non-hazardous and hazardous wastes;
•the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”), which restricts activities that may affect federally identified endangered and threatened species or their habitats through the implementation of operating limitations or restrictions or a temporary, seasonal or permanent ban on operations in affected areas. Similar protections are afforded to migratory birds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (“MBTA”) and bald and golden eagles under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (“BGEPA”);
•the EPCRA, which requires certain facilities to report toxic chemical uses, inventories, and releases and to disseminate such information to local emergency planning committees and response departments; and
•the OSHA and comparable state statutes, which impose regulations related to the protection of worker health and safety, including requiring employers to implement a hazard communication program and disseminate hazard information to employees.
These U.S. laws and their implementing regulations, as well as state counterparts, generally restrict or otherwise regulate the management of hazardous substances and wastes, the level of pollutants emitted to ambient air, discharges to surface water, and disposals or other releases to surface and below-ground soils and groundwater, including through permitting requirements, monitoring and reporting requirements, limitations or prohibitions of operations on certain protected areas, requirements to install certain emissions monitoring or control equipment, spill planning and preparedness requirements, and the application of specific worker health and safety criteria (see Item 1. "Business - Governmental Regulation and Environmental Matters" and Item 1. "Business - Climate Change" for further discussion). Failure to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations by us or third-party operators or contractors could trigger a variety of administrative, civil and criminal enforcement measures, including the assessment of monetary penalties, the imposition of remedial requirements or other corrective measures, and the issuance of orders enjoining existing or future operations. In addition, we or our operating partners may be strictly liable under state or federal laws for environmental damages caused by the previous owners or operators of properties they purchase, without regard to fault.
Environmental laws and regulations change frequently and tend to become more stringent over time, and the implementation of new, or the modification of existing, laws or regulations could adversely affect our business. For example, the regulation of methane from oil and gas facilities has been subject to uncertainty in recent years. Most recently, in December 2023, the EPA finalized more stringent methane rules for new, modified, and reconstructed facilities, known as OOOOb, as well as standards for existing sources for the first time ever, known as OOOOc. Under the final rules, states have two years to prepare and submit their plants to impose methane emission controls on existing sources. The
presumptive standards established under the final rule are generally the same for both new and existing sources and include enhanced leak detection survey requirements using optical gas imaging and other advanced monitoring to encourage the deployment of innovative technologies to detect and reduce methane emissions, reduction of emissions by 95% through capture and control systems, zero-emission requirements for certain devices, and the establishment of a “super emitter” response program that would allow third parties to make reports to EPA of large methane emission events, triggering certain investigation and repair requirements. Fines and penalties for violations of these rules can be substantial. The rules have been subject to legal challenge, and in February 2025, the D.C. Circuit granted the EPA’s motion to hold the cases in abeyance while the agency reviews the final rules. While the Trump Administration may take action to repeal or modify the final rules, we cannot predict the substance or timing of such changes, if any. However, the requirements of the EPA’s final methane rules have the potential to increase the operating costs of our operators and thus may adversely affect our financial results and cash flows. Moreover, failure to comply with these CAA requirements can result in the imposition of substantial fines and penalties as well as costly injunctive relief. These rules could further increase the cost of development and operation of the Properties.
Additionally, some states in which the Properties are located, such as Colorado and New Mexico, have adopted stringent rules and regulations to reduce methane emissions and emissions of other hydrocarbons, VOCs, and nitrogen oxides associated with oil and gas facilities. For example, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Air Quality Control Commission (“AQCC”) have adopted more stringent standards for leak detection and repair inspection frequency, pipeline and compressor station inspection and maintenance frequencies, the development of pre-production air monitoring plans at certain oil and gas facilities, enclosed combustion device testing, a methane intensity reduction requirement based on statewide volume of production and additional measures for reducing and eliminating emissions from pneumatic devices. AQCC is expected to undertake several additional rulemaking efforts to further reduce emissions over the next several years. Additionally, the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission in October 2024 finalized rules that consider the cumulative impacts of air emissions from oil and gas projects in permitting decisions. State rules and regulations such as these could significantly increase the costs to develop and operate the Properties, result in a delay in operations or decreased production, and may affect acquisition costs.
We anticipate that hydraulic fracturing will be engaged in by some or all opportunities in which we invest, which could be adversely affected by regulatory initiatives related to hydraulic fracturing.
Hydraulic fracturing is an important and commonly used process that we anticipate will be engaged in by some or all opportunities in which it invests. Hydraulic fracturing is used to stimulate production of natural gas and/or oil from dense subsurface rock formations.
The EPA has asserted authority over certain hydraulic-fracturing activities that use diesel fuel under the SDWA. In addition, legislation such as the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act and similar proposals have been repeatedly introduced before Congress to provide for federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing, such as through disclosure requirements for chemical additives used in hydraulic fracturing fluids. Certain states (including states in which the Properties are located) have adopted, and other states are considering adopting, regulations that could impose more stringent permitting and well construction requirements on hydraulic-fracturing operations or seek to ban fracturing activities altogether. For example, Colorado Senate Bill 19-181 amended state law to give municipalities and counties greater local control over siting and permitting of oil and gas facilities, and some municipalities within the state have implemented regulations within their jurisdictions. In the event federal, tribal, state, local, or municipal legal restrictions are adopted in our target areas, the investments may incur significant additional compliance costs, experience delays in exploration, development, or production activities, and perhaps even be precluded from the drilling of wells. A number of governmental bodies, including the EPA, a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Department of Energy, and a number of other federal agencies have from time to time analyzed, or have been requested to review, a variety of environmental issues associated with hydraulic fracturing. As these studies proceed, and depending on their scope and results, they could spur initiatives to further regulate hydraulic fracturing under the SDWA or other regulatory programs. This, in turn, could lead to operational delays or increased operating costs in the production of oil and natural gas, including from the developing shale plays, or could make it more difficult to perform hydraulic fracturing, which could adversely affect the investments.
Seismicity concerns associated with injection of produced water and certain other field fluids into disposal wells has led to increased regulation of saltwater injection and disposal wells in certain areas of states in which the Properties are
located, which could increase the cost of, or limit the number of facilities available for, disposal of produced water from oil and gas exploration and production operations at the Properties.
Flowback and produced water or certain other field fluids gathered from oil and natural gas exploration and production operations are often injected or disposed of in underground disposal wells. This disposal process has been linked to increased induced seismicity events in certain areas of the country. Certain states (including states in which the Properties are located) have begun to consider or adopt laws and regulations that may restrict or otherwise prohibit oilfield fluid disposal in certain areas or in underground disposal wells, and state agencies implementing these requirements may issue orders directing certain wells where seismic incidents have occurred to restrict or suspend disposal well operations or impose standards related to disposal well construction and monitoring. For example, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission adopted regulations in November 2020 that impose various new requirements on the underground injection of fluid wastes to further seismic safety and protection of the environment. In addition, in 2014, the RRC published a final rule governing permitting or re-permitting of disposal wells that would require, among other things, the submission of information on seismic events occurring within a specified radius of the disposal well location, as well as logs, geologic cross sections and structure maps relating to the disposal area in question. If the permittee or an applicant of a disposal well permit fails to demonstrate that the injected fluids are confined to the disposal zone or if scientific data indicates such a disposal well is likely to be or determined to be contributing to seismic activity, then the RRC may deny, modify, suspend or terminate the permit application or existing operating permit for that well. Furthermore, in response to a number of earthquakes in recent years in the Midland Basin, in September 2021 the RRC announced that it will not issue any new SWD well permits in the SRA area, and will require existing SWD wells in that area to reduce their maximum daily injection rate to 10,000 barrels per day per well. In December 2021, the RRC went on to suspend all well activity in deep formations in the Gardendale SRA, effectively terminating 33 disposal well permits. And in October 2021 and January 2022, respectively, the RRC identified two additional SRAs: the Northern Culberson-Reeves SRA and the Stanton SRA. Operators in the Northern Culberson-Reeves and Stanton SRAs were required to develop and implement seismic response plans, which include expanded data collection efforts, contingency responses for future seismicity, and scheduled checkpoint updates with RRC staff. In December 2023, the RRC suspended the permits of 23 deep disposal wells in a seismic response area in the Northern Culberson-Reeves SRA. Such restrictions and requirements could limit oil and gas well exploration and production activities underlying the investments or increase the cost of those activities if wastewater disposal options become limited (see Item 1. "Business - Governmental Regulation and Environmental Matters - Environmental Matters" for further discussion).
Specific climate legislation and regulation regarding emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases may develop or be enacted, which could adversely affect the oil and gas industry and demand for the oil and gas produced from the Properties.
The energy industry is affected from time to time in varying degrees by political developments and a wide range of federal, tribal, state and local statutes, rules, orders and regulations that may, in turn, affect the operations and costs of the companies engaged in the energy industry. In response to findings that emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and other GHGs present an endangerment to public health and the environment, the EPA has adopted regulations under existing provisions of the CAA that, among other things, require preconstruction and operating permits for GHG emissions from certain large stationary sources that already emit conventional pollutants above a certain threshold. In addition, the EPA has adopted rules requiring the monitoring and reporting of GHG emissions from specified onshore and offshore oil and gas production sources in the United States on an annual basis, which may include operations on the Properties. Further, the IRA, which the U.S. Congress passed in August 2022, includes a charge for methane emissions from specific types of facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent or more per year, and although the IRA generally provides for a conditional exemption under certain circumstances, the charge applies to emissions that exceed an established emissions threshold for each type of covered facility. The charge starts at $900 per metric ton of methane in 2025 (using 2024 data), and increases to $1,500 after two years.
In the absence of comprehensive federal climate legislation, a number of state and regional efforts have emerged that are aimed at tracking or reducing GHG emissions by means of cap and trade programs. These programs typically require major sources of GHG emissions to acquire and surrender emission allowances in return for emitting those GHGs.
Although it is not possible at this time to predict how legislation or new regulations that may be adopted to address GHG emissions would impact us, any future laws and regulations imposing reporting obligations on, or limiting emissions of GHGs from, operators’ equipment and operations could require them to incur costs to reduce emissions of GHGs associated with their operations. In addition, substantial limitations on GHG emissions could adversely affect demand for the oil and gas produced from the Properties. Restrictions on emissions of methane or carbon dioxide, such as restrictions
on venting and flaring of natural gas, that may be imposed in various states, as well as state and local climate change initiatives, such as increased energy efficiency standards or mandates for renewable energy sources, could adversely affect the oil and gas industry, and, at this time, it is not possible to accurately estimate how potential future laws or regulations addressing GHG emissions would impact oil and gas assets. Finally, it should be noted that climate changes may have significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, freezes, floods, drought, hurricanes and other climatic events; if any of these effects were to occur, they could have an adverse effect on us.
In addition, spurred by increasing concerns regarding climate change, the oil and natural gas industry faces demand for corporate transparency and a demonstrated commitment to sustainability goals. ESG programs and goals, which are often aspirational, and which may include voluntary targets related to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and corporate governance, have become an increasing, and sometimes conflicting, focus of certain investors and stakeholders, and companies that are perceived to be ESG laggards or are without robust ESG programs may find access to capital and investors more challenging in the future. Further, while reporting on most ESG information is, generally, currently voluntary, in March 2024, the SEC finalized rules establishing a framework for the reporting of climate risks, targets, and metrics. However, the future of the rule is uncertain at this time given that its implementation has been stayed pending the outcome of legal challenges as well as changed priorities under the new Presidential administration that could impact the fate of the final rules, though the timing and impact of any such changes are difficult to predict at this time.
Fuel and energy conservation measures, technological advances and negative shift in market perception towards the oil and natural gas industry could reduce demand for oil and natural gas.
Fuel and energy conservation measures, alternative fuel requirements, increasing consumer demand for alternatives to oil and natural gas, technological advances in fuel economy and energy generation devices, and the increased competitiveness of alternative energy sources could reduce demand for oil and natural gas. Additionally, the increased competitiveness of alternative energy sources (such as electric vehicles, wind, solar, geothermal, tidal, fuel cells and biofuels) could reduce demand for oil and natural gas and, therefore, our revenues.
Additionally, certain segments of the investor community have recently expressed negative sentiment towards investing in the oil and natural gas industry. Recent equity returns in the sector versus other industry sectors have led to lower oil and natural gas representation in certain key equity market indices. Some investors, including certain pension funds, university endowments and family foundations, have stated policies to reduce or eliminate their investments in the oil and natural gas sector based on social and environmental considerations. Furthermore, certain other stakeholders have pressured commercial and investment banks to stop funding oil and gas exploration and production and related infrastructure projects. With the continued volatility in oil and natural gas prices, and the possibility that interest rates will continue to rise in the future, increasing the cost of borrowing, certain investors have emphasized capital efficiency and free cash flow from earnings as key drivers for energy companies, especially shale producers. This may also result in a reduction of available capital funding for potential development projects, further impacting our future financial results.
The impact of the changing demand for oil and natural gas services and products, together with a change in investor sentiment, may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Increased attention to ESG matters may impact our business.
Increased attention to climate change, fuel conservation measures, alternative fuel requirements, incentives to conserve energy or use alternative energy sources, increasing consumer demand for alternatives to oil and natural gas, and technological advances in fuel economy and energy generation devices may result in increased costs, reduced demand for our products, reduced profits, increased investigations and litigation, and negative impacts on our access to capital markets. Increased attention to climate change and any related negative public perception regarding us and/or our industry, for example, may result in demand shifts for our products, increased litigation risk for us, and increased, and sometimes conflicting, regulatory, legislative and judicial scrutiny, which may, in turn, lead to new state, local, tribal and federal safety and environmental laws, regulations, guidelines and enforcement interpretations.
In addition, certain organizations that provide information to investors on corporate governance and related matters have developed ratings processes for evaluating companies on their approach to ESG matters. Such ratings are used by some investors to inform their investment and voting decisions. While such ratings do not impact all investors’ investment or voting decisions, unfavorable ESG ratings and recent activism directed at shifting funding away from companies with energy-related assets could lead to increased negative investor sentiment toward us and our industry and to the diversion of investment to other industries, which could have a negative impact on our access to and costs of capital. Also, institutional
lenders may, of their own accord, elect not to provide or place additional restrictions on funding for fossil fuel energy companies based on climate change related concerns, which could affect our access to capital for potential growth projects.
We rely on the Manager for various certain key services under the MSA, which could result in conflicts of interest and other unforeseen risks.
Under the MSA with the Manager, our success depends upon the Manager who will have overall supervision and control certain business affairs of us and our investment activities. Further, the employees of the Manager and its respective principals and managers (as applicable) will devote a portion of their time to the affairs of our business for the proper performance of their duties. However, other investment activities of the Manager are likely to require those individuals to devote substantial amounts of their time to matters unrelated to our business. Pursuant to the MSA, we will be offered the opportunity to participate in certain of these activities.
The MSA provides for the Manager to offer us the opportunity to participate in certain investments made by funds affiliated with the Manager and for us to offer such funds the opportunity to participate in certain investments made by us. The Manager may make investments on behalf of its funds that are not a part of our Company or in which such funds may co-invest with us, any such transactions may involve conflicts of interest among us, the Manager, and their affiliates, some or all of which may not be thought of or taken into account in reviewing and approving such transactions. In certain events, the Manager may not be in a position unilaterally to control such investments or exercise certain rights associated with such investments. We may be subject to conflicts of interest involving the Manager and its affiliates, and the Manager may enter into relationships with developers, co-owners or other affiliates, some of which may give rise to conflicts of interest. To the extent not addressed by the MSA, we and the Manager have implemented policies as necessary or appropriate to deal with such potential conflicts.
Investment analyses and decisions by the Manager may frequently be required to be undertaken on an expedited basis to take advantage of investment opportunities. In such cases, the information available at the time of making an investment decision may be limited, and the Manager may not have access to complete information regarding the investment. Therefore, no assurance can be given that the Manager will have knowledge of all circumstances that may adversely affect an investment. In addition, the Manager expects to rely upon specialized expert input by various third-party consultants and service providers in connection with its evaluation of proposed investments.
Additionally, if the MSA is terminated or not renewed upon the end of its term, it may be difficult for us to hire the necessary personnel in a timely manner to handle the matters and services being provided by the Manager, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
We rely to a large degree on the Manager to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting and we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud.
Under the terms of the MSA, we must rely to a large extent on the internal controls and financial reporting controls of the Manager, and the Manager’s failure to maintain effective controls or comply with applicable standards may adversely affect us. On March 3, 2023, the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors concluded that our previously issued unaudited condensed combined financial statements as of and for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2022, included in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 14, 2022 were materially misstated. In addition, the Company did not have effective controls over Information Technology General Controls pertaining to user access management. In connection with the material misstatement and lack of effective user access controls, our Company’s management identified material weaknesses in our disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting.
In addition, any failure of the Manager to remediate any identified material weakness, or any future failure of the Manager to maintain adequate internal controls over financial reporting or to implement required, new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could cause additional material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our financial reporting and could result in errors or misstatements in our consolidated financial statements that could be material. Any third-party failure to achieve and maintain effective internal controls could have a material adverse effect on our business, our ability to access capital markets and investors’ perception of us. Additionally, if we or our independent registered public accounting firm were to conclude that third-party internal controls over financial reporting were not effective, any material weaknesses in such internal controls could require significant expense and management time to remediate.
The borrowing base under our Credit Agreement may be reduced in light of commodity price declines, which could limit us in the future.
At the closing of the Business Combination, we entered into a Credit Agreement, secured by a first priority mortgage and security interest in substantially all of our assets and our restricted subsidiaries. Availability under the Credit Agreement is limited to the aggregate commitments of the lenders, which is the least of the aggregate maximum credit amounts of the lenders, the borrowing base and the elected commitment amount chosen by us and, in the case of an elected commitment increase, consented to by the increasing lender(s). Our borrowing base under the Credit Agreement will depend on, among other things, the value of the proved reserves attributed to, and projected revenues from, the oil and natural gas properties securing our Credit Agreement, many of which factors are beyond our control. Accordingly, lower commodity volumes and prices may reduce the available amount of our borrowing base under the Credit Agreement. Our borrowing base is determined at the discretion of the lenders party to the Credit Agreement and is subject to semi-annual redeterminations, as well as any special redeterminations described in the Credit Agreement. We may reset the elected commitment amount under the Credit Agreement in conjunction with each borrowing base redetermination. Upon a redetermination of the borrowing base, if borrowings in excess of the revised borrowing capacity are outstanding, we would be required to repay the excess or otherwise remedy the deficiency in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement. We may not have sufficient funds to make such repayments, and may not have access to the equity or debt capital markets, at the time such repayment obligations are due. If we do not have sufficient funds and are otherwise unable to raise sufficient funds, negotiate renewals of our borrowings or arrange new financing, we may have to sell significant assets. Any such sale could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results. Please see the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition - Liquidity and Capital Resources - Granite Ridge Credit Agreement” for more information.
Risks Relating to Ownership of Our Common Stock
Sales of our common stock by our securityholders (or the perception that such shares may be sold) or issuances by us may cause the market price of our securities to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well.
The sale of shares of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could harm the prevailing market price of shares of our common stock. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and at a price that it deems appropriate.
In addition, the shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the Granite Ridge 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) will become eligible for sale in the public market once those shares are issued, subject to provisions relating to various vesting requirements and, in some cases, limitations on volume and manner of sale applicable to affiliates under Rule 144. The maximum number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance to directors, officers, employees and consultants or advisors employed by or providing service to the Company under our equity incentive plans is 6.5 million, which represented approximately 4.9% of the shares of our common stock outstanding following the consummation of the Business Combination. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had 5.0 million shares of common stock remaining available for future awards under the Incentive Plan. We have filed a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") to register shares of our common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our common stock issued pursuant to the Incentive Plan. Accordingly, shares registered under such registration statements are available for sale in the open market.
In the future, we may also issue securities in connection with investments or acquisitions. The amount of shares of our common stock issued in connection with an investment or acquisition could constitute a material portion of our then-outstanding shares of common stock. Any issuance of additional securities in connection with investments or acquisitions may result in additional dilution to our stockholders and may have an adverse effect on the price of shares of our common stock.
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act and avail ourselves of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies, which could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance to the performance of other public companies.
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). As such, we are eligible for and take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth
companies for as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, including, but not limited to, (i) not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (ii) reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and (iii) exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, our stockholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of the last day of the fiscal year (a) following September 18, 2025, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means (1) the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter (2) has been subject to compliance with periodic reporting requirements for a period of at least 12 months, and (3) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three year period. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because it will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. We take advantage of the benefits of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and we have different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Future issuances of debt securities and/or equity securities may adversely affect us, including the market price of our common stock, and may be dilutive to our existing stockholders.
In the future, we may incur debt and/or issue equity ranking senior to our common stock. Those securities will generally have priority upon liquidation. Such securities also may be governed by an indenture or other instrument containing covenants restricting our operating flexibility. Additionally, any convertible or exchangeable securities that we issue in the future may have rights, preferences and privileges more favorable than those of our common stock. Because our decision to issue debt and/or equity in the future will depend, in part, on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing, nature or success of our future capital raising efforts. As a result, future capital raising efforts may reduce the market price of our common stock and be dilutive to our existing stockholders.
Anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents could delay or prevent a change of control.
Certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws may have an anti- takeover effect and may delay, defer or prevent a merger, acquisition, tender offer, takeover attempt or other change of control transaction that a stockholder might consider in their best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares held by our stockholders. These provisions, among other things:
•establish a staggered board of directors divided into three classes serving staggered three-year terms, such that not all members of our Board will be elected at one time;
•authorize our Board to issue new series of preferred stock without stockholder approval and create, subject to applicable law, a series of preferred stock with preferential rights to dividends or our assets upon liquidation, or with superior voting rights to existing common stock;
•eliminate the ability of stockholders to call special meetings of stockholders;
•eliminate the ability of stockholders to fill vacancies on our Board;
•establish advance notice requirements for nominations for election to our Board or for proposing matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at annual stockholder meetings;
•permit our Board to establish the number of directors;
•provide that our Board is expressly authorized to make, alter or repeal our amended and restated bylaws;
•provide that stockholders can remove directors only for cause; and
•limit the jurisdictions in which certain stockholder litigation may be brought.
These anti-takeover provisions could make it more difficult for a third-party to acquire us, even if the third party’s offer may be considered beneficial by many of our stockholders. As a result, our stockholders may be limited in their ability to obtain a premium for their shares. These provisions could also discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for you and other stockholders to elect directors of your choosing and to cause us to take other corporate actions you desire.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains a provision renouncing our interest and expectancy in certain corporate opportunities.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we, to the fullest extent provided by law, renounce any expectancy that our directors or officers will offer to us any corporate opportunity to which it becomes aware, except to the extent such corporate opportunity was offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of ours. Officers and directors, including those nominated by the funds managed by Grey Rock or its affiliates, may become aware, from time to time, of certain business opportunities (such as acquisition opportunities) and may direct such opportunities to affiliates (subject to the MSA that sets forth an allocation of certain acquisition opportunities between us and funds associated with the Manager) or other businesses in which they have invested or are otherwise associated, in which case we may not become aware of or otherwise have the ability to pursue such opportunity. Further, such businesses may choose to compete with us for these opportunities, possibly causing these opportunities to not be available to us or causing them to be more expensive for us to pursue. In addition, Grey Rock and its affiliates, may dispose of properties or other assets in the future, without any obligation to offer us the opportunity to purchase any of those assets. As a result, our renouncing of our interest and expectancy in any business opportunity that may be from time to time presented our officers and directors, could adversely impact our business or prospects if attractive business opportunities are procured by such parties for their own benefit rather than for us. We cannot assure you that any conflicts that may arise between us and any of such parties, on the other hand, will be resolved in our favor. As a result, competition from Grey Rock and its affiliates or businesses associated with our other officers and directors could adversely impact our results of operations.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or stockholders.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, that the Court of Chancery shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring any derivative action on our behalf, any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of ours, any action asserting a claim against us, our directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws, or any action asserting a claim against us, our directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case subject to the Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over any indispensable parties (or such parties consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following the Court of Chancery’s determination as to such personal jurisdiction) and subject matter jurisdiction over the claim. The foregoing forum selection provision shall not apply to claims arising under the Exchange Act, the Securities Act, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the federal district courts of the United States will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act; however, there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such provision. Although we believe these provisions benefit us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law for the specified types of actions and proceedings, the provisions may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against us or our directors and officers.
Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, financial condition, and operating results. For example, under the Securities Act, state and federal courts have concurrent jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act, and investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in our common stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this exclusive forum provision, but will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
We are a “controlled company” under the corporate governance rules of the NYSE and, as a result, qualify for exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements. We rely on certain of these exemptions, which means you will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such requirements.
Grey Rock Energy Partners GP III, L.P. ("Grey Rock Fund III"), pursuant to a Voting Agreement, dated as of August 25, 2023, by and among Grey Rock Fund III, Grey Rock Energy Partners GP II, L.P., and the other stockholders party thereto, controls a majority of our voting common stock. As a result, following the Business Combination, we are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the rules of the NYSE. Under these rules, a listed company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, group or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements, including:
•the requirement that a majority of our Board of Directors consist of independent directors;
•the requirement that our director nominations be made, or recommended to the full Board of Directors, by our independent directors or by a nominations committee that is comprised entirely of independent directors and that we adopt a written charter or board resolution addressing the nominations process; and
•the requirement that we have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities.
As long as we remain a “controlled company,” we may elect to take advantage of any of these exemptions. Our Board of Directors does not have a majority of independent directors, our compensation committee does not consist entirely of independent directors and does not have a nominating committee. Accordingly, you will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of the rules of the NYSE.
Changes in applicable tax laws or interpretations thereof or the imposition of new or increased taxes or fees may increase our future tax liabilities and adversely affect our operating results and cash flows.
We are subject to various complex and evolving U.S. federal, state and local tax laws. U.S. federal, state and local tax laws, policies, statutes, rules, regulations or ordinances could be interpreted, changed, modified or applied adversely to us (in each case, possibly with retroactive effect). For example, the IRA resulted in fundamental changes to the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, as amended, including, among many other things, a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax on certain large corporations, a nondeductible 1% excise tax on the value of certain stock that a company repurchases, and various tax incentives for energy and climate initiatives. In addition, from time to time, U.S. federal and state level legislation has been proposed that that would, if enacted into law, make significant changes to tax laws, including to certain key U.S. federal and state income tax provisions currently applicable to natural gas and oil exploration and development companies. Such proposed legislative changes include, but are not limited to, (i) the elimination of the percentage depletion allowance for oil and natural gas properties, (ii) the elimination of current deductions for intangible drilling and development costs, (iii) an extension of the amortization period for certain geological and geophysical expenditures, (iv) the elimination of certain other tax deductions and relief previously available to oil and natural gas companies and (v) an increase in the U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to corporations. It is unclear whether these or similar changes will be enacted and, if enacted, how soon any such changes could take effect. Further, states in which we operate or own assets may impose new or increased taxes or fees on natural gas and oil extraction. The passage of any legislation as a result of these proposals and other changes in tax laws or the imposition of new or increased taxes or fees could increase our future tax liabilities and adversely affect our operating results and cash flows.
In addition, our effective tax rate and tax liability are based on the application of current income tax laws, regulations and treaties. These laws, regulations and treaties are complex and often open to interpretation. In the future, the tax
authorities could challenge our interpretation of laws, regulations and treaties, resulting in additional tax liability or adjustment to our income tax provision that could increase our effective tax rate which could adversely affect our operating results and cash flows. Changes to tax laws may also adversely affect our ability to attract and retain key personnel.
The payment of dividends is at the discretion of our Board of Directors, and we cannot assure you that we will continue making dividend payments in the future.
We paid dividends of $57.5 million, or $0.44 per share, and $58.6 million, or $0.44 per share during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. However, our Board of Directors is not obligated to make any future dividend payments. Instead, the declaration and payment of dividends are at the discretion of our Board of Directors and depend on a number of factors, including applicable law, economic conditions, financial condition, results of operations, projections, liquidity, earnings, legal requirements, restrictions in the Credit Agreement, and other factors our Board of Directors deems relevant. There can be no assurance that dividends will be declared in the future, or if declared, that the amount will be consistent with historical levels.
General Risks
The market price of shares of our common stock may be volatile.
Fluctuations in the price of our securities could contribute to the loss of all or part of your investment. The trading price of our securities could be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. Price volatility may be greater if the public float and trading volume of our common stock is low.
Any of the factors listed below could have a material adverse effect on your investment. Our securities may trade at prices significantly below the price you paid for them. In such circumstances, the trading price of our securities may not recover and may experience a further decline. Factors affecting the trading price of our securities may include:
•actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly financial results or the quarterly financial results of companies perceived to be similar to us;
•changes in the market’s expectations about our operating results;
•lack of adjacent competitors;
•our operating results failing to meet the expectation of securities analysts or investors in a particular period;
•changes in financial estimates and recommendations by securities analysts concerning us or the industries in which we operate in general;
•operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors deem comparable to us;
•announcements by us or our competitors of significant contracts, acquisitions, joint ventures, other strategic relationships or capital commitments;
•changes in laws and regulations affecting our business;
•commencement of, or involvement in, litigation involving us;
•changes in our capital structure, such as future issuances of securities or the incurrence of additional debt;
•the volume of shares of our common stock available for public sale;
•any significant change in our Board of Directors or management;
•speculation by the press or investment community;
•sales of substantial amounts of our common stock by our directors, executive officers or significant stockholders or the perception that such sales could occur;
•general economic and political conditions such as recessions, interest rates, fuel prices, international currency fluctuations and acts of war or terrorism; and
•changes in accounting standards, policies, guidelines, interpretations or principles.
Broad market and industry factors may materially harm the market price of our securities irrespective of our operating performance. The stock market in general and the NYSE have experienced price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of the particular companies affected.
The ongoing military conflicts between Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Hamas, and continued instability in the Middle East has caused unstable market and economic conditions and is expected to have additional global consequences, such as heightened risks of cyberattacks. Our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially adversely affected by the negative global and economic impact resulting from these conflicts or any other geopolitical tensions.
Worldwide economic, political and military events, including war, terrorist activity, and events in the Middle East, have contributed, and are likely to continue to contribute, to oil and natural gas price volatility. For example, the ongoing armed conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas and the continuation of, and the escalation in the severity of, these conflicts has led to extreme regional instability, caused dramatic fluctuations in global financial markets and has increased the level of global economic uncertainty, including uncertainty about world-wide oil supply and demand, which in turn has caused increased volatility in commodity prices. Further, the Houthi movement, which controls parts of Yemen, has targeted and launched numerous attacks on Israeli, American and international commercial marine vessels in the Red Sea as the ships approach the Suez Canal, resulting in many shipping companies re-routing to avoid the region altogether and worsening existing supply chain issues, including delays in supplier deliveries, extended lead times and increased cost of freight, impacts to the shipping of oil and gas, insurance and materials. The potential for conflict with Iran, a major oil producer, the Houthi movement in Yemen or the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon has increased as a result of continued, increasing hostilities in the Middle East.
In addition, the United States and other countries have imposed sanctions on Russia which increases the risk that Russia, as a retaliatory action, may launch cyberattacks against the United States, its government, infrastructure and businesses.
The extent and duration of the military action, sanctions and resulting market disruptions are impossible to predict, but could be substantial. Prolonged unfavorable economic conditions or uncertainty as a result of the military conflict in the Middle East may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Any of the foregoing may also magnify the impact of other risks described in this Annual Report.
World health events may materially adversely affect our business.
World health events may cause disruptions to our business and operational plans, which may include (i) shortages of employees or partners, (ii) unavailability of contractors and subcontractors, (iii) interruption of supplies from third parties upon which we rely, (iv) recommendations of, or restrictions imposed by, government and health authorities, including quarantines, and (v) restrictions that we and our partners impose, including facility shutdowns, to ensure the safety of employees and others. While it is not possible to predict their extent or duration, these disruptions may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Further, the effects of a world health event could negatively impact global demand for crude oil and natural gas, which may contribute to volatility that could impact the price we and our partners receive for oil and natural gas and materially and adversely affect the demand for and marketability of production, as well as lead to temporary curtailment or shut-ins of production due to lack of downstream demand or storage capacity. Additionally, to the extent a pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of an infectious disease adversely affects our business and financial results, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks set forth in this Item 1A. “Risk Factors.”
Adverse developments affecting the financial services industry, such as actual events or concerns involving liquidity, defaults or non-performance by financial institutions or transactional counterparties, could adversely affect our current and projected business operations and financial condition and results of operations.
Events involving limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments that affect financial institutions, transactional counterparties or other companies in the financial services industry or the financial services industry generally, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds or other similar risks, have in the past and may in the future lead to market-wide liquidity problems. Most recently, on March 10, 2023, Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”) was closed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) as receiver. Similarly, on March 12, 2023, Signature Bank and Silvergate Capital Corp. were each swept into receivership. Borrowers under credit agreements, letters of credit and certain other financial instruments with any financial institution that is placed into receivership by the FDIC may be unable to access undrawn amounts thereunder. Access to funding sources and other credit arrangements could be significantly impaired by factors that affect the financial services industry or economy in general. These factors could include, among others, events such as liquidity constraints or failures, the ability to perform obligations under various types of financial, credit or liquidity agreements or arrangements, disruptions or instability in the financial services industry or financial markets, or concerns or negative expectations about the prospects for companies in the financial services industry.
In addition, investor concerns regarding the U.S. or international financial systems could result in less favorable commercial financing terms, including higher interest rates or costs and tighter financial and operating covenants, or systemic limitations on access to credit and liquidity sources, thereby making it more difficult to acquire financing on acceptable terms or at all. Any decline in available funding or access to our cash and liquidity resources could, among other risks, adversely impact our ability to meet our financial or other obligations. Any of these impacts, or any other impacts resulting from the factors described above or other related or similar factors, could have material adverse impacts on our liquidity and our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our operations and financial performance may be negatively affected directly or indirectly by changes in trade policies and tariffs.
In recent years, the United States increased tariffs for certain goods, which triggered other nations to also increase tariffs on certain of their goods. In recent weeks, the Trump administration has made many announcements regarding tariffs and the extent and duration of such tariffs remain uncertain. If maintained, the newly announced tariffs and the potential escalation of trade disputes could pose a risk to our business and also directly impact our operating expenses. For example, recently announced 25% tariffs on imported steel are likely to lead to increased material costs.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Item 2. Properties of Granite Ridge
Unless the context otherwise requires, with respect to descriptions of the financials and operations of the properties owned by Granite Ridge, references to “Granite Ridge”, the “Company”, “we”, “us”, or “our” refer to Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. The following discussion of our properties should be read in conjunction
with the accompanying audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report. Please see the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition - Results of Operations” for information on our production, prices, and production cost.
Estimated Net Proved Reserves
The tables below summarize our estimated net proved reserves at December 31, 2024, based on reports prepared by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. (“NSAI”), our third-party independent reserve engineers. In preparing its reports, NSAI evaluated properties representing all of our proved reserves at December 31, 2024 in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC applicable to companies involved in oil and natural gas producing activities. Our estimated net proved reserves in the table below do not include probable or possible reserves and do not in any way include or reflect our commodity derivatives. All of our proved reserves are located in the United States. The following table sets forth summary information by reserve category with respect to estimated proved reserves at December 31, 2024:
SEC Pricing Proved Reserves(1)
Reserve Volumes PV-10(3)
Reserve Category Oil
(MBbls) Natural Gas
(MMcf) Total
(MBoe)(2)
% Amount
(in thousands) %
Proved developed producing 17,372 104,292 34,754 64 % $ 634,483 75 %
Proved developed non-producing 1,897 13,811 4,199 8 % 90,983 11 %
Proved undeveloped 8,918 38,666 15,362 28 % 116,463 14 %
Total proved 28,187 156,769 54,315 100 % $ 841,929 100 %
Total proved developed 19,269 118,103 38,953 72 % $ 725,466 86 %
__________________________________________
(1)The SEC Pricing Proved Reserves table above values oil and natural gas reserve quantities and related discounted future net cash flows as of December 31, 2024 based on average prices of $76.32 per barrel of oil and $2.13 per MMbtu of natural gas. Under SEC guidelines, these prices represent the average prices per barrel of oil and per MMbtu of natural gas at the beginning of each month in the 12-month period prior to the end of the reporting period. These prices are adjusted for location and quality differentials.
(2)Boe are computed based on a conversion ratio of one Boe for each barrel of oil and one Boe for every 6,000 cubic feet (i.e., 6 Mcf) of natural gas.
(3)Pre-tax PV10% or “PV-10”, is a non-GAAP financial measure and is derived from the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows, which is the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure. The amounts disclosed in the table above include net abandonment costs of $23.9 million as of December 31, 2024. See “Reconciliation of PV-10 to Standardized Measure” below.
The table above assumes prices and costs discounted using an annual discount rate of 10% without future escalation, without giving effect to non-property related expenses such as general and administrative expenses, debt service and depreciation, depletion and amortization, or federal income taxes. The information in the table above does not give any effect to or reflect our commodity derivatives.
Reconciliation of PV-10 to Standardized Measure
PV-10 is derived from the Standardized Measure of discounted future net cash flows, which is the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure for proved reserves calculated using SEC pricing. PV-10 is a computation of the Standardized Measure of discounted future net cash flows on a pre-tax basis. PV-10 is equal to the Standardized Measure of discounted future net cash flows at the applicable date, before deducting future income taxes, discounted at 10 percent. We believe that the presentation of PV-10 is relevant and useful to investors because it presents the discounted future net cash flows attributable to our estimated net proved reserves prior to taking into account future corporate income taxes, and it is a useful measure for evaluating the relative monetary significance of our oil and natural gas properties. Further, investors may utilize the measure as a basis for comparison of the relative size and value of our reserves to other companies. Moreover, U.S. GAAP does not provide a measure of estimated future net cash flows for reserves other than proved reserves or for reserves calculated using prices other than SEC prices. We use this measure when assessing the
potential return on investment related to our oil and natural gas properties. PV-10, however, is not a substitute for the Standardized Measure of discounted future net cash flows. Our PV-10 measure and the Standardized Measure of discounted future net cash flows do not purport to represent the fair value of our oil and natural gas reserves.
The following table provides a reconciliation of the pre-tax PV10% value of our SEC Pricing Proved Reserves as of December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 to the Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows.
Standardized Measure Reconciliation
December 31,
(in thousands) 2024 2023 2022
Pre-tax present value of estimated future net revenues (Pre-Tax PV10%) $ 841,929 $ 856,428 $ 1,559,123
Future income taxes, discounted at 10% (120,961) (134,520) (293,196)
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows $ 720,968 $ 721,908 $ 1,265,927
Uncertainties are inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves, including many risk factors beyond our control. Reserve engineering is a subjective process of estimating subsurface accumulations of oil and natural gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner. As a result, estimates of proved reserves may vary depending upon the engineer estimating the reserves. Further, our actual realized price for our oil and natural gas is not likely to average the pricing parameters used to calculate our proved reserves. As such, the oil and natural gas quantities and the value of those commodities ultimately recovered from the Properties will vary from reserve estimates.
See Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of our proved reserves.
Proved Undeveloped Reserves
At December 31, 2024, we had approximately 15,362 MBoe of proved undeveloped reserves as compared to 22,361 MBoe at December 31, 2023. A reconciliation of the change in proved undeveloped reserves during 2024 is as follows:
MBoe
Estimated proved undeveloped reserves at December 31, 2023 22,361
Extensions and discoveries 4,765
Acquisition of reserves 3,733
Divestiture of reserves (3,525)
Conversion to proved developed reserves (8,684)
Revisions of previous estimates (3,288)
Estimated proved undeveloped reserves at December 31, 2024 15,362
__________________________________________
•Extensions and discoveries. In 2024, proved undeveloped reserves increased by 4,765 MBoe as a result of new proved undeveloped locations added primarily in the Permian Basin.
•Acquisition of reserves. In 2024, acquisitions of proved undeveloped reserves of 3,733 MBoe were primarily attributable to the acquisitions of oil and natural gas properties in the Permian Basin. See Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of acquisitions during 2024.
•Divestiture of reserves. In 2024, the Company divested of 3,525 MBoe of proved undeveloped reserves primarily in the Permian Basin.
•Conversion to proved developed reserves. In 2024, development of oil and natural gas properties resulted in the conversion of 8,684 MBoe from proved undeveloped reserves to proved developed reserves. We incurred development costs of approximately $138.4 million related to these locations.
•Revisions of previous estimates. In 2024, revisions of previous estimates decreased proved undeveloped reserves by 3,288 MBoe primarily due to the removal of undeveloped drilling locations as they were no longer expected to be developed within five years of their initial recognition as well as lower oil and natural gas prices.
All of our recorded proved undeveloped reserves are scheduled to be drilled within five years of the date of their initial recognition.
At December 31, 2024, the PV-10 value of our proved undeveloped reserves amounted to 14% of the PV-10 value of our total proved reserves. There are numerous uncertainties regarding the proved and undeveloped reserves. The development of these reserves is dependent upon a number of factors which include, but are not limited to: financial targets such as drilling within cash flow or reducing debt, drilling of obligatory wells, satisfactory rates of return on proposed drilling projects, and the levels of drilling activities by operators in areas where we hold leasehold interests. With 75% of the PV-10 value of our total proved reserves supported by producing wells, we believe we will have sufficient cash flows and adequate liquidity to execute our development plan. Based on SEC pricing as of December 31, 2024, estimated future development costs required for the development of proved undeveloped reserves are projected to be approximately $253.5 million over the next five years.
Independent Petroleum Engineers
We have engaged NSAI to independently prepare our estimated net proved reserves. NSAI is a worldwide leader of petroleum property analysis for industry and financial organizations and government agencies. NSAI was founded in 1961 and performs consulting petroleum engineering services under Texas Board of Professional Engineers Registration No.. Within NSAI, the technical expert primarily responsible for preparing the estimates set forth in the NSAI 2024 Reserve Report is Mr. Nathan Shahan. Mr. Shahan, a Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Texas (No. 102389), has been practicing consulting petroleum engineering at NSAI since 2007 and has over 5 years of prior industry experience. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Petroleum Engineering and in 2007 with a Master of Engineering Degree in Petroleum Engineering. Mr. Shahan meets or exceeds the education, training, and experience requirements set forth in the Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers; he is proficient in judiciously applying industry standard practices to engineering and geoscience evaluations as well as applying SEC and other industry reserves definitions and guidelines. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers.
In accordance with applicable requirements of the SEC, estimates of our net proved reserves and future net revenues are made using average prices at the beginning of each month in the 12-month period prior to the date of such reserve estimates and are held constant throughout the life of the properties (except to the extent a contract specifically provides for escalation).
The reserves set forth in the NSAI report for the Properties are estimated by performance methods or analogy. In general, reserves attributable to producing wells and/or reservoirs are estimated by performance methods such as decline curve analysis which utilizes extrapolations of historical production data. Reserves attributable to non-producing and undeveloped reserves included in our report are estimated by analogy. The estimates of the reserves, future production, and income attributable to Properties are prepared using widely industry-accepted petroleum economic software packages, as well as NSAI’s own proprietary petroleum economic software.
To estimate economically recoverable oil and natural gas reserves and related future net cash flows, we consider many factors and assumptions including, but not limited to, economic criteria based on current costs and SEC pricing requirements, and forecasts of future production rates. Under the SEC regulations 210.4-10(a)(22)(v) and (26), proved reserves must be demonstrated to be economically producible based on existing economic conditions including the prices and costs at which economic productivity from a reservoir is to be determined as of the effective date of the report. With respect to the property interests we own, production and well tests from examined wells, normal direct costs of operating the wells or leases, other costs such as transportation and/or processing fees, production taxes, recompletion and development costs and product prices are based on the SEC regulations, geological maps, well logs, core analyses, and pressure measurements.
The reserve data set forth in the NSAI report represents only estimates and should not be construed as being exact quantities. They may or may not be actually recovered, and if recovered, the actual revenues and costs could be more or less than the estimated amounts. Moreover, estimates of reserves may increase or decrease as a result of future operations.
Reservoir engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of oil and natural gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating oil and natural gas reserves and their estimated values, including many factors beyond our control. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geologic interpretation and judgment. As a result, estimates of different engineers, including those used by us, may vary. In addition, estimates of reserves are subject to revision based upon actual production, results of future development and exploration activities, prevailing oil and natural gas prices, operating costs and other factors. The revisions may be material. Accordingly, reserve estimates are often different from the quantities of oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered and are highly dependent upon the accuracy of the assumptions upon which they are based. See “Risk Factors - Our estimated reserves are based on many assumptions that may prove to be inaccurate. Any material inaccuracies in these reserve estimates or underlying assumptions will materially affect the quantities and present value of our reserves.”
Internal Controls Over Reserves Estimation Process
Pursuant to the MSA, the Manager provides us with engineering services. The Manager employs an internal reservoir engineering department which is led by the Manager’s Partner - Engineering, who is responsible for overseeing the internal preparation of our reserves pursuant to the MSA. The Manager’s Partner - Engineering has a degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Calgary, and has over 20 years of oil and gas experience, with more than 15 years focused on reservoir engineering.
The Manager’s technical team meets with our independent third-party engineering firm to review properties and discuss evaluation methods and assumptions used in the proved reserves estimates, in accordance with the Manager’s prescribed internal control procedures. The Manager’s internal controls over the reserves estimation process includes inter-departmental verification of input data into the Manager’s reserves evaluation software such as, but not limited to the following:
•Comparison of historical expenses from the lease operating statements and workover authorizations for expenditure to the operating costs input in the Manager’s reserves database;
•Review of working interests and net revenue interests in the Manager’s reserves database against the Manager’s well ownership system;
•Review of historical realized prices and differentials from index prices as compared to the differentials used in the Manager’s reserves database;
•Review of updated projected capital costs for upcoming projects;
•Review of reserve estimates, inclusive of decline curves, by well and by area by the Manager’s reservoir engineers;
•Discussion of material reserve variances among the Manager’s reservoir engineer and our executive management; and
•Review of a preliminary copy of the reserve report by our management.
Selected Oil and Natural Gas Information
Production, Price and Cost Data
The price that the Company receives for the oil and natural gas it produces is largely a function of market supply and demand. Demand has historically been affected by global economic conditions, including recession concerns, conflicts involving oil producing regions, and weather and other seasonal conditions. The following table sets forth production, price and cost data with respect to the Company's properties. These amounts represent the Company's historical results of operations without making pro forma adjustments for any acquisitions, divestitures or drilling activity that occurred during the respective years. Due to normal production declines, increases or decreases in drilling activity and the effects of
acquisitions or divestitures, the historical information presented below should not be interpreted as being indicative of future results.
Year Ended December 31,
2024 2023 2022
Net Production:
Oil (MBbl) 4,483 4,162 3,656
Natural gas (MMcf) 27,944 28,266 21,351
Total (MBoe)(1)
9,140 8,873 7,215
Average Daily Production:
Oil (Bbl) 12,248 11,404 10,016
Natural gas (Mcf) 76,350 77,442 58,496
Total (Boe)(1)
24,973 24,311 19,765
Average Sales Prices:
Oil (per Bbl) $ 73.06 $ 76.18 $ 92.50
Natural gas and related product sales (per Mcf) 1.88 2.72 7.46
Realized price (per Boe) 41.58 44.41 68.94
Costs and Expenses (per Boe):
Lease operating expenses $ 6.29 $ 6.82 $ 6.19
Production and ad valorem taxes $ 2.85 $ 3.12 $ 4.24
Depletion and accretion $ 19.31 $ 18.11 $ 14.66
General and administrative $ 2.70 $ 3.15 $ 1.97
__________________________________________
(1)Natural gas is converted to Boe using the ratio of one barrel of oil to six Mcf of natural gas.
Drilling and Development Activities
The following table sets forth the number of gross and net productive wells drilled in the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022. The number of wells drilled refers to the number of wells completed at any time during the fiscal year, regardless of when drilling was initiated. As a non-operator, we do not invest in exploratory wells, and instead invest exclusively in development wells. While there is the potential that development wells may yield dry holes, we have not encountered this, other than mechanical dry holes. Therefore, drilling activity related to exploratory wells and dry holes was not applicable to us in the years presented below.
December 31,
2024 2023 2022
Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
Productive development wells 299 23.43 314 24.55 265 20.78
Dry development wells(1)
- - 2 0.57 - -
(1) The dry hole category includes 2 (0.57 net) wells that were unsuccessful due to mechanical issues for the year ended December 31, 2023.
At December 31, 2024, we had 202 gross (14.85 net) wells for which drilling was either in-progress or were pending completion. These wells are not included in the table above.
The following table summarizes our cumulative gross and net productive oil and natural gas wells by basin at December 31, 2024. A significant majority of our wells in the Permian, Bakken, DJ, and Appalachian Basins are classified
as oil wells, although they also produce natural gas and condensate. All of our wells in the Haynesville Basin are classified as natural gas wells. Our wells within the Eagle Ford Basin are classified as either oil or natural gas wells.
December 31, 2024
Gross Productive Wells Net Productive Wells
Oil Natural Gas Total Oil Natural Gas Total
Permian 714 - 714 64.70 - 64.70
Eagle Ford 129 100 229 27.40 7.30 34.70
Bakken 985 - 985 39.80 - 39.80
Haynesville - 127 127 - 17.20 17.20
DJ 1,070 15 1,085 44.60 1.30 45.90
Appalachian 6 - 6 0.10 - 0.10
Total 2,904 242 3,146 176.60 25.80 202.40
The following table summarizes our cumulative gross and net productive oil and natural gas wells by basin at December 31, 2023:
December 31, 2023
Gross Productive Wells Net Productive Wells
Oil Natural Gas Total Oil Natural Gas Total
Permian 575 1 576 46.30 - 46.30
Eagle Ford 120 93 213 24.80 6.90 31.70
Bakken 938 - 938 39.00 - 39.00
Haynesville - 117 117 - 16.40 16.40
DJ 967 15 982 42.20 0.90 43.10
Total 2,600 226 2,826 152.30 24.20 176.50
The following table summarizes our cumulative gross and net productive oil and natural gas wells by basin at December 31, 2022:
December 31, 2022
Gross Productive Wells Net Productive Wells
Oil Natural Gas Total Oil Natural Gas Total
Permian 448 2 450 40.82 0.02 40.84
Eagle Ford 105 81 186 19.08 4.26 23.34
Bakken 907 1 908 37.73 0.20 37.93
Haynesville - 62 62 - 12.18 12.18
DJ 681 70 751 16.43 2.16 18.59
Total 2,141 216 2,357 114.06 18.82 132.88
Developed and Undeveloped Acreage
The following table summarizes our estimated gross and net developed and undeveloped acreage by area at December 31, 2024.
Developed Acreage Undeveloped Acreage Total Acreage
Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
Permian 48,731 8,427 14,787 6,638 63,518 15,065
Eagle Ford 25,750 4,243 5,815 2,344 31,565 6,587
Bakken 169,897 13,167 - - 169,897 13,167
Haynesville 55,926 5,317 2,584 178 58,510 5,495
DJ 22,749 2,502 - - 22,749 2,502
Appalachian 169 89 2,148 978 2,317 1,067
Total: 323,222 33,745 25,334 10,138 348,556 43,883
Acreage Expirations
As a non-operator, we are subject to lease expirations if an operator does not commence the development of operations within the agreed terms of our leases. All of our leases for undeveloped acreage summarized in the table below will expire at the end of their respective primary terms, unless we renew the existing leases, establish commercial production from the acreage or some other “savings clause” is exercised. In addition, our leases typically provide that the lease does not expire at the end of the primary term if drilling operations have been commenced. While we generally expect to establish production from most of our acreage prior to expiration of the applicable lease terms, there can be no guarantee we can do so. The following table sets forth the future expiration amounts of our gross and net undeveloped acreage at December 31, 2024 by area:
2025 2026 2027 and Thereafter
Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
Permian(1)
9,485 3,662 5,976 3,104 1,148 724
Eagle Ford(1)
6,876 2,449 282 28 - -
Haynesville 459 49 1,264 76 861 53
Appalachian - - - - 2,317 1,067
Total: 16,820 6,160 7,522 3,208 4,326 1,844
__________________________________________
(1)Certain acreage within the basin is subject to continuous drilling obligations.
The expired acreage was not material to our capital deployed on an aggregate basis across the Properties. Any proved undeveloped reserves associated with expiring acreage are expected to be drilled prior to the expiration of the respective leases.
Recent Acquisitions
We generally assess acreage and other acquisition opportunities subject to near-term drilling activities on a lease-by-lease or well-by-well basis because we believe each acquisition opportunity is best assessed on that basis if development timing is sufficiently clear. Consistent with that approach, a significant portion of our acquisitions involve properties that are selected by us on a lease-by-lease or well-by-well basis for their participation in a well expected to be developed in the near future, and the subject leases or wells are then aggregated to complete one single closing with the transferor. As such, we generally view each acreage or well assignment from sellers as involving several separate acquisitions combined into one closing with the common transferor for convenience. However, in certain instances an acquisition may involve a larger number of leases presented by the transferors as a single package without negotiation on a lease-by-lease or well-by-well basis. In those instances, we, together with the Manager, still review each lease and drilling opportunity on a lease-by-lease basis and well-by-well basis to ensure that the package as a whole meets our acquisition criteria and drilling expectations. See Note 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements regarding our recent acquisition activity.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Our Company was not a party to any material legal proceedings during the year ended December 31, 2024. In the future, the Company may be subject from time to time to litigation claims and governmental and regulatory proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
PART II

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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 Purchasers of Equity Securities
Market Information
Our common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GRNT”.
As of March 3, 2025 there were 72 holders of record of our common stock.
Dividend Policy
Subject to compliance with applicable law, and depending on, among other things, economic conditions, financial condition, results of operations, projections, liquidity, earnings, legal requirements, and restrictions in the Credit Agreement, we expect that Granite Ridge will pay quarterly cash dividends of $0.11 per share (or $0.44 per share per fiscal year). For information about dividends, see "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."
Repurchases of Equity Securities
During the quarter ended December 31, 2024, the Company repurchased shares of common stock from certain employees to satisfy the employees' tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of stock-based awards.
The following table sets forth our share repurchase activity for the period presented:
Period Total number of
shares purchased Average price
paid per share Total number of shares
purchased as part of
publicly announced plans Approximate dollar value
of shares that may yet
be purchased under
the plans or programs
(in millions)
October 1, 2024 - October 31, 2024 - $ - - $ -
November 1, 2024 - November 30, 2024 3,666 $ 6.40 - $ -
December 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024 - $ - - $ -

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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 Conditions and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The following discussion contains “forward-looking statements” reflecting our current expectations, estimates and assumptions concerning events and financial trends that may affect our future operating results or financial position. Actual results and the timing of events may differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, market prices for oil and natural gas, capital expenditures, economic and competitive conditions, regulatory changes and other uncertainties, as well as those factors discussed below and elsewhere in this report. Please read “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Also, please read the risk factors and other cautionary statements described
under “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors.” We assume no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.
Overview
Granite Ridge is a scaled energy company which aims to provide shareholders with exposure similar to energy private equity through operated partnerships and traditional non-operated assets. We own assets in six prolific unconventional basins across the United States. We aim to deliver a diversified portfolio with best-in-class full cycle returns by investing in a large number of high-graded opportunities developed by proven public and private operators. We focus on success as measured by total shareholder returns, which we seek to balance with a low leverage profile.
As of December 31, 2024, we owned an interest in 3,146 gross (202 net) producing wells, 323,222 gross (33,745 net) developed acres, and 25,334 gross (10,138 net) undeveloped acres, all located in the United States.
Our average daily production for the year ended December 31, 2024 was 24,973 Boe per day.
Business Combination
On October 24, 2022 (the “Closing Date”), Granite Ridge and Executive Network Partnering Corporation ("ENPC") consummated the business combination pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of May 16, 2022 (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among ENPC, Granite Ridge, ENPC Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Granite Ridge (“ENPC Merger Sub”), GREP Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Granite Ridge (“GREP Merger Sub”), and Granite Ridge Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company formerly known as GREP Holdings, LLC (“GREP”).
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, on the Closing Date, (i) ENPC Merger Sub merged with and into ENPC (the “ENPC Merger”), with ENPC surviving the ENPC Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Granite Ridge and (ii) GREP Merger Sub merged with and into GREP (the “GREP Merger,” and together with the ENPC Merger, the “Mergers”), with GREP surviving the GREP Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Granite Ridge (the transactions contemplated by the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) the “Business Combination,” and together with the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, the “Transactions”).
For additional information on the Business Combination See Note 1 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Source of Our Revenues
We derive our revenues from our interests in the sale of oil and natural gas production. Revenues are a function of production, the prevailing market price at the time of sale, oil quality, and transportation costs to market. We use derivative instruments to hedge future sales prices on a portion of our oil and natural gas production. We expect our derivative activities will help us achieve more predictable cash flows and reduce our exposure to downward price fluctuations. The use of derivative instruments has in the past, and may in the future, prevent us from realizing the full benefit of upward price movements but also mitigates the effects of declining price movements.
Principal Components of Our Cost Structure
Lease operating expenses
Lease operating expenses are the costs incurred in the operation of producing properties, including workover costs. Expenses for field employees’ salaries, saltwater disposal, repairs and maintenance comprise the most significant portion of our lease operating expenses. Certain items, such as direct labor and materials and supplies, generally remain relatively fixed across broad production volume ranges, but can fluctuate depending on activities performed during a specific period. A portion of our operating cost components are variable and change in correlation to production levels.
Production and ad valorem taxes
Production taxes are paid on produced oil and natural gas. Ad valorem taxes are paid on the value of our properties in certain states. We seek to take full advantage of all credits and exemptions in our various taxing jurisdictions. In general, the production taxes we pay correlate to the changes in oil and natural gas revenues.
Depletion and accretion expense
Depletion and accretion include the systematic expensing of the capitalized costs incurred to acquire, explore and develop oil and natural gas. As a “successful efforts” company, we capitalize all costs associated with our acquisition and successful development efforts and allocate these costs to each unit of production using the units of production method. Accretion expense relates to the passage of time of our asset retirement obligations.
Impairment expense
We evaluate capitalized costs related to proved and unproved oil and natural gas properties, including wells and related oil sales support equipment and facilities, for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist. If undiscounted cash flows are insufficient to recover the net capitalized costs of proved properties, we recognize an impairment charge for the difference between the net capitalized cost of proved properties and their estimated fair values. Unproved oil and natural gas properties are periodically assessed for impairment by considering future drilling and exploration plans, results of exploration activities, commodity price outlooks, planned future sales and expiration of all or a portion of the projects.
General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses include overhead, including payroll and benefits for our corporate staff, management and annual service fees under the MSA, audit and other professional fees and legal compliance.
Interest expense
We finance a portion of our working capital requirements, capital expenditures and acquisitions with borrowings. As a result, we incur interest expense that is affected by both fluctuations in interest rates and our financing decisions.
Gain (loss) on derivative contracts
We utilize commodity derivative financial instruments to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in the prices of oil and natural gas. Gain (loss) on derivative contracts is comprised of (i) cash gains and losses we recognize on settled commodity derivatives during the period, and (ii) non-cash mark-to-market gains and losses we incur on commodity derivative instruments outstanding at period-end.
Selected Factors That Affect Our Operating Results
Our revenues, cash flows from operations and future growth depend substantially upon:
•the timing and success of drilling and production activities by our operating partners;
•the prices and the supply and demand for oil and natural gas;
•the quantity of oil and natural gas production from the wells in which we participate;
•changes in the fair value of the derivative instruments we use to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in the price of oil and natural gas;
•our ability to continue to identify and acquire high-quality acreage and drilling opportunities; and
•the level of our operating expenses.
In addition to the factors that affect companies in our industry generally, the location of substantially all of our acreage in the Eagle Ford, Permian, Bakken, Haynesville, Denver-Julesburg and Appalachian Basins subjects our operating results to factors specific to these regions. These factors include the potential adverse impact of weather on drilling, production and transportation activities, particularly during the winter and spring months, as well as infrastructure limitations, transportation capacity, regulatory matters and other factors that may specifically affect one or more of these regions.
The price of oil and natural gas can vary depending on the market in which it is sold and the means of transportation used to transport the oil and natural gas to market.
The price at which our oil and natural gas production is sold typically reflects either a premium or discount to the NYMEX benchmark price. Thus, our operating results are also affected by changes in the oil and natural gas price differentials between the applicable benchmark and the sales prices we receive for our oil and natural gas production.
Our oil price differential to the NYMEX benchmark price during 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $(3.57) per barrel, $(1.40) per barrel and $(1.89) per barrel, respectively. Our natural gas price differential during 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $(0.31) per Mcf, $0.19 per Mcf and $0.91 per Mcf, respectively.
Market Conditions
The price that we receive for the oil and natural gas our operators produce is largely a function of market supply and demand. Because our oil and natural gas revenues are heavily weighted toward oil, we are more significantly impacted by changes in oil prices than by changes in the price of natural gas. Worldwide supply in terms of output, especially production from properties within the United States, the production quota set by OPEC, and the strength of the U.S. dollar can adversely impact oil prices.
Historically, commodity prices have been volatile, and we expect the volatility to continue in the future.
Although we cannot predict the occurrence of events that may affect future commodity prices, or the degree to which these prices will be affected, the prices for any commodity that we produce will generally approximate current market prices in the geographic region of the production. From time to time, we expect that we may hedge a portion of our commodity price risk to mitigate the impact of price volatility on our business.
Prices for various quantities of natural gas and oil that we produce significantly impact our revenues and cash flows. The following table lists average NYMEX prices for oil and natural gas for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022.
December 31,
2024 2023 2022
Average NYMEX Prices(1)
Oil (per Bbl) $ 76.63 $ 77.58 $ 94.39
Natural gas (per Mcf) $ 2.19 $ 2.53 $ 6.55
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(1)Based on average NYMEX closing prices.
Results of Operations
The following tables and related discussion set forth key operating and financial data as of and for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. For similar operating and financial data and discussion of our 2023 results compared to our 2022 results, refer to “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” under Part II of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on March 8, 2024. Because of normal production declines, increased or decreased drilling activities, fluctuations in
commodity prices and the effects of acquisitions and divestitures, the historical information presented below should not be interpreted as being indicative of future results.
Year Ended December 31,
2024 2023
Net Sales (in thousands):
Oil sales $ 327,491 $ 317,099
Natural gas and related product sales 52,539 76,970
Revenues 380,030 394,069
Net Production:
Oil (MBbl) 4,483 4,162
Natural gas (MMcf) 27,944 28,266
Total (MBoe)(1)
9,140 8,873
Average Daily Production:
Oil (Bbl) 12,248 11,404
Natural gas (Mcf) 76,350 77,442
Total (Boe)(1)
24,973 24,311
Average Sales Prices:
Oil (per Bbl) $ 73.06 $ 76.18
Effect of gain (loss) on settled oil derivatives on average price (per Bbl) 0.34 1.10
Oil net of settled oil derivatives (per Bbl)(2)
$ 73.40 $ 77.28
Natural gas and related product sales (per Mcf) $ 1.88 $ 2.72
Effect of gain (loss) on settled natural gas derivatives on average price (per Mcf) 0.53 0.65
Natural gas and related product sales net of settled natural gas derivatives (per Mcf)(2)
$ 2.41 $ 3.37
Realized price on a Boe basis excluding settled commodity derivatives $ 41.58 $ 44.41
Effect of gain (loss) on settled commodity derivatives on average price (per Boe) 1.79 2.58
Realized price on a Boe basis including settled commodity derivatives(2)
$ 43.37 $ 46.99
Operating Expenses (in thousands):
Lease operating expenses $ 57,461 $ 60,521
Production and ad valorem taxes 26,007 27,707
Depletion and accretion expense 176,529 160,662
Impairments of long-lived assets 36,369 26,496
General and administrative 24,649 27,920
Costs and Expenses (per Boe):
Lease operating expenses $ 6.29 $ 6.82
Production and ad valorem taxes $ 2.85 $ 3.12
Depletion and accretion $ 19.31 $ 18.11
Impairments of long-lived assets $ 3.98 $ 2.99
General and administrative $ 2.70 $ 3.15
Net Producing Wells at Period-End: 202.40 176.50
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(1)Natural gas is converted to Boe using the ratio of one barrel of oil to six Mcf of natural gas.
(2)The presentation of realized prices including settled commodity derivatives is a result of including the net cash receipts from (payments on) commodity derivatives that are presented in our consolidated statements of cash flows. This presentation of average prices with derivatives is a means by which to reflect the actual cash performance of our commodity derivatives for the respective periods and presents oil and natural gas prices with derivatives in a manner consistent with the presentation generally used by the investment community.
Oil, Natural Gas and Related Product Sales
Our revenues vary from year to year primarily due to changes in realized commodity prices and production volumes. Our oil and natural gas sales for the year ended December 31, 2024 decreased 4% from the year ended December 31, 2023. Oil revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by 3% compared to the same period in 2023, driven by an 8% increase in production, partially offset by a 4% decrease in realized prices, excluding the effect of settled derivatives. Natural gas revenues decreased by 32% for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 2023, driven by a 31% decrease in realized natural gas prices, excluding the effect of settled commodity derivatives, and a 1% decrease in production.
Production from oil and gas properties increased because of drilling success and the acquisition of additional net revenue interests. This increase in total production is offset by the natural decline of the production rate of existing oil and natural gas wells. The number of wells we participated in increased from 176.50 net wells in 2023 to 202.40 net wells in 2024.
The following table sets forth information regarding our oil and natural gas production by basin.
Year Ended December 31,
2024 2023
Net Production:
Oil (MBbl)
Permian 2,956 2,656
Eagle Ford 638 529
Bakken 561 665
Haynesville - -
DJ 322 312
Appalachian 6 -
Total 4,483 4,162
Natural Gas (MMcf)
Permian 11,229 9,146
Eagle Ford 3,847 3,055
Bakken 1,235 1,105
Haynesville 9,264 12,251
DJ 2,345 2,709
Appalachian 24 -
Total 27,944 28,266
Total (MBoe)
Permian 4,828 4,180
Eagle Ford 1,279 1,038
Bakken 767 849
Haynesville 1,544 2,042
DJ 712 764
Appalachian 10 -
Total 9,140 8,873
Lease Operating Expenses
Lease operating expenses were $57.5 million ($6.29 per Boe) for the year ended December 31, 2024, a decrease of 5% from $60.5 million ($6.82 per Boe) for 2023. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease of $1.6 million in transportation and gathering expenses related to certain take in-kind arrangements on natural gas volumes, which have declined in the Haynesville area. In addition, workover and repair and maintenance expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 are
lower than the same period of 2023, partially offset by an increase in certain other lease operating expenses as a result of an increase in well count due to acquisitions and additional wells successfully drilled and completed.
Production and Ad Valorem Taxes
We generally pay production taxes based on realized oil and natural gas sales. Production taxes were $21.0 million ($2.30 per Boe) for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $24.9 million ($2.81 per Boe) for 2023. As a percentage of oil and natural gas sales, our production taxes were 6% in 2024 and 2023.
Production taxes generally fluctuate with the market value of our production sold, while ad valorem taxes are generally based on the valuation of our oil and natural gas properties at the beginning of the year, which vary across the different areas in which we operate.
Ad valorem taxes increased during the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to 2023, primarily due to additional wells drilled and completed and new wells acquired.
Depletion and Accretion
Depletion and accretion was $176.5 million ($19.31 per Boe) for the year ended December 31, 2024, an increase of 10% from $160.7 million ($18.11 per Boe) in 2023. The increase in depletion and accretion expense was primarily due to the increase in depletion expense resulting from the increase in production and depletion rate.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, we recognized impairment expense of $36.4 million and $26.5 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, as a result of widening differentials and higher production cost assumptions, it was determined that the carrying amount of proved oil and gas properties in the Bakken exceeded undiscounted future net cash flows. As a result, an impairment of $35.6 million was recorded to write-down the carrying value to the estimated fair value of the proved oil and gas properties. Additionally, for the year ended December 31, 2024, an impairment of $0.7 million to the Company's unproved properties in the Permian Basin as the operator of those properties no longer intends to drill certain locations.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, we recognized impairment expense of $26.5 million. As a result of the decline in gas prices as well as reserve revisions in the Haynesville Basin, we compared the sum of the expected undiscounted future net cash flows to the carrying amount of the assets. As the carrying amount of the assets was higher than the expected undiscounted future net cash flows, an impairment loss was recorded as the difference between the carrying value and the estimated fair value.
General and Administrative
The following table provides components of our general and administrative expenses for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands) 2024 2023
General and administrative expenses $ 22,351 $ 25,758
Non-cash stock-based compensation 2,298 2,162
Total general and administrative expenses $ 24,649 $ 27,920
Total general and administrative expenses were $24.6 million ($2.70 per Boe) for the year ended December 31, 2024, a decrease of 12% from $27.9 million ($3.15 per Boe) in 2023. The decrease was primarily due to $2.5 million of costs directly related to the Warrant Exchange in 2023.
Gain/(Loss) on Derivatives - Commodity Derivatives
The following table sets forth the gain (loss) on derivatives for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands) 2024 2023
Gain (loss) on commodity derivatives
Oil derivatives $ (10,260) $ 6,459
Natural gas derivatives 9,352 19,085
Total $ (908) $ 25,544
The following table represents our net cash receipts from (payments on) derivatives for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands) 2024 2023
Net cash receipts from (payments on) commodity derivatives
Oil derivatives $ 1,503 $ 4,576
Natural gas derivatives 14,860 18,319
Total $ 16,363 $ 22,895
Our earnings are affected by the changes in the value of our derivatives portfolio between periods and the related cash settlements of those derivatives, which could be significant. To the extent the future commodity price outlook declines between measurement periods, we will have mark-to-market gains; while to the extent future commodity price outlook increases between measurement periods, we will have mark-to-market losses.
Interest Expense
Interest expense was $18.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $5.3 million for 2023. The increase in interest expense was primarily due to the increase in interest rates and higher average outstanding balance on the revolving credit facility.
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives - Common Stock Warrants
We recognized a loss of $5.7 million during 2023 from the change in fair value of the warrant liability. See Note 3 and Note 9 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the common stock warrants and the Warrant Exchange.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
For the year ended December 31, 2024, we recorded income tax expense of $6.2 million, which included current income tax expense of $0.2 million and deferred income tax expense of $6.0 million. Our effective income tax rate of 24.9% for the year ended December 31, 2024 differs from the federal statutory rate due primarily to the impact of certain discrete items, state income taxes and changes in state tax rates. For the year ended December 31, 2023, we recorded income tax expense of $24.5 million, which included current income tax expense of $0.2 million and deferred income tax expense of $24.3 million. Our effective income tax rate of 23.2% for the year ended December 31, 2023 differed from the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the impact of certain discrete items and state income taxes.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our main sources of liquidity and capital resources as of the periods covered by this report have been internally generated cash flow from operations and credit facility borrowings. Our primary use of capital has been for the development and acquisition of oil and natural gas properties. We continually monitor potential capital sources for opportunities to enhance liquidity or otherwise improve our financial position.
As of December 31, 2024, we had $205.0 million of debt outstanding under our Credit Agreement. We had $129.1 million of liquidity as of December 31, 2024, consisting of $119.7 million of committed borrowing availability under the Credit Agreement and $9.4 million of cash on hand. On November 1, 2024, the Company and its lenders entered into the Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement, which amended the Credit Agreement to, among other things, increase the borrowing base and aggregate elected commitments from $300 million to $325 million. See Note 8 to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
With our cash on hand, cash flow from operations, and borrowing capacity under the Credit Agreement, we believe that we will have sufficient cash flow and liquidity to fund our budgeted capital expenditures and operating expenses for at least the next twelve months. However, we may seek additional access to capital and liquidity. We cannot assure you that any additional capital will be available to us on favorable terms or at all.
Capital commitments
Our recent capital commitments have been to fund the development and acquisition of oil and natural gas properties. We expect to fund our near-term capital requirements and working capital needs with cash on hand, cash flows from operations and available borrowing capacity under our Credit Agreement. Our capital expenditures could be curtailed if our cash flows decline from expected levels.
Common stock dividends
We paid dividends of $57.5 million, or $0.44 per share, and $58.6 million, or $0.44 per share, during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. On February 14, 2025, our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.11 per share for the first quarter of 2025 that will be paid on March 14, 2025 to stockholders of record as of February 28, 2025. Any payment of future dividends will be at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors.
Stock repurchase program
In December 2022, we announced that our Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program for up to $50.0 million of our common stock through December 31, 2023. The stock repurchase program terminated on December 31, 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company repurchased 5,651,707 shares under the program at an aggregate cost of $36.1 million. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had repurchased a total of 5,677,627 shares since the inception of the program at an aggregate cost of $36.3 million.
Cash Flows
Our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 are presented below:
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands) 2024 2023 2022
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 275,733 $ 302,867 $ 346,389
Net cash used in investing activities (310,768) (356,676) (230,562)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 33,724 13,406 (76,848)
Net change in cash $ (1,311) $ (40,403) $ 38,979
Cash Flows Provided by Operating Activities
The primary factors impacting our cash flows from operating activities generally include: (i) levels of production from our oil and natural gas properties, (ii) prices we receive from sales of oil and natural gas production, including settlement proceeds or payments related to our commodity derivatives, (iii) operating costs of our oil and natural gas properties, (iv) costs of our general and administrative activities and (v) interest expense. Our cash flows from operating activities have historically been impacted by fluctuations in oil and natural gas prices and our production volumes.
The $27.1 million decrease in operating cash flows during the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to 2023 was primarily due to the decrease in oil and natural gas sales and deferred income taxes during 2024 as compared to 2023. Our net cash provided by operating activities included a benefit of $0.9 million and a benefit of $4.6 million for the years
ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, associated with changes in working capital items. Changes in working capital items adjust for the timing of receipts and payments of actual cash.
Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2024, our net cash used in investing activities was $310.8 million, which consisted primarily of $285.8 million of capital expenditures for oil and natural gas properties and $61.2 million of acquisitions of oil and natural gas properties. These cash flows used in investing activities are partially offset by cash proceeds from disposal of oil and natural gas properties of $14.0 million and refund of advances from operators of $19.7 million during 2024.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, our net cash used in investing activities was $356.7 million, which consisted primarily of $282.4 million of capital expenditures for oil and natural gas properties and $76.8 million of acquisitions of oil and natural gas properties. These cash flows used in investing activities are partially offset by cash proceeds from refund of advances from operators of $2.5 million.
Cash Flows Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2024, our net cash provided by financing activities was $33.7 million primarily due to $95.0 million of net borrowings under our Credit Agreement, partially offset by $57.5 million of dividends paid on our common stock.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, our net cash provided by financing activities was $13.4 million primarily due to $110.0 million of net borrowings under our Credit Agreement, partially offset by $58.6 million of dividends paid on our common stock and $35.4 million of common stock repurchases.
Granite Ridge Credit Agreement
At December 31, 2024, the Company had outstanding borrowings of $205.0 million and $0.3 million of letters of credit issued and outstanding under the Credit Agreement, resulting in availability of $119.7 million. The Credit Agreement is guaranteed by the restricted subsidiaries of Granite Ridge and is secured by a first priority mortgage and security interest in substantially all of the Company's and its restricted subsidiaries' assets.
On October 24, 2022, Granite Ridge entered into a senior secured revolving credit agreement (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”) among Granite Ridge, as borrower, currently led by Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto. The Credit Agreement has a maturity date of five years from the effective date thereof.
On April 1, 2024, the Company entered into the Resignation, Appointment, Assignment and Third Amendment to Credit Agreement (the “Third Amendment”) which amended the Credit Agreement to, among other things, (a) appoint a new administrative agent and L/C Issuer (as defined therein) (b) increase the size of the lender group by adding nine new banks, with one bank exiting the facility, (c) increase the borrowing base from $275.0 million to $300.0 million, and (d) increase the aggregate elected commitments from $240.0 million to $300.0 million.
On November 1, 2024, the Company and its lenders entered into the Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement, which amended the Credit Agreement to, among other things, (a) increase the borrowing base from $300.0 million to $325.0 million, and (b) increase the aggregate elected commitments from $300.0 million to $325.0 million.
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement may be base rate loans or secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”) loans. Interest is payable quarterly for base rate loans and at the end of the applicable interest period for SOFR loans. SOFR loans bear interest at SOFR plus an applicable margin ranging from 300 to 400 basis points, depending on the percentage of the borrowing base utilized, plus an additional 10, 15 or 20 basis point credit spread adjustment for a one, three, or six month interest period, respectively. Base rate loans bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the greatest of: (i) the U.S. prime rate as published by the Wall Street Journal; (ii) the federal funds effective rate plus 50 basis points; and (iii) the adjusted SOFR rate for a one-month interest period plus 100 basis points, plus, in the case of this clause (iii) an additional 10 basis point credit spread adjustment, plus, in the case of any base rate loan, an applicable margin ranging from 200 to 300 basis points, depending on the percentage of the borrowing base utilized. The Company's weighted average effective interest rate under the Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 was 8.12% and 8.71%, respectively.
The Company also pays a commitment fee on unused elected commitment amounts under its facility of 50 basis points. The Company may repay any amounts borrowed under the Credit Agreement prior to the maturity date without any premium or penalty.
The Credit Agreement contains certain financial covenants, including the maintenance of the following financial ratios:
(i)a leverage ratio, which is the ratio of Consolidated Total Debt to EBITDAX (each as defined in the Credit Agreement), of not greater than 3.00 to 1.00 as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, and
(ii)a Current Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement), of not less than 1.00 to 1.00 as of the last day of each fiscal quarter.
The Credit Agreement contains additional restrictive covenants that limit our ability and our restricted subsidiaries to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, incur additional liens, enter into mergers and acquisitions, make or declare dividends, repurchase or redeem junior debt, make investments and loans, engage in transactions with affiliates, sell assets and enter into certain hedging transactions. In addition, the Credit Agreement is subject to customary events of default, including a change in control. If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the administrative agent may, with the consent of majority lenders, or shall, at the direction of the majority lenders, accelerate any amounts outstanding and terminate lender commitments.
As of December 31, 2024, we were in compliance with all covenants required by the Credit Agreement.
Known Contractual and Other Obligations; Planned Capital Expenditures
Contractual and Other Obligations
•As of December 31, 2024, we had $205.0 million of debt outstanding under our Credit Agreement. See Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding future interest payment obligations on our Credit Agreement.
•We entered into the MSA with the Manager in which we pay the Manager an annual services fee of $10.0 million and reimburse the Manager for certain Granite Ridge group costs related to the operation of our oil and gas assets and other properties. See Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
•We have contractual commitments that may require us to make payments upon future settlement of our commodity derivative contracts. See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
•We have future obligations related to the abandonment of our oil and natural gas properties. See Note 6 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
•With respect to all of these items, except for our commitments under our debt agreements, we cannot determine with accuracy the amount and/or timing of such payments.
Planned Capital Expenditures
For 2025, we are budgeting approximately $300 million to $320 million in total planned capital expenditures. We expect to fund planned capital expenditures with cash generated from operations and, if required, borrowings under our Credit Agreement.
The amount, timing and allocation of capital expenditures are largely discretionary and subject to change based on a variety of factors. If oil and natural gas prices decline below our acceptable levels, or costs increase above our acceptable levels, we may choose to defer a portion of our budgeted capital expenditures until later periods to achieve the desired balance between sources and uses of liquidity and prioritize capital projects that we believe have the highest expected returns and potential to generate near-term cash flow. We may also increase our capital expenditures significantly to take advantage of opportunities we consider to be attractive. We will carefully monitor and may adjust our projected capital expenditures in response to changes in prices, availability of financing, drilling and acquisition costs, industry conditions,
the timing of regulatory approvals, contractual obligations, internally generated cash flow, and other factors both within and outside our control.
Satisfaction of Our Cash Obligations for the Next Twelve Months
With our Credit Agreement and our positive cash flows from operations, we believe we will have sufficient capital to meet our drilling commitments, expected general and administrative expenses and other cash needs for the next twelve months. Nonetheless, any strategic acquisition of assets or increase in drilling activity may lead us to seek additional capital. We may also choose to seek additional capital rather than utilize our credit to fund accelerated or continued drilling at the discretion of management and depending on prevailing market conditions. We will evaluate any potential opportunities for acquisitions as they arise. However, there can be no assurance that any additional capital will be available to us on favorable terms or at all.
Effects of Inflation and Pricing
The oil and natural gas industry is typically very cyclical and the demand for goods and services of oil field companies, suppliers and others associated with the industry put extreme pressure on the economic stability and pricing structure within the industry. Typically, as prices for oil and natural gas increase, so do all associated costs. Conversely, in a period of declining prices, associated cost declines are likely to lag and may not adjust downward in proportion.
Material changes in prices also impact our current revenue stream, estimates of future reserves, borrowing base calculations of bank loans, impairment assessments of oil and natural gas properties, and values of properties in purchase and sale transactions. Material changes in prices can impact the value of oil and natural gas companies and their ability to raise capital, borrow money and retain personnel. Higher prices for oil and natural gas could result in increases in the costs of materials, services and personnel.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The establishment and consistent application of accounting policies is a vital component of accurately and fairly presenting our financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”), as well as ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations governing financial reporting. While there are rarely alternative methods or rules from which to select in establishing accounting and financial reporting policies, proper application often involves significant judgment regarding a given set of facts and circumstances and a complex series of decisions. Further, these estimates and other factors, including those outside of management’s control could have significant adverse impact to the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements under U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect our reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Oil and Natural Gas Reserves
The determination of depletion and amortization expense as well as impairments that are recognized on our oil and natural gas properties are highly dependent on the estimates of the proved oil and natural gas reserves attributable to our properties. Our estimate of proved reserves is based on the quantities of oil and natural gas which geological and engineering data demonstrate, with reasonable certainty, to be recoverable in the future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data, engineering and geological interpretation, and judgment. For example, we must estimate the amount and timing of future operating costs, production taxes and development costs, all of which may in fact vary considerably from actual results. In addition, as the prices of oil and natural gas and cost levels change from year to year, the economics of producing our reserves may change and therefore the estimate of proved reserves may also change. As of December 31, 2024, approximately 28% of our total proved reserves were categorized as proved undeveloped reserves. Any significant variance in these assumptions could materially affect the estimated quantity and value of our reserves, future cash flows from our reserves, and future development of our proved undeveloped reserves.
The information regarding present value of the future net cash flows attributable to our proved oil and natural gas reserves are estimates only and should not be construed as the current market value of the estimated oil and natural gas reserves attributable to our properties. Such information includes revisions of certain reserve estimates attributable to the properties included in the prior year’s estimates. These revisions reflect additional information from subsequent activities, production history of the properties involved and any adjustments in the projected economic life of such properties resulting from changes in oil and natural gas prices.
External petroleum engineers independently estimated all of the proved reserve quantities included in our financial statements, which were prepared in accordance with the rules promulgated by the SEC. In connection with our external petroleum engineers performing their independent reserve estimations, we provided them our historical information, such as oil and natural gas production, realized commodity prices, and operating and development costs. We also provided ownership interest information with respect to our properties. The third-party independent reserve engineers, NSAI, evaluated 100% of our estimated proved reserve quantities and their related pre-tax future net cash flows as of December 31, 2024.
Oil and Natural Gas Properties
Oil and natural gas producing activities are accounted for under the successful efforts method of accounting.
The successful efforts method inherently relies on the estimation of proved oil and natural gas reserves. The amount of estimated proved reserve volumes affect, among other things, whether certain costs are capitalized or expensed, the amount and timing of costs depleted into net income and the presentation of supplemental information on oil and gas producing activities. In addition, the expected future cash flows to be generated by producing properties used for testing impairment, also in part, rely on estimates of quantities of net reserves.
Depletion of oil and natural gas producing properties is determined using the units-of-production method. During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, we recognized depletion expense of $175.7 million, $160.2 million and $105.3 million, respectively.
Any reduction in proved reserves could result in an acceleration of future depletion expense. Such a decline may result from lower commodity prices which may make it uneconomical to drill certain proved undeveloped locations. In addition, a decline in proved reserve estimates may impact the outcome of our assessment of proved properties for impairment.
Holding all other factors constant, if proved reserves are revised downward, the rate at which we record depletion and accretion expense would increase, reducing net income. Conversely, if proved reserves are revised upward, the rate at which we record depletion and accretion expense would decrease. However, a sensitivity analysis is not practicable, given the numerous assumptions required to calculate proved reserves. In addition, any unfavorable adjustments to some of the above listed assumptions (e.g. commodity prices) would likely be offset by favorable adjustments in other assumptions (e.g. lower costs) as we have historically seen in our industry.
Impairment of Oil and Natural Gas Properties
All of our long-lived assets are monitored for potential impairment annually, or when circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may be greater than management’s estimates of its future net cash flows, including cash flows from proved reserves and risk-adjusted probable and possible reserves. If the carrying value of the long-lived assets exceeds the sum of estimated undiscounted future net cash flows, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between the estimated fair value, using the income or market approach, and the carrying value of the assets. The evaluations involve a significant amount of judgment since the results are based on estimated future events, such as future sales prices for oil and natural gas, future costs to produce these products, estimates of future oil and natural gas reserves to be recovered and the timing thereof, the economic and regulatory climates, and other factors. The need to test an asset for impairment may result from significant declines in sales prices or downward revisions in estimated quantities of oil and natural gas reserves. Estimates of anticipated sales prices are highly judgmental and subject to material revision in future periods.
Unproved oil and natural gas properties are assessed for impairment by considering future drilling and exploration plans, results of exploration activities, commodity price outlooks, planned future sales and expiration of all or a portion of the projects.
Derivative Instruments - Commodity Derivatives
In order to reduce uncertainty around commodity prices received for our oil and natural gas operators’ production, we enter into commodity price derivative contracts from time to time. We exercise significant judgment in determining the types of instruments to be used, the level of production volumes to include in our commodity derivative contracts, the prices at which we enter into commodity derivative contracts and the counterparties’ creditworthiness.
We have not designated our derivative instruments as hedges for accounting purposes and, as a result, mark our derivative instruments to fair value and recognize the cash and non-cash change in fair value on derivative instruments for each period in the consolidated statements of operations. We are also required to recognize our derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheets as assets or liabilities at fair value with such amounts classified as current or long-term based on their anticipated settlement dates. The accounting for the changes in fair value of a derivative depends on the intended use of the derivative and resulting designation, and fair value is generally determined using established index prices and other sources which are based upon, among other things, futures prices and time to maturity. These fair values are recorded by netting asset and liability positions, including any deferred premiums, that are with the same counterparty and are subject to contractual terms which provide for net settlement. Changes in the fair values of our commodity derivative instruments have a significant impact on our net income because we follow mark-to-market accounting and recognize all gains and losses on such instruments in earnings in the period in which they occur.
Revenue Recognition
The Company’s revenues are derived from its interests in the sale of oil and natural gas production. As we do not operate any of our wells, we have limited visibility into the timing of when new wells start producing and production statements may not be received for one to three months or more after the date production is delivered. As a result, we are required to estimate the amount of production delivered to the purchaser and the price that we will receive for the sale of the product. Engineering estimates are typically used to calculate expected volumes. Pricing estimates are based upon actual prices realized in an area by adjusting the market price for the basis differential from market on a basin-by-basin basis. The expected sales volumes and prices for these properties are estimated and recorded within the revenue receivable line item in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Differences between our estimates and the actual amounts received for oil and natural gas sales are recorded in the month that payment is received from the third party.
Recently Issued or Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
For discussion of recently issued or adopted accounting pronouncements, see Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk
Commodity Price Risk
We are exposed to market risk as the prices of our commodities are subject to fluctuations resulting from changes in supply and demand. To reduce our exposure to changes in the prices of our commodities, we have entered into, and may in the future enter into, additional commodity price risk management arrangements for a portion of our oil and natural gas production. The agreements that we have entered into generally have the effect of providing us with a fixed price for a portion of our expected future oil and natural gas production over a fixed period of time. Our commodity price risk management arrangements are recorded at fair value and thus changes to the future commodity prices will have an impact on our earnings. For the year ended December 31, 2024, a 10% increase in average commodity prices would have decreased the fair value of commodity derivatives by $19.3 million. We may incur significant unrealized losses in the future from our use of derivative financial instruments to the extent market prices increase and our derivatives contracts remain in place.
We generally use derivatives to economically hedge a portion of our anticipated future production. Any payments due to counterparties under our derivative contracts are funded by proceeds received from the sale of our production. Production receipts, however, lag payments to the counterparties. Any interim cash needs are funded by cash from operations or borrowings under our Credit Agreement.
Interest Rate Risk
At December 31, 2024, our exposure to interest rate changes related primarily to the borrowings under the Credit Agreement. The interest we pay on these borrowings is set periodically based upon market rates. We had total indebtedness of $205.0 million outstanding under our Credit Agreement at December 31, 2024. The impact of a one percent increase in interest rates on this amount of debt would result in increased annual interest expense of approximately $2.1 million.
We may utilize interest rate derivatives to alter interest rate exposure in an attempt to reduce interest rate expense related to existing debt issues. Interest rate derivatives are used solely to modify interest rate exposure and not to modify the overall leverage of the debt portfolio. We had no outstanding interest rate derivative contracts at December 31, 2024.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The financial statements and supplementary financial information required by this item are included on the pages immediately following the Index to Financial Statements appearing on page.

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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
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in company reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Under the direction of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we have established disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. The disclosure controls and procedures are also intended to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that management is required to apply judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs.
As of December 31, 2024, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act. Based upon our evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that as of December 31, 2024, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a level of reasonable assurance.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The management of our Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of
the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Company’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in the 2013 Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on its evaluation under the framework in the 2013 Internal Control-Integrated Framework, management did not identify any material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and determined that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024.
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.
Our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting for as long as we are an “emerging growth company” pursuant to the provisions of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act.
Inherent Limitations of Controls
Management does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. Controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. 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 a simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is also 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. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or deterioration in the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B. Other Information
Trading Plans
None of our directors or "officers," as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act, adopted or terminated a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan or arrangement or a non-Rule 10b5-1 trading plan or arrangement, as defined in Item 408(c) of Regulation S-K, during the fiscal quarter covered by this Annual Report.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Item 10 will be incorporated by reference pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act. We expect to file a definitive proxy statement with the SEC within 120 days after the close of the year ended December 31, 2024.
Granite Ridge has adopted a written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to its directors, officers, employees and individuals providing services to Granite Ridge pursuant to the MSA, in accordance with applicable federal securities laws, a copy of which is available on Granite Ridge’s website at www.graniteridge.com. Granite Ridge intends to
disclose on its website any future amendments of the code of ethics or waivers that exempt any principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, persons performing similar functions or Granite Ridge’s directors from provisions in the code of business conduct and ethics.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Item 11 will be incorporated by reference pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act. We expect to file a definitive proxy statement with the SEC within 120 days after the close of the year ended December 31, 2024.

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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
Item 12 will be incorporated by reference pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act. We expect to file a definitive proxy statement with the SEC within 120 days after the close of the year ended December 31, 2024.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Item 13 will be incorporated by reference pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act. We expect to file a definitive proxy statement with the SEC within 120 days after the close of the year ended December 31, 2024.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Item 14 will be incorporated by reference pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act. We expect to file a definitive proxy statement with the SEC within 120 days after the close of the year ended December 31, 2024.
Part IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)The following consolidated financial statements are included in “Index to Financial Statements”:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2024 and 2023
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(b)Financial Statement Schedules
All schedules have been omitted because they are either not applicable, not required or the information called for therein appears in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
(c)Exhibits
Exhibit No. Description
2.1 Business Combination Agreement, dated May 16, 2022, by and among Executive Network Partnering Corporation, Granite Ridge Resources, Inc., ENPC Merger Sub, Inc., GREP Merger Sub, LLC, and GREP (incorporated by reference to Annex A of Granite Ridge Resources, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed with the SEC on May 16, 2022).
3.1 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 28, 2022).
Exhibit No. Description
3.2 Amended and Restated Bylaws of Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 28, 2022).
4.1 Description of Securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 27, 2023).
4.2 Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Granite Ridge Resources, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4/A, filed with the SEC on September 12, 2022).
4.3 Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement, dated October 24, 2022 by and among Executive Network Partnering Corporation, Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 28, 2022).
10.1 Registration Rights Agreement and Lock-Up Agreement, dated October 24, 2022 by and among Granite Ridge Resources, Inc., ENPC Holdings II, LLC and the other Holders (as defined therein) listed thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 28, 2022).
10.2 Management Services Agreement, dated October 24, 2022 by and between Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. and Grey Rock Administration, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 28, 2022).
10.3# Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 28, 2022).
10.4# Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan for grants made prior to March 5, 2025 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 11, 2023).
10.5#* Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan for grants made on and after March 5, 2025.
10.6# Form of Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement under the Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 11, 2023).
10.7# Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement under the Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 11, 2023).
10.8 Credit Agreement, dated October 24, 2022 by and among Granite Ridge Resources, Inc., as borrower, Texas Capital Bank, as administrative agent and the lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 28, 2022).
10.8.1 First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of November 7, 2023, by and among Granite Ridge Resources, Inc., as borrower, Texas Capital Bank, as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 9, 2023).
10.8.2 Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2023, by and among Granite Ridge Resources, Inc., as borrower, Texas Capital Bank, as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7.2 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 8, 2024).
10.8.3 Resignation, Appointment, Assignment and Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2024, by and among Granite Ridge Resources, Inc., as borrower, Texas Capital Bank, as resigning administrative agent, Bank of America, N.A., as successor administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 4, 2024).
10.8.4 Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2024, by and among Granite Ridge Resources, Inc., as borrower, the guarantors party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 4, 2024).
10.9 Form of Indemnity Agreement for Directors Affiliated with the Grey Rock funds (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 28, 2022).
10.10 Form of Indemnity Agreement for Officers and Outside Directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 28, 2022).
Exhibit No. Description
10.11# Executive Employment Agreement between Luke C. Brandenberg and Granite Ridge Resources, Inc., dated October 24, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 28, 2022).
10.12# Executive Employment Agreement between Tyler S. Farquharson and Granite Ridge Resources, Inc., dated October 24, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 28, 2022).
10.13# Executive Change in Control Termination Agreement between Kimberly Weimer and Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 9, 2024).
19.1* Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. Insider Trading Policy.
23.1* Consent of Forvis Mazars, LLP, independent registered accounting firm of Granite Ridge Resources, Inc.
23.2* Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.
31.1* Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 7241).
31.2* Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 7241).
32.1* Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350).
97.1 Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. Clawback Policy (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 97.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 8, 2024).
99.1* Reserve Report of Granite Ridge Resources as of December 31, 2024.
101.INS* Inline XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH* Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL* Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF* Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Document
101.LAB* Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE* Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
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*Filed herewith
#Indicates management plan or compensatory arrangement.