The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our
audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes that appear
elsewhere in this annual report. The following discussion contains
forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs. Our
actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward
looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences
include those discussed below and elsewhere in this annual report.
Our audited consolidated financial statements are stated in
United States dollars and are prepared in accordance with United States
generally accepted accounting principles.
Total revenue in oil and gas sales decreased by $101,374 to
$351,312 for the year ended September 30, 2016 compared to $452,686 for the year
ended September 30, 2015. The reason for the decrease in sales is because of the
normal decline rate of the producing wells and a lower average price per barrel
in the current year.
General and administrative expenses decreased by $60,425 for
the year ended September 30, 2016 compared to the year ended September 30, 2015
due to decrease of professional fees of $13,621, decrease of $11,261 in
stock-based compensation, decrease of $15,734 in other general and
administrative expenses, and decrease of $19,809 in payroll expense.
Oil and gas production costs increased by $50,583 for the year
ended September 30, 2016 compared to the year ended September 30, 2015 due to an
overall increase in operating costs as well as lower leasing fees and production
taxes.
Accretion expenses increased by $1,460 for the year ended
September 30, 2016 compared to the year ended September 30, 2015 due to the net
present value calculation performed based on the remaining estimated life of the
wells.
Depletion expenses increased by $345,233 for the year ended
September 30, 2016 compared to the year ended September 30, 2015 due to decrease
in the amount of estimated reserves.
The impairment of oil & gas properties decreased by
$656,531 for the year ended September 30, 2016 compared to the year ended
September 30, 2015. This was due to the capitalized costs of the properties
exceeding the future cash flows expected to be recovered from the properties.
During the year ended September 30, 2016, an impairment of other receivables of $901,192 was recognized as there was uncertainty with regards to the collection of the receivables from the Company’s working interest partners. During the year ended September 30, 2015, no impairment of other receivables was recognized.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Working Capital
|
|
September 30, 2016
|
|
|
September 30, 2015
|
|
|
Increase / Decrease
|
|
Current assets
|
$
|
205,120
|
|
$
|
2,910,942
|
|
|
(93%
|
)
|
Current liabilities
|
|
4,046,112
|
|
$
|
3,444,494
|
|
|
17.5%
|
|
Working capital (deficiency)
|
$
|
(3,840,992
|
)
|
$
|
(533,552
|
)
|
|
(619.9%
|
)
|
We had cash and cash equivalents of $74,755 and a working
capital deficit of $3,840,992 as of September 30, 2016 compared to cash and cash
equivalents of $2,365,612 and a working capital deficit of $533,552 as of
September 30, 2015.
We anticipate that we will require approximately $1,000,000 for
operating expenses during the next 12 months as set out below:
Estimated Expenses for the Next 12-month Period
Waterflood Project
|
$
|
300,000
|
|
Employee and Consultant Compensation
|
$
|
400,000
|
|
Professional Fees
|
$
|
100,000
|
|
General and Administrative Expenses
|
$
|
200,000
|
|
Total
|
$
|
1,000,000
|
|
Our companys principal cash requirements are for new infield
well drilling development and current well reactivations.
We anticipate such expenses will rise as we proceed to
determine the feasibility of developing our current or future property
interests.
- 21 -
We estimate that we will require approximately $1,000,000 over
the next 12-month period to fund our plan of operations. Our company plans to
raise the capital required to satisfy our immediate short-term needs and
additional capital required to meet our estimated funding requirements for the
next 12-months primarily through the private placement of our equity securities.
There is no assurance that our company will be able to obtain further funds
required for our continued working capital requirements. The ability of our
company to meet our financial liabilities and commitments is primarily dependent
upon the continued financial support of our directors and shareholders, the
continued issuance of equity to new shareholders, and our ability to achieve and
maintain profitable operations.
There is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a
going concern as the continuation of our business is dependent upon obtaining
further long-term financing, successful exploration of our property interests,
the identification of reserves sufficient enough to warrant development,
successful development of our property interests and, finally, achieving a
profitable level of operations. The issuance of additional equity securities by
us could result in a significant dilution in the equity interests of our current
stockholders. Obtaining commercial loans, assuming those loans would be
available, will increase our liabilities and future cash commitments.
Due to the uncertainty of our ability to meet our current
operating and capital expenses, in their report on our audited consolidated
financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2016, our independent
auditors included an explanatory paragraph regarding substantial doubt about our
ability to continue as a going concern. Our statements contain additional note
disclosures describing the circumstances that lead to this disclosure by our
independent auditors.
Significant changes in balance sheets items
Other receivables related parties
At September 30, 2016, our company has $nil of other assets
receivable from related parties compared to $433,459 at September 30, 2015. The
balance consists of amount receivable from our companys working interest
partners. At September 30, 2016, $nil is receivable from Aton compared to
$96,324 at September 30, 2015. At September 30, 2016, $nil is receivable from
Knightwall compared to $337,135 at September 30, 2015. The decrease in other
receivables from related parties during the year ended September 30, 2016 is a
result of an impairment recognized by our company as there was uncertainty with
regards to the collection of the receivables from the partners.
Project advances
In the spring of 2014, the US Environmental Protection Agency
issued an injection well permit to Provident Energy of Montana, LLC, Arkanovas
100% owned subsidiary, for the purpose of water injection into the MAX 1 well #
2817. The permit allowed our company to commence the re-activation of waterflood
operations on our companys Montana lease acreage, The Two Medicine Cut Bank
Sand Unit. Waterflood operations started in October 2014 and are continuing as
of the date of this report.
During the year ended September 30, 2014, our company received
$1,395,000 of project advances, of which $310,000 was received from Aton and
$1,085,000 was received from Knightwall Invest, Inc. (Knightwall Invest),
related parties to our company. Of the $1,395,000, $582,886 was reallocated to
oil and gas properties to offset against the costs for the other working
interest partners. During the year ended September 30, 2015, our company
received an additional $2,025,000 of project advances, of which $450,000 was
received from Aton and $1,575,000 was received from Knightwall Invest. Of the
$2,025,000, $593,341 was reallocated to oil and gas properties to offset against
the costs for the other working interest partners. During the year ended
September 30, 2016, our company did not receive any additional project advances
from Aton and Knighwall Invest and $159,152 was reallocated to oil and gas
properties to offset against the costs for the other working interest partners.
At September 30, 2016, our company had $2,084,621 (2015 - $2,243,773) of project
advances shown as a current liability on the consolidated balance sheet of which
$463,249 (2015 - $498,616) was received from Aton and $1,621,372 (2015 -
$1,745,157) was received from Knighwall Invest. At September 30, 2016,
$1,335,379 of the total project advances of $3,420,000 was re-allocated to oil
and gas properties to offset against the costs for the other working interest
partners. These funds will be used for costs to be incurred on the waterflood
project and on drilling of Bekkan Well.
- 22 -
Outstanding Promissory Notes
On October 1, 2009, our subsidiary entered into a loan
consolidation agreement to consolidate its outstanding promissory notes. We
requested an additional loan in the amount of $1,168,729 to be consolidated into
one new promissory note in the principal amount of $12,000,000. Pursuant to the
terms and conditions of the agreement, the new loan provided for the
consolidation and cancellation of the former notes and the additional loan
amount. Interest of $818,771 on the former notes was consolidated to the new
principal amount of $12,000,000. The promissory note bears interest at 6% per
annum, was due on September 30, 2011, and is secured by a pledge of all of our
subsidiarys interest in its wholly-owned subsidiary, Provident Energy. Interest
on the promissory note is payable 10 days after maturity in shares of our
companys common stock. The number of shares payable as interest will be
determined by dividing $1,440,000 by the average stock price over the 15
business day period immediately preceding the date on which the promissory note
matures.
As inducement to the note holder to provide the additional loan
of $1,168,729, our subsidiary agreed to cause our company to issue 821,918
shares of common stock to the note holder. In addition, we agreed to issue
$240,000 worth of shares of common stock to the note holder on the first
anniversary of the execution of the Note Purchase Agreement. The new note is
secured by a pledge of all the membership interest of Provident Energy and a
guarantee of indebtedness by our company.
Our subsidiary also agreed to cause our company to issue an
additional 900,000 shares of common stock to the lender following the execution
of the loan consolidation agreement, in accordance with our companys heretofore
unfulfilled obligation under Section 3 of the Note Purchase Agreement relating
to the $9,000,000 note. We issued the 900,000 shares on May 27, 2010.
On October 22, 2010, we issued 2,634,150 shares of common stock
with a fair value of $720,000 to Aton as an interest payment on the promissory
note and on October 26, 2010, we issued an additional 878,049 common shares with
a fair value of $240,000.
On October 21, 2011, our subsidiary entered into a Conversion
and Loan Modification Agreement and a Note Purchase Agreement with Aton which
were effective as of October 1, 2011, and pursuant to which Aton agreed to (i)
convert $6,000,000.00 of the remaining principal balance of the Promissory Note
that our subsidiary issued to Aton on October 1, 2009 (the 2009 Note) into a
ten percent (10%) working interest in the oil and gas leases comprising our
companys Two Medicine Cut Bank Sand Unit in Pondera and Glacier Counties,
Montana, (ii) loan our subsidiary an additional $1,000,000.00 (the Additional
Loan Amount), (iii) consolidate the remaining post-conversion outstanding
principal balance under the 2009 Note and the Additional Loan Amount into one
new promissory note in the principal amount of $7,000,000.00 (the 2011 Note).
The 2011 Note bears interest at the rate of 6% per annum, was
due and payable on September 30, 2012, and, as was the case with the 2009 Note,
is secured by a pledge of all of our subsidiarys interest in its wholly owned
subsidiary, Provident. Interest on the 2011 Note is payable 10 days after
maturity in shares of our common stock. The number of shares of our common stock
payable as interest on the 2011 Note will be determined by dividing $420,000 by
the average stock price for our common stock over the 15 business day period
immediately preceding the date on which the 2011 Note matures. Our subsidiarys
obligations under the 2011 Note are guaranteed by our company pursuant to a
Guaranty Agreement dated as of October 1, 2011.
On October 11, 2011, we issued 3,204,748 shares of common stock
with a fair value of $769,140 to Aton to settle interest payment of $720,000 on
the 2011 Note resulting in a loss of settlement of debt of $49,140. On February
1, 2012, we adjusted the exercise price of the warrant to purchase 250,000
shares of common stock of our company which warrant was issued to John Thomas
Bridge & Opportunity Fund on March 19, 2008 from $0.27 per share to $0.22
per share, which is the deemed price per share of the issuance to Anton Select
Funds Limited.
On August 6, 2012, our wholly owned subsidiary entered into a
Loan Modification Agreement and an Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement
with Aton which were effective as of July 1, 2012, whereby Aton agreed to
increase the amount outstanding under the 2011 Note by $1,000,000.00 (the 2012
Additional Loan Amount) and consolidate the remaining balance under the 2011
Note and the 2012 Additional Loan Amount into one new amended and restated
promissory note in the principal amount of $8,315,000.00 (the 2012 Note).
- 23 -
The 2012 Note bears interest at the rate of 6% per annum, is
due and payable on June 30, 2013, is secured by a pledge of all of our
subsidiarys interest in its wholly owned subsidiary, Provident. Interest on the
2012 Note is payable 10 days after maturity in shares of our common stock. The
number of shares of our common stock payable as interest on the 2012 Note will
be determined by dividing $498,900 by the average stock price for our common
stock over the 15 business day period immediately preceding the date on which
the 2012 Note matures. Our subsidiarys obligations under the 2012 Note are
guaranteed by our company pursuant to a Guaranty Agreement dated as of July 1,
2012. We received the 2012 Additional Loan Amount evidenced by the foregoing
amended and restated loan documents on October 3, 2012.
Effective February 6, 2013, our wholly owned subsidiary,
Arkanova Acquisition Corporation (Acquisition Corp.), further modified its
loan with Aton effective such that Aton increased the amount outstanding under
the 2012 Note by $1,500,000.00 (the 2013 Additional Loan Amount) and
consolidated the remaining balance, including accrued interest from July 1, 2012
to February 6, 2013 equal to approximately $291,025, under the 2012 Note and the
2013 Additional Loan Amount into one new amended and restated promissory note in
the principal amount of $10,106,025.00 (the 2013 Note). The 2013 Note bears
interest at the rate of 6% per annum, was due and is payable on March 31, 2014,
and is secured by a pledge of all of our wholly owned subsidiarys interest in
its wholly owned subsidiary, Provident. Interest on the 2013 Note is payable 10
days after maturity in shares of our common stock. On February 8, 2013, we
received $500,000 of the 2013 Additional Loan Amount. We received the $1,000,000
balance on June 4, 2013, completing delivery of the loan proceeds.
On November 22, 2013, our company and Acquisition Corp, entered
into a note amendment and interest conversion agreement with Aton to be
effective November 15, 2013, whereby: (i) Aton agreed to increase the amount
outstanding under the 2013 Note by $1,705,000.00 such that the outstanding
principal balance under the 2013 Note equals 11,811,025.00; (ii) Aton shall
converted the outstanding accrued interest equal to US$466,815.29 into 4,668,152
shares of our common stock at a deemed price of US$0.10 per share; and (iii)
Aton agreed to extend the maturity date under the 2013 Note from March 31, 2014
to December 31, 2015. The 2013 Note was deemed to be amended in all manners and
respects in order to effect the additional loan amount, the conversion and the
extension and, in all other respects, the 2013 Note will remain unchanged and in
full force and effect.
On November 1, 2014, our company and Acquisition Corp, entered
into a note amendment agreement with Aton to be effective November 1, 2014,
whereby the parties agreed:
|
(a)
|
the maturity date under the amended and restated secured
promissory note issued by Acquisition Corp. to Aton as of February 6,
2013, as amended November 15
th
, 2013 (the Note) shall be
extended from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2016 (the
Extension),
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
the current outstanding accrued interest under the Note
equal to US$677,836.40 shall be added to the principal amount of the Note
(the Added Interest),
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
Aton shall loan to Acquisition Corp. an additional
US$2,475,000.00 (the Additional Loan Amount) such that the outstanding
balance under the Note (including the Added Interest) equals
US$14,963,861.40 (the Amended Principal Amount), and
|
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
the sections of the Note with respect to payment of
interest in shares of our common be deleted such that interest payments in
shares of our common stock is no longer allowed (the Interest Payment
Amendment).
|
The Note will be deemed to be amended in all manners and
respects related to the Additional Loan Amount, the Extension and the Interest
Payment Amendment and, in all other respects, the Note will remain unchanged and
in full force and effect.
On December 31, 2016, our company renewed the note and extended
the maturity date to December 31, 2017.
Our company evaluated the November 1, 2014 modification under
the guidance found in ASC 470-50 and ASC 470-60 and determined that the carrying
value of the 2013 Note did not exceed the total future cash payments of the 2014
Note and that the notes were not substantially different. As a result, it was
concluded that the revised terms constituted a debt modification rather than a
debt extinguishment and no gain or loss was recorded.
- 24 -
On June 25, 2013, our company entered into a loan agreement in
the amount of $79,300 to purchase equipment. The loan bears interest at 3.95%
and is to be repaid in 48 equal monthly installments commencing July 28, 2013.
During the year ended September 30, 2016, our company repaid a principal amount
of $20,407 (2015 $18,860). The balance of the loan is $15,842 at September 30,
2016 (2015 - $36,250).
The following principal payments for notes payable are
required:
2017
|
$
|
15.843
|
|
2018
|
$
|
14.963.861
|
|
Drilling, Remediation and Seismic Costs
We estimate that our exploration and development costs on our
property interests will be $nil during the next 12 months. During the next 12
months, our Waterflood project expenses are expected to be $300,000 .
Employee and Consultant Compensation
Given the early stage of our development and exploration
properties, we intend to continue to outsource our professional and personnel
requirements by retaining consultants on an as needed basis. We estimate that
our consultant and related professional compensation expenses for the next
12-month period will be approximately $400,000.
Professional Fees
We expect to incur on-going legal, accounting and audit
expenses to comply with our reporting responsibilities as a public company under
the United States
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
, in
addition to general legal fees for oil and gas and general corporate matters. We
estimate our legal and accounting expenses for the next 12-months to be
approximately $100,000.
General and Administrative Expenses
We anticipate spending $200,000 on general and administrative
costs in the next 12-month period. These costs primarily consist of expenses
such as lease payments, office supplies, insurance, travel, office expenses,
etc.
Cash Used In Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $1,860,479 during the
year ended September 30, 2016 as compared to $1,321,751 during the year ended
September 30, 2015. The reason for the increase is the increase in payments of
accounts payable and accrued liabilities, offset by accrued management fees.
Cash from Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $372,471 during the
year ended September 30, 2016 as compared to $622,666 of cash provided by
investing activities during the year ended September 30, 2015. During the year
ended September 30, 2016, we did not receive any project advances from our
working interest partner whereas during the year ended September 30, 2015, we
received project advances of $2,025,000.
Cash from Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended
September 30, 2016 was $57,907 compared to $2,417,883 of net cash provided by
financing activities in the year ended September 30, 2015. During the year ended
September 30, 2015, we received proceeds of $2,475,000 from issuance of
promissory notes. We did not issue any promissory note during the year ended
September 30, 2016.
- 25 -
Capital Expenditures
As of September 30, 2016, our company did not have any material
commitments for capital expenditures.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or
are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our companys
financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses,
results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that
is material to stockholders.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and
results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make
estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities,
revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities.
We believe that the estimates, assumptions and judgments
involved in the accounting policies described below have the greatest potential
impact on our financial statements, so we consider these to be our critical
accounting policies. Because of the uncertainty inherent in these matters,
actual results could differ from the estimates we use in applying the critical
accounting policies. Certain of these critical accounting policies affect
working capital account balances, including the policies for revenue
recognition, allowance for doubtful accounts, inventory reserves and income
taxes. These policies require that we make estimates in the preparation of our
financial statements as of a given date.
Within the context of these critical accounting policies, we
are not currently aware of any reasonably likely events or circumstances that
would result in materially different amounts being reported.
Going Concern
Due to the uncertainty of our ability to meet our current
operating and capital expenses, in their report on the annual financial
statements for the year ended September 30, 2016, our independent auditors
included an explanatory paragraph regarding concerns about our ability to
continue as a going concern. Our financial statements contain additional note
disclosures describing the circumstances that lead to this disclosure by our
independent auditors.
There is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a
going concern as the continuation of our business is dependent upon obtaining
further financing. The issuance of additional equity securities by us could
result in a significant dilution in the equity interests of our current
stockholders. Commercial loans, assuming those loans would be available, will
increase our liabilities and future cash commitments.
There are no assurances that we will be able to obtain further
funds required for our continued operations or for our entry into the petroleum
exploration and development industry. We are pursuing various financing
alternatives to meet our immediate and long-term financial requirements. There
can be no assurance that additional financing will be available to us when
needed or, if available, that it can be obtained on commercially reasonable
terms. If we are not able to obtain the additional financing on a timely basis,
we will not be able to meet our other obligations as they become due.
Oil and Gas Properties
We utilize the full-cost method of accounting for petroleum and
natural gas properties. Under this method, we capitalize all costs associated
with the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas
reserves, including leasehold acquisition costs, geological and geophysical
expenditures, lease rentals on undeveloped properties and costs of drilling of
productive and non-productive wells into the full cost pool on a country by
country basis. As of September 30, 2016, we had properties with proven reserves.
When we obtain proven oil and gas reserves, capitalized costs, including
estimated future costs to develop the reserves proved and estimated abandonment
costs, net of salvage, will be depleted on the units-of-production method using
estimates of proved reserves. The costs of unproved properties are not amortized
until it is determined whether or not proved reserves can be assigned to the
properties. We assess the property at least annually to ascertain whether
impairment has occurred. In assessing impairment we consider factors such as
historical experience and other data such as primary lease terms of the
property, average holding periods of unproved property, and geographic and
geologic data. During the year ended September 30, 2016 an impairment of
$242,330 (2015 - $898,861) was recorded.
- 26 -
Asset Retirement Obligations
We account for asset retirement obligations in accordance with
ASC 410-20, Asset Retirement Obligations.
ASC 410-20 requires us to record the fair value of an asset
retirement obligation as a liability in the period in which we incur an
obligation associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets that
result from the acquisition, construction, development and/or normal use of the
assets. Asset retirement obligations consists of estimated final well closure
and associated ground reclamation costs to be incurred by us in the future once
the economic life of our oil and gas wells are reached. The estimated fair value
of the asset retirement obligation is based on the current cost escalated at an
inflation rate and discounted at a credit adjusted risk-free rate. This
liability is capitalized as part of the cost of the related asset and amortized
over its useful life. The liability accretes until we settle the obligation.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Our company has implemented all new accounting pronouncements
that are in effect and that may impact its financial statements and does not
believe that there are any other new accounting pronouncements that have been
issued that might have a material impact on its financial position or results of
operations.