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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES 
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
In management's opinion, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Partnership's financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods disclosed have been made.
In addition to matters discussed further in this note, the Partnership's significant accounting policies are detailed in its audited financial statements and notes thereto in the Partnership's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").
Use of Estimates
Preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities that exist at the date of the Partnership's financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenue and costs and expenses during the reporting periods. The Partnership's financial statements are based on a number of significant estimates, including the revenue and expense accruals, depletion, asset impairments, fair value of derivative instruments and the probability of forecasted transactions. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The natural gas industry principally conducts its business by processing actual transactions as much as 60 days after the month of delivery. Consequently, the most recent two months' financial results were recorded using estimated volumes and contract market prices. Differences between estimated and actual amounts are recorded in the following months' financial results. Management believes that the operating results presented for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 represent actual results in all material respects (see "Revenue Recognition" accounting policy for further description).
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Possible Losses
In evaluating the need for an allowance for possible losses, the Partnership's MGP performs ongoing credit evaluations of the Partnership's customers and adjusts credit limits based upon payment history and the customer's current creditworthiness, as determined by review of the Partnership's customers' credit information. Credit is extended on an unsecured basis to many of its energy customers. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the MGP's credit evaluation indicated that the Partnership had no need for an allowance for possible losses.
Oil and Gas Properties
Oil and gas properties are stated at cost. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Major renewals and improvements that extend the useful lives of property are capitalized. The Partnership follows the successful efforts method of accounting for oil and gas producing activities. Oil is converted to gas equivalent basis ("Mcfe") at the rate of one barrel equals six Mcf.
The Partnership's depletion expense is determined on a field-by-field basis using the units-of-production method. Depletion rates for lease, well and related equipment costs are based on proved developed reserves associated with each field. Depletion rates are determined based on reserve quantity estimates and the capitalized costs of developed producing properties. Upon the sale or retirement of a complete field of a proved property, the Partnership eliminates the cost from the property accounts and the resultant gain or loss is reclassified to the Partnership's statements of operations. Upon the sale of an individual well, the Partnership credits the proceeds to accumulated depreciation and depletion within its balance sheets. As a result of retirements, the partnership reclassified $239,500 from oil and gas properties to accumulated depletion for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.
 
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2011     2010  
Proved properties:
               
Leasehold interests
  $ 335,300     $ 338,500  
Wells and related equipment
    25,426,400       25,662,700  
 
           
 
    25,761,700       26,001,200  
 
               
Accumulated depletion
    (19,090,500 )     (18,892,800 )
 
           
Oil and gas properties, net
  $ 6,671,200     $ 7,108,400  
 
           
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Partnership reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If it is determined that an asset's estimated future cash flows will not be sufficient to recover its carrying amount, an impairment charge will be recorded to reduce the carrying amount for that asset to its estimated fair value if such carrying amount exceeds the fair value.
The review of the Partnership's oil and gas properties is done on a field-by-field basis by determining if the historical cost of proved properties, less the applicable accumulated depletion, and abandonment is less than the estimated expected undiscounted future cash flows. The expected future cash flows are estimated based on the Partnership's plans to continue to produce and develop proved reserves. Expected future cash flow from the sale of production of reserves is calculated based on estimated future prices. The Partnership estimates prices based upon current contracts in place, adjusted for basis differentials and market related information including published futures prices. The estimated future level of production is based on assumptions surrounding future prices and costs, field decline rates, market demand and supply and the economic and regulatory climates. If the carrying value exceeds the expected future cash flows, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between the estimated fair market value (as determined by discounted future cash flows) and the carrying value of the assets.
The determination of oil and natural gas reserve estimates is a subjective process and the accuracy of any reserve estimate depends on the quality of available data and the application of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Estimates of economically recoverable reserves and future net cash flows depend on a number of variable factors and assumptions that are difficult to predict and may vary considerably from actual results. In addition, reserve estimates for wells with limited or no production history are less reliable than those based on actual production. Estimated reserves are often subject to future revisions, which could be substantial, based on the availability of additional information which could cause the assumptions to be modified. The Partnership cannot predict what reserve revisions may be required in future periods. There was no impairment charge recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Partnership recognized an impairment charge of $936,600, net of an offsetting gain in accumulated other comprehensive income of $49,100.
Working Interest
The Partnership Agreement establishes that revenues and expenses will be allocated to the MGP and limited partners based on their ratio of capital contributions to total contributions ("working interest"). The MGP is also provided an additional working interest of 7% as provided in the Partnership Agreement. Due to the time necessary to complete drilling operations and accumulate all drilling costs, estimated working interest percentage ownership rates are utilized to allocate revenues and expenses until the wells are completely drilled and turned on-line into production. Once the wells are completed, the final working interest ownership of the partners is determined and any previously allocated revenues and expenses based on the estimated working interest percentage ownership are adjusted to conform to the final working interest percentage ownership.
Revenue Recognition
The Partnership generally sells natural gas and crude oil at prevailing market prices. Revenue is recognized when produced quantities are delivered to a custody transfer point, persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement exists, the rights and responsibility of ownership pass to the purchaser upon delivery, collection of revenue from the sale is reasonably assured and the sales price is fixed or determinable. Revenues from the production of natural gas and crude oil in which the Partnership has an interest with other producers are recognized on the basis of the Partnership's percentage ownership of working interest. Generally, the Partnership's sales contracts are based on pricing provisions that are tied to a market index with certain adjustments based on proximity to gathering and transmission lines and the quality of its natural gas.
The Partnership accrues unbilled revenue due to timing differences between the delivery of natural gas and crude oil and the receipt of a delivery statement. These revenues are recorded based upon volumetric data from the Partnership's records and management estimates of the related commodity sales and transportation fees which are, in turn, based upon applicable product prices (see "Use of Estimates" accounting policy for further description). The Partnership had unbilled revenues at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 of $195,800 and $233,100, respectively, which are included in accounts receivable — affiliate within the Partnership's balance sheets.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income. Update 2011-05 amends the FASB Accounting Standards Codification to provide an entity with the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income in either a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In both choices, an entity is required to present each component of net income along with a total net income, each component of other comprehensive income, and a total amount for comprehensive income. Update 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in partners' capital. These changes apply to both annual and interim financial statements. Update 2011-05 will be effective for public entities' fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The Partnership will apply the requirements of Update 2011-05 upon its effective date of January 1, 2012, and it does not anticipate it having a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or related disclosures.