In addition to historical information contained herein, this discussion contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the "forward-looking" statements. While we believe our forward looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, there are factors that are difficult to predict and that are influenced by economic and other conditions beyond our control. Investors are directed to consider such risks and other uncertainties discussed in documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
For the first quarter of 2008, we had a net loss of $927,460 compared to the net loss of $912,010 we had during the first quarter of 2007, a $15,450 difference. This loss was the result of decreases in margin from the turnkey drilling segment of our business. Total revenues for the first quarter in 2008 were $2,990,257, an increase of $471,420 or 18.7% from the total revenues of $2,518,837 during the period in 2007. This increase was mainly due to higher turnkey drilling revenues.
In the first quarter of 2008, revenues from oil and gas production increased $30,411 or 1.8% to $1,716,392 from the 2007 first quarter revenues of $1,685,981, due to higher prices received for our oil and natural gas production. The net sales volume of natural gas for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, was approximately 175,822 Mcf with an average price of $8.22 per Mcf, versus 219,148 Mcf with an average price of $6.77 per Mcf for the first quarter of 2007. This represents a decrease in net sales volume of 43,327 Mcf or 19.8%. This decrease was mainly due to the natural declines in production from existing wells. The net sales volume for oil and condensate (natural gas liquids) production was 3,069 barrels with an average price of $88.44 per barrel for the first three months of 2008, compared to 3,886 barrels at an average price of $52.23 per barrel for the three months in 2007. This represents a decrease in net sales volume of 816 barrels, or 21%.
Oil and natural gas lease operating expenses decreased by $107,450 or 13.6%, to $684,062 for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, from $791,512 for the quarter in 2007. This decrease was mainly due to lower workover costs during the period in 2008. During the period in 2008 we also recorded a loss of $27,823 on the sale of unused inventoried pipe.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, turnkey drilling revenues increased $514,847 or 88.6% to
$1,096,196 from $581,349 in the same quarter in 2007. We also had a $390,206 or 64.6% increase in turnkey drilling and development costs to $994,686 in 2008 from $604,480 in 2007. Turnkey drilling revenues and costs increased because we drilled and completed one well during the period in 2008 and did not drill any new wells during the period in 2007. During the first and second quarters of 2008, we processed the permits on several wells in California, and we expect to participate in the drilling of one well during the second quarter 2008 and approximately five wells during the third quarter 2008.
The aggregate of supervisory fees and other income was $177,669 for quarter ended March 31, 2008, a decrease of $73,838 (29.4%) from $251,507 during the period in 2007. This decrease was due to lower interest income received on our available cash and to lower cost recovery fees on facilities due to lower natural gas production.
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense decreased to $854,844 from $928,453, a decrease of $73,609 (7.9%) for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, as compared to the same period in 2007. This decrease in depletion expense was mainly due to the decrease in our oil and gas assets from our 2007 impairments.
General and administrative expenses decreased by $183,096 or 15.6%, from $1,174,300 for the quarter ended March 31, 2007, to $991,204 for the period in 2008. This was primarily due to our cost control measures. Marketing expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, decreased $22,614, or 9%, to $227,494, compared to $250,108 for the period in 2007. Marketing expense varies from period to period according to the number of marketing events attended by personnel and their associated costs.
Legal and accounting expense increased to $531,650 for the period, compared to $114,000 for period in 2007, a $417,650 or 366% decrease. The increase in legal and accounting expense was a result of higher legal fees due to litigation defending property rights during the period, which culminated in a trial and a successful outcome for the company in April. See Part II, Item 1, Legal Proceedings.
Interest expense increased to $83,423 for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, from $36,530 for the same period in 2007, a $46,893, or 128% increase. This was due to an increase in the usage of our bank line of credit. For the first quarters in 2008 and 2007, we had income tax benefits of $477,469 and $468,536, respectively, due to net operating losses in both periods.
Capital Resources and Liquidity
At March 31, 2008, Royale Energy had current assets totaling $7,680,911 and current liabilities totaling $14,163,875, a $6,482,964 working capital deficit. We had cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2008, of $2,713,561 compared to $3,848,968 at December 31, 2007. During the three months ended March 31, 2008, we repaid $400,000 on our commercial bank credit line and loan.
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We have a revolving line of credit under a loan agreement with Guaranty Bank, FSB, which is secured by all of our oil and gas properties. At March 31, 2008, we had outstanding indebtedness on this loan of $4,775,974, compared to $5,175,974 at December 31, 2007. We have obtained a waiver of 60 days valid through May 27, 2008, from the terms of our loan covenants as of December 31, 2007. During the period in 2008 we also converted $749,071 of accounts payable to long-term notes payable.
At March 31, 2008, our accounts receivable totaled $3,943,671, compared to $4,090,341 at December 31, 2007, a $146,670 (3.6%) decrease, primarily due to lower receivables from an industry member participating in wells we drilled at the end of 2007. At March 31, 2008, our accounts payable and accrued expenses totaled $9,907,471, a decrease of $172,563 or 1.7% from the accounts payable at December 31, 2007, of $10,080,034, mainly due to our conversion of $749,071 accounts payable to long-term notes payable during the period in 2008, offset by an increase in our trade accounts payable related to drilling activities during the period during 2008.
We ordinarily fund our operations and cash needs from cash flows generated from operations. We believe that we have sufficient liquidity for the remainder of 2008 and do not foresee any liquidity demands that cannot be met from cash flow or financing activities.
Operating Activities. For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, cash provided by operating activities totaled $746,608 compared to $481,584 for the same period in 2007, a $265,024 or 55% increase. This increase in cash provided was due to an increase in accounts payables from the increased drilling activity during the period in 2008.
Investing Activities. Net cash used by investing activities, primarily in capital acquisitions of oil
and gas properties, amounted to $1,482,015 for the period in 2008, compared to $320,128 used by investing activities for the same period in 2007, a $1,161,887 or 363% increase in cash used. This increased capital acquisition was due to increased drilling expenditures during the period in 2008, in addition to a new exploratory well being drilled there were higher completion costs on a well drilled at the end of the year in 2007.
Financing Activities. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, cash used by financing activities was $400,000 compared to $2,690,094 used by financing activities for the same period in 2007. This difference was primarily due to increased principal payments on our commercial bank line of credit and loan during the period in 2007 when compared to 2008.
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
Our major market risk exposure relates to pricing of oil and gas production. The prices we receive for oil and gas are closely related to worldwide market prices for crude oil and local spot
prices paid for natural gas production. Prices have been volatile for the last few years, and we expect that volatility to continue. Monthly average natural gas prices ranged from a low of $7.89 per Mcf to a high of $9.37 per Mcf for the first three months of 2008. We have not entered into any hedging or derivative agreements to limit our exposure to changes in oil and gas prices or interest rates.
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Item 4. Controls and Procedures
As of March 31, 2008, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our CEO and CFO, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. These controls and procedures are based on the definition of disclosure controls and procedures in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based on that evaluation, our management, including the CEO and CFO, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2008.
No changes occurred in our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended March 31, 2008, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 1 Legal Proceedings
Pioneer Exploration Ltd v. Royale Energy, No. 56969, Superior Court of Tehama County, California. On February 15, 2006, Pioneer Exploration, Ltd., filed suit against Royale Energy for declaratory relief and money damages related to certain properties covered by a joint operating agreement between the plaintiff and Royale Energy. The dispute stemmed from the assignment of interest from Blue Star Resources to Pioneer Exploration Ltd, and the resulting rights of Pioneer under the operating agreement. Pioneer alleged that Royale did not have the right to directionally drill a well in which Pioneer was a participant, and that Pioneer should have an interest in the drilling of one other well.
In April 2008, the lawsuit brought by Pioneer Exploration went to trial. Pioneer Exploration dropped many of its claims, and the jury found in favor of Royale Energy on all breach of contract claims, with the exception of an award of $1 in nominal damages with regard to Royale Energy's charges for compressors. Certain of the claims brought by Pioneer Exploration will be decided by the judge, in particular the claim that Pioneer Exploration owns 14.29% of the 8-16 Well. No decision has yet been rendered by the judge, but Royale Energy is hopeful that the decision will be favorable to it.
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Item 1A Risk Factors
There were no changes in the risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, during the first three months of 2008.
Item 6 Exhibits
31.1 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification
31.2 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification
32.1 18 U.S.C. § 1350 Certification
32.2 18 U.S.C. § 1350 Certification
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| ROYALE ENERGY, INC. |
| |
Date: May 15, 2008 | /s/ Donald H. Hosmer |
| Donald H. Hosmer, President and Chief Executive Officer |
| |
Date: May 15, 2008 | /s/ Stephen M. Hosmer |
| Stephen M. Hosmer, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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