NOTE 5. OIL AND NATURAL GAS PROPERTIES
| | | | | | |
| | September 30, | | December 31, |
| | 2024 | | 2023 |
Evaluated oil and natural gas properties – cost | | $ | 6,440,255 | | $ | 6,368,179 |
Total – cost | | | 6,440,255 | | | 6,368,179 |
| | | | | | |
Accumulated depletion and impairment | | | (5,973,853) | | | (5,426,488) |
| | | | | | |
Oil and natural gas properties, net | | $ | 466,402 | | $ | 941,691 |
The Company had no unevaluated properties at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
The Company recorded depletion expense in the amounts of $547,365 and $586,659 during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, and 2023, respectively.
Additions
During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company incurred approximately $34,000 of cost primarily associated with staking various locations in Chaves County, New Mexico, approximately $123,000 of costs associated with the evaluation of a new field gathering system, and approximately $106,000 of costs related to plugging and abandonment costs in excess of liability recorded for asset retirement obligations.
Disposals
In June 2024, the Company assigned interest in certain properties located in Chaves County, New Mexico to Earnest Producing Corporation (“Earnest”), an entity controlled by Joel Solis, the Company’s chairman. The amount recorded as a deduction of Evaluated oil and natural gas properties – cost was $193,229. This was based on a $166,449 fair value calculated for the properties and assumption of the asset retirement obligations by Earnest. At the time of the assignment, the asset retirement costs recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets associated with these properties was $26,780. (See NOTE 8. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS)
NOTE 6. NOTES PAYABLE
On June 1, 2023, the Company renewed a secured Promissory Note (“the Note”) with a balance of $475,000, an interest rate of 14%, and requiring a principal reduction payment of $10,000, and a fee payment of $16,341 upon renewal and maturing on December 1, 2023. On December 1, 2023, the balance of $465,000 of the Note was renewed, requiring fee payment of $15,719 upon renewal and maturing on June 1, 2024. On July 1, 2024, the balance of $465,000 of the Note was renewed, requiring fee payment of $15,719 upon renewal and maturing on December 1, 2024. The Note carries an interest rate of 14.5%. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were $465,139 and $469,968, respectively, payable on the Note which includes accrued interest. These amounts were recorded as Notes payable – current on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
On August 25, 2023, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary NEH Midstream, LLC., entered into a Promissory Note (“AirLife Note”) with AirLife Gases USA Inc. (“AirLife”). Under the AirLife Note, NEH Midstream agreed to pay AirLife the principal sum of $2,000,000 or such lesser amount as shall equal the outstanding principal amount of the Advance made to NEH Midstream by AirLife. The entire balance will be due on the earlier of (i) the date that is 18 months after the commencement date as defined the Purchase and Sale Agreement between NEH Midstream and AirLife dated August 25, 2023, or (ii) May 30, 2027. Interest shall accrue at 0.0211%, compounded daily, equivalent to an annual interest rate of 8%, commencing on the date the advance was made and continuing until repaid. The Company’s interest in certain oil and natural gas properties, included within the Oil and natural gas properties, net (full cost) balance on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets are pledged as collateral for the AirLife Note. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, this amount, including accrued interest of $175,191 and $53,013, respectively and was recorded as Notes payable – noncurrent on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.