Item 2.
Trustee's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
.
OVERVIEW
You should read the following discussion in conjunction with the financial statements of Gulf Coast Ultra Deep Royalty Trust (the Royalty Trust). The results of operations reported and summarized below are not necessarily indicative of future operating results. Unless otherwise specified, all references to "Notes" refer to Notes to Financial Statements located in Part I, Item I. "Financial Statements" in this Form 10-Q. Also see the Royalty Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2015
, filed with the United States (U.S.) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a glossary of definitions for some of the oil and gas industry terms used in this Form 10-Q. Additionally, please refer to the section entitled "Cautionary Statement" on page 16 of this Form 10-Q. The information below has been furnished to the Trustee by Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
(
FCX) and FCX's indirect wholly owned subsidiary, McMoRan Oil & Gas LLC
(
McMoRan).
On
June 3, 2013
, FCX and McMoRan Exploration Co. (MMR) completed the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
December 5, 2012
(the merger agreement), by and among MMR, FCX, and INAVN Corp., a Delaware corporation and indirect wholly owned subsidiary of FCX (Merger Sub). Pursuant to the merger agreement, Merger Sub merged with and into MMR, with MMR surviving the merger as an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of FCX (the merger).
FCX's portfolio of oil and gas assets is held through its wholly owned subsidiary, FCX Oil & Gas Inc. (FM O&G). As a result of the merger, MMR and McMoRan are both wholly owned subsidiaries of FM O&G.
The Royalty Trust is a statutory trust created as contemplated by the merger agreement by FCX under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act pursuant to a trust agreement entered into on
December 18, 2012
(inception), by and among FCX, as depositor, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Delaware trustee, and certain officers of FCX, as regular trustees. On
May 29, 2013
, Wilmington Trust, National Association, was replaced by BNY Trust of Delaware, as Delaware trustee (the Delaware Trustee), through an action of the depositor. Effective
June 3, 2013
, the regular trustees were replaced by The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association, as trustee (the Trustee).
The Royalty Trust was created to hold a
5%
gross overriding royalty interest (collectively, the overriding royalty interests) in future production from each of McMoRan's Inboard Lower Tertiary/Cretaceous exploration prospects located in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico and onshore in South Louisiana that existed as of
December 5,
2012
, the date of the merger agreement (collectively, the subject interests). The subject interests were "carved out" of the mineral interests that were acquired by FCX pursuant to the merger and were not considered part of FCX's purchase consideration of MMR. McMoRan owns less than
100%
of the working interest associated with each of the subject interests.
In connection with the merger, on
June 3, 2013
, (1) FCX, as depositor, McMoRan, as grantor, the Trustee and the Delaware Trustee entered into the amended and restated royalty trust agreement to govern the Royalty Trust and the respective rights and obligations of FCX, the Trustee, the Delaware Trustee, and the Royalty Trust unitholders with respect to the Royalty Trust (the royalty trust agreement); and (2) McMoRan, as grantor, and the Royalty Trust, as grantee, entered into the master conveyance of overriding royalty interests (the master conveyance) pursuant to which McMoRan conveyed to the Royalty Trust the overriding royalty interests in future production from the subject interests. Other than (a) its formation, (b) its receipt of contributions and loans from FCX for administrative and other expenses as provided for in the royalty trust agreement, (c) its payment of such administrative and other expenses, (d) its receipt of the conveyance of the overriding royalty interests from McMoRan pursuant to the master conveyance, and (e) its receipt of royalties from McMoRan, the Royalty Trust has not conducted any activities. The Trustee has no involvement with, control over, or responsibility for, any aspect of any operations on or relating to the subject interests.
Prior to 2016, the Trustee was paid the sum of
$150,000
per year, in advance, until the first year in which the Royalty Trust received royalty payments pursuant to the conveyances of the overriding royalty interests, at which time such sum was increased to
$200,000
per year. Because the Royalty Trust received royalties related to the onshore Highlander subject interest in the second quarter of 2015, the Trustee's compensation increased to
$200,000
per year beginning in 2016. Additionally, the Trustee receives reimbursement for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the administration of the Royalty Trust. The Trustee’s compensation is paid out of the Royalty Trust’s assets. The Trustee has a lien on the Royalty Trust’s assets to secure payment of its compensation and any indemnification expenses and other amounts to which it is entitled under the royalty trust agreement.
McMoRan previously informed the Trustee that since 2008, McMoRan's Inboard Lower Tertiary/Cretaceous drilling activities (below the salt weld, i.e., the listric fault) have confirmed McMoRan's belief relating to its geologic model and the highly prospective nature of this geologic trend. McMoRan believes that data from nine Inboard Lower Tertiary/Cretaceous wells drilled to date indicate the presence of geologic formations that are analogous to productive formations in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico and onshore in the Gulf Coast region. Eight of these wells were included in the subject interests, along with additional exploration prospects that will also be burdened by the overriding royalty interests. However, McMoRan has informed the Trustee that it has no plans to pursue, has relinquished, or has allowed to expire all subject interests except for the onshore Highlander subject interest. Additionally, McMoRan has informed the Trustee that it is unlikely to drill additional Inboard Lower Tertiary/Cretaceous wells at the current time, considering existing natural gas prices and the cost of drilling and completing these wells. McMoRan has also informed the Trustee that as annual rentals on leases outside the currently producing unit at the onshore Highlander subject interest become due, it will decide whether to pay or not pay its proportional share of such rentals. Under the operating agreement applicable to these leases, McMoRan is obligated to offer its interest in any acreage it decides to release to its co-lessees free and clear of the overriding royalty interest. Subsequent to
June 30, 2016
, McMoRan has elected to release its interest in certain leases at the onshore Highlander subject interest outside the currently producing unit, representing approximately
12,638
net acres.
In the event on or before
December 5, 2017
, McMoRan acquires a leasehold interest covering the same area covered by a terminated lease, or acquires additional leasehold interests associated with any of the subject interests, such newly acquired leasehold interests will become part of the subject interests.
Currently, only the onshore Highlander subject interest has any reserves classified as proved, probable or possible and has established commercial production. The Royalty Trust has no ability to direct or influence the exploration or development of the subject interests. In addition, neither FCX nor McMoRan is under any obligation to fund or to commit any other resources to the exploration or development of the subject interests. To the extent that McMoRan does not fund the exploration and development of the subject interests, or if for any other reason sufficient production from the subject interests in commercial quantities is not achieved or maintained, Royalty Trust unitholders will not realize any value from their investment in the royalty trust units.
As previously disclosed, the formal process conducted by FCX involving multiple third-party oil and gas industry and financial participants to evaluate alternatives did not identify a buyer for the entire oil and gas business; however, FCX continues to engage in discussions with parties interested in potential select asset sales or joint venture transactions. See Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in the Royalty Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2015
, filed with the SEC for more information.
On April 19, 2016, the Royalty Trust received a letter from the OTC Markets Group Inc. notifying the Royalty Trust that, because the bid price of the royalty trust units had closed below $0.10 per unit for more than 30 consecutive calendar days, the Royalty Trust no longer meets the Standards for Continued Qualification for the OTCQX U.S. tier of the over-the-counter, or OTC, markets (OTCQX U.S.) set forth in Section 3.2b of the OTCQX Rules for U.S. Companies. The notice does not affect the Royalty Trust's quotation on the OTCQX U.S. at this time, and the royalty trust units are expected to continue to be quoted under the symbol "GULTU," subject to the matters discussed below.
In accordance with Section 3.2b in the OTCQX Rules for U.S. Companies, the Royalty Trust has a period of 180 calendar days, or until October 17, 2016, in which to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement of the OTCQX U.S. In order to regain compliance, the bid price of the royalty trust units must close at or above $0.10 per unit for a minimum of ten consecutive trading days during this 180-day period. If the Royalty Trust does not demonstrate compliance with the minimum bid price requirement by October 17, 2016, the royalty trust units will be moved from the OTCQX U.S. to the OTC Pink tier of the OTC markets, which could adversely affect the market price, trading volume, liquidity and resale price of the royalty trust units.
The Royalty Trust intends to monitor the bid price of the royalty trust units until October 17, 2016, and will consider potentially available options that might enable the Royalty Trust to regain compliance with the OTCQX U.S. quotation requirements. There can be no assurance that the Royalty Trust will be able to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement or maintain compliance with the other OTCQX U.S. quotation requirements. At the time of this filing, the Royalty Trust has not determined to take any other action in response to the letter from the OTC Markets Group Inc. The closing bid price for the royalty trust units was
$0.07
on
August 3, 2016
.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Pursuant to the royalty trust agreement, FCX has agreed to pay annual trust expenses up to a maximum amount of
$350,000
, with no right of repayment or interest due, to the extent the Royalty Trust lacks sufficient funds to pay administrative expenses. No such contributions were made during the three- or six-month periods ended
June 30, 2016
. During the three-month period ended
June 30, 2015
, FCX contributed
$350,000
to the Royalty Trust with respect to this arrangement. In addition to such annual contributions, FCX has agreed to lend money, on an unsecured, interest-free basis, to the Royalty Trust to fund the Royalty Trust's ordinary administrative expenses as set forth in the royalty trust agreement. Since inception, FCX has loaned
$650,000
to the Royalty Trust under this arrangement, none of which had been repaid as of
June 30, 2016
. All funds the Trustee borrows to cover expenses or liabilities, whether from FCX or from any other source, must be repaid before the Royalty Trust unitholders will receive any distributions.
Pursuant to the royalty trust agreement, FCX agreed to provide and maintain a
$1.0 million
stand-by reserve account or an equivalent letter of credit for the benefit of the Royalty Trust to enable the Trustee to draw on such reserve account or letter of credit to pay obligations of the Royalty Trust if its funds are inadequate to pay its obligations at any time. Currently, with the consent of the Trustee, FCX may reduce the reserve account or substitute a letter of credit with a different face amount for the original letter of credit or any substitute letter of credit. In connection with this arrangement, FCX has provided
$1.0 million
in the form of a reserve fund cash account to the Royalty Trust. As of
June 30, 2016
, the Royalty Trust had not drawn any funds from the reserve account, and FCX had not requested a reduction of such reserve account.
As of
June 30, 2016
, only the onshore Highlander subject interest had established commercial production. In accordance with the master conveyance, in the second quarter of 2015, the Royalty Trust began receiving royalties from McMoRan. During the three- and six-month periods ended
June 30, 2016
, the Royalty Trust received royalties from McMoRan resulting from the onshore Highlander subject interest's production of
$128,918
and
$298,962
, respectively. Additionally, the Royalty Trust received royalties of
$120,475
from McMoRan during the three- and six-month periods ended
June 30, 2015
. Royalties are paid to the Royalty Trust on the last day of the month following the month in which production payments are received by McMoRan in accordance with the terms of the master conveyance. Royalties received by the Royalty Trust will not result in immediate distributions to the Royalty Trust
unitholders as royalties are first subject to payment of loans outstanding, administrative expenses of the Royalty Trust and the establishment of a cash reserve for payment of future liabilities as determined at the discretion of the Trustee. Royalty receipts were not sufficient to both repay the Royalty Trust's existing indebtedness and to cover administrative expenses of the Royalty Trust during the three- and six-month periods ended
June 30, 2016
or the three- and six-month periods ended
June 30, 2015
. As a result, there were no distributions paid to Royalty Trust unitholders during such period. Additionally, there are no distributions anticipated during the remainder of
2016
. The Royalty Trust's only other sources of liquidity are mandatory annual contributions, any loans and the required standby reserve account or letter of credit from FCX. As a result, any material adverse change in FCX's or McMoRan's financial condition or results of operations could materially and adversely affect the Royalty Trust and the underlying royalty trust units.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The Royalty Trust has no off-balance sheet arrangements. The Royalty Trust has not guaranteed the debt of any other party, nor does the Royalty Trust have any other arrangements or relationships with other entities that could potentially result in unconsolidated debt, losses or contingent obligations.
THE SUBJECT INTERESTS
The royalty trust units represent beneficial interests in the Royalty Trust, which holds a
5%
gross overriding royalty interest in future production from each of the subject interests during the life of the Royalty Trust. An "overriding" royalty interest in general represents a non-operating interest in an oil and gas property that provides the owner a specified share of production without any related operating expenses or development costs and is carved out of an oil and gas lessee's working or cost-bearing interest in the lease. In contrast, a "working" or "cost-bearing" interest in general represents an operating interest in an oil and gas property that provides the owner a specified share of production that is subject to all production expenses and development costs. An owner of a working or cost-bearing interest, subject to the terms of an applicable operating agreement, generally has the right to participate in the selection of a prospect, drilling location or drilling contractor, to propose the drilling of a well, to determine the timing and sequence of drilling operations, to commence or shut down production, to take over operations, or to share in any operating decision. An owner of an overriding royalty interest in general has none of the rights described in the preceding sentence, and neither the Royalty Trust nor the Royalty Trust unitholders has any such rights.
As more fully discussed below, McMoRan has informed the Trustee that it has no plans to pursue, has relinquished, or has allowed to expire all subject interests except for the onshore Highlander subject interest.
The subject interests consist of
20
specified Inboard Lower Tertiary/Cretaceous prospects (which have target depths generally greater than
18,000
feet total vertical depth) located in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico and onshore in South Louisiana, one of which began commercial production in 2015, and the rest of which are exploration prospects. The offshore subject interests consist of the following exploration prospects: (1) Barataria; (2) Barbosa; (3) Blackbeard East; (4) Blackbeard West; (5) Blackbeard West #3; (6) Bonnet; (7) Calico Jack; (8) Captain Blood; (9) Davy Jones; (10) Davy Jones West; (11) Drake; (12) England; (13) Hook; (14) Hurricane; (15) Lafitte; (16) Morgan; and (17) Queen Anne's Revenge. The onshore subject interests consist of (1) Highlander; (2) Lineham Creek; and (3) Tortuga. Other than the onshore Highlander subject interest, which began commercial production on
February 25, 2015
, the onshore subject interests are currently exploration prospects. McMoRan does not own
100%
of the estimated working interest associated with any of the subject interests. The overriding royalty interests in future production from the subject interests burden all of McMoRan's leasehold interests associated with such prospects as of
December 5, 2012
, and will burden any leasehold interests associated with such prospects that McMoRan acquires on or before
December 5, 2017
, up to the estimated working interests reflected in the master conveyance (subject to McMoRan's right to dispose of a portion of the working interests to a percentage not less than the estimated working interests reflected in the master conveyance). Each of the overriding royalty interests has been, or will be, proportionately reduced based on McMoRan's working interest to equal the product of
5%
multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the working interest held by McMoRan and its affiliates associated with the applicable subject interest (subject to a cap equal to McMoRan's estimated working interest (equal to the working interest McMoRan owns or expects to acquire and as reflected in the master conveyance) associated with each subject interest, on a prospect-by-prospect basis) and the denominator of which is
100%
.
As of
December 5, 2012
, the date of the merger agreement, the subject interests comprised all of McMoRan's Inboard Lower Tertiary/Cretaceous exploration prospects. Additional Inboard Lower Tertiary/Cretaceous exploration
prospects developed by McMoRan (other than those reflected below) will not be included in the subject interests. As of
June 30, 2016
, McMoRan had acquired working interests in additional Inboard Lower Tertiary/Cretaceous exploration prospects that are not part of the subject interests.
There were no impairment charges recorded for the three- or six-month periods ended
June 30, 2016
. An impairment charge of
$89.5 million
, representing the carrying value associated with the offshore England and onshore Tortuga subject interests, was recorded for the six-month period ended June 30, 2015 (
$83.4 million
of which was recorded for the three-month period ended
June 30, 2015
). At that time McMoRan informed the Trustee that it did not plan to drill or conduct operational activities on these subject interests prior to their lease expiration dates.
McMoRan has informed the Trustee that it has no plans to pursue, has relinquished, or has allowed to expire all subject interests except for the onshore Highlander subject interest. Additionally, McMoRan has informed the Trustee that it is unlikely to drill additional Inboard Lower Tertiary/Cretaceous wells at the current time, considering existing natural gas prices and the cost of drilling and completing these wells. McMoRan has also informed the Trustee that as annual rentals on leases outside the currently producing unit at the onshore Highlander subject interest become due, it will decide whether to pay or not pay its proportional share of such rentals. Under the operating agreement applicable to these leases, McMoRan is obligated to offer its interest in any acreage it decides to release to its co-lessees free and clear of the overriding royalty interest. Subsequent to
June 30, 2016
, McMoRan has elected to release its interest in certain leases at the onshore Highlander subject interest outside the currently producing unit, representing approximately
12,638
net acres.
In the event on or before
December 5, 2017
, McMoRan acquires a leasehold interest covering the same area covered by a terminated lease, or acquires additional leasehold interests associated with any of the subject interests, such newly acquired leasehold interests will become part of the subject interests, and if this were to occur, it is expected that the Royalty Trust's overriding royalty interest would be
5%
of McMoRan's estimated working interest as indicated in the master conveyance.
Information regarding McMoRan's estimated working interest and the Royalty Trust's estimated overriding royalty interest for each subject interest as of
June 30, 2016
, is set forth below.
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Subject Interest
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McMoRan's Estimated
Working
Interest Related to the Subject Interests
|
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Operator
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Royalty Trust's Estimated
Overriding
Royalty Interest
(5% proportionately
reduced to reflect
the Estimated
Working Interest)
|
Davy Jones
(a)
|
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—
|
|
McMoRan
|
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—
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Blackbeard East
(a)
|
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—
|
|
McMoRan
|
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—
|
Lafitte
(b)
|
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72%
|
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McMoRan
|
|
3.6%
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Blackbeard West
(a)
|
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—
|
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McMoRan
|
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—
|
England
(a)
|
|
—
|
|
McMoRan
|
|
—
|
Barbosa
(a)
|
|
—
|
|
McMoRan
|
|
—
|
Morgan
(a)
|
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—
|
|
McMoRan
|
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—
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Barataria
(a)
|
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—
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McMoRan
|
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—
|
Blackbeard West #3
(a)
|
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—
|
|
McMoRan
|
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—
|
Drake
(a)
|
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—
|
|
McMoRan
|
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—
|
Davy Jones West
(a)
|
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—
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|
McMoRan
|
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—
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Hurricane
(c)
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72%
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McMoRan
|
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3.6%
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Hook
(a)
|
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—
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McMoRan
|
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—
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Captain Blood
(a)
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—
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McMoRan
|
|
—
|
Bonnet
(a)
|
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—
|
|
McMoRan
|
|
—
|
Queen Anne's Revenge
(a)
|
|
—
|
|
McMoRan
|
|
—
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Calico Jack
(a)
|
|
—
|
|
McMoRan
|
|
—
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Highlander
(d)
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72%
|
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McMoRan
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3.6%
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Lineham Creek
(a)
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—
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Chevron
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—
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Tortuga
(a)
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—
|
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McMoRan
|
|
—
|
(a) McMoRan's lease rights to the offshore Davy Jones, Blackbeard East, Blackbeard West, England, Barbosa, Morgan, Barataria, Blackbeard West #3, Drake, Davy Jones West, Hook, Captain Blood, Bonnet, Queen Anne's Revenge and Calico Jack subject interests and the onshore Lineham Creek and Tortuga subject interests have expired or were relinquished.
(b) McMoRan has informed the Trustee that it has assigned its interest in the lease related to the offshore Lafitte subject interest. The Royalty Trust's overriding royalty interest will continue to burden the assigned interest and such interest will terminate when the related lease expires or is relinquished.
(c) McMoRan has informed the Trustee that it does not plan to develop the offshore Hurricane subject interest. McMoRan's working interest and the Royalty Trust's overriding royalty interest in the related lease will terminate when the related lease rights expire.
(d) McMoRan has informed the Trustee that as annual rentals on leases outside the currently producing unit at the onshore Highlander subject interest become due, it will decide whether to pay or not pay its proportional share of such rentals. Under the operating agreement applicable to these leases, McMoRan is obligated to offer its interest in any acreage it decides to release to its co-lessees free and clear of the overriding royalty interest. Subsequent to
June 30, 2016
, McMoRan has elected to release its interest in certain leases at the onshore Highlander subject interest outside the currently producing unit, representing approximately
12,638
net acres.
The Royalty Trust has no ability to direct or influence the exploration or development of the subject interests. In addition, neither FCX nor McMoRan is under any obligation to fund or to commit any other resources to the exploration or development of the subject interests. Further, FCX and McMoRan each has the right to elect not to
participate in drilling or other operations conducted by other working interest owners with respect to the subject interests.
The Royalty Trust will dissolve on the earliest to occur of (i)
June 3, 2033
, (ii)
the sale of all of the overriding royalty interests, (iii)
the election by the Trustee following its resignation for cause (as more fully described in the royalty trust agreement), (iv) a vote of the holders of
80%
(which after
June 3, 2018
, will be reduced to
66⅔%
) or more of the outstanding royalty trust units held by persons other than FCX or any of its affiliates, at a duly called meeting of the Royalty Trust unitholders at which a quorum is present, or (v) the exercise by FCX of the right to call all of the royalty trust units as described in the next paragraph.
The overriding royalty interests terminate upon the termination of the Royalty Trust, other than in certain limited circumstances where the Royalty Trust has been permitted to transfer the overriding royalty interests to a third party pursuant to the terms of the royalty trust agreement (in which case the overriding royalty interests may extend through
June 3, 2033
).
FCX has a call right with respect to the outstanding royalty trust units at
$10
per royalty trust unit, which may not be exercised prior to
June 3, 2018
.
In addition, at any time after
June 3, 2018
, if the royalty trust units are then listed for trading or admitted for quotation on a national securities exchange or any quotation system and the volume weighted average price per royalty trust unit is equal to
$0.25
or less for the immediately preceding consecutive nine-month period, FCX may purchase all, but not less than all, of the outstanding royalty trust units at a price of
$0.25
per royalty trust unit so long as FCX tenders payment within
30
days following the end of such nine-month period.
Exploration, Development and Production Activities
.
McMoRan has a position in the Inboard Lower Tertiary/Cretaceous natural gas trend, located onshore in South Louisiana.
The onshore Highlander subject interest began commercial production on
February 25, 2015
. Prior to this date there had been no commercial production of hydrocarbons from any of the subject interests. During the three-month period ended
June 30, 2016
, the Royalty Trust received royalties of
$128,918
from McMoRan related to
89,479
thousand cubic feet (Mcf) of natural gas production attributable to the onshore Highlander subject interest with average post-production expense costs of
$0.27
per Mcf and an average receipt price of
$1.71
per Mcf. During the six-month period ended
June 30, 2016
, the Royalty Trust received royalties of
$298,962
from McMoRan related to
189,281
Mcf of natural gas production attributable to the onshore Highlander subject interest with average post-production expense costs of
$0.25
per Mcf and an average receipt price of
$1.83
per Mcf. During this period, the Highlander well was shut-in for approximately one month for well and facility maintenance activities and resumed production on
February 26, 2016
. During the three- and six-month periods ended
June 30, 2015
, the Royalty Trust received royalties of
$120,475
from McMoRan related to
50,626
Mcf of natural gas production attributable to the onshore Highlander subject interest with average post-production expense costs of
$0.24
per Mcf and an average receipt price of
$2.62
per Mcf.
Acreage
.
At
June 30, 2016
, McMoRan owned or controlled (through options to lease) interests in approximately
407
oil and gas leases in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico and onshore in South Louisiana, covering approximately
56,199
gross acres (
33,734
acres net to McMoRan's interests) associated with the subject interests. Approximately
55%
of those net acres associated with the subject interests are scheduled to expire during the remainder of
2016
through
2018
, unless a lease on such acreage is perpetuated by a lease holding operation. Whether or not McMoRan maintains the acreage scheduled to expire is determined by McMoRan's current and future plans, over which the Royalty Trust has no control. Additionally, McMoRan has informed the Trustee that it is unlikely to drill additional Inboard Lower Tertiary/Cretaceous wells at the current time, considering existing natural gas prices and the cost of drilling and completing these wells. McMoRan has also informed the Trustee that as annual rentals on leases outside the currently producing unit at the onshore Highlander subject interest become due, it will decide whether to pay or not pay its proportional share of such rentals. Under the operating agreement applicable to these leases, McMoRan is obligated to offer its interest in any acreage it decides to release to its co-lessees free and clear of the overriding royalty interest. Subsequent to
June 30, 2016
, McMoRan has elected to release its interest in certain leases at the onshore Highlander subject interest outside the currently producing unit, representing approximately
12,638
net acres.
The following table reflects the oil and gas acreage associated with the subject interests in which McMoRan owned rights to the related leases as of
June 30, 2016
.
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Developed
|
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Undeveloped
(a)
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Gross
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Net
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Gross
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Net
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Acres
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Acres
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Acres
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Acres
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Offshore (federal waters)
|
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—
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|
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—
|
|
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23,403
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11,912
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Onshore South Louisiana
|
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9,000
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|
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6,480
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23,796
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15,342
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Total as of June 30, 2016
|
|
9,000
|
|
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6,480
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47,199
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27,254
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(a) As a result of impairment charges recorded in 2015 and prior years, there is no carrying value associated with undeveloped acreage remaining at
June 30, 2016
.
The following table reflects changes in McMoRan's acreage associated with the subject interests during the six-month period ended
June 30, 2016
.
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Gross Acres
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Net Acres
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Offshore
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Onshore
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Offshore
|
|
Onshore
|
|
Total as of December 31, 2015
|
|
32,627
|
|
|
57,482
|
|
|
15,232
|
|
|
39,559
|
|
|
Lease expirations and other
|
|
9,224
|
|
(a)
|
24,686
|
|
(a)
|
3,320
|
|
(a)
|
17,737
|
|
(a)
|
Total as of June 30, 2016
|
|
23,403
|
|
|
32,796
|
|
|
11,912
|
|
|
21,822
|
|
|
(a) Lease expirations and other is primarily related to the expiration or relinquishment of leases associated with the offshore England subject interest and the onshore Highlander, Lineham Creek and Tortuga subject interests during the six-month period ended
June 30, 2016
, in addition to adjustments resulting from surveys and title examinations. McMoRan has informed the Trustee that it has no plans to pursue, has relinquished, or has allowed to expire all subject interests except for the onshore Highlander subject interest. Additionally, McMoRan has informed the Trustee that it is unlikely to drill additional Inboard Lower Tertiary/Cretaceous wells at the current time, considering existing natural gas prices and the cost of drilling and completing these wells. McMoRan has also informed the Trustee that as annual rentals on leases outside the currently producing unit at the onshore Highlander subject interest become due, it will decide whether to pay or not pay its proportional share of such rentals. Under the operating agreement applicable to these leases, McMoRan is obligated to offer its interest in any acreage it decides to release to its co-lessees free and clear of the overriding royalty interest. Subsequent to
June 30, 2016
, McMoRan has elected to release its interest in certain leases at the onshore Highlander subject interest outside the currently producing unit, representing approximately
12,638
net acres.
In the event on or before
December 5, 2017
, McMoRan acquires a leasehold interest covering the same area covered by a terminated lease, or acquires additional leasehold interests associated with any of the subject interests, such newly acquired leasehold interests will become part of the subject interests.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Royalty Income.
As of
June 30, 2016
, only the onshore Highlander subject interest had established commercial production. In accordance with the master conveyance, during the three-month period ended
June 30, 2016
, the Royalty Trust received royalties of
$128,918
from McMoRan related to
89,479
Mcf of natural gas production attributable to the onshore Highlander subject interest with average post-production expense costs of
$0.27
per Mcf and an average receipt price of
$1.71
per Mcf. During the six-month period ended
June 30, 2016
, the Royalty Trust received royalties of
$298,962
from McMoRan related to
189,281
Mcf of natural gas production attributable to the onshore Highlander subject interest with average post-production expense costs of
$0.25
per Mcf and an average receipt price of
$1.83
per Mcf. During this period, the Highlander well was shut-in for approximately one month for well and facility maintenance activities and resumed production on
February 26, 2016
. During the three- and six-month periods ended
June 30, 2015
, the Royalty Trust received royalties of
$120,475
from McMoRan related to
50,626
Mcf of natural gas production attributable to the onshore Highlander subject interest with average post-production expense costs of
$0.24
per Mcf and an average receipt price of
$2.62
per Mcf.
Administrative Expenses.
During the three-month periods ended
June 30, 2016
and
2015
, the Royalty Trust paid administrative expenses of
$244,782
and
$213,502
, respectively. During the six-month periods ended
June 30, 2016
and
2015
, the Royalty Trust paid administrative expenses of
$380,863
and
$341,669
, respectively. Administrative expenses, which consisted primarily of audit, legal and trustee expenses incurred in connection with the administration of the Royalty Trust, increased for the three- and six-month periods ended
June 30, 2016
as compared to the corresponding
2015
period primarily due to timing of payments, which are recorded in accordance with the modified cash basis of accounting.
NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
The Royalty Trust does not expect recently issued accounting standards to have a significant impact on its future financial statements and disclosures.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
This Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than statements of historical facts, such as any statements regarding the future financial condition of the Royalty Trust or the trading market for the royalty trust units, all statements regarding McMoRan’s plans for the subject interests, the potential results of any drilling on the subject interests by the applicable operator, anticipated interests of McMoRan and the Royalty Trust in any of the subject interests, McMoRan’s geologic model and the nature of the geologic trend in the Gulf of Mexico and onshore in South Louisiana discussed in this Form 10-Q, and all statements regarding any belief or understanding of the nature or potential of the subject interests. The words “anticipates,” “may,” “can,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “intends,” “likely,” “will,” “should,” “to be,” "potential," and any similar expressions and/or statements that are not historical facts are intended to identify those assertions as forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees or assurances of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated, projected or assumed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the outcome of FCX's strategic review of its oil and gas business; the risk that the subject interests will not produce hydrocarbons; general economic and business conditions; variations in the market demand for, and prices of, oil and natural gas; drilling results; changes in oil and natural gas reserve expectations; the potential adoption of new governmental regulations; decisions by FCX or McMoRan not to develop the subject interests; any inability of FCX or McMoRan to develop the subject interests; damages to facilities resulting from natural disasters or accidents; fluctuations in the market price, volume and frequency of the trading market for the royalty trust units; the Royalty Trust's ability to comply with the OTCQX U.S. quotation requirements and take actions necessary to maintain quotation of the royalty trust units on the OTCQX U.S.; and other factors described in Part I, Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in the Royalty Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2015
, filed with the SEC, as updated by the Royalty Trust's subsequent filings with the SEC.
Investors are cautioned that test results may not be indicative of future production rates or of the amounts of hydrocarbons that a well may produce, and that many of the assumptions upon which forward-looking statements are based are likely to change after such forward-looking statements are made, which the Royalty Trust cannot control. The Royalty Trust cautions investors that it does not intend to update its forward-looking statements, notwithstanding any changes in assumptions, changes in business plans, actual experience, or other changes, and the Royalty Trust undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law.