COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Commitments As of December 31, 2023, the Company has an active drilling rig commitment of approximately $1.5 million that will be incurred in 2024. Termination of the active drilling rig commitment would require an early termination penalty of $1.3 million, which would be in lieu of paying the active drilling rig commitment of $1.5 million. In May 2022, the Company entered into a joint venture agreement to develop a strategic acid gas treatment and carbon sequestration facility and entered into a gas treating agreement. Once the facility is in service, the Company has a minimum volume commitment of 20,000 Mcf per day under the gas treating agreement, with certain rollover rights and start-up flexibility, for an initial term of five years from the in-service date of the facility. Under the gas treating agreement, the Company will pay a treating rate that begins at $1.65/Mcf and varies based on volumes delivered to the facility. At an initial treated volume of 12,000 Mcf/d, the commitment would be approximately $7.3 million for the first 12 months of the agreement. For additional information on this joint venture, see Note 15, Additional Financial Information. The Company has entered into various long-term gathering, transportation and sales contracts with respect to its oil and natural gas production from the Delaware Basin in West Texas. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had in place multiple long-term crude oil and natural gas contracts in this area and the sales prices under these contracts are based on posted market rates. Under the terms of these contracts, the Company has committed a substantial portion of its production from this area for periods ranging from one to twenty years from the date of first production. Contingencies In addition to the matters described below, from time to time, the Company may be a plaintiff or defendant in a pending or threatened legal proceeding arising in the normal course of its business. While the outcome and impact of currently pending legal proceedings cannot be determined, the Company’s management and legal counsel believe that the resolution of these proceedings through settlement or adverse judgment will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated operating results, financial position or cash flows. Surface owners of properties in Louisiana, where the Company formerly operated, often file lawsuits or assert claims against oil and gas companies claiming that operators and working interest owners are liable for environmental damages arising from operations conducted on the leased properties. These damages are frequently measured by the cost to restore the leased properties to their original condition. Currently and in the past, the Company has been party to such matters in Louisiana. With regard to pending matters, the overall exposure is not currently determinable. The Company intends to vigorously oppose these claims.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments

As of December 31, 2023, the Company has an active drilling rig commitment of approximately $1.5 million that will be incurred in 2024. Termination of the active drilling rig commitment would require an early termination penalty of $1.3 million, which would be in lieu of paying the active drilling rig commitment of $1.5 million.

In May 2022, the Company entered into a joint venture agreement to develop a strategic acid gas treatment and carbon sequestration facility and entered into a gas treating agreement. Once the facility is in service, the Company has a minimum volume commitment of 20,000 Mcf per day under the gas treating agreement, with certain rollover rights and start-up flexibility, for an initial term of five years from the in-service date of the facility. Under the gas treating agreement, the Company will pay a treating rate that begins at $1.65/Mcf and varies based on volumes delivered to the facility. At an initial treated volume of 12,000 Mcf/d, the commitment would be approximately $7.3 million for the first 12 months of the agreement. For additional information on this joint venture, see Note 15, Additional Financial Information.

The Company has entered into various long-term gathering, transportation and sales contracts with respect to its oil and natural gas production from the Delaware Basin in West Texas. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had in place multiple long-term crude oil and natural gas contracts in this area and the sales prices under these contracts are based on posted market rates. Under the terms of these contracts, the Company has committed a substantial portion of its production from this area for periods ranging from one to twenty years from the date of first production.

Contingencies

In addition to the matters described below, from time to time, the Company may be a plaintiff or defendant in a pending or threatened legal proceeding arising in the normal course of its business. While the outcome and impact of currently pending legal proceedings cannot be determined, the Company’s management and legal counsel believe that the resolution of these proceedings through settlement or adverse judgment will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated operating results, financial position or cash flows.

Surface owners of properties in Louisiana, where the Company formerly operated, often file lawsuits or assert claims against oil and gas companies claiming that operators and working interest owners are liable for environmental damages arising from operations conducted on the leased properties. These damages are frequently measured by the cost to restore the leased properties to their original condition. Currently and in the past, the Company has been party to such matters in Louisiana. With regard to pending matters, the overall exposure is not currently determinable. The Company intends to vigorously oppose these claims.