| Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] | NOTE 1 Liquidity and Going Concern The primary sources of liquidity have historically been issuances of common stock, oil and gas sales through ongoing operations and the sale of oil and gas properties. There are factors that give rise to substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to meet liquidity demands, and we anticipate that our primary sources of liquidity will be from the issuance of debt and/or equity, the sale of oil and natural gas property participation interests through our normal course of business and the sale of non-strategic assets At September 30, 2021, the Company’s consolidated financial statements reflect a working capital deficiency of $6,038,231 and a net loss of $982,328 and $2,577,999 for three months and nine months ended September 30, 2021. These factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans to alleviate the going concern by cost control measures that include the reduction of overhead costs and the sale of non-strategic assets. There is no assurance that additional financing will be available when needed or that management will be able to obtain financing on terms acceptable to the Company and whether the Company will become profitable and generate positive operating cash flow. If the Company is unable to raise sufficient additional funds, it will have to develop and implement a plan to further extend payables, attempt to extend note repayments, and reduce overhead until sufficient additional capital is raised to support further operations. There can be no assurance that such a plan will be successful. East LA Sale The Company and its joint venture partner, RMX, entered into a purchase and sales agreement as well as a second amendment to that certain purchase and sales agreement which closed in September 2021. During the period in 2021, the Company carried these assets on the books for $1.0 million booked as Held for Sale with an current ARO amount of approximately $721,000 for the existing wells and facilities located on the properties. The sale required RMX and the Company to plug and abandon one well on the property and remove and restore the surface land. The sale price of $1.0 million to the Company resulted in recording a loss on the sale of these properties of approximately $254,000. Non-operated West Texas Property Sale During the six months ended June 30, 2021, we recorded a gain of $291,249 on the sale of asset on the sale of certain non-operated Texas properties. These non-operated properties were originally acquired during the 2018 merger with Matrix Oil Management Corporation and booked as Held for Sale at the end 2020. Consolidation The accompanying financial statements include the accounts of Royale Energy, Inc. (sometimes called the “Company” “we,” “our,” “us,” “Royale Energy,” or “Royale”), Royale Energy Funds, Inc. (“REF”), and Matrix Oil Management Corporation and its subsidiaries. All entities comprising the financial statements of Royale Energy have fiscal years ending December 31. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the financial statements. Use of Estimates The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change relate to the estimate of Company oil and gas reserves prepared by an independent engineering consultant. Such estimates are subject to numerous uncertainties inherent in the estimation of quantities of proven reserves. Estimated reserves are used in the calculation of depletion, depreciation and amortization, unevaluated property costs, impairment of oil and natural gas properties, estimated future net cash flows, taxes, and contingencies. Revenue Recognition The majority of our ongoing revenues are derived from the sale of crude oil and condensate, natural gas liquids ("NGLs") and natural gas under spot and term agreements with our customers.
For the three months ended September 30
For the nine months ended September 30
2021
2020
2021
2020
Oil & Condensate Sales $ 310,570 477,724 $ 913,879 874,936
Natural Gas Sales 114,549 73,878 288,116 262,532
NGL Sales 351 244 351 377
Total $ 425,470 551,846 $ 1,202,346 1,137,845 The pricing in our hydrocarbon sales agreements are variable, determined using various published benchmarks which are adjusted for negotiated quality and location differentials. As a result, revenue collected under our agreements with customers is highly dependent on the market conditions and may fluctuate considerably as the hydrocarbon market prices rise or fall. Typically, our customers pay us monthly, within a short period of time after we deliver the hydrocarbon products. As such, we do not have any financing element associated with our contracts. We do not have any issues related to returns or refunds, as product specifications are standardized for the industry and are typically measured when transferred to a common carrier or midstream entity, and other contractual mechanisms (e.g., price adjustments) are used when products do not meet those specifications. We often serve as the operator for jointly owned oil and gas properties. As part of this role, we perform activities to explore, develop and produce oil and gas properties in accordance with the joint operating arrangement and collective decisions of the joint parties. Other working interest owners reimburse us for costs incurred based on our agreements. We determined that these activities are not performed as part of customer relationships, and such reimbursements are recorded as cost reimbursements. We commonly market the share of production belonging to other working interest owners as the operator of jointly owned oil and gas properties. Those marketing activities are carried out as part of the collaborative arrangement, and we do not purchase or otherwise obtain control of other working interest owners’ share of production. Therefore, we act as a principal only in regards to the sale of our share of production and recognize revenue for the volumes associated with our net production. The Company frequently sells a portion of the working interest in each well it drills or participates in, to third-party investors and retains a portion of the prospect for its own account. The Company typically guarantees a cost to drill to the third-party drilling participants and records a loss or gain on the difference between the guaranteed price and the actual cost to drill the well. When monies are received from third parties for future drilling obligations, the Company records the liability as Deferred Drilling Obligations. Once the contracted depth for the drilling of the well is reached and a determination as to the commercial viability of the well (typically call “Casing Point Election” or “Logging Point”), the difference in the actual cost to drill and the guaranteed cost is recorded as income or expense depending on whether there was a gain or loss. Crude oil and condensate For the crude sales agreements, we satisfy our performance obligations and recognize revenue once customers take control of the crude at the designated delivery points, which include pipelines, trucks or vessels. Natural gas and NGLs When selling natural gas and NGLs, we engage midstream entities to process our production stream by separating natural gas from the NGLs. Frequently, these midstream entities also purchase our natural gas and NGLs under the same agreements. In these situations, we determined the performance obligation is complete and satisfied at the tailgate of the processing plant when the natural gas and NGLs become identifiable and measurable products. We determined the plant tailgate is the point in time where control, as defined in the new revenue standard, is transferred to midstream entities and they are entitled to significant risks and rewards of ownership of the natural gas and NGLs. The amounts due to midstream entities for gathering and processing services are recognized as shipping and handling cost and included as lease operating expense in our consolidated statement of operations, since we make those payments in exchange for distinct services with the exception of natural gas sold to Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) where transportation is netted directly against revenue. Under some of our natural gas processing agreements, we have an option to take the processed natural gas and NGLs in-kind and sell to customers other than the processing company. In those circumstances, our performance obligations are complete after delivering the processed hydrocarbons to the customer at the designated delivery points, which may be the tailgate of the processing plant or an alternative delivery point requested by the customer. Turnkey Drilling Royale sponsors turnkey drilling arrangements in proved and unproved properties. The contracts require that participants pay Royale the full contract price upon execution of the drilling agreement. Each participant earns an undivided interest in the well bore at the completion of the well. A portion of the funds received in advance of the drilling of a well from a working interest participant are held for the expressed purpose of drilling a well. If something changes, the Company may designate these funds for a substitute well. Under certain conditions, a portion of these funds may be required to be returned to a participant. Once the well is drilled, the funds are used to satisfy the drilling cost. These Turnkey Agreements are managed by the Company for the participants of the well. The collections of pre-drilling AFE amounts are segregated by the Company and the gains and losses on the Turnkey Agreements are recorded in income or expense at the time of the casing point election in accordance with ASC 932-323-25 and 932-360. The Company manages the performance obligation for the well participants and only records revenue or expense at the time the performance obligation of the Turnkey Agreement has been satisfied. Restricted Cash Royale sponsors turnkey drilling arrangements in proved and unproved properties. The contracts require that participants pay Royale the full contract price upon execution of the drilling agreement. Each participant earns an undivided interest in the well bore at the completion of the well. A portion of the funds received in advance of the drilling of a well from a working interest participant are held for the expressed purpose of drilling a well. If something changes, the Company may designate these funds for a substitute well. Under certain conditions, a portion of these funds may be required to be returned to a participant. Once the well is drilled, the funds are used to satisfy the drilling cost. Royale classifies these funds prior to commencement of drilling as restricted cash based on guidance codified as under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 230-10-50-8. In the event that progress payments are made from these funds, they are recorded as Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets. The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheet that sum to the total of the same amounts shown in the statement of cash flows.
September 30, 2021
December 31, 2020
Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 472,925 $ 255,112
Restricted Cash 1,694,521 2,146,571
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the statement of cash flows $ 2,167,446 $ 2,401,683 Equity Method Investments Investments in entities over which we have significant influence, but not control, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Income from equity method investments represents our proportionate share of net income generated by the equity method investees and is reflected in revenue and other income in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. Equity method investments are included as noncurrent assets on the consolidated balance sheet. Equity method investments are assessed for impairment whenever changes in the facts and circumstances indicate a loss in value may have occurred as called for under ASC 323. When a loss is deemed to have occurred and is other than temporary, the carrying value of the equity method investment is written down to fair value, and the amount of the write-down is included in income. At year-end 2020, we evaluated our investment in RMX and determined that the investment was fully impaired at December 31, 2020. As a result of the valuation allowance, the Company has not included any gain or loss on its Investment in Joint Venture for the period ended September 30, 2021. During the period ended September 30, 2020, the Company recorded a loss of $301,015 reflecting our share of losses directly attributable to this equity method investment. For the period ending September 30, 2021, no earnings or loss was recorded as a result of full impairment of the investment balance at December 31, 2020. Other Receivables Other receivables consist of joint interest billing receivables from direct working interest investors and industry partners. We provide for uncollectible accounts receivable using the allowance method of accounting for bad debts. Under this method of accounting, a provision for uncollectible accounts is charged directly to bad debt expense when it becomes probable the receivable will not be collected. The allowance account is increased or decreased based on past collection history and management’s evaluation of accounts receivable. All amounts considered uncollectible are charged against the allowance account and recoveries of previously charged off accounts are added to the allowance. At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company maintained an allowance for uncollectable accounts of $2,761,398 and $2,582,093, for receivables from direct working interest investors whose expenses on non-producing wells were unlikely to be collected from revenue. Fair Value Measurements According to Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the FASB ASC, assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring and nonrecurring basis in period subsequent to initial recognition, the reporting entity shall disclose information that enable users of its financial statements to assess the inputs used to develop those measurements and for recurring fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs, the effect of the measurements on earnings for the period. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In determining fair value, the Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible as well as considers counterparty credit risk in its assessment of fair value. Carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, approximate their fair values as of the balance sheet dates because of their generally short maturities. The fair value hierarchy distinguishes between (1) market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from independent sources (observable inputs) and (2) an entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs). The fair value hierarchy consists of three broad levels, which gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below: Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for assets or liabilities. Level 2: Directly or indirectly observable inputs as of the reporting date through correlation with market data, including quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets and quoted prices in markets that are not active. Level 2 also includes assets and liabilities that are valued using models or other pricing methodologies that do not require significant judgment since the input assumptions used in the models, such as interest rates and volatility factors, are corroborated by readily observable data from actively quoted markets for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and reflect the use of significant management judgment. These values are generally determined using pricing models for which the assumptions utilize management’s estimates of market participant assumptions. At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, Royale Energy does not have any financial assets measured and recognized at fair value on a recurring basis. The Company estimates asset retirement obligations (ARO’s) pursuant to the provisions of ASC 410, “ Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations The initial measurement of asset retirement obligations at fair value is calculated using discounted cash flow techniques and based on internal estimates of future retirement costs associated with oil and gas properties. Given the unobservable nature of the inputs, including plugging costs and reserve lives, the initial measurement of the asset retirement obligation liability is deemed to use Level 3 inputs. Fair Values - Non-recurring The Company applies the provisions of the fair value measurement standard to its non-recurring, non-financial measurements including oil and natural gas property impairments and other long-lived asset impairments. These items are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis but are subject to fair value adjustments only in certain circumstances. Dividends on Series B Convertible Preferred Stock The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, (“Preferred”), has an obligation to pay a 3.5% cumulative dividend, in kind or cash, on a quarterly basis. In the third quarter of 2020, the Board of Directors authorized the issuance of Preferred shares, for the settlement of dividends accumulated through December 31, 2021. The Company accrued $199,413 and $192,583 for dividends related to the Preferred shares during the third quarters of 2021 and 2020, respectively. Each quarter, the Company charges retained earnings for the accumulating dividend as the amounts add to the liquidation preference of the Preferred. For further information regarding the Preferred Stock see Note 3, below. Risks and Uncertainties In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (which triggers a respiratory disease called COVID-19) was reported in Wuhan, China. The World health Organization has declared the outbreak to constitute a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” The COVID-19 outbreak has caused a major reduction in the consumption of hydrocarbon-based transportation fuels as airlines have grounded flights worldwide and countries around the world have asked residents to suspend automobile travel. In addition to a substantial loss of demand for crude oil, in March, Saudi Arabia entered into a price war with Russia and added additional supplies of crude oil to an already over supplied market. The result was a precipitous decline in the price of crude oil received by the Company in 2020. At September 30, 2021 the price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil had reached $75.03 per barrel. ACCOUNTING STANDARDS Not Yet Adopted ASU 2016-13, Credit Impairment In June of 2016, the FASB issued ASC Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses. This new guidance replaces the current incurred loss impairment model with a requirement to recognize lifetime expected credit losses immediately when a financial asset is originated or purchased. This new Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”) model applies to (1) loans, accounts receivable, trade receivables, and other financial assets measured at amortized cost, (2) loan commitments and certain other off-balance sheet credit exposures, (3) debt securities and financial assets measured at fair value, and (4) beneficial interests in securitized financial assets. This ASU was effective for SEC filers beginning after December 15, 2019; however, on November 15, 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-10, which delayed the effective date for “smaller reporting companies.” Therefore, ASU 2016-13 is effective for "smaller reporting companies" (as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission) such as Royale, for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those years, and must be adopted under the modified retrospective method. Entities may adopt ASU 2016-13 earlier as of the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those years. Adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and cash flows. |
