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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
(Mark One)
For the quarterly period ended April 30,
2006
For the transition period from
to
Commission File Number: 0-8877
CREDO PETROLEUM CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its
charter)
303-297-2200
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area
code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has
filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months
(or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file
such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements
for the past 90 days. Yes o
No ž
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a
large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated
filer. (See definition of “accelerated filer” and “large
accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Act.)
Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer ž
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a
shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o
No ž
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each
of the issuer’s classes of common stock, net of treasury stock, as of
the latest practicable date.
CREDO PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q For the Period
Ended April 30, 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The terms “CREDO”, “Company”, “we”,
“our”, and “us” refer to CREDO Petroleum Corporation and its
subsidiaries unless the context suggests otherwise.
2
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CREDO PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
3
CREDO PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
4
CREDO PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Statement of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(Unaudited) For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2006
5
CREDO PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
6
CREDO PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
April 30, 2006
1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial
statements have been prepared in accordance with U. S. generally
accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and
with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X.
Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes
required by U. S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete
financial statements. In the opinion of management, the consolidated
financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal
recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of
the company’s results for the periods presented. These consolidated
financial statements should be read in conjunction with the company’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31,
2005.
The company effected a three-for-two stock split
in the third fiscal quarter of 2005. All share and per share amounts
discussed and disclosed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q reflect
the effect of that stock split.
Certain financial statement amounts have been
reclassified to conform to the presentation used for the 2006 periods.
Effective with the second quarter of 2006, the company has reclassified
reimbursed overhead from operating revenue to general and administrative
expense. For the six months ended April 30, 2006 and 2005 the
reclassified amounts were $355,000 and $323,000, respectively and for
the three months ended April 30, 2006 and 2005 the reclassified
amounts were $182,000 and $164,000 respectively.
2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The preparation of financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. The company bases its estimates on historical
experience and on various other assumptions it believes to be reasonable
under the circumstances. Although actual results may differ from these
estimates under different assumptions or conditions, the company
believes that its estimates are reasonable and that actual results will
not vary significantly from the estimated amounts.
3. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The company currently has one stock-based employee
compensation plan, which is described in the Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended October 31, 2005. Prior to November 1, 2005,
the company accounted for this plan under the recognition and
measurement provisions of Accounting Principles Board (“APB”)
Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and
related interpretations, as permitted by Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation. No stock-based employee compensation expense
was recognized in the company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations
prior to November 1, 2005, as all options granted under the
company’s stock-based compensation plan had an exercise price equal to
the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant.
Effective November 1, 2005, the company adopted the fair value
recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 (R), Share Based Payment,
using the modified-retrospective-transition method. Under this
transition method, the company restated the results of all prior periods
back to the beginning of fiscal 1997 (the fiscal year of inception for
this stock-based compensation plan) in accordance with the original
provisions of SFAS No. 123. The cumulative effect of this
restatement was an increase of $1,447,000 to capital in excess of par
value and a decrease to retained earnings in the same amount. For the
six months ended April 30, 2006 and 2005, the company recognized
compensation expense related to its stock option plan of $119,000 and
$147,000, respectively and for the three months ended April 30,
2006 and 2005, the company recognized compensation expense of $59,000
and $74,000, respectively. The company has not made any option grants
during fiscal 2006. The fair value of the 33,750 options granted during
the six months ended April 30, 2005 was estimated as of the grant
date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following
assumptions: volatility, 48%; expected option term, 5 years;
risk-free interest rate, 3.7% and; expected
7
dividend yield, 0%. If option grants are made in
the future, compensation expense for all such share-based payments
granted, based upon the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance
with the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R) will also be included in
compensation expense.
Plan activity for the six months ended April 30,
2006 is set forth below and has been adjusted for the 3-for-2 stock
splits in fiscal 2005 and 2004 and the 20% stock dividend in 2003.
The following table summarizes information about
stock options currently outstanding and exercisable at April 30,
2006:
Total estimated unrecognized compensation cost
from unvested stock options as of April 30, 2006 was approximately
$287,000, which is expected to be recognized over an average period of
approximately 1.1 years.
4. NATURAL GAS PRICE HEDGING
The company periodically hedges the price of a
portion of its estimated natural gas production when the potential for
significant downward price movement is anticipated. Hedging transactions
typically take the form of forward short positions and collars on the
NYMEX futures market, and are closed by purchasing offsetting positions.
Such hedges, which are accounted for as cash flow hedges, do not exceed
estimated production volumes, are expected to have reasonable
correlation between price movements in the futures market and the cash
markets where the company’s production is located, and are authorized
by the company’s Board of Directors. Hedges are expected to be closed
as related production occurs but may be closed earlier if the
anticipated downward price movement occurs or if the company believes
that the potential for such movement has abated.
The company recognizes all derivatives (consisting
solely of cash flow hedges) on the balance sheet at fair value at the
end of each period. Changes in the fair value of a cash flow hedge are
recorded in Stockholders’ Equity as Accumulated Other Comprehensive
Income (Loss) on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and then are
reclassified into the Consolidated Statement of Operations as the
underlying hedged item affects earnings. Amounts reclassified into
earnings related to natural gas hedges are included in oil and gas
sales.
8
Hedging gains and losses are recognized as
adjustments to gas sales as the hedged product is produced. The company
had after tax hedging losses of $190,000 in the first six months of 2006
and after tax hedging losses of $202,000 for the same period in 2005.
Any hedge ineffectiveness, which was not material for the first six
months of 2006, is immediately recognized in gas sales. The company
currently has no open hedge positions.
The company has a hedging line of credit with its
bank which is available, at the discretion of the company, to meet
margin calls. To date, the company has not used this facility and
maintains it only as a precaution related to possible margin calls. The
maximum credit line is $2,000,000 with interest calculated at the prime
rate. The facility is unsecured and has affirmative covenants which
require the company to maintain $3,000,000 in cash or short term
investments, none of which are required to be maintained at the
company’s bank, and prohibits unfunded debt in excess of $500,000. The
hedging line of credit expires on October 31, 2006.
5. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Comprehensive income includes all changes in
equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners
and distributions to owners. The components of comprehensive income for
the three and six months ended April 30, 2006 and 2005 are as
follows:
6. EARNINGS PER SHARE
The company’s calculation of earnings per share
of common stock is as follows:
9
7. INCOME TAXES
The company uses the asset and liability method of
accounting for deferred income taxes. Deferred tax assets and
liabilities are determined based on the temporary differences between
the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities.
Deferred tax assets or liabilities at the end of each period are
determined using the tax rate in effect at that time.
The total future deferred income tax liability is
extremely complicated for any energy company to estimate due in part to
the long-lived nature of depleting oil and gas reserves and variables
such as product prices. Accordingly, the liability is subject to
continual recalculation, revision of the numerous estimates required,
and may change significantly in the event of such things as major
acquisitions, divestitures, product price changes, changes in reserve
estimates, changes in reserve lives, and changes in tax rates or tax
laws.
8. COMPRESSOR AND TUBULAR INVENTORY
Compressor and tubular inventory are finished
goods, recorded at cost, which are expected to be used in the future
development of certain of the Company’s oil and gas properties. The
Company has classified this amount as a long-term asset because the
compressors and tubulars are not held for re-sale and the cost, net of
amounts billed to joint interest owners in the normal course of
business, will eventually be included in evaluated properties.
9. UNEVALUATED OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES
Costs directly associated with the acquisition and
evaluation of unproved properties are excluded from the amortization
computation until they are evaluated. The following table shows, by
category of cost and date incurred, the unevaluated oil and gas property
costs excluded from the amortization computation as of April 30,
2006:
10
10. COMMITMENTS
Effective January 1, 2005, the company
entered into an exploration agreement to generate and market gas
drilling prospects in South Texas. The company is currently committed to
spend $2,050,000 over two years primarily for seismic, leases and
administrative costs. Through April 30, 2006, the company has made
payments of $1,570,000 towards this commitment. In general, all costs
incurred by the company are allocated over a number of prospects, and
payout is calculated on a prospect by prospect basis based on recovery
of the cost allocated to each prospect. The company owns 75% of each
generated prospect before payout and 37.5% after payout. The company has
the option to participate in each prospect for all, or a portion, of its
interest. If the company does not participate for the full interest, the
remaining amount will be sold to industry participants on a promoted
basis. Drilling of generated prospects is not covered by the agreement.
The company’s drilling cost, if any, will depend upon its election to
participate with, or sell, all or a portion of its interest in any
prospect generated.
In April 2005, the company committed
approximately $1,200,000 over an expected two-year period to purchase a
30% interest in 18,000 gross acres along the Central Kansas Uplift, in
Graham and Sheridan counties, Kansas, participate in a 3-D seismic
survey, and drill five exploratory wells. Through April 30, 2006,
the company has made payments of $847,000 towards this commitment.
Subsequent drilling will be determined by results from the initial
wells. Approximately 28 square miles of proprietary 3-D seismic will be
shot to define Lansing-Kansas City oil prospects at about 4,000 feet.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes
certain statements that may be deemed to be “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended. All statements included in this Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q, other than statements of historical facts, address
matters that the company reasonably expects, believes or anticipates
will or may occur in the future. Forward-looking statements may relate
to, among other things:
11
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
At April 30, 2006, working capital was
$8,833,000, compared to $7,296,000 at April 30, 2005. For the six
months ended April 30, 2006, net cash provided by operating
activities increased $940,000, or 23%, to $4,957,000 when compared to
net cash provided by operating activities of $4,017,000 for the same
period in 2005. This increase is primarily the result of increases in
net income and other non-cash items of $1,603,000; a net increase of
$398,000 in short term investments in 2006 versus a net decrease in
short term investments of $1,362,000 in 2005 which resulted in a net
decrease in cash provided by operating activities of $1,760,000 between
the two periods; a net increase in cash provided by operating activities
as a result of changes in accrued oil and gas sales, trade receivables
and other current assets of $496,000; and a net increase in cash
provided by operating activities as a result of changes in accounts
payable and income taxes payable of $601,000. For the six months ended
April 30, 2006 and 2005, net cash used in investing activities was
$5,361,000 and $3,621,000, respectively. Investing activities primarily
included oil and gas exploration and development expenditures, including
Calliope, totaling $5,536,000 and $3,454,000, respectively.
The average return on the company’s investments
for the six months ended April 30, 2006 and 2005 was 6.5% and 1.4%,
respectively. At April 30, 2006, approximately 55% of the
investments were directly invested in mutual funds and were managed by
professional money managers. Remaining investments are in managed
partnerships that use various strategies to minimize their correlation
to stock market movements. Most of the investments are highly liquid and
the company believes they represent a responsible approach to cash
management. In the company’s opinion, the greatest investment risk is
the potential for negative market impact from unexpected, major adverse
news.
Existing working capital and anticipated cash flow
are expected to be sufficient to fund operations and capital commitments
for at least the next 12 months. As discussed in Note 10 to the
consolidated financial statements, at April 30, 2006 the company
had remaining commitments of $833,000 related to projects in South Texas
and along the Central Kansas uplift. Such costs, which include overhead,
lease bonuses, land services and 3-D seismic, are expected to be funded
over the next six to nine months. At April 30, 2006, the company
had no lines of credit or other bank financing arrangements except for
the hedging line of credit discussed in Note 4. Because earnings are
anticipated to be reinvested in operations, cash dividends are not
expected to be paid. The company has no defined benefit plans and no
obligations for post retirement employee benefits.
The company’s earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation, depletion and amortization, (“EBITDA”) increased to
$5,964,000 for the six months ended April 30, 2006 from $3,815,000
for the six months ended April 30, 2005. EBITDA is not a GAAP
measure of operating performance. The Company uses this non-GAAP
performance measure primarily to compare its performance with other
companies in the industry that make a similar disclosure. The company
believes that this performance measure may also be useful to investors
for the same purpose. Investors should not consider this measure in
isolation or as a substitute for operating income, or any other measure
for determining the company’s operating performance that is calculated
in accordance with GAAP. In addition, because EBITDA is not a GAAP
measure, it may not necessarily be comparable to similarly titled
measures employed by other companies. A reconciliation between EBITDA
and net income is provided in the table below:
12
OFF-BALANCE SHEET FINANCING
The company has no off-balance sheet financing
arrangements at April 30, 2006.
PRODUCT PRICES AND PRODUCTION
Although product prices are key to the company’s
ability to operate profitably and to budget capital expenditures, they
are beyond the company’s control and are difficult to predict. Since
1991, the company has periodically hedged the price of a portion of its
estimated natural gas production when the potential for significant
downward price movement is anticipated. Hedging transactions typically
take the form of forward short positions and collars on the NYMEX
futures market, and are closed by purchasing offsetting positions. Such
hedges, which are accounted for as cash flow hedges, do not exceed
estimated production volumes, are expected to have reasonable
correlation between price movements in the futures market and the cash
markets where the company’s production is located, and are authorized
by the company’s Board of Directors. Hedges are expected to be closed
as related production occurs but may be closed earlier if the
anticipated downward price movement occurs or if the company believes
that the potential for such movement has abated. Refer to Note 4 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements for a complete discussion on the
company’s hedging activities.
Gas and oil sales volume and price realization
comparisons for the indicated periods are set forth below. Price
realizations include the sales price and the effect of hedging
transactions.
OPERATIONS
During the second fiscal quarter the company
continued to focus on its two core projects — natural gas drilling and
application of its patented Calliope Gas Recovery System.
During fiscal 2005, the company expanded into
South Texas through an exploration program using 3-D seismic to define
the Vicksburg, Frio, Queen and Wilcox prospects in Hidalgo and Jim Hogg
counties and into north-central Kansas through an exploration program
using 3-D seismic to define Lansing-Kansas City oil prospects in Graham
and Sheridan counties. The company believes that, in combination, its
drilling and Calliope projects provide an excellent (and possibly
unique) balance for achieving its goal of adding long-lived natural gas
reserves and production at reasonable costs and risks.
13
The company will continue to actively pursue
adding reserves through its two core projects in fiscal 2006 and expects
these activities to be a reliable source of reserve additions. However,
the timing and extent of such activities can be dependent on many
factors which are beyond the company’s control, including but not
limited to, the availability of oil field services such as drilling
rigs, production equipment and related services and access to wells for
application of the company’s patented liquid lift system on low
pressure gas wells. The prevailing price of oil and natural gas has a
significant affect on demand and, thus, the related cost of such
services and wells.
The company is currently experiencing delays in
securing drilling rigs and for the delivery of production equipment,
primarily compressors and coil tubing. These delays are extending the
time it takes the company to conduct its field operations. As a result,
the company could be at risk for price increases related to these types
of services and equipment.
Drilling Activities. The company
currently drills primarily on its 60,000 gross acre inventory located
along the northern shelf of the Anadarko Basin. Drilling expenditures
were concentrated on the company’s acreage inventory located along the
northern shelf of the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma. The wells targeted the
Morrow, Oswego and Chester formations between 7,000 and 10,000 feet. A
substantial number of additional wells are anticipated for the area.
Drilling is not restricted to the northern
Anadarko shelf acreage. The company is generating prospects elsewhere in
the Northern Anadarko Basin, in the Oklahoma Panhandle, north-central
Oklahoma, north-central Kansas and South Texas.
In the first half of 2006, a series of six wells
were drilled in Harper and Ellis Counties, Oklahoma. Three were dry
holes and the other three were completed for production in February 2006.
The three new producers are located on the company’s 5,120 gross acre
Glacier Prospect, the 2,560 gross acre Buffalo Creek Prospect, and the
1,280 gross acre Gage Prospect. The Glacier Prospect’s 7,500-foot
Garnet State #1-27 encountered two separate 10-foot Morrow sands. It was
placed on production February 9, 2006 at an initial daily rate of
2.75 MMcfe (million cubic feet of gas equivalent). The well is currently
producing at a daily rate of 4.3 MMcfe after equipment modifications
were made to accommodate a higher flow rate. Flowing pressures have been
steady (taking into account the significant production increase),
indicating that this well is located in a significant reservoir. The
company owns a 57% working interest and is the operator. The 6,900-foot
Lauer #1-21 well was the sixth well drilled on the company’s 2,560
gross acre Buffalo Creek Prospect. The Lauer commenced production on
February 16, 2006, and has current daily production is
approximately 60 BOE. In anticipation of additional drilling, a 3-D
seismic program has been proposed on the Buffalo Creek Prospect to
identify additional drilling locations. The company owns a 31% working
interest.
Five additional wells are scheduled in the
upcoming drilling round which commenced in mid-May. This drilling
includes a north and an east offset to the recently completed Garnet
State #1-27 and an east offset to the recently completed Lauer #1-21.
Two wells have been drilled, however, the company has not released
information on the results for proprietary business reasons.
During fiscal 2005, the company significantly
expanded both the volume and breadth of its exploration program with new
projects in South Texas and north-central Kansas. It is the company’s
intention to diversify its exploration geographically, scientifically,
and in terms of capital, risk and reserve potential. Compared to
drilling in Oklahoma, the South Texas project involves higher costs and
greater risks but significantly higher per well reserve potential. The
north-central Kansas project is geared to oil exploration and has
excellent potential to add significant reserves at moderate costs and
risks. Both projects are in areas where 3-D seismic is a proven
exploration tool and where continuing refinements are providing
excellent exploration success. Equally as important, both exploration
teams specialize in their respective geographic areas and have been
highly successful finding new reserves using 3-D seismic.
14
As previously discussed, drilling of generated
South Texas prospects is not covered by the exploration agreement and,
therefore, is not a capital requirement under the exploration agreement.
Drilling is expected to commence in mid-2006. The initial four well
drilling program is 3-D seismic driven and focuses on the Vicksburg,
Frio, Queen and Wilcox sands in Hidalgo and Jim Hogg Counties ranging in
depth from 10,000 to 15,000 feet. The 8/8ths cost to drill and complete
a test well on all of the first four prospects is currently estimated to
total approximately $16,000,000. The company elected to participate in
the first well for its full 37.5% interest and drilling has commenced.
If the company elects to participate for its full 37.5% interest in all
four wells, the total cost to the company is estimated to be
approximately $6,000,000.
The north-central Kansas project agreement
provides for approximately 28 square miles of 3-D seismic to be
collected and evaluated and five exploratory wells to be drilled.
Completed costs for individual wells are estimated to be approximately
$280,000.
In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the company
is providing the following information to enhance and supplement the
disclosures regarding Reserve Replacement Percentage and Finding Cost
per Mcfe which are contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended October 31, 2005. The company will eliminate disclosure
of Reserve Replacement Percentage and Finding Cost per Mcfe from its
1933 and 1934 Act filings, beginning with its Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2006, because the
information is generally available from independent sources.
The company previously disclosed in its most
recent Annual Report on Form 10-K that, during the fiscal year ended
October 31, 2005 the company replaced 106% of the reserves produced
in fiscal 2005. This reserve replacement percentage is derived directly
from the line items disclosed in the reconciliation of beginning and
ending proved reserve quantities contained in Footnote 8 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements, Supplementary Oil and Gas
Information, page 42 of the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. The
table below shows the calculation used by the company at October 31,
2005. Oil is converted to gas for the calculation of Mcfe (thousand
cubic feet equivalent) on the basis of one barrel of oil is equal to six
Mcf of gas.
15
The company previously disclosed in its Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 that
its finding cost for the period was $2.73 per Mcfe excluding start-up
costs in South Texas and north-central Kansas. The Company believes that
excluding these start-up costs provides a meaningful matching of current
costs with current reserve additions. Finding costs are derived from the
line item Total Including Asset Retirement Obligation disclosed in the
table identifying Acquisition, Exploration and Development Costs
Incurred contained in Footnote 8 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements, Supplementary Oil and Gas Information, page 41 of the
company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and from the line items disclosed
in the reconciliation of beginning and ending proved reserve quantities
contained in Footnote 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements,
Supplementary Oil and Gas Information, page 42 of the company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K. The table below shows the calculation used by the
company at October 31, 2005.
Proved reserve additions, including the proved
developed and proved undeveloped portions can be calculated from the
information in Footnote 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements,
Supplementary Oil and Gas Information, page 42 of the company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K. As is stated in Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Oil and Gas
Activities, Drilling Activities, and Calliope Gas Recovery System on
pages 19 through 22 of the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, these
proved reserve additions for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005
were primarily the result of activity on the company’s two core
projects, drilling along the shelf of the Northern Anadarko Basin in
northwest Oklahoma and application of the company’s patented liquid
lift system on low pressure gas wells.
The company uses only proved reserves to calculate
the reserve replacement percentage and finding costs described above and
does not include any proved reserves attributable to consolidated
entities or investments accounted for using the equity method.
The finding costs and production replacement
measures are used by the company as one way of measuring the Company’s
performance and comparing it to that of its competitors and the
industry. The calculation of both of these performance measures is
based, in part, on estimated proved oil and gas reserve quantities. As
is more fully described under Item 2., Properties, Significant
Properties, Estimated Proved Oil and Gas reserves, and Future Net
Revenues on pages 11 and 12 of the company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005, estimates of
reserve quantities must be viewed as being subject to significant change
as more data about the company’s properties becomes available.
Additionally, both of these performance measures are historical in
nature and are calculated as of a specific date and, may not be
indicative of the company’s future performance.
The company’s success depends primarily on
locating and producing new reserves, the level of production from
existing wells, and prices of oil and natural gas. Production from the
company’s oil and gas properties declines over time. In order to
maintain current production rates the company must locate and develop or
acquire new oil and gas reserves to replace those being depleted by
production. In addition, competition for oil and gas leases, oil field
services, and producing oil and gas properties is intense and many of
the company’s competitors have financial and other resources
substantially greater than those available to it. Without success on its
core projects, the company’s reserves, production and revenues will
decline rapidly.
All of the company’s oil and natural gas
properties are located on-shore in the continental United States. The
company’s future drilling activities may not be successful, and its
overall drilling success rate may change. Unsuccessful drilling
activities could have a material adverse effect on the company’s
results of operations and financial condition. Also, the company may not
be able to obtain the right to drill in areas where it believes there is
significant potential for the company.
16
Calliope Gas Recovery Technology. The
company owns the exclusive right to a patented technology known as the
Calliope Gas Recovery System. Calliope can achieve substantially lower
flowing bottom hole pressure than conventional production methods
because it does not rely on reservoir pressure to lift liquids. Lower
bottom hole pressure can translate into recovery of substantial
additional natural gas reserves.
Calliope has proven to be reliable and flexible
over a wide range of applications on wells the company owns and
operates. It has also proven to be consistently successful. Accordingly,
the company has recently begun implementing strategies designed to widen
the envelope of wells on which Calliope should be installed.
Realizing Calliope’s value continues to be a top
priority of the company. The company is focused on three fronts to
increase the number of Calliope installations: expanding the geographic
region for purchasing Calliope candidate wells from third parties, joint
ventures with larger companies, and drilling wells into low-pressure gas
reservoirs for the purpose of using Calliope to recover stranded natural
gas reserves.
Current natural gas prices have facilitated a new
project to drill wells into low-pressure natural gas reservoirs. Many
low-pressure reservoirs, including abandoned fields, contain substantial
stranded natural gas that can be recovered by Calliope. This project is
designed to ramp-up the number of Calliope installations, improve the
company’s control over monetizing Calliope’s value, control
configuration of wellbores for optimum Calliope performance, and broaden
the range of reservoirs for Calliope applications. Completed well costs
are estimated to be approximately $2,000,000 to $2,500,000 including
installation of Calliope. The company expects to commence drilling wells
for Calliope applications in mid-2006. Subsequent to the end of the
second fiscal quarter, the company was finalizing an agreement with an
industry participant for this project.
As previously reported, joint venture
presentations have been made to a range of companies, including several
of the major oil and gas companies as well as several large
independents. All of these companies have expressed a keen interest in
Calliope, and joint venture discussions are continuing with several of
those companies, including evaluation of candidate wells.
In addition to joint ventures and the Calliope
drilling project, the company has successfully expanded its Calliope
operations into Texas and Louisiana. In southwest Texas, the company
recently completed two prototype Calliope installations which once again
broadened Calliope’s down-hole application, successfully lifting
several times more fluid volume than Calliope has previously lifted from
the company’s Oklahoma wells. Although this prototype Calliope
configuration limits the amount of natural gas that can be produced
during the start-up and dewatering phase, after initial dewatering and
once liquid production stabilizes, the system can be optimized to allow
greater natural gas flow. The company currently has three Calliope
candidate wells that are awaiting Calliope installations, one in
Louisiana and two in Oklahoma. If the company experiences no significant
procurement delays, it expects that the installations will be complete
in the company’s third fiscal quarter. These efforts are being
spearheaded on a full-time basis by a highly qualified petroleum
engineer based in Houston.
Results of Operations
Six Months Ended April 30, 2006 Compared
to Six Months Ended April 30, 2005
For the six months ended April 30, 2006,
total revenues increased 51% to $8,286,000 compared to $5,485,000 last
year. As the oil and gas price/volume table on page 13 shows, total gas
price realizations, which reflect hedging transactions, increased 28% to
$6.91 per Mcf and oil price realizations increased 36% to $59.37 per
barrel. The net effect of these price changes was to increase oil and
gas sales by $1,587,000. For the six months ended April 30, 2005,
the company’s gas equivalent production increased 13% resulting in an
oil and gas sales increase of $867,000. Investment income and other
increased $347,000 primarily due to the performance of the company’s
investments.
17
For the six months ended April 30, 2006,
total costs and expenses rose 45% to $3,969,000 compared to $2,731,000
for the comparable period in 2005. Oil and gas production expenses
increased 54% due primarily to an increase in production taxes and lease
operating expense. Production taxes increased during the current period
primarily due to increased production revenue and the company’s
receipt of a production tax rebate during the 2005 period. The increase
in lease operating expense is primarily due to an increase in the number
of wells owned by the company and from additional workover expenses
incurred during the 2006 period. Depreciation, depletion and
amortization (“DD&A”) rose 56% primarily due to increased
production and an increase in the amortizable cost base. General and
administrative expenses increased 7% primarily due to costs associated
with compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley regulations. Interest expense
relates to the exclusive license agreement note payment. The effective
tax rate was 28.5% for the 2006 period and 28.0% for the 2005 period.
Three Months Ended April 30, 2006 Compared
to Three Months Ended April 30, 2005
For the three months ended April 30, 2006,
total revenues increased 29% to $3,921,000 compared to $3,038,000 during
the same period last year. As the oil and gas price/volume table on page
13 shows, total gas price realizations, which reflect hedging
transactions, increased 6% to $5.85 per Mcf and oil price realizations
increased 39% to $61.63 per barrel. The net effect of these price
changes was to increase oil and gas sales by $336,000. For the three
months ended April 30, 2006, the company’s gas equivalent
production increased 13% resulting in an oil and gas sales increase of
$383,000. Investment and other income increased $164,000 primarily due
to the performance of the company’s investments.
For the three months ended April 30, 2006,
total costs and expenses rose 33% to $1,958,000 compared to $1,472,000
for the comparable period in 2005. Oil and gas production expenses
increased 15% due primarily to an increase in production taxes and lease
operating expense. DD&A rose 58% primarily due to increased
production and an increase in the amortizable cost base. General and
administrative expenses increased 25% primarily due to costs associated
with compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley regulations. Interest expense
relates to the exclusive license agreement note payment. The effective
tax rate was 29.1% for the 2006 period and 28.0% for the 2005 period.
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The company believes the following accounting
policies and estimates are critical in the preparation of its
consolidated financial statements: the carrying value of its oil and
natural gas properties, the accounting for oil and gas reserves, and the
estimate of its asset retirement obligations.
OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES. The company
uses the full cost method of accounting for costs related to its oil and
natural gas properties. Capitalized costs included in the full cost pool
are depleted on an aggregate basis using the units-of-production method.
Depreciation, depletion and amortization is a significant component of
oil and natural gas properties. A change in proved reserves without a
corresponding change in capitalized costs will cause the depletion rate
to increase or decrease.
Both the volume of proved reserves and any
estimated future expenditures used for the depletion calculation are
based on estimates such as those described under “Oil and Gas
Reserves” below.
The capitalized costs in the full cost pool are
subject to a quarterly ceiling test that limits such pooled costs to the
aggregate of the present value of future net revenues attributable to
proved oil and natural gas reserves discounted at 10 percent plus
the lower of cost or market value of unproved properties less any
associated tax effects. If such capitalized costs exceed the ceiling,
the company will record a write-down to the extent of such excess as a
non-cash charge to earnings. Any such write-down will reduce earnings in
the period of occurrence and result in lower depreciation and depletion
in future periods. A write-down may not be reversed in future periods,
even though higher oil and natural gas prices may subsequently increase
the ceiling.
18
The company has made only one ceiling write-down
in its 28-year history. That write down was made in 1986 after oil
prices fell 51% and natural gas prices fell 45% between fiscal year end
1985 and 1986.
Changes in oil and natural gas prices have
historically had the most significant impact on the company’s ceiling
test. In general, the ceiling is lower when prices are lower. Even
though oil and natural gas prices can be highly volatile over weeks and
even days, the ceiling calculation dictates that prices in effect as of
the last day of the test period be used and held constant. The resulting
valuation is a snapshot as of that day and, thus, is generally not
indicative of a true fair value that would be placed on the company’s
reserves by the company or by an independent third party. Therefore, the
future net revenues associated with the estimated proved reserves are
not based on the company’s assessment of future prices or costs, but
rather are based on prices and costs in effect as of the end the test
period.
OIL AND GAS RESERVES. The
determination of depreciation and depletion expense as well as ceiling
test write-downs related to the recorded value of the company’s oil
and natural gas properties are highly dependent on the estimates of the
proved oil and natural gas reserves. Oil and natural gas reserves
include proved reserves that represent estimated quantities of crude oil
and natural gas which geological and engineering data demonstrate with
reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known
reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions. There are
numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating oil and natural gas
reserves and their values, including many factors beyond the company’s
control. Accordingly, reserve estimates are often different from the
quantities of oil and natural gas ultimately recovered and the
corresponding lifting costs associated with the recovery of these
reserves.
At October 31, 2005, the date of the
company’s most recent reserve report, the company’s reserves, and
reserve values, were concentrated in 54 properties (“Significant
Properties”). Some of the Significant Properties were individual wells
and others were multi-well properties. The Significant Properties
represented 28% of the company’s total properties but a
disproportionate 76% of the discounted value (at 10%) of the company’s
reserves. Individual wells on which the company’s patented liquid lift
system is installed comprise 22% of the Significant Properties and
represented 32% of the discounted reserve value of such properties.
Relatively new wells comprised 22% of the Significant Properties and
represented 24% of the discounted value of such properties.
Estimates of reserve quantities and values for
certain Significant Properties must be viewed as being subject to
significant change as more data about the properties becomes available.
Such properties include wells with limited production histories and
properties with proved undeveloped or proved non-producing reserves. In
addition, the company’s patented liquid lift system is generally
installed on mature wells. As such, they contain older down-hole
equipment that is more subject to failure than new equipment. The
failure of such equipment, particularly casing, can result in complete
loss of a well. Historically, performance of the company’s wells has
not caused significant revisions in its proved reserves.
19
The following table sets forth, as of October 31
of the indicated year, information regarding the company’s proved
reserves which is based on the assumptions set forth in Note (8) to
the company’s Consolidated Financial Statements on Form 10-K for the
year ended October 31, 2005 where additional reserve information is
provided. The average price used to calculate estimated future net
revenues was $55.59, $50.43 and $28.64 per barrel of oil and $10.26,
$5.84, and $3.99 per Mcf of gas as of October 31, 2005, 2004, and
2003, respectively. Amounts do not include estimates of future Federal
and state income taxes.
* The percentage of total reserves classified as
proved developed was approximately 89% in 2005, 93% in 2004 and 99% in
2003.
Estimated Future Net Revenues Discounted at 10% is
not a GAAP measure of operating performance. Because the Company drills
new wells on an ongoing basis, and plans to continue to do so in the
future, it expects to continue to generate deferred income taxes which
are not reasonable expected to be paid in the near term. This pre-tax,
non-GAAP measure is used by the company in connection with estimating
funds expected to be available in the future for drilling and other
operating activities. The company believes that this performance measure
may also be useful to investors for the same purpose. The difference
between this measure and the Standardized Measure of Discounted Future
Net Cash Flows From Reserves is that this measure excludes future income
tax expense and the effect of the 10% discount factor on future income
tax expense. In this Form 10-Q, the Company is providing the following
information to enhance and supplement the disclosures contained in it
Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2005. The following table
provides a reconciliation of Estimated Future Net Revenues Discounted at
10% to the Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows From
Reserves as shown in Note 8 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial
Statements on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2005.
Price changes will affect the economic lives of
oil and gas properties and, therefore, price changes may cause reserve
revisions. Price changes have not caused significant proved reserve
revisions by the company except in 1986 when a 51% decline in oil prices
and a 45% decline in natural gas prices resulted in an 8.7% reduction in
estimated proved reserves. Based upon this historical experience, the
company does not believe its reserve estimates are particularly
sensitive to prices changes within historical ranges.
One measure of the life of the company’s proved
reserves can be calculated by dividing proved reserves at a fiscal year
end by production for that fiscal year. This measure yields an average
reserve life of nine years at October 31, 2005. Since this measure
is an average, by definition, some of the company’s properties will
have a life shorter than the average and some will have a life longer
than the average. The expected economic lives of the company’s
properties may vary widely depending on, among other things, the size
and quality, natural gas and oil prices, possible curtailments in
consumption by purchasers, and changes in governmental regulations or
taxation. As a result, the company’s actual future net cash flows from
proved reserves could be materially different from its estimates.
20
The company is not aware of any material adverse
issues related to its reserves regarding regulatory approval, the
availability of additional development capital, or the installation of
additional infrastructure.
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS. SFAS
No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations requires
that the company estimate the future cost of asset retirement
obligations, discount that cost to its present value, and record a
corresponding asset and liability in its Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The values ultimately derived are based on many significant estimates,
including future abandonment costs, inflation, market risk premiums,
useful life, and cost of capital. The nature of these estimates requires
the company to make judgments based on historical experience and future
expectations. Revisions to the estimates may be required based on such
things as changes to cost estimates or the timing of future cash
outlays. Any such changes that result in upward or downward revisions in
the estimated obligation will result in an adjustment to the related
capitalized asset and corresponding liability on a prospective basis.
REVENUE RECOGNITION. The company
derives its revenue primarily from the sale of produced natural gas and
crude oil. The company reports revenue gross for the amounts received
before taking into account production taxes and transportation costs
which are reported as oil and gas production expenses. Revenue is
recorded in the month production is delivered to the purchaser at which
time title changes hands. The company makes estimates of the amount of
production delivered to purchasers and the prices it will receive. The
company uses its knowledge of its properties; their historical
performance; the anticipated effect of weather conditions during the
month of production; NYMEX and local spot market prices; and other
factors as the basis for these estimates. Variances between estimates
and the actual amounts received are recorded when payment is received.
A majority of the company’s sales are made under
contractual arrangements with terms that are considered to be usual and
customary in the oil and gas industry. The contracts are for periods of
up to five years with prices determined based upon a percentage of a
pre-determined and published monthly index price. The terms of these
contracts have not had an effect on how the company recognizes its
revenue.
The company manages exposure to commodity price
fluctuations by periodically hedging a portion of expected production
through the use of derivatives, typically collars and forward short
positions in the NYMEX futures market. See “Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Product
Prices and Production” for more information on the company’s hedging
activities. The company currently has no open hedge positions.
The effectiveness of our or any system of
disclosure controls and procedures is subject to certain limitations,
including the exercise of judgment in designing, implementing and
evaluating the controls and procedures, the assumptions used in
identifying the likelihood of future events, and the inability to
eliminate misconduct completely. As a result, there can be no assurance
that our disclosure controls and procedures will detect all errors or
fraud. By their nature, our or any system of disclosure controls and
procedures can provide only reasonable assurance regarding
management’s control objectives.
Under the supervision and with the participation
of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer, we evaluated the design and operation of our
disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e)
and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the “Exchange
Act”) as of April 30, 2006. On the basis of this review, our
management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are
designed, and are effective, to give reasonable assurance that the
information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file under
the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within
the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and to
ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed or
submitted
21
under the Exchange Act is accumulated and
communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer, in a manner that allows timely decisions
regarding required disclosure. There were no changes in the company’s
internal controls over financial reporting that occurred in the second
fiscal quarter of 2006 that materially affected or were reasonably
likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial
reporting.
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
None.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
There have been no material changes from the risk
factors previously disclosed in the company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
AND USE OF PROCEEDS
None.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF
SECURITY HOLDERS
The company’s annual meeting of stockholders was
held on March 23, 2006, for the purpose of electing two Class II
directors and ratifying the appointment of Hein & Associates LLP as
the company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Proxies
for the meeting were solicited pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and there was no solicitation in
opposition to management’s solicitation. Each of management’s
nominees for Class II directors, as listed in the proxy statement,
was elected with the number of votes set forth below.
Continuing Directors:
After the company’s annual meeting on March 23,
2006, the following directors continued to serve their three-year terms
as Class III directors, which terms will expire at the company’s
2008 annual meeting:
William N. Beach
Richard B. Stevens
After the company’s annual meeting on March 23,
2006, the following directors continued to serve their three-year terms
as Class I directors, which terms will expire at the company’s
2007 annual meeting:
Oakley Hall
William F. Skewes 22
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
Exhibits are as follow:
23
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: June 14, 2006
24
Exhibit Index
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 15D-14 OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
Date: June 14, 2006
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 15D-14 OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, David W. Vreeman, Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of CREDO Petroleum Corporation, certify that:
Date: June 14, 2006
Exhibit 32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and
Chief Financial Officer of
CREDO Petroleum Corporation (Pursuant To 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
In connection with this Quarterly Report of CREDO
Petroleum Corporation (the “company”) on Form 10-Q for the period
ending April 30, 2006 as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), we, James T. Huffman,
President and Chief Executive Officer of the company, and David W.
Vreeman, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the company, each
hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C., § 1350, as adopted pursuant to
§ 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to our knowledge:
June 14, 2006
A signed original of this written statement
required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been
provided to CREDO Petroleum Corporation and will be retained by CREDO
Petroleum Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange
Commission upon request.
End of Filing
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