The Company’s activities include development and exploratory drilling. Our strategy is to develop a balanced portfolio of drilling prospects that includes lower risk wells with a high probability of success and higher risk wells with greater economic potential. In 2016, based upon the results of horizontal wells and historical vertical well performance, we decided to reduce the number of vertical wells in our drilling program and focus primarily on horizontal well drilling. We believe horizontal development of our resource base provides superior returns relative to vertical development, due to the ability of horizontals to come in contact with and drain from a greater volume of reservoir rock over more acreage, with less infrastructure, and thus at a lower cost of development per acre.
In 2019, we participated in the drilling of three horizontal wells in Upton County, Texas, adding significantly to our proved reserves, as these probable undeveloped locations were the initial test wells in the Wolfcamp “A” the Jo Mill and the Lower Spraberry of this acreage. These tests proved-up these reservoirs for the 1,280 acre block in which they were drilled and led to the drilling of nine additional wells in 2020 and the first quarter of 2021.
In early 2020, six of the nine horizontals mentioned above were drilled, and in the first quarter of 2021 the remaining three were drilled. All nine wells are slated for completion and to be on production by the end of the second quarter of 2021. We have an average 47.5% interest in these wells and our anticipated total investment is expected to be approximately $27 million.
The successful development of these reservoirs has also proved-up locations to be drilled on our nearby 3,260-acre block in which the Company holds between 14% and 56% interest. It is anticipated that development of as many as 54 additional horizontal wells on this 3,260-acre block will occur over the coming years. The cost of such development will be approximately $370 million with the Company’s share being approximately $170 million. The actual number of wells that will be drilled, the cost, and the timing of drilling will vary based upon many factors, including commodity market conditions.
Additional drilling and future development plans will be established based on an expectation of available cash flows from operations and availability of funds under our revolving credit facility.
The Company maintains an acreage position of 19,680 gross (12,460 net) acres in the Permian Basin in West Texas, primarily in Reagan, Upton, Martin and Midland counties and we believe this acreage has significant resource potential in as many as 10 reservoirs, including benches of the Spraberry, Jo Mill, and Wolfcamp that support the potential drilling of as many as 180 additional horizontal wells.
In Oklahoma, the Company’s horizontal activity is primarily focused in Canadian, Grady, Kingfisher, Garfield, Major, and Garvin counties where we have approximately 3,460 net leasehold acres. We believe this acreage has significant additional resource potential that could support the drilling of as many as 52 new horizontal wells based on an estimate of six wells per section: three in the Mississippian and three in the Woodford Shale. Should we choose to participate in future development, our share of the capital expenditures would be approximately $12 million at an average 10% ownership level; the Company will otherwise sell its rights for cash, or cash plus a royalty or working interest.
The majority of our capital spending is discretionary, and the ultimate level of expenditures will be dependent on our assessment of the oil and gas business environment, the number and quality of oil and gas prospects available, the market for oilfield services, and oil and gas business opportunities in general.
The Company has in place both a stock repurchase program and a limited partnership interest repurchase program. Spending under these programs in 2020 was $1,452 million. The Company expects continued spending under these programs in 2021.
Item 3. | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
The Company is a smaller reporting company and no response is required pursuant to this Item.
Item 4. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
As of the end of the current reported period covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective with respect to the recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, of information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act.
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the first three months of 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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