Commitments and Contingencies

We are subject to various claims and contingencies in the normal course of business. In addition, from time to time, we receive communications from government or regulatory agencies concerning investigations or allegations of noncompliance with laws or regulations in jurisdictions in which we operate. At a minimum we disclose such matters if we believe it is reasonably possible that a future event or events will confirm a loss through impairment of an asset or the incurrence of a liability. We accrue a loss if we believe it is probable that a future event or events will confirm a loss and we can reasonably estimate such loss and we do not accrue future legal costs related to that loss. Furthermore, we will disclose any matter that is unasserted if we consider it probable that a claim will be asserted and there is a reasonable possibility that the outcome will be unfavorable. We expense legal defense costs as they are incurred.

On December 3, 2013, our wholly owned subsidiary, NGS Sub Corp., was served with a lawsuit filed in the 8th Judicial District Court of Winn Parish, Louisiana by Cecil M. Brooks and Brandon Hawkins, residents of Louisiana, alleging that in 2006 a former subsidiary of NGS Sub Corp. improperly disposed of water from an off-lease well into a well located on the plaintiffs’ lands in Winn Parish. The plaintiffs requested monetary damages and other relief. The plaintiffs subsequently filed an amended petition joining the Company as defendants in its capacity as parent company of NGS Sub Corp. NGS Sub Corp. divested its ownership of the property in question along with its ownership of the subsidiary in 2008 to a third party. NGS Sub Corp. and the Company have denied the plaintiffs’ claims. The district court dismissed the claim of Brooks against NGS Sub Corp. and the Company because Brooks purchased the land where the well is located subsequent to the divestiture of the property by NGS Sub. Corp. The claim of Hawkins is still being defended. Trial is currently scheduled for March 2018. We will continue to vigorously defend the claims and based on the input of our legal counsel, we consider the likelihood of a material loss to the Company in this matter to be remote.

Lease Commitments. We have a non-cancelable operating lease for office space that expires on May 31, 2019. Future minimum lease commitments as of September 30, 2017 under this operating lease are as follows:



Twelve months ended September 30,
2018	$	73,073
2019	$	66,984

Rent expense for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was $19,851 and $34,856, respectively.