in fiscal year 2019. Income from oil and natural gas royalties in fiscal 2020 decreased approximately 8% from fiscal 2019, primarily due to a decrease in prices realized for oil and natural gas, offset in part by an increase in production of oil and natural gas.
Revenue from oil royalties amounted to $691,915 in fiscal 2020, a decrease from the $761,232 realized in fiscal 2019. The average price realized for a barrel of oil decreased to $54.79 in fiscal 2020 from the $66.85 realized in fiscal 2019. In fiscal 2020, oil production increased to 12,628 bbls from the 11,382 bbls produced in fiscal 2019.
Revenue from natural gas royalties amounted to $81,913 in fiscal 2020, an increase from the $77,881 realized in fiscal 2019. In fiscal 2020, the average price per mcf of natural gas decreased to $2.44 from the $3.52 realized in fiscal 2019. In fiscal 2020, natural gas production increased to 33,639 mcf from the 22,147 mcf produced in fiscal 2019.
General and administrative expenses for fiscal 2020 amounted to $214,075, a decrease from the $226,471 recorded in fiscal 2019, due to a decrease in professional fees, transfer agent fees and printing expenses.
Fiscal Year 2019 Compared to Fiscal Year 2018. During fiscal 2019, Marine received approximately 91% of its royalty income from the sale of oil and 9% of its royalty income from the sale of natural gas, as compared to approximately 93% of its royalty income from the sale of oil and 7% of its royalty income from the sale of natural gas in fiscal 2018. Income from oil and natural gas royalties in fiscal 2019 decreased approximately 3% from fiscal 2018, primarily due to a decrease in production of oil and offset in part by an increase in prices realized for oil and natural gas and the production of natural gas.
Revenue from oil royalties amounted to $761,232 in fiscal 2019, a decrease from the $798,650 realized in fiscal 2018. The average price realized for a barrel of oil increased to $66.85 in fiscal 2019 from the $50.76 realized in fiscal 2018. In fiscal 2019, oil production decreased to 11,382 bbls from the 15,138 bbls produced in fiscal 2018.
Revenue from natural gas royalties amounted to $77,881 in fiscal 2019, an increase from the $64,285 realized in fiscal 2018. In fiscal 2019, the average price per mcf of natural gas increased to $3.52 from the $3.10 realized in fiscal 2018. In fiscal 2019, natural gas production increased to 22,147 mcf from the 20,664 mcf produced in fiscal 2018.
General and administrative expenses for fiscal 2019 amounted to $226,471, an increase from the $210,723 recorded in fiscal 2018, due to an increase in professional fees and printing expenses.
Capital Resources and Liquidity. The Trust’s Indenture (and the charter and by-laws of MPC) expressly prohibits the operation of any kind of trade or business. Due to the limited purpose of the Trust as stated in the Trust’s Indenture, there is no requirement for capital. Its only obligation is to distribute to unitholders the distributable income actually collected.
As an administrator of oil and natural gas royalty properties, the Trust collects income monthly, pays expenses of administration and disburses all distributable income collected to its unitholders each quarter, less an amount reserved for accrued liabilities and estimated future expenses. Because all of Marine’s revenues are invested in liquid funds pending distribution, Marine does not experience liquidity problems.
Marine’s oil and natural gas properties are depleting assets and are not being replaced due to the prohibition against these investments. These restrictions, along with other factors, allow the Trust to be treated as a non-taxable grantor trust for U.S. Federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, all of Marine’s income and deductions should flow through to its unitholders on a proportionate basis. MPC will owe U.S. Federal (and state) income taxes with respect to its income after deducting statutory depletion. MPC’s income specifically excludes 98% of oil and natural gas royalties collected by MPC, which are retained by and delivered to the Trust in respect of the Trust’s net profits interest.
The Trust does not currently have any long term contractual obligations, other than the obligation to make distributions to unitholders pursuant to the Indenture. The Trust does not maintain any off-balance sheet arrangements within the meaning of Item 303 of Regulation S-K.
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