ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

6 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Jun. 30, 2016

ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

General Overview

Hyperdynamics Corporation ("Hyperdynamics," the "Company," "we," "us," and "our") is a Delaware corporation formed in March 1996. Hyperdynamics has two wholly-owned subsidiaries, SCS Corporation Ltd ("SCS"), a Cayman corporation, and HYD Resources Corporation ("HYD"), a Texas corporation. Through SCS, Hyperdynamics focuses on oil and gas exploration offshore the coast of West Africa. Our exploration efforts are pursuant to a Hydrocarbon Production Sharing Contract, as amended (the "PSC"). We refer to the rights granted under the PSC as the "Concession." We began operations in oil and gas exploration, seismic data acquisition, processing, and interpretation in late fiscal 2002.

As used herein, references to "Hyperdynamics," "Company," "we," "us," and "our" refer to Hyperdynamics Corporation and our subsidiaries, including SCS. The rights in the Concession offshore Guinea are held by SCS.

Status of our Business, Liquidity and Going Concern

We have no source of operating revenue and there is no assurance when we will, if ever. On December 31, 2016, we had $2.2 million in cash, and $1.5 million in accounts payable and accrued expense liabilities, all of which are current liabilities. We are currently pursuing several avenues to raise funds. We have no other material commitments other than ordinary operating costs and commitments relating to the PSC.

As of April 27, 2017 the Company's trade accounts payable and accrued expenses exceeded its cash balances.

In 2010 we sold a 23% gross interest in the Concession to Dana Petroleum, PLC ("Dana"), a subsidiary of the Korean National Oil Corporation. Later, at the end of 2012, we sold a 40% gross interest to Tullow Guinea Ltd. ("Tullow"). The Share Purchase Agreement ("Tullow SPA") was dated December 31, 2012. A few months later Tullow became the Operator of the Concession on April 1, 2013. We refer to Tullow, Dana and us in the Concession as the "Consortium".

Pursuant to the Tullow SPA between Tullow and us, Tullow paid us $26.0 million in cash and Tullow agreed to pay our entire participating interest share of expenditures associated with joint operations in the Concession up to a gross expenditure cap of $100.0 million incurred during the period of our carried interest while drilling the initial exploratory well that began on September 21, 2013. Tullow also agreed to pay our participating interest share of future costs for the drilling of an appraisal well following the initial exploration well, if drilled, up to an additional gross expenditure cap of $100.0 million.

The Consortium planned to drill the exploration well in the ultra-deepwater area (water depths of over 2,000 meters) of the Concession during the first half of calendar 2014, but Tullow declared Force Majeure in March of 2014 based on the mere existence of the Department of Justice ("DOJ") and Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") investigations pursuant to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of the United States ("FCPA Investigations"). Tullow withdrew its Force Majeure declaration in May of 2014, but did not resume petroleum operations citing the existence of the FCPA investigations and the Ebola outbreak in Guinea as the reason.

The DOJ investigation ended last May 2015, the SEC investigation ended last September 2015, and the World Health Organization declared Guinea Ebola free on December 29, 2015. Notwithstanding the resolution of the FCPA investigations, Dana insisted on further specific title assurances from the Government of Guinea and at a Petroleum Operations Management Committee meeting with the Government of Guinea in Conakry on December 16 and 17, 2015, Tullow and SCS obtained a PSC Amendment that we believed provided such further assurances. Instead of signing the PSC Amendment both Tullow and Dana refused to execute the agreement. Unable to see a path forward, we filed legal actions against Tullow and Dana under our Joint Operating Agreement.

On August 15, 2016, we entered into a Settlement and Release Agreement with Tullow and Dana ("Settlement Agreement") that returned to Hyperdynamics 100% of the interest under the PSC, long-lead item property useful in the drilling of an exploratory well, and $0.7 million in cash, in return for a mutual release of all claims. We also agreed to pay Dana a success fee based upon the certified reserves of the Fatala well if it results in a discovery.

On August 19, 2016, we signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Guinea and executed a Second Amendment to the PSC ("2016 Amendment") on September 15, 2016. We also received a Presidential Decree that gave Hyperdynamics a one year extension to the second exploration period of the PSC to September 22, 2017 ("PSC Extension Period") and we also became the designated Operator with the receipt of the Presidential Decree.

In addition to clarifying certain elements of the initial PSC, we agreed in the 2016 Amendment to drill one exploratory well to a minimum depth of 2,500 meters below the seabed within the PSC Extension Period with a projected commencement date of April 2017 (the "Extension Well") with the option of drilling additional wells.

If the Extension Well is not drilled within the PSC Extension Period, we will owe the Government of Guinea, under Article 4.2 of the PSC, the difference between the actual expenditures in Guinea that are related to the well and $46.0 million. Fulfillment of the work obligations exempts us from the expenditure obligations during the PSC Extension Period. Failure to comply with the drilling and other obligations of the PSC as amended subjects us to financial penalties and a risk of loss of the Concession.

In mid-January 2017 the Company requested and received a notification letter dated January 24, 2017 from the General Director of the National Petroleum Office of the Republic of Guinea, informing the Company that the Republic of Guinea granted a postponement of the Company's obligation to provide a mutually acceptable security of $5.0 million to February 20, 2017 (originally required by no later than January 21, 2017) as well as a clarification regarding the timing of the security under Article 4.2 of the 2016 PSC Amendment until the work on the Fatala-1 well is completed.

On March 1, 2017, the Republic of Guinea has issued a reservation of rights letter asserting the Company has not satisfied its obligation to deposit mutually acceptable security of $5.0 million. See Note 7, "Subsequent Events" below.

Absent cash inflows we will not have adequate capital resources to meet our current obligations as they become due and therefore there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Our ability to meet our current obligations as they become due over the next twelve-months, and to be able to continue exploration, will depend on obtaining additional resources through sales of additional interests in the Concession, equity or debt financial offerings, or through other means.

No assurance can be given that any of these actions can be completed.

Principles of consolidation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Hyperdynamics and its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 presented above.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of financial position and the results of operations for the interim periods presented have been reflected herein. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. Notes to the financial statements which would substantially duplicate the disclosures contained in the audited financial statements for the most recent fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, have been omitted.

Use of estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses at the balance sheet date and for the period then ended. We believe our estimates and assumptions are reasonable; however, such estimates and assumptions are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from such estimates. Significant estimates and assumptions underlying these financial statements include:


	•	estimates in the calculation of share-based compensation expense,
	•	estimates made in our income tax calculations,
	•	estimates in the assessment of current litigation claims against the Company,
	•	estimates and assumptions involved in our assessment of unproved oil and gas properties for impairment, and
	•	estimates and assumptions involved in our fair market value assessment of the well construction equipment received in the August 15, 2016 Settlement Agreement with Tullow and Dana.

We are subject, from time to time, to legal proceedings, claims, and liabilities that arise in the ordinary course of business. We accrue for losses when such losses are considered probable and the amounts can be reasonably estimated.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less. For the periods presented, we maintained all of our cash in bank deposit accounts which, at times, exceed the federally insured limits.

Earnings per share

Basic loss per common share has been computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. In period of earnings, diluted earnings per common share are calculated by dividing net income available to common shareholders by weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period plus weighted-average dilutive potential common shares. Diluted earnings per share calculations assume, as of the beginning of the period, exercise of stock options and warrants using the treasury stock method.

All potential dilutive securities, including potentially dilutive options, warrants and convertible securities, if any, were excluded from the computation of dilutive net loss per common share for the three and six month periods ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, because their effects in the computation are antidilutive due to our net loss for those periods.

Stock options to purchase approximately 1.2 million common shares at an average exercise price of $4.08 were outstanding at December 31, 2016. Using the treasury stock method, had we had net income, approximately 298,700 common shares attributable to our outstanding stock options would have been included in the fully diluted earnings per share for the three month period ended December 31, 2016 while approximately 182,200 common shares attributable to our outstanding stock options would have been included in the fully diluted earnings per share for the six month period ended December 31, 2016.

Stock options to purchase approximately 1.0 million common shares at an average exercise price of $5.67 were outstanding at December 31, 2015. Using the treasury stock method, had we had net income, approximately 101,600 common shares attributable to our outstanding stock options would have been included in the fully diluted earnings per share for the three month period ended December 31, 2015 while approximately 50,800 common shares attributable to our outstanding stock options would have been included in the fully diluted earnings per share for the six month period ended December 31, 2015.

Contingencies

We are subject to legal proceedings, claims and liabilities. We accrue for losses associated with legal claims when such losses are probable and can be reasonably estimated. These accruals are adjusted as additional information becomes available or circumstances change. Legal fees are charged to expense as they are incurred. See Note 6 for more information on legal proceedings and settlements.

Fair Value Measurements

The accounting standards define fair value, establish a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosures of fair value measurements and enhance disclosure requirements for fair value measures. As discussed in Note 2, we determined a fair value of the well construction equipment material (Level 3 fair value measurement) that we received at the time of our legal settlement with Tullow and Dana. The fair value estimate was based on the combination of cost and market approaches taking into consideration a number of factors, which included but were not limited to the original cost and the condition of the material and demand for steel and tubulars at the time of measurement.

1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of business

Hyperdynamics Corporation ("Hyperdynamics," the "Company," "we," "us," and "our") is a Delaware corporation formed in March 1996. Hyperdynamics has two wholly-owned subsidiaries, SCS Corporation Ltd (SCS), a Cayman corporation, and HYD Resources Corporation (HYD), a Texas corporation. Through SCS and its wholly-owned subsidiary, SCS Guinea SARL (SCSG), which is a Guinea limited liability company formed under the laws of the Republic of Guinea ("Guinea") located in Conakry, Guinea, Hyperdynamics focuses on oil and gas exploration offshore the coast of West Africa. Our exploration efforts are pursuant to a Hydrocarbon Production Sharing Contract, as amended (the "PSC"). We refer to the rights granted under the PSC as the "Concession." We began operations in oil and gas exploration, seismic data acquisition, processing, and interpretation in late fiscal 2002.

As used herein, references to "Hyperdynamics," "Company," "we," "us," and "our" refer to Hyperdynamics Corporation and our subsidiaries, including SCS Corporation Ltd ("SCS"). The rights in the Concession offshore Guinea are held by SCS.

Status of our Business

We have no source of operating revenue and there is no assurance when we will, if ever. On June 30, 2016, we had $10.3 million in cash, and $1.7 million in liabilities, all of which are current liabilities. We plan to use our existing cash to fund our general corporate needs and our expenditures associated with the Concession.

On December 31, 2012, we closed a sale to Tullow, a subsidiary of Tullow Oil plc, of a 40% gross interest in the Concession. Through June 30, 2016, we held a 37% participating interest, with Dana Petroleum, PLC ("Dana"), which is a subsidiary of the Korean National Oil Corporation, holding the remaining 23% interest in the Concession. We refer to Tullow, Dana and us in the Concession as the "Consortium".

Pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement ("Tullow SPA") between Tullow and us, Tullow agreed to pay our entire participating interest share of expenditures associated with joint operations in the Concession up to a gross expenditure cap of $100 million incurred during the carry period that began on September 21, 2013. Additionally, Tullow agreed to pay our participating interest share of future costs for the drilling of an appraisal of the initial exploration well, if drilled, up to a gross expenditure cap of $100 million.

We signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Guinea on August 19, 2016 and a second amendment to the PSC ("2016 Amendment") on September 15, 2016. As more fully described below, the 2016 Amendment gave us a one year extension to the PSC to September 22, 2017 ("PSC Extension Period"). During the PSC Extension Period, we agreed to drill an exploration well to a minimum depth of two thousand five hundred (2,500) meters below the seabed for an estimated amount of forty six million US Dollars ($46,000,000 USD). The projected commencement date of drilling of the exploration well is April 2017 with a currently estimated time to completion of 42 days. Additional exploration wells may be drilled during the PSC Extension Period. If the well is not drilled within the PSC Extension Period, we will owe the Government of Guinea the difference between the actual expenditures related to the well and U.S. $46,000,000. Failure to comply with the drilling and other obligations of the PSC as amended subjects us to financial penalties and a risk of loss of the Concession.

The continued delays have affected adversely the ability to explore the Concession and reduces the attractiveness of the Concession to prospective industry participants and financing sources. While we currently hold 100% of the Concession, it is unknown whether we will be able to raise the necessary funds to drill the exploratory well during the PSC Extension Period.

As described in Note 8, SCS filed parallel actions on January 11, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas and before the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") against Tullow and Dana. The legal actions sought (1) a determination that Tullow and Dana are in breach of their contractual obligations and (2) orders requiring Tullow and Dana to move forward with well drilling activities offshore Guinea. In addition, the arbitration action seeks the damages caused by the repeated delays in well drilling resulting from the activities of Tullow and Dana. On January 28, 2016, the action in the Federal District Court was voluntarily dismissed by us and refiled in District Court in Harris County, Texas (the "Texas District Court"). On February 8, 2016 Tullow and Dana removed the case to Federal District Court. On February 2, 2016, SCS filed an Application for Emergency Arbitrator and Interim Measures of Protection and requested the following relief: (a) expedite discovery prior to the constitution of the arbitral tribunal; (b) provide that the time period permitted by the parties' arbitration agreement for the selection of the arbitrators and the filing of any responsive pleadings or counterclaims be accelerated; (c) require Tullow, as the designated operator under the JOA, to maintain existing "well-planning activities"; (d) require Tullow to undertake and complete certain planning activities; and (e) require Tullow and Dana to join with SCS in completing the negotiation of an acceptable amendment to the PSC and to agree to a process that will result in the execution of the amendment. With the exception of limited relief regarding discovery and agreement by Tullow to maintain certain well plan readiness, the Emergency Arbitrator ruled on February 17, 2016 that SCS is not entitled to the emergency injunctive relief it requested. Further, the Emergency Arbitrator enjoined all parties to the dispute from pursuing parallel Federal District Court proceeding. The Federal District Court action was voluntarily stayed by us on February 12, 2016.

Subsequently, on August 15, 2016, we entered into a Settlement and Release Agreement with Tullow and Dana ("Settlement and Release") with respect to our dispute in arbitration (American Arbitration Association, Case No: 01-16-0000-0679, styled SCS Corporation Ltd v. Tullow Guinea Ltd. and Dana Petroleum (E&P) Ltd.). Under the Settlement and Release, we released all claims against Tullow and Dana and Tullow and Dana (i) issued to the Government of Guinea a notice of withdrawal from the Concession and PSC effective immediately, (ii) transferred their interest in the long lead items previously purchased by the Consortium in preparation for the drilling of the Fatala well, and agreed to pay net cash of $686,570 to us. We also agreed to pay Dana a success fee based upon the certified reserves of the Fatala well if it results in a discovery. We will record the long lead items and a gain once they have been inspected and appropriately valued.

The timing and amount of our cash outflows are dependent on a number of factors including: a negative outcome related to any of our legal proceedings, inability to resume petroleum operations or drilling delays, well costs exceeding our carry, or if we have unfavorable well results. As a result, absent cash inflows, there is substantial doubt as to whether we will have adequate capital resources to meet our current obligations as they become due and therefore be able to continue as a going concern. Our ability to meet our current obligations as they become due over the next twelve-months, and to be able to continue exploration, will depend on obtaining additional resources through sales of additional interests in the Concession, equity or debt financings, or through other means, although no assurance can be given that any of these actions can be completed.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Hyperdynamics and its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Use of Estimates


	•	estimates in the calculation of share-based compensation expense,
	•	estimates made in our income tax calculations,
	•	estimates in the assessment of current litigation claims against the company, and
	•	estimates and assumptions involved in our assessment of unproved oil and gas properties for impairment.

We are subject to legal proceedings, claims, and liabilities that arise in the ordinary course of business. We accrue for losses when such losses are considered probable and the amounts can be reasonably estimated.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less. For the years presented, we maintained all of our cash in bank deposit accounts which, at times, exceed the federally insured limits.

Oil and Gas Properties

Full-Cost Method

We account for oil and natural gas producing activities using the full-cost method of accounting as prescribed by the SEC. Accordingly, all costs incurred in the acquisition, exploration, and development of oil and natural gas properties, including the costs of abandoned properties, dry holes, geophysical costs and annual lease rentals are capitalized. All selling, general and administrative corporate costs unrelated to drilling activities are expensed as incurred. Sales or other dispositions of oil and natural gas properties are accounted for as adjustments to capitalized costs, with no gain or loss recorded unless the ratio of capitalized costs to proved reserves would significantly change, or to the extent that the sale proceeds exceed our capitalized costs. Depletion of evaluated oil and natural gas properties would be computed on the units of production method based on proved reserves. The net capitalized costs of proved oil and natural gas properties are subject to quarterly impairment tests.

Costs Excluded from Amortization

Costs associated with unproved properties are excluded from amortization until it is determined whether proved reserves can be assigned to the properties. We review our unproved properties at the end of each quarter to determine whether the costs incurred should be transferred to the amortization base.

We assess unproved property on a quarterly basis for possible impairment or reduction in value. We assess properties on an individual basis or as a group if properties are individually insignificant. The assessment includes consideration of the following factors, among others: intent to drill; remaining lease term under our concession; geological and geophysical evaluations; drilling results and activity; the assignment of proved reserves; and the economic viability of development if proved reserves are assigned. We assess our unproved properties on a country-by-country basis. During any period in which these factors indicate an impairment, the adjustment is recorded through earnings of the period.

Full-Cost Ceiling Test

At the end of each quarterly reporting period, the capitalized costs less accumulated amortization and deferred income taxes shall not exceed an amount equal to the sum of the following items: (i) the present value of estimated future net revenues of oil and gas properties (including future development and abandonment costs of wells to be drilled) using prices based on the preceding 12-months' average price based on closing prices on the first day of each month, or prices defined by existing contractual arrangements, discounted at 10%, (ii) the cost of properties not being amortized, and (iii) the lower of cost or estimated fair value of unproved properties included in the costs being amortized, less related income tax effects ("Full-Cost Ceiling Test").

The calculation of the Full-Cost Ceiling Test is based on estimates of proved reserves. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves and in projecting the future rates of production, timing, and plan of development. The accuracy of any reserves estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Results of drilling, testing, and production subsequent to the date of the estimate may justify revision of such estimates. Accordingly, reserves estimates are often different from the quantities of oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered. We have no proved reserves. We recognized a $14.3 million Full-Cost Ceiling test write-down in the year ended June 30, 2016. No Full-Cost Ceiling test write-down was recognized in the year ended June 30, 2015.

Property and Equipment, other than Oil and Gas

Property and equipment are stated on the basis of historical cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally three to five years.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 740, "Income Taxes," which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax and financial reporting basis of assets and liabilities and for loss and credit carryforwards. Valuation allowances are provided when recovery of deferred tax assets is not considered likely.

Tax benefits are recognized only for tax positions that are more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. The amount recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. Unrecognized tax benefits are tax benefits claimed in our tax returns that do not meet these recognition and measurement standards. As of June 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company has unrecognized tax benefits totaling $5.5 million.

Our policy is to recognize potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within income tax expense. For the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, we did not recognize any interest or penalties in our consolidated statements of operations, nor did we have any interest or penalties accrued on our consolidated balance sheets at June 30, 2016 and 2015 relating to unrecognized benefits.

The tax years 2011-2015 remain open to examination for federal income tax purposes and by the other major taxing jurisdictions to which we are subject.

Stock-Based Compensation

ASC 718, "Compensation-Stock Compensation" requires recognition in the financial statements of the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments over the period the employee is required to perform the services in exchange for the award (presumptively the vesting period). We measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award based on the grant-date fair value of the award. We account for non-employee share-based awards based upon ASC 505-50, "Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees."

Earnings Per Share

Basic loss per common share has been computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. In a period of earnings, diluted earnings per common share are calculated by dividing net income available to common shareholders by weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period plus weighted-average dilutive potential common shares. Diluted earnings per share calculations assume, as of the beginning of the period, exercise of stock options and warrants using the treasury stock method.

All potential dilutive securities, including potentially dilutive options, warrants and convertible securities, if any, were excluded from the computation of dilutive net loss per common share for the years ended June 30, 2016, and 2015, respectively, as their effects are antidilutive due to our net loss for those periods.

Stock options to purchase approximately 1.0 million common shares at an average exercise price of $5.03 were outstanding at June 30, 2016. Using the treasury stock method, had we had net income, approximately 25 thousand common shares attributable to our outstanding stock options would have been included in the fully diluted earnings per share for the year ended June 30, 2016.

Stock options to purchase approximately 1.2 million common shares at an average exercise price of $7.43 and warrants to purchase approximately 0.03 million shares of common stock at an average exercise price of $12.64 were outstanding at June 30, 2015. Using the treasury stock method, had we had net income, approximately four hundred common shares attributable to our outstanding stock options would have been included in the fully diluted earnings per share calculation for the year ended June 30, 2015. There would have been no dilution attributable to our outstanding warrants to purchase common shares. Had we had net income, approximately four thousand common shares attributable to restricted stock awards would have been included in the fully diluted earnings per share for the year ended June 30, 2015.

Contingencies

Foreign currency gains and losses from current operations

In accordance with ASC Topic 830, Foreign Currency Matters, the functional currency of our international subsidiaries is the U.S. Dollar. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions arising from operating assets and liabilities are included in general, administrative and other operating expense, have not been significant. Net foreign currency transaction gains (losses) were ($3) thousand and ($0.1) million for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Subsequent Events

The Company evaluated all subsequent events from June 30, 2016 through the date of issuance of these financial statements.