UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
(Mark One)
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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012
OR
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For the transition period
from to
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Commission File Number 001-33147
Constellation Energy Partners LLC
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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Delaware
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11-3742489
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(State of organization)
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
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1801 Main Street, Suite 1300
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Houston, Texas
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77002
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
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(Zip Code)
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Telephone Number: (832) 308-3700
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of each class
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Name of each exchange on which registered
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Common Units representing Class B Limited Liability
Company Interests
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}
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NYSE MKT LLC
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities
Act. Yes
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No
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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Act. Yes
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No
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90
days. Yes
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No
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every
Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such
files). Yes
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No
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Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will
not be contained, to the best of registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form
10-K.
x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large
accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of
the Exchange Act. (Check one):
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Large accelerated filer
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Accelerated filer
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Non-accelerated filer
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(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
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Smaller reporting company
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act) Yes
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No
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Aggregate market value of Constellation Energy Partners LLC Common Units, without par value, held by non-affiliates as of
June 30, 2012 was approximately $28,083,116 based upon NYSE MKT LLC closing price.
Indicate the number of shares
outstanding of each of the registrants classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Common Units
outstanding on March 7, 2013: 23,740,730 common units.
Documents Incorporated by Reference: The definitive proxy statement for the
registrants Annual Meeting of Unithholders (to be filed within 120 days of the close of the registrants fiscal year) is incorporated by reference into Part III.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2
PART
I
Item 1. Business
Overview
We are a limited liability company formed in 2005 to acquire oil
and natural gas reserves. All of our oil and natural gas reserves are currently located in the Mid-Continent region of the United States, including the Cherokee Basin of Kansas and Oklahoma, the Woodford Shale in Oklahoma, and the Central Kansas
Uplift in Kansas. Our primary business objective is to create long-term value and to generate stable cash flows allowing us to invest in our business to grow our reserves and production. We operate our oil and natural gas properties as one
business segment: the exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas.
We completed our initial public
offering on November 20, 2006 and our Class B common units are listed on the NYSE MKT LLC (NYSE MKT) under the symbol CEP.
Unless the context requires otherwise, any reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to Constellation Energy Partners, we, our, us, CEP, or
the Company means Constellation Energy Partners LLC and its subsidiaries. References in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to PostRock and CEPM are to PostRock Energy Corporation and its subsidiary Constellation
Energy Partners Management, LLC, respectively. References in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to Exelon and CEPH are to Exelon Corporation and its subsidiary Constellation Energy Partners Holdings, LLC, respectively.
References in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to Constellation, are to Constellation Energy Group, Inc.
Business Strategy
Our primary business objective is to create long-term value and to generate stable cash flows allowing us to invest in our
business to grow our reserves and production. We plan to achieve our objective by executing our business strategy, which is to:
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organically grow our business by increasing reserves and production through what we believe to be low-risk development drilling that focuses on capital
efficient production growth and oil opportunities on our existing properties in the Mid-Continent region;
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reduce the volatility in our cash flows resulting from changes in oil and natural gas commodity prices and interest rates through efficient hedging
programs; and
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make accretive acquisitions of oil and natural gas properties characterized by a high percentage of proved developed oil and natural gas reserves with
long-lived, stable production and low-risk drilling opportunities.
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Since 2009, our primary focus has been
to reduce our outstanding debt while maintaining a limited capital expenditure program to expand our oil production and reserves. On February 28, 2013, we sold all of our natural gas properties in the Black Warrior Basin of Alabama and used $50.0
million of the proceeds to reduce our outstanding debt. As of March 7, 2013, we have reduced our outstanding debt from a high of $220.0 million in 2009 to $34.0 million and extended our reserve-based credit facility until March 31, 2014.
During 2012, we have increased our oil production by 15.2% and increased our proved oil reserves to approximately 1.1 million barrels. In addition to the extension of our existing reserve-based credit facility to March 31, 2014, we expect to
further extend or refinance it again in early 2013. After this anticipated extension or refinancing of our existing reserve-based credit facility in the early part of 2013, we intend to continue our business strategy to expand our oil production and
reserves while actively pursuing opportunities, including merger and acquisitions, which could lead to enhanced unitholder value.
Oil and
Natural Gas Properties
Our total estimated proved reserves at December 31, 2012, were approximately 93.0 Bcfe,
approximately 97% of which were classified as proved developed, and 93% of which are natural gas and 7% of which are oil. At December 31, 2012, we owned approximately 2,832 net producing wells. Our total average proved reserve-to-production
ratio is approximately 7.5 years and our portfolio decline rate is 13 to 15 percent based on our estimated proved reserves at December 31, 2012 and production for the month ended December 31, 2012.
Below is a description of our operations and our oil and natural gas properties by basin at December 31, 2012:
Cherokee Basin
The
Cherokee Basin is located in the Mid-Continent region in southern Kansas, northern Oklahoma, and western Missouri and covers approximately 26,000 square miles. The predominant production is natural gas produced from coals and shales and natural gas
and
3
oil from conventional formations. In 2007, we invested in the Cherokee Basin, pursuing a coalbed methane resource play, which was economic due to high natural gas prices, targeting Pennsylvanian
coals. As coalbed methane wells were drilled, oil zones were also found and, when economical, developed. With current low natural gas prices and higher oil prices, our investment focus is now exclusively targeting oil development by exploiting
Cherokee Basin oil opportunities previously uneconomical due to commodity price levels. Natural gas discovered with oil, which continues to be a value add, and is handled by our extensive existing natural gas and water gathering infrastructure.
Our production is primarily from the Pennsylvanian coals, shales, and sands. Major zones are the Mulky Iron Post Shale; Weir
Pitt Coal; and Skinner, Red Fork, and Bartlesville sands. Deeper Mississippian, Woodford (Devonian), and Arbuckle (Ordovician) formations are potentially productive; but currently minimal to our reserve values. The eastward movement of the
Mid-Continent horizontal Mississippian drilling into Osage County offers future value to our ownership position in the area if commercial success can be demonstrated.
Average Cherokee Basin well depth is approximately 2000 feet in the western portion of the Basin (Osage County, Oklahoma) and approximately 1000 feet in the east (Nowata County, OK). Similarly to depth,
average well costs are approximately $340,000 west and approximately $170,000 east. Offsetting our lower drilling costs are the relatively low reserves and low daily production rates per well. Typical coalbed methane wells produce over a period of
20 to over 50 years and on average have less favorable economic characteristics than conventional gas wells. A typical oil completion in these areas declines over one to two years and then produces at a steady rate similar to a coalbed methane well.
At December 31, 2012, we owned approximately 2,310 net producing wells in the Cherokee Basin. The natural gas coming
from our wells is low pressure due to the shallow producing formations and compression is needed to move the natural gas to point of sale. We operate in excess of 20 booster compressors and stations to get our natural gas to sales points owned by
ONEOK Gas Transportation, L.L.C., Scissortail Energy, LLC, Enogex Gas Gathering & Processing, LLC, Enogex Inc., and Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. We operate a substantial portion of our production in the Cherokee Basin. We also
own a 50% working interest in most wells operated by Bullseye Operating, L.L.C. (Bullseye) and a 50% interest in Bullseye itself. Bullseye operates approximately 500 gross wells in Washington and Nowata Counties in Oklahoma and sells its
production through the Cotton Valley producers cooperative, Cotton Valley Compression, L.L.C. Our average gross working interest in our Cherokee Basin properties is approximately 80%, with our average gross working interest in our operated
properties being approximately 100% and our average gross working interest in our non-operated Cherokee Basin properties being approximately 50%.
Our estimated proved reserves in the Cherokee Basin at December 31, 2012 were approximately 37.8 Bcfe, approximately 93% of which were classified as proved developed and 83% of which were natural gas
and 17% of which were oil.
Woodford Shale
The Woodford Shale is located in the Arkoma Basin in southern Oklahoma. We own 82 well bores, or approximately 9 net producing wells, located in Coal and Hughes counties. This area is gas-rich and is
characterized by multiple productive zones. The production of natural gas in the Woodford Shale comes from shale rock that has been stimulated through fracturing jobs after a horizontal well has been drilled. Woodford Shale wells are typically 6,000
to 11,000 feet deep and cost approximately $3.3 million on average to drill and complete with multiple fracs required. The gas-bearing shale section ranges from 120 to 200 feet thick. As of December 31, 2012, our 82 wells had an average gross
working interest of 11.3% and an average net revenue interest of 9.1%. Approximately 90% of the wells are operated by affiliates of Devon Energy Corporation (Devon) and Newfield Exploration Mid-Continent, Inc. (Newfield),
with the remaining wells operated by three additional companies. We do not have any additional drilling or leasehold rights associated with our Woodford Shale properties and expect declining production rates and limited future capital expenditures
for these wells.
Our estimated proved reserves in the Woodford Shale at December 31, 2012 were approximately
5.5 Bcfe, all of which were classified as proved developed and all of which were natural gas.
4
Central Kansas Uplift
The Central Kansas Uplift is an oil prone region located in Kansas and southern Nebraska. As of December 31, 2012, we had a gross acreage position of 3,710 acres, or approximately 893 net acres and
we owned 27 gross wells, or approximately 6 net producing wells. Over 2 billion barrels of oil have been produced in this region from multiple horizons. The Ordovician age Arbuckle Formation and the upper Pennsylvanian age LansingKansas City
reservoirs are the primary targets. Multiple completions per wellbore are common and the typical carbonate reservoirs are stimulated with an inexpensive acid treatment. Drilling depth for this region ranges from 3,500 feet to 4,900 feet depending on
targets and location. Wells in this region typically cost approximately $450,000 to drill and complete.
Murfin Drilling
Company, Inc., an experienced oil producer in Kansas, operates all of our wells in this region. Several proven undeveloped locations exist on the acreage and behind pipe opportunities exist in several well bores. The average gross working interest
in the wells is approximately 20% and the average net revenue interest is approximately 16%.
Our estimated proved reserves in
the Central Kansas Uplift at December 31, 2012 were approximately 0.2 Bcfe, approximately 100% of which were classified as proved developed and all of which were oil.
Black Warrior Basin
All of our natural gas properties that we owned in the
Black Warrior Basin at December 31, 2012, were sold to a third party on February 28, 2013, and a majority of the sales proceeds were used to reduce our outstanding debt level. These properties will be classified as discontinued operations
under the guidance provided in
205-20 Presentation of Financial StatementsDiscontinued Operations
and
ASC 360-10-45-13 Change of Classification After Balance Sheet Date but Before Issuance of Financial Statements
in the first
quarter of 2013. For additional information about this sale that was authorized by our board of managers on January 31, 2013, refer to
Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operation
and
Item 9. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data Note 16. Subsequent Events
. In
Outlook
, we also discuss our 2013 operating and business plan after the consideration of the sale
of our properties in the Black Warrior Basin.
The Black Warrior Basin is one of the oldest and most prolific coalbed methane
basins in the country. The multi-seam vertical wells in the basin range from 500 to 3,700 feet deep, with coal seams averaging a total of 25 to 30 feet of net pay per well. Coalbed methane wells are generally shallower and produce less gas than
conventional natural gas wells, require pumping units to remove the water from the wells, which we refer to as dewatering, and require fracturing to enhance production. These wells also tend to start producing gas and water immediately upon
completion, with production usually increasing as the well is dewatered. However, production rates from newly drilled and completed wells in the Black Warrior Basin do not always increase as the formation dewaters. Once dewatered, coalbed methane
wells often demonstrate fairly constant production rates for up to five years and then production rates start declining. Wells in the area usually cost approximately $500,000 to drill and complete. Typical coalbed methane wells produce over a period
of 20 to over 50 years and on average have less favorable economic characteristics than conventional gas wells. We generally owned a 100% working interest (an approximate 75% average net revenue interest) in our wells in the Black Warrior Basin,
where we had 507 producing natural gas wells as of December 31, 2012.
The Black Warrior Basin is located in western
Tuscaloosa County and Pickens County, Alabama, and encompasses a gross surface area of approximately 109 square miles. The field has been primarily developed on 80-acre spacing. However, the State of Alabama has approved either 40-acre or 80-acre
spacing field-wide. The field had seven compressor stations with 800-1,200 horsepower compressors, approximately 170 miles of gas gathering lines (wells to header) and approximately 25 miles of transportation lines (header to compressor). In
addition, there were approximately 152 miles of water gathering pipes and 28 miles of water transportation pipes.
A majority
of the wells we owned were drilled in the basin before 1992 in order to take advantage of certain tax credits. One of the typical well sites consists of a single gas well and associated gas/water separators connected via subsurface piping. Gas flows
from the wellhead to compressor facilities, where over 85% of the gas is routed to a natural gas pipeline operated by Southern Natural Gas Company (SONAT). The remaining natural gas is routed to the Southcross Alabama Gathering System,
L.P. pipeline (Southcross Alabama). Water produced from the wells is transferred via a facility pipeline to one of our three wastewater treatment facilities, where particulates are removed by settling and the water is then discharged
into the Black Warrior River in accordance with effluent standards established by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) and our National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. In addition,
there are three saltwater disposal wells that are not currently in use.
The estimated proved reserves that we used to own in
the Black Warrior Basin at December 31, 2012 were approximately 49.4 Bcfe, approximately 99% of which were classified as proved developed and all of which were natural gas.
5
Proved Oil and Natural Gas Reserves
The following table reflects our estimates of proved oil and natural gas reserves based on the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) definitions that were used to prepare our financial statements for the periods presented. The Standardized Measure values shown in the table are not intended to represent the current market values of our estimated proved oil and
natural gas reserves and include the reserves associated with the natural gas properties that we sold in Black Warrior Basin on February 28, 2013.
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Reserve data:
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2012 (b)
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2011
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2010
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Estimated proved reserves:
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Oil (MMBbl)
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1.1
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0.9
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0.5
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Natural gas (Bcf)
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86.5
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195.7
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166.0
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Total proved reserves (Bcfe)
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93.0
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201.3
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169.0
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Estimated proved developed reserves:
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Oil (MMBbl)
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0.9
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0.6
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0.4
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Natural gas (Bcf)
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84.7
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148.7
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124.9
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Total proved developed reserves (Bcfe)
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90.0
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152.6
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127.6
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Estimated proved undeveloped reserves:
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Oil (MMBbl)
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0.2
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0.3
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0.1
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Natural gas (Bcf)
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1.8
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46.9
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41.1
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Total proved undeveloped reserves (Bcfe)
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3.0
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48.7
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41.4
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Proved developed reserves as a percent of total reserves
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97
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%
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76
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%
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76
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%
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Standardized Measure (in millions) (a)
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$
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89.7
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$
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160.7
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$
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131.7
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(a)
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Standardized Measure is the present value of estimated future net revenues to be generated from the production of proved reserves. It is determined using SEC-required
prices and costs in effect as of the time of estimation without giving effect to non-property related expenses (such as general and administrative expenses or debt service costs) and discounted using an annual discount rate of 10%. Our Standardized
Measure does not include the impact of derivative transactions or future federal income taxes because we are not subject to federal income taxes.
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(b)
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Our total proved reserves in the Black Warrior Basin at December 31, 2012, were 49.4 Bcfe of natural gas, of which 49.1 Bcfe were proved developed reserves and 0.3
Bcfe were proved undeveloped reserves.
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Proved developed reserves are reserves that can be expected to be
recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods. Proved undeveloped reserves are proved reserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells drilled to known reservoirs on undrilled acreage for which the existence
and recoverability of such reserves can be estimated with reasonable certainty, or from existing wells on which a relatively major expenditure is required to establish production. The SEC provides a complete definition of proved reserves, proved
developed reserves and proved undeveloped reserves in Rule 4-10(a) of Regulation S-X.
At December 31, 2012, 2011, and
2010, Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. (NSAI), an independent petroleum engineering firm, prepared an estimate of all our proved reserves. We used NSAIs estimates of our proved reserves to prepare our financial
statements. NSAI maintains a degreed staff of highly competent technical personnel. The average experience level of their technical staff of engineers, geoscientists, and petro physicists exceeds 20 years, including 5 to 15 years with a major oil
company. We maintain an internal technical staff of engineers and geoscience professionals which have an average experience level that exceeds 27 years. Our activities with NSAI are coordinated by a reservoir engineer employed by us who has
approximately 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry and an engineering degree from the University of Tennessee and a masters of business administration from the University of New Orleans. He is a member of the Alabama Coalbed Methane
Association and the Society of Petroleum Engineers. He has prior reservoir engineering and reserves management experience at Exxon Mobil Corporation, Dominion Resources and Hilcorp Energy. He has extensive experience in managing oil and gas reserves
processes. He serves as the key technical person on our internal reserves committee, which reviews the reserve reports prepared by NSAI before the reports are reviewed by our audit committee of our board of managers and approved by our board of
managers.
We have a successful track record of developing our proved undeveloped reserves in both the Cherokee Basin and in
the Black Warrior Basin. We do not rely on any proprietary technology to drill our development wells. Since our formation in 2005, we have drilled 415 development wells on our proved undeveloped locations and intend to continue this pattern of
development drilling. Based on our structure as a limited liability company and our current business plans, our forecasted cash flow over the next 5 years is expected to be sufficient to fund this type of development drilling program on certain of
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our proved undeveloped locations. Using the SEC rules for estimating proved reserves, we only recorded proved undeveloped locations that are scheduled to be drilled within the next 5 years. Any
locations that are identified to be drilled beyond 5 years are classified as probable or possible reserves. We record our proved undeveloped locations typically at one offset location but we can also record proved undeveloped locations on one
section surrounding existing production subject to available infrastructure. We have the right to develop locations under our concession agreement with the Osage Nation in Osage County, Oklahoma, subject to its terms and conditions, until 2020 and
we have leasehold availability for our other proved undeveloped locations. During 2013, we currently expect our $19.0 million to $21.0 million capital budget to support a level of drilling activity that we anticipate to be sufficient to develop our
2013 inventory of proved undeveloped locations.
The following table summarizes our inventory of proved undeveloped locations
as of December 31, 2012, including those that we sold in the Black Warrior basin on February 28, 2013:
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Year PUD Is Scheduled To Be Developed (a)
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2013
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2014
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2015
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2016
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2017
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Number of Locations
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22
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6
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2
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2
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Equivalents-Bcfe
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1.0
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0.6
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0.8
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0.6
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Capital Estimate-$millions
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$
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5.1
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$
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1.0
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$
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0.7
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$
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$
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0.7
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(a)
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We had only one PUD location in the Black Warrior Basin booked in 2017 with 0.3 Bcfe and a capital estimate of $0.4 million.
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Our 2012 estimates of total proved reserves decreased 108.3 Bcfe from 2011 due to a lower SEC-required price for natural gas used to
calculate our reserves in 2012. Our reserve revisions of 97.2 Bcfe are primarily the result of lower natural gas prices. We added 2.0 Bcfe from extensions and discoveries in the Cherokee Basin reserves associated with oil opportunities. In addition,
we added 0.2 Bcfe of natural gas reserves in the Cherokee Basin and sold 0.2 Bcfe of reserves in the Central Kansas Uplift. The data in all of the above tables represents estimates only. Oil and natural gas reserve engineering is an inherently
subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of oil and natural gas that cannot be measured exactly. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and engineering, geological interpretation and
judgment. Accordingly, reserve estimates may vary from the quantities of oil and natural gas that are ultimately produced. No reserve data has been filed or included with reports to any governmental agency other than the SEC.
Future prices received for production and costs may vary, perhaps significantly, from the prices and costs assumed for purposes of these
estimates. The Standardized Measure shown should not be considered the current market value of our reserves. The 10% discount factor used to calculate present value, which is required, is not necessarily the most appropriate discount rate. The
present value, no matter what discount rate is used, is materially affected by assumptions as to timing of future production, which may prove to be inaccurate.
Oil and Natural Gas Prices
We have generally sold our natural gas
production based upon an index price reported in
Inside FERCs Gas Market Report
(Inside FERC) or at spot market prices applicable to the location of our natural gas production. Our realized pricing is primarily driven by the
Inside FERC prices for CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission Co. (East), Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America (Midcontinent), ONEOK Gas Transportation LLC (Oklahoma), Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Co. (Texas, Oklahoma) and Southern Star Central Gas
Pipeline Inc. (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas) with respect to our properties in the Cherokee Basin, the Inside FERC price for CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission Co. (East) with respect to our properties in the Woodford Shale, the Inside FERC price for
Southern Natural Gas Co. (Louisiana) (SONAT Inside FERC price) with respect to the properties we used to own in the Black Warrior Basin, and the applicable monthly average posted oil price with respect to our properties in the Central
Kansas Uplift and the Cherokee Basin. The following table summarizes year-end closing prices for the major indexes applicable to our business:
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Prices on January 1,
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Market Prices:
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2013
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2012
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2011
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Natural gas priceNYMEX (Henry Hub)
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$
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3.35
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$
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3.08
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$
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4.22
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Natural gas priceCenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission Co. (East)
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$
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3.24
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$
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2.97
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$
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3.96
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Natural gas priceNatural Gas Pipeline Co. of America (Midcontinent)
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$
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3.26
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$
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3.01
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$
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3.96
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Natural gas priceONEOK Gas Transportation LLC (Oklahoma)
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$
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3.24
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$
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3.04
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$
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4.10
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7
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Prices on January 1,
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Market Prices:
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2013
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2012
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2011
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Natural gas pricePanhandle Eastern Pipe Line Co. (Texas, Oklahoma)
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$
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3.23
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$
|
2.99
|
|
|
$
|
3.93
|
|
Natural gas priceSouthern Natural Gas Co. (Louisiana)
|
|
$
|
3.40
|
|
|
$
|
3.09
|
|
|
$
|
4.27
|
|
Natural gas priceSouthern Star Central Gas Pipeline Inc. (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas)
|
|
$
|
3.20
|
|
|
$
|
3.02
|
|
|
$
|
3.88
|
|
Oil priceWest Texas IntermediateCushing
|
|
$
|
91.83
|
|
|
$
|
98.83
|
|
|
$
|
91.38
|
|
We enter into derivative transactions in the form of hedging arrangements to reduce the impact of oil and
natural gas price volatility on our cash flow from operations. Currently, we use fixed price swaps to hedge oil and natural gas prices. We also use basis swaps to limit our exposure to differences between the NYMEX natural gas price and the price at
the location where we sell our natural gas. By removing the price volatility from a significant portion of our oil and natural gas production, we have mitigated, but not eliminated, the potential effects of fluctuating commodity prices on our cash
flow from operations for those periods. All of our commodity derivative positions are outlined in Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsCash Flow From Operations-Open Commodity
Hedge Positions.
Production and Price History
The following table sets forth information regarding net production of oil and natural gas and certain price and cost information for each of the periods indicated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2012
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2011
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2010
|
|
Net Production:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural gas production (MMcf)
|
|
|
11,890
|
|
|
|
13,047
|
|
|
|
14,670
|
|
Oil and liquids production (MBbl)
|
|
|
121
|
|
|
|
105
|
|
|
|
61
|
|
Total production (MMcfe)
|
|
|
12,613
|
|
|
|
13,679
|
|
|
|
15,037
|
|
Average daily production (Mcfe/d)
|
|
|
34,462
|
|
|
|
37,477
|
|
|
|
41,197
|
|
Average Sales Prices:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural gas price per Mcf with hedge settlements
(a)
|
|
$
|
4.66
|
|
|
$
|
10.25
|
|
|
$
|
7.09
|
|
Natural gas price per Mcf without hedge settlements
|
|
$
|
2.67
|
|
|
$
|
3.96
|
|
|
$
|
4.34
|
|
Oil and liquids price per Bbl with hedge settlements
|
|
$
|
104.76
|
|
|
$
|
103.52
|
|
|
$
|
76.97
|
|
Oil and liquids price per Bbl without hedge settlements
|
|
$
|
98.54
|
|
|
$
|
97.76
|
|
|
$
|
76.97
|
|
Total price per Mcfe with hedge settlements
(a)
|
|
$
|
5.39
|
|
|
$
|
10.57
|
|
|
$
|
7.23
|
|
Total price per Mcfe without hedge settlements
|
|
$
|
3.46
|
|
|
$
|
4.53
|
|
|
$
|
4.54
|
|
Average Unit Costs Per Mcfe:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Field operating expenses
(b)
|
|
$
|
2.21
|
|
|
$
|
2.25
|
|
|
$
|
2.26
|
|
Lease operating expenses
|
|
$
|
2.04
|
|
|
$
|
2.04
|
|
|
$
|
2.05
|
|
Production taxes
|
|
$
|
0.18
|
|
|
$
|
0.21
|
|
|
$
|
0.21
|
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
$
|
1.27
|
|
|
$
|
1.21
|
|
|
$
|
1.35
|
|
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
|
|
$
|
1.65
|
|
|
$
|
1.62
|
|
|
$
|
5.67
|
|
Asset impairments
|
|
$
|
5.82
|
|
|
$
|
0.21
|
|
|
$
|
18.12
|
|
(a)
|
Price per Mcfe including hedges includes realized and unrealized mark-to-market losses on derivative transactions that did not qualify for hedge accounting treatment.
The average sales price for natural gas per Mcf with hedge settlements for 2011 includes the $41.3 million impact of our hedge restructuring. Average sales price per Mcf for 2011 excluding the hedge restructuring was $7.09.
|
(b)
|
Field operating expenses include lease operating expenses (average production costs) and production taxes.
|
The following table sets forth information regarding net production of oil and natural gas and selected price and cost information by
geographic region for each of the periods indicated:
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cherokee Basin
|
|
|
Woodford Shale
|
|
|
Black Warrior Basin
|
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
Natural gas production (MMcf)
|
|
|
6,902
|
|
|
|
7,924
|
|
|
|
9,400
|
|
|
|
580
|
|
|
|
609
|
|
|
|
567
|
|
|
|
4,408
|
|
|
|
4,514
|
|
|
|
4,703
|
|
Oil and liquids production (MBbl)
|
|
|
121
|
|
|
|
105
|
|
|
|
61
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total production (MMcfe)
|
|
|
7,625
|
|
|
|
8,556
|
|
|
|
9,767
|
|
|
|
580
|
|
|
|
609
|
|
|
|
567
|
|
|
|
4,408
|
|
|
|
4,514
|
|
|
|
4,703
|
|
Natural gas price per Mcf without hedge settlements
|
|
$
|
2.63
|
|
|
$
|
3.97
|
|
|
$
|
4.20
|
|
|
$
|
2.65
|
|
|
$
|
4.18
|
|
|
$
|
5.30
|
|
|
$
|
2.91
|
|
|
$
|
4.13
|
|
|
$
|
4.50
|
|
Oil and liquids price per Bbl without hedge settlements
|
|
$
|
92.10
|
|
|
$
|
97.76
|
|
|
$
|
76.97
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total price per Mcfe without hedge settlements
|
|
$
|
3.84
|
|
|
$
|
4.77
|
|
|
$
|
4.52
|
|
|
$
|
2.65
|
|
|
$
|
4.18
|
|
|
$
|
5.30
|
|
|
$
|
2.91
|
|
|
$
|
4.13
|
|
|
$
|
4.50
|
|
Lease Operating Expense per Mcfe
|
|
$
|
2.42
|
|
|
$
|
2.33
|
|
|
$
|
2.33
|
|
|
$
|
1.67
|
|
|
$
|
1.46
|
|
|
$
|
1.58
|
|
|
$
|
1.43
|
|
|
$
|
1.58
|
|
|
$
|
1.51
|
|
Productive Wells
The following table sets forth information at December 31, 2012, relating to the productive wells in which we owned a working interest as of that date, including the 507 gross and net wells that we
sold in the Black Warrior Basin on February 28, 2013. Productive wells consist of producing wells and wells capable of producing commercial quantities of oil or natural gas, including oil and natural gas wells awaiting pipeline connections to
commence deliveries. Gross wells are the total number of producing wells in which we have an interest, and net wells are the sum of our fractional working interests owned in gross wells.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural Gas
|
|
|
Oil
|
|
|
|
December 31,
2012
|
|
|
December 31,
2012
|
|
|
|
Gross
|
|
|
Net
|
|
|
Gross
|
|
|
Net
|
|
Operated
|
|
|
2,383
|
|
|
|
2,315
|
|
|
|
175
|
|
|
|
175
|
|
Non-operated
|
|
|
714
|
|
|
|
325
|
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
3,097
|
|
|
|
2,640
|
|
|
|
225
|
|
|
|
192
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Drilling Activity
The following table sets forth information with respect to oil and natural gas wells drilled and completed by us during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010. The information should not be
considered indicative of future performance, nor should it be assumed that there is necessarily any correlation between the number of productive wells drilled, quantities of reserves found, or economic value. Productive wells are those that are
capable of producing commercial quantities of oil or natural gas, regardless of whether they produce a reasonable rate of return. No wells were drilled in the Black Warrior Basin and no exploratory wells were drilled on any of our properties during
the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 or 2010.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
December 31,
|
|
|
Wells in
Progress as
of
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2012
|
|
Gross:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Development
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Productive
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
35
|
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
14
|
|
Dry
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recompletions
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
49
|
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
|
85
|
|
|
|
31
|
|
|
|
18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
December 31,
|
|
|
Wells in
Progress as
of
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2012
|
|
Net:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Development
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Productive
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
35
|
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
14
|
|
Dry
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recompletions
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
49
|
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
|
85
|
|
|
|
31
|
|
|
|
18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Developed and Undeveloped Acreage
The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2012 relating to our leasehold acreage, including acreage in the Black Warrior Basin that we sold on February 28, 2013.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Developed
Acreage
(a)
|
|
|
Undeveloped
Acreage
(b)
|
|
|
|
Gross
(c)
|
|
|
Net
(d)
|
|
|
Gross
(c)
|
|
|
Net
(d)
|
|
Total (e)
|
|
|
259,302
|
|
|
|
248,933
|
|
|
|
31,593
|
|
|
|
28,887
|
|
(a)
|
Developed acres are acres pooled within or assigned to productive wells/units.
|
(b)
|
Undeveloped acres are acres on which wells have not been drilled or acres that have not been pooled into a productive unit.
|
(c)
|
A gross acre is an acre in which a working interest is either fully or partially leased. The number of gross acres may include minerals not under lease as a result of
leasing some but not all joint mineral owners under any given tract.
|
(d)
|
A net acre is deemed to exist when the sum of the fractional ownership working interests in gross acres equals one. The number of net acres is the sum of the fractional
working interests owned in gross acres expressed as whole numbers and fractions thereof.
|
(e)
|
At December 31, 2012, we had 44,862 gross acres and 44,372 net acres in the Black Warrior Basin of Alabama.
|
Our acreage includes areas leased under a concession agreement that we have with The Osage Nation in Osage County, Oklahoma, which
provides us with the exclusive right to lease for coalbed methane on up to 560,000 acres within Osage County and the exclusive right for a period of ninety (90) days after drilling a coalbed methane well on any such acreage to lease for oil and
natural gas on such acreage. Generally, we have the right each year to elect to license up to a certain amount of acreage under the concession agreement for such year for a specified license payment, and a license must be obtained before we then
lease the acreage. During the term of the concession agreement, however, we have the exclusive right to lease the acreage covered thereunder for coalbed methane unless we notify The Osage Nation in writing that we have no intention to lease any
particular acreage. Our concession agreement with The Osage Nation is in four phases as follows: (i) Phase I (four year term of January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2008) during which not less than 440 production wells were to
have been drilled and completed; (ii) Phase II (four year term of January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2012) during which a cumulative of not less than 680 production wells were to have been drilled and completed;
(iii) Phase III (four year term of January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2016) during which a cumulative of not less than 920 production wells shall be drilled and completed; and (iv) Phase IV (four year term of
January 1, 2017 through December 21, 2020) during which a cumulative of not less than 1,160 production wells shall be drilled and completed, such that not less than a total of 1,160 production wells shall be drilled in Phases I through IV.
Generally, in addition to the drilling and completion of a producing well counting as a production well, the drilling of two dry holes are counted as one production well, a recompletion of an existing wellbore is counted as
one production well, a horizontal well is counted as two production wells and a salt water disposal well is counted as one production well under the concession agreement (hereinafter production well
credits). As of December 31, 2012, we believe we have earned approximately 770 total production well credits and our total developed and undeveloped leased acreage totaled approximately 65,840 acres. This level of credits was sufficient
to achieve the specific drilling targets under the concession agreement through Phase II, which ended December 31, 2012. If the drilling requirement for a particular phase is not met, we have the option to make a payment equal to the shortfall
of production wells required to be drilled multiplied by $50,000 per well in order to be deemed to have complied with the requirement for that phase. If the drilling requirement of a particular phase were not met (either through drilling of
production wells or payment as described above), The Osage Nations sole remedy would be the termination of the concession agreement at the expiration of the then current phase, provided that such termination would have no effect upon our wells
already drilled and the leases that we have acquired that are producing in paying quantities. We believe The Osage Nation has granted at least two concessions for the drilling of conventional oil and gas on acreage which overlaps certain of the
acreage covered by our earlier granted concession and it has taken the position that we are not entitled to conventional oil and gas leases under the terms of our concession agreement where we have not drilled a coalbed methane well first.
10
Leases
Our leases are concentrated in Oklahoma (78%), Alabama (15%), and Kansas (7%). We have approximately 1,633 leases in the Cherokee Basin on approximately 232,555 net acres. Our concession agreement with
the Osage Nation in Osage County, Oklahoma provides us the exclusive right to lease for coalbed methane wells on approximately 560,000 net acres within the Osage Nation until its expiration in 2020 or any earlier termination according to its terms
and conditions. We will earn new acreage within the concession as we drill additional wells. The typical oil and gas lease agreement covering our other Cherokee Basin properties provides for the payment of royalties to the mineral owner for all oil
and natural gas produced from any wells drilled on or pooled with the leased property. In the Cherokee Basin, depending on the location of a particular well, the total lease burden on our operated properties is generally 20%,
generally corresponding to a 80% net revenue interest to us, and on our non-operated properties is generally a 40% net revenue interest. We have 58 leases with a gross acreage position of 3,710 acres in the Central Kansas Uplift, or approximately
893 net acres. We have no leasehold rights associated with our 82 well bores in the Woodford Shale. We have approximately 662 leases in the Black Warrior Basin on over 44,372 net acres. The typical oil and gas lease agreement covering our Black
Warrior Basin properties provides for the payment of royalties to the mineral owner for all oil and natural gas produced from any wells drilled on or pooled with the leased property. There are other burdens affecting certain of the leases in the
form of overriding royalty interests. On our properties in the Black Warrior Basin, we own a 100% working interest, or an approximate 75% net revenue interest, in substantially all our developed acreage. Depending on the location of a particular
well, the total lease burden is generally 25%, generally corresponding to a 75% lease net revenue interest to us. In some instances, our lease net revenue interest may be as high as 83%.
Under the oil and gas lease agreements covering our productive wells, such leases have generally been perpetuated beyond their stated
lease term and generally will not expire unless and until associated production ceases. Such leases are said to be held by production and do not require us to make lease payments beyond the royalty amount stipulated by each lease. The
area held by production from a particular well is typically held by lease or applied to a pooled unit for such well or as specified under state law. Barring establishment of commercial production, most of our leases not currently held by production
will expire. Approximately 11%, 5% and 5% of our total net undeveloped acreage of 28,887 acres is held under leases that have remaining primary terms expiring in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. Of these expiration amounts in 2013, 2014, and 2015,
approximately 75%, 95%, and 97%, respectively, apply to our concession agreement with the Osage Nation. If these leases do expire, we have the exclusive right to acquire a new coalbed methane lease on any expired acreage under our concession
agreement with the Osage Nation until its expiration in 2020 or any earlier termination according to its terms and conditions. Substantially all of the remaining expiring acreage in all three years is primarily located in Kansas and Oklahoma.
Operations
General
We were the operator of approximately 88% of the 2,832 net wells in which we owned an interest at December 31, 2012.
The administration and operation of our properties may be divided into the following functions:
Executive Management
Our executive management team develops and approves our business plans. They report directly to our board of managers, which is composed
of three independent managers and two managers appointed by the holder of our Class A units. We have the responsibility for the overall operations of our fields and developing our drilling programs and other production enhancement
opportunities. Field operations and the related technical support services including geology, engineering, land administration, and accounting are conducted by employees of one of our subsidiaries. Our employees and contractors approve the design
and the development, maintenance, recompletion and workover for all of the wells in our fields. Our drilling programs are designed by us and implemented by various contractors. We do not own drilling rigs or other oil field service equipment used
for drilling wells on our properties.
Field Operations
Our day-to-day operations in the Cherokee Basin are conducted by field employees of one of our subsidiaries under the supervision of our management team. The majority of the field operations team is
composed of employees that were transitioned to us as a result of the acquisitions we made in the basin. This group is responsible for the operation of the existing production wells, pipelines, compressors and water handling facilities, as well as
interaction with regulatory authorities with regard to permitting and compliance matters. In addition, they assist with the execution of the drilling and maintenance programs and the management of the contractors responsible for the drilling and
completion of these wells. We currently have field offices located in Coffeyville, Kansas and Skiatook, Oklahoma.
11
Historically, when we drill new wells in the Cherokee Basin, our construction and roustabout
services have been provided by various third party vendors. The drilling rigs have been provided by and our vertical wells drilled by Pense Bros. Drilling Co., Inc. and our directional drilling done by Scientific Drilling International, Inc. Other
contract vendors conduct the cementing operations, provide well logging services and provide the design for, and execute upon, the well stimulation program. We evaluate our service providers in the basin from time to time.
For our 82 well bores located in the Woodford Shale, the operators of the propertiesprimarily Devon and Newfieldconduct all
operations on our behalf. For our 27 non-operated wells located in the Central Kansas Uplift, Murfin Drilling Company Inc., the operator, conducts all operations on our behalf.
The day-to-day operations in the Black Warrior Basin that were sold on February 28, 2013, were conducted by field employees of one
of our subsidiaries under the supervision of our management team. The field operations team had extensive experience in the Black Warrior Basin and had been operating in the Black Warrior Basin since the early 1990s. This group was responsible for
the operation of the existing production wells, pipelines, compressors and water handling facilities, as well as interaction with Alabama regulatory authorities with regard to permitting and compliance matters. In addition, they assisted with the
execution of the drilling and maintenance program and the management of the contractors responsible for the drilling and completion of these wells. We had a field office located in Buhl, Alabama.
Historically, when we drilled new wells in the Black Warrior Basin, the drilling rigs were provided by and the wells were drilled by
Pense Bros. Drilling Co., Inc., an established Black Warrior Basin drilling contractor. Other contract vendors conducted the cementing operations, provided well logging services and provided the design for, and executed upon, the well stimulation
program.
Geology and Engineering
Our technical team is located in our corporate headquarters in Houston, Texas, and our field office in Skiatook, Oklahoma. We have retained engineers, geologists and consultants who have experience in
drilling and producing both conventional oil and natural gas, as well as coalbed methane reserves. As a result, we have the ability to draw from a base of experienced and capable talent to select drilling locations and completion approaches to
improve productivity and generate and test new ideas to improve production and reserves from existing wells through the use of recompletions, optimizing compression and gathering systems. NSAI, an independent petroleum engineering firm, has been
retained to prepare the estimates for all of our proved reserves.
Land Administration
Our lease positions and our concession with the Osage Nation are managed by our employees with assistance from contract landmen. These
employees and landmen provide assistance with management of our current lease positions, acquisitions of new leases, permitting for drilling and laying pipelines as well as negotiating agreements with landowners for the use of their property. We
have land staff in our field offices as required, with our land administration function in Houston, Texas.
Revenue Accounting
Through December 31, 2012, our revenue accounting function for all of our properties has been outsourced to
Schlumberger, ePrime Services, a Texas-based revenue accounting firm that is a subsidiary of Schlumberger LTD, a supplier of technology, project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas industry. Schlumberger manages the cash flow
associated with our interests in the oil and natural gas properties, including the payment of invoices, calculation and payment of royalties, and receipt of revenues from oil and natural gas sales, and provides accounting information used to
generate financial statements. Beginning in January 2013, these functions will now be handled by our internal accounting department in Houston, Texas.
Marketing and Major Customers
We manage our oil and natural gas marketing
efforts and actively monitor our credit exposure to our major customers. We currently sell our natural gas produced in the Cherokee Basin to Macquarie Energy LLC, Keystone Gas Corporation, Scissortail Energy, LLC, Cotton Valley Compression, L.L.C.,
Cherokee Basin Pipeline, LLC, and ONEOK Energy Services Company, L.P. Our oil production in the Cherokee Basin is primarily purchased by Sunoco Partners Marketing and Terminals L.P. and Coffeyville Resources Refining and Marketing, LLC. Our natural
gas production in the Woodford Shale and our oil production in the Central Kansas Uplift is marketed by the operators of our properties. We sold our natural gas that we produced in the Black Warrior Basin to J.P. Morgan Ventures Energy Corporation
and to Southcross Alabama Gathering System, L.P. until we sold these natural gas properties on February 28, 2013.
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Hedging and Risk Management Activities
Our hedging and risk management activities are managed by employees of one of our subsidiaries. Their activities are monitored by our risk
committee composed of internal employees and quarterly risk reports are made to our board of managers and to the audit committee of our board of managers. We have entered into derivative transactions with banks who participate in our reserve-based
credit facility. The derivative transactions are done to reduce our exposure to short-term fluctuations in oil and natural gas prices and interest rates and to achieve more predictable cash flows. None of our derivatives currently require cash
collateral and we do not enter into speculative or proprietary trading activities. We also maintain an active insurance program to provide for coverage to insure against various losses and liabilities arising from our operations and drilling
activities.
Markets and Competition
We operate in a competitive environment for acquiring properties, marketing oil and natural gas and retaining trained personnel. Many of our competitors have substantially greater financial, technical and
personnel resources than ours. As a result, our competitors may be able to outbid us for oil and natural gas properties and exploratory prospects, more competitively price their production, or utilize superior technical resources than our financial
or personnel resources permit. Our ability to acquire additional prospects and to find and develop reserves in the future will depend on our ability to evaluate and select suitable properties and to consummate transactions in a competitive
environment with limited access to capital. There is substantial competition for the limited capital available for investment in the oil and natural gas industry. Neither PostRock and its affiliates nor Exelon and its affiliates are restricted from
competing with us.
We are also affected by competition for drilling rigs, completion rigs and the availability of related
equipment. In the past, the oil and natural gas industry has experienced shortages of drilling and completion rigs, equipment, pipe and personnel, which has delayed development drilling activities and has caused significant increases in the prices
for this equipment and personnel. We are unable to predict when, or if, such shortages may occur or how they would affect our development and drilling program. To date, however, we have not experienced such shortages. In addition, over the past
several years, our field employees have been working with teams of drilling and completion contractors and have developed relationships that should enable us to mitigate the risks associated with equipment availability.
Title to Properties
When we acquire our interests in oil and natural gas properties, we obtain a title opinion or perform a review on the most significant
leases in the fields. As a result, title opinions or reviews have been obtained on a significant portion of our properties. In some instances, and as is customary in our industry, we conduct only a cursory review of the title to certain properties
on which we do not have proved reserves. To the extent title opinions or other investigations reflect title requirements on those properties, we are typically responsible for curing any material title matters at our expense. We generally will not
commence drilling operations on a property until we have cured or waived any such title matters or deemed the title risk sufficiently mitigated to justify proceeding with operations on the property.
We believe that we have satisfactory title to all of our material assets. Title to these properties is subject to encumbrances in some
cases, such as customary interests generally retained in connection with acquisition of real property, customary royalty interests and contract terms and restrictions, liens under operating agreements, liens related to environmental liabilities
associated with historical operations, liens for current taxes and other burdens, easements, restrictions and minor encumbrances customary in the oil and natural gas industry. We believe that none of these liens, restrictions, easements, burdens and
encumbrances will materially detract from the value of these properties or from our interest in these properties or will materially interfere with our use in the operation of our business. In addition, we believe that we have obtained sufficient
rights-of-way grants and permits from public authorities and private parties to operate our business.
Environmental Matters and Regulation
General
Our operations are subject to stringent and complex federal, state, local, and Native American tribal laws and regulations governing environmental protection as well as the discharge of materials into the
environment. These laws and regulations may, among other things:
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require the acquisition of various permits before drilling commences;
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restrict the types, quantities and concentrations of various substances, including water and waste, that can be released into the environment in
connection with oil and natural gas drilling, production and transportation activities;
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limit or prohibit drilling activities on lands lying within wilderness, wetlands and other protected areas; and
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require remedial measures to mitigate pollution from former and ongoing operations, such as requirements to close pits and plug abandoned wells.
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These laws, rules and regulations may also restrict the rate of oil and natural gas production below the
rate that would otherwise be possible in the absence of such regulations. The regulatory burden on the oil and natural gas industry increases the cost of doing business in the industry and consequently affects profitability. Additionally, federal,
state, local, and Native American tribal authorities frequently revise environmental laws and regulations, and any changes that result in more stringent and costly waste handling, disposal and cleanup requirements for the oil and natural gas
industry could have a significant impact on our operating costs.
Environmental laws and regulations that could have a
material impact on the oil and natural gas industry and our operations include the following:
Waste Handling
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and comparable state laws, regulate the generation,
transportation, treatment, storage, disposal and cleanup of hazardous wastes and non-hazardous wastes. Under the auspices of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the individual states administer some or all of the
provisions of RCRA, sometimes in conjunction with their own, more stringent requirements. Drilling fluids, produced waters and most other wastes associated with the exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas are currently
regulated under RCRAs non-hazardous waste provisions. Although we do not believe the current costs of managing any of our wastes are material under presently applicable laws, any future reclassification of oil and natural gas exploration,
development and production wastes as hazardous wastes, could increase our costs to manage and dispose of wastes.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as the Superfund law, imposes
joint and several liability, without regard to fault or legality of conduct, on classes of persons who are considered to be responsible for the release of a hazardous substance into the environment. These persons include the owner or operator of the
site where the release occurred, and anyone who disposed of, or arranged for the disposal of a hazardous substance released at the site. Under CERCLA, such persons may be subject to joint and several liability for the costs of cleaning up the
hazardous substances that have been released into the environment, for damages to natural resources and for the costs of certain health studies. In addition, it is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for
personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the hazardous substances released into the environment.
We currently
own, lease or operate numerous properties that have been used for oil and natural gas exploration and production for a number of years. Although we believe operating and waste disposal practices utilized in the past with respect to these properties
were typical for the industry at the time, hazardous substances, wastes or hydrocarbons may have been released on or under the properties owned or leased by us, or on or under other locations, including off-site locations, where such substances have
been taken for disposal. In addition, these properties have been operated by third parties or by previous owners or operators whose treatment and disposal of hazardous substances, wastes or hydrocarbons was not under our control. These properties
and the substances disposed or released on them may be subject to CERCLA, RCRA and analogous state laws. Under such laws, we could be required to remove previously disposed substances and wastes, remediate contaminated property or perform remedial
plugging or pit closure operations to prevent future contamination.
Water Discharges
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act (the Clean Water Act), and comparable state laws, impose restrictions and strict
controls with respect to the discharge of pollutants, including spills and leaks of produced water and other oil and natural gas wastes, into waters of the United States. The discharge of pollutants into regulated waters is prohibited, except in
accordance with the terms of a permit issued by the EPA or an analogous state agency. Federal and state regulatory agencies can impose administrative, civil and criminal penalties, impose investigatory or remedial obligations and issue injunctions
limiting or preventing our operations for non-compliance with discharge permits or other requirements of the Clean Water Act and analogous state laws and regulations. In the Cherokee Basin, water is pumped from producing wells, collected, and
injected into approved salt water disposal wells in the deeper Arbuckle formation. In the Black Warrior Basin, we maintain permits issued pursuant to the Clean Water Act that authorize the discharge of produced waters and similar wastewaters
generated as a result of our operations, in accordance with effluent standards established by the ADEM. ADEM is currently developing new effluent standards for discharge of produced water from coalbed methane wells which we will be required to meet
when such standards are in effect. While we believe we are in substantial compliance with these permits and the other
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requirements of the Clean Water Act, we have several ponds used for the treatment and storage of wastewaters in the Black Warrior Basin that were found to have leaked into the subsurface beneath
the ponds at some time prior to our ownership. ADEM is aware of these leaks. We replaced certain of the liners beneath these treatment ponds and, under the supervision of the ADEM, are monitoring for the presence of chlorides in the subsurface to
better determine what cleanup measures, if any, may be required by the ADEM. Based on present information, we do not believe we will incur material costs or penalties in connection with this matter, but there can be no assurance that significant
costs will not be incurred if future data reveals elevated levels of chlorides beneath the ponds.
Oil Pollution Act
The Oil Pollution Act was enacted in 1990 to amend the Clean Water Act in large part due to the Exxon Valdez incident.
Under the Oil Pollution Act, the EPA was directed to promulgate regulations which would create a comprehensive prevention, response, liability and compensation program to deal with oil discharged into U.S. navigable waters. In particular, the
regulations developed under the Oil Pollution Act strengthened the requirements that apply to Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plans. The Oil Pollution Act imposes liability for removal costs and damages resulting from an incident in
which oil is discharged into navigable waters and establishes liability for damages for injuries to, or loss of, natural resources.
Air Emissions
The Clean Air Act, and comparable state laws, regulates
emissions of various air pollutants through air emissions permitting programs and the imposition of other requirements. In addition, the EPA, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment have
developed, and continue to develop, stringent regulations governing emissions of toxic air pollutants at specified sources. We believe our operations are in substantial compliance with federal and state air emission standards. Federal and state
regulatory agencies can impose administrative, civil and criminal penalties, impose investigatory or remedial obligations and issue injunctions limiting or preventing our operations for non-compliance with air permits or other requirements of the
federal Clean Air Act and comparable state laws.
The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change became effective in February 2005. Under the Protocol, participating nations are required to implement programs to reduce emissions of certain gases, generally referred to as greenhouse gases that are suspected of contributing to global
warming. The United States is not currently a participant in the Protocol. The United States Congress has not passed legislation directed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In December 2009, however, the EPA finalized its endangerment finding for
greenhouse gas emissions which determines that the EPA has authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. The EPA has adopted rules that require the mandatory reporting of greenhouse gases from large stationary sources of
greenhouse gas emissions. Our operations do not qualify us as a large stationary source of greenhouse gas emission and we do not have a reporting requirement under that rule. Further, under final rules issued by the EPA in November 2010 and
subsequent amendments, requires certain owners and operators of onshore natural gas production to monitor and report greenhouse gas emissions beginning in 2012. We currently believe that it is not likely that we will have a reporting requirement for
greenhouse gases for 2012 and in future years for our current source categories. Under such rules, a reporting requirement arises for assorted source categories including production, process, transmission, storage and distribution of oil and
natural gas for any source category when 25,000 metric tons of CO2e or more per year in emissions are emitted. The production category extends to all equipment on well pads and associated with well pads, including compressors, generators,
separators, storage tanks, well drilling and completion equipment, and workover equipment and is to be aggregated on a hydrocarbon sub-basin level.
The EPA has also signaled that it will revise and develop new standards for greenhouse gas emissions that may impose additional limits on the greenhouse gas emissions that a new or modified facility may
emit. There may be additional legislation that requires the reporting of greenhouse gas emissions, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions or increased taxes on greenhouse gas emissions. Some states have already adopted legislation addressing
greenhouse gas emissions from various sources, primarily power plants. The oil and natural gas industry is a direct source of certain greenhouse gas emissions, namely carbon dioxide and methane, and future restrictions on such emissions could impact
our future operations. At this time, it is not possible to accurately estimate how potential future laws or regulations addressing greenhouse gas emissions or increased taxes on greenhouse gas emissions would impact our business.
Hydraulic Fracturing
Hydraulic fracturing is an important and common practice that is used to stimulate production of hydrocarbons. The process involves the injection of water, sand and chemicals under pressure into
formations to fracture the surrounding rock and stimulate production. The process is typically regulated by state oil and gas commissions. However, the EPA recently
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asserted federal regulatory authority over certain hydraulic fracturing practices and has commenced a study of the potential environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing activities, with final
results of the study anticipated to be available by 2014. Further, the Department of the Interior has released draft regulations governing hydraulic fracturing on federal and Native American oil and gas leases which would require lessees to file for
approval of well stimulation work before commencement of operations and require well operators to disclose the trade names and purposes of additives used in the fracturing fluids. Legislation has been introduced, but not adopted, in Congress to
provide for federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing and to require disclosure of the chemicals used in the fracturing process. In addition, some states have adopted, and other states are considering adopting, regulations that could restrict
hydraulic fracturing in certain circumstances. Currently, no states in which we utilize hydraulic fracturing have adopted these regulations. At this time, it is not possible to accurately estimate how potential future laws or regulations addressing
hydraulic fracturing would impact our business.
OSHA and Other Laws and Regulation
We are subject to the requirements of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and comparable state laws. The
OSHA hazard communications standard, the EPA community right-to-know regulations under Title III of CERCLA and similar state laws require that we organize and/or disclose information about hazardous materials used or produced in our operations. We
believe that we are in substantial compliance with these applicable requirements.
Our operations in the Cherokee Basin and in
the Woodford Shale in Oklahoma are subject to the rules and regulations of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Oil & Gas Conservation Division. Our operations in the Cherokee Basin and the Central Kansas Uplift in Kansas are subject to the
rules and regulations of the Kansas Corporation Commission, Oil & Gas Conservation Division. Our operations in the Black Warrior Basin in Alabama, which we sold in February 2013, were subject to the rules and regulations of the State Oil
and Gas Board of Alabama Governing Coalbed Methane Gas Operations. We believe we are in substantial compliance with these rules and regulations.
We believe that we are in substantial compliance with existing environmental laws and regulations applicable to our current operations and that our continued compliance with existing requirements should
not have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations. As of December 31, 2012, we had no accrued environmental obligations. We are not aware of any environmental issues or claims that will require material
capital expenditures or that will otherwise have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations. However, we cannot predict how future environmental laws and regulations may impact our operations, and therefore cannot provide
assurance that the passage of more stringent laws or regulations in the future will not have a negative impact on our financial condition, results of operations, or operating and investing cash flows.
Employees
As of
March 7, 2013, our subsidiary, CEP Services Company, Inc., had 84 employees. None of these employees are subject to a collective bargaining agreement.
Offices
We are headquartered in Houston, Texas. We also maintain field
offices in Coffeyville, Kansas, Dewey, Oklahoma, Skiatook, Oklahoma, and a technical office in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We own the field office buildings and land in Kansas and Oklahoma. In 2013, we intend to close our offices in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Dewey,
Oklahoma.
Available Information
Our internet address is
http://www.constellationenergypartners.com
. We make our website content available for informational purposes only. It should not be relied upon for investment
purposes, nor is it incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We make available free of charge on or through our website our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any
amendments to these reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material
with, or furnish it to, the SEC. The SEC maintains an internet website that contains these reports at
http://www.sec.gov
. The public may read and copy any materials that we file with the SEC at the SECs Public Reference Room at
100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. Information concerning the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (800) 723-0330.
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Item 1A. Risk Factors
Risks Related to Our Business
Drilling for and producing oil and natural gas are high risk activities with many uncertainties that could adversely affect our business, financial
condition, results of operation, operating cash flow, and any ability to pay distributions to our unitholders.
Our
drilling activities are subject to many risks, including the risk that we will not discover commercially productive reservoirs. Drilling for oil and natural gas can be uneconomic, not only from dry holes, but also from productive wells that do not
produce sufficient revenues to be commercially viable. In addition, our drilling and producing operations may be curtailed, delayed or cancelled as a result of other factors, including: the high cost, shortages or delivery delays of drilling rigs,
equipment, labor and other services; unexpected operational events and drilling conditions; decreases in oil and natural gas prices; limitations in the market for oil and natural gas; adverse weather conditions; facility or equipment malfunctions;
accidents; title problems; piping, casing or cement failures; compliance with environmental and other governmental requirements; unusual or unexpected geological formations; loss or damage to oilfield drilling and service tools; loss of drilling
fluid circulation; formations with abnormal pressures; environmental hazards, such as gas leaks, oil spills, compressor incidents, pipeline ruptures and discharges of toxic gases; water pollution; fires; accidents or natural disasters; blowouts,
craterings and explosions; uncontrollable flows of oil, natural gas or well fluids; and loss or theft of data due to cyber attacks.
Any of these events can cause substantial losses, including personal injury or loss of life, damage to or destruction or loss of property, natural resources, equipment, and data, pollution, environmental
contamination, loss of wells and regulatory penalties.
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 or the insurance companies from which we obtain insurance could become credit impaired and unable to
pay our claims. The occurrence of an event that is not fully covered by insurance could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to pay distributions.
Our identified drilling location inventories are scheduled out over several years, making them susceptible to uncertainties that could materially
alter the occurrence or timing of their drilling, resulting in temporarily lower cash from operations, which may impact our ability to pay distributions.
We have identified and scheduled drilling locations for our future multi-year drilling activities on our existing acreage. These identified drilling locations represent a significant part of our future
development drilling program. Our ability to drill and develop these locations depends on a number of factors, including the availability of capital, seasonal conditions, regulatory approvals, oil and natural gas prices, costs and drilling results.
In addition, no proved reserves are assigned to any of the potential drilling locations we have identified and therefore, there may be greater uncertainty with respect to the likelihood of drilling and completing successful commercial wells at these
potential drilling locations. Our final determination of whether to drill any of these drilling locations will be dependent upon the factors described above as well as, to some degree, the results of our drilling activities with respect to our
proved drilling locations. Because of these uncertainties, we do not know if the numerous drilling locations we have identified will be drilled within our expected timeframe or will ever be drilled or if we will be able to produce oil or natural gas
from these or any other potential drilling locations. In addition, unless production is established within the spacing units covering the undeveloped acres on which some of the locations are identified, the leases for such acreage will expire. As
such, our actual drilling activities may materially differ from those presently identified, which could have a significant adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and ability to pay distributions.
We must make sufficient maintenance capital expenditures to maintain our asset base. Unless we replace the reserves that we produce, our existing
reserves will decline, which may adversely affect our production and would adversely affect our cash from operations and our ability to pay distributions to our unitholders.
Producing oil and natural gas reservoirs generally are characterized by declining production rates that vary depending upon reservoir
characteristics and other factors. In the Cherokee Basin and in the Woodford Shale, coalbed methane production generally declines at a shallow rate after initial increases in production as a consequence of the dewatering process and oil and liquids
production steadily declines after initially higher production rates.
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The production from our existing reserves will decline over time. To offset this decline,
we must spend additional capital expenditures to drill and complete new wells or to acquire additional oil and natural gas reserves. Over the past three years, our capital expenditures were lower than the amount needed to replace our existing
production and reserves. As a result, our production has continued to decline which has lowered our operating cash flows. We expect to spend at least $19.0 million in total capital expenditures in 2013, which may help offset some, but not all, of
our natural production decline. If we do not spend this level of capital expenditures or do not spend our capital budget in an effective manner, we may not be able to maintain our asset base and production rates, which could further lower our
operating cash flows.
Additionally, the rate of decline of our reserves and production reflected in our reserve reports will
change if production from our existing wells declines in a different manner than we have estimated and can change when we drill additional wells, make acquisitions and under other circumstances. The rate of decline may also be greater than we have
estimated due to decreased capital spending or lack of available capital to make capital expenditures. Thus, our future oil and natural gas reserves and production and, therefore, our cash flow and income are highly dependent on our success in
efficiently developing and exploiting our current reserves and economically finding or acquiring additional recoverable reserves. We may not be able to develop, find or acquire additional reserves to replace our current and future production at
acceptable costs, which would adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to pay distributions.
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.
No one can measure
underground accumulations of oil and natural gas in an exact way. Oil and natural gas reserve engineering requires subjective estimates of underground accumulations of oil and natural gas and assumptions concerning future oil and natural gas prices,
production levels and operating and development costs. In addition, in the early stages of a coalbed methane project, it is difficult to predict the production curve of a coalbed methane field. As a result, estimated quantities of proved reserves,
projections of future production rates and the timing of development expenditures may prove to be inaccurate. For the past five years, an independent petroleum engineering firm has prepared the estimates of proved oil and natural gas reserves
included in our SEC filings. Over time, engineers may make material changes to reserve estimates taking into account the results of actual drilling and production. Some of our reserve estimates are made without the benefit of a lengthy production
history, which are less reliable than estimates based on a lengthy production history. Also, certain assumptions are made regarding future oil and natural gas prices, production levels and operating and development costs that may prove incorrect.
Any significant variance from these assumptions by actual figures could greatly affect our estimates of 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. For example, if average natural gas prices were to increase by $1.00 per Mcfe, then the Standardized Measure of our proved reserves as of December 31, 2012 would
increase from approximately $89.7 million to approximately $136.3 million. Conversely, if average natural gas prices were to decrease by $1.00 per Mcfe, then the Standardized Measure of our proved reserves as of December 31, 2012 would decrease
from approximately $89.7 million to approximately $36.6 million. Our Standardized Measure is calculated using unhedged oil and natural gas prices and is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC (except for the impact of
income taxes as we are not a taxable entity). Numerous changes over time to the assumptions on which our reserve estimates are based, as described above, often result in the actual quantities of oil and natural gas we ultimately recover being
different from our reserve estimates.
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 oil and natural gas reserves.
We base the estimated discounted future net
cash flows from our proved reserves on SEC rules. These rules require specific prices and costs to be used when we make an estimate of proved reserves. However, actual future net cash flows from our oil and natural gas properties also will be
affected by factors such as:
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the supply of and demand for oil and natural gas;
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the actual prices we receive for oil and natural gas;
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our actual operating costs in producing oil and natural gas;
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the amount and timing of our capital expenditures;
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the amount and timing of our actual production; and
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changes in governmental regulations or taxation.
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The timing of both our production and our incurrence of expenses in connection with the development and production of oil and natural gas properties will affect the timing of actual future net cash flows
from our proved reserves, and thus their actual present value. In addition, the 10% discount factor used when calculating our 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 us or the
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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, financial condition and ability to pay distributions.
Declines in oil
and natural gas prices may result in additional write-downs of our asset carrying values.
Lower oil and natural gas
prices may not only decrease our revenues, profitability and cash flows, but also may reduce the amount of oil and natural gas that we can produce economically. This may result in our having to make additional substantial downward adjustments to our
estimated proved reserves or a write-down in the carrying value of our assets. For example, in 2010 because of a substantial decline in natural gas prices, we wrote down the carrying value of our assets by approximately $272.5 million. Substantial
decreases in oil and natural gas prices would render a significant number of our potential or planned projects uneconomic, particularly in the Cherokee Basin. If this occurs, or if our estimates of development costs increase, production data factors
change or drilling results deteriorate, accounting rules may require us to write down, as a non-cash charge to earnings, the carrying value of our oil and natural gas properties for impairments. We are required to perform impairment tests on our
assets periodically and whenever events or changes in circumstances warrant a review of our assets. To the extent such tests indicate a reduction of the estimated useful life or estimated future cash flows of our assets, the carrying value may not
be recoverable and may, therefore, require a writedown of such carrying value. We may incur additional impairment charges in the future, which could result in a material reduction in our results of operations in the period taken and materially limit
our ability to borrow funds under our reserve-based credit facility and our ability to pay distributions to our unitholders.
Due to our
lack of asset and geographic diversification, adverse developments in our core operating areas would affect our results of operations, reduce our operating cash flows, and impact our profitability.
We rely exclusively on sales of the oil and natural gas that we produce. Furthermore, all of our assets are located in the Mid-Continent
region of the United States and are predominantly coalbed methane natural gas. We currently have a limited amount of drilling opportunities in our existing asset base that enable us to focus on oil completions. Due to our lack of diversification in
asset type, commodity type and location, an adverse development in the oil and gas business or our geographic area would have a significantly greater impact on the price which we receive for our oil and natural gas, our results of operations, and
any cash available to make any additional capital investments or to make any distributions to our unitholders than if we maintained more diverse assets and locations.
We depend on certain key customers for sales of our oil and natural gas. To the extent these and other customers reduce the volumes of oil or natural gas they purchase from us and are not replaced
by new customers, our revenues and cash available for distribution could decline.
We currently sell our natural gas
produced in the Cherokee Basin to Macquarie Energy LLC, Keystone Gas Corporation, Scissortail Energy, LLC, Cotton Valley Compression, L.L.C., Cherokee Basin Pipeline, LLC, and ONEOK Energy Services Company, L.P. Our oil production in the Cherokee
Basin is primarily purchased by Sunoco Partners Marketing and Terminals, L.P and Coffeyville Resources Refining and Marketing, LLC. Our natural gas production in the Woodford Shale and our oil production the Central Kansas Uplift are marketed by the
operators of the wells. To the extent these or other customers reduce the volumes of oil and natural gas that they purchase from us and are not replaced by new customers or the market prices for oil and natural gas decline in our market areas, our
revenues and cash available for distribution could decline.
Seasonal weather conditions adversely affect our ability to conduct
exploration and production activities.
Oil and natural gas operations in our operating areas are often adversely
affected by seasonal weather conditions, primarily during periods of severe weather or rainfall, and during periods of extreme cold. We face the risk that power outages and other damages resulting from tornados, ice storms, flooding, and other
strong storms or weather events will prevent us from operating our wells in an optimal manner. These weather conditions may reduce our oil and natural gas production, which could impact or reduce our future operating cash flows.
Certain of our undeveloped leasehold acreage is subject to leases that may expire in the near future and our concession agreement with the Osage
Nation has certain terms and conditions which must be fulfilled by us.
Some of the leases that we hold are still
within their original lease term and are not currently held by production. Unless we establish commercial production on the properties subject to these leases, these leases will expire. Our concession agreement with the Osage Nation also has certain
terms and conditions which must be fulfilled by us. If our leases expire or our concession with the Osage Nation terminates, we will lose our right to develop the related properties, which would reduce our future operating cash flows and our cash
available to pay distributions.
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Shortages of drilling rigs, supplies, oilfield services, equipment and crews could delay our
operations and reduce our future operating cash flows and cash available to make future investments or pay distributions.
Higher oil and natural gas prices generally increase the demand for drilling rigs, supplies, services, equipment and crews, and can lead to shortages of, and increasing costs for, drilling equipment,
services and personnel. Shortages of, or increasing costs for, experienced drilling crews and equipment and services could restrict our ability to drill the wells and conduct the operations that we currently have planned. Any delay in the drilling
of new wells or significant increase in drilling costs could reduce our revenues, reduce our operating cash flows and cash available to make future investments or pay distributions.
Locations that we decide to drill may not yield oil and natural gas in commercially viable quantities.
The cost of drilling, completing and operating a well is often uncertain, and cost factors can adversely affect the economics of a well. Our efforts will be uneconomical if we drill dry holes or wells
that are productive but do not produce enough oil and natural gas to be commercially viable after drilling, operating and other costs. If we drill future wells that we identify as dry holes, our drilling success rate would decline, and could have a
material adverse impact on our business.
We may be unable to compete effectively with larger companies, which may adversely affect our
ability to generate sufficient revenue to allow us to pay distributions.
The oil and natural gas industry is intensely
competitive, and we compete with other companies that have greater resources. Our ability to acquire additional properties and to discover reserves in the future will be dependent upon our ability to evaluate, select and finance the acquisition of
suitable properties and our ability to consummate transactions in a highly competitive environment. Many of our larger competitors not only drill for and produce oil and natural gas, but also conduct refining operations and market petroleum and
other products on a regional, national or worldwide basis. These companies may be able to pay more for oil and natural gas properties and evaluate, bid for and purchase a greater number of properties than our financial or human resources permit. In
addition, these companies may have a greater ability to continue drilling activities during periods of low oil and natural gas prices and to absorb the burden of present and future federal, state and local laws and regulations. Our inability to
compete effectively with larger companies could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to pay distributions.
Any of our acquisition activities will subject us to certain risks.
Any acquisition involves potential risks, including, among other things: the validity of our assumptions about reserves, future
production, revenues and costs, including synergies; an inability to integrate successfully the businesses we acquire; a decrease in our liquidity by using a significant portion of our available cash 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 assumption of unknown liabilities, losses or costs for which we are not indemnified or for which our indemnity is inadequate;
the diversion of managements attention to other business concerns; an inability to hire, train or retain qualified personnel to manage and operate our business and assets; the incurrence of other significant charges, such as impairment of
other intangible assets, asset devaluation or restructuring charges; unforeseen difficulties encountered in operating in new geographic areas; an increase in our costs or a decrease in our revenues associated with any potential royalty owner or
landowner claims or disputes; and key customer or key employee losses at the acquired businesses.
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 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 assess fully their deficiencies and potential. Inspections may not always be performed on
every well, and environmental problems, such as ground water contamination, are not necessarily observable even when an inspection is undertaken.
If any of our acquisitions do not generate increases in available cash per unit, our ability to pay distributions could materially decrease.
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Risks Related to Regulatory Compliance, including Environmental Matters
Potential regulatory actions could increase our operating or capital costs and delay our operations or otherwise alter the way we conduct our
business.
Exploration and development activities and the production and sale of oil and natural gas are subject to
extensive federal, state, local and Native American tribal regulations. Changes to existing regulations or new regulations may unfavorably impact us, our suppliers or our customers. In the United States, legislation that directly impacts
the oil and gas industry has been proposed covering areas such as emission reporting and reductions, hydraulic fracturing of wells, the repeal of certain oil and natural gas tax incentives and tax deductions, and the treatment and disposal of
produced water. The EPA has also ruled that carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases endanger human health and the environment. This allows the EPA to adopt and implement regulations restricting greenhouse gases under existing provisions
of the federal Clean Air Act. Additionally, provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, which regulate financial derivatives, may impact our ability to enter into derivatives or require burdensome collateral or reporting requirements. These and other
potential regulations could increase our costs, reduce our liquidity, impact our ability to hedge our future oil and natural gas sales, delay our operations or otherwise alter the way we conduct our business, negatively impacting our financial
condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We are subject to complex federal, state, local, tribal and other laws and regulations
that could adversely affect the cost, manner or feasibility of conducting our operations.
Our oil and natural gas
exploration, production and transportation operations are subject to complex and stringent laws and regulations. In order to conduct our operations in compliance with these laws and regulations, we must obtain and maintain numerous permits,
approvals and certificates from various federal, state and local governmental authorities and Native American tribal authorities. For example, we have a concession agreement from the Osage Nation for a substantial portion of our leases in the
Cherokee Basin. Failure or delay in obtaining regulatory approvals, leases, or drilling permits could have a material adverse effect on our ability to develop our properties, and receipt of drilling permits with onerous conditions could increase our
compliance costs. In addition, regulations regarding conservation practices and the protection of correlative rights affect our operations by limiting the quantity of oil and natural gas we may produce and sell.
We are subject to federal, state, local, and Native American tribal laws and regulations as interpreted and enforced by governmental and
Native American tribal authorities possessing jurisdiction over various aspects of the exploration, production and transportation of oil and natural gas. The possibility exists that these new laws, regulations or enforcement policies could be more
stringent and significantly increase our compliance costs. If we are not able to recover the resulting costs from insurance or through increased revenues, our ability to pay distributions to our unitholders could be adversely affected. Furthermore,
we may be put at a competitive disadvantage to larger companies in our industry that can spread these additional costs over a greater number of wells and larger operating staff. Please read Item 1. Business-Operations-Environmental Matters and
Regulation for more information on the laws and regulations that affect us.
Because we handle oil, natural gas, and other
petroleum products in our business, we may incur significant costs and liabilities in the future resulting from a failure to comply with new or existing environmental regulations.
The operations of our wells, gathering systems, pipelines and other facilities are subject to complex and stringent federal, state and
local environmental laws and regulations. These include, for example:
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the federal Clean Air Act, related federal regulations and comparable state laws and regulations that impose obligations related to air emissions;
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the federal Clean Water Act, related federal regulations and comparable state laws and regulations that impose obligations related to discharges of
pollutants into regulated waters;
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the federal RCRA, related federal regulations and comparable state laws and regulations that impose requirements for the handling and disposal of waste
from our facilities;
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the federal CERCLA, also known as the Superfund law, related federal regulations and comparable state laws that regulate the cleanup of
hazardous substances that may have been released at properties currently or previously owned or operated by us or at locations to which we have sent waste for disposal; and
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the federal Oil Pollution Act, related federal regulations and comparable state laws and regulations that impose obligations related to oil spill
response and natural resource damage assessment.
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Moreover, the possibility exists that stricter laws,
regulations or enforcement policies could significantly increase our compliance costs and the cost of any remediation that may become necessary. We may not be able to recover these costs from insurance or through increased revenues.
Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may trigger a variety of administrative, civil and criminal enforcement measures,
including the assessment of monetary fines or penalties, the imposition of remedial requirements and the issuance of orders enjoining future operations. Certain environmental statutes, including RCRA, CERCLA, the federal Oil Pollution Act and
analogous state laws and regulations, impose strict, joint and several liability for costs required to clean up and restore sites where hazardous substances have been disposed of or otherwise released into the environment.
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Federal and state legislative and regulatory initiatives relating to hydraulic fracturing could
result in increased costs and additional operating restrictions or delays as well as adversely affect our drilling and production operations.
Hydraulic fracturing is an important and common practice that is used to stimulate production of hydrocarbons. The process involves the injection of water, sand and chemicals under pressure into
formations to fracture the surrounding rock and stimulate production. The process is typically regulated by state oil and gas commissions. However, the EPA recently asserted federal regulatory authority over certain hydraulic fracturing practices.
At the same time, the EPA has commenced a study of the potential environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing activities, with final results to be available by 2014. Legislation has been introduced, but not adopted, in Congress to provide for
federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing and to require disclosure of the chemicals used in the fracturing process. In addition, some states have adopted, and other states are considering adopting, regulations that could restrict hydraulic
fracturing in certain circumstances. If new laws or regulations that significantly restrict or regulate hydraulic fracturing are adopted that apply to our operations, such legal requirements could make it more difficult or costly for us to perform
fracturing activities. Restrictions on hydraulic fracturing could also reduce the amount of oil and natural gas that are ultimately able to be produced in commercial quantities from our properties.
We may incur significant costs and liabilities in the future resulting from an accidental release of hazardous substances into the environment.
There is an inherent risk that we may incur environmental costs and liabilities due to the nature of our business and
the substances we handle. For example, there is the potential for an accidental release from one of our wells or gathering pipelines. If a problem occurs with respect to any one of these, it could subject us to substantial liabilities arising from
environmental cleanup and restoration costs, claims made by neighboring landowners and other third parties for personal injury and property damage, and fines or penalties for related violations of environmental laws or regulations.
Our operations expose us to significant costs and liabilities with respect to environmental and operational safety matters.
We may incur significant costs and liabilities as a result of environmental and safety requirements applicable to our oil and natural gas
exploration, production and transportation operations. These costs and liabilities could arise under a wide range of federal, state, local, and tribal environmental and safety laws and regulations, including enforcement policies which have tended to
become increasingly strict over time. There is an inherent risk that we may incur environmental costs and liabilities due to the nature of our business and the substances that we handle. For instance, climate change laws and regulations restricting
emissions of greenhouse gases could result in increased operating costs and reduced demand for the oil and natural gas while the physical effects of climate change, including severe weather events, could disrupt our operations and cause us to incur
significant costs in preparing for or responding to those effects.
Failure to comply with environmental laws and regulations
could result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal penalties, imposition of cleanup and site restoration costs and liens, and to a lesser extent, issuance of orders to limit or cease certain operations. In addition, certain
environmental laws impose strict or joint and several liability, which could cause us to become liable for the conduct of others or for consequences of our own actions that were in compliance with all applicable laws at the time those actions were
taken. Moreover, it is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for damages as a result of environmental and other impacts.
The coalbeds from which we produce natural gas frequently contain water that may hamper our ability to produce natural gas in commercial quantities or adversely affect our profitability.
Unlike conventional natural gas production, coalbeds frequently contain water that must be removed in order for the
gas to desorb from the coal and flow to the wellbore. Our ability to remove and dispose of sufficient quantities of water from the coal seam will determine whether or not we can produce natural gas in commercial quantities. In addition, the cost of
water disposal may be significant, may increase over time and may reduce our profitability.
We may face unanticipated water disposal or
processing costs.
Where water produced from our projects fails to meet the quality requirements of applicable
regulatory agencies or our wells produce water in excess of the applicable volumetric permit limit, we may have to shut in wells, reduce drilling activities, or upgrade facilities for water handling or treatment. The costs to treat or dispose of
this produced water may increase if any of the following occur:
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we cannot renew or obtain future permits from applicable regulatory agencies;
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water of lesser quality or requiring additional treatment is produced;
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our wells produce excess water; or
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new laws and regulations require water to be disposed of or treated in a different manner.
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Risks Related to Financing and Credit Environment
We may not be able to extend, replace or refinance our reserve-based credit facility on terms reasonably acceptable to us, or at all, which could materially and adversely affect our business,
liquidity, cash flows and prospects.
Our reserve-based credit facility matures on March 31, 2014, and becomes a
current liability on March 31, 2013. We may not be able to extend, replace or refinance our existing reserve-based credit facility on terms reasonably acceptable to us, or at all, with our existing syndicate of banks or with replacement banks.
In addition, we may not be able to access other external financial resources sufficient to enable us to repay our maturity reserve-based credit facility. Any of the foregoing could materially and adversely affect our business, liquidity, cash flows
and prospects.
Our reserve-based credit facility has substantial restrictions and financial covenants and requires periodic borrowing
base redeterminations.
We depend on our reserve-based credit facility for future capital needs. The reserve-based
credit facility restricts our ability to obtain additional financing, make investments, lease equipment, sell assets and engage in business combinations. We are also required to comply with certain financial covenants and ratios. Our ability to
comply with these restrictions and covenants in the future is uncertain and will be affected by the levels of cash flow from our operations and events or circumstances beyond our control, including events and circumstances that may stem from the
condition of financial markets and commodity price levels. Our failure to comply with any of the restrictions and covenants under our reserve-based credit facility could result in an event of default, which could cause all of our existing
indebtedness to become immediately due and payable. Each of the following is also an event of default:
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failure to pay any principal when due or any interest, fees or other amount prior to the expiration of certain grace periods;
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a representation or warranty made under the loan documents or in any report or other instrument furnished thereunder is incorrect when made;
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failure to perform or otherwise comply with the covenants in the reserve-based credit facility or other loan documents, subject, in certain instances,
to certain grace periods;
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any event that permits or causes the acceleration of the indebtedness;
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bankruptcy or insolvency events involving us or our subsidiaries;
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certain changes in control as specified in the covenants to the reserve-based credit facility;
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the entry of, and failure to pay, one or more adverse judgments in excess of $1.0 million or one or more non-monetary judgments that could reasonably
be expected to have a material adverse effect and for which enforcement proceedings are brought or that are not stayed pending appeal; and
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specified events relating to our employee benefit plans that could reasonably be expected to result in liabilities in excess of $1.0 million in any
year.
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Our existing reserve-based credit facility matures on March 31, 2014 and, as a result, amounts
due under the facility will become a current liability on March 31, 2013. We may not be able to renew or replace the facility at similar borrowing costs, terms, covenants, restrictions, or borrowing base, or with similar debt issue costs.
The reserve-based credit facility limits the amounts we can borrow to a borrowing base amount, determined by the lenders in
their sole discretion. Our borrowing base will be redetermined semi-annually, and may be redetermined at our request more frequently and by the lenders in their sole discretion based on reserve reports prepared by reserve engineers, using, among
other things, the oil and natural gas prices existing at the time. The lenders can unilaterally adjust our borrowing base and the borrowings permitted to be outstanding under the reserve-based credit facility. Any increase in our borrowing base
requires the consent of all the lenders. Outstanding borrowings in excess of our borrowing base must be repaid, or we must pledge other oil and natural gas properties as additional collateral. We do not currently have any substantial unpledged
properties, and we may not have the financial resources in the future to make any mandatory principal prepayments required under the reserve-based credit facility.
The reserve-based credit facility contains a condition to borrowing and a representation that no material adverse effect (MAE) has occurred, which includes, among other things, a material
adverse change in, or material adverse effect on the business, operations, property, liabilities (actual or contingent) or condition (financial or otherwise) of us and our subsidiaries who are guarantors taken as a whole. If a MAE were to occur, we
would be prohibited from borrowing under the facility and we would be in default under the facility, which could cause all of our existing indebtedness to become immediately due and payable.
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Our reserve-based credit facility may restrict us from paying any distributions on our outstanding
units.
We have the ability to pay distributions to unitholders under our reserve-based credit facility from available
cash, including cash from borrowings under the reserve-based credit facility, as long as no event of default exists and provided that no distribution to unitholders may be made if the borrowings outstanding, net of available cash, under our
reserve-based credit facility exceed 90% of the borrowing base, after giving effect to the proposed distribution. Our available cash is reduced by any cash reserves established by our board of managers for the proper conduct of our business and the
payment of fees and expenses. At December 31, 2012, we were restricted from paying distributions to unitholders as we had no available cash (taking into account the cash reserves set by our board of managers for the proper conduct of our
business) from which to pay distributions. Our ability to pay distributions to our unitholders in any quarter will be solely dependent on our ability to generate sufficient cash from our operations and is subject to the approval of our board of
managers.
Economic conditions and instability in the financial markets could negatively impact our business.
Our operations are affected by local, national and worldwide economic conditions. The consequences of the current economic, political and
credit environment include a lower level of economic activity and increased volatility in energy prices. A lower level of economic activity might result in a decline in energy consumption and lower market prices for oil and natural gas, which
may adversely affect our financial results, our ability to fund maintenance capital expenditures and our ability to pay distributions.
Instability in the financial markets may affect the cost of capital and our ability to raise capital and may reduce the amount of cash available to fund our operations. We rely on our cash flow from
operations and our reserve-based credit facility to fund our drilling programs, fund acquisitions, and meet our financial commitments and other short-term liquidity needs. Disruptions in the capital and credit markets as a result of uncertainty or
the failure of significant financial institutions or other market participants could adversely affect our access to liquidity needed for our business. Any disruption could require us to take measures to conserve cash until the markets stabilize or
until alternative credit arrangements or other funding for our business needs can be arranged. Such measures could include reducing our drilling programs, reducing capital expenditures, reducing our operations to lower expenses, reducing other
discretionary uses of cash, and limiting our ability to pay distributions.
Disruptions in capital and credit markets may also
result in higher LIBOR interest rates on our reserve-based credit facility, which may increase our interest expense and adversely affect our financial results. Additionally, lower market prices for oil and natural gas may result in a decrease in our
borrowing base under our reserve-based credit facility at the time of a borrowing base redetermination. The lenders in our reserve-based credit facility may be unable to fund our borrowing requests, which would negatively impact our ability to
operate our business.
We will be required to make substantial investment or expansion capital expenditures to increase our asset base.
If we are unable to obtain needed capital or financing on satisfactory terms, we may not be able to reninvest in our business, maintain our production and operating cash flow, or our ability to make any distributions.
In order to expand our asset base, we will need to make investment or expansion capital expenditures. If we do not make sufficient or
effective expansion capital expenditures, we will be unable to expand our business operations, and may be unable to pay distributions. To fund our investment or expansion capital expenditures, we will be required to use cash from our operations or
incur borrowings or sell additional common units or other securities. Such uses of cash from operations will reduce any cash available for distribution to our unitholders. Our ability to obtain bank financing or to access the capital markets for
future equity or debt offerings may be limited by our financial condition at the time of any such financing or offering and the covenants in our existing debt agreement, as well as by general economic conditions, world-wide credit and market
conditions, and contingencies and uncertainties that are beyond our control. Even if we are successful in obtaining the necessary funds, the terms of such financings could limit our ability to pay distributions to our unitholders. In addition,
incurring additional debt may significantly increase our interest expense and financial leverage, and issuing additional securities may result in significant unitholder dilution and an increase in the aggregate amount of cash required to maintain
any then-current distribution rate, which could adversely impact our financial condition and our ability to pay distributions at the then-current distribution rate.
Furthermore, if our revenues or the borrowing base under our reserve-based credit facility decreases as a result of lower oil or natural gas prices, operating difficulties, declines in reserves or for any
other reason, we may have limited ability to obtain the capital necessary to increase or sustain our asset base. Our reserve-based credit facility restricts our ability to
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obtain new financing. If additional capital is needed, we may not be able to obtain debt or equity financing on terms favorable to us, or at all. If cash generated by operations or available
under our reserve-based credit facility is not sufficient to meet our capital requirements, the failure to obtain additional financing could result in a curtailment of our operations relating to development of our prospects, which in turn could lead
to a possible decline in our oil and natural gas reserves, and could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to pay distributions.
We are exposed to credit risk in the ordinary course of our business activities.
We are exposed to risks of loss in the event of nonperformance by our customers, counterparties, vendors and counterparties to our
reserve-based credit facility and hedging arrangements. Some of our customers, counterparties and vendors may be highly leveraged and subject to their own operating and regulatory risks. Additionally, all but one of the counterparties in our
reserve-based credit facility are large European financial institutions that may be negatively impacted by current economic events in Europe. Despite our credit review and analysis, we may experience financial losses in our dealings with these and
other parties with which we enter into transactions as a normal part of our business activities. Any nonpayment or nonperformance by our customers, counterparties, vendors or lenders could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial
condition, results of operations or ability to pay distributions.
Our future debt levels may limit our flexibility to obtain additional
financing and pursue other business opportunities.
We may incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future
under our reserve-based credit facility or otherwise. Our future indebtedness could have important consequences to us, including:
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our ability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, for working capital, maintenance and investment capital expenditures, acquisitions or other
purposes may be impaired or such financing may not be available on favorable terms;
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covenants and financial tests contained in our existing and future credit and debt instruments may affect our flexibility in planning for and reacting
to changes in our business, including possible acquisition opportunities;
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increased cash flow required to make principal and interest payments on our indebtedness, reducing the funds that would otherwise be available for
operations, future business opportunities and any distributions to unitholders; and
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our debt level may make us more vulnerable than our competitors with less debt to competitive pressures or a downturn in our business or the economy
generally.
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Our ability to service our indebtedness will depend upon, among other things, our future
financial and operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business, regulatory and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. If our operating results are not sufficient to service our
current or future indebtedness, we will be forced to take actions such as reducing any distributions, reducing or delaying business activities, acquisitions, investments and/or capital expenditures, selling assets, restructuring or refinancing our
indebtedness, or seeking additional equity capital or bankruptcy protection. We may not be able to affect any of these remedies on satisfactory terms or at all.
We may incur substantial additional debt in the future to enable us to pursue our business plan and to pay distributions to our unitholders.
Our business requires a significant amount of capital expenditures to maintain and grow production levels. Commodity prices have
historically been volatile and we cannot predict the prices we will be able to realize for our production in the future. Declines in our production or declines in realized oil and natural gas prices for prolonged periods and resulting decreases in
our borrowing base may result in the continuation of the suspension of our distribution.
If we were to borrow under our
reserve-based credit facility to pay distributions, we would be distributing more cash than we are generating from our operations on a current basis. Any use of our borrowing capacity to fund distributions would limit the capital available to us to
maintain or expand our operations. If we use borrowings under our reserve-based credit facility to pay distributions for an extended period of time rather than for the funding of maintenance capital expenditures and other purposes relating to our
operations, we may be unable to support or grow our business. Any curtailment of our operations will limit our ability to make distributions on our units. If we were to borrow to pay distributions during periods of low commodity prices and commodity
prices fail to recover, we may have to reduce or suspend our distributions in order to avoid excessive leverage.
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Increases in inflation, or expectations of increases in inflation or stagflation, could increase our
costs and adversely affect our business and operating results.
During periods of increased inflation or stagflation,
our costs of doing business could increase, including increases in the variable interest rates we pay on amounts we borrow under our reserve-based credit facility. In addition, as we have hedged a large percentage of our future expected production
volumes, the cash flow generated by that future hedged production will be capped. If any of our operating, administrative or capital costs were to increase as a result of inflation or any temporary or long-term increase in the cost of goods and
services, such a cap could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, ability to pay distributions, and the market price of our common units.
An increase in interest rates may cause the market price of our common units to decline and may increase our borrowing costs.
Like all equity investments, an investment in our common units is subject to certain risks. In exchange for accepting these risks,
investors may expect to receive a higher rate of return than would otherwise be obtainable from lower-risk investments. Accordingly, as interest rates rise, the ability of investors to obtain higher risk-adjusted rates of return by purchasing
government-backed debt securities may cause a corresponding decline in demand for riskier investments generally, including equity investments such as publicly-traded limited liability company interests. Reduced demand for our common units resulting
from investors seeking other more favorable investment opportunities may cause the trading price of our common units to decline.
Higher interests rates may also increase the borrowing costs associated with our reserve-based credit facility. If our borrowing costs were to increase, our interest payments on our debt may increase
which would reduce the amount of cash available for our operating or capital activities or for any distribution to unitholders.
The
enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act could have an adverse impact on our ability to hedge risks associated with our business.
Congress adopted comprehensive financial reform legislation that establishes federal oversight and regulation of the OTC derivatives
market and entities, such as us, that participate in that market. This legislation, known as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Dodd-Frank Act), requires the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (the
CFTC) and the SEC to promulgate certain rules and regulations, including rules and regulations pertaining to certain swap participants, the clearing of certain swaps, and the reporting and recordkeeping of swaps, and gives the CFTC the
authority to establish position limits. Although the CFTC established position limits on certain core futures and equivalent swaps contracts for physical commodities, including natural gas, with exceptions for certain bona fide hedging transactions,
those limits were vacated by federal district court in September 2012 and will not go into effect unless and until the CFTC prevails on appeal of this ruling or issues and finalizes revised rules.
In December 2012, the CFTC published final rules regarding mandatory clearing of certain interest rate swaps and certain index credit
default swaps and setting compliance dates for different categories of market participants, the earliest of which is March 2013. The CFTC has not yet proposed any rules requiring the clearing of any other classes of swaps, including physical
commodity swaps. Although we expect to qualify for the end-user exemption from the clearing requirement for our swaps, mandatory clearing requirements applicable to other market participants, such as swap dealers, may change the cost and
availability of the swaps that we use for hedging. In addition, for uncleared swaps, the CFTC or other regulators may require our counterparties to require that we enter into credit support documentation and/or post initial and variation margin as
collateral; however, the proposed margin rules are not yet final, and therefore the application of those provisions to us is uncertain at this time. The financial reform legislation may also cause our derivatives counterparties to spin off some of
their derivatives activities to a separate entity, which may not be as creditworthy as the current counterparty. The new legislation and any new regulations could significantly increase the cost of derivative contracts (including through
requirements to post collateral which could adversely affect our available liquidity), materially alter the terms of derivative contracts, reduce the availability of derivatives to protect against risks that we encounter, reduce our ability to
monetize or restructure our existing derivative contracts, and increase our exposure to less creditworthy counterparties.
Risks Related to
Our Distribution to Unitholders
We may not have sufficient available cash from operations to resume our quarterly distributions to
unitholders following the establishment of cash reserves and the payment of fees and expenses.
Since we announced a
suspension of our distribution in June 2009, we have not had sufficient available cash, and may not have sufficient available cash in the future, to pay distributions to our unitholders following establishment of cash reserves by our board of
managers for the proper conduct of our business and the payment of fees and expenses. The amount
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of available cash from which we may pay distributions is defined in both our reserve-based credit facility and our limited liability company agreement. The amount of available cash we distribute
is subject to the definition of operating surplus in our limited liability company agreement and is impacted by the amount of cash reserves established by our board of managers for the proper conduct of our business and the payment of fees and
expenses. Ultimately, the amount of available cash that we may distribute to our unitholders principally depends upon the amount of cash we generate from our operations, which will fluctuate from quarter to quarter based on numerous factors
generally described in this caption Risk Factors, including, among other things: the amount of oil and natural gas we produce; the demand for and the price at which we are able to sell our oil and natural gas production; the results of
our hedging activity; the level of our operating costs; the costs we incur to acquire oil and natural gas properties; whether we are able to continue our development activities at economically attractive costs; further reduction of debt balances
made by us; the level of our interest expense, which depends on the amount of our indebtedness and the interest payable thereon; the amount of working capital required to operate our business; and the level of our maintenance capital expenditures.
In order for us to make a distribution from available cash under our reserve-based credit facility, our outstanding debt
balances, net of available cash, must be less than 90% of the borrowing base, as determined by our lenders, after giving effect to the proposed distribution. Our available cash excludes any cash reserves established by our board of managers for the
proper conduct of our business and the payment of fees and expenses. We are subject to additional future borrowing base redeterminations before our reserve-based credit facility matures in March 2014 and cannot forecast the level at which our
lenders will set our future borrowing base. If our lenders further reduce our borrowing base because of any of the numerous factors generally described in this caption Risk Factors, our outstanding debt balances, net of available cash,
may exceed 90% of the borrowing base, as determined by our lenders, and we may be unable to resume our quarterly distributions or may again have to suspend our quarterly distributions. If we do not achieve our expected operational results and we may
not be able to resume, maintain or increase quarterly distributions, which may cause the market price of our common units to decline substantially.
The amount of available cash that we may distribute to our unitholders also depends on other factors, some of which are beyond our control, including: the borrowing base under our reserve-based credit
facility as determined by our lenders; our ability to make working capital borrowings under our reserve-based credit facility; our debt service requirements and covenants and restrictions on distributions contained in our reserve-based credit
facility; fluctuations in our working capital needs; the timing and collectability of receivables; prevailing economic conditions; the level of oil and natural gas prices; our ability to hedge future exposures to changes in oil and natural gas
prices; the amount of our estimated maintenance capital expenditures; and the amount of cash reserves established by our board of managers for the proper conduct of our business, including the maintenance of our asset base and the payment of future
distributions on our Class A and common units and any management incentive interests. As a result of these factors, we may not have sufficient available cash to resume, maintain or increase our quarterly distributions. The amount of available
cash that we could distribute from our operating surplus in any quarter to our unitholders may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter and may be significantly less than any prior distributions hat we have previously made. If we do not have
sufficient available cash or future cash flow from operations to resume, maintain or increase quarterly distributions, the market price of our common units may decline substantially.
The amount of cash that we have available for distribution to our unitholders depends primarily upon our cash flow and not our profitability.
The amount of cash that we have available for distribution depends primarily on our cash flow, including cash from reserves and working
capital (which may include short-term borrowings), and not solely on our profitability, which is affected by non-cash items. As a result, we may be unable to pay distributions even when we record net income, and we may pay distributions during
periods when we incur net losses.
Oil and natural gas prices are very volatile. If commodity prices decline significantly for a
temporary or prolonged period, our cash from operations may decline andmay adversely impact our ability to invest in new drilling opportunities, our financial condition, and our profitability.
Our revenue, profitability and cash flow depend upon the prices and demand for oil and natural gas and a drop in prices can significantly
affect our financial results and impede our growth. Changes in oil and natural gas prices have a significant impact on the value of our reserves and on our cash flow. In particular, declines in commodity prices will reduce the value of our reserves,
our cash flow, our ability to borrow money or raise capital and our ability to pay distributions. Prices for oil and natural gas may fluctuate widely in response to relatively minor changes in the supply of and demand for oil and natural gas, market
uncertainty and a variety of additional factors that are beyond our control, such as: the domestic and foreign supply of and demand for oil and natural gas; the price and level of foreign imports of oil and natural gas; the level of consumer product
demand; weather conditions; overall domestic and global economic conditions; political and economic conditions in
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oil and natural gas producing countries, including those in West Africa, the Middle East and South America; the ability of members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to agree to
and maintain oil price and production controls; the impact of U.S. dollar exchange rates on oil and natural gas prices; technological advances affecting energy consumption; domestic and foreign governmental regulations and taxation; the impact of
energy conservation efforts; the costs, proximity and capacity of oil and natural gas pipelines and other transportation facilities; the price and availability of alternative fuels; and the increase in the supply of natural gas due to the
development of natural gas fields in the Barnett shale, Haynesville shale, Marcellus shale, and other shale plays.
In the
past, the prices of oil and natural gas have been extremely volatile, and we expect this volatility to continue. If we reinstate our distribution or raise our distribution level in response to increased cash flow during periods of relatively high
commodity prices, we may not be able to sustain those distribution levels during periods of lower commodity price levels.
Our
operations require substantial capital expenditures, which will reduce any cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
We will need to make substantial capital expenditures to maintain our asset base over the long term. These maintenance capital expenditures may include capital expenditures associated with drilling and
completion of additional wells to offset the production decline from our producing properties or additions to our inventory of unproved properties or our proved reserves to the extent such additions maintain our asset base. These expenditures could
increase as a result of:
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changes in our reserves;
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changes in oil and natural gas prices;
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changes in labor and drilling costs;
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our ability to acquire, locate and produce reserves;
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changes in leasehold acquisition or concession costs; and
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government regulations relating to safety, taxation and the environment.
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Our significant maintenance capital expenditures will reduce the amount of cash we may have available for distribution to our unitholders. In addition, our actual capital expenditures will vary from
quarter to quarter. If we fail to make sufficient capital expenditures, our future production levels will decline which will materially and adversely affect our future revenues and any amount of cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
Each quarter we are required to deduct estimated maintenance capital expenditures from operating surplus, which may result in less cash
available for distribution to unitholders than if actual maintenance capital expenditures were deducted.
Our limited
liability company agreement requires us to deduct estimated, rather than actual, maintenance capital expenditures from operating surplus. The amount of estimated maintenance capital expenditures deducted from operating surplus will be subject to
review and potential change by our conflicts committee of our board of managers at least once a year. In years when our estimated maintenance capital expenditures are higher than actual maintenance capital expenditures, the amount of cash available
for distribution to unitholders will be lower than if actual maintenance capital expenditures were deducted from operating surplus. If we underestimate the appropriate level of estimated maintenance capital expenditures, we may have less cash
available for distribution in future periods when actual capital expenditures begin to exceed our previous estimates. Over time, if we do not set aside sufficient cash reserves or have available sufficient sources of financing and make sufficient
expenditures to maintain our asset base, we will be unable to pay distributions.
Our hedging activities could result in financial
losses or could reduce our income, which may adversely affect our ability to pay distributions.
To achieve more
predictable cash flow and to reduce our exposure to adverse fluctuations in the prices of oil and natural gas, our current practice is to hedge, subject to the terms of our reserve-based credit facility, a significant portion of our expected
production volumes for up to five years. As a result, we will continue to have direct commodity price exposure on the unhedged portion of our production volumes. The extent of our commodity price exposure is related largely to the effectiveness and
scope of our hedging activities. For example, the derivative instruments we utilize are generally based on posted market prices, which may differ significantly from the actual oil and natural gas prices we realize in our operations.
Our actual future production may be significantly higher or lower than we estimated at the time we entered into hedging transactions for
such period. If the actual amount is higher than we estimate, we will have greater commodity price exposure than we intended. If the actual amount is lower than the nominal amount that is subject to our derivative financial instruments, we might be
forced to satisfy all or a portion of our derivative transactions without the benefit of the cash flow from our sale or purchase of the underlying physical commodity, which may result in a substantial diminution of our
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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, our hedging activities are subject to the following risks:
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a counterparty may not perform its obligation under the applicable derivative instrument;
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there may be a change in the expected differential between the underlying commodity price in the derivative instrument and the actual price received; and
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the steps we take to monitor our derivative financial instruments may not detect and prevent violations of our risk management policies and procedures.
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If we do not make acquisitions on economically acceptable terms, our future growth and the ability to reinstate, maintain
or increase our distributions may be limited.
Our ability to grow our business and to reinstate, maintain or increase
distributions to unitholders is partially dependent on our ability to make acquisitions that result in an increase in available cash per unit. We may be unable to make such acquisitions if we are:
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unable to identify attractive acquisition candidates or negotiate acceptable purchase contracts with them;
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unable to obtain financing for these acquisitions on economically acceptable terms; or
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In any
of these cases, our future growth and ability to reinstate, maintain, or increase our distributions will be limited. Furthermore, even if we do make acquisitions that we believe will increase available cash per unit, these acquisitions may
nevertheless result in a decrease in available cash per unit.
Risks Related to Our Structure and Our Major Unitholders
PostRock and its affiliates own an interest in us through their ownership of our Class A and common units and Constellation and its affiliates
own an interest in us through their ownership of our Class C management incentive interests and Class D interests. PostRock may sell its interests in the future, which could reduce the market price of our outstanding common units.
PostRock indirectly owns approximately 24.9% of our outstanding common units and all of our outstanding Class A
units as of March 7, 2013, or an aggregate 26.4% interest in us. Constellation indirectly owns all of our outstanding Class C management incentive interests and all of our Class D interests as of March 7, 2013. If PostRock was to sell
some or a substantial portion of its interest in us, it could reduce the market price of our outstanding common units.
PostRock and
Constellations interests in us may be transferred to a third party without common unitholder consent.
PostRock
and Constellations affiliates may transfer their respective Class A units, common units, Class C management incentive interests and Class D interests to a third party in any type of transaction, including a merger or a sale of all or
substantially all of their respective assets without the consent of our common unitholders. Furthermore, there is no restriction in our limited liability company agreement on the ability of PostRock or Constellation to cause a transfer to a third
party of all or any portion of their equity interests in CEPM or CEPH, respectively.
Members of our board of managers, our executive
officers, PostRock and its affiliates including CEPM, and Constellation and its affiliates including CEPH, may have conflicts of interest with us. Our limited liability company agreement limits the remedies available to our unitholders in the event
they have a claim relating to conflicts of interest or the resolution of such a conflict of interest.
Two members of
our board of managers are appointed by CEPM, the holder of our Class A units and an affiliate of PostRock. Conflicts of interest may arise between us and our unitholders and members of our board of managers or our executive officers, PostRock
and its affiliates including CEPM, and Exelon and Constellation, and its affiliates including CEPH. These potential conflicts may relate to the divergent interests of these parties. Situations in which the interests of members of our board of
managers, our executive officers, or PostRock, Exelon and Constellation and their affiliates, including CEPM and CEPH, may differ from interests of owners of common units include, among others, the following situations:
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our limited liability company agreement gives our board of managers broad discretion in establishing cash reserves for the proper conduct of our business, which will
affect the amount of cash available for distribution. For example, our board of managers will use its reasonable discretion to establish and maintain cash reserves sufficient to maintain our asset base;
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neither our limited liability company agreement nor any other agreement requires PostRock, Exelon, Constellation or any of their affiliates to pursue a business
strategy that favors us. Directors and officers of PostRock, Exelon, Constellation, CEPM and CEPH have a fiduciary duty while acting in their capacity as such a director or officer of such entity to make decisions in the best interests of such
entities stockholders, which may be contrary to our best interests;
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neither PostRock, Exelon, Constellation, nor any of their affiliates, has any obligation to provide us with any opportunities to acquire additional oil and natural gas
properties;
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in some instances our board of managers may cause us to borrow funds in order to permit us to pay distributions to our unitholders, even if the purpose or effect of the
borrowing is to make management incentive distributions to CEPH;
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none of our executive officers or the members of our board of managers, PostRock and its affiliates, including CEPM, or Exelon, Constellation and its affiliates,
including CEPH, are prohibited from investing or engaging in other businesses or activities that compete with us; and
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our board of managers is allowed to take into account the interests of parties other than us, such as PostRock and its affiliates, including CEPM, or Exelon,
Constellation and its affiliates, including CEPH, in resolving conflicts of interest, which has the effect of limiting its fiduciary duty to our unitholders.
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If in resolving conflicts of interest that exist or arise in the future our board of managers or officers, as the case may be, satisfy the applicable standards set forth in our limited liability company
agreement for resolving conflicts of interest, a unitholder will not be able to assert that such resolution constituted a breach of fiduciary duty owed to us or to our unitholders by our board of managers and officers.
If the holders of our common units vote to eliminate the special voting rights of the holders of our Class A units, our Class A units
will convert into common units on a one-for-one basis and the holder of our management incentive interests will have the option of converting the management incentive interests into common units at their fair market value, which may be dilutive to
our common unitholders.
The holders of our Class A units have the right, voting as a
separate class, to elect two of the five members of our board of managers, and any replacement of either of such members. This right can be eliminated upon a vote of the holders of not less than a 66
2/3% of our outstanding common units. If such elimination is so
approved and PostRock and its affiliates do not vote their common units in favor of such elimination, the Class A units will be converted into common units on a one-for-one basis, which may be dilutive to the common unitholders. Additionally,
CEPH, the holder of our Class C management incentive interests, will have the right to convert its Class C management incentive interests into common units based on the then fair market value of such interests, which may be dilutive to our
common unitholders.
Our limited liability company agreement prohibits a unitholder who acquires 15% or more of our common units without
the approval of our board of managers from engaging in a business combination with us for three years. This provision is intended to discourage a change of control transaction that could disproportionately benefit an interested
unitholder.
Our limited liability company agreement effectively adopts Section 203 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law (Section 203). Section 203, as it applies to us, prohibits an interested unitholder, defined as a person who owns 15% or more of our outstanding common units, from engaging in a business combination with
us for three years following the time such person becomes an interested unitholder without the approval of our board of managers. We believe PostRock is an interested unitholder under Section 203. Section 203 broadly defines business
combination to encompass a wide variety of transactions with or caused by an interested unitholder that may have the effect of conferring a disproportionate economic benefit upon the interested unitholder, and is generally defined to include:
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mergers and consolidations;
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asset sales, leases, exchanges or other dispositions (in one or a series of transactions) except proportionately as a unitholder of the company;
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any transaction which results in the issuance of securities by the company to the interested unitholder;
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any transaction which has the effect of increasing the proportionate ownership of the interested unitholder in the company; and
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any receipt by the interested unitholder of the benefit of any loan, guarantee, pledge or other financial benefit provided by the company where the interested
unitholder receives a benefit on other than a pro rata basis with other unitholders.
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The term business combination does not include tender offers and market
purchases by an interested unitholder, or the election of mangers to the board of managers or proxy contests by an interested unitholder.
In addition to limiting our ability to enter into transactions with PostRock or its affiliates, this provision of our limited liability company agreement could have an anti-takeover effect with respect to
transactions not approved in advance by our board of managers, including discouraging takeover attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for our common units, which could negatively affect the price of our common units.
Our limited liability agreement confers upon our Class A unitholder certain voting rights which may limit transactions which we
may do.
Our limited liability company agreement contains provisions that confer upon our Class A unitholder,
currently a subsidiary of PostRock, certain voting rights including:
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the right to elect two members to our board of managers, with such person only being able to be removed by the Class A unitholder, and the right to consent to any
increase in the size of our board of managers;
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the right to block the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; and
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the right to block a dissolution or, except under certain circumstances, merger or conversion of the Company.
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These provisions limit common unitholders ability to effect certain business transactions which the Class A unitholder
opposes.
Our limited liability agreement restricts the voting rights of unitholders owning 20% or more of our common units.
Our limited liability agreement restricts the voting rights of common unitholders by providing that any units held by
a person that owns 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, other than CEPM (a subsidiary of PostRock), CEPH (a subsidiary of Constellation), or their affiliates or transferees and persons who acquire such units with the prior approval of
our board of managers, cannot vote on any matter. Our limited liability agreement also contains provisions limiting the ability of common unitholders to call meetings or to acquire information about our operations, as well as other provisions
limiting common unitholders ability to influence the manner or direction of management.
Our limited liability company agreement
provides for a limited call right that may require unitholders to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price.
If, at any time, any person owns more than 80% of the common units then outstanding, such person has the right, but not the obligation, which it may assign to any of its affiliates or to us, to acquire
all, but not less than all, of the remaining common units then outstanding at a price not less than the then-current market price of the common units. As a result, unitholders may be required to sell their common units at an undesirable time or
price and therefore may receive a lower or no return on their investment. Unitholders may also incur tax liability upon a sale of their common units.
We may issue additional units without unitholder approval, which would dilute existing unitholders ownership interests.
We may issue an unlimited number of limited liability company interests of any type, including common units and units with rights to
distributions or in liquidation that are senior in order of priority to common units, without the approval of our unitholders.
The issuance of additional units or other equity securities may have the following effects:
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the common unitholders proportionate ownership interest in us may decrease;
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the amount of cash distributed on each common unit may decrease;
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the relative voting strength of each previously outstanding common unit may be diminished;
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the market price of the common units may decline; and
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the ratio of taxable income to distributions may increase.
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Our limited liability company agreement limits and modifies our managers and officers fiduciary duties.
Our limited liability company agreement contains provisions that modify and limit our managers and officers fiduciary duties to us and our unitholders. For example, our limited liability
company agreement provides that:
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our managers and officers will not have any liability to us or our unitholders for decisions made in good faith, which is defined so as to require that they believed
the decision was in our best interests; and
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our managers and officers will not be liable for monetary damages to us or our unitholders for any acts or omissions unless there has been a final and non-appealable
judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that the managers or officers acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that such conduct was unlawful.
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Because we are a limited liability company, unitholders may have liability to repay distributions.
Under certain circumstances, unitholders may have to repay amounts wrongfully returned or distributed to them. Under Section 18-607
of the Delaware Revised Limited Liability Company Act, we may not make a distribution to unitholders if the distribution would cause our liabilities to exceed the fair value of our assets. Delaware law provides that for a period of three years from
the date of an impermissible distribution, members or unitholders who received the distribution and who knew at the time of the distribution that it violated Delaware law will be liable to the limited liability company for the distribution amount. A
purchaser of common units who becomes a member or unitholder is liable for the obligations of the transferring member to make contributions to the limited liability company that are known to such purchaser of units at the time it became a member and
for unknown obligations if the liabilities could be determined from our limited liability company agreement.
The market price of our
common units could be volatile due to a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control.
The market price of
our common units could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to a number of factors, most of which we cannot control, including:
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changes in securities analysts recommendations and their estimates of our financial performance;
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the publics reaction to our press releases, announcements and our filings with the SEC;
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fluctuations in broader securities market prices and volumes, particularly among securities of oil and natural gas companies and securities of publicly traded limited
partnerships and limited liability companies;
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the sale of our units by significant unitholders or other market liquidity issues;
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changes in market valuations of similar companies;
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departures of key personnel;
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commencement of or involvement in litigation;
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variations in our quarterly results of operations or those of other oil and natural gas companies;
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variations in the amount of any quarterly distributions;
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future interest rates and expectations of inflation;
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future issuances and sales of our common units or other classes of securities issued by us;
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the borrowing base of our reserve-based credit facility as determined by our lenders in their sole discretion;
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changes in government regulations, taxation or laws impacting businesses, the oil and gas industry or publicly trade partnerships;
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changes in the general condition of global economies that impacts commodities and financial markets;
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changes in general conditions in the U.S. economy, financial markets or the oil and natural gas industry; and
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lack of or changes in any sponsor.
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In recent years, the securities markets have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. This volatility has had a significant effect on the market price of securities issued by many companies for
reasons unrelated to the operating performance of these companies. Future market fluctuations may result in a lower price of our common units.
Tax Risks to Unitholders
A
unitholders share of our taxable income, gain, loss and deduction, or specific items thereof, may be substantially different than the unitholders interest in our economic profit.
A unitholders share of our taxable income and gain (or specific items thereof) may be substantially greater than, or our tax losses
and deductions (or specific items thereof) may be substantially less than, the unitholders interest in our economic profits. This may occur, for example, in the case of a unitholder who purchases units at a time when the value of our units or
of one or more of our properties is relatively low or a unitholder who acquires units directly from us in exchange for property whose fair market value exceeds its tax basis at the time of the exchange.
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Unitholders may be required to pay taxes on income from us, including their share of ordinary income
and any capital gains on dispositions of properties by us, even if they do not receive any cash distributions from us.
Unitholders are required to pay U.S. federal income taxes and, in some cases, state and local income taxes, on their share of our taxable
income, whether or not they receive cash distributions from us. Generally, should we generate taxable income for a particular tax year and not pay any cash distributions, our unitholders will be required to pay the actual U.S. federal income tax
liability that results from their share of such taxable income even though they received no cash distributions from us.
During 2012, we did not pay any cash distributions on our units. Since we generated taxable income allocable to our unitholders for the
2012 tax year, unitholders who held our common units during 2012 did not receive cash distributions from us sufficient to pay any actual tax liability that resulted from their share of such 2012 taxable income. Further, if we generate taxable income
from either operations or the sale of assets in future years and do not distribute the resulting cash, our unitholders may not receive sufficient cash distributions to pay the actual tax liability that results from their allocable share of our
taxable income. The majority of the proceeds generated in 2013 from the sale of our properties in the Black Warrior Basin were used to pay down debt and will not result in sufficient distributions to unitholders to pay any actual tax liability of
each unitholder attributable to such sale.
Our tax treatment depends on our status as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, as well as our not being subject to entity-level taxation by states and localities. If the IRS were to treat us as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes or we were to become subject to entity-level taxation for state or local
tax purposes, then our cash available for distribution would be substantially reduced.
The anticipated after-tax
economic benefit of an investment in our common units depends largely on our being treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We have not requested a ruling from the IRS on this or any other tax matter that affects us.
Despite the fact that we are a limited liability company under Delaware law, it is possible in certain circumstances for us
to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Although we do not believe based upon our current operations that we are so treated, a change in our business (or a change in current law) could cause us to be treated as a
corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes or otherwise subject us to taxation as an entity.
If we were treated as a
corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we would pay U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income at the corporate income tax rates, currently at a maximum marginal rate of 35%, and would likely pay state and local income tax at varying
rates. Distributions to unitholders would generally be taxed as corporate distributions, and no income, gain, loss, deduction or credit would flow through to the unitholders. Because a tax may be imposed on us as a corporation, our cash available
for distribution to our unitholders could be reduced. Therefore, treatment of us as a corporation could result in a material reduction in the anticipated cash flow and after-tax return to our unitholders likely causing a substantial reduction in the
value of our common units.
Current law or our business may change so as to cause us to be treated as a corporation for
federal income tax purposes or otherwise subject us to entity-level taxation. In addition, because of widespread state budget deficits, several states are evaluating ways to subject partnerships and limited liability companies to entity-level
taxation through the imposition of state income, franchise or other forms of taxation. If any state were to impose a tax upon us as an entity, the cash available for distribution to unitholders would be reduced. Our limited liability company
agreement provides that if a law is enacted or existing law is modified or interpreted in a manner that subjects us to taxation as a corporation or otherwise subjects us to entity-level taxation for federal, state or local income tax purposes, the
initial quarterly distribution amount and the Target Distribution amount (as defined in our limited liability company agreement) will be adjusted to reflect the impact of that law on us.
The tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships or an investment in our common units could be subject to potential legislative, judicial or administrative changes and differing interpretations,
possibly on a retroactive basis.
The present U.S. federal income tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships,
including us, or an investment in our common units, may be modified by administrative, legislative or judicial interpretation at any time. For example, from time to time, members of the U.S. Congress propose and consider substantive changes to the
existing U.S. federal income tax laws that affect publicly traded partnerships. Any modification to the federal income tax laws and interpretations thereof may or may not be applied and could make it more difficult or impossible to meet the
exception for us to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We are unable to predict whether any of these changes, or other proposals, will ultimately be enacted. Any such changes could adversely affect an investment
in our common units.
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Certain federal income tax deductions currently available with respect to oil and natural gas
drilling and development may be eliminated as a result of future legislation.
Both the Obama Administration and
members of Congress have during past U.S. legislative sessions proposed changes that would, if enacted into law, make significant changes to U.S. tax laws, including the elimination of certain key U.S. federal income tax incentives currently
available to oil and natural gas exploration and production companies. These changes include, but are not limited to, (i) the repeal of the percentage depletion allowance for oil and natural gas properties, (ii) the elimination of current
deductions for intangible drilling and development costs, (iii) the elimination of the deduction for certain domestic production activities, and (iv) an extension of the amortization period for certain geological and geophysical
expenditures. It is unclear whether these or similar changes will be proposed in the current legislative session, and if proposed and enacted, how soon any such changes could become effective. The passage of any legislation with similar changes in
U.S. federal income tax laws could eliminate or postpone certain tax deductions that are currently available with respect to oil and natural gas exploration and development, and any such change could increase the taxable income allocable to our
unitholders and negatively impact the value of an investment in our common units.
We will be considered to have terminated for U.S.
federal income tax purposes due to a sale or exchange of 50% or more of our interests within a twelve-month period.
We
will be considered to have technically terminated our partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes if there is a sale or exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within a twelve-month period. For purposes of
determining whether the 50% threshold has been met, multiple sales of the same interest will be counted only once. Our technical termination would, among other things, result in the closing of our taxable year for all unitholders, which would result
in us filing two tax returns (and our unitholders could receive two Schedules K-1 if relief was not available, as described below) for one fiscal year and could result in a deferral of depreciation deductions allowable in computing our taxable
income for the year of termination. Our termination currently would not affect our classification as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but instead we would be treated as a new partnership for tax purposes. If treated as a new
partnership, we must make new tax elections and could be subject to penalties if we were unable to determine that a termination occurred. The IRS has recently announced a publicly traded partnership technical termination relief program whereby, if a
publicly traded partnership that technically terminates requests relief and such relief is granted by the IRS, among other things, the partnership will only have to provide one Schedule K-1 to unitholders for the year nothwithstanding two
partnership tax years.
A successful IRS contest of the U.S. federal income tax positions we take may adversely affect the market for
our common units, and the costs of any contest will reduce cash available for distribution.
We have not requested a
ruling from the IRS with respect to our treatment as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes or any other matter that affects us. The IRS may adopt positions that differ from the positions we take. It may be necessary to resort to
administrative or court proceedings to sustain some or all of the positions we take and a court may disagree with some or all of those positions. Any contest with the IRS may materially and adversely impact the market for our common units and the
price at which they trade. In addition, our costs of any contest with the IRS will result in a reduction in cash available for distribution to our unitholders and thus will be borne indirectly by our unitholders.
Tax-exempt entities and foreign persons face unique tax issues from owning common units that may result in adverse tax consequences to them.
Investment in units by tax-exempt entities, including employee benefit plans and individual retirement accounts (known
as IRAs), and non-U.S. persons raises issues unique to them. For example, virtually all of our income allocated to organizations exempt from U.S. federal income tax, including individual retirement accounts and other retirement plans, will be
unrelated business taxable income and may be taxable to such a unitholder. Distributions to non-U.S. persons will be reduced by withholding taxes imposed at the highest effective applicable tax rate, and non-U.S. persons will be required to file
United States federal income tax returns and pay tax on their share of our taxable income.
We will treat each purchaser of our common
units as having the same tax benefits without regard to the common units purchased. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could adversely affect the value of the common units.
Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of common units, we will adopt depletion, depreciation and amortization positions that
may not conform with all aspects of existing U.S. Treasury regulations. Our counsel is unable to opine as to the validity of such filing positions. A successful IRS challenge to those positions could adversely affect the
34
amount of tax benefits available to our unitholders. It also could affect the timing of these tax benefits or the amount of gain on the sale of common units and could have a negative impact on
the value of our common units or result in audits of and adjustments to our unitholders tax returns.
Tax gain or loss on the
disposition of our common units could be more or less than expected because prior distributions in excess of allocations of income will decrease a unitholders tax basis in his common units.
If a unitholder sells any of his common units, he will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and the
tax basis in those common units. Prior distributions to a unitholder in excess of the total net taxable income allocated for a common unit, which decreased the tax basis in that common unit, will, in effect, become taxable income to the unitholder
if the common unit is sold at a price greater than the tax basis in that common unit, even if the price received is less than the original cost. A substantial portion of the amount realized, whether or not representing gain, may be ordinary income
to the unitholder. In addition, if the unitholder sells his units, he may incur a tax liability in excess of the amount of cash received from the sale.
Unitholders may be subject to state and local taxes and return filing requirements in states where they do not live as a result of an investment in our common units.
In addition to U.S. federal income taxes, our unitholders are likely subject to other taxes, including state and local income taxes,
unincorporated business taxes and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that are imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we do business or own property now or in the future, even if they do not reside in any of those jurisdictions. Our
unitholders will likely be required to file state and local income tax returns and pay state and local income taxes in some or all of these various jurisdictions. Further, our unitholders may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those
requirements. We currently are registered to do business, do business or own assets in Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma and Kansas. As we make acquisitions or expand our business, we may do business or own assets in other states in the future. It is the
responsibility of each unitholder to file all U.S. federal, state, and local tax returns that may be required of such unitholder. Our counsel has not rendered an opinion on the state or local tax consequences of an investment in our units.
We have adopted certain valuation methodologies that may result in a shift of income, gain, loss and deduction between the holders of
management incentive interests and the common unitholders. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could adversely affect the value of our common units.
When we issue additional units or engage in certain other transactions, we determine the fair market value of our assets and allocate any unrealized gain or loss attributable to our assets to the capital
accounts of our unitholders, including holders of our management incentive interests. Our methodology may be viewed as understating the value of our assets. In that case, there may be a shift of income, gain, loss and deduction between certain
common unitholders and the holders of our management incentive interests, which may be unfavorable to such common unitholders. Moreover, under our current valuation methods, subsequent purchasers of common units may have a greater portion of their
Internal Revenue Code Section 743(b) adjustment allocated to our tangible assets and a lesser portion allocated to our intangible assets. The IRS may challenge our valuation methods, our allocation of the Section 743(b) adjustment
attributable to our tangible and intangible assets, and our allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction between the holders of our management incentive interests and certain of our common unitholders.
A successful IRS challenge to these methods or allocations could adversely affect the amount of taxable income or loss being allocated to
our common unitholders. It also could affect the amount of gain from our unitholders sale of common units and could have a negative impact on the value of the common units or result in audit adjustments to our unitholders tax returns
without the benefit of additional deductions.
We prorate our items of income, gain, loss and deduction between transferors and
transferees of common units each month based upon the ownership of the common units on the first day of each month, instead of on the basis of the date a particular common unit is transferred. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could change
the allocation of income, gain, loss and deduction among our unitholders.
We prorate our items of income, gain, loss
and deduction between transferors and transferees of common units each month based upon the ownership of the common units on the first day of each month, instead of on the basis of the date a particular common unit is transferred. The use of this
proration method may not be permitted under existing Treasury regulations, and although the U.S. Treasury Department issued proposed Treasury Regulations allowing a similar monthly simplifying convention, such regulations are not final and do not
specifically authorize the use of the proration method we have adopted. Accordingly, our counsel is unable to opine as to the validity of this method. If the IRS were to challenge this method or new Treasury regulations were issued, we may be
required to change the allocation of items of income, gain, loss and deduction amount our unitholders.
35
A unitholder whose common units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of
common units may be considered as having disposed of those common units. If so, he would no longer be treated for tax purposes as a partner with respect to those common units during the period of the loan and may recognize gain or loss from the
disposition.
Because a common unitholder whose common units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short
sale of common units may be considered as having disposed of the loaned units, he may no longer be treated for tax purposes as a partner with respect to those common units during the period of the loan to the short seller and he may recognize gain
or loss from such disposition. Moreover, during the period of the loan to the short seller, any of our income, gain, loss or deduction with respect to those common units may not be reportable by the unitholder and any distributions received by the
unitholder as to those common units could be fully taxable as ordinary income. Our counsel has not rendered an opinion regarding the treatment of a unitholder whose common units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of common units;
therefore, unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the risk of gain recognition from a loan to a short seller are urged to consult with their tax advisor about whether it is advisable to modify any applicable brokerage
account agreements to prohibit their brokers from borrowing their common units.
Certain U.S. federal income tax deductions currently
available with respect to oil and natural gas exploration and development may be eliminated as a result of future legislation.
Substantive changes to the existing U.S. federal income tax laws have been proposed that, if adopted, would affect, among other things, the ability to take certain operations-related deductions, including
deductions for intangible drilling costs and percentage depletion and deductions for United States production activities. Other proposed changes may affect our ability to remain taxable as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. We are unable
to predict whether any changes, or other proposals to such laws, ultimately will be enacted. Any such changes could negatively impact the value of an investment in our units.
The value of an investment in our units could be affected by actual or potential U.S. federal or state tax increases.
Investors in our Class B common units will experience higher tax rates starting in 2013. U.S. investors and resident aliens are subject to 3.8% Medicare supplemental tax imposed by new IRC section 1411
while non-U.S. individual investors will have more taxes withheld under IRC section 1446 due to the increase in the highest marginal individual tax rate. The 3.8% tax imposed by new IRC section 1411 applies to the net investment income of
individuals, estates, and trusts. Individuals will pay the tax on the lesser of (1) their investment income, or (2) the difference between modified AGI and a threshold based on filing status. Estates and trusts will be subject to the tax
if they have undistributed net investment income and also have adjusted gross income (AGI) over the dollar amount at the highest tax bracket for an estate or trust. The tax does not apply to nonresident aliens, tax-exempt trusts, and certain
charitable remainder trusts. The tax imposed by section 1411 is subject to the estimated tax provisions and should be a factor in estimating tax liability and quarterly estimated payments. Additionally, the U.S. federal, certain state and local
governments are considering legislation to raise additional revenue through increased tax rates or reduced tax deductions. The tax rates and regulations that are applicable to our investors are subject to change by new legislation at any time.
Higher tax rates may result in a lower market price for our common units.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements as defined by the SEC that are subject to a number of
risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which may include statements about:
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the volatility of realized oil and natural gas prices;
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the conditions of the capital markets, inflation, interest rates, availability of a credit facility to support business requirements, liquidity, and general economic
and political conditions;
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the discovery, estimation, development and replacement of oil and natural gas reserves;
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our business, financial, and operational strategy;
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our drilling locations;
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our cash flow, liquidity, working capital and financial position;
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the ability to extend or refinance our reserve-based credit facility;
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36
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the level of our borrowing base under our reserve-based credit facility;
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the resumption or amount of our cash distributions;
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our hedging program and our derivative positions;
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our production volumes;
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our lease operating expenses, general and administrative costs and finding and development costs;
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the availability of drilling and production equipment, labor and other services;
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our future operating results;
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our prospect development and property acquisitions;
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the marketing of oil and natural gas;
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competition in the oil and natural gas industry;
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the impact of the current global credit and economic environment;
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the impact of weather and the occurrence of natural disasters such as fires, floods, hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, snow and ice storms and other catastrophic
events and natural disasters;
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governmental regulation, including environmental regulation and taxation of the oil and natural gas industry or publicly traded partnerships;
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developments in oil-producing and natural gas producing countries;
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lack of support from a sponsor; and
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our strategic plans, objectives, expectations, forecasts, budgets, estimates and intentions for future operations.
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All of these types of statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, are
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may be found in Item 1. Business; Item 1A. Risk Factors; Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations and other items within this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as may, could, should, expect, plan,
project, intend, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict, potential, pursue, target, continue, the negative of such terms or other
comparable terminology.
The forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are largely based on our
expectations, which reflect estimates and assumptions made by our management. These estimates and assumptions reflect our best judgment based on currently known market conditions and other factors. Although we believe such estimates and assumptions
to be reasonable, they are inherently uncertain and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are beyond our control. In addition, managements assumptions about future events may prove to be inaccurate. Management cautions all readers
that the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are not guarantees of future performance, and we cannot assure any reader that such statements will be realized or the forward-looking events and circumstances will
occur. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements due to factors listed in the Risk Factors section and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We do not intend to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2. Properties
A description of our properties is included in Item 1. Business, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Our obligations under our reserve-based credit facility are secured by mortgages on our oil and natural gas properties, as well as a
pledge of all ownership interests in our material subsidiaries. See Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsLiquidity and Capital ResourcesSources of Debt and Equity
FinancingReserve-Based Credit Facility, in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information concerning our reserve-based credit facility.
37
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Although we may, from time to time, be involved in litigation and claims arising out of our operations in the normal course of business,
we are not currently a party to any other material legal proceedings other than those that have been previously disclosed. In addition, we are not aware of any legal or governmental proceedings against us, or contemplated to be brought against us,
under various environmental protection statutes or other regulations to which we are subject.
Item 4. Mine
Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5. Market for
Registrants Common Equity, Related Unitholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Our common units are
listed on the NYSE MKT under the symbol CEP. On March 7, 2013, there were 23,740,730 common units outstanding and approximately 3,766 unitholders. On March 5, 2013, the market price for our common units was $1.76 per unit,
resulting in an aggregate market value of units held by non-affiliates of approximately $31.4 million. The following table presents the high and low closing price for our common units during the periods indicated.
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Common Stock
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High
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Low
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2012
|
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|
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First Quarter
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$
|
2.80
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|
|
$
|
1.81
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Second Quarter
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$
|
2.88
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|
$
|
1.55
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Third Quarter
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|
$
|
1.57
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|
|
$
|
1.21
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|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
$
|
1.57
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|
|
$
|
1.18
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2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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First Quarter
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$
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3.20
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|
$
|
2.25
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Second Quarter
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|
$
|
2.85
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|
$
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2.13
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Third Quarter
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$
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3.59
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|
$
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2.58
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Fourth Quarter
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$
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2.73
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$
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1.85
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We have not paid distribution on our common units since June 2009.
Subject to the terms of our reserve-based credit facility, our limited liability company agreement requires that, within 45 days after
the end of each quarter, we distribute all of our available cash to unitholders of record on the applicable record date. Available cash generally means, for any quarter ending prior to liquidation:
(a) the sum of:
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(i)
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all cash and cash equivalents that we and our subsidiaries (or our proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of subsidiaries that are not
wholly-owned) have on hand at the end of that quarter; and
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(ii)
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all additional cash and cash equivalents that we and our subsidiaries (or our proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of subsidiaries that are not
wholly-owned) have on hand on the date of determination of available cash for that quarter resulting from working capital borrowings made subsequent to the end of such quarter,
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(b) less the amount of any cash reserves established by the board of managers (or our proportionate share of cash reserves
in the case of subsidiaries that are not wholly-owned) to:
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(i)
|
provide for the proper conduct of the business of us and our subsidiaries (including reserves for future capital expenditures including drilling and acquisitions and
for anticipated future credit needs) subsequent to such quarter,
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(ii)
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comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which we or any of our subsidiaries
are a party or by which we are bound or our assets are subject; or
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38
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(iii)
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provide funds for distributions (1) to our unitholders or (2) in respect of our Class D interests or Class C management incentive interests with respect to
any one or more of the next four quarters;
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provided, however, that the board of managers may not establish cash reserves
pursuant to (iii) above if the effect of such reserves would be that we are unable to distribute the quarterly distribution on all common units and Class A units with respect to such quarter; and provided further, that disbursements made
by us or any of our subsidiaries or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of that quarter, but on or before the date of determination of available cash for that quarter, shall be deemed to have been made, established,
increased or reduced, for purposes of determining available cash, within that quarter if the board of managers so determines.
Private
Placements
There were no private placement transactions in 2012, 2011 and 2010.
Common Unit Performance Graphs
The following graph compares the cumulative 5-Year total return provided unitholders on our common units relative to the cumulative total returns of the Russell 2000 index, the Alerian MLP index, the Dow
Jones US Exploration & Production index, and a customized peer group of six companies that includes: Breitburn Energy Partners LP, EV Energy Partners LP, Legacy Reserves LP, Linn Energy LLC, Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners LP, and
Vanguard Natural Resources LLC. An investment of $100 (with reinvestment of all dividends) is assumed to have been made in our common stock, in each index and in the peer group on December 31, 2007, and its relative performance is tracked
through December 31, 2012.
The unit price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future unit price performance.
39
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
Set forth below is our selected historical consolidated financial data for the periods indicated. All of this historical financial data
has been derived from our audited financial statements.
You should read the following selected financial data in conjunction
with Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The following table presents a non-GAAP financial measure, Adjusted EBITDA, which we use in our business. This measure is not calculated
or presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). We explain this measure and reconcile it to net income, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in
Non-GAAP Financial MeasureAdjusted EBITDA below.
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Constellation Energy Partners LLC
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For the year
ended
December 31,
2012
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For the year
ended
December 31,
2011
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For the year
ended
December 31,
2010
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|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2009
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For the year
ended
December 31,
2008
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|
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(in 000s)
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Statement of Operations Data:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Revenues:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Natural gas sales
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|
$
|
55,365
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|
|
$
|
133,769
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|
|
$
|
103,997
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|
|
$
|
118,580
|
|
|
$
|
135,437
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|
Oil and liquids sales
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|
|
12,676
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|
|
|
10,870
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|
|
|
4,695
|
|
|
|
4,546
|
|
|
|
6,426
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|
Gain / (loss) from mark-to-market activities
|
|
|
(8,706
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)
|
|
|
(39,422
|
)
|
|
|
42,081
|
|
|
|
19,410
|
|
|
|
21,376
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
59,335
|
|
|
|
105,217
|
|
|
|
150,773
|
|
|
|
142,536
|
|
|
|
163,239
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Operating expenses:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lease operating expenses
|
|
|
25,699
|
|
|
|
27,949
|
|
|
|
30,798
|
|
|
|
33,535
|
|
|
|
36,257
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|
Cost of sales
|
|
|
1,299
|
|
|
|
2,188
|
|
|
|
2,473
|
|
|
|
2,638
|
|
|
|
7,261
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|
Production taxes
|
|
|
2,218
|
|
|
|
2,897
|
|
|
|
3,179
|
|
|
|
3,153
|
|
|
|
8,398
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|
General and administrative
|
|
|
16,060
|
|
|
|
16,599
|
|
|
|
20,351
|
|
|
|
18,506
|
|
|
|
13,998
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|
Exploration costs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
131
|
|
|
|
760
|
|
|
|
855
|
|
|
|
414
|
|
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
|
|
|
20,799
|
|
|
|
22,139
|
|
|
|
85,263
|
|
|
|
71,173
|
|
|
|
52,281
|
|
Asset impairments
|
|
|
73,451
|
|
|
|
2,935
|
|
|
|
272,487
|
|
|
|
5,113
|
|
|
|
25,638
|
|
Accretion expenses
|
|
|
766
|
|
|
|
907
|
|
|
|
822
|
|
|
|
406
|
|
|
|
411
|
|
(Gain) / loss on sale of assets
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
(18
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(301
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
140,299
|
|
|
|
75,764
|
|
|
|
416,115
|
|
|
|
135,379
|
|
|
|
144,357
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other expenses/(income):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
6,891
|
|
|
|
8,886
|
|
|
|
12,721
|
|
|
|
11,967
|
|
|
|
12,167
|
|
Interest expense -(Gain)/loss from mark-to-market activities
|
|
|
(1,157
|
)
|
|
|
1,232
|
|
|
|
(765
|
)
|
|
|
4,338
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
|
|
(3
|
)
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
|
|
(350
|
)
|
Other (income) expense
|
|
|
(154
|
)
|
|
|
(249
|
)
|
|
|
(385
|
)
|
|
|
(123
|
)
|
|
|
(203
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other expenses (income)
|
|
|
5,579
|
|
|
|
9,867
|
|
|
|
11,568
|
|
|
|
16,180
|
|
|
|
11,614
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total expenses
|
|
|
145,878
|
|
|
|
85,631
|
|
|
|
427,683
|
|
|
|
151,559
|
|
|
|
155,971
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(86,543
|
)
|
|
$
|
19,586
|
|
|
$
|
(276,910
|
)
|
|
$
|
(9,023
|
)
|
|
$
|
7,268
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings (loss) per unit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings (loss) per unit-Basic
|
|
$
|
(3.58
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.81
|
|
|
$
|
(11.36
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.40
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.32
|
|
Earnings (loss) per unit-Diluted
|
|
$
|
(3.58
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.81
|
|
|
$
|
(11.36
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.40
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.32
|
|
Distributions declared and paid per unit
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.26
|
|
|
$
|
2.25
|
|
Other Financial Information (unaudited):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA
|
|
$
|
24,445
|
|
|
$
|
96,596
|
|
|
$
|
54,125
|
|
|
$
|
66,992
|
|
|
$
|
75,285
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Constellation Energy Partners LLC
|
|
|
|
As of
December 31,
2012
|
|
|
As of
December 31,
2011
|
|
|
As of
December 31,
2010
|
|
|
As of
December 31,
2009
|
|
|
As of
December 31,
2008
|
|
|
|
(in 000s)
|
|
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
1,975
|
|
|
$
|
17,176
|
|
|
$
|
7,892
|
|
|
$
|
11,337
|
|
|
$
|
6,255
|
|
Other current assets
|
|
|
26,759
|
|
|
|
27,920
|
|
|
|
45,199
|
|
|
|
33,928
|
|
|
|
45,976
|
|
Oil and natural gas properties, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization
|
|
|
187,423
|
|
|
|
266,085
|
|
|
|
276,919
|
|
|
|
612,625
|
|
|
|
662,519
|
|
Other assets
|
|
|
11,865
|
|
|
|
23,125
|
|
|
|
54,367
|
|
|
|
50,427
|
|
|
|
44,099
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
228,022
|
|
|
$
|
334,306
|
|
|
$
|
384,377
|
|
|
$
|
708,317
|
|
|
$
|
758,849
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities, including short-term debt
|
|
$
|
61,173
|
|
|
$
|
14,554
|
|
|
$
|
14,533
|
|
|
$
|
16,484
|
|
|
$
|
19,506
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
34,000
|
|
|
|
98,400
|
|
|
|
165,000
|
|
|
|
195,000
|
|
|
|
212,500
|
|
Other long-term liabilities
|
|
|
16,583
|
|
|
|
14,432
|
|
|
|
13,024
|
|
|
|
12,129
|
|
|
|
6,754
|
|
Class D interests
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,667
|
|
|
|
6,667
|
|
|
|
6,667
|
|
Members equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common members equity
|
|
|
116,266
|
|
|
|
201,483
|
|
|
|
174,233
|
|
|
|
449,670
|
|
|
|
463,295
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,437
|
|
|
|
10,920
|
|
|
|
28,367
|
|
|
|
50,127
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total members equity
|
|
|
116,266
|
|
|
|
206,920
|
|
|
|
185,153
|
|
|
|
478,037
|
|
|
|
513,422
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and members equity
|
|
$
|
228,022
|
|
|
$
|
334,306
|
|
|
$
|
384,377
|
|
|
$
|
708,317
|
|
|
$
|
758,849
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash Flow Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
|
$
|
13,606
|
|
|
$
|
87,690
|
|
|
$
|
40,829
|
|
|
$
|
56,087
|
|
|
$
|
75,632
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(14,152
|
)
|
|
|
(10,713
|
)
|
|
|
(13,766
|
)
|
|
|
(22,571
|
)
|
|
|
(95,008
|
)
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
|
|
|
(14,655
|
)
|
|
|
(67,693
|
)
|
|
|
(30,508
|
)
|
|
|
(28,434
|
)
|
|
|
6,942
|
|
Development of natural gas properties
|
|
|
(15,638
|
)
|
|
|
(10,967
|
)
|
|
|
(7,973
|
)
|
|
|
(22,913
|
)
|
|
|
(47,897
|
)
|
Non-GAAP Financial MeasureAdjusted EBITDA
We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) adjusted by:
|
|
depreciation, depletion and amortization;
|
|
|
write-off of deferred financing fees;
|
|
|
(gain) loss on sale of assets;
|
|
|
(gain) loss from equity investment;
|
|
|
unit based compensation programs;
|
|
|
(gain) loss from mark to market activities;
|
|
|
unrealized (gain)/loss on derivatives/hedge ineffectiveness; and
|
|
|
interest (income) expense, net which includes:
|
|
|
interest expense gain/(loss) mark-to-market activities
|
41
Adjusted EBITDA is a significant performance metric used by our management to indicate
(prior to the establishment of any cash reserves by our board of managers) the distributions we would expect to pay to our unitholders. Specifically, this financial measure indicates to investors whether or not we are generating cash flow at a level
that can sustain or support a quarterly distribution or an increase in our quarterly distribution rates. Adjusted EBITDA is also used as a quantitative standard by our management and by external users of our financial statements such as investors,
research analysts and others to assess:
|
|
the financial performance of our assets without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis;
|
|
|
the ability of our assets to generate cash sufficient to pay interest costs and support our indebtedness; and
|
|
|
our operating performance and return on capital as compared to those of other companies in our industry, without regard to financing or capital structure.
|
Our Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a substitute for net income, operating income, cash flows from
operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. Our Adjusted EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income and operating income and these measures may vary among
other companies. Therefore, our Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.
We are
unable to reconcile our forecast range of Adjusted EBITDA to GAAP net income or operating income because we do not predict the future impact of adjustments to net income (loss), such as (gains) losses from mark-to-market activities and equity
investments or asset impairments due to the difficulty of doing so, and we are unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable reconciliation, in significant part due to ranges in our forecast impacted by changes in oil and natural
gas prices and reserves which affect certain reconciliation items.
The following table presents a reconciliation of net
income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA, our most directly comparable GAAP performance measure, for each of the periods presented:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Constellation Energy
Partners LLC
|
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2012
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2011
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2010
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2009
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In 000s)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(86,543
|
)
|
|
$
|
19,586
|
|
|
$
|
(276,910
|
)
|
|
$
|
(9,023
|
)
|
|
$
|
7,268
|
|
Adjusted by:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense/(income), net
|
|
|
5,733
|
|
|
|
10,116
|
|
|
|
11,953
|
|
|
|
16,303
|
|
|
|
11,817
|
|
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
|
|
|
20,799
|
|
|
|
22,139
|
|
|
|
85,263
|
|
|
|
71,173
|
|
|
|
52,281
|
|
Asset impairments
|
|
|
73,451
|
|
|
|
2,935
|
|
|
|
272,487
|
|
|
|
5,113
|
|
|
|
25,638
|
|
Accretion expense
|
|
|
766
|
|
|
|
907
|
|
|
|
822
|
|
|
|
406
|
|
|
|
411
|
|
(Gain)/loss on sale of assets
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
(18
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(301
|
)
|
Exploration costs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
131
|
|
|
|
760
|
|
|
|
855
|
|
|
|
414
|
|
Unit-based compensation programs
|
|
|
1,526
|
|
|
|
1,341
|
|
|
|
1,849
|
|
|
|
1,308
|
|
|
|
322
|
|
(Gain)/loss on mark-to-market activities
|
|
|
8,706
|
|
|
|
39,422
|
|
|
|
(42,081
|
)
|
|
|
(19,410
|
)
|
|
|
(21,376
|
)
|
Unrealized (gain)/loss on derivatives/hedge ineffectiveness
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
267
|
|
|
|
(1,189
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA
|
|
$
|
24,445
|
|
|
$
|
96,596
|
|
|
$
|
54,125
|
|
|
$
|
66,992
|
|
|
$
|
75,285
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
42
Our Adjusted EBITDA was $24.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, lower than
our Adjusted EBITDA of $96.6 million in the same period in 2011. During 2011 we executed a transaction to reset our NYMEX fixed-for-floating price swaps to $5.75 per MMBtu for our natural gas production from January 2012 through December 2014. At
that time, we received a one-time cash payment from our swap counterparties totaling approximately $41.3 million which was used to reduce our outstanding debt level. As a result of this resetting of our swap positions related to production from 2012
through 2014, we would expect that our operating cash flows and Adjusted EBITDA would be lower in subsequent years relative to prior periods. This is because of the expected decrease in the value of future cash hedge settlements on the reset NYMEX
positions from January 2012 through December 2014. We believe the expected lower operating cash flows and Adjusted EBITDA should not impact our future ability to comply with the financial covenants contained in our reserve-based credit facility
because we reduced the amount of our outstanding debt with the one-time cash payment we received.
Item 7.
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation
The following discussion and
analysis should be read in conjunction with the Item 6. Selected Financial Data and the accompanying financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The following discussion contains
forward-looking statements that reflect our future plans, estimates, forecasts, guidance, beliefs and expected performance. The forward-looking statements are dependent upon events, risks and uncertainties that may be outside our control. Our actual
results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, market prices for oil and natural gas, production volumes,
estimates of proved reserves, capital expenditures, operating costs, lack of a sponsor, economic and competitive conditions, regulatory changes and other uncertainties, as well as those factors discussed below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on
Form 10-K, particularly in Item 1A. Risk Factors and Forward-Looking Statements, all of which are difficult to predict. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed may not
occur.
Overview
We are a limited liability company formed in 2005 to acquire oil and natural gas properties. All of our oil and natural gas reserves are currently located in the Mid-Continent region of the United States,
including the Cherokee Basin of Kansas and Oklahoma, the Woodford Shale in Oklahoma, and the Central Kansas Uplift in Kansas. Our primary business objective is to create long-term value and to generate stable cash flows allowing us to invest in our
business to grow our reserves and production. We plan to achieve our objective by executing our business strategy, which is to:
|
|
organically grow our business by increasing reserves and production through what we believe to be low-risk development drilling that focuses on capital efficient
production growth and oil opportunities on our existing properties in the Mid-Continent region;
|
|
|
reduce the volatility in our cash flows resulting from changes in oil and natural gas commodity prices and interest rates through efficient hedging programs; and
|
|
|
make accretive, right-sized acquisitions of oil and natural gas properties characterized by a high percentage of proved developed oil and natural gas reserves with
long-lived, stable production and low-risk drilling opportunities.
|
We completed our initial public offering on
November 20, 2006, and our Class B common units are currently listed on the NYSE MKT under the symbol CEP.
Unless the context requires otherwise, any reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to Constellation Energy Partners,
we, our, us, CEP, or the Company means Constellation Energy Partners LLC and its subsidiaries. References in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to PostRock and CEPM are
to PostRock Energy Corporation and its subsidiary Constellation Energy Partners Management, LLC, respectively. References in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to Exelon and CEPH are to Exelon Corporation and its subsidiary
Constellation Energy Partners Holdings, LLC, respectively. References in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to Constellation, are to Constellation Energy Group, Inc.
Some key highlights of our business activities though March 7, 2013 were:
|
|
|
We have reduced our outstanding debt by 84.6% from a high of $220.0 million in 2009 to $34.0 million and extended the term of our reserve-based credit
facility to March 31, 2014.
|
|
|
|
Our successful capital expenditure programs have expanded our oil production from 2010 to 2012 by 97.3% and increased our proved oil reserves to
1.1 million barrels at December 31, 2012. Oil revenues accounted for 29.0% of our total unhedged revenue stream in 2012.
|
|
|
|
We reduced our general and administrative expenses by 21.1% and our lease operating expenses by 16.6% from 2010 to 2012.
|
|
|
|
We sold all of our natural gas properties in the Robinsons Bend Field in the Black Warrior Basin in Alabama in February 2013.
|
43
In 2013, we intend to focus our efforts on developing oil opportunities on our existing
properties in the Mid-continent region while pursuing opportunities to acquire additional properties in our operating area or merger and acquisition opportunities that could lead to enhanced unitholder value. For additional information on our
business plan for 2013, refer below to Outlook.
Significant Operational Factors in 2012
|
|
Realized Prices.
Our average realized price for the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, including hedge settlements, was $5.39 per Mcfe and $3.46 per
Mcfe excluding hedge settlements. After deducting the cost of sales associated with third party gathering, our average realized prices were $5.29 per Mcfe including hedge settlements and $3.36 per Mcfe excluding hedge settlements.
|
|
|
Production.
Our production for the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, was approximately 12.6 Bcfe, or an average of 34,462 Mcfe per day compared with
approximately 13.7 Bcfe, or an average of 37,477 Mcfe per day for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011. Our 2012 production is lower than the production for the same period in 2011 because our capital spending has been below the level
required to offset the natural production declines associated with our existing wells and severe weather in our operating areas during 2012.
|
|
|
Capital Expenditures and Drilling Results.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, we spent approximately $15.9 million in cash capital expenditures,
consisting of $15.6 million in development expenditures, $0.2 million in leasing unproved properties, and $0.1 million in cash to acquire additional wells in the Cherokee Basin. We have completed 50 net wells and 50 net recompletions and had 18 net
wells and recompletions in progress at December 31, 2012.
|
|
|
Oil and Natural Gas Reserves.
Our total year end 2012 proved reserves were 93.0 Bcfe, which is 108.3 Bcfe lower than our year end 2011 proved reserves of 201.3
Bcfe. Our 2012 estimates of proved reserves were prepared in accordance with the SEC rules for oil and natural gas reserve reporting that require our proved reserves to be calculated using an average of the NYMEX spot prices for the sales of oil and
natural gas on the first calendar day of each month of the year, adjusted for basis differentials. Our 2012 estimates of total proved reserves decreased from 2011 due to a lower SEC-required price for natural gas used to calculate our reserves in
2012, resulting in certain reserves becoming uneconomic under SEC rules for reporting our reserves. We added 2.0 Bcfe due to extensions and discoveries in the Cherokee Basin reserves added for oil opportunities and 0.2 Bcfe of our proved natural gas
reserves. We increased our proved oil reserves from 0.5 MBbl to 1.1 MBbl or by 120% by focusing our capital programs on drilling locations that have oil completions. Any of our locations that are scheduled to be drilled after 5 years are classified
as probable or possible reserves if they are economic. Our reserves are 93% natural gas and are sensitive to lower SEC-required prices for natural gas and basis differentials in the Mid-Continent region. The 12-month average SEC-required price used
to prepare our reserve report was $2.91 in the Cherokee Basin and $2.85 in the Black Warrior Basin. Although we utilize swaps and basis swaps to mitigate commodity price risk and basis differentials, these derivatives are not used when preparing our
reserve report based on SEC rules. We do not use the SEC-required 12-month average price to make investment or drilling decisions. Instead, we use estimates of expected future observable market prices for oil and natural gas.
|
|
|
Reduction of Outstanding Debt.
Through March 7, 2013, we reduced our outstanding debt from a high of $220.0 million in 2009 to $34.0 million or by 84.6%,
which currently leaves us with $3.5 million of funds available for borrowing under our reserve-based credit facility which matures on March 31, 2014.
|
|
|
Hedging Activities
. All of our derivatives are accounted for as mark-to-market activities. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, the unrealized
non-cash mark-to-market loss was approximately $8.7 million as compared to an unrealized non-cash mark-to-market loss of $39.4 million for the same period in 2011.
|
During 2011 we executed a transaction to reset our NYMEX fixed-for-floating price swaps to $5.75 per MMBtu for our natural gas production
from January 2012 through December 2014. In conjunction with the transaction, we received a one-time cash payment from our swap counterparties totaling approximately $41.3 million which was used to reduce our outstanding debt balance under our
reserve-based credit facility. As a result of this transaction, our 2012 operating cash flows decreased compared to 2011 because our natural gas production was hedged at a lower price of $5.75 per MMBtu.
We experience earnings volatility as a result of using the mark-to-market accounting method for our open derivative positions. This
accounting treatment can cause extreme earnings volatility as the positions for future oil and natural gas production or interest rates are marked-to-market. These non-cash unrealized gains
44
or losses are included in our current statement of operations until the derivatives are cash settled as the commodities are produced and sold or interest payments are made. Further detail of our
open derivative positions and their accounting treatment is outlined below in Cash Flow From Operations-Open Commodity Hedge Positions, Critical Accounting Polices and Estimates-Hedging Activities, and Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk-Interest Rate Risk.
|
|
Operating Expense Reductions
. We are currently implementing strategies to lower our operating expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2012, we have
reduced our lease operating expenses by 8.1% and our general and administrative expenses by 3.2% as compared to the same period in 2011. This combined 11.3% reduction in expenses was in line with our 2012 business plan.
|
We are currently implementing strategies to reduce our structural general and administrative expenses by 25% over the next
12 months and to further reduce our lease operating expenses. These strategies include: reducing headcount in Houston and Oklahoma in January 2013, closing our technical office in Tulsa, Oklahoma, closing our field office in Dewey, Oklahoma,
lowering our annual bonus expense by 50%, reducing compensation for our board of managers by $75,000 per manager, reducing medical and dental plan expenses by changing providers, reducing the employer match for our 401K program, releasing our
strategic advisor, terminating our outsource support services agreement for revenue accounting services, and reducing overtime expenses.
Significant Market Factors
|
|
PostRock as an Interested Unitholder.
In 2011, PostRock acquired certain of our Class A and Class B common units in two separate transactions
which now represents a 26.4% ownership interest in us as of March 7, 2013. Approval of the purchase of these units was neither required nor given by our board of managers or conflicts committee. We believe PostRock is now an interested
unitholder under Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which is applicable to us pursuant to our limited liability company agreement. Section 203, as it applies to us, prohibits an interested unitholder, defined as a
person who owns 15% or more of our outstanding common units, from engaging in business combinations with us for three years following the time such person becomes an interested unitholder without the approval of our board of managers and the vote of
66 2/3% of our outstanding Class B common units, excluding those held by the interested unitholder. Section 203 broadly defines business combination to encompass a wide variety of transactions with or caused by an interested
unitholder, including mergers, asset sales and other transactions in which the interested unitholder receives a benefit on other than a pro rata basis with other unitholders. In addition to limiting our ability to enter into transactions with
PostRock or its affiliates, this provision of our limited liability company agreement could have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by our board of managers, including discouraging takeover attempts that
might result in a premium over the market price for our common units. We believe the Section 203 restrictions related to these unit purchases expire in 2014.
|
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth the selected
financial and operating data for the periods indicated (in thousands except net production and average sales and costs):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
|
|
|
2012 Vs 2011
Variance
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
|
|
|
2011 Vs 2010
Variance
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
%
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural gas sales
|
|
$
|
52,208
|
|
|
$
|
129,059
|
|
|
|
(76,851
|
)
|
|
|
(59.5
|
)%
|
|
$
|
98,090
|
|
|
|
30,969
|
|
|
|
31.6
|
%
|
Oil and liquids sales
|
|
|
12,676
|
|
|
|
10,870
|
|
|
|
1,806
|
|
|
|
16.6
|
%
|
|
|
4,695
|
|
|
|
6,175
|
|
|
|
131.5
|
%
|
Gain /(loss) from mark-to- market activities
|
|
|
(8,706
|
)
|
|
|
(39,422
|
)
|
|
|
30,716
|
|
|
|
(77.9
|
)%
|
|
|
42,081
|
|
|
|
(81,503
|
)
|
|
|
(193.7
|
)%
|
Other natural gas sales
|
|
|
3,157
|
|
|
|
4,710
|
|
|
|
(1,553
|
)
|
|
|
(33.0
|
)%
|
|
|
5,907
|
|
|
|
(1,197
|
)
|
|
|
(20.3
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
59,335
|
|
|
|
105,217
|
|
|
|
(45,882
|
)
|
|
|
(43.6
|
)%
|
|
|
150,773
|
|
|
|
(45,556
|
)
|
|
|
(30.2
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
45
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
|
|
|
2012 Vs 2011
Variance
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
|
|
|
2011 Vs 2010
Variance
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
%
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lease operating expenses
|
|
|
25,699
|
|
|
|
27,949
|
|
|
|
(2,250
|
)
|
|
|
(8.1
|
)%
|
|
|
30,798
|
|
|
|
(2,849
|
)
|
|
|
(9.3
|
)%
|
Cost of sales
|
|
|
1,299
|
|
|
|
2,188
|
|
|
|
(889
|
)
|
|
|
(40.6
|
)%
|
|
|
2,473
|
|
|
|
(285
|
)
|
|
|
(11.5
|
)%
|
Production taxes
|
|
|
2,218
|
|
|
|
2,897
|
|
|
|
(679
|
)
|
|
|
(23.4
|
)%
|
|
|
3,179
|
|
|
|
(282
|
)
|
|
|
(8.9
|
)%
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
16,060
|
|
|
|
16,599
|
|
|
|
(539
|
)
|
|
|
(3.2
|
)%
|
|
|
20,351
|
|
|
|
(3,752
|
)
|
|
|
(18.4
|
)%
|
Exploration costs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
131
|
|
|
|
(131
|
)
|
|
|
(100.0
|
)%
|
|
|
760
|
|
|
|
(629
|
)
|
|
|
(82.8
|
)%
|
(Gain) /loss on sale of assets
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
(12
|
)
|
|
|
(63.2
|
)%
|
|
|
(18
|
)
|
|
|
37
|
|
|
|
(205.6
|
)%
|
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
|
|
|
20,799
|
|
|
|
22,139
|
|
|
|
(1,340
|
)
|
|
|
(6.1
|
)%
|
|
|
85,263
|
|
|
|
(63,124
|
)
|
|
|
(74.0
|
)%
|
Asset impairments
|
|
|
73,451
|
|
|
|
2,935
|
|
|
|
70,516
|
|
|
|
2,402.6
|
%
|
|
|
272,487
|
|
|
|
(269,552
|
)
|
|
|
(98.9
|
)%
|
Accretion expenses
|
|
|
766
|
|
|
|
907
|
|
|
|
(141
|
)
|
|
|
(15.5
|
)%
|
|
|
822
|
|
|
|
85
|
|
|
|
10.3
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
140,299
|
|
|
|
75,764
|
|
|
|
64,535
|
|
|
|
85.2
|
%
|
|
|
416,115
|
|
|
|
(340,351
|
)
|
|
|
(81.8
|
)%
|
Other expenses (income):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
6,891
|
|
|
|
8,886
|
|
|
|
(1,995
|
)
|
|
|
(22.5
|
)%
|
|
|
12,721
|
|
|
|
(3,835
|
)
|
|
|
(30.1
|
)%
|
Interest expense (Gain)/loss from mark-to-market activities
|
|
|
(1,157
|
)
|
|
|
1,232
|
|
|
|
(2,389
|
)
|
|
|
(193.9
|
)%
|
|
|
(765
|
)
|
|
|
1,997
|
|
|
|
(261.0
|
)%
|
Interest income
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
(50.0
|
)%
|
|
|
(3
|
)
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
(33.3
|
)%
|
Other (income) expense
|
|
|
(154
|
)
|
|
|
(249
|
)
|
|
|
95
|
|
|
|
(38.2
|
)%
|
|
|
(385
|
)
|
|
|
136
|
|
|
|
(35.3
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other expenses (income)
|
|
|
5,579
|
|
|
|
9,867
|
|
|
|
(4,288
|
)
|
|
|
(43.5
|
)%
|
|
|
11,568
|
|
|
|
(1,701
|
)
|
|
|
(14.7
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total expenses
|
|
|
145,878
|
|
|
|
85,631
|
|
|
|
60,247
|
|
|
|
70.4
|
%
|
|
|
427,683
|
|
|
|
(342,052
|
)
|
|
|
(80.0
|
)%
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(86,543
|
)
|
|
$
|
19,586
|
|
|
|
(106,129
|
)
|
|
|
(541.9
|
)%
|
|
$
|
(276,910
|
)
|
|
|
296,496
|
|
|
|
(107.1
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net production:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural gas production (MMcf)
|
|
|
11,890
|
|
|
|
13,047
|
|
|
|
(1,157
|
)
|
|
|
(8.9
|
)%
|
|
|
14,670
|
|
|
|
(1,623
|
)
|
|
|
(11.1
|
)%
|
Oil and liquids production (MBbl)
|
|
|
121
|
|
|
|
105
|
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
15.2
|
%
|
|
|
61
|
|
|
|
44
|
|
|
|
72.1
|
%
|
Total production (MMcfe)
|
|
|
12,613
|
|
|
|
13,679
|
|
|
|
(1,066
|
)
|
|
|
(7.8
|
)%
|
|
|
15,037
|
|
|
|
(1,358
|
)
|
|
|
(9.0
|
)%
|
Average daily production (Mcfe/d)
|
|
|
34,462
|
|
|
|
37,477
|
|
|
|
(3,015
|
)
|
|
|
(8.0
|
)%
|
|
|
41,197
|
|
|
|
(3,720
|
)
|
|
|
(9.0
|
)%
|
Average sales prices:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural gas price per Mcf with hedge settlements
(a)
|
|
$
|
4.66
|
|
|
$
|
10.25
|
|
|
$
|
(5.59
|
)
|
|
|
(54.5
|
)%
|
|
$
|
7.09
|
|
|
$
|
3.16
|
|
|
|
44.6
|
%
|
Natural gas price per Mcf without hedge settlements
|
|
$
|
2.67
|
|
|
$
|
3.96
|
|
|
$
|
(1.29
|
)
|
|
|
(32.6
|
)%
|
|
$
|
4.34
|
|
|
$
|
(0.38
|
)
|
|
|
(8.8
|
)%
|
Oil and liquids price per Bbl with hedge settlements
|
|
$
|
104.76
|
|
|
$
|
103.52
|
|
|
$
|
1.24
|
|
|
|
1.2
|
%
|
|
$
|
76.97
|
|
|
$
|
26.55
|
|
|
|
34.5
|
%
|
Oil and liquids price per Bbl without hedge settlements
|
|
$
|
98.54
|
|
|
$
|
97.76
|
|
|
$
|
0.78
|
|
|
|
0.8
|
%
|
|
$
|
76.97
|
|
|
$
|
20.79
|
|
|
|
27.0
|
%
|
Total price per Mcfe with hedge settlements
|
|
$
|
5.39
|
|
|
$
|
10.57
|
|
|
$
|
(5.18
|
)
|
|
|
(49.0
|
)%
|
|
$
|
7.23
|
|
|
$
|
3.34
|
|
|
|
46.2
|
%
|
Total price per Mcfe without hedge settlements
|
|
$
|
3.46
|
|
|
$
|
4.53
|
|
|
$
|
(1.07
|
)
|
|
|
(23.6
|
)%
|
|
$
|
4.54
|
|
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
|
|
(0.2
|
)%
|
46
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
|
|
|
2012 Vs 2011
Variance
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
|
|
|
2011 Vs 2010
Variance
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
%
|
|
Average unit costs per Mcfe:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Field operating expenses
(b)
|
|
$
|
2.21
|
|
|
$
|
2.25
|
|
|
$
|
(0.04
|
)
|
|
|
(1.8
|
)%
|
|
$
|
2.26
|
|
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
|
|
(0.4
|
)%
|
Lease operating expenses
|
|
$
|
2.04
|
|
|
$
|
2.04
|
|
|
$
|
0.00
|
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
|
$
|
2.05
|
|
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
|
|
(0.5
|
)%
|
Production taxes
|
|
$
|
0.18
|
|
|
$
|
0.21
|
|
|
$
|
(0.03
|
)
|
|
|
(14.3
|
)%
|
|
$
|
0.21
|
|
|
$
|
0.00
|
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
$
|
1.27
|
|
|
$
|
1.21
|
|
|
$
|
0.06
|
|
|
|
5.0
|
%
|
|
$
|
1.35
|
|
|
$
|
(0.14
|
)
|
|
|
(10.4
|
)%
|
General and administrative expenses w/o unit-based compensation
|
|
$
|
1.16
|
|
|
$
|
1.12
|
|
|
$
|
0.04
|
|
|
|
3.6
|
%
|
|
$
|
1.23
|
|
|
$
|
(0.11
|
)
|
|
|
(8.9
|
)%
|
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
|
|
$
|
1.65
|
|
|
$
|
1.62
|
|
|
$
|
0.03
|
|
|
|
1.9
|
%
|
|
$
|
5.67
|
|
|
$
|
(4.05
|
)
|
|
|
(71.4
|
)%
|
(a)
|
The average sales price for natural gas per Mcf with hedge settlements for 2011 includes the $41.3 million impact of our hedge restructuring. The average sales price
per Mcf for 2011 excluding the hedge restructuring was $7.09.
|
(b)
|
Field operating expenses include lease operating expenses (average production costs) and production taxes.
|
Year Ended December 31, 2012 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2011
Oil and natural gas sales.
Oil, natural gas and other sales decreased $76.6 million, or 53.0%, to $68.0 million for the year ended
December 31, 2012 as compared to $144.6 million for the same period in 2011. Of this decrease, $58.3 million was attributable to lower hedge settlements for our oil and natural gas commodity derivatives, $13.5 million was attributable to
significantly lower market prices for natural gas, and $4.8 million was attributable to lower natural gas production offset by increased oil production. Production for the twelve months ended December 31, 2012 was 12.6 Bcfe, which was 1.1 Bcfe
or 7.8% lower than the same period in 2011. Of this decrease, 1.2 Bcfe was a reduction of natural gas production due to our reduced drilling programs in the Cherokee Basin, partially offset by increased oil production of 0.1 Bcfe from our drilling
and recompletion programs in the Cherokee Basin. At December 31, 2012, we had approximately 6,000 net barrels of oil in our tank batteries that had not yet been sold and reported as production. Had these net oil volumes been sold, our reported
oil production would have increased. These net oil volumes have already been sold in first quarter of 2013. Production from our Black Warrior Basin and Woodford Shale properties remained level. Due to the decrease in the level of our drilling
activities during the past three years, our drilling programs have not been sufficient to offset the natural decline rate of production associated with our existing wells. For 2013, we expect our capital expenditures to be between $19.0 million and
$21.0 million. We hedged approximately 81% of our actual production during 2012 and approximately 73% of our actual production during the same period in 2011.
Cash hedge settlements received for our oil and natural gas commodity derivatives were approximately $24.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. Cash hedge settlements received for our oil
and natural gas commodity derivatives were approximately $82.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. This decrease is primarily due to our decision in the second quarter of 2011 to reset our NYMEX fixed-for-floating price swaps to $5.75
per MMBtu for our natural gas production beginning in January 2012 through December 2014 where we received a one-time cash payment from our swap counterparties totaling approximately $41.3 million, offset by the impact of lower market prices for
natural gas and lower hedged volumes on our settlements during 2011.
As discussed below, the loss from our unrealized
non-cash mark-to-market activities decreased $30.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, as compared to the same period in 2011. Our realized market prices before our hedging program decreased from 2011 to 2012 primarily due to lower
market prices for natural gas, slightly offset by the impact of higher market prices for oil. The revenues that we generated from selling our products at realized market prices were offset by the impact of our hedging program and the associated
mark-to-market gains and losses discussed below.
47
Mark-to-market activities.
As of December 31, 2012, all of our hedges were
accounted for as mark-to-market activities. For the year ended December 31, 2012, our unrealized non-cash mark-to-market loss was approximately $8.7 million as compared to an unrealized non-cash mark-to-market loss of approximately $39.4
million for the same period in 2011. This 2012 non-cash loss represented approximately $8.1 million from the impact of higher expected future natural gas prices on these derivative transactions that were being accounted for as mark-to-market
activities and an approximately $0.1 million loss for non-performance risk related to our counterparties, offset by approximately $0.7 million in losses associated with 2012 natural gas production where we did not expect future volumes to exceed the
hedged volumes that had been accounted for previously as cash flow hedges. This 2011 non-cash loss represents approximately $36.6 million from the impact of our decision to reset our NYMEX fixed-for-floating price swaps to $5.75 per MMBtu for our
natural gas production beginning in January 2012 through December 2014, offset by decreased future natural gas prices on these derivative transactions that are being accounted for as mark-to-market activities and by a $0.6 million decrease for
non-performance risk related to our counterparties.
Field operating expenses.
Our field operating expenses generally
consist of lease operating expenses, labor, vehicle, supervision, transportation, minor maintenance, tools and supplies expenses, as well as production and ad valorem taxes.
For the year ended December 31, 2012, lease operating expenses decreased $2.2 million, or 8.1%, to $25.7 million, compared to expenses of $27.9 million for the same period in 2011. This $2.2 million
decrease in lease operating expenses is related to $1.4 million lower in Cherokee Basin properties, $0.9 million lower for our Black Warrior properties and $0.1 million higher in our Woodford Shale properties. By category, our lease operating
expenses were lower in 2012 as compared to 2011, because of decreases of $0.9 million in labor, $0.8 million in road and lease maintenance and well servicing, $0.4 million in gas compression and workovers, and $0.1 million in non-cash unit-based
compensation expenses.
For the year ended December 31, 2012, our per unit lease operating expenses remained
flat in 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011 at $2.04 per Mcfe.
For the year ended December 31, 2012, production
taxes decreased $0.7 million, or 23.4%, to $2.2 million, compared to production taxes of $2.9 million for the same period in 2011. This decrease was primarily the result of the impact of lower production taxes on 1.1 Bcfe in lower production and
lower net market prices for oil and natural gas in 2012.
Cost of sales.
For the year ended December 31, 2012,
cost of sales decreased by $0.9 million, or 40.6%, to $1.3 million, compared to $2.1 million for the same period in 2011. This represents the cost of purchased natural gas in the Cherokee Basin and was impacted by lower volumes of natural gas offset
by decreased natural gas prices as these costs are tied to natural gas prices in the Mid-continent region.
General and
administrative expenses.
General and administrative expenses include the costs of our employees, related benefits, professional fees, general business and public company expenses, and any other administrative costs not directly associated with
field operations.
General and administrative expenses decreased $0.5 million, or 3.2%, to $16.1 million for the year ended
December 31, 2012, as compared to $16.6 million for the same period in 2011. Our general and administrative expenses were lower in 2012 as compared to 2011 because of $0.9 million in lower labor, bonus, and benefit costs, $0.5 million in lower
audit, consulting, and professional services, $0.2 million in lower board of managers compensation, and $0.1 million in lower travel and entertainment expenses, offset by $0.9 million in higher legal fees, of which $0.7 million were related to 2011
Torch fees and reimbursements and $0.2 million related to potential acquisitions, and $0.3 million in higher non-cash unit-based compensation expenses.
Our per unit general and administrative costs were $1.27 per Mcfe for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to $1.21 per Mcfe for the same period in 2011. This increase is attributable to a
decrease in total spending of $0.5 million offset by the impact of a 1.1 Bcfe decline in total production volumes.
Exploration costs.
Exploration costs decreased $0.1 million, or 100.0%, to none for the year ended December 31, 2012, as
compared to $0.1 million for the same period in 2011. These costs represent abandonments of drilling locations, dry hole costs, delay rentals, geological and geophysical costs, and the impairment, amortization, and abandonment costs associated with
leases on our unproved properties.
Gain/loss on sale of assets.
Our gain/loss on the sale of assets remained flat for
the year ended December 31, 2012, as compared to the same period in 2011.
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Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense and Asset impairments.
Depreciation,
depletion and amortization expenses include the depreciation, depletion and amortization of acquisition and equipment costs, and asset impairment expense is incurred when the fair value of our assets is less than their historical net book value.
Depletion is calculated using units-of-production. Assuming everything else remains unchanged, as natural gas production changes, depletion would change in the same direction.
Our depreciation, depletion and amortization expense for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $20.8 million, or $1.65 per Mcfe, compared to $22.1 million, or $1.62 per Mcfe, for the same period in
2011. This decrease of $1.3 million, or 6.2%, is primarily the result of lower depletion expense as a result of lower production in 2012 offset by the increase in our property base due to our 2012 capital expenditures and the change in our reported
SEC reserve base between 2011 and 2012. We calculate depletion using units-of-production under the successful efforts method of accounting. Our other assets are depreciated using the straight line basis. We will use our 2012 year-end reserve report
to record our depletion in the first three quarters of 2013 and our 2013 year-end reserve report to record our depletion in the fourth quarter of 2013. We estimate our depletion rate to be approximately $2.22 per Mcfe for the first three quarters of
2013.
Our non-cash asset impairment charges for the year ended December 31, 2012 were $73.4 million, compared to $2.9
million for the same period in 2011. Our non-cash impairment charges in 2012 were approximately $73.3 million to impair the value of our natural gas properties in the Black Warrior Basin and $0.1 million to impair certain of our wells in the
Woodford Shale. This 2012 impairment was recorded because the asset group was tested for recoverability as of December 31, 2012, using estimates of future cash flows that considered the likelihood of possible outcomes existing at the time,
including the future sale of the asset group. The non-cash impairment charge recognized reflected the fair value of the asset group being less than the historical cost of the asset group on our balance sheet. The entities that held our natural gas
properties in the Black Warrior Basin were sold on February 28, 2013, for a sales price of $63.0 million, subject to closing adjustments. The impairment for certain of our wells in the Woodford Shale was recorded because the net capitalized
costs of the properties exceeded the fair value of the properties as measured by estimated cash flows reported in a third party reserve report. Our non-cash impairment charges in 2011 were approximately $1.6 million to impair the value of our oil
and natural gas properties in the Central Kansas Uplift, $1.0 million related to the extinguishment of the NPI and $0.3 million to impair certain of our wells in the Woodford Shale. The 2011 impairments of our oil and natural gas properties were
primarily caused by the impact of lower future oil and natural gas prices along with certain performance-related reserve revisions.
Interest expense.
Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2012 decreased $4.4 million, or 43.3%, to approximately $5.7 million as compared to approximately $10.1 million in interest
expense for the same period in 2011. This decrease was primarily due to $0.1 million in higher interest rate swap settlements, offset by $2.4 million lower non-cash mark-to-market losses on our interest rate swaps that are accounted for as
mark-to-market activities and lower market interest rates resulting in lower interest expense of $2.1 million during 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011. At December 31, 2012, we had an outstanding balance under our reserve-based credit
facility of $84.0 million as compared to $98.4 million at December 31, 2011. Since the third quarter of 2009, we have used our excess operating cash flow to reduce our total debt from a high of $220.0 million in 2009 to $84.0 million as of
December 31, 2012. The average interest rate on our outstanding debt was approximately 6.0% in 2012 compared to 5.7% in 2011.
Interest income.
Interest income for the year ended December 31, 2012 remained essentially level to the same period in 2011. During 2012, market rates for overnight investments continued to be
at historical lows, resulting in no significant earnings on our cash balances. Additionally, our cash balance decreased from $17.2 million at December 31, 2011, to $2.0 million at December 31, 2012, as we reduced our outstanding debt
balance and made additional capital expenditures to develop oil drilling and recompletion opportunities.
Accumulated other
comprehensive income.
Accumulated other comprehensive income, shown on our consolidated balance sheets, reflected the fair market value of certain of our previously designated cash-flow hedge positions. At December 31, 2012, the balance was
$0 million compared to an unrealized gain of $5.4 million at December 31, 2011. This decrease reflects the amortization to earnings for the derivative positions that were previously accounted for as cash flow hedges that have cash settled
during 2012.
The decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is shown in our consolidated statements of
operations and comprehensive income (loss) as an unrealized loss of $5.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, and as an unrealized loss of $5.5 million for the same period in 2011. This decrease reflects the settlements during 2012
related to amounts previously included in locked accumulated other comprehensive income associated with our hedging positions previously accounted for as cash flow hedges. All of our derivative positions are now accounted for as mark-to-market
activities and we no longer have any remaining balance in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at December 31, 2012.
49
Year Ended December 31, 2011 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2010
Oil and natural gas sales.
Oil, natural gas and other sales increased $35.9 million, or 33.1%, to $144.6 million for
the year ended December 31, 2011 as compared to $108.7 million for the same period in 2010. Of this increase, $42.3 million was attributable to higher hedge settlements for our oil and natural gas commodity derivatives, and $0.2 million was
attributable to higher market prices for oil and lower market prices for natural gas, offset by $6.2 million attributable to lower natural gas production and increased oil production. Production for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 was
13.7 Bcfe, which was 1.4 Bcfe or 9.0% lower than the same period in 2010. Of this decrease, 1.6 Bcfe was a reduction of natural gas production due to our reduced drilling programs in the Cherokee Basin, partially offset by increased oil production
of 0.264 Bcfe from our recently acquired properties in the Central Kansas Uplift and our drilling programs in the Cherokee Basin. Due to the decrease in the level of our drilling activities, our 2011 and 2010 maintenance drilling programs have not
been sufficient to offset the natural decline rate of production associated with our existing wells. For 2012, we expect our maintenance capital expenditures to be $15.0 million. Our total capital expenditures for 2012 are expected to be between
$15.0 million and $19.0 million, which is an amount of expenditures that could allow our 2012 production to remain relatively level with our 2011 production. We hedged approximately 73% of our actual production during 2011 and approximately 79% of
our actual production during the same period in 2010.
Cash hedge settlements received for our oil and natural gas commodity
derivatives were approximately $82.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. Cash hedge settlements received for our natural gas commodity derivatives were approximately $40.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2010. This
increase of $42.3 million in 2011 is primarily due to our decision in the second quarter of 2011 to reset our NYMEX fixed-for-floating price swaps to $5.75 per MMBtu for our natural gas production beginning in January 2012 through December 2014
where we received a one-time cash payment from our swap counterparties totaling approximately $41.3 million, offset by the impact of lower market prices for natural gas and lower hedged volumes on our settlements during 2011.
As discussed below, the gain from our unrealized non-cash mark-to-market activities decreased $81.5 million for the year ended
December 31, 2011, as compared to the same period in 2010. Our realized market prices before our hedging program decreased from 2010 to 2011 primarily due to lower market prices for natural gas, slightly offset by the impact of higher market
prices for oil. The revenues that we generated from selling our products at realized market prices were offset by the impact of our hedging program and the associated mark-to-market gains and losses discussed below.
Mark-to-market activities.
As of December 31, 2011, all of our hedges were accounted for as mark-to-market activities. For
the year ended December 31, 2011, our unrealized non-cash mark-to-market loss was approximately $39.4 million as compared to an unrealized non-cash mark-to-market gain of approximately $42.1 million for the same period in 2010. This 2011
non-cash loss represents approximately $36.6 million from the impact of our decision to reset our NYMEX fixed-for-floating price swaps to $5.75 per MMBtu for our natural gas production beginning in January 2012 through December 2014, offset by
decreased future natural gas prices on these derivative transactions that are being accounted for as mark-to-market activities and by a $0.6 million decrease for non-performance risk related to our counterparties. This 2010 non-cash gain represented
approximately $42.8 million from the impact of lower expected future natural gas prices on these derivative transactions that were being accounted for as mark-to-market activities and an approximately $1.4 million loss for non-performance risk
related to our counterparties, offset by approximately $0.7 million in losses associated with 2011 natural gas production where we did not expect future volumes to exceed the hedged volumes that had been accounted for previously as cash flow hedges.
Field operating expenses.
Our field operating expenses generally consist of lease operating expenses, labor, vehicle,
supervision, transportation, minor maintenance, tools and supplies expenses, as well as production and ad valorem taxes.
For
the year ended December 31, 2011, lease operating expenses decreased $2.9 million, or 9.3%, to $27.9 million, compared to expenses of $30.8 million for the same period in 2010. This $2.9 million decrease in lease operating expenses is related
to our Cherokee Basin properties, while expenses for our Black Warrior and Woodford Shale properties remained flat. By category, our lease operating expenses were lower in 2011 as compared to 2010, because of decreases of $1.1 million in gas
compression, $0.6 million in road and lease maintenance, $0.6 million in well servicing, workovers, and maintenance and repairs, $0.5 million in salt water disposal and $0.1 million in labor.
For the year ended December 31, 2011, our per unit lease operating expenses were $2.04 per Mcfe compared to $2.05 per Mcfe
for the same period in 2010. Our decrease in per unit costs is attributable to a decrease in total spending of approximately 9.3% in 2011 as compared to the same period in 2010, offset by the impact of 1.4 Bcfe in lower production in 2011 as
compared to the same period in 2010. Our per unit operating costs remained level in the Cherokee Basin from 2010 to 2011 at $2.33 per Mcfe. Our production decline is the result of reduced capital expenditures in 2011 and 2010. Additionally, during
the first two quarters of 2011 we were temporarily impacted by lower production volumes and increased operating costs from weather-related maintenance and repairs. Further, on a per unit basis, the lease operating expenses associated with oil
production is higher than that of natural gas production and our oil production increased by 72.1% from 2010 to 2011.
50
For the year ended December 31, 2011, production taxes decreased $0.3 million, or
8.9%, to $2.9 million, compared to production taxes of $3.2 million for the same period in 2010. This decrease was primarily the result of the impact of lower production taxes on 1.4 Bcfe in lower production and lower net market prices for oil and
natural gas in 2011. We also recorded approximately $0.2 million more in Oklahoma production tax credits during 2011 as compared to 2010.
Cost of sales.
For the year ended December 31, 2011, cost of sales decreased by $0.3 million, or 11.5%, to $2.1 million, compared to $2.4 million for the same period in 2010. This represents
the cost of purchased natural gas in the Cherokee Basin and was impacted by lower volumes of natural gas offset by decreased natural gas prices as these costs are tied to natural gas prices in the Mid-continent region.
General and administrative expenses.
General and administrative expenses include the costs of our employees, related benefits,
professional fees, corporate and public company expenses, and any other administrative costs not directly associated with field operations.
General and administrative expenses decreased $3.7 million, or 18.4%, to $16.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared to $20.3 million for the same period in 2010. Our general and
administrative expenses were lower in 2011 as compared to 2010 because of $1.8 million in lower Torch-related legal costs, $0.8 million in lower labor, bonus, and benefits, $0.5 million in lower non-cash unit-based compensation expenses, $0.4
million in lower contractors and consulting fees, $0.2 million in lower audit and tax fees, $0.2 million in lower legal expenses, and $0.2 million in lower insurance costs, offset by $0.4 million in higher board of managers compensation.
Our per unit general and administrative costs were $1.21 per Mcfe for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to $1.35 per Mcfe
for the same period in 2010. This decrease is attributable to a decrease in total spending of $3.7 million offset by the impact of a 1.4 Bcfe decline in total production volumes. Our total general and administrative expenses paid in cash were
approximately $3.2 million lower than in 2010.
Exploration costs.
Exploration costs decreased $0.7 million, or 82.8%,
to $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared to $0.8 million for the same period in 2010. These costs represent abandonments of drilling locations, dry hole costs, delay rentals, geological and geophysical costs, and the
impairment, amortization, and abandonment costs associated with leases on our unproved properties. The decrease in 2011 is primarily as the result of $0.8 million in lower lease abandonments in the Cherokee Basin and lower exploration costs in 2011
due to the impairment of certain unproved properties in the third quarter of 2010 because of lower expected future natural gas prices, offset by one dry hole costing $0.1 million in 2011.
Gain/loss on sale of assets.
Our gain/loss on the sale of assets increased $0.04 million, or 205.6%, to a $0.02 million loss for
the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared to a gain of $0.02 million for the same period in 2010. In 2011, we sold surplus equipment at a loss because our cash proceeds were slightly less than the net book value of the divested equipment.
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense and Asset impairments.
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
expenses include the depreciation, depletion and amortization of acquisition and equipment costs, and asset impairment expense is incurred when the fair value of our assets is less than their historical net book value. Depletion is calculated using
units-of-production. Assuming everything else remains unchanged, as natural gas production changes, depletion would change in the same direction.
Our depreciation, depletion and amortization expense for the year ended December 31, 2011, was $22.1 million, or $1.62 per Mcfe, compared to $85.3 million, or $5.67 per Mcfe, for the same period in
2010. This decrease of $63.2 million, or 74.0%, is primarily the result of lower depletion expense. This decrease in 2011 of depreciation, depletion, and amortization expense largely reflects the decreased basis in our assets resulting from our 2010
impairments of our oil and natural gas properties, as well as an increase in our year-end 2010 reserve base primarily due to price-related reserve revisions, higher capital expenditures for our development drilling programs, and a 1.4 Bcfe decrease
in production volumes during 2011 as compared to 2010. We calculate depletion using units-of-production under the successful efforts method of accounting. Our other assets are depreciated using the straight line basis. Consistent with our prior
practice, we use our 2011 reserve report to calculate our depletion rate during the first three quarters of 2012. We will use our 2012 reserve report to record our depletion in the fourth quarter of 2012. We estimate our depletion rate to be
approximately $1.34 per Mcfe for the first three quarters of 2012.
51
Our asset impairments for the year ended December 31, 2011, were $2.9 million, compared
to $272.5 million for the same period in 2010. Our non-cash impairment charges in 2011 were approximately $1.6 million to impair the value of our oil and natural gas properties in the Central Kansas Uplift, $1.0 million related to the extinguishment
of the NPI and $0.3 million to impair certain of our wells in the Woodford Shale. These 2011 impairments were primarily caused by the impact of lower future oil and natural gas prices along with certain performance-related reserve revisions. Our
non-cash impairment charges in 2010 were approximately $263.4 million to impair the value of our oil and natural gas properties in the Cherokee Basin, $6.3 million to impair the value of our other non-current intangible assets related to our
activities in the Cherokee Basin, $0.4 million to impair the value of inventory in the Cherokee Basin, $1.9 million to impair the value of certain of our wells in the Woodford Shale and $0.5 million to impair the value of our casing inventory.
Interest expense.
Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2011, decreased $1.8 million, or 15.4%, to
approximately $10.1 million as compared to approximately $12.0 million in interest expense for the same period in 2010. This decrease was primarily due to $2.0 million in higher non-cash mark-to-market losses on our interest rate swaps that are
accounted for as mark-to-market activities, offset by lower interest rate swap settlements of $1.7 million and lower market interest rates resulting in lower interest expense of $2.1 million during 2011 as compared to the same period in 2010. At
December 31, 2011, we had an outstanding balance under our reserve-based credit facility of $98.4 million as compared to $165.0 million at December 31, 2010. Since the third quarter of 2009, we have used our excess operating cash flow to
reduce our total debt from a high of $220.0 million in 2009 to $98.4 million as of December 31, 2011. The average interest rate on our outstanding debt was approximately 5.7% in 2011 compared to 4.8% in 2010.
Interest income.
Interest income for the year ended December 31, 2011, remained essentially level to the same period in 2010.
During 2011, market rates for overnight investments continued to be at historical lows, resulting in no significant earnings on our cash balances. Our cash balance increased from $7.9 million at December 31, 2010, to $17.2 million at
December 31, 2011.
Accumulated other comprehensive income.
Accumulated other comprehensive income, shown on our
consolidated balance sheets, reflected the fair market value of certain of our previously designated cash-flow hedge positions. At December 31, 2011, the balance was an unrealized gain of $5.4 million compared to an unrealized gain of $10.9
million at December 31, 2010. This decrease reflects the amortization to earnings for the derivative positions that were previously accounted for as cash flow hedges that have cash settled during 2011.
The decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is shown in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive
income (loss) as an unrealized loss of $5.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, and as an unrealized loss of $17.4 million for the same period in 2010. This decrease reflects the settlements during 2011 related to amounts previously
included in locked accumulated other comprehensive income associated with our hedging positions previously accounted for as cash flow hedges. All of our derivative positions are now accounted for as mark-to-market activities and the remaining
balance of $5.4 million in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at December 31, 2011, amortized to earnings as the positions settled in 2012.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
During 2012, we utilized our cash flow
from operations as our primary source of capital. Our primary use of capital during this time was for the reduction of outstanding debt and the development of existing oil opportunities within our existing asset base in the Cherokee Basin.
The primary focus of our business plan in 2012 has been to use our excess operating cash flows to reduce our outstanding debt
level while continuing a limited capital program focused on oil drilling and recompletions. Since we shifted our strategic focus to debt reduction, we have successfully reduced our outstanding debt balance from a high of $220.0 million in 2009 to
$34.0 million as of March 7, 2013. This reduction in debt was achieved through a combination of the sale of our natural gas properties in the Black Warrior Basin of Alabama in 2013, the one-time restructuring of our NYMEX fixed-for-floating
price swaps in 2011, the suspension of our cash distribution since 2009, the reduction of our capital expenditures since 2009, significant reductions in our operating expenses and the dedication of a significant portion of our operating cash flows
to reducing debt.
Based upon our current business plan for 2013, we anticipate that we will continue to generate sufficient
operating cash flows to meet our working capital needs and fund a planned capital expenditure program between $19.0 million and $21.0 million. We will be monitoring the capital resources available to us to meet our future financial obligations and
our planned 2013 capital expenditures. We do not currently expect the sale of our natural gas properties in the Black Warrior Basin of Alabama to significantly reduce our future net cash flows in 2013, as we have significantly reduced our
outstanding debt level which will lower our cash interest payments. Our current expectation is that we will continue managing our business to operate within the cash flows that are generated. Given our focus on debt reduction, our quarterly
distributions to our
52
unitholders remained suspended through the fourth quarter of 2012. We were restricted from paying distributions to unitholders as we had no available cash (taking into account the cash reserves
set by our board of managers for the proper conduct of our business and the payment of fees and expenses) from which to pay distributions. We must extend or refinance our existing reserve-based credit facility prior to its maturity on March 31,
2014. We expect to have limited liquidity available until we have extended or refinanced our reserve-based credit facility.
Our future success in growing reserves and production will be highly dependent on the capital resources available to us and our success
in drilling for or acquiring additional reserves and managing the costs associated with our operations. We routinely monitor and adjust our capital expenditures and operating expenses in response to changes in oil and natural gas prices, drilling
and acquisition costs, industry conditions, availability of funds under our reserve-based credit facility, and internally generated cash flow. Based upon current oil and natural gas price expectations, our existing hedge position and expected
production levels in 2013, we anticipate that our cash flow from operations can meet our planned capital expenditures and other cash requirements for the next twelve months without increasing our debt. If needed, we may issue additional equity
securities to raise additional capital. Future cash flows and our borrowing capacity are subject to a number of variables, including the level of oil and natural gas production, the market prices for those products and our hedge position. There can
be no assurance that operations and other capital resources will provide cash in sufficient amounts to maintain our reduced debt level, planned levels of capital expenditures, operating expenses, or any cash distributions that we may make to
unitholders.
During early 2012, the market price for natural gas declined to the lowest level in ten years due to a record
amount of natural gas in storage, significant supply growth from shale development drilling and a warmer than normal winter, while oil prices have remained at relatively high levels due to strong worldwide demand for crude oil products and tensions
in the Middle East. Expectations are that natural gas prices will remain at relatively low prices, while oil prices will remain strong during 2013. We have a significant amount of our natural gas production hedged for 2013 and 2014 and our oil
production hedged from 2013 through 2016. Our results will not be fully impacted by significant increases or decreases in oil and natural gas prices because of our hedging program. For 2013, we forecast our total net natural gas production of
between 6.5 Bcf and 7.3 Bcf and our total net oil production of between 100,000 Bbls and 200,000 Bbls. After the sale of our Robinsons Bend Field in the Black Warrior Basin of Alabama, we executed transactions to liquidate and offset certain
of our derivative positions to prevent us from being over hedged. We are now financially hedged on all of the midpoint guidance of our 2013 natural gas production guidance and all of the midpoint of our 2013 oil production guidance. For 2013, we
have approximately 8.8 Bcfe of our Mid-Continent natural gas production locked in at an effective fixed price of $5.75 per Mcfe at an average differential of $0.39 per Mcfe. With respect to our 2013 oil production, we have hedges in place on
approximately 147MBbl at a fixed price of $96.28 per barrel. This hedge position locks in a significant portion of our expected operating cash flows for 2013, although we are still exposed to increases or decreases in oil and natural gas prices on
any of our unhedged volumes. In the event of inflation increasing drilling and service costs, our hedging program will also limit our ability to have increased revenues recoup the higher costs, which could further impact our planned capital spending
or operating expense levels.
Sources of Debt and Equity Financing
As of March 7, 2013, the borrowing base under our reserve-based credit facility was $37.5 million and we had $34.0 million of debt
outstanding under the facility, leaving us with $3.5 million in unused borrowing capacity. Our reserve-based credit facility must be renewed or replaced before its maturity on March 31, 2014. The amount of debt we have outstanding on
March 31, 2013, will become a current liability. Our reserve-based credit facility currently provides a limited availability to finance capital expenditures and other working capital needs. Until our reserve-based credit facility is renewed or
replaced in early 2013, we expect to have limited liquidity available. We are currently working with a syndicate of lenders to extend or refinance our reserve-based credit facility before we issue our first quarter 2013 Form 10-Q. Our reserve-based
credit facility is discussed below in further detail. In the first quarter of 2011, we filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC to register up to $500 million of debt or equity securities to repay or refinance outstanding debt and to fund
working capital, capital expenditures and any acquisitions. This registration statement will expire in February 2014. As a smaller reporting company, any sales of securities under our shelf registration statement during the preceding rolling 12
months is limited to one-third of our public float. Our public float is calculated by multiplying the highest closing price of our Class B common units within the last 60 days by the number of outstanding Class B common units held by
non-affiliates, currently including PostRock. There is no guarantee that securities can or will be issued under the registration statement or that conditions in the financial markets would be supportive of an issuance of such securities by us. If
needed, we may also issue securities in one or more private placements.
53
Reserve-Based Credit Facility
On February 8, 2013, we executed a third amendment to our $350.0 million reserve-based credit facility with The Royal Bank of
Scotland plc as administrative agent and a syndicate of lenders extending its maturity date to March 31, 2014. This extension was contingent upon our sale of our natural gas properties in the Robinsons Bend Field in the Black Warrior
Basin of Alabama, which closed on February 28, 2013. Borrowings under the reserve-based credit facility are secured by various mortgages of oil and natural gas properties that we and certain of our subsidiaries own as well as various security and
pledge agreements among us and certain of our subsidiaries and the administrative agent. The amount available for borrowing at any one time under the reserve-based credit facility is limited to the borrowing base for our oil and natural gas
properties. As of March 7, 2013, we borrowed $34.0 million under our reserve-based credit facility and our borrowing base was $37.5 million. As of March 7, 2013, the lenders and their percentage commitments in the reserve-based credit
facility are The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (26.84%), Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (21.95%), The Bank of Nova Scotia (21.95%), Societe Generale (14.63%), and ING Capital LLC (14.63%).
Borrowings under the reserve-based credit facility are available for acquisition, exploration, operation and maintenance of oil and
natural gas properties, payment of expenses incurred in connection with the reserve-based credit facility, working capital and general limited liability company purposes. The reserve-based credit facility has a sub-limit of $20.0 million which may
be used for the issuance of letters of credit. As of March 7, 2013, no letters of credit were outstanding.
At our
election, interest for borrowings are determined by reference to (i) the London interbank rate, or LIBOR, plus an applicable margin between 2.50% and 3.50% per annum based on utilization or (ii) a domestic bank rate (ABR)
plus an applicable margin between 1.50% and 2.50% per annum based on utilization plus (iii) a commitment fee of 0.50% per annum based on the unutilized borrowing base. Interest on the borrowings for ABR loans and the commitment fee
are generally payable quarterly. Interest on the borrowings for LIBOR loans are generally payable at the applicable maturity date.
The reserve-based credit facility contains various covenants that limit, among other things, our ability and certain of our subsidiaries ability to incur certain indebtedness, grant certain liens,
merge or consolidate, sell all or substantially all of our assets, make certain loans, acquisitions, capital expenditures and investments, and pay distributions.
In addition, we are required to maintain (i) a ratio of Total Net Debt (defined as Debt (generally indebtedness permitted to be incurred by us under the reserve-based credit facility) less Available
Cash (generally, cash, cash equivalents, and cash reserves of the Company)) to Adjusted EBITDA (generally, for any period, the sum of consolidated net income for such period plus (minus) the following expenses or charges to the extent deducted from
consolidated net income in such period: interest expense, depreciation, depletion, amortization, write-off of deferred financing fees, impairment of long-lived assets, (gain) loss on sale of assets, exploration costs, (gain) loss from equity
investment, accretion of asset retirement obligation, unrealized (gain) loss on derivatives and realized (gain) loss on cancelled derivatives, and other similar charges) of not more than 3.50 to 1.0; (ii) Adjusted EBITDA to cash interest
expense of not less than 2.5 to 1.0; and (iii) consolidated current assets, including the unused amount of the total commitments but excluding current non-cash assets, to consolidated current liabilities, excluding non-cash liabilities and
current maturities of debt (to the extent such payments are not past due), of not less than 1.0 to 1.0, all calculated pursuant to the requirements under SFAS 133 and SFAS 143 (including the current liabilities in respect of the termination of oil
and natural gas and interest rate swaps). All financial covenants are calculated using our consolidated financial information and are discussed below.
The reserve-based credit facility also includes customary events of default, including events of default relating to non-payment of principal, interest or fees, inaccuracy of representations and
warranties in any material respect when made or when deemed made, violation of covenants, cross-defaults, bankruptcy and insolvency events, certain unsatisfied judgments, guaranties not being valid under the reserve-based credit facility and a
change of control. A change of control is generally defined as the occurrence of both of the following events (i) wholly owned subsidiaries of Constellation Energy Group, Inc. are the owner of 20% or less of an interest in us (which has now
occurred) and (ii) any person or group of persons acting in concert are the owner of more than 35% of an interest in us. If an event of default occurs, the lenders will be able to accelerate the maturity of the reserve-based credit facility and
exercise other rights and remedies. The reserve-based credit facility contains a condition to borrowing and a representation that no material adverse effect (MAE) has occurred, which includes, among other things, a material adverse
change in, or material adverse effect on the business, operations, property, liabilities (actual or contingent) or condition (financial or otherwise) of us and our subsidiaries who are guarantors taken as a whole. If a MAE were to occur, we would be
prohibited from borrowing under the reserve-based credit facility and would be in default, which could cause all of our existing indebtedness to become immediately due and payable.
The reserve-based credit facility limits our ability to pay distributions to unitholders. We have the ability to pay distributions to
unitholders from available cash, including cash from borrowings under the reserve-based credit facility, as long as no event of default exists and provided that no distributions to unitholders may be made if the borrowings outstanding, net of
available cash, under the reserve-based credit facility exceed 90% of the borrowing base, after giving
54
effect to the proposed distribution. Our available cash is reduced by any cash reserves established by our board of managers for the proper conduct of our business and the payment of fees and
expenses. As of December 31, 2012, we were restricted from paying distributions to unitholders as we had no available cash (taking into account the cash reserves set by our board of managers for the proper conduct of our business) from which to
pay distributions.
The reserve-based credit facility permits us to hedge our projected monthly production, provided that
(a) for the immediately ensuing twelve month period, the volumes of production hedged in any month may not exceed our reasonable business judgment of the production for such month consistent with the application of petroleum engineering
methodologies for estimating proved developed producing reserves based on the then-current strip pricing (provided that such projection shall not be more than 115% of the proved developed producing reserves forecast for the same period derived from
the most recent reserve report of our petroleum engineers using the then strip pricing), and (b) for the period beyond twelve months, the volumes of production hedged in any month may not exceed the reasonably anticipated projected production
from proved developed producing reserves estimated by our petroleum engineers. The reserve-based credit facility also permits us to hedge the interest rate on up to 90% of the then-outstanding principal amounts of our indebtedness for borrowed
money.
The reserve-based credit facility contains no covenants related to PostRocks or Exelons ownership in us.
At March 7, 2013, we believe that we were in compliance with the financial covenant ratios contained in our
reserve-based credit facility. We monitor compliance on an ongoing basis. As of December 31, 2012, our actual Total Net Debt to actual Adjusted EBITDA ratio was 3.4 to 1.0 as compared with a required ratio of not greater than 3.5 to 1.0, our
actual ratio of consolidated current assets to consolidated current liabilities was 1.1 to 1.0 as compared with a required ratio of not less than 1.0 to 1.0, and our actual Adjusted EBITDA to cash interest expense ratio was 7.9 to 1.0 as compared
with a required ratio of not less than 2.5 to 1.0.
If we are unable to remain in compliance with the financial covenants
contained in our reserve-based credit facility or maintain the required ratios discussed above, the lenders could call an event of default and accelerate the outstanding debt under the terms of our reserve-based credit facility, such that our
outstanding debt could become then due and payable. We may request waivers of compliance from the violated financial covenants from the lenders, but there is no assurance that such waivers would be granted.
The amount available for borrowing at any one time under the reserve-based credit facility is limited to the borrowing base for our oil
and natural gas properties. As of March 7, 2013, our borrowing base was $37.5 million. The borrowing base is redetermined semi-annually, and may be redetermined at our request more frequently and by the lenders, in their sole discretion, based
on reserve reports as prepared by petroleum engineers, using, among other things, the oil and natural gas prices prevailing at such time. Outstanding borrowings in excess of our borrowing base must be repaid or we must pledge other oil and natural
gas properties as additional collateral. We may elect to pay any borrowing base deficiency in three equal monthly installments such that the deficiency is eliminated in a period of three months. Any increase in our borrowing base must be approved by
all of the lenders.
Extending or Refinancing our Reserve-Based Credit Facility
Our reserve-based credit facility matures on March 31, 2014. To the extent that we do not enter into an agreement to extend or
refinance the due date of our reserve-based credit facility, the outstanding debt balance at March 31, 2013, will become a current liability. We are currently working with a syndicate of lenders to extend or refinance our reserve-based credit
facility. The lenders have not yet committed to extend or refinance our reserve-based credit facility. As of March 7, 2013 our outstanding debt was $34.0 million and our borrowing base was $37.5 million. All of our oil and natural gas reserves
in Kansas and Oklahoma serve as collateral for our existing reserve based-credit facility.
If we are unable to successfully
extend or refinance our reserve-based credit facility before March 31, 2014 and it becomes necessary to reduce debt by amounts that exceed our operating cash flows or our available cash, we could reduce capital expenditures, sell oil and
natural gas properties, liquidate in-the-money derivative positions, reduce operating and administrative costs, or take additional steps to increase liquidity to repay the outstanding balance thereunder.
Cash Flow from Operations
Our net cash flow provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2012, was $13.6 million, compared to net cash flow
provided by operating activities of $87.7 million for the same period in 2011. This decrease in operating cash flow was attributable to the impact of lower oil and natural gas sales of $76.6 million offset by the impact of lower general and
administrative expenses, lease operating expenses and other expenses of $4.4 million and the net working capital impact of $2.0 million.
55
This decrease in oil and natural gas sales is a result of $58.3 million in lower cash hedge
settlements primarily as a result of our hedge restructuring in 2011, $13.5 million from lower market prices for natural gas offset by higher market prices for oil, and $4.8 million as a result of lower natural gas production volumes offset by
higher oil production volumes. The decrease in operating cash flows from lower oil and natural gas sales was partially offset by the impact of approximately $4.4 million in lower operating expenses, primarily as a result of lower total spending in
both administrative and lease operating expenses and the impact of lower production taxes and lower cost of sales, and a $2.0 million net change in working capital and other items. Our change in our working capital from 2011 to 2012 was primarily
attributable to lower accounts payable of $0.8 million, higher other non-current assets of $0.6 million, higher prepaid expenses of $0.2 million, and $0.5 million of other accrued liabilities. Our accounts payable and other accrued liabilities
decreased due to timing of invoice payments. Our other assets increased as a result of establishing an escrow account for $0.6 million related to a vendor dispute. Our accrued liabilities decreased after the payments associated with our 2011
incentive compensation programs were made. The increase in prepaid expenses primarily resulted from the timing of the payment for insurance expenses and other prepaid services.
Our net cash flow provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2011, was $87.7 million, compared to net cash
flow provided by operating activities of $40.8 million for the same period in 2010. This increase in operating cash flow was attributable the impact of higher oil and natural gas sales of $35.9 million and the impact of lower general and
administrative expenses, lease operating expenses and other expenses of $6.5 million, offset by the net working capital impact of $1.6 million in payments related to settling the Torch-related litigation. Of the increase in oil and natural gas sales
of $35.9 million, $42.3 million is related to an increase in oil and natural gas hedge settlements primarily as a result of us executing a one-time transaction to reset our NYMEX fixed-for-floating price swaps for our natural gas production and $5.6
million is due to increased oil production and higher market prices for oil, offset by the impact of $12.0 million in lower natural gas production of 1.7 Bcfe and lower market prices for natural gas. Our operating expenses decreased due to lower
total spending for both general and administrative expenses and lease operating expenses as a result of our 2011 cost management initiative.
During 2011, our operating cash flows were increased by $80.6 million related to cash hedge settlements for our oil and natural gas commodity and interest rate derivatives. This increase was primarily a
result of us executing a one-time transaction to reset our NYMEX fixed-for-floating price swaps to $5.75 per MMBtu for our natural gas production beginning in January 2012 through December 2014. In conjunction with the transaction, we received a
one-time cash payment from our swap counterparties totaling approximately $41.3 million, which was used to reduce our outstanding debt balance under our reserve-based credit facility.
Our cash flow from operations is subject to many variables, the most significant of which are the volatility of oil and natural gas
prices and our level of production of oil and natural gas. Oil and natural gas prices are determined primarily by prevailing market conditions, which are dependent on regional and worldwide economic activity, weather and other factors beyond our
control. Our future cash flow from operations will depend on our ability to maintain and increase production through our development program or completing acquisitions, as well as the market prices of oil and natural gas and our hedging program. For
additional information on our business plan for 2013, refer below to
Outlook
.
Open Commodity Hedge Positions
We enter into hedging arrangements to reduce the impact of oil and natural gas price volatility on our operations. By
removing the price volatility from a significant portion of our oil and natural gas production, we have mitigated, but not eliminated, the potential effects of changing prices on our cash flow from operations for those periods. While mitigating the
negative effects of falling commodity prices, these derivative contracts also limit the benefits we might otherwise receive from increases in commodity prices. These derivative contracts also limit our ability to have additional cash flows to fund
higher severance taxes, which are usually based on market prices for oil and natural gas. Our operating cash flows are also impacted by the cost of oilfield services. In the event of inflation increasing service costs or administrative expenses, our
hedging program will limit our ability to have increased operating cash flows to fund these higher costs. Increases in the market prices for oil and natural gas will also increase our need for working capital as our commodity hedging contracts cash
settle prior to our receipt of cash from our sales of the related commodities to third parties.
It is our policy to enter
into derivative contracts only with counterparties that are creditworthy financial institutions deemed by management as competent and competitive market makers. Each of the counterparties to our derivative contracts is a lender in our reserve-based
credit facility and we do not currently post collateral with our counterparties under any of these agreements. This is significant since we are able to lock in sales prices on a substantial amount of our expected future production without posting
cash collateral based on price changes prior to the hedges being cash settled.
56
The following tables as of March 7, 2013, summarize, for the periods indicated, our
hedges currently in place through December 31, 2016. All of these derivatives are accounted for as mark-to-market activities.
MTM
Fixed Price SwapsNYMEX (Henry Hub)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the quarter ended (in MMBtu)
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
Sept 30,
|
|
|
Dec 31,
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
Volume
|
|
|
Average
Price
|
|
|
Volume
|
|
|
Average
Price
|
|
|
Volume
|
|
|
Average
Price
|
|
|
Volume
|
|
|
Average
Price
|
|
|
Volume
|
|
|
Average
Price
|
|
2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,079,500
|
|
|
$
|
5.75
|
|
|
|
2,070,000
|
|
|
$
|
5.75
|
|
|
|
2,038,000
|
|
|
$
|
5.75
|
|
|
|
6,187,500
|
|
|
$
|
5.75
|
|
2014
|
|
|
1,575,000
|
|
|
$
|
5.75
|
|
|
|
1,592,500
|
|
|
$
|
5.75
|
|
|
|
1,610,000
|
|
|
$
|
5.75
|
|
|
|
1,610,000
|
|
|
$
|
5.75
|
|
|
|
6,387,500
|
|
|
$
|
5.75
|
|
2015
|
|
|
476,363
|
|
|
$
|
4.30
|
|
|
|
465,102
|
|
|
$
|
4.30
|
|
|
|
454,087
|
|
|
$
|
4.30
|
|
|
|
443,938
|
|
|
$
|
4.30
|
|
|
|
1,839,490
|
|
|
$
|
4.30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,414,490
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MTM Fixed Price Basis Swaps CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission (East), ONEOK Gas Transportation (Oklahoma), or
Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline (Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the quarter ended (in MMBtu)
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
Sept 30,
|
|
|
Dec 31,
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
Volume
|
|
|
Weighted
Average $
|
|
|
Volume
|
|
|
Weighted
Average $
|
|
|
Volume
|
|
|
Weighted
Average $
|
|
|
Volume
|
|
|
Weighted
Average $
|
|
|
Volume
|
|
|
Weighted
Average $
|
|
2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,335,077
|
|
|
$
|
0.39
|
|
|
|
1,273,525
|
|
|
$
|
0.39
|
|
|
|
1,223,985
|
|
|
$
|
0.39
|
|
|
|
3,832,587
|
|
|
$
|
0.39
|
|
2014
|
|
|
1,178,422
|
|
|
$
|
0.39
|
|
|
|
1,133,022
|
|
|
$
|
0.39
|
|
|
|
1,084,270
|
|
|
$
|
0.39
|
|
|
|
1,047,963
|
|
|
$
|
0.39
|
|
|
|
4,443,677
|
|
|
$
|
0.39
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,276,264
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MTM Fixed Price Basis SwapsWest Texas Intermediate (WTI)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the quarter ended (in Bbls)
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
Sept 30,
|
|
|
Dec 31,
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
Volume
|
|
|
Average
Price
|
|
|
Volume
|
|
|
Average
Price
|
|
|
Volume
|
|
|
Average
Price
|
|
|
Volume
|
|
|
Average
Price
|
|
|
Volume
|
|
|
Average
Price
|
|
2013
|
|
|
13,257
|
|
|
$
|
96.22
|
|
|
|
38,030
|
|
|
$
|
96.24
|
|
|
|
35,527
|
|
|
$
|
96.31
|
|
|
|
33,200
|
|
|
$
|
96.38
|
|
|
|
120,014
|
|
|
$
|
96.30
|
|
2014
|
|
|
31,144
|
|
|
$
|
93.87
|
|
|
|
29,210
|
|
|
$
|
93.95
|
|
|
|
27,352
|
|
|
$
|
94.06
|
|
|
|
25,421
|
|
|
$
|
94.23
|
|
|
|
113,127
|
|
|
$
|
94.02
|
|
2015
|
|
|
23,919
|
|
|
$
|
93.37
|
|
|
|
22,494
|
|
|
$
|
93.48
|
|
|
|
21,237
|
|
|
$
|
93.58
|
|
|
|
20,030
|
|
|
$
|
93.70
|
|
|
|
87,680
|
|
|
$
|
93.53
|
|
2016
|
|
|
17,957
|
|
|
$
|
85.50
|
|
|
|
16,985
|
|
|
$
|
85.50
|
|
|
|
16,048
|
|
|
$
|
85.50
|
|
|
|
15,127
|
|
|
$
|
85.50
|
|
|
|
66,117
|
|
|
$
|
85.50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
386,938
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investing ActivitiesAcquisitions and Capital Expenditures
Cash used in investing activities was $14.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to $10.7 million for the same
period in 2011. Our cash capital expenditures were $15.9 million in 2012, which primarily consisted of development expenditures for oil drilling and recompletion opportunities in the Cherokee Basin. We completed 50 net wells and 50 net recompletions
during 2012 and had 18 net wells and recompletions in progress at December 31, 2012. We also sold 14 wells in the Central Kansas Uplift for $1.4 million and $0.1 million in trucks and equipment. We received approximately $0.2 million in
distributions from an equity affiliate.
Cash used in investing activities was $10.7 million for the year ended
December 31, 2011, compared to $13.8 million for the same period in 2010. Our cash capital expenditures were $11.3 million in 2011, which primarily consisted of $11.0 million in development expenditures in the Cherokee Basin and the Black
Warrior Basin and $0.6 million in leasing unproved properties, offset by the receipt of $0.3 million in post-closing adjustments for our December 2010 acquisition of oil properties in the Central Kansas Uplift. We completed 35 net wells and 49 net
recompletions during 2011 and had 10 net wells and recompletions in progress at December 31, 2011. The uses of cash were offset by the $0.1 million in proceeds from the sale of surplus equipment and $0.5 million in distributions received from
an equity investment.
57
Our current 2013 capital budget of $19.0 million to $21.0 million is currently expected to
be funded using our cash flow from operations and using any remaining net proceeds from the sale of our natural gas properties in the Black Warrior Basin after we have reduced our debt to $34.0 million. We currently expect to focus our entire 2013
capital budget on higher return oil opportunities and capital efficient recompletion opportunities in our existing asset base in the Cherokee Basin. We currently believe that opportunity set is sufficient to warrant a continuing focus on our oil
opportunities in the Cherokee Basin with investment of free cash flow at rates of return exceeding 20% over the next few years. We currently believe that natural gas prices in excess of $6.00 per Mcfe produce rates of return that generally support
capital spending on drilling new wells that produce only coalbed methane gas.
The amount and timing of our capital
expenditures is largely discretionary and within our control. If oil or natural gas prices decline to levels below acceptable levels, and the borrowing base under our reserve-based credit facility is reduced, drilling costs escalate, or our efforts
to exploit oil potential in our asset base prove to be unsuccessful, we could choose to defer a portion of these planned capital expenditures until later periods. We routinely monitor and adjust our capital expenditures in response to changes in oil
and natural gas prices, drilling and acquisition costs, industry conditions, availability of funds under our reserve-based credit facility, and internally generated cash flow. These and other matters are outside of our control and could affect the
timing of our capital expenditures. Based upon current oil and natural gas price expectations and expected 2013 production levels, we anticipate that our cash flow from operations will meet any planned capital expenditures and other cash
requirements for the next twelve months. We also would have access to any existing available borrowing capacity under our reserve-based credit facility and our then existing cash balance if additional funds are needed in the future. Future cash
flows are subject to a number of variables, including the level of oil and natural gas production and prices. There can be no assurance that our operations and other capital resources will provide cash in sufficient amounts during 2013 to maintain
our planned levels of capital expenditures, to maintain the outstanding debt level under our reserve-based credit facility, or to commence any quarterly distribution to unitholders. Our capital expenditures are also impacted by drilling and service
costs. In the event of inflation increasing drilling and service costs, our hedging program will limit our ability to have increased revenues recoup the higher costs, which could further impact our planned capital spending.
Financing Activities
Our net cash used in financing activities was $14.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to $67.7 million used in
financing activities for the same period in 2011. During 2012, we used $14.4 million of our existing cash balance to reduce our outstanding debt level to $84.0 million at December 31, 2012. We did not borrow any additional, daily, short-term or
long-term amounts under our reserve-based credit facility during the past two years. We also used $0.2 million to fund the cost of units tendered by employees for tax withholdings for unit-based compensation.
We must renew or replace our existing credit facility before March 31, 2014. At March 7, 2013, we had $34.0 million in
outstanding debt and have reduced our outstanding interest rate swaps to $27.25 million of our outstanding debt. As a result, we currently expect to have lower interest payments on outstanding debt in 2013 than in 2012. During the first two months
of 2013, we borrowed $0.2 million in short-term amounts under our reserve-based credit facility for working capital purposes. At both March 7, 2013, and December 31, 2012, we had approximately $1.2 million in debt issue costs remaining to
be amortized through March 31, 2014.
We suspended our $0.13 per unit quarterly distributions to unitholders for the
quarter ended June 30, 2009, through the year ended December 31, 2012, to reduce our outstanding indebtedness. For additional information on our distribution, refer below to Outlook.
Our net cash used in financing activities was $67.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to $30.5 million used in
financing activities for the same period in 2010. During 2011, we used $66.6 million in operating cash flows to reduce our outstanding debt level, including $41.3 million in cash proceeds received when we executed a transaction to reset our NYMEX
fixed-for-floating price swaps to $5.75 per MMBtu for our natural gas production beginning in January 2012 through December 2014. We also used $0.3 million to fund the cost of units tendered by employees for tax withholdings for unit-based
compensation and $0.7 million in additional debt issue costs associated with an amendment to our reserve-based credit facility. During 2011, we did not borrow any additional daily, short-term or long-term amounts under our reserve-based credit
facility. At December 31, 2011, we had approximately $2.4 million in debt issue costs remaining to be amortized through November 2013.
58
Contractual Obligations
At March 7, 2013, we had the following contractual obligations or commercial commitments:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payments Due By
Year
(1)(2)
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
Thereafter
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Reserve-Based Credit Facility
(3)
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
84,000
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
84,000
|
|
Asset Retirement Obligation
(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,357
|
|
|
|
15,357
|
|
Offices Leases
(5)
|
|
|
408
|
|
|
|
422
|
|
|
|
451
|
|
|
|
301
|
|
|
|
1,582
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
408
|
|
|
$
|
84,422
|
|
|
$
|
451
|
|
|
$
|
15,658
|
|
|
$
|
100,939
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
This table does not include any liabilities associated with our derivatives.
|
(2)
|
This table does not include interest as interest rates are variable. The average interest rate on our outstanding debt was approximately 6.0% at December 31, 2012.
At March 7, 2013, our outstanding debt due in March 2014 is $34.0 million.
|
(3)
|
On February 8, 2013, we executed a third amendment to our $350.0 million reserve-based credit facility with The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as administrative agent
and a syndicate of lenders extending its maturity date to March 31, 2014.
|
(4)
|
At March 7, 2013, our asset retirement obligation was approximately $7.3 million. This reduction is due to the sale of our natural gas properties in the Black
Warrior Basin of Alabama.
|
(5)
|
Our Tulsa office lease terminates on May 31, 2013.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements
with third parties, and we maintain no debt obligations that contain provisions requiring accelerated payment of the related obligations in the event of specified levels of declines in credit ratings.
Credit Markets and Counterparty Risk
We actively monitor the credit exposure and risks associated with our counterparties. Additionally, we continue to monitor global credit markets to limit our potential exposure to credit risk where
possible. Our primary credit exposures result from the sale of oil and natural gas and our use of derivatives. Through March 7, 2013, we have not suffered any significant losses with our counterparties as a result of nonperformance.
Certain key counterparty relationships are described below:
Macquarie Energy LLC
Macquarie Energy LLC (Macquarie), a
subsidiary of Sydney, Australia-based Macquarie Group Limited, purchases a portion of our natural gas production in the Cherokee Basin. We have received a guarantee from Macquarie Bank Limited for up to $4.0 million in purchases through
December 31, 2013. As of March 7, 2013, we have no past due receivables from Macquarie.
Scissortail Energy, LLC
Scissortail Energy, LLC (Scissortail), a subsidiary of Copano Energy, L.L.C., purchases a portion of our
natural gas production in Oklahoma and Kansas. As of March 7, 2013, we have no past due receivables from Scissortail.
ONEOK Energy Services Company, L.P.
ONEOK Energy Services Company, L.P. (ONEOK), a subsidiary of ONEOK, Inc., purchases a portion of our natural gas production in Oklahoma and Kansas. We have received a guarantee from ONEOK,
Inc. for up to $3.0 million in purchases through November 30, 2013. As of March 7, 2013, we have no past due receivables from ONEOK.
J.P. Morgan Ventures Energy Corporation
J.P. Morgan Ventures Energy
Corporation purchases the majority of our natural gas production in Alabama. The payment for the purchases is guaranteed by JP Morgan Chase & Company through June 30, 2014. As of March 7, 2013, we have no past due receivables from
J.P. Morgan Ventures Energy Corporation.
59
Derivative Counterparties
As of March 7, 2013, all of our derivatives are with The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, Societe Generale, The Bank of Nova Scotia, ING
Capital Markets LLC, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. These derivative counterparties are lenders, or affiliated with a lender, in our reserve-based credit facility. All of our derivatives are currently collateralized by the assets securing our
reserve-based credit facility and therefore currently do not require the posting of cash collateral. As of December 31, 2012, each of these financial institutions has an investment grade credit rating. Several of the lenders in our
reserve-based credit facility were, as of March 7, 2013, on review for possible ratings downgrade by S&P or Moodys. However, it would take a multiple ratings downgrade for each of these banks to fall below investment grade.
Reserve-Based Credit Facility
As of March 7, 2013 the banks and their percentage commitments in our reserve-based credit facility are: The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (26.84%), Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (21.95%), The Bank of Nova
Scotia (21.95%), ING Capital LLC (14.63%), and Societe Generale (14.63%). As of December 31, 2012, each of these financial institutions has an investment grade credit rating.
Outlook
During 2013, we expect that our business will continue to be affected by the factors described in Item 1A. Risk Factors,
as well as the following key industry and economic trends. Our expectation is based upon key assumptions and information currently available to us. To the extent that our underlying assumptions about or interpretations of available information prove
to be incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from our expected results.
Full Year 2013 Expected Results
Our 2013 business plan and forecast will be focused on prioritizing oil production in the execution of our capital
program, actively managing our operating expenses and actively pursuing merger and acquisition opportunities that could lead to enhanced unitholder value. We currently expect our operating environment to be characterized by continued low natural gas
prices, stable oil prices, and the pressure to reduce operating expenses.
After consideration of the sale of our
Robinsons Bend Field in the Black Warrior Basin of Alabama, for 2013 we currently anticipate:
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Our production to be at or slightly below 8.1 Bcfe, approximately 100% of which is currently hedged at prices that are attractive relative to the price levels we
currently observe in the commodity markets.
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Our operating expenses to be actively managed, resulting in a range of $31.4 million to $34.2 million.
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Our Adjusted EBITDA to be in a range of $23.0 million to $25.0 million.
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Our total capital expenditures to be between $19.0 million to $21.0 million. Our entire capital budget for 2013 will be focused on capital efficient oil drilling and
recompletion opportunities in the Mid-Continent region.
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Our operating cash flows to be sufficient to allow us to maintain our outstanding debt level relative to our existing borrowing base of $37.5 million. We are currently
working with our syndicate of lenders to extend or refinance our reserve-based credit facility in early 2013.
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We are currently implementing strategies to lower operating costs, with a goal of reducing our structural general and administrative costs by approximately 25% over the
next 12 months. We expect our general and administrative expenses to have a run rate of $12.4 million in 2013, with opportunities available to save another $0.6 million in 2014.
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We must extend or refinance our existing reserve-based credit facility prior to its maturity on March 31, 2014, and we currently expect to do so early in 2013.
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At the present time, we are actively pursuing merger and acquisition opportunities that could lead to enhanced unitholder value.
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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities. Certain accounting policies involve judgments and uncertainties to such an extent that there is reasonable likelihood that materially different amounts could have been reported under different conditions or if
different assumptions had been used. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on a regular basis. We base our estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions. The results of these estimates and assumptions form the basis for making
judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of our financial statements. Below, we have
provided a discussion of certain critical accounting policies, estimates and judgments. Please read Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements for a discussion of additional accounting policies and estimates made by management.
60
Oil and Natural Gas Properties
We follow the successful efforts method of accounting for our oil and natural gas exploration, development and production activities.
Under this method of accounting, costs relating to leasehold acquisition, property acquisition, and the development of proved areas are capitalized when incurred. If proved reserves are found on an undeveloped property, leasehold cost is transferred
to proved properties. Geological, geophysical and dry hole costs relating to unsuccessful exploratory wells are charged to expense as incurred.
Depreciation and depletion of producing oil and natural gas properties is recorded based on the units-of-production method. Unit rates are computed for unamortized drilling and development costs using
proved developed reserves and for unamortized leasehold costs using all proved reserves. The acquisition costs of proved properties are amortized on the basis of all proved reserves, developed and undeveloped, and capitalized development costs
(including wells and related equipment and facilities) are amortized on the basis of proved developed reserves. As more fully described in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements, proved reserves estimates are subject to future revisions
when additional information becomes available.
Estimated asset retirement costs are recognized when the asset is acquired or
placed in service, and are amortized over proved reserves using the units-of-production method. Asset retirement costs are estimated by our engineers using existing regulatory requirements and anticipated future inflation rates.
Oil and natural gas properties are reviewed for impairment when facts and circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be
recoverable. We assess impairment of capitalized costs of proved oil and natural gas properties by comparing net capitalized costs to estimated undiscounted future net cash flows using expected prices. If net capitalized costs exceed estimated
undiscounted future net cash flows, the measurement of impairment is based on estimated fair value, which would consider estimated future discounted cash flows. Cash flow estimates for the impairment testing are based on third party reserve reports
and exclude derivative instruments. Refer to Note 5 to our consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Unproven properties that are individually significant are assessed for impairment and if considered impaired are charged to expense when
such impairment is deemed to have occurred. Impairment is deemed to have occurred if a lease is going to expire prior to any planned drilling on the leased property. Valuation allowances based on average lease lives are maintained for the value of
unproved properties. For our concession in Osage County, Oklahoma, we assess it for impairment on a quarterly basis, and if it is considered impaired, a charge to expense is made when such impairment is deemed to have occurred.
Oil and Natural Gas Reserve Quantities
Our estimate of proved reserves is based on the quantities of oil and natural gas that engineering and geological analyses demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable from established
reservoirs in the future under current operating and economic parameters. Management estimates the proved reserves attributable to our ownership based on various factors, including consideration of reserve reports prepared by NSAI, an independent
petroleum engineering firm. On an annual basis, our proved reserve estimates and the reserve report prepared by NSAI are reviewed by the audit committee of our board of managers and our board of managers. Our financial statements between 2008 and
2012 were prepared using NSAIs estimates of our proved reserves.
Reserves and their relation to estimated future net
cash flows impact our depletion and impairment calculations. As a result, adjustments to depletion and impairment are made concurrently with changes to reserve estimates. We prepared our reserve estimates, and the projected cash flows derived from
these reserve estimates, in accordance with SEC guidelines. The accuracy of our reserve estimates is a function of many factors including the following: the quality and quantity of available data, the interpretation of that data, the accuracy of
various mandated economic assumptions and the judgments of the individuals preparing the estimates.
Our proved reserve
estimates are a function of many assumptions, all of which could deviate significantly from actual results. As such, reserve estimates may materially vary from the actual quantities of oil and natural gas eventually recovered.
61
Revenue Recognition
Sales are recognized when oil and natural gas has been delivered to a custody transfer point, persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement exists, the rights and responsibility of ownership pass to the
purchaser upon delivery, collection of revenue from the sale is reasonably assured and the sales price is fixed or determinable. Oil and natural gas is generally sold on a monthly basis. Most of the contracts pricing provisions are tied to a
market index, with certain adjustments based on, among other factors, whether a well delivers to a specific tank battery, gathering or transmission line, quality of oil and natural gas, and prevailing supply and demand conditions, so that the price
of the oil and natural gas fluctuates to remain competitive with other available oil and natural gas supplies. As a result, revenues from the sale of oil and natural gas will suffer if market prices decline and benefit if they increase. We believe
that the pricing provisions of our oil and natural gas contracts are customary in the industry.
Gas imbalances occur when
sales are more or less than the entitled ownership percentage of total gas production. Any amount received in excess is treated as a liability. If less than the entitled share of the production is received, the excess is recorded as a receivable.
There were no material gas imbalance positions at December 31, 2012, and 2011.
Hedging Activities
We have implemented a hedging program to limit our exposure to changes in commodity prices or basis differentials for our oil and natural
gas sales and to mitigate the impact of volatility of changes in the LIBOR interest rate on the interest payments for our debt. We do not enter into speculative trading positions.
We account for all our open derivatives as mark-to-market activities using the mark-to market accounting method. Using this method, the
contracts are carried at their fair value on our consolidated balance sheet under the captions Risk management assets and Risk management liabilities. We recognize all unrealized and realized gains and losses related to these
contracts on our consolidated statement of income under the caption Gain/(loss) from mark-to-market activities, which is a component of our total revenues for commodity derivatives or other income for interest rate derivatives.
We experience earnings volatility as a result of using the mark-to-market accounting method. This accounting treatment can
cause earnings volatility as the positions related to future oil and natural gas production or future interest payments are marked-to-market. These non-cash unrealized gains or losses are included in our current Statement of Operations and
Comprehensive income (loss) until the derivatives are cash settled as the commodities are produced and sold or the interest is paid. Increases in the market price of oil or natural gas and interest rates relative to the fixed future prices for our
hedges result in unrealized, non-cash mark-to-market losses on those derivatives and lower reported net income. Decreases in the market price of oil or natural gas or interest rates relative to the fixed future prices for our hedges result in
unrealized, non-cash mark-to-market gains on those derivatives and higher reported net income. Although these gains and losses are required to be reported immediately in earnings as market prices change, the fair value of the related future physical
transaction is not marked-to-market and therefore is not reflected as revenues or expenses or as an accounts receivable or accounts payable in our financial statements. This mismatch impacts our reported results of operations and our reported
working capital position until the derivatives are cash settled and the future physical transaction occurs. Upon cash settlement of the derivatives, the sale of the physical commodity or interest payment at then-current market prices offsets the
previously reported mark-to-market gains or losses such that the cumulative net cash realized results in a net sale of the physical oil and natural gas production or interest payment at the fixed future prices for our hedge. When our derivative
positions are cash settled, the realized gains and losses of those derivative positions are included in our statement of operations as natural gas sales, oil and liquids sales, or interest expense depending on the derivative.
If we were to account for our derivatives as cash flow hedges, we would record changes in the fair value of derivatives designated as
hedges that are effective in offsetting the variability in cash flows of forecasted transactions in other comprehensive income until the forecasted transactions occur. At the time the forecasted transactions occur, we would reclassify the amounts
recorded in other comprehensive income into earnings. We would record the ineffective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives used as hedges immediately in earnings. When amounts for hedging activities are reclassified from
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the balance sheet to the Statement of Operations and Comprehensive income (loss), we would record settled natural gas derivatives as Oil and gas sales and settled interest rate
swaps as Interest expense (income).
Regulatory Matters
In August 2012, the SEC adopted the final rule
Disclosure of Payments by Resource Extraction Issuers.
This final rule requires a
resource extraction issuer to provide information about the type and total amount of any payments made to a foreign government or to the U.S. Federal Government related to the commercial development of oil, natural gas, or minerals. This new annual
filing requirement is effective for fiscal years ending September 30, 2013, and will be done on Form SD. We are currently evaluating if any of our payments fall under this new reporting requirement.
62
In August 2012, the SEC adopted the final rule
Conflict Minerals
. This final rule is
effective for calendar years beginning January 1, 2013. This final rule requires an issuer with conflict minerals that are necessary to the functionality or production of a product manufactured by that issuer to disclose annually whether any of
those minerals originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or an adjoining country. If the minerals used by the issuer originated in those countries, then the issuer is required to submit an audited report of Form SD that includes a
description of the measures it took to exercise due diligence on the conflict minerals source and chain of custody. The reporting requirement also includes naming the auditor and including a description of the products manufactured or
contracted to be manufactured that are not DRC conflict free, the facilities used to process the conflict minerals, the country of origin of the conflict minerals, and the efforts to determine the mine or location of origin. We are
currently evaluating the impact, if any, of this new reporting requirement.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Accounting Changes
As of December 31, 2012, there were a number of accounting standards and interpretations that had been issued, but
not yet adopted by us. We are currently reviewing the recently issued standards and interpretations but none are expected to have a material impact on our financial statements.
In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-11,
Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities,
which requires
additional disclosures for financial and derivative instruments that are either (1) offset in accordance with either ASC 210-20-45 or ASC 815-10-45 or (2) subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement,
regardless of whether they are offset in accordance with either ASC 210-20-45 or ASC 815-10-45. In January 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-01,
Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities
, an amendment to ASC
Topic 210. The update clarifies that the scope of ASU No. 2011-11,
Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities
, applies to derivatives accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 815,
Derivatives and Hedging
, including
bifurcated embedded derivatives, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending transactions that are either offset or subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar
agreement. The guidance is effective beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and will primarily impact the disclosures associated with our commodity and interest rate derivatives. The adoption of this guidance will not have any impact on our
consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05,
Comprehensive Income (Topic 220)
that requires entities to present net income and other comprehensive income in either a single continuous statement or in two separate, but consecutive, statements of net income and other comprehensive income.
The option to present items of other comprehensive income in the statement of changes in equity is eliminated. The amended guidance did not have any material impact on our financial statements or our disclosures.
In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04,
Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and
Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs
, and the IASB issued IFRS 13,
Fair Value Measurement
(together, the new guidance). The new guidance results in a consistent definition of fair value and common requirements for
measurement of and disclosure about fair value between U.S. GAAP and IFRS. The new guidance changes some fair value measurement principles and disclosure requirements. and is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after
December
15, 2011. The amended did not have any material impact on our financial statements or our disclosures.
Item
7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The primary objective of the following information is to
provide forward-looking quantitative and qualitative information about our potential exposure to market risks. The term market risk refers to the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in oil and natural gas prices and interest rates.
The disclosures are not meant to be precise indicators of expected future losses, but rather indicators of reasonably possible losses. This forward-looking information provides indicators of how we view and manage our ongoing market risk exposures.
All of our market risk sensitive instruments were entered into for purposes other than speculative trading.
Global Financial and Energy
Markets
The U.S. economy continues to show signs of improvement, but the level of improvement has been insufficient to
materially increase the demand for natural gas, which accounts for a majority of our production. Concurrently, the U.S. had a warmer than normal winter, production from shale gas plays has increased the supply of natural gas and inventories of
natural gas in storage remain at record high levels. As a result, future expected prices for natural gas remain depressed relative to the price levels observed at the time our assets were acquired. At the same time, oil prices have remained at a
relatively high level due to strong worldwide demand for crude oil products and tensions in the Middle East. As a result, we have hedged a significant portion of our expected natural gas production for 2013 and 2015 and our oil production for 2013
through 2016. We have also shifted all of our capital expenditures to focus on oil drilling and recompletion opportunities in the Cherokee Basin to increase the percentage of our production and sales revenue from higher value added oil production.
63
Through March 7, 2013, we have reduced our outstanding debt from a high of $220.0
million in 2009 to $34.0 million. This reduction in debt was achieved through a combination of the sale of our natural gas properties in the Black Warrior Basin of Alabama in 2013, the one-time restructuring of our NYMEX fixed-for-floating price
swaps in 2011, the suspension of our cash distribution since 2009, the reduction of our capital expenditures since 2009, significant reductions in our operating expenses and the dedication of a significant portion of our operating cash flows to
reducing debt. Although we are a smaller company after this effort, we expect that our ability to issue debt and equity securities may improve over the next year. However, our ability to issue debt or equity securities may still be impacted,
particularly if future expected market prices for natural gas remain depressed or decline further or in the event of further reductions in credit availability by financial institutions due to stress in the financial markets, including as a result of
the debt crisis in Europe or fiscal issues in the United States. We continue to monitor the financial and energy markets to determine if we need to further adjust our business plans in response to changes in market conditions.
Commodity Price Risk
Our major market risk exposure is in the pricing applicable to our oil and natural gas production. Realized pricing is primarily driven by the NYMEX (Henry Hub) and Inside FERC prices for Southern Natural
Gas Company (Louisiana) with respect to our natural gas properties in the Black Warrior Basin and the Inside FERC prices for CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission (East), Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America (Midcontinent), the CenterPoint Energy
Gas Transmission (East), ONEOK Gas Transportation (Oklahoma), Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line (Texas, Oklahoma) and Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas) with respect to our natural gas properties in the Cherokee Basin, the Inside
FERC price for the CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission (East) for our natural gas properties in the Woodford Shale, NYMEX West Texas Intermediate (Cushing, Oklahoma) for our oil production and the spot market prices applicable to all of our oil and
natural gas production. Historically, pricing for oil and natural gas has been volatile and unpredictable and we expect this volatility to continue in the future. We are currently operating in an environment characterized by low natural gas prices
which tends to lower the revenues that we realize on our unhedged natural gas production and limit the amount of operating cash flows. The prices we receive for oil and natural gas production depend on many factors outside our control, including
weather, economic conditions, and the total supply of oil and natural gas available for sale in the market.
We have entered
into hedging arrangements with respect to a portion of our projected future production through various derivatives that hedge the future prices received. These hedging activities are intended to support commodity sales prices at targeted levels and
to manage our exposure to commodity price fluctuations. We do not hold or issue derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes. The use of hedging transactions also involves the risk that one or more of the counterparties will be unable to
meet the financial terms of the transactions executed. We attempt to minimize this risk by entering into our derivative transactions with counterparties that are lenders, or affiliated with a lender, in our reserve-based credit facility. The table
below presents the hypothetical changes in fair values arising from potential changes in the quoted market prices of the commodity underlying the derivative instruments used to mitigate these market risks. Any gain or loss on these derivative
commodity instruments would be substantially offset by a corresponding gain or loss on the sale of the hedged production, which are not included in the table. These derivatives do not hedge all of our commodity price risk related to our forecasted
sales of oil and natural gas production and, as a result, we are subject to commodity price risk on our remaining unhedged oil and natural gas production.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
10 Percent Increase
|
|
|
10 Percent Decrease
|
|
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
(Decrease)
|
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
Increase
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in 000s)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Impact of changes in commodity prices on derivative commodity instruments at December 31, 2012
|
|
$
|
27,884
|
|
|
$
|
17,029
|
|
|
$
|
(10,855
|
)
|
|
$
|
38,739
|
|
|
$
|
10,855
|
|
Interest Rate Risk
At December 31, 2012, the one-month LIBOR rate was 0.209%, the three-month LIBOR rate was 0.306%, and our applicable margin on LIBOR borrowings was 3.50%. At December 31, 2012, the ABR rate was
3.25%, and our applicable margin on ABR borrowings was 2.50%. At December 31, 2012, we had debt outstanding of $84.0 million. This entire amount incurred interest at a one-month LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin of 3.50% based on
utilization. We had no debt outstanding at the three-month LIBOR or ABR rate. At December 31, 2012, the carrying value and fair value of our debt is $84.0 million.
The table below presents the hypothetical changes in fair values arising from potential changes in the quoted interest rate underlying the derivative instruments used to mitigate these market risks.
64
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
10 Percent Increase
|
|
|
10 Percent Decrease
|
|
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
Increase
|
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
(Decrease)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in 000s)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Impact of changes in LIBOR on derivative interest rate instruments at December 31, 2012
|
|
$
|
(3,648
|
)
|
|
$
|
(3,521
|
)
|
|
$
|
127
|
|
|
$
|
(3,775
|
)
|
|
$
|
(127
|
)
|
We enter into hedging arrangements to reduce the impact of volatility of changes in the LIBOR interest
rate on our interest payments for $83.25 million of our outstanding debt balance of $84.0 million at December 31, 2012. If we reduce our outstanding debt balance to $83.25 million or lower, our cash interest costs for our effective LIBOR rate
would begin to approximate the settlements on these interest rate swaps. At December 31, 2012, we have the following outstanding interest rate swaps that fix our LIBOR rate:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maturity Date
|
|
Total Debt Hedged
|
|
|
LIBOR Fixed Rate
|
|
|
|
(in 000s)
|
|
|
|
|
August 20, 2014
|
|
$
|
11,000
|
|
|
|
2.370
|
%
|
September 20, 2014
|
|
$
|
31,000
|
|
|
|
2.520
|
%
|
October 19, 2014
|
|
$
|
23,500
|
|
|
|
2.680
|
%
|
October 22, 2014
|
|
$
|
3,750
|
|
|
|
2.610
|
%
|
November 20, 2014
|
|
$
|
14,000
|
|
|
|
2.535
|
%
|
At March 7, 2013, we had $34.0 million in outstanding debt and have reduced our outstanding interest
rate swaps to $30.0 million of our outstanding debt.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary
Data
The Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Consolidated Financial Statements and supplementary
financial data required to be filed under this item are presented in PART IV. Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of CEP have evaluated the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and
procedures (as such term is defined in rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)) as of December 31, 2012 (the Evaluation Date). Based on such evaluation, the
Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed 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 SECs rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive
Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
Changes in Internal
Control over Financial Reporting
During the three months ended December 31, 2012, there were no changes in our
internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
In January 2013, we terminated our support services agreement with Schlumberger, ePrime Services. Through this outsource
agreement, Schlumberger managed the cash flow associated with our interest in our oil and natural gas properties, including the payment of invoices, calculation and payment of royalties, and receipt of revenues from oil and natural gas sales, and
provides accounting information used to generate financial statements. Beginning in 2013, these functions will be handled by our internal accounting department in Houston, Texas, utilizing the same oil and gas computer software Schlumberger used.
Additional experienced staffing has been hired, primarily in the revenue accounting function.
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street
Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) provides non-accelerated filers with a permanent exemption from the requirement to obtain an external audit on the effectiveness of internal financial reporting controls provided in
Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We utilized this exemption under the Dodd-Frank
65
Act for the years ended December 31, 2012, and 2011. We still disclosed managements assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as required in
Section 404(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The use of this exemption was reviewed and approved by our audit committee.
Reports of
Management
Financial Statements
The management of Constellation Energy Partners LLC (our, the Company or CEP) is responsible for the information and representations in our financial statements. We
prepare the financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America based upon available facts and circumstances and managements best estimates and judgments of known conditions.
The audit committee of our board of managers, which consists of three independent managers, meets periodically with
management, our internal auditor, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to review the activities of each in discharging their responsibilities. Our internal auditor and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP have free access to the audit committee.
Managements Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management, under the direction of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting
as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f).
Our system of internal control over financial reporting is designed to
provide reasonable assurance to our management and board of managers regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in
the United States of America.
Our management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over
financial reporting using the framework in
Internal ControlIntegrated Framework
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). As noted in the COSO framework, an internal control system, no matter
how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable-not absolute-assurance to management and the board of managers regarding achievement of an entitys financial reporting objectives. Based upon the evaluation under this framework,
management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2012.
Item 9B. Other Information
None.
PART III
Item 10. Managers, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information required to be contained in this Item is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement to be filed with
respect to our 2013 annual meeting under the headings Executive Officers, Board Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight, Nominations for Manager, Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting
Compliance, and Committees of the Board of Managers.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information required to be contained in this Item is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement to be
filed with respect to our 2013 annual meeting under the headings Compensation Discussion and Analysis, Summary Compensation Table, Grants of Plan-Based Awards for 2011, Vested Equity Awards at Fiscal
Year-End, Potential Payments Upon Voluntary Termination, Involuntary Termination or Change in Control, Compensation of Managers, Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation, and
Compensation Committee Report.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management and Related Unitholder Matters
This information required to be contained in this Item is incorporated by
reference to our definitive proxy statement to be filed with respect to our 2013 annual meeting under the heading Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.
66
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Manager
Independence
The information required to be contained in this Item is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy
statement to be filed with respect to our 2013 annual meeting under the heading Related Person Transactions and Distributions and Payments to PostRock Entities, and Distributions and Payments to Exelon Entities.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The information required to be contained in this Item is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement to be filed with
respect to our 2013 annual meeting under the heading Fees, and Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Practices.
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) The following documents are filed as a part of this
Annual Report on Form 10-K:
1. Financial Statements:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm dated March 7, 2013 of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)Constellation Energy Partners LLC for the three years ended December 31, 2012
Consolidated Balance SheetsConstellation Energy Partners LLC at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011
Consolidated Statements of Cash FlowsConstellation Energy Partners LLC for the three years ended December 31, 2012
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Members EquityConstellation Energy Partners LLC for the three years ended
December 31, 2012
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Financial Statement Schedules:
Schedule IIValuation and Qualifying Accounts
Schedules other than Schedule
II are omitted as not applicable or not required
3. Exhibits Required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K.
|
|
|
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
|
|
|
2.1
|
|
Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of March 8, 2007, between EnergyQuest Resources, L.P., Oklahoma Processing EQR, LLC and Constellation Energy Partners LLC
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on April 24, 2007, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
2.2
|
|
Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of March 8, 2007, between EnergyQuest Resources, L.P., Oklahoma Processing EQR, LLC, Kansas Production EQR, LLC and Kansas
Processing EQR, LLC and Constellation Energy Partners LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on April 24, 2007, File
No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
2.3
|
|
Agreement of Merger, dated as of July 12, 2007, among AMVEST Osage, Inc., AMVEST Oil & Gas, Inc. and CEP Mid-Continent LLC, f/k/a CEP Cherokee Basin LLC (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on July 26, 2007, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
2.4
|
|
Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2007, between Newfield Exploration Mid-Continent Inc. and Constellation Energy Partners LLC (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on September 26, 2007, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
2.5
|
|
Nominee Agreement, dated as of September 21, 2007, by and between Newfield Exploration Mid-Continent Inc. and CEP Mid-Continent LLC (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 2.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on September 26, 2007).
|
67
|
|
|
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
|
|
|
2.6
|
|
Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of May 12, 2005, by and among Everlast Energy LLC, RB Marketing Company LLC, Robinsons Bend Operating Company LLC and
CBM Equity IV, LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-134995) filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on September 29, 2006.
|
|
|
2.7
|
|
Agreement for Purchase and Sale, dated as of February 19, 2008, among CoLa Resources LLC and CEP Mid-Continent LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the
Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on April 3, 2008, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
2.8
|
|
First Amendment to Agreement for Purchase and Sale, dated as of March 31, 2008, among CoLa Resources LLC and CEP Mid-Continent LLC (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 2.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on April 3, 2008, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
2.9
|
|
Oil and Gas Purchase Contract, dated as of October 1, 1993, by and between Torch Energy Marketing, Inc. and Torch Royalty Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.5 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on June 29, 2006, File No. 333-134995).
|
|
|
2.10
|
|
Membership Interest Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated February 1, 2013 between Constellation Energy Partners LLC and Constellation Commodities Upstream LLC (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report and Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on February 4, 2013, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
3.1
|
|
Certificate of Formation of Constellation Energy Partners LLC, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by
Constellation Energy Partners LLC on March 12, 2007, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
3.2
|
|
Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Constellation Energy Partners LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed
by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on November 28, 2006, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
3.3
|
|
Amendment No. 1 to Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Constellation Energy Partners LLC, dated as of April 23, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on April 24, 2007, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
3.4
|
|
Amendment No. 2 to Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Constellation Energy Partners LLC, dated as of July 25, 2007. (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on July 26, 2007, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
3.5
|
|
Amendment No. 3 to Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Constellation Energy Partners LLC, dated as of September 21, 2007 (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on September 26, 2007, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
3.6
|
|
Amendment No. 4 to Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Constellation Energy Partners LLC, dated as of December 28, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on December 28, 2007, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.1
|
|
Omnibus Agreement, dated as of November 20, 2006, among Constellation Energy Partners LLC, Constellation Energy Commodities Group, Inc., Robinsons Bend Production
II, LLC, Robinsons Bend Operating II, LLC and Robinsons Bend Marketing II, LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on November 28, 2006, File
No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.2
|
|
$350,000,000 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 13, 2009, among Constellation Energy Partners LLC, as borrower, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as
administrative agent, RBS Securities Inc., as joint lead arranger and sole book runner, The Bank of Nova Scotia, as joint lead arranger and co-syndication agent, BNP Paribas, as joint lead arranger and co-syndication agent, and the lenders party
hereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on November 16, 2009, File No. 001-33147).
|
68
|
|
|
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
|
|
|
10.3
|
|
First Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 11, 2010, by and among Constellation Energy Partners LLC and the lenders signatory thereto
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on February 25, 2010, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.4
|
|
Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, effective as of June 3, 2011, by and among Constellation Energy Partners LLC, the lenders signatory thereto and
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on June 3, 2011, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.5
|
|
Trademark License Agreement, dated as of November 20, 2006, by and among Constellation Energy Group, Inc. and Constellation Energy Partners LLC (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on November 28, 2006, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.6
|
|
Exploration and Development Agreement, dated July 25, 2005, by and between The Osage Nation and AMVEST Osage, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on February 27, 2009, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.7
|
|
Substituted and Replaced First Amendment to the Exploration and Development Agreement, dated October 18, 2006, by and between The Osage Nation and AMVEST Osage, Inc.
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on February 27, 2009, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.8
|
|
Assignment, Assumption and Ratification Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2007, by and between AMVEST Osage, Inc. and CEP Mid-Continent LLC (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.25 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on February 27, 2009, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.9
|
|
Water Gathering and Disposal Agreement, dated as of August 9, 1990, by and between Torch Energy Associates Ltd. and Valasco Gas Company Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 10.17 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on March 4, 2008, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.10
|
|
First Amendment to Water Gathering and Disposal Agreement, dated as of October 1, 1993, by and between Torch Energy Associates Ltd. and Valasco Gas Company Ltd. (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on March 4, 2008, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.11
|
|
Second Amendment to Water Gathering and Disposal Agreement, dated as of November 30, 2004, by and between Robinsons Bend Operating Company, LLC and Everlast Energy LLC
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on March 4, 2008, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.12
|
|
Third Amendment, dated June 13, 2011, to Water Gathering and Disposal Agreement dated November 30, 2004, by and between Robinsons Bend Operating II, LLC, Robinsons
Bend Production II, LLC and Torch Energy Associates Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on June 15, 2011, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.13
|
|
Settlement and Release Agreement, effective as of June 13, 2011, by and among Trust Venture Company, LLC, Trust Acquisition Company, LLC, Wilmington Trust Company,
Constellation Energy Partners LLC, Robinsons Bend Production II, LLC and Robinsons Bend Operating II, LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on
June 15, 2011, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.14
|
|
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated April 5, 2012, by and between CEP Services Company, Inc. and Stephen R. Brunner (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on April 6, 2012, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.15
|
|
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated April 5, 2012, by and between CEP Services Company, Inc. and Charles C. Ward (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2
to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on April 6, 2012, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.16
|
|
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated April 5, 2012, by and between CEP Services Company, Inc. and Lisa J. Mellencamp (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on April 6, 2012, File No. 001-33147).
|
69
|
|
|
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
|
|
|
+10.17
|
|
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated April 5, 2012, by and between CEP Services Company, Inc. and Michael B. Hiney (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on April 6, 2012, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.18
|
|
Constellation Energy Partners LLC Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation
Energy Partners LLC on November 20, 2006, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.19
|
|
Constellation Energy Partners LLC 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A to the Proxy Statement filed by Constellation Energy
Partners LLC on October 22, 2009, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.20
|
|
Form of Grant Agreement Relating to Notional Units with DERsExecutives (under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.9 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on May 4, 2009, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.21
|
|
Form of Grant Agreement Relating to Notional Units with DERsIndependent Managers (under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan) (incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 10.10 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on May 4, 2009, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.22
|
|
Form of Grant Agreement Relating to Restricted UnitsExecutives (under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on March 3, 2010, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.23
|
|
Form of Amended and Restated Grant Agreement Relating to Unit-Based AwardsExecutives (under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan) (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on August 5, 2011, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.24
|
|
Amendment to Amended and Restated Grant Agreement Relating to Unit-Based Awards-Executives (under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan) (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on May 10, 2012, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.25
|
|
Form of Grant Agreement Relating to Restricted UnitsIndependent Managers (under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan) (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.30 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on February 25, 2010, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.26
|
|
Form of Grant Agreement Relating to 2012 Performance AwardExecutives (Units) (under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Corporation Plan) (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on June 5, 2012, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.27
|
|
Form of Grant Agreement Relating to 2012 Performance AwardExecutives (Cash) (under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Corporation Plan) (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on June 5, 2012, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.28
|
|
Amendment to Grant Agreement Relating to 2012 Performance Award Executives (Units) (under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan) (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on August 9, 2012, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.29
|
|
Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of February 8, 2013, among Constellation Energy Partners LLC, as borrower, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as
administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 12, 2013, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
*10.30
|
|
Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 8, 2013, among Constellation Energy Partners LLC, as borrower, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as
administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto.
|
|
|
|
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
|
|
|
*12.1
|
|
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
|
|
|
*21.1
|
|
List of subsidiaries of Constellation Energy Partners LLC.
|
|
|
*23.1
|
|
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
|
|
|
*23.2
|
|
Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.
|
70
|
|
|
Exhibit Number
|
|
Description
|
|
|
*31.1
|
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and President of Constellation Energy Partners LLC pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
|
|
*31.2
|
|
Certification of Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Constellation Energy Partners LLC pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
|
*32.1
|
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and President of Constellation Energy Partners LLC pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant
to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
|
*32.2
|
|
Certification of Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Constellation Energy Partners LLC pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
|
*99.1
|
|
Report of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.
|
|
|
*99.2
|
|
Unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information.
|
|
|
**101.INS
|
|
XRBL Instance Document
|
|
|
**101.SCH
|
|
XRBL Schema Document
|
|
|
**101.CAL
|
|
XRBL Calculation Linkbase Document
|
|
|
**101.LAB
|
|
XRBL Label Linkbase Document
|
|
|
**101.PRE
|
|
XRBL Presentation Linkbase Document
|
|
|
**101.DEF
|
|
XRBL Definition Linkbase Document
|
+
|
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
|
71
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
72
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Unitholders and Board of Managers of Constellation Energy Partners LLC:
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive
income (loss), of cash flows, and of changes in members equity present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Constellation Energy Partners LLC and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the results of
their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test
basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that
our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
As discussed in Note 1 D and Note 16 to the consolidated financial
statements, subsequent to December 31, 2012 the Company entered into an asset sale transaction and extended its reserve based credit facility to March 31, 2014.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Houston, Texas
March 8, 2013
73
CONSTELLATION ENERGY PARTNERS LLC and SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2012
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2011
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2010
|
|
|
|
(In 000s except unit data)
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural gas sales
|
|
$
|
55,365
|
|
|
$
|
133,769
|
|
|
$
|
103,997
|
|
Oil and liquid sales
|
|
|
12,676
|
|
|
|
10,870
|
|
|
|
4,695
|
|
Gain / (Loss) from mark-to-market activities (see Note 3)
|
|
|
(8,706
|
)
|
|
|
(39,422
|
)
|
|
|
42,081
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
59,335
|
|
|
|
105,217
|
|
|
|
150,773
|
|
Expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lease operating expenses
|
|
|
25,699
|
|
|
|
27,949
|
|
|
|
30,798
|
|
Cost of sales
|
|
|
1,299
|
|
|
|
2,188
|
|
|
|
2,473
|
|
Production taxes
|
|
|
2,218
|
|
|
|
2,897
|
|
|
|
3,179
|
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
16,060
|
|
|
|
16,599
|
|
|
|
20,351
|
|
Exploration costs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
131
|
|
|
|
760
|
|
(Gain) / Loss on sale of assets
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
(18
|
)
|
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
|
|
|
20,799
|
|
|
|
22,139
|
|
|
|
85,263
|
|
Asset impairments (see Note 5)
|
|
|
73,451
|
|
|
|
2,935
|
|
|
|
272,487
|
|
Accretion expense
|
|
|
766
|
|
|
|
907
|
|
|
|
822
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
140,299
|
|
|
|
75,764
|
|
|
|
416,115
|
|
Other expense / (income)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
6,891
|
|
|
|
8,886
|
|
|
|
12,721
|
|
Interest expense (Gain)/Loss from mark-to-market activities (see Note 3)
|
|
|
(1,157
|
)
|
|
|
1,232
|
|
|
|
(765
|
)
|
Interest (income)
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
|
|
(3
|
)
|
Other expense (income)
|
|
|
(154
|
)
|
|
|
(249
|
)
|
|
|
(385
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other expenses / (income)
|
|
|
5,579
|
|
|
|
9,867
|
|
|
|
11,568
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total expenses
|
|
|
145,878
|
|
|
|
85,631
|
|
|
|
427,683
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(86,543
|
)
|
|
$
|
19,586
|
|
|
$
|
(276,910
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in fair value of commodity hedges
|
|
|
202
|
|
|
|
232
|
|
|
|
(495
|
)
|
Cash settlement of commodity hedges
|
|
|
(5,639
|
)
|
|
|
(5,715
|
)
|
|
|
(17,341
|
)
|
Change in fair value of interest rate hedge
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
389
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive income (loss)
|
|
|
(5,437
|
)
|
|
|
(5,483
|
)
|
|
|
(17,447
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(91,980
|
)
|
|
$
|
14,103
|
|
|
$
|
(294,357
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings per unit (see Note 1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings (loss) per unitBasic
|
|
$
|
(3.58
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.81
|
|
|
$
|
(11.36
|
)
|
Units outstandingBasic
|
|
|
24,171,510
|
|
|
|
24,273,491
|
|
|
|
24,370,545
|
|
Earnings (loss) per unitDiluted
|
|
$
|
(3.58
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.81
|
|
|
$
|
(11.36
|
)
|
Units outstandingDiluted
|
|
|
24,171,510
|
|
|
|
24,273,491
|
|
|
|
24,370,545
|
|
Distributions declared and paid per unit
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
74
CONSTELLATION ENERGY PARTNERS LLC and SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2012
|
|
|
December 31, 2011
|
|
|
|
(In 000s)
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
1,975
|
|
|
$
|
17,176
|
|
Accounts receivable
|
|
|
7,378
|
|
|
|
6,394
|
|
Prepaid expenses
|
|
|
1,416
|
|
|
|
1,243
|
|
Risk management assets (see Note 3)
|
|
|
17,965
|
|
|
|
20,283
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
28,734
|
|
|
|
45,096
|
|
Oil and natural gas properties (See Note 5)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oil and natural gas properties, equipment and facilities
|
|
|
801,858
|
|
|
|
787,322
|
|
Material and supplies
|
|
|
771
|
|
|
|
1,243
|
|
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairments
|
|
|
(615,206
|
)
|
|
|
(522,480
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net oil and natural gas properties
|
|
|
187,423
|
|
|
|
266,085
|
|
Other assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Debt issue costs (net of accumulated amortization of $7,775 at December 31, 2012 and $6,465 at December 31,
2011)
|
|
|
1,168
|
|
|
|
2,423
|
|
Risk management assets (see Note 3)
|
|
|
7,431
|
|
|
|
17,603
|
|
Other non-current assets
|
|
|
3,266
|
|
|
|
3,099
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
228,022
|
|
|
$
|
334,306
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable
|
|
$
|
576
|
|
|
$
|
1,404
|
|
Accrued liabilities
|
|
|
7,885
|
|
|
|
10,638
|
|
Royalty payable
|
|
|
2,189
|
|
|
|
2,134
|
|
Risk management liabilities (see Note 3)
|
|
|
523
|
|
|
|
378
|
|
Debt
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
61,173
|
|
|
|
14,554
|
|
Other liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Asset retirement obligation
|
|
|
15,357
|
|
|
|
14,047
|
|
Risk management liabilities (see Note 3)
|
|
|
637
|
|
|
|
286
|
|
Other non-current liabilities
|
|
|
589
|
|
|
|
99
|
|
Debt
|
|
|
34,000
|
|
|
|
98,400
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other liabilities
|
|
|
50,583
|
|
|
|
112,832
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
111,756
|
|
|
|
127,386
|
|
Commitments and contingencies (See Note 8)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Members equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A units, 483,418 and 485,033 units authorized, issued and outstanding, respectively
|
|
|
2,326
|
|
|
|
4,030
|
|
Class B units, 24,124,378 and 24,124,378 units authorized, respectively, and 23,687,507 and 23,766,632 issued and outstanding,
respectively
|
|
|
113,940
|
|
|
|
197,453
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,437
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total members equity
|
|
|
116,266
|
|
|
|
206,920
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and members equity
|
|
$
|
228,022
|
|
|
$
|
334, 306
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
75
CONSTELLATION ENERGY PARTNERS LLC and SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2012
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2011
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2010
|
|
|
|
(In 000s)
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(86,543
|
)
|
|
$
|
19,586
|
|
|
$
|
(276,910
|
)
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
|
|
|
20,799
|
|
|
|
22,139
|
|
|
|
85,263
|
|
Asset impairments (see Note 5)
|
|
|
73,451
|
|
|
|
1,935
|
|
|
|
272,487
|
|
Amortization of debt issuance costs
|
|
|
1,310
|
|
|
|
1,577
|
|
|
|
1,964
|
|
Accretion expense
|
|
|
766
|
|
|
|
907
|
|
|
|
822
|
|
Equity (earnings) losses in affiliate
|
|
|
(173
|
)
|
|
|
(286
|
)
|
|
|
(385
|
)
|
(Gain) Loss from disposition of property and equipment
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
(18
|
)
|
Bad debt expense
|
|
|
35
|
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
69
|
|
Dryhole costs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
61
|
|
(Gain) Loss from mark-to-market activities
|
|
|
7,549
|
|
|
|
40,654
|
|
|
|
(42,846
|
)
|
Unit-based compensation programs
|
|
|
1,526
|
|
|
|
1,341
|
|
|
|
1,849
|
|
Changes in Assets and Liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in net risk management assets and liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable
|
|
|
(1,019
|
)
|
|
|
965
|
|
|
|
939
|
|
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses
|
|
|
(173
|
)
|
|
|
118
|
|
|
|
(15
|
)
|
(Increase) decrease in other assets
|
|
|
(599
|
)
|
|
|
1,050
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable
|
|
|
(828
|
)
|
|
|
(14
|
)
|
|
|
316
|
|
Increase (decrease) in payable to affiliate
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(201
|
)
|
Increase (decrease) in accrued liabilities
|
|
|
(3,047
|
)
|
|
|
(1,940
|
)
|
|
|
(424
|
)
|
Increase (decrease) in royalty payable
|
|
|
55
|
|
|
|
(471
|
)
|
|
|
(2,142
|
)
|
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities
|
|
|
490
|
|
|
|
99
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
|
|
13,606
|
|
|
|
87,690
|
|
|
|
40,829
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired
|
|
|
(252
|
)
|
|
|
(350
|
)
|
|
|
(6,369
|
)
|
Development of natural gas properties
|
|
|
(15,638
|
)
|
|
|
(10,967
|
)
|
|
|
(7,973
|
)
|
Proceeds from sale of equipment
|
|
|
1,508
|
|
|
|
139
|
|
|
|
91
|
|
Distributions from equity affiliate
|
|
|
230
|
|
|
|
465
|
|
|
|
485
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash (used in) investing activities
|
|
|
(14,152
|
)
|
|
|
(10,713
|
)
|
|
|
(13,766
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Members distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from issuance of debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Repayment of debt
|
|
|
(14,400
|
)
|
|
|
(66,600
|
)
|
|
|
(30,000
|
)
|
Units tendered by employees for tax withholdings
|
|
|
(200
|
)
|
|
|
(344
|
)
|
|
|
(376
|
)
|
Equity issue costs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(46
|
)
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
Debt issue costs
|
|
|
(55
|
)
|
|
|
(703
|
)
|
|
|
(130
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash (used in) by financing activities
|
|
|
(14,655
|
)
|
|
|
(67,693
|
)
|
|
|
(30,508
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (decrease) increase in cash
|
|
|
(15,201
|
)
|
|
|
9,284
|
|
|
|
(3,445
|
)
|
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
|
|
|
17,176
|
|
|
|
7,892
|
|
|
|
11,337
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
|
|
$
|
1,975
|
|
|
$
|
17,176
|
|
|
$
|
7,892
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in accrued capital expenditures
|
|
$
|
230
|
|
|
$
|
1,720
|
|
|
$
|
523
|
|
Cash received during the period for interest
|
|
$
|
1
|
|
|
$
|
2
|
|
|
$
|
3
|
|
Cash paid during the period for interest
|
|
$
|
(3,650
|
)
|
|
$
|
(5,101
|
)
|
|
$
|
(7,106
|
)
|
Cash paid during the period for income taxes
|
|
$
|
(19
|
)
|
|
$
|
(37
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2
|
)
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
76
CONSTELLATION ENERGY PARTNERS LLC and SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Members Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
|
|
|
Total
Members
Equity
|
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
|
Class B
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Units
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Units
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
|
|
( In 000s, except unit data)
|
|
Balance, December 31, 2009
|
|
|
476,950
|
|
|
$
|
8,993
|
|
|
|
23,376,136
|
|
|
$
|
440,677
|
|
|
$
|
28,367
|
|
|
$
|
478,037
|
|
Distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Units tendered by employees for tax withholding
|
|
|
(1,885
|
)
|
|
|
(8
|
)
|
|
|
(92,353
|
)
|
|
|
(368
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(376
|
)
|
Change in fair value of commodity hedges
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(495
|
)
|
|
|
(495
|
)
|
Cash settlement of commodity hedges
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(17,341
|
)
|
|
|
(17,341
|
)
|
Change in fair value of interest rate hedges
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
389
|
|
|
|
389
|
|
Unit-based compensation programs
|
|
|
12,685
|
|
|
|
37
|
|
|
|
615,975
|
|
|
|
1,812
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,849
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,538
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(271,372
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(276,910
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, December 31, 2010
|
|
|
487,750
|
|
|
$
|
3,484
|
|
|
|
23,899,758
|
|
|
$
|
170,749
|
|
|
$
|
10,920
|
|
|
$
|
185,153
|
|
Distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Units tendered by employees for tax withholding
|
|
|
(2,448
|
)
|
|
|
(7
|
)
|
|
|
(119,963
|
)
|
|
|
(337
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(344
|
)
|
Change in fair value of commodity hedges
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
232
|
|
|
|
232
|
|
Cash settlement of commodity hedges
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,715
|
)
|
|
|
(5,715
|
)
|
Cash settlement of interest rate hedges
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
134
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,533
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,667
|
|
Unit-based compensation programs
|
|
|
(269
|
)
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
(13,163
|
)
|
|
|
1,314
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,341
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
392
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,194
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,586
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, December 31, 2011
|
|
|
485,033
|
|
|
$
|
4,030
|
|
|
|
23,766,632
|
|
|
$
|
197,453
|
|
|
$
|
5,437
|
|
|
$
|
206,920
|
|
Distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Units tendered by employees for tax withholding
|
|
|
(1,845
|
)
|
|
|
(4
|
)
|
|
|
(90,425
|
)
|
|
|
(196
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(200
|
)
|
Change in fair value of commodity hedges
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
202
|
|
|
|
202
|
|
Cash settlement of commodity hedges
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,639
|
)
|
|
|
(5,639
|
)
|
Class D liquidation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unit-based compensation programs
|
|
|
230
|
|
|
|
31
|
|
|
|
11,300
|
|
|
|
1,495
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,526
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,731
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(84,812
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(86,543
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, December 31, 2012
|
|
|
483,418
|
|
|
$
|
2,326
|
|
|
|
23,687,507
|
|
|
$
|
113,940
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
116,266
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
77
CONSTELLATION ENERGY PARTNERS LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Organization and Basis of Presentation
A. Constellation Energy Partners LLC (CEP, we, us, our or the Company) was organized as a limited liability company on
February 7, 2005, under the laws of the State of Delaware. We completed our initial public offering on November 20, 2006, and currently trade on the NYSE MKT LLC (NYSE MKT) under the symbol CEP. Through
subsidiaries, both PostRock Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: PSTR) (PostRock) and Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC) (Exelon), own a portion of our outstanding units. As of December 31, 2012, Constellation Energy Partners
Management, LLC (CEPM), a subsidiary of PostRock, owns all of our Class A units and 5,918,894 of our Class B common units. Constellation Energy Partners Holdings, LLC (CEPH), a subsidiary of Exelon, owns all of our Class
C management incentive interests and all of our Class D interests.
B. We are currently focused on the development and
acquisition of natural gas properties in the Cherokee Basin in Kansas and Oklahoma, the Woodford Shale in Oklahoma, and the Central Kansas Uplift in Kansas.
C. Accounting policies used by us conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The accompanying financial statements include the accounts of
us and our wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. We operate our oil and natural gas properties as one business segment: the exploration, development and production of
oil and natural gas. Our management evaluates performance based on one business segment as there are not different economic environments within the operation of our oil and natural gas properties.
D. In February 2013, we sold all of our properties in the Black Warrior Basin of Alabama, reduced our outstanding debt to $34.0
million, and extended our reserve-based credit facility until March 31, 2014. We currently anticipate that we will extend or refinance our existing reserve-based credit facility in the early part of 2013. See Note 16 for additional information.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
All highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less are considered cash equivalents. Checks-in-transit were $0.6 million in 2012 and $1.8 million in 2011 and are included in
accounts payable in our consolidated balance sheets.
Concentration of Credit Risk and Accounts Receivable
Financial instruments that potentially subject us to a concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts
receivable and derivative financial instruments. We place our cash with high credit quality financial institutions. We place our derivative financial instruments with financial institutions that participate in our reserve-based credit facility and
maintain an investment grade credit rating. Substantially all of our accounts receivables are due from purchasers of oil and natural gas. These sales are generally unsecured and, in some cases, may carry a parent guarantee. As we generally have
fewer than 10 large customers for our oil and natural gas sales, we routinely assess the financial strength of our customers. Bad debt expense is recognized on an account-by-account review and when recovery is not probable. Our allowance for
doubtful accounts was less than $0.1 million in each of 2010, 2011 and 2012. We have no off-balance-sheet credit exposure related to our operations or customers.
For the year ended December 31, 2012, five customers accounted for approximately 28%, 10%, 9%, 9% and 8% of our sales revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2011, five customers accounted for
approximately 28%, 17%, 7%, 5% and 5% of our sales revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2010, five customers accounted for approximately 30%, 17%, 9%, 6% and 5% of our sales revenues.
78
Oil and Natural Gas Properties
Oil and Natural Gas Properties
We follow the successful efforts method of accounting for our oil and natural gas exploration, development and production activities. Leasehold acquisition costs are capitalized. If proved reserves are
found on an undeveloped property, leasehold cost is transferred to proved properties. Under this method of accounting, costs relating to the development of proved areas are capitalized when incurred.
Accounting rules require that we price our future oil and natural gas production at the preceding twelve-month average of the
first-day-of-the-month reference prices as adjusted for location and quality differentials. Prior to the new rules, we were required to price our future oil and natural gas production at an SEC-required price which is based on the oil and natural
gas prices in effect at the end of each fiscal quarter. Such SEC-required prices are utilized except where different prices are fixed and determinable from applicable contracts for the remaining term of those contracts. Our proved reserve estimates
exclude the effect of any derivatives we have in place.
Depreciation and depletion of producing oil and natural gas
properties is recorded at the field level, based on the units-of-production method. Unit rates are computed for unamortized drilling and development costs using proved developed reserves and for unamortized leasehold costs using all proved reserves.
Acquisition costs of proved properties are amortized on the basis of all proved reserves, developed and undeveloped, and capitalized development costs (including wells and related equipment and facilities) are amortized on the basis of proved
developed reserves. It has been our historical practice to use our year-end reserve report to adjust our depreciation, depletion, and amortization expense for the fourth quarter. Depreciation, depletion, and amortization expense is calculated using
year-end reserve reports based on the SEC-required price. As more fully described in Note 14, proved reserves estimates are subject to future revisions when additional information becomes available.
As described in Note 9, estimated asset retirement costs are recognized when the asset is acquired or placed in service, and are
amortized over proved developed reserves using the units-of-production method. Asset retirement costs are estimated by our engineers using existing regulatory requirements and anticipated future inflation rates.
Geological, geophysical and dry hole costs on oil and natural gas properties relating to unsuccessful exploratory wells are charged to
expense as incurred.
Oil and natural gas properties are reviewed for impairment when facts and circumstances indicate that
their carrying value may not be recoverable. We assess impairment of capitalized costs of proved oil and natural gas properties by comparing net capitalized costs to estimated undiscounted future net cash flows using expected prices. If net
capitalized costs exceed estimated undiscounted future net cash flows, the measurement of impairment is based on estimated fair value, which would consider estimated future discounted cash flows. The cash flow estimates are based upon third party
reserve reports using future expected oil and natural gas prices adjusted for basis differentials. Cash flow estimates for the impairment testing exclude derivative instruments. Refer to Note 5 for additional information.
Significant unproved properties are assessed for impairment individually, and valuation allowances against the capitalized costs are
recorded based on the estimated economic chance of success and the length of time that we expect to hold the properties. Properties that are not individually significant are aggregated by groups and amortized based on development risk and average
holding period. The valuation allowances are reviewed at least annually.
Property acquisition costs are capitalized when
incurred.
Support Equipment and Facilities
Support equipment and facilities consist of certain of our water treatment facilities, gathering lines, roads, pipelines, and other various support equipment. Items are capitalized when acquired and
depreciated using the straight-line method over the useful life of the assets.
Materials and Supplies
Materials and supplies consist of well equipment, parts and supplies. They are valued at the lower of cost or market, using either the
specific identification or first-in first-out method, depending on the inventory type. Materials and supplies are capitalized as used in the development or support of our oil and natural gas properties.
Depreciation, depletion and amortization of oil and natural gas properties was computed using the units-of-production method based on
estimated proved reserves.
Oil and Natural Gas Reserve Quantities
Our estimate of proved reserves was based on the quantities of oil and natural gas that engineering and geological analyses demonstrate,
with reasonable certainty, to be recoverable from established reservoirs in the future under current operating and economic parameters. Proved reserves were calculated based on various factors, including consideration of an independent reserve
engineers report on proved reserves and an economic evaluation of all of our properties on a well-by-well basis. The process used to complete the estimates of proved reserves at December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 is described in detail in
Note 14.
79
Reserves and their relation to estimated future net cash flows impact depletion and
impairment calculations. As a result, adjustments to depletion and impairments are made concurrently with changes to reserve estimates. The accuracy of reserve estimates is a function of many factors including the following: the quality and quantity
of available data, the interpretation of that data, the accuracy of various mandated economic assumptions and the judgments of the individuals preparing the estimates.
Proved reserve estimates were a function of many assumptions, all of which could deviate significantly from actual results. As such, reserve estimates may materially vary from the ultimate quantities of
oil and natural gas eventually recovered.
Derivatives and Hedging Activities
We use derivative financial instruments to achieve a more predictable cash flow from our oil and natural gas production by reducing our
exposure to price fluctuations. Additionally, we use derivative financial instruments in the form of interest rate swaps to mitigate interest rate exposure on our borrowings under our reserve-based credit facility.
We account for all our open derivatives as mark-to-market activities. All derivative instruments are recorded in the consolidated balance
sheet as either an asset or a liability measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings. All of our open derivatives are effective as economic hedges of our commodity price or interest rate exposure. These contracts are
accounted for using the mark-to-market accounting method. Using this method, the contracts are carried at their fair value on our consolidated balance sheets under the captions Risk management assets and Risk management
liabilities. We recognize all unrealized and realized gains and losses related to these contracts on our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) under the caption Gain (loss) from mark-to-market
activities. We record settled oil or natural gas swaps as Oil and liquid sales or Natural gas sales and settled interest rate swaps as Interest expense.
Revenue Recognition
Sales of oil and natural gas are recognized when oil or natural gas has been delivered to a custody transfer point, persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement exists, the rights and responsibility of
ownership pass to the purchaser upon delivery, collection of revenue from the sale are reasonably assured and the sales price is fixed or determinable. Oil and natural gas is sold on a monthly basis. Most of our sales contracts pricing
provisions are tied to a market index, with certain adjustments based on, among other factors, whether a well delivers to a gathering or transmission line, quality of oil or natural gas, and prevailing supply and demand conditions, so that the price
of the oil or natural gas fluctuates to remain competitive with other available energy supplies. As a result, revenues from the sale of oil and natural gas will suffer if market prices decline and benefit if they increase. We believe that the
pricing provisions of our oil and natural gas contracts are customary in the industry.
Gas imbalances occur when sales are
more or less than the entitled ownership percentage of total gas production. We use the entitlements method when accounting for gas imbalances. Any amount received in excess is treated as a liability. If less than the entitled share of the
production is received, the excess is recorded as a receivable. There were no gas imbalance positions at December 31, 2012, 2011, or 2010.
Income Taxes
CEP
and each of its wholly-owned subsidiary LLCs are treated as a partnership for federal and state income tax purposes. Essentially all of our taxable income or loss, which may differ considerably from net income or loss reported for financial
reporting purposes, is passed through to the federal income tax returns of its members. As such, no federal income tax for these entities has been provided for in the accompanying financial statements. CEP is subject to franchise tax obligations in
Kansas and Texas and state tax obligations in Alabama and Oklahoma. CEP also has informational filing requirements in Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia because we have resident
unitholders in these states.
Our wholly-owned subsidiary, CEP Services Company, Inc. is a taxable entity. For the years ended
December 31, 2012, and 2011, the current federal and state tax liability for the entity was less than $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively. The entity has no deferred tax assets or liabilities. Taxes are paid to the IRS or the applicable
states in quarterly installments.
80
Use of Estimates
Estimates and assumptions are made when preparing financial statements under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These estimates and assumptions affect various
matters, including:
|
|
reported amounts of revenue and expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) during the reported periods,
|
|
|
reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at the dates of the financial statements,
|
|
|
disclosure of quantities of reserves and use of those reserve quantities for depreciation, depletion and amortization, and
|
|
|
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements.
|
These estimates involve judgments with respect to numerous factors that are difficult to predict and are beyond managements
control. As a result, actual amounts could materially differ from these estimates.
Earnings per Unit
Basic earnings per unit (EPU) are computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to unitholders by the weighted average
number of units outstanding during each period. At December 31, 2012, we had 483,418 Class A units and 23,687,507 Class B common units outstanding. Of the Class B common units, 761,692 units are restricted unvested common units granted and
outstanding.
The following table presents earnings per common unit amounts:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, 2012
|
|
Income
(loss)
|
|
|
Units
|
|
|
Per Unit
Amount
|
|
|
|
(In 000s except unit data)
|
|
Basic EPU:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) allocable to unitholders
|
|
$
|
(86,543
|
)
|
|
|
24,171,510
|
|
|
$
|
(3.58
|
)
|
Diluted EPU:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) allocable to unitholders
|
|
$
|
(86,543
|
)
|
|
|
24,171,510
|
|
|
$
|
(3.58
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, 2011
|
|
Income
(loss)
|
|
|
Units
|
|
|
Per Unit
Amount
|
|
|
|
(In 000s except unit data)
|
|
Basic EPU:
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) allocable to unitholders
|
|
$
|
19,586
|
|
|
|
24,273,491
|
|
|
$
|
0.81
|
|
Diluted EPU:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) allocable to unitholders
|
|
$
|
19,586
|
|
|
|
24,273,491
|
|
|
$
|
0.81
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, 2010
|
|
Income
(loss)
|
|
|
Units
|
|
|
Per Unit
Amount
|
|
|
|
(In 000s except unit data)
|
|
Basic EPU:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) allocable to unitholders
|
|
$
|
(276,910
|
)
|
|
|
24,370,545
|
|
|
$
|
(11.36
|
)
|
Diluted EPU:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) allocable to unitholders
|
|
$
|
(276,910
|
)
|
|
|
24,370,545
|
|
|
$
|
(11.36
|
)
|
In 2012, we had 199,620 dilutive securities that were excluded from the diluted EPU calculation because
we had a net loss. There were no dilutive securities in 2011 and 2010.
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) includes net earnings (loss) as well as unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments that were
previously accounted for as cash flow hedges.
Environmental Cost
We record environmental liabilities at their undiscounted amounts on our balance sheets in other current and long-term liabilities when
our environmental assessments indicate that remediation efforts are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Estimates of our environmental liabilities are based on currently available facts, existing technology and presently enacted laws
and regulations taking into consideration the likely effects of other societal and economic factors, and include estimates of associated legal costs. These amounts also consider prior experience in remediating contaminated sites, other
companies clean-up experience and data released by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or other
81
organizations. Our estimates are subject to revision in future periods based on actual costs or new circumstances. We capitalize costs that benefit future periods and we recognize a current
period charge in operation and maintenance expense when clean-up efforts do not benefit future periods.
Unit-Based Compensation
We record compensation expense for all equity grants issued under the Long-Term Incentive Program and the 2009 Omnibus
Incentive Compensation Plan based on the fair value at the grant date, recognized over the vesting period.
Other Contingencies
We recognize liabilities for other contingencies when we have an exposure that, when fully analyzed, indicates it is
both probable that an asset has been impaired or that a liability has been incurred and the amount of impairment or loss can be reasonably estimated. Funds spent to remedy these contingencies are charged against the associated reserve, if one
exists, or expensed. When a range of probable loss can be estimated, we accrue the most likely amount or at least the minimum of the range of probable loss.
Recent Pronouncements and Accounting Changes
As of
December 31, 2012, there were a number of accounting standards and interpretations that had been issued, but not yet adopted by us. We are currently reviewing the recently issued standards and interpretations but none are expected to have a
material impact on our financial statements.
In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-11,
Disclosures
about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities,
which requires additional disclosures for financial and derivative instruments that are either (1) offset in accordance with either ASC 210-20-45 or ASC 815-10-45 or (2) subject to an
enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement, regardless of whether they are offset in accordance with either ASC 210-20-45 or ASC 815-10-45. In January 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-01,
Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about
Offsetting Assets and Liabilities
, an amendment to ASC Topic 210. The update clarifies that the scope of ASU No. 2011-11,
Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities
, applies to derivatives accounted for in accordance with
ASC Topic 815,
Derivatives and Hedging
, including bifurcated embedded derivatives, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending transactions that are either offset or subject to an
enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement. The guidance is effective beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and will primarily impact the disclosures associated with our commodity and interest rate derivatives. The adoption of
this guidance will not have any impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In June
2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05,
Comprehensive Income (Topic 220)
that requires entities to present net income and other comprehensive income in either a single continuous statement or in two separate, but consecutive, statements of net
income and other comprehensive income. The option to present items of other comprehensive income in the statement of changes in equity is eliminated. The amended guidance did not have any material impact on our financial statements or our
disclosures.
In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04,
Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common
Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs
, and the IASB issued IFRS 13,
Fair Value Measurement
(together, the new guidance). The new guidance results in a consistent definition of fair value and
common requirements for measurement of and disclosure about fair value between U.S. GAAP and IFRS. The new guidance changes some fair value measurement principles and disclosure requirements. and is effective for interim and annual periods beginning
on or after December 15, 2011. The amended did not have any material impact on our financial statements or our disclosures.
2. ACQUISITIONS
Central Kansas Uplift Non-Operated Acquisition
On December 21, 2010, we acquired from a private seller, effective November 1, 2010, non-operated oil properties in the Central Kansas Uplift in Kansas and southern Nebraska for an all cash
purchase price of approximately $5.6 million, including $0.3 million in post-closing adjustments received in 2011. At the acquisition, the properties produced approximately 126 barrels of oil equivalent per day from 36 wells. The operator of the
properties is Murfin Drilling Company, Inc. Proved oil reserves were estimated to be 0.8 Bcfe, of which approximately 81% were classified as proved developed producing. The acquisition was funded with cash on hand. Our results of operations include
the results of the non-operated wells after the date of acquisition.
82
The total consideration paid was $5.6 million, which consisted of $5.6 million in cash and
assumed liabilities of less than $0.1 million, primarily associated with asset retirement obligations on the properties. The following table summarizes the allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date
of acquisition.
|
|
|
|
|
Acquired December 21, 2010
|
|
(in millions)
|
|
Oil and Natural Gas Properties
|
|
$
|
5.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets acquired
|
|
|
5.6
|
|
Asset retirement obligations
|
|
|
(0.0
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets acquired
|
|
$
|
5.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The purchase price allocation is based on fair value evaluations of proved oil and natural gas reserves,
discounted cash flows, quoted market prices, and other estimates by management. As described further in Note 5, we sold all of our Nebraska properties in 2012.
3. DERIVATIVE AND FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Mark-to-Market Activities
We have hedged a portion of our expected natural gas and oil sales from currently producing wells through December 2016 and entered into hedging arrangements in the form of interest rate swaps to reduce
the impact of volatility stemming from changes in the London interbank offered rate (LIBOR) on $83.25 million of our outstanding debt for various maturities extending through November 2014. All of our derivatives were accounted for as
mark-to-market activities as of December 31, 2012.
For 2012 and 2011, we recognized mark-to-market losses of
approximately $8.7 million and mark-to-market losses of approximately $39.4 million, respectively, in connection with our oil and natural gas commodity derivatives. For the year ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, we recognized a mark-to-market
gain of approximately $1.2 million and a loss of approximately $2.1 million, respectively, in connection with our interest rate derivatives. At December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the fair value of our derivatives accounted for as
mark-to-market activities amounted to a net asset of approximately $24.2 million and a net asset of approximately $37.2 million, respectively.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Prior to the first quarter of 2009, we accounted for certain of our commodity and interest rate derivatives as hedging activities. The value of the cash flow hedges included in accumulated other
comprehensive income (loss) on the Consolidated Balance Sheets was an unrecognized gain of approximately $0 million and an unrecognized gain of $5.4 million at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
Hedge Restructuring
During the second quarter of 2011, we amended our existing NYMEX swap agreements to reset the NYMEX fixed-for-floating price to $5.75 per MMBtu for our natural gas production from January 2012 through
December 2014. In conjunction with the transaction, we received a one-time cash payment from our swap counterparties totaling approximately $41.3 million, which increased our reported net income and operating cash flows. For tax purposes, the
one-time cash payment from our swap counterparties will be amortized over the remaining life of the NYMEX contracts in accordance with the timing of the actual settlement of delivery of natural gas per the swap agreements.
Fair Value Measurements
We measure fair value of our financial and non-financial assets and liabilities on a recurring basis. Accounting standards define fair value, establish a framework for measuring fair value and require
certain disclosures about fair value measurements for assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis. All of our derivative instruments are recorded at fair value in our financial statements. Fair value is the exit price that we would receive
to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.
The following hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
|
|
Level 1Quoted prices available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date.
|
83
|
|
Level 2Pricing inputs other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1 which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date.
Level 2 consists primarily of non-exchange traded oil and natural gas commodity derivatives and interest rate derivatives.
|
|
|
Level 3Pricing inputs include significant inputs that are generally less observable from objective sources.
|
We classify assets and liabilities within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair
value measurement of each individual asset and liability taken as a whole. As of December 31, 2012, all of our derivatives were classified as Level 2. The income valuation approach, which involves discounting estimated cash flows, is primarily
used to determine recurring fair value measurements of our derivative instruments classified as Level 2 or Level 3. We prioritize the use of the highest level inputs available in determining fair value.
Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the
classification of assets and liabilities within the fair value hierarchy. Because of the long-term nature of certain assets and liabilities measured at fair value as well as differences in the availability of market prices and market liquidity over
their terms, inputs for some assets and liabilities may fall into any one of the three levels in the fair value hierarchy. While we are required to classify these assets and liabilities in the lowest level in the hierarchy for which inputs are
significant to the fair value measurement, a portion of that measurement may be determined using inputs from a higher level in the hierarchy.
The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy our assets and liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2012 and December 31,
2011.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commodity and Interest
Rate Derivatives
|
|
|
Netting and
Cash
Collateral*
|
|
|
Total Net Fair
Value
|
|
At December 31, 2012
|
|
Level 1
|
|
|
Level 2
|
|
|
Level 3
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In 000s)
|
|
Risk management assets
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
31,030
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
(5,634
|
)
|
|
$
|
25,396
|
|
Risk management liabilities
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
(6,794
|
)
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
5,634
|
|
|
$
|
(1,160
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total net assets and liabilities
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
24,236
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
24,236
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commodity and Interest
Rate Derivatives
|
|
|
Netting and
Cash
Collateral*
|
|
|
Total Net Fair
Value
|
|
At December 31, 2011
|
|
Level 1
|
|
|
Level 2
|
|
|
Level 3
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In 000s)
|
|
Risk management assets
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
50,940
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
(13,054
|
)
|
|
$
|
37,886
|
|
Risk management liabilities
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
(13,718
|
)
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
13,054
|
|
|
$
|
(664
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total net assets and liabilities
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
37,222
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
37,222
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
We currently use our reserve-based credit facility to provide credit support for our derivative transactions and therefore we do not post cash collateral with our
counterparties. Amounts shown represent the impact of netting assets and liabilities with our counterparties for which the right of offset exists.
|
Risk management assets and liabilities in the table above represent the current fair value of all open derivative positions. We classify all of our derivative instruments as Risk management
assets or Risk management liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
We use observable market data or
information derived from observable market data in order to determine the fair value amounts presented above. We currently use our reserve-based credit facility to provide credit support for our derivative transactions. As a result, we do not post
cash collateral with our counterparties, and have minimal non-performance credit risk on our liabilities with counterparties. We utilize observable market data for credit default swaps to assess the impact of non-performance credit risk when
evaluating our net assets from counterparties. At December 31, 2012, the impact of non-performance credit risk on the valuation of our assets from counterparties was $0.1 million, of which $0.1 million was reflected as a decrease to our
non-cash market-to-market gain and none was reflected as a reduction to our accumulated other comprehensive income. At December 31, 2011, the impact of non-performance credit risk on the valuation of our assets from counterparties was $1.0
million, of which $0.8 million was reflected as a decrease to our non-cash market-to-market gain and $0.2 million was reflected as a reduction to our accumulated other comprehensive income.
84
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
At December 31, 2012, we have interest rate swaps on $83.25 million of outstanding debt for various maturities extending through
November 2014, various commodity swaps for 19,095,815 MMbtu of natural gas production through December 2014, various basis swaps for 9,679,080 MMbtu of natural gas production in the Cherokee Basin through December 2014, and various commodity swaps
for 414,384 Bbls of oil production through December 2016. See Note 16 for additional information.
The following represents
the fair value for our risk management assets and liabilities, as of December 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, and the amount of gains and losses recognized at December 31, 2012 and 2011:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Derivative Type
|
|
Location of Asset/
(Liability) on Balance Sheet
|
|
Fair Value of Asset/
(Liability) on Balance Sheet
(in 000s)
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
December 31, 2012
|
|
|
Year Ended
December 31, 2011
|
|
Commodity-MTM
|
|
Risk management assets-current
|
|
$
|
19,005
|
|
|
$
|
27,208
|
|
Commodity-MTM
|
|
Risk management assets-non-current
|
|
|
12,025
|
|
|
|
23,732
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total gross assets
|
|
|
31,030
|
|
|
|
50,940
|
|
Commodity-MTM
|
|
Risk management assets-current
|
|
|
(1,040
|
)
|
|
|
(6,925
|
)
|
Commodity-MTM
|
|
Risk management assets-non-current
|
|
|
(946
|
)
|
|
|
(1,325
|
)
|
Commodity-MTM
|
|
Risk management liabilities-current
|
|
|
(523
|
)
|
|
|
(378
|
)
|
Commodity-MTM
|
|
Risk management liabilities-non-current
|
|
|
(637
|
)
|
|
|
(286
|
)
|
Interest Rate-MTM
|
|
Risk management assets-non-current
|
|
|
(3,648
|
)
|
|
|
(4,804
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total gross liabilities
|
|
|
(6,794
|
)
|
|
|
(13,718
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total net assets and liabilities
|
|
$
|
24,236
|
|
|
$
|
37,222
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Derivative Type
|
|
Location of Gain/(Loss)
in
Income
|
|
Amount of Gain/(Loss)
in Income
(in 000s)
|
|
|
|
Quarter Ended
December 31, 2012
|
|
|
Quarter Ended
December 31, 2011
|
|
Commodity-MTM
|
|
Gain/(Loss) from mark-to-market activities
|
|
$
|
(254
|
)
|
|
$
|
8,524
|
|
Commodity-MTM
|
|
Natural gas sales
|
|
|
4,455
|
|
|
|
9,666
|
|
Commodity-MTM
|
|
Oil and liquids sales
|
|
|
328
|
|
|
|
321
|
|
Interest Rate-MTM
|
|
Interest expense-Gain/(Loss) from
mark-to-market activities
|
|
|
460
|
|
|
|
(602
|
)
|
Interest Rate-MTM
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(472
|
)
|
|
|
(535
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
4,517
|
|
|
$
|
17,374
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
85
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Derivative Type
|
|
Location of Gain/(Loss)
in
Income
|
|
Amount of Gain/(Loss)
in Income
(in 000s)
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
December 31, 2012
|
|
|
Year Ended
December 31, 2011
|
|
Commodity-MTM
|
|
Gain/(Loss) from mark-to-market activities
|
|
$
|
(8,706
|
)
|
|
$
|
(39,422
|
)
|
Commodity-MTM
|
|
Natural gas sales
|
|
|
23,654
|
|
|
|
76,367
|
|
Commodity-MTM
|
|
Oil and liquids sales
|
|
|
753
|
|
|
|
605
|
|
Interest Rate-MTM
|
|
Interest expense-Gain/(Loss) from mark-to-market activities
|
|
|
1,157
|
|
|
|
(1,232
|
)
|
Interest Rate-MTM
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(2,218
|
)
|
|
|
(2,131
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
14,640
|
|
|
$
|
34,187
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Derivative Type
|
|
Location of Gain / (Loss) for Effective and
Ineffective
Portion of Derivative in Income
|
|
Amount of Gain /(Loss) Reclassified
from AOCI into Income
(in
000s)
|
|
|
|
Quarter Ended
December 31, 2012
|
|
|
Quarter Ended
December 31, 2011
|
|
Commodity-Cash Flow
|
|
Natural gas sales
|
|
|
1,271
|
|
|
|
1,283
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
1,271
|
|
|
$
|
1,283
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount of Gain /(Loss) Reclassified
from AOCI into Income
(in
000s)
|
|
Derivative Type
|
|
Location of Gain / (Loss) for Effective and
Ineffective
Portion of Derivative in Income
|
|
Year Ended
December 31,
2012
|
|
|
Year Ended
December 31,
2011
|
|
Commodity-Cash Flow
|
|
Natural gas sales
|
|
|
5,639
|
|
|
|
5,715
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
5,639
|
|
|
$
|
5,715
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At December 31, 2012, the carrying values of our cash, accounts receivable, other current assets and
current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets approximate fair value because of their short term nature.
We believe
the carrying value of long-term debt for our reserve-based credit facility approximates its fair value because the interest rates on the debt approximate market interest rates for debt with similar terms, which is a Level 2 measurement in the fair
value hierarchy and represents the amount at which the instrument could be valued in an exchange during a current transaction between willing parties. Our reserve-based credit facility is discussed in Note 4.
4. DEBT
Reserve-Based Credit Facility
All of the disclosures in Note 4 are as of December 31, 2012. In February 2013, we executed a third amendment to our $350.0 million reserve-based credit facility that lowered our borrowing base to
$37.5 million and extended the term of the facility to March 31, 2014. Additionally, we used $50.0 million in proceeds from the sale of our Robinsons Bend Field in the Black Warrior Basin of Alabama to reduce our outstanding debt to $34.0
million. See Note 16 for additional information.
86
On June 3, 2011, we executed a second amendment to our $350.0 million reserve-based
credit facility with The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as administrative agent and a syndicate of lenders extending its maturity date to November 13, 2013. Borrowings under the reserve-based credit facility are secured by various mortgages of oil
and natural gas properties that we and certain of our subsidiaries own as well as various security and pledge agreements among us and certain of our subsidiaries and the administrative agent. As of December 31, 2012, the lenders and their
percentage commitments in the reserve-based credit facility are The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (26.84%), Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (Wells Fargo) (21.95%), The Bank of Nova Scotia (21.95%), Societe Generale (14.63%), and ING Capital LLC
(14.63%).
The amount available for borrowing at any one time under the reserve-based credit facility is limited to the
borrowing base for our oil and natural gas properties. As of December 31, 2012, we borrowed $84.0 million under our reserve-based credit facility and our borrowing base was $85.0 million. The borrowing base is redetermined semi-annually, and
may be redetermined at our request more frequently and by the lenders, in their sole discretion, based on reserve reports as prepared by petroleum engineers, using, among other things, the oil and natural gas prices prevailing at such time. Our
latest semi-annual borrowing base redetermination occurred during the fourth quarter of 2012. Outstanding borrowings in excess of our borrowing base must be repaid or we must pledge other oil and natural gas properties as additional collateral. We
may elect to pay any borrowing base deficiency in three equal monthly installments such that the deficiency is eliminated in a period of three months. Any increase in our borrowing base must be approved by all of the lenders.
Borrowings under the reserve-based credit facility are available for acquisition, exploration, operation and maintenance of oil and
natural gas properties, payment of expenses incurred in connection with the reserve-based credit facility, working capital and general limited liability company purposes. The reserve-based credit facility has a sub-limit of $20.0 million which may
be used for the issuance of letters of credit. As of December 31, 2012, no letters of credit are outstanding.
At our
election, interest for borrowings are determined by reference to (i) the London interbank rate, or LIBOR, plus an applicable margin between 2.50% and 3.50% per annum based on utilization or (ii) a domestic bank rate (ABR)
plus an applicable margin between 1.50% and 2.50% per annum based on utilization plus (iii) a commitment fee of 0.50% per annum based on the unutilized borrowing base. Interest on the borrowings for ABR loans and the commitment fee
are generally payable quarterly. Interest on the borrowings for LIBOR loans are generally payable at the applicable maturity date.
The reserve-based credit facility contains various covenants that limit, among other things, our ability and certain of our subsidiaries ability to incur certain indebtedness, grant certain liens,
merge or consolidate, sell all or substantially all of our assets, make certain loans, acquisitions, capital expenditures and investments, and pay distributions.
In addition, we are required to maintain (i) a ratio of Total Net Debt (defined as Debt (generally indebtedness permitted to be incurred by us under the reserve-based credit facility) less Available
Cash (generally, cash, cash equivalents, and cash reserves of the Company)) to Adjusted EBITDA (generally, for any period, the sum of consolidated net income for such period plus (minus) the following expenses or charges to the extent deducted from
consolidated net income in such period: interest expense, depreciation, depletion, amortization, write-off of deferred financing fees, impairment of long-lived assets, (gain) loss on sale of assets, exploration costs, (gain) loss from equity
investment, accretion of asset retirement obligation, unrealized (gain) loss on derivatives and realized (gain) loss on cancelled derivatives, and other similar charges) of not more than 3.50 to 1.0; (ii) Adjusted EBITDA to cash interest
expense of not less than 2.5 to 1.0; and (iii) consolidated current assets, including the unused amount of the total commitments but excluding current non-cash assets, to consolidated current liabilities, excluding non-cash liabilities and
current maturities of debt (to the extent such payments are not past due), of not less than 1.0 to 1.0, all calculated pursuant to the requirements under SFAS 133 and SFAS 143 (including the current liabilities in respect of the termination of oil
and natural gas and interest rate swaps). All financial covenants are calculated using our consolidated financial information and are discussed below.
The reserve-based credit facility also includes customary events of default, including events of default relating to non-payment of principal, interest or fees, inaccuracy of representations and
warranties in any material respect when made or when deemed made, violation of covenants, cross-defaults, bankruptcy and insolvency events, certain unsatisfied judgments, guaranties not being valid under the reserve-based credit facility and a
change of control. A change of control is generally defined as the occurrence of both of the following events: (i) wholly owned subsidiaries of Constellation Energy Group, Inc. are the owner of 20% or less of an interest in us (which has now
occurred) and (ii) any person or group of persons acting in concert are the owner of more than 35% of an interest in us. If an event of default occurs, the lenders will be able to accelerate the maturity of the reserve-based credit facility and
exercise other rights and remedies. The reserve-based credit facility contains a condition to borrowing and a representation that no material adverse effect (MAE) has occurred, which includes, among other things, a material adverse
change in, or material adverse effect on the business, operations, property, liabilities (actual or contingent) or condition (financial or otherwise) of us and our subsidiaries who are guarantors taken as a whole. If a MAE were to occur, we would be
prohibited from borrowing under the reserve-based credit facility and would be in default, which could cause all of our existing indebtedness to become immediately due and payable.
87
The reserve-based credit facility limits our ability to pay distributions to unitholders. We
have the ability to pay distributions to unitholders from available cash, including cash from borrowings under the reserve-based credit facility, as long as no event of default exists and provided that no distributions to unitholders may be made if
the borrowings outstanding, net of available cash, under the reserve-based credit facility exceed 90% of the borrowing base, after giving effect to the proposed distribution. Our available cash is reduced by any cash reserves established by our
board of managers for the proper conduct of our business and the payment of fees and expenses. As of December 31, 2012, we were restricted from paying distributions to unitholders as we had no available cash (taking into account the cash
reserves set by our board of managers for the proper conduct of our business) from which to pay distributions.
The
reserve-based credit facility permits us to hedge our projected monthly production, provided that (a) for the immediately ensuing twelve month period, the volumes of production hedged in any month may not exceed our reasonable business judgment
of the production for such month consistent with the application of petroleum engineering methodologies for estimating proved developed producing reserves based on the then-current strip pricing (provided that such projection shall not be more than
115% of the proved developed producing reserves forecast for the same period derived from the most recent reserve report of our petroleum engineers using the then strip pricing), and (b) for the period beyond twelve months, the volumes of
production hedged in any month may not exceed the reasonably anticipated projected production from proved developed producing reserves estimated by our petroleum engineers. The reserve-based credit facility also permits us to hedge the interest rate
on up to 90% of the then-outstanding principal amounts of our indebtedness for borrowed money.
The reserve-based credit
facility contains no covenants related to PostRocks or Exelons ownership in us.
Debt Issue Costs
As of December 31, 2012, our unamortized debt issue costs were approximately $1.2 million. These costs are being
amortized over the life of the credit facility.
Funds Available for Borrowing
As of December 31, 2012, we had $84.0 million in outstanding debt under our reserve-based credit facility and $1.0 million in
remaining borrowing capacity. As of December 31, 2011, we had $98.4 million in outstanding debt under our reserve-based credit facility. See Note 16 for additional information.
Compliance with Financial Covenants
At December 31, 2012, we believe that we were in compliance with the financial covenant ratios contained in our reserve-based credit facility. We monitor compliance on an ongoing basis. As of
December 31, 2012, our actual Total Net Debt to annual Adjusted EBITDA ratio was 3.4 to 1.0 as compared with a required ratio of not greater than 3.5 to 1.0, our actual ratio of consolidated current assets to consolidated current liabilities
was 1.1 to 1.0 as compared with a required ratio of not less than 1.0 to 1.0, and our actual quarterly Adjusted EBITDA to cash interest expense ratio was 7.9 to 1.0 as compared with a required ratio of not less than 2.5 to 1.0.
If we are unable to remain in compliance with the financial covenants contained in our reserve-based credit facility or maintain the
required ratios discussed above, the lenders could call an event of default and accelerate the outstanding debt under the terms of our reserve-based credit facility, such that our outstanding debt could become then due and payable. We may
request waivers of compliance from the violated financial covenants from the lenders, but there is no assurance that such waivers would be granted.
Extending or Refinancing our Reserve-Based Credit Facility
As of
December 31, 2012, our borrowing base was $85.0 million and our outstanding debt was $84.0 million. Our reserve-based credit facility matures on November 13, 2013. At December 31, 2012, we were working with our syndicate of lenders to
extend the due date of our reserve-based credit facility. See Note 16 for additional information.
88
5. OIL AND NATURAL GAS PROPERTIES
Oil and natural gas properties consist of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
2012
|
|
|
December 31,
2011
|
|
|
December 31,
2010
|
|
|
|
(In 000s)
|
|
Oil and natural gas properties and related equipment (successful efforts method)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property (acreage) costs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proved property
|
|
$
|
799,563
|
|
|
$
|
785,089
|
|
|
$
|
772,450
|
|
Unproved property
|
|
|
1,383
|
|
|
|
1,321
|
|
|
|
698
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total property costs
|
|
|
800,946
|
|
|
|
786,410
|
|
|
|
773,148
|
|
Materials and supplies
|
|
|
771
|
|
|
|
1,243
|
|
|
|
2,073
|
|
Land
|
|
|
912
|
|
|
|
912
|
|
|
|
912
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
802,629
|
|
|
|
788,565
|
|
|
|
776,133
|
|
Less: Accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairments
|
|
|
(615,206
|
)
|
|
|
(522,480
|
)
|
|
|
(499,214
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oil and natural gas properties and equipment, net
|
|
$
|
187,423
|
|
|
$
|
266,085
|
|
|
$
|
276,919
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depletion, depreciation, amortization and impairments consisted of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Twelve
Months
Ended
December 31,
2012
|
|
|
Twelve
Months
Ended
December 31,
2011
|
|
|
Twelve
Months
Ended
December 31,
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In 000s)
|
|
|
|
|
DD&A of oil and natural gas-related assets
|
|
$
|
20,799
|
|
|
$
|
22,139
|
|
|
$
|
85,263
|
|
Asset impairments
|
|
|
73,451
|
|
|
|
2,935
|
|
|
|
272,487
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
94,250
|
|
|
$
|
25,074
|
|
|
$
|
357,750
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Cash Impairment Charges
In the fourth quarter of 2012, we recorded a total non-cash impairment charge of approximately $73.3 million to impair the asset group
containing our natural gas properties and inventory in the Robinsons Bend Field in Black Warrior Basin of Alabama. This impairment was recorded because the net capitalized costs of the properties exceeded the fair value of the properties as
measured by a cash offer to purchase the assets for $63.0 million, subject to certain post-closing adjustments, which is a Level 2 input in the fair value hierarchy. This non-cash charge is included in asset impairments in the Consolidated
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). This impairment was calculated in accordance with
ASC 360-10-45-2 Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets
, including
ASC 360-10-45-13 Change in Classification After Balance
Sheet Date but Before Issuance of Financial Statements
. This asset group was tested for recoverability because it was more likely than not that the assets would be sold in the near future and the range of potential offers was lower than the net
capitalized cost of the properties. The estimate of future cash flows used in the impairment test considered the likelihood of possible outcomes that existed at the balance sheet date, including the likelihood of the sale of the asset being
completed in the future. Our Board of Managers authorized the sale of entities that owned all of our assets and operations in Alabama on January 31, 2013, and a transaction was completed, on February 28, 2013. See Note 16 for additional
information.
89
In 2011, we recorded a total non-cash impairment charge of approximately $2.9 million,
composed of $1.6 million to impair the value of our oil and natural gas properties in the Central Kansas Uplift, $1.0 million related to the extinguishment of the NPI and $0.3 million to impair certain of our wells in the Woodford Shale. This
impairment of our proved oil and natural gas properties in the Central Kansas Uplift and the impairment of certain of our wells located in the Woodford Shale were recorded because the net capitalized costs of the properties exceeded the fair value
of the properties as measured by estimated cash flows reported in a third party reserve report. This report was based upon future oil and natural gas prices, which are based on observable inputs adjusted for basis differentials, which are Level 2
inputs. Significant assumptions in valuing the proved reserves included the reserve quantities, anticipated drilling and operating costs, anticipated production taxes, future expected oil and natural gas prices and basis differentials, anticipated
drilling schedules, anticipated production declines, and an appropriate discount rate commensurate with the risk of the underlying cash flow estimates for the properties of 10.0%. The impairments were caused by the impact of lower future oil and
natural gas prices and performance-related reserve revisions. After the impairments, the remaining net capitalized costs subject to impairment in the Woodford Shale was approximately $3.9 million and in the Central Kansas Uplift was approximately
$3.5 million. Cash flow estimates for the impairment testing exclude derivative instruments used to mitigate the risk of lower future oil and natural gas prices. These asset impairments have no impact on our cash flows, liquidity position, or debt
covenants.
In 2010, we recorded a total non-cash impairment charge of approximately $272.5 million, composed of $263.4
million to impair the value of our proved and unproved oil and natural gas properties in the Cherokee Basin, $6.3 million to impair our other non-current assets related to our activities in the Cherokee Basin, $0.4 million to impair the value of
inventory in the Cherokee basin, $1.9 million to impair certain of our wells in the Woodford Shale, and $0.5 million to impair the value of our casing inventory. This impairment of our proved Cherokee Basin oil and natural gas properties and the
impairment of certain of our wells located in the Woodford Shale was recorded because the net capitalized costs of the properties exceeded the fair value of the properties as measured by estimated cash flows reported in a third party reserve report.
This report was based upon future oil and natural gas prices, which are based on observable inputs adjusted for basis differentials, which are Level 2 inputs. Significant assumptions in valuing the proved reserves included the reserve quantities,
anticipated drilling and operating costs, anticipated production taxes, future expected natural gas prices and basis differentials, anticipated drilling schedules, anticipated production declines, and an appropriate discount rate commensurate with
the risk of the underlying cash flow estimates for the coalbed methane and non-operated shale properties of 10.0%. The impairment was caused by the impact of lower future natural gas prices. Particularly during the third quarter of 2010, future
natural gas price curves shifted significantly lower in the Cherokee Basin, especially in the years 5 through 15, and an impairment was recorded. Cash flow estimates for the impairment testing exclude derivative instruments used to mitigate the risk
of lower future natural gas prices. Our unproved properties in the Cherokee Basin were impaired based on the drilling locations for the probable and possible reserves becoming uneconomic at the lower future expected natural gas prices, our limited
future capital budgets, and our future expected drilling schedules. Significant assumptions in valuing the unproved reserves included the evaluation of the probable and possible reserves included in the third party reserve report, future expected
natural gas prices and basis differentials, and our anticipated drilling schedules and capital availability. The impairment of our other non-current assets was recorded because the net capitalized costs of the intangible assets exceeded the fair
value of the assets as measured by estimated cash flows based on lower observable future expected natural gas prices adjusted for basis differentials, which are Level 2 inputs. These asset impairments had no impact on our cash flows, liquidity
position, or debt covenants. As of December 31, 2010, we reviewed our other properties for impairment and the estimated undiscounted future cash flows exceeded the net capitalized costs, thus no impairment was required to be recognized.
Asset Sales
In 2012, we sold our interests in 14 gross non-operated oil wells in Kansas and Nebraska for approximately $1.4 million in cash, and sold approximately $0.1 million in trucks and equipment resulting in no
material gain or loss on the asset sales.
In 2011, we sold miscellaneous equipment and surplus inventory for approximately
$0.1 million and recorded a gain of approximately $0.02 million on the sales.
In 2010, we sold miscellaneous equipment and
surplus inventory for approximately $0.1 million and recorded a gain of approximately $0.02 million on the sales.
Useful
Lives
Our furniture, fixtures, and equipment are depreciated over a life of one to seven years, buildings are depreciated
over a life of twenty years, and pipeline and gathering systems are depreciated over a life of twenty-five to forty years.
90
Exploration and Dry Hole Costs
Our exploration and dry hole costs were none, $0.1 million, and $0.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010,
respectively. These costs represent abandonments of drilling locations, dry hole costs, delay rentals, geological and geophysical costs, and the impairment, amortization, and abandonment associated with leases on our unproved properties.
6. BENEFIT PLANS
Eligible employees of CEP participate in an employment savings plan. Matching contributions made by us were
approximately $0.5 million, $0.5 million, and $0.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively.
7. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Unit Ownership
Both PostRock and Exelon, through subsidiaries, own a portion of our outstanding units. As of December 31, 2012, CEPM, a subsidiary of PostRock, owns all of our Class A units and 5,918,894 of
our Class B common units. CEPH, a subsidiary of Exelon, owns all of our Class C management incentive interests and all of our Class D interests.
PostRock-Related Announcements
On August 8, 2011, PostRock
announced that it had acquired all of our Class A units and 3,128,670 of our Class B common units in a transaction with Constellation. As a result of the transaction, PostRock received the right to appoint two Class A managers to our board
of managers. On December 19, 2011, PostRock acquired Constellations remaining 2,790,224 Class B common units. The units acquired in these two transactions in aggregate represent a 26.4% interest in us as of December 31, 2011.
Approval of these transactions was neither required nor given by our board of managers or conflicts committee. We believe PostRock is now an interested unitholder under Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Section 203 as it applies to us prohibits an interested unitholder, defined as a person who owns 15% or more of our outstanding common units, from engaging in business combinations with us for three years following the time such person becomes
an interested unitholder without the approval of our board of managers and the vote of 66 2/3% of our outstanding Class B common units, excluding those held by the interested unitholder. Section 203 broadly defines business
combination to encompass a wide variety of transactions with or caused by an interested unitholder, including mergers, asset sales and other transactions in which the interested unitholder receives a benefit on other than a pro rata basis with
other unitholders. In addition to limiting our ability to enter into transactions with PostRock or its affiliates, this provision of our limited liability company agreement could have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved
in advance by our board of managers, including discouraging takeover attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for our common units.
Subsidiaries of Constellation agreed to reimburse us for certain fees and expenses that we incurred in connection with a proposed Constellation and PostRock transaction that was announced on June 21,
2011, and expenses associated with the Torch derivative litigation settlement. We received expense reimbursements of $0.0 million, $0.9 million and $0.1 million from subsidiaries of Constellation for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and
2010, respectively.
Class C Management Incentive Interests
CEPH, a subsidiary of Exelon, holds the Class C management incentive interests in CEP. These management incentive interests represent the
right to receive 15% of quarterly distributions of available cash from operating surplus after the Target Distribution (as defined in our operating agreement) has been achieved and certain other tests have been met. None of these applicable tests
have yet to be met and CEPH has not been entitled to receive any management incentive interest distributions.
Class D Interests
CEPH, a subsidiary of Exelon, holds all of our Class D interests. Due to their contingently redeemable feature, the
Class D interests were treated as preferred units subject to contingent redemption. As described in Note 10, we purchased the NPI from the Trust for $1.0 million as part of the settlement of Torch derivative litigation. Because the NPI was granted
to the Trust by a predecessor-in-interest to us, the NPI was extinguished when the NPI was assigned to us by the Trust. The NPI no longer burdens our properties in the Robinsons Bend Field. Further, since the NPI will no longer be paid based
upon the sharing arrangement and we have suspended distributions since June 2009, there should be no further distributions required on the Class D interests. The Class D interests will remain outstanding until the liquidation of CEP.
91
8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
In the course of its normal business affairs, we are subject to possible loss contingencies arising from federal, state
and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations and third-party litigation and lawsuits. As of December 31, 2012, there were no matters which, in the opinion of management, would have a material adverse effect on the
financial position, results of operations or cash flows of CEP, and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
9. ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION
We recognize the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation (ARO) in the period in which
it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. Each period, we accrete the ARO to its then present value. The associated asset retirement cost (ARC) is capitalized as part of the carrying amount of our oil and natural
gas properties, equipment and facilities. Subsequently, the ARC is depreciated using a systematic and rational method over the assets useful life. The AROs recorded by us relate to the plugging and abandonment of oil and natural gas wells, and
decommissioning of oil and natural gas gathering and other facilities.
Inherent in the fair value calculation of ARO are
numerous assumptions and judgments including the ultimate settlement amounts, inflation factors, credit adjusted discount rates, timing of settlement and changes in the legal, regulatory, environmental and political environments. To the extent
future revisions to these assumptions result in adjustments to the recorded fair value of the existing ARO, a corresponding adjustment is made to the ARC capitalized as part of the oil and natural gas property balance.
The following table is a reconciliation of the ARO:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
2012
|
|
|
December 31,
2011
|
|
|
December 31,
2010
|
|
|
|
(In 000s)
|
|
Asset retirement obligation, beginning balance
|
|
$
|
14,047
|
|
|
$
|
13,024
|
|
|
$
|
12,129
|
|
Liabilities incurred from acquisition of the properties
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32
|
|
Liabilities incurred
|
|
|
162
|
|
|
|
143
|
|
|
|
83
|
|
Liabilities settled
|
|
|
(8
|
)
|
|
|
(27
|
)
|
|
|
(42
|
)
|
Revisions to prior estimates
|
|
|
390
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accretion expense
|
|
|
766
|
|
|
|
907
|
|
|
|
822
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Asset retirement obligation, ending balance
|
|
$
|
15,357
|
|
|
$
|
14,047
|
|
|
$
|
13,024
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional retirement obligations increase the liability associated with new oil and natural gas wells
and other facilities as these obligations are incurred. Actual expenditures for abandonments of oil and natural gas wells and other facilities reduce the liability for asset retirement obligation. In 2012, 2011, and 2010, there were no significant
expenditures for abandonments and there were no assets legally restricted for purposes of settling existing asset retirement obligations.
At December 31, 2010, we had an environment liability of approximately $0.2 million that was charged to costs and expenses during the period. We had no environmental liabilities at December 31,
2012, or December 31, 2011.
10. NET PROFITS INTEREST
Certain of our wells in the Robinsons Bend Field were subject to a non-operating NPI until December 2011 when the
NPI was extinguished. The cumulative Net NPI Proceeds balance must have been greater than $0 before any payments for the NPI were made to the Torch Energy Royalty Trust (Trust). The cumulative Net NPI Proceeds was a deficit
for the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, and as a result, no payments for the NPI were made to the Trust.
Settlement of the Litigation Related to Trust Termination and Extinguishment of the NPI
On January 8, 2009, we were served by Trust Venture, on behalf of the Trust, with a purported derivative action filed in the Circuit Court of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama (the Court). The
lawsuit alleged, among other things, a breach of contract under the conveyance associated with the NPI and the agreement establishing the Trust and asserted that above market rates for services were paid, reducing the amounts paid to the Trust in
connection with the NPI. The lawsuit sought unspecified damages and an accounting of the NPI. The lawsuit was settled in June 2011. The settlement with Trust Venture, its successor and the Trust provided, among other things, that we pay $1.2
million to reimburse Trust Venture and its successor for their legal fees and expenses incurred in prosecuting the lawsuit and that we acquire the NPI from the Trust
92
for $1.0 million. When the NPI was assigned to us by the Trust in the fourth quarter of 2011, the NPI was
extinguished. The NPI no longer burdens our properties in the Robinsons Bend Field, and we recognized a $1.0 million charge to impair the value of the extinguished NPI contract that was acquired. As described in Note 7 above, the finalization
of this settlement impacted our Class D interests.
11. UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION
We recognized approximately $1.5 million, $1.3 million and $1.8 million of non-cash compensation expense related to our
unit-based compensation plans in the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively. As of December 31, 2012, we had approximately $1.5 million in unrecognized compensation expense related to our unit-based
compensation plans expected to be recognized through the first quarter of 2015.
2012 Compensation Actions
Long-term Incentives
On June 4, 2012, the Company made (i) a performance-based grant to be settled in Class B common units of the Company, if earned, and (ii) a performance-based grant to be settled in cash, if
earned, to each of our named executive officers under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan or the Long-Term Incentive Plan, as applicable, in each case based on actual performance relative to pre-determined, equally weighted 2012 goals for
natural gas and oil and natural gas liquids production at stated threshold, target and maximum performance levels, as applicable.
Unit-Based Awards
The unit-based awards contain a threshold and target
payout level. No award payouts will be made for actual performance below a threshold level. For performance within the target range, award payouts will be made at 100%. For actual performance between the threshold and target level, award payouts
will be determined using a linear interpolation between the threshold level and the low end of the target level. Awards will be earned based upon 2012 performance and issuance of the earned units will be made on January 2, 2013, except in the
case of death, disability, involuntary termination or certain change of control events, which may accelerate the unit grants. The target awards of these unit-based grants are not part of the target-level bonuses of the named executive officers under
their employment agreements.
The pre-determined 2012 performance levels required for a unit-based payout on January 2,
2013, are:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performance Level
|
|
Payout %
|
|
|
Natural Gas
Production
(weighted
50%)
|
|
Oil/NGL Production
(weighted 50%)
|
Target
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
from 11.4 Bcf to 14.0 Bcf*
|
|
from 144 Mbbls to 176 Mbbls*
|
Threshold
|
|
|
50
|
%
|
|
at least 10.2 Bcf
|
|
at least 128 Mbbls
|
*
|
Achievement of the performance metric anywhere within this range will result in a payout of 100% of the target Class B common units, with a linear interpolation between
the threshold performance level and the low end of the target range performance level.
|
The target unit grants
for the named executive officers are as follows:
|
|
|
Mr. Brunner 190,114 Class B common units
|
|
|
|
Mr. Ward 95,057 Class B common units
|
|
|
|
Ms. Mellencamp 76,046 Class B common units
|
|
|
|
Mr. Hiney 38,023 Class B common units
|
The number of target units under these awards was calculated based on the 20-day simple average of the Companys closing common unit price on NYSE MKT through April 5, 2012, or $2.63. During the
year ended December 31, 2012, we recognized approximately $0.4 million of non-cash compensation expense related to these grants as the threshold was met for oil and the target was met for natural gas. As of December 31, 2012, there is no
additional compensation expense related to these grants to be recognized.
93
Cash-Based Awards
The cash-based awards contain a threshold, target and maximum payout level. No award payouts will be made for actual performance below a
threshold level. For performance within the target range, award payouts will be made at 100%. For actual performance at a maximum level, award payouts will be made at 200%. For actual performance between the threshold and target level and between
the target and maximum levels, award payouts will be determined using a linear interpolation between the low and high ends of the target levels, respectively. For actual performance above the target level, each executive also will be paid the cash
value of the award times the corresponding percentage above the target performance level (100%) for the performance level achieved. Awards will be earned based upon 2012 performance and will be 100% vested as of December 31, 2012. Payment
of the earned cash-based awards will be made on January 2, 2014, except in the case of death, disability, involuntary termination or certain change of control events, which may accelerate payment. The target cash values of the grants are part
of the target-level bonuses of the named executive officers under their employment agreements.
The pre-determined 2012
performance levels required for a cash payout on January 2, 2014, are:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performance Level
|
|
Payout %
|
|
|
Natural Gas
Production
(weighted
50%)
|
|
Oil/NGL Production
(weighted
50%)
|
Maximum
|
|
|
200
|
%
|
|
at least 15.2 Bcf
|
|
at least 192 Mbbls
|
Target
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
from 11.4 Bcf to 14.0 Bcf*
|
|
from 144 Mbbls to 176 Mbbls*
|
Threshold
|
|
|
50
|
%
|
|
at least 10.2 Bcf
|
|
at least 128 Mbbls
|
*
|
Achievement of the performance metric anywhere within this range will result in a payout of 100% of the cash value, with a linear interpolation between the threshold
performance level and the low end of the target range performance level and between the high end of the target range performance level and the maximum performance level, respectively.
|
The target cash payouts for the named executive officers are as follows:
|
|
|
Ms. Mellencamp $200,000
|
On April 5, 2012, the compensation committee and board of managers made service-based grants to certain other key employees other than our named executive officers. The service-based grants made to
certain other key employees under our 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan total approximately $1.3 million. The grants, which will be settled in cash, vest 50% on December 31, 2012, and 50% on December 31, 2013, except in the case of
an involuntary termination upon certain change of control events, which may accelerate payment for certain key employees.
During the year ended December 31, 2012, we recognized approximately $0.5 million of compensation expense related to both executive
cash-based award grants discussed above and $0.6 million of compensation expense related to the services based awards discussed above. As of December 31, 2012, we had $0.6 million in unrecognized compensation expense related to service-based
grants made to certain other key employees that is expected to be recognized through 2013.
Unit-Based Awards Granted in 2011
In 2011, the compensation committee of our board of managers and our board of managers granted approximately 31,000
unit-based awards under our 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan to our named executive officers and other key employees. These unit-based awards will be settled in cash instead of units and the employees may earn between 0% and 200% of the
number of awards granted based on the achievement of absolute CEP unit price targets during a three-year performance period from January 2011 through December 2013. CEP unit price targets and corresponding cash payout levels are as follows:
|
|
|
Threshold50% cash payout at $3.50/CEP unit
|
|
|
|
Target100% cash payout at $4.00/CEP unit
|
|
|
|
Stretch200% cash payout at $6.00/CEP unit
|
|
|
|
Cash payouts for results between these points will be interpolated on a linear basis.
|
Failure to achieve the threshold CEP unit price will result in no cash payout of the awards granted. The determination of the level of
achievement and number of awards earned will be based on a calculation of CEPs unit price at the end of the performance period. This price calculation will be based on the average of the closing daily prices for the final 20 trading
94
days of the performance period. In addition, the executive unit-based awards will vest earlier if any of the following events occur: a change of control, a CEG ownership
event, death of the executive, delivery by the Company of a disability notice with respect to the executive, or an involuntary termination of the executive (with each of the foregoing terms having the corresponding
definitions set forth in the respective employment agreement with the Company). The awards may vest earlier with respect to the other key employees under certain of these circumstances. Any cash payment will be made at the end of the performance
period except in the case of certain change of control events, which may accelerate payment. The grants are accounted for in our financial statements as a liability-classified award with the fair value remeasured each reporting period until
settlement. The carrying value and the fair market value of these awards was approximately $0.9 million and less than $0.1 million at the grant date and December 31, 2012, respectively, and is reported as a non-current liability on our
balance sheet. There are no significant non-cash compensation expenses related to the program for the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, as the value of these awards has fallen as the market price for our common units has declined.
2010 Grants
Grants under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan
In March 2010,
we granted approximately 498,000 restricted common unit awards to certain employees in Texas under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan. These units had a total fair market value of approximately $1.7 million based on the closing price of
our common units on NYSE Arca on March 1, 2010. All of these service-based restricted units will vest on a five year ratable schedule beginning on March 1, 2010.
Grants under the Long-Term Incentive Program
We granted approximately
195,852 restricted common unit awards under the Long-Term Incentive Plan on March 1, 2010, to certain field employees in Alabama, Kansas, and Oklahoma and to certain employees in Texas. These units had a total fair market value of approximately
$0.7 million based on the closing price of our common units on NYSE Arca on March 1, 2010. These service-based restricted units will vest on a three year ratable schedule beginning on March 1, 2010, except for certain employees in Texas
which will vest on a five year ratable schedule beginning on March 1, 2010.
We granted approximately 54,747 restricted
common unit awards under the Long-Term Incentive Plan on March 1, 2010, to our three independent managers. These units had a total fair market value of approximately $0.2 million based on the closing price of our common units on NYSE Arca on
March 1, 2010. These awards vested in March 2011.
12. DISTRIBUTIONS TO UNITHOLDERS
Distributions through December 31, 2012
Beginning in June 2009, we suspended our quarterly distributions to unitholders. For the quarters ended March 31, June 30
and September 30, 2012, we were restricted from paying distributions to unitholders as we had no available cash (taking into account the cash reserves set by our board of managers for the proper conduct of our business) from which to pay
distributions. See Note 16 for additional information.
Distributions through December 31, 2011
Beginning in June 2009, we suspended our quarterly distributions to unitholders. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2011, we
were restricted from paying distributions to unitholders as we had no available cash (taking into account the cash reserves set by our board of managers for the proper conduct of our business) from which to pay distributions.
Distributions through December 31, 2010
Beginning in June 2009, we have suspended our quarterly distributions to unitholders. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2010, we were restricted from paying distributions to unitholders as we
had no available cash (taking into account the cash reserves set by our board of managers for the proper conduct of our business) from which to pay distributions.
13. MEMBERS EQUITY
2012 Equity
At December 31, 2012, we had 483,418 Class A units and 23,687,507 Class B common units outstanding, which included 94,914 unvested restricted common units issued under our Long-Term Incentive
Plan and 666,778 unvested restricted common units issued under our 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan. See Note 16 for additional information.
95
At December 31, 2012, we had granted 336,599 common units of the 450,000 common units
available under our Long-Term Incentive Plan. Of these grants, 241,685 have vested. We also granted an additional 76,046 performance units under our Long-Term Incentive Plan. Of these grants, 38,023 have vested.
At December 31, 2012, we had granted 1,326,530 common units of the 1,650,000 common units available under our 2009 Omnibus Incentive
Compensation Plan. Of these grants, 659,752 have vested. We also granted an additional 323,194 performance units under our 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan. Of these grants, 161,597 have vested.
For the year ended December 31, 2012, 90,425 common units have been tendered by our employees for tax withholding purposes. These
units, costing approximately $0.2 million, have been returned to their respective plan and are available for future grants.
2011 Equity
At December 31, 2011, we had 485,033 Class A units and 23,766,632 Class B common units outstanding, which included 149,869 unvested restricted common units issued under our Long-Term Incentive
Plan and 962,281 unvested restricted common units issued under our 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan.
At
December 31, 2011, we had granted 335,529 common units of the 450,000 common units available under our Long-Term Incentive Plan. Of these grants, 185,660 have vested as of December 31, 2011.
At December 31, 2011, we had granted 1,406,725 common units of the 1,650,000 common units available under our 2009 Omnibus Incentive
Compensation Plan. Of these grants, 444,444 have vested as of December 31, 2011.
For the year ended December 31,
2011, 119,963 common units have been tendered by our employees for tax withholding purposes. These units, costing approximately $0.3 million, have been returned to their respective plan and are available for future grants.
2010 Equity
At December 31, 2010, we had 487,750 Class A units and 23,899,758 Class B units outstanding, which included 309,225 unvested restricted common units issued under our Long-Term Incentive Plan,
83,745 unvested restricted common units issued under our Executive Inducement Bonus Program, and 1,248,803 unvested restricted common units under our 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan.
At December 31, 2010, we had granted 376,845 common units of the 450,000 common units available under our Long-Term Incentive Plan.
Of these grants, 67,620 have vested as of December 31, 2010.
At December 31, 2010, we had granted 146,551 common
units of the 300,000 common units available under our Executive Inducement Bonus Program. Of these grants, 62,807 have vested as of December 31, 2010.
At December 31, 2010, we had granted 1,477,598 common units of the 1,650,000 common units available under our 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan. Of these grants, 228,795 have vested as of
December 31, 2010.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2010, 92,353 common units have been tendered by our
employees for tax withholding purposes. These units, costing approximately $0.4 million, have been returned to their respective plan and are available for future grants.
14. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ON OIL AND NATURAL GAS PRODUCING ACTIVITIES (UNAUDITED)
The Supplementary Information on Oil and Natural Gas Producing Activities is presented as required by the appropriate
authoritative guidance
.
The supplemental information includes capitalized costs related to oil and natural gas producing activities; costs incurred for the acquisition of oil and natural gas producing activities, exploration and development
activities and the results of operations from oil and natural gas producing activities.
Supplemental information is also
provided for per unit production costs; oil and natural gas production and average sales prices; the estimated quantities of proved oil and natural gas reserves; the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows associated with proved
reserves and a summary of the changes in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows associated with proved reserves.
96
Costs
The following table sets forth capitalized costs for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
2012
|
|
|
December 31,
2011
|
|
|
December 31,
2010
|
|
|
|
(In 000s)
|
|
Capitalized costs at the end of the period:
(a)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oil and natural gas properties and related equipment (successful efforts method)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property costs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proved property
|
|
$
|
799,563
|
|
|
$
|
785,089
|
|
|
$
|
772,450
|
|
Unproved property
|
|
|
1,383
|
|
|
|
1,321
|
|
|
|
698
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total property costs
|
|
|
800,946
|
|
|
|
786,410
|
|
|
|
773,148
|
|
Materials and supplies
|
|
|
771
|
|
|
|
1,243
|
|
|
|
2,073
|
|
Land
|
|
|
912
|
|
|
|
912
|
|
|
|
912
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
802,629
|
|
|
|
788,565
|
|
|
|
776,133
|
|
Less: Accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairments
|
|
|
(615,206
|
)
|
|
|
(522,480
|
)
|
|
|
(499,214
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net capitalized cost
|
|
$
|
187,423
|
|
|
$
|
266,085
|
|
|
$
|
276,919
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
Capitalized costs include the cost of equipment and facilities for our oil and natural gas producing activities. Proved property costs include capitalized costs for
leaseholds holding proved reserves; development wells and related equipment and facilities (including uncompleted development well costs); and support equipment. Unproved property costs include capitalized costs for oil and natural gas leaseholds
where proved reserves do not exist.
|
The following table sets forth costs incurred for oil and natural gas
producing activities for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2012
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2011
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2010
|
|
|
|
(In 000s)
|
|
Costs incurred for the period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition of properties
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proved
|
|
$
|
75
|
|
|
$
|
(281
|
)
|
|
$
|
5,691
|
|
Unproved
|
|
|
177
|
|
|
|
631
|
|
|
|
678
|
|
Development costs
|
|
|
15,852
|
|
|
|
10,967
|
|
|
|
7,973
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total costs incurred
|
|
$
|
16,104
|
|
|
$
|
11,317
|
|
|
$
|
14,342
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The development costs for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010 primarily represent
costs to develop our proved undeveloped reserves. During 2012, approximately 95% of our development expenditures of $15.9 million were for locations in the Cherokee Basin and approximately 5% of the expenditures were for locations in the Black
Warrior Basin. We estimate that we will spend $18.8 million, $18.3 million, and $16.7 million to develop our total proved reserves in 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively. Our 2012 acquisition of properties included $0.1 million for leasing and to
acquire additional wells in the Cherokee Basin. Our 2011 acquisition of properties included leasing $0.6 million of unproved acreage on our concession in Osage County, Oklahoma and other areas of the Cherokee Basin, offset by the receipt of $0.3
million in post-closing adjustments for our December 2010 acquisition of oil properties in the Central Kansas Uplift.
Our
exploration and dry hole costs were none, $0.1 million, and $0.8 million in 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively.
97
Results of Operations
The revenues and expenses associated directly with oil and natural gas producing activities are reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). All of our
operations are oil and natural gas producing activities located in the United States.
Net Proved Oil and Natural Gas Reserves
The following table sets forth information with respect to changes in proved developed and undeveloped reserves. This
information excludes reserves related to royalty and net profit interests. All of our reserves are located in the United States.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2012
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2011
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2010
|
|
|
|
(In MMcfe)
|
|
Beginning Balance
|
|
|
201,330
|
|
|
|
169,007
|
|
|
|
131,180
|
|
Extensions and discoveries
|
|
|
2,049
|
|
|
|
1,725
|
|
|
|
226
|
|
Purchases of reserves in place
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
805
|
|
Sales of reserves in place
|
|
|
(256
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revisions of previous estimates
|
|
|
(97,178
|
)
|
|
|
42,483
|
|
|
|
49,027
|
|
Production
|
|
|
(12,963
|
)
|
|
|
(11,885
|
)
|
|
|
(12,231
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ending Balance
|
|
|
92,982
|
|
|
|
201,330
|
|
|
|
169,007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total proved developed reserves
|
|
|
90,001
|
|
|
|
152,632
|
|
|
|
127,627
|
|
Total proved undeveloped reserves
|
|
|
2,981
|
|
|
|
48,698
|
|
|
|
41,380
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reserves and Related Estimates
Our estimate of proved reserves is based on the quantities of oil and natural gas that engineering and geological analyses demonstrate, with reasonable certainty, to be recoverable from established
reservoirs in the future under current operating and economic parameters. Our 2012, 2011 and 2010 reserve estimates were prepared in accordance with the FASB and SEC rules for oil and gas reporting effective at December 31, 2009 using the
SEC-required price.
Our December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 proved reserve estimates were 93.0 Bcfe, 201.3 Bcfe and 169.0
Bcfe, respectively. For these years, NSAI, an independent petroleum engineering firm, prepared the estimates of our proved reserves which were used to prepare our financial statements.
Our 2012 estimates of total proved reserves decreased 108.3 Bcfe from 2011 due to a lower SEC-required price for natural gas used to
calculate our reserves in 2012. We added 2.0 Bcfe due to extensions and discoveries in the Cherokee Basin reserves added for oil opportunities and 0.2 Bcfe of natural gas reserves. Our reserve revisions of 97.2 Bcfe are primarily the result of lower
natural gas prices causing our reserves to no longer be considered economic under SEC rules. Our reserves are 93% natural gas and are sensitive to lower prices for natural gas and basis differentials in the Mid-Continent region. Although we utilize
swaps and basis swaps to mitigate commodity price risk and basis differentials, these derivatives are not used when preparing our reserve report based on SEC rules. The SEC-required price used to prepare our reserve report was $2.91 in the Cherokee
Basin and $2.85 in the Black Warrior Basin. The SEC-required prices used in the Cherokee Basin and in the Black Warrior Basin declined from 2011 to 2012 by $0.97 and $1.35, respectively. Our actual 2012 production of 12.6 Bcfe is 3.8 Bcfe higher
than what our 2011 reserve report estimated for 2012. A significant number of our wells that actually produced natural gas in 2012 were not included in our 2011 reserve report as they were deemed uneconomic at the SEC-required price which excludes
the impact of our swaps and basis swaps used to mitigate commodity price risk and basis differentials. Any of our locations that are scheduled to be drilled after 5 years are classified as probable or possible reserves to the extent they are
economic.
Our 2011 estimates of total proved reserves increased 32.3 Bcfe from 2010. Of this increase in 2011, 1.7 Bcfe was
related to extensions and discoveries in the Cherokee Basin, composed of 1.5 Bcfe of proved undeveloped reserves added for oil opportunities and 0.2 Bcfe of natural gas reserves. Our reserve revisions of 42.5 Bcfe are primarily the result of lower
lease operating costs in the Cherokee Basin, which resulted in positive revisions of approximately 22.4 Bcfe, and increased performance and lower production declines, which resulted in positive revisions of approximately 13.2 Bcfe in the Black
Warrior Basin and 12.7 Bcfe in the Cherokee Basin. The remainder of our positive revisions was related to our oil drilling program in the Cherokee Basin and Central Kansas Uplift. Our positive reserve revisions were offset by the impact of a lower
SEC-required price used to calculate our reserves in 2011. Our reserves are 97% natural gas and are sensitive to higher prices
98
for natural gas and basis differentials in the Mid-Continent region. Although we utilize swaps and basis swaps to mitigate commodity price risk and basis differentials, these derivatives are not
used when preparing our reserve report based on SEC rules. The SEC-required price used to prepare our reserve report was $4.20 in the Black Warrior Basin and $3.88 in the Cherokee Basin. The SEC-required prices used in the Black Warrior Basin and in
the Cherokee Basin declined from 2010 to 2011 by $0.35 and $0.10, respectively. These price declines resulted in price-related revisions of approximately 7.8 Bcfe. The remainder of the change in our reserves from 2010 to 2011 was the production in
our reserve report of 11.9 Bcfe. Our actual 2011 production of 13.7 Bcfe is 1.8 Bcfe higher than what our 2010 reserve report estimated for 2011. Certain of our wells that actually produced natural gas in 2011 were not included in our 2010 reserve
report as they were deemed uneconomic at the SEC-required price which excludes the impact of our swaps and basis swaps used to mitigate commodity price risk and basis differentials. Any of our locations that are scheduled to be drilled after 5 years
are classified as probable or possible reserves to the extent they are economic.
Our 2010 estimates of total proved reserves
increased 37.8 Bcfe from 2009 primarily due to reserve revisions due to a higher SEC-required price for natural gas. Our reserves were 98% natural gas and were sensitive to higher prices for natural gas and basis differentials in the Mid-Continent
region. Although we utilized swaps and basis swaps to mitigate commodity price risk and basis differentials, these derivatives were not used when preparing our reserve report based on SEC rules. The SEC-required price used to prepare our reserve
report was $4.55 in the Black Warrior Basin and $3.98 in the Cherokee Basin. The SEC-required price in the Cherokee Basin increased $0.88 from 2009 to 2010 which made 30.2 Bcfe of our proved undeveloped locations economic in the Cherokee Basin.
These locations had previously been classified as probable reserves. We also removed approximately 8.0 Bcfe in proven undeveloped locations in the Black Warrior Basin because of approximately $3.0 million in lower capital being deployed in the last
four years of our five year plan. Any of our locations that were scheduled to be drilled after 5 years were classified as probable or possible reserves to the extent they were economic. The remainder of the change in our reserves from 2009 to 2010
was 0.8 Bcfe in proved producing reserves acquired in Kansas and Nebraska, additional price-related revisions to our proved producing and proved non-producing of 26.8 Bcfe which were offset by production from wells included in our 2009 reserve
report of 12.2 Bcfe. Due to the low SEC-required prices used to prepare our reserve reports, certain of our wells that actually produced natural gas in 2010 were not included in our 2009 reserve report as they were deemed uneconomic at the
SEC-required price which excludes the impact of our swaps and basis swaps used to mitigate commodity price risk and basis differentials. Our actual 2010 production of 15.0 Bcfe is 3.0 Bcfe higher than what our 2009 reserve report estimated for 2010.
No reserves were attributed to the NPI in 2010.
Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows Relating to
Proved Gas Reserves, Including a Reconciliation of Changes Therein
The following table sets forth the standardized
measure of the discounted future net cash flows attributable to our proved oil and natural gas reserves. Certain information concerning the assumptions used in computing the valuation of proved reserves and their inherent limitations are discussed
below.
Future cash inflows are calculated by applying the SEC-required prices of oil and natural gas relating to our proved
reserves to the year-end quantities of those reserves. Future cash inflows exclude the impact of our hedging program. Future development and production costs represent the estimated future expenditures (based on year-end costs) to be incurred in
developing and producing the proved reserves, assuming continuation of existing economic conditions. In addition, asset retirement obligations are included within future production and development costs. There are no future income tax expenses
because CEP is a non-taxable entity.
The assumptions used to compute estimated future cash inflows do not necessarily reflect
expectations of actual revenues or costs or their present values. In addition, variations from expected production rates could result directly or indirectly from factors outside of our control, such as unexpected delays in development, changes in
prices or regulatory or environmental policies. The reserve valuation further assumes that all reserves will be disposed of by production; however, if reserves are sold in place, additional economic considerations could also affect the amount of
cash eventually realized.
The following table summarizes the standardized measure of estimated discounted future cash flows
from the oil and natural gas properties:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2012
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2011
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2010
|
|
|
|
(In 000s)
|
|
Future cash inflows
|
|
$
|
360,825
|
|
|
$
|
913,532
|
|
|
$
|
751,384
|
|
Future production costs
|
|
|
(194,198
|
)
|
|
|
(500,308
|
)
|
|
|
(404,350
|
)
|
Future estimated development costs
|
|
|
(11,124
|
)
|
|
|
(97,367
|
)
|
|
|
(77,055
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
99
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2012
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2011
|
|
|
For the year
ended
December 31,
2010
|
|
|
|
(In 000s)
|
|
Future net cash flows
|
|
|
155,503
|
|
|
|
315,857
|
|
|
|
269,979
|
|
10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash flows
|
|
|
(65,834
|
)
|
|
|
(155,166
|
)
|
|
|
(138,292
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Standardized measure of discounted estimated future net cash flows related to proved gas reserves
|
|
$
|
89,669
|
|
|
$
|
160,691
|
|
|
$
|
131,687
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following table summarizes the principal sources of change in the standardized measure of estimated
discounted future net cash flows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the year
Ended
December 31,
2012
|
|
|
For the year
Ended
December 31,
2011
|
|
|
For the year
Ended
December 31,
2010
|
|
|
|
(In 000s)
|
|
Beginning of the period
|
|
$
|
160,691
|
|
|
$
|
131,687
|
|
|
$
|
97,200
|
|
Sales and transfers of oil and natural gas, net of production costs
|
|
|
(39,699
|
)
|
|
|
(29,584
|
)
|
|
|
(22,017
|
)
|
Net changes in prices and production costs related to future production
|
|
|
(19,228
|
)
|
|
|
144
|
|
|
|
9,480
|
|
Development costs incurred during the period
|
|
|
18,818
|
|
|
|
7,166
|
|
|
|
6,920
|
|
Changes in extensions and discoveries
|
|
|
12,590
|
|
|
|
8,170
|
|
|
|
424
|
|
Revisions of previous quantity estimates
|
|
|
(83,750
|
)
|
|
|
42,586
|
|
|
|
45,556
|
|
Purchase or (sales) of reserves in place
|
|
|
(1,476
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,773
|
|
Accretion discount
|
|
|
16,069
|
|
|
|
13,169
|
|
|
|
9,720
|
|
Other
|
|
|
25,654
|
|
|
|
(12,647
|
)
|
|
|
(20,369
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows related to proved gas reserves
|
|
$
|
89,669
|
|
|
$
|
160,691
|
|
|
$
|
131,687
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15. SUPPLEMENTAL QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2012 Quarters Ended (a)
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
(In 000s)
|
|
Total revenue
|
|
$
|
23,760
|
|
|
$
|
11,812
|
|
|
$
|
6,495
|
|
|
$
|
17,268
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
12,412
|
|
|
|
11,590
|
|
|
|
12,069
|
|
|
|
88,168
|
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
3,941
|
|
|
|
3,791
|
|
|
|
4,076
|
|
|
|
4,252
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
5,885
|
|
|
$
|
(5,010
|
)
|
|
$
|
(11,163
|
)
|
|
$
|
(76,255
|
)
|
Earnings (loss) per unitBasic
|
|
$
|
0.24
|
|
|
$
|
(0.21
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.46
|
)
|
|
$
|
(3.15
|
)
|
Earnings (loss) per unitDiluted
|
|
$
|
0.24
|
|
|
$
|
(0.21
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.46
|
)
|
|
$
|
(3.15
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
2011 Quarters Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
(In 000s)
|
|
Total revenue
|
|
$
|
15,804
|
|
|
$
|
24,424
|
|
|
$
|
31,443
|
|
|
$
|
33,546
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
14,808
|
|
|
|
13,937
|
|
|
|
16,818
|
|
|
|
13,471
|
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
4,223
|
|
|
|
4,012
|
|
|
|
4,548
|
|
|
|
3,816
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(5,152
|
)
|
|
$
|
2,467
|
|
|
$
|
7,144
|
|
|
$
|
15,127
|
|
Earnings (loss) per unitBasic
|
|
$
|
(0.21
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
|
$
|
0.29
|
|
|
$
|
0.62
|
|
Earnings (loss) per unitDiluted
|
|
$
|
(0.21
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
|
$
|
0.29
|
|
|
$
|
0.62
|
|
100
16. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The following subsequent events have occurred between January 1, 2013 and March 8, 2013:
Distribution
Our
board of managers has suspended the quarterly distribution to our unitholders for the quarter ended December 31, 2012, which continues the temporary suspension we first announced in June 2009.
Members Equity
2013 Equity
At March 8, 2013, we had 484,505 Class A units and
23,740,730 Class B common units outstanding, which included 44,644 unvested restricted common units issued under our Long-Term Incentive Plan and 350,804 unvested restricted common units issued under our 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan.
At March 8, 2013, we had granted 347,603 common units of the 450,000 common units available under our Long-Term
Incentive Plan. Of these grants, 302,959 have vested. We also granted an additional 76,046 performance units under our Long-Term Incentive Plan. Of these grants, all 76,046 have vested.
At March 8, 2013, we had granted 1,368,749 common units of the 1,650,000 common units available under our 2009 Omnibus Incentive
Compensation Plan. Of these grants, 1,107,945 have vested. We also granted an additional 323,194 performance units under our 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan. Of these grants, all 323,194 have vested.
At March 8, 2013, 140,217 common units have been tendered by our employees for tax withholding purposes. These units, costing
approximately $0.2 million, have been returned to their respective plan and are available for future grants.
Asset Sale
On January 31, 2013, our Board of Managers authorized the sale of the two entities that own all our
natural gas properties and inventory in the Robinsons Bend Field in the Black Warrior Basin of Alabama for $63.0 million, subject to closing adjustments. On February 28, 2013, we sold all of our operations in Alabama, including our
interests in 596 operated natural gas wells and all of our inventory and equipment for approximately $60.0 million in net cash proceeds, subject to additional post-closing working capital and other customary adjustments to be determined in the
second quarter of 2013. Of this amount, approximately $1.2 million will be held in escrow for a period of twenty-four months pending certain closing conditions and $50.0 million will be used to reduce our outstanding debt under our reserve-based
credit facility. In the first quarter of 2013, we will reflect the historical assets and earnings of the asset group held by Robinsons Bend Operating II, LLC and Robinsons Bend Production II, LLC as discontinued operations using the
guidance contained in
ASC 205-20 Presentation of Financial StatementsDiscontinued Operations
and
ASC 360-10-45-13 Change in Classification After Balance Sheet Date but Before Issuance of
Financial Statements
. We expect that the loss on sale reported in discontinued operations in the first quarter of 2013 for the sale of the Robinsons Bend Field in the Black Warrior Basin of Alabama will reflect our incurred
transaction costs and other post-closing working capital and customary adjustments. The Board of Managers authorized this sale in part to use the funds to reduce our outstanding indebtedness. The carrying value of this asset group as of
December 31, 2012, was approximately $59.9 million.
Reserve-Based Credit Facility
On February 8, 2013, we executed a third amendment to our $350.0 million reserve-based credit facility with The Royal Bank of
Scotland plc as administrative agent and a syndicate of lenders extending its maturity date to March 31, 2014. This extension was contingent upon our sale of our natural gas properties in the Robinsons Bend Field in the Black Warrior
Basin of Alabama. Borrowings under the reserve-based credit facility are secured by various mortgages of oil and natural gas properties that we and certain of our subsidiaries own as well as various security and pledge agreements among us and
certain of our subsidiaries and the administrative agent. The amount available for borrowing at any one time under the reserve-based credit facility is limited to the borrowing base for our oil and natural gas properties. As of March 8, 2013,
borrowings under our reserve-based credit facility are $34.0 million and our borrowing base was $37.5 million. Due to the extension to March 31, 2014 of our reserve-based credit facility, we have classified $34.0 million of our outstanding
borrowings at December 31, 2012 as non-current. This reserve-based credit facility must be renewed or replaced prior to its maturity on March 31, 2014. The amount of debt we have outstanding on March 31, 2013, will become a current
liability. We currently anticipate that we will extend or refinance our existing reserve-based credit facility in the early part of 2013.
Borrowings under the reserve-based credit facility are available for acquisition, exploration, operation and maintenance of oil and natural gas properties, payment of expenses incurred in connection with
the reserve-based credit facility, working capital and general limited liability company purposes. The reserve-based credit facility has a sub-limit of $20.0 million which may be used for the issuance of letters of credit. As of March 8, 2013,
no letters of credit are outstanding.
101
There are no other changes to the interest rates, covenants definitions or other terms of
our reserve-based credit facility as a result of this amendment.
On March 8, 2013, we executed a fourth amendment to our
$350.0 million reserve-based credit facility with The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as administrative agent and a syndicate of lenders to clarify the definition of Debt in Section 1.02 of the agreement. There are no other changes to
the interest rates, covenants, definitions or other terms of our reserve-based credit facility as a result of this amendment.
Funds Available for Borrowing
In January 2013, we borrowed approximately $0.2 million under our reserve-based credit facility for short-term working capital purposes. The proceeds were used for working capital purposes and were repaid
on February 26, 2013.
As of March 8, 2013, we had $34.0 million in outstanding debt under our reserve-based credit
facility and $3.5 million in remaining borrowing capacity.
Derivative and Financial Instruments
In January 2013, we amended a 2014 to 2015 oil trade with one of our hedge counterparties to lower the stated swap price from $98.10 to
$93.50, on a total of 58,157 barrels of oil. We received proceeds of approximately $0.2 million upon execution of the amendment. The proceeds were used for working capital purposes.
In March 2013, after we reduced our outstanding debt on our reserve based credit facility to $34.0 million, we reduced our outstanding
interest rate swaps that fix our LIBOR rate through 2014 to $30 million at a cost of $2.1 million.
In March 2013, in
connection with the sale of our Robinsons Bend Field in the Black Warrior Basin of Alabama, we liquidated 395,218 Mmbtu of NYMEX swaps in 2013 and 1,634,530 Mmbtu of NYMEX swaps in 2014 at a cost of $0.3 million. In addition, we reduced our
outstanding NYMEX swap positions in 2013 by 1,041,814 Mmbtu by executing offsetting trades with our counterparties at a fixed price of $3.662. These transactions ensure that our outstanding derivative positions in future periods are lower than our
expected future natural gas production in those periods.
102
SIGNATU
RES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Constellation Energy Partners LLC, the
Registrant, has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONSTELLATION ENERGY PARTNERS LLC
(
REGISTRANT
)
|
|
|
|
Date: March 8, 2013
|
|
By
|
|
/
S
/ S
TEPHEN
R. B
RUNNER
|
|
|
|
|
Stephen R. Brunner
Chief Executive
Officer, Chief Operating Officer and
President
|
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by
the following persons on behalf of Constellation Energy Partners LLC, the Registrant, and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
Principal executive officer:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By
|
|
/s/ S
TEPHEN
R. B
RUNNER
|
|
Chief Executive Officer, Chief
|
|
March 8, 2013
|
|
|
Stephen R. Brunner
|
|
Operating Officer and President
|
|
|
|
|
|
Principal financial officer and treasurer:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By
|
|
/s/ C
HARLES
C. W
ARD
|
|
Chief Financial Officer and
|
|
March 8, 2013
|
|
|
Charles C. Ward
|
|
Treasurer
|
|
|
|
|
|
Principal accounting officer:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By
|
|
/s/ M
ICHAEL
B. H
INEY
|
|
Chief Accounting Officer and Controller
|
|
March 8, 2013
|
|
|
Michael B. Hiney
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Managers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ R
ICHARD
H. B
ACHMANN
|
|
Manager
|
|
March 8, 2013
|
|
|
Richard H. Bachmann
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ J
OHN
R. C
OLLINS
|
|
Manager
|
|
March 8, 2013
|
|
|
John R. Collins
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ R
ICHARD
S. L
ANGDON
|
|
Manager
|
|
March 8, 2013
|
|
|
Richard S. Langdon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Gary M. Pittman
|
|
Manager
|
|
March 8, 2013
|
|
|
Gary M. Pittman
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ J
OHN
N. S
EITZ
|
|
Manager
|
|
March 8, 2013
|
|
|
John N. Seitz
|
|
|
|
|
103
EXHIBIT INDEX
|
|
|
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
|
|
|
2.1
|
|
Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of March 8, 2007, between EnergyQuest Resources, L.P., Oklahoma Processing EQR, LLC and Constellation Energy Partners LLC
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on April 24, 2007, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
2.2
|
|
Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of March 8, 2007, between EnergyQuest Resources, L.P., Oklahoma Processing EQR, LLC, Kansas Production EQR, LLC and Kansas
Processing EQR, LLC and Constellation Energy Partners LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on April 24, 2007, File
No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
2.3
|
|
Agreement of Merger, dated as of July 12, 2007, among AMVEST Osage, Inc., AMVEST Oil & Gas, Inc. and CEP Mid-Continent LLC, f/k/a CEP Cherokee Basin LLC (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on July 26, 2007, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
2.4
|
|
Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2007, between Newfield Exploration Mid-Continent Inc. and Constellation Energy Partners LLC (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on September 26, 2007, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
2.5
|
|
Nominee Agreement, dated as of September 21, 2007, by and between Newfield Exploration Mid-Continent Inc. and CEP Mid-Continent LLC (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 2.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on September 26, 2007).
|
|
|
2.6
|
|
Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of May 12, 2005, by and among Everlast Energy LLC, RB Marketing Company LLC, Robinsons Bend Operating Company LLC and
CBM Equity IV, LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-134995) filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on September 29, 2006.
|
|
|
2.7
|
|
Agreement for Purchase and Sale, dated as of February 19, 2008, among CoLa Resources LLC and CEP Mid-Continent LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the
Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on April 3, 2008, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
2.8
|
|
First Amendment to Agreement for Purchase and Sale, dated as of March 31, 2008, among CoLa Resources LLC and CEP Mid-Continent LLC (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 2.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on April 3, 2008, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
2.9
|
|
Oil and Gas Purchase Contract, dated as of October 1, 1993, by and between Torch Energy Marketing, Inc. and Torch Royalty Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.5 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on June 29, 2006, File No. 333-134995).
|
|
|
2.10
|
|
Membership Interest Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated February 1, 2013 between Constellation Energy Partners LLC and Constellation Commodities Upstream LLC (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report and Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on February 4, 2013, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
3.1
|
|
Certificate of Formation of Constellation Energy Partners LLC, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by
Constellation Energy Partners LLC on March 12, 2007, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
3.2
|
|
Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Constellation Energy Partners LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed
by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on November 28, 2006, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
3.3
|
|
Amendment No. 1 to Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Constellation Energy Partners LLC, dated as of April 23, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on April 24, 2007, File No. 001-33147).
|
104
|
|
|
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
|
|
|
3.4
|
|
Amendment No. 2 to Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Constellation Energy Partners LLC, dated as of July 25, 2007. (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on July 26, 2007, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
3.5
|
|
Amendment No. 3 to Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Constellation Energy Partners LLC, dated as of September 21, 2007 (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on September 26, 2007, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
3.6
|
|
Amendment No. 4 to Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Constellation Energy Partners LLC, dated as of December 28, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on December 28, 2007, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.1
|
|
Omnibus Agreement, dated as of November 20, 2006, among Constellation Energy Partners LLC, Constellation Energy Commodities Group, Inc., Robinsons Bend Production
II, LLC, Robinsons Bend Operating II, LLC and Robinsons Bend Marketing II, LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on November 28, 2006, File
No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.2
|
|
$350,000,000 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 13, 2009, among Constellation Energy Partners LLC, as borrower, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as
administrative agent, RBS Securities Inc., as joint lead arranger and sole book runner, The Bank of Nova Scotia, as joint lead arranger and co-syndication agent, BNP Paribas, as joint lead arranger and co-syndication agent, and the lenders party
hereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on November 16, 2009, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.3
|
|
First Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 11, 2010, by and among Constellation Energy Partners LLC and the lenders signatory thereto
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on February 25, 2010, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.4
|
|
Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, effective as of June 3, 2011, by and among Constellation Energy Partners LLC, the lenders signatory thereto and The
Royal Bank of Scotland plc (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on June 3, 2011, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.5
|
|
Trademark License Agreement, dated as of November 20, 2006, by and among Constellation Energy Group, Inc. and Constellation Energy Partners LLC (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on November 28, 2006, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.6
|
|
Exploration and Development Agreement, dated July 25, 2005, by and between The Osage Nation and AMVEST Osage, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on February 27, 2009, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.7
|
|
Substituted and Replaced First Amendment to the Exploration and Development Agreement, dated October 18, 2006, by and between The Osage Nation and AMVEST Osage, Inc.
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on February 27, 2009, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.8
|
|
Assignment, Assumption and Ratification Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2007, by and between AMVEST Osage, Inc. and CEP Mid-Continent LLC (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.25 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on February 27, 2009, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.9
|
|
Water Gathering and Disposal Agreement, dated as of August 9, 1990, by and between Torch Energy Associates Ltd. and Valasco Gas Company Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 10.17 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on March 4, 2008, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.10
|
|
First Amendment to Water Gathering and Disposal Agreement, dated as of October 1, 1993, by and between Torch Energy Associates Ltd. and Valasco Gas Company Ltd. (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on March 4, 2008, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.11
|
|
Second Amendment to Water Gathering and Disposal Agreement, dated as of November 30, 2004, by and between Robinsons Bend Operating Company, LLC and Everlast Energy
LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on March 4, 2008, File No. 001-33147).
|
105
|
|
|
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
|
|
|
10.12
|
|
Third Amendment, dated June 13, 2011, to Water Gathering and Disposal Agreement dated November 30, 2004, by and between Robinsons Bend Operating II, LLC, Robinsons
Bend Production II, LLC and Torch Energy Associates Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on June 15, 2011, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.13
|
|
Settlement and Release Agreement, effective as of June 13, 2011, by and among Trust Venture Company, LLC, Trust Acquisition Company, LLC, Wilmington Trust Company,
Constellation Energy Partners LLC, Robinsons Bend Production II, LLC and Robinsons Bend Operating II, LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on
June 15, 2011, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.14
|
|
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated April 5, 2012, by and between CEP Services Company, Inc. and Stephen R. Brunner (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on April 6, 2012, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.15
|
|
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated April 5, 2012, by and between CEP Services Company, Inc. and Charles C. Ward (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2
to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on April 6, 2012, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.16
|
|
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated April 5, 2012, by and between CEP Services Company, Inc. and Lisa J. Mellencamp (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on April 6, 2012, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.17
|
|
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated April 5, 2012, by and between CEP Services Company, Inc. and Michael B. Hiney (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on April 6, 2012, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.18
|
|
Constellation Energy Partners LLC Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation
Energy Partners LLC on November 20, 2006, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.19
|
|
Constellation Energy Partners LLC 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A to the Proxy Statement filed by Constellation Energy
Partners LLC on October 22, 2009, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.20
|
|
Form of Grant Agreement Relating to Notional Units with DERsExecutives (under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.9 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on May 4, 2009, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.21
|
|
Form of Grant Agreement Relating to Notional Units with DERsIndependent Managers (under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan) (incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 10.10 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on May 4, 2009, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.22
|
|
Form of Grant Agreement Relating to Restricted UnitsExecutives (under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on March 3, 2010, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.23
|
|
Form of Amended and Restated Grant Agreement Relating to Unit-Based AwardsExecutives (under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan) (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on August 5, 2011, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.24
|
|
Amendment to Amended and Restated Grant Agreement Relating to Unit-Based Awards-Executives (under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan) (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on May 10, 2012, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.25
|
|
Form of Grant Agreement Relating to Restricted UnitsIndependent Managers (under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan) (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.30 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on February 25, 2010, File No. 001-33147).
|
106
|
|
|
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
|
|
|
+10.26
|
|
Form of Grant Agreement Relating to 2012 Performance AwardExecutives (Units) (under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Corporation Plan) (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on June 5, 2012, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.27
|
|
Form of Grant Agreement Relating to 2012 Performance AwardExecutives (Cash) (under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Corporation Plan) (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on June 5, 2012, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
+10.28
|
|
Amendment to Grant Agreement Relating to 2012 Performance Award Executives (Units) (under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan) (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by Constellation Energy Partners LLC on August 9, 2012, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
10.29
|
|
Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of February 8, 2013, among Constellation Energy Partners LLC, as borrower, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as
administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 12, 2013, File No. 001-33147).
|
|
|
*10.30
|
|
Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 8, 2013, among Constellation Energy Partners LLC, as borrower, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as
administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto.
|
|
|
|
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
|
|
|
*12.1
|
|
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
|
|
|
*21.1
|
|
List of subsidiaries of Constellation Energy Partners LLC.
|
|
|
*23.1
|
|
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
|
|
|
*23.2
|
|
Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.
|
|
|
*31.1
|
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and President of Constellation Energy Partners LLC pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
|
|
*31.2
|
|
Certification of Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Constellation Energy Partners LLC pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
|
*32.1
|
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and President of Constellation Energy Partners LLC pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant
to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
|
*32.2
|
|
Certification of Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Constellation Energy Partners LLC pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
|
*99.1
|
|
Report of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.
|
|
|
*99.2
|
|
Unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information.
|
|
|
**101.INS
|
|
XRBL Instance Document
|
|
|
**101.SCH
|
|
XRBL Schema Document
|
|
|
**101.CAL
|
|
XRBL Calculation Linkbase Document
|
|
|
**101.LAB
|
|
XRBL Label Linkbase Document
|
|
|
**101.PRE
|
|
XRBL Presentation Linkbase Document
|
|
|
**101.DEF
|
|
XRBL Definition Linkbase Document
|
+
|
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
|
107
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