Taxes.  Upon settlement of stock awards, the Company recognizes any difference between book compensation expense and tax compensation expense as a tax windfall or shortfall. The difference is charged to equity in the case of windfall. In the case of shortfalls, the difference is charged to equity to the extent of previously recognized windfall tax benefits and any remaining isrecognized as additional income tax expense. When the settlement of an award results in a net operating loss (NOL), or increasesan NOL carryforward, SFAS 123(R) prescribes that no windfall should be recognized until the deduction reduces income tax payable. At December 31, 2007, the Company had an NOL of approximately $51.2 million. The Company has postponed the recognition of approximately $1.7 million in windfall tax benefits associated with its stock-based compensation.

Derivative Instruments

The Company uses derivatives to manage price risk underlying its oil and natural gas production. The Company also uses derivatives to manage the variable interest rate on its Second Lien Credit Facility.

Upon entering into a derivative contract, the Company either designates the derivative instrument as a hedge of the variabilityof cash flow to be received (cash flow hedge) or the derivative must be accounted for as a non-designated derivative. All of theCompany’s derivative instruments during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 were treated as non-designated derivatives and the unrealized gain/(loss) related to the mark-to-market valuation was included in the Company’s earnings.

The Company typically uses fixed-rate swaps and costless collars to hedge its exposure to material changes in the price of oil and natural gas and variable interest rates on long-term debt.

The Company’s Board of Directors sets all risk management policies and reviews volumes, types of instruments and counterparties on a quarterly basis. These policies require that derivative instruments be executed only by either the President or Chief Financial Officer after consultation and concurrence by the President, Chief Financial Officer and Chairman of the Board.The master contracts with approved counterparties identify the President and Chief Financial Officer as the only Company representatives authorized to execute trades. The Board of Directors also reviews the status and results of derivative activities quarterly.

Income Taxes

Under SFAS No. 109 “Accounting for Income Taxes,” deferred income taxes are recognized at each reporting period for the future tax consequences of differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts based on tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. The Company routinely assess the realizability of its deferred tax assets and considers future taxable income in making such assessments. If the Company concludes that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized under accounting standards, it is reduced by a valuation allowance. However, despite the Company’s attempt to make anaccurate estimate, the ultimate utilization of the deferred tax assets is highly dependent upon actual production and the realization of taxable income in future periods.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Substantially all of the Company's accounts receivable result from oil and natural gas sales, joint interest billings to third parties in the oil and natural gas industry or drilling and completion advances to third-party operators for development costs of in-progress wells. This concentration of customers and joint interest owners may impact the Company's overall credit risk in thatthese entities may be similarly affected by changes in economic and other industry conditions. The Company does not require collateral from its customers. The Company generally has the right to offset revenue against related billings to joint interestowners.

Derivative contracts subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk. The Company transacts the majority of its derivative contracts with two counterparties. The Company maintains its cash with major U.S. banks and one bank in the United Kingdom. From time to time, cash amounts may exceed the FDIC insured limit of $100,000. The terms of these deposits are on demand to minimize risk. Historically, the Company has not incurred losses related to these deposits.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company establishes provisions for losses on accounts receivable when it determines that it will not collect all or a part of the outstanding balance. The Company reviews collectability quarterly and adjusts the allowance as necessary using the specificidentification method.

During the fourth quarter of 2006, Reichmann Petroleum filed for bankruptcy. At the time, the Company had outstanding receivable balances of approximately $1.5 million for October 2006 production and advances to Reichmann for the drilling of wells in which Reichmann was the operator. The Company expects to recover approximately five percent of the receivable balance due at the time of bankruptcy. Accordingly, the Company increased the allowance by approximately $1.5 million during