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inclusion
of other participants in drilling wells; and |
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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 pipelinesthat 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 andmarket
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 andcapabilities.
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, andunsuccessful 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 Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer, J. Bradley Fisher, our Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer, Gregory E. Evans, our Vice
President of Exploration and Richard H. Smith, our Vice President
of Land. 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.
We may experience difficulty
in achieving and managing future growth.
We have experienced growth
in the past primarily through the expansion of our drilling program.
Future growth may place strains on our financial, technical, operational
and administrative resources and cause us to rely more on project
partners andindependent contractors, possibly negatively affecting
our financial condition and results of operations. Our ability to
grow will depend on a number of factors, including:
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our ability
to obtain leases or options on properties, including those for
which we have 3-D seismic data; |
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our ability
to acquire additional 3-D seismic data; |
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our ability
to identify and acquire new exploratory prospects; |
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our ability
to develop existing prospects; |
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our ability
to continue to retain and attract skilled personnel; |
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our ability
to maintain or enter into new relationships with project partners
and independent contractors; |
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the results
of our drilling program; |
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