Basis of Financial Statement Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Basis of Financial Statement Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Nature of Operations and Organization

Nature of Operations and Organization

Trans Energy is an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, exploitation and production of oil and natural gas. Its operations are presently focused in the State of West Virginia.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include Trans Energy and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Prima Oil Company, Inc., Ritchie County Gathering Systems, Inc., Tyler Construction Company, Inc., American Shale Development, Inc., and Tyler Energy, Inc., and interests with joint venture partners, which are accounted for under the proportional consolidation method. All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Company’s financial statements are based on a number of significant estimates, including oil and gas reserve quantities which are the basis for the calculation of depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment of oil and gas properties and timing and costs associated with its asset retirement obligations. Reserve estimates are by their nature inherently imprecise.

Cash

Cash

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk include cash. At times, amounts may exceed federally insured limits and may exceed reported balances due to outstanding checks. Management does not believe it is exposed to any significant credit risk on cash.

Receivables

Receivables

Accounts receivable are carried at their expected net realizable value. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on management’s assessment of the collectability of specific customer accounts and the aging of the accounts receivables. If there were a deterioration of a major customer’s creditworthiness, or actual defaults were higher than historical experience, estimates of the recoverability of the amounts due to us could be overstated, which could have a negative impact on operations. No allowance for doubtful accounts is deemed necessary at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 by management and no bad debt expense was incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012.

Financing Cost

Financing Cost

In connection with obtaining new financing in February 2013 and April 2012, the Company incurred $110,365 in fees during 2013 and $1,741,976 in 2012. These fees were recorded as financing costs and are being amortized over the life of the loan using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method. Amortization of financing costs for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 were $162,901 and $0, respectively.

Derivatives

Derivatives

Derivatives and embedded derivatives, if applicable, are measured at fair value and recognized in the consolidated balance sheet as an asset or a liability. Derivatives are classified in the balance sheet as current or non-current based on whether net-cash settlement is expected to be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date. The changes in the fair value of the derivatives are included in other income (expense) in the consolidated statement of operations. The pricing models used for valuation often incorporate significant estimates and assumptions, which may impact the level of precision in the financial statements.

The Company has determined that the warrant and related put option issued for one of its wholly-own subsidiaries is a derivative liability. The Company also enters into derivative commodity contracts at times to manage or reduce commodity price risk related to its production. Usually these commodity contracts are not designated as a hedge, so changes in the fair value are recognized in other income (expense).

ASC 480-10-25-8 through 25-12, Derivative and Hedging Activities, as amended, establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments. As a part of the April 26, 2012 ASD Credit Agreement, the Company entered into a warrant agreement with Chambers which requires American Shale to sell the Lenders for a total of $2 million a warrant for 19,500 shares representing 19.5% of ASD’s stock at $263.44 per share. The warrant expires on February 28, 2015. The warrant includes a put option whereby the Lender could require ASD to repurchase the warrant as of February 28, 2015, or earlier if certain events occur which is in accordance with the credit agreement. Under the put option, ASD would pay the excess of the fair market value per share of the stock over $263.44 times the number of shares exercisable less any distributions or similar payments defined by the agreement. In certain circumstances ASD has the option to transfer working interest in all of its wells equal to the value of the put option instead of paying in cash.

Asset Retirement Obligations

Asset Retirement Obligations

The Company records the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. For the Company, these obligations include dismantlement, plugging and abandonment of oil and gas wells and associated pipelines and equipment. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset. The liability is accreted to its then present value each period, and the capitalized cost is depleted over the estimated useful life of the related asset.

The following is a description of the changes to Trans Energy’s asset retirement obligations for the three months ended March 31:

	2013		2012
Asset retirement obligations at beginning of period	$	28,317	$	256,651
Liabilities incurred during the period		—		—
Accretion expense		920		5,471
Asset retirement obligations at end of period	$	29,237	$	262,122

At March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company’s current portion of the asset retirement obligation was $0. In addition, asset retirement obligations related to the shallow wells sold in 2013 were reported as liabilities held for sale at December 31, 2012.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

At March 31, 2013, the Company had net operating loss carry forwards (“NOLs”) for future years of approximately $31.0 million. These NOLs will expire at various dates through 2032. The current tax provision is -0- for the three months ended March 31, 2013 due to a net operating loss for the period. No tax benefit has been recorded in the consolidated financial statements for the remaining NOLs or Alternative Minimum Tax (“AMT”) credit since the potential tax benefit is offset by a valuation allowance of the same amount. Utilization of the NOLs could be limited if there is a substantial change in ownership of the Company and is contingent on future earnings.

The Company has provided a valuation allowance equal to 100% of the total net deferred asset in recognition of the uncertainty regarding the ultimate amount of the net deferred tax asset that will be realized.

The Company has no material unrecognized tax benefits. No tax penalties or interest expense were accrued as of March 31, 2013 or 2012 or paid during the periods then ended. Trans Energy files tax returns in the United States and states in which it has operations and is subject to taxation. Tax years subsequent to 2008 remain open to examination by U.S. federal and state tax jurisdictions, however prior year net operating losses remain open for examination.

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

The Company operates exclusively in the United States, entirely in West Virginia, in the business of oil and gas acquisition, exploration, development, exploitation and production. The Company operates in an environment with many financial risks, including, but not limited to, the ability to acquire additional economically recoverable oil and gas reserves, the inherent risks of the search for, development of and production of oil and gas, the ability to sell oil and gas at prices which will provide attractive rates of return, the volatility and seasonality of oil and gas production and prices, and the highly competitive and, at times, seasonal nature of the industry and worldwide economic conditions. The Company’s ability to expand its reserve base and diversify its operations is also dependent upon the Company’s ability to obtain the necessary capital through operating cash flow, borrowings or equity offerings. Various federal, state and local governmental agencies are considering, and some have adopted, laws and regulations regarding environmental protection which could adversely affect the proposed business activities of the Company. The Company cannot predict what effect, if any, current and future regulations may have on the results of operations of the Company.

Revenue and Cost Recognition

Revenue and Cost Recognition

Trans Energy recognizes gas revenues upon delivery of the gas to the customers’ pipeline from Trans Energy’s pipelines when recorded as received by the customer’s meter. Trans Energy recognizes oil revenues when pumped and metered by the customer. Trans Energy recognized $3,573,883 and $2,771,982 in oil and gas revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Trans Energy uses the sales method to account for sales and imbalances of natural gas. Under this method, revenues are recognized based on actual volumes sold to purchasers. The volumes sold may differ from the volumes to which Trans Energy is entitled based on our interest in the properties. These differences create imbalances which are recognized as a liability only when the imbalance exceeds the estimate of remaining reserves. Trans Energy had no material imbalances as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012. Costs associated with production are expensed in the period incurred.

Revenue payable represents cash received but not yet distributed to third parties.

Transportation revenue is recognized when earned and we have a contractual right to receive payment. We recognized $35,443 and $93,313 of transportation revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.