BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust
Notes to Financial Statements
(Prepared on a modified cash basis)
March 31, 2020
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Formation of the Trust and Organization
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BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust (the “Trust”), a grantor trust, was
created as a Delaware business trust pursuant to a Trust Agreement
dated February 28, 1989 (the “Trust Agreement”) among The
Standard Oil Company (“Standard Oil”), BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc.
(“BP Alaska”), The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, and BNY
Mellon Trust of Delaware (successor to The Bank of New York
(Delaware)), as co-trustee.
Standard Oil and BP Alaska are indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries
of BP p.l.c. (“BP”). On December 15, 2010, The Bank of New
York Mellon resigned as trustee and was replaced by The Bank of New
York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association, as
successor trustee (the “Trustee”).
On February 28, 1989, Standard Oil conveyed an overriding
royalty interest (the “Royalty Interest”) to the Trust. The Trust
was formed for the sole purpose of owning and administering the
Royalty Interest. The Royalty Interest represents the right to
receive a per barrel royalty (the “Per Barrel Royalty”) of 16.4246%
on the lesser of (a) the first 90,000 barrels of the average
actual daily net production of oil and condensate per quarter or
(b) the average actual daily net production of oil and
condensate per quarter from BP Alaska’s working interests as of
February 28, 1989 in the Prudhoe Bay field situated on the
North Slope of Alaska (the “1989 Working Interests”). Trust Unit
holders are subject to the risk that production will be interrupted
or discontinued or fall, on average, below 90,000 barrels per day
in any quarter. BP has guaranteed the performance of BP Alaska of
its payment obligations with respect to the Royalty Interest.
Effective January 1, 2000, BP Alaska and all other Prudhoe Bay
working interest owners cross-assigned interests in the Prudhoe Bay
field pursuant to the Prudhoe Bay Unit Alignment Agreement. BP
Alaska retained all rights, obligations, and liabilities associated
with the Trust.
The trustees of the Trust are The Bank of New York Mellon Trust
Company, N.A. and BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware, a Delaware banking
corporation. BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware serves as co-trustee in order to satisfy certain
requirements of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. The Bank of New
York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. alone is able to exercise the
rights and powers granted to the Trustee in the Trust
Agreement.
The Per Barrel Royalty in effect for any day is equal to the price
of West Texas Intermediate crude oil (the “WTI Price”) for that day
less scheduled Chargeable Costs (adjusted for inflation) and
Production Taxes (based on statutory rates then in effect).
The Trust is passive, with the Trustee having only such powers as
are necessary for the collection and distribution of revenues, the
payment of Trust liabilities, and the protection of
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