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Oil and Gas Producing Activities (Unaudited)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Oil and Gas Producing Activities (Unaudited) [Abstract]  
Oil and Gas Producing Activities (Unaudited)
(12)   Oil and Gas Producing Activities (Unaudited)

Adams Resources Exploration Corporation (‟AREC”), a subsidiary of AE, is in the exploration and development of domestic oil and natural gas properties primarily in the Permian Basin of West Texas and the Haynesville Shale. AREC’s offices are maintained in Houston and the Company holds an interest in 470 producing wells of which 6 are Company operated.
.
Oil and Gas Producing Activities -

Total costs incurred in oil and gas exploration and development activities, all within the United States, were as follows (in thousands):

  
For the year Ended December 31,
 
  
2016
  
2015
  
2014
 
Property acquisition costs
         
Unproved
 
$
32
  
$
348
  
$
1,144
 
Proved
  
-
   
-
   
-
 
Exploration costs
            
Expensed
  
291
   
1,667
   
5,054
 
Capitalized
  
-
   
-
   
-
 
Development costs
  
-
   
370
   
1,745
 
Total costs incurred
 
$
323
  
$
2,385
  
$
7,943
 

The aggregate capitalized costs relative to oil and gas producing activities are as follows (in thousands):

  
As of December 31,
 
  
2016
  
2015
 
Unproved oil and gas properties
 
$
-
  
$
231
 
Proved oil and gas properties
  
62,784
   
76,886
 
   
62,784
   
77,117
 
Accumulated depreciation, depletion
        
and amortization
  
(56,426
)
  
(69,116
)
Net capitalized cost
 
$
6,358
  
$
8,001
 

Estimated Oil and Natural Gas Reserves -

The following information regarding estimates of the Company’s proved oil and gas reserves, substantially all located onshore in Texas and Louisiana, is based on reports prepared on behalf of the Company by its independent petroleum engineers. Because oil and gas reserve estimates are inherently imprecise and require extensive judgments of reservoir engineering data, they are generally less precise than estimates made in conjunction with financial disclosures. The revisions of previous estimates as reflected in the table below result from changes in commodity pricing assumptions and from more precise engineering calculations based upon additional production histories and price changes.

Proved developed and undeveloped reserves are presented as follows (in thousands):

  
Years Ended December 31,
 
  
2016
  
2015
  
2014
 
  
Natural
     
Natural
     
Natural
    
  
Gas
  
Oil
  
Gas
  
Oil
  
Gas
  
Oil
 
  
(Mcf’s)
  
(Bbls.)
  
(Mcf’s)
  
(Bbls.)
  
(Mcf’s)
  
(Bbls.)
 
Total proved reserves-
                  
Beginning of year
  
4,835
   
226
   
5,611
   
318
   
6,286
   
368
 
Revisions of previous estimates
  
65
   
24
   
27
   
(2
)
  
724
   
6
 
Oil and gas reserves sold
  
(175
)
  
(4
)
  
-
   
(3
)
  
(558
)
  
(11
)
Extensions, discoveries and
                        
other reserve additions
  
151
   
18
   
86
   
13
   
292
   
82
 
Production
  
(662
)
  
(77
)
  
(889
)
  
(100
)
  
(1,133
)
  
(127
)
End of year
  
4,214
   
187
   
4,835
   
226
   
5,611
   
318
 

The components of proved oil and gas reserves for the three years ended December 31, 2016 is presented below.  All reserves are in the United States (in thousands):

  
Years Ended December 31,
 
  
2016
  
2015
  
2014
 
  
Natural
     
Natural
     
Natural
    
  
Gas
  
Oil
  
Gas
  
Oil
  
Gas
  
Oil
 
  
(Mcf’s)
  
(Bbls.)
  
(Mcf’s)
  
(Bbls.)
  
(Mcf’s)
  
(Bbls.)
 
Proved developed reserves
  
4,214
   
187
   
4,813
   
223
   
5,482
   
299
 
Proved undeveloped reserves
  
-
   
-
   
22
   
3
   
129
   
19
 
Total proved reserves
  
4,214
   
187
   
4,835
   
226
   
5,611
   
318
 

The Company has developed internal policies and controls for estimating and recording oil and gas reserve data.  The estimation and recording of proved reserves is required to be in compliance with SEC definitions and guidance.  The Company assigns responsibility for compliance in reserve bookings to the office of President of AREC.  No portion of this individual’s compensation is directly dependent on the quantity of reserves booked.  Reserve estimates are required to be made by qualified reserve estimators, as defined by Society of Petroleum Engineers’ Standards.

The Company employed third party petroleum consultant, Ryder Scott Company, to prepare its oil and gas reserve data estimates as of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.  The firm of Ryder Scott is well recognized within the industry for more than 50 years.  As prescribed by the SEC, such proved reserves were estimated using 12-month average oil and gas prices, based on the first-day-of-the-month price for each month in the period, and year-end production and development costs for each of the years presented, all without escalation.

The process of estimating oil and gas reserves is complex and requires significant judgment.  Uncertainties are inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves, including many factors beyond the estimator’s control.  Reserve engineering is a subjective process of estimating subsurface accumulations of oil and gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner, and the accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and the interpretation thereof.  As a result, assessments by different engineers often vary, sometimes significantly.  In addition, physical factors such as the results of drilling, testing and production subsequent to the date of an estimate, as well as economic factors such as changes in product prices, may justify revision of such estimates.  Accordingly, oil and gas quantities ultimately recovered will vary from reserve estimates.

Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows from Oil and Gas Operations and Changes Therein  -
 
The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows was determined based on the economic conditions in effect at the end of the years presented, except in those instances where fixed and determinable gas price escalations are included in contracts.  The disclosures below do not purport to present the fair market value of the Company’s oil and gas reserves.  An estimate of the fair market value would also take into account, among other things, the recovery of reserves in excess of proved reserves, anticipated future changes in prices and costs, a discount factor more representative of the time value of money and risks inherent in reserve estimates.  The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows is presented as follows (in thousands):

  
Years Ended December 31,
 
  
2016
  
2015
  
2014
 
Future gross revenues
 
$
17,938
  
$
23,040
  
$
58,885
 
Future costs -
            
Lease operating expenses
  
(12,421
)
  
(14,524
)
  
(16,421
)
Development costs
  
(38
)
  
(103
)
  
(1,068
)
Future net cash flows before income taxes
  
5,479
   
8,413
   
41,396
 
Discount at 10% per annum
  
(2,002
)
  
(2,987
)
  
(17,175
)
Discounted future net cash flows
            
before income taxes
  
3,477
   
5,426
   
24,221
 
Future income taxes, net of discount at
            
10% per annum
  
(1,217
)
  
(1,899
)
  
(8,477
)
Standardized measure of discounted
            
future net cash flows
 
$
2,260
  
$
3,527
  
$
15,744
 

The estimated value of oil and natural gas reserves and future net revenues derived therefrom are highly dependent upon oil and gas commodity price assumptions.  For such estimates, the Company’s independent petroleum engineers assumed market prices as presented in the table below:

  
Years ended December 31,
 
  
2016
  
2015
  
2014
 
Market price
         
Crude oil per barrel
 
$
38.34
  
$
45.83
  
$
89.60
 
Natural gas per thousand cubic feet (mcf)
 
$
2.56
  
$
2.62
  
$
5.42
 

Such prices were based on the unweighted arithmetic average of the prices in effect on the first day of the month for each month of the respective twelve month periods as required by SEC regulations.  The prices reported in the reserve disclosures for natural gas include the value of associated natural gas liquids.  Oil and gas reserve values and future net cash flow estimates are very sensitive to pricing assumptions and will vary accordingly.

The effect of income taxes and discounting on the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows is presented as follows (in thousands):

  
Years ended December 31,
 
  
2016
  
2015
  
2014
 
Future net cash flows before income taxes
 
$
5,479
  
$
8,413
  
$
41,396
 
Future income taxes
  
(1,918
)
  
(2,945
)
  
(14,489
)
Future net cash flows
  
3,561
   
5,468
   
26,907
 
Discount at 10% per annum
  
(1,301
)
  
(1,941
)
  
(11,163
)
Standardized measure of discounted
            
future net cash flows
 
$
2,260
  
$
3,527
  
$
15,744
 


The principal sources of changes in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows are as follows (in thousands):

  
Years Ended December 31,
 
  
2016
  
2015
  
2014
 
Beginning of year
 
$
3,527
  
$
15,744
  
$
17,836
 
Sale of oil and gas reserves
  
(350
)
  
(54
)
  
(981
)
Net change in prices and production costs
  
(1,391
)
  
(17,622
)
  
(72
)
New field discoveries and extensions, net of future
            
production costs
  
275
   
292
   
4,456
 
Sales of oil and gas produced, net of production costs
  
87
   
1,038
   
(6,590
)
Net change due to revisions in quantity estimates
  
181
   
38
   
2,460
 
Accretion of discount
  
194
   
1,116
   
1,773
 
Production rate changes and other
  
(945
)
  
(3,603
)
  
(4,265
)
Net change in income taxes
  
682
   
6,578
   
1,127
 
End of year
 
$
2,260
  
$
3,527
  
$
15,744
 

Results of Operations for Oil and Gas Producing Activities -

The results of oil and gas producing activities, excluding corporate overhead and interest costs, are as follows (in thousands):

  
Years Ended December 31,
 
  
2016
  
2015
  
2014
 
Revenues
 
$
3,410
  
$
5,063
  
$
13,361
 
Costs and expenses -
            
Production
  
(3,337
)
  
(7,022
)
  
(6,771
)
Producing property impairment
  
(30
)
  
(10,324
)
  
(4,001
)
Exploration
  
-
   
(1,667
)
  
(5,054
)
Oil and natural gas property sale gain
  
-
   
-
   
2,528
 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
  
(1,546
)
  
(5,066
)
  
(7,573
)
Operating income (loss) before income taxes
  
(1,503
)
  
(19,016
)
  
(7,510
)
Income tax benefit
  
526
   
6,656
   
2,628
 
Operating income (loss)
 
$
(977
)
 
$
(12,360
)
 
$
(4,882
)