Gain (Loss) on Derivative Contracts
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three months ended June 30, | | Six months ended June 30, |
| | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Gain (loss) on derivative contracts | | $ | 628,178 | | $ | 776,994 | | $ | 1,696,838 | | $ | (194,910) |
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, Epsilon had NYMEX HH Natural Gas Futures swaps and Tennessee Gas Pipeline Zone 4 basis swap derivative contracts for the purpose of hedging a portion of its physical natural gas sales revenue. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, Epsilon had NYMEX HH two-way collars and Tennessee Gas Pipeline Zone 4 basis swap derivative contracts for the same hedging purpose. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, we received cash settlements of $1,272,970 and $1,632,858, respectively. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, we paid net cash settlements of $163,559 and $1,375,287, respectively.
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, realized gains on derivative contracts increased primarily due to the decrease in NYMEX HH Natural Gas Futures prices resulting in an increase in value of the NYMEX HH swaps. As of June 30, 2023, the Company had no derivative contracts beyond October 2023.
Capital Resources and Liquidity
Cash Flow
The primary source of cash for Epsilon during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 was funds generated from operations. The primary uses of cash for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 were development of natural gas properties, investment in U.S. Treasury Bills, the repurchase of shares of common stock, and the distribution of dividends. The primary uses of cash for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 were development of natural gas properties, the repurchase of shares of common stock, and the distribution of dividends.
At June 30, 2023, we had a working capital surplus of $39.2 million, a decrease of $10.1 million from the $49.2 million surplus at December 31, 2022. The Company anticipates its current cash balance, short term investments, available borrowings, and cash flows from operations to be sufficient to meet its cash requirements for at least the next twelve months.
Six months ended June 30, 2023 compared to 2022
During the six months ended June 30, 2023, $10.2 million was provided by the Company’s operating activities, compared to $15.8 million provided during the same period in 2022, a $5.6 million, and 35% decrease.
The Company used $40.0 million of cash for investing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2023. The Company had a $26.5 million net investment in U.S Treasury Bills and $13.5 million on leasehold and development costs targeting increasing production in Pennsylvania, Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. The Company used $5.0 million of cash for investing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2022. This was spent primarily on leasehold and development costs targeting increasing production in Pennsylvania and Oklahoma.
The Company used $5.9 million of cash for financing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2023 compared to $6.3 million during the same period in 2022. This was spent primarily on dividend payments and the repurchase of shares of common stock.
Credit Agreement
The Company closed a senior secured reserve based revolving credit facility on June 28, 2023 with Frost Bank as issuing bank and sole lender. The new facility replaced the Company’s previous facility. The initial commitment and borrowing base is $35 million, supported by the Company’s upstream assets in Pennsylvania and subject to semi-annual redeterminations with a maturity date of the earlier of June 28, 2027 or the date that the commitments are terminated. Interest will be charged at the Daily Simple SOFR rate plus a margin of 3.25%. The facility is secured by the assets of the Company’s Epsilon Energy USA subsidiary (Borrower). There are currently no borrowings under the facility.