Item 1. Financial Statements.
VOC ENERGY TRUST
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF DISTRIBUTABLE INCOME
(Unaudited)
| | |
Three months ended
September 30, | | |
Nine months ended
September 30, | |
| | |
2022 | | |
2021 | | |
2022 | | |
2021 | |
| Income from net profits interest | |
$ | 6,897,212 | | |
$ | 2,843,473 | | |
$ | 16,792,579 | | |
$ | 5,732,146 | |
| Cash on hand used (withheld) for Trust expenses | |
| (275,888 | ) | |
| 51,030 | | |
| (550,291 | ) | |
| 274,202 | |
| General and administrative expenses (1) | |
| (161,324 | ) | |
| (174,503 | ) | |
| (772,288 | ) | |
| (736,348 | ) |
| Distributable income | |
$ | 6,460,000 | | |
$ | 2,720,000 | | |
$ | 15,470,000 | | |
$ | 5,270,000 | |
| Distributions per Trust unit (17,000,000 Trust units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2022 and 2021) | |
$ | 0.38 | | |
$ | 0.16 | | |
$ | 0.91 | | |
$ | 0.31 | |
| (1) | Includes $28,860 and $54,435 paid to VOC Brazos Energy Partners, LP (“VOC Brazos”) during the three months ended September 30,
2022 and 2021, respectively, and $85,470 and $108,870 during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Also
includes $37,500 paid to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. during each of the three months ended September 30, 2022
and 2021 and $112,500 during each of the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. |
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND TRUST CORPUS
| | |
September 30,
2022 | | |
December 31,
2021 | |
| | |
(Unaudited) | | |
| |
| ASSETS | |
| | | |
| | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | |
$ | 837,495 | | |
$ | 287,204 | |
| Investment in net profits interest | |
| 140,591,606 | | |
| 140,591,606 | |
| Accumulated amortization and impairment | |
| (126,310,301 | ) | |
| (124,873,620 | ) |
| Total assets | |
$ | 15,118,800 | | |
$ | 16,005,190 | |
| | |
| | | |
| | |
| TRUST CORPUS | |
| | | |
| | |
| Trust corpus, 17,000,000 Trust units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 | |
$ | 15,118,800 | | |
$ | 16,005,190 | |
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN TRUST CORPUS
(Unaudited)
| | |
Three months ended
September 30, | | |
Nine months ended
September 30, | |
| | |
2022 | | |
2021 | | |
2022 | | |
2021 | |
| Trust corpus, beginning of period | |
$ | 15,320,205 | | |
$ | 17,334,400 | | |
$ | 16,005,190 | | |
$ | 19,012,202 | |
| Income from net profits interest | |
| 6,897,212 | | |
| 2,843,473 | | |
| 16,792,579 | | |
| 5,732,146 | |
| Cash distributions | |
| (6,460,000 | ) | |
| (2,720,000 | ) | |
| (15,470,000 | ) | |
| (5,270,000 | ) |
| Trust expenses | |
| (161,324 | ) | |
| (174,503 | ) | |
| (772,288 | ) | |
| (736,348 | ) |
| Amortization of net profits interest | |
| (477,293 | ) | |
| (715,754 | ) | |
| (1,436,681 | ) | |
| (2,170,384 | ) |
| Trust corpus, end of period | |
$ | 15,118,800 | | |
$ | 16,567,616 | | |
$ | 15,118,800 | | |
$ | 16,567,616 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of
these condensed financial statements.
VOC ENERGY TRUST
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Note 1. Organization of the Trust
VOC Energy Trust (the “Trust”) is
a statutory trust formed on November 3, 2010 (capitalized on December 17, 2010), under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act pursuant
to a Trust Agreement dated November 3, 2010 (as amended and restated on May 10, 2011, the “Trust Agreement”) among
VOC Brazos Energy Partners, L.P., a Texas limited partnership (“VOC Brazos”), as trustor, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust
Company, N.A., as Trustee (the “Trustee”), and Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee (the “Delaware Trustee”).
The Trust was created to acquire and hold a term net profits interest for the benefit of the Trust unitholders.
VOC Brazos is a privately held limited partnership
engaged in the production and development of oil and natural gas from properties located in Texas. VOC Kansas Energy Partners, L.L.C.,
a Kansas limited liability company (“VOC Kansas”), is a privately held limited liability company engaged in the production
and development of oil and natural gas from properties primarily located in Kansas along with a limited number of Texas properties. In
connection with the closing of the initial public offering of units of beneficial interest in the Trust (“Trust Units”) in
May 2011, VOC Brazos acquired all of the membership interests in VOC Kansas in exchange for newly issued limited partner interests
in VOC Brazos pursuant to a Contribution and Exchange Agreement, dated August 30, 2010, as amended, by and between VOC Brazos and
VOC Kansas. This resulted in VOC Kansas becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of VOC Brazos.
The Trust was created to acquire and hold a term
net profits interest representing the right to receive 80% of the net proceeds (calculated as described below in Note 5) from production
from the underlying properties (as defined below). The net profits interest consists of working interests in substantially all of the
oil and natural gas properties held by VOC Brazos and VOC Kansas in the States of Kansas and Texas as of the date of the conveyance of
the net profits interest to the Trust. We refer to the properties in which the Trust holds the net profits interest as the “underlying
properties.”
The net profits interest is passive in nature,
and the Trustee has no management control over and no responsibility relating to the operation of the underlying properties. The net profits
interest entitles the Trust to receive 80% of the net proceeds attributable to VOC Brazos’ interest from the sale of production
from the underlying properties during the term of the Trust. The net profits interest will terminate on the later to occur of (1) December 31,
2030 or (2) the time when 10.6 million barrels of oil equivalent (“MMBoe”) (which is the equivalent of 8.5 MMBoe
in respect of the net profits interest) have been produced from the underlying properties and sold, and the Trust will soon thereafter
wind up its affairs and terminate.
As of September 30, 2022, cumulatively, since
inception, the Trust has received payment for 80% of the net proceeds attributable to VOC Brazos’ interest from the sale of 8.0
MMBoe of production from the underlying properties (which is the equivalent of 6.4 MMBoe in respect of the net profits interest).
The Trustee can authorize the Trust to borrow
money to pay administrative or incidental expenses of the Trust that exceed cash held by the Trust. The Trustee may authorize the Trust
to borrow from the Trustee or the Delaware Trustee as a lender provided the terms of the loan are similar to the terms it would grant
to a similarly situated commercial customer with whom it did not have a fiduciary relationship. The Trustee may also deposit funds awaiting
distribution in an account with itself and make other short-term investments with the funds distributed to the Trust.
Note 2. Basis of Presentation
The accompanying Condensed Statements of Assets
and Trust Corpus as of December 31, 2021, which has been derived from audited financial statements, and the unaudited interim condensed
financial statements as of September 30, 2022 and for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, have
been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly,
certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those
rules and regulations.
The preparation of financial statements requires
the Trust to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets
and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Trustee believes such information includes all the disclosures necessary to make
the information presented not misleading. The information furnished reflects all adjustments that are, in the opinion of the Trustee,
necessary for a fair presentation of the results of the interim period presented. The financial information should be read in conjunction
with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2021.
Note 3. Trust Accounting Policies
The Trust uses the modified cash basis of accounting
to report receipts of the net profits interest and payments of expenses incurred. The net profits interest represents the right to receive
revenues (oil and natural gas sales), less direct operating expenses (lease operating expenses, lease maintenance, lease overhead, and
production and property taxes) and an adjustment for lease equipment costs and lease development expenses (which are capitalized in financial
statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”))
of the underlying properties, times 80%. Actual cash receipts may vary due to timing delays of actual cash receipts from the property
operators or purchasers and due to wellhead and pipeline volume balancing agreements or practices. The actual cash distributions of the
Trust will be made based on the terms of the conveyance that created the Trust’s net profits interest. Expenses of the Trust, which
include accounting, engineering, legal and other professional fees, Trustee fees, an administrative fee paid to VOC Brazos and out-of-pocket
expenses, are recognized when paid. Under U.S. GAAP, revenues and expenses would be recognized on an accrual basis. Amortization of the
investment in net profits interest is recorded on a unit-of-production method in the period in which the cash is received with respect
to such production. Such amortization does not reduce distributable income, rather it is charged directly to Trust corpus.
This comprehensive basis of accounting other than
U.S. GAAP corresponds to the accounting permitted for royalty trusts by the SEC as specified by Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 12:E,
Financial Statements of Royalty Trusts.
Investment in the net profits interest was recorded
initially at the historical cost of VOC Brazos and is periodically assessed to determine whether its aggregate value has been impaired
below its total capitalized cost based on the underlying properties. The Trust will provide a write-down to its investment in the net
profits interest if and when total capitalized costs, less accumulated amortization, exceeds undiscounted future net revenues attributable
to the proved oil and gas reserves of the underlying properties. There was no impairment of the investment in the net profits interest
during the quarters ended September 30, 2022 or 2021.
No new accounting pronouncements were adopted
or issued during the quarter ended September 30, 2022 that would impact the financial statements of the Trust.
Note 4. Investment in Net Profits Interest
The net profits interest was recorded at the historical
cost of VOC Brazos on May 10, 2011, the date of the conveyance of the net profits interest to the Trust, and was calculated as follows:
| Oil and gas properties | |
$ | 197,270,173 | |
| Accumulated depreciation and depletion | |
| (17,681,155 | ) |
| Hedge liability | |
| (1,717,713 | ) |
| 20-year asset retirement liability | |
| (2,131,797 | ) |
| Net property to be conveyed | |
| 175,739,508 | |
| Times 80% net profits interest to Trust | |
$ | 140,591,606 | |
Note 5. Income from Net Profits Interest
| | |
Three months ended
September 30, | | |
Nine months ended
September 30, | |
| | |
2022 | | |
2021 | | |
2022 | | |
2021 | |
| Excess of revenues over direct operating expenses and lease equipment and development costs(1) | |
$ | 8,621,515 | | |
$ | 3,554,341 | | |
$ | 20,990,724 | | |
$ | 7,165,182 | |
| Times 80% net profits interest to Trust | |
| 80 | % | |
| 80 | % | |
| 80 | % | |
| 80 | % |
| Income from net profits interest before reserve adjustments | |
| 6,897,212 | | |
| 2,843,473 | | |
| 16,792,579 | | |
| 5,732,146 | |
| VOC Brazos reserve for future development, maintenance or operating expenditures(2) | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| Income from net profits interest(3) | |
$ | 6,897,212 | | |
$ | 2,843,473 | | |
$ | 16,792,579 | | |
$ | 5,732,146 | |
| (1) | Excess of revenues over direct operating expenses and lease equipment and development costs reflect expenses and costs incurred by
VOC Brazos during each of the March through May production periods for the three months ended September 30 and during each
of the September through May production periods for the nine months ended September 30. Pursuant to the terms of the conveyance
of the net profits interest, lease equipment and development costs are to be deducted when calculating the distributable income to the
Trust. |
| (2) | Pursuant to the terms of the conveyance of the net profits interest, VOC Brazos can reserve up to $1.0 million for future development,
maintenance or operating expenditures at any time. During the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, and the nine months
ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, VOC Brazos did not withhold or release any dollar amounts due to the Trust from the reserve. The
reserve balance was $1.0 million at September 30, 2022 and 2021. |
| (3) | The income from net profits interest is based upon the cash receipts from VOC Brazos for the oil and gas production. The revenues
from oil production are typically received by VOC Brazos one month after production; thus, the cash received by the Trust during the three
months ended September 30, 2022 substantially represents production by VOC Brazos from March 2022 through May 2022, and
the cash received by the Trust during the three months ended September 30, 2021 substantially represents production by VOC Brazos
from March 2021 through May 2021. The cash received by the Trust during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 substantially
represents production by VOC Brazos from September 2021 through May 2022 and the cash received by the Trust during the nine
months ended September 30, 2021 substantially represents production by VOC Brazos from September 2020 through May 2021. |
For the three and nine months ended September 30,
2022 and 2021, MV Purchasing, LLC, an affiliate of VOC Brazos, purchased a significant portion of the production of the underlying properties.
Sales to MV Purchasing, LLC are under short-term arrangements, ranging from one to six months, using market sensitive pricing.
Note 6. Income Taxes
The Trust is a Delaware statutory trust and is
not required to pay federal or state income taxes. Accordingly, no provision for federal or state income taxes has been made.
Note 7. Distributions to Unitholders
VOC Brazos makes quarterly payments of the
net profits interest to the Trust. The Trustee determines for each quarter the amount available for distribution to the Trust
unitholders. This distribution is expected to be made on or before the 45th day following the end of each quarter to
the Trust unitholders of record on the 30th day of the month following the end of each quarter (or the next succeeding business
day). Such amounts will be equal to the excess, if any, of the cash received by the Trust relating to the preceding quarter, over
the expenses of the Trust paid for such quarter, subject to adjustments for changes made by the Trustee during such quarter in any
cash reserves established for future expenses of the Trust. As previously disclosed, the Trustee intends to build a reserve of
approximately $1.175 million for the payment of future known, anticipated or contingent expenses or liabilities. The Trustee
may increase or decrease the targeted amount at any time and may increase or decrease the rate at which it is withholding funds to
build the cash reserve at any time, without advance notice to the unitholders. Cash held in reserve will be invested as required by
the Trust Agreement. Any cash reserved in excess of the amount necessary to pay or provide for the payment of future known,
anticipated or contingent expenses or liabilities eventually will be distributed to unitholders, together with interest earned on
the funds.
The first quarterly distribution during 2022 was
$4,250,000, or $0.25 per Trust Unit, and was made on February 14, 2022 to Trust unitholders owning Trust Units as of February 1,
2022. Such distribution included the net proceeds of production collected by VOC Brazos from October 1, 2021 through December 31,
2021 and was net of $182,917 withheld by the Trustee towards the building of the cash reserve described above.
The second quarterly distribution during 2022 was
$4,760,000, or $0.28 per Trust Unit, and was made on May 13, 2022 to Trust unitholders owning Trust Units as of May 2, 2022. Such
distribution included the net proceeds of production collected by VOC Brazos from January 1, 2022 through March 31, 2022 and
was net of $182,917 withheld by the Trustee towards the building of the cash reserve described above.
The third quarterly distribution during 2022 was
$6,460,000, or $0.38 per Trust Unit, and was made on August 12, 2022 to Trust unitholders owning Trust Units as of August 1, 2022. Such
distribution included the net proceeds of production collected by VOC Brazos from April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022 and was net of $221,666
withheld by the Trustee towards the building of the cash reserve described above.
The first quarterly distribution during 2021 was
$510,000, or $0.03 per Trust Unit, and was made on February 12, 2021 to Trust unitholders owning Trust Units as of February 1,
2021. Such distribution included the net proceeds of production collected by VOC Brazos from October 1, 2020 through December 31,
2020.
The second quarterly distribution during 2021
was $2,040,000, or $0.12 per Trust Unit, and was made on May 14, 2021 to Trust unitholders owning Trust Units as of April 30,
2021. Such distribution included the net proceeds of production collected by VOC Brazos from January 1, 2021 through March 31,
2021.
The third quarterly distribution during 2021 was
$2,720,000, or $0.16 per Trust Unit, and was made on August 13, 2021 to Trust unitholders owning Trust Units as of July 30, 2021. Such
distribution included the net proceeds of production collected by VOC Brazos from April 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021.
Note 8. Advance for Trust Expenses
Under the terms of the Trust Agreement, the Trustee
is allowed to borrow money to pay Trust expenses. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, there were
no borrowings or amounts owed for money borrowed in previous quarters. Under the terms of the Trust Agreement, VOC Brazos has provided
a letter of credit in the amount of $1.7 million to the Trustee to protect the Trust against the risk that it does not have sufficient
cash to pay future expenses.
Note 9. Subsequent Events
On October 20, 2022, the Trust announced a Trust
distribution of net profits for the fourth quarterly distribution during 2022. Unitholders of record on October 31, 2022 will receive
a distribution amounting to $6,205,000, or $0.365 per Trust Unit, which will be paid on November 14, 2022. Such distribution is net
of $356,470 withheld by the Trustee towards the building of the cash reserve described in Note 7.
Item 2. Trustee’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations.
The following discussion of the Trust’s
financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto. The Trust’s
purpose is, in general, to hold the net profits interest, to distribute to the Trust unitholders cash that the Trust receives in respect
of the net profits interest and to perform certain administrative functions in respect of the net profits interest and the Trust Units.
The Trust derives substantially all of its income and cash flows from the net profits interest. All information regarding operations has
been provided to the Trustee by VOC Brazos.
Results of Operations
Results of Operations for the Quarters Ended September 30,
2022 and 2021
The following is a summary of income from net
profits interest received by the Trust for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 consisting of the July distribution
for each respective year:
| | |
Three months ended
September 30, | |
| | |
2022 | | |
2021 | |
| Sales volumes: | |
| | | |
| | |
| Oil (Bbl) | |
| 131,018 | | |
| 128,814 | |
| Natural gas (Mcf) | |
| 74,199 | | |
| 78,734 | |
| Total (BOE) | |
| 143,385 | | |
| 141,936 | |
| Average sales prices: | |
| | | |
| | |
| Oil (per Bbl) | |
$ | 104.64 | | |
$ | 59.62 | |
| Natural gas (per Mcf) | |
$ | 6.65 | | |
$ | 3.29 | |
| Gross proceeds: | |
| | | |
| | |
| Oil sales | |
$ | 13,709,782 | | |
$ | 7,679,568 | |
| Natural gas sales | |
| 493,468 | | |
| 258,788 | |
| Total gross proceeds | |
| 14,203,250 | | |
| 7,938,356 | |
| Costs: | |
| | | |
| | |
| Production and development costs: | |
| | | |
| | |
| Lease operating expenses | |
| 3,851,595 | | |
| 3,069,270 | |
| Production and property taxes | |
| 645,568 | | |
| 608,076 | |
| Development expenses | |
| 1,084,572 | | |
| 706,669 | |
| Total costs | |
| 5,581,735 | | |
| 4,384,015 | |
| | |
| | | |
| | |
| Excess of revenues over direct operating expenses and lease equipment and development costs | |
| 8,621,515 | | |
| 3,554,341 | |
| Times net profits interest over the term of the Trust | |
| 80 | % | |
| 80 | % |
| Income from net profits interest before reserve adjustments | |
| 6,897,212 | | |
| 2,843,473 | |
| VOC Brazos reserve for future development, maintenance or operating expenditures | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| Income from net profits interest | |
$ | 6,897,212 | | |
$ | 2,843,473 | |
The cash received by the Trust from VOC Brazos
during the quarter ended September 30, 2022 substantially represents the production by VOC Brazos from March 2022 through May 2022.
The cash received by the Trust from VOC Brazos during the quarter ended September 30, 2021 substantially represents the production
by VOC Brazos from March 2021 through May 2021. The revenues from oil production are typically received by VOC Brazos one month
after production.
Gross
proceeds. Oil and natural gas sales were $14,203,250 for the three months ended September 30, 2022, an increase of
$6,264,894 or 78.9% from $7,938,356 for the three months ended September 30, 2021. Revenues are a function of oil and natural
gas sales volumes and prices received. The increase in gross proceeds was due to an increase in oil sales volumes and increases in
market prices for oil and natural gas sales, partially offset by a decrease in natural gas sales volumes during the third quarter of
2022. During the three months ended September 30, 2022, the average price for oil increased 75.5% to $104.64 per Bbl and the
average price for natural gas increased 102.1% to $6.65 per Mcf. Oil sales volumes were 131,018 Bbls for the three months ended
September 30, 2022, an increase of 2,204 Bbls or 1.7% from 128,814 Bbls for the three months ended September 30,
2021, while natural gas sales volumes were 74,199 Mcf, a decrease of 4,535 Mcf or 5.8% from 78,734 Mcf for the same period in
2021.
Costs.
Lease operating expenses were $3,851,595 for the three months ended September 30, 2022, an increase of $782,325 or 25.5% from $3,069,270
for the three months ended September 30, 2021. Production and property taxes were $645,568 for the three months ended September 30,
2022, an increase of $37,492 or 6.2% from $608,076 for the same period in 2021. Such increase is the result of an increase of $196,853
or 101.9% in production taxes due primarily to higher sales volumes for oil and higher sales prices for oil and natural gas partially
offset by a decrease of $159,361 or 38.4% in property taxes resulting primarily from a timing difference as to when payments are normally
made. Development expenses were $1,084,572 for the three months ended September 30, 2022, an increase of $377,903 or 53.5% from $706,669
for the same period in 2021. Such increase was primarily due to an increase in drilling activity and development expenses, which included
drilling costs associated with two horizontal wells in Texas during the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared to the three
months ended September 30, 2021.
Excess
of revenues over direct operating expenses and lease equipment and development costs. The excess of revenues over direct operating
expenses and lease equipment and development costs from the underlying properties was $8,621,515 for the three months ended September 30,
2022, an increase of $5,067,174 or 142.6 % from $3,554,341 for the three months ended September 30, 2021. The Trust’s 80% net
profits interest of these totals was $6,897,212 and $2,843,473, respectively. During the three months ended September 30, 2022 and
2021, VOC Brazos did not withhold or release any dollar amounts due to the Trust from the previously established cash reserve for future
development, maintenance or operating expenditures, which resulted in income from the net profits interest of $6,897,212 and $2,843,473
for such periods, respectively. These amounts were reduced by a Trust holdback for current estimated expenses of $215,546 and $123,473
for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and a Trust holdback for future estimated expenses of $221,666 for
the three months ended September 30, 2022. The Trustee paid general and administrative expenses of $161,324 for the three months
ended September 30, 2022, a decrease of $13,179 from $174,503 for the three months ended September 30, 2021. This decrease was
primarily due to the differences in timing of receipt and payment of recurring general and administrative expenses. These factors resulted
in distributable income for the three months ended September 30, 2022 of $6,460,000, an increase of $3,740,000 from $2,720,000 for
the three months ended September 30, 2021.
Results of Operations for the Nine Months Ended September 30,
2022 and 2021
The following is a summary of income from net
profits interest received by the Trust for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 consisting of the January, April and
July distributions for each respective year:
| | |
Nine months ended
September 30, | |
| | |
2022 | | |
2021 | |
| Sales volumes: | |
| | | |
| | |
| Oil (Bbl) | |
| 391,719 | | |
| 386,416 | |
| Natural gas (Mcf) | |
| 239,254 | | |
| 263,871 | |
| Total (BOE) | |
| 431,595 | | |
| 430,395 | |
| Average sales prices: | |
| | | |
| | |
| Oil (per Bbl) | |
$ | 85.73 | | |
$ | 47.89 | |
| Natural gas (per Mcf) | |
$ | 6.27 | | |
$ | 2.68 | |
| Gross proceeds: | |
| | | |
| | |
| Oil sales | |
$ | 33,583,941 | | |
$ | 18,505,051 | |
| Natural gas sales | |
| 1,500,934 | | |
| 708,133 | |
| Total gross proceeds | |
| 35,084,875 | | |
| 19,213,184 | |
| Costs: | |
| | | |
| | |
| Production and development costs: | |
| | | |
| | |
| Lease operating expenses | |
| 10,557,018 | | |
| 8,563,799 | |
| Production and property taxes | |
| 1,629,778 | | |
| 1,479,730 | |
| Development expenses | |
| 1,907,355 | | |
| 2,004,473 | |
| Total costs | |
| 14,094,151 | | |
| 12,048,002 | |
| | |
| | | |
| | |
| Excess of revenues over direct operating expenses and lease equipment and development costs | |
| 20,990,724 | | |
| 7,165,182 | |
| Times net profits interest over the term of the Trust | |
| 80 | % | |
| 80 | % |
| Income from net profits interest before reserve adjustments | |
| 16,792,579 | | |
| 5,732,146 | |
| VOC Brazos reserve for future development, maintenance or operating expenditures | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| Income from net profits interest | |
$ | 16,792,579 | | |
$ | 5,732,146 | |
The cash received by the Trust from VOC
Brazos during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 substantially represents the production by VOC Brazos from September 2021
through May 2022. The cash received by the Trust from VOC Brazos during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 substantially
represents the production by VOC Brazos from September 2020 through May 2021. The revenues from oil production are typically
received by VOC Brazos one month after production.
Gross
proceeds. Oil and natural gas sales were $35,084,875 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, an increase of
$15,871,691 or 82.6% from $19,213,184 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. Revenues are a function of oil and natural
gas sales prices and volumes sold. The increase in gross proceeds was due to increases in market prices for oil and natural gas and
an increase in oil sales volumes, partially offset by a decrease in natural gas sales volumes during the nine months ended September 30,
2022. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the average price for oil increased 79.0% to $85.73 per Bbl and the average
price for natural gas increased 134.0% to $6.27 per Mcf. Oil sales volumes were 391,719 Bbls for the nine months ended September 30,
2022, an increase of 5,303 Bbls or 1.4% from 386,416 Bbls for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, while natural gas sales
volumes were 239,254 Mcf, a decrease of 24,617 Mcf or 9.3% from 263,871 Mcf for the same period in 2021.
Costs.
Lease operating expenses were $10,557,018 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, an increase of $1,993,219 or 23.3% from
$8,563,799 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. Production and property taxes were $1,629,778 for the nine months
ended September 30, 2022, an increase of $150,048 or 10.1% from $1,479,730 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.
Such increase is primarily due to an increase of $124,776 or 14.4% in production taxes due primarily to higher sales volumes for oil
and higher sales prices for oil and natural gas along with an increase of $25,272 or 4.1% in property taxes. Development expenses
were $1,907,355 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, a decrease of $97,118 or 4.8% from $2,004,473 for the same period
in 2021. Such decrease was primarily due to decreased development expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2022, compared
to the nine months ended September 30, 2021.
Excess
of revenues over direct operating expenses and lease equipment and development costs. The excess of revenues over direct
operating expenses and lease equipment and development costs from the underlying properties was $20,990,724 for the nine months ended
September 30, 2022, an increase of $13,825,542 or 193.0% from $7,165,182 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The
Trust’s 80% net profits interest of these totals was $16,792,579 and $5,732,146, respectively. During the nine months ended September
30, 2022 and 2021, VOC Brazos did not withhold or release any dollar amounts due to the Trust from the previously established cash reserve
for future development, maintenance or operating expenditures, which resulted in income from the net profits interest of $16,792,579 and
$5,732,146 for such periods, respectively. These amounts were reduced by a Trust holdback for current estimated expenses of $735,079 and
$462,146 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and a Trust holdback for future estimated expenses
of $587,500 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The Trustee paid general and administrative expenses of $772,288 for the
nine months ended September 30, 2022, an increase of $35,940 from $736,348 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. This
increase was primarily due to the differences in timing of receipt and payment of recurring general and administrative expenses. These
factors resulted in distributable income of $15,470,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and $5,270,000 for the nine
months ended September 30, 2021.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Other than Trust administrative expenses, including
any reserves established by the Trustee for future liabilities, the Trust’s only use of cash is for distributions to Trust unitholders.
Administrative expenses include payments to the Trustee as well as a quarterly administrative fee to VOC Brazos pursuant to an administrative
services agreement. Each quarter, the Trustee determines the amount of funds available for distribution. Available funds are the
excess cash, if any, received by the Trust from the net profits interest and other sources (such as interest earned on any amounts reserved
by the Trustee) in that quarter, over the Trust’s expenses paid for that quarter. Available funds are reduced by any cash that
the Trustee decides to reserve for future development, maintenance or operating expenses. As of September 30, 2022, $837,495 was
held by the Trustee as such a reserve.
The Trustee may cause the Trust to borrow funds
required to pay expenses if the Trustee determines that the cash on hand and the cash to be received are insufficient to cover the Trust’s
expenses. If the Trust borrows funds, the Trust unitholders will not receive distributions until the borrowed funds are repaid. During
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, there were no such borrowings. VOC Brazos has provided a letter of credit
in the amount of $1.7 million to the Trustee to protect the Trust against the risk that it does not have sufficient cash to pay future
expenses.
As
previously disclosed, the Trustee intends to build a reserve for the payment of future known, anticipated or contingent expenses or liabilities.
The Trustee intends to withhold a portion of the proceeds otherwise available for distribution each quarter to gradually build
a cash reserve to approximately $1.175 million. This amount is in addition to the $1.7 million letter of credit described above.
The Trustee may increase or decrease the targeted amount at any time and may increase or decrease the rate at which it is withholding
funds to build the cash reserve at any time, without advance notice to the unitholders. Cash held in reserve will be invested as required
by the Trust Agreement. Any cash reserved in excess of the amount necessary to pay or provide for the payment of future known, anticipated
or contingent expenses or liabilities eventually will be distributed to unitholders, together with interest earned on the funds. The Trustee
elected to withhold $587,500 from the proceeds otherwise available for distribution through September 30, 2022 towards the building
of the cash reserve described above.
Income to the Trust from the net profits interest
is based on the calculation and definitions of “gross proceeds” and “net proceeds” contained in the conveyance.
As
substantially all of the underlying properties are located in mature fields, VOC Brazos does not expect future costs for the underlying
properties to change significantly compared to recent historical costs other than changes due to fluctuations in the general cost of oilfield
services. VOC Brazos may establish a cash reserve of up to $1.0 million in the aggregate at any given time from the dollar amount
otherwise distributable to the Trust to reduce the impact on distributions of uneven capital expenditure timing. The cash reserve
balance was $1.0 million at September 30, 2022 and 2021.
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Form 10-Q includes “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 (the “Exchange Act”). All statements other than statements of historical fact included in
this Form 10-Q, including without limitation the statements under “Trustee’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations”, are forward-looking statements. Although VOC Brazos advised the Trust that it believes that the expectations
reflected in the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove
to have been correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations (“Cautionary Statements”)
are disclosed in this Form 10-Q and in the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021
(the “Form 10-K”), including under the section “Item 1A. Risk Factors”. All subsequent written and oral
forward-looking statements attributable to the Trust or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the
Cautionary Statements.
