Exhibit 99.1
Pyramid Oil Company | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: |
Pyramid Oil Company Reports Fourth Quarter
and Full-year Financial Results
Initial horizontal well in California joint venture completed;
Well to be placed on production
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – March 30, 2011 – Pyramid Oil Company (NYSE AMEX: PDO) today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and full fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. The Company also announced that the Pike 1-H, the first well in Pyramid’s California joint venture with Victory Oil Company, has been drilled, logged and completed, and is expected to be placed on production by this weekend.
Fourth quarter revenue increased 22% to $1.2 million from $971,000 in the comparable year-ago quarter. The increase is attributable to higher oil and gas revenue from the Company’s core properties in Kern County, California. Operating loss declined to $91,000 from $302,000 in last year’s fourth quarter, while net loss declined to $27,000, or $0.01 per diluted share, from a net loss of $183,000, or $0.04 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter a year ago.
Average crude oil prices during the fourth quarter increased by $10.66 to $81.65 per barrel of oil equivalent (BOE) from $70.99 per BOE in last year’s fourth quarter. Net volumes sold during the quarter increased 6% to 14,521 barrels versus last year’s fourth quarter.
For the full fiscal year, Pyramid reported revenue of $4.5 million, an increase of 36% versus revenue of $3.3 million in fiscal 2009. Operating income was $54,000 versus an operating loss of $537,000 in the prior year. Full-year net income was $246,000, or $0.05 per diluted share, versus a net loss $189,000, or less than $0.01 per diluted share, in the same period last year.
Pyramid reported operating cash flow for fiscal 2010 of $1.7 million versus $573,000 in 2009. The Company ended 2010 with cash and short-term investments of $4.6 million, no long-term debt and working capital of $5.0 million.
John H. Alexander, president and CEO of Pyramid, said, “One of our primary objectives during the fourth quarter was to establish a framework for our joint venture with Victory Oil Company, a successful private oil and gas company that owns and operates land adjacent to Pyramid’s in Taft, California. The outcome of those efforts is reflected in the progress we made with our initial drilling project, a successful horizontal oil well that will be placed on production in the coming days.”
The Pike 1-H well was drilled to a depth of 3,600 feet with a 917-foot lateral crossing both companies’ properties. Based on the lateral intervals open to production, the ownership split of this first well is 68% to Pyramid and 32% to Victory. A pumping unit is currently being moved on site and the well will begin commercial production shortly thereafter. Flow rates for the well will be announced following production testing, which is expected to be complete sometime in April.
“We are now in the planning stages of a follow-on horizontal well in the same area, and expect to spud sometime in the next 45 to 60 days, based on rig availability,” Mr. Alexander added. “We are very encouraged by the long-range opportunities of this joint venture, and look forward to working with Victory on expanding our drilling efforts.”
“While our immediate focus will be on drilling additional JV wells in the area of the Pike 1-H, we also intend to pursue certain re-entry and side track wells on our core properties in Kern County, California during the next six months.
Pyramid said log analysis of the recently drilled joint venture well in Menard County, Texas indicated the well would not be commercially viable, and was plugged and abandoned. Pyramid owns a 30% interest in the joint venture.
“Our primary objective for 2011 is to increase oil production from our California-based properties,” Mr. Alexander said. “We feel we have an outstanding, motivated partner in Victory Oil Company, and also believe there are a number of compelling drilling prospects in our core Kern County properties, particularly in the Carneros Creek and Mountain View areas. With our strong balance sheet and talented operational team, I believe we are well positioned to achieve our growth objectives for the coming year and beyond.”
About Pyramid Oil Company
Pyramid Oil Company has been in the oil and gas business continuously since incorporating in 1909. Pyramid acquires interests in land and producing properties through acquisition and lease, and then drills and/or operates crude or natural gas wells in an effort to discover or produce oil and/or natural gas. More information about the Company can be found at: http://www.pyramidoil.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements and information included in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Federal Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the completion and testing of wells. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to the value of crude oil or the performance of wells.
###
CONTACTS:
John H. Alexander | Geoff High |
President and CEO | Principal |
Pyramid Oil Company | Pfeiffer High Investor Relations, Inc. |
661-325-1000 | 303-393-7044 |
(Financial tables follow)
PYRAMID OIL COMPANY
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
| | Three months ended December 31, | | | Twelve months ended December 31, | |
| | 2010 | | | 2009 | | | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
REVENUES: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Oil and gas sales | | $ | 1,185,617 | | | $ | 970,536 | | | $ | 4,515,211 | | | $ | 3,311,895 | |
Gain on sale of fixed assets | | | 0 | | | | 0 | | | | 320,556 | | | | 0 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 1,185,617 | | | | 970,536 | | | | 4,835,767 | | | | 3,311,895 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
COSTS AND EXPENSES: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating expenses | | | 411,683 | | | | 388,382 | | | | 1,576,892 | | | | 1,411,721 | |
General and administrative | | | 221,106 | | | | 270,871 | | | | 874,899 | | | | 924,676 | |
Stock based compensation | | | 9,783 | | | | 0 | | | | 123,283 | | | | 209,935 | |
Taxes, other than income and payroll taxes | | | 31,038 | | | | 33,131 | | | | 128,351 | | | | 147,724 | |
Provision for depletion, depreciation and amortization | | | 204,979 | | | | 171,073 | | | | 703,094 | | | | 639,738 | |
Valuation allowances | | | 355,059 | | | | 358,757 | | | | 1,222,527 | | | | 358,757 | |
Accretion expense | | | 16,180 | | | | 23,922 | | | | 34,955 | | | | 41,618 | |
Other costs and expenses | | | 27,097 | | | | 26,391 | | | | 118,043 | | | | 115,164 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 1,276,925 | | | | 1,272,527 | | | | 4,782,044 | | | | 3,849,333 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) | | | -91,308 | | | | -301,991 | | | | 53,723 | | | | -537,438 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest income | | | 13,697 | | | | 7,049 | | | | 43,601 | | | | 75,427 | |
Other income (expense) | | | -24,058 | | | | 3,600 | | | | -14,061 | | | | 14,400 | |
Interest expense | | | 33 | | | | -241 | | | | -300 | | | | -1,313 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | -10,328 | | | | 10,408 | | | | 29,240 | | | | 88,514 | |
INCOME (lLOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAX PROVISION (BENEFIT) | | | -101,636 | | | | -291,583 | | | | 82,963 | | | | -448,924 | |
Income tax provision (benefit) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Current | | | 17,000 | | | | -14,200 | | | | 109,100 | | | | -195,282 | |
Deferred | | | -91,900 | | | | -94,855 | | | | -272,000 | | | | -64,355 | |
| | | -74,900 | | | | -109,055 | | | | -162,900 | | | | -259,637 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NET INCOME (LOSS) | | $ | -26,736 | | | $ | -182,528 | | | $ | 245,863 | | | $ | -189,287 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic Income Per Common Share | | $ | -0.01 | | | $ | -0.04 | | | $ | 0.05 | | | $ | -0.04 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Diluted Income Per Common Share | | $ | -0.01 | | | $ | -0.04 | | | $ | 0.05 | | | $ | -0.04 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding | | | 4,677,728 | | | | 4,677,728 | | | | 4,677,728 | | | | 4,677,728 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding | | | 4,686,003 | | | | 4,677,728 | | | | 4,686,249 | | | | 4,677,728 | |
PYRAMID OIL COMPANY
BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
| | December 31, | | | December 31, | |
| | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
| | | | | | |
CURRENT ASSETS: | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 1,535,532 | | | $ | 1,438,825 | |
Short-term investments | | | 3,058,528 | | | | 3,344,061 | |
Trade accounts receivable | | | 508,457 | | | | 375,954 | |
Income taxes receivable | | | 0 | | | | 124,281 | |
Crude oil inventory | | | 86,361 | | | | 62,760 | |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | | | 230,876 | | | | 169,595 | |
Deferred income taxes | | | 245,100 | | | | 196,200 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS | | | 5,664,854 | | | | 5,711,676 | |
| | | | | | | | |
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, at cost | | | | | | | | |
Oil and gas properties and equipment (successful efforts method) | | | 18,101,529 | | | | 16,085,228 | |
Capitalized asset retirement costs | | | 389,463 | | | | 382,550 | |
Drilling and operating equipment | | | 1,946,805 | | | | 2,109,993 | |
Land, buildings and improvements | | | 1,066,571 | | | | 1,065,371 | |
Automotive, office and other property and equipment | | | 1,182,613 | | | | 1,160,617 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | 22,686,981 | | | | 20,803,759 | |
Less: accumulated depletion, depreciation, amortization and valuation allowance | | | -18,687,908 | | | | -17,125,834 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT | | | 3,999,073 | | | | 3,677,925 | |
| | | | | | | | |
OTHER ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
Deferred income taxes | | | 708,500 | | | | 485,400 | |
Deposits | | | 250,000 | | | | 250,000 | |
Other Assets | | | 7,380 | | | | 17,013 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL OTHER ASSETS | | | 965,880 | | | | 752,413 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL ASSETS | | $ | 10,629,807 | | | $ | 10,142,014 | |
PYRAMID OIL COMPANY
BALANCE SHEETS
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
| | December 31, | | | December 31, | |
| | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
| | | | | | |
CURRENT LIABILITIES: | | | | | | |
Accounts payable | | $ | 73,374 | | | $ | 88,170 | |
Accrued professional fees | | | 122,506 | | | | 138,381 | |
Accrued taxes, other than income taxes | | | 63,361 | | | | 62,310 | |
Accrued payroll and related costs | | | 60,365 | | | | 51,606 | |
Accrued royalties payable | | | 193,052 | | | | 159,933 | |
Accrued insurance | | | 86,888 | | | | 54,947 | |
Accrued income taxes | | | 12,800 | | | | 0 | |
Current maturities of long term debt | | | 13,473 | | | | 20,640 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES | | | 625,819 | | | | 575,987 | |
| | | | | | | | |
LONG TERM DEBT, net of current maturities | | | 26,946 | | | | 0 | |
| | | | | | | | |
LIABILITY FOR ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS | | | 1,235,193 | | | | 1,193,324 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL LIABILITIES | | | 1,887,958 | | | | 1,769,311 | |
| | | | | | | | |
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: | | | | | | | | |
Preferred stock-no par value; | | | | | | | | |
10,000,000 authorized shares; | | | | | | | | |
no shares issued or outstanding | | | 0 | | | | 0 | |
Common stock-no par value; | | | | | | | | |
50,000,000 authorized shares; | | | | | | | | |
4,677,728 shares issued and | | | | | | | | |
outstanding | | | 1,639,228 | | | | 1,515,945 | |
Retained earnings | | | 7,102,621 | | | | 6,856,758 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | | | 8,741,849 | | | | 8,372,703 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | | $ | 10,629,807 | | | $ | 10,142,014 | |