<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-15-081945.txt : 20160225
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-15-081945.hdr.sgml : 20160225
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20151130161344
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-15-081945
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20151130

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MESA ROYALTY TRUST/TX
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000313364
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OIL ROYALTY TRADERS [6792]
		IRS NUMBER:				746284806
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BNY MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
		STREET 2:		601 TRAVIS STREET, FLOOR 17
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		800-852-1422

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BNY MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
		STREET 2:		601 TRAVIS STREET, FLOOR 17
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">919 Congress Avenue</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Austin, Texas 78701</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">November&nbsp;30, 2015</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">BY EDGAR SUBMISSION</font></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission<br> Division of Corporation Finance<br> 100 F Street NE<br> Washington, D.C. 20549<br> Attn: Karl Hiller</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Re:</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><i>Mesa Royalty Trust<br> Form&nbsp;10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December&nbsp;31, 2014<br> Filed on March&nbsp;31, 2015</i></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">File No.&nbsp;1-07884</font></i></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Dear Mr.&nbsp;Hiller:</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (the &#147;<u>Trustee</u>&#148;), as Trustee of the Mesa Royalty Trust (the &#147;<u>Trust</u>&#148;), is submitting this letter in response to the comments received from the Commission&#146;s staff (the &#147;<u>Staff</u>&#148;) by letter dated November&nbsp;13, 2015, in connection with the Trust&#146;s Form&nbsp;10-K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2014 (&#147;<u>2014 Form&nbsp;10-K</u>&#148;).&#160; We have numbered and reproduced below the full text of the Staff&#146;s comments in bold, each of which is followed by our response.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Form&nbsp;10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December&nbsp;31, 2014</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Management&#146;s Discussion and Analysis, page&nbsp;24</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Summary of Royalty Income, Production, Prices and Costs (Unaudited), page&nbsp;30</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">1.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>We note that your disclosures of reserves, production and average sales prices on pages&nbsp;9 and 30 include figures for liquids which reflect combining of two separate product types, oil and condensate and natural gas liquids.&#160; We regard natural gas liquids (NGLs) as a separate product type, subject to the reference in Item 1202(a)(4)&nbsp;of Regulation S-K.&#160; Unless you are able to show that your NGLs are not material, these should be presented as separate quantities in disclosures made pursuant to Items 1202(a)(2)&nbsp;and 1204 of Regulation S-K.&#160; Please submit any supporting analysis or revise accordingly.</b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">RESPONSE</font></u></b>:&#160;&#160; In its 2014 Form&nbsp;10-K, the Trust combined figures related to condensate with figures related to natural gas liquids because the amount of condensate as a percentage of total liquid reserves is insignificant. Condensate represented only approximately 2.5% of the Trust&#146;s total liquid reserves as of December&nbsp;31, 2014, with natural gas liquids representing the remaining approximately 97.5% of the Trust&#146;s total liquid reserves. Accordingly, the presentation of reserves in the 2014 Form&nbsp;10-K provides materially accurate disclosure of the Trust&#146;s natural gas liquid reserves. Additionally, Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 to the 2014 Form&nbsp;10-K provides separate disclosure of condensate and natural gas liquids, respectively.</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Financial Statements</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Supplemental Reserve Information (Unaudited), page&nbsp;37</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Estimated Quantities of Proved and Proved Development Reserves (Unaudited), page&nbsp;39</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>Please revise the disclosure of your oil, condensate and natural gas liquids reserves, and the changes therein, to present quantities of natural gas liquids separately from quantities of oil and condensate to comply with FASB ASC 932-235-50-4.</b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">RESPONSE</font></u></b>:&#160; FASB ASC 932-235-50-4 requires disclosure of net quantities of an entity&#146;s interest in proved oil and gas reserves by the following product types:</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.25in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">a.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Crude oil, including condensate and natural gas liquids (If significant, the reserve quantity information shall be disclosed separately for natural gas liquids).</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.25in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">b.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Natural gas</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.25in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">c.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Synthetic oil</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.25in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">d.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Synthetic gas</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.25in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">e.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Other nonrenewable natural resources that are intended to be upgraded into synthetic oil and gas.</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">For the year ended December&nbsp;31, 2014, condensate represented only approximately 2.5% of the Trust&#146;s total liquid reserves, so presentation of condensate in the same column as natural gas liquids does not materially affect disclosure of the Trust&#146;s natural gas liquid reserves. Given the insignificance of condensate as a percentage of the Trust&#146;s total liquid reserves, the Trustee believes revisions to the disclosure in the 2014 10-K would not provide investors meaningful information from what is currently disclosed. Accordingly, the Trustee respectfully requests the Staff accept its presentation of oil and gas reserves as currently presented in the Trust&#146;s 2014 Form&nbsp;10-K. The Trustee </font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;">2<a name="PB_2_013653_9559"></a></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">undertakes to provide separate disclosure with respect to condensate and natural gas liquids in its future periodic reports.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with the foregoing response to your comments, the Trustee acknowledges that:</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>the Trust is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filing;</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; and</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>the Trust may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under federal securities laws of the United States.</p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Very truly yours,</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/Mike Ulrich</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Mike Ulrich</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">cc:</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Stephanie Conklin Beauvais, Andrews Kurth LLP</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Christopher Bednar, KPMG</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;">3<a name="PB_3_013733_7056"></a></p>
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