UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

ýANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 20192022

or

oTRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from _____ to _____

 

Commission File No. 000-53584

 

Ridgewood Energy Y Fund, LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

26-2417032

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

14 Philips Parkway, Montvale, NJ07645

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

(800) (800) 942-5550

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

 

Shares of LLC Membership Interest

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.   Yes  oNox

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act.     Yes  oNox

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.     Yesx   No  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).  Yesx   No  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated fileroAccelerated filero

Non-accelerated filer

x

Smaller reporting company

x

Emerging growth company

x

o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. o

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. o

 

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). YesoNox

There is no market for the shares of LLC Membership Interest in the Fund. As of March 3, 2020,February 27, 2023, there were 492.3709 shares of LLC Membership Interest outstanding.

 

   

RIDGEWOOD ENERGY Y FUND, LLC
2019
2022
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

   PAGE
    
PART I   
 ITEM 1BUSINESS2
 ITEM 1ARISK FACTORS11
 ITEM 1BUNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS11
 ITEM 2PROPERTIES11
 ITEM 3LEGAL PROCEEDINGS12
 ITEM 4MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES12
PART II   
 

ITEM 5

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

13
 ITEM 6SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA[RESERVED]13
 ITEM 7MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
13
 ITEM 7AQUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK19
 ITEM 8FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA19
 ITEM 9CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
19
 ITEM 9ACONTROLS AND PROCEDURES19
 

ITEM 9B

OTHER INFORMATION

1920
ITEM 9CDISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS20
PART III   
 ITEM 10DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE20
ITEM 11EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION21
 ITEM 11EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION22
ITEM 12SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND
RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
2122
 ITEM 13CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR
INDEPENDENCE
2122
 ITEM 14PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTINGACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES2223
PART IV   
 ITEM 15

EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

2324
    
  SIGNATURES2425

  
Table of Contents

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Certain statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Annual Report”) and the documents Ridgewood Energy Y Fund, LLC (the “Fund”) has incorporated by reference into this Annual Report, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections and statements relating to the Fund’s business plans, strategies, objectives and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. You are therefore cautioned against relying on any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “plan,” “target,” “pursue,” “may,” “will,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions and references to future periods. Examples of events that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated include the impact on the Fund’s business and operations of any future widespread health emergencies or public health crises such as pandemics and epidemics, weather conditions, such as hurricanes, changes in market and other conditions affecting the pricing, production and demand of oil and natural gas, the cost and availability of equipment, including the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the global response to such conflict, and changes in domestic and foreign governmental regulations, as well as other risks and uncertainties discussed in this Annual Report in Item 1. “Business” and Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”.Operations.” Examples of forward-looking statements made herein include statements regarding projects, investments, insurance, capital expenditures and liquidity. Forward-looking statements made in this document speak only as of the date on which they are made. The Fund undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

 

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PART I

 

ITEM 1.BUSINESS

 

Overview

 

The Fund is a Delaware limited liability company (“LLC”) formed on March 25, 2008 to primarily acquire interests in oil and natural gas properties located in the United States offshore waters of Texas, Louisiana and Alabama in the Gulf of Mexico.

 

The Fund initiated its private placement offering on May 1, 2008, selling whole and fractional shares of membership interests (“Shares”), consisting of Limited Liability Shares of Membership Interests (“Limited Liability Shares”) and Investor GP Shares of Membership Interests (“Investor GP Shares”), primarily at $200 thousand per whole Share. The Limited Liability Shares and the Investor GP Shares constitute a single class of securities as defined in Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). In January 2014, pursuant to the limited liability company agreement (the “LLC Agreement”), Ridgewood Energy Corporation, as manager of the Fund converted all then outstanding Investor GP Shares to Limited Liability Shares.  There is no public market for the Shares and one is not likely to develop. In addition, the Shares are subject to material restrictions on transfer and resale and cannot be transferred or resold except in accordance with the Fund’s LLC Agreement and applicable federal and state securities laws. The private placement offering was terminated on November 7, 2008. The Fund raised $97.8 million and after payment of $16.1 million in offering fees, commissions and investment fees, the Fund had $81.7 million for investments and operating expenses.

 

Manager

 

Ridgewood Energy Corporation (the “Manager” or “Ridgewood Energy”) was founded in 1982. The Manager has direct and exclusive control over the management of the Fund’s operations. The Manager performs, or arranges for the performance of, the management, advisory and administrative services required for the Fund’s operations. Such services include, without limitation, the administration of shareholder accounts, shareholder relations, the preparation, review and dissemination of tax and other financial information and the management of the Fund’s investments in projects. In addition, the Manager provides office space, equipment and facilities and other services necessary for the Fund’s operations. The Manager also engages and manages contractual relations with unaffiliated custodians, depositories, accountants, attorneys, corporate fiduciaries, insurers, banks and others as required. Historically, when the Fund sought project investments, the Manager located potential projects, conducted due diligence, and negotiated the investment transactions with respect to those projects. Because the Fund does not operate any of the projects in which it has acquired a working interest, shareholders rely on the Manager to continue to manage the projects prudently, efficiently and fairly. Additional information regarding the Manager is available through its website at www.ridgewoodenergy.com. No information on such website shall be deemed to be included or incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.

 

As compensation for its services, the Manager is entitled to receive an annual management fee, payable monthly, equal to 2.5% of the total capital contributions made by the Fund’s shareholders, net of cumulative dry-hole well costs incurred by the Fund and fully depleted project investments. The Manager is entitled to receive the management fee from the Fund regardless of the Fund’s profitability in that year. Management fees during each of the years ended December 31, 20192022 and 20182021 were $1.1$0.9 million. Additionally, the Manager is entitled to receive 15% of the cash distributions from operations made by the Fund. Distributions paid to the Manager during the years ended December 31, 20192022 and 20182021 were $1.0$1.4 million and $0.7$0.9 million, respectively.

 

In addition to the management fee, the Fund is required to pay all other expenses it may incur, including insurance premiums, expenses of preparing periodic reports for shareholders and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), taxes, third-party legal, accounting and consulting fees, litigation expenses and other expenses.

 

Business Strategy

 

The Fund’s primary investment objective is to generate cash flow for distribution to its shareholders by generating returns across a portfolio of oil and natural gas projects. The frequency and amount of such distributions are within the Manager’s discretion, subject to available cash flow from operations. The Fund, along with other exploration and production companies, has invested in the drilling and development of both shallow and deepwater oil and natural gas projects in the U.S. offshore waters of Texas, Louisiana and Alabama in the Gulf of Mexico. The Fund’s ownership in its projects is recorded with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (“BOEM”), an agency of the United States

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Department of Interior (“Interior”), as a working interest, which is an undivided fractional interest in a lease block that provides the owner with the right to drill, produce and conduct operating activities and share in any resulting oil and natural gas production.

 

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The Fund’s capital has been fully invested in projects. Asand as a result, the Fund will not invest in any new projects and will limit its investment activities, if any, to those projects in which it currently has a working interest, as discussed below under the heading “Properties” in this Item 1. “Business” of this Annual Report.

 

Investment Committee

Ridgewood Energy maintains an investment committee consisting of sixfive employees of the Manager (the “Investment Committee”). The members of the Investment Committee provide operational, financial, scientific and technical oil and gas expertise to the Fund. One member of the Investment Committee is based out of the Manager’s Palm Beach, Florida office, one member is based out of the Manager’s Montvale, New Jersey office and four members are based out of the Manager’s Houston, Texas office. The Investment Committee’s current activities with respect to the Fund are principally related to the development and operation of properties in which it already has a working interest.

 

Participation and Joint Operating Agreements

On behalf of the Fund, and with respect to the Fund’s projects, the Manager negotiated participation and joint operating agreements with the operators of each project. Under each joint operating agreement, proposals and decisions with respect to a project and related activities are generally made based on percentage ownership approvals and, although an operator’s percentage ownership may constitute a majority ownership, operators generally seek consensus relating to project decisions.

 

Project Information

 

The Fund’s existing projects are located in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico on the Outer Continental Shelf (“OCS”). The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (“OCSLA”), which was enacted in 1953, governs certain activities with respect to working interests and the exploration of oil and natural gas in the OCS. See further discussion under the heading “Regulation” in this Item 1. “Business” of this Annual Report.

 

Leases in the OCS are generally issued for a primary lease term of 5, 7 or 10 years, depending on the water depth of the lease block. Once a lessee drills a well and begins production, the lease term is extended for the duration of commercial production.

 

The lessee of a particular block, for the term of the lease, has the right to drill and develop exploratory wells and conduct other activities throughout the block. If the initial well on the block is successful, a lessee, or third-party operator for a project, may conduct additional geological studies and may determine to drill additional exploratory or development wells. If a development well is to be drilled in the block, each lessee owning working interests in the block must be offered the opportunity to participate in, and cover the costs of, the development well up to that particular lessee’s working interest ownership percentage.

 

Royalty Payments

Generally, and depending on the lease, working interest owners of an offshore oil and natural gas lease under the OCSLA pay a royalty of 12.5%, 16.67% or 18.75% to the U.S. Government through the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (“ONRR”). Other than the ONRR royalties, the Fund does not have material royalty burdens.

 

Deepwater Royalty Relief

In addition to the Royalty Relief Rule, the Deep WaterDeepwater Royalty Relief Act of 1995 (the “Deepwater Royalty Relief Act”) was enacted to promote exploration and production of oil and natural gas in the deepwater of the Gulf of Mexico and relieves eligible leases from paying royalties to the U.S. Government on certain defined amounts of deepwater production. The Deepwater Royalty Relief Act expired in the year 2000 but was extended for qualified leases by the BOEM to promote continued interest in deepwater. The Fund currently has threetwo projects, the Beta Diller and LibertyDiller projects, which are eligible for royalty relief under the Deepwater Royalty Relief Act. The Marmalard Project no longer qualifies for royalty relief as the project reached the royalty suspension volumes during 2018. The Deepwater Royalty Relief Act does not apply to oil if the prices of oil exceed certain thresholds (currently estimated to be between $39.52$44.68 per barrel and $51.32$58.01 per barrel) adjusted annually for inflation. The Deepwater Royalty Relief Act does not apply to natural gas if the prices of natural gas exceed certain thresholds (currently estimated to be between $4.94$5.58 per mmbtu and $8.55$9.67 per mmbtu) adjusted annually for inflation.

 

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Properties

 

Productive Wells

The following table sets forth the number of productive oil and natural gas wells in which the Fund owned a working interest as of December 31, 2019.2022. Productive wells are producing wells and wells mechanically capable of production. Gross wells are the total number of wells in which the Fund owns a working interest. Net wells are the sum of the Fund’s fractional working interests owned in the gross wells. All of the wells, each of which produces both oil and natural gas, are located in the offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico and are operated by third-party operators.

 

  Total Productive Wells 
  Gross  Net 
Oil and natural gas  14   0.22 
  Total Productive Wells 
  Gross  Net 
Oil and natural gas  13   0.19 

 

Acreage Data

The following table sets forth the Fund’s working interests in developed and undeveloped oil and natural gas acreage as of December 31, 2019.2022. Gross acres are the total number of acres in which the Fund owns a working interest. Net acres are the sum of the fractional working interests owned in gross acres. Ownership interests generally take the form of working interests in oil and natural gas leases that have varying terms. All of the Fund’s oil and natural gas acreage is located in the offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

 

Developed AcresDeveloped Acres  Undeveloped Acres Developed Acres  Undeveloped Acres 
GrossGross  Net  Gross  Net Gross  Net  Gross  Net 
51,833   832   11,884   106 46,073   659   364   7 

 

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Information regarding the Fund’s current projects, all of which are located in the offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico, is provided in the following table. See Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of this Annual Report under the heading “Liquidity Needs” for information regarding the funding of the Fund’s capital commitments.

 

   Total Spent Total      Total Spent Total   
 Working through Fund    Working through Fund   
Project Interest December 31, 2019  Budget  Status Interest December 31, 2022  Budget  Status
   (in thousands)      (in thousands)   
        
Beta Project 2.0% $18,583  $20,334  The Beta Project is expected to include the development of seven wells. Wells #1 and #2 commenced production in 2016. Wells #3 and #4 commenced production in 2017. Wells #5 and #6 commenced production in first quarter 2018 and third quarter 2018, respectively. Well #7 commenced production in first quarter 2019. The Fund expects to spend $0.9 million for additional development costs and $0.9 million for asset retirement obligations. 2.0% $19,756  $22,513  The Beta Project, a seven-well project, commenced production from its first two wells in 2016. Additional wells commenced production in 2017, 2018 and 2019. During 2022, the project experienced shut-in from late-March 2022 to early-June 2022 for recompletion work. During 2021, the project experienced shut-in from May 2021 to late-September 2021 for recompletion work. The project also experienced storm shut-ins during third quarter of 2021 as a result of Hurricane Ida, which passed directly through the corridor where the project is located. The Fund expects to spend $1.4 million for additional development costs and $1.4 million for asset retirement obligations.
Diller Project 0.88% $3,761  $4,667  The Diller Project is expected to include the development of three wells. Well #1 commenced production in 2015. Well #2, which completed drilling in third quarter 2018, commenced production in late-November 2019. Well #3 is expected to commence production in third quarter 2021. The Fund expects to spend $0.6 million for additional development costs and $0.3 million for asset retirement obligations. 0.88% $3,742  $4,057  The Diller Project includes the development of two wells.  Well #1 commenced production in 2015.  Well #2 commenced production in 2019. During the third quarter of 2021, the project experienced storm shut-ins as a result of Hurricane Ida, which passed directly through the corridor where the project is located. The Fund expects to spend $18 thousand for additional development costs and $0.3 million for asset retirement obligations.
Liberty Project 3.0% $4,506  $4,903  The Liberty Project, a single-well project, commenced production in 2010. The Fund expects to spend $0.4 million for asset retirement obligations.
Marmalard Project 0.84% $5,621  $7,899  The Marmalard Project is expected to include the development of six wells. Four wells commenced production in 2015. Additional wells are expected to commence production in 2022. Two wells, which were shut-in during early-December 2017 due to replacement of well jumpers, resumed production in third quarter 2018. One well, which had been shut-in since late-February 2019 due to remediation work for downhole mechanical issues, resumed production in third quarter 2019. The Fund expects to spend $1.8 million for additional development costs and $0.5 million for asset retirement obligations. 0.84% $5,647  $8,940  The Marmalard Project is expected to include the development of six wells.  Four wells commenced production in 2015. Additional wells are expected to commence production in 2024 and 2025.  During the third quarter of 2021, the project experienced storm shut-ins as a result of Hurricane Ida, which passed directly through the corridor where the project is located. The Fund expects to spend $2.5 million for additional development costs and $0.8 million for asset retirement obligations.

 

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Marketing/Customers

 

The Manager, on behalf of the Fund, markets the Fund’s oil and natural gas to third parties consistent with industry practice. The Fund utilizes Beta Sales and Transport, LLC (“Beta S&T”) and DH Sales and Transport, LLC (“DH S&T”), wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Manager, as aggregators to and as an accommodation for the Fund and other funds managed by the Manager to facilitate the transportation and sale of oil and natural gas produced from the Beta, Diller and Marmalard projects. In 2016, as amended in April 2018 and September 2021 for DH S&T, the Fund entered into master agreements with Beta S&T and DH S&T pursuant to which Beta S&T and DH S&T are obligated to purchase from the Fund all of its interests in oil and natural gas produced from the Beta, Diller and Marmalard projects and sell such volumes to unrelated third-party purchasers. The number of customers purchasing the Fund’s oil and natural gas may vary from time to time. Currently, the Fund has three major customers in the public market. Because a ready market exists for oil and natural gas, the Fund does not believe that the loss of any individual customer would have a material adverse effect on its financial position or results of operations. The Fund’s current producing projects are near existing transportation infrastructure and pipelines.

 

The Fund’s oil and natural gas generally is sold to its customers at prevailing market prices, which fluctuate with demand as a result of related industry variables.   The markets for, and prices of, oil and natural gas have been volatile, and they are likely to continue to be volatile in the future. This volatility is caused by numerous factors and market conditions that the Fund cannot control or influence; therefore, it is impossible to predict the future price of oil and natural gas with any certainty.  See Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of this Annual Report under the headings “Commodity Price Changes”,Changes,” “Results of Operations –Overview” and “Results of Operations –Oil and Gas Revenue” for information regarding the impact of prices on the Fund’s oil and gas revenue. In the past, the Fund has entered, and in the future, may enter into transactions or derivative contracts that establish a price floor for portions of its oil or natural gas production. 

 

Seasonality

 

Generally, the Fund’s business operations are not subject to seasonal fluctuations in the demand for oil and natural gas that would result in more of the Fund’s oil and natural gas being sold, or likely to be sold, during one or more particular months or seasons. Once a project is producing, the operator of the project extracts oil and natural gas reserves throughout the year. Once extracted, oil and natural gas can be sold at any time during the year.

 

However, notwithstanding the ability of the Fund’s projects to produce year-round, the Fund’s properties are located in the Gulf of Mexico; therefore, its operations and cash flows may be significantly impacted by hurricanes and other inclement weather. Such events may also have a detrimental impact on third-party pipelines and processing facilities, upon which the Fund relies to transport and process the oil and natural gas it produces. The National Hurricane Center defines hurricane season in the Gulf of Mexico as June through November. The Fund did not experience any significant damage, shut-ins, or production stoppages due to hurricane activity in 2019.2022.

 

Operators

 

The projects in which the Fund has invested are operated and controlled by unaffiliated third-party entities acting as operators. The operators are responsible for drilling, administration and production activities for leases jointly owned by working interest owners and act on behalf of all working interest owners under the terms of the applicable joint operating agreement. In certain circumstances, operators will enter into agreements with independent third-party subcontractors and suppliers to provide the various services required for operating leases. Currently, the Fund's properties are operated by LLOG Exploration Offshore, L.L.C., Murphy Exploration & Production Company – USA and Walter Oil & Gas Corporation.

Because the Fund does not operate any of the projects in which it has acquired a working interest, shareholders have to rely on the Manager to continue to manage the projects prudently, efficiently and fairly.

 

Insurance

 

The Manager has obtained what it believes to be adequate insurance for the funds that it manages to cover the risks associated with the funds’ passive investments, including those of the Fund. Although the Fund is not an operator, the Manager has, nonetheless, obtained hazard, property, general liability and other insurance in commercially reasonable amounts to cover its projects, as well as general liability, directors’ and officers’ liability and similar coverage for its business operations. However, there is no assurance that such insurance will be adequate to protect the Fund from material losses related to its projects. In addition, the Manager’s practice is to obtain insurance as a package that is intended to cover most, if not all, of the entities under its management. The Manager re-evaluates its insurance coverage on an annual basis. While the Manager believes it has obtained adequate insurance in accordance with customary industry practices, the possibility exists, depending on the extent of the insurable incident, that insurance coverage may not be sufficient to cover all losses. In addition, depending on the extent, nature and payment of any claims during a particular policy period to the Fund or its affiliates, yearly insurance coverage may be exhausted and become insufficient to cover a claim by the Fund in a given year.

 

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Salvage Fund

 

The Fund deposits cash in a separate interest-bearing account, or salvage fund, to provide for its proportionate share of the cost of dismantling and removal of production platforms and facilities and plugging and abandoning the wells at the end of their useful lives in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations. As of December 31, 2019,2022, the Fund had $3.3$3.6 million invested in a salvage fund. On a monthly basis, the Fund contributes to the salvage fund a portion of theits operating income from the Beta Project to fund its asset retirement obligations.obligations as necessary. Such contributions to the salvage fund will reduce the amount of cash distributions that could otherwise be made to investors by the Fund. Any portion of the salvage fund that remains after the Fund has paid for all of its asset retirement obligations will be distributed to the shareholders and the Manager. There are no restrictions on withdrawals from the salvage fund.

Competition

Competition exists in the acquisition of oil and natural gas leases and in all sectors of the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry. The Fund, through the Manager, has competed with other companies for the acquisition of leases, as well as percentage ownership interests in oil and natural gas working interests in the secondary market. The Fund does not anticipate the acquisition of any additional ownership interests in oil and natural gas working interests as its capital has been fully allocated to current and past projects.

 

Employees

 

The Fund has no employees. The Manager operates and manages the Fund.

 

Offices

 

The administrative office of both the Fund and the Manager is located at 14 Philips Parkway, Montvale, NJ 07645, and their phone number is 800-942-5550. The Manager leases additional office space at 230 Royal Palm Way, Suite 102, Palm Beach, FL, 33480 and 1254 Enclave Parkway, Houston, TX 77077. In addition, the Manager maintains an additional office lease that is used for administrative purposes for the Fund and other funds managed by the Manager.

 

Regulation

 

Oil and natural gas exploration, development, production and transportation activities are subject to extensive federal and state laws and regulations. Regulations governing exploration and development activities require, among other things, the Fund’s operators to obtain permits to drill projects and to meet bonding, insurance and environmental requirements in order to drill, own or operate projects. In addition, the location of projects, the method of drilling and casing projects, the restoration of properties upon which projects are drilled, and the plugging and abandoning of projects are also subject to regulations.regulation. The Fund owns projects that are located in the offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico on the OCS. The Fund’s operations and activities are therefore governed by the OCSLA and certain other laws and regulations.

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Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act

 

Under the OCSLA, the United States federal government has jurisdiction over oil and natural gas development on the OCS. As a result, the United States Secretary of the Interior is empowered to sell exploration, development and production leases of a defined submerged area of the OCS, or a block, through a competitive bidding process. Such activity is conducted by the BOEM. Federal offshore leases are managed both by the BOEM and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (“BSEE”) pursuant to regulations promulgated under the OCSLA. The OCSLA authorizes regulations relating to safety and environmental protection applicable to lessees and permittees operating on the OCS. Specific design and operational standards may apply to OCS vessels, rigs, platforms, vehicles and structures. BSEE regulates the design and operation of well control and other equipment at offshore production sites, implementation of safety and environmental management systems, and mandatory third-party compliance audits, among other requirements. BSEE adopted strict requirements for subsea drilling production equipment and had proposed new requirements to implement equipment reliability improvements, building upon enhanced industry standards for blowout preventers and blowout prevention technologies, and reforms in well design, well control, casing, cementing, real-time well monitoring and subsea containment. BSEE has also published a policy statement on safety culture with nine characteristics of a robust safety culture. In May 2019, BSEE adopted a final rule revising standards for blowout prevention systems and other well controls pertaining to offshore activities (the “2019 Well Control Rule”). The 2019 Well Control Rule became effective July 15, 2019, however compliance with certain provisions was deferred until 2021 or thereafter as specified in those provisions. The 2019 Well Control Rule imposes new requirements relating to, among other things, well design, well control, casing, cementing, real-time well monitoring and subsea containment. On September 12, 2022, BSEE announced proposed revisions to provisions of the 2019 Well Control Rule to clarify blowout preventer system requirements and to modify specific blowout prevented equipment capability requirements. On September 14, 2022, the proposed rule was published in the Federal Register with a 60-day public comment period that closed on November 14, 2022. The 2019 Well Control Rule applies directly to operators as opposed to non-operators. On September 28, 2018, the BSEE published a final rule revising regulations relating to oil and natural gas production safety systems, subsurface safety devices and safety device testing (referred to as “Subpart H”); the rule was effective December 27, 2018. Given the fact that compliance with the 2019 Well Control Rule and Subpart H is the responsibility of the operators and the exploration and development of each well is different, the future costs associated with compliance that will be incurred by non-operators, such as the Fund, cannot be determined or estimated. On December 4, 2020, BOEM published a Record of Decision (“ROD”) for the final programmatic environmental impact statement for geological and geophysical survey activities in the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent state waters. The ROD provides for additional mitigation measures for application for future BOEM issued permits or authorizations toward further minimizing impacts of such geological and geophysical survey activities on marine resources. Violations of environmentally related lease conditions or regulations issued pursuant to the OCSLA can result in substantial civil and criminal penalties, which civil penalties were increased and adjusted for inflation on March 2, 2018,18, 2022, as well as potential court injunctions curtailing operations and the cancellation of leases. Such enforcement liabilities, delay or restriction of activities can result from either governmental or citizen prosecution. 

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BOEM Notice to Lessees on Supplemental BondingFinancial Assurance Requirements

 

On July 14, 2016, the BOEM issued a Notice to Lessees (“NTL 2016-N01”) that discontinued and materially replaced existing policies and procedures regarding financial security (i.e. supplemental bonding) for decommissioning obligations of lessees of federal oil and natural gas leases and owners of pipeline rights-of-way, rights-of userights-of-use and easements on the OCS (“Lessees”).  Generally, NTL 2016-N01 (i) ended the practice of excusing Lessees from providing such additional security where co-lessees had sufficient financial strength to meet such decommissioning obligations, (ii) established new criteria for determining financial strength and additional security requirements of such Lessees, (iii) provided acceptable forms of such additional security, and (iv) replaced the waiver system with one of self-insurance.  The rule became effective as of September 12, 2016; however, on January 6, 2017, the BOEM announced that it was suspending the implementation timeline for six months in certain circumstances.  On May 1, 2017, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior (“Interior”) directed the BOEM to complete a review of NTL 2016-N01, to provide a report to certain Interior personnel describing the results of the review and options for revising or rescinding NTL 2016-N01, and to keep the implementation timeline extension in effect pending the completion of the review of NTL 2016-N01 by the identified Interior personnel. 

On June 22, 2017,October 16, 2020, BOEM and BSEE published a proposed new rule at 85 FR 65904 on Risk, Management, Financial Assurance and Loss Prevention, addressing the streamlining of evaluation criteria when determining whether oil, gas and sulfur leases, right-of-use and easement grant holders, and pipeline right-of-way grant holders may be required to provide bonds or other security above the prescribed amounts for base bonds to ensure compliance with the Lessees’ obligations, primarily decommissioning obligations. The proposed rule was significantly less stringent with respect to financial assurance than NTL 2016-N01. To date, the BOEM announced that the implementation timeline extension will remain in effect pending the completion of the review ofis not currently implementing NTL 2016-N01. As of December 31, 2019, the2016-N01 and its status is uncertain, and BOEM has not lifted its suspension ofindicated that it is reviewing the implementation of NTL 2016-N01.  The impactproposed rule.

Notwithstanding the uncertain status of NTL 2016-N01, if enforced without change or amendment,BOEM had continued under existing law to review supplemental financial assurance requirements relative to sole liability properties (i.e., properties in which only one company is liable for decommissioning).  However, on August 18, 2021, the BOEM issued a Note to Stakeholders in which the BOEM stated that it was expanding its financial assurance efforts beyond sole liability projects to include “supplemental financial assurance of certain high-risk, non-sole liability properties” (those properties with more than one company potentially liable for decommissioning costs). The BOEM identified (i) inactive properties, (ii) those with less than five years of production left, and (iii) those with damaged infrastructure, as being high-risk, non-sole liability properties and for which supplemental financial assurance may be required.   The BOEM may require the Fund to fully secure all of its potential abandonment liabilities, to the BOEM’s satisfaction using one or more of the enumerated methods for doing so.  Potentially thiswhich potentially could increase costs to the Fund if theFund. The Fund is requirednot able to obtain additional supplemental bonding, fund escrow accountsevaluate the impact of the proposed new rule on its operations or obtain letters of credit.financial condition until a final rule is issued or some other definitive action is taken by the Interior or BOEM.

 

Sales and Transportation of Oil and Natural Gas

 

The Fund, directly or indirectly through affiliated entities, sells its proportionate share of oil and natural gas to the market and receives market prices from such sales. These sales are not currently subject to regulation by any federal or state agency. However, in order for the Fund to make such sales, it is dependent upon unaffiliated pipeline companies whose rates, terms and conditions of transport are subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Generally, depending on certain factors, pipelines can charge rates that are either market-based or cost-of-service-based. In some circumstances, rates can be agreed upon pursuant to settlement. Thus, the rates that pipelines charge the Fund, although regulated, are beyond the Fund’s control. Nevertheless, such rates would apply uniformly to all transporters on that pipeline and, as a result, management does not anticipate that the impact to the Fund of any changes in such rates, terms or conditions would be materially different than the impact to other oil or natural gas producers and marketers.

 

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Environmental Matters and Regulation

 

The Fund’s operations are subject to pervasive environmental laws and regulations governing, among other things, the discharge of materials into the air and water, the handling and managing of waste materials, and the protection of aquatic species and habitats. While most of the activities to which these federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations apply are conducted by the operators on the Fund’s behalf, the Fund shares the liability along with its other working interest owners for environmental damageimpacts attributable to the Fund’s operations. The environmental laws and regulations to which its operations are subject may require the Fund, or the operator, to acquire permits to commence drilling operations, restrict or prohibit the release of certain materials or substances into the environment, impose the installation of certain environmental control devices, require certain remedial measures to prevent pollution and other discharges such as the plugging of abandoned projects and, finally, impose in some instances severe penalties, fines and liabilities for the environmental damage that may be caused by, or impacts that may be attributable to, the Fund’s projects.

 

Some of the environmental laws that apply to oil and natural gas exploration and production are described below:

 

Oil Pollution Act. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990, as amended (the “OPA”), amends Section 311 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, as amended (the “Clean Water Act”), and was enacted in response to the numerous tanker spills that occurred in the 1980s, including the Exxon Valdez spill, that occurred in the 1980s.spill. Among other things, the OPA clarifies the federal response authority to, and defines penalties for, such spills. OPA imposes strict, joint and several liabilities on “responsible parties” for damages, including natural resource damages, resulting from oil spills into or upon navigable waters, adjoining shorelines or in the exclusive economic zone of the United States. A “responsible party” includes the owner or operator of an onshore facility and the lessee or permit holder of the area in which an offshore facility is located. The OPA, andwith regulations promulgated thereunder, establishes a liability limit for onshore facilities and deepwater ports of $672.51 million (effective as of November 12, 2019), while the liability limit for a responsible party for offshore facilities, including any offshore pipeline, is equal to all removal costs plus up to $137.66 million in other damages for each incident. These liability limits may not apply if a spill is caused by a party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, if the spill resulted from violation of a federal safety, construction or operating regulation, or if a party fails to report a spill or to cooperate fully in a clean-up. Regulations under the OPA require owners and operators of rigs in United States waters to maintain certain levels of financial responsibility. A failure to comply with the OPA’s requirements may subject a responsible party to civil, criminal, or administrative enforcement actions. The Fund is not aware of any action or event that would subject us to liability under the OPA. Compliance with the OPA’s financial assurance and other operating requirements has not had, and the Fund believes will not in the future have, a material impact on the Fund’s operations or financial condition.

 

Clean Water Act. Generally, the Clean Water Act, as well as analogous state requirements, imposes liability for the unauthorized discharge of pollutants, including petroleum products, into the surface and coastal U.S. waters, except in strict conformance with discharge permits issued by the federal or delegated state agency. Regulations governing water discharges also impose other requirements, such as the obligation to prepare spill response plans. On December 11, 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and Department of the Army (“Army”) proposed a revised definition of “waters of the United States” (“WOTUS”), clarifying the limits of federal authority under the Clean Water Act. The scope of this authority, as defined under a 2015 rule, was challenged in several federal district court actions and therefore was repealed by the EPA and Department of the Army on September 12, 2019. The repeal, which became effective on December 23, 2019, restored the previous regulation to how it existed prior to finalization of the 2015 Rule. The current2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule (“NWPR”) was then promulgated, with a replacement definition of WOTUS, and went into effect on June 22, 2020. A recent executive order revoked a prior executive order related to WOTUS and directed agencies to review certain actions, including the NWPR. On June 9, 2021, the Department of the Army and EPA announced their intent to initiate a new rulemaking process that would both restore a pre-2015 Clean Water Rule and develop a new rule to establish a new WOTUS definition, and then sought feedback from stakeholders. On September 3, 2021, following a court order vacating the NWPR, the Department of the Army and EPA announced that they had halted implementation of the NWPR and would interpret WOTUS consistent with the pre-2015 regulatory regime. On November 18, 2021, the EPA and the Department of the Army announced the signing of a proposed revision will berule to revise the subjectdefinition of WOTUS. On December 7, 2021, the proposed rule was published in the Federal Register with a 60-day public comment period oncethat closed on February 7, 2022. On December 30, 2022, the EPA and the Department the Army announced a final rule establishing a revised definition of WOTUS that restores the pre-2015 regulatory regime. The new WOTUS definition will become effective 60 days after the final rule is published in the Federal Register. The definition of WOTUS is central to the pending U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA, S.Ct. No. 21-454. The question presented in Sackett v. EPA is whether the proper test for determining if wetlands fall within the definition of WOTUS was expressed by the plurality in Rapanos v. United States, 547 U.S. 715 (2006). Oral arguments in Sackett v. EPA were held before the U.S. Supreme Court on October 3, 2022. The Fund’s operators are responsible for compliance with the Clean Water Act, although the Fund may be liable for any failure of the operator to do so.

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Clean Air Act. The Federal Clean Air Act of 1970, as amended (the “Clean Air Act”), as well as analogous state requirements, restricts the emission of certain air pollutants. Prior to constructing new facilities, permits may be required before work can commence and existing facilities may be required to incur additional capital costs to add equipment to ensure and maintain compliance. OCSLA provides the Secretary of the Interior, through BOEM, with the statutory authority to regulate air quality over the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico. On June 5, 2020, BOEM published the Offshore Air Quality Rule, which revised the air quality regulations applicable to activities that BOEM authorizes on the OCS in the Western Gulf of Mexico. The Offshore Air Quality Rule, effective on July 6, 2020, brings the air quality standards that lessees and operators must meet in order to operate in the Western Gulf of Mexico into compliance with the current National Ambient Air Quality Standards and benchmarks set forth by the EPA under the Clean Air Act. As a result, the Fund’s operations may be required to incur additional costs to comply with the Clean Air Act and comparable state requirements.

 

International Marine Organization 2020. In 2016, the International Marine Organization (“IMO”), a United Nations (“UN”) Agency, instituted a reduction in the sulfur specifications for global marine fuels from 3.5% to 0.5% effective January 1, 2020 in order to reduce the emissions of sulfur to the atmosphere. Shipping companies have the option to buy low sulfur fuel or install scrubbers to lower sulfur emissions to comply with the new regulation. UN member states (174 countries) are responsible for monitoring the compliance of the shipping community with this new regulation. The impact to the Fund from this new2020 regulation could be that heavier sour crudes, such as from the Beta Project, could fall in value relative to lighter sweet crudes as a result of excess high sulfur fuel on the market and subsequent refinery crude slate changes. However, the price of heavier sour crudes in the market continues to be supported by tightness in supply for such crude, new refinery capacity consuming medium/high sulfur crudes and refinery optimization around high sulfur products. As such, the Fund believes IMO 2020 will not in the future have a material impact on the Fund’s operations or financial condition.

 

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Climate Change. The oil and gas industry is subject to federal and state greenhouse gas monitoring, reporting and emissions control requirements. The current state of international climate initiatives and federal and state actions, as well as litigation developments including matters before the U.S. Supreme Court in the 2021-2022 term, presents challenges to assessing the impact to the Fund’s operations in relation to future international agreements, federal and state legislation, and other new requirements. Future restrictions on emissions of greenhouse gases could have an impact on future operations.

 

Other Environmental Laws. In addition to the above, the Fund’s operations may be subject to theResource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, which regulates the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal and cleanup of certain hazardous wastes, as well as theComprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, which imposes joint and several liability without regard to fault or legality of conduct on classes of persons who are considered responsible for the release of a hazardous substance into the environment. Additionally, certain of the Fund’s operations (or actions relating to same) may be subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”), which requires in general that federal agencies assess the environmental effects of proposed federal actions, typically in the context of projects requiring a federal permit or authorization. Development of oil and gas pipelines are among the types of activities that could trigger NEPA and require such review. On July 16, 2020, the Council on Environmental Quality (“CEQ”) published a final rule to amend NEPA regulations to, among other things, clarify when NEPA applies, amend the definition of “effect” in the agency review, streamline the NEPA review, and provide additional flexibility for public involvement. Subsequently, in 2021, the CEQ withdrew the 2020 rule and is now engaged in a comprehensive review of the 2020 rule. The CEQ issued an Interim Final Rule on June 29, 2021, which extended the deadline by two years (to September 14, 2023) for federal agencies to develop or update their NEPA implementing procedures to conform to the CEQ regulations. As part of the CEQ’s two-phased approach to its review of the 2020 rule, on April 20, 2022, the CEQ published its final rule in the Federal Register for the Phase I rulemaking to amend a certain provision of the NEPA regulations, which, restored provisions that were in effect before the 2020 modification of the rule. This Phase I rule became effective on May 20, 2022. The Fund’s operations may be subject to analogous and comparable state laws and regulations, in addition to these federal statutes and regulations.

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The above represents a brief outline of significant environmental laws that may apply to the Fund’s operations. The Fund believes that its operators are in compliance with the relevant requirements of each of these environmental laws and the regulations promulgated thereunder. The Fund does not believe that its environmental, health and safety risks are materially different from those of comparable companies in the United States in the offshore oil and gas industry. However, there are no assurances that the environmental laws described above (including litigation developments relating to same) will not result in curtailment of production; material increases in the costs of production, development or exploration; enforcement actions or other penalties as a result of any non-compliance with any such regulations; or otherwise have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s operating results and cash flows.

 

Dodd-Frank Act.The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), among other provisions, establishes federal oversight and regulation of the over-the-counter derivatives market and entities that participate in that market and, in addition, requires certain additional Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)SEC reporting requirements.

 

On February 3, 2017,Under the “Presidential Executive Order on Core Principles for Regulating the United States Financial System” (the “Order”) was issued to review the Dodd-Frank Act.  A series of reports were issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in 2017 pursuant to the Order generally recommending the harmonization, balancing and streamlining of rules and regulations relating to, among other things, the over-the-counter derivatives market. The Fund cannot predict at this time what regulations or portions of the law relating to the over-the-counter derivatives market, if any, will be changed as a result of the Order. Any changes in the law or regulation as a result of the Order could result in a repeal, amendment to or delayed implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act.

Currently, under theFund’s LLC Agreement, the Fund has the authority to utilize derivative instruments to manage the price risk attributable to its oil and gas production. The Dodd-Frank Act mandates that many derivatives be executed in regulated markets and submitted for clearing to regulated clearinghouses. Derivatives will be subject to minimum daily margin requirements set by the relevant clearinghouse and, potentially, by the SEC or the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), and derivatives dealers may demand the unilateral ability to increase margin requirements beyond any regulatory or clearinghouse minimums. In addition, as required by the Dodd-Frank Act, the CFTC has set “speculative position limits” (which are limits imposed on the maximum net long or net short speculative positions that a person may hold or control with respect to futures or options contracts traded on the U.S. commodities exchange) with respect to most energy contracts. These requirements under the Dodd-Frank Act could significantly increase the cost of any derivatives transactions of the Fund (including through requirements to post collateral, which could adversely affect the Fund’s liquidity), materially alter the terms of derivatives transactions and make it more difficult for the Fund to enter into customized transactions, cause the Fund to liquidate certain positions it may hold, reduce the ability of the Fund to protect against price volatility and other risks by making certain hedging strategies impossible or so costly that they are not economical to implement, and increase the Fund’s exposure to less creditworthy counterparties. If as a result of the legislation and regulations, the Fund alters any hedging program that may be in effect from time to time, the Fund’s operations may become more volatile and its cash flows may be less predictable, which could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. The Fund is not currently, and has not been during 2019,2022, or at any time since 2012, a party to any derivative instruments or hedging programs.

 

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The Dodd-Frank Act also required the SEC to issue rules requiring resource extraction issuers to disclose annually information relating to certain payments made by the issuer to the U.S. federal government or a foreign government for the purpose of the commercial development of oil, natural gas or minerals.  Rules issued by the SEC in 2012 were subsequently vacated in federal court in 2013.  On June 27, 2016, the SEC adopted amended resource extraction disclosure rules pursuant to Section 1504 of the Dodd-Frank Act. However, on February 14, 2017, a bill was passed by the United States Congress eliminating the SEC resource extraction disclosure rules. The SEC had one year to issue replacement rules to implement Section 1504 of the Dodd-Frank Act. No replacement rules were proposed or issued by the SEC.

ITEM 1A.RISK FACTORS

 

Not required.

 

ITEM 1B.UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

None.Not applicable.

 

ITEM 2.PROPERTIES

 

The information regarding the Fund’s properties that is contained in Item 1. “Business” of this Annual Report under the headings “Project Information” and “Properties,” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Drilling Activity

The following table sets forth the Fund’s drilling activity during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. Gross wells are the total number of wells in which the Fund has a working interest. Net wells are the sum of the Fund’s fractional working interests owned in the gross wells. All of the wells, which produce both oil and natural gas, are located in the offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico. During the years ended December 31, 20192022 and 2018,2021, the Fund had no drilling activity for exploratory and developmental wells.

  2019  2018 
  Gross  Net  Gross  Net 
Development wells:                
Productive  2   0.03   2   0.04 
In-progress  -   -   2   0.03 
Development well total  2   0.03   4   0.07 

 

Unaudited Oil and Gas Reserve Quantities

The preparation of the Fund’s oil and gas reserve estimates are completed in accordance with the Fund’s internal control procedures over reserve estimation.  Such control procedures include: 1) verification of input data that is provided to an independent petroleum engineering firm; 2) engagement of well-qualified and independent reservoir engineers for preparation of reserve reports annually in accordance with SEC reserve estimation guidelines; and 3) a review of the reserve estimates by a third-party independent petroleum engineering firm.

 

The Manager’s primary technical person in charge of overseeing the Fund’s reserve estimates has a B.S. degree in Petroleum Engineering, a Master of Business Administration, and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the Association of American Drilling Engineers and the American Petroleum Institute. With over thirtythirty-five years of industry experience, he is currently responsible for reserve reporting, engineering and economic evaluation of exploration and development opportunities, and the oversight of drilling and production operations.

 

The Fund’s reserve estimates as of December 31, 20192022 and 20182021 were prepared by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. (“NSAI”), an independent petroleum engineering firm. The information regarding the qualifications of the petroleum engineer is included within the report from NSAI, which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Annual Report, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Proved Reserves. Proved oil and gas reserves are estimated quantities of oil and natural gas, which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions.  Proved developed oil and gas reserves are proved reserves expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods. Proved undeveloped oil and gas reserves are proved reserves expected to be recovered through new wells on undrilled acreage, or through existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion. The information regarding the Fund’s proved reserves, which is contained in Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of this Annual Report under the heading “Critical Accounting Estimates –Proved Reserves,, is incorporated herein by reference.  The information regarding the Fund’s unaudited net quantities of proved developed and undeveloped reserves, which is contained in Table III in the “Supplementary Financial Information – Information about Oil and Gas Producing Activities – Unaudited” included in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report, is incorporated herein by reference. 

 

Proved Undeveloped Reserves. As of December 31, 2019,2022, the Fund had proved undeveloped reserves related to the Beta and Marmalard Projectprojects totaling 0.1 million barrels of oil, 0.1 million barrels of natural gas liquid (“NGL”) and 0.60.4 million mcf of natural gas. As of December 31, 2018,2021, the Fund had proved undeveloped reserves related to the DillerBeta and Marmalard projects totaling 0.2 million barrels of oil, 0.1 million barrels of NGL and 0.80.6 million mcf of natural gas. The DillerBeta and Marmalard projects were determined to be discoveries in 2012 and2012. The Beta Project commenced production in 2016 and the Marmalard Project commenced production in 2015.

The proved undeveloped reserves relating to the Beta Project, which were initially assigned at the end of the year 2021, are associated with planned well recompletions. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund incurred costs to advance the development of its proved undeveloped reserves of $0.4 million, related to the Beta Project. As a result, proved undeveloped reserves of 37 thousand barrels of oil, 3 thousand barrels of NGL and 15 thousand mcf of natural gas were converted to proved developed producing reserves during 2022. The Fund expects additional recompletion operations to be completed in 2027 and 2028 related to the Beta Project.  The proved undeveloped reserves relating to the Marmalard Project have been undeveloped since their initial bookingassignment as proved undeveloped reserves in 2015.2015 and are associated with future recompletes, sidetracks and development wells. The Fund expects the operations to be completed in 2023, 2025, 2027 and 2030. These proved undeveloped reserves will be reclassified to proved developed reserves when the capacity limits at the host facility begin to decline, thus allowing for additional production.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Fund incurred costs to advance the development of its proved undeveloped reserves of approximately $0.8 million, related to the Diller Project. The Fund did not incur costs during the year ended December 31, 20192022 to advance the development of its proved undeveloped reserves related to the Marmalard Project.

Information regarding estimated future development costs relating to the DillerBeta and Marmalard projects, which is contained in Item 1. “Business” of this Annual Report under the heading “Properties”,“Properties,” is incorporated herein by reference. Estimated future development costs include capital spending on planned well recompletions and major development projects, some of which will take several years to complete due to long life sequential production and host facility capacity restraints.

 

Production and Prices

The information regarding the Fund’s production of oil and natural gas, and certain price and cost information during the years ended December 31, 20192022 and 20182021 that is contained in Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of this Annual Report under the headings “Results of Operations –Overview” and “Results of Operations –Operating Expenses” is incorporated herein by reference. 

 

Delivery Commitments

As of December 31, 2019,2022, the Fund had no delivery obligations or delivery commitments under any existing contracts.

 

ITEM 3.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

None.

 

ITEM 4.MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

None.

 

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PART II

 

ITEM 5.            MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

There is currently no established public trading market for the Shares. As of January 31, 2020,2023, there were 1,4251,463 shareholders of record of the Fund.

 

Distributions are made in accordance with the provisions of the LLC Agreement. At various times throughout the year, the Manager determines whether there is sufficient available cash, as defined in the LLC Agreement, for distribution to shareholders. Distributions may be impacted by amounts of future capital required for the ongoing development of the Diller and MarmalardFund’s producing projects, andas budgeted, as well as the funding of estimated asset retirement obligations. Distributions may also be impacted by fluctuations in oil and natural gas commodity prices. There is no requirement to distribute available cash and, as such, available cash is distributed to the extent and at such times as the Manager believes is advisable. During the years ended December 31, 20192022 and 2018,2021, the Fund paid distributions totaling $6.4$9.2 million and $4.8$5.7 million, respectively.

 

ITEM 6.SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA[RESERVED]

Not required.

 

ITEM 7.             MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Overview of the Fund’s Business

The Fund was organized primarily to acquire interests in oil and natural gas properties located in the United States offshore waters of Texas, Louisiana and Alabama in the Gulf of Mexico. The Fund’s primary investment objective is to generate cash flow for distribution to its shareholders by generating returns across a portfolio of oil and natural gas projects. Distributions to shareholders, if any, are funded from available cash from operations, as defined in the Fund’s LLC Agreement, and the frequency and amount are within the Manager’s discretion. The Fund’s capital has been fully allocated to its projects. Asinvested and as a result, the Fund will not invest in any new projects and will limit its investment activities, if any, to those projects in which it currently has a working interest.

 

The Manager performs, or arranges for the performance of, the management, advisory and administrative services required for the Fund’s operations. The Manager does not currently, nor is there any plan to, operate any project in which the Fund participates. The Manager enters into operating agreements with third-party operators for the management of all development and producing operations, as appropriate. The Manager also participates in distributions. See Item 1. “Business” of this Annual Report under the headings “Project Information” and “Properties” for more information regarding the projects of the Fund.

 

Market Conditions

The oil and gas market, and the global economy in general, is subject to sources of uncertainty relating to: (i) further escalation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which could result in a major oil supply disruption; (ii) prolonged high inflationary environment, which could result in a deep global recession; and (iii) the refilling of strategic petroleum reserves by the U.S. and other nations, which could add to crude demand and potentially push oil prices higher. While the current outlook for oil and natural gas commodity prices is favorable, different outcomes of these issues would have different impacts on global economic growth and the performance of financial markets going into 2023 and the Fund, its operators and other working interest partners’ financial performance results may be materially adversely affected, which could affect the Fund’s liquidity and expected operating results. However, because the Fund owns its oil and gas properties with no debt and these projects are long-lived assets that are expected to produce over many years with relatively low operating costs, the Fund believes that it is positioned to weather this period of uncertainty and volatility in the global oil and gas market.

Commodity Price Changes

Changes in oil and natural gas commodity prices may significantly affect liquidity and expected operating results. DeclinesSignificant declines in oil and natural gas commodity prices not only reduce revenues and profits but could also reduce the quantities of reserves that are commercially recoverable and result in non-cash charges to earnings due to impairment.impairment and higher depletion rates.

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Oil and natural gas commodity prices have been subject to significant fluctuationsvolatility most recently due to the issues impacting market conditions described above. Although volatile, the overall trend for the crude oil market has been favorable during the past several years.year ended December 31, 2022, which positively impacted cash flow generated by the Fund’s projects. The Fund anticipates price cyclicality in its planning and believes it is well positioned to withstand price volatility. The Fund will continue to closely manage and coordinate its capital spending estimates within its expected cash flows to provide for future development costs of its producing projects, as budgeted. See “Results of Operations” under this Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for more information on the average oil and natural gas prices received by the Fund during the years ended December 31, 20192022 and 20182021 and the effect of such average prices on the Fund’s results of operations. If oil and natural gas commodity prices decline, even if only for a short period of time, the Fund’s results of operations and liquidity will be adversely impacted.

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Market pricing for oil and natural gas is volatile and is likely to continue to be volatile in the future. This volatility is caused by numerous factors and market conditions that the Fund cannot control or influence. Therefore, it is impossible to predict the future price of oil and natural gas with any certainty. Factors affecting market pricing for oil and natural gas include:

 

·worldwide economic, political and social conditions impacting the global supply and demand for oil and natural gas, which may be driven by various risks, including war (such as the invasion of Ukraine by Russia), terrorism, political unrest, or health epidemics;
·weather conditions;
·economic conditions, including the impact of continued inflation and associated changes in monetary policy and demand for petroleum-based products;
·actions by OPEC, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries;
·political instability in the Middle East and other major oil and gas producing regions;
·governmental regulations (inclusive of impacts of climate change), both domestic and foreign;
·domestic and foreign tax policy;
·the pace adopted by foreign governments for the exploration, development, and production of their national reserves;
·the supply and price of foreign oil and gas;
·the cost of exploring for, producing and delivering oil and gas;
·the discovery rate of new oil and gas reserves;
·the rate of decline of existing and new oil and gas reserves;
·available pipeline and other oil and gas transportation capacity;
·the ability of oil and gas companies to raise capital;
·the overall supply and demand for oil and gas; and
·the price and availability of alternate fuel sources.

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

The discussion and analysis of the Fund’s financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Fund’s financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). In preparing these financial statements, the Fund is required to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions. These estimates, judgments and assumptions affect the reported amounts of the Fund’s assets and liabilities, including the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of its revenues and expenses during the periods presented.  The Fund evaluates these estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. The Fund bases its estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on various other factors that the Fund believes to be reasonable at the time the estimates and assumptions are made. However, future events and actual results may differ from these estimates and assumptions and such differences may have a material impact on the results of operations, financial position or cash flows.  See Note 1 of “Notes to Financial Statements” – “Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” contained in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” within this Annual Report for a discussion of the Fund’s significant accounting policies. The following is a discussion of the accounting policies and estimates the Fund believes have had or are most significant.

reasonably likely to have a material impact on the Fund’s financial position or results of operations.

Accounting for Acquisition, Exploration and Development Costs

Acquisition, exploration and development costs are accounted for using the successful efforts method. Costs of acquiring unproved and proved oil and natural gas leasehold acreage, including lease bonuses, brokers’ fees and other related costs, are capitalized. Costs of drilling and equipping productive wells and related production facilities are capitalized. Annual lease rentals and exploration expenses are expensed as incurred.

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Proved Reserves

Estimates of proved reserves are key components of the Fund’s most significant financial estimates involving its rate for recording depletion and amortization.amortization and estimated future cash flows of oil and gas properties used to test for impairment. Annually, the Fund engages an independent petroleum engineering firm to perform a comprehensive study of the Fund’s proved properties to determine the quantities of reserves and the period over which such reserves will be recoverable. The Fund’s estimates of proved reserves are based on the quantities of oil and natural gas that geological and engineering data demonstrate, with reasonable certainty, to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions. However, there are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves and in projecting future revenues and net cash flows, rates of production and timing of development expenditures, including many factors beyond the Fund’s control. The estimation process is very complex and relies on assumptions and subjective interpretations of available geologic, geophysical, engineering and production data and the accuracy of reservereserves estimates is a function of the quality and quantity of available data, engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. In addition, as a result of volatility and changing market conditions, oil and natural gas commodity prices and future development costs will change from period to period, causing estimates of proved reserves and future net revenues and net cash flows to change.

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Asset Retirement Obligations

Asset retirement obligations include costs to plug and abandon the Fund’s wells and to dismantle and relocate or dispose of the Fund’s production platforms and related structures and restoration costs of land and seabed. The Fund develops estimates of these costs based upon the type of production structure, water depth, reservoir depth and characteristics and ongoing discussions with the wells’ operators. Because these costs typically extend many years into the future, estimating these future costs is difficult and requires significant judgment that is subject to future revisions based upon numerous factors such as the timing of settlements, the credit-adjusted risk-free rates used and inflation rates, including changing technology and the political and regulatory environment. Estimates are reviewed annually, or more frequently if an event occurs that would dictate a change in assumptions or estimates.

 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Fund reviews the carrying value of its oil and gas properties for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that the recorded carrying value of the assetsits oil and gas properties may not be recoverable.  Impairments are determinedRecoverability is evaluated by comparing estimated future net undiscounted cash flows to the carrying value of the assetsoil and gas properties at the time of the review.  If the carrying value exceeds the estimated future net undiscounted cash flows, the carrying value of the assetoil and gas properties is impaired, and written down to fair value. Fair value which is determined using a valuation techniquetechniques that considersinclude both market and income approaches and usesuse Level 3 inputs.  The fair value determinations require considerable judgment and are sensitive to change.  Different pricing assumptions, reserve estimates of oil and natural gas reserves and future development costs or discount rates could result in a different calculatedsignificant impact on the amount of impairment.

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Results of Operations

 

The following table summarizes the Fund’s results of operations during the years ended December 31, 20192022 and 2018,2021, and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s financial statements and the notes thereto included within Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Annual Report.

 

  Year ended December 31, 
  2019  2018 
  (in thousands) 
Revenue      
Oil and gas revenue $9,378  $11,286 
Other revenue  285   61 
Total revenue  9,663   11,347 
Expenses        
Depletion and amortization  2,769   4,163 
Operating expenses  2,628   1,999 
Management fees to affiliate  1,062   1,061 
General and administrative expenses  184   192 
Other general expense  200   - 
Total expenses  6,843   7,415 
Income from operations  2,820   3,932 
Other income        
Other income  -   40 
Dividend income  36   17 
Interest income  37   16 
Total other income  73   73 
Net income $2,893  $4,005 

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  Year ended December 31, 
  2022  2021 
  (in thousands) 
Revenue      
Oil and gas revenue $11,289  $7,869 
Other revenue  375   444 
Total revenue  11,664   8,313 
Expenses        
Depletion and amortization  2,586   2,327 
Operating expenses  1,228   1,280 
Management fees to affiliate  938   942 
General and administrative expenses  153   155 
Total expenses  4,905   4,704 
Income from operations  6,759   3,609 
Other income        
Dividend income  23   33 
Interest income  16   - 
Total other income  39   33 
Net income $6,798  $3,642 

 

Overview. The following table provides information related to the Fund’s oil and gas production and oil and gas revenue during the years ended December 31, 20192022 and 2018.2021. NGL sales are included within gas sales.

 

 Year ended December 31,  Year ended December 31, 
 2019  2018  2022  2021 
Number of wells producing  14   13   13   13 
Total number of production days  4,286   3,086   4,258   4,160 
Oil sales (in thousands of barrels)  147   157   108   107 
Average oil price per barrel $59  $65  $93  $66 
Gas sales (in thousands of mcfs)  262   309   170   173 
Average gas price per mcf $2.54  $3.62  $6.88  $4.36 

 

The increaseproduction related increases noted in production days was primarily relatedthe table above were attributable to the commencement of production of two wells in the Beta Project, onewhich experienced significant periods of shut-ins during 2021 compared to 2022 due to well recompletion during May 2021 to September 2021 and storm-related safety shut-in during third quarter 2018 and one well during first quarter 2019. The decreases in oil and gas sales volumes were primarily related to the Beta, Liberty and Marmalard projects. The decrease in2021. In addition, the Beta Project experienced increases in production was primarilyrates during 2022 compared to 2021 from two of the project’s wells, which were recompleted and have been producing from new reservoir sands. The production related to periodic shut-ins during first half 2019increases were partially offset by the Diller and Marmalard projects, which experienced lower production rates due to certain drilling and completion operations performed atnatural declines in production. In addition, the project’s production facility. The Liberty Project experienced a decrease in production primarily as a result of shut-ins during 2019 due to mechanical work. The decrease in the Marmalard Project production was primarily attributable to two wells in the project, one well was periodicallyprojects were shut-in during 2019fourth quarter 2022 due to a mechanical issue and one well experienced a decline inat the Delta House production rate. facility.

See Item 1. “Business” of this Annual Report under the heading “Properties” for more information.

 

Oil and Gas Revenue. Oil and gas revenue during the year ended December 31, 20192022 was $9.4$11.3 million, a decreasean increase of $1.9$3.4 million from the year ended December 31, 2018.2021.  The decreaseincrease was primarily attributable to decreasedincreased oil and gas prices totaling $1.1 million coupled with decreased sales volume totaling $0.7 million.prices.

 

See“Overview” above for factors that impact the oil and gas revenue volume and rate variances.

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Other Revenue. Other revenue is generated from the Fund’s production handling, gathering and operating services agreement with an affiliated entityentities and other third parties. See Note 32 of “Notes to Financial Statements” – “Related Parties” contained in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” within this Annual Report for more information.

Depletion and Amortization. Depletion and amortization during the year ended December 31, 20192022 was $2.8$2.6 million, a decreasean increase of $1.4$0.3 million from the year ended December 31, 2018.2021. The decreaseincrease was primarily attributable to adjustments to the asset retirement obligations related to fully depleted properties totaling $0.6 million, partially offset by a decrease in the average depletion rate totaling $1.0 million coupled with a decrease in production volumes totaling $0.3 million. The decrease in the average depletion rate was primarily attributable to the changes in reservereserves estimates provided annually by the Fund’s independent petroleum engineers.

 

See“Overview” above for certain factors that impact the depletion and amortization volume and rate variances.

Operating Expenses.Operating expenses represent costs specifically identifiable or allocable to the Fund’s wells, as detailed in the following table.

 

 Year ended December 31,  Year ended December 31, 
 2019  2018  2022  2021 
 (in thousands)  (in thousands) 
Lease operating expense $1,256  $1,280  $658  $522 
Workover expense  785   89 
Transportation and processing expense  383   387   371   402 
Insurance expense  161   187   106   123 
Accretion expense and other  43   56 
Workover expense and other  50   185 
Accretion expense  43   48 
 $2,628  $1,999  $1,228  $1,280 

 

Lease operating expense and transportation and processing expense relate to the Fund’s producing projects. Workover expense represents costs to restore or stimulate production of existing reserves. During the year ended December 31, 2019, workover expense primarily related to remediation work for mechanical issues in the Marmalard Project. Insurance expense represents premiums related to the Fund’s projects, which vary depending upon the number of wells producing or drilling. Workover expense represents costs to restore or stimulate production of existing reserves. Accretion expense relates to the asset retirement obligations established for the Fund’s oil and gas properties.

 

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Production costs, which include lease operating expense, transportation and processing expense and insurance expense, were $1.8$1.1 million ($9.438.31 per barrel of oil equivalent or “BOE���“BOE”) during the year ended December 31, 2019,2022, compared to $1.9$1.0 million ($8.907.68 per BOE) during the year ended December 31, 2018.2021. Production costs and production costs per BOE were relatively consistent during the year ended December 31, 20192022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2018. 2021.

See“Overview” above for factors that impact oil and natural gas production.

 

Management Fees to Affiliate.An annual management fee, totaling 2.5% of total capital contributions, net of cumulative dry-hole well costs incurred by the Fund and fully depleted project investments, is paid monthly to the Manager.   All or a portion of such fee may be temporarily waived by the Manager to accommodate the Fund’s short-term commitments.

General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses represent costs specifically identifiable or allocable to the Fund, such as accounting and professional fees and insurance expenses.

 

Other General Expense. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Fund recorded other general expense of $0.2 million representing its proportionate share of a settlement for a litigation between the Beta Project’s operator and a third-party. Although the Fund was not party to the litigation, the Fund is responsible for its proportionate share of the costs of the litigation as well as any settlement made or judgement imposed upon the operator of the Beta Project if the claim is based upon or arises from operations on the Beta Project.  See Note 4 of “Notes to Financial Statements” – “Commitments and Contingencies” contained in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” within this Annual Report for information regarding this expense.  There was no such amount recorded during the year ended December 31, 2018.

Other Income.During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Fund recorded other income of $40 thousand related to a fee received upon execution of the Fund’s production handling, gathering and operating services agreement with an affiliated entity and other third parties. There were no such amounts recorded during the year ended December 31, 2019.

Dividend Income.  Dividend income is related to the Fund’s investment in Delta House.

Interest Income. Interest income is comprised of interest earned on cash and cash equivalents and salvage fund.

 

Capital Resources and Liquidity

Operating Cash Flows

Cash flows provided by operating activities during the year ended December 31, 20192022 were $6.2$9.3 million, primarily related to revenue received of $9.7 million coupled with interest and dividend income of $0.1$11.6 million, partially offset by operating expenses of $2.4$1.1 million, management fees of $1.1$0.9 million and general and administrative expenses of $0.2 million.

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Cash flows provided by operating activities during the year ended December 31, 20182021 were $8.2$5.6 million, primarily related to revenue received of $11.5$8.4 million, partially offset by operating expenses of $2.1$1.2 million, management fees of $1.1$0.9 million, the settlement of asset retirement obligations of $0.5 million and general and administrative expenses of $0.2$0.1 million.

 

Investing Cash Flows

Cash flows provided byused in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 20192022 were $0.2 million, related to proceeds from salvage fund of $0.7 million, and the reimbursement received from operator for capital expenditures of $0.6 million, partially offset byprimarily related to capital expenditures for oil and gas properties of $1.1$0.5 million and investments in salvage fund of $0.2 million. The reimbursement received from the operator for capital expenditures related to a portion of the cost of the Beta Project platform slot that was utilized by the other third-party working interest owners for the Beta Project’s 8th well. The Fund, as well as other funds managed by the Manager that invested in the Beta Project, elected not to participate in the drilling of the 8th well proposed by the Beta Project operator.

 

Cash flows used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 20182021 were $3.8$0.5 million, related to capital expenditures for oil and gas properties of $2.7$0.7 million and investments in salvage fund of $1.2$0.2 million, partially offset by proceeds from the salvage fund of $0.5 million.

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Financing Cash Flows

Cash flows used in financing activities during the year ended December 31, 20192022 were $6.4$9.2 million, related to manager and shareholder distributions.

 

Cash flows used in financing activities during the year ended December 31, 20182021 were $4.8$5.7 million, related to manager and shareholder distributions.

 

Estimated Capital Expenditures

 

The Fund has entered into multiple agreements for the acquisition, drilling and development of its oil and gas properties. The estimated capital expenditures associated with these agreements vary depending on the stage of development on a property-by-property basis. See Item 1. “Business” of this Annual Report under the heading “Properties” and “Liquidity Needs” below for additional information.

 

Capital expenditures for oil and gas properties have been funded with the capital raised by the Fund in its private placement offering. The Fund’s capital has been fully allocated to its projects. Asinvested and as a result, the Fund will not invest in any new projects and will limit its investment activities, if any, to those projects in which it currently has a working interest. Such investment activities, which include estimated capital spending on planned well recompletions and ongoing development of the Fund’s producing projects, are expected to be funded from cash flows from operations and existing cash-on-hand and not from equity, debt or off-balance sheet financing arrangements.

See Item 1. “Business” of this Annual Report under the heading “Properties” and “Liquidity Needs” below for additional information.

 

Liquidity Needs

 

The Fund’s primary short-term and long-term liquidity needs are to fund its operations and capital expenditures for its oil and gas properties. Such needs are funded utilizing operating income and existing cash on-hand.

 

As of December 31, 2019,2022, the Fund’s estimated capital commitments related to its oil and gas properties were $7.3$7.7 million (which include asset retirement obligations for the Fund’s projects of $4.1$3.9 million), of which $0.2$1.2 million is expected to be spent during the year ending December 31, 2020.2023. Future results of operations and cash flows are dependent on the ongoing developmentrevenues from production and the related productionsale of oil and gas revenues from the Fund’s producing projects. In addition, cash flow from operations may be impacted by fluctuations in oil and natural gas commodity prices. Based upon its current cash position, salvage fund and its current reservereserves estimates, the Fund expects cash flow from operations to be sufficient to cover its commitments and ongoing operations. ReserveReserves estimates are projections based on engineering data that cannot be measured with precision, require substantial judgment, and are subject to frequent revision.

 

The Manager is entitled to receive an annual management fee from the Fund regardless of the Fund’s profitability in that year. However, pursuant to the terms of the LLC Agreement, the Manager is also permitted to waive all or a portion of the management fee at its own discretion.

 

Distributions, if any, are funded from available cash from operations, as defined in the LLC Agreement, and the frequency and amount are within the Manager’s discretion. However, distributions may be impacted by amounts of future capital required for the ongoing development of the Diller and MarmalardFund’s producing projects, andas budgeted, as well as the funding of estimated asset retirement obligations. Distributions may also be impacted by fluctuations in oil and natural gas commodity prices.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Fund had no off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and does not anticipate the use of such arrangements in the future.

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Contractual Obligations

 

The Fund enters into participation and joint operating agreements with operators. On behalf of the Fund, an operator enters into various contractual commitments pertaining to exploration, development and production activities. The Fund does not negotiate such contracts. No contractual obligations exist as of December 31, 20192022 and 2018,2021, other than those discussed in “Estimated Capital“Capital Expenditures” above.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

See Note 1 of “Notes to Financial Statements” – “Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” contained in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” within this Annual Report for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements applicable to the Fund’s financial statements.

 

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ITEM 7A.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Not required.

 

ITEM 8.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

All financial statements meeting the requirements of Regulation S-X and the supplementary financial information required by Item 302(b) of Regulation S-K are included in the financial statements listed in Item 15. “Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules” and filed as part of this report.

 

ITEM 9.CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

ITEM 9A.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Fund, management of the Fund and the Manager carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Fund’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) as of December 31, 2019.2022. Based upon the evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Fund’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

 

Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management of the Fund is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)).  The Fund’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect all misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

Management of the Fund, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, assessed the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019.2022.  In making this assessment, management of the Fund used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the “COSO”) inInternal Control — Integrated Framework (2013). Based on their assessment using those criteria, management of the Fund concluded that, as of December 31, 2019,2022, the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting is effective.

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This Annual Report does not include an attestation report of the Fund’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Fund’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Fund, as a non-accelerated filer, to provide only management’s report in this Annual Report.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Fund have concluded that there have not been any changes in the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 20192022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 9B.OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

ITEM 9C.DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS

Not applicable.

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PART III

 

ITEM 10.DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

The Fund has engaged Ridgewood Energy as the Manager. The Manager has very broad authority, including the authority to appoint the executive officers of the Fund. Executive officers of the Fund and their ages as of December 31, 20192022 are as follows:

 

Name, Age and Position with Registrant
 

Robert E. Swanson, 7275

Chief Executive Officer

 

Kenneth W. Lang, 6568

President and Chief Operating Officer

 

Kathleen P. McSherry, 5457

Executive Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer

Robert L. Gold, 61 and

Executive Vice PresidentAssistant Secretary

 

Daniel V. Gulino, 5962

Senior Vice President General Counsel- Legal and Secretary

 

The officers in the above table have been officers of the Fund since March 25, 2008, the date of inception of the Fund, with the exception of Mr. Lang, who has been an officer of the Fund since June 2009. The officers are employed by and paid exclusively by the Manager. Set forth below is certain biographical information regarding the executive officers of Ridgewood Energy and the Fund:

 

Robert E. Swanson has served as the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and controlling shareholder of Ridgewood Energy since its inception and is the Chairman of the Investment Committee. Mr. Swanson is also the Chairman of Ridgewood Capital Management, LLC,the Investment Committee of Ridgewood Private Equity Partners, LLC Ridgewood Infrastructure, LLC and Ridgewood Securities Corporation, affiliates, an affiliate of Ridgewood Energy. Mr. Swanson is an inactive member of the New York and New Jersey State Bars. He is a graduate of Amherst College and Fordham University Law School.

 

Kenneth W. Langhas served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Ridgewood Energy since June 2009 and is a member of the Investment Committee. Effective February 1, 2020, Mr. Lang will relinquish the role of Chief Operating Officer of Ridgewood Energy. Prior to joining the Fund, Mr. Lang was with BP for twenty-four years, ultimately serving for his last two years with BP as Senior Vice President for BP’s Gulf of Mexico business and a member of the Board of Directors for BP America, Inc. Prior to that, Mr. Lang was Vice President – Production for BP. After twenty-four years of service to BP, Mr. Lang retired and devoted fifteen months of personal time to pursue and explore other interests. Mr. Lang is a graduate of the University of Houston.

 

Kathleen P. McSherry has served as the Executive Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary of Ridgewood Energy since 2001. Ms. McSherry holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Kean University.

 

Robert L. Gold has served as a senior officer of Ridgewood Energy since 1987 and is a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Gold has also served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Ridgewood Capital since its inception in 1998. Mr. Gold is a member of the New York State Bar. Mr. Gold is a graduate of Colgate University and New York University School of Law.

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Daniel V. Gulino is Senior Vice President - Legal Affairs and Secretary for Ridgewood Energy and has served in that capacity for Ridgewood Energy since 2003. Mr. Gulino also serves as Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs of Ridgewood Capital Management, LLC,Ridgewood Private Equity Partners, LLC and Ridgewood Infrastructure, LLCand Senior Vice President & General Counsel of Ridgewood Securities Corporation. Mr. Gulino is a member of the New Jersey State and Pennsylvania State Bars. Mr. Gulino is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University and Rutgers School of Law.

 

Board of Directors and Board Committees

The Fund does not have its own board of directors or any board committees. The Fund relies upon the Manager to provide recommendations regarding dispositions and financial disclosure.  Officers of the Fund are not compensated by the Fund, and all compensation matters are addressed by the Manager, as described in Item 11. “Executive Compensation” of this Annual Report.  Because the Fund does not maintain a board of directors and because officers of the Fund are compensated by the Manager, the Manager believes that it is appropriate for the Fund to not have a nominating or compensation committee.

 

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Code of Ethics

The Manager has adopted a code of ethics for all employees, including the Manager’s principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer. If any amendments are made to the code of ethics or the Manager grants any waiver, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of the code that applies to the Manager’s executive officers or principal financial and accounting officer, the Fund will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on the Manager’s website. Copies of the code of ethics are available, without charge, on the Manager’s website at www.ridgewoodenergy.com and in print upon written request to the business address of the Manager at 14 Philips Parkway, Montvale, New Jersey 07645, ATTN: General Counsel.Legal Department.

 

ITEM 11.EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The executive officers of the Fund do not receive compensation from the Fund. The Manager and its affiliates compensate the officers without additional payments by the Fund. See Item 13. “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence” of this Annual Report for more information regarding Manager compensation and payments to affiliated entities.

 

ITEM 12.           SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. Percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 492.3709 shares outstanding as of January 31, 2020.2023. No officer of the Manager or the Fund owns any of the Shares and no person owns more than 5% of the Shares.

 

ITEM 13.CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

 

Pursuant to the terms of the LLC Agreement, the Manager renders management, advisory and administrative services to the Fund. For such services, the Manager is entitled to receive an annual management fee, payable monthly, of 2.5% of total capital contributions, net of cumulative dry-hole well costs incurred by the Fund and fully depleted project investments. Management fees during each of the years ended December 31, 20192022 and 20182021 were $1.1$0.9 million.

 

The Manager is also entitled to receive 15% of the cash distributions from operations made by the Fund. Distributions paid to the Manager during the years ended December 31, 20192022 and 20182021 were $1.0$1.4 million and $0.7$0.9 million, respectively.

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Beta S&T and DH S&T, wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Manager, act as aggregators to and as an accommodation for the Fund and other funds managed by the Manager to facilitate the transportation and sale of oil and natural gas produced from the Beta, Diller and Marmalard projects. In 2016, as amended in April 2018 and September 2021 for DH S&T, the Fund entered into master agreements with Beta S&T and DH S&T pursuant to which Beta S&T and DH S&T are obligated to purchase from the Fund all of its interests in oil and natural gas produced from the Beta, Diller and Marmalard projects and sell such volumes to unrelated third-party purchasers. Pursuant to the master agreements, Beta S&T and DH S&T are pass-through entities such that they receive no benefit or compensation for the services provided under the master agreements or under any other agreements they enter into with regard to the oil and natural gas purchased from the Fund. The Fund and other funds managed by the Manager have agreed to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Beta S&T and DH S&T from and against all claims, liabilities, losses, causes of action, costs and expenses asserted against them as a result of or arising from any act or omission, breach and claims for losses or damages arising out of their dealing with third parties with respect to the transportation, processing or sale of oil and natural gas from the Beta, Diller and Marmalard projects. The revenues and expenses from the sale of oil and natural gas to third-party purchasers are recorded as oil and gas revenue and operating expenses in the Fund’s statements of operations and are allocable to the Fund based on the Fund’s working interest ownership in the Beta, Diller and Marmalard projects.

 

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The Fund and other third-party working interest owners in the Beta Project (collectively, the “Beta Project Owners”) are parties to a production handling, gathering and operating services agreement (“PHA”) with Ridgewood Claiborne, LLC, a wholly-owned entity of Ridgewood Energy Oil & Gas Fund II, L.P. (“Institutional Fund II”) and other third-party working interest owners in the Claiborne Project (collectively, the “Producers”), whereby the Beta Project Owners will provide services related to the production handling and delivery of oil and natural gas production from the Claiborne Project via their owned Beta Project production facility. Institutional Fund II is an entity that is managed by the Fund’s Manager. The PHA was effective on December 12, 2016 and will continue in effect unless terminated by default, by the Beta Project Owners or the Producers pursuant to the terms of the PHA (as amended on February 10, 2017, March 9, 2017, September 19, 2018, November 30, 2018 and December 1, 2018). On September 23, 2020, a third-party working interest owner of the Claiborne Project executed a consent letter to assign the rights to the services under the PHA to Ridgewood Rattlesnake, LLC, a wholly-owned entity of Ridgewood Energy Oil & Gas Fund III, L.P. (“Institutional Fund III”). On May 12, 2022, a third-party working interest owner executed an assignment and bill of sale agreement to assign the rights to the services under the PHA to Ridgewood Institutional IV Prospective Leases, LLC, a wholly-owned entity of Ridgewood Energy Oil & Gas Fund IV, L.P. (“Institutional Fund IV”). Institutional Fund II, Institutional Fund III and Institutional Fund IV are entities that are managed by the Fund’s Manager. Under the terms of the PHA, the Producers have agreed to pay the Beta Project Owners a fixed production handling fee for each barrel of oil and mcf of natural gas produced through the Beta Project production facility. See Note 32 of “Notes to Financial Statements” – “Related Parties” contained in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” within this Annual Report for more information regarding the PHA.

 

At times, short-term payables and receivables, which do not bear interest, arise from transactions with affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

 

The Fund has working interest ownership in certain oil and natural gas projects, which are also owned by other entities that are likewise managed by the Manager.

 

Profits and losses are allocated in accordance with the LLC Agreement. In general, profits and losses in any year are allocated 85% to shareholders and 15% to the Manager. The primary exception to this treatment is that all items of expense, loss, deduction and credit attributable to the expenditure of shareholders’ capital contributions are allocated 99% to shareholders and 1% to the Manager.

 

ITEM 14.PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTINGACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

The following table presents fees for services rendered by Deloitte & Touche LLP during the years ended December 31, 20192022 and 2018.2021.

 

  Year ended December 31, 
  2019  2018 
  (in thousands) 
Audit fees(1) $84  $87 
  Year ended December 31, 
  2022  2021 
  (in thousands) 
Audit fees (1) $80  $83 

 

(1)Fees for audit of annual financial statements, reviews of the related quarterly financial statements, and reviews of documents filed with the SEC.

 

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PART IV

 

ITEM 15.EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(a) (1) Financial Statements

 

See “Index to Financial Statements” set forth on page F-1.

 

(a) (2) Financial Statement Schedules

 

None.

(a) (3)

 

EXHIBIT

NUMBER

TITLE OF EXHIBIT METHOD OF FILING
    
3.1Certificate of Formation of Ridgewood Energy Y Fund, LLC dated March 25, 2008 Incorporated by reference to the Fund's Form 10 filed on February 17, 2009
    
3.2Amended Limited Liability Company Agreement between Ridgewood Energy Corporation and Investors of Ridgewood Energy Y Fund, LLC dated April 13, 2011 Incorporated by reference to the Fund's Form 10Q10-Q filed on April 28, 2011
    
4Description of Shares Filed herewithIncorporated by reference to the Fund’s Form 10-K filed on March 3, 2020
    
31.1Certification of Robert E. Swanson, Chief Executive Officer of the Fund, pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) Filed herewith
    
31.2Certification of Kathleen P. McSherry, Executive Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary of the Fund, pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) Filed herewith
    
32Certifications pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, signed by Robert E. Swanson, Chief Executive Officer of the Fund and Kathleen P. McSherry, Executive Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary of the Fund Filed herewith
    
99.1Report of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. Filed herewith
    
101.INSInline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document Filed herewith
    
101.SCHInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Filed herewith
    
101.CALInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Filed herewith
    
101.DEFInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document Filed herewith
    
101.LABInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Filed herewith
    
101.PREInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Filed herewith
104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL

and contained in Exhibit 101)

Filed herewith

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 RIDGEWOOD ENERGY Y FUND, LLC
     
     
Date:  March 3, 2020February 27, 2023By: /s/ ROBERT E. SWANSON 
   

Robert E. Swanson

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

SignatureCapacityDate
   
/s/ ROBERT E. SWANSONChief Executive OfficerMarch 3, 2020February 27, 2023
Robert E. Swanson  (Principal Executive Officer) 
   
   
/s/ KATHLEEN P. MCSHERRYExecutive Vice President, and Chief Financial OfficerMarch 3, 2020February 27, 2023
Kathleen P. McSherry    (Principaland Assistant Secretary
(Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
 
RIDGEWOOD ENERGY CORPORATION  
   
RIDGEWOOD ENERGY CORPORATION
BY:  /s/ ROBERT E. SWANSONChief Executive Officer of the ManagerMarch 3, 2020February 27, 2023
Robert E. Swanson  

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INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTSPAGE
  
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm(PCAOB ID No. 34)F-2
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 20192022 and 20182021F-3F-5
Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 20192022 and 20182021F-4F-6
Statements of Changes in Members' Capital for the years ended December 31, 20192022 and 20182021F-5F-7
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 20192022 and 20182021F-6F-8
Notes to Financial StatementsF-7F-9
Supplementary Financial Information - Information about Oil and Gas Producing Activities - UnauditedF-15F-17

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Shareholdersshareholders and the Manager of Ridgewood Energy Y Fund, LLC

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Ridgewood Energy Y Fund, LLC (the "Fund") as of December 31, 20192022 and 2018,2021, the related statements of operations, changes in members’members' capital, and cash flows, for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2019,2022, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 20192022 and 2018,2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2019,2022, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’sFund's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Oil and Gas Properties, Depletion and Amortization and Impairment of Long-Lived Assets - Refer to Note 1 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

As described in Note 1 to the financial statements, oil and gas properties are accounted for using the successful efforts method. Depletion and amortization of the cost of proved oil and gas properties are calculated using the units-of-production method. Proved developed reserves are used as the base for depleting capitalized costs associated with successful exploratory well costs, development costs and related facilities, other than offshore platforms. The sum of proved developed and proved undeveloped reserves is used as the base for depleting or amortizing leasehold acquisition costs and costs to construct offshore platforms and associated asset retirement costs. Also, the Fund reviews the carrying value of its oil and gas properties for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that the recorded carrying value of its oil and gas properties may not be recoverable. Recoverability is evaluated by comparing estimated future net undiscounted cash flows to the carrying value of the oil and gas properties at the time of the review. If the carrying value exceeds the estimated future net undiscounted cash flows, the carrying value of the oil and gas properties is impaired, and written down to fair value.

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Estimates of proved reserves are key components of the Fund’s most significant estimates involving its rate for recording depletion and amortization and estimated future cash flows of oil and gas properties used to test for impairment. Annually, the Fund engages an independent petroleum engineering firm to perform a comprehensive study of the Fund’s proved properties to determine the quantities of reserves and the period over which such reserves will be recoverable. The Fund’s estimates of proved reserves are based on the quantities of oil and natural gas that geological and engineering data demonstrate, with reasonable certainty, to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions. 

The Fund’s oil and gas properties, net balance was $6.1 million as of December 31, 2022 and depletion and amortization expense recognized was $2.6 million for the period ended December 31, 2022. No impairment was recognized during 2022.

We identified the impact of the oil and natural gas reserve quantities on the oil and gas properties and depletion and amortization financial statement line items and the evaluation of impairment of long-lived assets as a critical audit matter due to the significant judgments made by the Fund. The significant judgments made by the Fund include the use of specialists to develop and evaluate the Fund’s oil and natural gas reserve quantities, future cash flows, reserve risk weightings, future development costs, and future oil and natural gas commodity prices. Auditing these significant judgments required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the need to involve our fair value specialists.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to the Fund’s estimates and assumptions related to oil and natural gas reserve quantities included the following, among others:

·We evaluated the reasonableness of the Fund’s oil and natural gas reserve quantities by performing the following procedures:

oComparing the Fund’s oil and natural gas reserve quantities to historical production volumes.

oEvaluating the reasonableness of the methodology used and the production volume decline curve.

oUnderstanding the experience, qualifications and objectivity of management’s expert, an independent petroleum engineering firm.

oComparing forecasts of proved undeveloped oil and natural gas reserves to historical conversions of proved undeveloped oil and natural gas reserves and communication from third-party well operators.

·We evaluated management’s assessed reserve risk weighting associated with the development of proved, probable and possible oil and natural gas reserve quantities by comparing the assessed risk to industry surveys. 

·We evaluated the reasonableness of future development costs by comparing such costs to the approval for expenditures, historical well cost data and communication from third-party well operators.

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·We evaluated, with the assistance of our fair value specialists, the reasonableness of future oil and natural gas commodity prices by performing the following procedures:

oUnderstanding the methodology utilized by management for development of the future oil and natural gas commodity prices.

oComparing the future oil and natural gas commodity prices to an independently determined range of prices.

oComparing management’s future oil and natural gas commodity prices to published forward pricing indices and third-party industry sources. 

·We evaluated the future oil and natural gas commodity prices by comparing future oil and natural gas commodity price differentials to historical realized price differentials. 

 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

 

Parsippany,Morristown, New Jersey

March 3, 2020

February 27, 2023  

 

We have served as the Fund's auditor since 2008.

 

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RIDGEWOOD ENERGY Y FUND, LLC

BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data)

      
 December 31,  December 31, 
 2019  2018  2022  2021 
Assets          
Current assets:                
Cash and cash equivalents $3,250  $3,363  $1,621  $2,129 
Salvage fund  243   269 
Production receivable  1,062   841   842   689 
Due from affiliate (Note 3)  16   61 
Due from affiliate (Note 2)  12   23 
Other current assets  55   251   54   58 
Total current assets  4,383   4,516   2,772   3,168 
Salvage fund  3,301   3,964   3,328   3,094 
Investment in Delta House  119   119   119   119 
Oil and gas properties:                
Proved properties  33,179   33,083   29,632   28,931 
Less: accumulated depletion and amortization  (20,321)  (17,515)  (23,556)  (20,953)
Total oil and gas properties, net  12,858   15,568   6,076   7,978 
Total assets $20,661  $24,167  $12,295  $14,359 
                
Liabilities and Members' Capital                
Current liabilities:                
Due to operators $750  $988  $85  $93 
Accrued expenses  47   47   131   63 
Other current liabilities  200   - 
Asset retirement obligations  243   269 
Total current liabilities  997   1,035   459   425 
Asset retirement obligations  3,009   2,933   1,994   1,706 
Total liabilities  4,006   3,968   2,453   2,131 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 4)        
Commitments and contingencies (Note 3)        
Members' capital:                
Manager:                
Distributions  (5,832)  (4,866)  (8,429)  (7,051)
Retained earnings  6,431   5,609   9,076   7,688 
Manager's total  599   743   647   637 
Shareholders:                
Capital contributions (500 shares authorized;        
492.3709 issued and outstanding)  97,818   97,818 
Capital contributions (500 shares authorized;
492.3709 issued and outstanding)
 
 
 
 
 
97,818
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
97,818
 
 
Syndication costs  (11,668)  (11,668)  (11,668)  (11,668)
Distributions  (34,687)  (29,216)  (49,404)  (41,598)
Accumulated deficit  (35,407)  (37,478)  (27,551)  (32,961)
Shareholders' total  16,056   19,456   9,195   11,591 
Total members' capital  16,655   20,199   9,842   12,228 
Total liabilities and members' capital $20,661  $24,167  $12,295  $14,359 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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RIDGEWOOD ENERGY Y FUND, LLC

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

      
 Year ended December 31,  Year ended December 31, 
 2019  2018  2022  2021 
Revenue          
Oil and gas revenue $9,378  $11,286  $11,289  $7,869 
Other revenue  285   61   375   444 
Total revenue  9,663   11,347   11,664   8,313 
Expenses                
Depletion and amortization  2,769   4,163   2,586   2,327 
Operating expenses  2,628   1,999   1,228   1,280 
Management fees to affiliate (Note 3)  1,062   1,061 
Management fees to affiliate (Note 2)  938   942 
General and administrative expenses  184   192   153   155 
Other general expense  200   - 
Total expenses  6,843   7,415   4,905   4,704 
Income from operations  2,820   3,932   6,759   3,609 
Other income        
Other income  -   40         
Dividend income  36   17   23   33 
Interest income  37   16   16   - 
Total other income  73   73   39   33 
Net income $2,893  $4,005  $6,798  $3,642 
                
Manager Interest                
Net income $822  $1,189  $1,388  $879 
                
Shareholder Interest                
Net income $2,071  $2,816  $5,410  $2,763 
Net income per share $4,206  $5,718  $10,988  $5,611 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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RIDGEWOOD ENERGY Y FUND, LLC

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN MEMBERS' CAPITAL

(in thousands, except share data)

 # of Shares  Manager  Shareholders  Total              
Balances, December 31, 2017  492.3709  $267  $20,682  $20,949 
 # of Shares  Manager  Shareholders  Total 
Balances, December 31, 2020 -492.3709  $612  $13,668  $14,280 
Distributions  -   (713)  (4,042)  (4,755)  -   (854)  (4,840)  (5,694)
Net income  -   1,189   2,816   4,005  --   879   2,763   3,642 
Balances, December 31, 2018  492.3709  $743  $19,456  $20,199 
Balances, December 31, 2021 -492.3709  $637  $11,591  $12,228 
Distributions  -   (966)  (5,471)  (6,437)  -   (1,378)  (7,806)  (9,184)
Net income  -   822   2,071   2,893  --   1,388   5,410   6,798 
Balances, December 31, 2019  492.3709  $599  $16,056  $16,655 
Balances, December 31, 2022 -492.3709  $647  $9,195  $9,842 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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RIDGEWOOD ENERGY Y FUND, LLC

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

      
 Year ended December 31,  Year ended December 31, 
 2019  2018  2022  2021 
          
Cash flows from operating activities                
Net income $2,893  $4,005  $6,798  $3,642 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash        
provided by operating activities:        
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Depletion and amortization  2,769   4,163   2,586   2,327 
Accretion expense  42   45   43   48 
Changes in assets and liabilities:                
(Increase) decrease in production receivable  (221)  200 
Decrease (increase) in due from affiliate  45   (61)
Decrease (increase) in other current assets  196   (171)
Increase in due to operators  245   34 
Increase (decrease) in other current liabilities  200   (40)
Increase in production receivable  (153)  (42)
Decrease in due from affiliate  11   91 
Decrease in other current assets  4   10 
Decrease in due to operators  (1)  (25)
Increase in accrued expenses  68   16 
Settlement of asset retirement obligations  -   (20)  (9)  (458)
Net cash provided by operating activities  6,169   8,155   9,347   5,609 
                
Cash flows from investing activities                
Capital expenditures for oil and gas properties  (1,071)  (2,652)  (463)  (733)
Reimbursement from operator for capital expenditures  563   - 
Decrease (increase) in salvage fund  663   (1,163)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities  155   (3,815)
Proceeds from salvage fund  9   458 
Increase in salvage fund  (217)  (228)
Net cash used in investing activities  (671)  (503)
                
Cash flows from financing activities                
Distributions  (6,437)  (4,755)  (9,184)  (5,694)
Net cash used in financing activities  (6,437)  (4,755)  (9,184)  (5,694)
                
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents  (113)  (415)  (508)  (588)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year  3,363   3,778   2,129   2,717 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year $3,250  $3,363  $1,621  $2,129 
                
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activities                
Due to operators for accrued capital expenditures for
oil and gas properties
 $172  $655  $-  $7 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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RIDGEWOOD ENERGY Y FUND, LLC

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1. Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Organization

The Ridgewood Energy Y Fund, LLC (the “Fund”), a Delaware limited liability company, was formed on March 25, 2008 and operates pursuant to a limited liability company agreement (the “LLC Agreement”) dated as of May 1, 2008 by and among Ridgewood Energy Corporation (the “Manager”) and the shareholders of the Fund, which addresses matters such as the authority and voting rights of the Manager and shareholders, capitalization, transferability of membership interests, participation in costs and revenues, distribution of assets and dissolution and winding up. The Fund was organized to primarily acquire interests in oil and gas properties located in the United States offshore waters of Texas, Louisiana and Alabama in the Gulf of Mexico.

 

The Manager has direct and exclusive control over the management of the Fund’s operations. The Manager performs, or arranges for the performance of, the management, advisory and administrative services required for the Fund’s operations. Such services include, without limitation, the administration of shareholder accounts, shareholder relations, the preparation, review and dissemination of tax and other financial information and the management of the Fund’s investments in projects. In addition, the Manager provides office space, equipment and facilities and other services necessary for the Fund’s operations. The Manager also engages and manages contractual relations with unaffiliated custodians, depositories, accountants, attorneys, corporate fiduciaries, insurers, banks and others as required. See Notes 32 and 4.3.

 

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, management reviews its estimates, including those related to the fair value of financial instruments, depletion and amortization, determination of proved reserves, impairment of long-lived assets and asset retirement obligations. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

Fair Value Measurements

The Fund follows the accounting guidance for fair value measurement for measuring fair value of assets and liabilities in its financial statements. The fair value measurement guidance provides a hierarchy that prioritizes and defines the types of inputs used to measure fair value. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs, which consist of unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets. Level 2 inputs consist of quoted prices for similar instruments. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the instrument; hence, these inputs have the lowest priority.

 

The Fund’s financial assets and liabilities consist of cash and cash equivalents, salvage fund, production receivable, due from affiliate, other current assets, salvage fund, investment in Delta House, due to operators and accrued expenses and other current liabilities.expenses. Except for investment in Delta House, the carrying amounts of these instrumentsfinancial assets and liabilities approximate fair value due to their short-term nature. The Fund’s investment in Delta House is valued using the measurement alternative for investment in other entities (seeInvestment in Delta House below for additional information). The Fund also applies the provisions of the fair value measurement accounting guidance to its non-financial assets and liabilities, such as oil and gas properties and asset retirement obligations, on a non-recurring basis.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

All highly liquid investments with maturities, when purchased, of three months or less, are considered cash equivalents. These balances, as well as cash on hand, are included in “Cash and cash equivalents” on the balance sheet. As of December 31, 2019,2022, the Fund had no cash equivalents. At times, deposits may be in excess of federally insured limits, which are $250$250 thousand per insured financial institution. As of December 31, 2019,2022, the Fund’s bank balances, including salvage fund, were maintained in uninsured bank accounts at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

 

Salvage Fund

The Fund deposits cash in a separate interest-bearing account, or salvage fund, to provide for the dismantling and removal of production platforms and facilities and plugging and abandoning its wells at the end of their useful lives in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations. Interest earned on the account will become part of the salvage fund. There are no restrictions on withdrawals from the salvage fund.

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Investment in Delta House

The Fund has investments in Delta House Oil and Gas Lateral, LLC and Delta House FPS, LLC (collectively “Delta House”), legal entities that own interests in a deepwater floating production system operated by Murphy Exploration & Production Company - USA. The investment in Delta House is valued using the measurement alternative to record the investment at cost, less impairment and plus or minus subsequent adjustments for observable price changes with change in basis reported in current earnings. At each reporting period, the Fund reviews its investment in Delta House to evaluate whether the investment is impaired. Losses on investments, including impairments, are classified as non-operating losses in the Fund’s statements of operations. During the years ended December 31, 20192022 and 2018,2021, there were no impairments of the Fund’s investment in Delta House.

 

Oil and Gas Properties

The Fund invests in oil and gas properties, which are operated by unaffiliated entities that are responsible for drilling, administering and producing activities pursuant to the terms of the applicable operating agreements with working interest owners. The Fund’s portion of exploration, drilling, operating and capital equipment expenditures is billed by operators.

 

Acquisition, exploration and development costs are accounted for using the successful efforts method. Costs of acquiring unproved and proved oil and natural gas leasehold acreage, including lease bonuses, brokers’ fees and other related costs are capitalized. Costs of drilling and equipping productive wells and related production facilities are capitalized. The costs of exploratory wells are capitalized pending determination of whether proved reserves have been found. If proved commercial reserves are not found, exploratory well costs are expensed as dry-hole costs. At times, the Fund receives adjustments to certain wells from their respective operators upon review and audit of the wells’ costs. Annual lease rentals and exploration expenses are expensed as incurred. All costs related to production activity, transportation expense and workover efforts are expensed as incurred.

 

Once a property has been determined to be fully depleted or upon the sale, retirement or abandonment of a property, the cost and related accumulated depletion and amortization, if any, is eliminated from the property accounts, and the resultant gain or loss is recognized.

The Fund may be required to advance its share of the estimated succeeding month’s expenditures to the operator for its oil and gas properties. As the costs are incurred, the advances are reclassified to proved properties.

 

Accrued Expenses

Accrued expenses consist of the following:

Schedule of accrued expenses

  December 31, 
  2022  2021 
  (in thousands) 
Accrued royalty $71  $- 
Accrued accounting and legal fees  60   63 
  $131  $63 

Asset Retirement Obligations

For oil and gas properties, there are obligations to perform removal and remediation activities when the properties are retired. Upon the determination that a property is either proved or dry, a retirement obligation is incurred. The Fund recognizes the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period incurred based on expected future cash outflows required to satisfy the obligation discounted at the Fund’s credit-adjusted risk-free rate. Plug and abandonment costs associated with unsuccessful projects are expensed as dry-hole costs. Annually, or more frequently if an event occurs that would dictate a change in assumptions or estimates underlying the obligations, the Fund reassesses its asset retirement obligations to determine whether any revisions to the obligations are necessary. The Fund maintains a salvage fund to provide for the funding of future asset retirement obligations. The following table presents changes in asset retirement obligations during the years ended December 31, 20192022 and 2018:2021:

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Schedule of Changes in Asset Retirement Obligations

        
  December 31, 
  2022  2021 
  (in thousands) 
Balance, beginning of year $1,975  $3,102 
Liabilities settled  (9)  (458)
Accretion expense  43   48 
Revision of estimates  228   (717)
Balance, end of year $2,237  $1,975 

 

  December 31, 
  2019  2018 
  (in thousands) 
Balance, beginning of year $2,933  $2,812 
Liabilities incurred  -   53 
Liabilities settled  -   (20)
Accretion expense  42   45 
Revision of estimates  34   43 
Balance, end of year $3,009  $2,933 

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund recorded credits to depletion expense totaling $0.6 million, which related to adjustments to the asset retirement obligations for fully depleted properties.

 

Syndication Costs

Syndication costs are direct costs incurred by the Fund in connection with the offering of the Fund’s shares, including professional fees, selling expenses and administrative costs payable to the Manager, an affiliate of the Manager and unaffiliated broker-dealers, which are reflected on the Fund’s balance sheet as a reduction of shareholders’ capital.

 

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Revenue Recognition

The Fund recognizes oilOil and gas revenuerevenues from contracts with customers are recognized at the point when control of oil and natural gas is transferred to the customer at an amount that reflects the consideration the Fund expects to be entitled tocustomers in accordance with Accounting Standard Codification Topic 606,Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). The Fund’s revenue recognition policies, performance obligations and significant judgements in applyingASC 606 are described below.

 

Oil and Gas Revenue

Generally, the Fund sells oil and natural gas under two types of agreements, which are common in the oil and gas industry. Natural gas liquid (“NGL”) sales are included within gas sales.revenues. The Fund’s oil and natural gas generally are sold to its customers at prevailing market prices based on an index in which the prices are published, adjusted for pricing differentials, quality of oil and pipeline allowances.

 

In the first type of agreement, a netback agreement, the Fund receives a price, net of pricing differentials as well as transportation expense incurred by the customer, and the Fund records revenue at the wellhead at the net price received where control transfers to the customer. In the second type of agreement, the Fund delivers oil and natural gas to the customer at a contractually agreed-upon delivery point where the customer takes control. The Fund pays a third-party to transport the oil and natural gas and receives a specific market price from the customer net of pricing adjustments. The Fund records the transportation expense within operating expenses in the statements of operations.

 

Under the Fund’s natural gas processing contracts, the Fund delivers natural gas to a midstream processing company at the inlet of the midstream processing company’s facility. The midstream processing company gathers and processes the natural gas and remits the proceeds to the Fund for the sale of NGLs. In this type of arrangement, the Fund evaluates whether it is the principal or agent in the transaction. The Fund concluded that it is the principal and the ultimate third-party purchaser is the customer; therefore, the Fund recognizes revenue on a gross basis, with transportation, gathering and processing fees recorded as an expense within operating expenses in the statements of operations.

 

In certain instances, the Fund may elect to take its residue gas and NGLs in-kind at the tailgate of the midstream company’s processing plant and subsequently market such volumes. Through its marketing process, the Fund delivers the residue gas and NGLs to the ultimate third-party customer at a contractually agreed-upon delivery point and receives a specified market price from the customer. In this arrangement, the Fund recognizes revenue when control transfers to the customer at the delivery point based on the market price received from the customer. The transportation, gathering and processing fees are recorded as expense within operating expenses in the statements of operations.

 

The Fund assesses the performance obligations promised in its oil and natural gas contracts based on each unit of oil and natural gas that will be transferred to its customer because each unit is capable of being distinct. The Fund satisfies its performance obligation when control transfers at a point in time when its customer is able to direct the use of, and obtain substantially all of the benefits from, the oil and natural gas delivered. Under each of the Fund’s oil and natural gas contracts, contract prices are variable and based on an index in which the prices are published, which fluctuate as a result of related industry variables, adjusted for pricing differentials, quality of the oil and pipeline allowances. The use of index-based pricing with predictable differentials reduces the level of uncertainty related to oil and natural gas prices. Additionally, any variable consideration is not constrained. Payments are received in the month following the oil and natural gas production month. Adjustments that occur after delivery are reflected in revenue in the month payments are received.

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Transaction Price Allocated to Remaining Performance Obligations

Under the Fund’s oil and natural gas contracts, each unit of oil and natural gas represents a separate performance obligation; therefore, future volumes are wholly unsatisfied and the transaction price related to the remaining performance obligations is thevariable index-based price attributable to each unit of oil and natural gas that is transferred to the customer.

 

Contract Balances

The Fund invoices customers once its performance obligations have been satisfied, at which point the payment is unconditional. Accordingly, the Fund’s oil and natural gas contracts do not give rise to contract assets or liabilities under the new revenue standard.liabilities. The receivables related to the Fund’s oil and gas revenue are included within “Production receivable” on the Fund’s balance sheets.

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Other Revenue

Other revenue is generated from the Fund’s production handling, gathering and operating services agreement with an affiliated entityentities and other third parties. The Fund earns a fee for its services and recognizes these fees as revenue at the time its performance obligations are satisfied as the control of oil and natural gas is never transferred to the Fund, thus there are no unsatisfied performance obligations. The Fund’s project operator performs joint interest billing once the performance obligations have been satisfied, at which point the payment is unconditional. Accordingly, the Fund’s production handling, gathering and operating services agreement with an affiliated entityentities and other third parties does not give rise to contract assets or liabilities. The receivables related to the Fund’s proportionate share of revenue from an affiliateaffiliates are included within “Due from affiliate” on the Fund’s balance sheets. The receivables related to the Fund’s proportionate share of revenue from third parties are presented as a reduction from “Due to operator” on the Fund’s balance sheets. The receivables are settled by issuance of a non-cash credit from the Beta Project operator to the Fund when the operator performs the joint interest billing of the lease operating expenses due from the Fund. However, if applying the joint interest billing credit results in a net credit balance due to the Fund, the Beta Project operator remits such balance in cash to the Fund.

 

Prior Period Performance Obligations

The Fund records oil and gas revenue in the month production is delivered to its customers. However, settlement statements for residue gas and NGLs sales may not be received for 30 to 60 days after the date production is delivered. As a result, the Fund is required to estimate the amount of production delivered to the purchaser and the price that will be received for the sale of the residue gas and NGLs. The Fund records the differences between its estimates and the actual amounts received in the month that the payment is received from the customer. The Fund has an estimation process for revenue and related accruals, and any identified difference between its revenue estimates and actual revenue historically have not been significant. During the years ended December 31, 20192022 and 2018,2021, revenue recognized from performance obligations satisfied in previous periods was not significant.

 

Allowance for Credit Losses

The Fund is exposed to credit losses through the sale of oil and natural gas to customers. However, the Fund only sells to a small number of major oil and gas companies that have investment-grade credit ratings. Based on historical collection experience, current and future economic and market conditions and a review of the current status of customers' production receivables, the Fund has not recorded an expected loss allowance as there are no past due receivable balances or projected credit losses.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Fund reviews the carrying value of its oil and gas properties for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that the recorded carrying value of its oil and gas properties may not be recoverable. Impairments are determinedRecoverability is evaluated by comparing estimated future net undiscounted cash flows to the carrying value of the assetsoil and gas properties at the time of the review. If the carrying value exceeds the estimated future net undiscounted cash flows, the carrying value of the assetoil and gas properties is impaired, and written down to fair value. Fair value which is determined using a valuation techniquetechniques that considersinclude both market and income approaches and usesuse Level 3 inputs. The fair value determinations require considerable judgment and are sensitive to change. Different pricing assumptions, reserve estimates of oil and gas reserves and future development costs or discount rates could result in a different calculatedsignificant impact on the amount of impairment.

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There were no impairments of oil and gas properties during the years ended December 31, 20192022 and 2018. 2021. Fluctuations in oil and natural gas commodity prices may impact the fair value of the Fund’s oil and gas properties. IfIn addition, significant declines in oil and natural gas commodity prices decline, even if only for a short periodcould reduce the quantities of time, it is possiblereserves that impairments of oil and gas properties will occur.

are commercially recoverable, which could result in impairment. 

Depletion and Amortization

Depletion and amortization of the cost of proved oil and gas properties are calculated using the units-of-production method. Proved developed reserves are used as the base for depleting capitalized costs associated with successful exploratory well costs, development costs and related facilities, other than offshore platforms. The sum of proved developed and proved undeveloped reserves is used as the base for depleting or amortizing leasehold acquisition costs and costs to construct offshore platform and associated asset retirement costs.

Income Taxes

No provision is made for income taxes in the financial statements. The Fund is a limited liability company, and as such, the Fund’s income or loss is passed through and included in the tax returns of the Fund’s shareholders. The Fund files U.S. Federal and State tax returns and the 20162019 through 20182021 tax returns remain open for examination by tax authorities.

Income and Expense Allocation

Profits and losses are allocated to shareholders and the Manager in accordance with the LLC Agreement. In general, profits and losses in any year are allocated 85%85% to shareholders and 15%15% to the Manager. The primary exception to this treatment is that all items of expense, loss, deduction and credit attributable to the expenditure of shareholders’ capital contributions are allocated 99% to shareholders and 1% to the Manager.

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Distributions

Distributions to shareholders are allocated in proportion to the number of shares held. The Manager determines whether available cash from operations, as defined in the LLC Agreement, will be distributed. Such distributions are allocated 85% to the shareholders and 15% to the Manager, as required by the LLC Agreement.

 

Available cash from dispositions, as defined in the LLC Agreement, will be paid 99%99% to shareholders and 1%1% to the Manager until the shareholders have received total distributions equal to their capital contributions. After shareholders have received distributions equal to their capital contributions, 85%85% of available cash from dispositions will be distributed to shareholders and 15%15% to the Manager.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2018,The Fund has considered recent accounting pronouncements issued during the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued accounting guidance on fair value measurement, which adds, among other things, disclosure requirements foryear ended December 31, 2022 and through the rangefiling of this report, and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. This accounting guidance is effective for the Fund in the first quarter 2020 with early adoption permitted. The Fundhas not identified new standards that it believes will adopt this accounting guidance effective January 1, 2020. The adoption of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a materialan impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued accounting guidance on measurement of credit losses, which introduces, among other things, a new expected loss impairment model that applies to most financial assets measured at amortized cost and certain other instruments including trade and other receivables and other financial assets. Under the new accounting guidance, entities are required to estimate expected credit loss over the life of financial assets and record an allowance against the asset’s amortized cost basis to present the financial asset at the amount expected to be collected. The estimate of expected credit losses will require entities to incorporate considerations of historical information, current information and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The accounting guidance and the most recent update issued in February 2020 are effective for the Fund in the first quarter of 2023 with early adoption permitted. The Fund early adopted this accounting guidance and related updates on January 1, 2020 and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued accounting guidance on leases as amended on January 2018 and July 2018, which requires an entity to recognize all lease assets and liabilities with a term greater than one year on the balance sheet, disclose key quantitative and qualitative information about leasing arrangements, and permits an entity not to evaluate existing or expired land easements that were not previously assessed under the existing lease guidance. The accounting guidance does not apply to leases of mineral rights to explore for or use of oil and natural gas. The accounting guidance was effective for the Fund beginning January 1, 2019. Although the Fund, as a non-operator, does not enter into lease agreements to support its operations, the Fund completed its evaluation of existing contracts that may have a lease impact and embedded lease features to determine the contracts to which the new guidance applies. Based on this evaluation, the Fund determined its existing contracts did not meet the definition of leases under the new accounting guidance and therefore, did not qualify for lease accounting.

2. Oil and Gas Properties

The Fund as well as other funds managed by the Manager that invested in the Beta Project elected not to participate in the drilling of the 8th well proposed by Walter Oil and Gas Corporation. As a result, the Fund was due reimbursement for a portion of the cost relating to the slot on the Beta Project platform that was utilized by the other third-party working interest owners for the 8th well. On July 17, 2019, the Fund and the other third-party working interest owners in the Beta Project agreed to a reimbursement to the Fund of $0.6 million, which was recorded as a reduction to oil and gas properties on the Fund’s balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 and presented as “Reimbursement from operator for capital expenditures” in the investing section of the Fund’s statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2019.

3. Related Parties

 

Pursuant to the terms of the LLC Agreement, the Manager is entitled to receive an annual management fee, payable monthly, of 2.5%2.5% of total capital contributions, net of cumulative dry-hole well costs incurred by the Fund and fully depleted project investments.investments, however, the Manager is permitted to waive all or a portion of the management fee at its own discretion. Therefore, all or a portion of the management fee may be temporarily waived to accommodate the Fund’s short-term commitments. Management fees during each of the years ended December 31, 20192022 and 20182021 were $1.1$0.9 million.

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The Manager is also entitled to receive 15%15% of the cash distributions from operations made by the Fund. Distributions paid to the Manager during the years ended December 31, 20192022 and 20182021 were $1.0$1.4 million and $0.7$0.9 million, respectively.

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Transport Entities

The Fund utilizes Beta Sales and Transport, LLC (“Beta S&T”) and DH Sales and Transport, LLC (“DH S&T”), wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Manager, as aggregators to and as an accommodation for the Fund and other funds managed by the Manager to facilitate the transportation and sale of oil and natural gas produced from the Beta, Diller and Marmalard projects.  In 2016, as amended in April 2018 and September 2021 for DH S&T, the Fund entered into master agreements with Beta S&T and DH S&T pursuant to which Beta S&T and DH S&T are obligated to purchase from the Fund all of its interests in oil and natural gas produced from the Beta, Diller and Marmalard projects and sell such volumes to unrelated third-party purchasers. Pursuant to the master agreements, Beta S&T and DH S&T are pass-through entities such that they receive no benefit or compensation for the services provided under the master agreements or under any other agreements they enter into with regard to the oil and natural gas purchased from the Fund. The Fund and other funds managed by the Manager have agreed to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Beta S&T and DH S&T from and against all claims, liabilities, losses, causes of action, costs and expenses asserted against them as a result of or arising from any act or omission, breach and claims for losses or damages arising out of their dealing with third parties with respect to the transportation, processing or sale of oil and natural gas from the Beta, Diller and Marmalard projects. The revenues and expenses from the sale of oil and natural gas to third-party purchasers are recorded as oil and gas revenue and operating expenses in the Fund’s statements of operations and are allocable to the Fund based on the Fund’s working interest ownership in the Beta, Diller and Marmalard projects.

 

Production Handling, Gathering and Operating Services Agreement

The Fund and other third-party working interest owners in the Beta Project (collectively, the “Beta Project Owners”) are parties to a production handling, gathering and operating services agreement (“PHA”) with Ridgewood Claiborne, LLC, a wholly-owned entity of Ridgewood Energy Oil & Gas Fund II, L.P. (“Institutional Fund II”) and other third-party working interest owners in the Claiborne Project (collectively, the “Producers”), whereby the Beta Project Owners will provide services related to the production handling and delivery of oil and natural gas production from the Claiborne Project via their owned Beta Project production facility. Institutional Fund II is an entity that is managed by the Fund’s Manager. The PHA was effective on December 12, 2016 and will continue in effect unless terminated by default, by the Beta Project Owners or the Producers pursuant to the terms of the PHA (as amended on February 10, 2017, March 9, 2017, September 19, 2018, November 30, 2018 and December 1, 2018). On September 23, 2020, a third-party working interest owner of the Claiborne Project executed a consent letter to assign the rights to the services under the PHA to Ridgewood Rattlesnake, LLC, a wholly-owned entity of Ridgewood Energy Oil & Gas Fund III, L.P. (“Institutional Fund III”). On May 12, 2022, a third-party working interest owner executed an assignment and bill of sale agreement to assign the rights to the services under the PHA to Ridgewood Institutional IV Prospective Leases, LLC, a wholly-owned entity of Ridgewood Energy Oil & Gas Fund IV, L.P. (“Institutional Fund IV”). Institutional Fund II, Institutional Fund III and Institutional Fund IV are entities that are managed by the Fund’s Manager. Under the terms of the PHA, the Producers have agreed to pay the Beta Project Owners a fixed production handling fee for each barrel of oil and mcf of natural gas processed through the Beta Project production facility.

 

During fourth quarter 2018, the Beta Project Owners commenced their production and handling services for the oil and natural gas produced from the Claiborne Project. During each of the years ended December 31, 20192022 and 2018,2021, the Fund earned $0.1$0.1 million, representing its proportionate share of the production handling fees earned from Institutional Fund II,affiliates, which isare included within “Other revenue” on the Fund’s statements of operations. As of December 31, 20192022 and 2018,2021, the Fund’s receivables of $16$12 thousand and $0.1 million,$23 thousand, respectively, related to the Fund’s proportionate share of revenue from Institutional Fund IIaffiliates are included within “Due from affiliate” on the Fund’s balance sheets. The receivables are settled by issuance of a non-cash credit from the Beta Project operator to the Fund on behalf of the Claiborne Project working interest owners when the operator performs the joint interest billing of the lease operating expenses due from the Fund. DuringHowever, if applying the year ended December 31, 2018,joint interest billing credit results in a net credit balance due to the Fund, recorded other income of $40 thousand relatedthe Beta Project operator remits such balance in cash to a fee received upon execution of the PHA. There were no such amounts recorded during the year ended December 31, 2019.Fund.

 

At times, short-term payables and receivables, which do not bear interest, arise from transactions with affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

 

The Fund has working interest ownership in certain oil and natural gas projects, which are also owned by other entities that are likewise managed by the Manager.

 

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4. 3. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Capital Commitments

As of December 31, 2019,2022, the Fund’s estimated capital commitments related to its oil and gas properties were $7.3 $7.7 million (which include asset retirement obligations for the Fund’s projects of $4.1 $3.9 million), of which $0.2 $1.2 million is expected to be spent during the year ending December 31, 2020.2023. Future results of operations and cash flows are dependent on the ongoing developmentrevenues from production and the related productionsale of oil and natural gas revenues from the Fund’s producing projects.

Based upon its current cash position, salvage fund and its current reservereserves estimates, the Fund expects cash flow from operations to be sufficient to cover its commitments and ongoing operations. ReserveReserves estimates are projections based on engineering data that cannot be measured with precision, require substantial judgment, and are subject to frequent revision.

 

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Other ContingenciesImpact from market conditions

The operator wasoil and gas market, and the global economy in general, is subject to litigation withsources of uncertainty relating to: (i) further escalation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which could result in a third-party, relatingmajor oil supply disruption; (ii) a prolonged high inflationary environment, which could result in a deep global recession; and (iii) the refilling of strategic petroleum reserves by the U.S. and other nations, which could add to change order requests for the Beta Project platform.crude demand and potentially push oil prices higher. The Fund was not a named party to the lawsuit filedimpact of these matters on global financial and was not a party to the litigation; however, under the operating agreement (“OA”)commodity markets and their corresponding effect on the Fund is responsible for its proportionate share of costs of the litigation as well as any settlements made or judgement imposed upon the operator if the claim is based upon or arises from operations on the Beta project. Under the OA, the settlement required the Fund’s approval.  In February 2020, the Fund approved its proportionate share of the proposed settlement amount. The Fund determined that the approval of the proposed settlement represented the culmination of conditions existing as of December 31, 2019, and as a result, the Fund recorded its proportionate share of the settlement totaling $0.2 million within “Other general expense” on its statements of operations during the year ended December 31, 2019.remains uncertain.

 

Environmental and Governmental Regulations

Many aspects of the oil and gas industry are subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. The Manager and operators of the Fund’s properties are continually taking action they believe appropriate to satisfy applicable federal, state and local environmental regulations. However, due to the significant public and governmental interest in environmental matters related to those activities, the Manager cannot predict the effects of possible future legislation, rule changes, or governmental or private claims. As of December 31, 20192022 and 2018,2021, there were no known environmental contingencies that required adjustment to, or disclosure in, the Fund’s financial statements.

 

Oil and gas industry legislation and administrative regulations are periodically changed for a variety of political, economic, and other reasons. Any such future laws and regulations could result in increased compliance costs or additional operating restrictions, which could have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s operating results and cash flows. It is not possible at this time to predict whether such legislation or regulation, if proposed, will be adopted as initially written, if at all, or how legislation or new regulation that may be adopted would impact the Fund’s business.

 

BOEM Notice to Lessees on Supplemental BondingFinancial Assurance Requirements

On July 14, 2016, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (“BOEM”) issued a Notice to Lessees (“NTL 2016-N01”) that discontinued and materially replaced existing policies and procedures regarding financial security (i.e. supplemental bonding) for decommissioning obligations of lessees of federal oil and natural gas leases and owners of pipeline rights-of-way, rights-of userights-of-use and easements on the Outer Continental Shelf (“Lessees”).  Generally, NTL 2016-N01 (i) ended the practice of excusing Lessees from providing such additional security where co-lessees had sufficient financial strength to meet such decommissioning obligations, (ii) established new criteria for determining financial strength and additional security requirements of such Lessees, (iii) provided acceptable forms of such additional security, and (iv) replaced the waiver system with one of self-insurance.  The rule became effective as of September 12, 2016; however, on January 6, 2017, the BOEM announced that it was suspending the implementation timeline for six months in certain circumstances.  On May 1, 2017, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior (“Interior”) directed the BOEM to complete a review of NTL 2016-01,2016-N01, to provide a report to certain Interior personnel describing the results of the review and options for revising or rescinding NTL 2016-N01, and to keep the implementation timeline extension in effect pending the completion of the review of NTL 2016-N01 by the identified Interior personnel. 

On June 22, 2017,October 16, 2020, BOEM and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement published a proposed new rule at 85 FR 65904 on Risk, Management, Financial Assurance and Loss Prevention, addressing the streamlining of evaluation criteria when determining whether oil, gas and sulfur leases, right-of-use and easement grant holders, and pipeline right-of-way grant holders may be required to provide bonds or other security above the prescribed amounts for base bonds to ensure compliance with the Lessees’ obligations, primarily decommissioning obligations. The proposed rule was significantly less stringent with respect to financial assurance than NTL 2016-N01. To date, the BOEM announced that the implementation timeline extension will remain in effect pending the completion of the review ofis not currently implementing NTL 2016-N01. As of December 31, 2019, the2016-N01 and its status is uncertain, and BOEM has not lifted its suspension ofindicated that it is reviewing the implementation of NTL 2016-N01.  The impactproposed rule.

Notwithstanding the uncertain status of NTL 2016-N01, if enforced without change or amendment,BOEM had continued under existing law to review supplemental financial assurance requirements relative to sole liability properties (i.e., properties in which only one company is liable for decommissioning).  However, on August 18, 2021, the BOEM issued a Note to Stakeholders in which the BOEM stated that it was expanding its financial assurance efforts beyond sole liability projects to include “supplemental financial assurance of certain high-risk, non-sole liability properties” (those properties with more than one company potentially liable for decommissioning costs). The BOEM identified (i) inactive properties, (ii) those with less than five years of production left, and (iii) those with damaged infrastructure, as being high-risk, non-sole liability properties and for which supplemental financial assurance may be required.  The BOEM may require the Fund to fully secure all of its potential abandonment liabilities, to the BOEM’s satisfaction using one or more of the enumerated methods for doing so.  Potentially thiswhich potentially could increase costs to the Fund if theFund. The Fund is requirednot able to obtain additional supplemental bonding, fund escrow accountsevaluate the impact of the proposed new rule on its operations or obtain letters of credit.financial condition until a final rule is issued or some other definitive action is taken by the Interior or BOEM.

 

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Insurance Coverage

The Fund is subject to all risks inherent in the oil and natural gas business. Insurance coverage as is customary for entities engaged in similar operations is maintained, but losses may occur from uninsurable risks or amounts in excess of existing insurance coverage. The occurrence of an event that is not insured or not fully insured could have a material adverse impact upon earnings and financial position. Moreover, insurance is obtained as a package covering all of the entities managed by the Manager. Depending on the extent, nature and payment of claims made by the Fund or other entities managed by the Manager, yearly insurance coverage may be exhausted and become insufficient to cover a claim by the Fund in a given year.

 

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Information about Oil and Gas Producing Activities

Ridgewood Energy Y Fund, LLC

Supplementary Financial Information

Information about Oil and Gas Producing Activities – Unaudited

 

In accordance with the FASB guidance on disclosures of oil and gas producing activities, this section provides supplementary information on oil and gas exploration and producing activities of the Fund. The Fund is engaged solely in oil and gas activities, all of which are located in the United States offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

 

Table I - Capitalized Costs Relating to Oil and Gas Producing Activities

Schedule of Capitalized Costs Relating to Oil and Gas Producing Activities

  December 31, 
  2019  2018 
  (in thousands) 
Proved properties $33,179  $33,083 
Accumulated depletion and amortization  (20,321)  (17,515)
Oil and gas properties, net $12,858  $15,568 

        
  December 31, 
  2022  2021 
  (in thousands) 
Proved properties $29,632  $28,931 
Accumulated depletion and amortization  (23,556)  (20,953)
Oil and gas properties, net $6,076  $7,978 

 

Table II - Costs Incurred in Oil and Gas Property Acquisition, Exploration, and Development

Schedule of Costs Incurred in Oil and Gas Property Acquisition, Exploration, and Development

 Year ended December 31,       
 2019  2018  Year ended December 31, 
 (in thousands)  2022  2021 
Exploration costs $1  $12 
 (in thousands) 
Development costs  59   2,903  $702  $42 
 $60  $2,915 
Total Costs $702  $42 

 

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Table III - Reserve Quantity Information

Schedule of Reserve Quantity Information

 

Oil and gas reserves of the Fund have been estimated by independent petroleum engineers, Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. at December 31, 20192022 and 2018.2021. These reserve disclosures have been prepared in compliance with the Securities and Exchange Commission rules. Due to inherent uncertainties and the limited nature of recovery data, estimates of reserve information are subject to change as additional information becomes available.

 

 December 31, 2019  December 31, 2018  December 31, 2022  December 31, 2021 
 United States  United States 
 Oil (MBBL)  NGL (MBBL)  Gas (MMCF)  Total (MBOE) (a)  Oil (MBBL)  NGL (MBBL)  Gas (MMCF)  Total (MBOE) (a)  Oil (MBBL)  NGL (MBBL)  Gas (MMCF)  Total (MBOE) (a)  Oil (MBBL)  NGL (MBBL)  Gas (MMCF)  Total (MBOE) (a) 
                                  
Proved developed and undeveloped reserves:                                Proved developed and undeveloped reserves:                         
Beginning of year  813.1   211.6   1,832.9   1,330.3   660.6   147.9   1,486.9   1,056.4   554.6   142.0   1,062.4   873.6   501.6   118.8   926.1   774.7 
Extensions and discoveries (b)  -   -   -   -   53.5   2.0   20.5   58.9 
Revisions of previous estimates (c)  31.0   (32.4)  (300.7)  (51.6)  255.6   82.7   514.6   424.1 
Revisions of previous estimates (b)Revisions of previous estimates (b) 22.8   (5.3)  (89.2  2.7   160.5   36.8   229.2   235.5 
Production  (146.8)  (18.7)  (147.0)  (190.0)  (156.6)  (21.0)  (189.1)  (209.1)  (108.2)  (14.0)  (86.8)  (136.7)  (107.5)  (13.6)  (92.9)  (136.6)
End of year  697.3   160.5   1,385.2   1,088.7   813.1   211.6   1,832.9   1,330.3   469.2   122.7   886.4   739.6   554.6   142.0   1,062.4   873.6 
                                                                
Proved developed reserves:                                                                
Beginning of year  655.4   128.3   1,080.4   963.9   501.9   92.2   914.9   746.6   339.9   67.7   497.5   490.4   430.6   75.7   579.5   602.9 
End of year  600.8   97.5   821.9   835.3   655.4   128.3   1,080.4   963.9   327.2   71.7   515.1   484.7   339.9   67.7   497.5   490.4 
                                                                
Proved undeveloped reserves:                                                                
Beginning of year  157.7   83.3   752.5   366.4   158.7   55.7   572.0   309.8   214.7   74.3   564.9   383.2   71.0   43.1   346.6   171.8 
End of year  96.5   63.0   563.3   253.4   157.7   83.3   752.5   366.4   142.0   51.0   371.3   254.9   214.7   74.3   564.9   383.2 

 

(a)BOE refers to barrel of oil equivalent.equivalent. Barrel of oil equivalent is based on six MCF of natural gas to one barrel of oil or one barrel of NGL, which reflects an energy content equivalency and not a price or revenue equivalency.
(b)Extensions and discoveries as of December 31, 2018 were attributable to extensions for the Diller Project.
(c)Revisions of previous estimates were attributable to well performance.

 

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Table IV - Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows Relating to Proved Oil and Gas Reserves

Schedule of Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows Relating to Proved Oil and Gas Reserves

 

Summarized in the following table is information for the Fund with respect to the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserves. Future cash inflows were determined based on average first-of-the-month pricing for the prior twelve month period. Future production and development costs are derived based on current costs assuming continuation of existing economic conditions.

 

      
 December 31,  December 31, 
 2019  2018  2022  2021 
 (in thousands)  (in thousands) 
Future cash inflows $44,290  $62,185  $53,318  $41,620 
Future production costs  (11,169)  (11,034)  (11,572)  (11,093)
Future development costs  (6,498)  (7,216)  (7,899)  (6,283)
Future net cash flows  26,623   43,935   33,847   24,244 
10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash flows  (5,750)  (11,070)  

(8,467

)  (6,781)
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows $20,873  $32,865  $25,380  $17,463 

 

Table V - Changes in the Standardized Measure for Discounted Cash Flows

Schedule of Changes in the Standardized Measure for Discounted Cash Flows

 

The changes in present values between years, which can be significant, reflect changes in estimated proved reserve quantities and prices and assumptions used in forecasting production volumes and costs.

 

      
 Year ended December 31,  Year ended December 31, 
 2019  2018  2022  2021 
 (in thousands)  (in thousands) 
Net change in sales and transfer prices and in production costs
related to future production
 $(6,591) $12,609  $

15,281

  $13,142 
Sales and transfers of oil and gas produced during the period  (7,578)  (9,432)  (10,154)  (6,821)
Net change due to extensions, discoveries, and improved recovery  -   1,878 
Changes in estimated future development costs  26   (162)  

(1,616

  (51)
Net change due to revisions in quantities estimates  (1,230)  12,197   115   5,928 
Accretion of discount  3,287   1,392   1,746   528 
Other  94   464   2,545   (546)
Aggregate change in the standardized measure of discounted future net
cash flows for the year
 $(11,992) $18,946  $

7,917

  $12,180 

 

It is necessary to emphasize that the data presented should not be viewed as representing the expected cash flow from, or current value of, existing proved reserves as the computations are based on a number of estimates. Reserve quantities cannot be measured with precision and their estimation requires many judgmental determinations and frequent revisions. The required projection of production and related expenditures over time requires further estimates with respect to pipeline availability, rates and governmental control. Actual future prices and costs are likely to be substantially different from the current price and cost estimates utilized in the computation of reported amounts. Any analysis or evaluation of the reported amounts should give specific recognition to the computational methods utilized and the limitation inherent therein.

 

F-17

F-19