SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
Amendment
No.1
FORM
10-QSB/A
QUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT
OF
1934
For the
quarterly period ended: DECEMBER 31, 2006
Commission
File No. 000-19566
EARTH
SEARCH SCIENCES, INC.
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
|
UTAH
|
|
87-0437723
|
|
|
(State
or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
|
|
(IRS
Employer ID)
|
|
306 STONER LOOP ROAD,
LAKESIDE, MT 59922
(Address
of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)
Registrant's
telephone number, including area code: (406) 751-5200
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 and 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
requirement for the past 90 days. Yes
T
No
£
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
£
No
T
The number of
shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of common
stock, as of December 31, 2006, covered by this report: 81,286,723
shares. The
registrant has only one class of common stock.
Transitional
Small Business Disclosure Format (check
one): Yes
£
No
T
EXPLANATORY
NOTE
This
Amendment No.1 to Form 10QSB (“Amendment”) is filed to correct certain
disclosures. The “Consolidated Statements of Operations” on page 4
has been revised. Revised disclosures regarding the capital
lease obligation with Accuprobe pursuant to which the Registrant continues to
accrue liabilities may be found on page 6 under the heading “Note 3 –
Litigation” and on page 15 under the heading
“Litigation”.
EARTH
SEARCH SCIENCES, INC.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
FORM
10-QSB
QUARTER
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006
PART I
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
ITEM
1.
|
|
CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
PAGE
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2006and March 31, 2006
(unaudited)
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended December 31,
2006 and 2005 (unaudited)
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended December 31, 2006 and
2005 (unaudited)
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selected
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
|
6-7
|
|
|
|
|
|
ITEM
2.
|
|
MANAGEMENT'S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
|
|
7-13
|
|
|
|
|
|
ITEM
3.
|
|
CONTROLS
AND PROCEDURES
|
|
14
|
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
REQUIRED
Item
1.
|
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
|
14
|
Item
2.
|
|
Changes
in Securities
|
|
14
|
Item
3.
|
|
Defaults
Upon Senior Securities
|
|
14
|
Item
4.
|
|
Submission
of Matters of a Vote of Security Holders
|
|
14
|
Item
5.
|
|
Other
information
|
|
14
|
Item
6.
|
|
Exhibits
and Reports on Form 8-K
|
|
14
|
Earth
Search Sciences, Inc.
Consolidated
Balance Sheets (Unuadited)
|
|
December 31,
2006
|
|
|
March 31,
2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
$
|
31,187
|
|
|
$
|
40,900
|
|
Accounts
receivable, net of $0 allowance for doubtful
accounts
|
|
|
132
|
|
|
|
16,971
|
|
Loan
costs, net of $364,333 and $227,075 accumulated
amortization
|
|
|
29,311
|
|
|
|
166,569
|
|
Total
current assets
|
|
|
60,630
|
|
|
|
224,440
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property
and equipment, net of $806,246 and $735,635 accumulated
depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
334,820
|
|
|
|
413,793
|
|
TOTAL
ASSETS
|
|
$
|
395,450
|
|
|
$
|
638,233
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
portion of notes payable
|
|
$
|
843,947
|
|
|
$
|
880,934
|
|
Settlement
obligation
|
|
|
4,630,489
|
|
|
|
2,820,099
|
|
Accrued
officers' compensation
|
|
|
1,086,900
|
|
|
|
907,983
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
|
11,644,896
|
|
|
|
11,641,757
|
|
Accrued
payroll & payroll taxes
|
|
|
246,455
|
|
|
|
179,890
|
|
Due
to related parties
|
|
|
2,709,209
|
|
|
|
2,368,509
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
current liabilities
|
|
|
21,161,896
|
|
|
|
18,799,172
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long
Term Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes
payable less current portion
|
|
|
337,283
|
|
|
|
349,303
|
|
Total
liabilities
|
|
$
|
21,499,179
|
|
|
$
|
19,148,475
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments
and contingencies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders'
deficit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Series
A preferred stock; 200,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding;
liquidation preference $1,000,000
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Common
stock, $.001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 81,286,723 and
77,697,642 shares, issued and outstanding
|
|
|
81,287
|
|
|
|
77,698
|
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
|
|
44,321,812
|
|
|
|
43,495,841
|
|
Treasury
stock
|
|
|
(200,000
|
)
|
|
|
(200,000
|
)
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
|
|
(65,306,828
|
)
|
|
|
(61,883,781
|
)
|
Total
stockholders' deficit
|
|
|
(21,103,729
|
)
|
|
|
(18,510,242
|
)
|
TOTAL
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
|
|
$
|
395,450
|
|
|
$
|
638,233
|
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
Earth
Search Sciences, Inc.
Consolidated
Statement of Operations (unaudited)
|
|
Three
Months
|
|
|
Nine
Months
|
|
|
|
Ended
December 31,
|
|
|
Ended
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
116,699
|
|
|
$
|
91,429
|
|
|
$
|
388,365
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General
and administrative
|
|
|
(847,399
|
)
|
|
|
(349,414
|
)
|
|
|
(2,964,580
|
)
|
|
|
(1,241,545
|
)
|
Depreciation
and Amortization Expense
|
|
|
(27,048
|
)
|
|
|
(13,352
|
)
|
|
|
(78,973
|
)
|
|
|
(120,169
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss
from operations
|
|
|
(874,447
|
)
|
|
|
(246,067
|
)
|
|
|
(2,952,124
|
)
|
|
|
(973,349
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
income (expense)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
(46,474
|
)
|
|
|
(148,950
|
)
|
|
|
(470,923
|
)
|
|
|
(437,241
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
$
|
(920,921
|
)
|
|
$
|
(395,017
|
)
|
|
$
|
(3,423,047
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,410,590
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
and diluted loss per share
|
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.04
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average common
|
|
|
81,281,201
|
|
|
|
75,696,817
|
|
|
|
80,574,567
|
|
|
|
74,724,184
|
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
Earth
Search Sciences, Inc.
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)
|
|
Nine
Months
|
|
|
|
Ended
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
$
|
(3,423,047
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,410,590
|
)
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation,
amortization and depletion
|
|
|
78,973
|
|
|
|
93,027
|
|
Amortization
of deferred loan costs
|
|
|
137,258
|
|
|
|
219,476
|
|
Common
stock for services and interest expense
|
|
|
753,833
|
|
|
|
473,825
|
|
Common
stock for debt
|
|
|
75,727
|
|
|
|
9,600
|
|
Warrants
for services
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
17,182
|
|
Changes
in assets and liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
receivable and other current assets
|
|
|
16,839
|
|
|
|
(18,315
|
)
|
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
|
|
1,859,048
|
|
|
|
89,274
|
|
Accounts
payable to related parties
|
|
|
340,700
|
|
|
|
100,607
|
|
Accrued
interest
|
|
|
21,046
|
|
|
|
169,502
|
|
Deferred
officers' compensation
|
|
|
178,917
|
|
|
|
180,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
cash provided by (used in) operating activities
|
|
|
39,294
|
|
|
|
(76,412
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds
from shareholder loans, net
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
72,014
|
|
Proceeds
from sale of stock
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
62,500
|
|
Repayments
on notes payable
|
|
|
(49,007
|
)
|
|
|
(30,680
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
cash provided by (used in) financing activities
|
|
|
(49,007
|
)
|
|
|
103,834
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
increase (decrease) in cash
|
|
|
(9,713
|
)
|
|
|
27,422
|
|
Cash
at beginning of period
|
|
|
40,900
|
|
|
|
9,175
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
at end of period
|
|
$
|
31,187
|
|
|
$
|
36,597
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
disclosures:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
taxes paid
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Interest
paid
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-cash
financing and investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
Stock issued for loan extension
|
|
$
|
72,000
|
|
|
$
|
123,726
|
|
Warrants
for loan extension
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
92,494
|
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
EARTH
SEARCH SCIENCES, INC
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 -
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The
accompanying unaudited interim financial statements of Earth Search Sciences,
Inc. ("ESSI") have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America and the rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and should be read in conjunction
with the audited financial statements and notes thereto contained in ESSI's
Annual Report filed with the SEC on Form 10-KSB. In the opinion of
management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments,
necessary for a fair presentation of financial position and the results of
operations for the interim periods presented have been reflected
herein. The results of operations for the interim periods are not
necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full
year. Notes to the financial statements which would substantially
duplicate the disclosure contained in the audited financial statements for 2006
as reported in the 10-KSB have been omitted.
Certain
prior period amounts have been reclassified to confirm with current year
presentation.
NOTE 2 -
EQUITY
During
the quarter ended June 30, 2006:
|
-
|
ESSI
issued 1,553,561 common shares valued at market of $533,326 to various
individuals for consulting
services.
|
|
-
|
ESSI
issued 400,000 common shares to a debtor for a loan extension to September
15, 2006. The shares were valued at market of
$72,000.
|
During
the quarter ended September 30, 2006:
|
-
|
ESSI
issued 485,333 common shares valued at market of $140,745 to various
individuals for consulting
services.
|
|
-
|
ESSI
issued 375,000 common shares valued at market of $75,000 to an individual
that elected to convert a promissory note with right of
conversion.
|
During
the quarter ended December 31, 2006:
|
-
|
ESSI
issued 45,682 common shares valued at market of $7,766 to an individual
for consulting services.
|
NOTE 3 -
LITIGATION
ESSI was
in dispute with another party over a leaseback purchase agreement for a
Hyperspectral Probe. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005, both
parties signed a mutual release in which ESSI was to return the Probe and ESSI
would be released of amounts owed to the other party as of the date the Probe is
returned. ESSI agreed to return the Probe at the end of August 2005;
however, as of December 31, 2006, ESSI has not returned the Probe. As
a result, ESSI is in default, and based on the terms of the settlement
agreement, ESSI is obligated to pay significant late fees. Based on
the terms of the settlement agreement, as of December 31, 2006, management
estimates the settlement obligation to be $4,630,489. The estimated
settlement obligation increased $1,811,389 to $4,630,570 at December 31, 2006,
compared to $2,820,099 at March 31, 2006. The increase is related to
interest expense of $20,964, rent expense of $187,500 and late fees of
$1,602,925, which are reflected as interest expense and general and
administrative in our statement of operations for the six months ended December
31, 2006. As of December 31, 2006, management has recognized an
accrual for the estimated obligation.
NOTE 4 -
GOING CONCERN
As shown
in the accompanying financial statements, ESSI incurred recurring net losses of
$3,423,047 and $1,410,590 for the nine-month periods ended December 31, 2006 and
2005, respectively and has an accumulated deficit of $65,306,828 and a working
capital deficit of $21,101,266 as of December 31, 2006. These
conditions raise substantial doubt as to ESSI's ability to continue as a going
concern. Management is trying to raise additional capital through
sales of stock. The financial statements do not include any
adjustments that might be necessary if ESSI is unable to continue as a going
concern.
MANAGEMENT'S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
CORPORATE
FOCUS
In
December, 1985 the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of common
stock of a privately held company known as Earth Search Sciences, Inc. (ESSI), a
Utah corporation formed on August 29, 1985. The Company issued
13,639,600 shares of its common stock in exchange for ESSI's outstanding
shares. This merger was a reverse acquisition and accounted for as a
pooling of interests. Accordingly, the assets and liabilities of the two
companies were combined at their recorded net book values. ESSI's
principal assets were unpatented mining claims in Alaska that were acquired from
ESSI's incorporators at a cost of $126,715. ESSI's operations were
the continuing operations of the Company, and ESSI was the entity which had
substance and control both before and after the merger.
In
August, 1987 the Company changed its name to Earth Search Sciences, Inc. and in
November, 1987 ESSI was dissolved.
ESSI has
four wholly-owned subsidiaries: Skywatch Exploration, Inc., Polyspectrum
Imaging, Inc., Geoprobe, Inc., and STDC, Inc. In addition, there are five
majority-owned consolidated subsidiaries: Earth Search Resources, Inc., Eco
Probe, Inc., ESSI Probe 1 LC, Petro Probe, Inc. and Terranet, Inc. The 50% owned
subsidiary ESSI Probe 1 LC was formed as a joint venture to own and operate
hyperspectral instruments. All subsidiaries except Petro Probe were inactive
during fiscal 2006 and 2007.
The
Company utilizes an aircraft mounted hyperspectral remote sensing instrument to
gather precise geological data from the surface of the Earth. Solar energy is
reflected from surface materials and the instrument, called "Probe-1", captures
the data in digital form. The Probe-1 is a "whiskbroom style" instrument that
collects data in a cross-track direction by mechanical scanning and in an
along-track direction by movement of the airborne platform. The instrument acts
as an imaging spectrometer in the reflected solar region of the electromagnetic
spectrum (0.4 to 2.5 nm). In the VNIR and SWIR, the at-sensor radiance is
dispersed by four spectrographs onto four detector arrays. Spectral coverage is
nearly continuous in these regions with small gaps in the middle of the 1.4 and
1.9 nm atmospheric water bands. In order to avoid geometric distortions in the
recorded imagery, the Probe-1 is mounted on a 3 axis, gyro-stabilized mount.
Geolocation of nadir pixels is assisted by the recording of aircraft GPS
positional data and tagging each scan line with a time that is referenced to the
UTC time interrupts from the GPS receiver.
The
spectral data is processed to identify unique spectra in the image. The captured
and processed spectra are compared to a library of known material spectra called
"digital fingerprints" and the output allows the identification of mineral,
compounds and organic matter and the determination of vegetative
conditions.
In the
fiscal years from 2004 to 2006 the Company's sensors were operated in the United
States and abroad. Contracts to operate the sensors in the United
States as an ecological, mining, agricultural, and hydrocarbon target
identification tool produced revenues of $302,901, $192,297 and $258,843, to
revenue in fiscal 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively.
In 1997
the Company began a two year contract with Noranda Minerals Inc. to provide
hyperspectral remote sensing data over multi-continents The agreements called
for a series of flights for Noranda Mining and Exploration Inc. and its
affiliates including Falconbridge Limited (collectively, the "Noranda Group").
The agreements provided the Noranda Group with an exclusive license to use the
instruments for commercial mining exploration, as long as the Noranda Group
continued to purchase remote sensing services from the Company in certain
specified quantities. The Company was entitled to receive
fees for services and net smelter royalties or net profit interest royalties
from certain discoveries by the Noranda Group. The licensing agreement with the
Noranda Group provided a $1,000,000 equity investment in ESSI by way of 200,000
preferred shares, convertible into 1,000,000 shares of common stock and an
option to purchase 1,000,000 shares of ESSI common stock at a price of $2.00 per
share. Targets were flown in Chile, Peru and the North West Territories in
Canada.
Since
1997, the Company has also collected and holds a substantial archive of Probe 1
imagery from Kazakhstan, Australia, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Chile,
Mexico, California, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, and Utah. At the
present time the value of this data archive has not been independently appraised
nor is the value of this archive reflected in the financial statements.
Various
industry contacts allowed the Company to expand rapidly.
The
Company concluded a memorandum of agreement with Boeing that included the use of
a unique Boeing aircraft possessing exceptional slow flight characteristics to
be used in a variety of applications, the first being the flight over
Yellowstone National Park as part of a NASA/Yellowstone Ecosystems Studies
(Y.E.S.) project utilizing ESSI's Probe 1 hyperspectral imaging technology to
collect one meter data to be utilized in addressing riparian
issues. Several test flights were performed during the period using
the Probe 1 technology onboard a Boeing heliocourier aircraft.
The
Company collected hyperspectral data for the Geosat Committee. The Geosat
committee was funded from contribution by major U.S. resource
companies. The Committee was operated by the University of Texas at
El Paso under Director, Dr. Rebecca Dodge. The project completed for
the Geosat's "Hyperspectal Group Shoot" provided Probe 1 hyperspectral imagery
to the oil and minerals exploration, environmental assessment, and agriculture
end-user community, for an evaluation by these communities of its application
potential.
The
Company teamed with the University of Idaho in a joint proposal to the Farm
Bureau and won a contract to overfly the Snake River Basin (Hell's
Canyon). The Company also collected hyperspectral data for the
control and eradication of noxious weed intrusion. The test results
were published and initial results proved that airborne hyperspectral
imagery is a useful tool for control of weeds, as well as providing information
regarding economic indicators pertaining to forecasting crop yield
The
Company collected hyperspectral data for Desert Research Institute ("DRI") in
the Kelso Dunes area in southeastern California. The project
completed for DRI was to detect change in arid vegetation cover using
Hyperspectral data in the region known as the Providence
Mountains. Detection of disturbance in these regions would aid in
assessment of ecosystem status and global climate change. The remote sensing
data combined with ground measurements examined spectral changes occurring
concurrently with observed changes in percent green cover.
The
Company co-operated with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International organization
to utilize hyperspectral remote sensing in a unique project to examine the
detail of vegetation in the
gorillas'
habitat in the jungles of Rwanda. Hyperspectral imagery revealed the
abundance and distribution of the gorillas' principal foods in the Virungas.
This information was used to determine the number of gorillas the habitat can
support. National Geographic Explorer chronicled the mission in a television
documentary that was subsequently played on numerous following
dates.
In 1999
the company was approached by the US Navy to participate in a joint venture to
acquire ownership of a proposed remote sensing satellite. Under the direction of
Office of Naval Research's Naval Space Science and Technology Program Office,
the Naval EarthMap Observer (NEMO) satellite would be capable of meeting the
hyperspectral and panchromatic needs of many end users with timeliness and
spatial resolution improved over existing commercial systems. The Navy's
environmental models supporting operations in the littoral would be considerably
enhanced by hyperspectral imagery and data products provided by NEMO to improve
knowledge of the littoral environment with information on bathymetry, water
clarity and trafficability.
The ONR
signed an Other Transaction with the Space Technology Development Corporation
(STDC) of Arlington, VA to develop NEMO in conjunction with the Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Dual Use Applications Program (DUAP). DUAP is a
joint program of the Army, Navy, Air Force, DARPA, Director Defense Research and
Engineering (DDR&E), and the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for
International and Commercial Programs. Earth Search Sciences Inc.
subsequently acquired STDC and its prime contractor partner position with the
ONR. The project was to have a cost of approximately $150 million with the
private sector portion approximately one-half of that amount. Earth Search
Sciences Inc. undertook to meet the key funding milestone payments necessary to
ensure progress of the project.
The
Hyperspectral Imager (HSI) would sample over a 30 km swath width with a 60 m
ground sample distance (GSD) with the option to go to 30 m GSD by utilizing the
systems attitude control system to 'nod' (i.e. use a satellite pitch maneuver to
slow down the ground track of the field of view). A 5m panchromatic imager will
provide simultaneous high spatial resolution imagery (black & white
photography). A sun-synchronous circular orbit of 600 km will allow continuous
repeat coverage of the whole earth in 7 days providing hyperspectral data over a
1,000,000 sq. km area each day.
The
combined HSI and panchromatic images would satisfy a number of requirements of
the commercial and science communities for moderate spatial and high spectral
resolution remote sensing data over land and water such as agriculture,
forestry, environmental monitoring , geology/mineralogy, hydrology and land use.
Specific areas of interest for the Navy included bathymetry, water clarity,
currents, oil slicks, bottom type, atmospheric visibility, tides,
bioluminescence, beach characterization, underwater hazards, total column
atmospheric water vapor, and detection and mapping of subvisible
cirrus.
It was
anticipated that NEMO would be launched in early 2002. Its subsequent data flow
would be in the order of 56 gigabytes per day. Much of the commercial
information was to be marketed through Earth Search Sciences Inc.
Under the original agreement with the ONR, STDC
needed to raise private industry funds of approximately
$125,000,000 in order to complete, launch and operate the
hyperspectral imaging satellite and instrument. Subsequent to March
31, 2002, STDC received notification from the ONR that it
would not be giving STDC an extension to the agreement. The payment of
approximately $8,216,424 of STDC accounts payable due subcontractors and vendors
on the NEMO program is being resolved.
These
examples and others indicated the world-wide interest in the technology and a
bright future for the industry and Company. Unfortunately the advent of the
September 11, 2001 tragedy changed the approach of individual countries to the
acceptance of data collection over their borders and an industry-wide slow down
occurred as a result. The commercial interest in developing satellite
technology
also changed as investors decided the risk level had dramatically increased due
to international tensions.
CURRENT
BUSINESS
As a
result of the changes in the market for geological remote sensing data, the
Company changed its strategy from operating as a service provider to
establishing a group of subsidiary companies focused on specific market
applications. Petro Probe, Inc. was a new subsidiary company formed for the oil
& gas industry while Geo Probe, Inc. was formed for mineral
exploration.
The
resurgence of the mining industry and the emphasis for new sources of supply for
oil and gas in recent years created a greater interest in using exploration
tools that were faster and more accurate. The new subsidiary companies would
seek joint ventures with partners who could provide technologies, human and
capital resources to synergize with the Company's assets. This strategy will
lead to the creation of more demand for ESSI's hyperspectral remote sensing
services while providing the company with prospects for more diversified revenue
generation.
The Company experiences the highest demand
for its collection services
April through October in the Northern
Hemisphere and October through April in
the Southern Hemisphere. Contracts are being
sought in the following market segments: mining, hydrocarbon, agriculture,
ecological and environmental monitoring. With the advent of the world-wide
recognition for control of global-warming issues the Company will commence the
development of an environmentally focused marketing plan to portray the
advantages of airborne hyperspectral remote sensing to these market
segments.
SUBSIDIARY
COMPANIES
Petro
Probe, Inc.'s goal is to develop the competitive advantages of its
resource mapping capability, combine that with
conventional hydrocarbon
exploration tools and then apply
newer value-added technologies to identify good oil and gas
properties.
Geo
Probe, Inc. will use the hyperspectral mapping technology to find new
mineral deposits and monitor the environmental impact of active and
past-producing mines, mills, smelters, refineries and
pipelines. The
Company's mapping agreement with Noranda
Minerals provided the ability to develop and prove these
new approaches to mineral exploration.
Geo Probe
has also attracted potential new alliance partners, Advanced
Exploration Inc. and Geological Business
Inc., two Canadian companies, have discussed the formation of
new exploration and mine development business
with the Company. Further discussions are forthcoming.
Eco
Probe, Inc. was formed to pursue hyperspectral remote sensing applications in
the environmental industry. The Company has strived to take an
industrial leadership
role in working with U.S. government agencies such as the
Environmental Protection Agency, the Bureau of Land Management and the Office of
Surface Mining on setting up applications for commercial monitoring of
mineral industries, forest inventory and health issues,
slope stability assessment and
the spread of noxious weeds.
ESSI and
Eco Probe, Inc. have performed important hyperspectral surveys and research in
aquatic and vegetation-related projects. The environmental markets are vast,
however the Company's current lack of resources dictates continued priority be
assigned to mineral and hydrocarbon exploration.
The Company
formed Terranet, Inc. to act as a imagery product distribution
conduit and perform as the Company's e-commerce
content provider. Recognizing that
imagery collected today and yesterday
could be sold
repeatedly to multiple end users the Company's
subsidiary company, Terranet, completed the copyright design and testing
of a database and internet
centered marketing system. Terranet anticipates
new joint venture partners to be available when the hyperspectral industry
begins to grow again.
Of the
other ESSI wholly-owned subsidiaries: Skywatch Exploration, Inc., Polyspectrum
Imaging, Inc., and Space Technology Development Corp.are inactive. Of the other
majority-owned consolidated subsidiaries: Earth Search Resources, Inc. and ESSI
Probe 1 LC are inactive.
RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
Historically
ESSI's core business has been focused on collecting and processing airborne
hyperspectral data for the production of detailed surface maps. These maps
indicate the exact chemical and physical characteristics of all the materials
exposed on the surface of the Earth. The Company was one of the early pioneers
in developing the technology globally and has now served a number of clients in
various countries.
The
company realizes that opportunity exists in using the technology to discover
properties for mineral and hydrocarbon exploitation. It was a natural growth
step to create a strategy of developing subsidiary companies in key natural
resource markets wherein exploration discoveries could be maximized by
"in-house" development. The company is currently pursuing these avenues in the
mineral and oil and gas industries
The ESSI
data collection aircraft, a turbo prop Aero Commander, was grounded for repairs
in the summer of 2006. Both engines needed complete overhauls as well as other
FAA required servicing. This interruption in the ability to service
hyperspectral clients was detrimental to the Company's revenues in 2006. It is
expected the aircraft will be fully operational for the 2007
season.
Contracts to operate the sensors in the United
States contributed approximately $302,901, $192,297 and $258,843, to revenue in
fiscal 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively. The
shortened 2006 season limited the work schedule to one major
client.
Although
the Company holds interests in seven oil and gas projects through its subsidiary
company, Petro Probe, Inc., as of September 30, 2006, all such interests were
fully impaired. In Fiscal 2006 and 2005 ESSI incurred unsuccessful oil and gas
properties write-offs of $27,318 and $386,628, respectively. During fiscal 2006
all the wells of ESSI were deemed to provide uneconomical future cash flows.
There are no prospects for new oil and gas contracts from existing properties in
2007.
The
Company recognized revenue of $0 for the three months ended December 31, 2006
compared with $116,699 for the three months ended December 31, 2005. Revenue for
the nine months ended December 31, 2006 was $91,429, compared to revenue of
$388,365 for the corresponding period in 2005. Revenues for both periods
decreased primarily due to inactive operations during fiscal year
2007.
Except
for fractional ownership and several wells on oil and gas producing properties,
ESSI has no other active operations at this time.
General
and administrative expenses were $848,125 for the three months ended December
31, 2006, compared to $349,414 for the corresponding period of 2005. General and
administrative expenses were $2,964,580 for the nine months ended December 31,
2006, compared to $1,241,545 for the corresponding period in 2005.
Interest
expense for the three months ended December 31, 2006 was $46,477, compared to
interest expense of $148,950 for the corresponding period in 2005.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Net cash
used by operating activities was $39,294 for the nine months ended December 31,
2006. Net cash used in operating activities was $76,412 for the nine
months ended December 31, 2005 resulting primarily from a net loss of $1,410,590
net of certain non-cash expenses.
The
Company is experiencing working capital deficiencies because of operating losses
and capital expenditures. The Company and its subsidiaries have operated with
funds received from the sale of common stock, the issuance of notes and
operating revenue. The ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is
dependent upon continued debt or equity financings until or unless the Company
is able to generate cash flows to sustain ongoing operations. The Company plans
to increase the number of revenue producing services through the use of
additional hyperspectral instruments and thereby continue as a going concern.
There can be no assurance that the Company can generate sufficient operating
cash flows or raise the necessary funds to continue as a going
concern.
FUTURE
OPERATIONS
The
Company is actively researching new exploration and exploitation technologies to
complement and integrate with its hyperspectral capabilities.
General
Synfuels International, Inc., (GSI) a Nevada private company, owns the
world-wide proprietary rights, patent, technology, construction plans and
materials and operational capability for a gasification process
recover the oil and gas from oil shale. Petro Probe, Inc. signed a non-exclusive
license agreement with GSI to obtain the use of these rights in a world-wide
territory. PPI will pay a license fee in the amount of Five Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars ($500,000.00) and shall issue to GSI 500,000 fully paid
and non-assessable shares of PPI Common Stock, $.001 par value per
share. PPI also agreed to assign to GSI an overriding net revenue
interest of five and one-half percent (5 %) of the hydrocarbonaceous products
produced by PPI, payable quarterly.
PPI is
examining various oil shale sites in Colorado and Utah for a test plant. Five
acres of premium oil shale land is sought. The test plant is budgeted for
approximately $1.5 million as a first stage development cost. This will prove
the technology. The second and third stages will cost approximately $8 million
more at which time the plant could operate at full capacity. The time line for
completion of all stages is one year.
In its
search for new complementing technologies, PPI encouraged the creation of an
alliance with two other companies in oil shale R&D. Independent Energy
Partners, Inc. (IEP) and Phoenix Wyoming Inc., (PWI) both Colorado private
companies, have their own non-competitive interests in oil shale. IEP owns the
exclusive rights to a broad, patented Geothermic Fuel CellTM (GFC) method, (US
Patent No. 6,684,948 B1-Apparatus and Method For Heating Subterranean Formations
Using Fuel Cells), to economically produce oil and natural gas from
unconventional resources such as oil shale, while producing electricity as a
byproduct. IEP also has acquired the mineral rights on property in
Rio Blanco County, Colorado on some of the richest "Mahogany Zone" oil shale
property in the world, holding an estimated 1.4-2.4 billion barrels of oil. PWI
owns certain proprietary intellectual property and methods designed to bring the
advantages of microwave technology to an oil shale borehole. This alliance
effort is being examined by the parties.
Continuing
its interest to maintain an industry leadership positionin hyperspectral work
ESSI is developing a joint venture with Intellisense Corporation to design and
construct a third generation
hyperspectral
instrument design. This design is proposed in patent pending application
#0050046822 which the Company is negotiating an LOI position for purchase. The
new instrumentation would allow for faster, less expensive and more precise data
collection.
The
capability to design and maintain new technologies is key to the Company's
success in future operations. It will be a vital component to allow continuing
exploration and exploitation of the Earth's natural resources.
The
Company has the knowledge and experience to build on the opportunities being
presented at this time.
Each
subsidiary will focus on a specific sector of commercial remote sensing and have
a management team with relevant skills and expertise. The Company
will provide a license to use the Company's hyperspectral instruments and
processing support. This strategy creates a ready market for the Company, as
well as positioning the Company to receive a royalty from any resource
development that occurs as a result of the subsidiaries' use of the Company's
instruments and technology. Additional capital will be raised for each
subsidiary by means of private placements or public offerings.
The
Company's intent is to create partnerships, strategic alliances, mergers or
acquisitions for the subsidiaries as the most expeditious and cost-effective way
to grow the commercial hyperspectral remote sensing market.
The
Company's near-term plans are to continue pursuing:
|
1.
|
contracts
that produce revenues from the application of remote
sensing;
|
|
2.
|
the
development of additional miniaturized remote sensing instruments and
newer generation airborne instruments to replace the current PROBE-1
model;
|
|
3.
|
the
integration of other advanced technology exploration instruments with
hyperspectral technology to offer clients a "one-stop"
convenience;
|
|
4.
|
the
development of promising mineral, oil and gas
properties;
|
|
5.
|
the
acquisition of licenses or options to new technologies for minerals or oil
and gas production that can assist the company to become a resource
developer and producer as well as an exploration oriented
business.
|
The
company will continue to develop a market for its securities under the new
trading symbol ESSE.
LITIGATION
The
company entered into a civil law suit in the United States District Court for
the Eastern District of Virginia as a plaintiff along with its subsidiary
company, Space Technology Development Corporation. The company charged that The
Boeing Company caused the plaintiffs substantial damages as a direct result of
their breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
ESSI was
in dispute with another party over a leaseback purchase agreement for a
Hyperspectral Probe. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005, both
parties signed a mutual release in which ESSI was to return the Probe and ESSI
would be released of amounts owed to the other party as of the date the Probe is
returned. ESSI agreed to return the Probe at the end of August 2005;
however, as of December 31, 2006, ESSI has not returned the Probe. As
a result, ESSI is in default, and based on the terms of the settlement
agreement, ESSI is obligated to pay significant late fees. Based on
the terms of the settlement agreement, as of December 31, 2006, management
estimates the settlement obligation to be $4,630,570 which reflects a 5% late
fee imputed each month on the outstanding
balance
due. As of December 31, 2006, management has recognized an accrual
for the estimated obligation.
ITEM 3. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The
Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the
participation of the Company's management, including the Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, of
the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure
controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e) as of the end of
the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the
end of the period covered by this report, the Company's disclosure controls and
procedures were not effective. Specifically, the Company's independent auditors
identified deficiencies in controls related to revenue recognition, valuation of
share-based compensation, and recording of accrued expenses associated with the
Company's settlement obligation. The Company intends to take measures to remedy
this situation by working with the auditors and engaging outside advisors to
provide accounting advice and assistance with implementing internal procedures
to ensure that controls and procedures are adequate and effective. These
deficiencies have been reported to the Company's Board of Directors, and the
Company intends to improve and strengthen its controls and procedures. There has
been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred
during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or that
is reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial
reporting.
PART
II
OTHER
INFORMATION REQUIRED
Item
1.
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|
Legal
proceedings
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None
|
Item
2.
|
|
Changes
in securities
|
|
None
|
Item
3.
|
|
Defaults
upon senior securities
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|
None
|
Item
4.
|
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Submission
of matters to a vote of security holders
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None
|
Item
5.
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Other
information
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None
|
Item
6.
|
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Exhibits
attached
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned.
|
|
EARTH
SEARCH SCIENCES, INC.
|
|
|
|
Date: April
21, 2007
|
|
/s/ Larry
F. Vance
|
|
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Larry
F. Vance
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|
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Chief
Executive Officer
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15
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