UTICA RESOURCE VENTURES, LLC
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
6. | | RESTRICTED CASH FOR LETTER OF CREDIT |
On December 1, 2019, URO signed a Natural Gas Sales/Purchase Agreement (“Agreement”) with Aspire Energy of Ohio, LLC (“Aspire”). The Agreement includes a commitment between the two parties whereby URO agrees to sell and deliver natural gas produced into Aspire’s gathering system and Aspire agrees to receive and purchase such natural gas. On September 21, 2020, URO signed an amendment to the Agreement, which has a special provisions addendum where URO provides Aspire with credit support to sufficiently cover URO’s future payment obligations. On October 7, 2020, BOK Financial, N.A. issued a $1,000,000 letter of credit to Aspire on URO’s behalf. Cash totaling $1,000,000 is restricted and held in a CD at BOK Financial, N.A. at September 30, 2023 and 2022, to cover any draws on the letter of credit. URO is to maintain the letter of credit until the predetermined volume of natural gas flowing through Aspire’s gathering system has been paid pursuant to the Agreement.
7. | | SALE OF INTERESTS IN OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES |
On August 7, 2023, the Company and Providence Energy Operators, LLC (“PEO”) entered into a purchase and sale agreement (“PSA”) with Wolf Run Operating, LLC (the “buyer”) for the sale of all rights, titles, and interests associated with its oil and gas wells, including related equipment and acreage. The total transaction, which closed on October 4, 2023, amounted to a sale price of $245,000,000 to the Company. Concurrently, an operational agreement was established between the Company and the buyer, stipulating the Company’s continued operation of the wells from March 1, 2023, until September 30, 2023. Net revenues of $58,984,768 and related expenses of $37,169,119 for that period were included as a purchase price adjustment. Subsequently, the buyer assumed revenues and expenses associated with the operation. See Note 12 for further information.
The Company sold interest in certain unproved properties to POE for $1,751,335 and $1,881,052 during the periods ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. No gain or loss resulted from these transactions.
8. | | ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION |
The Company’s asset retirement obligation primarily represents the estimated present value of the amount the Company will incur to plug, abandon, and remediate proved producing properties at the end of their productive lives, in accordance with applicable state and federal laws. The Company determines the asset retirement obligation by calculating the present value of estimated cash flows related to the liability.
The following is a summary of asset retirement obligation activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2023:
| | | | |
Asset retirement obligation, December 31, 2022 | | $ | 728,466 | |
Liabilities settled and divested | | | (61,420 | ) |
Liability incurred upon acquiring and drilling wells | | | 53,053 | |
Accretion | | | 22,007 | |
| | | | |
Asset retirement obligation, September 30, 2023 | | $ | 742,106 | |
| | | | |
On March 29, 2018, the Company obtained a line of credit (“LOC”) with Citibank. The LOC originally provided for maximum borrowings of up to $250,000,000 with an expiration date of March 29, 2023. On October 16, 2020, the LOC was amended, and the borrowing base decreased to $25,000,000. On January 14, 2022, the LOC was amended to increase the borrowing base to $30,000,000. On August 11, 2022, the LOC was
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