Item 1. Business
ITEM
1. BUSINESS
Overview
We
are an early-stage development oil and gas company seeking to become an independent energy company. Our assets and principal properties
are located in the Gulf States Drill Region, where we target acquisition and subsequent exploitation and development of crude
oil and natural gas, including acquisitions of hydrocarbon revenues and underlying oil and gas exploration and production rights.
We believe that we can establish a profitable niche in crude oil and natural gas production due to the quality of the light sweet
crude oil produced from the Gulf States Drill Region, which is cheaper to refine than crude oil from other regions of the U.S.
and Canada.
The
Company was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia on November 13, 2017, and started its operations on November 17,
2020, upon an acquisition (the “Barrister Acquisition”) of all outstanding capital of Barrister, including all of
Barrister’s crude oil and natural gas exploration and production leases and rights owned or controlled by Barrister. In
consideration for the Barrister Acquisition, the Company issued 3,650,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par
value per share (the “Common Stock”) to the members of Barrister and assumed Barrister’s debt obligations to
Central Operating, LLC (“COP”) in principal amount of $2,700,000, which was discharged on November 16, 2021 pursuant
to a debt exchange agreement between the Company and COP in exchange for the issuance of 1,350,000 shares of the Company’s
Common Stock to COP. Currently we are producing very limited crude oil production from limited production operations as a result
of the Barrister Acquisition. It is insufficient to fund new acquisitions or drilling without additional funding or equity transactions.
On
November 8, 2022, the Company, through Barrister, its wholly-owned subsidiary, acquired from Taxodium Energy, LLC, a Mississippi
limited liability company (“Taxodium”), 100% ownership, right, title and interest in certain properties located in
Mississippi and Alabama, including all oil and gas leases, interests, royalties, overriding royalties, subleases, fee estates,
net profit interest, and carried interests (collectively, “NONOP Assets”) pursuant to the Assignment, Bill of Sale
and Conveyance, dated October 31, 2022, executed by Taxodium. This transaction became effective on October 1, 2022, for accounting
purposes, based on when the Company obtained control of the acquired assets.
On
December 2, 2022, the Company, through Barrister, acquired from Taxodium a 100% ownership, right, title and interests in additional
properties located in Mississippi, including certain wells, facilities, the oil gas and mineral leases, together with all surface
and subsurface and all operating rights, working interest, and net revenue interest arising out of such leases and rights (collectively,
“Buckley Assets”) pursuant to the Assignment, Bill of Sale and Conveyance, dated December 2, 2022, executed by Taxodium
and Barrister.
While
the Company acquired these new properties, including drilling wells, currently, these wells have very limited production, not
sufficient for the Company to become profitable.
On
May 31, 2024, the Company, through Barrister, its wholly-owned subsidiary, completed the acquisition of certain various mineral
and oil and gas properties, lands and leases located in Mississippi and related assets from Liberty Operating Company, LLC (“Liberty”)
pursuant to the Assignment and Bill of Sale, entered into and executed by Barrister and Liberty on May 31, 2024. The Acquisition
has an effective date of May 1, 2024, for accounting purposes.
On
August 29, 2024, the Company, through Barrister, its wholly-owned subsidiary, completed the acquisition of certain various mineral
and oil and gas properties, lands and leases located in Mississippi and related assets from Liberty pursuant to the Assignment
and Bill of Sale, entered into and executed by Barrister and Liberty on August 29, 2024. The Acquisition has an effective date
of July 1, 2024, for accounting purposes.
On July 1, 2025, the Board of Directors
of CoJax Oil and Gas Corporation approved a Reassignment Agreement by which the Company assigned and conveyed 100% of its interest
in the NONOP Assets back to Taxodium Energy, LLC and its affiliates due to diminishing operating margins the Company elected to
dispose of its interests in the NONOP Assets.. On October 22, 2025, pursuant to the Reassignment Agreement, the Company transferred
to Taxodium 100% ownership, right, title and interests in the aforementioned NONOP Assets. As consideration for the reassignment,
Taxodium fully released and canceled all outstanding payables related to the NONOP Assets.
8
Our
Growth Strategy
The
Company is seeking to acquire existing underexploited conventional and unconventional oil and natural gas producing properties
and rights in the Gulf States Drill Region. These properties typically contain upside potential through operational efficiencies,
recompletions to behind pipe zones and infill drilling. Our long-term goal is to create shareholder value by identifying
and assembling a portfolio of low-risk assets with attractive economic profiles. Our ability to implement our business plan is
subject, in part, in our ability to timely raise adequate and affordable funding from investors or lenders for establishing acquisitions.
Our first acquisition was Barrister, followed by the acquisition of NONOP Assets and Buckley Assets in the fourth quarter of 2022.
In 2024, we acquired the non-operated interests of Liberty Operating Company, LLC in three separate fields located within Mississippi.
Our efforts now involve raising sufficient working capital to perform planned well work on existing properties to increase gross
production and cash flow.
The
Company will continue to seek acquisitions that can be obtained in exchange for the Company’s stock or under an earn-out
arrangement. Preference is given to existing producing properties or companies wishing to divest all their assets. Acquisition
of a company that holds oil and lease rights affords the company the advantage of bypassing the long process of acquiring oil
leases and rights and existing drilling operations with in-place management in a single transaction.
Our
teaming approach is also designed to facilitate rapid growth by bringing necessary expertise into operations from available contractors.
Our ability to realize profitability from oil and gas production may also depend upon the success of drill wells, engaging
necessary operations expertise, and market price for crude oil and natural gas remaining at attractive levels. If we have adequate
funding and/or sufficient cash flow, then we may seek to drill for oil in other assignee or leasehold interests or, alternatively,
in oil and gas assignee or leasehold interests or properties owned by our potential affiliates or teaming partners. The Company
currently allows the purchasers to market its crude oil and natural gas production, whether current or future, on a month-to-month
basis.
If
the production of oil increases from the properties in which the Company obtains its oil rights, the Company will have to expand
the marketing efforts by engaging a person or firm to seek out new customers for the oil production in case the current customer
base is unable or unwilling to purchase increased oil production. The cost means and extent of any enhanced future marketing effort
will depend on the amount of increased oil production, the then-current market for oil, and the potential customer base for the
oil production. If the existing customer base will not purchase increased oil production, then the engagement of a dedicated marketing
person who engages in direct marketing, by telephone and internet, of potential customers for oil production may be required for
the sale of any future increase of oil production.
9
Competitive
Strengths
Use
of Contractors
Our
strategy is to develop our assets in a manner that generates sustainable cash flow and improves margins and operating efficiencies
while improving our environmental, social and governance and safety performance. The Company relies on the extensive experience
of William R. Downs, our Chief Executive Officer, who has more than 42 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. In addition,
the Company utilizes experienced contractors, including former members of Barrister, who have significant oil and gas production
experience in the Gulf States Drill Region. This approach is particularly valuable during the initial phases of implementing our
business plan. We believe this contractor model is the most efficient and cost-effective way to operate as a small independent
oil and gas producer, enabling us to leverage expert drilling and production personnel without incurring the high overhead of
full-time employees. Currently, we engage COP and Taxodium as our contractors to manage drilling storage and production operations
for our oil rights. These contractors bring extensive experience with operational and administrative expertise and
provide the skilled personnel necessary to handle daily crude oil production. With adequate funding, we plan to expand
this teaming model to attract and retain experienced oil industry engineers and production specialists. Their role will be to
identify acquisitions and drill sites and operate wells efficiently to achieve industry-leading production rates.
Seasonality
Our
drill sites in the Gulf States Drill Region allow for year-round drilling. However, adverse weather conditions can affect drilling,
completion, and field operations, as well as third-party midstream and downstream pipeline operations, thereby influencing overall
production volumes. which can impact overall production volumes. Variations in seasonal weather patterns can either lessen or
intensify these impacts, and extreme weather events may temporarily constrain our operations.
Title
to Oil and Natural Gas Properties
In
the oil and gas industry, it is customary to conduct only a preliminary review of title to undeveloped oil and natural gas leases
at acquisition. More extensive title examinations are typically performed when we prepare to develop the leases or acquire producing
properties. In future acquisitions, we will conduct title examinations on material portions of such properties in a manner generally
consistent with industry practice. The properties we have acquired may be subject to certain imperfections in title, encumbrances,
easements, servitudes or other restrictions, none of which, in management’s opinion, will materially restrict our operations.
Competition
The
Company competes with many companies of all sizes in the Gulf States Drill Region and adjacent areas. Many of these competitors
have extensive operational histories, seasoned management, established market share, and profitable operations. They also possess
significant oil and gas fields or leases to exploit and the funding to explore new fields or acquire mature ones. There is also
an established oil and gas production industry in northern Alaska and in North Dakota and western Canada. Many of our competitors
not only explore for and produce oil and natural gas, but also have midstream and further downstream operations and market a variety
of hydrocarbon products on a regional, national or worldwide basis. In addition, oil and natural gas compete with other forms
of energy available to customers, primarily based on price. Oil and natural gas compete with alternative energy sources—such
as wind, solar, coal, and fuel oils—primarily on price. Changes in energy availability, pricing, market conditions, and
regulatory factors may affect demand.
The
Company has a limited operating history of its business operation and lacks the financial, technical, and manpower resources,
proven crude oil reserves, and distribution channels of its competitors. The Company’s current production levels are
modest enough that they do not attract significant attention from competitors, which allows it to operate as a small producer
of oil and gas without competitive pressures. If oil production increase significantly, we may face stiffer competition
from other small independent oil producers. Any increase in competitive pressure would likely necessitate a dedicated, full-time
marketing effort.
Company
Oil Rights
Description
of Oil Properties and Oil Production Operations . The Company’s current oil and gas assets primarily consist
of non-operating interests. Nevertheless, production from these assets has significantly enhanced our operational capability.
As
shown in the tables below, production has improved over the three-year period presented. However, the Company will not be able
to increase production until sufficient financial resources are secured through debt and equity financing.
The
Smackover Trend . The Smackover trend is a belt of Late Jurassic carbonate, evaporite, and clastic rocks that
rims the Gulf Coast of the United States. It spans from Texas to Arkansas and extends through Louisiana, Mississippi, Southwest
Alabama, and the Florida panhandle. Stratigraphic and geochemical data indicate that the oil and gas were generated from
algae-rich lime mudstones. The trend was named after the Smackover oil field, which was discovered in Union County, Arkansas,
in 1937.
10
Current
Barrister Energy Properties . During the year ended December 31, 2024, we acquired interest in 24 wells. During
the year ended December 31, 2025, we disposed of our interest in 28 wells. As of the date of this Annual Report, we have interests
in 27 wells.
The
table below summarizes production, average production prices, and average production costs by final product sold for the last
three years. All production during the three years presented occurred in the United States.
For
the Year Ended December 31,
2025
2024
2023
Net Production:
Oil
(Bbl)
14,636
14,220
12,664
Natural
Gas (Mcf)
—
225
4,940
Total (BOE)
14,636
14,257
13,488
Average Production
Prices:
Oil (Bbl)
$
67.75
$
71.38
$
79.61
Natural Gas (Mcf)
$
—
$
4.54
2.88
Average Production
Costs
Production Costs
(per BOE)
$
28.56
$
25.05
$
18.43
Average
production prices have been calculated by using sales quantities from Barrister’s production as the divisor. Average production
costs have been computed by using net production quantities for the divisor. The volumes of crude oil and natural gas liquids
(“NGL”) production used for this computation are shown in the oil and gas production table. The volumes of natural
gas used in the calculation are the production volumes of natural gas available for sale and are also shown. Gas is converted
to an oil-equivalent basis at six million cubic feet per one thousand barrels .
11
Oil
and Gas Properties, Wells, Operations, and Acreage
Gross
and Net Productive Wells
Year-End 2025
Year-End 2024
Year-End 2023
Oil
Gas
Oil
Gas
Oil
Gas
Gross
Net
Gross
Net
Gross
Net
Gross
Net
Gross
Net
Gross
Net
Gross and Net Productive Wells
Consolidated Subsidiaries
United States
27
26.8
—
—
55
28
—
—
30
6
—
—
Total Consolidated Subsidiaries
—
—
—
—
55
28
—
—
30
6
—
—
Total gross and net productive wells
27
26.8
—
—
55
28
—
—
30
6
—
—
Gross
and Net Developed Acreage
Year-End 2025
Year-End 2024
Year-End 2023
Gross
Net
Gross
Net
Gross
Net
(acres)
Gross and Net Developed Acreage
Consolidated Subsidiaries
United States
3,164
2,935
8,004
3,437
5,208
782
Total Consolidated Subsidiaries
3,164
2,935
8,004
3,437
5,208
782
Total gross and net developed acreage
3,164
2,935
8,004
3,437
5,208
782
Separate
acreage data for oil and gas are not maintained because, in many instances, both are produced from the same acreage.
Gross
and Net Undeveloped Acreage
Year-End Need
Year-End 2024
Year-End 2023
Gross
Net
Gross
Net
Gross
Net
(acres)
Gross and Net Undeveloped Acreage
Consolidated Subsidiaries
United States
644
586
3,244
612
2,600
26
Total Consolidated Subsidiaries
644
586
3,244
612
2,600
26
Total gross and net undeveloped acreage
644
586
3,244
612
2,600
26
Separate
acreage data for oil and gas are not maintained because, in many instances, both are produced from the same acreage.
Our
investment in developed and undeveloped acreage comprises numerous leases. The List of Leases is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this
Annual Report. The terms and conditions under which the Company maintains exploration and production rights to the acreage are
property-specific, contractually defined, and vary significantly by property. Work programs are designed to ensure that the exploration
potential of any property is thoroughly evaluated before expiration. In some instances, we may elect to relinquish acreage in
advance of the contractual expiration date if the evaluation process is complete and there is not a business justification for
an extension. In cases where additional time may be required to evaluate acreage fully, the Company has generally been successful
in obtaining extensions. The scheduled expiration of leases and concessions for undeveloped acreage over the next three years
is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
12
Government
Regulation
Companies with oil and natural gas operations
such as the Company are subject to various types of legislation, regulation, and other legal requirements enacted by governmental
authorities. This legislation and regulation affecting the oil and natural gas industry are under constant review for amendment
or expansion. Some of these requirements carry substantial penalties for failure to comply. The regulatory burden on the oil and
natural gas industry increases our cost of doing business and, consequently, can affect our profitability. Because these laws,
rules and regulations are frequently amended or reinterpreted and new laws, rules and regulations are promulgated, we are unable
to predict the future cost or impact of complying with the laws, rules and regulations to which we are, or will be required to
comply.
Regulation
of Drilling and Production
The
production of oil and natural gas is subject to regulation under a wide range of local, state, and federal statutes, rules, orders,
and regulations. Federal, state, and local statutes and regulations require permits for drilling operations, drilling bonds, and
reports concerning operations. The trend in oil and natural gas regulation has been to increase regulatory restrictions and limitations
on such activities. Any changes in, or more stringent enforcement of, these laws and regulations may result in delays or restrictions
in permitting or development of projects or more stringent or costly construction, drilling, water management or completion activities
or waste handling, storage, transport, remediation, or disposal emission or discharge requirements which could have a material
adverse effect on the Company. In January 2021, the Biden administration issued: (1) an order signed by the acting Secretary of
the Interior providing for a 60-day pause (ii) an executive order signed by President Biden instruction the Department of the
Interior to pause new oil and natural gas leases on public lands pending completion of a comprehensive review and consideration
of federal oil and natural gas permitting and leasing practices (together, the “Biden Administration Federal Lease Orders”).
The U.S. District Court for the District of Louisiana enjoined the pause within 13 states, including Texas, in August 2022. The
Department of the Interior has recently resumed lease sales in several states.
On
January 20, 2025, President Trump signed several energy-related executive orders intended to boost U.S. oil and gas production
and exports by declaring a national energy emergency, removing regulatory barriers, including the Biden Administration’s
restrictions on oil and gas production in Alaska, and expediting permitting approval for oil and gas projects. It also opened
areas for oil and gas development including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. These executive orders give the executive branch more
power to expedite approval for building infrastructure for “energy resources” defined as “crude oil, natural
gas, lease condensates, natural gas liquids, refined petroleum products, uranium, coal, biofuels, geothermal heat, the kinetic
movement of flowing water, and critical minerals.” It includes two provisions directly relevant to the oil and gas market.
It mandates all agencies to conduct immediate review of all existing regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies and other
actions that “burden the development of domestic energy resources,” with a focus on oil, natural gas, coal, hydropower,
biofuels, critical mineral, and nuclear energy resources and ends the Biden Administration’s pause on approval of liquified
natural gas exports and requests the Secretary of Energy to restart reviews of applications for approvals of liquified natural
gas export projects as expeditiously as possible.
Currently,
all our properties and operations are in Alabama and Mississippi, which have regulations governing conservation matters, such
as the unitization or pooling of oil and natural gas properties, the establishment of maximum allowable rates of production from
oil and natural gas wells, the regulation of well spacing, and plugging and abandonment of wells. The effect of these regulations
is to limit the amount of oil and natural gas that we can produce from our wells and to limit the number of wells or the locations
at which we can drill, although we can apply for exceptions to such regulations or to have reductions in well spacing. Moreover,
Alabama and Mississippi impose a production or severance tax with respect to the production and sale of oil, natural gas, and
natural gas liquids within their jurisdictions. Failure to comply with these rules and regulations can result in substantial
penalties. Our competitors in the oil and natural gas industry are subject to the same regulatory requirements and restrictions
that affect our operations.
13
Regulation
of Transportation of Oil
Sales
of crude oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids are not currently regulated and are made at negotiated prices; however, Congress
could reenact price controls in the future.
Our
sales of crude oil are affected by the availability, terms, and cost of transportation. The transportation of oil in common carrier
pipelines is also subject to rate regulation. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or the FERC, regulates interstate oil
pipeline transportation rates under the Interstate Commerce Act. Intrastate oil pipeline transportation rates are subject to regulation
by state regulatory commissions. The basis for intrastate oil pipeline regulation, and the degree of regulatory oversight and
scrutiny given to intrastate oil pipeline rates, varies from state to state. Insofar as effective interstate and intrastate rates
are equally applicable to all comparable shippers, we believe that the regulation of oil transportation rates will not affect
our operations in any way that is of material difference from those of our competitors. Further, interstate and intrastate common
carrier oil pipelines must provide service on a non-discriminatory basis. Under this open access standard, common carriers must
offer service to all shippers requesting service on the same terms and under the same rates. When oil pipelines operate at full
capacity, access is governed by pro-rationing provisions set forth in the pipelines’ published tariffs. Accordingly, we
believe that access to oil pipeline transportation services generally will be available to us to the same extent as to our competitors.
Regulation
of Transportation and Sale of Natural Gas
Historically,
the transportation and sale for resale of natural gas in interstate commerce have been regulated pursuant to the Natural Gas Act
of 1938, the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978, and regulations issued under those Acts by the FERC. In the past, the federal government
has regulated the prices at which natural gas could be sold. While sales by producers of natural gas can currently be made at
uncontrolled market prices, Congress could reenact price controls in the future.
Since
1985, the FERC has endeavored to make natural gas transportation more accessible to natural gas buyers and sellers on an open
and non-discriminatory basis. The FERC has stated that open access policies are necessary to improve the competitive structure
of the interstate natural gas pipeline industry and to create a regulatory framework that will put natural gas sellers into more
direct contractual relations with natural gas buyers by, among other things, unbundling the sale of natural gas from the sale
of transportation and storage services. Although the FERC’s orders do not directly regulate natural gas producers, they
are intended to foster increased competition within all phases of the natural gas industry. We cannot accurately predict whether
the FERC’s actions will achieve the goal of increasing competition in markets in which our natural gas is sold. Therefore,
we cannot provide any assurance that the less stringent regulatory approach established by the FERC will continue. However, we
do not believe that any action taken will affect us in a way that materially differs from the way it affects other natural gas
producers.
Intrastate
natural gas transportation is subject to regulation by state regulatory agencies. The basis for intrastate regulation of natural
gas transportation and the degree of regulatory oversight and scrutiny given to intrastate natural gas pipeline rates and services
varies from state to state. Insofar as such regulation within a particular state will generally affect all intrastate natural
gas shippers within the state on a comparable basis, we believe that the regulation of similarly situated intrastate natural gas
transportation in any states in which we operate and ship natural gas on an intrastate basis will not affect our operations in
any way that is of material difference from those of our competitors.
Environmental,
Health and Safety Regulations
The
exploration, development, production, gathering and processing of oil and natural gas are subject to various federal, state and
local environmental laws and regulations. These laws and regulations can increase the costs of planning, designing, drilling,
completing and operating oil and natural gas wells, midstream facilities and produced water injection and disposal wells. Our
activities are subject to a variety of environmental laws and regulations, including, but not limited to: the Oil Pollution Act
of 1990, the Clean Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act, the Clean Air Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act, as well as comparable state statutes and regulations.
We also may be subject to regulations governing the handling, transportation, storage and disposal of wastes generated by our
activities and naturally occurring radioactive materials (“NORM”) that may result from our oil and natural gas operations.
Administrative, civil and criminal fines and penalties may be imposed for noncompliance with these environmental laws and regulations,
and violations and liability with respect to these laws and regulations could also result in remedial clean-ups, natural resource
damages, permit modifications or revocations, operational interruptions or shutdowns and other liabilities. Additionally, these
laws and regulations require the acquisition of permits or other governmental authorizations before undertaking some activities,
may limit or prohibit other activities because of protected wetlands, areas or species and require investigation and cleanup of
pollution. These laws, rules and regulations may also restrict the production rate of oil and natural gas or limit the injection
of produced water into disposal wells below the rates that would otherwise be possible.
We
believe that we are in substantial compliance with current applicable environmental laws and regulations and that continued compliance
with existing requirements may have a material adverse impact on the Company. Environmental laws and regulations have been subject
to frequent changes over the years, and the imposition of more stringent requirements or new regulatory schemes such as carbon
"cap and trade" or pricing programs could have a material adverse effect upon our capital expenditures, earnings or
competitive position, including the suspension or cessation of operations in affected areas. The Biden administration has made,
and the Trump administration may also make additional changes to applicable regulations. There are costs associated with responding
to changing regulations and policies, whether such regulations are more or less stringent. Changing laws or regulations may increase
the Company’s risk of noncompliance and result in the generation of fines or penalties. As such, there can be no assurance
that material costs and liabilities will not be incurred in the future.
14
Oil
Pollution Act of 1990 (the “OPA 90”) and its regulations impose requirements on “responsible parties”
related to the prevention of crude oil spills and liability for damages resulting from oil spills into or upon navigable waters,
adjoining shorelines or on the exclusive economic zone of the United States. A “responsible party” under the OPA 90
may include the owner or operator of an onshore facility. The OPA 90 subjects responsible parties to strict, joint and several
financial liability for removal and remediation costs and other damages, including natural resource damages, caused by an oil
spill that is covered by the statue. Failure to comply with the OPA 90 may subject a responsible party to civil or criminal enforcement
action.
The
Clean Water Act (the “CWA”) and comparable state laws impose restrictions and strict controls regarding the discharge
of produced waters, fill materials and other materials into navigable waters. These controls have become more stringent over the
years, and it is possible that additional restrictions will be imposed in the future. Permits are required to discharge pollutants
into certain state and federal waters and to conduct construction activities in those waters and wetlands. The CWA and comparable
state statutes provide for civil, criminal and administrative penalties for any unauthorized discharges of oil and other pollutants
and impose liability for the costs of removal or remediation of contamination resulting from such discharges. In September 2015,
a rule issued by the EPA and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (the “Corps”) to revise the definition of “waters of
the United States” (“WOTUS”) for all CWA programs, thereby defining the scope of the EPA’s and the Corp’s
jurisdiction, became effective. The EPA rescinded this rule in 2019 and promulgated the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (the
“NWPR”) in 2020. The NWPR was viewed as narrowing the scope of WOTUS as compared to the 2015 rule. In August 2021,
the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona vacated and remanded the NWPR. On January 18, 2023, the EPA and the Corps
jointly issued a final rule revising the definition of WOTUS that largely returned to the pre-2015 regulatory regime. On September
8, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision limiting the scope of federal jurisdiction over wetlands only to those that
have a continuous surface connection to water bodies. On August 29, 2023, the EPA and the Corps jointly issued a final rule, effective
immediately, aligning the regulatory definition of WOTUS with the Supreme Court’s ruling. The new rule has been challenged
by several states and industry groups. On November 17, 2025, the EPA and the USACE announced a proposed rule to further revise
the definition of WOTUS. Certain state regulations and the general permits issued under the Federal National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System program prohibit the discharge of produced waters and sand, drilling fluids, drill cuttings and certain other
substances related to the natural gas and oil industry into certain coastal and offshore waters, unless otherwise authorized.
Further, the EPA has adopted regulations requiring certain natural gas and oil exploration and production facilities to obtain
permits for storm water discharges. Costs may be associated with the treatment of wastewater or developing and implementing storm
water pollution prevention plans. The proposed rule may limit the scope of waters regulated under the CWA. The public comment
period for the rule closed on January 5, 2026. As a result, substantial uncertainty exists with respect to future implementation
of the September 2023 rule and the scope of CWA jurisdiction more generally. To the extent the rule or any future rule or court
decision expands the scope of the CWA’s jurisdiction, the Company could face increased permitting costs and project delays.
The
CWA and comparable state statutes provide for civil, criminal and administrative penalties for unauthorized discharges for oil
and other pollutants and impose liability on parties responsible for those discharges for the cost of cleaning up any environmental
damage caused by the release and for natural resource damages resulting from the release. We believe that our operations comply
in all material respects with the requirements of the CWA and state statutes enacted to control water pollution and that the requirements,
including those under the 2023 WOTUS rule and 2025 WOTUS rule, are not any more burdensome to us than to other similarly situated
companies involved in natural gas and oil exploration and production activities.
Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), also known as the “Superfund” law,
imposes liability, without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct, on various classes of persons that are considered
to have contributed to the release of a “hazardous substance” in the environment. These persons include the owner
or operator of the site where the release occurred and companies that disposed of, or arranged for the disposal of, the hazardous
substances found at the site. Persons who are responsible for releases of hazardous substances under CERCLA may be subject to
joint and several liability for the costs of cleaning up the hazardous substances and for damages to natural resources. In addition,
it is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly
caused by hazardous substances released into the environment. Although CERCLA generally exempts petroleum from the definition
of hazardous substances, our operations may in the future, involve the use or handling of materials that are classified as hazardous
substances under CERCLA. Each state also has environmental cleanup laws analogous to CERCLA. RCRA and comparable state and local
statues govern the management, including treatment, storage and disposal, of both hazardous and nonhazardous solid wastes. Hazardous
wastes are subject to more stringent and costly disposal requirements than nonhazardous wastes.
Our
operations are also subject to the Clean Air Act ("CAA"), and comparable state and local requirements. The CAA, as amended,
restricts the emission of air pollutants from many sources, including oil and natural gas production. Amendments to the CAA were
adopted in 1990 and contain provisions that may result in the gradual imposition of certain pollution control requirements with
respect to air emissions from our operations. EPA issued its final rule on December 2, 2023 that has a number of provisions intended
to reduce methane emissions from natural gas and oil operations. On March 12, 2025, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that
the EPA was reconsidering the prior rule, and, on July 28, 2025 and December 3, 2025, the EPA issued an interim final rule and
final rule, respectively, extending the deadlines for certain provisions on the rule. We believe our operations will not be materially
adversely affected by the new requirements, and the requirements will not be any more burdensome to us than to other similarly
situated companies involved in natural gas and oil exploration and production activities.
In
addition, certain states have comparable legislation, which may be more restrictive than the CAA. These laws and any implementing
regulations impose stringent air permit requirements and require us to obtain pre-approval for the construction or modification
of certain projects or facilities expected to produce air emissions, or to use specific equipment or technologies to control emissions.
Federal and state regulatory agencies can impose administrative, civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance with air permits
or other requirements of the CAA and associated state laws and regulations.
On
August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IRA”) was signed into law. In addition, in August 2022,
the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 was signed into law. Among other things, it created the Methane Emissions Reduction Program
to incentivize methane emission reductions and impose a fee on greenhouse gas emissions from certain facilities that exceed specified
emissions levels which imposes a first-time federal fee on methane emissions for the oil and gas sector, the Waste Emissions Charge
("WEC"). In May 2024, the EPA finalized amendments to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program for petroleum and natural
gas facilities. Among other things, the rule expands the emissions events that are subject to reporting requirements to include
“other large release events.” The emissions reported under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program will be the basis
for any payments under the Methane Emissions Reduction Program. However, petitions for reconsideration to the EPA are pending
and litigation in the D.C. Circuit challenging the revisions has commenced. In November 2024, the EPA finalized a regulation to
implement the Inflation Reduction Act’s Waste Emissions Charge. The final rule included an increasing fee schedule beginning
in 2024. In January 2025, President Trump issued an executive order directing the heads of all federal agencies to identify and
begin the processes to suspend, revise, or rescind all agency actions that are unduly burdensome on the identification, development,
or use of domestic energy resources. On March 14, 2025, President Trump signed a Joint Resolution of Disapproval under the Congressional
Review Act overturning the EPA's WEC rule. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025 postpones
the implementation of the WEC to 2034. We believe our operations will not be materially adversely affected by the IRA, and the
requirements will not be any more burdensome to us than to other similarly situated companies involved in natural gas and oil
exploration and production activities. While these actions eliminate near-term compliance obligations, future regulatory developments
remain uncertain and could still impose operational, compliance, or financial impacts on the Company.
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Internationally,
in 2015, the United States participated in the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, which led to the creation of the Paris
Agreement. The Paris Agreement, which was signed by the United States in April 2016, requires countries to review and “represent
a progression” in their intended nationally determined contributions (“NDC”), which set greenhouse gas emission
reduction goals, every five years beginning in 2020. The United States exited the Paris Agreement in November 2020; rejoined the
agreement effective February 19, 2021. In April 2021, the United States made its NDC submittal, setting an emissions reduction
goal of a 50 to 52% reduction from 2005 levels in economy-wide net greenhouse gas pollution in 2030. Further, in November 2021,
the United States and other countries entered into the Glasgow Climate Pact, which includes a range of measures designed to address
climate change, including but not limited to the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies, reducing methane emissions 30% by 2030 and
cooperating toward the advancement of the development of alternative sources of energy.
Any
changes that result in more stringent and costly waste handling, storage, transport, disposal, cleanup or operating requirements
could materially adversely affect our operations and financial condition, as well as those of the oil and natural gas industry
in general.
In
2021, the Biden administration issued an Executive Order pausing new natural gas and oil leasing and drilling permits for U.S.
public lands and offshore waters until the Secretary of the Interior conducts a comprehensive review and reconsideration of Federal
natural gas and oil permitting and leasing practices. In 2022, the Biden administration reopened federal lands for natural gas
and oil leasing under a reformed program that significantly reduces the acreage available for lease and, in 2025, President Trump
revoked the 2021 Executive Order. We believe our operations will not be materially adversely affected by these changes and expect
that the impacts to our operations will be similar to other similarly situated companies involved in natural gas and oil exploration
and production activities.
For
instance, in January 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order which directed a government-wide effort to address climate change
by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving net-zero global carbon emissions by 2050 or before, designed to infuse climate
policy in all aspects of federal decision-making, including specific directives that touch on foreign policy, national security,
financial regulation, federal procurement, infrastructure, and environmental justice among other things. Based on this Executive
Order and other findings, the EPA has begun adopting and implementing a comprehensive suite of regulations to restrict emissions
of greenhouse gases under existing provisions of the CAA. On December 2, 2023, the EPA issued a prepublication version of a final
rule to regulate emissions from oil and natural gas sources that includes NSPS to limit greenhouse gas and volatile organic compound
emissions for new, modified or reconstructed sources, as well as emissions guidelines for states to follow when establishing plans
to limit methane emissions from existing sources. Additionally, on November 17, 2023, the EPA issued a final rule that enables
states to implement more stringent methane emissions standards than the federal guidelines require. President Trump issued an
executive order directing the notice to the United Nations of the United States’ immediate withdrawal from the Paris Agreement
and all other agreements made under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The withdrawal became effective
in January 2026. At the same time, various state and local governments have publicly committed to furthering the goals of the
Paris Agreement and many of these initiatives are expected to continue. The full impact of these actions remains unclear. Please
see Item 1A—Risk Factors in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion of risks related to
climate change and the regulation of methane emissions.
As
another example, in January 2023, the EPA announced a proposed consent decree that, if finalized as proposed, would establish
a December 10, 2024 deadline for the EPA to review and propose revisions to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants (“NESHAP”) for oil and natural gas production facilities and natural gas transmission and storage facilities,
which may require us to make additional changes to our operations.
It
is difficult to predict the timing and certainty of any future government action and the effect on our operations. Future legislation
or regulations adopted to address climate change could also make our products more or less desirable than competing sources of
energy. However, we expect that the impacts to our operations will not be materially different from other similarly situated companies
involved in natural gas and oil exploration and production activities.
Legislative
and regulatory initiatives related to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions could, and likely would, require us to incur
increased operating costs adversely affecting our profits and could adversely affect demand for the oil and natural gas we produce,
depressing the prices we receive for oil and natural gas.
In
the course of our routine oil and natural gas operations, surface spills and leaks, including casing leaks, of oil, produced water
or other materials may occur, and we may incur costs for waste handling and environmental compliance. It is also possible that
our oil and natural gas operations may require us to manage NORM. NORM is present in varying concentrations in sub-surface formations,
including hydrocarbon reservoirs, and may become concentrated in scale, film and sludge in equipment that comes in contact with
crude oil and natural gas production and processing streams. Some states, including Texas and Louisiana, have enacted regulations
governing the handling, treatment, storage and disposal of NORM.
We
are subject to the requirements of OSHA and comparable state statutes. The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, the “community
right-to-know” regulations under Title III of the federal Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act and similar state
statutes require us to organize information about hazardous materials used, released or produced in our operations. Certain of
this information must be provided to employees, state and local governmental authorities and local citizens. We are also subject
to the requirements and reporting set forth in OSHA workplace standards.
We
have not in the past been, and do not anticipate in the near future to be, required to expend amounts that are material in relation
to our total capital expenditures as a result of environmental laws and regulations, but since these laws and regulations are
periodically amended, we are unable to predict the ultimate cost of compliance. We have no assurance that more stringent laws
and regulations protecting the environment will not be adopted or that we will not otherwise incur material expenses in connection
with environmental laws and regulations in the future. We may be unable to pass on such increased compliance costs to our customers.
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Principal
Executive Offices
Our
principal executive office is located at 4830 Line Avenue, Suite 152, Shreveport, Louisiana, 71106, and our telephone number is
(703) 479-8538. We rent our principal executive offices under a month-to-month lease for a monthly rental of $26. The Company
website is www.cojaxoilandgas.com.
Employees
We
currently have two full-time employees: William R. Downs, our Chief Executive Officer, and Jeffrey J. Guzy, our Chief Financial
Officer. The officers devote the number of hours necessary to perform their duties, and each officer, in his sole discretion,
determines the extent of the time commitment.
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