The depletion rate for West Cameron 593 increased as a result of a decrease in the well’s December 31, 2008 reserve estimates as reported by the Fund’s independent petroleum engineers.
Lease operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 were related to the West Cameron 593 and Eugene Island 354 wells. Accretion expense is related to the asset retirement obligations established for the Fund’s proved properties.
Accounting fees represent annual audit and tax preparation fees, quarterly reviews and filing fees incurred by the Fund. Insurance expense represents premiums related to producing well and control of well insurance, which varies dependent upon the number of wells producing or drilling, and director’s and officers’ liability insurance. Trust fees represent bank fees associated with the management of the Fund’s cash accounts.
Interest Income. Interest income is comprised of interest earned on money market accounts and investments in U.S. Treasury securities. Interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $18 thousand, a $0.2 million decrease from the three months ended March 31, 2008. The decrease was the result of a reduction in average outstanding balances earning interest, due to ongoing capital expenditures for oil and gas properties, coupled with lower interest rates earned.
Capital Resources and Liquidity
Operating Cash Flows
Cash flows used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2009 were $0.2 million, principally attributable to management fees of $0.4 million, payments for West Cameron 593 workover expenses of $0.3 million, operating expenses of $0.2 million and general and administrative expenses of $0.1 million, partially offset by revenue receipts of $0.8 million.
Cash flows provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2008 were $3.5 million principally attributable to revenue receipts of $4.4 million and interest income received of $0.1 million, partially offset by management fees of $0.5 million, operating expenses of $0.3 million and general and administrative expenses of $0.2 million.
Investing Cash Flows
Cash flows used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2009 were $2.0 million related to capital expenditures for oil and gas properties totaling $2.0 million, inclusive of advances. Additionally, the Fund increased its salvage fund investments by $7 thousand, which consisted of the interest earned on this account.
Cash flows provided by investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2008 were $17.1 million principally related to proceeds from the maturity of U.S. Treasury securities totaling $19.7 million partially offset by capital expenditures for oil and gas properties of $2.6 million. Additionally, the Fund increased its salvage fund investments by $8 thousand, which consisted of the interest earned on this account.
Financing Cash Flows
Cash flows used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2009 were $0.3 million related to distributions paid.
Cash flows used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2008 were $3.7 million related to distributions paid.
Estimated Capital Expenditures
The Fund has entered into multiple agreements for the drilling and development of its investment properties. The estimated capital expenditures associated with these agreements can vary depending on the stage of development on a property-by-property basis. As of March 31, 2009, the Fund had committed to spend an additional $0.6 million related to its investment properties.
When the Manager makes a decision to participate in a particular project, it assumes that the well will be successful and allocates enough capital to budget for the completion of that well and the additional development wells and infrastructure anticipated. If an exploratory well is deemed a dry hole or if it is un-economical, the capital allocated to the completion of that well and to the development of additional wells is then reallocated to a new project or used to make additional investments.
Capital expenditures for investment properties are funded with the capital raised by the Fund in its private placement offering, which is more than likely, all the capital it will be able to obtain. The number of projects in which the Fund can invest will naturally be limited, and each unsuccessful project the Fund experiences will reduce its ability to generate revenue and exhaust its capital. Typically, the Manager seeks an investment portfolio that combines high and low risk exploratory projects.
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Liquidity Needs
The Fund’s primary short-term liquidity needs are to fund its operations, inclusive of management fees, and capital expenditures for its investment properties. Operations are funded utilizing operating income, existing cash on-hand, short-term investments and income earned therefrom.
The Manager is entitled to receive an annual management fee from the Fund regardless of the Fund’s profitability in that year. Generally, all or a portion of the management fee is paid from operating income and interest income, although the management fee can be paid out of capital contributions; however, this is not the Fund’s intent.
Distributions are funded from cash flow from operations, and the frequency and amount are within the Manager’s discretion subject to available cash from operations, reserve requirements and the Fund’s operations.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Fund had no off-balance sheet arrangements as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 and does not anticipate the use of such arrangements in the future.
Contractual Obligations
The Fund enters into 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 any such contracts. No contractual obligations exist at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 other than those discussed in “Estimated Capital Expenditures” above.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 3 of Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements – “Recent Accounting Standards” contained in this Quarterly Report for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not required.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
In accordance with Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15, the Fund carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Fund’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2009.
There has been no change in the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2009 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
There have been no changes to the legal proceedings disclosed in the Fund’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Not required.
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ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
None.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
None.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
| | | | |
EXHIBIT NUMBER | | TITLE OF EXHIBIT | | METHOD OF FILING |
| | | | |
| | | | |
31.1 | | Certification of Robert E. Swanson, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a). | | Filed herewith |
31.2 | | Certification of Kathleen P. McSherry, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a). | | Filed herewith |
32 | | Certifications 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, Chief Financial Officer of the Fund. | | Filed herewith |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| | | | |
Dated: May 4, 2009 | | | | RIDGEWOOD ENERGY P FUND, LLC |
| | | | |
| | By: | /s/ | ROBERT E. SWANSON |
| | | | |
| | | Name: | Robert E. Swanson |
| | | Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
Dated: May 4, 2009 | | | | |
| | By: | /s/ | KATHLEEN P. McSHERRY |
| | | | |
| | | Name: | Kathleen P. McSherry |
| | | Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
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