UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
_________________
FORM
10-Q
_________________
(Mark One)
☑
QUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the quarterly period ended: September 30, 2021
or
☐
TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the transition period from: ____________to ____________
_____________________
EMPIRE
PETROLEUM CORPORATION
(Exact name
of registrant as specified in its charter)
_____________________
delaware
001-16653
73-1238709
(State
or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation
or Organization)
( Commission
File
Number)
(I.R.S.
Employer
Identification
No.)
2200
South Utica Place , Suite 150 Tulsa , OK 74114
(Address
of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)
(539)
444-8002
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
(Former
name or former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
_________________
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title
of each class
Trading
Symbol(s)
Name
of each exchange on which registered
None
EMPR
None
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter
period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No £
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically
and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of
Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to submit and post such files). Yes þ No £
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer,
an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large
accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company”
in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐
Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☒
Smaller reporting company ☒
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant
has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided
pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
- 1 -
APPLICABLE
ONLY TO REGISTRANTS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY
PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court. Yes ☐ No ☐
APPLICABLE
ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS
The number of shares of the registrant's common stock, $0.001 par value,
outstanding as of September 30, 2021 was 74,323,764 .
- 2 -
EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION
INDEX TO FORM 10-Q
PART I.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Page No.
Item 1.
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 (Unaudited)
4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations – For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (Unaudited)
5
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) – For the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (Unaudited)
6-7
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – For the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (Unaudited)
8
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
9-20
Item 2.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
21-23
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
23
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
23
PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
24
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
24
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
24
Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
24
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
24
Item 5.
Other Information
24
Item 6.
Exhibits
24
Signatures
25
- 3 -
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
EMPIRE
PETROLEUM CORPORATION
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
September 30,
2021
December 31,
2020
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash
$ 3,187,509
$ 157,695
Accounts
Receivable
6,817,718
1,251,634
Unrealized
Gain on Oil and Natural Gas Derivatives, Current
41,558
—
Oil Inventory
1,531,063
531,309
Prepaids
166,225
281,895
Total Current Assets
11,744,073
2,222,533
Property and equipment:
Oil and
Natural Gas Properties, Successful Efforts
45,340,347
22,711,445
Less:
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Impairment
( 17,081,053 )
( 15,148,444 )
Oil and natural gas properties, successful efforts, net
28,259,294
7,563,001
Other
Property and Equipment, Net
1,285,759
662,017
Total
Property and Equipment, Net
29,545,053
8,225,018
Unrealized
Gain on Oil and Natural Gas Derivatives, Noncurrent
66,636
—
Sinking
Fund (Note 5)
4,330,000
—
Other
Assets
956,542
802,050
Total
Assets
$ 46,642,304
$ 11,249,601
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Current Liabilities:
Accounts
Payable
$ 4,264,495
$ 1,937,743
Accrued
Expenses
4,233,800
2,697,831
Unrealized
Loss on Oil and Natural Gas Derivatives
—
5,749
Contingent
Payment
—
40,000
Current
Portion of Lease Liability
166,453
89,769
Current
Portion of Long-term Notes Payable, Net of Discount
1,253,038
1,301,618
Total Current Liabilities
9,917,786
6,072,710
Long-Term
Notes Payable
6,515,455
7,719,703
Long Term
Notes Payable to Related Party, Net of Discount
2,964,930
—
Embedded
Conversion Option
2,017,287
—
Long Term
Lease Liability
680,784
534,009
Asset
Retirement Obligations
20,815,924
15,364,217
Total Liabilities
42,912,166
29,690,639
Commitments and Contingencies
(Note 14)
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit):
Common
Stock - $ .001 Par Value 150,000,000 Shares Authorized,
74,323,764
and 24,892,277 Shares Issued and Outstanding, Respectively
74,323
24,892
Common
Stock Subscribed
( 97,388 )
—
Additional
Paid-in Capital
54,366,951
22,152,451
Accumulated
Deficit
( 50,613,748 )
( 40,618,381 )
Total
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
3,730,138
( 18,441,038 )
Total
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
$ 46,642,304
$ 11,249,601
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed
consolidated financial statements
- 4 -
EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
September 30,
2021
2020
2021
2020
Revenue:
Oil Sales
$ 7,761,584
$ 1,470,345
$ 13,882,077
$ 3,644,634
Natural Gas Sales
855,507
81,562
1,536,569
167,095
Natural Gas Liquids Sales
1,439,799
—
1,913,191
—
Other Revenue
71,043
93,496
154,018
142,603
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives
( 32,271 )
( 103,166 )
( 572,220 )
2,003,505
Total Revenue
10,095,662
1,542,237
16,913,635
5,957,837
Costs and Expenses:
Operating
3,597,124
1,286,598
7,328,066
3,476,088
Taxes - Production
678,295
88,630
1,266,808
233,158
Depletion, Depreciation & Amortization
1,279,534
254,114
2,025,407
1,008,699
Impairment of Oil and Natural Gas Properties
—
—
—
800,452
Accretion of Asset Retirement Obligation
327,018
275,713
881,638
631,710
General and Administrative
1,914,326
1,278,667
6,040,475
3,722,057
Total Cost and Expenses
7,796,297
3,183,722
17,542,394
9,872,164
Operating Income (Loss)
2,299,365
( 1,641,485 )
( 628,759 )
( 3,914,327 )
Other Income and (Expense):
Convertible Debt Modification Inducement Expense (Note 9)
( 2,276,813 )
—
( 2,276,813 )
—
Unrealized Gain on Embedded Conversion Option (Note 9)
689,215
—
92,931
—
Gain on Sale of Assets
—
125,000
—
1,268,760
Other Income
29,687
—
190,387
—
Interest Expense
( 4,467,679 )
( 124,887 )
( 7,373,113 )
( 380,975 )
Net Loss
$ ( 3,726,225 )
$ ( 1,641,372 )
$ ( 9,995,367 )
$ ( 3,026,542 )
Net Loss per Common Share, Basic & Diluted
$ ( 0.06 )
$ ( 0.07 )
$ ( 0.19 )
$ ( 0.14 )
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding,
Basic & Diluted
66,242,822
23,469,200
53,113,367
21,971,947
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated
financial statements
- 5 -
EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
For the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and
2020
(UNAUDITED)
Common
Additional
Common Stock
Stock
Paid-In
Accumulated
Shares
Par Value
Subscribed
Capital
Deficit
Total
Balances, December 31, 2020
24,892,277
$ 24,892
$ —
$ 22,152,451
$ ( 40,618,381 )
$ ( 18,441,038 )
Net Loss
—
—
—
—
( 997,180 )
( 997,180 )
Warrants Exercised
23,628,185
23,628
—
3,325,424
—
3,349,052
Issuance of Common Stock and Warrants
8,995,458
8,995
( 13,000 )
3,139,655
—
3,135,650
Balances, March 31, 2021
57,515,920
57,515
( 13,000 )
28,617,530
( 41,615,561 )
( 12,953,516 )
Net Loss
—
—
—
—
( 5,271,962 )
( 5,271,962 )
Stock Compensation Expense
—
—
—
406,250
—
406,250
Warrants Exercised
5,445,714
5,446
13,000
3,968,411
—
3,986,857
Warrants Issued with Unsecured Convertible Notes
—
—
—
544,824
—
544,824
Unsecured Convertible Note Conversion
1,200,000
1,200
—
1,498,800
—
1,500,000
Right to Buy Issued with Unsecured Convertible Notes
—
—
—
989,115
—
989,115
Shares and Warrants Issued for Secured Convertible Note
1,500,000
1,500
—
4,593,000
—
4,594,500
Balances, June 30, 2021
65,661,634
65,661
—
40,617,930
( 46,887,523 )
( 6,203,932 )
Net Loss
—
—
—
—
( 3,726,225 )
( 3,726,225 )
Stock Options Exercised
838,715
839
( 47,388 )
93,936
—
47,387
Warrants Exercised
1,371,429
1,371
( 50,000 )
584,343
—
535,714
Shares and Warrants Issued with Amended Secured Convertible Notes
5,200,000
5,200
—
11,412,940
—
11,418,140
Unsecured Convertible Note Conversion
1,134,400
1,134
—
1,416,866
—
1,418,000
Shares Issued for Convertible Note Interest
117,586
118
—
240,936
—
241,054
Balances, September 30, 2021
74,323,764
74,323
( 97,388 )
54,366,951
( 50,613,748 )
3,730,138
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated
financial statements
- 6 -
Common
Additional
Common Stock
Stock
Paid-In
Accumulated
Shares
Par Value
Subscribed
Capital
Deficit
Total
Balances, December 31, 2019
20,367,277
$ 20,367
$ —
$ 18,823,926
$ ( 23,782,948 )
$ ( 4,938,655 )
Net Income
—
—
—
—
1,588,015
1,588,015
Conversion of Convertible Notes
1,025,000
1,025
—
101,475
—
102,500
Balances, March 31, 2020
21,392,277
$ 21,392
$ —
$ 18,925,401
$ ( 22,194,933 )
$ ( 3,248,140 )
Net Loss
—
—
—
—
( 2,973,185 )
( 2,973,185 )
Stock Compensation Expense
—
—
—
406,250
—
406,250
Balances, June 30, 2020
$ 21,392,277
$ 21,392
$ —
$ 19,331,651
$ ( 25,168,118 )
$ ( 5,815,075 )
Net Loss
—
—
—
—
( 1,641,372 )
( 1,641,372 )
Shares and Warrants Issued
3,500,000
3,500
—
521,500
—
525,000
Balances, September 30, 2020
$ 24,892,277
$ 24,892
$ —
$ 19,853,151
$ ( 26,809,490 )
$ ( 6,931,447 )
See accompanying
notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
- 7 -
EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS
OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2021
2020
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net Loss
$ ( 9,995,367 )
$ ( 3,026,542 )
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Loss to Net Cash
Provided by (used in) Operating Activities:
Gain on Sales of Assets
—
( 1,268,760 )
Stock Compensation Expense
406,250
406,250
Stock Issued for Interest Expense Payment
241,054
Right to Buy Issuance Costs
989,115
—
Unrealized Gain on Embedded Conversion Option
( 92,931 )
—
Amortization of Discount on Convertible Notes
6,670,129
—
Convertible Debt Modification Inducement Expense
2,276,813
—
Amortization of Loan Issue Costs
14,587
43,758
Changes in Right of Use Assets, net
54,363
—
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization
2,025,407
1,008,699
Impairment of Oil and Natural Gas Properties
—
800,452
Accretion of Asset Retirement Obligation
881,638
631,710
Cash paid to Ovintiv
—
( 850,000 )
Loss relating to Ovintiv Purchase Deposit
—
800,000
Forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program Loan
( 160,700 )
—
Change in Operating Assets and Liabilities:
Accounts Receivable
( 5,566,084 )
( 64,278 )
Unrealized Gain on Oil and Natural Gas Derivative Instruments
( 113,943 )
( 680,079 )
Inventory
( 681,208 )
34,954
Prepaids
115,670
( 88,474 )
Other Assets
( 6,807 )
( 181,600 )
Accounts Payable
2,326,752
490,443
Accrued Expenses
1,245,653
( 26,659 )
Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating Activities
630,391
( 1,970,126 )
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of Oil and Natural Gas Properties
( 17,869,779 )
( 506,000 )
Purchase of Other Fixed Assets
( 508,571 )
—
Sinking Fund Deposit
( 4,330,000 )
—
Proceeds From Sale of Oil and Natural Gas Properties
—
1,309,800
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
( 22,708,350 )
803,800
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from Debt Issued
19,599,850
925,700
Principal Payments of Debt
( 5,546,738 )
( 150,000 )
Proceeds from Stock and Warrant Issuance
11,054,661
525,000
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
25,107,773
1,300,700
Net Change in Cash
3,029,814
134,374
Cash - Beginning of Period
157,695
—
Cash - End of Period
$ 3,187,509
$ 134,374
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated
financial statements
- 8 -
EMPIRE
PETROLEUM CORPORATION
NOTES
TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September
30, 2021
1. BASIS
OF PRESENTATION
The
accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Empire Petroleum Corporation ("Empire" or the "Company")
have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial
information and the instructions to Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP
for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of the
Company’s financial position, the results of operations, and the cash flows for the interim period are included. All adjustments are
of a normal, recurring nature. Operating results for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected
for the year ending December 31, 2021.
The
information contained in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related notes for the
year ended December 31, 2020 which are contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC") on March 31, 2021.
As
of September 30, 2021, the Company had thirty-three employees. No independent Board members received compensation from the Company in
the first nine months of 2020; in 2021 independent Board members were compensated $ 116,000
through September 30, 2021. Independent directors
that remain seated at December 31, 2021 will receive 120,000 shares each of common stock, prorated for the portion of the year served.
Beginning in calendar year 2022, Mssrs. Morrisett and Pritchard will each receive annual awards of 100,000 shares of common stock pursuant
to their employment agreements .
2. SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principles
of consolidation. The condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of the Company and its
wholly owned subsidiaries, Empire Louisiana, LLC ("Empire Louisiana"), Empire North Dakota, LLC ("Empire North Dakota"),
Empire New Mexico, LLC (“Empire New Mexico”) d/b/a Green Tree New Mexico (“Green Tree”), Empire ND Acquisitions,
LLC (“Empire ND Acquisitions”), Empire Texas, LLC (“Empire Texas”), and Pardus Oil & Gas Operating, LP (“Pardus”).
All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
Use
of estimates in the preparation of financial statements. Preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Depletion of oil and natural gas properties is determined using estimates of proved oil and natural gas reserves. There are numerous
uncertainties inherent in the estimation of quantities of proved reserves and in the projection of future rates of production and the
timing of development expenditures. Similarly, evaluations for impairment of proved and unproved oil and natural gas properties are subject
to numerous uncertainties including, among others, estimates of future recoverable reserves, commodity price outlooks and prevailing
market rates of other sources of income and costs. Other significant estimates include, but are not limited to, asset retirement obligations,
fair value of assets purchased in business combinations, embedded derivatives (conversion features), commodity derivatives, and taxes.
Interim
financial statements. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have not been audited by the
Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. In preparing the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements, management
has made certain estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts in the condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures
of contingencies. Actual results may differ from those estimates. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of annual
results.
Certain
disclosures have been condensed in or omitted from these condensed consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, these condensed notes
to the condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and
notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
- 9 -
Inventory.
Inventory consists of oil in tanks which has not been delivered and is valued at the contract price to the buyer.
Convertible
Debt . The Company accounts for conversion options embedded in a host instrument in accordance
with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). ASC 815 requires a reporting entity to bifurcate conversion options embedded
in convertible debt and to account for them as a free-standing derivative when the embedded feature is not clearly and closely related
to the host instrument and meets the definition of a derivative and does not qualify for the scope exception from derivative accounting.
The Company reviews the terms of convertible debt issued to determine whether there are embedded features, including embedded conversion
options, which are required to be bifurcated and accounted for separately as a derivative. In circumstances where the host instrument
contains more than one embedded derivative, including the conversion option, which is required to be bifurcated, the derivative instruments
are accounted for as a single, compound derivative instrument.
The separated derivative is initially recorded at fair value and subsequently revalued at each reporting date with changes in the fair
value reported as other income or expense. When the convertible debt instrument contains embedded derivatives that are bifurcated and
accounted for separately as a derivative liability, the total proceeds received are first allocated to the fair value of derivative liability.
The remaining proceeds, if any, are then allocated to the debt, resulting in an initial discount on the debt. The debt discount is subsequently
amortized under the interest method through periodic charges to interest expense.
For
conversion options embedded in a host instrument which are required to be bifurcated and qualify for the scope exception from derivative
accounting are accounted for under other models as required by ASC 470-20, Debt with Conversion and Other Options.
Revenue
recognition. The Company recognizes revenues from the sales of oil and natural gas to its customers and presents them aggregated
on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations. The Company enters into contracts with customers to sell its oil and
natural gas production. Revenue on these contracts is recognized in accordance with the five-step revenue recognition model prescribed
in ASC 606. Specifically, revenue is recognized when the Company’s performance obligations under these contracts are satisfied, which
generally occurs with the transfer of control of the oil and natural gas to the purchaser. Control is generally considered transferred
when the following criteria are met: (i) transfer of physical custody, (ii) transfer of title, (iii) transfer of risk of loss and
(iv) relinquishment of any repurchase rights or other similar rights. Given the nature of the products sold, revenue is recognized at
a point in time based on the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive in accordance with the price specified in the contract.
Consideration under the oil and natural gas marketing contracts is typically received from the purchaser one to two months after production.
At September 30, 2021, the Company had receivables related to contracts with customers of approximately $ 3,900,000 and joint interest
billings of approximately $ 2,400,000 .
Fair
value measurements. The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") fair value measurement standards define fair
value, establish a consistent framework for measuring fair value and establish a fair value hierarchy based on the observability of inputs
used to measure fair value.
Impairment
of oil and natural gas properties – The fair value of proved and unproved oil and natural gas properties was measured using valuation
techniques that convert the future cash flows to a single discounted amount. Significant inputs to the valuation of proved and unproved
oil and natural gas properties include estimates of: (i) recoverable reserves; (ii) production rates; (iii) future operating and development
costs; (iv) future commodity prices; and (v) a market-based weighted average costs of capital. The Company utilized a combination of
the New York Mercantile Exchange ("NYMEX") strip pricing and consensus pricing to value the reserves, then applied various
discount rates depending on the classification of reserves and other risk characteristics. For significant acquisitions, management utilized
the assistance of a third-party valuation expert to estimate the value of the oil and natural gas properties acquired.
The
fair value of asset retirement obligations is included in proved oil and natural gas properties with a corresponding liability. The fair
value was determined based on a discounted cash flow model, which included assumptions of the estimated current abandonment costs, discount
rate, inflation rate and timing associated with the incurrence of these costs.
The
inputs used to value oil and natural gas properties for impairments and asset retirement obligations require significant judgment and
estimates made by management and represent Level 3 inputs.
Embedded
conversion feature – The conversion features of the Secured Convertible Note have been accounted for as a separated derivative
and recorded at fair value using a binomial pricing model. The inputs used to value the derivative conversion feature require significant
judgment and estimates made by management and represent Level 3 inputs.
Financial
instruments and other – The fair values determined for accounts receivable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities were
equivalent to the carrying value due to their short-term nature.
- 10 -
Related
Party Transactions. Transactions between related parties are considered to be related party transactions even though they may
not be given accounting recognition. FASB ASC 850, Related Party Disclosures (“FASB ASC 850”) requires that
transactions with related parties that would have influence in decision making shall be disclosed so that users of the financial statements
can evaluate their significance. Related party transactions typically occur within the context of the following relationships: affiliates
of the entity; entities for which investments in their equity securities is typically accounted for under the equity method by the investing
entity; trusts for the benefit of employees; principal owners of the entity and members of their immediate families; management of the
entity and members of their immediate families; and other parties that can significantly influence the management or operating policies
of the transacting parties and can significantly influence the other to an extent that one or more of the transacting parties might be
prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests.
Risk
Factors. In the event crude oil or natural gas prices decline significantly, there is the risk that, among other things:
• the
Company’s revenues, cash flows and profitability may decline substantially, which could
also indirectly impact expected production by reducing the amount of funds available to acquire
future mineral interests;
• reserves
relating to the Company’s proved properties may become uneconomic to produce resulting
in impairment of proved properties; and
• operators
and other working interest owners are unable to execute their drilling and exploration programs
resulting in lower production or inability to prove reserves on unproved properties
The
occurrence of certain of these events may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial
condition.
In
early March 2020 there was a global outbreak of COVID-19 which has continued and resulted in changes in global supply and demand of certain
mineral and energy products. These changes, including the magnitude and length of the economic downturn and any potential resulting direct
and indirect negative impact to the Company cannot be determined, but they could have a prospective material impact to the Company’s
acquisition and project development activities, and cash flows and liquidity.
The
Company has a concentration of purchasers; however, should any of these relationships be extinguished, management believes that the Company
could easily replace those purchasers with others in the areas in which the Company operates.
3.
INVESTMENT IN RELATED PARTY
Concurrent
with the acquisition and financing of the XTO properties (See Notes 5 and 9), the Company made an investment in Energy Evolution
Fund LP, an affiliate of Energy Evolution Ltd, a related party, in the amount of $ 1,250,000 .
The Energy Evolution Fund LP is a hedge fund focused on global petroleum and sustainable energy and is the lender under the
Company’s Senior Secured Convertible Note Agreement, as well as the lender of a portion of the Unsecured Convertible Notes
issued by the Company (See Note 9). The investment was mutually terminated on August
19, 2021 . The proceeds from the termination were applied to the outstanding balance
of the Senior Secured Convertible Note Payable.
4. PROPERTY
AND EQUIPMENT
On
January 27, 2020, the Company purchased lease interests in approximately 4,936 acres in Montana for $ 500,000 .
In
February 2020, the Company in two transactions sold all of its interest in leases of approximately 337 acres in Montana for $ 1,160,400 .
The Company recognized a gain on the transactions of $ 1,143,760 .
On
April 6, 2020 the Company purchased oil and natural gas properties in Texas.
In
May 2021 the Company purchased oil and natural gas properties in New Mexico (See Note 5).
NYMEX
strip prices experienced significant volatility in 2020, resulting in a significant decrease in value of the Company’s economically
recoverable proved oil and natural gas reserves. As such, the carrying amount of the Company’s proved oil and natural gas properties
exceeded the expected undiscounted future net cash flows for certain leases, resulting in impairment charges against earnings of $ 800,452
for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The Company did not recognize an impairment of proved oil and natural gas properties during
the nine months ended September 30, 2021.
- 11 -
The
aggregate capitalized costs of oil and natural gas properties as of September 30, 2021, are as follows:
Proved producing wells
$ 18,865,150
Proved undeveloped
2,232,358
Lease, well and gathering equipment
5,054,033
Asset retirement obligation
18,696,199
Unproved leasehold costs
492,607
Gross capitalized costs
45,340,347
Less: accumulated depreciation, depletion and impairment
( 17,081,053 )
$ 28,259,294
Other
property and equipment consists of operating lease assets (See Note 10), vehicles, office furniture and equipment.
Other property and equipment, at cost
$ 1,514,322
Less: accumulated depreciation
( 228,563 )
Oher property and equipment, net
$ 1,285,759
5.
ACQUISITION OF XTO OIL AND NATURAL GAS PROPERTIES
On
March 12, 2021 the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary Empire New Mexico, entered into a purchase and sale agreement with XTO
Holdings, LLC (a subsidiary of ExxonMobil) (the “Seller’) to acquire, among other things, certain oil and natural gas properties
in New Mexico. The purchase price was $ 17,800,000 subject to customary adjustments. The Company wired a deposit of $ 1,780,000 to the
Seller on March 12, 2021. The transaction closed on May 14, 2021 with an effective date of January 1, 2021.
The XTO acquisition has been assessed under the screen test for business
combinations under FASB ASC 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”). The XTO acquisition met the screen test and has been accounted
for as an asset acquisition using the acquisition method of accounting. Under the accounting for asset acquisitions, the acquisition
is recorded using a cost accumulation and allocation model under which the cost of the acquisition is allocated on a relative fair value
basis to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Acquisition-related transaction costs are capitalized as a component of the cost
of the assets acquired.
As
a condition of the sale, the Company purchased a $ 5,000,000 performance bond for the benefit of the seller for proper plugging, abandonment
and restoration of the purchased properties. The performance bond is collateralized with a letter of credit in the amount of $ 3,750,000 .
To effect the letter of credit, the Company entered into a Promissory Note Agreement with Bank of Oklahoma, NA in the amount of $3,750,000
which is due on demand with an interest rate established by the Bank, currently at 4%. The Promissory Note, and associated letter of credit, is collateralized with a bank certificate of deposit in a
corresponding amount. In addition, the Company is required to deposit $100,000 per month, up to $ 1,250,000 , into a sinking fund to be
held by the surety. Subsequent amendments increased the monthly payment
amounts to $160,000 in response to additional bonding requested by the State of New Mexico.
The
following table sets forth the Company’s preliminary purchase price allocation:
Preliminary Fair Value of Assets Acquired
Inventory of oil in tanks
318,546
Vehicles
179,156
Asset retirement obligation
6,117,709
Oil and natural gas properties
17,662,402
Total Preliminary Assets Acquired
$ 24,277,813
Preliminary Fair Value of Liabilities Assumed
Royalty suspense
290,325
Asset retirement obligations
6,117,709
Total Preliminary Liabilities Assumed
$ 6,408,034
Purchase Price
$ 17,869,779
- 12 -
The value of oil and gas properties was
based on an allocation of the purchase price which included assignment of values to the other identifiable assets acquired and liabilities
assumed. The value of inventory, vehicles, and royalty suspense was based on their relative fair values as described above.
The
fair value of asset retirement obligations are included in proved oil and natural gas properties with a corresponding liability in the
table above. The fair value was determined based on a discounted cash flow model, which included assumptions of the estimated current
abandonment costs, discount rate, inflation rate and timing associated with the incurrence of these costs.
6.
JOINT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
On
August 6, 2020 the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Empire Texas, entered into a joint development agreement (the “JDA”)
with Petroleum & Independent Exploration, LLC and related entities (“PIE”), a related party (See Note 12), dated August
1, 2020. Under the terms of the JDA, PIE will perform recompletion or workover on specified mutually agreed upon wells (“Workover
Wells”) owned by Empire Texas. To fund the work, PIE entered into a term loan agreement with Empire Texas dated August 1, 2020,
whereby PIE will loan up to $ 2,000,000 , at an interest rate of 6 % per annum, maturing August 7, 2024 unless terminated earlier by PIE.
Proceeds of the loan will be used for recompletion or workover of the Workover Wells. As of September 30, 2021 approximately $ 464,000
has been advanced from the loan and is included in Long Term Notes Payable on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. As part of the
JDA, Empire Texas will assign to PIE a combined 85% working and revenue interest in the Workover Wells; an assignment was completed in
October 2020 for the initial three Workover Wells. Of the assigned interest, 70% working and revenue interest will be used to repay the
obligations under the term loan agreement. Once the term loan is repaid, PIE will reassign a 35% working and revenue interest to Empire
Texas in each of the Workover Wells and retain a 50% working and revenue interest (See Note 8). Activity resulting from the JDA is being
treated as a conveyance.
In
addition, PIE and Empire entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (“Securities Agreement”) whereby PIE purchased for
$525,000 (a) 3,500,000 shares of Empire common stock, (b) warrants to purchase 2,625,000 shares of Empire common stock at an exercise
price of $0.20 per share, (c) warrants to purchase 1,800,000 shares of Empire common stock at an exercise price of $0.25 per share, (d)
warrants to purchase 8,136,518 shares of Empire common stock at an exercise price of $0.10 per share, and (e) warrants to purchase up
to 11,066,667 shares of Empire common stock at an exercise price of $0.141 per share, pursuant to various vesting provisions as detailed
in the Securities Agreement. On March 11, 2021 the Company amended the Securities Agreement to remove the vesting provisions for the
warrants and PIE exercised all of its warrants for an aggregate exercise price of $ 3,349,052 (See Note 11).
7.
COMMODITY DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure
to commodity price fluctuations. Commodity derivative instruments are used to reduce the effect of volatility of price changes on the
oil and natural gas the Company produces and sells. The Company does not enter into derivative financial instruments for speculative or
trading purposes. The Company’s derivative financial instruments consist of put options.
The
Company does not designate its derivative instruments to qualify for hedge accounting. Accordingly, the Company reflects changes in the
fair value of its derivative instruments in its condensed consolidated statements of operations as they occur. Unrealized gains and losses
related to the contracts are recognized and recorded as an asset or liability on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance
sheets.
The
following table summarizes the net realized and unrealized amounts reported in earnings related to the commodity derivative instruments
for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020:
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
2021
2020
2021
2020
Gain (loss) on derivatives:
Oil derivatives
$ 112,183
$ ( 103,166 )
$ ( 427,766 )
$ 2,003,505
Natural gas derivatives
( 144,454 )
—
( 144,454 )
—
Total
$ ( 32,271 )
$ ( 103,166 )
$ (572,220 )
$ 2,003,505
The
following represents the Company’s net cash receipts from (payments on) derivatives for the three and nine months ended September
30, 2021 and 2020:
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
2021
2020
2021
2020
Net cash received (payments made) on derivatives
Oil derivatives
$ ( 177,736 )
$ 279,533
$ ( 541,709 )
$ 1,323,426
Natural gas derivatives
( 144,454 )
—
( 144,454 )
—
Total
$ ( 322,190 )
$ 279,533
$ ( 686,163 )
$ 1,323,426
- 13 -
The
following table sets forth the Company’s outstanding derivative contracts at September 30, 2021.
4 th Quarter
2021
WTI Index Put Options:
Quarterly volume (MBbl)
20.68
Floor Price (Bbl)
$ 40.00
1st Quarter
2 nd Quarter
3 rd Quarter
4 th Quarter
2022
WTI Index Put Options:
Quarterly volume (MBbl)
20.56
20.43
20.32
15.72
Floor Price (Bbl)
$ 40.00
$ 40.00
$ 40.00
$ 40.00
1 st Quarter
2 nd Quarter
2023
WTI Index Put Options:
Quarterly volume (MBbl)
13.40
4.45
Floor Price (Bbl)
$ 40.00
$ 40.00
8. DEBT
The
following table represents the Company’s outstanding debt.
September 30,
2021
December 31,
2020
Senior Revolver Loan Agreement
$ 7,369,500
$ 8,124,000
2020 SBA Paycheck Protection Program Loan
—
160,700
2021 SBA Paycheck Protection Program Loan
106,850
—
Unsecured Promissory Note – Pardus
—
378,000
PIE Joint Development Agreement Loan, Related Party
463,569
315,273
Various Vehicle and Equipment Loans
295,567
57,935
Secured Convertible Note, Related Party (See Note 9)
5,700,000
—
Total Debt
13,935,486
9,035,908
Unamortized Debt Issue Costs
—
( 14,587 )
Unamortized Discount
( 3,202,063 )
—
Total Debt, Net of Debt Issue Costs and Unamortized Discount
10,733,423
9,021,321
Less current maturities
1,253,038
1,301,618
Total Long-Term Debt
$ 9,480,385
$ 7,719,703
- 14 -
On
July 7, 2021 the Company entered into the Fourth Amendment to its Senior Revolver Loan Agreement (“the Amended
Agreement”) with CrossFirst Bank (“CrossFirst”). The maximum amount that can be advanced under the Agreement is
$20,000,000 and the existing commitment amount is $ 7,980,000 which
is reduced by $ 300,000 per
calendar quarter beginning September
30, 2021 and includes interest at Wall
Street Journal Prime
plus 150 basis points ( 4.75 %
as of September 30, 2021). The Amended Agreement matures on March
27, 2024 . Collateral for the loan is a lien
on all of the assets of Empire Louisiana and Empire North Dakota, wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company, Empire Louisiana and
Empire North Dakota, and a first priority mortgage lien, pledge of and security interest in not less than 80 %
of Empire Louisiana’s and Empire North Dakota’s producing oil, gas and other leasehold and mineral interests. The
Amended Agreement requires the Company maintain commodity derivatives at certain thresholds based on projected production and,
beginning March 31, 2021, to maintain certain covenants including an EBITDAX
to interest expense of at least 3:1 and funded debt to EBITDAX of 6:1 on a trailing twelve-month basis and reducing quarterly to 4:1
as of March 31, 2022 and thereafter. As of
September 30, 2021, the Company has an outstanding loan balance of $ 7,369,500 under
the Amended Agreement. The current maturities of the Amended Agreement is $1,200,000. The Company was in compliance with the loan
covenants at September 30, 2021.
On
April 1, 2020, in conjunction with the purchase of assets from Pardus Oil & Gas, LLC, the Company entered into an unsecured
promissory note agreement with the seller in the amount of $ 378,000 . The note was payable in one installment on April 1, 2021 and bore
interest at the one-year LIBOR rate. The note was paid on April 1, 2021 .
On
May 5, 2020, the Company received an SBA Payroll Protection Plan (“PPP”) loan for $ 160,700 . The loan was scheduled to mature
on May 5, 2022 and had an interest rate of 1 %. In June, 2021 the Company was informed that the SBA had forgiven the entire loan balance.
In
August 2020, concurrent with the Joint Development Agreement with Petroleum and Independent Exploration, LLC (“PIE”), a related
party, the Company entered into a term loan agreement dated August 1, 2020, whereby PIE will loan up to $ 2,000,000 , at an interest rate
of 6 % per annum, maturing August 7, 2024 unless terminated earlier by PIE. The loan proceeds will be used for recompletion or workover
of certain designated wells. In addition, the Company assigned a 70% working and revenue interest to PIE in the designated wells which
will be applied to repayment of the loan. As of September 30, 2021, $463,569 has been advanced from the PIE loan (See Note 6).
On
April 30, 2021 the Company received a Second Draw SBA Payroll Protection Plan (“PPP”) loan for $ 106,850 . The loan was scheduled
to mature on April 30, 2026 and has an interest rate of 1 %. In October 2021 the Company was informed that the SBA had forgiven the entire
loan balance (See Note 15).
- 15 -
9.
CONVERTIBLE NOTES PAYABLE
On
May 14, 2021, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Empire New Mexico entered into a Senior Secured Convertible Note Agreement
(the “Secured Note”) in the amount of $ 16,250,000 with Energy Evolution Master Fund, Ltd., a related party (“Energy
Evolution”) (See Note 12). The Secured Note is collateralized by all assets of Empire New Mexico, matures on December 31, 2021
and bears an interest rate of 3.8 %. The Secured Note provides that up to 40% of the balance, together with accrued interest, can be converted
into the Company’s common stock at the lesser of $1.25 per share or the offering price if the Company has a subsequent capital
raise or an aggregate of 5,200,000 shares of common stock (without giving effect to any interest that may be converted) . The conversion
terms of the Secured Note were subject to further adjustments as defined in that agreement. The embedded conversion option has been bifurcated
and accounted for separately as a derivative financial instrument. The separated derivative was initially recorded at fair value at the
inception date and revalued as of September 30, 2021 resulting in a fair value of $ 5,530,677 and $ 5,437,746 , respectively. On September
30, 2021, the existing bifurcated derivative liability was removed in connection with the Amended Secured Note as further discussed.
The change in fair value for the three and nine months ended September 31, 2021 of $ 689,215 and $ 92,931 is recorded as Unrealized Gain on the Embedded Conversion Option in the Statements of
Operations.
As
partial consideration for the issuance of the Secured Note, Energy Evolution received a closing fee of 1,500,000
shares of the Company’s common stock and warrants to purchase three
million shares of common stock for $ 1.00
per share which expire on May
14, 2022 . The Company determined these were equity-classified financing instruments and the proceeds are allocated on a
relative fair value basis between the debt, warrants, and common shares at issuance. At issuance, the discount associated with the
Secured Note was $ 10,125,177 ;
consisting of $ 5,530,677
relating to the embedded derivative liability, $ 1,500
and $ 2,773,500
in common stock and paid in capital, respectively, relating to the issuance of shares of the Company’s common stock, and
$ 1,819,500
in paid in capital relating to the issuance of warrants to purchase common stock. The fair value of the warrants was determined
using a Black-Scholes model. The warrants were exercised in 2021 and the Company received cash proceeds of $ 3,000,000 .
The discount associated with the Secured Note related to the embedded conversion liability and the issuance of the equity-classified
financing instruments is amortized under the interest method and resulted in interest expense of $ 3,832,440
and $6,125,306 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021. Prior to amending the Secured Note in September 2021, the
Company made principal payments totaling $4,050,000, inclusive of the application of the $1,250,000 proceeds from the termination
of the investment in the Energy Evolution Fund LP (See Note 3).
On
September 29, 2021 the parties entered into a Loan Modification Agreement (the “Amended Secured Note”) pursuant to which
Energy Evolution exchanged $ 6,500,000 in principal under the Secured Note in exchange for 5,305,208 shares of common stock, warrants
to purchase 2,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at $ 1.25 per share and amended certain terms of the remaining $ 5,700,000
of principal under the Secured Note. As amended, the remaining principal balance matures and becomes due on June 30, 2023 and upon maturity
of the Amended Secured Note, Energy Evolution has the sole discretion to require cash settlement or to redeem the principal balance,
together with accrued interest, in exchange for the Company’s common stock at $2 per share. Prior to maturity, interest accrues
quarterly at 3.8% and Energy Evolution has the option to receive interest in common stock at $1.25 per share in lieu of cash.
Pursuant
to the Amended Secured Note, the Company’s obligations with respect to a registration statement under the Secured Note were
extended, the Company executed and delivered a Pledge and Security Agreement granting Energy Evolution a first priority perfected
security interest in the Company’s membership interest in Empire New Mexico, d/b/a Green Tree New Mexico, the Company and
Green Tree New Mexico agreed to use commercial reasonable best efforts to separate Green Tree New Mexico from the Company as an
independent business on or before December 31, 2022 in a spin-off to stockholders of the Company. In accordance with ASC 470-20, the
Company accounted for this exchange as an induced conversion based on the short period time of the offer was open and the
substantive conversion feature offer. The Company accounted for the conversion of the debt instruments as an inducement by expensing
the fair value of the instruments that were issued in excess of the original terms of the Secured Notes. The Company reduced the
outstanding debt by $9,141,327, representing the face amount of the Secured Notes converted of $6,500,000, net of unamortized
discount costs of $2,796,419, and the embedded conversion liability of $5,437,746. The Company recorded induced conversion expense
of $2,276,813 representing the difference in fair value of the instruments exchanged, including the fair value of the warrants to
purchase 2,000,000 shares of common stock at $1.25 per share. The embedded conversion option of the principal balance outstanding
after the conversion and amendment, has been bifurcated and accounted for separately as a derivative financial instrument. The
separated derivative was initially recorded at fair value of $2,017,287, with the amount recorded as a discount against the
surviving Amended Secured Note balance and the derivative liability will be revalued on a quarterly basis. On September 30, 2021,
95,208 shares of common stock were issued as payment for the outstanding accrued interest on the Secured Note.
- 16 -
In
May 2021 the Empire New Mexico entered into $ 3,243,000
of Unsecured Convertible Notes (the “Unsecured Notes”) with a group of accredited investors, including the
Company’s related party Energy Evolution, constituting $1,500,000 of the total Unsecured Convertible Notes. The Unsecured
Notes had a maturity of May
9, 2022 with a single payment and interest at 5 %. The
Unsecured Note holders had the ability to convert their notes to common stock of the Company at the lesser of $1.25 per share or the
price per share offered by the Company if the Company has a future capital raise for an aggregate 2,594,400 shares of common stock
(without giving effect to any interest that may be converted). At September 30, 2021 $ 2,918,000
of the Unsecured Notes have been converted into
2,334,400 shares of common stock of the Company and 22,378 shares of common stock have been issued as payment for accrued
interest on the Unsecured Note. The remaining Unsecured Notes in the amount of $325,000 were repaid in
September 2021.
The
Company determined the embedded conversion features of the Unsecured Notes were equity-classified financing instruments. The fair
value of the conversion feature was determined using a beneficial conversion model based on a 60-day weighted average stock price
and the maximum number of shares to be received if converted. As issuance, the amount recorded to additional paid in capital was
$ 544,824 .
The discount associated with these transactions is amortized under the interest method and resulted in interest expense of $254,876
and $ 544,824 for the three
and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively.
As
an inducement for investors to enter into the Unsecured Convertible Notes, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President
collectively offered to each investor the right to purchase a number of shares of common stock equal to 40 % of such investor’s
principal balance under its Unsecured Convertible Note at $ 0.75 per share (the “right to buy”). Energy Evolution exercised
its right to buy 600,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. In conjunction with the conversion of the Unsecured Notes, each
of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President partially exercised a warrant and options to purchase 643,600 shares at
an exercise price of $ 0.25 and $0.33 respectively. The Company determined that offering the “right to buy” shares resulted
in an expense of $ 989,155 of the Company based on the fair value of contributions made by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer
and President on its behalf. The fair value of the “right to buy” shares was determined using a Black-Scholes model. The
expense is including in General and Administrative in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.
At September 30, 2021, there was a subscription
receivable balance for stock purchased on September 29, 2021 by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer for which payment was not
received until October 2021.
10.
LEASES
As
a lessee, the Company leases its corporate office headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma and three field offices. The leases expire between
2024 and 2027. The corporate office has an option to renew for an additional five-year term. The option to renew the lease is generally
not considered reasonably certain to be exercised. Therefore, the period covered by such optional period is not included in the determination
of the term of the lease and the lease payments during these periods are similarly excluded from the calculation of right-of-use lease
asset and lease liability balances.
The
Company recognizes right-of use lease expense on a straight-line basis, except for certain variable expenses that are recognized when
the variability is resolved, typically during the period in which they are paid. Variable right-of-use lease payments typically include
charges for property taxes, insurance, and variable payments related to non-lease components, including common area maintenance.
Right
of use lease expense was $ 135,061 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. Cash paid for right of use lease was $ 123,973 for the
period.
Supplemental
balance sheet information related to the right of use leases as of September 30, 2021:
Operating
lease asset (included in Other Property and Equipment)
$ 820,755
Current portion of lease liability
$ 166,453
Long term lease liability
680,784
Total right of use lease liabilities
$ 847,237
The
weighted average remaining term for the Company’s right of use leases is 3.8 years.
Maturities
of lease liabilities as of September 30, 2021:
2021
$ 53,912
2022
235,983
2023
238,931
2024
239,644
2025
193,660
Thereafter
49,600
Total lease payments
1,011,730
Less imputed interest
( 164,493 )
Total lease obligation
$ 847,237
- 17 -
11.
EQUITY
Diluted
Earnings per Share (“EPS”) gives effect to all dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period. The computation
of Diluted EPS does not assume conversion, exercise or contingent exercise of securities that would have an anti-dilutive effect on losses.
As a result, if there is a loss from continuing operations, Diluted EPS is computed in the same manner as Basic EPS. At September 30,
2021 and 2020, the Company had 9,012,800 and 5,004,167 respectively, options outstanding that were not included in the calculation of
earnings per share for the periods then ended. Such financial instruments may become dilutive and would then need to be included in future
calculations of Diluted EPS. At September 30, 2021 and 2020, the outstanding options and convertible notes were considered anti-dilutive
because the strike prices were above the market price and the Company has incurred operating losses year to date.
On
April 3, 2019, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the Empire Petroleum Corporation 2019 Stock Option Plan (the “Stock
Option Plan”). The total number of shares of common stock that may be issued pursuant to stock options under the Stock Option Plan
is ten million. Further, on April 3, 2019 the Company granted Mr. Pritchard and Mr. Morrissett each, options to purchase 2,500,000 shares
of common stock of the Company at an exercise price of $ 0.33 per share. The options vested in three installments with 1,250,000 vesting
immediately and 625,000 vesting each in April 2020 and April 2021. All of the options expire in April, 2029 . The value allocated to
the vested options was the fair value determined using the Black-Scholes option valuation with the following assumptions: no dividend
yield, expected annual volatility of 213 %, risk free interest rate of 2.32 % and an expected useful life of 5.375 years. The fair value
of the vested options of $ 812,500 was recorded as compensation expense and allocated to Paid in Capital in 2019. In 2021 and 2020, the
fair value of the options which vested in April of the respective year of $ 406,250 was recorded as compensation expense and allocated
to Paid in Capital. All of the options were vested as of September 30, 2021.
On
August 27, 2021, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the Empire Petroleum Corporation 2021 Incentive Plan (the “Incentive
Plan”). The total number of shares of common stock that may be issued pursuant to the Incentive Plan is three million. As of September
30, 2021 no grants have been made.
On
August 7, 2020 concurrently with the Joint Development Agreement with Petroleum & Independent Exploration, LLC and related
entities (“PIE”), the companies entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (“Securities Agreement”)
whereby PIE
purchased for $525,000 (a) 3,500,000 shares of Empire common stock, (b) warrants to purchase 2,625,000 shares of Empire common stock
at an exercise price of $0.20 per share, (c) warrants to purchase 1,800,000 shares of Empire common stock at an exercise price of
$0.25 per share, (d) warrants to purchase 8,136,518 shares of Empire common stock at an exercise price of $0.10 per share, and (e)
warrants to purchase up to 11,066,667 shares of Empire common stock at an exercise price of $ 0.141
per share pursuant to various vesting provisions as detailed in the Securities Agreement. The value allocated to the
warrants was the fair value determined using the Black-Scholes option valuation with the following assumptions: no dividend
yield, expected annual volatility of 147 %,
risk free interest rate of . 19 %
and an expected useful life of 4
years. The fair value of the warrants of $ 450,848
was allocated to paid in capital (See Note 6). On March 11, 2021 the Company amended the Securities Agreement to remove the vesting
provisions for the warrants and PIE exercised the warrants for an aggregate exercise price of $ 3,349,052
(See Note 6).
During
February and March 2021, the Company issued to a group of accredited investors 8,993,858 shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase
8,993,858 shares of its common stock for $ .50 per share which expires on December 31, 2022 . Proceeds from the sale were $ 3,147,850 . The
value allocated to the warrants was the fair value determined using the Black-Scholes option valuation with the following assumptions:
no dividend yield, expected annual volatility of 180 %, risk free interest rate of .14% and an expected useful life of 21 months. The
fair value of the warrants of $ 2,350,407 was allocated to Paid in Capital. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, warrants for
2,518,743 shares of common stock have been exercised.
In
connection with the purchase of XTO assets (See Note 5) the Company issued a Senior Secured Convertible Note due December
31, 2021 , in the aggregate principal amount $ 16,250,000
(the “Secured Convertible Note”) to Energy Evolution Fund Ltd, a related party (See Note 9). As partial consideration
for the issuance of the Secured Convertible Note, Empire
issued to Energy Evolution Ltd (i) 1,500,000 shares of common stock along with (ii) a warrant certificate to purchase up to three
million shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per Warrant Share until May 14, 2022. Under the warrant certificate,
the exercise price is subject to customary downward adjustments. The value allocated to the common stock, conversion
feature, and warrants was $ 10,125,177 .
In September, 2021 the Company and the Energy Evolution Master Fund, Ltd. entered into a Loan Modification Agreement (the
“Amended Secured Notes”) (See Note 9). Under the Amended Secured Notes, among other terms the Company issued a warrant
certificate to purchase up to two million shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.25 per Warrant Share until December 31,
2023. The exercise price is subject to customary downward adjustments.
- 18 -
Additionally,
in conjunction with the purchase of XTO assets (See Note 5), the Company entered into $ 3,243,000
of Unsecured Convertible Notes (the “Unsecured Notes”) with a group of accredited investors. The Unsecured Notes had a
maturity date of May
9, 2022 with a single payment and interest at 5 %
(See Note 7). The Unsecured Note holders had the ability to convert their notes to common stock of the Company at the lesser of
$ 1.25
per share or the price per share offered by the Company if the Company has a future capital raise. At September 30, 2021 $ 2,918,000
of the Unsecured Notes have been converted into 2,334,400
shares of common stock of the Company. The remaining Unsecured Notes in the amount of $325,000 were repaid in September 2021 and no
amounts remain outstanding or convertible. The fair value of the warrants of $ 544,824
was allocated to Paid in Capital.
On
August 27, 2021 the Company’s Board of Directors recommended a one for four reverse stock split such that every holder of the
Company’s common stock shall receive one share of Common Stock for every four shares owned. In addition, the Board recommended
the Company to issue ten million shares of no-par value Preferred Stock. The majority of the stockholders, and the majority of the
minority stockholders approved the recommendations. As of September 30, 2021 the Company has not made the reverse stock split effective, nor has it
issued any Preferred Stock.
12.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The
Energy Evolution Master Fund, Ltd. (“Energy Evolution”) is a related party of the Company as it beneficially owns approximately
23 % of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock as of September 30, 2021. Additionally, a board member of Energy Evolution
was appointed to the Company’s board in October 2021. This board member separately beneficially owns approximately 18 % of the Company’s
outstanding shares of common stock as of September 30, 2021. The board member also is a majority owner of Petroleum & Independent
Exploration, LLC and related entities (“PIE”). In October 2021 another Energy Evolution member was appointed to the Company’s
board of directors.
In
March 2021, the majority owner of PIE, through the exercise of warrants, became a significant shareholder of the Company’s
outstanding shares of stock (See Note 9). The Company has a joint development agreement with PIE to perform recompletion or workover
on specified mutually agreed upon wells (See Note 6). As of September 30, 2021, the Company has incurred obligations of $ 463,569
as a part of the joint development agreement (See Note 8).
The
Company is a borrower from Energy Evolution under the secured and unsecured notes that were amended in the third quarter of 2021.
These notes and the associated amendment resulted in the issuance of warrants and common stock to Energy Evolution (See Note
9).
13.
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Supplemental Cash Flow Information for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020:
2021
2020
Cash Paid for Interest
$ 975,944
$ 442,299
Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Non-cash Additions to Asset Retirement Obligations
$ 6,117,709
$ 9,508,483
Unsecured Convertible Note conversion
$ 2,918,000
$ 102,500
Purchases of oil and natural gas properties and deposits in accounts and notes payable, royalty suspense, and contingent payable to seller
$ 290,325
$ 2,569,863
Note payable issued - PIE Agreement (See Note 8)
$ 148,296
$ 69,962
Equipment purchased utilizing notes payable
$ 259,945
$ —
Forgiveness of PPP loan
$ 160,700
$ —
Shares and warrants issued for Secured Convertible Note
$ 16,131,650
$ —
- 19 -
14.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
From
time to time, the Company is subject to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, including proceedings for
which the Company may not have insurance coverage. While many of these matters involve inherent uncertainty, as of the date hereof, the
Company does not currently believe that any such legal proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial
position, results of operations or liquidity.
The
Company is subject to extensive federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. These laws, among other things, regulate
the discharge of materials into the environment and may require the Company to remove or mitigate the environmental effects of the disposal
or release of petroleum or chemical substances at various sites. Management believes no materially significant liabilities
of this nature existed as of September 30, 2021.
On
March 22, 2021 the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Empire ND Acquisitions, LLC, entered into a purchase and sale agreement
with 31 Group, LLC to acquire among other things, certain oil and gas properties in North Dakota. The purchase price was $ 900,000 , payable
one year from the closing date, and is reduced by certain expenses which the Company might incur relating to the properties or assessment
of certain wells as uneconomic for up to one year from the
closing
date. Prior to filing the assignment and the transfer of operatorship of the wells, Empire received notice of a temporary restraining
order issued by the District Court in Rockwall County, Texas enjoining 31 Group from transferring any assets to Empire. The Company and
31 Group, LLC negotiated a termination agreement that was signed July 22, 2021 which returned both parties to their pre-Agreement position.
15.
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
In
October 2021 the Company was informed that the SBA had forgiven the entire loan balance of its $ 106,850 SBA Paycheck Protection Program
(“PPP”) loan (See Note 8).
On
October 29, 2021, the Company, through its newly formed wholly owned subsidiary Empire Northwest Shelf LLC entered into a Purchase and
Sale Agreement dated October 22, 2021 with Rover Operating LLC and Rover Petroleum Properties, LLC (collectively, “Rover”)
to purchase certain oil and gas leasehold and other property interests in the state of New Mexico for a n initial
purchase price of $ 1.1
million . The Company paid
$ 110,000
in escrow fees on October 29, 2021.
Closing is scheduled for December
8, 2021 .
Effective
October 8, 2021, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed Angela Baker as Chief Accounting Officer of the Company. As a condition
of employment, Ms. Baker was issued 60,000 shares of common stock of the Company under the Company’s 2021 Stock and Incentive Compensation
Plan which will vest over a period of three years in one-third increments on each anniversary of October 18, 2021.
On October 28, 2021, the Company filed a Form
S-3 Registration Statement with the SEC utilizing a “shelf” registration process, which registration statement was declared
effective by the SEC on November 5, 2021. This registration statement provides the Company the ability to offer and sell from time
to time up to $350.0 million of various equity securities of the Company, subject to market conditions and the Company’s capital
needs. This registration statement also registered the offer and resale from time to time by certain selling stockholders of the
Company of up to 21,360,165 shares of common stock of the Company.
- 20 -
Item
2.
MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
GENERAL
TO ALL PERIODS
RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
The
Company’s primary business is the exploration and development of oil and natural gas interests. The Company has incurred significant
losses from operations, and there is no assurance that it will achieve profitability or obtain the funds necessary to finance its operations.
For all periods presented, the Company’s effective tax rate is 0%. The Company has generated net operating losses since inception, which
would normally reflect a tax benefit in the condensed consolidated statement of operations and a deferred asset on the condensed consolidated
balance sheet. However, because of the current uncertainty as to the Company’s ability to achieve profitability, a valuation reserve
has been established that offsets the amount of any tax benefit available for each period presented in the condensed consolidated statements
of operations.
The
following table sets forth a summary of our production and operating data for the three-and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021
and 2020. Because of normal production declines, increased or decreased drilling activities, fluctuations in commodity prices and the
effects of acquisitions or divestitures, the historical information presented below should not be interpreted as being indicative of
future results.
Three months ended
September 30,
Nine
months ended
September 30,
2021
2020
2021
2020
Production and operating data:
Net Production volumes:
Oil (Bbl) (a)
114,495
43,126
220,780
117,186
Natural gas (Mcf) (b)
224,118
70,875
379,600
128,738
Natural gas liquids (Gal) (c)
1,699,112
—
2,598,655
—
Total (Boe) (d)
192,303
54,938
345,920
138,648
Average price per unit:
Oil (Bbl) (a)
$ 64.98
$ 40.58
$ 59.80
$ 42.39
Natural gas (Mcf) (b)
3.82
1.44
4.05
1.62
Natural gas liquids (Gal) (c)
0.85
—
0.74
—
Total (Boe) (d)
$ 50.11
$ 33.72
$ 50.10
$ 37.34
(a) Bbl - One
stock tank barrel, of 42 U.S. gallons liquid volume, used herein in reference to oil, condensate, or natural gas liquids.
(b) Mcf –
One thousand cubic feet of natural gas
(c) Gal –
One gallon of natural gas liquid
(d) c. Boe -
One barrel of oil equivalent, a standard convention used to express oil and natural gas volumes on a comparable oil equivalent basis.
Natural gas equivalents are determined under the relative energy content method by using the ratio of 6.0 Mcf of natural gas to 1.0 Bbl
of oil or condensate.
Three months ended
September 30,
Nine
months ended
September 30,
2021
2020
2021
2020
Operating costs and expenses per Boe:
Oil and natural gas production
$ 18.75
$ 23.42
$ 21.18
$
25.07
Production taxes
$ 3.53
$ 1.61
$ 3.66
$
1.68
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion
$ 8.35
$ 4.63
$ 8.41
$
7.28
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties
$ —
$ —
$ —
$
5.77
General and administrative
$ 9.95
$ 23.27
$ 17.46
$
26.85
THREE-MONTH
PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 COMPARED TO THREE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2020.
For
the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, revenues from oil, natural gas, and other products sales were $10,127,933 and $1,645,403
respectively. In 2020, due to COVID and other economic factors, prices of oil and natural gas declined, resulting in the Company
reducing volumes produced. In 2021, the Company included revenue from the XTO properties for a portion of the period, which were not
owned in 2020.
Operating
expenses, production taxes, depreciation and depletion and amortization and accretion increased to $5,881,971 cumulatively for the three
months ended September 30, 2021 from $1,905,055 for the same period in 2020. The increase was primarily due to increased production attributable
to the addition of the XTO properties for a portion of the period in 2021.
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives decreased to $(32,271)
for the three months ended September 30, 2021, from $(103,166) in the same period 2020 due primarily to the timing and type of contracts
in existence at each quarter-end.
- 21 -
General and administrative expenses increased by
$635,659 to $1,914,326 for the three months ended September 30, 2021, from $1,278,667 for the same period in 2020. The increase was primarily
due to an increased number of employees and related to the XTO asset acquisition in 2021 and professional fees incurred as a result of
filings in the third quarter.
Interest expense was $4,467,679 and $124,887 for
the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase in interest expense of $4,342,792 resulted from interest
and amortization of debt issue costs for the convertible notes issued in 2021.
For the reasons discussed above, the previous period net loss increased
by $2,084,853 from $(1,641,372) for the three months ended September 30, 2020 to net loss of $(3,726,225) for the three months ended September
30, 2021.
NINE-MONTH
PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 COMPARED TO NINE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2020
For
the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, revenues from oil, natural gas, and other products sales were $17,485,855 and $3,954,332
respectively. In the second quarter of 2020, due to COVID and other economic factors, prices of oil and natural gas declined, resulting
in the Company reducing volumes produced. In 2021, the Company included revenue from the XTO properties for the period from close (May
2021) through September 30, 2021and the Pardus assets for all of 2021 which were only owned for a portion of the 2020 period.
Operating
expenses, production taxes, depreciation and depletion and amortization and accretion increased to $11,501,919 for the nine months ended
September 30, 2021 from $5,349,655 for the same period in 2020. The increase was primarily due to increased production attributable to
the XTO properties for the period from close (May 2021) through September 30, 2021and the Pardus assets for all of 2021 which were only
owned for a portion of the 2020 period.
Impairment
of oil and natural gas properties expense decreased to $-0- for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 from $800,452 for the same period
in 2020. This change was primarily attributable to the change in market prices for oil and natural gas in 2021.
Loss
on derivatives increased to $(572,220) for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, from a gain of $2,003,505 in the same period 2020
due to an increase in oil prices since the agreements were entered into, the types of contracts in existence at each period-end, and
the time to the date of maturity or the balance sheet date.
General and administrative expenses increased by
$2,318,418 to $6,040,475 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, from $3,722,057 for the same period in 2020. The increase was
primarily due to an increased number of employees and professional fees related to the XTO asset acquisitions in 2021 and the $989,115
“right to buy” expense in conjunction with the issuance of the unsecured convertible notes. In 2020, expenses included the
$725,000 allowance for the acquisition deposit on the Ovintiv properties.
Interest expense was $7,373,113 and $380,975 for
the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase in interest expense of $6,992,138 resulted primarily from
interest and amortization of debt issue costs for the convertible notes in 2021.
For the reasons discussed above, the previous period
net loss increased by $6,968,825 from $(3,026,542) for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 to net loss of $(9,995,367) for the nine
months ended September 30, 2021.
LIQUIDITY
AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
GENERAL
The
Company’s primary sources of short-term liquidity are cash and cash equivalents, net cash provided by operating activities, and
issuance of debt and equity securities. The Company’s short- and long-term liquidity requirements consist primarily of capital
expenditures, acquisitions of oil and natural gas properties, payments of contractual obligations, and working capital obligations. Funding
for these requirements may be provided by any combination of the Company’s sources of liquidity. Although the Company expects that
its sources of funding will be adequate to fund its 2021 liquidity requirements, no assurance can be given that such funding sources
will be adequate to meet the Company’s future needs.
During
the nine months ended September 31, 2021, the Company enhanced its liquidity position by modifying its senior secured notes and extending
the maturity of these notes to June 30, 2023, with the combined objective of increasing liquidity, extending the Company’s debt
maturities, and lowering the Company’s future cash interest expense on long-term debt.
- 22 -
OUTLOOK
See
Notes 5, 6 and 9 to the financial statements for information regarding the purchase and development agreements the Company entered into
in 2020 and 2021 to purchase and develop existing oil and natural gas properties and mineral interests. The Company is also actively
pursuing the acquisition of other operated and non-operated oil and natural gas properties. It is anticipated that such acquisitions
will be financed through equity or debt transactions.
Lower oil and natural gas prices present
challenges to our industry and our Company. The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused oil price volatility in 2020. In the
first three quarters of 2020, gains on settled derivatives offset a substantial portion of the impact of the recent decline in prices
and slower production, and we currently have derivative positions in place for a portion of our expected remaining 2021 production. O il
and gas prices have improved in 2021; there can be no assurance that these higher prices will remain at current levels in the future.
There can be no assurance that we will be able to add derivative positions to cover the remainder
of our expected production at favorable prices .
The
Impact of COVID-19 on Our Business
In
2020, there was a global outbreak of COVID-19 which has resulted in changes in global supply and demand of certain mineral and energy
products.
Decreased
transportation, manufacturing and general economic activity levels prompted by COVID-19 and related governmental and societal actions
reduced the demand for oil-based products such as gasoline, jet fuel and other refined products, which prompted purchasers of oil and
condensate to reduce purchase levels. These situations led to production greater than storage capacity at certain points during the year.
To the extent that this decreased demand for our commodities continues and our margins are not at acceptable levels or storage for our
production is not available, we may have to reduce production from or completely shut-in portions of our currently producing wells. The
inability to sell our production or the decision to potentially reduce or shut in our production could materially and adversely affect
our operating results and our ability to comply with the financial covenants under our Credit Facility.
There
is uncertainty around the continuing extent and duration of the disruption. The degree to which the COVID-19 pandemic or any other public
health crisis adversely impacts our results will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including,
but not limited to, the duration and spread of the outbreak, its severity, the actions to contain the virus or treat its impact, its
impact on the economy and market conditions, and how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions can resume.
Therefore, while we expect this matter will likely continue to disrupt our operations, the degree of the adverse financial impact cannot
be reasonably estimated at this time
FORWARD-LOOKING
INFORMATION
This
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including this section, includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of federal securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, which address activities, events,
or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including future sources of financing
and other possible business developments, are forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks
and uncertainties and could be affected by a number of distinct factors, including the Company’s failure to secure short and long-term
financing necessary to sustain and grow its operations, increased competition, changes in the markets in which the Company participates
and the technology utilized by the Company and new legislation regarding environmental matters. These risks and other risks that could
affect the Company’s business are more fully described in reports the Company files with the SEC, including its Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2020. Actual results may vary materially from the forward-looking statements.
The
Company undertakes no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements in this Form 10-Q.
MATERIAL
RISKS
The Company has incurred significant losses from
operations and there is no assurance that it will achieve profitability or obtain the funds necessary to finance continued operations.
Related Party Shareholder Concentration
Certain material related party transactions have
resulted in concentrated ownership of the Company and could impact future operations.
Green Tree New Mexico Spin-off
One such instance of a potential future impact relates
to the Company’s best efforts to spin-off to stockholders Green Tree New Mexico on or before December 31, 2022 (See Note 9). It
is unknown how this would affect the Company’s liquidity should such a spin-off occur.
For other material risks, see the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2020, which was filed on March 31, 2021.
Item 3. QUANTITATIVE
AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not
applicable.
Item 4. CONTROLS
AND PROCEDURES
As
of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company conducted an evaluation under the supervision of the Company’s President
(and principal financial officer) of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures
pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a - 15(e) and 15d - 15(e). Based on this evaluation, the Company’s President (and principal
financial officer) has concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report are not
effective. As described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange commission (the “SEC”)
on March 31, 2021, our Chief Executive Officer and President (principal financial officer) concluded that, as of December 31, 2020, our
reporting and disclosure controls and procedures were not effective at a reasonable assurance level as we do not have sufficient resources
in our accounting function, which restricts the Company’s ability to gather, analyze and properly review information related to
financial reporting in a timely manner. In addition, due to our size and nature, segregation of all conflicting duties may not always
be possible and may not be economically feasible. The Company engaged a financial consultant during the quarter to assist with the evaluation
of its disclosure controls and procedures and will continue to perform additional analysis and procedures to implement appropriate disclosure
controls and procedures. Notwithstanding the assessment that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective, we believe that
our condensed consolidated financial statements fairly present our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows
for the periods thereby covered in all material respects.
- 23 -
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal
Proceedings
None.
Item 1A. Risk
Factors
Not
applicable.
Item
2. Unregistered
Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None.
Item 3. Defaults
Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine
Safety Disclosures
Not
applicable.
Item 5. Other
Information
None.
Item
6. Exhibits
31.1
Certification
of Thomas Pritchard, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Rules 13a - 14 (a) and 15(d) -
14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Item 601(1)
(31) of Regulation S-K, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(submitted herewith).
31.2
Certification
of Michael R. Morrisett, President and principal financial officer, pursuant to Rules 13a - 14 (a) and 15(d) - 14(a) promulgated
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Item 601(1) (31) of Regulation S-K, as adopted pursuant to Section 302
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (submitted herewith).
32.1
Certification
of Thomas Pritchard, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (submitted herewith).
32.2
Certification
of Michael R. Morrisett, President and principal financial officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (submitted
herewith).
101
Financial
Statements for XBRL format (submitted herewith).
104
Cover
Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
- 24 -
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Empire
Petroleum Corporation
Date: November
15, 2021
By:
/s/ Michael
R. Morrisett
Michael
R. Morrisett
President
(principal
financial officer)
Date: November
15, 2021
By:
/s/ Thomas
Pritchard
Thomas Pritchard
Chief Executive Officer
- 25 -
EXHIBIT
INDEX
NO.
DESCRIPTION
31.1
Certification of Thomas Pritchard, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Rules 13a - 14 (a) and 15(d) - 14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Item 601(1) (31) of Regulation S-K, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (submitted herewith).
31.2
Certification of Michael R. Morrisett, President (principal financial officer), pursuant to Rules 13a - 14 (a) and 15(d) - 14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Item 601(1) (31) of Regulation S-K, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (submitted herewith).
32.1
Certification of Thomas Pritchard, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (submitted herewith).
32.2
Certification of Michael R. Morrisett, President (principal financial officer) pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (submitted herewith).
101
Financial
Statements for XBRL format (submitted herewith).
104
Cover
Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.