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Afek Oil and Gas Exploration Activities
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Afek Oil and Gas Exploration Activities [Abstract]  
Afek Oil and Gas Exploration Activities

Note 6—Afek Oil and Gas Exploration Activities

 

The Company accounts for Afek’s oil and gas activities under the successful efforts method of accounting. Under this method, the costs of drilling exploratory wells and exploratory-type stratigraphic test wells are capitalized, pending determination of whether the well has found proved reserves. Other exploration costs are charged to expense as incurred. Unproved properties are assessed for impairment, and if considered impaired, are charged to expense when such impairment is deemed to have occurred.

 

In April 2013, the Government of Israel finalized the award to Afek of an exclusive three-year petroleum exploration license covering 396.5 square kilometers in the southern portion of the Golan Heights in Northern Israel. The license has been extended to April 2018. Israel’s Northern District Planning and Building Committee granted Afek a one-year permit that commenced in February 2015, which has been subsequently extended to April 18, 2018, to conduct an up to ten-well oil and gas exploration program. This permit as extended is expected to cover the remainder of Afek’s ongoing exploration program in the area covered by its exploration license.

 

In February 2015, Afek began drilling its first exploratory well. To date, Afek has completed drilling five wells in the Southern region of its license area. In light of the analysis received on the first five wells and market conditions at the time, in the third quarter of 2016, Afek determined that it did not have a clear path to demonstrate probable or possible reserves in the Southern region of its license area over the next 12 to 18 months. Since there was substantial doubt regarding the economic viability of these wells, in the third quarter of 2016, Afek wrote off the $41.0 million of capitalized exploration costs incurred in the Southern region.

 

Afek has turned its operational focus to the Northern region of its license area. Afek views the Northern and Southern regions separately when evaluating its unproved properties. In 2017, Afek commenced drilling its sixth exploratory well at one of the Northern sites in its license area. Afek expects to complete the well during the third quarter of 2017. At March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had capitalized exploration costs of $1.1 million and nil, respectively. In the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company recognized exploration expense of $0.9 million and $1.7 million, respectively.

 

Afek assesses the economic and operational viability of its project on an ongoing basis. The assessment requires significant estimates and assumptions by management. Should Afek’s estimates or assumptions regarding the recoverability of its capitalized exploration costs prove to be incorrect, Afek may be required to record impairments of such costs in future periods and such impairments could be material.