FORM 10-Q
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington D.C. 20549
MARK ONE
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
| For the quarterly period endedDecember 31, 2008 |
| 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 0-9494 ASPEN EXPLORATION CORPORATION (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) |
| Delaware | 84-0811316 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of | (IRS Employer | |
| incorporation or organization) | Identification No.) | |
| Suite 208, 2050 S. Oneida St. | ||
| Denver, Colorado | 80224-2426 | |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) | |
Issuer’s telephone number:(303) 639-9860
Indicate by check mark whether Aspen (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 Aspen was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filero | Accelerated filero | ||
| Non-accelerated filero(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting companyþ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YesoNoþ
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the Issuer's classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date.
| Class | Outstanding at February 17, 2009 | |||
| Common stock, $.005 par value | 7,259,622 | |||
| 1 | ||||
| TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| Page | ||
| Part One – Financial Information | ||
| Item 1. Financial Statements | ||
| Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets | 3 | |
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations | 5 | |
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | 6 | |
| Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements | 7 | |
| Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 12 | |
| Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk | 21 | |
| Item 4T. Controls and Procedures | 21 | |
| Part II | ||
| Item 1. Legal Proceedings | 22 | |
| Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | 22 | |
| Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities | 22 | |
| Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders | 22 | |
| Item 5. Other Information | 22 | |
| Item 6. Exhibits | 23 | |
2
| Part One. FINANCIAL INFORMATION Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
ASPEN EXPLORATION CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
| December 31, | June 30, | |||||||
| 2008 | 2008 | |||||||
| (unaudited) | ||||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 2,160,610 | $ | 1,595,150 | ||||
| Marketable securities | 164,260 | 930,818 | ||||||
| Accounts and trade receivables | 1,348,474 | 2,287,519 | ||||||
| Other current assets | 40,229 | 39,474 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 3,713,573 | 4,852,961 | ||||||
| Property and equipment | ||||||||
| Oil and gas property | 23,775,119 | 23,677,355 | ||||||
| Support equipment | 183,374 | 183,374 | ||||||
| 23,958,493 | 23,860,729 | |||||||
| Accumulated depletion and impairment - full cost pool | (13,736,066 | ) | (10,479,466 | ) | ||||
| Accumulated depreciation - support equipment | (81,208 | ) | (70,570 | ) | ||||
| Net property and equipment | 10,141,219 | 13,310,693 | ||||||
| Other assets: | ||||||||
| Deposits | 263,650 | 263,650 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 14,118,442 | $ | 18,427,304 | ||||
Statement Continues)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
ASPEN EXPLORATION CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)
| December 31, | June 30, | |||||||
| 2008 | 2008 | |||||||
| (unaudited) | ||||||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 1,051,351 | $ | 2,260,611 | ||||
| Other current liabilities and accrued expenses | 461,398 | 620,875 | ||||||
| Notes payable - current portion | 446,770 | 475,000 | ||||||
| Asset retirement obligation, current portion | 40,200 | 56,400 | ||||||
| Deferred income taxes, current, net | - | 122,000 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 1,999,719 | 3,534,886 | ||||||
| Long-term liabilities | ||||||||
| Notes payable, net of current portion | - | 116,667 | ||||||
| Asset retirement obligation, net of current portion | 605,800 | 675,955 | ||||||
| Deferred income taxes, net | 1,326,500 | 2,398,000 | ||||||
| Total long-term liabilities | 1,932,300 | 3,190,622 | ||||||
| Stockholders' equity: | ||||||||
| Common stock, $.005 par value: | ||||||||
| Authorized: 50,000,000 shares | ||||||||
| Issued and outstanding: At December 31, 2008, | ||||||||
| and June 30, 2008, 7,259,622 shares | 36,298 | 36,298 | ||||||
| Capital in excess of par value | 7,676,458 | 7,676,458 | ||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (558,623 | ) | (281,849 | ) | ||||
| Retained earnings | 3,032,290 | 4,270,889 | ||||||
| Total stockholders' equity | 10,186,423 | 11,701,796 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 14,118,442 | $ | 18,427,304 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
| ASPEN EXPLORATION CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY | ||||||||||||||||
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | ||||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2008 | 2007 | |||||||||||||
| Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||
| Oil and gas sales | $ | 860,763 | $ | 1,364,775 | $ | 2,153,880 | $ | 2,585,597 | ||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Oil and gas production | 301,004 | 410,885 | 705,696 | 675,801 | ||||||||||||
| Accretion, and depreciation, | ||||||||||||||||
| depletion and amortization | 508,919 | 700,443 | 1,041,238 | 1,363,091 | ||||||||||||
| Additional depletion/impairment of full cost pool assets | 2,250,000 | - | 2,250,000 | - | ||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 159,808 | 63,429 | 366,348 | 228,011 | ||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 3,219,731 | 1,174,757 | 4,363,282 | 2,266,903 | ||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from operations | (2,358,968 | ) | 190,018 | (2,209,402 | ) | 318,694 | ||||||||||
| Other income (expenses) | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest and other income | 6,633 | 21,382 | 13,693 | 96,418 | ||||||||||||
| Interest and other (expenses) | (8,165 | ) | (18,524 | ) | (25,738 | ) | (36,859 | ) | ||||||||
| Gain on investments | - | - | 12,050 | - | ||||||||||||
| Total other income (expenses) | (1,532 | ) | 2,858 | 5 | 59,559 | |||||||||||
| Income (loss) before income taxes | (2,360,500 | ) | 192,876 | (2,209,397 | ) | 378,253 | ||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 1,006,911 | (30,654 | ) | 970,798 | (66,425 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (1,353,589 | ) | $ | 162,222 | $ | (1,238,599 | ) | $ | 311,828 | ||||||
| Basic net income (loss) per share | $ | (0.19 | ) | $ | 0.02 | $ | (0.17 | ) | $ | 0.04 | ||||||
| Diluted net income (loss) per share | $ | (0.19 | ) | $ | 0.02 | $ | (0.17 | ) | $ | 0.04 | ||||||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding | ||||||||||||||||
| used to calculate basic net income (loss) per share : | 7,259,622 | 7,259,622 | 7,259,622 | 7,259,622 | ||||||||||||
| Effect of dilutive securities: | ||||||||||||||||
| Equity based compensation | - | 51,329 | - | 51,329 | ||||||||||||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding | ||||||||||||||||
| used to calculate diluted net income (loss) per share : | 7,259,622 | 7,310,951 | 7,259,622 | 7,310,951 | ||||||||||||
| Unaudited Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) | ||||||||||||||||
| Three and Six Month Periods Ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 | ||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2008 | 2007 | |||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (1,353,589 | ) | $ | 162,222 | $ | (1,238,599 | ) | $ | 311,828 | ||||||
| Unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities, | ||||||||||||||||
| net of income tax of $(8,565) and $(182,570), | ||||||||||||||||
| respectively. | (12,848 | ) | 71,071 | (273,873 | ) | (97,799 | ) | |||||||||
| Other Comprehensive Income (loss) | $ | (1,366,437 | ) | $ | 233,293 | $ | (1,512,472 | ) | $ | 214,029 | ||||||
| The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements. | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | ||||||||||||||||
ASPEN EXPLORATION CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
| Six Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2008 | 2007 | |||||||
| Cash Flows from Operating Activities: | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (1,238,599 | ) | $ | 311,828 | |||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided | ||||||||
| by operating activities: | ||||||||
| Accretion and depreciation, depletion, and amortization | 3,291,238 | 1,363,092 | ||||||
| Deferred income taxes | (1,013,831 | ) | 66,376 | |||||
| Compensation expense related to stock options granted | - | 47,298 | ||||||
| Realized (gain) on marketable securities | (12,050 | ) | - | |||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
| (Increase) decrease in current assets other than cash, cash | ||||||||
| equivalents, and short-term marketable securities | 938,290 | (236,839 | ) | |||||
| Increase (decrease) in current liabilities other than notes payable | ||||||||
| and asset retirement obligation | (1,368,737 | ) | (10,414 | ) | ||||
| Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities | 596,311 | 1,541,341 | ||||||
| Cash Flows from Investing Activities: | ||||||||
| Additions to oil and gas properties | (208,119 | ) | (2,419,589 | ) | ||||
| Sales of marketable securities | 322,165 | - | ||||||
| (Purchases) of marketable securities | - | (300,000 | ) | |||||
| Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities | 114,046 | (2,719,589 | ) | |||||
| Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | ||||||||
| Payment of long-term debt | (144,897 | ) | (137,500 | ) | ||||
| Net Cash (Used in) Financing Activities | (144,897 | ) | (137,500 | ) | ||||
| Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents | 565,460 | (1,315,748 | ) | |||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of year | 1,595,150 | 4,057,279 | ||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of year | $ | 2,160,610 | $ | 2,741,531 | ||||
| Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: | ||||||||
| Interest paid | $ | 25,738 | $ | 36,859 | ||||
| Supplemental non-cash activity | ||||||||
| Decrease in fair value of marketable securities (net of | ||||||||
| income taxes of $182,570 and $63,876, respectively) | $ | (273,873 | ) | $ | (97,799 | ) | ||
| Increase (decrease) in asset retirement obligation | $ | (110,355 | ) | $ | 95,973 | |||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
| ASPEN EXPLORATION CORPORATION Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) December 31, 2008 |
NOTE 1 –BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Aspen Exploration Corporation (the “Company”) are unaudited. However, in the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for fair presentation for the interim period. Prior deferred tax amounts have been reclassified to properly present the net future deferred taxes.
The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Management believes the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading and suggests that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes hereto included in the Company’s Form 10-KSB for the year ended June 30, 2008.
This 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. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Form 10-Q, including, without limitation, the statements under both “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” and “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis” located elsewhere herein regarding the Company’s financial position and liquidity, its strategies, financial instruments, and other matters, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expect ations are disclosed in this Form 10-Q in conjunction with the forward-looking statements.
| NOTE 2 –SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Use of Estimates |
Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses to be made. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Company’s significant estimates include the carrying value of our oil and gas property, estimated life of long-lived assets, use of reserves in the estimation of depletion of oil and gas properties, impairment of oil and gas properties, asset retirement obligation abilities, and income taxes.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
For purposes of the Consolidated Balance Sheets and Statements of Cash Flows, we consider all highly liquid investments with a maturity of ninety days or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.
Investments in Debt and Equity Securities
The Company classifies all investments as available for sale securities in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 115,Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities. Changes in the fair value of the securities are reported as a separate component of shareholders’ equity until realized.
7
NOTE 2 –SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES(Continued)
Oil and Gas Property
We utilize the full cost method of accounting for costs related to our oil and gas property. Capitalized costs included in the full cost pool are depleted on an aggregate basis over the estimated lives of the properties using the units-of-production method. These capitalized costs are subject to a ceiling test that limits such pooled costs to the aggregate of the present value of future net revenues attributable to proved oil and gas reserves discounted at 10 percent plus the lower of cost or market value of unproved properties less any associated tax effects. If the full cost pool of capitalized oil and gas property costs exceeds the ceiling, we will record a ceiling test write-down to the extent of such excess. We review our properties quarterly for impairment. When proved reserves are assigned or the property is considered to be impaired, the cost of the property or the amount of the impairment is added to costs subject to dep letion calculation. This write-down is a non-cash charge to earnings. If required, it reduces earnings and impacts shareholders’ equity in the period of occurrence and results in lower depreciation and depletion in future periods. The write-down may not be reversed in future periods, even though higher oil and gas prices may subsequently increase the ceiling. As of December 31, 2008, oil and natural gas prices were significantly lower than at previous measurement dates during the year and the Company had taken no action to replace reserves that have been produced. As a result, the company recorded a ceiling write down of $2.25 million for the three and six month period ending December 31, 2008 as compared to no ceiling write down during the same periods ending December 31, 2007.
Oil and Gas Reserves
The determination of depreciation and depletion expense as well as ceiling test write-downs, if any, related to the recorded value of our oil and gas properties are highly dependent on the estimates of the proved oil and gas reserves attributable to these properties. Oil and gas reserves include proved reserves that represent estimated quantities of crude oil and natural gas which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating oil and gas reserves and their values, including many factors beyond our control. Accordingly, reserve estimates are often different from the quantities of oil and gas ultimately recovered and the corresponding lifting costs associated with the recovery of these reserves. Our oil and gas reserves are based on annual estimates prepared by an independent petroleum engineering firm, and are updated quarterly to reflect decreases from actual production and increases from new wells (company estimated).
Asset Retirement Obligations
We have obligations related to the plugging and abandonment of our oil and gas wells, the removal of equipment and facilities, and returning the land to its original condition. SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations” requires that we estimate the future cost of this obligation, discount this cost to its present value, and record a corresponding asset and liability in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The values ultimately derived are based on many significant estimates, including the ultimate expected cost of the obligation, the expected future date of the required cash expenditures, and inflation rates. The nature of these estimates requires us to make judgments based on historical experience and future expectations related to timing. We review the estimate of our future asset retirement obligations quarterly. These quarterly reviews may require revisions to these estimates based on such things as ch anges to cost estimates or the timing of future cash outlays. Any such changes that result in upward or downward revisions in the estimated obligation will result in an adjustment to the related capitalized asset and corresponding liability on a prospective basis. Revisions for the six months ending December 31, 2008 resulted in a decrease in asset retirement obligations and the related asset of approximately $110,000.
We recognize two components on our consolidated statement of operations; accretion of asset retirement obligations and asset retirement expense. Accretion of asset retirement obligation reflects the periodic accretion of the present value of future plugging and abandonment costs.
8
NOTE 2 –SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES(Continued)
Income Taxes
We account for income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”. Accordingly, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the temporary differences between the financial statements and tax bases of assets and liabilities, using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse.
Projections of future income taxes and their timing require significant estimates with respect to future operating results. Accordingly, the net deferred tax liability is continually re-evaluated and numerous estimates are revised over time. As such, the net deferred tax liability may change significantly as more information and data is gathered with respect to such events as changes in commodity prices, their effect on the estimate of oil and gas reserves, and the depletion of these long-lived reserves.
Earnings Per Share
Our earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the diluted weighted average number of common shares. The diluted weighted average number of common shares is computed using the treasury stock method for common stock that may be issued for outstanding stock options.
Equity Compensation Plans
At December 31, 2008, the Company had three share-based employee compensation plans, which are described in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended June 30, 2008. No compensation expense related to our equity compensation plans was recognized in the six months ending December 31, 2008.
Off Balance Sheet Transactions, Arrangements, or Obligations
We have no material off balance sheet transactions, arrangements or obligations.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Staff Positions (FSP) No. 133-1 and FIN 45-4 to amend SFAS No. 133,Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,to require disclosures by sellers of credit derivatives, including credit derivatives embedded in a hybrid instrument. This FSP also amends FASB Interpretation No.45,Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others,to require an additional disclosure about the current status of the payment/performance risk of a guarantee. Further, this FSP clarifies the FASB’s intent about the effective date of FASB Statement No. 161,Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. We do not expect the adoption of this FSP to have a material effect on our financial statements and related disclosures. This FSP is effective for financial statements issued for reporting periods (annual or interim) ending after November 15, 2008, with early application encouraged.
9
NOTE 3 –ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Accumulated other comprehensive loss for the periods ending December 31, 2008 and 2007 consists of unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities. Changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss for the quarters ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 are as follows:
| 2008 | 2007 | |||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss, July 1 | $ | (281,849 | ) | $ | - | |||
| Unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities, net | (273,873 | ) | (97,799 | ) | ||||
| Less: reclassification adjustment for gains realized in net income | (2,901 | ) | - | |||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss, December 31 | $ | (558,623 | ) | $ | (97,799 | ) | ||
NOTE 4 –FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157 “Fair Value Measurements” in order to establish a single definition of fair value and a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) that is intended to result in increased consistency and comparability in fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 also expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 applies whenever other authoritative literature requires (or permits) certain assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value, but does not expand the use of fair value. SFAS No. 157 was originally effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those years with early adoption permitted.
In early 2008, the FASB issued Staff Position (FSP) FAS-157-3, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157,” which delays by one year, the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for all non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). The delay pertains to items including, but not limited to, non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities initially measured at fair value in a business combination, non-financial assets recorded at fair value at the time of acquisition, and long-lived assets measured at fair value for impairment assessment under SFAS No. 144 “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”.
The Company has adopted the portion of SFAS No. 157 that has not been delayed by FSP FAS-157-3 as of the beginning of its 2009 fiscal year, and plans to adopt the balance of its provisions as of the beginning of its 2010 fiscal year. Items carried at fair value on a recurring basis (to which SFAS No. 157 applies in fiscal 2009) consist of available for sale securities based on quoted prices in active or brokered markets for identical as well as similar assets and liabilities. We do not currently have items which are carried at fair value on a non-recurring basis (to which SFAS No. 157 will apply in fiscal 2010). The Company also uses fair value concepts to test various long-lived assets for impairment. The Company is continuing to evaluate the impact the standard will have on the determination of fair value related to non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities in post-2009 years.
Fair values of assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis at December 31, 2008 are as follows:
| Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using | ||||||||||||
| Quoted Prices | ||||||||||||
| In Active | Significant | |||||||||||
| Markets for | Other | Significant | ||||||||||
| Identical | Observable | Unobservable | ||||||||||
| Assets/Liabilities | Inputs | Inputs | ||||||||||
| Fair Value | (Level 1) | (Level 2) | (Level 3) | |||||||||
| Available-for-sale securities | $ | 164,260 | $ | 164,260 | $ | - | $ | - | ||||
| Notes payable | $ | 446,770 | $ | - | $ | 446,770 | $ | - | ||||
10
NOTE 5 –LONG-TERM DEBT
In January 2007, we borrowed $600,000 from Wells Fargo Bank, NA pursuant to a promissory note payable over thirty-six months to partially finance the acquisition of the Poplar Field discussed in Note 7 of our form 10-KSB filed for the period ending June 30, 2008. Principal of $16,667 plus interest payments are due monthly beginning February 15, 2007 and continuing to January 15, 2010. Collateral consists of a blanket filing on Accounts Receivables. At December 31, 2008 the outstanding balance on the note was $216,667.
The Wells Fargo note contains restrictive covenants which, among other things, require us to maintain a certain “Net Worth” defined as total stockholder’s equity of not less than $9,000,000 at any time, net income after taxes not less than $1,000 on an annual basis and an EBITDA ratio, as defined. We are currently not in compliance with our covenants to Wells Fargo due to the net loss for the period, and have reclassified $16,667 as current.
In February 2007, as part of the Poplar acquisition, Aspen agreed to be responsible for 12.5% of a $3,000,000 loan obtained by Nautilus in connection with the purchase of the Poplar Field assets. Nautilus Poplar, LLC obtained the loan from the Jonah Bank of Wyoming, as lender. Aspen’s share of this loan was, at the time of acquisition of the property, $375,000 plus interest at a rate of 9.0%, and Aspen is subject to the repayment schedule that Nautilus Poplar negotiated and to the other terms and conditions of the loan agreement as fully as if Aspen were a party to the loan agreement. Aspen’s share of principal payments of $6,250 plus interest is due monthly through February 25, 2009. At December 31, 2008, the outstanding balance was $230,103, all of which is classified as current.
11
Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
General
The following discussion provides information on the results of operations for the periods ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 and our financial condition, liquidity and capital resources as of December 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008. The financial statements and the notes thereto contain detailed information that should be referred to in conjunction with this discussion.
The profitability of our operations in any particular accounting period will be directly related to the realized prices of oil and gas sold, the type and volume of oil and gas produced and the results of development, exploitation, acquisition, and exploration activities, and the other factors set forth in this report and in our report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended June 30, 2008. The realized prices for natural gas fluctuate from one period to another due to regional market conditions and other factors, while oil prices will be predominantly influenced by world supply and demand. The aggregate amount of oil and gas produced may fluctuate based on the success of development and exploitation of oil and gas reserves pursuant to current reservoir management. Since we have not drilled any wells during the current fiscal year to replace any reserves produced, our production volumes are decreasing in accordance with the decline curve s typically associated with our existing wells. Accordingly, our results of operations may fluctuate from period to period based on the foregoing principal factors, among others.
Overview
Aspen Exploration Corporation was organized in 1980 for the purpose of acquiring, exploring and developing oil and gas properties. Since 1996, we have focused our efforts on the exploration, development and operation of natural gas properties in the Sacramento Valley of northern California, and in 2007 we acquired interests in oil properties in Montana. Our business activities are primarily focused in two separate aspects of the oil and gas industry:
| (1 | ) | holding and acquiring operating interests in oil and gas properties where we act as the operator of oiland gas wells and properties; and | |
| (2 | ) | holding non-operating interests in oil and gas properties. |
We are currently the operator of 67 gas wells in the Sacramento Valley of northern California. Additionally, we have a non-operated interest in 26 gas wells in the Sacramento Valley of northern California and (at December 31, 2008) non-operating working interest in approximately 37 oil wells in Montana. When appropriate we may engage in business activities related to the exploration and development of other minerals and resources. We recompleted eight wells in September 2008 in an effort to improve their productivity and extended the terms of two leases. At the present time, we are not engaged in any drilling operations or acreage acquisition programs nor have we drilled any new wells in our current fiscal year.
In the past, where possible we attempted to be the operator of each property in which we invest. Currently, we are operating 67 gas wells using the services of a consultant. As operator, the other working interest owners are obligated to pay us fees pursuant to the “overhead reimbursement” provisions of the COPAS Accounting Procedures which are included as an attachment to the operating agreements. These accounting procedures define the overhead expenses that are charged to the joint accounts and permit us to charge some expenses (such as “salaries, wages and Personal Expenses of Technical Employees directly employed on the Joint Property” and drilling expenses) directly to the joint interest owners. In almost all cases, Aspen also charges a general monthly producing overhead rate per well. We do not recognize these fees received from the joint interest owners as revenues; rather they are offset against (and a re a deduction from) our general and administrative expenses as reflected in our statement of operations. During the six months ended December 31, 2008, these administrative charges to the properties helped cover approximately 42% of our selling, general and administrative expenses as compared to 58% for the period ending December 31, 2007 due primarily to increases in consulting, accounting, and legal service charges, while management fees decreased 16% and the prices we received for oil and gas produced decreased significantly, as has our production of oil and natural gas.
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As announced in September 2008, our board of directors decided to investigate strategic alternatives for Aspen, including the possibility of selling our assets or considering another appropriate merger or acquisition transaction for several reasons, including:
- the disproportionate cost of Aspen’s general and administrative expenditures required as a result ofcompliance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including the requirements of theSarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) when compared to Aspen’s revenues and net income;
- the board of directors’ belief that the market price of Aspen common stock does not adequately reflect theinherent value of Aspen’s producing oil and gas assets and undeveloped acreage, and thus the board ofdirectors does not believe that a transaction based on the value of Aspen’s common stock would be in thebest interest of Aspen’s shareholders; and
- the likelihood that Aspen’s president will be unable to resume his former role and responsibilities andoversee Aspen’s day-to-day operations due to the effects of the stroke he suffered in January 2008;
On November 24, 2008 Aspen announced that we were evaluating several offers for the acquisition of a substantial portion of our assets. Aspen is continuing to negotiate with one of the offerors to define a transaction for the sale of those assets. The sale of these assets will not be completed until after Aspen receives shareholder approval of the sale. Aspen cannot offer any assurance that we will be able to conclude an appropriate transaction for the sale of certain of our assets, that either we or the potential purchaser will meet the conditions necessary to complete the transaction (if one is agreed upon), or that Aspen’s shareholders will approve any transaction submitted to them. If we are unable to complete the transaction either because we were unable to obtain shareholder approval or for other reasons, Aspen expects to retain competent, experienced personnel to advance and continue its oil and gas operations in Cali fornia and elsewhere. In the meantime, Aspen has been carrying on its business operations in the normal course, although we have not commenced or completed any drilling operations and, therefore, our reserve base is depleting.
Aspen’s results of operations and financial condition are significantly affected by the success of our exploration activity, the resulting production, oil and natural gas commodity prices, and the costs related to operating our properties. As is common with companies engaged in the exploration of early resource plays, our financial position and results of operations change significantly from period to period. During the three and six month periods ended December 31, 2008, we incurred capital expenditures of approximately $208,000 largely related to our oil and gas operations as compared to $2.4 million in the six months ended December 31, 2007. These expenditures increased our full cost pool, but did not add significantly to our reserves. Based on gas prices of $5.64 per Mcf of natural gas on December 31, 2008, the value of Aspen’s proved reserves as calculated under SEC guidelines did not support the costs included in the full cost pool. Consequently, the Company recorded an asset impairment of $2.25 million during the three month period ended December 31, 2008. The impairment primarily relates to a change in commodity prices, and depleting reserves.
Outlook and Trends
Total production for the year depends on a variety of factors set forth herein and in our Form 10-KSB for the year ended June 30, 2008. Until December 31, 2007, we have been able to replace the majority of our produced reserves and maintain our yearly natural gas production through the drilling of new wells and the acquisition of producing properties which have offset the oil and gas we produce although we were not able to do so during the last half of our 2008 fiscal year and during our 2009 fiscal year due to significantly fewer drilling operations, and therefore, discoveries than in recent years. We have suspended our oil and gas drilling and acquisition activity due to our efforts to investigate the sale of our assets or another business combination.
Management uses the measurement of our produced reserves to help measure the success of our exploration and development activity. Where reserves are replaced in an amount greater than production, it is a sign that we are continuing our exploration and development activity successfully. A one-year decline (as occurred during our fiscal 2008) or increase may not be important to investors, but seeing a decline or increase over a several year period is a trend worthy of noting, both internally by management and externally by investors. Management expects that the decline will continue through fiscal 2009 as management continues its investigation of a sale of our assets or completing another business combination.
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Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Risk
Our ability to replace reserves, dissipated through production or recalculation, will depend largely on how successful our drilling and acquisition efforts will be in the future. While we cannot predict the future, our historic success drilling ratio over the past seven years has been 84%. With the use of 3-D seismic and well control data, interpreted by our geological and geophysical consultants, we feel we can manage our dry hole risk adequately. However, as noted above, we have suspended our oil and gas exploration and acquisition activities except that we did extend the terms of two of our existing leases.
The prices that we receive for the oil and natural gas (including natural gas liquids) produced are impacted by many factors that are outside of our control. Historically, these commodity prices have been volatile and we expect them to remain volatile. Prices for oil and natural gas are affected by changes in market demands, overall economic activity, weather, pipeline capacity constraints, inventory storage levels, the world political situation, basis differentials and other factors. As a result, we cannot accurately predict future natural gas and NGL (natural gas liquids) prices, and therefore, we cannot determine what effect increases or decreases in production volumes will have on future revenues. The average price we received during the second quarter of 2009 for our natural gas was approximately $6.34 per MMBTU as compared to $6.98 per MMBTU during the same period of the prior year. In order to reduce the risk of natural ga s price fluctuations, we have entered into a series of gas sales contracts with Enserco and Calpine as described under “Contractual Obligations.”
On regulatory and operational matters, we actively manage our exploration and production activities. We value sound stewardship and strong relationships with all stakeholders in conducting our business. We attempt to stay abreast of emerging issues to effectively anticipate and manage potential impacts to our operations.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We have historically financed our operations with internally generated funds and limited borrowings from banks and third parties, and farmout arrangements, which permit third parties (including some related parties) to participate in our drilling prospects. During the year ended June 30, 2007, we borrowed $600,000 to purchase an interest in the Poplar Field and became obligated for $375,000 indebtedness as part of that purchase. Of the $446,700 total debt outstanding, $430,103 was due within one year; however the entire balance is classified as current as we are not in compliance with our debt covenants due to a net loss for the period.
Our principal uses of cash are for operating expenses, the acquisition, drilling, completion and production of prospects, the acquisition of producing properties, working capital, servicing debt and the payment of income taxes.
To illustrate the changes in our cash flows for the period, all amounts presented are approximate. During the first six months of our 2009 fiscal year, we increased our cash by $565,500 from our operating, investing and financing activities as compared to using $1,316,000 during the same period of our 2008 fiscal year. In part this increase was due to the sale of securities and due to the fact that we did not commence any drilling operations during the period.
We generated cash of $596,000 from operations for the six months ended December 31, 2008, as compared to $1.5 million in cash generated from operating activities for the six months ended December 31, 2007. This decrease of approximately $945,000 was primarily due to a decrease in income from operations of approximately $1.6 million (as discussed below in results of operations), and a use of cash to retire current liabilities which decreased $1.37 million in the current period compared to an increase of $10,000 during the period ending December 31, 2007. The decrease in current liabilities during the period impacts cash flows immediately in that more cash was used in the period to satisfy those liabilities. In addition, there was a decrease in current assets of $1.14 million in 2008 compared to an increase of $237,000 in 2007 as a result (in part) of the sale and reduction in value of our marketable securities.
Investing activities used cash to increase capitalized oil and gas costs of only $208,000 during the first six months of fiscal year 2009 as compared to $2.4 million in the six months ended December 31, 2007. The significant reduction is due primarily to the fact that we have not commenced drilling any oil or gas wells during the first half of our 2009 fiscal year or subsequently, whereas we had an active drilling program in the first part of the 2008 fiscal year. The expenditures that were made primarily related to recompletion activities on eight wells. These expenditures are net of the sale of interests in wells to be drilled charged to third party investors. In addition, we sold municipal bonds in the amount of $322,000 in the current period compared to the purchase of $300,000 in municipal bonds in the same period of our 2008 fiscal year.
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Our investment in net property and equipment reduced by approximately $3.17 million from June 30, 2008 to December 31, 2008 largely due to an asset impairment in the second quarter of our fiscal 2009 of $2.25 million related to the full cost ceiling test in 2009 versus no asset impairment charge in 2008. The remaining $1.0 million decrease in net property and equipment is due to normal depletion expense due to production, depreciation and other factors related to our oil and gas operations.
Our financing activities consist of retirement of long-term debt of $145,000 for the period ending December 31, 2008 compared to $137,500 in the same period of the prior year. As of December 31, 2008, we were not in compliance with our debt covenants due to our net loss for the period. As such, $16,667 of our debt due to mature after one-year was reclassified as current.
Our working capital surplus (current assets less current liabilities) at December 31, 2008, was $1.7 million, which reflects a $396,000 increase from our working capital at June 30, 2008. As detailed above, this increase was due primarily to our positive cash flow and costs saved as a result of the lack of significant drilling operations during our 2009 fiscal year. In prior years, Aspen would have finished a drilling program during the period for April -November, which generally would require larger expenditures classified as investing activities. Normally Aspen would not be engaging in significant drilling operations during the November - March period. Nevertheless, Aspen expects that it will continue to receive production revenues during the remaining months in our 2009 fiscal year whether or not we accomplish any drilling operations and, therefore, Aspen expects that its cash position and working capital will increase. This h as historically been the pattern of Aspen's available cash resources.
Future Commitments
The Company has not commenced any drilling operations since June 30, 2008. Since the beginning of our 2009 fiscal year, the Company has recompleted 8 wells with mixed results. In addition, the Company has extended two leases (one at Denverton Creek and one at West Grimes), and has obtained permits to drill four wells in Colusa County, California and in the West Grimes/Strain Ventures area. The Company has contemplated drilling two wells in its West Grimes gas field, but has not retained a drilling rig to do so. The cost of drilling, completing, and equipping wells in the West Grimes gas field is approximately $1.2 million per well (approximately $468,000 net to Aspen’s 39% working interest, assuming the other working interest owners participate). Although the Company has a number of oil and gas leases that are not held by production, the Company has no obligation to drill any wells. If the Company does not drill any wells, c ertain of our leases may expire commencing in February 2009 unless we renew or extend those leases.
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Results of Operations
Three and Six Months Ending December 31, 2008 Compared to December 31, 2007
The following table sets forth certain items from our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as expressed as a percentage of total revenues, shown for the six months of fiscal 2009 and 2008:
| For the Six Months Ended | ||||||
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||
| 2008 | 2007 | |||||
| Total Revenues | 100.0% | 100.0% | ||||
| Oil and Gas Production Costs | 32.8% | 26.1% | ||||
| Gross Profit | 67.2% | 73.9% | ||||
| Cost and Expenses | ||||||
| Depreciation and depletion | 152.8% | 52.7% | ||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 17.0% | 8.8% | ||||
| Total Cost and Expenses | 169.8 | 61.5% | ||||
| Income from Operations | -102.6 | 12.4% | ||||
| Other Income and Expenses | 0.0% | 2.4% | ||||
| Income Before Income Taxes | -102.6% | 14.6% | ||||
| Provision for Income Taxes | 45.1% | -2.6% | ||||
| Net Income | -57.5% | 12.0% | ||||
To facilitate discussion of our operating results for the six months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, we have included the following selected data from our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations:
| Comparison of the Fiscal Six | ||||||||||||||
| Months Ended December 31, | Increase (Decrease) | |||||||||||||
| 2008 | 2007 | Amount | Percentage | |||||||||||
| Revenues: | ||||||||||||||
| Oil and gas sales | $ | 2,153,880 | $ | 2,585,597 | $ | (431,717 | ) | -17% | ||||||
| Cost and Expenses: | ||||||||||||||
| Oil and gas production | 705,696 | 675,801 | 29,895 | 4% | ||||||||||
| Depreciation and depletion | 3,291,238 | 1,363,091 | 1,928,147 | 141% | ||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 366,348 | 228,011 | 138,337 | 61% | ||||||||||
| Total Costs and Expenses | 4,363,282 | 2,266,903 | 2,096,379 | 92% | ||||||||||
| Net Operating Income | $ | (2,209,402 | ) | $ | 318,694 | $ | (2,528,096 | ) | -793% | |||||
We have experienced a decrease in oil and gas revenues over the past year and our operations have been adversely affected by increasing costs of production, as well as additional administrative, consulting, legal and accounting costs incurred. As noted, oil and gas prices are subject to national and international pressures, and Aspen has no control over those prices. The Company reported a net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2008 of $(1,353,589), compared to net income of $162,222 for the same period in 2007 (a net loss during the six months ended December 31, 2008 of $(1,238,599), compared to net income of $311,828 for the same period in 2007). The
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Company’s net loss for the three and six months ended December 31, 2008 was largely due to an impairment expense charge of $2,250,000 and increased operating expenses as discussed in more detail below.
For the three and six months ended December 31, 2008, our operations continued to be focused on the production of oil and gas in California and Montana. Our gas production decreased from 332,339 MMBTU sold during the first six months of December 31, 2007, to 237,076 MMBTU sold this period (a decrease of approximately 28%) (a decrease during the three month period from 162,281 MMBTU (during the 2007 period) to 117,352 MMBTU (2008)). Our production volume decreased so significantly because our producing wells followed expected decline curves (reducing production volume over time), and we did not drill any additional wells to replace the reserves produced. Unless we engage in further drilling operations, we anticipate that our natural gas production volume will continue to decrease as the reserves in our existing wells are depleted.
Average gas prices received during the first six months of fiscal year 2009 increased approximately 11.4% compared to the same period in the last fiscal year as a result of fixed price contracts in effect during the period, however average oil prices decreased by approximately 4.2% . As a result of our decreased gas production, our revenues from oil and gas sales decreased during the 2009 period by approximately $432,000 from approximately $2.59 million to approximately $2.15 million.
Oil and gas production costs increased approximately 4% in the six months ended December 31, 2008 (although decreased 27% during the three month period), as compared to the same period in 2007, from approximately $676,000 to about $706,000 ($411,000 to $301,004 during the three month period). The increase can be attributed to the addition of gas wells, and our percentage working interests in these wells were somewhat higher than the average of wells owned at December 31, 2007. Additionally, all of the costs for the service companies who performed work on Aspen's wells increased dramatically during the first quarter of fiscal 2009.
Depletion, depreciation and amortization expense decreased 24%, from approximately $1.36 million for the six months ended December 31, 2007 ($700,443 for the three month period ending December 31, 2007) as compared to $1.04 million and $509,000 during the six and three month periods ending December 31, 2008, excluding the $2.25 million ceiling write-down. This decrease was the result of decreased investments in oil and gas activities, which resulted in the lower total depletion taken. Depletion expense per equivalent unit of production (MCFe) was $3.69 and $3.70 for the six months ending December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively ($3.68 and $3.58 respectively for the three month periods).
When the Company acts as operator for our producing wells, we receive management fees for these services, which serve to offset our SG&A expenses. When comparing SG&A for the first six months of 2009 and 2008, costs increased by about $89,000, or 16%, due primarily to consulting, accounting, and legal fees, while management fees decreased 16%. Management fees as a percentage of SG&A decreased 27% for the six month period ending December 31, 2008 compared to 2007. Similar increases in costs were recognized during the three month period ended December 31, 2008 as compared to the same three month period in 2007. This ratio coverage of general and administrative costs decreased from approximately 58% during the six months ended December 31, 2007 to approximately 42.2% at December 31, 2008.
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2008 | 2007 | |||||||
| Management fees | $ | 267,059 | $ | 316,565 | ||||
| Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) | 633,407 | 544,576 | ||||||
| Management fees as a percentage of SG&A | 42.2% | 58.1% | ||||||
Central to the issue of success of the three and six months operations ended December 31, 2008 is the discussion of changes in oil and gas sales, volumes of natural gas sold and the price received for those sales. We present them here in tabular form:
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| Oil & | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gas | MMBTU | Price/ | NGL | Bbls | Price/ | |||||||||||||||||
| Sales | Sold | MMBTU | Sales | Sold | Bbl | |||||||||||||||||
| June 30, 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1st Quarter | $ | 996,710 | 119,724 | $ | 8.33 | $ | 296,407 | 2,903 | $ | 102.10 | ||||||||||||
| 2nd Quarter | 743,732 | 117,352 | 6.34 | 117,031 | 2,677 | 43.72 | ||||||||||||||||
| Year to Date | 1,740,442 | 237,076 | 7.34 | 413,438 | 5,580 | 74.09 | ||||||||||||||||
| June 30, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1st Quarter | 1,057,907 | 170,058 | 6.22 | 162,915 | 2,256 | 72.21 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2nd Quarter | 1,132,137 | 162,281 | 6.98 | 232,638 | 2,856 | 81.46 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3rd Quarter | 1,063,473 | 129,688 | 8.20 | 261,788 | 2,822 | 92.77 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4th Quarter | 1,154,356 | 119,760 | 9.64 | 325,153 | 2,232 | 145.68 | ||||||||||||||||
| June 30, 2008 | $ | 4,407,873 | 581,787 | $ | 7.58 | $ | 982,494 | 10,166 | $ | 96.65 | ||||||||||||
| Six-Month | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 vs 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount | $ | (449,602 | ) | (95,263 | ) | $ | 0.8 | $ | 17,885 | 468 | $ | (3.3 | ) | |||||||||
| Percentage | -20.5 | % | -28.7 | % | 11.4 | % | 4.5 | % | 9.2 | % | -4.2 | % | ||||||||||
Due to a 28.7% reduction in natural gas production volumes, our oil and gas revenues have shown a decrease over the six months of fiscal 2009. As the table above notes, the volume of gas sold has decreased, but this decrease has been offset by an 11.4% increase in the price received per MMBTU of gas. We anticipate that, because we have not engaged in any additional drilling operations, our production volume will likely decline during the next fiscal quarters. If that situation continues, we anticipate that our revenues will decline during the remaining quarters of fiscal 2009.
Contractual Obligations
The Company has entered into a series of gas sales contracts with Enserco and Calpine Producer Services, L.P. In each of the contracts, the purchasers were required to purchase the stated quantities at stated prices, less transportation and other expenses. The contracts contain monetary penalties for non-delivery of the gas and are terminable upon 30 days’ notice.
We expect to have sufficient gas available for delivery to Enserco from anticipated production from our California fields. Aspen’s sales of natural gas under the contracts qualify for the “Normal Purchases and Normal Sales” exception in paragraph 10(b) of FAS 133. The contract is a normal industry sales contract that provides for the sale of gas over a reasonable period of time in the normal course of business.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The Company believes the following accounting policies and estimates are critical in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements: the carrying value of its oil and natural gas properties, the accounting for oil and gas reserves, and the estimate of its asset retirement obligations.
Oil and Gas Properties
The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for costs related to its oil and natural gas properties. Capitalized costs included in the full cost pool are depleted on an aggregate basis using the units-of-production method. Depreciation, depletion and amortization is a significant component of oil and natural gas properties, but does not impact cash flow. A change in proved reserves without a corresponding change in capitalized costs will cause the depletion rate to increase or decrease.
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Both the volume of proved reserves and any estimated future expenditures used for the depletion calculation are based on estimates such as those described under “Reserve Estimates” below.
The capitalized costs in the full cost pool are subject to a quarterly ceiling test that limits such pooled costs to the aggregate of the present value of future net revenues attributable to proved oil and natural gas reserves discounted at 10 percent plus the lower of cost or market value of unproved properties less any associated tax effects. If such capitalized costs exceed the ceiling, the Company will record a write-down to the extent of such excess as a non-cash charge to earnings. Any such write-down will reduce earnings in the period of occurrence and result in lower depreciation and depletion in future periods. A write-down may not be reversed in future periods, even though higher oil and natural gas prices may subsequently increase the ceiling. Aspen has recognized a write-down of $2.25 million to the full cost pool during the first six months of 2009.
Changes in oil and natural gas prices have historically had the most significant impact on the Company’s ceiling test. In general, the ceiling is lower when prices are lower. Even though oil and natural gas prices can be highly volatile over weeks and even days, the ceiling calculation dictates that prices in effect as of the last day of the test period be used and held constant. The resulting valuation is a snapshot as of that day and, thus, is generally not indicative of a true fair value that would be placed on the Company’s reserves by the Company or by an independent third party. Therefore, the future net revenues associated with the estimated proved reserves are not based on the Company’s assessment of future prices or costs, but rather are based on prices and costs in effect as of the end of the test period.
Reserve Estimates
Our estimates of oil and natural gas reserves, by necessity, are projections based on geologic and engineering data, and there are uncertainties inherent in the interpretation of such data as well as the projection of future rates of production and the timing of development expenditures. Reserve engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of oil and natural gas that are difficult to measure. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data, engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Estimates of economically recoverable oil and natural gas reserves and future net cash flows necessarily depend upon a number of variable factors and assumptions, such as historical production from the area compared with production from other producing areas, the assumed effects of regulations by governmental agencies and assumptions governing future oil and natural gas pr ices, future operating costs, severance and excise taxes, development costs and workover and remedial costs, all of which may in fact vary considerably from actual results. For these reasons, estimates of the economically recoverable quantities of oil and natural gas attributable to any particular group of properties, classifications of such reserves based on risk of recovery, and estimates of the future net cash flows expected therefrom may vary substantially. Any significant variance in the assumptions could materially affect the estimated quantity and value of the reserves, which could affect the carrying value of our oil and gas properties and/or the rate of depletion of the oil and gas properties. Actual production, revenues and expenditures with respect to our reserves will likely vary from estimates, and such variances may be material.
Many factors will affect actual future net cash flows, including:
- The amount and timing of actual production;
- Supply and demand for natural gas;
- Curtailments or increases in consumption by natural gas purchasers; and
- Changes in governmental regulations or taxation.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable balances are evaluated on a continual basis and allowances are provided for potentially uncollectible accounts based on management’s estimate of the collectibility of customer accounts. If the financial condition of a customer were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of its ability to make payments, an allowance may be required. Allowance adjustments are charged to operations in the period in which the facts that give rise to the adjustments become known; however, no allowance is recorded for the period ending December 31, 2008, as all receivables are expected to be collected in full.
Investments in Debt and Equity Securities
The Company classifies all investments as available for sale securities in accordance with SFAS No. 115,
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Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities. Changes in the fair value of the securities are reported as a separate component of shareholders’ equity until realized.
Asset Retirement Obligations
We recognize the future cost to plug and abandon gas wells over the estimated useful life of the wells in accordance with the provision of SFAS No. 143. SFAS No. 143 requires that we record a liability for the present value of the asset retirement obligation with a corresponding increase to the carrying value of the related long-lived asset. We amortize the amount added to the oil and gas properties and recognize accretion expense in connection with the discounted liability over the remaining lives of the respective gas wells. Our liability estimate is based on our historical experience in plugging and abandoning gas wells, estimated well lives based on engineering studies, external estimates as to the cost to plug and abandon wells in the future and federal and state regulatory requirements. Revisions to the liability could occur due to changes in well lives, or if federal and state regulators enact new requirements on the plugg ing and abandonment of gas wells.
Deferred Taxes
We account for income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”. Accordingly, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the temporary differences between the financial statements and tax bases of assets and liabilities, using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no off balance sheet arrangements and thus no disclosure is required.
Other Developments
Aspen has been investigating strategic alternatives for its business operations. On November 24, 2008 Aspen announced that we were evaluating several offers for the acquisition of a substantial portion of our assets. Aspen is continuing to negotiate with one of the offerors to define a transaction for the sale of those assets. The sale of these assets will not be completed until after Aspen receives shareholder approval of the sale. Aspen cannot offer any assurance that we will be able to conclude an appropriate transaction for the sale of certain of our assets, that either we or the potential purchaser will meet the conditions necessary to complete the transaction (if one is agreed upon), or that Aspen’s shareholders will approve any transaction submitted to them. If we are unable to complete the transaction either because we were unable to obtain shareholder approval or for other reasons, Aspen expects to retain competent, experienced personnel to advance and continue its oil and gas operations in California and elsewhere. In the meantime, Aspen has suspended its normal drilling operations, but is carrying on its other business operations (including operation of existing oil and gas wells and recompletion of those wells where deemed necessary) in the normal course.
Forward Looking Statements
The management discussion and analysis portion of this report contain forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). These statements reflect our current expectations regarding our possible future results of operations, performance, and achievements. These forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Wherever possible, we have tried to identify these forward-looking statements by using words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” and similar expressions.
These items are discussed at length in Aspen’s Form 10-KSB filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the heading “Risk Factors” in the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition or Plan of Operation.” No material changes are have been noted as of the filing of this 10-Q.
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Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
As a crude oil and natural gas producer, our revenue, cash flow from operations, other income and profitability, reserve values, access to capital and future rate of growth are substantially dependent upon the prevailing prices of crude oil and natural gas. Declines in commodity prices will materially adversely affect our financial condition, liquidity, ability to obtain financing and operating results. Lower commodity prices may reduce the amount of crude oil and natural gas that we can produce economically. Prevailing prices for such commodities are subject to wide fluctuation in response to relatively minor changes in supply and demand and a variety of additional factors beyond our control, such as global, political and economic conditions. Historically, prices received for crude oil and natural gas production have been volatile and unpredictable, and such volatility is expected to continue. Most of our production is sold at m arket prices. Generally, if the commodity indexes fall, the price that we receive for our production will also decline. Therefore, the amount of revenue that we realize is partially determined by factors beyond our control.
| Item 4T. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES Disclosure Controls and Procedures |
As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”), as of December 31, 2008, we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. This evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (our principal executive officer) and our Chief Financial Officer (our principal financial officer). Based upon and as of the date of that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2008.
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act) during the six months ended December 31, 2008 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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| PART II |
Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
There are no material pending legal or regulatory proceedings against Aspen Exploration Corporation, and it is not aware of any that are known to be contemplated.
Item 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
None.
| Item 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES None. |
Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
No matter was submitted during the first quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report to a vote of security holders, through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise.
Item 5. OTHER INFORMATION
Aspen expects to hold a special meeting of shareholders on or about May 16, 2009, although such meeting is not expected to include an election of directors and therefore is not considered an “annual meeting.” If this date is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days, Aspen will inform shareholders of the change by including a notice under Item 5 of its next quarterly report on Form 10-Q or, if impracticable, another means reasonably calculated to inform shareholders.
Aspen has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors.
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| Item 6. EXHIBITS | ||
| Exhibit No. | Document | |
| 10 | Form of Indemnification Agreement | |
| 10.1 | Form of Indemnification Agreement. Filed herewith(1) | |
| 31.1 | Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (R. V. Bailey, Chief Executive Officer). | |
| 31.2 | Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Kevan Hensman, | |
| Chief Financial Officer) | ||
| 32 | Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-OxleyAct of | |
| 2002 (R. V. Bailey, Chief Executive Officer, and Kevan Hensman, Chief Financial Officer). | ||
| (1) | Form of Indemnification Agreement entered into between Aspen and each of its current directors. | |
Other exhibits and schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, not required or the information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.
In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, we have duly caused this report to be signed on our behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| ASPEN EXPLORATION CORPORATION | |
Date: February 17, 2009 | /s/ R.V. Bailey |
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