Note 2 - Acquisitions and Divestitures	9 Months Ended
Sep. 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 thousand 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, prior to the closing of the Purchase Agreement, the Company incurred $0.4 million of 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 are 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. On June 25, 2024, the Company entered into a related party non-binding letter of intent with Synergy Offshore LLC ("Synergy") relating to the proposed acquisition by the Company of 24 thousand 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, who was then an approximate thirty percent beneficial owner of Synergy. In September 2024, the related party non-binding letter of intent expired with the Company and Synergy unable to reach agreement on the definitive terms of a purchase and sale agreement. Through September 30, 2024 the Company incurred $547 thousand of transaction costs related to the related-party non-binding letter of intent of which $368 thousand were written-off during the period and reflected as acquisition transaction costs on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. The remaining $179 thousand, which is recorded in other assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, relates to land and helium reserve evaluation. The Company is continuing negotiations with Synergy for a potential joint venture for the development of their helium acreage. Divestitures During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company closed several divestment transactions of its oil and gas properties for net proceeds totaling $5.9 million. The divestitures included a total of 245 wells in Karnes County and Archer County, Texas and 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 $1.4 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.

Note 2 - Acquisitions and Divestitures

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

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 thousand 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, prior to the closing of the Purchase Agreement, the Company incurred $0.4 million of 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 are 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.

On June 25, 2024, the Company entered into a related party non-binding letter of intent with Synergy Offshore LLC ("Synergy") relating to the proposed acquisition by the Company of 24 thousand 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, who was then an approximate thirty percent beneficial owner of Synergy.

In September 2024, the related party non-binding letter of intent expired with the Company and Synergy unable to reach agreement on the definitive terms of a purchase and sale agreement. Through September 30, 2024 the Company incurred $547 thousand of transaction costs related to the related-party non-binding letter of intent of which $368 thousand were written-off during the period and reflected as acquisition transaction costs on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. The remaining $179 thousand, which is recorded in other assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, relates to land and helium reserve evaluation. The Company is continuing negotiations with Synergy for a potential joint venture for the development of their helium acreage.

Divestitures

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company closed several divestment transactions of its oil and gas properties for net proceeds totaling $5.9 million. The divestitures included a total of 245 wells in Karnes County and Archer County, Texas and 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 $1.4 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.