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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Nature of Operations and Organization

Nature of Operations and Organization

Trans Energy, Inc. (“Trans Energy” or the “Company”) is an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, 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 our wholly-owned subsidiaries, Prima Oil Company, Inc. (“Prima”), Ritchie County Gathering Systems, Inc., Tyler Construction Company, Inc., American Shale Development, Inc. (“American Shale”), and Tyler Energy, Inc., and interest with joint venture partners, which are accounted for under the proportioned 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. Our 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, estimates of fair value of derivative instruments and estimates used in stock-based compensation calculations. Reserve estimates are by their nature inherently imprecise.

Cash

Financial instruments that potentially subject us 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

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 could be overstated, which could have a negative impact on operations. No allowance for doubtful accounts is deemed necessary at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 by management and no bad debt expense was incurred during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.

Financing Cost

In connection with obtaining the Morgan Stanley financing in May 2014 and subsequent borrowings, we incurred fees and expenses of $4,806,656. These fees and expenses 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.

In October 2013 we reached a settlement with Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (“Opco”) which related to the amount of the fee which was earned by Opco acting as our investment banker in assisting the Company in obtaining funding (“Tranche A”) with Chambers Energy Capital (“Chambers”). We recorded $401,625 in financing fees related to the settlement. The Opco financing fees were being amortized over the same period as the Tranche A loan. In addition, when we obtained new financing in February 2013 and April 2012, we incurred $122,230 in fees during 2013 and $1,741,976 in 2012. These fees were recorded as financing costs and were being amortized over the life of the loan using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method. When we obtained the Morgan Stanley financing, the remaining balance of the finance fees related to the Chambers financing were expensed due to the payoff of the related loan.

Amortization of financing costs for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $1,390,924 and $906,292, respectively. Our policy is to recognize twelve months of future deferred financing cost amortization as a current asset and the remaining balance of deferred financing costs as other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation on vehicles, machinery and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over expected useful lives of five to ten years. Additions are capitalized and maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.

Oil and Gas Properties

Oil and Gas Properties

Trans Energy uses the successful efforts method of accounting for oil and gas producing activities. Under the successful efforts method, costs to acquire mineral interests in oil and gas properties, to drill and equip exploratory wells that find proved reserves, and to drill and equip development wells and asset retirement costs are capitalized. Costs to drill exploratory wells that do not find proved reserves, geological and geophysical costs, and costs of carrying and retaining unproved properties are expensed as incurred.

Unproved oil and gas properties that are individually significant are periodically assessed for impairment of value, and a loss is recognized at the time of impairment by providing an impairment allowance. Other unproved properties are amortized based on Trans Energy’s experience of successful drilling and average holding period. Capitalized costs of producing oil and gas properties, after considering estimated dismantlement and abandonment costs and estimated salvage values, are depreciated and depleted by the unit-of-production method. Depreciation on pipelines and related equipment, including compressors, is computed using the straight-line method over the expected useful lives of ten to twenty-five years.

On the sale or retirement of a proved property, the cost and related accumulated depreciation, depletion, and amortization are eliminated from the property accounts, and the resultant gain or loss is recognized.

On the sale of an entire interest in an unproved property for cash or cash equivalent, gain or loss on the sale is recognized, taking into consideration the amount of any recorded impairment if the property had been assessed individually.

If a partial interest in an unproved property is sold, the amount received is treated as a reduction of the cost of the interest retained.

Impairments

Generally accepted accounting principles require that long-lived assets (including oil and gas properties) and certain identifiable intangibles are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The Company, at least annually, reviews its proved oil and gas properties for impairment by comparing the carrying value of its properties to the properties’ undiscounted estimated future net cash flows. Estimates of future oil and gas prices, operating costs, and production are utilized in determining undiscounted future net cash flows. The estimated future production of oil and gas reserves is based upon the Company’s independent reserve engineer’s estimate of proved reserves, which includes assumptions regarding field decline rates and future prices and costs. For properties where the carrying value exceeds undiscounted future net cash flows, the Company recognizes as impairment the difference between the carrying value and fair market value of the properties.

In January 2013, the Company sold certain shallow wells for approximately $2.6 million. We determined that the sales price negotiated with the independent buyer represented the fair market value of those properties as of December 31, 2012. Accordingly, the Company recorded an impairment of approximately $10.1 million in 2012 so that the carrying value of those properties as of December 31, 2012 was equal to the subsequent sales price.

No impairments were recorded in 2014 and 2013.

Derivatives

We may enter into derivative commodity contracts at times to manage or reduce commodity price risk related to our production. Derivatives and embedded derivatives, if applicable, are measured at fair value and recognized in the consolidated balance sheets as assets or liabilities. Derivatives are classified in the consolidated balance sheets as current or non-current based on whether net-cash settlement is expected to be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date. These commodity contracts are not designated as cash flow hedges, so changes in the fair value are recognized immediately 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.

We have determined that the warrant previously issued for equity of one of our wholly-own subsidiaries was a derivative liability prior to being settled in December 2013.

Notes Payable

We record notes payable at fair value and recognize interest expense for accrued interest payable under the terms of the agreements. Principal and interest payments due within one year are classified as current, whereas principal and interest payments for periods beyond one year are classified as long term.

Asset Retirement Obligations

Asset Retirement Obligations

We record 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. 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 which has been determined to be 40 years for Marcellus Shale wells.

The following is a description of the changes to our asset retirement obligations for the twelve months ended December 31:


		2014				2013
Asset retirement obligations at beginning of period		$	41,440			$	416,322
Liabilities incurred during the period			45,488				4,259
Accretion expense			4,000				4,124
Liability revisions			—				4,740
Liabilities held for sale			—				(388,005	)

Asset retirement obligations at end of period		$	90,928			$	41,440

At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company’s current portion of the asset retirement obligation was $0. In addition, $388,005 of asset retirement obligations are reported as liabilities held for sale as of December 31, 2012.

The revisions in the 2012 estimated liabilities were the result of changes in numerous assumptions and judgments including the ultimate retirement costs, inflation factors, credit-adjusted discount rates, and timing of retirement. The revisions in the 2013 estimated liabilities are the result of a change in the ultimate retirement cost.

Income Taxes

At December 31, 2014, the Company had net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs) for future years of approximately $63.6 million. These NOLS will expire at various dates through 2033. There is no current tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2014 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.

We have 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 December 31, 2014 or 2013 or paid during the periods then ended. We file tax returns in the United States and states in which we have operations and are subject to taxation. Tax years subsequent to 2010 remain open to examination by U.S. federal and state tax jurisdictions, however prior year net operating losses remain open for examination.

Revenue and Cost Recognition

Revenue and Cost Recognition

We recognize gas revenues upon delivery of the gas to the customers’ pipeline from our pipelines when recorded as received by the customer’s meter. We recognize oil revenues when pumped and metered by the customer. We use 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 we are 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. We had no material imbalances as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. 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.

On January 1, 2013, the Company adopted new authoritative accounting guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), which enhanced disclosures by requiring an entity to disclose information about netting arrangements, including rights of offset, to enable users of its financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on its financial position and provided clarification as to the specific instruments that should be considered in these disclosures. These pronouncements were issued to facilitate comparison between financial statements prepared on the basis of GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. These disclosures are effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and are to be applied retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. See Note 11—Derivative and Hedging Financial Instruments for tabular presentation of the Company’s gross and net derivative positions.

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation

Trans Energy estimates the fair value of each stock option award at the grant date by using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The model employs various assumptions, based on management’s best estimates at the time of the grant, which impact the fair value calculated and ultimately, the expense that is recognized over the life of the award. We have utilized historical data and analyzed current information to reasonably support these assumptions. The fair value of restricted stock awards is determined based on the fair market value of our common stock on the date of the grant.

We recognize share-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award. As a result of stock and option transactions, we recorded total share-based compensation of $959,823 and $1,241,701 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

New Accounting Standards

New Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” (“ ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 is intended to improve the financial reporting requirements for revenue from contracts with customers by providing a principle based approach. The core principal of the standard is that revenue should be recognized when the transfer of promised goods or services is made in an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for the transfer of goods and services. ASU 2014-09 also requires disclosures enabling users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. This standard will be effective for financial statements issued by public companies for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. In April 2015, the FASB proposed deferring the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of ASU 2014-09 on the financial statements.

In April 2015 the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU 2015-03, “Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” (“ASU 2015-03”). This standard amends the existing guidance to require that debt issuance costs be presented in the balance sheet as a deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability instead of as a deferred charge. ASU No. 2015-03 is effective on a retrospective basis for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, but early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of this standard will have on its financial statements and related disclosures.

The Company has reviewed all other recently issued accounting standards in order to determine their effects, if any, on the consolidated financial statements. Based on that review, the Company believes that none of these standards will have a significant effect on current or future earnings or results of operations.

Reclassification

Reclassification

Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2013 financial presentation to correspond to the current year’s format.