Whiting USA Trust II (WHZT) 10-Q 2020 Q3 Quarterly report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

þ     QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2020

OR

◻     TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _______ to _______

Commission File Number: 001-35459

WHITING USA TRUST II

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	38-7012326
(State or other jurisdiction of	(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)	Identification No.)
The Bank of New York Mellon
Trust Company, N.A., Trustee
Global Corporate Trust
601 Travis Street, 16th Floor
Houston, Texas	77002
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(512) 236-6599

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ   No ◻

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). Yes ◻   No ◻

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 filer    ◻	Smaller reporting company    þ
Accelerated filer             ◻	Emerging growth company    ◻

Non-accelerated filer      þ

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.  ◻

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ◻   No þ

As of November 10, 2020, 18,400,000 Units of Beneficial Interest in Whiting USA Trust II were outstanding.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Glossary of Certain Definitions		1
	PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.	Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)	5
	Condensed Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Trust Corpus as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019	5
	Condensed Statements of Distributable Income for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019	5
	Condensed Statements of Changes in Trust Corpus for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019	5
	Notes to Condensed Modified Cash Basis Financial Statements	6
Item 2.	Trustee’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	11
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	19
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	19
	PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	20
Item 6.	Exhibits	22

GLOSSARY OF CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

The following are definitions of significant terms used in this report:

“ASC” Accounting Standards Codification.

“August 2020 net loss” The net loss generated by the NPI during the second quarterly payment period of 2020, which resulted in no distribution to Trust unitholders of record on August 19, 2020.

“August 2019 distribution” The cash distribution to Trust unitholders of record on August 19, 2019 that was paid on August 29, 2019.

“average annual capital expenditure amount” The quotient of (a) the sum of (i) the capital expenditures and (ii) the amounts reserved for approved capital expenditure projects, in each case attributable to the three years ended December 31, 2017, divided by (b) three. Such amount is increased annually by 2.5% which began on December 31, 2017.

“Bbl” One stock tank barrel, or 42 U.S. gallons liquid volume, used in this report in reference to oil and other liquid hydrocarbons.

“BOE” One stock tank barrel of oil equivalent, computed on an approximate energy equivalent basis that one Bbl of crude oil equals six Mcf of natural gas and one Bbl of crude oil equals one Bbl of natural gas liquids.

“completion” The process of preparing an oil and gas wellbore for production through the installation of permanent production equipment, as well as perforation or fracture stimulation as required to optimize production.

“COPAS” The Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies, Inc.

“costless collar” An option position where the proceeds from the sale of a call option at its inception fund the purchase of a put option at its inception.

“deterministic method” The method of estimating reserves or resources using a single value for each parameter (from the geoscience, engineering or economic data) in the reserves calculation.

“differential” The difference between a benchmark price of oil and natural gas, such as the NYMEX crude oil spot price, and the wellhead price received.

“farm-in or farm-out agreement” An agreement under which the owner of a working interest in an oil or natural gas lease typically assigns the working interest or a portion of the working interest to another party who desires to drill on the leased acreage. Generally, the assignee is required to drill one or more wells in order to earn its interest in the acreage. The assignor usually retains a royalty or reversionary interest in the lease. The interest received by an assignee is a “farm-in” while the interest transferred by the assignor is a “farm-out.”

“FASB” Financial Accounting Standards Board.

“February 2019 distribution” The cash distribution to Trust unitholders of record on February 19, 2019 that was paid on February 28, 2019.

“February 2020 distribution” The cash distribution to Trust unitholders of record on February 19, 2020 that was paid on February 28, 2020.

“field” An area consisting of a single reservoir or multiple reservoirs, all grouped on or related to the same individual geological structural feature and/or stratigraphic condition. There may be two or more reservoirs in a field that are separated vertically by intervening impervious strata, or laterally by local geologic barriers, or both. Reservoirs that are associated by being in overlapping or adjacent fields may be treated as a single or common operational field. The geological terms “structural feature” and “stratigraphic condition” are intended to identify localized geological features as opposed to the broader terms of basins, trends, provinces, plays, areas of interest, etc.

“GAAP” Generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

“gross acres” or “gross wells” The total acres or wells, as the case may be, in which a working interest is owned.

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“Gross proceeds” The aggregate amount received by Whiting from sales of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids produced from the underlying properties (other than amounts received for certain future non-consent operations). Gross proceeds does not include any amount for oil, natural gas or natural gas liquids lost in production or marketing or used by Whiting in drilling, production and plant operations. Gross proceeds includes “take-or-pay” or “ratable take” payments for future production in the event that they are not subject to repayment due to insufficient subsequent production or purchases.

“lease operating expense” or “LOE” The expenses of lifting oil or gas from a producing formation to the surface, constituting part of the current operating expenses of a working interest, and also including labor, superintendence, supplies, repairs, short-lived assets, maintenance, allocated overhead costs and other expenses incidental to production, but not including lease acquisition or drilling or completion expenses.

“May 2019 distribution” The cash distribution to Trust unitholders of record on May 20, 2019 that was paid on May 30, 2019.

“May 2020 distribution” The net profits generated by the NPI during the first quarterly payment period of 2020, which net profits were inclusive of a reserve for certain future expenses established by Whiting, and when combined with the payment period’s increased provision for estimated Trust expenses, resulted in no cash available for distribution to Trust unitholders of record on May 20, 2020.

“MBbl” One thousand barrels of crude oil, NGLs or other liquid hydrocarbons.

“MBOE” One thousand BOE.

“Mcf” One thousand standard cubic feet, used in reference to natural gas.

“MMBOE” One million BOE.

“MMBtu” One million British Thermal Units, used in reference to natural gas.

“MMcf” One million standard cubic feet, used in reference to natural gas.

“Money market rate” The lesser of (a) the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time in the Midwest edition of the Wall Street Journal as the “money market” interest rate on an annual yield basis, but if such rate is not available, then such similar rate as reported by a nationally recognized financial news source or (b) the maximum rate of interest permitted under applicable law.

“net acres” or “net wells” The sum of the fractional working interests owned in gross acres or wells, as the case may be.

“Net proceeds” The provisions of the conveyance governing the computation of net proceeds are detailed and extensive. The following information summarizes the material information contained in the conveyance related to the computation of net proceeds. For more detailed provisions, we make reference to the conveyance agreement, which is filed as an exhibit to this report. Net proceeds is calculated as gross proceeds less Whiting’s share of the following:

● any taxes paid by the owner of an underlying property to the extent not deducted in calculating gross proceeds, including estimated and accrued general property (ad valorem), production, severance, sales, excise and other taxes;

● the aggregate amounts paid by Whiting upon settlement of the hedge contracts on a quarterly basis, as specified in the hedge contracts, which all terminated as of December 31, 2014;

● any extraordinary taxes or windfall profits taxes that may be assessed in the future that are based on profits realized or prices received for production from the underlying properties;

● all other costs and expenses, development costs and liabilities of testing, drilling, completing, recompleting, workovers, equipping, plugging back, operating and producing oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids, including allocated expenses such as labor, vehicle and travel costs and materials other than costs and expenses for certain future non-consent operations;

● costs or charges associated with gathering, treating and processing oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (provided, however that any proceeds attributable to treatment or processing will offset such costs or charges, if any);

● costs paid pursuant to existing operating agreements, including producing overhead charges;

● to the extent Whiting is the operator of an underlying property and there is no operating agreement covering such underlying property, the overhead charges allocated by Whiting to such underlying property calculated in the same manner Whiting allocates overhead to other similarly owned property;

● amounts previously included in gross proceeds but subsequently paid as a refund, interest or penalty; and

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● amounts reserved at the option of Whiting for development expenditure projects, including well drilling, recompletion and workover costs, maintenance or operating expenses, which amounts will at no time exceed $2.0 million in the aggregate, and will be subject to the limitations described within the conveyance agreement (provided that such costs shall not be debited from gross proceeds when actually incurred).

Plugging and abandonment liabilities relating to the underlying properties will not be deducted from the gross proceeds in determining net proceeds. If certain other non-production revenues exceed the operating expenses during a payment period, the use of such excess amounts to offset operating expenses may be deferred, with interest accruing on such amounts at the prevailing money market rate, until the next quarterly period when such amounts, together with other offsets to costs for the applicable quarter, are less than such expenses. If any excess amounts have not been used to offset costs on December 31, 2021, which is the time when the NPI will terminate, then unitholders will not be entitled to receive the benefit of such excess amounts.

In the event that the net proceeds for any computation period is a negative amount, the Trust will receive no payment for that period, and any such negative amount attributable to the Trust, plus accrued interest at the prevailing money market rate, will be deducted from gross proceeds in the subsequent payment periods until all such negative amounts have been repaid.

“net profits interest” or “NPI” The nonoperating interest that creates a share in gross production from an operating or working interest in the underlying properties until terminated pursuant to its terms. The share is measured by net profits from the sale of production after deducting costs associated with that production.

“NGL” Natural gas liquid.

“November 2020 net loss” The lack of a cash distribution to Trust unitholders of record on November 19, 2020.

“NYMEX” The New York Mercantile Exchange.

“payment period” A calendar quarter, which is the period of time over which the computation of net proceeds (or net losses) generated by the NPI is determined for the respective quarter.

“plugging and abandonment” Refers to the sealing off of fluids in the strata penetrated by a well so that the fluids from one stratum will not escape into another or to the surface. Regulations of most states legally require plugging of abandoned wells.

“probabilistic method” The method of estimating reserves using the full range of values that could reasonably occur for each unknown parameter (from the geoscience and engineering data) to generate a full range of possible outcomes and their associated probabilities of occurrence.

“proved reserves” Those reserves which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible—from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under existing economic conditions, operating methods and government regulations—prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation. The project to extract the hydrocarbons must have commenced, or the operator must be reasonably certain that it will commence the project, within a reasonable time.

The area of the reservoir considered as proved includes all of the following:

a. The area identified by drilling and limited by fluid contacts, if any, and

b. Adjacent undrilled portions of the reservoir that can, with reasonable certainty, be judged to be continuous with it and to contain economically producible oil or gas on the basis of available geoscience and engineering data.

Reserves that can be produced economically through application of improved recovery techniques (including, but not limited to, fluid injection) are included in the proved classification when both of the following occur:

a. Successful testing by a pilot project in an area of the reservoir with properties no more favorable than in the reservoir as a whole, the operation of an installed program in the reservoir or an analogous reservoir, or other evidence using reliable technology establishes the reasonable certainty of the engineering analysis on which the project or program was based, and

b. The project has been approved for development by all necessary parties and entities, including governmental entities.

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Existing economic conditions include prices and costs at which economic producibility from a reservoir is to be determined. The price shall be the average price during the 12-month period before the ending date of the period covered by the report, determined as an unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within such period, unless prices are defined by contractual arrangements, excluding escalations based upon future conditions.

“recompletion” An operation whereby a completion in one zone is abandoned in order to attempt a completion in a different zone within the existing wellbore.

“reserves” Estimated remaining quantities of oil and gas and related substances anticipated to be economically producible, as of a given date, by application of development projects to known accumulations. In addition, there must exist, or there must be a reasonable expectation that there will exist, the legal right to produce or a revenue interest in the production, installed means of delivering oil and gas or related substances to market, and all permits and financing required to implement the project.

“reservoir” A porous and permeable underground formation containing a natural accumulation of producible crude oil and/or natural gas that is confined by impermeable rock or water barriers and is individual and separate from other reservoirs.

“royalty” The amount or fee paid to the owner of mineral rights, expressed as a percentage or fraction of gross income from crude oil or natural gas produced and sold, unencumbered by expenses relating to the drilling, completing or operating of the affected well.

“SEC” The United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

“standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows” or “standardized measure” The discounted future net cash flows relating to proved reserves based on the average price during the 12-month period before the ending date of the period covered by the report, determined as an unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within such period (unless prices are defined by contractual arrangements, excluding escalations based upon future conditions); current costs and statutory tax rates (to the extent applicable); and a 10% annual discount rate.

“working interest” The interest in a crude oil and natural gas property (normally a leasehold interest) that gives the owner the right to drill, produce and conduct operations on the property and to share in production, subject to all royalties, overriding royalties and other burdens and the obligation to share in all costs of exploration, development and operations and all associated risks.

“workover” Operations on a producing well to restore or increase production.

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PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Condensed Financial Statements

WHITING USA TRUST II

Condensed Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Trust Corpus (Unaudited)

(In thousands, except unit data)

	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
ASSETS
Cash and short-term investments	$	668	$	202
Investment in net profits interest, net		699		7,718
Total assets	$	1,367	$	7,920
LIABILITIES AND TRUST CORPUS
Reserve for Trust expenses	$	668	$	202
Trust corpus (18,400,000 Trust units issued and outstanding    as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019)		699		7,718
Total liabilities and Trust corpus	$	1,367	$	7,920

Condensed Statements of Distributable Income (Unaudited)

(In thousands, except distributable income per unit data)

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Income (loss) from net profits interest	$	(860)	$	3,051	$	514	$	7,754
General and administrative expenses		(172)		(189)		(634)		(664)
Cash reserves used (withheld) for current Trust expenses		172		(61)		(466)		64
State income tax withholding		-		(5)		(6)		(11)
Accumulated net losses funded by Whiting		860		-		860		-
Distributable income	$	-	$	2,796	$	268	$	7,143
Distributable income per unit	$	-	$	0.140750	$	0.014554	$	0.236231

Condensed Statements of Changes in Trust Corpus (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Trust corpus, beginning of period	$	831	$	9,966	$	7,718	$	12,357
Distributable income		-		2,796		268		7,143
Distributions to unitholders		-		(2,796)		(268)		(7,143)
Impairment of investment in net profits interest		-		-		(5,822)		-
Amortization of investment in net profits interest		(132)		(1,180)		(1,197)		(3,571)
Trust corpus, end of period	$	699	$	8,786	$	699	$	8,786

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed modified cash basis financial statements.

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WHITING USA TRUST II

NOTES TO CONDENSED MODIFIED CASH BASIS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. ORGANIZATION OF THE TRUST

Trust Overview — Whiting USA Trust II (the “Trust”) is a statutory trust formed on December 5, 2011 under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, pursuant to a trust agreement (the “Trust agreement”) among Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation (“Whiting Oil and Gas”), as Trustor, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the “Trustee”), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Delaware Trustee (the “Delaware Trustee”). The initial capitalization of the Trust estate was funded by Whiting Petroleum Corporation (“Whiting”) on December 8, 2011.

The Trust was created to acquire and hold a term net profits interest (“NPI”) for the benefit of the Trust unitholders pursuant to a conveyance from Whiting Oil and Gas, a 100%-owned subsidiary of Whiting, to the Trust. The NPI is an interest in certain of Whiting Oil and Gas’ properties located in the Permian Basin, Rocky Mountains, Gulf Coast and Mid-Continent regions of the United States (the “underlying properties”). The NPI is the only asset of the Trust, other than cash reserves held for future Trust expenses. As of December 31, 2019, these oil and gas properties included interests in approximately 1,305 gross (368.3 net) producing oil and gas wells.

The NPI is passive in nature, and the Trustee has no management control over and no responsibility relating to the operation of the underlying properties. The NPI entitles the Trust to receive 90% of the net proceeds from the sale of production from the underlying properties until it terminates. As of September 30, 2020, on a cumulative accrual basis, 10.57 MMBOE (99.6%) of the 10.61 MMBOE attributable to the Trust’s interest in the NPI have been produced and sold or divested. Subsequent to September 30, 2020, the remaining minimum reserve quantities were produced. Consequently, the NPI will terminate on December 31, 2021 because the minimum amount of production (11.79 MMBOE) applicable to the NPI has been produced from the underlying properties and sold (which amount is the equivalent of 10.61 MMBOE in respect of the Trust’s right to receive 90% of the net proceeds from such reserves pursuant to the NPI). The Trust will wind up its affairs and terminate after the NPI termination date and, once the Trust winds up its affairs and terminates, it will pay no further distributions.

The Trust is highly dependent on Whiting for multiple services, including the operation of wells, remittance of net proceeds generated by the NPI and administrative services performed on behalf of the Trust. Whiting’s continued ability to operate wells, including those with interests held by the NPI, depends on its future financial condition, access to capital and other factors outside of its control. On April 1, 2020, Whiting and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including Whiting Oil and Gas (collectively, the “Debtors”) commenced voluntary cases under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (the “Bankruptcy Court”). On June 30, 2020, the Debtors filed the Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Whiting Petroleum Corporation and its Debtor affiliates (as amended, modified and supplemented, the “Plan”).  On August 14, 2020, the Bankruptcy Court confirmed the Plan.  On September 1, 2020, the Debtors emerged from the Chapter 11 Cases and the Plan became effective in accordance with its terms.

2. BASIS OF ACCOUNTING

Interim Financial Statements — The accompanying unaudited condensed financial information has been prepared by the Trustee in accordance with the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The accompanying financial information is prepared on a comprehensive basis of accounting other than GAAP. In the opinion of the Trustee, the accompanying financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly, in all material respects, the results of the Trust for the interim periods presented. However, operating results for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. The condensed modified cash basis financial statements and related notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Trust’s financial statements and related notes included in the Trust’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Term Net Profits Interest — The Trust uses the modified cash basis of accounting to report Trust receipts from the NPI and payments of expenses incurred. Actual cash distributions to the Trust are made based on the terms of the conveyance that created the Trust’s NPI. The NPI entitles the Trust to receive revenues (oil, gas and natural gas liquid sales) less expenses (the amount by which all royalties; lease operating expenses including well workover costs; development costs; production and property taxes; payments made by Whiting to the hedge counterparty upon settlements of hedge contracts; maintenance expenses; producing overhead; and amounts that may be reserved for future development, maintenance or operating expenses, which reserve amounts may not exceed $2.0 million; exceed hedge payments received by Whiting under hedge contracts and other non-production revenue) of the underlying properties multiplied by 90%

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(NPI percentage). Actual cash receipts may vary due to timing delays of cash receipts from the property operators or purchasers and due to wellhead and pipeline volume balancing agreements or practices, subject to adjustment for the recovery of accumulated net losses funded by Whiting and accrued interest.

Modified Cash Basis of Accounting — The financial statements of the Trust, as prepared on a modified cash basis, reflect the Trust’s assets, liabilities, Trust corpus, earnings and distributions, as follows:

a. Income (loss) from net profits interest is recorded when NPI distributions are received by the Trust;

b. Distributions to Trust unitholders are recorded when paid by the Trust;

c. Trust general and administrative expenses (which include the Trustees’ fees as well as accounting, engineering, legal and other professional fees) are recorded when paid;

d. Cash reserves for Trust expenses may be established by the Trustee for certain expenditures that would not be recorded as contingent liabilities under GAAP;

e. Amortization of the investment in net profits interest is calculated based on the units-of-production method. Such amortization is charged directly to Trust corpus and does not affect distributable income; and

f. The Trust evaluates impairment of the investment in net profits interest by comparing the undiscounted cash flows expected to be realized from the investment in net profits interest to the NPI carrying value. If the expected future undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value, the Trust recognizes an impairment loss for the difference between the carrying value and the estimated fair value of the investment in net profits interest. The fair value of the NPI is determined using the expected net discounted future cash flows from the underlying properties that are attributable to the net profits interest. The determination as to whether the NPI is impaired requires a significant amount of judgment by the Trustee and is based on the best information available to the Trustee at the time of the evaluation.

While these statements differ from financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, the modified cash basis of reporting revenues and distributions is considered to be the most meaningful for the Trust’s activities and results because quarterly distributions to the Trust unitholders are based on net cash receipts. This comprehensive basis of accounting other than GAAP corresponds to the accounting permitted for royalty trusts by the SEC as specified by FASB ASC Topic 932, Extractive Activities – Oil and Gas: Financial Statements of Royalty Trusts.

Most accounting pronouncements apply to entities whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP, directing such entities to accrue or defer certain revenues and expenses in a period other than when such revenues are received or expenses are paid. Because the Trust’s financial statements are prepared on the modified cash basis as described above, however, most accounting pronouncements are not applicable to the Trust’s financial statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements — There were no accounting pronouncements issued during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 applicable to the Trust or its financial statements.

3. INVESTMENT IN NET PROFITS INTEREST

Whiting Oil and Gas conveyed the NPI to the Trust in exchange for 18,400,000 Trust units. The investment in net profits interest was recorded at the historical cost basis of Whiting on March 28, 2012, the date of conveyance (except for the derivatives which were reflected at their fair value as of March 31, 2012), which was determined to be $194.0 million. However, such historical cost basis has been subject to impairments taken in prior periods. Accumulated amortization of the investment in net profits interest as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 was $0.3 million and $23.2 million, respectively.

Impairment of Net Profits Interest — The value of the investment in net profits interest is reviewed whenever the Trustee judges that events and circumstances indicate that the recorded carrying value of the investment in net profits interest may not be recoverable. As a result of the significant decrease in the forward price curves for oil during the first quarter of 2020 which dropped below $21.00 per Bbl in March 2020, and the associated decline in anticipated future cash flows, an impairment test was performed. As of March 31, 2020, the investment in net profits interest with a carrying value of $6.8 million was written down to its fair value of $1.0 million, resulting in a $5.8 million impairment charged directly to Trust corpus for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 which does not affect distributable income. The write-down of the net profits interest was due to a reduction in anticipated future cash flows primarily driven by an expectation of sustained depressed oil prices as of March 31, 2020. The fair value of the investment in net profits interest was ascribed using an income approach analysis based on the net discounted future cash flows from the NPI in the underlying properties and contains unobservable inputs including estimates of future oil and gas production attributable to the Trust; commodity prices based on forward strip price curves as of March 31, 2020 (adjusted for basis differentials); estimated operating, development, and general and

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administrative expenses; estimated state income tax withholdings; and a discount rate. During the three months ended September 30, 2020 and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 no impairment of the investment in net profits interest occurred.

The dramatic decline in pricing in March 2020 was primarily attributable to Saudi Arabia’s announcement in March 2020 of plans to abandon previously agreed upon output restraints and economic effects of the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic on the demand for oil and natural gas. Substantial and extended declines in oil, natural gas and NGL prices have resulted and may continue to result in reduced net proceeds to which the Trust is entitled, which could materially reduce or completely eliminate the amount of cash available for distribution to Trust unitholders. Absent an increase in commodity prices, this decline could result in a triggering event for further evaluation of impairment of the NPI, which could result in an impairment charge up to the remaining balance of the investment in net profits interest.

4. INCOME TAXES

The Trust is a grantor trust and therefore is not subject to federal income taxes. Accordingly, no recognition is given to federal income taxes in the Trust’s financial statements. The Trust unitholders are treated as the owners of Trust income and corpus, and the entire taxable income of the Trust is reported by the Trust unitholders on their respective tax returns.

For Montana state income tax purposes, Whiting must withhold from its NPI payments to the Trust, an amount equal to 6% of the net amount payable to the Trust from the sale of oil and gas in Montana. For Arkansas, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Dakota and Oklahoma, neither the Trust nor Whiting is withholding the income tax due to such states on distributions made to an individual resident or nonresident Trust unitholder, as long as the Trust is taxed as a grantor trust under the Internal Revenue Code.

5. DISTRIBUTION TO UNITHOLDERS

Actual cash distributions to the Trust unitholders depend on the volumes of and prices received for oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids produced and sold from the underlying properties, among other factors. Quarterly cash distributions during the term of the Trust are made by the Trustee no later than 60 days following the end of each quarter (or the next succeeding business day) to the Trust unitholders of record on the 50^th day following the end of each quarter. Such amounts equal the excess, if any, of the cash received by the Trust during the quarter, over the expenses the Trust paid during such quarter, subject to any adjustments for changes made by the Trustee during such quarter to any cash reserves established for future expenses of the Trust, adjustments for changes to a reserve for future expenditures made by Whiting or adjustments for the recovery of accumulated net losses and accrued interest.

Income (Loss) from Net Profits Interest — Income (loss) from net profits interest is generally a function of oil and gas revenues less the actual lease operating expenses, production taxes and development costs incurred during the period. As provided in the terms of the net profits interest, Whiting may also reserve from the gross proceeds amounts up to a total of $2.0 million at any time for future development, maintenance or operating expenses on the underlying properties and related activities. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, Whiting established a reserve for future expenditures of $1.6 million that reduced the income (loss) from net profits interest, which reserve was released and applied in the third quarter of 2020. Such reserve for future expenditures was in response to the expectation that future gross proceeds from the underlying properties may be insufficient to cover the future operating costs of the underlying properties due to (i) the sharp decline in oil prices in March 2020 which oil prices remained depressed at the time the reserve was established in May 2020 and (ii) the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Consistent with the terms of the Trust’s NPI, the reserve was utilized by Whiting for future development, maintenance or operating expenses on the underlying properties and related activities, during the three months ended September 30, 2020. Accordingly, there is no remaining reserve for expenditures.

Cash Reserves Withheld for Trust Expenses — Due to the expected impact of (i) the sharp decline in oil prices occurring in March 2020 which oil prices remained depressed at the time the reserve was established in May 2020 and (ii) the COVID-19 pandemic, both of which may reduce or eliminate the amount of cash available to pay Trust liabilities, the Trustee increased the cash reserves withheld for future Trust expenses to enable it to pay the Trust’s estimated liabilities for approximately 12 months at the time at which it was established.

Accumulated Net Losses Funded by Whiting — The NPI generated net losses of $0.9 million during the third quarter of 2020 primarily due to the decline in oil and natural gas prices, which lower commodity prices caused production and development costs on the underlying properties to exceed the gross proceeds from production even after consideration of the reserve for future expenditures which was released and applied. As a result, there was no distribution to Trust unitholders of record on August 19, 2020 for the second quarterly payment period of 2020. Neither the Trust nor the unitholders are liable for any net losses that are generated by the net profits interest; however, any such net losses, plus accrued interest at the prevailing money market interest rate, will be recovered by Whiting from future NPI gross proceeds before any further distributions will be made to Trust unitholders. Additionally, if the Trust borrows funds in

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order to pay its liabilities, the Trust unitholders will not receive distributions until the borrowed funds together with any accumulated net losses and accrued interest are repaid.

The following table presents the net profits interest accumulated net losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Accumulated net losses, beginning of period	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-
Net losses funded by Whiting		(860)		-		(860)		-
Accumulated net losses, end of period(1)	$	(860)	$	-	$	(860)	$	-

(1) In addition to the accumulated net losses of $0.9 million as of September 30, 2020, accrued interest of $477 as of September 30, 2020 is required to be repaid to Whiting from future NPI gross proceeds before any further distributions will be made to Trust unitholders.

6. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Plugging and Abandonment — During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, Whiting incurred $0.5 million and $1.6 million, respectively, of plugging and abandonment costs on the underlying properties. Pursuant to the terms of the conveyance agreement, plugging and abandonment costs relating to the underlying properties, net of any proceeds received from the salvage of equipment, are funded entirely by Whiting and are not therefore included as a deduction in the calculation of net proceeds or otherwise deducted from Trust unitholders over the term of the Trust.

Operating Overhead — Pursuant to the terms of its joint operating agreements, Whiting deducts from the gross oil and gas sales proceeds an overhead fee to operate those underlying properties for which Whiting has been designated as the operator. Additionally, with respect to those underlying properties for which Whiting is the operator but where there is no operating agreement in place, Whiting deducts from the gross proceeds an overhead fee calculated in the same manner that Whiting allocates overhead to other similarly owned properties, which is customary practice in the oil and gas industry. Operating overhead activities include various engineering, legal and administrative functions. The fee is adjusted annually pursuant to COPAS guidelines and will increase or decrease each year based on changes in the year-end index of average weekly earnings of crude petroleum and natural gas workers. The following table presents the Trust’s portion of these overhead charges for the distributions made during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Total overhead charges (in thousands)	$	340	$	340	$	1,011	$	992
Overhead charge per month per active operated gross well	$	374	$	374	$	371	$	364

Administrative Services Fee — Under the terms of the administrative services agreement, the Trust is obligated to pay a quarterly administration fee of $50,000 to Whiting 60 days following the end of each calendar quarter. General and administrative expenses in the Trust’s condensed statements of distributable income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 include $50,000 and $150,000, respectively, for quarterly administrative fees paid to Whiting. General and administrative expenses in the Trust’s condensed statements of distributable income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 include $50,000 and $150,000, respectively, for quarterly administrative fees paid to Whiting.

Trustee Administrative Fee — Under the terms of the Trust agreement, the Trust pays an annual administrative fee to the Trustee of $175,000, which is paid in four quarterly installments and is billed in arrears. Starting in 2017, such fee escalates by 2.5% each year and therefore, the annual administrative fee to be paid to the Trustee for 2020 and 2019 services is $193,167 and $188,456, respectively. Accordingly, the escalated quarterly administrative fee of $48,292 was paid by the Trust starting in the second quarter of 2020. General and administrative expenses in the Trust’s condensed statements of distributable income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 include $48,292 and $143,698, respectively, for quarterly administrative fees paid to the Trustee. General and administrative expenses in the Trust’s condensed statements of distributable income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 include $47,114 and $140,193, respectively, for quarterly administrative fees paid to the Trustee.

Letter of Credit — In June 2012, Whiting established a $1.0 million letter of credit for the Trustee in order to provide a mechanism for the Trustee to pay the operating expenses of the Trust in the event that Whiting should fail to lend funds to the Trust, if requested to do

9

so by the Trustee. This letter of credit will not be used to fund NPI distributions to unitholders, and if the Trustee were to draw on the letter of credit or were to borrow funds from Whiting or other entities, no further distributions would be made to unitholders until all such amounts, including interest thereon if applicable, have been repaid by the Trust. Such letter of credit will renew in December 2020 and expire upon the NPI termination date. As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Trust had no borrowings under the letter of credit.

Lending to the Trust — The Trustee can authorize the Trust to borrow money for the purpose of paying Trust administrative or incidental expenses that exceed cash held by the Trust. The Trustee may authorize the Trust to borrow from the Trustee, Whiting or the Delaware Trustee, as a lender, provided that the terms of the loan are similar to the terms it would grant to a similarly situated commercial customer with whom it did not have a fiduciary relationship. The Trustee may also deposit funds awaiting distribution in an account with itself, which may be a non-interest bearing account, and make other short-term investments with the funds distributed to the Trust. As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Trust had no borrowings outstanding.

7. SUBSEQUENT EVENT

On November 9, 2020, the Trustee announced that no distribution would be made to unitholders in the fourth quarter of 2020. The November 2020 net loss is due to the net profits interest generating net profits of approximately $0.7 million during the third quarterly payment period of 2020 off-setting a portion of the NPI deficit of approximately $0.9 million from a prior period net loss. The limited net profits were primarily due to the continued low oil and natural gas prices. The NPI deficit, plus accrued interest at the prevailing money market rate, will be deducted from gross proceeds in future computation periods for purposes of determining net proceeds (or net losses as the case may be) until the negative net proceeds, including interest, have been recovered in full. The Trust will make no further distributions until that occurs.

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Item 2. Trustee’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

References to the “Trust” in this document refer to Whiting USA Trust II. References to “Whiting” in this document refer to Whiting Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiaries. References to “Whiting Oil and Gas” in this document refer to Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation, a 100%-owned subsidiary of Whiting Petroleum Corporation.

The following review of the Trust’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto, as well as the Trustee’s discussion and analysis contained in the Trust’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports are available on the SEC’s website www.sec.gov.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including without limitation the statements under “Trustee’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” are forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. When used in this document, the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends” or similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. The following important factors, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, could affect the future results of the energy industry in general, and Whiting and the Trust in particular, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements:

● the effect of changes in commodity prices and conditions in the capital markets;

● the effect, impact, potential duration or other implications of the outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) which the World Health Organization declared a pandemic in March 2020;

● the actions of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”);

● changes in regional, domestic and global supply and demand for oil and natural gas and the impacts on storage capacity;

● uncertainty of estimates of oil and natural gas reserves and production;

● risks incidental to the operation and drilling of oil and natural gas wells;

● future production and development costs, which include capital expenditures;

● the inability to access oil and natural gas markets due to market conditions or operational impediments;

● failure of the underlying properties to yield oil or natural gas in commercially viable quantities;

● the effect of existing and future laws and regulatory actions;

● competition from others in the energy industry;

● inflation or deflation; and

● other risks described under the caption “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in Item 1A of the Trust’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Whiting or the Trust or persons acting on behalf of Whiting or the Trust are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. The Trustee assumes no obligation, and disclaims any duty, to update these forward-looking statements.

Overview and Trust Termination

The Trust does not conduct any operations or activities. The Trust’s purpose is, in general, to hold the NPI, to distribute to unitholders cash that the Trust receives pursuant to the NPI, and to perform certain administrative functions with respect to the NPI and the Trust units. The Trust derives substantially all of its income and cash flows from the NPI. The NPI entitles the Trust to receive 90% of the net proceeds from the sale of production from the underlying properties until the NPI terminates.

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Oil and gas prices historically have been volatile and may fluctuate widely in the future. The table below highlights these price trends by listing quarterly average NYMEX crude oil and natural gas prices for the periods indicated through September 30, 2020. The August 2020 net loss was mainly affected by April 2020 through June 2020 oil prices and March 2020 through May 2020 natural gas prices.

	2018								2019								2020
	Q1		Q2		Q3		Q4		Q1		Q2		Q3		Q4		Q1		Q2		Q3
Crude oil	$	62.89	$	67.90	$	69.50	$	58.83	$	54.90	$	59.83	$	56.45	$	56.96	$	46.08	$	27.85	$	40.94
Natural gas	$	3.13	$	2.77	$	2.88	$	3.62	$	3.00	$	2.58	$	2.29	$	2.44	$	1.88	$	1.66	$	1.89

Oil prices declined sharply during the first half of 2020, dropping below $21.00 per Bbl in March 2020 and further dropping below negative $37.00 per Bbl in April 2020. This dramatic decline in pricing was primarily attributable to Saudi Arabia’s announcement of plans to abandon previously agreed upon output restraints and the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the demand for oil and natural gas. While prices began to recover in the third quarter of 2020, uncertainties related to demand for oil and natural gas products remain as the pandemic continues to impact the world economy. Continued low oil and gas prices could cause (i) a reduction in the amount of net proceeds to which the Trust is entitled, which could materially reduce or completely eliminate the amount of cash available for distribution to Trust unitholders, as was the case for the May 2020 distribution and the August 2020 net loss, (ii) a reduction in the amount of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids that are economic to produce from the underlying properties and (iii) the recognition of additional impairment charges on the NPI. All costless collar hedge contracts terminated as of December 31, 2014 and no additional hedges are allowed to be placed on the Trust assets. Consequently, there are no further cash settlement gains or losses on commodity derivatives for inclusion in the Trust’s computation of net proceeds (or net losses, as the case may be), and the Trust therefore has increased exposure to oil and natural gas price volatility. Additionally, in the current commodity price environment, the Trust’s distributions have increased sensitivity to fluctuations in actual and anticipated operating and capital expenditures, as was the case for (i) the first quarter of 2019, (ii) the second quarter of 2020, where Whiting established a reserve for future development, maintenance or operating expenses and (iii) the third quarter of 2020 which resulted in no distribution being made to unitholders even after the $1.6 million reserve was released and applied by Whiting.

Trust termination. The Trust will wind up its affairs and terminate after the NPI termination date, which is set at December 31, 2021. After the termination of the Trust, it will pay no further distributions.

Impairment of net profits interest. As of March 31, 2020, the Trust’s investment in the NPI with a carrying value of $6.8 million was written down to its fair value of $1.0 million, resulting in a $5.8 million impairment charged directly to Trust corpus during the first quarter of 2020. The write-down of the net profits interest was due to a reduction in anticipated future cash flows primarily driven by an expectation of sustained depressed oil prices at March 31, 2020.

Since the assets of the Trust are depleting assets, a portion of each cash distribution paid, if any, on the Trust units is a return of capital to investors, with the remainder being considered as a return on investment or yield. As a result, the market price of the Trust units will decline to zero at the termination of the Trust. As of September 30, 2020 on a cumulative accrual basis, 10.57 MMBOE (99.6%) of the 10.61 MMBOE attributable to the NPI have been produced and sold or divested (of which 204 MBOE, which is 90% of 227 MBOE, are included as gross proceeds in the Trust’s August 2020 net loss). Subsequent to September 30, 2020, the remaining minimum reserve quantities were produced. Consequently, the NPI will terminate on December 31, 2021 because the minimum amount of production (11.79 MMBOE) applicable to the NPI has have been produced from the underlying properties and sold (which amount is the equivalent of 10.61 MMBOE in respect of the Trust’s right to receive 90% of the net proceeds from such reserves pursuant to the NPI).

Capital Expenditure Activities

The primary goal of the planned capital expenditures relative to the underlying properties is to mitigate a portion of the natural decline in production from producing properties. No assurance can be given, however, that any such expenditures will be made, or if made, will result in production in commercially paying amounts, if any, or that the characteristics of any newly developed well will match the characteristics of existing wells on the underlying properties or the operator’s historical drilling success rate. The underlying properties have a capital expenditure budget per the December 31, 2019 reserve report of $3.8 million estimated to be spent between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021, the termination date of the NPI. In addition, no assurance can be given that the actual level of capital expenditures on the underlying properties will meet this $3.8 million amount of budgeted capital expenditures over such time frame. With respect to fields for which Whiting is not the operator, Whiting has limited control over the timing and amount of capital expenditures relative to such fields. Please read the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, Item 1A. Risk Factors “Whiting has limited control over activities on the underlying properties that Whiting does not operate, which could reduce production from the underlying properties, increase capital expenditures and reduce cash available for distribution to Trust

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unitholders.” The following table presents the underlying properties’ aggregate capital expenditures attributable to the February 2020 and May 2020 distributions and August 2020 net loss (in thousands):

	2020
	Capital
Region	Expenditures
Rocky Mountains	$	1,025
Permian Basin		75
Gulf Coast		19
Mid-Continent		-
Total	$	1,119

Annual capital expenditure limitation. The capital expenditures included in the net proceeds attributable to the underlying properties are subject to an annual limitation which became effective January 1, 2018. As a result, the sum of the capital expenditures and amounts reserved for development, maintenance or operating costs of the underlying properties or related activities for each year beginning in 2018 may not exceed the average annual capital expenditure amount. The “average annual capital expenditure amount” means the quotient of (x) the sum of the capital expenditures and amounts reserved for approved capital expenditure projects with respect to the three years ended December 31, 2017, divided by (y) three, which amount equaled $3.9 million and is increased annually by 2.5% to account for expected increased costs due to inflation. Therefore, the capital expenditures included in the net proceeds attributable to the underlying properties and amounts reserved for expenditures cannot exceed $4.2 million during the year ending December 31, 2020.

Reserve for expenditures. Whiting may establish and withhold amounts for development, maintenance or operating costs of the underlying properties or related activities from the net proceeds attributable to the underlying properties up to a total of $2.0 million at any time. During the second quarter of 2020, $1.6 million was reserved for expenditures. The $1.6 million reserve was released and applied by Whiting to qualifying expenses incurred during the third quarter of 2020. Accordingly, there is no remaining reserve for expenditures to offset future development, maintenance or operating expenses on the underlying properties and related activities.  

Farm-out agreements. In an effort to develop the underlying properties while limiting additional capital expenditures for the Trust (other than those capital expenditures already contemplated in the reserve report), Whiting Oil and Gas entered into three farm-out agreements with separate third-party partners covering (i) 5,127 gross acres in eight leasehold sections within the Keystone South field in Winkler, Texas in April 2016, as amended in July 2020 (the “Keystone South farm-out”), (ii) 9,740 gross acres in approximately 15 units (which unit size is determined by the lateral well length) within the Signal Peak field in Howard County, Texas in February 2017, as amended in May 2018, September 2019 and February 2020 (the “Signal Peak farm-out”) and (iii) 640 gross acres in one leasehold section within the Flying W, SE field in Winkler County, Texas in March 2017 (the “Flying W farm-out”).

These farm-out agreements provide the third-party partner with the option, but not the obligation, to drill one well in each of the leasehold sections or units, as the case may be, subject to the applicable farm-out agreement, whereby the partner will pay 100% of the related drilling and well completion costs to earn a 75% working interest. As a result, the applicable underlying properties will consist of (i) 25% of the original working interest in these properties and (ii) an overriding royalty interest equal to the difference between 25% and the lease burdens of record. Upon completion of one well in each section or unit, as the case may be, pursuant to the terms of the applicable agreements, the partner has the option to drill (i) up to 15 additional wells under the Keystone South farm-out, (ii) up to 12 additional wells under the Signal Peak farm-out and (iii) one additional well under the Flying W farm-out. For each of these additional optional wells, the partner is required to pay 85% of the drilling and well completion costs otherwise ascribed to the underlying properties for a 75% working interest. Given the Trust’s interest in the NPI, the Trust would be responsible for 13.5% of the underlying properties’ remaining drilling and well completion costs at the 90% NPI, subject to the average annual capital expenditure amount limitation discussed above.

The third-party partner drilled and completed the first three wells pursuant to the terms of the Keystone South farm-out agreement during 2017, a fourth well was drilled and completed during the second quarter of 2018 and a fifth well was drilled and completed during the fourth quarter of 2019, whereby the partner earned a 75% working interest in each of the underlying properties’ respective leasehold sections. The partner has no obligation to drill and complete any additional wells, and the Keystone South farm-out agreement will terminate during the first quarter of 2021 if no additional drilling has commenced by that time.

During the fourth quarter of 2019, the third-party partner drilled and completed the first well under the Signal Peak farm-out, whereby the partner earned a 75% working interest in the underlying properties’ respective leasehold section. The partner has no obligation to drill and complete any additional wells, and the Signal Peak farm-out will terminate during the fourth quarter of 2021 if no additional drilling has commenced by that time.

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In addition, the partner drilled and completed the first well under the Flying W farm-out during the second quarter of 2018, whereby the partner earned a 75% working interest in the underlying properties’ respective leasehold section.

As a result of the significant decline in crude oil prices in the first quarter of 2020, certain of the wells subject to these farm-out agreements were temporarily shut-in during April 2020 and were brought back online in early May 2020. These temporary shut-ins negatively impacted production. No assurance can be given, however, that these wells will remain online going forward. A well being shut-in may reduce the net proceeds to which the Trust is entitled, which could materially reduce or completely eliminate the amount of cash available for distribution to unitholders.

Results of Trust Operations

Comparison of results of the Trust for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

The following is a summary of income from net profits interest and distributable income received by the Trust for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 (dollars in thousands, except per Bbl, per Mcf and per BOE amounts):

	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2020			2019
Sales volumes:
Oil from underlying properties (Bbl)(1)		601,228	(3)		701,583	(4)
Natural gas from underlying properties (Mcf)		706,523	(3)		816,397	(4)
Total production (BOE)		718,982			837,649
Average sales prices:
Oil (per Bbl)(1)	$	38.22		$	47.99
Natural gas (per Mcf)(2)	$	1.46		$	2.57
Cost metrics:
Lease operating expenses (per BOE)	$	29.48		$	28.29
Production tax rate (percent of total revenues)		4.7	%		4.9	%
Revenues:
Oil sales(1)	$	22,977	(3)	$	33,668	(4)
Natural gas sales		1,032	(3)		2,097	(4)
Total revenues		24,009			35,765
Costs:
Lease operating expenses		21,195			23,697
Production taxes		1,124			1,767
Development costs		1,119			1,686
Reserve for expenditures		-			-
Total costs		23,438			27,150
Net proceeds		571			8,615
Net profits percentage		90	%		90	%
Income from net profits interest		514			7,754
Provision for estimated Trust expenses		(1,100)			(600)
Montana state income tax withheld		(6)			(11)
Distributable income	$	268		$	7,143

__________

(1) Oil includes natural gas liquids.

(2) A portion of the natural gas volumes produced and sold from the underlying properties during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 have a “liquids-rich” content; however, such liquids content did not result in a premium to the NYMEX natural gas price primarily due to the depressed liquids prices during such periods.

(3) Oil and gas sales volumes and related revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 (consisting of Whiting’s February 2020 and May 2020 distributions to the Trust, and August 2020 net loss) generally represent oil production from October 2019 through June 2020 and natural gas production from September 2019 through May 2020.

(4) Oil and gas sales volumes and related revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 (consisting of Whiting’s February 2019, May 2019 and August 2019 distributions to the Trust) generally represent oil production from October 2018 through June 2019 and natural gas production from September 2018 through May 2019.

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Income from net profits interest. Income from net profits interest is recorded on a cash basis when NPI proceeds are received by the Trust from Whiting. NPI proceeds are based on the oil and gas production for which Whiting has received payment within one month following the end of the most recent fiscal quarter. Whiting receives payment for its crude oil sales generally within 30 days following the month in which it is produced and sold, and Whiting receives payment for its natural gas sales generally within 60 days following the month in which it is produced and sold. Income from net profits interest is generally a function of oil and gas revenues, lease operating expenses, production taxes, development costs and reserve for expenditures as follows:

Revenues. Oil and natural gas revenues decreased $11.8 million (or 33%) during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the same 2019 period. Sales revenue is a function of average commodity prices realized and oil and gas volumes sold. The decrease in revenue between periods was primarily due to lower realized oil prices and the decline in oil production volumes. The average sales price realized for crude oil and natural gas decreased by 20% and 43%, respectively, between periods primarily as a result of a decline in NYMEX oil and gas prices which were partially offset by improved oil differentials. Crude oil production volumes decreased by 100 MBbl (or 14%) and natural gas production volumes decreased by 110 MMcf (or 13%) when comparing the first nine months of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. The decline in oil volumes between periods was primarily related to (i) normal field decline (ii) certain wells within the Garland field being shut-in for a portion of the first nine months of 2020 and (iii) the permanent shutdown of the third-party operated Chatom Gas Plant in November 2019, which impacts wells located in the Lake Como field. The decline in gas volumes between periods was primarily related to (i) normal field decline, (ii) differences in timing associated with revenues received from non-operated properties, (iii) the permanent shutdown of the third-party operated Chatom Gas Plant in November 2019, which impacts wells located in the Lake Como field and (iv) a unit in the Warmsly South field being shut-in for a portion of the first nine months of 2020. Based on the December 31, 2019 reserve report, overall production attributable to the underlying properties is expected to decline at an average year-over-year rate of approximately 8.5% for oil and 13.6% for gas from 2020 through the NPI termination date, December 31, 2021.

Lease operating expenses. Lease operating expenses decreased $2.5 million (or 11%) during the first nine months of 2020 compared to the same 2019 period primarily due to lower labor and other operating costs on Whiting-operated properties of $1.6 million and lower oilfield goods and services costs of $1.3 million, which were partially offset by a $0.4 million increase in ad valorem taxes between periods. LOE on a per BOE basis, however, increased 4% between periods from $28.29 during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to $29.48 for the same period in 2020 primarily due to the decline in overall production volumes.

Production taxes. Production taxes are typically calculated as a percentage of oil and gas revenues. Production taxes as a percentage of revenues decreased from 4.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to 4.7% for the same period in 2020. Overall production taxes for the first nine months of 2020 decreased $0.6 million (or 36%) as compared to the same 2019 period primarily due to lower oil and natural gas revenues between periods.

Development costs. Development costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 were $0.6 million (or 34%) lower as compared to the same 2019 period primarily due to reduced drilling and capital workover costs in the Rangely Weber Sand field, Justis and Mary Two fields, which were partially offset by higher drilling and capital workover costs in the Keystone South field.

Reserve for expenditures. As provided in the terms of the NPI, a $1.6 million reserve for future development, maintenance or operating expenses was established and subsequently utilized and applied against qualifying expenses incurred during the period. Accordingly, there is no remaining reserve for expenditures to offset future development, maintenance or operating expenses on the underlying properties and related activities.

Provision for estimated Trust expenses. The provision for estimated Trust expenses increased $0.5 million during the first nine months of 2020 compared to the same 2019 period due to the expected impacts of (i) the sharp decline in oil prices that occurred in March 2020 which oil prices remained depressed at the time the expenses were estimated in August 2020 and (ii) the COVID-19 pandemic. In consideration of the anticipated impacts, the Trustee increased the provision for Trust expenses to enable it to pay the Trust’s future liabilities for approximately 12 months from the time at which it was established.

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Comparison of results of the Trust for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

The following is a summary of income (loss) from net profits interest and distributable income received by the Trust for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 (dollars in thousands, except per Bbl, per Mcf and per BOE amounts):

	Three Months Ended
	September 30,
	2020			2019
Sales volumes:
Oil from underlying properties (Bbl)(1)		186,554	(3)		229,627	(4)
Natural gas from underlying properties (Mcf)		242,503	(3)		283,127	(4)
Total production (BOE)		226,971			276,815
Average sales prices:
Oil (per Bbl)(1)	$	20.64		$	53.24
Natural gas (per Mcf)(2)	$	0.92		$	1.90
Cost metrics:
Lease operating expenses (per BOE)	$	27.37		$	29.61
Production tax rate (percent of total revenues)		3.3	%		4.8	%
Revenues:
Oil sales(1)	$	3,851	(3)	$	12,225	(4)
Natural gas sales		223	(3)		537	(4)
Total revenues		4,074			12,762
Costs:
Lease operating expenses		6,212			8,196
Production taxes		135			608
Development costs		308			568
Reserve for expenditures		(1,625)			-
Total costs		5,030			9,372
Net proceeds (losses)		(956)			3,390
Net profits percentage		90	%		90	%
Income (loss) from net profits interest		(860)			3,051
Provision for estimated Trust expenses		-			(250)
Montana state income tax withheld		-			(5)
Accumulated net losses funded by Whiting		860			-
Distributable income	$	-		$	2,796

__________

(1) Oil includes natural gas liquids.

(2) A portion of the natural gas volumes produced and sold from the underlying properties during the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 have a “liquids-rich” content; however, such liquids content did not result in a premium to the NYMEX natural gas price primarily due to the depressed liquids prices during such periods.

(3) Oil and gas sales volumes and related revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2020 (consisting of the August 2020 net loss) generally represent oil production from April 2020 through June 2020 and natural gas production from March 2020 through May 2020.

(4) Oil and gas sales volumes and related revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2019 (consisting of Whiting’s August 2019 distribution to the Trust generally represent oil production from April 2019 through June 2019 and natural gas production from March 2019 through May 2019.

Income (loss) from net profits interest. Income (loss) from net profits interest is recorded on a cash basis when NPI proceeds are received by the Trust from Whiting or when NPI losses are generated by the underlying properties. NPI proceeds (or losses) are based on the oil and gas production for which Whiting has received payment within one month following the end of the most recent fiscal quarter. Whiting receives payment for its crude oil sales generally within 30 days following the month in which it is produced and sold, and Whiting receives payment for its natural gas sales generally within 60 days following the month in which it is produced and sold. Income (loss) from net profits interest is generally a function of oil and gas revenues, lease operating expenses, production taxes, development costs and reserve for expenditures as follows:

Revenues. Oil and natural gas revenues decreased $8.7 million (or 68%) during the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the same 2019 period. Sales revenue is a function of average commodity prices realized and oil and gas volumes sold. The decline in revenue between periods was primarily due to lower realized oil prices. The crude oil average realized sales price decreased by 61% and the natural gas average realized sales price decreased by 52% between periods primarily due to lower

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NYMEX oil and natural gas prices. Crude oil production volumes decreased by 43 MBbl (or 19%) and natural gas production volumes decreased by 41 MMcf (or 14%) between periods.

The decline in oil volumes between periods was related to (i) normal field decline, (ii) the permanent shutdown of the third-party operated Chatom Gas Plant in November 2019, which impacts wells located in the Lake Como field and (iii) one well and one unit being shut-in during 2020. The decline in gas volumes between periods was primarily related to (i) normal field decline  and (ii) the permanent shutdown of the third-party operated Chatom Gas Plant in November 2019, which impacts wells located in the Lake Como field. Based on the December 31, 2019 reserve report, overall production attributable to the underlying properties is expected to decline at an average year-over-year rate of approximately 8.5% for oil and 13.6% for gas from 2020 through the December 31, 2021 NPI termination date.

Lease operating expenses. Lease operating expenses decreased $2 million (or 24%) during the third quarter of 2020 compared to the same 2019 period primarily due to lower oilfield goods and services costs of $1.7 million and lower labor and other operating costs on Whiting-operated properties of $0.5 million, which were partially offset by a $0.2 million increase in ad valorem taxes between periods. The decrease in overall LOE coupled with the decline in overall production volumes resulted in a decrease in LOE on a per BOE basis of 8% between periods from $29.61 during the three months ended September 30, 2019 to $27.37 for the same period in 2020.

Production taxes. Production taxes are typically calculated as a percentage of oil and gas revenues. Production taxes as a percentage of revenues decreased from 4.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2019 to 3.3% for the same period in 2020 primarily due to certain wells within the Garland Unit being granted a “stripper well” production tax exemption which reduced the tax rate for production volumes from these wells and resulted in the receipt of tax refunds related to prior periods during the third quarter of 2020. Overall production taxes for the third quarter of 2020 decreased $0.5 million (or 78%) as compared to the same 2019 period primarily due to the aforementioned “stripper well” refunds and lower oil and natural gas revenues between periods.

Development costs. Development costs for the three months ended September 30, 2020 were $0.3 million (or 46%) lower as compared to the same 2019 period primarily due to reduced drilling and capital workover costs in the Justis, Mary Two and Torchlight fields.

Reserve for expenditures. As provided in the terms of the NPI, a $1.6 million reserve for future development, maintenance or operating expenses was established during the second quarter of 2020. During the third quarter of 2020, Whiting released the $1.6 million reserve and applied it against qualifying expenses incurred during the period. Accordingly, there is no remaining reserve for expenditures to offset future development, maintenance or operating expenses on the underlying properties and related activities.

Accumulated Net Losses Funded by Whiting. During the three months ended September 30, 2020, the net profits interest generated accumulated net losses of $0.9 million attributable to the Trust primarily due to the decline in oil and natural gas prices, which lower commodity prices caused production and development costs on the underlying properties to exceed the proceeds from production. Neither the Trust nor the unitholders are liable for any net losses that are generated by the net profits interest. Whiting funds the payment of any such net losses until the accumulated net losses, plus accrued interest at the money market interest rate, are recovered from future NPI net profits. All accumulated net losses, plus accrued interest, must be repaid to Whiting before any further distributions will be made to Trust unitholders. There were no accumulated net losses during the three months ended September 30, 2019.

Distributable Income. There was no distribution made to unitholders during the third quarter of 2020 due to the net profits interest generating accumulated net losses of $0.9 million during the period. Distributable income for the three months ended September 30, 2019 was $2.8 million, which was based on income from net profits interest of $3.1 million, reduced by Trust general and administrative expenses of $0.3 million and adjusted for changes in Trust cash reserves.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview. The Trust has no source of liquidity or capital resources other than cash flows from the NPI. Other than Trust administrative expenses, including any reserves established by the Trustee for future liabilities, the Trust’s only use of cash is for distributions to Trust unitholders. Administrative expenses include payments to the Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, a quarterly fee paid to Whiting pursuant to an administrative services agreement and expenses in connection with the discharge of the Trustee’s duties, including third-party engineering, audit, accounting and legal fees. Each quarter, the Trustee determines the amount of funds available for distribution to unitholders. Available funds are the excess cash, if any, received by the Trust from the NPI and other sources (such as interest earned on any amounts reserved by the Trustee) that quarter, over the Trust’s expenses for that quarter. Available funds are reduced by (i) any

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cash the Trustee decides to hold as a reserve against future liabilities and (ii) any accumulated net losses to be recovered by Whiting, plus accrued interest. If the NPI generates net losses or limited net proceeds (which was the case during the first quarter of 2019 and the second and third quarters of 2020), the net profits interest may not provide sufficient funds to the Trustee to enable it to pay all of the Trust’s administrative expenses, which may be in excess of the provision for Trust expenses. The Trust may borrow the amount of funds required to pay its liabilities if the Trustee determines that the cash on hand and the cash to be received, which is dependent on future net proceeds, are insufficient to cover the Trust’s liabilities. If the Trust borrows funds, the Trust unitholders will not receive distributions until the borrowed funds together with any accumulated net losses and accrued interest are repaid. The Trust does not have any transactions, arrangements or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or persons that could materially affect the Trust’s liquidity or the availability of capital resources. As of October 31, 2020, the Trust had cash reserves of $0.5 million remaining for the payment of its administrative expenses.

The Trust is highly dependent on Whiting for multiple services, including the operation of wells, remittance of net proceeds generated by the NPI and administrative services performed on behalf of the Trust. Whiting’s continued ability to operate wells, including those with interests held by the NPI, depends on its future financial condition, access to capital and other factors outside of its control. On April 1, 2020, Whiting and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including Whiting Oil and Gas (collectively, the “Debtors”) commenced voluntary cases under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (the “Bankruptcy Court”). On June 30, 2020, the Debtors filed the Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Whiting Petroleum Corporation and its Debtor affiliates (as amended, modified and supplemented, the “Plan”).  On August 14, 2020, the Bankruptcy Court confirmed the Plan.  On September 1, 2020, the Debtors emerged from the Chapter 11 Cases and the Plan became effective in accordance with its terms.

Letter of credit. In June 2012, Whiting established a $1.0 million letter of credit for the Trustee in order to provide a mechanism for the Trustee to pay the operating expenses of the Trust in the event that Whiting should fail to lend funds to the Trust, if requested to do so by the Trustee. This letter of credit will not be used to fund NPI distributions to unitholders, and if the Trustee were to draw on the letter of credit or were to borrow funds from Whiting or other entities, no further distributions would be made to unitholders until all such amounts have been repaid by the Trust. Such letter of credit will renew in December 2020 and expire upon the NPI termination date. As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Trust had no borrowings under the letter of credit.

Reserve for expenditures. Whiting may reserve from the gross proceeds amounts up to a total of $2.0 million at any time for future development, maintenance or operating expenses on the underlying properties and related activities. Whiting did not fund such a reserve during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019. Instead, Whiting deducted from the Trust’s gross proceeds only actual costs paid for development, maintenance and operating expenses. During the second quarter of 2020, Whiting established a reserve for future expenditures of $1.6 million in response to the expectation that future gross proceeds from the underlying properties may be insufficient to cover the future operating costs of the underlying properties due to (i) the sharp decline in oil prices in March 2020 which oil prices remained depressed at the time the reserve was established in May 2020 and (ii) the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the third quarter, the $1.6 million reserve was released and applied by Whiting to qualifying expenses incurred during the period. Accordingly, there is no remaining reserve for expenditures to offset future development, maintenance or operating expenses on the underlying properties and related activities.  

Plugging and abandonment. Plugging and abandonment costs related to the underlying properties, net of any proceeds received from the salvage of equipment, cannot be included as a deduction in the calculation of net proceeds pursuant to the terms of the conveyance agreement. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, Whiting incurred $0.5 million and $1.6 million, respectively, of plugging and abandonment charges on the underlying properties, and these costs were not charged to the unitholders of the Trust.

Future Trust Payment Periods

On November 9, 2020, the Trustee announced that no distribution would be made to unitholders in the fourth quarter of 2020. The November 2020 net loss is due to the net profits interest generating net profits of approximately $0.7 million during the third quarterly payment period of 2020 off-setting a portion of the NPI deficit of approximately $0.9 million from a prior period net loss. The limited net profits were primarily due to the continued low oil and natural gas prices.The NPI deficit, plus accrued interest at the prevailing money market rate, will be deducted from gross proceeds in future computation periods for purposes of determining net proceeds (or net losses as the case may be) until the negative net proceeds, including interest, have been recovered in full.The Trust will make no further distributions until that occurs.

As discussed above, oil and natural gas prices sharply declined in March 2020 and have remained suppressed into November 2020. The Trust is unable to predict future commodity prices or future performance; however, if prices remain at current levels or decline further,

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it appears likely that distributions to unitholders will be significantly impacted by low oil and natural gas prices and may be reduced to zero, as was the case during the second, third and fourth quarters of 2020. Additionally, in the current commodity price environment, the Trust’s distributions have increased sensitivity to fluctuations in operating and capital expenditures and commodity price differentials. If the NPI generates net losses or limited net proceeds, the net profits interest may not provide sufficient funds to the Trustee to enable it to pay all of the Trust’s administrative expenses, which expenses may be in excess of the provision for Trust expenses.

New Accounting Pronouncements

There were no accounting pronouncements issued during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 applicable to the Trust or its financial statements.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

A disclosure of critical accounting policies and the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the Trust’s financial statements is included in Item 7 of the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. There have been no significant changes to the critical accounting policies during the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Commodity Hedge Contracts

The primary asset of and source of income to the Trust is the NPI, which generally entitles the Trust to receive 90% of the net proceeds from oil and gas production from the underlying properties. Consequently, the Trust is exposed to market risk from fluctuations in oil and gas prices.

The revenues derived from the underlying properties depend substantially on prevailing crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids prices. As a result, commodity prices also affect the amount of cash flow available for distribution to the Trust unitholders. Lower prices may also reduce the amount of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids that can be economically produced. Whiting sells the oil, natural gas and natural gas liquid production from the underlying properties under floating market price contracts each month. Whiting entered into certain hedge contracts, all of which terminated as of December 31, 2014, to manage the exposure to crude oil price volatility associated with revenues generated from the underlying properties, and to achieve more predictable cash flows. No additional hedges are allowed to be placed on Trust assets, and therefore, there are no further cash settlements on commodity hedges for inclusion in the Trust’s computation of net proceeds (or net losses, as the case may be), which has the effect of increasing the Trust’s exposure to oil and natural gas price volatility. The Trust cannot enter into derivative contracts for speculative or trading purposes.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. The Trustee maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust is accumulated and communicated by Whiting to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee of the Trust, and its employees who participate in the preparation of the Trust’s periodic reports as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Trustee carried out an evaluation of the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures. Mike Ulrich, as Trust Officer of the Trustee, has concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures of the Trust are effective.

Due to the contractual arrangements of (i) the Trust agreement and (ii) the conveyance of the NPI, the Trustee relies on (a) information provided by Whiting, including historical operating data, plans for future operating and capital expenditures, reserve information and information relating to projected production and (b) conclusions and reports on oil and gas reserves by the Trust’s independent reserve engineers. For a description of certain risks relating to these arrangements and risks relating to the Trustee’s reliance on information reported by Whiting and included in the Trust’s results of operations, refer to the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, Item 1A. Risk Factors “The Trust and the Trust unitholders have no voting or managerial rights with respect to the underlying properties. As a result, neither the Trust nor the Trust unitholders have any ability to influence the operation of the underlying properties.”

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Changes in internal control over financial reporting. During the quarter ended September 30, 2020, there was no change in the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. The Trustee notes for purposes of clarification that it has no authority over, and makes no statement concerning, the internal control over financial reporting of Whiting.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Risk factors relating to the Trust are contained in Item 1A of the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. The following are material updates to such risk factors:

The amount of cash distributions by the Trust are subject to fluctuation as a result of changes in oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids prices. An extended period of low oil and natural gas prices may adversely affect the amount of cash distributions by the Trust and the value of the Trust units.

The reserves attributable to the underlying properties and the quarterly cash distributions of the Trust are highly dependent upon the prices realized from the sale of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. Prices of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids applicable to the underlying properties can fluctuate widely on a quarter-to-quarter basis in response to a variety of factors that are beyond the control of the Trust and Whiting, including, but not limited to, the following:

● changes in regional, domestic and global supply and demand for oil and natural gas;

● the level of global oil and natural gas inventories and storage capacity;

● the occurrence or threat of epidemic or pandemic diseases, such as the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic, or any government response to such occurrence or threat;

● the actions of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”);

● the price and quantity of imports of oil and natural gas;

● market demand and capacity limitations on exports of oil and natural gas;

● political and economic conditions, including embargoes and sanctions, in oil-producing countries or affecting other oil-producing activity, such as the U.S. imposed sanctions on Venezuela and Iran and conflicts in the Middle East;

● developments relating to North American energy infrastructure including legislative, regulatory and court actions that may impact such infrastructure and other developments that may cause short- or long-term capacity constraints;

● the level of global oil and natural gas exploration and production activity;

● the effects of global conservation and sustainability measures;

● proximity, capacity and availability of oil and natural gas pipelines and other transportation facilities;

● the effects of the global and domestic economies, including the impact of expected growth, access to credit and financial and other economic issues;

● weather conditions;

● technological advances affecting energy consumption;

● current and anticipated changes to domestic and foreign governmental regulations, such as regulation of oil and natural gas gathering and transportation, including those that may arise as a result of the U.S. Presidential election;

● the price and availability of competitors’ supplies of oil and natural gas;

● basis differentials associated with market conditions, the quality and location of production and other factors;

● acts of terrorism;

● the price and availability of alternative fuels; and

● acts of force majeure.

These factors and the volatility of the energy markets generally make it extremely difficult to predict future oil and natural gas price movements. Also, prices for crude oil and prices for natural gas do not necessarily move in tandem. Declines in oil or natural gas prices would not only reduce revenue, but could also reduce the amount of oil and natural gas that can be economically produced from the underlying properties, therefore potentially lowering the oil and gas reserve quantities attributable to the Trust’s interest in the NPI. If the oil and natural gas industry experiences extended periods of low prices, resulting in the NPI generating net losses or limited net proceeds (which was the case during the first quarter of 2019 and the second, third and fourth quarters of 2020), the net profits interest may not provide sufficient funds to the Trustee to enable it to pay all of the Trust’s administrative expenses.

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Whiting entered into hedge contracts, which were structured as costless collar arrangements and were conveyed to the Trust to reduce the exposure to volatility in the underlying properties’ oil and gas revenues due to fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas prices, and to achieve more predictable cash flows. However, all such costless collar hedge contracts terminated as of December 31, 2014 and no additional hedges are allowed to be placed on the Trust assets. As a result, the amounts of the cash distributions may fluctuate significantly as a result of changes in commodity prices because there are no hedge contracts in place to reduce the Trust’s exposure to oil and natural gas volatility.

Oil prices declined sharply during the first half of 2020 primarily in response to Saudi Arabia’s announcement of plans to abandon previously agreed upon output restraints and the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the demand for oil and natural gas. Substantial and extended declines in oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids prices have resulted and may continue to result in reduced net proceeds to which the Trust is entitled, which could materially reduce or completely eliminate the amount of cash available for distribution to Trust unitholders, and may ultimately reduce the amount of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids that is economic to produce from the underlying properties. As a result, the operator of any of the underlying properties could determine during periods of low commodity prices to shut in or curtail production from the underlying properties. In addition, the operator of these properties could determine during periods of low commodity prices to plug and abandon marginal wells that otherwise may have been allowed to continue to produce for a longer period under conditions of higher prices. Because these properties are mature, decreases in commodity prices could have a more significant effect on the economic viability of these properties as compared to more recently discovered properties. The commodity price sensitivity of these mature wells is due to a culmination of factors that vary from well to well, including the additional costs associated with water handling and disposal, chemicals, surface equipment maintenance, downhole casing repairs and reservoir pressure maintenance activities that are necessary to maintain production. As a result, the volatility of commodity prices may cause the amount of future cash distributions to Trust unitholders to fluctuate, and a substantial decline in the price, or sustained periods of low prices, of oil, natural gas or natural gas liquids, will likely materially reduce, or completely eliminate, the amount of cash available for distribution to Trust unitholders.

If the financial position of Whiting degrades in the future, Whiting may not be able to satisfy its obligations to the Trust.

At December 31, 2019, Whiting operated approximately 66% of the underlying properties based on the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows. The conveyance provides that Whiting will be obligated to market, or cause to be marketed, the production related to the underlying properties for which it operates.

On April 1, 2020, Whiting and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including Whiting Oil and Gas (collectively, the “Debtors”) commenced voluntary cases under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (the “Bankruptcy Court”). On September 1, 2020, the Debtors emerged from the Chapter 11 Cases and the Plan became effective in accordance with its terms. Whiting’s ability to perform its obligations related to the operation of the underlying properties and its obligations to the Trust will depend on Whiting’s future financial condition and economic performance, which in turn will depend upon the supply and demand for oil and natural gas, prevailing economic conditions and financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Whiting. Whiting cannot provide any assurance that its financial condition and economic performance will not deteriorate in the future. A substantial or extended decline in oil or natural gas prices may materially and adversely affect Whiting’s future business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity or ability to finance planned capital expenditures. If the reduced demand for crude oil in the global market as a result of the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the reduction in the benchmark price of crude oil due in part to the announcement in March 2020 of Saudi Arabia’s abandonment of output restraints, persists for the near future or longer, or if the pandemic adversely affects employees of Whiting and such employees’ ability to conduct Whiting’s operations, such factors could have a negative impact on the financial condition and economic performance of Whiting.

Outbreaks of communicable diseases, including the COVID-19 pandemic, could adversely affect the amount of cash distributions by the Trust and the value of the Trust units.

Global or national health concerns, including the outbreak of pandemic or contagious disease, can negatively impact the global economy and, therefore, demand and pricing for oil and natural gas products. For example, there have been recent outbreaks in many countries, including the United States, of a highly transmissible and pathogenic coronavirus, which the World Health Organization declared a pandemic in March 2020. The outbreak of communicable diseases, or the perception that such an outbreak could occur, could result in a widespread public health crisis that could adversely affect the economies and financial markets of many countries, resulting in an economic downturn that would negatively impact the demand for oil and natural gas products. Furthermore, uncertainty regarding the impact and length of any outbreak of pandemic or contagious disease, including COVID-19, could lead to increased volatility in oil and natural gas prices. The occurrence or continuation of any of these events could lead to decreased revenues and could affect adversely

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affect the amount of cash distributions by the Trust and the value of the Trust units. For example, the Trust has announced that no distribution will be made to unitholders in the third and fourth quarters of 2020. This is due to the net profits interest generating a net loss during the second and third quarterly payment periods of 2020 primarily due to the dramatic decline in oil prices in April 2020, which prices remained suppressed into the fourth quarter. Lower commodity prices during the third quarterly payment period caused operating and development costs to exceed the proceeds from production. The net profits generated during the third quarterly payment period of 2020 off-set a portion of the NPI deficit from the second quarterly payment period net loss. All net losses, plus accrued interest at the prevailing money market rate, will be deducted from gross proceeds in future computation periods for purposes of determining net proceeds (or net losses as the case may be) until the negative net proceeds, including interest, have been recovered in full. The Trust will make no further distributions until that occurs.

Additionally, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Whiting’s corporate staff has been working remotely and many of its key vendors, service suppliers and partners have similarly been working remotely. As a result of such remote work arrangements, certain operational, reporting, accounting and other processes may slow, which could result in longer time to execute critical business functions, higher operating costs and uncertainties regarding the quality of services and supplies. Also, in the event that there is an outbreak of COVID-19 at any of Whiting’s operating locations, Whiting could be forced to cease operations at such location. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect the amount of cash distributions by the Trust and the value of the Trust units.

To the extent the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affects production from the underlying properties or Whiting’s business, results of operations and financial condition, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in the Trust’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K and this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

The ability or willingness of OPEC and other oil exporting nations to set and maintain production levels has a significant impact on oil and natural gas commodity prices, which could reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to Trust unitholders.

OPEC is an intergovernmental organization that seeks to manage the price and supply of oil on the global energy market. Actions taken by OPEC members, including those taken alongside other oil exporting nations, have a significant impact on global oil supply and pricing. For example, OPEC and certain other oil exporting nations have previously agreed to take measures, including production cuts, to support crude oil prices. In March 2020, members of OPEC and Russia considered extending and potentially increasing these oil production cuts. However, those negotiations were unsuccessful. As a result, Saudi Arabia announced an immediate reduction in export prices and Russia announced that all previously agreed upon oil production cuts would expire on April 1, 2020. These actions led to an immediate and steep decrease in oil prices, which reached a closing NYMEX price low of under negative $37.00 per Bbl of crude oil in April 2020. Although OPEC members subsequently agreed on certain production cuts beginning in May 2020 and continuing through April 2022, there can be no assurance that OPEC members and other oil exporting nations will continue to agree to future production cuts or other actions to support and stabilize oil prices, nor can there be any assurance that they will not further reduce oil prices or increase production. Uncertainty regarding future actions to be taken by OPEC members or other oil exporting countries could lead to increased volatility in the price of oil, which could adversely affect the financial condition and economic performance of the operators of the underlying properties and may reduce the net proceeds to which the Trust is entitled, which could materially reduce or completely eliminate the amount of cash available for distribution to Trust unitholders.

Item 6. Exhibits

The exhibits listed in the accompanying exhibit index are filed as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Exhibit Description
3.1*	Certificate of Trust of Whiting USA Trust II [Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-178586)].
3.2*	Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated March 28, 2012, by and among Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as Trustee and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Delaware Trustee. [Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Trust’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 28, 2012 (File No. 001-35459)].

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10.1*	Conveyance and Assignment, dated March 28, 2012, from Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as Trustee of Whiting USA Trust II [Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Trust’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 28, 2012 (File No. 001-35459)].
10.2*	Administrative Services Agreement, dated March 28, 2012, by and between Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation and Whiting USA Trust II [Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Trust’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 28, 2012 (File No. 001-35459)].
31	Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32	Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

__________

(* Asterisk indicates exhibit previously filed with the SEC and incorporated herein by reference.)

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

	Whiting USA Trust II
By:	The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.,
	as Trustee
By:	/s/ Mike Ulrich
	Mike Ulrich
	Vice President

November 10, 2020

The registrant, Whiting USA Trust II, has no principal executive officer, principal financial officer, board of directors or persons performing similar functions. Accordingly, no additional signatures are available, and none have been provided. In signing the report above, the Trustee does not imply that it has performed any such function or that such function exists pursuant to the terms of the Trust agreement under which it serves.

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