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Note 2 - Acquisitions and Divestitures
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2024
Notes to Financial Statements  
Mergers, Acquisitions and Dispositions Disclosures [Text Block]

2. ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

 

Acquisition of helium acreage

 

On June 26, 2024, the Company entered into and closed the transactions contemplated by, a purchase and sale agreement with Wavetech Helium ("Wavetech" and the "Purchase Agreement"). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, effective June 1, 2024, the Company acquired 82.5% of Wavetech's rights under a farmout agreement for approximately 144,000 net acres located across the Kevin Dome Structure in Toole County, Montana ("the Assigned Rights"). The Assigned Rights vest upon the drilling of two wells on the property. In consideration for the Assigned Rights, the Company paid Wavetech $2.0 million in cash and 2.6 million shares of restricted common stock, which were valued at $2.7 million on June 26, 2024. In addition, during the three months ended June 30, 2024, the Company incurred $0.4 million transaction costs related to the acquisition of the Assigned Rights. Additionally, the Company agreed to be responsible for 100% of capital costs, including costs related to project exploration, appraisal, development drilling and completion until $20 million has been incurred related to Wavetech's 17.5% interest. The Company accounted for the acquisition of the Assigned Rights as an asset acquisition.

 

Acquisition, exploration and development costs related to our helium acreage is accounted for under the full cost method of accounting in a separate cost center from our domestic oil and gas activities. Details about our application of full cost accounting can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the SEC on March 26, 2024.  Beginning July 1, 2024, we will capitalize interest related to our unproved helium properties. 

 

On June 25, 2024, the Company entered into a related party non-binding letter of intent with Synergy Offshore LLC relating to the proposed acquisition by the Company of 24,000 net operated acres located across the Kevin Dome structure in Toole County, Montana, which are highly contiguous to the property acquired from Wavetech. Synergy is controlled by Mr. Duane H. King, a member of the Board of Directors of the Company, who serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Manager of Synergy, and John A. Weinzierl, the Company’s Chairman, is an approximate thirty percent beneficial owner of Synergy.

 

The Synergy acquisition is subject to among other things, the negotiation of definitive agreements, and the Company coming to agreement with Synergy on definitive agreements and terms, satisfactory due diligence, shareholder approval of the issuance of shares of common stock expected to be issued to Synergy in the transaction, and other customary conditions to closing, and we cannot estimate the expected closing date of such acquisition. The parties may not be able to come to terms on definitive acquisition agreements, and for that or other reasons, the acquisition of the Synergy assets may not close on a timely basis, on the terms set forth in the LOI, or at all.

 

Divestitures

 

During the three months ended June 30, 2024, the Company closed on two separate divestment transactions for net proceeds totaling $0.4 million. The divestitures included one operated well in Karnes County, Texas and three operated wells in Lea County, New Mexico. These divestitures did not have a significant impact to reserves volumes or the full cost pool depletion rate.  As such, the Company recorded the proceeds, net of transaction costs and purchase price adjustments, to the full cost pool, with no gain or loss recognized in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.  Relief of associated asset retirement obligations of $0.1 million were also recorded to the full cost pool.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company closed on a series of individual divestitures for a total of $7.0 million in net proceeds before transaction costs of $0.4 million.  The divestitures included the Company’s non-operated interests in 152 wells across North Dakota, New Mexico, and Texas, and overriding royalty interests in seven wells in Karnes County, Texas.  These divestitures did not have a significant impact to reserves volumes or the full cost pool depletion rate.  As such, the Company recorded the proceeds, net of transaction costs and purchase price adjustments, to the full cost pool, with no gain or loss recognized.  Relief of associated asset retirement obligations of $0.5 million were also recorded to the full cost pool.