(Loss) Gain on Derivative Contracts
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three months ended September 30, | | Nine months ended September 30, |
| | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
(Loss) gain on derivative contracts | | $ | (24,303) | | $ | (929,637) | | $ | 1,672,535 | | $ | (1,124,547) |
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, Epsilon had NYMEX HH Natural Gas Futures swaps and Tennessee Gas Pipeline Zone 4 basis swap derivative contracts for the purpose of hedging a portion of its physical natural gas sales revenue. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, Epsilon had NYMEX HH two-way collars and Tennessee Gas Pipeline Zone 4 basis swap derivative contracts for the same hedging purpose. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, we received cash settlements of $1,346,270 and $2,979,128, respectively. During the three and nine months ended June 30, 2022, we paid net cash settlements of $21,410 and $1,375,287, respectively.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, realized gains on derivative contracts increased by $4.4 million and $1.4 million, respectively, primarily due to the decrease in NYMEX HH Natural Gas Futures prices resulting in an increase in value of the NYMEX HH swaps. On September 29, 2023, the Company entered into new NYMEX HH Natural Gas Futures swaps and Tennessee Gas Pipeline Zone 4 basis swaps covering November 2023 through March 2024 (1.45 Bcf) and April 2024 through October 2024 (1.45 Bcf).
Capital Resources and Liquidity
Cash Flow
The primary source of cash for Epsilon during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was funds generated from operations. The primary uses of cash for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 were the development of upstream properties, investment in U.S. Treasury Bills, the repurchase of shares of common stock, and the distribution of dividends. The primary uses of cash for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 were the development of upstream properties, the repurchase of shares of common stock, and the distribution of dividends.
At September 30, 2023, we had a working capital surplus of $32.5 million, a decrease of $16.7 million from the $49.2 million surplus at December 31, 2022. The Company anticipates its current cash balance, short term investments, available borrowings, and cash flows from operations to be sufficient to meet its cash requirements for at least the next twelve months.
Nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to 2022
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, $14.4 million was provided by the Company’s operating activities, compared to $29.4 million during the same period in 2022, representing a 51% decrease.
The Company used $37.1 million of cash for investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The Company had a $18.3 million net investment in U.S Treasury Bills and $18.8 million on leasehold and well costs in Pennsylvania, Texas, and Oklahoma. The Company used $5.7 million of cash for investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2022. This was spent primarily on leasehold and well costs in Pennsylvania, Texas, and Oklahoma.
The Company used $10.1 million of cash for financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to $9.9 million during the same period in 2022. This was spent primarily on dividend payments and the repurchase of shares of common stock.
Credit Agreement
The Company closed a senior secured reserve based revolving credit facility on June 28, 2023 with Frost Bank as issuing bank and sole lender. The new facility replaced the Company’s previous facility. The initial commitment and