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After discovering this computational error,
the ceiling tests for all quarters since 1997 were recomputed and
it was determined that no write-down of our oil and gas assets was
necessary in any of the years from 1997 to 2003. However, based
upon the oil and natural gas prices in effect on March 31, 2003
and September 30, 2003, the unamortized cost of oil and natural
gas properties exceeded the cost center ceiling. As permitted by
full cost accounting rules, improvements in pricing and/or the addition
of proved reserves subsequent to those dates sufficiently increased
the present value of our oil and natural gas assets and removed
the necessity to record a write-down in these periods. Using the
prices in effect and estimated proved reserves existing on March
31, 2003 and September 30, 2003, the after-tax write-down would
have been approximately $1.0 million, and $6.3 million, respectively,
had we not taken into account these subsequent improvements. These
improvements at September 30, 2003 included estimated proved reserves
attributable to our Shady Side #1 well, which we have since sold
in February 2005. Because of the volatility of oil and gas prices,
no assurance can be given that we will not experience a write-down
in future periods.
In connection with our year-end 2004 ceiling
test computation, a price sensitivity study also indicated that
a 20 percent increase in commodity prices at December 31, 2004 would
have increased the pre-tax present value of future net revenues
("NPV") by approximately $56.5 million. Conversely, a 20 percent
decrease in commodity prices at December 31, 2004 would have reduced
our NPV by approximately $56.5 million. This would have caused our
unamortized cost of proved oil and gas properties to exceed the
cost pool ceiling, resulting in an after-tax write-down of approximately
$2.7 million. The aforementioned price sensitivity and NPV is as
of December 31, 2004 and, accordingly, does not include any potential
changes in reserves due to first quarter 2005 performance, such
as commodity prices, reserve revisions and drilling results.
The Full Cost Ceiling cushion at the end of
2004 of approximately $32.5 million was based upon average realized
oil and natural gas prices of $41.18 per Bbl and $5.68 per Mcf,
respectively, or a volume weighted average price of $37.63 per BOE.
This cushion, however, would have been zero on such date at an estimated
volume weighted average price of $31.50 per BOE. A BOE means one
barrel of oil equivalent, determined using the ratio of six Mcf
of natural gas to one Bbl of oil, condensate or natural gas liquids,
which approximates the relative energy content of oil, condensate
and natural gas liquids as compared to natural gas. Prices have
historically been higher or substantially higher, more often for
oil than natural gas on an energy equivalent basis, although there
have been periods in which they have been lower or substantially
lower.
Under the full cost method of accounting, the
depletion rate is the current period production as a percentage
of the total proved reserves. Total proved reserves include both
proved developed and proved undeveloped reserves. The depletion
rate is applied to the net book value and estimated future development
costs to calculate the depletion expense.
We have a significant amount of proved undeveloped
reserves, which are primarily oil reserves. We had 44.9 Bcfe and
72.5 Bcfe of proved undeveloped reserves, representing 64% and 66%
of our total proved reserves at December 31, 2003 and 2004, respectively.
As of December 31, 2003 and 2004, a portion of these proved undeveloped
reserves, or approximately 43.9 Bcfe and 45.7, respectively, are
attributable to our Camp Hill properties that we acquired in 1994.
See "Business and Properties - East Texas Area -- Camp Hill Project"
for further discussion of the Camp Hill properties. The estimated
future development costs to develop our proved undeveloped reserves
on our Camp Hill properties are relatively low, on a per Mcfe basis,
when compared to the estimated future development costs to develop
our proved undeveloped reserves on our other oil and natural gas
properties. Furthermore, the average depletable life of our Camp
Hill properties is considerably longer, or approximately 15 years,
when compared to the depletable life of our remaining oil and natural
gas properties of approximately 2.25 years. Accordingly, the combination
of a relatively low ratio of future development costs and a relatively
long depletable life on our Camp Hill properties has resulted in
a relatively low overall historical depletion rate and DD&A expense.
This has resulted in a capitalized cost basis associated with producing
properties being depleted over a longer period than the associated
production and revenue stream. It has also resulted in the build-up
of nondepleted capitalized costs associated with properties that
have been completely depleted. We expect our relatively low historical
depletion rate to continue until the high level of nonproducing
reserves to total proved reserves is reduced and the life of our
proved developed reserves is extended through development drilling
and/or the significant addition of new proved producing reserves
through acquisition or exploration. If our level of total proved
reserves, finding cost and current prices were all to remain constant,
this continued build-up of capitalized costs increases the probability
of a ceiling test write-down.
We depreciate other property and equipment
using the straight-line method based on estimated useful lives ranging
from five to 10 years.
Oil and Natural Gas Reserve Estimates
The reserve data included in this document
are estimates prepared by Ryder Scott Company, DeGolyer and MacNaughton,
and Fairchild & Wells, Inc., Independent Petroleum Engineers. Reserve
engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations
of hydrocarbons that cannot be measured in an exact manner. The
process relies on judgment and the interpretation of
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