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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | NOTE B - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES A summary of the significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements follows: Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of New Concept Energy, Inc. and its majority-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”, New Concept or “NCE”) and are prepared on the basis of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America “GAAP”. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated. Depreciation and Amortization Depreciation is provided for in amounts sufficient to relate the cost of property and equipment to operations over their estimated service lives, ranging from 3 to 40 years. Depreciation is computed by the straight-line method. Depreciation and amortization expense, which is included in operations, was $176,000, $188,000 and $165,000 for 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization of Producing Oil & Gas Properties Depreciation, depletion and amortization (“DD&A”) of producing properties is computed on the unit-of-production method based on estimated proved oil and gas reserves. While total DD&A expense for the life of a property is limited to the property’s total cost, proved reserve revisions result in a change in timing of when DD&A expense is recognized. The Company recorded depletion of mineral rights of $510,000, $650,000 and $614,000 in 2014, 2013 and 2012 respectively. Segments The Company operates two primary business segments; oil and gas operations and retirement facilities. Segment data is provided in “Note N” to these consolidated financial statements. Major Purchaser The Company sells most of its natural gas production to one purchaser and all of its oil production to one purchaser. While there is an available market for crude oil and natural gas production, we cannot be assured that the loss of this purchaser would not have a material impact on the Company. Oil and Gas Reserves Our proved oil and gas reserves are estimated by independent petroleum engineers. Reserve engineering is a subjective process that is dependent upon the quality of available data and the interpretation thereof, including evaluations and extrapolations of well flow rates and reservoir pressure. Estimates by different engineers often vary, sometimes significantly. In addition, physical factors such as the results of drilling, testing and production subsequent to the date of an estimate, as well as economic factors such as changes in product prices, may justify revision of such estimates. Because proved reserves are required to be estimated using recent prices of the evaluation, estimated reserve quantities can be significantly impacted by changes in product prices. The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows and changes in such cash flows are prepared using assumptions required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such assumptions include using recent oil and gas prices and year-end costs for estimated future development and production expenditures. Discounted future net cash flows are calculated using a 10% rate. Changes in any of these assumptions could have a significant impact on the standardized measure. Accordingly, the standardized measure does not represent management’s estimated current market value of proved reserves. At December 31, 2014, the Company’s net book value of oil and natural gas properties exceeded the ceiling amount based on the unweighted arithmetic average of the first day of each month for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2014. Full cost accounting The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for its investment in oil and natural gas properties. Under this method of accounting, all costs of acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties (including such costs as leasehold acquisition costs, geological expenditures, dry hole costs, tangible and intangible development costs and direct internal costs) are capitalized as the cost of oil and natural gas properties when incurred. The full cost method requires the Company to calculate quarterly, by cost center, a “ceiling,” or limitation on the amount of properties that can be capitalized on the balance sheet. To the extent capitalized costs of oil and natural gas properties, less accumulated depletion and related deferred taxes exceed the sum of the discounted future net revenues of proved oil and natural gas reserves, the lower of cost or estimated fair value of unproved properties subject to amortization, the cost of properties not being amortized, and the related tax amounts, such excess capitalized costs are charged to expense. Beginning December 31, 2009, full cost companies use the unweighted arithmetic average first day of the month price for oil and natural gas for the 12-month period preceding the calculation date to calculate the future net revenues of proved reserves. Prior to December 31, 2009, companies used the price in effect at the calculation date and had the option, under certain circumstances, to elect to use subsequent commodity prices if they increased after the calculation date. The Company assesses any unproved oil and gas properties on an annual basis for possible impairment or reduction in value. The Company assesses properties on an individual basis or as a group if properties are individually insignificant. The assessment includes consideration of the following factors, among others: intent to drill; remaining lease term; geological and geophysical evaluations; drilling results and activity; the assignment of proved reserves; and the economic viability of development if proved reserves are assigned. During any period in which these factors indicate an impairment of unproved properties not subject to amortization, the associated costs incurred to date for such properties are then included in unproved properties subject to amortization. Gas gathering assets Gas gathering assets are capitalized as part of the depletable pool and ratably charged to earnings along with other capitalized exploration, drilling and development costs. Office and field equipment Office and field equipment are capitalized at cost and depreciated on a straight line basis over their estimated useful lives. Office and field equipment useful lives range from 5 to 30 years. Revenue recognition and gas imbalances We use the sales method of accounting for oil and natural gas revenues. Under the sales method, revenues are recognized based on actual volumes of oil and natural gas sold to purchasers. Gas imbalances at December 31, 2014 were not significant. New Concept also follows the sales method of accounting for natural gas production imbalances and would recognize a liability if the existing proved reserves were not adequate to cover an imbalance. Accounting for Leases Leases of property, plant and equipment where the Company assumes substantially all the benefits and risks of ownership are classified as finance leases. Finance leases are capitalized at the estimated present value of the underlying lease payments. Each lease payment is allocated between the liability and finance charges so as to achieve a constant rate on the finance balance outstanding. The corresponding rental obligations, net of finance charges, are included in other long-term payables. The interest element of the finance charge is charged to the income statement over the lease period. Property, plant and equipment acquired under finance leasing contracts are depreciated over the useful life of the asset. Leases of assets under which all the risks and benefits of ownership are effectively retained by the lessor are classified as operating leases. Payments made under operating leases are charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease. When an operating lease is terminated before the lease period has expired, any payment required to be made to the lessor by way of penalty is recognized as an expense in the period in which termination takes place. Revenue Recognition Rental income for residential property leases is recorded when due from residents and is recognized monthly as it is earned, which is not materially different than on a straight-line basis as lease terms are generally for periods of one year or less. Revenues are recognized when products are shipped or services are provided to customers, title is transferred, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Costs associated with revenues are recorded in cost of revenues. Production volumes of natural gas are sold immediately and transported via pipeline. Royalties on the production of natural gas either paid in cash or settled through the delivery of volumes. The Company includes royalties in its revenues and cost of revenues when settlement of the royalties is paid in cash, while royalties settled by the delivery of volumes are excluded from revenues and cost of revenues. The Company follows the sales method of accounting for natural gas production imbalances and would recognize a liability if the existing proved reserves were not adequate to cover an imbalance. Use of Estimates In preparing financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Cash Equivalents The Company considers all short-term deposits and money market investments with a maturity of less than three months to be cash equivalents. Other Intangible Assets The cost of acquired patents, trademarks and licenses is capitalized and amortized using the straight-line method over their useful lives. The carrying amount of each intangible asset is reviewed annually and adjusted for permanent impairment where it is considered necessary. Impairment of Notes Receivable Notes receivable are identified as impaired when it is probable that interest and principal will not be collected according to the contractual terms of the note agreements. The accrual of interest is discontinued on such notes, and no income is recognized until all past due amounts of principal and interest are recovered in full. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets The Company reviews its long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. In reviewing recoverability, the Company estimates the future cash flows expected to result from use of the assets and eventually disposing of them. If the sum of the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) is less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss is recognized based on the asset’s fair value. The Company determines the fair value of assets to be disposed of and records the asset at the lower of fair value less disposal costs or carrying value. Assets are not depreciated while held for disposal. Sales of Real Estate Gains on sales of real estate are recognized to the extent permitted by Accounting Standards Codification Topic 360-20, “Real Estate Sales – Real Estate Sales”, (“ASC 360-20”). Until the requirements of ASC 360-20 have been met for full profit recognition, sales are accounted for by the installment or cost recovery method, whichever is appropriate. Real Estate Held for Sale Accounting Standards Codification Topic 360, “Property, Plant, & Equipment” (“ASC 360”)requires that properties held for sale be reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less costs of sale. If a reduction in a held for sale property’s carrying amount to fair value less costs of sale is required, a provision for loss is recognized by a charge against earnings. Subsequent revisions, either upward or downward, to a held for sale property’s estimated fair value less costs of sale are recorded as an adjustment to the property’s carrying amount, but not in excess of the property’s carrying amount when originally classified as held for sale. A corresponding charge against or credit to earnings is recognized. Properties held for sale are not depreciated. Asset Retirement Obligation The Company records an asset retirement obligation liability on the consolidated balance sheets and capitalizes a portion of the cost in “Oil and natural gas properties” during the period in which the obligation is incurred. The asset retirement obligation is further described in Note O. Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification, (“ASC”) No. 740, “Accounting for Income Taxes”. ASC 740 requires an asset and liability approach to financial accounting for income taxes. In the event differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities result in deferred tax assets, ASC 740 requires an evaluation of the probability of being able to realize the future benefits indicated by such assets. A valuation allowance is provided for a portion or all of the deferred tax assets when there is an uncertainty regarding the Company’s ability to recognize the benefits of the assets in future years. Recognition of the benefits of deferred tax assets will require the Company to generate future taxable income. There is no assurance that the Company will generate earnings in future years. Since management could not determine the likelihood that the benefit of the deferred tax asset would be realized, no deferred tax asset was recognized by the Company. Recent Accounting Pronouncements There were no recent accounting pronouncements that our Company has not implemented that materially affect our consolidated financial statements.

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