XML 47 R29.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.8
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Principles of Consolidation and Reporting
Principles of Consolidation and Reporting.    Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of EPM and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated financial statements for the previous year include certain reclassifications that were made to conform to the current presentation. Such reclassifications have no impact on previously reported income or stockholders' equity.
Use of Estimates
Use of Estimates.    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates include reserve quantities and estimated future cash flows associated with proved reserves, which significantly impact depletion expense and potential impairments of oil and natural gas properties, income taxes and the valuation of deferred tax assets, stock-based compensation and commitments and contingencies. We analyze our estimates based on historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable. While we believe that our estimates and assumptions used in preparation of the consolidated financial statements are appropriate, actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and Cash Equivalents.    We consider all highly liquid investments, with original maturities of 90 days or less when purchased, to be cash and cash equivalents.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.    Accounts receivable consist of uncollateralized joint interest owner obligations due within 30 days of the invoice date, uncollateralized accrued revenues due under normal trade terms, generally requiring payment within 30 days of production, and other miscellaneous receivables. No interest is charged on past-due balances. Payments made on accounts receivable are applied to the earliest unpaid items. We establish provisions for losses on accounts receivables if it is determined that collection of all or a part of an outstanding balance is not probable. Collectibility is reviewed regularly and an allowance is established or adjusted, as necessary, using the specific identification method.
Oil and Natural Gas Properties
Oil and Natural Gas Properties.    We use the full cost method of accounting for our investments in oil and natural gas properties. Under this method of accounting, all costs incurred in the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties, including unproductive wells, are capitalized. This includes any internal costs that are directly related to property acquisition, exploration and development activities but does not include any costs related to production, general corporate overhead or similar activities. Gain or loss on the sale or other disposition of oil and natural gas properties is not recognized, unless the gain or loss would significantly alter the relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves.
Oil and natural gas properties include costs that are excluded from costs being depleted or amortized. Excluded costs represent investments in unproved and unevaluated properties and include non-producing leasehold, geological and geophysical costs associated with leasehold or drilling interests and exploration drilling costs. We exclude these costs until the project is evaluated and proved reserves are established or impairment is determined. Excluded costs are reviewed at least quarterly to determine if impairment has occurred. The amount of any evaluated or impaired oil and natural gas properties is transferred to capitalized costs being amortized.
Limitation on Capitalized Costs
Limitation on Capitalized Costs.    Under the full-cost method of accounting, we are required, at the end of each fiscal quarter, to perform a test to determine the limit on the book value of our oil and natural gas properties (the "Ceiling Test"). If the capitalized costs of our oil and natural gas properties, net of accumulated amortization and related deferred income taxes , exceed the "Ceiling", this excess or impairment is charged to expense and reflected as additional accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization or as a credit to oil and natural gas properties. The expense may not be reversed in future periods, even though higher oil and natural gas prices may subsequently increase the Ceiling. The Ceiling is defined as the sum of: (a) the present value, discounted at 10 percent, and assuming continuation of existing economic conditions, of 1) estimated future gross revenues from proved reserves, which is computed using oil and natural gas prices determined as the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within the 12-month period prior to the end of the reporting period (with consideration of price changes only to the extent provided by contractual arrangements including hedging arrangements pursuant to SAB 103), less 2) estimated future expenditures (based on current costs) to be incurred in developing and producing the proved reserves; plus (b) the cost of properties not being amortized (pursuant to Reg. S-X Rule 4-10 (c)(3)(ii)); plus (c) the lower of cost or estimated fair value of unproven properties included in the costs being amortized; net of (d) the related tax effects related to the difference between the book and tax basis of our oil and natural gas properties. Our Ceiling Test did not result in an impairment of our oil and natural gas properties during the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013 or 2012.
Other Property and Equipment
Other Property and Equipment.    Other property and equipment includes leasehold improvements, data processing and telecommunications equipment, office furniture and equipment, and oilfield service equipment related to our artificial lift technology operations. These items are recorded at cost and depreciated over expected lives of the individual assets or group of assets, which range from three to seven years. The assets are depreciated using the straight-line method, except for oilfield service equipment related to our artificial lift technology operations, which is depreciated using a method which approximates the timing and amounts of expected revenues from the contract. Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed in the period incurred.
Deferred Costs
Deferred Costs. The Company capitalizes costs incurred in connection with obtaining financing. These costs are included in other assets on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet and are amortized over the term of the related financing using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method.
Asset Retirement Obligations
Asset Retirement Obligations.    An asset retirement obligation associated with the retirement of a tangible long-lived asset is recognized as a liability in the period incurred, with an associated increase in the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset, our oil and natural gas properties. The cost of the tangible asset, including the asset retirement cost, is depleted over the useful life of the asset. The initial recognition or subsequent revision of asset retirement cost is considered a level 3 fair value measurement. The asset retirement obligation is recorded at its estimated fair value, measured by reference to the expected future cash outflows required to satisfy the retirement obligation discounted at our credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate. Accretion expense is recognized over time as the discounted liability is accreted to its expected settlement value. If the estimated future cost of the asset retirement obligation changes, an adjustment is recorded to both the asset retirement obligation and the long-lived asset. Revisions to estimated asset retirement obligations can result from changes in retirement cost estimates, revisions to estimated inflation rates and changes in the estimated timing of abandonment.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair Value of Financial Instruments.    Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, certificates of deposit, accounts receivable, and accounts payable. The carrying amounts of these approximate fair value due to the highly liquid nature of these short-term instruments.
Stock-based Compensation
Stock-based Compensation.    We record all share-based payment expense in our financial statements based on the estimated fair value of the award on the grant date. We use the Black-Scholes option-pricing model as the most appropriate fair-value method for our stock option awards. Restricted stock awards are valued using the market price of our common stock on the grant date. We record compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, for stock-based compensation awards over the requisite service period on a straight-line basis as the awards vest. As each award vests, an adjustment is made to compensation cost for any difference between the estimated forfeitures and the actual forfeitures related to the vested awards.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue Recognition - Oil and Gas.    We recognize oil and natural gas revenue from our interests in producing wells at the time that title passes to the purchaser. As a result, we accrue revenues related to production sold for which we have not received payment.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization.    The depreciable base for oil and natural gas properties includes the sum of all capitalized costs net of DD&A, estimated future development costs and asset retirement costs not included in oil and natural gas properties, less costs excluded from amortization. The depreciable base of oil and natural gas properties is amortized using the unit-of-production method over total proved reserves. Other property including, leasehold improvements, office and computer equipment and vehicles which are stated at original cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the useful lives of the assets, which range from three to seven years.
Income Taxes
Income Taxes.    We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements that may result in taxable or deductible amounts in future years. The measurement of deferred tax assets may be reduced by a valuation allowance based upon management's assessment of available evidence if it is deemed more likely than not some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realizable. We recognize a tax benefit from an uncertain position when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position and will record the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement with a taxing authority. The Company classifies any interest and penalties associated with income taxes as income tax expense.
Earnings (loss) per share
Earnings (loss) per share.    Basic earnings (loss) per share ("EPS") is computed by dividing earnings or loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding less any non-vested restricted common stock outstanding. The computation of diluted EPS is similar to the computation of basic EPS, except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if potential dilutive common shares had been issued. Our potential dilutive common shares are our outstanding stock options, warrants, and non-vested restricted common stock. The dilutive effect of our potential dilutive common shares is reflected in diluted EPS by application of the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, exercise of stock options and warrants shall be assumed at the beginning of the period (or at time of issuance, if later) and common shares shall be assumed to be issued; the proceeds from exercise shall be assumed to be used to purchase common stock at the average market price during the period; and the incremental shares (the difference between the number of shares assumed issued and the number of shares assumed purchased) shall be included in the denominator of the diluted EPS computation. Potential dilutive common shares are excluded from the computation if their effect is anti-dilutive. Including potential dilutive common shares in the denominator of a diluted EPS computation for continuing operations always will result in an anti-dilutive per-share amount when an entity has a loss from continuing operations and no potential dilutive common shares shall be included in the computation of diluted EPS when a loss from continuing operations exists.
New Accounting Standards
New Accounting Standards.    We disclose the existence and potential effect of accounting standards issued but not yet adopted by us or recently adopted by us with respect to accounting standards that may have an impact on us in the future.
In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standard Update (ASU) No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. This ASU applies to all entities that have unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists at the reporting date. U.S. GAAP does not include explicit guidance on the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. The amendments in this ASU state that an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, except as follows. To the extent a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. Company adopted this guidance on July 1, 2014, and does not expect that its adoption will have a material impact on our financial position, cash flows, or results of operations.