Any of these hazards and risks can result in
the loss of hydrocarbons, environmental pollution, personal injury
claims and other damage to our properties and the property of others.
WE MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH INSURANCE TO COVER
ALL OF THE RISKS WE FACE.
In accordance with customary industry practices,
we maintain insurance coverage against some, but not all, potential
losses in order to protect against the risks we face. We do not
carry business interruption insurance. We may elect not to carry
insurance if our management believes that the cost of available
insurance is excessive relative to the risks presented. In addition,
we cannot insure fully against pollution and environmental risks.
The occurrence of an event not fully covered by insurance could
have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results
of operations.
WE CANNOT CONTROL THE ACTIVITIES ON PROPERTIES
WE DO NOT OPERATE AND ARE UNABLE TO ENSURE THEIR PROPER OPERATION
AND PROFITABILITY.
We do not operate all of the properties in
which we have an interest. As a result, we have limited ability
to exercise influence over, and control the risks associated with,
operations of these properties. The failure of an operator of our
wells to adequately perform operations, an operator's breach of
the applicable agreements or an operator's failure to act in ways
that are in our best interests could reduce our production and revenues.
The success and timing of our drilling and development activities
on properties operated by others therefore depend upon a number
of factors outside of our control, including the operator's
- timing and amount of capital expenditures;
- expertise and financial resources;
- inclusion of other participants in drilling
wells; and
- use of technology.
THE MARKETABILITY OF OUR NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION
DEPENDS ON FACILITIES THAT WE TYPICALLY DO NOT OWN OR CONTROL, WHICH
COULD RESULT IN A CURTAILMENT OF PRODUCTION AND REVENUES.
The marketability of our production depends
in part upon the availability, proximity and capacity of natural
gas gathering systems, pipelines and processing facilities. We generally
deliver natural gas through gas gathering systems and gas pipelines
that we do not own under interruptible or short-term transportation
agreements. Under the interruptible transportation agreements, the
transportation of our gas may be interrupted due to capacity constraints
on the applicable system, for maintenance or repair of the system,
or for other reasons as dictated by the particular agreements. Our
ability to produce and market natural gas on a commercial basis
could be harmed by any significant change in the cost or availability
of such markets, systems or pipelines.
OUR FUTURE ACQUISITIONS MAY YIELD REVENUES
OR PRODUCTION THAT VARIES SIGNIFICANTLY FROM OUR PROJECTIONS.
In acquiring producing properties, we assess
the recoverable reserves, future natural gas and oil prices, operating
costs, potential liabilities and other factors relating to the properties.
Our assessments are necessarily inexact and their accuracy is inherently
uncertain. Our review of a subject property in connection with our
acquisition assessment will not reveal all existing or potential
problems or permit us to become sufficiently familiar with the property
to assess fully its deficiencies and capabilities. We may not inspect
every well, and we may not be able to observe structural and environmental
problems even when we do inspect a well. If problems are identified,
the seller may be unwilling or unable to provide effective contractual
protection against all or part of those problems. Any acquisition
of property interests may not be economically successful, and unsuccessful
acquisitions may have a material adverse effect on our financial
condition and future results of operations.
OUR BUSINESS MAY SUFFER IF WE LOSE KEY PERSONNEL.
We depend to a large extent on the services
of certain key management personnel, including our executive officers
and other key employees, the loss of any of whom could have a material
adverse effect on our operations. We have entered into employment
agreements with each of S.P. Johnson IV, our President and Chief
Executive Officer, Paul F. Boling, our Chief Financial Officer,
Gregory E. Evans, our Vice President of Exploration, Kendall A.
Trahan, our Vice President of Land, and J. Bradley Fisher, our Vice
President of Operations. We do not maintain key-man life insurance
with respect to any of our employees. Our success will be dependent
on our ability to continue to employ and retain skilled technical
personnel.
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