Item 1. Business
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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