10-K
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d928538d10k.htm
10-K
10-K
Table of Contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
☒
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024
OR
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM TO
Commission File Number 001-42499
INFINITY NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)
Delaware
99-3407012
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
2605 Cranberry Square
Morgantown, WV
26508
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrants telephone number, including area code:
(304) 212-2350
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading
Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange
on which registered
Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share
INR
The New York Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities
Act. YES ☐ NO ☒
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13
or 15(d) of the Act. YES ☐ NO ☒
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 ☐ NO ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted
electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). YES ☐ NO ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the
registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the 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 has filed a report on and attestation to its managements assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C.
7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐
If securities are registered pursuant to
Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by
any of the registrants executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act). YES ☐ NO ☒
The Company was not a public company as of the last business day of its most recently completed
second quarter and therefore cannot calculate the aggregate market value of its voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates at such date.
The number of shares of the Registrants Class A common stock and Class B common stock outstanding as of March 21, 2025 was 15,237,500 and
45,638,889, respectively.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: None.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Page
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
ii
Commonly Used Defined Terms
iv
Glossary of Oil and Natural Gas Terms
v
Risk Factors Summary
viii
PART I
Item 1.
Business
1
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
18
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
47
Item 1C.
Cybersecurity
48
Item 2.
Properties
48
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
48
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
48
PART II
Item 5.
Market for Registrants Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
49
Item 6.
[Reserved]
50
Item 7.
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
50
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
64
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
66
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
98
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
98
Item 9B.
Other Information
99
Item 9C.
Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions That Prevent Inspections
99
PART III
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
100
Item 11.
Executive Compensation
104
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
111
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
112
Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
115
PART IV
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
116
Item 16.
Form 10-K Summary
117
SIGNATURES
118
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this Annual Report)
may contain forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this Annual Report regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected
costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used in this Annual Report, words such as may, assume, forecast, could, should, will,
plan, believe, anticipate, intend, estimate, expect, project, budget and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements, although
not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on managements current belief, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events at the time
such statement was made. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements described in Item 1A. Risk Factors and Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operation included in this Annual Report. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by such forward-looking statements include:
oil, natural gas and NGL prices;
our business strategy;
the timing and amount of our future production of oil, natural gas and NGLs;
our estimated proved reserves;
our ability to achieve or maintain certain financial and operational metrics;
our drilling prospects, inventories, projects and programs;
actions taken by the OPEC and other allied countries (collectively known as OPEC+) as it pertains to
the global supply and demand of, and prices for, oil, natural gas and NGLs;
armed conflict, political instability or civil unrest in oil and gas producing regions, including instability in
the Middle East and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the related potential effects on laws and regulations, or the imposition of economic or trade sanctions;
our ability to replace the reserves we produce through drilling and property acquisitions;
the occurrence or threat of epidemic or pandemic diseases, or any government response to such occurrence or
threat;
our financial strategy, leverage, liquidity and capital required for our development program;
our pending legal matters;
our ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws, regulations and obligations;
our price differentials;
our ability to reduce or offset our GHG emissions, including our ability to achieve carbon neutrality;
our hedging strategy and results;
our competition and government regulations;
our ability to obtain permits and governmental approvals;
our marketing of oil, natural gas and NGLs;
our leasehold or business acquisitions;
our costs of developing our properties;
general economic conditions;
credit markets;
uncertainty regarding our future operating results; and
our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions contained in this Annual Report.
We caution you that these forward-looking statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties incident to the development,
production, gathering and sale of oil, natural gas and NGLs, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. These risks include, but are not limited to, commodity price volatility; inflation; lack of availability
and cost of drilling, completion and production equipment and services;
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supply chain disruption; project construction delays; environmental risks; drilling, completion and other
operating risks; lack of availability or capacity of midstream gathering and transportation infrastructure; regulatory changes; the uncertainty inherent in estimating reserves and in projecting future rates of production, cash flow and access to
capital; the timing of development expenditures, impacts of geopolitical and world health events; cybersecurity risks; and the other risks described under Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Reserve engineering is a process of estimating underground accumulations of hydrocarbons that cannot be measured in an exact way. The accuracy
of any reserve estimates depends on the quality of available data, the interpretation of such data and price and cost assumptions made by reserve engineers. In addition, the results of drilling, testing and production activities may justify
revisions of estimates that were made previously. If significant, such revisions would change the schedule of any future production and development program. Accordingly, reserve estimates may differ significantly from the quantities of oil and
natural gas that are ultimately recovered.
Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this Annual Report occur, or
should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.
All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this Annual Report are expressly qualified in their entirety by this
cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we or persons acting on our behalf may issue.
Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly
qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Annual Report.
ABOUT THIS ANNUAL
REPORT
Financial Statement Presentation
This Annual Report includes certain historical consolidated financial and other data for Infinity Natural Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (INR Holdings).
Infinity Natural Resources, Inc. was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on May 15,
2024. Prior to the completion of its initial public offering (the IPO) on February 3, 2025, Infinity Natural Resources, Inc. undertook certain reorganization transactions (the Corporate Reorganization) such that Infinity
Natural Resources, Inc. is now a holding company, whose sole material asset consists of membership interests in INR Holdings. INR Holdings owns all of the outstanding membership interests in each of INR Operating, INR Ohio, INR Midstream, Block
Island and Cheat Mountain, the operating subsidiaries through which INR Holdings operates its assets. Infinity Natural Resources, Inc. is the managing member of INR Holdings and controls and is responsible for all operational, management and
administrative decisions relating to INR Holdings business and consolidates the financial results of INR Holdings and reports non-controlling interests in its consolidated financial statements related to the
INR Units that the Legacy Owners own in INR Holdings.
Infinity Natural Resources, Inc. had no significant business transactions or
activities prior to the Corporate Reorganization, and, as a result, the historical financial information reflects that of INR Holdings.
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COMMONLY USED DEFINED TERMS
As used in this Annual Report, unless the context indicates or otherwise requires, the terms listed below have the following meanings:
Block Island refers to Block Island Minerals LLC, a subsidiary of INR Holdings;
Carroll County Acquisition refers to INR Holdings acquisition of the Warrior North field from
PennEnergy Resources, Inc. in April 2021;
Cheat Mountain refers to Cheat Mountain Resources, LLC, a subsidiary of INR Holdings;
Credit Agreement refers to that certain Credit Agreement, dated September 25, 2024, by and among
INR Holdings, the lenders from time to time party thereto and Citibank, N.A., as the administrative agent and an issuing bank;
Credit Facility refers to the revolving credit facility provided under our Credit Agreement;
INR Holdings refers to Infinity Natural Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and the
entity that holds the Companys operating entities;
INR Holdings LLC Agreement refers to the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company
Agreement of INR Holdings;
Infinity Natural Resources, Infinity, INR, the Company,
we, our, us or like terms refer collectively to Infinity Natural Resources, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise indicates;
INR Ohio refers to INR Ohio, LLC, a subsidiary of INR Holdings;
INR Midstream refers to INR Midstream, LLC, a subsidiary of INR Holdings;
INR Operating refers to INR Operating, LLC, a subsidiary of INR Holdings;
INR Unit Holder refers to a holder of INR Units (other than INR) and a corresponding number of shares
of Class B common stock of INR;
INR Units refers to units representing limited liability company interests in INR Holdings issued
pursuant to the INR Holdings LLC Agreement, which shall only be held along with a corresponding number of shares of Class B common stock of INR (other than those held by INR);
Legacy Owners refers, collectively, to Pearl, NGP, certain other
co-investors and the management members that directly and indirectly own equity interests in INR Holdings or its wholly owned subsidiaries following the completion of our Corporate Reorganization;
LLC Interests refers to the limited liability company interests of INR Holdings;
NGP refers to a family of private equity funds managed by NGP Energy Capital Management, L.L.C.,
including NGP XI US Holdings, L.P.;
Ohio Utica Acquisition refers to Infinitys acquisition of assets from Utica Resource Ventures
and PEO Ohio in October 2023;
Pearl refers to Pearl Energy Investments, L.P., PEI INR Holdings, L.P., Pearl Energy Investments III,
L.P., PEI Infinity-S, LP, PEI INR Co-Invest-B Corp and their affiliates;
PEO Ohio refers to PEO Ohio, LLC;
Prior Credit Facility refers to the revolving credit facility provided under the Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement of INR Holdings, dated October 4, 2023; and
Utica Resource Ventures refers to Utica Resource Ventures, LLC.
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GLOSSARY OF OIL AND NATURAL GAS TERMS
The following are abbreviations and definitions of certain terms used in this document, which are commonly used in the oil and natural gas
industry:
Appalachian Basin means the area of the United States composed of those portions of West Virginia,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Kentucky, New York, Tennessee and Virginia that lie in amongst Appalachian Mountains;
basis means when referring to commodity pricing, the difference between the NYMEX WTI, for oil
prices, and NYMEX Henry Hub, for gas prices, and the corresponding sales price at various regional sales points. The differential commonly is related to factors such as product quality, location, transportation capacity availability and contract
pricing;
Bbl means one stock tank barrel or 42 U.S. gallons liquid volume;
Bcf means one billion standard cubic feet of natural gas;
Boe means one barrel of oil equivalent, calculated by converting natural gas to oil equivalent
barrels at a ratio of six Mcf of natural gas to one Bbl of oil equivalent. This is an energy content correlation and does not reflect a value or price relationship between the commodities;
Boe/d means one Boe per day;
British thermal unit or Btu means a measure of the amount of energy required to raise the
temperature of one pound of water by one-degree Fahrenheit;
CO 2 means carbon dioxide;
collar means a financial arrangement that effectively establishes a price range for the underlying
commodity. The producer bears the risk and benefit of fluctuation between the minimum (floor) price and the maximum (ceiling) price;
drilled and uncompleted well or DUC means a wellbore in which horizontal drilling has
been completed but has yet to be stimulated through hydraulic fracturing;
drilling locations means total gross locations that may be able to be drilled on our existing
acreage. A portion of our drilling locations constitute estimated locations based on our acreage and spacing assumptions, as described in Item 1. Business;
estimated ultimate recovery or EUR means the sum of the economic life of reserves
remaining as of a given date and cumulative production as of that date. As used in this Annual Report, EUR includes only proved reserves and is based on Wrights reserve estimates;
FERC means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission;
field means an area consisting of a single reservoir or multiple reservoirs all grouped on, or
related to, the same individual geological structural feature or stratigraphic condition. The field name refers to the surface area, although it may refer to both the surface and the underground productive formations;
formation means a layer of rock which has distinct characteristics that differs from nearby rock;
gas means natural gas;
gross means gross natural gas and oil wells or gross acres equal to the total
number of wells or acres in which we have a working interest;
HBP means
held-by-production;
hedging means the use of derivative commodity and interest rate instruments to reduce financial
exposure to commodity price and interest rate volatility;
held-by-storage means
leasehold held through a declared storage field, injection well, or simply held by storage rights;
Henry Hub means the distribution hub on the natural gas pipeline system in Erath, Louisiana, owned by
Sabine Pipe Line LLC;
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horizontal drilling means drilling that ultimately is horizontal or near horizontal to increase the
length of the wellbore penetrating the target formation;
horizontal wells means wells that are drilled horizontal or near horizontal to increase the length of
the wellbore penetrating the target formation;
LNG means liquified natural gas;
lower 48 means the continental United States, excluding Alaska and Hawaii;
MBoe means one thousand barrels of oil equivalent;
MBoe/d means one thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day;
Mcf means one standard thousand cubic feet of natural gas;
MMBbl means one million barrels of crude oil, condensate or NGLs;
MMBoe means one million barrels of oil equivalent;
MMBtu means one million British thermal units;
MMBtu/d means one MMBtu per day;
MMcf means one million standard cubic feet of natural gas;
MMcf/d means one million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day;
natural gas liquids or NGLs means hydrocarbons in the same family of molecules as
natural gas and crude oil, composed exclusively of carbon and hydrogen. Ethane, propane, butane, isobutane, and pentane are all NGLs;
net acres means the percentage of total acres an owner owns or has leased out of a particular number
of acres, or a specified tract. An owner who has 50% interest in 100 acres owns 50 net acres;
NYMEX means the New York Mercantile Exchange;
option means a contract that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a
specified quantity of a commodity or other instrument at a specific price within a specified period of time;
proved developed nonproducing reserves or PDNP reserves that can be expected to be
recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods but are not yet producing;
proved developed producing reserves or PDP means reserves that can be expected to be
recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission or Society of Petroleum Engineers definitions of proved reserves;
proved reserves means the summation of reserves within the PDP, PDNP and PUD reservoir categories;
proved undeveloped reserves or PUDs means proved reserves that are expected to be
recovered from undrilled well locations on existing acreage or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion within the five-year development window, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission or
Society of Petroleum Engineers definition of PUD;
recompletion means the process of re-entering an existing
wellbore and mechanically reinvigorating the wellbore to establish or increase existing production and reserves;
reservoir means a porous and permeable underground formation containing a natural accumulation of
producible oil and/or natural gas that is confined by impermeable rock and is separate from other reservoirs;
spacing means the footage between wellbores;
statutory unitization means the process prescribed by Ohio Revised Code Section 1509.28, by
which an applicant (typically an operator) may seek to combine mineral rights from individual tracts of land to form a drilling unit to efficiently and effectively develop the oil and gas resources beneath those tracts. Statutory unitization is
available when the owners of sixty-five percent of the land overlying a pool (or part of a pool) of oil and gas apply to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management to operate the pool (or part of a pool) as
a drilling unit;
undeveloped acreage means acreage under lease on which wells have not been drilled or completed;
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unit means the joining of all or substantially all interests in a specific reservoir or field, rather
than a single tract, to provide for development and operation without regard to separate mineral interests. Also, the area covered by a unitization agreement;
well pad or pad means an area of land that has been cleared and leveled to enable a
drilling rig to operate in the exploration and development of a natural gas or oil well;
wellbore or well means a drilled hole that is equipped for the production of
hydrocarbons;
working interest means the right granted to the lessee of a property to explore for and to produce
and own natural gas or other minerals. The working interest owners bear the exploration, development, and operating costs on either a cash, penalty, or carried basis; and
WTI means West Texas Intermediate.
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RISK FACTORS SUMMARY
Risks Related to Commodity Prices
Oil, natural gas and NGL prices are volatile. A sustained decline in prices could adversely affect our business,
financial condition and results of operations, liquidity and our ability to meet our financial commitments or cause us to delay our planned capital expenditures.
We could experience periods of higher costs if commodity prices rise. These increases could reduce our
profitability, cash flow and ability to complete development activities as planned.
Certain factors could require us to write down the carrying values of our properties, including commodity prices
decreasing to a level such that our future undiscounted cash flows from our properties are less than their carrying value.
Risks
Related to Our Reserves, Leases and Drilling Locations
Reserve estimates depend on many assumptions that may turn out to be inaccurate. Any material inaccuracies in
reserve estimates or underlying assumptions will materially affect the quantities and present value of our reserves.
Unless we replace our reserves with new reserves and develop those new reserves, our reserves and production will
decline, which would adversely affect our future cash flows and results of operations.
Our undeveloped acreage must be drilled before lease expiration to hold the acreage by production. In highly
competitive markets for acreage, failure to drill sufficient wells to hold acreage could result in a substantial lease renewal cost or, if renewal is not feasible, loss of our lease and prospective drilling opportunities.
Our identified drilling locations are scheduled out over many years, making them susceptible to uncertainties
that could materially alter the occurrence or timing of their drilling.
Properties that we decide to drill may not yield oil, natural gas and NGLs in commercially viable quantities.
Risks Related to Our Operations
Our development projects and acquisitions require substantial capital expenditures. We may be unable to obtain
any required capital or financing on satisfactory terms, which could lead to a decline in our production and reserves.
Drilling for and producing oil, natural gas and NGLs are high-risk activities with many uncertainties that could
adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Some of our properties are in areas that may have been partially depleted or drained by offset (i.e.,
neighboring) wells, and certain of our wells may be adversely affected by actions other operators may take when drilling, completing or operating wells that they own.
Our ability to produce oil, natural gas and NGLs economically and in commercial quantities is dependent on the
availability of adequate supplies of water for drilling and completion operations and access to water and waste disposal or recycling facilities and services at a reasonable cost. Restrictions on our ability to obtain water or dispose of produced
water and other waste may have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Our producing properties are concentrated in the Appalachian Basin, making us vulnerable to risks associated with
operating in one major geographic area.
The marketability of certain of our production is dependent upon transportation and other facilities, which we do
not control. If these facilities are unavailable, or if there are any increases in the cost of using these services or facilities, our operations could be interrupted, our revenues could be reduced and our costs could increase.
The unavailability or high cost of drilling rigs, completion crews, equipment, supplies, personnel and oilfield
services could adversely affect our ability to execute our development plans within our budget and on a timely basis.
We may incur losses as a result of title defects in the properties in which we invest.
Future legislation or changes in tax laws and regulations may result in the elimination of certain U.S. federal
income tax deductions currently available with respect to oil and gas exploration and production. Additionally, future federal or state legislation may impose new or increased taxes or fees on oil and natural gas extraction, transportation and
sales.
Changes in effective tax rates, or adverse outcomes resulting from other tax increases or an examination of our
income or other tax returns, could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Continuing or worsening inflationary pressures and associated changes in monetary policy may result in increases
to the cost of our goods, services, and personnel, which in turn could cause our capital expenditures and operating costs to rise.
We are not the operator of all of our oil and natural gas properties and therefore are not in a position to
control the timing of development efforts, the associated costs or the rate of production of the reserves on such properties.
Properties we acquire may not produce as projected, and we may be unable to determine reserve potential, identify
liabilities associated with the properties that we acquire or obtain protection from sellers against such liabilities.
Strategic determinations, including the allocation of capital and other resources to strategic opportunities, are
subject to risk and uncertainties, and our failure to appropriately allocate capital and resources among our strategic opportunities may adversely affect our financial condition.
Competition in our industry is intense, making it more difficult for us to acquire properties, market oil,
natural gas and NGLs, secure trained personnel and raise additional capital.
Cyberattacks targeting systems and infrastructure used by the oil and gas industry and related regulations may
adversely impact our operations and, if we are unable to obtain and maintain adequate protection for our data, our business may be harmed.
We previously identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting and may identify
additional material weaknesses in the future which, if not corrected, could affect the reliability of our consolidated financial statements and have other adverse consequences.
Risks Related to Our Derivative Transactions, Debt and Access to Capital
Our derivative activities could result in financial losses or could reduce our earnings.
The failure of our hedge counterparties, significant customers or working interest holders to meet their
obligations to us may adversely affect our financial results.
Our ability to obtain financing on terms acceptable to us may be limited in the future by, among other things,
increases in interest rates.
The borrowing base under our Credit Facility may be reduced if commodity prices decline, which could hinder or
prevent us from meeting our future capital needs.
Risks Related to our Class A Common Stock and Capital Structure
We are a holding company. Our sole material asset is our equity interest in INR Holdings and we are accordingly
dependent upon distributions from INR Holdings to pay taxes, make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement and cover our corporate and other overhead expenses.
Pearl and NGP collectively hold a substantial majority of our capital stock and voting power.
Conflicts of interest could arise in the future between us and Pearl, NGP and their respective affiliates,
including their portfolio companies concerning conflicts over our operations or business opportunities.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, as well as Delaware law,
contains provisions that could discourage acquisition bids or merger proposals, which may adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock.
The requirements of being a public company, including compliance with the reporting requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, may strain our resources, increase our costs and distract management, and we may be unable to comply with these requirements in a timely or cost-effective
manner.
For as long as we are an emerging growth company, we will not be required to comply with certain reporting
requirements, including disclosure about our executive compensation, that apply to other public companies.
We will be required to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for certain tax benefits we may claim,
and the amounts of such payments could be significant.
In certain circumstances, INR Holdings will be required to make tax distributions to us and the INR Unit Holders,
and the tax distributions that INR Holdings will be required to make may be substantial.
Risks Related to Environmental and
Regulatory Matters
Our operations are subject to stringent environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that may expose us
to significant costs and liabilities that could exceed current expectations.
Federal, state and local legislative and regulatory initiatives relating to hydraulic fracturing as well as
governmental reviews of such activities could result in increased costs, additional operating restrictions or delays, limits to the areas in which we can operate and reductions in our oil, natural gas and NGL production, which could adversely affect
our production and business.
We are subject to risks related to climate change, which could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition and results of operations.
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PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Overview
We are a growth oriented
independent energy company focused on the acquisition, development, and production of hydrocarbons in the Appalachian Basin. We are focused on creating shareholder value through the identification and disciplined development of low-risk, highly economic oil and natural gas assets while maintaining a strong and flexible balance sheet. We are an early mover into the core of the Utica Shales volatile oil window in eastern Ohio as well
as the emerging dry gas Utica Shale in southwestern Pennsylvania. Our Marcellus Shale development overlays our deep dry gas Utica assets in Pennsylvania, providing highly economic stacked development inventory that leverages the same company-owned
midstream infrastructure. We have amassed approximately 93,000 net surface acres with exposure to the core of these plays providing us a unique and balanced portfolio of high-return oil and natural gas drilling locations. This balance allows us to
optimize our development plan across our portfolio to capitalize on changes in commodity pricing over time.
Our corporate headquarters
are in Morgantown, WV, and shares of our Class A common stock trade on the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) under the ticker symbol INR.
Initial Public Offering
On
February 3, 2025, we completed our IPO of 15,237,500 shares of our Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (Class A common stock), which includes 1,987,500 shares of Class A common stock issued and
sold pursuant to the underwriters exercise of their option in full to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock, at a price to the public of $20.00 per share ($18.80 per share net of underwriting discounts and
commissions). After deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, we received net proceeds of approximately $286.5 million. We contributed all of the net proceeds from the IPO to INR Holdings. In turn, INR Holdings used all of the net
proceeds from the IPO (net of underwriting discounts) after paying certain offering expenses to repay $285.0 million of outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility. After giving effect to the IPO and the transactions related thereto, we
had 15,237,500 shares of Class A common stock and 45,638,889 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (Class B common stock) issued and outstanding.
Corporate Reorganization
In connection
with the IPO, we underwent a Corporate Reorganization whereby: (a) the membership interests of the Legacy Owners in INR Holdings (including the Incentive Units, as defined in Item 11. Executive CompensationNarrative Disclosure to
Summary Compensation TableLong-Term Equity Incentive Compensation) were recapitalized into a single class of units (the INR Units), and, in exchange for their existing membership interests, the Legacy Owners received INR
Units and an equal number of shares of Class B common stock; and (b) we contributed the net proceeds of the IPO to INR Holdings in exchange for newly issued INR Units and a managing member interest in INR Holdings. After giving effect to
the Corporate Reorganization and the IPO, we own an approximate 25.0% interest in INR Holdings and the Legacy Owners own an approximate 75.0% interest in INR Holdings. Infinity is a holding company whose sole material asset consists of membership
interests in INR Holdings. Infinity is the managing member of INR Holdings and controls and is responsible for all operational, management and administrative decisions relating to INR Holdings business and consolidates the financial results of
INR Holdings and reports non-controlling interests in its consolidated financial statements related to the INR Units that the Legacy Owners own in INR Holdings.
Our Operations
Our operations are
focused on the Utica Shales volatile oil window in eastern Ohio as well as the Marcellus Shale and the emerging dry gas Utica Shale in southwestern Pennsylvania. The following table provides a summary of our approximate net acreage, net
operated producing wells and gross drilling locations separated by shale (including acreage prospective for dual-zone development):
As of December 31, 2024
Net Horizon
Acres (1)
Operated
Producing
Wells (#)
Development
Drilling
Locations (#)
Utica Shale Oil (OH)
62,704
118
158
(3)
Marcellus Shale Dry Gas (PA) (2)
30,305
13
118
(4)
Utica Shale Deep Dry Gas (PA) (2)
30,029
66
(1)
Does not include 13,908 net acres located in the Marcellus Shale in Ohio that is not part of our development
plan.
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(2)
The acreage in this table reflects net horizon acres. Substantially all of our surface acreage in Pennsylvania
is prospective for both the Utica and Marcellus Shales for dual-zone development. As a result, most of our net surface acres represent one horizon acre for the Utica Shale and one horizon acre for the Marcellus Shale. Our total net surface acreage
irrespective of dual-zone development was 93,129 net acres and our total horizon acres were 123,038. See BusinessOur OperationsAcreage as of December 31, 2024 for information regarding our undeveloped and developed
surface acreage.
(3)
Includes two PDNP wells and two DUCs.
(4)
Includes five DUCs.
Utica Shale Oil Ohio
We
have approximately 63,000 acres in Ohio centered in the volatile oil window of the Utica Shale, primarily in Guernsey, Carroll, Noble, Morgan and Washington Counties. We first acquired our properties in the volatile oil window of the Utica Shale in
Ohio in April 2021 through our Carroll County Acquisition. Since that time, we have acquired additional acres in the volatile oil window in close proximity to our existing assets through both organic leasing efforts and acquisitions, including
approximately 39,185 net acres in our Ohio Utica Acquisition and approximately 5,705 acres leased within Salt Fork State Park, further expanding our operations in the core of the play.
We have 118 producing horizontal wells, two PDNP wells and two DUCs in this operating area with net daily production of 18.9 MBoe/d in 2024.
We intend to operate 100% of our future drilling locations and approximately 77% of our acreage is HBP.
Marcellus Shale Dry Gas and Utica Deep Dry
Gas Pennsylvania
Our Pennsylvania properties, which we initially acquired in March 2018, are predominately located to the
northeast of Pittsburgh in Westmoreland, Armstrong and Indiana counties. We have expanded our leasehold position through a series of subsequent acquisitions and have amassed approximately 31,000 net surface acres with exposure to both Marcellus and
Utica Shales. Our development of the Marcellus Shale overlies the deep dry gas Utica Shale underneath providing us dual horizon development as well as the opportunity to further leverage our wholly owned midstream system in this area. While early in
its development, the deep dry gas Utica continues to emerge and show highly attractive commercial characteristics. As of February 2025, we have one outstanding permit to drill a deep dry gas Utica Shale well in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. Our
contiguous HBP acreage and company-owned midstream infrastructure allow us to maximize the economics of the stacked Marcellus and Utica plays.
We have 13 producing horizontal wells and five DUCs in this operating area with net daily production of 5.2 MBoe/d in 2024. We intend to
operate 100% of our future drilling locations and approximately 98% of our acreage is HBP or held-by-storage.
Our Properties
Oil, Natural Gas and NGL Reserves
The information with respect to our estimated reserves has been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Our estimated proved reserves as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 are based on valuations prepared by our independent reserve engineer, Wright & Company, Inc. (Wright). Copies of the summary reports of our reserve engineers as
of December 31, 2024 and 2023 are filed as exhibits to this Annual Report. Preparation of Reserve Estimates below contains additional definitions of proved reserves and the technologies and economic data used in their
estimation. The following tables summarize estimated reserves based on reports prepared by Wright. The information in the following tables does not give any effect to or reflect our commodity hedge portfolio.
Summary of Reserves as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 Based on SEC Pricing
The following table provides the estimated reserves of INR Holdings as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 based on SEC pricing:
December 31,
2024 (1)
December 31,
2023 (2)
Proved developed reserves:
Crude oil (MBbls)
14,577
13,172
Natural Gas (MMcf)
248,634
252,832
NGL (MBbls)
12,856
12,644
Total proved developed reserves
(MBoe) (3)
68,872
67,954
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December 31,
2024 (1)
December 31,
2023 (2)
Proved undeveloped reserves :
Crude oil (MBbls)
22,777
17,866
Natural Gas (MMcf)
368,382
255,893
NGL (MBbls)
17,300
13,118
Total proved undeveloped reserves
(MBoe) (3)
101,474
73,633
Total proved reserves :
Crude oil (MBbls)
37,354
31,038
Natural Gas (MMcf)
617,016
508,725
NGL (MBbls)
30,156
25,762
Total proved reserves (MBoe) (3)(4)
170,346
141,587
Proved developed reserves (%)
40
%
48
%
Proved undeveloped reserves (%)
60
%
52
%
Reserve values (in thousands) :
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows
$
972,518
$
938,384
Discounted future income tax expense
N/A
N/A
Total proved pre-tax
PV-10 (5)
$
972,518
$
938,384
(1)
Our estimated reserves were determined using average first-day-of-the-month prices for the prior 12 months in accordance with SEC regulations. The unweighted arithmetic average first-day-of-the-month prices for the prior 12 months were $75.48 per Bbl for oil and $2.13 per
MMBtu for natural gas at December 31, 2024. These base prices were adjusted for differentials on a per property basis, including local basis differentials and fuel costs, resulting in $67.98 per Bbl for oil, $1.42 per MMBtu for natural gas, and
$25.48 per Bbl for NGLs at December 31, 2024.
(2)
Our estimated reserves were determined using average first-day-of-the-month prices for the prior 12 months in accordance with SEC regulations. The unweighted arithmetic average first-day-of-the-month prices for the prior 12 months were $78.22 per Bbl for oil and $2.64 per
MMBtu for natural gas at December 31, 2023. These base prices were adjusted for differentials on a per property basis, including local basis differentials and fuel costs, resulting in $73.73 per Bbl for oil, $1.74 per MMBtu for natural gas, and
$26.87 per Bbl for NGLs at December 31, 2023.
(3)
Calculated by converting natural gas to oil equivalent barrels at a ratio of six Mcf of natural gas to one Boe.
(4)
All proved reserves as of December 31, 2024 were part of a development plan adopted by management
indicating that such locations were scheduled to be drilled within five years of initial classification.
(5)
PV-10 is a non-GAAP financial
measure and represents the estimated present value of the future cash flows less future development and production costs from our proved reserves before income taxes discounted using a 10% discount rate. PV-10
of proved reserves generally differs from the Standardized Measure, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, because it does not include the effects of future income taxes, as is required under GAAP in computing the Standardized Measure.
However, our PV-10 for proved reserves using SEC pricing and the Standardized Measure of proved reserves are equivalent because we were not subject to entity level taxation during 2024. Accordingly, no
provision for federal or state income taxes has been provided in the Standardized Measure because taxable income was passed through to our unitholders.
We believe that the presentation of a pre-tax PV-10 value
provides relevant and useful information because it is widely used by investors and analysts as a basis for comparing the relative size and value of our proved reserves to other oil and natural gas companies. Because many factors that are unique to
each individual company may impact the amount and timing of future income taxes, the use of PV-10 value provides greater comparability when evaluating oil and natural gas companies. The PV-10 value is not a measure of financial or operating performance under GAAP, nor is it intended to represent the current market value of proved oil and gas reserves. However, the definition of PV-10 value as defined above may differ significantly from the definitions used by other companies to compute similar measures. As a result, the PV-10 value as defined may not
be comparable to similar measures provided by other companies.
Investors should be cautioned that neither
PV-10 nor Standardized Measure of proved reserves represents an estimate of the fair market value of our proved reserves. We and others in the industry use PV-10 as a
measure to compare the relative size and value of estimated reserves held by companies without regard to the specific tax characteristics of such entities. See Note 17Supplemental Information on Oil and Natural Gas Producing Activities
(Unaudited) to our consolidated financial statements for additional information about the calculation of Standardized Measure.
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Proved Undeveloped Reserves (in MBoe)
Our 2024 proved undeveloped reserves increased by approximately 27.8 MMBoe, or 38%, compared to 2023. The following reconciliation from 2023 to
2024 is presented to meet SEC requirements to provide material changes to our proved undeveloped reserves during the year. All of our PUDs are associated with drilling locations that are scheduled to be drilled within five years of the initial
disclosure of proved reserves.
Proved undeveloped reserves at December 31, 2023
73,633
Conversions into proved developed
reserves (1)
(11,876
)
Revisions (2)
4,354
Extensions and discoveries (3)
35,364
Proved undeveloped reserves at December 31, 2024
101,474
(1)
Conversions of PUD drilling locations in 2024 included developing 11 wells that were PUDs as of
December 31, 2023, for which $99.5 million of capital expenditures were incurred during the year ended December 31, 2024.
(2)
Total positive revisions of 4,354 MBoe were comprised of 7,898 MBoe of positive revisions related to increases
in working interest, improvement in expense assumptions, and improvement in type curve, offset by downward revisions of 120 MBoe in PUDs from 2023 to 2024 due to decreases in prices during the year ended December 31, 2024, as well as downward
revisions of 3,544 MMBoe due to 2 PUD locations that were removed due to changes to our development plan.
(3)
Extensions primarily related to the addition of 27 PUD locations to be developed by 2029 (as that year entered
the 5-year development window). These locations reside within the 5-year development window, which permits their recognition as PUD reserves based upon their continuing
satisfaction of the engineering requirements for recognition as proved reserves. Extensions include the addition of new locations associated with our drilling program and additional Utica drilling in the
5-year development window.
Adjusted Index Prices Used in Reserve Calculations
The following tables show index prices used in our reserve calculations as of the dates indicated under historical SEC pricing:
Pricing Used for Proved Reserves as of December 31, 2024
Based on Historical SEC Pricing:
Oil (per Bbl)
$
67.98
Natural gas (per Mcf)
$
1.42
Natural gas liquids (per Bbl)
$
25.48
Pricing Used for Proved Reserves as of December 31, 2023
Based on Historical SEC Pricing:
Oil (per Bbl)
$
73.73
Natural gas (per Mcf)
$
1.74
Natural gas liquids (per Bbl)
$
26.87
Preparation of Reserve Estimates
Our reserve estimates as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 included in this Annual Report are based on reports prepared by
Wright, our independent reserve engineer, in accordance with generally accepted petroleum engineering and evaluation principles and definitions and guidelines established by the SEC in effect at such time. Copies of the reports are included as
exhibits to this Annual Report. Wright provides a variety of services to the oil and gas industry, including field studies, oil and gas reserve estimations, appraisals of oil and gas properties and reserve report for their clients.
Proved reserves are reserves which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be
economically producible from a given date forward from known reservoirs under existing economic conditions, operating methods and government regulations prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expires, unless evidence
indicates that renewal is reasonably certain. The term reasonable certainty implies a high degree of confidence that the quantities of oil or natural gas actually recovered will equal or exceed the estimate. The technical and economic
data used in the estimation of our proved reserves include, but are not limited to, well logs, geologic maps, well-test data, production
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data (including flow rates), well data (including lateral lengths), historical price and cost information and property ownership interests. Our independent reserve engineer uses this technical
data, together with standard engineering and geoscience methods, or a combination of methods, including performance analysis, volumetric analysis, and analogy. The proved developed reserves and EURs are estimated using performance analysis and
volumetric analysis. The estimates of the proved developed reserves and EURs are used to estimate the proved undeveloped reserves for each proved undeveloped location (utilizing type curves, statistical analysis, and analogy). Proved undeveloped
drilling locations that are more than one offset from a proved developed well utilized reliable technologies to confirm reasonable certainty. The reliable technologies that were utilized in estimating these reserves include log data, performance
data, log cross sections, seismic data, core data, and statistical analysis.
Internal Controls
Our internal staff of petroleum engineers works closely with Wright to ensure the integrity, accuracy and timeliness of data furnished to
Wright. Periodically, our technical team meets with Wright to review properties and discuss methods and assumptions used by us to prepare reserve estimates. Wright is an independent petroleum engineering and geological services firm.
Reserve engineering is and must be recognized as a subjective process of estimating volumes of economically recoverable oil and natural gas
that cannot be measured in an exact manner. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation. As a result, the estimates of different engineers often vary. In
addition, the results of drilling, testing and production may justify revisions of such estimates. Accordingly, reserve estimates often differ from the quantities of oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered. Estimates of economically
recoverable oil and natural gas and of future net revenues are based on a number of variables and assumptions, all of which may vary from actual results, including geologic interpretation, prices and future production rates and costs.
For all of our properties, our internally prepared reserve estimates and the reserve report prepared by Wright are reviewed and approved by
our SVP of Commercial and Production.
Qualifications of Responsible Technical Persons
Our SVP of Commercial & Production, Ryan Warner, is responsible for overseeing the preparation of the reserves estimates.
Mr. Warner is a founding member at Infinity Natural Resources and has over 10 years of relevant experience in reservoir engineering and reserve estimation. He holds a degree in Petroleum Engineering from West Virginia University and is a
registered Professional Engineer.
Wright was founded in 1988 by Mr. D. Randall Wright and performs consulting petroleum engineering
services including but not limited to annual reserves audits, property evaluation, and reservoir analysis. Mr. Wright is the primary technical person in charge of the estimates of reserves and associated cash flow and economics on behalf of
Wright for the results presented. He holds a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tennessee Technological University. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Texas (TBPE #43291), granted in 1978, a member of the
Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and a member of the Order of the Engineer.
Mr. Adam Null, a registered Professional
Engineer in the State of Tennessee (TBAEE #122667), has provided technical assistance in the estimates of reserves and cash flow results presented. Mr. Null is a member of the SPE and has been practicing petroleum engineering for more than 10
years. He currently holds the title of Chief Operating Officer at Wright.
Mr. Wright and Mr. Null are qualified reserves
evaluators as set forth in the Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information promulgated by the SPE. This qualification is based on years of practical experience in the estimation and
evaluation of petroleum reserves.
Production, Revenue, Price and Production Costs
The following table sets forth information regarding our production, revenues and realized prices and production costs for the years ended
December 31, 2024 and 2023. All of our production is derived from the Appalachian Basin. For additional information on price calculations, please see Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations.
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Year Ended
December 31,
2024
2023
Production data :
Oil (MBbls)
2,380
1,205
Natural gas (MMcf)
28,291
27,506
NGL (MBbls)
1,723
1,112
Total (MBoe) (1)
8,818
6,901
Average daily production (MBoe/d) (1)
24.1
18.9
Average wellhead realized prices (before giving effect to realized
derivatives) :
Oil (/Bbl)
$
67.86
$
70.77
Natural gas (/Mcf)
$
1.81
$
1.80
NGL (/Bbl)
$
26.14
$
22.16
Average wellhead realized prices (after giving effect to realized
derivatives) :
Oil (/Bbl)
$
66.93
$
71.03
Natural gas (/Mcf)
$
2.47
$
2.42
NGL (/Bbl)
$
28.66
$
24.00
Operating costs and expenses (per Boe) (1) :
Gathering, processing and transportation
$
5.59
$
4.51
Lease operating
3.19
2.66
Production and ad valorem taxes
0.12
0.13
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization
8.36
7.79
General and administrative
1.48
0.71
Total
$
18.74
$
15.80
(1)
Calculated by converting natural gas to oil equivalent barrels at a ratio of six Mcf of natural gas to one Boe.
Productive Wells as of December 31, 2024
As of December 31, 2024, we owned interests in the following number of productive wells:
Productive Wells
Gross
Net
Oil
137.0
99.0
Natural Gas
13.0
11.9
Total
150.0
110.9
Acreage as of December 31, 2024
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the total developed and undeveloped acreage in which we owned an interest as of
December 31, 2024:
Surface Acreage
Gross
Net
Undeveloped acres
66,130
63,044
Developed acres
33,875
30,085
Total
100,004
93,129
Undeveloped Acreage Expirations as of December 31, 2024
The following table sets forth the gross and net undeveloped acreage, as of December 31, 2024, that will expire over the next five years
unless production is established within the spacing units covering the acreage, the lease is renewed or extended under continuous drilling provisions prior to the primary term expiration dates or pursuant to other terms of the lease agreements. We
expect to drill wells on such acreage or make extension payments prior to lease expiration.
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Acreage
Gross
Net
2025
489
488
2026
172
172
2027
7,600
7,600
2028
1,181
1,181
2029 and thereafter
5,496
5,496
14,939
14,938
As of December 31, 2024, we had 23.4 MMBoe of proved undeveloped reserves that were associated with
potentially expiring acreage.
Drilling Activity
The table below sets forth the results of our operated drilling activities for the periods indicated. The information should not be considered
indicative of future performance, nor should it be assumed that there is necessarily any correlation among the number of productive wells drilled, quantities of reserves found or economic value. Productive wells are those that produce, or are
capable of producing, commercial quantities of hydrocarbons, regardless of whether they produce a reasonable rate of return. Dry wells are those that prove to be incapable of producing hydrocarbons in sufficient quantities to justify completion.
For the Year Ended December 31,
2024
2023
2022
Gross
Net
Gross
Net
Gross
Net
Development
Productive
14.0
12.0
10.0
9.1
7.0
6.6
Dry Hole
Total Development Wells
14.0
12.0
10.0
9.1
7.0
6.6
Exploratory
Productive
Dry Hole
Total Exploratory Wells
As of December 31, 2024, we had 9.0 gross (8.0 net) operated wells in process.
Major Customers
We generally sell our
oil, natural gas and NGL production to purchasers at prevailing market prices, which in certain cases are adjusted for contractual differentials, and the majority of our revenue contracts have terms greater than twelve months.
We normally sell production to a relatively small number of customers, as is customary in our business. The table below summarizes the
purchasers that accounted for 10% or more of our total net revenues for the periods presented:
Year Ended December 31,
2024
2023
Marathon Oil Company
55
%
49
%
BP America
17
%
28
%
Blue Racer Midstream
10
%
13
%
During these periods, no other purchaser accounted for 10% or more of our net revenues. As of
December 31, 2024, INR Holdings accounts receivable balance related to oil and gas sales was comprised of amounts due from various purchasers, including amounts due from Marathon Oil Company and BP America comprising 49% and 25%,
respectively, of the total balance. As of December 31, 2023, INR Holdings accounts receivable balance related to oil and gas sales was comprised of amounts due from Marathon Oil Company, BP America, and Ergon, which accounted for 56%,
24%, and 11%, respectively, of the total balance. The loss of any of our major purchasers could materially and adversely affect our revenues in the near-term. However, since crude oil and natural gas are fungible products with well-established
markets and numerous purchasers and are based on current demand for oil and natural gas, we believe that the loss of any major purchaser would not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
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Title to Properties
We believe that we have satisfactory title to our producing properties in accordance with standards generally accepted in the oil and natural
gas industry. As is customary in the oil and natural gas industry, we initially conduct only a cursory review of the title to our properties in connection with acquisition of leasehold acreage. At such time as we determine to conduct drilling
operations on those properties, we may conduct a more thorough title examination or obtain title opinions and perform curative work with respect to significant defects prior to commencement of drilling operations. To the extent title opinions or
other investigations reflect title defects on those properties, we are typically responsible for curing any title defects at our expense. We generally will not commence drilling operations on a property until we have cured any material title defects
on such property. Our oil and natural gas properties are subject to customary royalty and other interests, liens for current taxes and other burdens which we believe do not materially interfere with the use of or affect our carrying value of the
properties.
Seasonality
Generally,
demand for oil, natural gas and NGL decreases during the spring and fall months and increases during the summer and winter months. However, certain natural gas and NGL markets utilize storage facilities and purchase some of their
anticipated winter requirements during the summer, which can lessen seasonal demand fluctuations. In addition, seasonal anomalies such as mild winters or mild summers can have a significant impact on prices. These seasonal anomalies can pose
challenges for meeting our well drilling objectives and can increase competition for equipment, supplies and personnel during the spring and summer months, which could lead to shortages, increased costs or delay operations.
Competition
The oil and natural gas
industry is intensely competitive, and we compete with other companies that have greater resources. Many of these companies not only explore for and produce natural gas, but also carry on midstream and refining operations and market petroleum and
other products on a regional, national or worldwide basis. These companies may be able to pay more for productive oil and natural gas properties or to define, evaluate, bid for and purchase a greater number of properties and prospects than our
financial or human resources permit. In addition, these companies may have a greater ability to continue exploration activities during periods of low natural gas market prices. Our ability to acquire additional properties and to discover reserves in
the future will be dependent upon our ability to evaluate and select suitable properties and to consummate transactions in a highly competitive environment. In addition, because we have fewer financial and human resources than many companies in our
industry, we may be at a disadvantage in evaluating and bidding for oil and natural gas properties.
There is also competition between oil
and natural gas producers and other industries producing energy and fuel. Furthermore, competitive conditions may be substantially affected by various forms of energy legislation and/or regulation considered from time to time by the governments of
the United States and the jurisdictions in which we operate. It is not possible to predict the nature of any such legislation or regulation which may ultimately be adopted or its effects upon our future operations. Such laws and regulations may
substantially increase the costs of developing natural gas and may prevent or delay the commencement or continuation of a given operation. Our larger or more integrated competitors may be able to absorb the burden of existing, and any changes to,
federal, state and local laws and regulations more easily than we can, which would adversely affect our competitive position.
Legislative and
regulatory environment
Our oil, natural gas and NGL exploration, development, production and related operations and activities are
subject to extensive federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations. Failure to comply with such rules and regulations can result in administrative, civil or criminal penalties, compulsory remediation and imposition of natural resource damages
or other liabilities. Although the regulatory burden on the natural gas and oil industry increases our cost of doing business and, consequently, affects our profitability, we believe these obligations generally do not impact us differently or to any
greater or lesser extent than they affect other operators in the natural gas and oil industry with similar operations and types, quantities and locations of production.
Regulation of production
In most
states, oil and natural gas companies are generally required to obtain permits for drilling operations, provide drilling bonds, file reports concerning operations and meet other requirements related to the exploration, development and production of
oil, natural gas and NGLs. Such states also have statutes and regulations addressing conservation and reclamation matters, including provisions for unitization or pooling of natural gas and oil interests, rights and properties, the surface use and
restoration of properties upon which wells are drilled and disposal of water produced or used in the drilling and completion process. These regulations include
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the establishment of maximum rates of production from natural gas and oil wells, rules as to the spacing, plugging and abandoning of such wells, restrictions on venting or flaring natural gas and
requirements regarding the ratability of production, as well as rules governing the surface use and restoration of properties upon which wells are drilled.
These laws and regulations may limit the amount of oil, natural gas and NGLs that can be produced from wells in which we own an interest and
may limit the number of wells, the locations in which wells can be drilled or the method of drilling wells. Additionally, the procedures that must be followed under these laws and regulations may result in delays in obtaining permits and approvals
necessary for our operations and therefore our expected timing of drilling, completion and production may be negatively impacted. These regulations apply to us directly as the operator of our leasehold. The failure to comply with these rules and
regulations can result in substantial penalties.
Regulation of sales and transportation of hydrocarbon liquids
Sales of oil, condensate and NGLs are not currently regulated and are made at negotiated prices. Nevertheless, Congress has enacted price
controls in the past and could reenact such controls in the future.
Our sales of oil and NGLs are affected by the availability, terms and
cost of transportation. The transportation of oil, NGLs and other hydrocarbon liquids in common carrier pipelines is subject to rate and access regulation. FERC regulates the rates and terms and conditions of service of interstate transportation of
oil, NGL and other liquids by pipeline under the Interstate Commerce Act. Typically, liquids pipelines interstate transportation rates are set using a generally applicable annual indexing methodology; however, a pipeline may also use a cost-of-service approach, set rates via settlement with shippers or utilize market-based rates in certain circumstances. The rates we pay for interstate transportation of
liquids by pipeline, and the related terms of service, may change as a result of regulatory proceedings.
Rates for intrastate
transportation on liquids pipelines are subject to regulation by state regulatory commissions. The basis for intrastate liquids pipeline regulation, and the degree of regulatory oversight and scrutiny given to intrastate liquids pipeline rates,
varies from state to state. Insofar as effective interstate and intrastate rates and regulations regarding access are equally applicable to all comparable shippers, we believe that the regulation of liquids transportation will not affect our
operations in any way that is of material difference from those of our competitors who are similarly situated.
Regulation of transportation and
sales of natural gas
Historically, the transportation and sale for resale of natural gas in interstate commerce has been regulated
by agencies of the U.S. federal government, primarily FERC and its predecessor agency. 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. Deregulation of wellhead natural gas sales began with the enactment of the NGPA and culminated in adoption of the Natural Gas Wellhead Decontrol Act which removed
controls affecting wellhead sales of natural gas effective January 1, 1993. The transportation of natural gas in interstate commerce remains subject to extensive regulation primarily under the NGA and NGPA, pursuant to regulations and orders
promulgated by FERC. The rates we pay for transportation of natural gas by pipeline, and related terms of service, may change as a result of regulatory proceedings. In certain limited circumstances, intrastate transportation and wholesale sales of
natural gas may also be affected, directly or indirectly, by laws enacted by Congress and by FERC regulations.
The price at which we sell
natural gas is not currently subject to federal rate regulation and, for the most part, is not subject to state regulation. However, with regard to our physical and financial sales of these energy commodities, we are required to observe anti-market
manipulation laws and related regulations enforced by FERC under the EPAct of 2005 and by the CFTC under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) as amended by the Dodd-Frank Act, and regulations promulgated thereunder. The CEA prohibits any
person from manipulating or attempting to manipulate the price of any commodity in interstate commerce or futures on such commodity. The CEA also prohibits knowingly delivering or causing to be delivered false or misleading or knowingly inaccurate
reports concerning market information or conditions that affect or tend to affect the price of a commodity as well as certain disruptive trading practices. Should we violate the anti-market manipulation laws and regulations, we could also be subject
to related third-party damage claims by, among others, sellers, royalty owners and taxing authorities.
The EPAct of 2005 amended the NGA
and NGPA to add an anti-market-manipulation provision which makes it unlawful for any entity to engage in prohibited behavior to be prescribed by FERC. The EPAct of 2005 also provided FERC with the power to assess civil penalties of up to $1,000,000
per day (adjusted annually for inflation) for violations of the NGA and NGPA. As of 2025, the new adjusted maximum penalty amount is $1,584,648 per violation, per day, in addition to disgorgement of profits associated with any violation. The civil
penalty provisions are applicable to entities that engage in the sale and transportation of natural gas for resale in interstate commerce.
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On January 19, 2006, FERC issued Order No. 670, implementing the
anti-market-manipulation provision of the EPAct of 2005, and subsequently denied rehearing. The resulting rules make it unlawful, in connection with the purchase or sale of natural gas subject to the jurisdiction of FERC, or the purchase or sale of
transportation services subject to the jurisdiction of FERC, for any entity, directly or indirectly, to: (a) use or employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud; (b) make any untrue statement of material fact or omit to make any such
statement necessary to make the statements made not misleading; or (c) engage in any act or practice that operates as a fraud or deceit upon any person. The anti-market manipulation rule does not apply to activities that relate only to
intrastate or other non-FERC jurisdictional sales or gathering, but does apply to activities of gas pipelines and storage companies that provide interstate services. FERC has also interpreted its authority to
reach otherwise non-jurisdictional entities to the extent the activities are conducted in connection with gas sales, purchases or transportation subject to FERC jurisdiction, which includes the
annual reporting requirements under Order No. 704, described below. However, in October 2022, the Fifth Circuit ruled that FERCs jurisdiction to regulate market manipulation and assess penalties is limited to interstate natural gas
transactions only and does not reach intrastate natural gas transactions.
On December 26, 2007, FERC issued Order No. 704, a
final rule on the annual natural gas transaction reporting requirements, as amended and clarified by subsequent orders on rehearing. As a result of these orders, wholesale buyers and sellers of more than 2.2 million MMBtus of physical natural
gas in the previous calendar year, including oil and natural gas producers, gatherers and marketers, are now required to report, by May 1 of each year, aggregate volumes of natural gas purchased or sold at wholesale in the prior calendar year
to the extent such transactions utilize, contribute to or may contribute to the formation of price indices. It is the responsibility of the reporting entity to determine which individual transactions should be reported based on the guidance provided
by FERC. Market participants must also indicate whether they report prices to any index publishers, and if so, whether their reporting complies with FERCs policy statement on price reporting.
Gathering service, which occurs upstream of jurisdictional transportation services, is regulated by the states onshore and in state waters.
Section 1(b) of the NGA exempts natural gas gathering facilities from regulation by FERC. Although FERC has set forth a general test for determining whether natural gas facilities perform a
non-jurisdictional gathering function or a jurisdictional transportation function, FERCs determinations as to the classification of facilities are done on a case-by-case basis. To the extent that FERC issues an order that reclassifies certain jurisdictional transportation facilities on which we transport our production as
non-jurisdictional gathering facilities, and depending on the scope of that decision, our costs of getting gas to point of sale locations may increase. We believe that the natural gas pipelines in our own
gathering systems meet the traditional tests FERC has used to establish a pipelines status as a gatherer not subject to regulation as a natural gas company. However, the distinction between FERC-regulated transportation services and federally
unregulated gathering services could be the subject of litigation, changed regulations or interpretations thereof, and new or amended statutes or interpretations thereof, so the classification and regulation of our gathering facilities could be
subject to change based on future determinations by FERC, the courts or Congress. State regulation of natural gas gathering facilities generally includes various occupational safety, environmental and, in some circumstances, nondiscriminatory-take
requirements. Although such regulation has not generally been affirmatively applied by state agencies, natural gas gathering may receive greater regulatory scrutiny in the future.
In addition, the pipelines in the gathering systems on which we rely may be subject to safety regulation by the U.S. Department of
Transportation through its Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). PHMSA has established a risk-based approach to determine which gathering pipelines are subject to regulation and what safety standards regulated
gathering pipelines must meet. Over the past several years, PHMSA has taken steps to expand the regulation of rural gathering lines and impose a number of reporting and inspection requirements on regulated pipelines, and additional requirements are
expected in the future. On November 15, 2021, PHMSA released a final rule that expands the definition of regulated gathering pipelines and imposes safety measures on certain previously unregulated gathering pipelines. The final rule also
imposes reporting requirements on all gathering pipelines and specifically requires operators to report safety information to PHMSA. We could incur significant costs or liabilities to comply with these PHMSA requirements or similar State safety
requirements. Failure to comply with the applicable requirements could result in penalties or fines. As of January 2025, the maximum civil penalties PHMSA can impose are $272,926 per violation per day, with a maximum of $2,729,245 for a related
series of violations. Furthermore, the future adoption of laws or regulations that apply more comprehensive or stringent safety standards could increase the expenses we incur.
Intrastate natural gas transportation is also 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. 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. Like the regulation of interstate transportation rates, the regulation of intrastate transportation rates affects the marketing of natural gas that we produce, as
well as the revenues we receive for sales of our natural gas.
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Changes in law and to FERC, PHMSA, CFTC, or state policies and regulations may adversely
affect our own operations as well as the availability and reliability of firm and/or interruptible transportation service on interstate and intrastate pipelines on which we transport natural gas. We cannot predict what future action FERC, PHMSA,
CFTC, or state regulatory bodies will take. We do not believe, however, that any regulatory changes will affect us in a way that materially differs from the way they will affect other oil and natural gas producers and marketers with which we
compete.
Regulation of environmental and occupational safety and health matters generally
Our operations are subject to numerous stringent federal, regional, state and local statutes and regulations governing environmental
protection, occupational safety and health, and the release, discharge or disposal of materials into the environment, some of which carry substantial costs to maintain compliance and may impose substantial administrative, civil and criminal
penalties for failure to comply. Applicable U.S. federal environmental laws include, but are not limited to, CERCLA, the CWA and the CAA. In addition, state and local laws and regulations set forth specific standards for drilling wells, the
maintenance of bonding requirements in order to drill or operate wells, the spacing and location of wells, the method of drilling and casing wells, the surface use and restoration of properties upon which wells are drilled, the plugging and
abandoning of wells, the prevention and cleanup of pollutants and other matters. These laws and regulations may, among other things, require the acquisition of permits to conduct exploration, drilling and production operations; restrict the types,
quantities and concentrations of various substances that can be released into the environment in connection with drilling, production and transporting through pipelines; govern the sourcing and disposal of water used in the drilling and completion
process; limit or prohibit construction or drilling activities in sensitive areas such as wilderness, wetlands, frontier or other protected areas; require investigatory or remedial actions to prevent or mitigate pollution conditions caused by our
operations; impose obligations to reclaim and abandon well sites and pits; establish specific safety and health criteria addressing worker protection; and impose substantial liabilities for pollution resulting from operations or failure to comply
with regulatory filings. Additionally, Congress and federal and state agencies frequently revise environmental laws and regulations, and any changes that result in delay or more stringent and costly permitting, waste handling, disposal and clean-up requirements for the oil and gas industry could have a significant impact on our operating costs. Although future environmental obligations are not expected to have a material impact on the results of our
operations or financial condition, there can be no assurance that future developments, such as increasingly stringent environmental laws or enforcement thereof, will not cause us to incur material environmental liabilities or costs.
Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal fines and penalties, loss
of leases, the imposition of investigatory or remedial obligations and the issuance of orders enjoining some or all of our operations in affected areas. These laws and regulations may also restrict the rate of oil and natural gas production below
the rate that would otherwise be feasible. The regulatory burden on the oil and gas industry increases the cost of doing business in the industry and consequently affects profitability. It is possible that, over time, environmental regulation could
evolve to place more restrictions and limitations on activities that may affect the environment, and thus, any changes in environmental laws and regulations or reinterpretation of enforcement policies that result in more stringent and costly well
drilling, construction, completion or water management activities or waste handling, storage, transport, disposal or remediation requirements could require us to make significant expenditures to attain and maintain compliance and may otherwise have
a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position. We may be unable to pass on such increased compliance costs to our customers. Moreover, accidental releases or spills may occur in the course of our operations, and we
cannot be certain that we will not incur significant costs and liabilities as a result of such releases or spills, including any third-party claims for damage to property, natural resources or persons. Although we believe that we are in substantial
compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and that continued compliance with existing requirements will not have a material adverse impact on our business, there can be no assurance that this will continue in the future.
The following is a summary of some of the more significant existing environmental and occupational health and safety laws and regulations, as
amended from time to time, to which our business operations are subject and for which compliance may have a material adverse impact on our capital expenditures, results of operations or financial position.
Hazardous substances and wastes
CERCLA, also known as the Superfund law, and comparable state laws, impose liability without regard to fault or the legality of the
original conduct, on certain classes of persons known as potentially responsible parties, with respect to the release of hazardous substances into the environment. Potentially responsible parties include the current and past owners or
operators of a disposal site or site where the release occurred and third parties who disposed or arranged for the disposal of the hazardous substances found at such sites. Under CERCLA, such persons may be subject to strict, joint and several and
retroactive liability for the remediation of hazardous substances that have been released into the environment and for damages to natural resources. Neighboring landowners, governmental agencies, citizen organizations and other third parties may
file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the release of hazardous substances into the environment. We are only able to directly control the operation of those wells that we operate. The failure of an operator other
than us to comply with applicable environmental regulations
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may, in certain circumstances, be attributed to us. We generate materials in the course of our operations that may be regulated as hazardous substances under CERCLA and other environmental laws
but we are unaware of any liabilities for which we may be held responsible that would materially and adversely affect our business operations. While petroleum and crude oil fractions are generally not considered hazardous substances under CERCLA and
its analogues because of the so-called petroleum exclusion, adulterated petroleum products containing other hazardous substances have been treated as hazardous substances in the past.
We also generate, handle, transport, store and dispose of solid and hazardous wastes that may be subject to the requirements of the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended (RCRA), and analogous state laws. RCRA regulates the generation, handling, storage, treatment, transport and disposal of nonhazardous and hazardous solid wastes. RCRA specifically excludes
drilling fluids, produced waters and other wastes associated with the development or production of crude oil, natural gas or geothermal energy from regulation as hazardous wastes. With the approval of the EPA, individual states can
administer some or all of the provisions of RCRA, and some states have adopted their own, more stringent requirements. However, legislation has been proposed from time to time and various environmental groups have filed lawsuits that, if successful,
could result in the reclassification of certain natural gas and oil exploration and production wastes as hazardous wastes, and potentially subject such wastes to much more stringent handling, disposal and
clean-up requirements. Any future loss of the RCRA exclusion for drilling fluids, produced waters and related wastes could result in an increase in our costs to manage and dispose of generated wastes, which
could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position. In addition, in the course of our operations, we generate some amounts of ordinary industrial wastes, such as paint wastes, waste solvents, laboratory wastes
and waste compressor oils that may be regulated as hazardous wastes if such wastes are determined to have hazardous characteristics. Although the costs of managing hazardous waste may be significant, we do not believe that our costs in this regard
are materially more burdensome than those for similarly situated companies.
We currently own, lease or operate numerous properties that
may have been used by prior owners or operators for oil and natural gas development and production activities for many years. Although we believe that we have utilized operating and waste disposal practices that were standard in the industry at the
time, hazardous substances, wastes or petroleum hydrocarbons may have been released on, under or from the properties owned or leased by us, or on, under or from other locations, including off-site locations
where such substances have been taken for recycling or disposal. In addition, some of our properties may have been operated by third parties or by previous owners or operators whose treatment and disposal of hazardous substances, wastes or petroleum
hydrocarbons were not under our control. These properties and the substances disposed or released on, under or from them may be subject to CERCLA, RCRA and/or analogous state laws. Under such laws, we could be required to undertake response or
corrective measures, which could include removal of previously disposed substances and wastes, cleanup of contaminated property or performance of remedial plugging or pit closure operations to prevent future contamination.
Water discharges
The CWA, and
comparable state laws impose restrictions and strict controls regarding the discharge of pollutants, including spills and leaks of oil and other natural gas wastes, into or near waters of the United States or state waters. The discharge of
pollutants into regulated waters is prohibited, except in accordance with the terms of a permit issued by the EPA or an analogous state agency. The discharge of dredge and fill material into regulated waters, including wetlands, is also prohibited,
unless authorized by a permit issued by the Corps. In April 2020 the U.S. Supreme Court held that, in certain cases, discharges from a point source to groundwater could fall within the scope of the CWA and require a permit. Further, the U.S. Supreme
Courts decision issued in May 2023 in Sackett v. EPA , held that the jurisdiction of the CWA to regulate WOTUS extends only to those adjacent wetlands that are indistinguishable from traditional navigable bodies of water due to a
continuous surface connection. In September 2023, the EPA and the Corps published a direct-to-final rule redefining WOTUS to align with the decision in Sackett .
However, roughly half of the states and other plaintiffs are continuing to challenge the rule, and the EPA and the Corps are using the pre-2015 definition of WOTUS in these states while litigation continues.
In addition, in an April 2020 decision further defining the scope of the CWA, the U.S. Supreme Court held that, in certain cases, discharges from a point source to groundwater could fall within the scope of the CWA and require a permit. The Court
rejected the EPA and the Corps assertion that groundwater should be totally excluded from the CWA. In November 2023, the EPA issued draft guidance describing the information that should be used to determine which discharges through groundwater
may require a permit. However, in January 2025, President Trump issued executive orders directing (i) the EPA and the Corps to identify planned or potential actions that could be subject to emergency treatment under Section 404 of the CWA
and (ii) the heads of all federal agencies to identify and begin the processes to suspend, revise, or rescind all agency actions, including all existing regulations and guidance documents, that are unduly burdensome on the identification,
development, or use of domestic energy resources. To the extent a stay of recent rules or the implementation of a revised rule expands the scope of the CWAs jurisdiction, we could face increased costs and delays with respect to obtaining
permits, including for dredge and fill activities in wetland areas. Additionally, many states have similar requirements that apply to state waters where federal jurisdiction ends.
The process for obtaining permits also has the potential to delay our operations. For example, in January 2021, the Corps released the final
version of a rule renewing twelve of its Nationwide Permits (NWPs), including NWP 12, the general permit issued by the Corps for pipelines and utility projects. The new rule, which took effect in March 2021, splits NWP 12 into three
parts; NWP
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12 will continue to be available to oil and gas pipelines. In March 2022, the Corps initiated an early review of NWP 12 to determine whether any future actions may be appropriate to modify NWP 12
prior to its expiration in 2026. The Corps solicited public and stakeholder comments in May 2022, but has not provided any additional updates on the status of its review. However, in January 2025, President Trump issued an executive order
instructing the Corps to use emergency authorities and NWPs to grant approvals for energy projects under Section 404 of the CWA. Any further changes to NWP 12 could have an impact on our business. We cannot predict at this time how the new
Corps rule will be implemented because permits are issued by the local Corps district offices. If new oil and gas pipeline projects are unable to utilize NWP 12 or identify an alternate means of CWA compliance, such projects could be significantly
delayed.
Additionally, spill prevention, control and countermeasure plans, also referred to as SPCC plans, are required by
federal law in connection with on-site storage of significant quantities of oil. Compliance may require appropriate containment berms and similar structures to help prevent the contamination of navigable
waters by a petroleum hydrocarbon tank spill, rupture or leak.
Safe Drinking Water Act
The SDWA grants the EPA broad authority to take action to protect public health when an underground source of drinking water is threatened with
pollution that presents an imminent and substantial endangerment to humans. The SDWA also regulates saltwater disposal wells under the Underground Injection Control Program. The federal EPAct of 2005 amended the Underground Injection Control
provisions of the SDWA to expressly exclude certain hydraulic fracturing from the definition of underground injection, but disposal of hydraulic fracturing fluids and produced water or their injection for enhanced oil recovery is not
excluded. In 2014, the EPA issued permitting guidance governing hydraulic fracturing with diesel fuels. While we do not currently use diesel fuels in our hydraulic fracturing fluids, we may become subject to federal permitting under SDWA if our
fracturing formula changes or if there are other changes to the applicable provisions of the SDWA.
Air emissions
The CAA and comparable state laws restrict the emission of air pollutants from many sources, including compressor stations, through the
issuance of permits and other requirements. These laws and regulations may require us to obtain pre-approval for the construction or modification of certain projects or facilities expected to produce or
significantly increase air emissions, obtain and strictly comply with stringent air permit requirements or utilize specific equipment or technologies to control emissions of certain pollutants. The need to obtain permits has the potential to delay
the development of oil and natural gas projects. Over the next several years, we may be required to incur certain capital expenditures for air pollution control equipment or other air emissions related issues. For example, in October 2015, the EPA
lowered the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone from 75 to 70 parts per billion. In December 2020, the EPA announced its intention to leave the ozone NAAQS unchanged at 70 parts per billion. The EPA initiated a new
review of the ozone NAAQS in August, 2023, and the results of the review remain outstanding. Further, in June 2016, the EPA also finalized rules regarding criteria for aggregating multiple small surface sites into a single source for air-quality permitting purposes applicable to the oil and gas industry. These rules could cause small facilities, on an aggregate basis, to be deemed a major source, thereby triggering more stringent air permitting
processes and requirements. These and other laws and regulations concerning air emissions may increase the costs of compliance for some facilities where we operate.
State implementation of the revised NAAQS could result in stricter permitting requirements, delay or prohibit our ability to obtain such
permits, and result in increased expenditures for pollution control equipment, the costs of which could be significant. In March 2024, the EPA adopted new rules under the CAA that require the reduction of volatile organic compound (VOC)
and methane emissions from certain fractured and refractured natural gas wells for which well completion operations are conducted and further require that most wells use reduced emission completions, also known as green completions.
These regulations also establish specific new requirements regarding emissions from production-related wet seal and reciprocating compressors, and from pneumatic controllers and storage vessels. In addition, the regulations place new requirements to
detect and repair volatile organic compound and methane at certain well sites and compressor stations. In December 2023, the EPA announced a final rule targeting methane emissions from new and existing oil and gas sources, which, among other things,
requires the phase out of routine flaring of natural gas from newly constructed wells (with some exceptions) and routine leak monitoring at all well sites and compressor stations. Notably, the EPA updated the applicability date for certain
requirements to a construction date of December 6, 2022, meaning that sources constructed prior to that date will be considered existing sources with later compliance deadlines under state plans. The final rule gives states, along with federal
tribes, until March 2026 to develop and submit their plans for reducing methane emissions from existing sources, and those existing sources themselves have until 2029 from the plan submission deadline to comply. Fines and penalties for violation of
the final rule could be substantial. The final rule is subject to ongoing litigation but remains in effect. However, 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. Consequently, future implementation and enforcement of the final rule remains uncertain at
this time. Several states, including West Virginia and Ohio, are considering their own regulations related to methane emissions from oil and gas operations. Compliance with these and other air pollution control and permitting requirements has the
potential to delay the development of
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natural gas projects and increase our costs of development, which costs could be significant. Further, compliance with these rules will require enhanced record-keeping practices, the purchase of
new equipment and increased frequency of maintenance and repair activities to address emissions leakage at certain well sites and compressor stations, and also may require hiring additional personnel to support these activities or the engagement of
third-party contractors to assist with and verify compliance.
Climate change
More stringent laws and regulations relating to climate change and GHGs may be adopted and could cause us to incur material expenses to comply
with such laws and regulations. These requirements could adversely affect our operations and restrict or delay our ability to obtain air permits for new or modified sources. The EPA has adopted rules requiring the monitoring and reporting of GHG
emissions from specified onshore and offshore oil and natural gas production sources in the United States on an annual basis, which include certain of our operations.
At the international level, the Biden Administration signed the instrument recommitting the U.S. to the Paris Agreement in January 2021 and,
in April 2021, announced a goal of reducing U.S. emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030. In September 2021, the Biden Administration announced the Global Methane Pledge, an international
pact that aims to reduce global methane emissions at least 30% below 2020 levels by 2030, including all feasible reductions in the energy sector. At COP28 in December 2023, member countries entered into an agreement that calls for
actions toward achieving, at a global scale, a tripling of renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency improvements by 2030. The goals of the agreement, among other things, are to accelerate efforts toward the phase-down of unabated
coal power, phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies and take other measures that drive the transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems. Most recently, at the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29), participants representing
159 countries met and, among other things, agreed on rules to operationalize international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. However, in January 2025, President Trump issued executive orders directing the immediate notice to the
United Nations of the United States withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and all other agreements made under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The full impact of these actions remains uncertain at this time. Separately,
various state and local governments have vowed to continue to enact regulations to satisfy their proportionate obligations under the Paris Agreement.
Additionally, in 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (the IRA) was signed into law, which could accelerate the transition to a lower
carbon economy. The IRA provides incentives for the development of renewable energy, clean hydrogen, clean fuels and supporting infrastructure and carbon capture and sequestration. In addition, the IRA includes a methane emissions reduction program
that amends the Clean Air Act to include a Methane Emissions and Waste Reduction Incentive Program for petroleum and natural gas systems. This program requires the EPA to impose a Waste Emissions Charge on certain natural gas and oil
sources that are already required to report under the EPAs Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. To implement the program, in May 2024, EPA finalized revisions to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program for the oil and natural gas sector. 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 EPA are pending and litigation in the D.C. Circuit has
commenced. In November 2024, EPA finalized a regulation to implement the Inflation Reduction Acts Waste Emissions Charge. The fee imposed under the Methane Emissions Reduction Program for 2024 is $900 per ton emitted over annual methane
emissions thresholds, and increases to $1,200 in 2025, and $1,500 in 2026. In January 2025, industry associations challenged the Waste Emissions Charge rule in the D.C. Circuit. However, in February 2025, Congress voted to repeal the Waste Emissions
Charge rule pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, which measure is expected to be signed by President Trump. The Inflation Reduction Act may also be subject to amendment or repeal through Congressional budget reconciliation. Consequently, future
implementation and enforcement of these rules remains uncertain at this time. Additionally, some states have issued mandates to reduce emissions of GHGs, primarily through planned development of GHG emission inventories and potential cap-and-trade programs. Most of these types of programs require major sources of emissions or major producers of fuels to acquire and subsequently surrender emission
allowances, with the number of allowances available being reduced each year until a target goal is achieved.
In addition, the SEC adopted
final rules for climate-related disclosures in March 2024 (the SEC Climate Rules), which will mandate detailed disclosure of certain climate-related information for certain public companies. The SEC Climate Rules are currently stayed
pending legal challenges and it is unclear when the rules will become effective, if at all. For these reasons, we cannot currently predict with certainty the timing and costs of implementation or any potential adverse impacts resulting therefrom.
However, any new climate disclosure requirements could result in us experiencing additional operational and compliance burdens and incurring significant additional costs. In addition, enhanced climate disclosure requirements could accelerate the
trend of certain stakeholders and lenders restricting or seeking more stringent conditions with respect to their investments in certain carbon intensive sectors. Regulations requiring the disclosure of similar climate-related information have also
passed at the state-level.
Further, in January 2024, the Biden Administration announced a temporary pause on pending decisions on exports
of LNG to non-free trade agreement countries until the Department of Energy could update the underlying analyses for authorizations, including
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an assessment of the impact of GHG emissions. In a July 2024 ruling, the Western District of Louisiana stayed this temporary pause on LNG exports to
non-free trade agreement countries. The Biden Administration appealed the ruling in August 2024 and the litigation remains ongoing. In December 2024, the Department of Energy released its report on LNG
exports. However, in January 2025, President Trump issued an executive order directing the Department of Energy to restart reviews of applications for approvals of LNG export projects as expeditiously as possible. Further, in April 2024, the
European Union adopted a regulation to track and reduce methane emissions in the energy sector, including requiring new monitoring, reporting and verification measures to be applied by importers of oil, natural gas and coal into the European Union
by January 1, 2027, and maximum methane intensity values must be met by 2030 and every year thereafter. Each member state will have the power to impose administrative penalties for failure to comply and the standard will be
mandatory for supply contracts signed after the law takes effect. This and other changes in law and governmental policy may have impacts on our business that are difficult to anticipate.
The adoption and implementation of new or more stringent international, federal, state, or local legislation, regulations or other regulatory
initiatives related to climate change or GHG emissions from oil and natural gas facilities could result in increased costs of compliance or costs of consumption, thereby reducing demand for our products, and could require us to incur increased
operating costs or otherwise have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Hydraulic fracturing
Hydraulic fracturing is a common practice that is used to stimulate production of oil and/or natural gas from low permeability
subsurface rock formations and is important to our business. The hydraulic fracturing process involves the injection of water, proppants and chemicals under pressure into targeted subsurface formations to fracture the hydrocarbon-bearing rock
formation and stimulate production of hydrocarbons. We regularly use hydraulic fracturing as part of our operations. Presently, hydraulic fracturing is primarily regulated at the state level, but the practice has become increasingly controversial in
certain parts of the country, resulting in increased scrutiny and regulation. For example, the EPA has asserted federal regulatory authority pursuant to the SDWA over certain hydraulic fracturing activities involving the use of diesel fuels and
published permitting guidance in February 2014 addressing the performance of such activities using diesel fuels.
In addition, there are
heightened concerns by the public about hydraulic fracturing causing damage to aquifers, and there is potential for future regulation to address those concerns. In December 2016, the EPA released its final report on the potential impacts of
hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. The final report concluded that certain activities associated with hydraulic fracturing may impact drinking water resources under some circumstances. To date, the EPA has taken no further action in
response to the 2016 report.
At the state level, several states have adopted or are considering legal requirements that require oil and
natural gas operators to disclose chemical ingredients and water volumes used to hydraulically fracture wells, in addition to more stringent well construction and monitoring requirements. Local governments may also adopt ordinances within their
jurisdictions regulating the time, place and manner of drilling activities in general or hydraulic fracturing activities in particular. If new or more stringent federal, state, or local legal restrictions relating to the hydraulic fracturing process
are adopted in areas where we operate, we could incur potentially significant added costs to comply with such requirements, experience delays or curtailment in the pursuit of exploration, development, or production activities, and perhaps even be
precluded from drilling wells.
Oil Pollution Act
The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (the OPA) establishes strict liability for owners and operators of facilities that are the source of
a release of oil into WOTUS. The OPA and its associated regulations impose a variety of requirements on responsible parties, including owners and operators of certain facilities from which oil is released, related to the prevention of oil spills and
liability for damages resulting from such spills. While liability limits apply in some circumstances, a party cannot take advantage of liability limits if the spill was caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct, resulted from violation of a
federal safety, construction or operating regulation or if the party fails to report a spill or to cooperate fully in the cleanup. Few defenses exist to the liability imposed by the OPA. The OPA imposes ongoing requirements on a responsible party,
including the preparation of oil spill response plans and proof of financial responsibility to cover environmental cleanup and restoration costs that could be incurred in connection with an oil spill.
National Environmental Policy Act
Oil and natural gas exploration and production activities on federal lands are subject to the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA). NEPA requires federal agencies to evaluate major federal actions having the potential to significantly impact the environment. The process involves the preparation of an environmental assessment and, if necessary, an
environmental impact statement depending on whether the specific circumstances surrounding the proposed federal action have the potential to significantly impact the environment. The NEPA process involves public input through comments, which can
alter the nature of a proposed project either by limiting the scope of the project or requiring resource-specific mitigation. NEPA decisions can be appealed through the court
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system by process participants. This process may result in delaying the permitting and development of projects, may increase the costs of permitting and developing some facilities and could
result, in certain instances, in the cancellation of existing leases. In July 2020, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) revised NEPAs implementing regulations to make the NEPA process more efficient, effective and timely.
The rule required federal agencies to develop procedures consistent with the new rule within one year of the rules effective date (which was extended to two years in June 2021). In October 2021, CEQ issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to
amend the NEPA regulatory changes adopted in 2020 in two phases. Phase I of the CEQs rulemaking process was finalized on April 20, 2022, and generally restored provisions that were in effect prior to 2020. In May 2024, the CEQ finalized
the Phase II rule that streamlined and clarified NEPA reviews while maintaining consideration of relevant environmental, climate change and environmental justice effects. The final rule took effect in July 2024. The Infrastructure and Investment
Jobs Act, signed into law in November 2021, codified some of the July 2020 amendments. These amendments must be implemented into each agencys implementing regulations, and each of those individual rulemakings could be subject to legal
challenge. Additionally, in June 2023, the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 was signed into law, which includes important changes to NEPA to streamline the environmental review process. However, in February 2025, the U.S. District Court for the
District of North Dakota vacated the Phase II rule, finding that NEPA does not authorize the CEQ to issue binding regulations. Also in February 2025, CEQ issued an interim final rule revoking the NEPA implementing regulations, and issued guidance
recommending federal agencies revise their NEPA rules within one year, using CEQs 2020 NEPA rules as a model and incorporating specific policy priorities. The full impact of these changes to the NEPA regulations and statutory text therefore
remains uncertain and could have an effect on our operations and our ability to obtain governmental permits.
Endangered Species Act and Migratory
Bird Treaty Act
The ESA restricts activities that may affect endangered or threatened species or their habitat. Similar
protections are offered to migratory birds under the MBTA. We may conduct operations on natural gas leases in areas where certain species that are or could be listed as threatened or endangered are known to exist. In February 2016, the FWS published
a final policy which alters how it may designate critical habitat and suitable habitat areas that it believes are necessary for survival of a threatened or endangered species. A critical habitat or suitable habitat designation could result in
further material restrictions to land use and may materially delay or prohibit land access for natural gas development. The Trump administration issued rules that narrowed the definition of habitat and altered a policy in a way that made
it easier to exclude territory from critical habitat. In October 2021, the Biden Administration published two rules that reversed those changes, and in June and July 2022, the FWS issued final rules rescinding
Trump-era regulations concerning the definition of habitat and critical habitat exclusions. In June 2023, the FWS issued three proposed rules governing critical habitat designation and expanding
protection options for species listed as threatened pursuant to the ESA. Final rules were published in April 2024, and took effect in May 2024. In August 2024, environmental groups challenged the new ESA regulations in federal district court, which
litigation remains ongoing. However, in January 2025, President Trump issued an executive order directing agencies to use, to the maximum extent permissible, the ESA regulation on consultations in emergencies to facilitate the domestic energy
supply. The executive order also requires the quarterly convening of the Endangered Species Act Committee to ensure prompt and efficient review of all submissions for potential actions that could facilitate energy development. As a result, future
implementation and enforcement of these rules remains uncertain at this time. The designation of previously unprotected species as threatened or endangered or new critical or suitable habitat designations in areas where we conduct operations could
result in limitations or prohibitions on our operations and could adversely impact our business. If we were to have a portion of our leases designated as critical or suitable habitat, it could adversely impact the value of our leases.
The Department of the Interior issued an opinion in December 2017 that would narrow certain protections afforded to migratory birds pursuant
to the MBTA and finalized a rule in January 2021 limiting application of the MBTA. The MBTA makes it illegal to, among other things, hunt, capture, kill, possess, sell, or purchase migratory birds, nests or eggs without a permit. The Department of
the Interior revoked the rule in October 2021 and issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking seeking comment to the Department of the Interiors plan to develop regulations that authorize incidental take under certain prescribed
conditions. The notice of proposed rulemaking was initially expected in October 2023 with a final rule to follow by April 2024; however, the notice of proposed rulemaking has not yet been issued. The identification or designation of previously
unprotected species as threatened or endangered in areas where underlying property operations are conducted could cause us to incur increased costs arising from species protection measures or could result in limitations on our development activities
that could have an adverse impact on our ability to develop and produce reserves. If we were to have a portion of our leases designated as critical or suitable habitat, it could adversely impact the value of our leases.
Worker health and safety
We are
subject to a number of federal and state laws and regulations, including the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, as amended (OSHA), and comparable state statutes, the purpose of which is to protect the health and safety of
workers. For example, the OSHA hazard communication standard, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act and comparable state statutes and any implementing
regulations require that we maintain, organize and/or disclose information about hazardous materials used or produced in our operations and that this information be provided to employees, state and local governmental authorities and citizens. Other
OSHA standards regulate specific worker safety aspects of our operations. Failure to comply with OSHA requirements can lead to the imposition of penalties.
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Related permits and authorizations
Many environmental laws require us to obtain permits or other authorizations from state and/or federal agencies before initiating certain
drilling, construction, production, operation or other oil and natural gas activities, and to maintain these permits and compliance with their requirements for ongoing operations. These permits are generally subject to protest, appeal or litigation,
which can in certain cases delay or halt projects and cease production or operation of wells, pipelines and other operations.
Related insurance
We maintain insurance against some contamination risks associated with our development activities, including a coverage policy for
gradual pollution events. However, this insurance is limited to activities at the well site, and there can be no assurance that this insurance will continue to be commercially available or that this insurance will be available at premium levels that
justify its purchase by us. The occurrence of a significant event that is not fully insured or indemnified against could have a materially adverse effect on our financial condition and operations.
Employees
As of December 31, 2024,
we had 80 employees, none of whom were subject to a collective bargaining agreement.
Available Information
Our internet website address is www.infinitynaturalresources.com. We routinely post important information for investors on our website. Within
our websites investor relations section, we make available free of charge our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and related amendments, exhibits and other information, as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
SEC). You may also access and read our filings without charge through the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Information contained on, or accessible through, our website shall not be deemed incorporated into and is not a part of this
Annual Report.
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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Investing in our Class A common stock involves risks. You should carefully consider the following risks and uncertainties, as well as
the other information contained in this Annual Report, including those described in Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks
not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also materially affect our business. The occurrence of any of the following risks or additional risks and uncertainties that are currently immaterial or unknown could materially and
adversely affect our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and cash flows. The trading price of our Class A common stock could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Related to Commodity Prices
Oil,
natural gas and NGL prices are volatile. A sustained decline in prices could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, liquidity and our ability to meet our financial commitments or cause us to delay our planned
capital expenditures.
Our revenues, operating results, profitability, liquidity and ability to grow depend primarily upon the
prices we receive for the oil, natural gas and NGLs we sell. We require substantial expenditures to replace our oil, natural gas and NGL reserves, sustain production and fund our business plans, including our development and exploratory drilling
efforts. Lower commodity prices negatively affect the amount of cash available for capital expenditures, could negatively affect our ability to borrow money or raise additional capital and, as a result, could have a material adverse effect on our
business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, low prices may reduce the quantities of oil, natural gas and NGL reserves that may be economically produced and result in an impairment of our natural gas
and oil properties.
Historically, the markets for oil, natural gas and NGLs have been volatile, and they are likely to continue to be
volatile. Wide fluctuations in oil, natural gas and NGL prices may result from relatively minor changes in the supply of or demand for oil, natural gas and NGLs, market uncertainty and other factors that are beyond our control, including:
worldwide and regional economic conditions impacting the supply and demand for oil, natural gas and NGLs,
including inflationary pressures;
changes in seasonal temperatures, including the number of heating degree days during winter months and cooling
degree days during summer months;
the level of oil, natural gas and NGL exploration, development and production;
the level of U.S. LNG exports;
prevailing prices on local price indexes in the areas in which we operate;
the proximity, capacity, cost and availability of gathering and transportation facilities;
localized and global supply and demand fundamentals and transportation availability;
the cost of exploring for, developing, producing and transporting reserves;
the spot price of LNG on world markets;
weather conditions and natural disasters;
technological advances affecting energy consumption;
the price and availability of alternative fuels;
speculative trading in natural gas derivative contracts;
armed conflict, political instability or civil unrest in oil and gas producing regions, including instability in
the Middle East and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the related potential effects on laws and regulations or the imposition of economic or trade sanctions;
the occurrence or threat of epidemic or pandemic diseases, or any government response to such occurrence or
threat;
political and economic conditions in or affecting major LNG consumption regions or countries, particularly Asia
and Europe;
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actions of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), including the ability and
willingness of the members of OPEC and other exporting nations to agree to and maintain oil price and production controls, including the anticipated increases in supply from Russia and OPEC, particularly Saudi Arabia;
U.S. trade policies and their effect on U.S. oil, natural gas and NGL exports;
expectations about future commodity prices; and
U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. governmental regulation and
taxes.
Lower commodity prices may reduce our operating margins, cash flow and borrowing ability. If we are unable to
obtain needed capital or financing on satisfactory terms, our ability to develop future reserves or make acquisitions could be adversely affected. Also, using lower prices in estimating proved reserves may result in a reduction in proved reserve
volumes due to economic limits. In addition, sustained periods with natural gas prices at levels lower than current Henry Hub strip prices or oil prices lower than current WTI strip prices may adversely affect our drilling economics, cash flow and
our ability to raise capital, which may require us to re-evaluate and postpone or substantially restrict our development program and result in the reduction of some of our proved undeveloped reserves and
related PV-10. As a result, a substantial or extended decline in commodity prices may materially and adversely affect our future business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and ability to
meet our financial commitments or cause us to delay our planned capital expenditures.
We could experience periods of higher costs if commodity
prices rise. These increases could reduce our profitability, cash flow and ability to complete development activities as planned.
Historically, our capital and operating costs have risen during periods of increasing oil, natural gas and NGL prices and drilling activity in
our areas of operation and other major shale basins throughout the U.S. These cost increases result from a variety of factors beyond our control, such as increases in the cost of sand and other proppant used in hydraulic fracturing operations; steel
and other raw materials that we and our vendors rely upon; increased demand for labor, services and materials as drilling activity increases; and increased taxes. Such costs may rise faster than increases in our revenue if commodity prices rise,
thereby negatively impacting our profitability, cash flow and ability to complete development activities as scheduled and on budget. This impact may be magnified to the extent that our ability to participate in the commodity price increases is
limited by our derivative activities. Furthermore, high oil prices have historically led to more development activity in oil-focused shale basins and resulted in service cost inflation across all U.S. shale
basins, including our areas of operation. Higher levels of development activity in oil-focused shale basins have also historically resulted in higher levels of associated gas production that places downward
pressure on natural gas prices. To the extent natural gas prices decline due to a period of increased associated gas production and we experience service cost inflation during such period, our cash flow and profitability may be materially adversely
impacted.
Certain factors could require us to write down the carrying values of our properties, including commodity prices decreasing to a level
such that our future undiscounted cash flows from our properties are less than their carrying value.
Accounting rules require that
we periodically review the carrying value of our properties for possible impairment. Based on prevailing commodity prices and specific market factors and circumstances at the time of prospective impairment reviews and the continuing evaluation of
development plans, drilling and completion results, production data, economics and other factors, we may be required to write down the carrying value of our properties. A write-down constitutes a non-cash
impairment charge to earnings. Lower commodity prices in the future could result in impairments of our properties, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations for the periods in which such charges are taken. For example,
natural gas prices are a critical component to our fair value estimate of our natural gas properties. If these prices decline, we will record an impairment, which is a non-cash charge to earnings, if we
determine that an assets carrying value exceeds its estimated fair value. Impairment expense may have a material adverse effect on our earnings. We could experience further material write-downs as a result of other factors, including low
production results or high lease operating expenses, capital expenditures or transportation fees.
Risks Related to Our Reserves, Leases and Drilling
Locations
Reserve estimates depend on many assumptions that may turn out to be inaccurate. Any material inaccuracies in reserve estimates or
underlying assumptions will materially affect the quantities and present value of our reserves.
The process of estimating oil,
natural gas and NGL reserves is complex. It requires interpretations of available technical data and many assumptions, including assumptions relating to current and future economic conditions and commodity prices. Any significant inaccuracies in
these interpretations or assumptions could materially affect the estimated quantities and present value of our reserves. In order to prepare reserve estimates, production rates and timing of development expenditures must be projected and available
geological, geophysical, production and engineering data must be analyzed. The extent, quality and reliability of this data can vary. The process also requires economic assumptions about matters such as commodity prices, drilling and operating
expenses, capital expenditures, taxes and availability of funds.
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Actual future production, commodity prices, revenues, taxes, development expenditures,
operating expenses and quantities of recoverable reserves may vary materially from our estimates. For instance, initial production rates reported by us or other operators may not be indicative of future or long-term production rates, our recovery
efficiencies may be worse than expected and production declines may be greater than we estimate and may be more rapid and irregular when compared to initial production rates. In addition, we may adjust reserve estimates of proved reserves to reflect
additional production history, results of development activities, current commodity prices and other existing factors. Any significant variance could materially affect the estimated quantities and present value of our reserves. Furthermore, our
development plan calls for completing horizontal wells using tighter frac spacing and substantially higher proppant volumes, which may increase the risk that these wells interfere with production from existing or future wells in the same spacing
section and horizon, which in turn may result in lower recoverable reserves. There can be no assurance that our reserves will ultimately be produced.
You should not assume that the present values of future net cash flows from our reserves presented in this Annual Report are the current
market value of our estimated reserves. Actual future prices and costs may differ materially from those used in our present value estimates using SEC pricing. If spot prices or future actual prices are below the prices used in our current reserve
estimates, using those prices in estimating proved reserves may result in a decrease in proved reserve volumes due to economic limits. You should not assume that the PV-10 values of our estimated reserves are
accurate estimates of the current fair value of our estimated oil, natural gas and NGL reserves.
Unless we replace our reserves with new reserves
and develop those new reserves, our reserves and production will decline, which would adversely affect our future cash flows and results of operations.
Producing natural gas and oil reservoirs generally are characterized by declining production rates that vary depending upon reservoir
characteristics and other factors. Unless we conduct successful ongoing development activities or continually acquire properties containing proved reserves, our proved reserves will decline as those reserves are produced. Our future reserves and
production, and therefore our future cash flow and results of operations, are highly dependent on our success in efficiently developing our current reserves and economically finding or acquiring additional recoverable reserves. We may not be able to
develop, find or acquire sufficient additional reserves to replace our current and future production. If we are unable to replace our current and future production, the value of our reserves will decrease, and our business, financial condition and
results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.
The development of our estimated PDNPs and PUDs may take longer and may require
higher levels of capital expenditures than we currently anticipate. Therefore, our estimated PDNPs and PUDs may not be ultimately developed or produced.
As of December 31, 2024, approximately 60% of our total estimated proved reserves were classified as proved undeveloped under SEC pricing.
Estimated net future development costs relating to the development of our PDNPs and PUDs at December 31, 2024 are approximately $630 million over the next five years. Moreover, the development of probable and possible reserves will require
additional capital expenditures and such reserves are less certain to be recovered than proved reserves. Development of these undeveloped reserves may take longer and require higher levels of capital expenditures than we currently anticipate. We
plan to fund our capital development program primarily through cash flow from our operations. Our ability to fund these expenditures is subject to a number of risks. For additional information, see Our development projects and
acquisitions require substantial capital expenditures. We may be unable to obtain any required capital or financing on satisfactory terms, which could lead to a decline in our production and reserves. Delays in the development of our reserves,
increases in costs to drill and develop such reserves or decreases in commodity prices will reduce the PV-10 value of our estimated PUDs and future net cash flows estimated for such reserves and may result in
some projects becoming uneconomic. In addition, delays in the development of reserves could cause us to have to reclassify some of our PUDs as unproved reserves. Furthermore, there is no certainty that we will be able to convert our PUDs to
developed reserves or that our undeveloped reserves will be economically viable or technically feasible to produce.
Further, SEC rules
require that, subject to limited exceptions, PUDs may only be booked if they relate to wells scheduled to be drilled within five years after the date of booking. This requirement has limited and may continue to limit our ability to book additional
PUDs as we pursue our drilling program. As a result, we may be required to reclassify certain of our PUDs if we do not drill those wells within the required five-year timeframe.
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Our undeveloped acreage must be drilled before lease expiration to hold the acreage by production. In
highly competitive markets for acreage, failure to drill sufficient wells to hold acreage could result in a substantial lease renewal cost or, if renewal is not feasible, loss of our lease and prospective drilling opportunities.
Leases on oil and natural gas properties typically have a term of three to five years, after which they expire unless, prior to expiration, a
well is drilled and production of hydrocarbons in paying quantities is established. In addition, many of our oil and natural gas leases require us to drill wells that are commercially productive, and if we are unsuccessful in drilling such wells, we
could lose our rights under such leases. Although approximately 84% of our acreage is HBP, held by operations or held-by-storage as of December 31, 2024, the
remaining acreage is subject to expiration over future years. Of the remaining 16% of our acreage not HBP, approximately 3% will be subject to expiration in 2025, 1% in 2026 and approximately 96% thereafter, although a portion of our leases
generally grant us the right to extend these leases for an additional three or five-year period. Although we seek to actively manage our undeveloped properties, our drilling plans for these areas are subject to change based upon various factors,
including drilling results, oil and natural gas prices, the availability and cost of capital, drilling and production costs, availability of drilling services and equipment, gathering system and pipeline transportation constraints and regulatory
approvals. Low commodity prices may cause us to delay our drilling plans and, as a result, lose our right to develop the related properties. The cost to renew expiring leases may increase significantly, and we may not be able to renew such leases on
commercially reasonable terms or at all. If we are unable to fund renewals of expiring leases, we could lose portions of our acreage and our actual drilling activities may differ materially from our current expectations, which could adversely affect
our business.
Our identified drilling locations are scheduled out over many years, making them susceptible to uncertainties that could materially
alter the occurrence or timing of their drilling.
We have specifically identified and scheduled certain drilling locations as an
estimation of our future multiyear drilling activities on our existing acreage. Our identified drilling locations represent locations to which proved, probable or possible reserves were attributable. Our ability to drill and develop these locations
depends on a number of uncertainties, including commodity prices, statutory unitization, availability and cost of capital, drilling and production costs, availability of drilling services and equipment, availability and cost of sand and other
proppant used in hydraulic fracturing operations, drilling results, gathering system and pipeline transportation constraints, access to and availability of water sourcing and distribution systems, access to and availability of saltwater disposal
systems, regulatory approvals, the cooperation of other working interest owners and other factors. Because of these uncertain factors, we do not know if the drilling locations we have identified will ever be drilled or if we will be able to produce
oil or natural gas from these or any other drilling locations. In addition, unless production is established within the spacing units covering the undeveloped acres on which some of the potential locations are obtained, the leases for such acreage
will expire. Further, certain of the horizontal wells we intend to drill in the future may require pooling or unitization with adjacent leaseholds controlled by third parties. If these third parties are unwilling to pool or unitize such leaseholds
with ours, the total locations we can drill may be limited. As such, our actual drilling activities may materially differ from those presently identified. For more information on our future potential acreage expirations, see Item 1. Business
and PropertiesOur Properties Undeveloped Acreage Expirations as of December 31, 2024.
Although we plan to fund our
drilling program primarily with cash flow from operations, if our cash flows are less than we expect or we change our drilling activities, we may be required to borrow under our Credit Facility or issue debt or equity securities in order to pursue
the development of these locations, and we may not be able to raise or generate the capital required to do so. For additional information, see Our development projects and acquisitions require substantial capital expenditures. We may be
unable to obtain any required capital or financing on satisfactory terms, which could lead to a decline in our production and reserves. Any drilling activities we are able to conduct on these locations may not be successful, may not result in
production or additions to our estimated proved reserves and could result in a downward revision of our estimated proved reserves, which could have a material adverse effect on the borrowing base under our Credit Facility or our future business and
results of operations. Additionally, if we curtail our drilling program, we may be required to reduce our estimated proved reserves, which could reduce the borrowing base under our Credit Facility.
Properties that we decide to drill may not yield oil, natural gas and NGLs in commercially viable quantities.
Although we believe that the vast majority of our drilling locations are technically proved, any inability to develop commercially viable
quantities will adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Properties that we decide to drill that do not yield natural gas in commercially viable quantities will adversely affect our results of operations and financial
condition. There is no way to predict in advance of drilling and testing whether any particular prospect will yield oil, natural gas or NGLs in sufficient quantities to recover drilling and completion costs or to be economically viable. The use of
geologic data and other technologies and the study of producing fields in the same area will not enable us to know conclusively prior to drilling whether oil, natural gas or NGLs will be present or, if present, whether oil, natural gas or NGLs will
be present in commercial quantities. We cannot assure you that the analogies we draw from available data from other wells, more fully explored prospects or producing fields will be applicable to our drilling prospects.
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Seismic data is subject to interpretation and may not accurately identify the presence of drilling
hazards, which could adversely affect the results of our drilling operations.
Seismic data and visualization techniques are only
tools used to assist geoscientists in identifying subsurface structures and hydrocarbon indicators and do not enable the interpreter to know whether hydrocarbons are, in fact, present in those structures. As a result, even if we were to use and
interpret seismic data in analyzing our drilling prospects, our drilling activities may not be successful or economical. In addition, the use of advanced technologies, such as 3-D seismic data, requires
greater pre-drilling expenditures than traditional drilling strategies, and we could incur losses as a result of such expenditures.
Risks Related to Our Operations
Our development
projects and acquisitions require substantial capital expenditures. We may be unable to obtain any required capital or financing on satisfactory terms, which could lead to a decline in our production and reserves.
The oil and gas industry is capital-intensive. Although we expect to fund our capital budget primarily with cash flow from our operations, a
number of factors could cause our cash flow to be less than we expect, including the results of our drilling and completion program. Moreover, our capital budgets are based on a number of assumptions, including drilling and completion costs,
midstream service costs, commodity prices and drilling results, and are therefore subject to change. If our cash flows are less than we expect, we decide to pursue acquisitions or we change our capital budgets, we may be required to borrow under our
Credit Facility or issue debt or equity securities to consummate such acquisitions or fund our drilling and completion program. The incurrence of additional indebtedness, either through borrowings under our Credit Facility, the issuance of debt
securities or otherwise, would require that a portion of our cash flow from operations be used for the payment of interest and principal on our indebtedness, thereby reducing our ability to use cash flow from operations to fund capital expenditures
and acquisitions. The issuance of additional equity securities would be dilutive to our other stockholders. The actual amount and timing of our future capital expenditures may differ materially from our estimates as a result of, among other things:
commodity prices; actual drilling results; the availability and cost of drilling rigs and other services and equipment; the availability, cost and adequacy of midstream gathering, processing, compression and transportation infrastructure; and
regulatory, technological and competitive developments.
Our cash flow from operations and access to capital are subject to a number of
variables, including:
the prices at which our production is sold;
the amount of our proved reserves;
the amount of hydrocarbons we are able to produce from existing wells;
our ability to acquire, locate and produce new reserves;
the amount of our operating expenses;
cash settlements from our derivative activities;
our ability to borrow under our Credit Facility; and
our ability to access the capital markets or sell non-core assets.
If our revenues or the borrowing base under our Credit Facility decrease as a result of lower commodity prices,
operational difficulties, declines in reserves or for any other reason, we may have limited ability to obtain the capital necessary to make acquisitions or sustain our operations at current levels. If additional capital is needed, we may not be able
to obtain debt or equity financing on terms acceptable to us, if at all. If cash flow generated by our operations or available borrowings under our Credit Facility are insufficient to meet our capital requirements, the failure to obtain additional
financing could result in a curtailment of the development of our properties, which in turn could lead to a decline in our reserves and production and could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Drilling for and producing oil, natural gas and NGLs are high-risk activities with many uncertainties that could adversely affect our business,
financial condition or results of operations.
Our future financial condition and results of operations will depend on the success
of our development, production and acquisition activities, which are subject to numerous risks beyond our control. For example, we cannot assure you that wells we drill will be productive or that we will recover all or any portion of our investment
in such wells. Drilling for oil, natural gas and NGLs often involves unprofitable efforts from wells that do not produce sufficient oil, natural gas and NGLs to return a profit at then-realized prices after deducting drilling, operating and other
costs. In addition, our cost of drilling, completing and operating wells is often uncertain.
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Our decisions to develop or purchase prospects or properties will depend, in part, on the
evaluation of data obtained through geophysical and geological analyses, production data and engineering studies, which are often inconclusive or subject to varying interpretations. For a discussion of the uncertainty involved in these processes,
see Reserve estimates depend on many assumptions that may turn out to be inaccurate. Any material inaccuracies in reserve estimates or underlying assumptions will materially affect the quantities and present value of our reserves.
Further, many factors may increase the cost of, curtail, delay or cancel our scheduled drilling projects, including:
declines in oil, natural gas and NGL prices;
increases in the cost of, and shortages or delays in the availability of, proppant, equipment, services and
qualified personnel or in obtaining water for hydraulic fracturing activities;
equipment failures, accidents or other unexpected operational events;
capacity or pressure limitations on gathering systems, processing and treating facilities or other related
midstream infrastructure;
coal and other mineral ownership permitting issues may impact our ability to develop on our current timeline;
drilling in the vicinity of coal mining operations and certain other structures;
any future lack of available capacity on interconnecting transmission pipelines;
complying with regulatory requirements, including limitations on freshwater sourcing, wastewater disposal,
emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and hydraulic fracturing;
pressure or irregularities in geological formations;
limited availability of financing on acceptable terms;
issues related to compliance with or liability arising under environmental laws and regulations;
environmental hazards, such as natural gas leaks, oil spills, pipeline and tank ruptures and unauthorized
discharges of brine, well stimulation and completion fluids, toxic gases or other pollutants into the environment;
compliance with contractual requirements;
competition for surface locations from other operators that may own rights to drill at certain depths across
portions of our leasehold;
adverse weather conditions;
title issues or legal disputes regarding leasehold rights; and
other market limitations in our industry.
Some of our properties are in areas that may have been partially depleted or drained by offset (i.e., neighboring) wells, and certain of our wells may
be adversely affected by actions other operators may take when drilling, completing or operating wells that they own.
Some of our
properties are in areas that may have been partially depleted or drained by earlier drilled offset wells. We have no control over offsetting operators who could take actions such as drilling and completing nearby wells, which actions could adversely
affect our operations. When a new offset well is completed and produced, reserves previously attributed to offset wells may be produced by the new well which could cause a depletion of our proved reserves and may inhibit our ability to further
develop our proved reserves. The possibility for these impacts may increase with respect to wells that are shut in as a response to lower commodity prices or the lack of pipeline and storage capacity. In addition, completion operations and other
activities conducted on other nearby wells could cause us, in order to protect our existing wells, to shut in production for indefinite periods of time. Shutting in our wells and damage to our wells from offset completions could result in increased
costs and could adversely affect the reserves and re-commenced production from such shut in wells as well as the timing of cash flows from impacted wells.
Our operations are also subject to conservation regulations, including the regulation of the size of drilling and spacing units or proration
units, the number of wells that may be drilled in a unit, the rate of production allowable from oil and gas wells and the unitization or pooling of oil and gas properties. Some states allow the forced pooling or unitization of tracts to facilitate
exploration and development, while other states rely on voluntary pooling of lands and leases. Such rules often impact the ultimate timing of our exploration and development plans. In addition, federal and state conservation laws generally limit the
venting or flaring of natural gas, and state conservation laws impose certain requirements regarding the ratable purchase of production. These regulations limit the amounts of oil and gas we can produce from our wells and the number of wells or the
locations at which we can drill.
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Part of our business strategy involves using some of the latest available horizontal drilling and
completion techniques, which involve risks and uncertainties in their application.
Our operations involve utilizing some of the
latest drilling and completion techniques, which include drilling longer laterals and completing wells with larger fluid volumes and higher proppant volumes. The difficulties we face drilling horizontal wells include:
landing our wellbores in the desired drilling zone;
staying in the desired drilling zone while drilling horizontally through the formation;
running casing the entire length of the wellbore;
potentials for casing failures; and
being able to run and remove tools and other equipment consistently through the entire length of the wellbore.
Difficulties that we face while completing our wells include:
the ability to fracture stimulate the planned number of stages with the planned amount of fluid and proppant;
the ability to run tools through the entire length of the wellbore during completion operations; and
the ability to successfully clean out the wellbore after completion of the final fracture stimulation stage.
In addition, certain of the new techniques we are adopting may cause irregularities or interruptions in production due
to offset wells being shut in and the time required to drill and complete multiple wells before any such wells begin producing. Furthermore, our development plan calls for completing horizontal wells using greater fluid volumes and substantially
higher proppant volumes in addition to drilling additional and longer laterals off of existing well pads, which may increase the risk that these wells interfere with production from existing or future wells in the same spacing section and horizon.
This may cause such wells to produce at lower rates than we anticipate and produce lower recoverable reserves. These latest drilling and completion techniques require substantially more capital on a per well basis (when compared to vertical wells),
which may result in us drilling and completing fewer wells per year. If our development and production results are less than anticipated, the return on our investment for a particular well or region may not be as attractive as we anticipated, and we
could incur material write-downs of our undeveloped acreage, and its value could decline in the future.
Our ability to produce oil, natural gas and
NGLs economically and in commercial quantities is dependent on the availability of adequate supplies of water for drilling and completion operations and access to water and waste disposal or recycling facilities and services at a reasonable cost.
Restrictions on our ability to obtain water or dispose of produced water and other waste may have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The hydraulic fracturing stimulation process on which we depend to produce commercial quantities of oil, natural gas and NGLs requires the use
and disposal of significant quantities of water. The availability of water recycling facilities and other disposal alternatives to receive all of the water produced from our wells may affect our production. Our inability to secure sufficient amounts
of water, to dispose of or recycle the water used in our operations or to timely obtain water sourcing permits or other rights could adversely impact our operations. The availability of water may change over time in ways that we cannot control,
including as a result of shifting weather patterns. Additionally, the imposition of new environmental initiatives and regulations could include restrictions on our ability to obtain water or dispose of waste and adversely affect our business and
operating results.
Our producing properties are concentrated in the Appalachian Basin, making us vulnerable to risks associated with operating in
one major geographic area.
Our producing properties are geographically concentrated in the Appalachian Basin in eastern Ohio and
southwestern Pennsylvania. As of December 31, 2024, all of our total estimated proved reserves were attributable to properties located in this area. As a result of this concentration, we may be disproportionately exposed to the impact of
regional supply and demand factors, delays or interruptions of production from wells in this area caused by, and costs associated with, governmental regulation, state and local political activities, processing or transportation capacity constraints,
market limitations, availability of equipment and personnel, water shortages or other drought related conditions or interruption of the processing or transportation of oil, natural gas or NGLs. Due to the concentrated nature of our portfolio of
properties, a number of our properties could experience any of the same conditions at the same time, resulting in a relatively greater impact on our results of operations than they might have on other companies that have a more diversified portfolio
of properties.
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The marketability of certain of our production is dependent upon transportation and other facilities,
which we do not control. If these facilities are unavailable, or if there are any increases in the cost of using these services or facilities, our operations could be interrupted, our revenues could be reduced and our costs could increase.
The marketability of certain of our oil, natural gas and NGLs production depends in part upon the availability, proximity and
capacity of transportation pipelines, plants and other midstream facilities, which are owned by third parties. Certain of our natural gas production is collected from the wellhead by third-party gathering lines and transported to gas processing or
treating facilities and/or transmission pipelines. Our oil and NGLs production in some cases are also dependent on certain midstream infrastructure. We do not control these third-party facilities and our access to them may be limited, curtailed or
denied. Economic, regulatory or other issues may affect the construction and availability of needed third-party facilities. These pipelines, plants, and other midstream facilities may become unavailable because of testing, turnarounds, line repair,
maintenance, reduced operating pressure, lack of operating capacity, regulatory requirements, and curtailments of receipts or deliveries due to insufficient capacity or because of damage from severe weather conditions or other operational issues.
These third-party facilities may experience unplanned downtime or maintenance for a variety of reasons outside our control, and our production could be materially negatively impacted as a result of such outages. Insufficient production from our
wells to support the construction of pipeline facilities by third parties or a significant disruption in the availability of third-party midstream facilities or other production facilities could adversely impact our ability to deliver to market or
produce our oil, natural gas and NGLs and thereby cause a significant interruption in our operations.
If, in the future, we are unable,
for any sustained period, to implement gathering, treating, processing, fractionation or transportation arrangements or encounter production related difficulties, we may be required to shut in or curtail production. Any such shut-in or curtailment, or an inability to obtain favorable terms for delivery of the natural gas produced from our fields, would materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Additionally, certain of our gas gathering arrangements are subject to cost-of-service fee arrangements. The variable nature of these fee arrangements may result in per
unit cost increases over time. If such increases occur, our costs could rise, which would negatively impact our financial results.
The
unavailability or high cost of drilling rigs, completion crews, equipment, supplies, personnel and oilfield services could adversely affect our ability to execute our development plans within our budget and on a timely basis.
The demand for drilling rigs, completion crews, pipe and other equipment and supplies, including sand and other proppant used in hydraulic
fracturing operations, as well as for qualified and experienced field personnel, geologists, geophysicists, engineers and other professionals in our industry, can fluctuate significantly, often in correlation with inflationary pressures, commodity
prices or drilling activity in our areas of operation and in other shale basins in the U.S., causing periodic shortages of supplies and needed personnel and rapid increases in costs. Increased drilling activity could materially increase the demand
for and prices of these goods and services, and we could encounter rising costs and delays in or an inability to secure the personnel, equipment, power, services, resources and facilities access necessary for us to conduct our drilling and
development activities, which could result in production volumes being below our forecasted volumes. In addition, any such negative effect on production volumes, or significant increases in costs could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow
and profitability.
The loss of one or more of the purchasers of our production could adversely affect our business, results of operations,
financial condition and cash flows.
The largest purchaser of our oil and natural gas during the year ended December 31, 2024,
accounted for approximately 55% of our total oil, natural gas and NGL revenues. As is typical in our industry, this purchasers contract is short-term in nature and is renewed in six-month increments.
While we are not substantially dependent on this purchasers contract and we believe that we could find replacement purchasers of our oil and natural gas on acceptable terms if any one or more of the significant purchasers were unable to
satisfy their contractual obligations, there can be no assurance that we will be able to do so on terms that we consider acceptable or at all. To the extent we are unable to replace such purchasers, it would adversely affect our business, financial
condition, results of operations and cash flows. Further, the inability of one or more of our customers to pay amounts owed to us could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We may incur losses as a result of title defects in the properties in which we invest.
The existence of a material title deficiency can render a lease worthless and adversely affect our results of operations and financial
condition. While we typically obtain title opinions prior to commencing drilling operations on a lease or in a unit, the failure of title may not be discovered until after a well is drilled, in which case we may lose the lease and the right to
produce all or a portion of the minerals under the property.
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We may be unable to make attractive acquisitions or successfully integrate acquired businesses, and
any inability to do so may disrupt our business and hinder our ability to grow.
In the future we may make acquisitions of assets
or businesses that complement or expand our current business. However, there is no guarantee we will be able to identify attractive acquisition opportunities. In the event we are able to identify attractive acquisition opportunities, we may not be
able to complete the acquisition or do so on commercially acceptable terms. Competition for acquisitions may also increase the cost of, or cause us to refrain from, completing acquisitions.
The success of completed acquisitions will depend on our ability to effectively integrate the acquired businesses into our existing
operations. The process of integrating acquired businesses may involve unforeseen difficulties and may require a disproportionate amount of our managerial and financial resources. In addition, possible future acquisitions may be larger and for
purchase prices significantly higher than those paid for earlier acquisitions. No assurance can be given that we will be able to identify additional suitable acquisition opportunities, negotiate acceptable terms, obtain financing for acquisitions on
acceptable terms or successfully acquire identified targets. Our failure to achieve consolidation savings, to integrate the acquired businesses and assets into our existing operations successfully or to minimize any unforeseen operational
difficulties could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, our Credit Facility
imposes certain limitations on our ability to enter into mergers or combination transactions and to incur certain indebtedness, which could indirectly limit our ability to acquire assets and businesses. For additional information, see Item 7.
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsLiquidity and Capital ResourcesFinancing AgreementsCredit Facility.
Future legislation or changes in tax laws and regulations may result in the elimination of certain U.S. federal income tax deductions currently
available with respect to oil and gas exploration and production. Additionally, future federal or state legislation may impose new or increased taxes or fees on oil and natural gas extraction, transportation and sales.
We are subject to taxation by various governmental authorities at the federal, state and local levels in the jurisdictions in which we operate.
New legislation could be enacted by these governmental authorities, which could increase our tax burden and increase the cost to produce oil, natural gas or NGLs. Members of Congress periodically introduce legislation to revise U.S. federal income
tax laws which could have a material impact on us. In the past, legislation has been proposed that would, if enacted into law, make significant changes to U.S. federal and state income tax laws, including to certain key U.S. federal income tax
incentives currently available to oil and natural gas exploration and production companies. Future adverse changes could include, but are not limited to, (a) the repeal of the percentage depletion allowance for oil and natural gas properties,
(b) the elimination of current deductions for intangible drilling and development costs, and (c) an extension of the amortization period for certain geological and geophysical expenditures. In addition, federal or state legislation
increasing the amount of tax imposed on oil and natural gas extraction, transportation or sales could also be enacted. It is unclear whether these or similar changes will be enacted and, if enacted, how soon any such changes could become effective.
The passage of any legislation as a result of these proposals or other similar changes to federal or state income tax laws could eliminate or postpone certain tax deductions or credits that are currently available with respect to oil and natural gas
exploration and development, which could result in increased operating costs and negatively affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Additionally, state and local taxing authorities in jurisdictions in which we operate
or own assets may enact new taxes, such as the imposition of a severance tax on the extraction of natural resources in states in which we produce natural gas, NGLs and oil or change the rates of existing taxes, which could adversely impact our
earnings, cash flows and financial position.
Changes in effective tax rates, or adverse outcomes resulting from other tax increases or an
examination of our income or other tax returns, could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Any
changes in our effective tax rates or tax liabilities could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Our future effective tax rates could be subject to volatility or adversely affected by a number of factors, including:
changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities;
expected timing and amount of the release of any tax valuation allowances;
expansion into or future activities in new jurisdictions;
the availability of tax deductions, credits, exemptions, refunds and other benefits to reduce tax liabilities;
tax effects of share-based compensation; and
changes in tax laws, tax regulations, accounting principles, or interpretations or applications thereof.
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In addition, we are also subject to the examination of our tax returns by the U.S. Internal
Revenue Service (the IRS) and other tax authorities. An adverse outcome arising from an examination of our income or other tax returns could result in higher tax exposure, penalties, interest or other liabilities that could have an
adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition. We regularly assess the likelihood of an adverse outcome resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of our provision for income taxes. Although we believe our tax
provisions are adequate, the final determination of tax audits and any related disputes could be materially different from our historical income tax provisions and accruals. The results of audits or related disputes could have an adverse effect on
our financial statements for the period or periods for which the applicable final determinations are made.
Continuing or worsening inflationary
pressures and associated changes in monetary policy may result in increases to the cost of our goods, services, and personnel, which in turn could cause our capital expenditures and operating costs to rise.
Inflation has been an ongoing concern in the U.S. since 2021. Ongoing inflationary pressures may result in increases to the costs of our
oilfield goods, services and personnel, which would, in turn, cause our capital expenditures and operating costs to rise. Sustained levels of high inflation could cause the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks to increase interest rates,
which could have the effects of raising the cost of capital and depressing economic growth, either of which, or the combination thereof, could hurt the financial and operating results of our business and impact our ability to raise capital.
We are not the operator of all of our oil and natural gas properties and therefore are not in a position to control the timing of development efforts,
the associated costs or the rate of production of the reserves on such properties.
We are not the operator of all of the
properties in which we have an interest. Thus, we have limited ability to exercise influence over the operations of such non-operated properties or their associated costs. Dependence on the operator and other
working interest owners for these projects, and limited ability to influence operations and associated costs, could prevent the realization of targeted returns on capital in drilling or acquisition activities. The success and timing of development
and exploration activities on properties operated by others will depend upon a number of factors that will be largely outside of our control, including:
the timing and amount of capital expenditures;
the availability of suitable drilling equipment, production and transportation infrastructure and qualified
operating personnel;
the operators expertise and financial resources;
approval of other participants in drilling wells;
selection of technology; and
the rate of production of the reserves.
In addition, when we are not the majority owner or operator of a particular oil or natural gas project, if we are not willing or able to fund
our capital expenditures relating to such projects when required by the majority owner or operator, our interests in these projects may be reduced or forfeited.
Properties we acquire may not produce as projected, and we may be unable to determine reserve potential, identify liabilities associated with the
properties that we acquire or obtain protection from sellers against such liabilities.
Acquiring natural gas or oil properties
requires us to assess recoverable reserves; future oil, natural gas and NGL prices and their applicable differentials; development and operating costs and potential liabilities, including environmental liabilities. In connection with these
assessments, we perform a review of the subject properties that we believe to be generally consistent with industry practices. Such assessments are inexact and inherently uncertain. For these reasons, the properties we have acquired or will acquire
in the future may not produce as expected or may not be accretive to free cash flow. In connection with the assessments, we perform a review of the subject properties, but such a review may not reveal all existing or potential problems. In the
course of our due diligence, we may not review every well, pipeline or associated facility. We cannot necessarily observe structural and environmental concerns, such as any groundwater contamination or pipe corrosion, when a review is performed. We
may be unable to obtain contractual indemnities from the seller for liabilities created prior to our purchase of the property. We may be required to assume the risk of the physical condition of the properties in addition to the risk that the
properties may not perform in accordance with our expectations.
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Strategic determinations, including the allocation of capital and other resources to strategic
opportunities, are subject to risk and uncertainties, and our failure to appropriately allocate capital and resources among our strategic opportunities may adversely affect our financial condition.
Our future growth prospects are dependent upon our ability to identify optimal strategies for investing our capital resources to produce
superior rates of return. In developing our business plan, we consider allocating capital and other resources to various aspects of our businesses, including well development, reserve acquisitions, exploratory activity, corporate items (including
share and debt repurchases) and other alternatives, including investments into new proprietary technologies and strategies surrounding the generation and monetization of environmental attributes from our operations, including but not limited to
carbon credit offsets. We also consider likely sources of capital, including cash generated from operations and borrowings under our Credit Facility. Notwithstanding the determinations made in the development of our core business plan, business
opportunities not previously identified periodically come to our attention, including possible acquisitions and dispositions and opportunities to monetize technological improvements to our operations.
If we fail to identify optimal business strategies, optimize our capital investment and capital raising opportunities, use our other resources
in furtherance of our business strategies, make appropriate capital investment decisions or anticipate regulatory, policy and market changes associated with any of our strategic determinations, our financial condition and future growth may be
adversely affected. Moreover, economic or other circumstances may change from those contemplated by our business plan, and our failure to recognize or respond to those changes may limit our ability to achieve our objectives.
We may incur substantial losses and be subject to substantial liability claims as a result of our operations. Additionally, we may not be insured for,
or our insurance may be inadequate to protect us against, these risks.
We maintain insurance against some, but not all, operating
risks and losses. Losses and liabilities arising from uninsured and underinsured events could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our development activities are subject to all of the operating risks associated with drilling for and producing oil, natural gas and NGLs,
including, but not limited to, the possibility of:
environmental hazards, such as unplanned releases of pollution into the environment, including soil, groundwater
and air contamination;
abnormally pressured formations;
mechanical difficulties, such as stuck oilfield drilling and service tools and casing collapse;
fires, explosions and ruptures of pipelines;
personal injuries and death;
natural disasters; and
terrorist attacks targeting natural gas and oil related facilities and infrastructure.
Any of these events could adversely affect our ability to conduct operations or result in substantial loss to us as a result of claims for:
injury or loss of life;
damage to and destruction of property, natural resources and equipment;
pollution and other environmental damage;
regulatory investigations and penalties; and
repair and remediation costs.
We may elect not to obtain insurance for certain of these risks if we believe that the cost of available insurance is excessive relative to
the risks presented. In addition, risks related to pollution and the environment are generally not fully insurable. The occurrence of an event that is not fully covered by insurance could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition or results of operations.
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Competition in our industry is intense, making it more difficult for us to acquire properties, market
oil, natural gas and NGLs, secure trained personnel and raise additional capital.
Our ability to acquire additional oil and gas
properties and to find and develop reserves in the future will depend on our ability to evaluate and select suitable properties and to consummate transactions in a highly competitive environment for acquiring properties, marketing oil, natural gas
and NGLs and securing trained personnel. Also, there is substantial competition for capital available for investment in the oil and gas industry. Many of our competitors possess and employ greater financial, technical and personnel resources than we
do. Those companies may be able to pay more for natural gas and oil properties and to evaluate, bid for and purchase a greater number of properties than our financial or personnel resources permit. In addition, other companies may be able to offer
better compensation packages to attract and retain qualified personnel than we are able to offer. We may not be able to compete successfully in the future in acquiring natural gas and oil properties, developing reserves, marketing our production,
attracting and retaining quality personnel and raising additional capital, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
The loss of
senior management or technical personnel could adversely affect operations.
We depend on the services of our senior management and
technical personnel. We do not maintain, nor do we plan to obtain, any insurance against the loss of any of these individuals. The loss of the services of our senior management or technical personnel could have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition and results of operations.
Loss of our information and computer systems could adversely affect our business.
We are heavily dependent on our information systems and computer-based programs, including our well operations information,
geologic data, electronic data processing and accounting data. If any of such programs or systems were to fail or create erroneous information in our hardware or software network infrastructure or we were subject to cyberspace breaches or attacks,
possible consequences include our loss of communication links, inability to find, produce, process and sell oil, natural gas and NGLs, costs associated with incident response or lost employee time and inability to automatically process commercial
transactions or engage in similar automated or computerized business activities. Any such consequence could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Cyberattacks targeting systems and infrastructure used by the oil and gas industry and related regulations may adversely impact our operations and, if
we are unable to obtain and maintain adequate protection for our data, our business may be harmed.
Our business has become
increasingly dependent on digital technologies to conduct certain exploration, development and production activities. We depend on digital technology to estimate quantities of oil, natural gas and NGL reserves, process and record financial and
operating data, analyze seismic and drilling information, and communicate with our customers, employees and third-party partners. The U.S. government has issued public warnings that indicate that energy assets might be specific targets of
cybersecurity threats. Our technologies, systems, networks, and those of our vendors, suppliers and other business partners, may become the target of cyberattacks or information security breaches that could result in the unauthorized access to our
seismic data, reserves information, customer or employee data or other proprietary or commercially sensitive information could lead to data corruption, communication interruption, or other disruptions in our exploration or production operations or
planned business transactions, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations. If our information technology systems cease to function properly or our cybersecurity is breached, we could suffer disruptions to our
normal operations, which may include drilling, completion, production and corporate functions. A cyberattack involving our information systems and related infrastructure, or that of our business associates, could result in supply chain disruptions
that delay or prevent the transportation and marketing of our production, non-compliance leading to regulatory fines or penalties, loss or disclosure of, or damage to, our or any of our customers,
suppliers or royalty owners data or confidential information that could harm our business by damaging our reputation, subjecting us to potential financial or legal liability, and requiring us to incur significant costs, including costs
to repair or restore our systems and data or to take other remedial steps.
In addition, certain cyber incidents, such as surveillance,
may remain undetected for an extended period. Our systems for protecting against cybersecurity risks may not be sufficient. As cyberattacks continue to evolve, including those leveraging artificial intelligence, we may be required to expend
significant additional resources to continue to modify or enhance our protective measures or to investigate and remediate any vulnerabilities to cyberattacks. In addition, new laws and regulations governing data privacy, cybersecurity, and the
unauthorized disclosure of confidential information pose increasingly complex compliance challenges and potentially elevate costs, and any failure to comply with these laws and regulations could result in significant penalties and legal liability.
Terrorist activities could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Terrorist attacks, including eco-terrorism, the threat of terrorist attacks, whether domestic or
foreign, as well as military or other actions taken in response to these acts, could affect the energy industry, the environment and industry related economic conditions,
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including our operations, the operations of our customers, as well as general economic conditions, consumer confidence, spending and market liquidity. Strategic targets, including energy-related
assets, may be at greater risk of future attacks than other targets in the United States. The occurrence or threat of terrorist attacks in the United States or other countries could adversely affect the global economy in unpredictable ways,
including the disruption of energy supplies and markets, increased volatility in commodity prices or the possibility that the infrastructure on which we rely could be a direct target or an indirect casualty of an act of terrorism, and, in turn,
could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.
A deterioration in general economic, business or industry conditions
would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, liquidity, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends on our Class A common stock.
Concerns over global economic conditions, energy costs, geopolitical issues, inflation, the availability and cost of credit and the European,
Asian and the U.S. financial markets have contributed to economic volatility and diminished expectations for the global economy. Historically, concerns about global economic growth have had a significant impact on global financial markets and
commodity prices. If the economic climate in the United States or abroad deteriorates, worldwide demand for petroleum products could diminish, which could impact the price at which we can sell our production, affect the ability of our vendors,
suppliers and customers to continue operations and materially adversely impact our results of operations, liquidity, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends on our Class A common stock.
We previously identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting and may identify additional material weaknesses in the
future which, if not corrected, could affect the reliability of our consolidated financial statements and have other adverse consequences.
As more fully disclosed in this Annual Report under Item 9A. Controls and Procedures, we evaluated, under the supervision and with
the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2024. Based on that
evaluation, we concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were ineffective as of December 31, 2024 due to material weaknesses identified in our internal control over financial reporting.
A material weakness (as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) is a deficiency, or a
combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of a companys annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a
timely basis.
We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting which relate to: (a) our
general segregation of duties, including the review and approval of journal entries; (b) the lack of a formalized risk assessment process; (c) identification and implementation of control activities, including over information technology;
(d) identification and application of a sufficient level of formal accounting policies and procedures; and (e) maintaining a sufficient complement of accounting and financial reporting resources commensurate with our financial reporting
requirements.
Our management has concluded that these material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting are due to the
fact that we previously operated as a private company with limited resources and have not had the necessary business processes and related internal controls formally designed and implemented coupled with the appropriate resources with the
appropriate level of experience and technical expertise to oversee our business processes and controls.
Our management is in the process
of developing a remediation plan. The material weaknesses will be considered remediated when our management designs and implements effective controls that operate for a sufficient period of time and management has concluded, through testing, that
these controls are effective. Our management will monitor the effectiveness of its remediation plans and will make changes management determines to be appropriate. As of December 31, 2024, these material weaknesses have not yet been remediated.
If not remediated, these material weaknesses could result in material misstatements to our annual or interim consolidated financial
statements that might not be prevented or detected on a timely basis, or in delayed filing of required periodic reports. We cannot assure you that the measures we have taken to date, or any measures we may take in the future, will be sufficient to
remediate the control deficiencies that led to the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting described above or to avoid potential future material weaknesses. In addition, neither our management nor an independent
registered public accounting firm has ever performed an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act because no such evaluation has been required. Had we or our independent
registered public accounting firm performed an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, additional material weaknesses may have been identified. If we are unable to
assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or when required in the future, if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an unqualified opinion as to
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the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, the market price of the our
Class A common stock could be adversely affected and we could become subject to litigation or investigations by the NYSE, the SEC, or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management resources.
Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports, prevent fraud and operate successfully as a public
company. If we are unable to successfully remediate our existing or any future material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, or identify any additional material weaknesses that may exist, the accuracy and timing of our
financial reporting may be adversely affected, we may be unable to maintain compliance with securities laws requirements regarding timely filing of periodic reports in addition to applicable stock exchange listing requirements, we may be unable to
prevent fraud, investors may lose confidence in our financial reporting, and our stock price may decline as a result. Additionally, our reporting obligations as a public company could place a significant strain on our management, operational and
financial resources and systems for the foreseeable future and may cause us to fail to timely achieve and maintain the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting.
Risks Related to Our Derivative Transactions, Debt and Access to Capital
Our derivative activities could result in financial losses or could reduce our earnings.
To achieve more predictable cash flows and reduce our exposure to adverse fluctuations in the prices of oil, natural gas and NGLs, we enter
into derivative contracts for a significant portion of our projected oil, natural gas and NGL production, primarily consisting of swaps. For additional information, see Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of OperationsLiquidity and Capital ResourcesCash Flow ActivityDerivative Activities. Accordingly, our earnings may fluctuate significantly as a result of changes in the fair value of our derivative instruments.
Derivative instruments also expose us to the risk of financial loss in some circumstances, including when:
production is less than the volume covered by the derivative instruments;
the counterparty to the derivative instrument defaults on its contractual obligations;
there is an increase in the differential between the underlying price in the derivative instrument and actual
prices received for the sale of our production; or
there are issues with regard to legal enforceability of such instruments.
The use of derivatives may, in some cases, require the posting of cash collateral with counterparties. If we enter into derivative instruments
that require cash collateral and commodity prices change in a manner adverse to us, our cash otherwise available for use in our operations would be reduced, which could limit our ability to make future capital expenditures and make payments on our
indebtedness, and which could also limit the size of our borrowing base. Future collateral requirements will depend on arrangements with our counterparties and oil, natural gas and NGL prices.
The cost to drill and complete our wells often increases in times of rising commodity prices. To the extent our drilling and completion costs
increase but our derivative arrangements limit the benefit we receive from increases in commodity prices, our margins could be limited, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition. In addition, the amount we pay in
production taxes is calculated without taking our derivative arrangements into account, and if our derivative arrangements limit the benefit we receive from increases in commodity prices, the effective tax rate we pay in production taxes could
increase.
Our derivative contracts expose us to risk of financial loss if a counterparty fails to perform under a contract. Disruptions
in the financial markets could lead to sudden decreases in a counterpartys liquidity, which could make the counterparty unable to perform under the terms of the contract, and we may not be able to realize the benefit of the contract. We are
unable to predict sudden changes in a counterpartys creditworthiness or ability to perform. Even if we do accurately predict sudden changes, our ability to negate the risk may be limited depending upon market conditions.
During periods of declining commodity prices, our derivative contract receivable positions would generally increase, which increases our
counterparty credit exposure. If the creditworthiness of our counterparties deteriorates and results in their nonperformance, we could incur a significant loss with respect to our derivative contracts.
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The failure of our hedge counterparties, significant customers or working interest holders to meet
their obligations to us may adversely affect our financial results.
Our hedging transactions expose us to the risk that a
counterparty fails to perform under a derivative contract. Disruptions in the financial markets could lead to sudden decreases in a counterpartys liquidity, which could make such party unable to perform under the terms of the derivative
contract, and we may not be able to realize the benefit of the derivative contract. Any default by a counterparty to these derivative contracts when they become due could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of
operations.
Our ability to collect payments from the sale of oil, natural gas and NGLs to our customers depends on the payment ability of
our customer base, which includes several significant customers. If any one or more of our significant customers fail to pay us for any reason, we could experience a material loss. We generally do not require our customers to post collateral, but we
are managing our credit risk as a result of the current commodity price environment through the attainment of financial assurances from certain customers. In addition, if any of our significant customers cease to purchase our oil, natural gas and
NGLs or reduce the volume of the oil, natural gas and NGLs that they purchase from us, the loss or reduction could have a detrimental effect on our revenues and may cause a temporary interruption in sales of, or a lower price for, our oil, natural
gas and NGLs.
We also face credit risk through joint interest receivables. Joint interest receivables arise from billing entities who own
partial working interests in the wells we operate. Though we often have the ability to withhold future revenue disbursements to recover non-payment of joint interest billings, the inability or failure of
working interest holders to meet their obligations to us or their insolvency or liquidation may adversely affect our financial results.
Our ability
to obtain financing on terms acceptable to us may be limited in the future by, among other things, increases in interest rates.
We
require continued access to capital and our business and operating results can be harmed by factors such as the availability, terms of and cost of capital, increases in interest rates or a reduction in credit rating. We may use our Credit Facility
to finance a portion of our future growth, and these factors could cause our cost of doing business to increase, limit our ability to pursue acquisition opportunities, reduce cash flow used for drilling and place us at a competitive disadvantage.
Volatility in the global financial markets, significant losses in financial institutions U.S. energy loan portfolios, or environmental and social concerns may lead to a contraction in credit availability impacting our ability to finance our
operations or our ability to refinance our Credit Facility or other outstanding indebtedness. An increase in interest rates could increase our interest expense and materially adversely affect our financial condition. A significant reduction in cash
flow from operations or the availability of credit could materially and adversely affect our ability to achieve our planned growth and operating results.
The borrowing base under our Credit Facility may be reduced if commodity prices decline, which could hinder or prevent us from meeting our future
capital needs.
Our Credit Facility limits the amounts that we can borrow up to a borrowing base amount, which the lenders, in
their sole discretion, determine semiannually in the spring and fall. The borrowing base depends on, among other things, projected revenues from, and asset values of, the oil and natural gas properties securing the loan. The lenders can unilaterally
adjust the borrowing base and the borrowings permitted to be outstanding under our Credit Facility. Any increase in the borrowing base requires the consent of the lenders holding 100% of the commitments.
In the future, we may not be able to access adequate funding under our Credit Facility (or a replacement facility) as a result of a decrease
in the borrowing base due to the issuance of new indebtedness, the outcome of a subsequent borrowing base redetermination or an unwillingness or inability on the part of lending counterparties to meet their funding obligations and the inability of
other lenders to provide additional funding to cover the defaulting lenders portion. Declines in commodity prices could result in a determination to lower the borrowing base in the future and, in such case, we could be required to repay any
indebtedness in excess of the redetermined borrowing base. As a result, we may be unable to implement our respective drilling and development plan, make acquisitions or otherwise carry out business plans, which would have a material adverse effect
on our financial condition and results of operations and impair our ability to service our indebtedness.
The enactment of derivatives legislation
could have an adverse effect on our ability to use derivative instruments to reduce the effect of commodity price, interest rate and other risks associated with our business.
The Dodd-Frank Act, enacted on July 21, 2010, established federal oversight and regulation of the over-the-counter derivatives market and of entities, such as us, that participate in that market. The Dodd-Frank Act requires the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to promulgate rules
and regulations implementing the Dodd-Frank Act. Although the CFTC has issued final regulations in certain areas, in other areas, final regulations and the scope of relevant definitions and/or exemptions still remain to be
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finalized. On January 24, 2020, U.S. banking regulators published a new approach for calculating the quantum of exposure of derivative contracts under their regulatory capital rules. This
approach to measuring exposure is referred to as the standardized approach for counterparty credit risk or SA-CCR. It requires certain financial institutions to comply with significantly increased capital
requirements for over-the-counter commodity derivatives beginning on January 1, 2022. In addition, on September 15, 2020, the CFTC issued a final rule
regarding the capital a swap dealer or major swap participant is required to set aside with respect to its swap business, which has a compliance date of October 6, 2021. These two sets of regulations and the increased capital requirements they
place on certain financial institutions may reduce the number of products and counterparties in the over-the-counter derivatives market available to us and could result
in significant additional costs being passed through to end-users like us. The full impact of the Dodd-Frank Acts swap regulatory provisions and the related rules of the CFTC on our business will not be
known until all of the rules to be adopted under the Dodd-Frank Act have been adopted and fully implemented and the market for derivatives contracts has adjusted. The Dodd-Frank Act and any new regulations could significantly increase the cost of
derivative contracts, materially alter the terms of derivative contracts, reduce the availability of derivatives to protect against risks we encounter and reduce our ability to monetize or restructure our existing derivative contracts. If we reduce
our use of derivatives as a result of the Dodd-Frank Act and CFTC rules, our results of operations may become more volatile and our cash flows may be less predictable, which could adversely affect our ability to plan for and fund capital
expenditures. Any of these consequences could have a material and adverse effect on us, our financial condition or our results of operations.
In addition, the European Union and other non-U.S. jurisdictions have implemented and continue to
implement regulations with respect to the derivatives market. To the extent we transact with counterparties in foreign jurisdictions, we may become subject to such regulations, which could have adverse effects on our operations similar to the
possible effects on our operations of the Dodd-Frank Acts swap regulatory provisions and the rules of the CFTC.
Risks Related to our
Class A Common Stock and Capital Structure
We are a holding company. Our sole material asset is our equity interest in INR Holdings and we
are accordingly dependent upon distributions from INR Holdings to pay taxes, make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement and cover our corporate and other overhead expenses.
We are a holding company and have no material assets other than our equity interest in INR Holdings. For additional information, see Item
1. BusinessCorporate Reorganization. We have no independent means of generating revenue or cash flow, and our ability to pay our taxes and operating expenses (including payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement) or declare and pay
dividends in the future, if any, is dependent upon the financial results and cash flows of INR Holdings and distributions we receive from INR Holdings. INR Holdings will continue to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes
and, as such, generally will not be subject to any entity-level U.S. federal income tax. Instead, any taxable income of INR Holdings will be allocated to holders of LLC Interests, including us. Accordingly, we will incur income taxes on our
allocable share of any net taxable income of INR Holdings. Under the terms of the INR Holdings LLC Agreement, INR Holdings is obligated, subject to various limitations and restrictions, including with respect to our debt agreements, to make tax
distributions to holders of LLC Interests, including us. To the extent INR Holdings has available cash, we intend to cause INR Holdings (a) to generally make pro rata distributions to its unitholders, including us, in an amount at least
sufficient to allow us to pay our taxes and make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement and (b) to reimburse us for our corporate and other overhead expenses through non-pro rata payments that are
not treated as distributions under the INR Holdings LLC Agreement. To the extent that we are unable to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for any reason, such payments will be deferred and will accrue interest until paid. We are
limited, however, in our ability to cause INR Holdings and its subsidiaries to make these and other distributions to us due to the restrictions under our Credit Facility. To the extent that we need funds and INR Holdings or its subsidiaries are
restricted from making such distributions under applicable law or regulation or under the terms of their financing arrangements, or are otherwise unable to provide such funds, it could materially adversely affect our liquidity and financial
condition.
Pearl and NGP collectively hold a substantial majority of our capital stock and voting power.
As of March 21, 2025, Pearl owns INR Units and corresponding Class B common stock representing approximately 47.5% of our voting
power and NGP owns INR Units and corresponding Class B common stock representing approximately 15.8% of our voting power (together representing 63.3% of our combined voting power).
As set out in the Charter, based on their respective voting interest in us, NGP has the right to nominate one director and Pearl has the right
to nominate a number of directors proportionate to their beneficial ownership of the combined voting power of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock. As of March 21, 2025, Pearl and NGP are entitled to nominate five and one
members of our board of directors, respectively, and thereby are entitled to significant control of our management and affairs. Further, although Pearl and NGP are entitled to act separately and have no obligation to act together in their own
respective interests with respect to their stock in us, they will together have an even greater voting interest in us and ability to control our management and affairs. In addition, they will be able to determine the outcome of all matters requiring
shareholder approval, including mergers and other material transactions, and will be able to cause or prevent a change in the composition of our board of directors or a change of control of our company
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that could deprive our shareholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their Class A common stock as part of a sale of our company. The existence of significant shareholders may also
have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers, delaying or preventing changes in control or changes in management, or limiting the ability of our other shareholders to approve transactions that they may deem to be in the best interests of our
company.
So long as Pearl individually or Pearl and NGP, collectively, continue to control a significant amount of our voting power, they
will be able to strongly influence all matters requiring stockholder approval, regardless of whether or not other stockholders believe that a potential transaction is in their own best interests. In any of these matters, the interests of Pearl and
NGP may differ or conflict with the interests of our other stockholders. Moreover, this concentration of stock ownership may also adversely affect the trading price of our Class A common stock to the extent investors perceive a disadvantage in
owning stock of a company with a significant stockholder.
Conflicts of interest could arise in the future between us and Pearl, NGP and their
respective affiliates, including their portfolio companies concerning conflicts over our operations or business opportunities.
Pearl and NGP are both investment firms and have investments in other companies in the energy industry. As a result, Pearl and NGP may, from
time to time, acquire interests in businesses that directly or indirectly compete with our business, as well as businesses that are our customers or suppliers. As such, Pearl, NGP or their respective portfolio companies may acquire or seek to
acquire the same assets that we seek to acquire and, as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to us or may be more expensive for us to pursue. Any actual or perceived conflicts of interest with respect to the foregoing could
have an adverse impact on the trading price of our Class A common stock.
An active, liquid trading market for our Class A common stock
may not be maintained.
We can provide no assurance that we will be able to maintain an active trading market for our Class A
common stock. The lack of an active market may impair your ability to sell your shares at the time you wish to sell them or at a price that you consider reasonable. An inactive market may also impair our ability to raise capital by selling our
Class A common stock and our ability to acquire other companies, products or technologies by using our Class A common stock as consideration.
Certain of our directors have significant duties with, and spend significant time serving, entities that may compete with us in seeking acquisitions and
business opportunities and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating time or pursuing business opportunities.
Certain of our directors, who are responsible for managing the direction of our operations and acquisition activities, hold positions of
responsibility with other entities (including Pearl- or NGP-affiliated entities) that are in the business of identifying and acquiring oil and natural gas properties. The existing positions held by these
directors may give rise to fiduciary or other duties that are in conflict with the duties they owe to us. These directors may become aware of business opportunities that may be appropriate for presentation to us as well as to the other entities with
which they are or may become affiliated. Due to these existing and potential future affiliations, they may present potential business opportunities to other entities prior to presenting them to us, which could cause additional conflicts of interest.
They may also decide that certain opportunities are more appropriate for other entities with which they are affiliated, and as a result, they may elect not to present those opportunities to us. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (Charter) and amended and restated bylaws (Bylaws), as well as Delaware
law, contain provisions that could discourage acquisition bids or merger proposals, which may adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock.
Our Charter authorizes our board of directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval. If our board of directors elects to issue
preferred stock, it could be more difficult for a third party to acquire us. In addition, some provisions of our Charter and Bylaws could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us, even if the change of control would be
beneficial to our stockholders, including:
authorizing blank check preferred stock that our board of directors could issue to increase the
number of outstanding shares to discourage a takeover attempt;
prohibiting stockholders from acting by written consent at any time when Pearl beneficially owns, in the
aggregate, less than 35% in voting power of our common stock;
limitations on the ability of our stockholders to call special meetings;
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the requirement that the affirmative vote of holders representing at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all
outstanding shares of capital stock (or a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock if Pearl beneficially owns at least 35% of the voting power of all such outstanding shares) be obtained to amend our Bylaws, to remove
directors or to amend our certificate of incorporation;
providing that the board of directors is expressly authorized to adopt, or to alter or repeal, our Bylaws; and
establishing advance notice and certain information requirements for nominations for election to our board of
directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at stockholder meetings.
In addition, certain
change of control events have the effect of accelerating the payment due under our Tax Receivable Agreement, which could be substantial and accordingly serve as a disincentive to a potential acquirer of our company. For additional information, see
In certain cases, payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement may be accelerated and/or significantly exceed the actual benefits we realize, if any, in respect of the tax attributes subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement.
Any provision of our Charter, Bylaws or Delaware law that has the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change in control could limit
the opportunity for our stockholders to receive a premium for their shares of our Class A common stock and could also affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for our Class A common stock.
We cannot assure you that we will be able to pay dividends on our Class A common stock.
Our board of directors may elect to declare cash dividends on our Class A common stock, subject to our compliance with applicable law, and
depending on, among other things, economic conditions, our financial condition, results of operations, projections, liquidity, earnings, legal requirements, and restrictions in the agreements governing our indebtedness (as further discussed below).
The payment of any future dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors. The declaration and amount of any future dividends is subject to the discretion of our board of directors, and we have no obligation to pay any dividends at any
time. We have not adopted, and do not currently expect to adopt, a written dividend policy. Our ability to pay dividends depends on our receipt of cash dividends from our operating subsidiaries, which may further restrict our ability to pay
dividends as a result of the laws of their jurisdiction of organization, agreements of our subsidiaries or covenants under any existing and future outstanding indebtedness we or our subsidiaries incur.
Our Credit Facility contains restrictions on the payment of dividends. Such restrictions allow us to pay dividends only when certain
conditions are met, including certain required leverage ratio and financial metrics. For additional information, see Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsLiquidity and Capital
ResourcesFinancing AgreementsCredit Facility. Due to the foregoing, we cannot assure you that we will be able to pay a dividend in the future or continue to pay a dividend after we commence paying dividends.
Future sales of our Class A common stock in the public market could reduce our stock price, and any additional capital raised by us through the
sale of equity or convertible securities may dilute ownership in us.
We may issue additional shares of Class A common stock
or convertible securities in future public offerings. Immediately following the completion of the IPO, we had 15,237,500 shares of Class A common stock outstanding and 45,638,889 shares of Class B common stock outstanding. Immediately
following the completion of the IPO, Pearl and NGP owned 38,526,173 INR Units and the corresponding shares of Class B common stock, representing approximately 63.3% of our total outstanding capital stock. All such shares are restricted from
immediate resale under the federal securities laws and are subject to lock-up agreements that expire July 29, 2025, and the shares may be sold into the market in the future.
Certain of the Legacy Owners are party to a registration rights agreement with us that requires us to effect the registration of their shares
in certain circumstances no earlier than the expiration of the lock-up period.
We cannot predict
the size of future issuances of our Class A common stock or securities convertible into Class A common stock or the effect, if any, that future issuances and sales of shares of our Class A common stock will have on the market price of
our Class A common stock. Sales of substantial amounts of our Class A common stock (including shares issued in connection with an acquisition), or the perception that such sales could occur, may adversely affect prevailing market prices of
our Class A common stock. This impact could be increased to the extent there is a less active trading market for our shares.
We limit the
liability of, and indemnify, our directors and officers.
Although our directors and officers are accountable to us and must
exercise good faith, good business judgement and integrity in handling our affairs, our Charter and the indemnification agreements that we entered into with all of our non-employee directors and
officers provide that our non-employee directors and officers will be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware
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law. As a result, our stockholders may have fewer rights against our non-employee directors and officers than they would have absent such provisions in our
Charter and indemnification agreements, and a stockholders ability to seek and recover damages for a breach of fiduciary duties may be reduced or restricted.
Pursuant to our Charter and indemnification agreements, each non-employee director and officer who is
made a party to a legal proceeding because he or she is or was a non-employee director or officer, is indemnified by us from and against any and all liability, except that we may not indemnify a non-employee director or officer: (i) for breach of the directors or officers duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or
which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) with respect to any director, pursuant to Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the DGCL), (iv) for any transaction from
which the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit or (v) with respect to any officer, in any action by or in the right of us. We are required to pay or reimburse attorneys fees and expenses of a non-employee director or officer seeking indemnification as they are incurred, provided the non-employee director or officer executes an agreement to
repay the amount to be paid or reimbursed if there is a final determination by a court of competent jurisdiction that such person is not entitled to indemnification.
The requirements of being a public company, including compliance with the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
Exchange Act), and the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, may strain our resources, increase our costs and distract management, and we may be unable to comply with these requirements in a timely or cost-effective manner.
As a result of the IPO, we became a public company, and, as such, we need to comply with new laws, regulations and requirements,
certain corporate governance provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, related regulations of the SEC and the requirements of the NYSE, with which we were not required to comply as a private company. Complying with these statutes, regulations and
requirements may occupy a significant amount of time of our board of directors and management and significantly increase our costs and expenses. We need to continue our efforts to:
institute a more comprehensive compliance function;
comply with rules promulgated by the NYSE;
prepare and distribute periodic public reports in compliance with our obligations under the federal securities
laws;
establish new internal policies; and
involve and retain to a greater degree outside counsel and accountants in the above activities.
Furthermore, while we generally must comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act for our fiscal year ending
December 31, 2024, we are not required to perform an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting in connection with this Annual Report and our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the
effectiveness of our internal controls until our first annual report subsequent to our ceasing to be an emerging growth company within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities
Act). Accordingly, we may not be required to have our independent registered public accounting firm attest to the effectiveness of our internal controls until as late as our annual report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2030. Once
it is required to do so, our independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report that is adverse in the event it is not satisfied with the level at which our controls are documented, designed, operated or reviewed. Compliance with these
requirements may strain our resources, increase our costs and distract management, and we may be unable to comply with these requirements in a timely or cost-effective manner.
In addition, we expect that being a public company subject to these rules and regulations may make it more difficult and more expensive for us
to obtain directors and officers liability insurance and we may be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. As a result, it may be more difficult
for us to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve on our board of directors or as executive officers. We cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we may incur or the timing of such costs.
For as long as we are an emerging growth company, we will not be required to comply with certain reporting requirements, including disclosure about our
executive compensation, that apply to other public companies.
We are classified as an emerging growth company under
the JOBS Act. In addition, we have reduced SOX compliance requirements, as discussed elsewhere. For as long as we are an emerging growth company we will not be required to, among other things, (a) comply with any new requirements adopted by the
PCAOB requiring mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditors report in which the auditor would be required to provide additional information about the audit and the financial statements of the issuer, (b) provide certain
disclosure regarding executive compensation required of larger public companies or (c) hold nonbinding advisory votes on executive compensation. We will remain an emerging growth company up until the last day of the fiscal year following the
fifth anniversary of the IPO, or such earlier time that we have more than $1.235 billion of revenues in a fiscal year, have more than $700.0 million in market value of our Class A common stock held by
non-affiliates (and have been a public company for at least 12 months), or issue more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt over a three-year period.
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Because we have elected to take advantage of the extended transition period pursuant to
Section 107 of the JOBS Act, our financial statements may not be comparable to those of other public companies.
Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can use the extended transition period provided in
Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This permits an emerging growth company to delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to
private companies. We are choosing to take advantage of this extended transition period and, as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for private
companies. Accordingly, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates, and our stockholders and potential investors may have difficulty in analyzing our operating results by comparing us
to such companies.
We may issue preferred stock whose terms could adversely affect the voting power or value of our Class A common stock.
Our Charter authorizes us to issue, without the approval of our stockholders, one or more classes or series of preferred stock
having such designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights, including preferences over our Class A common stock respecting dividends and distributions, as our board of directors may determine. The terms of one or more classes or
series of preferred stock could adversely impact the voting power or value of our Class A common stock. For example, we might grant holders of preferred stock the right to elect some number of our directors in all events or on the happening of
specified events or the right to veto specified transactions. Similarly, the repurchase or redemption rights or liquidation preferences we might assign to holders of preferred stock could affect the residual value of the Class A common stock.
Terms of subsequent financings may adversely impact stockholder equity.
If we raise more equity capital from the sale of Class A common stock, institutional or other investors may negotiate terms more favorable
than the current prices of our Class A common stock. If we issue debt securities, the holders of the debt would have a claim to our assets that would be prior to the rights of stockholders until the debt is paid. Interest on these debt
securities would increase costs and could negatively impact our operating results.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or
reports or publish unfavorable research about our business, if they adversely change their recommendations regarding our Class A common stock or if our operating results do not meet their expectations, our stock price could decline.
The trading market for our Class A common stock is influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities
analysts publish about us or our business. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or
trading volume to decline. Moreover, if one or more of the analysts who cover our company downgrades our Class A common stock or if our operating results do not meet their expectations, our stock price could decline.
Our Charter designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that
may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders ability to bring a claim in a different judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents.
Our Charter provides that unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware
will, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our
directors, officers, employees or agents to us or our stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our Charter or Bylaws, or (d) any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by
the internal affairs doctrine, in each such case subject to such Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the federal district courts of the
United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under U.S. federal securities laws, including the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. This choice of forum may limit a
stockholders ability to bring a claim in a different judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and such persons. Alternatively, if a court were to find
these provisions of our Charter inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could
adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.
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We will be required to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for certain tax benefits we
may claim, and the amounts of such payments could be significant.
In connection with the consummation of the IPO, we entered into
a Tax Receivable Agreement with the Legacy Owners. This agreement generally provides for the payment by us to the Legacy Owners of 85% of the net cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income tax that we (a) actually realize
with respect to taxable periods ending after the IPO or (b) are deemed to realize in the event of a change of control (as defined under the Tax Receivable Agreement, which includes certain mergers, asset sales and other forms of business
combinations and certain changes to the composition of our board of directors) or if the Tax Receivable Agreement terminates early (at our election or as a result of our breach) with respect to any taxable periods ending on or after such change of
control or early termination event, in each case, as a result of (i) the tax basis increases resulting from the exchange of INR Units and the corresponding surrender of an equivalent number of shares of Class B common stock by the Legacy
Owners for a number of shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis or, at our option, the receipt of an equivalent amount of cash (the Exchange
Right) pursuant to the INR Holdings LLC Agreement and (ii) deductions arising from imputed interest deemed to be paid by us as a result of, and additional tax basis arising from, any payments we make under the Tax Receivable Agreement. We
will retain the benefit of the remaining 15% of these cash savings, if any. If we experience a change of control or the Tax Receivable Agreement terminates early, we could be required to make a substantial, immediate
lump-sum payment. For additional information, see Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director IndependenceTax Receivable Agreement.
The payment obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement are our obligations and not obligations of INR Holdings. For purposes of the Tax
Receivable Agreement, cash savings in tax generally are calculated by comparing our actual tax liability to the amount we would have been required to pay had we not been able to utilize any of the tax benefits subject to the Tax Receivable
Agreement. The amounts payable, as well as the timing of any payments, under the Tax Receivable Agreement are dependent upon future events and assumptions, including the timing of the exchanges of INR Units along with surrendering a corresponding
number of our Class B common stock, the price of our Class A common stock at the time of each exchange, the extent to which such exchanges are taxable transactions, the amount of the exchanging INR Unit Holders tax basis in its INR
Units at the time of the relevant exchange, the depreciation, depletion and amortization periods that apply to the increase in tax basis, the amount and timing of taxable income we generate in the future, the U.S. federal, state and local income tax
rates then applicable, and the portion of our payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement that constitute imputed interest or give rise to depreciable, depletable or amortizable tax basis. We expect that the payments that we will be required to make
under the Tax Receivable Agreement could be substantial. Any payments made by us to the Legacy Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement will not be available for reinvestment in INR Holdings (or indirectly, its business) and generally will reduce
the amount of overall cash flow that might have otherwise been available to us. The term of the Tax Receivable Agreement commenced on January 3, 2025 and will continue until all such tax benefits have been utilized or expired and all required
payments are made, unless we exercise our right to terminate the Tax Receivable Agreement (or the Tax Receivable Agreement is terminated due to other circumstances, including our breach of a material obligation thereunder or certain mergers or other
changes of control) by making the termination payment specified in the agreement. In the event that the Tax Receivable Agreement is not terminated, the payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement are not anticipated to commence until 2030 at the
earliest (with respect to the tax year 2025).
The payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement will not be conditioned upon a holder
of rights under the Tax Receivable Agreement having a continued ownership interest in us or INR Holdings. In addition, certain rights under the Tax Receivable Agreement (including the right to receive payments) will be transferable in connection
with transfers permitted thereunder. For additional information, see Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director IndependenceTax Receivable Agreement.
In certain cases, payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement may be accelerated and/or significantly exceed the actual benefits we realize, if any, in
respect of the tax attributes subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement.
If we experience a change of control (as defined under the
Tax Receivable Agreement, which includes certain mergers, asset sales and other forms of business combinations and certain changes to the composition of our board of directors) or the Tax Receivable Agreement terminates early (at our election or as
a result of our breach), we could be required to make a substantial, immediate lump-sum payment. This payment would equal the present value of hypothetical future payments that could be required under the Tax
Receivable Agreement. The calculation of the hypothetical future payments will be based upon certain assumptions and deemed events set forth in the Tax Receivable Agreement, including (a) the sufficiency of taxable income to fully utilize the
tax benefits, (b) any INR Units (other than those held by us) outstanding on the termination date are exchanged on the termination date and (c) the utilization of certain loss carryovers. Our ability to generate net taxable income is
subject to substantial uncertainty. Accordingly, as a result of the assumptions, the required lump-sum payment may be significantly in advance of, and could materially exceed, the realized future tax benefits
to which the payment relates. This payment obligation could (i) make us a less attractive target for an acquisition, particularly in the case of an acquirer that cannot use some or all of the tax benefits that are the subject of the Tax
Receivable Agreement and (ii) result in holders of our Class A common stock receiving substantially less consideration in connection with a change of control transaction than they would receive in the absence of such obligation.
Accordingly, the Legacy Owners interests may conflict with those of the holders of our Class A common stock.
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As a result of either an early termination or a change of control, we could be required to
make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement that exceed our actual cash tax savings under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Consequently, our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement could have a substantial negative impact on our liquidity
and could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combinations or other changes of control. For example, assuming no material changes in the relevant tax law, we expect that if we
experienced a change of control or the Tax Receivable Agreement were terminated immediately after the IPO, the estimated lump-sum payment to the Legacy Owners would have been approximately $134.3 million
(calculated using a discount rate equal to a per annum rate of 150 basis points, applied against an undiscounted liability of approximately $169.5 million) as of February 3, 2025, including approximately $6.8 million to each of our
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, approximately $80.9 million to Pearl, approximately $27.0 million to NGP and the remainder to other members of management. There can be no assurance that we will be able to finance our
obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement.
In the event that our payment obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement are accelerated upon
certain mergers, other forms of business combinations or other changes of control, the consideration payable to holders of our Class A common stock could be substantially reduced.
If we experience a change of control (as defined under the Tax Receivable Agreement), our obligation to make a substantial, immediate lump-sum payment could result in holders of our Class A common stock receiving substantially less consideration in connection with a change of control transaction than they would receive in the absence of such
obligation. The amount due will be equal to the present value of the anticipated future tax benefits that are the subject of the Tax Receivable Agreement, based on certain assumptions outlined in the Tax Receivable Agreement (including the discount
rate to be used and that we will have sufficient taxable income to realize all potential tax benefits that are subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement), which payment may be made significantly in advance of the actual realization, if any, of such
future tax benefits. Such cash payment to the Legacy Owners could be greater than the specified percentage of any actual benefits we ultimately realize in respect of the tax benefits that are subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement. In these
situations, our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement could have a substantial negative impact on our liquidity and could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business
combinations or other changes of control. Further, holders of rights under the Tax Receivable Agreement may not have an equity interest in us or INR Holdings. Accordingly, the interests of holders of rights under the Tax Receivable Agreement may
conflict with those of the holders of our Class A common stock. For additional information, see In certain cases, payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement may be accelerated and/or significantly exceed the actual benefits we
realize, if any, in respect of the tax attributes subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement and Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director IndependenceTax Receivable Agreement. There can be no
assurance that we will be able to fund or finance our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement. We may need to cause INR Holdings to incur debt and make distributions to the holders of LLC Interests, including us, to finance payments under the
Tax Receivable Agreement to the extent our cash resources are insufficient to meet our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement as a result of timing discrepancies or otherwise.
We will not be reimbursed for any payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement in the event that any tax benefits are subsequently disallowed.
Payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement will be based on the tax reporting positions that we will determine, which are complex
and factual in nature, and the IRS or another tax authority may challenge all or part of the tax basis increases upon which payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement are based, as well as other related tax positions that we take, and a court could
sustain such challenge. The holders of rights under the Tax Receivable Agreement will not reimburse us for any payments previously made under the Tax Receivable Agreement if such basis increases or other benefits are subsequently disallowed, except
that excess payments made to any such holder will be netted against payments otherwise to be made, if any, to such holder after our determination of such excess. However, we might not determine that we have effectively made an excess cash payment to
a Legacy Owner for a number of years following the initial time of such payment and, if any of our tax reporting positions are challenged by a taxing authority, we will not be permitted to reduce any future cash payments under the Tax Receivable
Agreement until any such challenge is finally settled or determined. As a result, in such circumstances, we could make payments that are greater than our actual cash tax savings, if any, and may not be able to recoup those payments, which could
adversely affect our liquidity. The applicable U.S. federal income tax rules for determining applicable tax benefits we may claim are complex and factual in nature, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will not disagree with our tax
reporting positions. As a result, payments could be made under the Tax Receivable Agreement significantly in excess of any actual cash tax savings that we realize in respect of the tax attributes with respect to a Legacy Owner that are the subject
of the Tax Receivable Agreement.
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If INR Holdings were to become a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal
income tax purposes, we and INR Holdings might be subject to potentially significant tax inefficiencies, and we would not be able to recover payments previously made by us under the Tax Receivable Agreement even if the corresponding tax benefits
were subsequently determined to have been unavailable due to such status.
We intend to operate such that INR Holdings does not
become a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A publicly traded partnership is a partnership the interests of which are traded on an established securities market or are readily
tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof. Under certain circumstances, exchanges of INR Units pursuant to the Exchange Right or other transfers of INR Units could cause INR Holdings to be treated as a publicly traded
partnership. Applicable U.S. Treasury regulations provide for certain safe harbors from treatment as a publicly traded partnership, and we intend to operate such that exchanges or other transfers of INR Units qualify for one or more such safe
harbors.
If INR Holdings were to become a publicly traded partnership, significant tax inefficiencies might result for us and for INR
Holdings, including as a result of our inability to file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return with INR Holdings. In addition, we would no longer have the benefit of certain increases in tax basis covered under the Tax Receivable Agreement,
and we would not be able to recover any payments previously made by us under the Tax Receivable Agreement, even if the corresponding tax benefits (including any claimed increase in the tax basis of INR Holdings assets) were subsequently
determined to have been unavailable.
In certain circumstances, INR Holdings will be required to make tax distributions to us and the INR Unit
Holders, and the tax distributions that INR Holdings will be required to make may be substantial.
INR Holdings will be treated as
a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, as such, is not subject to U.S. federal income tax. Instead, taxable income will be allocated to the INR Unit Holders and us. Pursuant to the INR Holdings LLC Agreement, INR Holdings will
generally make pro rata cash distributions, or tax distributions, to the INR Unit Holders and us. However, as the managing member of INR Holdings, we may determine to increase the tax rate applicable to tax distributions by INR Holdings.
Funds used by INR Holdings to satisfy its tax distribution obligations will not be available for reinvestment in our business. Moreover, the
tax distributions that INR Holdings will be required to make may be substantial.
The Legacy Owners interests may not be fully aligned with
the interests of the holders of our Class A common stock.
The Legacy Owners interests may not be fully aligned with
yours, which, due to the concentrated ownership of our common stock by the Legacy Owners, could lead to actions that are not in your best interests. Because the Legacy Owners hold their economic interest in our business primarily through INR
Holdings, the Legacy Owners may have conflicting interests with holders of shares of our Class A common stock. For example, the Legacy Owners may have different tax positions from us, which could influence their decisions regarding whether and
when we should dispose of assets or incur new or refinance existing indebtedness, especially in light of the existence of the Tax Receivable Agreement, and whether and when we should respond to a breach of any of our material obligations under the
Tax Receivable Agreement, undergo certain changes of control for purposes of the Tax Receivable Agreement or terminate the Tax Receivable Agreement. In addition, the structuring of future transactions may take into consideration these tax or other
considerations even where no similar benefit would accrue to us. For additional information, see Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director IndependenceTax Receivable Agreement.
Further, if the IRS makes audit adjustments to INR Holdings U.S. federal income tax returns, it may assess and collect any taxes
(including any applicable penalties and interest) resulting from such audit adjustment directly from INR Holdings rather than from the Legacy Owners directly, in which case we may economically bear a portion of such taxes (including any applicable
penalties and interest) even though we did not economically benefit from the income giving rise to such taxes. INR Holdings may be permitted to make an election which would have the effect of requiring the IRS to collect any such taxes (including
penalties and interest) from the members of INR Holdings (including the Legacy Owners), rather than from INR Holdings, but there can be no assurance that INR Holdings will be permitted to or will make this election. If, as a result of any such audit
adjustment, INR Holdings is required to make payments of taxes, penalties and interest, INR Holdings cash available for distributions to us may be substantially reduced.
Further, the Legacy Owners, who are the only holders of INR Units other than us, have the right to consent to certain amendments to the INR
Holdings LLC Agreement, as well as to certain other matters. The Legacy Owners may exercise these voting rights in a manner that conflicts with the interests of the holders of our Class A common stock. Pearl, one of the Legacy Owners, holds a
number of shares of our non-economic Class B common stock that will permit it to have significant influence over our overall management and direction. Circumstances may arise in the future when the
interests of the Legacy Owners conflict with the interests of our stockholders.
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Risks Related to Environmental and Regulatory Matters
Our operations are subject to stringent environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that may expose us to significant costs and liabilities
that could exceed current expectations.
We are subject to stringent and complex federal, state and local environmental, health and
safety (EHS) laws and regulations, including laws and regulations governing the discharge of materials into the environment, emissions controls and other environmental protection and occupational health and safety concerns. Any discharge
by us of natural gas, NGLs, oil and other pollutants into the air, soil or water may give rise to liabilities on our part to the government and third parties. Certain environmental laws and regulations, such as the Comprehensive Environmental
Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and comparable state laws, may impose strict, retroactive and joint and several, liability for environmental contamination, including the release of hazardous substances, which could
render us potentially liable for remediation costs, damage to natural resources or other damages, without regard to fault or the legality of the conduct at the time of the release or if contamination was caused by prior owners, operators or other
third parties. Governmental agencies, citizen organizations, neighboring landowners and other third parties could file claims for personal injury, property damage and recovery of response costs. Remediation costs and other damages arising as a
result of environmental laws and regulations, and costs associated with changes to existing EHS laws and regulations or the interpretation thereof, or the adoption of new EHS laws and regulations over time could adversely impact our financial
condition or results of operations. Moreover, any failure by us to comply with applicable EHS laws and regulations could result in the imposition of administrative, civil or criminal penalties or the issuance of injunctions that could delay or
prohibit operations, which could in turn have a material adverse effect on our business.
We are required to hold certain U.S. federal,
state and local EHS permits and may require new or amended EHS permits from time to time, including with respect to stormwater discharges, waste handling and disposal, or air emissions, which may subject us to new or revised permitting conditions
that may be onerous or with which it may be costly to comply. These permits and authorizations often contain numerous compliance requirements, including monitoring and reporting obligations and operational restrictions, such as emissions limits.
Noncompliance with necessary permits or the failure to obtain additional permits could subject us to future penalties, operating restrictions, or delays in obtaining new or amended permits or permit renewals that could have a material adverse effect
on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
EHS laws and regulations are constantly evolving and may become
increasingly complicated and more stringent in the future. In addition, new or additional laws and regulations, new interpretations of existing requirements or changes in enforcement policies could impose unforeseen liabilities, significantly
increase compliance costs, or result in delays of, or denial of rights to conduct, our development programs. For example, in June 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (the EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the
Corps) issued a rule under the Clean Water Act (the CWA) defining the scope of the EPAs and the Corps jurisdiction over waters of the United States (WOTUS), which was repealed in December 2019 and
replaced in June 2020 by the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (the NWPR) before ever taking effect. A coalition of states and cities, environmental groups and agricultural groups challenged the NWPR, which was vacated by a federal
district court in August 2021. In January 2023, the EPA and the Corps issued a final rule to revise the definition of WOTUS to put back into place the pre-2015 definition; however, this definition of WOTUS was
impacted by the U.S. Supreme Courts May 2023 decision in Sackett v. EPA , wherein the Court held that the jurisdiction of the CWA extends only to those adjacent wetlands that are indistinguishable from traditional navigable bodies of
water due to a continuous surface connection. In September 2023, the EPA and the Corps published a direct-to-final rule redefining WOTUS to amend the January 2023 rule
and align with the decision in Sackett . Subsequent litigation from approximately half of the states and other plaintiffs challenging the September 2023 rule is ongoing, and the pre-2015 definition of
WOTUS is in effect in these states while litigation continues. In addition, in an April 2020 decision further defining the scope of the CWA, the U.S. Supreme Court held that, in certain cases, discharges from a point source to groundwater could fall
within the scope of the CWA and require a permit. The Court rejected the EPA and the Corps assertion that groundwater should be totally excluded from the CWA. In November 2023, the EPA issued draft guidance describing the information that
should be used to determine which discharges through groundwater may require a permit. However, in January 2025, President Trump issued executive orders directing (i) the EPA and the Corps to identify planned or potential actions that could be
subject to emergency treatment under Section 404 of the CWA and (ii) the heads of all federal agencies to identify and begin the processes to suspend, revise, or rescind all agency actions, including all existing regulations and guidance
documents, that are unduly burdensome on the identification, development, or use of domestic energy resources. Accordingly, future implementation and enforcement of these rules and policies is uncertain at this time. To the extent a new rule or
further litigation expands the scope of the CWAs jurisdiction, we could face increased costs and delays with respect to obtaining permits for dredge and fill activities in wetland areas. Such potential regulations or litigation could increase
our operating costs, reduce our liquidity, delay or halt our operations or otherwise alter the way we conduct our business, which in turn could materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.
Future EHS laws and regulations (or changes to existing laws and regulations or their interpretation) may also negatively impact natural gas
and oil exploration, production, gathering and transportation companies, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions and results of our operations.
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We may be involved in legal and regulatory proceedings that could result in substantial liabilities.
Like many oil and gas companies, we are from time to time involved in various legal and other proceedings, such as title, royalty
or contractual disputes, regulatory compliance matters and personal injury, environmental damage or property damage matters, in the ordinary course of our business. Such legal and regulatory proceedings are inherently uncertain and their results
cannot be predicted. Regardless of the outcome, such proceedings could have an adverse impact on us because of legal costs, diversion of management or other personnel and other factors. In addition, it is possible that a resolution of one or more
such proceedings could result in civil or criminal liability, penalties or sanctions, as well as judgments, consent decrees or orders requiring a change in our business practices, which could materially and adversely affect our business, operating
results or financial condition. Accruals for such liability, penalties or sanctions may be insufficient, and judgments and estimates to determine accruals or range of losses related to legal and other proceedings could change from one period to the
next, and such changes could be material. As of December 31, 2024, we are not aware of any potentially material legal proceeding that has been brought against us.
Climate change legislation or regulations restricting emissions of GHGs could result in increased operating costs and adversely affect our business.
More stringent laws and regulations relating to climate change and GHG emissions may arise from a variety of sources, including
international, national, regional and state levels of government and associated administrative bodies and could cause us to incur material expenses to comply with such laws and regulations. In response to findings that emissions of carbon dioxide,
methane and other GHGs present an endangerment to public health and the environment and in the absence of comprehensive federal legislation on GHG emission control, the EPA has adopted regulations pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act (the
CAA) to reduce GHG emissions from various sources, but the future of these regulations is not clear. The EPA has adopted rules requiring the monitoring and reporting of GHG emissions from specified onshore and offshore oil, natural gas
and NGL production sources in the U.S. on an annual basis, which include certain segments of our operations. The EPA published a final rule in March 2024, entitled Standards of Performance for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources and Emissions
Guidelines for Existing Sources: Oil and Natural Gas Sector Climate Review, which went into effect in May 2024 and requires, among other things, the phase out of routine flaring of natural gas from newly constructed wells (with some exceptions),
standardization of installation and maintenance of emission control devices, and routine leak monitoring at all well sites and compressor stations. Notably, the EPA updated the applicability date for Subparts OOOOb and OOOOc to December 6,
2022, meaning that sources constructed prior to that date will be considered existing sources with later compliance deadlines under state plans. The final rule gives states, along with federal tribes that wish to regulate existing sources, two years
until March 2026 to develop and submit their plans for reducing methane emissions from existing sources. The final emissions guidelines under Subpart OOOOc provide three years until 2029 from the plan submission deadline for existing sources to
comply. The final rule is subject to ongoing litigation but remains in effect. However, 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. Consequently, future implementation and enforcement of the final rule remains uncertain at this time. Compliance with these
and other air pollution control monitoring and permitting requirements, along with the required associated technical investments, has the potential to delay the development of natural gas projects and increase our costs of development, which costs
could be significant.
Additionally, in 2022, the IRA was signed into law, which could accelerate the transition to a lower carbon
economy. The IRA provides incentives for the development of renewable energy, clean hydrogen, clean fuels and supporting infrastructure and carbon capture and sequestration. In addition, the IRA includes a methane emissions reduction program that
amends the Clean Air Act to include a Methane Emissions and Waste Reduction Incentive Program for petroleum and natural gas systems. This program requires the EPA to impose a Waste Emissions Charge on certain natural gas and oil sources
that are already required to report under the EPAs Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. To implement the program, in May 2024, EPA finalized revisions to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program for the oil and natural gas sector. 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 EPA are pending and litigation in the D.C. Circuit has commenced. In
November 2024, EPA finalized a regulation to implement the Inflation Reduction Acts Waste Emissions Charge. The fee imposed under the Methane Emissions Reduction Program for 2024 is $900 per ton emitted over annual methane emissions
thresholds, and increases to $1,200 in 2025, and $1,500 in 2026. In January 2025, industry associations challenged the Waste Emissions Charge rule in the D.C. Circuit. However, in February 2025, Congress voted to repeal the Waste Emissions Charge
rule pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, which measure is expected to be signed by President Trump. The Inflation Reduction Act may also be subject to amendment or repeal through Congressional budget reconciliation. Consequently, future
implementation and enforcement of these rules remains uncertain at this time. Additionally, some states have issued mandates to reduce emissions of GHGs, primarily through planned development of GHG emission inventories and potential cap-and-trade programs. Most of these types of programs require major sources of emissions or major producers of fuels to acquire and subsequently surrender emission
allowances, with the number of allowances available being reduced each year until a target goal is achieved.
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Additionally, some states have issued mandates to reduce emissions of GHGs, primarily
through the planned development of GHG emission inventories and potential cap-and-trade programs. For example, Pennsylvania has taken steps to bring the state into a
consortium of Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic States, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), that sets price and declining limits on CO2 emissions from power plants. In December 2021, the
Pennsylvania Attorney General approved a proposed regulation which would allow Pennsylvania to join RGGI. However, in May 2024, the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction Initiative was introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, which would
adopt a RGGI-like carbon-pricing program for the state and, if enacted, the Governor stated he would withdraw Pennsylvania from RGGI. In February 2025, legislation that would repeal the states participation in RGGI passed the Pennsylvania
Senate. At this time, it is unclear to what extent, if any, Pennsylvania will continue to seek participation in RGGI or to adopt a similar emissions cap-and-trade
program for the state. Most of these types of programs require major sources of emissions or major producers of fuels to acquire and subsequently surrender emission allowances, with the number of allowances available being reduced each year until a
target goal is achieved. The cost of these allowances could increase over time. While new laws and regulations that are aimed at reducing GHG emissions could increase demand for natural gas, they may also result in increased costs for permitting,
equipping, monitoring and reporting GHGs associated with natural gas production and use.
Internationally, the United Nations-sponsored
Paris Agreement (the Paris Agreement) requires member states to individually determine and submit non-binding emissions reduction targets every five years after 2020. In 2021, the Biden
Administration recommitted the U.S. to the Paris Agreement and announced a goal of reducing U.S. emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030. In September 2021, the Biden Administration publicly announced
the Global Methane Pledge, an international pact that aims to reduce global methane emissions at least 30% below 2020 levels by 2030, including all feasible reductions in the energy sector. Further, at the 28th Conference of
the Parties (COP28) in December 2023, member countries entered into an agreement that calls for actions toward achieving, at a global scale, a tripling of renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency improvements by 2030. The
goals of the agreement, among other things, are to accelerate efforts toward the phase-down of unabated coal power, phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies and take other measures that drive the transition away from fossil fuels in energy
systems. Most recently, at COP29 participants representing 159 countries met and, among other things, agreed on rules to operationalize international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Various state and local governments have
also vowed to continue to enact regulations to satisfy their proportionate obligations under the Paris Agreement. However, in January 2025, the Trump Administration issued executive orders directing the immediate notice to the United Nations of the
United States withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and all other agreements made under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The full impact of these actions remains uncertain at this time. We may also be subject to risks
related to more restrictive requirements for the development of pipeline infrastructure or LNG export facilities, as well as more restrictive GHG emissions limitations for oil and gas facilities. For example, in January 2024, the Biden
Administration announced a temporary pause on pending decisions on new exports of LNG to countries that the U.S. does not have free trade agreements with, pending Department of Energy review of the underlying analyses for authorization, including an
assessment of the impact of GHG emissions. In a July 2024 ruling, the Western District of Louisiana stayed this temporary pause on LNG exports to non-free trade agreement countries. The Biden Administration
appealed the ruling in August 2024 and the litigation remains ongoing. In December 2024, the Department of Energy released its report on LNG exports. However, in January 2025, the Trump Administration issued an executive order directing the
Department of Energy to restart reviews of applications for approvals of LNG export projects as expeditiously as possible. Further, in April 2024, the European Union adopted a regulation to track and reduce methane emissions in the energy sector,
including requiring new monitoring, reporting and verification measures to be applied by importers of oil, natural gas and coal into the European Union by January 1, 2027, and maximum methane intensity values must be met by 2030 and
every year thereafter. Each member state will have the power to impose administrative penalties for failure to comply and the standard will be mandatory for supply contracts signed after the law takes effect. This and other changes in law and
governmental policy may have impacts on our business that are difficult to anticipate.
In addition, the SEC adopted the SEC Climate Rules
in March 2024, which will mandate detailed disclosure of certain climate-related information for certain public companies. The SEC Climate Rules are currently stayed pending legal challenges and it is unclear when the rules will become effective, if
at all. For these reasons, we cannot currently predict with certainty the timing and costs of implementation or any potential adverse impacts resulting therefrom. However, any new climate disclosure requirements could result in our experiencing
additional operational and compliance burdens and incurring significant additional costs relating to the assessment and disclosure of climate- and sustainability-related matters, including costs relating to establishment of additional internal
controls and collecting, measuring and analyzing information relating to such matters. Similar burdens could affect our customers, resulting in lower demand for our products. Further, enhanced climate-related disclosure requirements could lead to
reputational or other harm with customers, regulators, investors or other stakeholders and could also increase our litigation risks relating to statements alleged to have been made by us or others in our industry regarding climate change risks, or
in connection with any future disclosures we may make regarding reported emissions, particularly given the uncertainties and estimations involved in calculating and reporting GHG emissions.
More broadly, the adoption and implementation of new or more stringent international, federal, state, or local legislation, regulations or
other regulatory initiatives related to climate change or GHG emissions from oil and natural gas facilities could result in increased costs of compliance or costs of consumption, thereby reducing demand for our products, and could require us to
incur increased operating costs, such as costs to purchase and operate emissions control systems, to acquire emissions allowances or to comply with new regulatory requirements, and to monitor and report on GHG emissions. Additionally, political,
litigation, and financial risks may result in (a) restriction or cancellation of certain oil and natural gas production activities, (b) incurrence of obligations for alleged damages resulting from climate change or (c) impairment of
our ability to continue operating in an economic manner. To the extent that governmental entities in the U.S. or other countries implement or impose climate change regulations on the oil and gas industry, it could have a material adverse effect on
our business, including by restricting our ability to execute on our business strategy; requiring additional capital, compliance, operating and maintenance costs; increasing the cost of our products and services; reducing demand for our products and
services; reducing our access to financial markets or creating greater potential for governmental investigations or litigation. In addition, the Supreme Courts decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo to overrule Chevron
U.S.A. Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. ended the concept of general deference to regulatory agency interpretations of laws and introduced new complexity for federal agencies and administration of climate change policy and
regulatory programs. However, many of these initiatives are expected to continue. Consequently, legislation and regulatory programs to address climate change or reduce emissions of GHGs could have an adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
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Federal, state and local legislative and regulatory initiatives relating to hydraulic fracturing as
well as governmental reviews of such activities could result in increased costs, additional operating restrictions or delays, limits to the areas in which we can operate and reductions in our oil, natural gas and NGL production, which could
adversely affect our production and business.
Hydraulic fracturing is an important and common practice that is used to stimulate
production of natural gas and/or oil from low permeability subsurface rock formations. The hydraulic fracturing process involves the injection of water, sand and chemicals under pressure through a cased and cemented wellbore into targeted subsurface
formations to fracture the surrounding rock and stimulate production. We regularly use hydraulic fracturing as part of our operations, as does much of the domestic oil and natural gas industry. Hydraulic fracturing typically is regulated by state
oil and natural gas commissions, but the EPA has asserted federal regulatory authority pursuant to the U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) over certain hydraulic fracturing activities involving the use of diesel fuels and issued
permitting guidance in February 2014 regarding such activities. In addition, the EPA finalized rules in June 2016 that prohibit the discharge of wastewater from hydraulic fracturing operations to publicly owned wastewater treatment plants. In
December 2016, the EPA released its final report on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. The final report concluded that certain activities associated with hydraulic fracturing may impact drinking water
resources under some circumstances. To date, the EPA has taken no further action in response to the 2016 report.
Congress has from time
to time considered legislation to provide for federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing under the SDWA and to require disclosure of the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process. New federal legislation regulating hydraulic fracturing may
be considered again in the future. At the state level, several states have adopted or are considering legal requirements that could impose more stringent permitting, disclosure and well construction requirements on hydraulic fracturing activities.
For example, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia have each adopted a law requiring oil and natural gas operators to disclose chemical ingredients used to hydraulically fracture wells, and Ohio requires oil and natural gas operators to conduct pre-drill baseline water quality sampling of certain water wells near a proposed horizontal well. Unlike Ohio, Pennsylvania does not require oil and natural gas operators to conduct
pre-drilling water supply sampling, but Pennsylvania law incentivizes testing as such sampling can preserve a legal defense regarding pollution of water supply. Additional states could also decide to place
prohibitions on hydraulic fracturing. Local governments also may seek to adopt ordinances within their jurisdictions regulating the time, place and manner of drilling activities in general or hydraulic fracturing activities in particular. Some
states and municipalities have banned and others seek to ban hydraulic fracturing altogether. If new or more stringent federal, state or local legal restrictions relating to the hydraulic fracturing process are adopted in areas where we operate, we
could incur potentially significant added costs to comply with such requirements, experience delays, curtailment in or exclusion from the pursuit of exploration, development or production activities.
Changes to trade regulation, quotas, duties or tariffs, caused by the changing U.S. and geopolitical environments or otherwise, may increase our costs,
result in fewer growth capital opportunities or projects, limit the amount of raw materials and products that we can import, decrease demand for certain of our services or otherwise adversely impact our business.
International trade disputes, geopolitical tensions and military conflicts have led, and continue to lead, to new and increasing export
restrictions, trade barriers, tariffs and other trade measures that can increase our manufacturing and transportation costs, limit our ability to sell to certain customers or markets, limit our ability to procure, or increase our costs for,
components or raw materials, impede or slow the movement of our goods across borders, or otherwise restrict our ability to conduct operations. The U.S. has recently instituted or proposed changes in trade policies that include the negotiation or
termination of trade agreements, the imposition of higher tariffs on imports into the U.S., economic sanctions on individuals, corporations or countries and other government regulations affecting trade between the U.S. and other countries. Such
imposition of tariffs on certain goods imported into the U.S. has triggered retaliatory actions from certain foreign governments potentially resulting in a trade war. A trade war or other governmental action related to
tariffs or international trade agreements or policies could increase our costs, reduce the demand or opportunity to deploy growth capital in our businesses at attractive rates of return, limit the amount of raw materials, components and other
products that we can import, restrict our customers ability to deploy growth capital or transport products and therefore decrease demand for certain of our services and/or adversely affect the U.S. economy or certain sectors thereof and, thus,
adversely impact our businesses.
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Prolonged negative investor sentiment toward upstream oil and natural gas focused companies could
limit our access to capital funding, damage our reputation and adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Certain segments of the investor community have developed negative sentiment toward investing in our industry. There have been efforts in
recent years, for example, to influence the investment community, including investment advisors, insurance companies and certain sovereign wealth, pension and endowment funds and other groups, by promoting divestment of fossil fuel equities and
pressuring lenders to limit funding and insurance underwriters to limit coverages to companies engaged in the extraction of fossil fuel reserves. The lending and investment practices of institutional lenders have been the subject of intensive
lobbying efforts in recent years, oftentimes public in nature, by environmental activists and foreign citizenry concerned about climate change. Some investors, including certain pension funds, university endowments and family foundations, have
stated policies to reduce or eliminate their investments in the natural gas and oil sector based on social and environmental considerations. There is also a risk that financial institutions may be required to adopt policies that have the effect of
reducing the funding provided to the fossil fuel sector. Certain commercial and investment banks based both domestically and internationally have announced that they are adopting climate change guidelines for their banking and investing activities,
often in connection with increased regulatory expectations and requirements, which may result in them limiting funding for natural gas and oil projects. Institutional lenders who provide financing to energy companies have also become more attentive
to sustainable lending practices, and some may elect not to provide traditional energy producers or companies that support such producers with funding. Ultimately, these developments could reduce the availability of capital funding to us for
potential development projects or to refinance our existing indebtedness, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Legislation or regulatory initiatives intended to address seismic activity, as well as government reviews of such activities, could restrict our
drilling and production activities, as well as our ability to dispose of saltwater produced from such activities, which could limit our ability to produce oil, natural gas and NGLs economically and have a material adverse effect on our business.
Local, state and federal regulatory agencies, including in Pennsylvania and Ohio, have in the past focused on a possible
connection between hydraulic fracturing-related activities, particularly the underground injection of wastewater into disposal wells and the increased occurrence of seismic activity, and regulatory agencies at all levels are continuing to study the
possible linkage between oil and gas activity and induced seismicity. In addition, several lawsuits have been filed in some states, alleging that disposal well operations have caused damage to neighboring properties or otherwise violated state and
federal rules regulating waste disposal. In response to these concerns, regulators in some states and local municipalities, including in Pennsylvania, are seeking to impose or have imposed additional requirements, including obligations regarding the
permitting of produced water disposal wells or otherwise assessing the relationship between seismicity and the use of such wells. To the extent any new regulations are adopted to restrict hydraulic fracturing activities or the disposal of fluids
associated with such activities, it may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We dispose of some
of the saltwater produced from our drilling and production operations by injecting it into wells pursuant to permits issued to us and third parties by governmental authorities overseeing such disposal activities. While these permits are issued
pursuant to existing laws and regulations, these legal requirements are subject to change, which could result in the imposition of more stringent operating constraints or new monitoring and reporting requirements, owing to, among other things,
concerns of the public or governmental authorities regarding such gathering or disposal activities. The adoption and implementation of any new laws or regulations that restrict our ability to dispose of saltwater produced from our drilling and
production activities by limiting volumes, disposal rates, disposal well locations or otherwise, or requiring us to shut down disposal wells, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Restrictions on drilling activities intended to protect certain species of wildlife may adversely affect our ability to conduct drilling activities in
areas where we operate.
Our operations may be adversely affected by seasonal or permanent restrictions on drilling activities
designed to protect various wildlife species and/or habitats. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) and (in some cases) comparable state laws were established to protect endangered and threatened species and similar protections are offered to
migratory birds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and other federal and state statutes. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) may designate critical habitat and suitable habitat areas that it believes are
necessary for survival of a threatened or endangered species. A critical habitat or suitable habitat designation could result in material restrictions to land use and may materially delay or prohibit land access for drilling activities. In April
2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalized three rules governing critical habitat designation and expanding protection options for species listed as threatened pursuant to the ESA. Among other changes to the rules, a determination of whether
a species is threatened or endangered will be made without reference to possible economic or other impacts of such determination,
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and protections that are granted to species found to be endangered will be automatically extended to species found to be threatened. The revised rules also make it easier to designate areas as
critical for a species survival, even if the species is no longer found in those areas. In August 2024, environmental groups challenged the new ESA regulations in federal district court, which litigation remains ongoing. However, in January
2025, President Trump issued an executive order directing agencies to use, to the maximum extent permissible, the ESA regulation on consultations in emergencies to facilitate the domestic energy supply. The executive order also requires the
quarterly convening of the Endangered Species Act Committee to ensure prompt and efficient review of all submissions for potential actions that could facilitate energy development. As a result, future implementation and enforcement of these rules
remains uncertain at this time. Like the ESA, similar protections are offered to migratory birds under MBTA, which makes it illegal to, among other things, hunt, capture, kill, possess, sell or purchase migratory birds, nests or eggs without a
permit. This prohibition covers most bird species in the U.S. The Department of the Interior issued a legal opinion in December 2017, followed by a final rule in January 2021, that narrowed certain protections afforded to migratory birds pursuant to
the MBTA. The Department of the Interior revoked the rule in October 2021 and issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking seeking comment to the Department of the Interiors plan to develop regulations that authorize incidental take under
certain prescribed conditions. However, the Department of the Interior has not yet issued proposed regulations.
These rules, and any
future rules, could materially affect our operations and development. For instance, permanent restrictions imposed to protect threatened or endangered species could prohibit drilling in certain areas or require the implementation of expensive
mitigation measures. A critical habitat or suitable habitat designation in areas where we conduct our business could result in material restrictions to land use and may materially delay, or prohibit land access for, oil, natural gas and NGL
development. The designation of previously unprotected species in areas where we operate as threatened or endangered could cause us to incur increased costs arising from species protection measures or could result in limitations on our activities
that could have a material and adverse impact on our ability to develop and produce our reserves. There is also increasing interest in nature-related matters beyond protected species, such as general biodiversity, which may similarly require us or
our customers to incur costs or take other measures which may adversely impact our business or operations.
We are subject to risks related to
climate change, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Increasing attention from governmental and regulatory bodies, investors, consumers, industry and other stakeholders on combating climate
change, together with technological advances in fuel economy and energy generation devices as well as climate change activism, governmental requirements and societal expectations on companies to address climate change, may create new competitive
conditions that result in reduced demand for the oil, natural gas or NGLs we produce for our customers products. Such requirements, advancements and expectations may include, for instance, requirements to implement fuel conservation measures,
regulations favoring renewable energy resources, increasing consumer demand for alternative forms of energy and lower emission products or services and other changes in consumer behavior. The potential impact of changing demand for oil, natural gas
or NGLs services and products may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows or those of the customers we serve, which could, in turn, affect demand for our products. Such developments
may also adversely impact, among other things, the availability of necessary third-party services and facilities as well as market prices of, or our access to, raw materials such as energy and water, which may increase our operational costs and
adversely affect our ability to successfully carry out our business strategy. Further, the enactment of climate change-related policies and initiatives across the market at the corporate level and/or investor community level may in the future result
in increases in our compliance costs and other operating costs and have other adverse effects (e.g., greater potential for governmental investigations or litigation, reductions in demand for our products or stimulating demand for alternative forms
of energy that do not rely on combustion of fossil fuels).
Furthermore, negative public perception regarding the oil and gas industry
resulting from, among other things, concerns raised by advocacy groups about climate change, emissions, hydraulic fracturing, seismicity or oil spills may lead to increased litigation risk and regulatory, legislative and judicial scrutiny, which
may, in turn, lead to new state and federal safety and environmental laws, regulations, guidelines and enforcement interpretations. These actions may cause operational delays or restrictions, increased operating costs, additional regulatory burdens
and increased risk of litigation for us or our customers, thereby reducing demand for our products.
Finally, many scientists have
concluded that increasing concentrations of GHGs in the Earths atmosphere produce climate changes that may have significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, droughts, floods or other climatic events. Such
effects could adversely affect or delay demand for our products, or our customers products, or cause us to incur significant costs in preparing for, or responding to, the effects thereof. Energy needs could increase or decrease as a result of
weather conditions, depending on the duration and magnitude of any such weather events, and adversely impact our operating costs or revenues. To the extent the frequency of extreme weather events increases, due to climate change or otherwise, this
could impact operations in various ways, including damage to or disruption of operations at our facilities, increased insurance premiums or increases to the cost of providing service or changes to the availability of insurance coverage, reduced
availability of electrical power, road accessibility and transportation facilities, as well as impacts on personnel, supply chain, distribution chain or customers, as well
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as potentially increased costs for, or difficulty procuring, consistent levels of insurance coverages in the aftermath of such effects. Such physical risks may also impact the infrastructure on
which we rely to produce or transport our products. In addition, while our consideration of changing weather conditions and inclusion of safety factors in design is intended to reduce the uncertainties that climate change and other events may
potentially introduce, our ability to mitigate the adverse impacts of these events depends in part on the effectiveness of our facilities and our disaster preparedness and response and business continuity planning, which may not have considered or
been prepared for every eventuality. Further, demand for our products, or our customers products, may increase or decrease as a result of extreme weather conditions depending on the duration and magnitude of any such climate changes, such as
to the extent warmer weathers reduce the demand for energy for heating purposes. The effect of fluctuations on supply and demand may become more pronounced within specific geographic oil and natural gas producing areas, which may cause these
conditions to occur with greater frequency or magnify the effects of these conditions. If any such effects were to occur as a result of climate change or otherwise, they could have a material adverse effect on our assets, our financial condition and
our results of operations. Due to the concentrated nature of our portfolio of properties, a number of our properties could experience any of the same conditions at the same time, resulting in a relatively greater impact on our results of operations
than they might have on other companies that have a diversified portfolio of properties.
Increasing attention to Environmental, Social and
Governance (ESG) and sustainability matters may expose us to additional risk, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and damage our reputation.
Companies across all industries are facing increasing scrutiny from a variety of stakeholders related to their ESG and sustainability
practices. If we do not adapt to or comply with investor or other stakeholder expectations and standards on ESG matters (including with respect to climate change) as they continue to evolve, or if we are perceived to have not responded appropriately
or quickly enough to growing concern for ESG and sustainability issues, regardless of whether there is a regulatory or legal requirement to do so, we may suffer from reputational damage and our business, financial condition and/or stock price could
be materially and adversely affected.
Moreover, while we may create and publish voluntary disclosures regarding ESG matters from time to
time, some of the statements in those voluntary disclosures may be based on hypothetical expectations and assumptions that may or may not be representative of current or actual risks or events, or forecasts of expected risks or events, including the
costs associated therewith. ESG-related disclosure continues to emerge as an area where we may be, or may become, subject to required disclosures in certain jurisdictions, depending on our purported nexus to
such jurisdictions and any such mandatory disclosures may similarly necessitate the use of hypothetical, projected or estimated data, some of which is not controlled by us and is inherently subject to imprecision. Disclosures reliant upon such
expectations and assumptions are necessarily uncertain and may be prone to error or subject to misinterpretation, given the long timelines involved and the lack of an established single approach to identifying, measuring and reporting on many ESG
matters. Failure or a perception of failure to implement our ESG strategy or achieve sustainability goals and targets, including emissions reduction targets, could damage our reputation, causing our investors or consumers to lose confidence in us
and negatively impacting our operations. Our continuing efforts to research, establish, accomplish and accurately report on the implementation of our ESG strategy, including any ESG goals, may also create additional operational risks and expenses
and expose us to reputational, legal and other risks.
Should we fail to comply with all applicable FERC administered statutes, rules, regulations
and orders, we could be subject to substantial penalties and fines.
While our pipeline systems have not been regulated by FERC
under the Natural Gas Act of 1938 (NGA) or the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 (NGPA), FERC has adopted certain regulations and policies that may subject certain of our otherwise
non-FERC jurisdictional facilities to market transparency, anti-market-manipulation, and oversight requirements, including annual reporting requirements. Additional rules and regulations pertaining to those
and other matters may be considered or adopted by FERC from time to time. Under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (the EPAct of 2005), FERC has civil penalty authority under the NGA and the NGPA to impose penalties for violations of up to
$1,584,648 per day for each violation, in addition to disgorgement of profits associated with any violation. Failure to comply with FERC rules and regulations in the future could subject us to civil penalty liability, which could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF
COMMENTS
None.
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ITEM 1C. CYBERSECURITY
Risk Management and Strategy
We rely on
information technology and data to operate our business effectively and recognize the importance of implementing and maintaining cybersecurity systems and processes that allow us to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our
information systems and the data residing within them.
We maintain a comprehensive cybersecurity risk program to effectively identify,
assess, manage, and respond to cybersecurity risks and incidents. Our program is implemented by in-house personnel with experience in cybersecurity fields and is further enhanced by external partners that
specialize in cybersecurity services. Our program is built on recognized industry standards and frameworks that are regularly evaluated and updated to address emerging threats.
Key elements of our cybersecurity risk management program include regular and thorough risk assessments to identify potential cybersecurity
threats across our operations, the implementation of appropriate multi-layered security controls and advanced monitoring systems, comprehensive employee cybersecurity awareness training and education programs delivered throughout the year. A key
element of our cybersecurity response program is the regular and redundant point-in-time backup of critical configurations and files. The backup information is stored both locally and at off-site locations for additional security.
Governance
Our board of directors
oversees our cybersecurity risk management program through the Audit Committee. Our management team, including our Senior Vice President of Operations, provides periodic updates on cybersecurity matters to the Audit Committee, which relays them to
the board of directors as needed. Our Senior Vice President of Operations has primary responsibility for assessing and managing cybersecurity risks and leading our overall cybersecurity posture, including the engagement of external third parties to
assist us. Our Senior Vice President of Operations has 10 years of experience in the field of information systems and cybersecurity.
Impact of Risks
from Cybersecurity Threats
As of the date of this Annual Report, we are not aware of any previous cybersecurity incidents that have
materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company, including our business strategy, results of operations and financial condition. We acknowledge that cybersecurity threats are continually evolving, and the possibility of
future cybersecurity incidents, material or otherwise, remains. Despite the implementation of our cybersecurity processes, our security measures cannot guarantee that a significant cybersecurity incident will not occur. While we devote resources to
our security measures designed to protect our systems and information, no security measure is infallible. For more information about the cybersecurity risks we face, refer to Item 1A. Risk Factors in this Annual Report.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Information about our properties is incorporated herein by reference to Item 1. Business of Part I of this Annual Report. Our
corporate headquarters is located in leased office space in Morgantown, West Virginia. We also lease office space in Greenwich, Connecticut, Houston, Texas and Marietta, Ohio.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time, we are subject to mediation, arbitration, litigation, or claims arising in the ordinary course of business. The results of
any current or future claims or proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, and regardless of the outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and litigation costs, diversion of management resources, reputational harm,
and other factors. We do not believe that any existing claims or proceedings will have a material effect on our business, consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
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PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANTS COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
On
January 31, 2025, our Class A common stock began trading on the NYSE under the symbol INR. Prior to that time, there was no public market for our Class A common stock. There is no public trading market for our Class B
common stock.
Holders of Common Stock
As of March 21, 2025, there was one shareholder of record of our Class A common stock and 15 holders of record of our Class B
common stock.
Dividend Policy
We
currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business, and therefore we do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends on our Class A common stock in the foreseeable
future. Except in certain limited circumstances, holders of our Class B common stock are not entitled to participate in any dividends declared by our board of directors. Furthermore, because we are a holding company, our ability to pay cash
dividends on our Class A common stock depends on our receipt of cash distributions from INR Holdings. Any distributions by INR Holdings will be made to the INR Unit Holders and us on a pro rata basis in accordance with our respective percentage
ownership of INR Units. Our Credit Facility contains certain covenants that restrict, subject to certain exceptions, our ability to pay dividends. Any future determination as to the declaration and payment of dividends, if any, will be at the
discretion of our board of directors and subject to the requirements of applicable law, compliance with contractual restrictions and covenants in the agreements governing our future indebtedness. Any such determination will also depend upon our
business prospects, results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements and availability and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
Information about securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans is incorporated herein by reference to Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters of Part III of this Annual Report.
Recent Sales
of Unregistered Securities
On January 30, 2025, in connection with the recapitalization of INR Holdings, we issued an aggregate
of 45,638,889 shares of Class B common stock to the Legacy Owners in exchange for the cancellation of their existing equity interests. No underwriters were involved in the foregoing issuances of securities. Such issuance was undertaken in
reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) thereof as sales by an issuer not involving any public offering. The Companys reliance upon Section 4(a)(2) of the
Securities Act was based upon the following factors: (a) the issuance of the shares was an isolated private transaction by us which did not involve a public offering and (b) there was a limited number of recipients.
Use of Proceeds
On February 3,
2025, we completed the IPO of 13,250,000 shares of Class A common stock at a price to the public of $20.00 per share, less underwriting discounts and commission. On February 6, 2025, the underwriters fully exercised their option to
purchase an additional 1,987,500 shares of Class A common stock at the public offering price of $20.00 per share, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The IPO, including the full exercise of the underwriters overallotment option,
generated gross proceeds of approximately $304.8 million, which resulted in net proceeds to us of approximately $286.5 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions of approximately $18.3 million. All shares issued
and sold were registered pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-282502), as amended (the Registration Statement), declared
effective by the SEC on January 30, 2025. Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Raymond James & Associates, Inc. and RBC Capital Markets, LLC acted as representatives of the underwriters for the IPO. The IPO commenced January 21, 2025
and terminated after the sale of all securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement. No offering expenses were paid or are payable, directly or indirectly, to (i) any of our officers or directors or their associates, (ii) any
persons owning 10% or more of any class of our equity securities or (iii) any of our affiliates.
We contributed all of the net
proceeds from the IPO to INR Holdings. In turn, INR Holdings used all of the net proceeds (net of underwriting discounts) from the IPO after paying certain offering expenses to repay $285.0 million of outstanding borrowings under the Credit
Facility. There has been no material change in the expected use of the net proceeds from the IPO as described under the heading Use of Proceeds in our final prospectus filed with the SEC on February 3, 2025 pursuant to Rule
424(b)(4) relating to the Registration Statement.
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Stock Repurchases
We did not repurchase any equity securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act during the three months ended
December 31, 2024.
ITEM 6. [RESERVED]
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and related notes in Item 8. Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data in this Annual Report. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our future plans, estimates, beliefs and expected performance. The forward-looking statements are dependent upon
events, risks, and uncertainties that may be outside our control. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not
limited to, future market prices for oil, natural gas and NGLs, future production volumes, estimates of proved reserves, capital expenditures, economic and competitive conditions, inflation, regulatory changes, and other uncertainties, as well as
those factors discussed in Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Item 1A. Risk Factors in this Annual Report, all of which are difficult to predict. In light of these risks, uncertainties and
assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed may not occur. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable law. Unless otherwise indicated, the historical
financial information presented in Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations speaks only with respect to our predecessor, INR Holdings, and does not give pro forma effect to our corporate
reorganization described in Item 1. BusinessCorporate Reorganization.
Overview
We are a growth oriented independent energy company focused on the acquisition, development, and production of hydrocarbons in the Appalachian
Basin. We are focused on creating shareholder value through the identification and disciplined development of low-risk, highly economic oil and natural gas assets while maintaining a strong and flexible
balance sheet. We are an early mover into the core of the Utica Shales volatile oil window in eastern Ohio as well as the emerging dry gas Utica Shale in southwestern Pennsylvania. Our Marcellus Shale development overlays our deep dry gas
Utica assets in Pennsylvania, providing highly economic stacked development inventory that leverages the same company-owned midstream infrastructure. We have amassed approximately 93,000 net surface acres with exposure to the core of these plays
providing us a unique and balanced portfolio of high-return oil and natural gas drilling locations. This balance allows us to optimize our development plan across our portfolio to capitalize on changes in commodity pricing over time.
Market Conditions and Operational Trends
Our revenue, profitability, and ability to return cash to our equity holders can depend on factors beyond our control, such as economic,
political, and regulatory developments that impact market supply and demand. Prices for crude oil, natural gas and NGLs have experienced significant fluctuations in recent years and may continue to fluctuate widely in the future.
The oil and gas industry is cyclical and commodity prices are highly volatile. During the period from January 1, 2023 through
December 31, 2024, spot prices for NYMEX WTI crude oil ranged from $69.99 per Bbl to $89.43 per Bbl, while the range for NYMEX Henry Hub natural gas spot prices was between $1.57 per MMBtu and $4.75 per MMBtu. We expect that the commodity
market will continue to be volatile in the future. The prices we receive for our production, and the levels of our production, depend on numerous factors beyond our control. We use a derivative portfolio and firm sales contracts to mitigate the
risks of price volatility.
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The following table highlights the quarterly average price trends for NYMEX WTI spot prices
for crude oil and NYMEX Henry Hub index price for natural gas since the first quarter of 2023:
2023
2024
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
YE
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
YE
Oil (per Bbl)
$
76.08
$
73.76
$
82.29
$
78.41
$
77.64
$
77.56
$
81.72
$
76.24
$
70.73
$
76.56
Gas (per MMBtu)
$
3.44
$
2.09
$
2.54
$
2.88
$
2.74
$
2.25
$
1.89
$
2.15
$
2.79
$
2.77
Lower commodity prices and lower futures curves for oil and natural gas prices may result in impairments of
our proved oil and natural gas properties or undeveloped acreage and may materially and adversely affect our operating cash flows, liquidity, financial condition, results of operations, future business and operations, and/or our ability to finance
planned capital expenditures, which could in turn impact our ability to comply with covenants under our Credit Agreement. Lower realized prices may also reduce the borrowing base under our Credit Agreement, which is determined at the discretion of
the lenders and is based on the collateral value of our proved reserves that has been mortgaged to the lenders. Upon a redetermination, if any borrowings in excess of the revised borrowing capacity were outstanding, we could be forced to immediately
repay a portion of the debt outstanding under the Credit Agreement.
Recent Developments
Initial Public Offering
In
February 2025, Infinity completed its IPO of 15,237,500 shares of its Class A common stock (including 1,987,500 shares pursuant to an over-allotment option) at a price to the public of $20.00 per share. The aggregate gross proceeds of the IPO
were $304.8 million. After subtracting underwriting discounts and commissions, we received net proceeds of $286.5 million. We contributed all of the net proceeds from the IPO to INR Holdings in exchange for 15,237,500 INR Units. In turn,
INR Holdings used all of the net proceeds from the IPO (net of underwriting discounts) after paying certain offering expenses to repay $285.0 million of outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility. After giving effect to the IPO and the
transactions related thereto, we had 15,237,500 shares of Class A common stock and 45,638,889 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding. In connection with the closing of the IPO, all outstanding performance-based incentive
units of INR Holdings vested. Consequently, INR Holdings will recognize $126.1 million of non-recurring, non-cash compensation expense related to these awards in
the first quarter of 2025, in accordance with the guidance provided by ASC 710.
Corporate Reorganization
In connection with the IPO we underwent a Corporate Reorganization whereby: (a) the membership interests of the Legacy Owners in INR
Holdings (including the Incentive Units, as defined in Item 11. Executive CompensationNarrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation TableLong-Term Equity Incentive Compensation) were recapitalized into a single class of units
(the INR Units), and, in exchange for their existing membership interests, the Legacy Owners received INR Units and an equal number of shares of Class B common stock; and (b) we contributed the net proceeds of the IPO to INR
Holdings in exchange for newly issued INR Units and a managing member interest in INR Holdings. After giving effect to the Corporate Reorganization and the IPO, we own an approximate 25.0% interest in INR Holdings and the Legacy Owners own an
approximate 75.0% interest in INR Holdings.
Infinity is a holding company whose sole material asset consists of membership interests in
INR Holdings. Infinity is the managing member of INR Holdings and controls and is responsible for all operational, management and administrative decisions relating to INR Holdings business and consolidates the financial results of INR Holdings
and reports non-controlling interests in its consolidated financial statements related to the INR Units that the Legacy Owners own in INR Holdings. In connection with the Corporate Reorganization, INR Holdings
and Infinity entered into the INR Holdings LLC Agreement and a Tax Receivable Agreement. For additional information on the INR Holdings LLC Agreement and Tax Receivable Agreement, see Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions,
and Director Independence.
Muskingum Watershed Lease
In December 2024, we closed on a lease with Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District for approximately 1,900 acres in Guernsey and Noble
Counties, Ohio.
Sources of Revenues
We derive our revenues predominantly from the sale of our oil and natural gas production and the sale of NGLs that are extracted from our
natural gas during processing. Our production is entirely from within the continental United States and is similarly sold to purchasers within the United States; however, some of our production revenues are attributable to customers who may export
our products.
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Increases or decreases in our revenue, profitability and future production growth are highly
dependent on the commodity prices we receive. Oil, natural gas, and NGL prices are market driven and have been historically volatile, and we expect that future prices will continue to fluctuate. During 2024 and 2023, our oil, natural gas, and NGL
revenues were comprised of 63% and 53%, respectively, from the sale of oil, 20% and 31%, respectively, from the sale of natural gas, and 17% and 15%, respectively, from the sale of NGLs.
We utilize unaffiliated third parties to market a portion of our oil, natural gas, and NGL production to various purchasers, which consist of
credit-worthy counterparties, including utilities, LNG producers, industrial consumers, major corporations and super majors in our industry. The third parties collect proceeds directly from these purchasers and remit to us the total of all amounts
collected on our behalf less the third partys fee for making such sales. We do not believe the loss of any purchaser would have a material adverse effect on our business, as other purchasers or markets are currently accessible to us.
Midstream activities revenues, which consist of gathering, compression, and water handling, are derived from our ownership of INR Midstream.
Our gathering and compression revenues relate to activities located within the dry gas areas of southwestern Pennsylvania. Our water handling revenues relate to activities associated with delivering water for stimulation activities in both eastern
Ohio and southwestern Pennsylvania.
Principal Components of Our Cost Structure
Lease operating . LOE are the costs incurred in the operation of producing properties. Expenses for utilities, direct labor, water
disposal, materials, and supplies comprise the most significant portion of our LOE. Certain items, such as direct labor, materials, and supplies, generally remain relatively fixed across broad production volume ranges, but can fluctuate depending on
activities performed during a specific period. For instance, repairs to our well equipment or surface facilities result in increased LOE in periods during which they are performed. Certain operating cost components are variable and fluctuate based
on production levels. For example, the disposal of produced water usually increases in conjunction with increased production. Also, we monitor our LOE in absolute dollar terms and on a per Boe and/or Mcfe basis to assess our performance and to
determine if any wells or properties should be shut in, repaired or recompleted.
Gathering, processing, and transportation .
Gathering, processing, and transportation expense includes fees paid to third parties who operate low- and high-pressure gathering systems that transport our gas. It also includes costs to process, extract,
and fractionate NGLs from our liquids-rich gas and transport our natural gas and NGLs to market.
Production and ad valorem
taxes . Pennsylvania imposes an annual impact fee on each producing shale well for a period of 15 years beginning in the year the well is spud. Ohio imposes a production tax which is based upon annual production. The proportion of our
production and producing wells from each state may change over time and, as a result, the proportion of our production taxes and impact fees will vary depending on volumes produced from the Utica Shale, the number of producing shale wells in
Pennsylvania, and the applicable production tax rates and impact fees then in effect. In addition, we are also subject to ad valorem taxes in the counties where our production is located. Ad valorem taxes are generally based on the valuation of our
oil and gas properties as well as the value of property and equipment.
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization .
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization includes the systematic expensing of the capitalized costs incurred to acquire and develop oil and natural gas. Under the full- cost method of accounting, we capitalize costs within a cost center and then
systematically expense those costs on a units of production basis based on proved oil and natural gas reserve quantities. We calculate depletion on all capitalized costs, other than the cost of investments in unproved properties and major
development projects for which proved reserves cannot yet be assigned, less accumulated amortization. Accretion expense related to our asset retirement obligations is also included within this balance.
General and administrative . General and administrative (G&A) expenses are costs incurred for overhead, including
payroll and benefits for our corporate staff, costs of maintaining our headquarters, IT expenses, legal, audit and other fees for professional services. G&A expenses are offset by recoveries for overhead that are billed to our joint-interest
partners as outlined in a joint operating agreement or other similar documents.
Interest expense . We have financed a
portion of our working capital requirements and property acquisitions with borrowings under our prior credit facility and Credit Facility. As a result, we incur interest expense that is affected by fluctuations in interest rates and, in the case of
the prior credit facility and Credit Facility based on outstanding borrowings. We expect to see a reduction in cash interest expense following the completion of the IPO in February 2025 as we repaid substantially all of our outstanding borrowings
under the Credit Facility with the net proceeds of the IPO.
Gains and losses on derivatives . We utilize commodity
derivative contracts to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in the price of oil, natural gas, and NGLs. We recognize gains and losses associated with our open commodity derivative contracts as commodity
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prices and the associated fair value of our commodity derivative contracts change. The commodity derivative contracts we have in place are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes.
Consequently, these commodity derivative contracts are recorded at fair value as of the balance sheet date with changes in fair value recognized as a gain or loss in our results of operations. Our operating cash flows are impacted to the extent the
actual settlements under the contracts result in making a payment to or receiving a payment from the counterparty.
Factors That Significantly Affect
Comparability of Our Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Our historical financial condition and results of operations for
the periods presented may not be comparable, either from period to period or going forward, for the following reasons:
Public
Company Expenses . We expect to incur direct, incremental G&A expenses as a result of being a public company, including costs associated with Exchange Act compliance, tax compliance, PCAOB support fees, SOX compliance costs, investor
relations activities, listing fees, registrar and transfer agent fees, stock-based compensation, incremental director and officer liability insurance costs, and independent director compensation. We estimate these direct, incremental G&A
expenses could total approximately $4 million to $6 million per year, which are not included in our historical results of operations.
Corporate Reorganization . The historical consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report are based on the
financial statements of our predecessor, INR Holdings, prior to our reorganization in connection with the IPO as described in Item 1. BusinessCorporate Reorganization. Our historical financial data may not yield an accurate
indication of what our actual results would have been if those transactions had been completed at the beginning of the periods presented or of what our future results of operations are likely to be. In connection with the closing of the IPO, all
outstanding performance-based incentive units of INR Holdings vested. Consequently, INR Holdings will recognize $126.1 million of non-recurring, non-cash
compensation expense related to these awards in the first quarter of 2025, in accordance with the guidance provided by ASC 710.
Interest Expense . In connection with the IPO, we materially reduced our indebtedness through the repayment of substantially all
of our outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility with net proceeds of the IPO. As a result, we expect an immediate reduction in cash interest expense.
Income Taxes . Our predecessor, INR Holdings, was organized as a limited liability company not subject to federal income taxes.
Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes has been provided for in our historical results of operations because taxable income was passed through to our members. Although we are a corporation under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the Code), we do not expect to report any income tax benefit or expense prior to the consummation of the IPO.
Results of
Operations
For the Year Ended December 31, 2024 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2023
The following table provides the components of our net revenues and net production for the periods indicated, as well as each periods
average prices (before and after the effects of derivatives) and average daily production volumes:
For the Year Months
Ended
December 31,
Increase / (Decrease)
2024
2023 (1)
$
%
Net revenues ( in thousands ):
Oil sales
$
161,514
$
85,276
$
76,238
89
%
Natural gas sales
51,157
49,617
1,540
3
%
Natural gas liquids sales
45,035
24,639
20,396
83
%
Oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids sales
$
257,706
$
159,532
$
98,174
62
%
Average sales prices:
Oil price (per Bbl)
$
67.86
$
70.77
$
(2.91
)
(4)
%
Effects of derivative settlements on average price (per Bbl)
$
(0.93
)
$
0.26
$
(1.19
)
(458)
%
Oil price including the effects of derivatives (per Bbl)
$
66.93
$
71.03
$
(4.10
)
(6)
%
Wtd. Average NYMEX WTI price for oil (per
Bbl) (3)
$
76.42
$
78.12
$
(1.70
)
(2)
%
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Table of Contents
Oil differential to NYMEX
$
(8.56
)
$
(7.35
)
$
(1.21
)
(17
)%
Natural gas price (per Mcf)
$
1.81
$
1.80
$
0.01
1
%
Effects of derivative settlements on average price (per Mcf)
$
0.66
$
0.62
$
0.04
7
%
Natural gas price including the effects of derivatives (per Mcf)
$
2.47
$
2.42
$
0.05
2
%
Wtd. Average NYMEX Henry Hub price for natural gas (per MMBtu) (3)
$
2.27
$
2.79
$
(0.52
)
(19
)%
Natural gas differential to NYMEX
$
(0.46
)
$
(0.99
)
$
0.53
54
%
NGL price excluding GP&T (per Bbl)
$
26.14
$
22.16
$
3.98
18
%
Effects of derivative settlements on average price (per Bbl)
$
2.52
$
1.84
$
0.68
37
%
NGL price including the effects of derivatives (per Bbl)
$
28.66
24.00
$
4.66
19
%
Net production (1)
Oil (MBbls)
2,380
1,205
1,175
98
%
Natural gas (MMcf)
28,291
27,506
785
3
%
NGL (Bbls)
1,723
1,112
611
55
%
Net production (MBoe) (2)
8,818
6,901
1,917
28
%
Average daily net production (1)
Oil (Bbls/d)
6,502
3,301
3,201
97
%
Natural gas (Mcf/d)
77,297
75,359
1,938
3
%
NGLs (Bbls/d)
4,708
3,047
1,661
55
%
Average daily net production
(Boe/d) (2)
24,093
18,907
5,186
27
%
(1)
Includes the results of operations related to the assets acquired from Utica Resources Ventures and PEO Ohio on
October 1, 2023 for the fourth quarter of 2023 and thereafter.
(2)
Calculated by converting natural gas to oil equivalent barrels at a ratio of six Mcf of natural gas to one Boe.
(3)
Based on Netherland, Sewell and Associates Inc. (NSAI) found at
https://netherlandsewell.com/resources/pricing-data/ and EIA commodity pricing. (NSAI) found at https://netherlandsewell.com/resources/pricing-data/ and U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Weighted
average is based on INRs production in a given month during the course of the calendar year.
Revenues
Oil, natural gas, and NGL sales. Total oil, natural gas and NGL net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by
$98.2 million, or 62%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. Revenues are a function of oil, natural gas and NGL volumes sold and average commodity prices realized.
Net production volumes for oil, natural gas, and NGLs increased 98%, 3% and 55%, respectively, between periods. The oil and NGL production
volume increase resulted from placing fourteen (14) wells on production from the Ohio Uticas Volatile Oil Window since December 31, 2023. The higher increase in natural gas volumes between periods was due to the fourteen
(14) wells that were placed on production during the year 2024, offset from the normal production decline across existing wells. The combination of a full year of production from the wells acquired from Utica Resource Ventures and PEO Ohio and
wells placed into production throughout 2024 contributed to the overall increase of 1.9 MMBoe in production, or of 28% relative to the prior year.
Average realized sales prices for NGLs increased 18% during the period while average realized oil and natural gas sales prices decreased 4%
and 2%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the prior year. Average realized natural gas prices remained consistent when compared to the same period a year earlier. The 4% decrease in the average realized oil price
was mainly driven by lower NYMEX WTI oil prices during the period along with higher regional differentials compared to the same period a year earlier. The average realized natural gas price decreased 2% due to 19% lower average NYMEX gas prices
between periods offset by lower natural gas differentials. The 18% increase in average realized NGL prices between periods was primarily attributable to higher Mont Belvieu spot prices for plant products in 2024 compared to 2023 and changes in
product composition between periods.
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Table of Contents
Operating Expenses
For the Year Ended December 31,
Change
2024
2023
Amount
Percent
(in thousands)
Gathering, processing, and transportation
$
49,290
$
31,097
$
18,193
59
%
Lease operating
28,154
18,371
9,783
53
%
Production and ad valorem taxes
1,071
886
185
21
%
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
73,726
53,796
19,930
37
%
General and administrative
13,045
4,885
8,160
167
%
Total operating expenses
$
165,286
$
109,035
$
56,251
52
%
($ per Boe)
Gathering, processing, and transportation
$
5.59
$
4.51
$
1.08
24
%
Lease operating
3.19
2.66
0.53
20
%
Production and ad valorem taxes
0.12
0.13
(0.01
)
(8
)%
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
8.36
7.80
0.57
7
%
General and administrative
1.48
0.71
0.77
108
%
Total operating expenses
$
18.74
$
15.80
$
2.94
19
%
Gathering, processing, and transportation. Gathering, processing, and transportation
(GP&T) for the year ended December 31, 2024, increased $18.2 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. This increase is attributed to additional wells brought online in Ohio between periods. GP&T per
Boe was $5.59 for the year ended December 31, 2024, which represents an increase of $1.08 per Boe or 24% from the prior year. This increase was primarily related to increased gas volumes in Ohio that are on third party gathering systems and
lower volumes on INRs owned gathering system in Pennsylvania.
Lease operating . Lease operating expense
(LOE) for the year ended December 31, 2024, increased $9.8 million compared to the prior year. LOE per Boe was $3.19 for the year ended December 31, 2024, which represents an increase of $0.53 per Boe, or 20%, from the
prior year. This increase in LOE was primarily related to higher fixed and semi-variable well costs, such as water disposal, equipment rentals, repair work, wellhead chemicals, labor and electricity, associated with a higher well count from new
producing wells drilled or acquired. The higher well count as of December 31, 2024 was primarily due to the acquisition of 50 gross operated horizontal wells from Utica Resources Ventures and PEO Ohio that INR operated for the fourth quarter
2023 and 14 wells INR placed on production since December 31, 2023. In addition, lower natural gas volumes from our assets located in Pennsylvania contributed to the per unit increase.
Production and ad valorem taxes . Production and ad valorem taxes for the year ended December 31, 2024, increased
$0.2 million compared to the prior year. Production taxes in Ohio are based on our production at the wellhead, while ad valorem taxes are generally based on the assessed taxable value of our proved developed oil and gas properties and vary
across the different counties in which we operate. Production taxes in Pennsylvania are assessed on producing wells by imposing an impact fee determined based on the market price for natural gas, which commences on the date the well is initially
spud and continues for a period of 15 years.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization. For the year ended December 31,
2024, DD&A expense was to $73.7 million, an increase of $19.9 million over the prior year. The primary factor contributing to higher DD&A expense in 2024 was the increase in our overall production volumes between periods, which
increased DD&A expense by $13.7 million, while our higher DD&A rate of $8.10 per Boe increased total DD&A expense by $6.5 million between periods. Our DD&A rate can fluctuate as a result of finding and development costs
incurred, acquisitions, impairments, as well as changes in proved developed and proved undeveloped reserves.
General and
Administrative Expenses. G&A expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $13.0 million compared to $4.9 million for the prior year. This increase was primarily due to fees related to legal, accounting and
auditing services. We also had higher payroll and employee-related costs due to higher headcount, which increased from 49 as of December 31, 2023 to 80 as of December 31, 2024.
Net Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments. Net gains and losses are a function of (i) changes in derivative fair
values associated with fluctuations in the forward price curves for the commodities underlying each of our hedge contracts outstanding; and (ii) monthly cash settlements on any closed out hedge positions during the period.
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Table of Contents
The following table presents gains and losses on our derivative instruments for the periods
indicated:
Year Ended December 31,
2024
2023
(in thousands)
Realized cash settlement gains (losses)
$
28,360
$
19,438
Non-cash mark-to-market derivative gain (losses)
(50,407
)
25,884
Total
$
(22,047
)
$
45,322
For the Year Ended December 31, 2023 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2022
Refer to Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations in the Companys final prospectus filed with the SEC on February 3, 2025 pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) for a discussion of the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the
year ended December 31, 2022.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Historically, our primary sources of liquidity have been cash flows from operations, borrowings incurred under our Credit Facility and proceeds
from sales of equity securities. Going forward, we expect our primary sources of liquidity to be cash flows from operations, borrowings incurred under our Credit Facility, proceeds from offerings of debt or equity securities, or proceeds from the
sale of oil and gas properties. Our future cash flows are subject to a number of variables, including oil and natural gas prices, which have been and will likely continue to be volatile. Lower commodity prices can negatively impact our cash flows
and our ability to access debt or equity markets, and sustained low oil and natural gas prices could have a material and adverse effect on our liquidity position. To date, our primary uses of capital have been for drilling and development capital
expenditures and the acquisition of oil and natural gas properties.
We continually evaluate our capital needs and compare them to our
capital resources. Our total cash capital expenditures incurred for development during the year ended December 31, 2024 were $279.7 million, which includes $165.8 million on drilling and completion activities, $5.5 million on
midstream and $108.3 on maintenance leasehold and land investment. We funded our capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2024 from cash flows from operations and borrowings incurred under our Credit Facility. Our drilling and
completion capital budget for 2025 is $240 million to $280 million, along with $9 million to $12 million of midstream capital expenditures. We expect to fund our 2025 capital expenditures budget through a combination of cash
flows from operations and additional borrowings under our Credit Facility. Our ability to utilize cash flows from operations to fund our development program is driven by our oil and gas production, current commodity prices and our commodity hedge
positions in place.
We operate the vast majority of our acreage and therefore can largely control the amount and timing of our capital
expenditures. Accordingly, we can choose to defer or accelerate a portion of our planned capital expenditures depending on a variety of factors, including but not limited to: (i) prevailing and anticipated prices for oil and natural gas;
(ii) the success of our drilling activities; (iii) the availability of necessary equipment, infrastructure and capital; (iv) the receipt and timing of required regulatory permits and approvals; (v) seasonal conditions;
(vi) property or land acquisition costs; and (vii) the level of participation by other working interest owners.
In February
2025, we completed our IPO of 15.2 million shares of our Class A common stock at a price to the public of $20.00 per share, resulting in net cash proceeds of $286.5 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions. We
used all of the net proceeds after paying certain offering expenses to repay borrowings outstanding under our Credit Facility.
Our
liquidity requirements also include operating expenses, which have been impacted by elevated levels of inflation. High oil prices have historically led to more development activity in oil-focused shale basins
and resulted in service cost inflation across all U.S. shale basins, including our areas of operation. Ongoing inflationary pressures may result in increases to the costs of our oilfield goods, services and personnel, which would, in turn, cause our
capital expenditures and operating costs to rise. We closely monitor costs and are cost conscious in managing our operations. We may solicit bids from multiple vendors or contractors or source materials from multiple suppliers to take advantage of
cost competition, and we may buy surplus materials if we can acquire them on attractive terms. Where we anticipate elevated costs may be more sustained, such as in the cost of services, we may enter into contracts with certain service providers to
lock in rates. We are also strategic in the duration of our contracts to provide flexibility to take advantage of cost declines when they occur. Sustained levels of high inflation have also caused the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks to
increase interest rates, which has raised the cost of capital and increased our interest expense.
Although we cannot provide any
assurance that cash flows from operations or other sources of needed capital will be available to us at acceptable terms, or at all, and noting that our ability to access the public or private debt or equity capital markets at economic
56
Table of Contents
terms in the future will be affected by general economic conditions, the domestic and global oil and financial markets, our operational and financial performance, the value and performance of our
debt or equity securities, prevailing commodity prices and other macroeconomic factors outside of our control, we believe that based on our current expectations and projections, we have sufficient liquidity to fund future operations and to meet
obligations as they become due for at least one year following the date that our consolidated financial statements are issued.
Cash Flow Activity
Our financial condition and results of operations, including our liquidity and profitability, are significantly affected by the prices
that we realize for our oil, natural gas and NGLs and the volumes of oil and natural gas that we produce. Oil, natural gas and NGLs are commodities for which established trading markets exist.
Accordingly, our operating cash flow is sensitive to a number of variables, the most significant of which are the volatility of oil, natural
gas and NGL prices and production levels both regionally and across the United States, the availability and price of alternative fuels, infrastructure capacity to reach markets, costs of operations, and other variable factors. We monitor factors
that we believe could be likely to influence price movements including new or expanded oil and natural gas markets, gas imports, LNG and other exports, and regional and industry-wide capital intensity levels.
Our produced volumes have a high correlation to our level of capital expenditures such that our ability to fund it through operating and
financing cash flows may be affected by multiple factors discussed further herein.
The following summarizes our cash flow activity for
the periods indicated:
2024
2023
(in thousands)
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
177,666
$
106,475
Net cash used in investing activities
(256,118
)
(436,686
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
79,151
330,976
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
$
699
$
765
Analysis of Cash Flow Changes Between the Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023
Operating activities
For the year ended
December 31, 2024, we generated $177.7 million of cash from operating activities, an increase of $71.2 million from the prior year. Cash provided by operating activities increased primarily due to higher production volumes and
associated revenues as compared to the prior year. These factors were partially offset by higher LOE, severance and ad valorem taxes, GP&T, G&A, interest expense and lower realized prices for oil and natural gas during the year ended
December 31, 2024 as compared to the prior year. Refer to Results of Operations for more information on the impact of volumes and prices on revenues and on fluctuations in our operating costs between periods.
Investing activities
For the year ended
December 31, 2024, we spent $249.5 million on capital expenditures in conjunction with our drilling and completion activities in which we drilled and brought online 14 gross operated wells and land and leasehold costs. We also spent
$6.6 million on other property and equipment largely related to midstream activities.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, we
spent $146.0 million on capital expenditures in conjunction with our drilling and completion activities in which we drilled and brought online 10 gross operated wells and land and leasehold costs, and $279.0 million to complete the Utica
Resource Acquisition and PEO Ohio Acquisition, which included 50 gross operated wells. We also spent $11.7 million on other property and equipment.
Financing activities
For the year ended
December 31, 2024, the change in financing activity was primarily related to borrowing $168.1 million under our credit facility and repaying $79.7 million of borrowings. In September 2024, as part of entering into the new Credit
Facility, we used funds from the new Credit Facility of $243.4 million for the repayment of the outstanding balance on the prior credit facility. We also paid approximately $5.2 million of syndication fees associated with the new Credit
Facility.
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Table of Contents
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the change in financing activity was primarily
related to borrowing $203.9 million under our prior credit facility and repaying $90.8 million of borrowings. Additionally, there was a capital raise for $222.3 million used to partially fund the Utica Resource Acquisition and PEO
Ohio Acquisition. We also paid approximately $4.3 million in syndication fees associated with the prior credit facility.
Analysis of Cash Flow
Changes Between the Year Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
Refer to Managements Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the Companys final prospectus filed with the SEC on February 3, 2025 pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) for a discussion of the cash flows for the year ended
December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022.
Derivative Activities
We are exposed to volatility in market prices and basis differentials for oil, natural gas and NGLs, which impacts the predictability of our
cash flows related to the sale of those commodities. Accordingly, to achieve more predictable cash flow and reduce our exposure to adverse fluctuations in commodity prices, we use commodity derivatives, such as swaps, to hedge price risk associated
with our anticipated production and to underpin our development program. This helps reduce potential negative effects of reductions in oil and gas prices but also reduces our ability to benefit from increases in oil and gas prices. In certain
circumstances, where we have unrealized gains in our derivative portfolio, we may choose to restructure existing derivative contracts or enter into new transactions to modify the terms of current contracts in order to utilize their value to further
our strategic pursuits.
A fixed price swap has an established fixed price. When the settlement price is below the fixed price, the
counterparty pays us an amount equal to the difference between the settlement price and the fixed price multiplied by the hedged contract volume. When the settlement price is above the fixed price, we pay our counterparty an amount equal to the
difference between the settlement price and the fixed price multiplied by the hedged contract volume.
A basis swap involves swapping
variable interest rates based on different reference rates. We receive a fixed price differential and pays the floating market price differential to the counterparty which is calculated based on the differential between NYMEX and the natural gas
price at a specific delivery point.
A put option has an established floor price. The buyer of that put option pays the seller a premium
to enter into the put option. When the settlement price is below the floor price, the seller pays the buyer an amount equal to the difference between the settlement price and the strike price multiplied by the hedged contract volume. When the
settlement price is above the floor price, the put option expires worthless.
A call option has an established ceiling price. The buyer of
the call option pays the seller a premium to enter into the call option. When the settlement price is above the ceiling price, the seller pays the buyer an amount equal to the difference between the settlement price and the strike price multiplied
by the hedged contract volume. When the settlement price is below the ceiling price, the call option expires worthless.
The following
tables provide information about our derivative financial instruments as of December 31, 2024.
Volume
Weighted Average Price
Fair Value as of
December 31, 2024
Oil
(in MBbls)
($ per Bbl)
(in thousands)
Fixed price swaps
2025
1,510
$
71.62
$
2,449
2026
519
$
69.58
1,465
2027
35
$
68.04
88
2028
$
Total
2,064
$
4,002
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Table of Contents
Volume
Weighted Average Price
Fair Value as of
December 31, 2024
Natural gas
(in MMBtu)
($ per MMBtu)
(in thousands)
Fixed price swaps
2025
28,530
$
3.39
$
(2,093
)
2026
30,780
$
3.71
(6,555
)
2027
14,005
$
3.78
(1,731
)
2028
1,070
$
4.25
(109
)
Total
74,385
$
(10,488
)
Volume
Basis Differential
Fair Value as of
December 31, 2024
Natural gas
(in MMBtu)
($ per MMBtu)
(in thousands) 1
Basis swaps
2025
42,565
$
(1.03
)
$
(10,113
)
2026
37,345
$
(1.00
)
(3,172
)
2027
14,005
$
(0.92
)
22
2028
1,070
$
(0.83
)
(0
)
Total
94,985
$
(13,263
)
Volume
Weighted Average Price
Fair Value as of
December 31, 2024
Ethane
(in gallons)
($ per gallon)
(in thousands)
Fixed price swaps
2025
10,915,000
$
0.25
$
(57
)
2026
6,063,500
$
0.28
67
2027
435,000
$
0.30
(1
)
2028
$
Total
17,413,500
$
9
Volume
Weighted Average Price
Fair Value as of
December 31, 2024
Propane
(in gallons)
($ per gallon)
(in thousands)
Fixed price swaps
2025
15,940,000
$
0.71
$
(995
)
2026
8,080,500
$
0.70
(143
)
2027
577,000
$
0.72
6
2028
$
Total
24,597,500
$
(1,132
)
Volume
Weighted Average Price
Fair Value as of
December 31, 2024
Isobutane
(in gallons)
($ per gallon)
(in thousands)
Fixed price swaps
2025
3,372,000
$
0.86
$
(632
)
2026
1,667,500
$
0.83
(131
)
2027
114,000
$
0.82
(6
)
2028
$
Total
5,153,500
$
(769
)
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Table of Contents
Volume
Weighted Average Price
Fair Value as of
December 31, 2024
Normal butane
(in gallons)
($ per gallon)
(in thousands)
Fixed price swaps
2025
5,267,500
$
0.82
$
(932
)
2026
2,686,000
$
0.81
(141
)
2027
192,000
$
0.81
(3
)
2028
$
Total
8,145,500
$
(1,076
)
Volume
Weighted Average Price
Fair Value as of
December 31, 2024
Pentane
(in gallons)
($ per gallon)
(in thousands)
Fixed price swaps
2025
4,329,000
$
1.41
$
(224
)
2026
2,168,500
$
1.38
2
2027
149,000
$
1.35
1
2028
$
Total
6,646,500
$
(221
)
(1)
These natural gas basis swap contracts are settled based on the difference between Dominion South or TETCO M2
price and the NYMEX price of natural gas during each applicable monthly settlement period.
Changes in the fair value of
derivative contracts from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024, are presented below:
(in thousands)
Commodity Derivative
Asset (Liability)
Net fair value of oil and gas derivative contracts outstanding as of December 31,
2023
$
27,469
Commodity hedge contract settlement payments, net of any receipts
(28,360
)
Cash and non-cash mark-to-market gains (losses) on commodity hedge contracts (1)
22,047
Net fair value of oil and gas derivative contracts outstanding as of December 31,
2024
$
21,156
(1)
At inception, new derivative contracts entered into by us have no intrinsic value.
Financing Agreements
Credit Facility
On September 25, 2024, we entered into a new credit facility led by Citibank, N.A. (the Credit Facility). The Credit Facility has a
total facility size of $1.5 billion, an initial borrowing base of $325.0 million and available capacity of $65.7 million as of December 31, 2024. The Credit Facility replaced our prior credit facility (as defined below), which
was terminated in connection with entry into the Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2024, our reserves supported a $325.0 million facility of which $259.3 million was outstanding leaving $65.7 million of unused capacity.
The Credit Facility also requires us to maintain compliance with the following financial ratios:
Current ratio the ratio of consolidated current assets (including an add back of unused commitments under
the revolving credit facility and excluding non-cash derivative assets and certain restricted cash) to its consolidated current liabilities (excluding the current portion of long-term debt under the Amended
and Restated Credit Facility and non-cash derivative liabilities) of not less than 1.0 to 1.0; and
Leverage ratio the ratio of total funded debt to consolidated EBITDAX of not greater than 3.0 to 1.0.
We used all of the net proceeds after paying certain offering expenses of the IPO to repay outstanding borrowings under
the Credit Facility. Following such repayment, as of February 28, 2024, we had $2.4 million of borrowings outstanding under the Credit Facility.
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We were in compliance with the covenants and applicable financial ratios described above as
of December 31, 2024.
Prior Credit Facility
On October 4, 2023, we entered into an amended and restated credit facility with a syndicate of banks led by the Bank of Oklahoma (the
prior credit facility). Borrowings under our prior credit facility were subject to borrowing base limitations based upon the collateral value of the pledged assets and were subject to semi-annual redeterminations. The prior credit
facility was scheduled to mature in April 2026, but was terminated on September 20, 2024, in connection with entry into the Credit Facility.
The prior credit facility also required us to maintain compliance with the following financial ratios:
Current ratio the ratio of consolidated current assets (including an add back of unused commitments under
the revolving credit facility and excluding non-cash derivative assets and certain restricted cash) to its consolidated current liabilities (excluding the current portion of long-term debt under the Amended
and Restated Credit Facility and non-cash derivative liabilities) of not less than 1.0 to 1.0; and
Leverage ratio the ratio of total funded debt to consolidated EBITDAX of not greater than 3.0 to 1.0. We
were in compliance with the covenants and applicable financial ratios described above as of December 31, 2023.
Other long-term debt
Other long-term debt principally relates to car loans associated with the Companys car fleet to support the Companys team
to service and maintain its operated wells.
Payments due by fiscal year related to other long-term debt as of December 31, 2024, are
as follows:
Long-Term Note Payable
(in thousands)
2025
$
101
2026
45
2027
14
2028
2029
Total payments
$
160
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In connection with preparing of our financial statements, we are required
to make assumptions and estimates about future events, and to apply judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, expense and the related disclosures. We base our assumptions, estimates and judgments on historical
experience, current trends and other factors that management believes to be relevant at the time we prepare our consolidated financial statements. On a regular basis, management reviews the accounting policies, assumptions, estimates and judgments
to ensure that our financial statements are presented fairly and in accordance with U.S. GAAP. However, because future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results could differ materially from our assumptions and
estimates.
Our significant accounting policies are discussed in our audited financial statements included in Item 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data in this Annual Report. Management believes that the following accounting estimates are those most critical to fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results, and they require
managements most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, resulting from the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.
Method of Accounting for Oil and Natural Gas Properties
We account for oil and natural gas producing activities using the full cost method of accounting. Accordingly, all costs, including non-productive costs and certain general and administrative costs such as salaries, benefits and other internal costs directly associated with acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas
properties, are capitalized. Under the full cost method of accounting, capitalized costs are amortized based on units-of-production and proved oil and natural gas
reserves. If we maintain production levels year over year, our depreciation, depletion, and amortization expense may be significantly different if our estimates of remaining reserves or future development costs change significantly. On a quarterly
basis, we review the carrying value of our oil and natural gas properties under the full cost method of accounting prescribed by the SEC, which is referred to as a cost center ceiling test.
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The primary factors impacting this test are reserve estimates and the unweighted arithmetic
average of index prices on the first day of each month within the 12-month period that ends as of each quarterly balance sheet date. Downward revisions to estimates of oil and natural gas reserves and/or
unfavorable prices may have a material impact on the present value of estimated future net revenues. Any excess of the net book value, less deferred income taxes (which our predecessor, INR Holdings, has not been subject to historically for federal
income tax purposes), is generally written off as an expense. We did not record any impairment of oil and natural gas properties for years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
Additionally, costs associated with unevaluated properties are excluded from properties subject to amortization until we have made a
determination as to the existence of proved reserves. We assess all items classified as unevaluated property at least annually for possible impairment. This assessment is subjective and includes consideration of numerous factors, including drilling
plans, remaining lease terms, geological and geophysical evaluations, drilling results and activity, the assignment of proved reserves, and the economic viability of development if proved reserves are assigned. We did not record any impairment on
our unevaluated properties for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, but any such future impairment could potentially be material to our consolidated financial statements.
Oil and Natural Gas Reserves
Proved oil and gas reserves, as defined by SEC Regulation S-X, Rule
4-10, are those quantities of oil and natural gas that, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible from a given date forward from
known reservoirs and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain regardless
of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation.
Reserve estimates are prepared by independent engineers.
Revisions may result from changes in, among other things, reservoir performance, development plans, prices, operating costs, economic conditions and governmental restrictions. Decreases in prices, for example, may cause a reduction in certain proved
reserves due to reaching economic limits sooner. A material change in the estimated volume of reserves could have an impact on the depletion rate calculation and our consolidated financial statements.
We estimate future net cash flows from natural gas, NGLs and oil reserves based on selling prices and costs using a 12-month average price, which is calculated as the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the- month price for each month within the 12-month period and, as such, is subject to change in subsequent periods. Operating costs,
production and ad valorem taxes and future development costs are based on current costs with no escalation. Income tax expense (which our predecessor, INR Holdings, has not been subject to historically for federal income tax purposes) is based on
currently enacted statutory tax rates and tax deductions and credits available under current laws.
Revenue Recognition
We derive revenue primarily from the sale of produced oil, natural gas, and NGLs. Revenue is recognized when production is sold to a purchaser
at a fixed or determinable price, delivery has occurred, control has transferred and collectability of the revenue is probable. Our performance obligations are satisfied at a point in time and payments from purchasers are unconditional once the
performance obligations have been satisfied, which occurs when control is transferred to the purchaser upon delivery of production volumes at a specified point. The pricing provisions of our contracts with customers are based on market indices, with
certain adjustments for quality, supply and demand conditions, and location differentials, among other factors.
At the end of each month,
we estimate the amount of production delivered to purchasers for that month and estimate revenues based on the price we expect to receive. Payments are generally received between 30 and 60 days after the date of production. Any variances between our
accrued revenue estimates and the actual amounts of payments received for the sales of our production are recorded in the month that each payment is received from our purchasers. Such variances have historically not been significant.
The revenue derived from our midstream activities is generated from gathering assets owned by our wholly- owned subsidiary, INR Midstream. We
charge a gathering fee per MMBtu transported through our gathering system and fees are recognized as revenue based on measured volumes at the specified delivery points when the associated service is performed.
Derivative Instruments
We use
commodity derivatives for the purpose of mitigating the risk resulting from fluctuations in the market prices of crude oil and natural gas. We exercise significant judgment in determining the types of instruments to be used, the level of production
volumes to include in our commodity derivative contracts, the prices at which we enter into commodity derivative contracts and counterparty creditworthiness. We do not use commodity derivative instruments for speculative or trading purposes.
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We have not designated our derivative instruments as hedges for accounting purposes and, as
a result, mark our derivative instruments to fair value and recognize the cash and non-cash change in fair value on derivative instruments for each period in the consolidated statements of operations. We are
also required to recognize our derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheets as assets or liabilities at fair value with such amounts classified as current or long-term based on their anticipated settlement dates. The accounting for the
changes in fair value of a derivative depends on the intended use of the derivative and resulting designation, and is generally determined using various inputs and assumptions including established index prices and other sources which are based
upon, among other things, futures prices, time to maturity, implied volatilities and counterparty credit risk.
These fair values are
recorded by netting asset and liability positions, including any deferred premiums, that are with the same counterparty and are subject to contractual terms which provide for net settlement. Changes in the fair values of our commodity derivative
instruments have a significant impact on our net income because we follow mark-to-market accounting and recognize all gains and losses on such instruments in earnings in
the period in which they occur.
Tax Receivable Agreement
As described in Item 1. BusinessCorporate Reorganization, Infinity Natural Resources entered into a Tax Receivable Agreement
in connection with the closing of the IPO under which it is contractually committed to pay the Legacy Owners 85% of the net cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income tax that Infinity Natural Resources (a) actually realizes
with respect to taxable periods ending after the IPO or (b) is deemed to realize in the event of a change of control (as defined under the Tax Receivable Agreement, which includes certain mergers, asset sales and other forms of business
combinations and certain changes to the composition of the INR board of directors) or the Tax Receivable Agreement terminates early (at our election or as a result of our breach) with respect to any taxable periods ending on or after such change of
control or early termination event, in each case, as a result of (i) the tax basis increases resulting from the exchange of INR Units and the corresponding surrender of an equivalent number of shares of Class B common stock by the Existing
Owners for a number of shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis or, at our option, the receipt of an equivalent amount of cash pursuant to the INR
Holdings LLC Agreement and (ii) imputed interest deemed to be paid by us as a result of, and additional tax basis arising from, any payments we make under the Tax Receivable Agreement.
The projection of future taxable income and utilization of tax attributes associated with the Tax Receivable Agreement involve estimates which
require significant judgment. The amount of the Companys actual taxable income (which may differ from our estimates), passage of future legislation, or consummation of significant transactions in the future may significantly impact the
liability related to the Tax Receivable Agreement. The Company will account for amounts payable under the Tax Receivable Agreement in accordance with Accounting Standard Codification Topic 450, Contingencies .
JOBS Act
The JOBS Act permits us, as an
emerging growth company, to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies. We have elected to take advantage of this extended transition period, which
means that the financial statements included in this Annual Report, as well as any financial statements that we file or furnish in the future, will not be subject to all new or revised accounting standards generally applicable to public companies
for the transition period for so long as we remain an emerging growth company.
Adoption of New Accounting Standards
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280)Improvements to
Reportable Segment Disclosures (ASU 2023-07), which updates reportable segment disclosure requirements primarily by enhancing disclosures about significant segment expenses and information used to
assess segment performance. Additionally, ASU 2023-07 enhances interim disclosure requirements, clarifies circumstances in which an entity can disclose multiple segment measures of profit or loss and provides
new segment disclosure requirements for entities with a single reportable segment. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023, and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15,
2024. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. We adopted this ASU and applied the amendments retrospectively to all prior periods presented in our
consolidated financial statements. Refer to Note 15 - Segment Information for additional discussion.
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Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740) Improvements to
Income Tax Disclosures (ASU 2023-09), which requires that certain information in a reporting entitys tax rate reconciliation be disaggregated and provides additional requirements
regarding income taxes paid. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted, and should be applied either prospectively or retrospectively. Management is currently evaluating
this ASU to determine its impact on INR Holdings disclosures. The Company is in the process of assessing the impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements subsequent to the IPO transaction in February 2025.
In March 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-01, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718). This ASU
illustrates how to apply the scope guidance to determine whether a profits interest award should be accounted for as a share-based payment arrange under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 718 or another accounting standard. The
amendments in this update are effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. As of December 31, 2024, this is ASU is not applicable to the company due no stock compensation expense. The Company is in the
process of assessing the impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements subsequent to the IPO transaction in February 2025.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03 - Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive
Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40). This ASU requires entities to disaggregate any relevant expense caption presented on the face of the income statement within continuing operations
into the following required natural expense categories within the footnotes, as applicable: (1) purchases of inventory, (2) employee compensation, (3) depreciation, (4) intangible asset amortization, and (5) DD&A recognized
as part of oil- and gas-producing activities or other depletion expenses. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after
December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance .
We considered the applicability and impact of all ASUs. ASUs not listed above were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or not
material upon adoption.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
We routinely enter into or extend operating and transportation agreements, office and equipment leases, drilling rig contracts, and other
agreements, in the ordinary course of business. We have not guaranteed the debt or obligations of any other party, nor do we have any other arrangements or relationships with other entities that could potentially result in consolidated debt or
losses. The following table summarizes our obligations and commitments as of December 31, 2024, to make future payments under long-term contracts for the time periods specified below:
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
Thereafter
Total
(in millions)
Prior Credit Facility Principal
$
259.3
$
259.3
Prior Credit Facility Interest (1)
21.6
21.6
21.6
21.6
16.2
102.6
Asset Retirement Obligation
3.0
3.0
Other (2)
1.4
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.8
3.2
Total
$
23.0
$
22.0
$
21.9
$
21.8
$
275.6
$
3.8
$
368.1
(1)
This debt bears interest at the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus a borrowing spread. In
determining future interest, we used outstanding amounts at December 31, 2024 and the average borrowing cost for calendar year 2024.
(2)
This amount includes commitments from drilling rig contracts, vehicle notes, and operating leases.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The primary objective of the following information is to provide forward-looking quantitative and qualitative information about our potential
exposure to market risk. The term market risk refers to the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in oil and natural gas prices and interest rates. The disclosures are not meant to be precise indicators of expected future losses, but
rather indicators of reasonably possible losses. This forward-looking information provides indicators of how we view and manage our ongoing market risk exposures. All of our market risk sensitive instruments were entered into for hedging purposes,
rather than for speculative trading.
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Oil, Natural Gas and NGL Revenues
Our revenues and cash flows from operations are subject to many variables, the most significant of which is the volatility of commodity prices.
Commodity prices are affected by many factors outside of our control, including changes in market supply and demand, which are impacted by global economic factors, pipeline capacity constraints, inventory levels, basis differentials, weather
conditions and other factors. Commodity prices have long been volatile and unpredictable, and we expect this volatility to continue in the future.
There can be no assurance that commodity prices will not be subject to continued wide fluctuations in the future. A substantial or extended
decline in such prices could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows and quantities of oil and gas reserves that may be economically produced, which could result in impairments of our oil and gas
properties.
Commodity Price Risk and Hedges
Our primary market risk exposure is in the pricing that we receive for our oil, natural gas and NGL production. Oil, natural gas and NGLs are
commodities and, therefore, their prices are subject to wide fluctuations in response to relatively minor changes in supply and demand. Pricing for oil, natural gas and NGLs has been volatile and unpredictable for several years, and we expect this
volatility to continue for the foreseeable future. Our revenues, profitability and future growth are highly dependent on the prices we receive for our oil, natural gas and NGL sales, and the levels of our production, depend on numerous factors
beyond our control, some of which are described in Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Based on our production for the year ended
December 31, 2023, our oil and gas sales for the year ended December 31, 2023 would have moved up or down $8.5 million for each 10% change in oil prices per Bbl, $5.0 million for each 10% change in gas prices per Mcf, and
$2.5 million for each 10% change in NGL prices per Bbl. Based on our production for the year ended December 31, 2024, our oil and gas sales for 2024 would have moved up or down $16.1 million for each 10% change in oil prices per Bbl,
$5.1 million for each 10% change in gas prices per Mcf, and $4.5 million for each 10% change in NGL prices per Bbl.
Due to this
volatility, we have historically used, and we may elect to continue to selectively use, commodity derivative instruments (such as collars, swaps, puts and basis swaps) to mitigate price risk associated with a portion of our anticipated production.
Our derivative instruments allow us to reduce, but not eliminate, the potential effects of the variability in cash flows that can emanate from fluctuations in oil and natural gas prices, and thereby provide increased certainty of cash flows for our
drilling program and debt service requirements. These instruments provide only partial price protection against declines in oil and natural gas prices, but alternatively they partially limit our potential gains from future increases in prices. Our
Credit Agreement limits our ability to enter into commodity hedges covering greater than 85% of our reasonably anticipated, projected production from proved properties. Item 1A. Risk Factors contains additional information regarding the
volumes of our production covered by derivatives and the associated risks.
Counterparty and Customer Credit Risk
Our derivatives expose us to credit risk in the event of nonperformance by counterparties. When the fair value of a derivative contract is
positive, the counterparty owes us, which creates credit risk. We minimize the credit risk in derivative instruments by: (i) limiting its exposure to any single counterparty; and (ii) only entering into hedging arrangements with
counterparties that are also participants in the Credit Agreement, all of which have investment-grade credit ratings.
Our principal
exposures to credit risk are through receivables resulting from the sales of our oil, natural gas, and NGLs. The inability or failure of our significant customers to meet their obligations to us or their insolvency or liquidation may adversely
affect our financial results. However, we believe the credit quality of our customers is high.
We sell our production to a relatively
small number of customers, as is customary in our business. We extend and monitor credit based on an evaluation of their financial conditions and publicly available credit ratings. The future availability of a ready market for natural gas depends on
numerous factors outside of our control, none of which can be predicted with certainty. For 2024, we had three customers that exceeded 10% of total revenues. We do not believe the loss of any single purchaser would materially impact our operating
results as crude oil and natural gas are fungible products with well-established markets and numerous purchasers.
Interest Rate Risk
As of December 31, 2024, our reserves supported a $325.0 million credit facility of which $259.3 million in borrowings was
outstanding leaving $65.7 million of unused capacity. Our largest exposure with respect to variable-rate debt comes from changes in the relevant benchmark rate underlying such debt financings, principally SOFR. We currently do not have an
interest rate hedge program to hedge our exposure to floating interest rates on our variable-rate debt obligations. If annual interest rates increase 50 basis points, based on our December 31, 2023 and 2024, variable-rate debt, annual interest
expense on variable-rate debt would increase by approximately $0.9 million and $1.3 million, respectively.
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
INFINITY NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID No 34)
67
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024 and May 15,
2024
68
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
69
INFINITY NATURAL RESOURCES, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID:34)
71
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024 and
2023
72
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December
31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
73
Consolidated Statements of Members Equity as of December
31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
74
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December
31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
75
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
76
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the stockholder and the Board of Directors of Infinity Natural Resources, Inc:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the
accompanying balance sheets of Infinity Natural Resources, Inc (the Company) as of December 31, 2024 and May 15, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the
financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and May 15, 2024, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Companys financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As
part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting.
Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial
statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also
included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
March 28, 2025
We have served as the Companys auditor
since 2024.
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INFINITY NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.
Balance Sheets
December 31, 2024
May 15, 2024
Assets
Total assets
$
$
Liabilities and Stockholders Equity
Total liabilities
Subscription receivable from INR Holdings
(100
)
(100
)
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 1,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding
100
100
Total stockholders equity
Total liabilities and stockholders equity
$
$
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited balance sheets.
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INFINITY NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.
Notes to Balance Sheets (audited)
1
Nature of Operations
Infinity Natural Resources, Inc. (Infinity) was incorporated in the state of Delaware on May 15, 2024 in
anticipation of a potential initial public offering (IPO) and related reorganization transactions. Following the IPO and the transactions related thereto, Infinity will be a holding company whose sole material asset will consist of
membership interests in Infinity Natural Resources, LLC (INR Holdings). After the consummation of the IPO and related reorganization transactions, Infinity will be the managing member of INR Holdings and will control and be responsible
for all operational, management and administrative decisions relating to INR Holdings business and will consolidate the financial results of INR Holdings and its subsidiaries.
2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Accounting and Presentation
The accounts
are maintained and the balance sheets have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Separate statements of operations, changes in stockholders equity and cash flows have not
been presented because Infinity has had no operations to date.
3 Stockholders Equity
Infinity is authorized to issue 1,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.001 per share. INR Holdings had yet to fund its $100 initial capitalization
as of December 31, 2024, and thus, Infinity has presented this amount as a subscription receivable within stockholders equity.
4
Subsequent Events
Initial Public Offering. In February 2025, Infinity completed its IPO of 15,237,500 shares of its Class A common
stock (including 1,987,500 shares pursuant to an over-allotment option) at a price to the public of $20.00 per share. The aggregate gross proceeds of the IPO were $304.8 million. After subtracting underwriting discounts and commissions of
$18.3 million, we received net proceeds of $286.5 million.
We contributed all of the net proceeds from the IPO to INR Holdings in exchange for
15,237,500 INR Units. INR Holdings used all of the net proceeds from the IPO after paying certain offering expenses to repay borrowings outstanding under its revolving credit facility.
In connection with the closing of the IPO, all outstanding performance-based incentive units of INR Holdings vested. Consequently, INR Holdings will recognize
$126.1 million of non-recurring, non-cash compensation expense related to these awards in the first quarter of 2025, in accordance with the guidance provided by ASC
710.
Corporate Reorganization. Prior to the completion of the IPO on February 3, 2025, Infinity undertook certain
reorganization transactions (the Corporate Reorganization) such that Infinity is now a holding company whose sole material asset consists of membership interests in INR Holdings. INR Holdings owns all of the outstanding membership
interests in each of INR Operating, INR Ohio, INR Midstream, Block Island and Cheat Mountain, the operating subsidiaries through which INR Holdings operates its assets.
As part of the Corporate Reorganization, (a) the membership interests of the Legacy Owners in INR Holdings were recapitalized into a single class of
units (the INR Units), and, in exchange for their existing membership interests, the Legacy Owners received INR Units and an equal number of shares of Class B common stock; and (b) Infinity contributed the net proceeds of the
IPO to INR Holdings in exchange for newly issued INR Units and a managing member interest in INR Holdings. After giving effect to the Corporate Reorganization and the IPO, Infinity owns an approximate 25.
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