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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 of our oil and natural gas
properties (excluding unevaluated costs) and estimated future development
costs less net salvage value to calculate the depletion expense.
Proved reserves materially impact depletion expense. If the proved
reserves decline, then the depletion rate (the rate at which we
record depletion expense) increases, reducing net income.
We have a significant amount of proved
undeveloped reserves. We had 185.8 Bcfe, 126.2 Bcfe and 97.9 Bcfe
of proved undeveloped reserves, representing 53%, 60% and 65% of
our total proved reserves at December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
As of December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, a portion of these proved
undeveloped reserves, or approximately, 38.1 Bcfe, 32.8 Bcfe and
38.1 Bcfe, respectively, are attributable to our Camp Hill properties
that we acquired in 1994. See Business and Properties - Significant
Project Areas Camp Hill Area 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 (the estimated time that it willtake to produce
all recoverable reserves) 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
10 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, causing the build-up of nondepleted capitalized
costs associated with properties that have been completely depleted.
This combination of factors, in turn, has had a favorable impact
on our earnings, which have been higher than they would have been
had the Camp Hill properties not resulted in a relatively low overall
depletion rate and DD&A expense and longer depletion period.
As a hypothetical illustration of this impact, the removal of our
Camp Hill proved undeveloped reserves starting January 1, 2002 would
have reduced our net income by, (1) an estimated $11.2 million in
2002 (comprised of after-tax charges for a $7.1 million full cost
ceiling impairment and a $4.1 million depletion expense increase),
(2) an estimated $5.9 million in 2003 (due to higher depletion expense),
(3) an estimated $3.4 million in 2004 (due to higher depletion expense),
(4) an estimated $6.9 million in 2005 (due to higher depletion expense),
(5) an estimated $0.7 million in 2006 (due to higher depletion expense)
and (6) an estimated $2.0 million in 2007 (due to higher depletion
expenses).
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 probabilityof
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 proved reserve data as of December
31, 2007 included in this document are estimates prepared by Ryder
Scott Company, LaRoche Petroleum Consultants, Ltd., 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 available geologic,
geophysical, engineering and production data. The extent, quality
and reliability of this data can vary. The process also requires
certain economic assumptions regarding drilling and operating expense,
capital expenditures, taxes and availability of funds. The SEC mandates
some of these assumptions such as oil and natural gas prices and
the present value discount rate.
Proved reserve estimates prepared by others
may be substantially higher or lower than our estimates. Because
these estimates depend on many assumptions, all of which may differ
from actual results, reserve quantities actually recovered may be
significantly different than estimated. Material revisions to reserve
estimates may be made depending on the results of drilling, testing,
and rates of production.
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