Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical information contained herein, this discussion contains
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, subject to various risks and uncertainties that
could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the
"forward-looking statements". While we believe our forward-looking statements
are based upon reasonable assumptions, there are factors that are difficult to
predict and that are influenced by economic and other conditions beyond our
control. Investors are directed to consider such risks and other uncertainties
discussed in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Results of Operations
In late 2019 and continuing into 2020, there was a global outbreak of novel
coronavirus (COVID-19) that has resulted in changes in global supply and demand
of certain mineral and energy products. While the direct and indirect negative
impacts that may affect the Company cannot be determined, they could have a
prospective material impact. For more information, see Item 3 below.
For the six months ended June 30, 2020, we had a net income of $71,978, when
compared to the net loss of $3,104,674, during the six months ended June 30,
2019. This difference was primarily the result of a gain of $910,448 on our
Turnkey drilling as we drilled three wells during the six month period in 2020.
We also had an $833,525 gain relating to our equity method investment in RMX
recorded during the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to a loss of
$458,269 recorded during the six months ended June 30, 2019. The gain in RMX
during the current period was primarily due to their hedging activities. In
addition, a loss of $1.2M on sale of assets was recorded during the first
quarter of 2019 and there was no comparative loss in the current year period.
Our net loss for the second quarter of 2020 was $312,384, while in the second
quarter of 2019 the net loss was $467,491, mainly due to a gain on turnkey
drilling in 2020. Total revenues for the first six months of 2020 and 2019 were
$606,955 and $1,395,404, respectively.
During the first six months of 2020, revenues from oil and gas production
decreased $223,395 or 27.6% to $585,999 from the 2019 first six months revenues
of $809,394. This decrease was mainly due to lower oil and natural gas commodity
prices as demand decreased due to federal and state government stay-at-home
orders. The net sales volume of oil and condensate for the six months ended June
30, 2020, was approximately 11,499 barrels with an average price of $34.54 per
barrel, versus 6,629 barrels with an average price of $54.44 per barrel for the
first half of 2019. This represents an increase in net sales volume of 4,869
barrels. The net sales volume of natural gas for the six months ended June 30,
2020, was approximately 83,040 Mcf with an average price of $2.27 per Mcf,
versus 135,887 Mcf with an average price of $3.30 per Mcf for the same period in
2019. This represents a decrease in net sales volume of 52,847 Mcf or 38.9%. The
decrease in natural gas production volume was due to certain wells that were
offline and waiting on workovers and to lower volumes on existing wells due to
natural declines. For the quarter ended June 30, 2020, revenues from oil and gas
production decreased $194,711 or 47.9% to $211,514 from the 2019 second quarter
revenues of $406,225. This decrease was also due to wells that were offline and
waiting on workovers. The net sales volume of oil and condensate for the quarter
ended June 30, 2020, was approximately 6,468 barrels with an average price of
$24.18 per barrel, versus 3,584 barrels with an average price of $59.89 per
barrel for the second quarter of 2019. This represents an increase in net sales
volume of 2,884 barrels or 80.5% for the quarter in 2020. The net sales volume
of natural gas for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, was approximately 30,587 Mcf
with an average price of $1.80 per Mcf, versus 73,420 Mcf with an average price
of $2.61 per Mcf for the second quarter of 2019. This represents a decrease in
net sales volume of 42,833 Mcf or 58.3% for the quarter in 2020.
Oil and natural gas lease operating expenses increased by $58,600 or 8.1%, to
$778,758 for the six months ended June 30, 2020, from $720,158 for the same
period in 2019. For the second quarter in 2020, lease operating expenses
increased $10,757 or 3.0% from the same quarter in 2019. These were both higher
due to the increase in the number of wells operated due mainly to 2019 and 2020
drilling.
The aggregate of supervisory fees and other income was $20,956 for six months
ended June 30, 2020, a decrease of $565,054 from $586,010 during the same period
in 2019. The decrease was mainly due to the cancellation of the service
agreement with RMX Resources as of March 31, 2019. During the second quarter
2020, supervisory fees and other income decreased $4,276 or 26.9% when compared
to the quarter in 2019, due mainly to lower interest income received on cash
deposits.
19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table of Contents
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense increased to $155,625 from
$124,857, an increase of $30,768 or 24.6% for the six months ended June 30,
2020, as compared to the same period in 2019. During the second quarter 2019,
depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses also increased $2,916 or 4.0%.
The depletion rate is calculated using production as a percentage of reserves.
This increase in depreciation expense was due to the increase in production and
wells and related equipment due to drilling activity in 2019 and the first six
months of 2020.
At June 30, 2020, Royale Energy had a Deferred Drilling Obligation of
$2,531,094. During the first six months of 2020, we disposed of $3,901,582 of
drilling obligations upon completing the drilling of three oil wells, one in
California and two wells in Texas, while incurring expenses of $2,991,134,
resulting in a gain of $910,448. At June 30, 2019, Royale Energy had a Deferred
Drilling Obligation of $8,746,276. During the first six months of 2019, we
disposed of $4,420,662 of drilling obligations upon completing two natural gas
wells in Northern California and two oil wells in Southern California, while
incurring expenses of $4,310,263, resulting in a gain of $110,399.
General and administrative expenses decreased by $227,562 or 17.5% from
$1,302,902 for the six months ended June 30, 2019, to $1,075,340 for the same
period in 2020. For the second quarter 2020, general and administrative expenses
decreased $50,462 or 8.3% when compared to the same period in 2019. These
decreases were mainly due to reductions in employee related costs and outside
consulting services, in an effort by the Company to reduce costs. Marketing
expense for the six months ended June 30, 2020, decreased $105,476, or 65.7%, to
$55,064, compared to $160,540 for the same period in 2019. For the second
quarter 2020, marketing expenses decreased $72,739 or 77.9% when compared to the
second quarter in 2019. Marketing expense varies from period to period according
to the number of marketing events attended by personnel and their associated
costs. During the period in 2020 fewer marketing events were attended as the
governmental mandate against large gatherings was implemented.
Legal and accounting expense decreased to $174,660 for the six month period in
2020, compared to $388,804 for the same period in 2019, a $214,144 or 55.1%
decrease. For the second quarter 2020, legal and accounting expenses decreased
$22,907 or 20.6%, when compared to the second quarter in 2019. These decreases
were primarily due to higher accounting fees related to the Matrix post-merger
reporting incurred during the period in 2019.
During the six months ended June 30, 2020, we recorded a gain of $833,525, on
investment in joint venture as our 20% share of RMX Resources, LLC's, compared
to a loss of $458,269 in 2019. During the second quarter in 2020 we recorded a
gain of $200,001 on the receipt of a pre-Matrix merger prepayment refund. During
the first quarter in 2020, we recorded a loss on settlement of $31,500 related
to a 2018 seismic sales agreement. During the six months ended June 30, 2019, we
recorded a gain of $62,972, on the settlement of accounts payable. During the
six-month period in 2019, we recorded geological and geophysical expense of
$262,586 related mainly to the acquisition of a seismic survey of a Northern
California field, during the same period in 2020, we recorded $14,392 in
geological and geophysical expenses.
Bad debt expense for the periods ended June 30, 2020, and 2019 were $186,168 and
$5,863, respectively. During the period in 2020 approximately $106,000 was
related to revenue receivable from an industry partner whose collectability was
in doubt. Approximately $80,000 of the expenses in 2020 arose from identified
uncollectable receivables relating to our oil and natural gas properties either
plugged and abandoned or scheduled for plugging and abandonment and our period
end oil and natural gas reserve values. We periodically review our accounts
receivable from working interest owners to determine whether collection of any
of these charges appears doubtful. By contract, the Company may not collect some
charges from its Direct Working Interest owners for certain wells that ceased
production or had been sold during the year, to the extent that these charges
exceed production revenue.
Interest expense decreased to $7,444 for the six months ended June 30, 2020,
from $12,344 for the same period in 2019, a $4,900 decrease. This decrease was
mainly due to lower principal balances on notes payable during the six month
period in 2020.
Capital Resources and Liquidity
At June 30, 2020, we had current assets totaling $4,085,459 and current
liabilities totaling $8,951,792, a $4,866,333 working capital deficit. We had
$309,835 in cash and $1,281,250 in restricted cash at June 30, 2020, compared to
$1,031,014 in cash and $2,845,515 in restricted cash at December 31, 2019.
In accordance with ASC 480-10-S99 the Company reclassified the Series B
Convertible Preferred Stock from Permanent Equity to Mezzanine capital as a
result of the change in voting rights provided at the time it of issuance. For
more information, see Note 3 - Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.
20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table of Contents
At June 30, 2020, our other receivables, which consist of joint interest billing
receivables from direct working interest investors and industry partners,
totaled $1,215,706, compared to $1,189,892 at December 31, 2019, a $25,814
increase. This increase was mainly due to an increase in receivable from an
industry partner for drilling costs incurred during the period in 2020. At June
30, 2020, revenue receivable was $304,111, an decrease of $285,040, compared to
$589,151 at December 31, 2019, due to lower commodity prices and lower natural
gas production volumes on existing wells. At June 30, 2020, our accounts payable
and accrued expenses totaled $5,273,092, a decrease of $757,942 from the
accounts payable at December 31, 2019 of $6,031,034, which was related to
payments made on account during the period in 2020.
The Company has had recurring operating and net losses and cash used in
operations and the financial statements reflect a working capital deficiency of
$4,866,333 and an accumulated deficit of $73,691,794. These factors raise
substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. We
anticipate that our primary sources of liquidity will be from the sale of oil
and gas in the course of normal operations, the sale of oil and gas property,
sales of participation interest and possible issuance of debt and/or equity. If
the Company is unable to generate sufficient cash from operations or financing
sources, it may become necessary to curtail, suspend or cease operations, sell
property, or enter into financing transaction(s) on less favorable terms; any
such outcomes could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
results of operations, financial position and liquidity. Additionally,
management has, and plans to continue, to increase revenue and reduce overhead
and Lease Operating Expense (LOE) costs.
Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $355,958
and compared to $281,352 used for the six months ended June 30, 2020, and 2019,
respectively. This difference in cash used was mainly due to a loss on the sale
of assets during the first quarter in 2019 and the decrease in prepaid drilling
in 2020 as they were applied to actual costs.
Investing Activities. Net cash used by investing activities totaled $2,788,721
compared to $2,564,895 provided for the six months ended June 30, 2020, and
2019, respectively. During the period in 2020, we received approximately $1.2
million in direct working interest investor turnkey drilling investments while
our drilling expenditures were approximately $3.9 million in the drilling and
completing of one Southern California oil well and two Texas oil wells. During
the 2019 period, we received approximately $7 million in direct working interest
investor turnkey drilling investments while our drilling expenditures were
approximately $4.2 million in the drilling and completing of two Northern
California natural gas wells and two Southern California oil wells.
Financing Activities. Net cash provided by financing activities totaled $147,319
compared to net cash of $94,780 used for the six months ended June 30, 2020, and
2019, respectively. During the period in 2020, we received $207,800 in SBA-PPP
loan as discussed in Note 7. There were principal payments of approximately
$56,000 on our notes payable. During the six month period in 2019, a financing
agreement for a seismic survey was recognized when the terms were finalized, on
which there were principal payments of approximately $53,000. Additionally, in
2019, there were principal payments of approximately $259,000 on our note with
Forza Operating.
© Edgar Online, source Glimpses
ROYALE ENERGY, INC. 
