EX-99.1 2 exh99-1_18329.htm STATEMENTS OF REVENUES AND DIRECT OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE RIVIERA PROPERTIES.
EXHIBIT 99.1










STATEMENTS OF REVENUES AND DIRECT OPERATING EXPENSES
OF THE OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION
PURCHASED ON OCTOBER 29, 2018 FROM RIVIERA UPSTREAM, LLC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 




INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT


To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of
Empire Petroleum Corporation
 

Report on the Statements of Revenues and Direct Operating Expenses

We have audited the accompanying statements of revenues and direct operating expenses of the oil and gas properties Empire Petroleum Corporation purchased on October 29, 2018 from Riviera Upstream, LLC, F/K/A Linn Energy Holdings, LLC. (the Properties) for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 (collectively, the financial statements), and the related notes to the statements of revenues and direct operating expenses.

Management's Responsibility for the Statements of Revenues and Direct Operating Expenses

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the statements of revenues and direct operating expenses in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of the statements of revenues and direct operating expenses that is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

Auditor's Responsibility

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the statements of revenues and direct operating expenses based on our audits.  We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the statements of revenues and direct operating expenses are free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statement.  The procedures selected depend on the auditor's judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statement, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity's preparation and fair presentation of the financial statement in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity's internal control.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

Opinion

In our opinion, the statements of revenues and direct operating expenses referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the revenues and direct operating expenses of the Properties for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis of Presentation

As described in Note 1 to the statements of revenues and direct operating expenses, the accompanying statements of revenues and direct operating expenses were prepared for the purpose of complying with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission for inclusion in the Form 8K/A Amendment No. 1 of Empire Petroleum Corporation and are not intended to be a complete presentation of the results of the operations of the Properties.  Our opinion is not modified with respect to this matter.




January 14, 2019
Tulsa, Oklahoma



STATEMENTS OF REVENUES AND DIRECT OPERATING EXPENSES
OF THE OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION
PURCHASED ON OCTOBER 29, 2018 FROM RIVIERA UPSTREAM, LLC
 

 
 
   
For the six months ended June 30,
   
For the years ended December 31,
 
   
2018
   
2017
   
2017
   
2016
 
   
(Unaudited)
             
                         
Revenues – oil and gas sales
 
$
188,855
   
$
176,067
   
$
353,176
   
$
355,722
 
                                 
Severance taxes
   
16,041
     
13,119
     
25,182
     
28,206
 
Lease operating expenses
   
123,959
     
139,577
     
298,104
     
369,699
 
                                 
Total direct operating expenses
   
140,000
     
152,696
     
323,286
     
397,905
 
                                 
Excess (deficiency) of revenues over direct operating expenses
 
$
48,855
   
$
23,371
   
$
29,890
   
$
(42,183
)
 
 

 
See notes to statements of revenues and direct operating expenses.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


NOTES TO STATEMENTS OF REVENUES AND DIRECT OPERATING EXPENSES
OF THE OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION
PURCHASED ON OCTOBER 29, 2018 FROM RIVIERA UPSTREAM, LLC.



Note 1 – The Properties

On October 29, 2018, Empire Louisiana LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Empire Petroleum Corporation ("Empire") closed on the purchase of oil and gas properties (the "Properties") from Riviera Upstream, LLC formerly known as Linn Energy Holdings, LLC ("Riviera") under an assignment, bill of sale and conveyance dated October 25, 2018 (the "ABOS") for a purchase price of $205,000.  The effective date of the transaction was October 1, 2018. 

The oil and gas properties purchased from Riviera include 1,200 gross developed and undeveloped acres and six wells currently producing approximately 30 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) per day. The Company's working interests in the wells range from 0% to 50%.

Note 2 – Basis of Presentation

During the periods presented, the Properties were accounted for by Riviera using the tax basis of accounting.  Certain costs, such as depreciation, depletion and amortization, interest, accretion, general and administrative expenses, and corporate income taxes were not allocated to the Properties.  Accordingly, full separate financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles do not exist and are not practicable to obtain in these circumstances.

Revenues and direct operating expenses included in the accompanying financial statements represent Empire's net working interest in the Properties for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 and the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 and are presented on the accrual basis of accounting. The revenues and direct operating expenses presented herein relate only to the interests in the producing oil and gas properties acquired and do not represent all the operations and administrative activities of Riviera, the other owners, or other third party working interest owners. Depreciation, depletion and amortization, interest, accretion, general and administrative expenses and corporate income taxes have been excluded.  The financial statements presented are not indicative of the results of operations of the Properties going forward due to changes in the business, including the price of oil and gas and inclusion of the aforementioned expenses.

The statements of revenues and direct operating expenses of the Properties for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 are unaudited. In the opinion of Empire's management, such statements include the adjustments and accruals which are necessary for a fair presentation of results for the Properties. These interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

Empire reviewed events occurring after the date of the latest financial statement which could affect the Properties' financial position and/or results of operations for the period. Empire reviewed and evaluated events through January 14, 2019 the date these financial statements were available to be issued.

Note 3 – Unaudited Interim Financial Information
The accompanying statements of revenues and direct operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, are unaudited.  The unaudited interim statements of revenues and direct operating expenses were prepared on the same basis as the audited statements of revenues and direct operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.  In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim statements reflect all adjustments necessary to state fairly the statements of revenues and direct operating expenses of the Properties. The revenues and direct operating expenses for the interim periods ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the years ending December 31, 2018, or any future periods.
 
 
 
 

Note 4 – Commitments and Contingencies

Empire is not aware of any legal, environmental or other commitments or contingencies that would have a material effect on the statements of revenues and direct operating expenses.

Note 5 – Supplemental Oil and Natural Gas Reserve Information (Unaudited)
The following reserve estimates present the Company's estimate of the proved natural gas and oil reserves and net cash flow of the Properties, in accordance with the guidelines established by the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Company emphasizes that reserve estimates are inherently imprecise and that estimates of new discoveries are more imprecise than those of producing natural gas and oil properties.  Accordingly, the estimates are expected to change as future information becomes available.  All the oil and natural gas reserves are located in Louisiana.
Reserve Quantity Information
Proved oil and natural gas reserves are those quantities of oil and natural gas, which by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations. Proved developed reserves are proved reserves that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods or in which the cost of the required equipment is relatively minor compared to the cost of a new well.  Proved undeveloped reserves are proved reserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditures is required for recompletion.  Below are the net quantities of net proved developed and undeveloped reserves of the Properties:
   
As of December 31,
   
2017
 
2016
   
Oil
Natural Gas
 
Oil
Natural Gas
   
(MBbls)
(MMcf)
 
(MBbls)
(MMcf)
Proved developed reserves:
           
Beginning of year
 
102
413
 
115
504
Revision of estimates
 
11
40
 
(6)
(53)
Production
 
(5)
(30)
 
(7)
(38)
 
           
End of year
 
108
423
 
102
413
 
           
Proved developed reserves:
           
Beginning of year
 
102
413
 
115
504
 
           
End of year
 
108
423
 
102
413
 
 
Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows Relating to Oil and Natural Gas Reserves
The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to oil and natural gas reserves and associated changes in standard measure amounts were prepared in accordance with the provision of Financial Accounting Standard Board ASC 932-235-555.  Future cash inflows were computed by applying average prices of oil and natural gas for the last 12 months to estimated future production.  Future production and development costs were computed by estimating the expenditures to be incurred in developing the oil and natural gas reserves at the end of the year, based on year end costs and assuming continuation of existing economic conditions.  Future net cash flows are discounted at the rate of 10% annually to derive the standardized measure of discounted cash flows.  Actual future cash inflows may vary considerably, and the standardized measure does not necessarily represent the fair value of the Properties' oil and natural gas reserves.  Standard measure amounts are:
 
 

   
2017
   
2016
 
             
Future cash inflows
 
$
6,758,873
   
$
5,256,570
 
Future production costs
   
(3,912,025
)
   
(3,266,275
)
Future development costs
   
(105,420
)
   
(105,420
)
 
               
Future net cash flows
   
2,741,428
     
1,884,875
 
10% annual discount for timing of cash flows
   
(1,438,776
)
   
(895,806
)
 
               
Standardized Measure
 
$
1,302,652
   
$
989,069
 

 
The 12-month average prices were adjusted to reflect applicable transportation and quality differentials on a well-by-well basis to arrive at realized sales prices used to estimate the Properties' reserves. The prices for the Properties' reserves were as follows:
   
2017
   
2016
 
             
Representative NYMEX prices:
           
Natural gas (MMBtu)
 
$
2.79
   
$
2.23
 
Oil (Bbl)
 
$
51.87
   
$
42.42
 

 
Changes in the Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows at 10% per annum are as follows:
   
2017
   
2016
 
             
Standardized measure – beginning of year
 
$
989,069
   
$
1,497,556
 
                 
Sales of oil and gas production
   
(353,176
)
   
(355,722
)
Production cost, oil and gas produced
   
323,286
     
397,905
 
Changes in price and production costs
   
180,147
     
(570,182
)
Accretion of discount
   
98,907
     
149,756
 
Revision of quantity estimates
   
129,713
     
(90,387
)
Timing and other
   
(65,294
)
   
(39,857
)
 
               
Change in standardized measure
   
313,583
     
(508,487
)
                 
Standardized measure – end of year
 
$
1,302,652
   
$
989,069
 

 
Estimates of economically recoverable natural gas and oil reserves and of future net revenues are based upon a number of variable factors and assumptions, all of which are to some degree subjective and may vary considerably from actual results.  Therefore, actual production, revenues, development and operating expenditures may not occur as estimated.  The reserve data are estimates only, are subject to many uncertainties, and are based on data gained from production histories and on assumptions as to geologic formations and other matters.  Actual quantities of natural gas and oil may differ materially from the amounts estimated.