axas10q0331.htm
 
 



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
(Mark One)
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2011
 
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM ______ TO ______
 
 
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 001-16071
 
 
ABRAXAS PETROLEUM CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Nevada
 
74-2584033
(State of Incorporation)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

18803 Meisner Drive, San Antonio, TX 78258
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

210-490-4788
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to the filing requirements for the past 90 days.
 
Yes x    No o91,733,950
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).        Yes ¨    No ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. 
 
Large accelerated filer        o
Accelerated filer       x
Non-accelerated filer      o
(Do not mark if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company    o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes   ¨No x
 
The number of shares of the issuer’s common stock outstanding as of May 5, 2011 was:
 
Class
Shares Outstanding
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
91,733,950

 
1

 

Forward-Looking Information
 
We make forward-looking statements throughout this report.  Whenever you read a statement that is not simply a statement of historical fact (such as statements including words like “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “will,” “plan,” “seek,” “estimate,” “could,” “potentially” or similar expressions), you must remember that these are forward-looking statements, and that our expectations may not be correct, even though we believe they are reasonable.  The forward-looking information contained in this report is generally located in the material set forth under the headings “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” but may be found in other locations as well.  These forward-looking statements generally relate to our plans and objectives for future operations and are based upon our management’s reasonable estimates of future results or trends.  The factors that may affect our expectations regarding our operations include, among others, the following:
 
 
·
our success in development, exploitation and exploration activities;

 
·
our ability to procure services and equipment for our drilling and completion activities;

 
·
the prices we receive for our oil and gas and the effectiveness of our hedging activities;

 
·
our ability to make planned capital expenditures;

 
·
declines in our production of oil and gas;

 
·
the availability of capital;

 
·
political and economic conditions in oil producing countries, especially those in the Middle East;

 
·
price and availability of alternative fuels;

 
·
our restrictive debt covenants;

 
·
our acquisition and divestiture activities;

 
·
weather conditions and events;

 
·
the proximity, capacity, cost and availability of pipelines and other transportation facilities; and

 
·
other factors discussed elsewhere in this report.
 

 
GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Unless otherwise indicated in this report, gas volumes are stated at the legal pressure base of the State or area in which the reserves are located at 60 degrees Fahrenheit.  Oil and gas equivalents are determined using the ratio of six Mcf of gas to one barrel of oil, condensate or NGLs.
 
The following definitions shall apply to the technical terms used in this report.
 
Terms used to describe quantities of oil and gas:
 
Bbl” – barrel or barrels.
 
Bcf” – billion cubic feet of gas.
 
Bcfe” – billion cubic feet of gas equivalent.
 
Boe” – barrels of oil equivalent.
 

 
2

 


 
Boepdbarrels of oil equivalent per day.
 
“Bopd” – barrels of oil per day.
 
MBbl” – thousand barrels.
 
MBoethousand barrels of oil equivalent.
 
Mcf” – thousand cubic feet of gas.
 
Mcfe” – thousand cubic feet of gas equivalent.
 
MMBbls” – million barrels.
 
“MMBoe” – million barrels of oil equivalent.
 
MMbtu” – million British Thermal Units of gas.
 
MMcf” – million cubic feet of gas.
 
MMcfe” – million cubic feet of gas equivalent.
 
MMcfepd” – million cubic feet of gas equivalent per day.
 
MMcfpd” – million cubic feet of gas per day.
 
“NGL” – natural gas liquids measured in barrels.
 
    Terms used to describe our interests in wells and acreage:
 
Developed acreage” means acreage which consists of leased acres spaced or assignable to productive wells.
 
Development well” is a well drilled within the proved area of an oil or gas reservoir to the depth or stratigraphic horizon (rock layer or formation) noted to be productive for the purpose of extracting proved oil or gas reserves.
 
Dry hole” is an exploratory or development well found to be incapable of producing either oil or gas in sufficient quantities to justify completion as an oil or gas well.
 
Exploratory well” is a well drilled to find and produce oil or gas in an unproved area, to find a new reservoir in a field previously found to be producing oil or gas in another reservoir, or to extend a known reservoir.
 
Gross acres” are the number of acres in which we own a working interest.
 
Gross well” is a well in which we own an interest.
 
Net acres” are deemed to exist when the sum of fractional ownership working interests in gross acres equals one (e.g., a 50% working interest in a lease covering 320 gross acres is equivalent to 160 net acres).
 
Net well” is deemed to exist when the sum of fractional ownership working interests in gross wells equals one.
 
Productive well” is an exploratory or a development well that is not a dry hole.
 

 
3

 


Undeveloped acreage” means those leased acres on which wells have not been drilled or completed to a point that would permit the production of economic quantities of oil and gas, regardless of whether or not such acreage contains proved reserves.
 
Terms used to assign a present value to or to classify our reserves:
 
Proved reserves” or “reserves” are those quantities of oil and gas reserves, which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible—from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations—prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation.

“Proved developed reserves” or “PDP’s” are those quantities of oil and gas reserves that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods. Additional oil and gas expected to be obtained through the application of fluid injection or other improved recovery techniques for supplementing the natural forces and mechanisms of primary recovery are included in “proved developed reserves” only after testing by a pilot project or after the operation of an installed program has confirmed through production response that increased recovery will be achieved.

“Proved developed non-producing reserves” or “PDNP’s” are those quantities of oil and gas reserves that are developed behind pipe in an existing well bore, from a shut-in well bore or that can be recovered through improved recovery only after the necessary equipment has been installed, or when the costs to do so are relatively minor. Shut-in reserves are expected to be recovered from (1) completion intervals which are open at the time of the estimate but which have not started producing, (2) wells that were shut-in for market conditions or pipeline connections, or (3) wells not capable of production for mechanical reasons. Behind-pipe reserves are expected to be recovered from zones in existing wells that will require additional completion work or future recompletion prior to the start of production.

“Proved undeveloped drilling location” is a site on which a development well can be drilled consistent with spacing rules for purposes of recovering proved undeveloped reserves.

“Proved undeveloped reserves” or “PUD’s  are those quantities of  oil and gas reserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for development. Reserves on undrilled acreage are limited to those drilling units offsetting productive units that are reasonably certain of production when drilled. Proved reserves for other undrilled units are claimed only where it can be demonstrated with certainty that there is continuity of production from the existing productive formation. Estimates for proved undeveloped reserves are not attributed to any acreage for which an application of fluid injection or other improved recovery technique is contemplated, unless such techniques have been proven effective by actual tests in the area and in the same reservoir.

“Probable reserves” are those additional reserves which analysis of geoscience and engineering data indicate are less likely to be recovered than proved reserves but more certain to be recovered than possible reserves.
 
“Possible reserves” are those additional reserves which analysis of geoscience and engineering data suggest are less likely to be recoverable than probable reserves.
 
PV-10” means estimated future net revenue, discounted at a rate of 10% per annum, before income taxes and with no price or cost escalation or de-escalation in accordance with guidelines promulgated by the SEC.
 
Standardized Measure” means estimated future net revenue, discounted at a rate of 10% per annum, after income taxes and with no price or cost escalation, calculated in accordance with (Accounting Standards Codifications “ASC”) 932, formerly Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 69  “Disclosures About Oil and Gas Producing Activities.”

 
4

 

ABRAXAS PETROLEUM CORPORATION
FORM 10 – Q
INDEX


PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     
ITEM 1 -
 
 
 6
 
 8
 
 9
 
 11
     
ITEM 2 -
 23
     
ITEM 3 -
 35
     
ITEM 4 -
 36
     
ITEM 1 -
Legal Proceedings
  37
ITEM 1A -
Risk Factors
  37
ITEM 2 -
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
  37
ITEM 3 -
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
  37
ITEM 4 -
[Removed and Reserved]
  37
ITEM 5 -
Other Information
  37
ITEM 6 -
Exhibits
  37
 
Signatures
  37
      38
 


 
5

 



 

PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.   Financial Statements.

Abraxas Petroleum Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
 
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
Assets
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 959     $ 99  
Accounts receivable, net:
               
Joint owners
    3,190       5,145  
Oil and gas production
    8,803       6,958  
Other
    665       642  
      12,658       12,745  
                 
Derivative asset – current
    6,925       6,941  
Assets held for sale                                                                                 
          8,457  
Other current assets
    361       396  
Total current assets
    20,903       28,638  
                 
Property and equipment:
               
Oil and gas properties, full cost method of accounting:
               
Proved
    444,321       434,858  
Unproved properties excluded from depletion
    1,400       1,085  
Other property and equipment
    11,635       11,536  
Total
    457,356       447,479  
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, and amortization
    (333,773 )     (330,231 )
Total property and equipment – net
    123,583       117,248  
 
               
Investment in joint venture                                                                                        
    24,776       24,027  
                 
Deferred financing fees, net
    3,007       3,494  
Derivative asset – long-term
    7,151       8,674  
Other assets
    850       828  
Total assets
  $ 180,270     $ 182,909  


 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited)


Abraxas Petroleum Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (continued)
(in thousands, except share data)
 
 
 
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
           
Current liabilities:
           
Accounts payable                                                                                       
  $ 9,192     $ 23,589  
Oil and gas production payable                                                                                       
    7,717       3,000  
Accrued interest                                                                                       
    31       277  
Other accrued expenses                                                                                       
    1,191       779  
Derivative liability – current                                                                                       
    15,237       9,742  
Current maturities of long-term debt                                                                                       
    153       152  
  Total current liabilities                                                                                    
    33,521       37,539  
                 
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities                                                                                         
    85,899       140,940  
                 
Derivative liability – long-term                                                                                         
    15,302       11,672  
Future site restoration                                                                                         
    7,894       7,734  
   Total liabilities                                                                                         
    142,616       197,885  
                 
Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
               
Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 1,000,000 shares; -0- issued and outstanding
           
Common stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 200,000,000 shares; 91,670,093 and 76,427,561 issued and outstanding
    917       764  
Additional paid-in capital                                                                                       
    246,582       184,223  
Accumulated deficit                                                                                       
    (210,227 )     (200,208 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income                                                                                       
    382       245  
  Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)                                                                                       
    37,654       (14,976 )
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit)                                                                                         
  $ 180,270     $ 182,909  


 

 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited)


Abraxas Petroleum Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
 (Unaudited)
(in thousands except per share data)
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Revenue:
           
Oil and gas production revenues
  $ 13,847     $ 15,863  
Rig revenues
    195       261  
Other
    1       2  
      14,043       16,126  
Operating costs and expenses:
               
Lease operating expenses
    4,021       4,586  
Production taxes
    1,254       1,703  
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization
    3,430       4,241  
Rig operations
    189       197  
General and administrative (including stock-based compensation of $363 and $310)
    2,646       2,141  
      11,540       12,868  
Operating income
    2,503       3,258  
                 
Other (income) expense:
               
Interest income
    (2 )     (2 )
Interest expense
    1,605       2,334  
Amortization of deferred financing fees
    500       809  
Loss (gain) on derivative contracts (unrealized $10,978 and $(11,696))
    11,093       (10,977 )
Equity in (gain) loss of  joint venture
    (749 )      
Other
    75       (89 )
      12,522       (7,925 )
Net (loss) income
  $ (10,019 )   $ 11,183  
                 
                 
Net (loss) income  per common share – basic
  $ (0.12 )   $ 0.15  
                 
Net (loss) income  per common share – diluted
  $ (0.12 )   $ 0.15  

 


See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited)


Abraxas Petroleum Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
 
   
Three Months Ended
 March 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Operating Activities
           
Net (loss) income
  $ (10,019 )   $ 11,183  
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income  to net
               
cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
               
Equity in gain of joint venture
    (749 )      
Change in derivative fair value
    10,664       (12,079 )
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization
    3,430       4,241  
Amortization of deferred financing fees
    500       809  
Accretion of future site restoration
    109       137  
Stock-based compensation
    363       310  
Other non-cash expenses
          24  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable
    87       (6 )
Other
    150       63  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    (9,463 )     (665 )
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
    (4,928 )     4,017  
                 
Investing Activities
               
Capital expenditures, including purchases and development of properties
    (9,765 )     (5,171 )
Proceeds from the sale of oil and gas properties
    8,457       8,475  
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
    (1,308 )     3,304  
                 
Financing Activities
               
Proceeds from long-term borrowings
    2,000        
Payments on long-term borrowings
    (57,040 )     (8,035 )
Deferred financing fees
    (13 )     (138 )
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
    62,113        
Other
    36       (33 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    7,096       (8,206 )
Increase (decrease) in cash
    860       (885 )
Cash and equivalents, at beginning of period
    99       1,861  
Cash and equivalents, at end of period
  $ 959     $ 976  

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited)





Abraxas Petroleum Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (continued)
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
           
Interest paid
  $ 1,742     $ 2,195  
                 
Non-Cash Investing Activities:
               
Asset retirement obligation cost and liabilities
  $ (3 )   $ (12 )
Asset retirement obligations associated with property acquisitions and dispositions
  $ 56     $ (179 )
                 
                 
                 

 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited)


Abraxas Petroleum Corporation
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(tabular amounts in thousands, except per share data)
 
Note 1. Basis of Presentation
 
The accounting policies followed by Abraxas Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) are set forth in the notes to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2011. Such policies have been continued without change. Also, refer to the notes to those financial statements for additional details of the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. All material items included in those notes have not changed except as a result of normal transactions in the interim, or as disclosed within this report. The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements have not been audited by our independent registered public accountants, but in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations. Any and all adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature. Although management believes the unaudited interim related disclosures in these consolidated financial statements are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual audited consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The results of operations and the cash flows for the period ended March 31, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein should be read in conjunction with the consolidated audited financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Consolidation Principles

The terms “Abraxas,” “Abraxas Petroleum,” “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company” refer to Abraxas Petroleum Corporation and all of its consolidated subsidiaries, including its wholly owned foreign subsidiary, Canadian Abraxas Petroleum, ULC.

Canadian Abraxas’ assets and liabilities are translated to U.S. dollars at period-end exchange rates.  Income and expense items are translated at average rates of exchange prevailing during the period.  Translation adjustments are accumulated as a separate component of stockholders’ equity.
 

Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Stock-based Compensation, Option Plans and Warrants
 
Stock Options
 
The Company currently utilizes a standard option-pricing model (i.e., Black-Scholes) to measure the fair value of stock options granted to employees and directors. For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company incurred $267,000 and $194,000, respectively, in stock-based compensation expense related to stock options.
 
The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2011:
 



   
 
Number
of
Shares
   
Weighted
Average
 Option
 Exercise
 Price Per
 Share
   
Weighted
 Average
Grant
Date Fair
 Value
Per Share
   
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
 
Outstanding, December 31, 2010
    4,820     $ 2.23     $ 1.60     $ 6,880  
Granted
    512     $ 4.72     $ 3.39       1,734  
Exercised
    (203 )   $ 1.80     $ 1.04       (211 )
Expired or canceled
    (20 )   $ 1.99     $ 1.45       (29 )
Outstanding, March 31, 2011
    5,109     $ 2.49     $ 1.78     $ 8,374  

The following table shows the weighted average assumptions used in the Black-Scholes valuation of the fair value of option grants for the three months ended March 31, 2011:
 
Expected dividend yield
    0  
%
Volatility
    79.26  
%
Risk free interest rate
    2.54  
%
Expected life
    6.65  
Years
Fair value of options granted (in thousands)
  $ 1,734    
Weighted average grant date fair value per share of options granted
  $ 4.72    

 Additional information related to options at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 is as follows:
 
 
March 31,
     
December 31,
 
 
2011
     
2010
 
Options exercisable                                                                                    
2,521
     
2,288
 

As of March 31, 2011, there was approximately $3.9 million of unamortized compensation expense related to outstanding options that will be recognized in 2011 through 2015.
 
Restricted Stock Awards

Restricted stock awards are awards of common stock that are subject to restrictions on transfer and to a risk of forfeiture if the awardee terminates employment with the Company prior to the lapse of the restrictions. The value of such stock was determined using the market price on the grant date and compensation expense is recorded over the applicable vesting periods.

The following table summarizes the Company’s restricted stock activity for the three months ended March 31, 2011:
 
   
Number
of
Shares
   
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Per Share
 
Unvested December 31, 2010                                                 
    400     $ 2.02  
Granted                                                 
    36       4.72  
Vested/Released                                                 
    (118 )     1.82  
Forfeited                                                 
           
Unvested March 31, 2011                                                 
    318     $ 2.40  

 
For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company incurred $96,000 and $116,000, respectively, in stock-based compensation expense related to restricted stock. As of March 31, 2011, there was approximately $540,000 of unamortized compensation expense relating to outstanding restricted shares that will be recognized in 2011 through 2015.
 
 

Warrants
  
  On May 25, 2007, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with certain accredited investors pursuant to which the Company issued warrants to purchase 1,174,938 shares of common stock. The warrants expire on May 25, 2012 and are exercisable at a price of $3.83 per share, subject to certain adjustments. No warrants were exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2011 or 2010.
 
Oil and Gas Properties

The Company follows the full cost method of accounting for oil and gas properties.  Under this method, all direct costs and certain indirect costs associated with acquisition of properties and successful as well as unsuccessful exploration and development activities are capitalized. Depreciation, depletion, and amortization of capitalized oil and gas properties and estimated future development costs, excluding unproved properties, are based on the unit-of-production method based on proved reserves.  Net capitalized costs of oil and gas properties, less related deferred taxes, are limited to the lower of unamortized cost or the cost ceiling, defined as the sum of the present value of estimated future net revenues from proved reserves based on unescalated prices discounted at 10 percent, plus the cost of properties not being amortized, if any, plus the lower of cost or estimated fair value of unproved properties included in the costs being amortized, if any, less related income taxes.  Costs in excess of the present value of estimated future net revenues as discussed above are charged to proved property impairment expense.  No gain or loss is recognized upon sale or disposition of oil and gas properties, except in unusual circumstances. We apply the full cost ceiling test on a quarterly basis on the date of the latest balance sheet presented.
 
The estimates of our reserves as of December 31, 2010, are based upon various assumptions about future production levels, prices and costs that may not prove to be correct over time.  In particular, estimates of oil and gas reserves, future net revenue from proved reserves and the PV-10 thereof for our oil and gas properties are based on the assumption that future oil and gas prices remain the same as the twelve month first-day-of-the-month average oil and gas prices for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010.  The average realized sales prices used for the estimates were $3.91 per Mcf of gas and $70.72 per Bbl of oil. As of December 31, 2010, the net capitalized costs of our oil and gas properties in the United States did not exceed the present value of our estimated proved reserves; however, the net capitalized costs of our oil and gas properties in Canada exceeded the present value of our estimated proved reserves by $4.8 million, resulting in a write down for the year ended December 31, 2010. As of March 31, 2011, the net capitalized costs of our oil and gas properties in the United States and Canada did not exceed the present value of our estimated proved reserves.
 
PV-10 is the estimated present value of the future net revenues from our proved oil and gas reserves before income taxes discounted using a 10% discount rate. PV-10 is considered a non-GAAP financial measure under SEC regulations because it does not include the effects of future income taxes, as is required in computing the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows. We believe that PV-10 is an important measure that can be used to evaluate the relative significance of our oil and gas properties and that PV-10 is widely used by securities analysts and investors when evaluating oil and gas companies. Because many factors that are unique to each individual company impact the amount of future income taxes to be paid, the use of a pre-tax measure provides greater comparability of assets when evaluating companies. We believe that most other companies in the oil and gas industry calculate PV-10 on the same basis. PV-10 is computed on the same basis as the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows but without deducting income taxes.
 
Due to our loss carry forwards and the tax basis of our properties, there is no impact of income taxes on our standardized measure calculation. As a result, there is currently no difference between the standardized measure of our oil and gas reserves, which is a GAAP financial measure, and the PV-10 of our reserves.
 
Restoration, Removal and Environmental Liabilities

The Company is subject to extensive Federal, provincial, state and local environmental laws and regulations. These laws regulate the discharge of materials into the environment and may require the Company to remove or mitigate the environmental effects of the disposal or release of petroleum substances at various sites.  Environmental expenditures are expensed or capitalized depending on their future economic benefit.  Expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations and that have no future economic benefit are expensed.



Liabilities for expenditures of a non-capital nature are recorded when environmental assessments and/or remediation is probable, and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Such liabilities are generally undiscounted unless the timing of cash payments for the liability or component are fixed or reliably determinable.
 
The Company accounts for asset retirement obligations based on the guidance of ASC 410 (formerly FASB 143) which addresses accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the associated asset retirement costs. ASC 410 requires that the fair value of a liability for an asset's retirement obligation be recorded in the period in which it is incurred and the corresponding cost capitalized by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. The liability is accreted to its then present value each period, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the estimated useful life of the related asset. For all periods presented, we have included estimated future costs of abandonment and dismantlement in our full cost amortization base and amortize these costs as a component of our depletion expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
The following table summarizes the Company’s asset retirement obligation transactions for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2010:
 
   
March 31, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
Beginning asset retirement obligation
  $ 7,734     $ 10,326  
Settled
    (2 )     (290 )
Revisions
    (3 )     (83 )
New wells placed on production and other
    56       64  
Deletions related to property disposals and plugging costs
          (2,799 )
Accretion expense
    109       516  
Ending asset retirement obligation
  $ 7,894     $ 7,734  

 
Working Capital (Deficit)
 
At March 31, 2011, our current liabilities of approximately $33.5 million exceeded our current assets of $20.9 million resulting in a working capital deficit of $12.6 million. This compares to a working capital deficit of  $8.9 million at December 31, 2010. Current liabilities at March 31, 2011 primarily consisted of the current portion of derivative liabilities of $15.2 million, trade payables of $9.2 million, revenues due third parties of $7.7 million, and other accrued liabilities of $1.2 million.
 
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
 
In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-6, “Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements” (“ASU No. 2010-06”).  ASU No. 2010-06 amends FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” to require additional information to be disclosed principally regarding Level 3 measurements and transfers to and from Level 1 and 2.  In addition, enhanced disclosure is required concerning inputs and valuation techniques used to determine Level 2 and Level 3 measurements.  This guidance is generally effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009; however, requirements to disclose separately purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the Level 3 reconciliation are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010 (and for interim periods within such years).  This update did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial position.

In February 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-09, “Amendments to Certain Recognition and Disclosure Requirements” (“ASU No. 2010-09”).  ASU No. 2010-09 amends FASB ASC Topic 855-10, “Subsequent Events,” to remove the requirement for an SEC filer to disclose the date through which subsequent events have been evaluated in both issued and revised financial statements.  This change alleviates potential conflicts between ASC 855-10 and the SEC’s requirements.  This update did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial position.




Note 2. Formation of Joint Venture

On August 18, 2010, Abraxas Petroleum and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Abraxas Operating, LLC, contributed 8,333 net acres in the Eagle Ford Shale play to Blue Eagle Energy, LLC (“Blue Eagle”) and received a $25 million equity interest in Blue Eagle pursuant to the terms of the Subscription and Contribution Agreement among Abraxas Petroleum, Abraxas Operating, Blue Eagle and Rock Oil Company, LLC (“Rock Oil”) formerly known as Blue Stone Oil & Gas, LLC. Simultaneously, Rock Oil contributed $25 million in cash to Blue Eagle  for a $25 million equity interest in Blue Eagle. Rock Oil committed to contribute an additional $50 million to Blue Eagle and upon full funding, Abraxas Petroleum will own a 25% equity interest in Blue Eagle and Rock Oil will own a 75% equity interest in Blue Eagle.
 
Blue Eagle’s subject area encompasses 12 counties across the Eagle Ford Shale play for expected future acreage acquisitions. Abraxas Petroleum  operates the wells owned by Blue Eagle and Rock Oil  manages the day-to-day business affairs of Blue Eagle.   Robert L. G. Watson, our President and CEO,  serves as one of the three members of the Board of Managers of Blue Eagle.
 
        At formation and as of March 31, 2011, we owned a non-controlling 50.0% interest in the joint venture. We account for the joint venture under the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method of accounting, Abraxas’ share of net income (loss) from the joint venture is reflected as an increase (decrease) in its investment account in “Investment in joint venture” and is also recorded as an equity investment income (loss) in “Equity in loss (gain) of joint venture.” For the three months ended March 31, 2011, we reported a gain of $749,000.

The following is condensed financial data from Blue Eagle’s March 31, 2011  and December 31, 2010 inancial statements:

 
Balance Sheet:
 
As of March 31, 2011
   
As of December 31, 2010
 
Assets:
           
Current assets
  $ 12,398     $ 19,625  
Oil and gas properties
    39,504       31,753  
Other assets
    43       45  
Total assets
  $ 51,945     $ 51,423  
                 
Liabilities and Capital:
               
Current liabilities
  $ 2,387     $ 3,368  
Other liabilities
    6        
Member capital
    49,552       48,055  
Total liabilities and capital
  $ 51,945     $ 51,423  

 
 
 
 
 
Statement of Operations:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
 
       
Revenue
  $ 3,097  
         
Operating expenses
    1,604  
Other (income) expense
    (5 )
Net income
  $ 1,498  
         
Note 3.                      Income Taxes

The Company records income taxes using the liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse.




For the three months ended March 31, 2011, there are no current or deferred income tax expense or benefit due to losses and/or loss carryforwards and valuation allowances which have been recorded against such benefits.
 
The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions under provisions ASC 740-10.  ASC 740-10 did not have any effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.  The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. As of March 31, 2011, the Company did not have any accrued interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions. The tax years from 2000 through 2010 remain open to examination by the tax jurisdictions to which the Company is subject. The Company has been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that it plans to audit our 2009 Federal income tax return.
 
 Note 4. Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following:
 
   
March 31, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
Credit facility
  $ 81,000     $ 136,000  
Real estate lien note
    5,052       5,092  
      86,052       141,092  
Less current maturities
    (153 )     (152 )
    $ 85,899     $ 140,940  
 
Credit Facility
 
On October 5, 2009, we entered into an amended and restated senior secured credit facility with Société Générale, as administrative agent and issuing lender, and certain other lenders, which we refer to as the credit facility, which was amended on August 18, 2010.  As of March 31, 2011, $81.0 million was outstanding under the credit facility.

The credit facility has a maximum commitment of $300.0 million and availability is subject to a borrowing base. The borrowing base is currently $140.0 million and is determined semi-annually by the lenders based upon our reserve reports, one of which must be prepared by our independent petroleum engineers and one of which may be prepared internally. The amount of the borrowing base is calculated by the lenders based upon their valuation of our proved reserves utilizing these reserve reports and their own internal decisions. In addition, the lenders, in their sole discretion, are able to make one additional borrowing base redetermination during any six-month period between scheduled redeterminations and we are able to request one redetermination during any six-month period between scheduled redeterminations.  The lenders are also able to make a redetermination in connection with any sales of producing properties with a market value of 5% or more of our then-current borrowing base and in connection with any hedge termination which could reduce the collateral value by 5% or more. Our borrowing base of $140.0 million was determined based upon our reserve report dated June 30, 2010. Our borrowing base can never exceed the $300.0 million maximum commitment amount.  Outstanding amounts under  the credit facility bear interest at (a) the greater of (1) the reference rate announced from time to time by Société Générale, (2) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5%, and (3) a rate determined by Société Générale as the daily one-month LIBOR plus, in each case, (b) 1.5%—2.75%, depending on the utilization of the borrowing base, or, if we elect, at the greater of (1) 2.0% and (2) LIBOR plus, in each case, 2.5%—3.75%, depending on the utilization of the borrowing base. At March 31, 2011, the interest rate on the  credit facility was 5.75%.

Subject to earlier termination rights and events of default, the stated maturity date of the credit facility is October 5, 2012. Interest is payable quarterly on reference rate advances and not less than quarterly on Eurodollar advances. We are permitted to terminate the credit facility and are able, from time to time, to permanently reduce the lenders’ aggregate commitment under the credit facility in compliance with certain notice and dollar increment requirements.

Each of our subsidiaries has guaranteed our obligations under the credit facility on a senior secured basis. Obligations under the credit facility are secured by a first priority perfected security interest, subject to certain permitted encumbrances, in all of our and our subsidiary guarantors’ material property and assets.




Under the credit facility, we are subject to customary covenants, including certain financial covenants and reporting requirements.  We are required to maintain a current ratio as of the last day of each quarter of not less than 1.00 to 1.00 and an interest coverage ratio as of the last day of each quarter of not less than 2.50 to 1.00.  We are also required to maintain a total debt to EBITDAX ratio as of the last day of each quarter of not more than 4.00 to 1.00.  The current ratio is defined as the ratio of consolidated current assets to consolidated current liabilities.  For the purposes of this calculation, current assets include the portion of the borrowing base which is undrawn but excludes any cash deposited with or at the request of a counter-party to a hedging arrangement and any assets representing a valuation account arising from the application of ASC 815 and ASC 410-20 and current liabilities exclude the current portion of long-term debt and any liabilities representing a valuation account arising from the application of ASC 815 and ASC 410-20.  The interest coverage ratio is defined as the ratio of consolidated EBITDAX to consolidated interest expense for the four fiscal quarters ended on the calculation date. For the purposes of this calculation, EBITDAX is consolidated net income plus interest expense, oil and gas exploration expenses, taxes, depreciation, amortization, depletion and other non-cash charges including non-cash charges resulting from the application of ASC 718, ASC 815 and ASC 410-20 plus all realized net cash proceeds arising from the settlement or monetization of any hedge contracts or upon the termination of any hedge contract minus all non-cash items of income which were included in determining consolidated net income, including all non-cash items resulting from the application of ASC 815 and ASC 410-20. Interest expense includes total interest, letter of credit fees and other fees and expenses incurred in connection with any debt. The total debt to EBITDAX ratio is defined as the ratio of total debt to consolidated EBITDAX for the four fiscal quarters ended on the calculation date.  For the purposes of this calculation, total debt is the outstanding principal amount of debt, excluding debt associated with the office building, and obligations with respect to surety bonds and hedge arrangements.  We were in compliance with all covenants as of March 31, 2011.

As of March 31, 2011, the current ratio was 4.77 to 1.00, the interest coverage ratio was 3.23 to 1.00 and the total debt to EBITDAX ratio was 2.48 to 1.00.

The credit facility also required that we enter into hedging arrangements for specified volumes, which equated to approximately 80% of the estimated oil and gas production from our net proved developed producing reserves (as of December 31, 2010) through December 31, 2012 and 67% for 2013.
 
 
In addition to the foregoing and other customary covenants, the credit facility contains a number of covenants that, among other things, restrict our ability to:
 
 
·           incur or guarantee additional indebtedness;
 
 
·           transfer or sell assets;
 
 
·           create liens on assets;
 
 
·           engage in transactions with affiliates other than on an “arm’s-length” basis;
 
 
·           make any change in the principal nature of our business; and
 
 
·           permit a change of control.
 
 
The credit facility also contains customary events of default, including nonpayment of principal or interest, violations of covenants, cross default and cross acceleration to certain other indebtedness, bankruptcy and material judgments and liabilities.
 
Real Estate Lien Note
 
On May 9, 2008, the Company entered into an advancing line of credit in the amount of $5.4 million for the purchase and finish out of a building to serve as its corporate headquarters. This note was refinanced in November 2008.  The note bears interest at a fixed rate of 6.375%, and is payable in monthly installments of principal and interest of $39,754 based on a twenty year amortization. The note matures in May 2015 at which time the
 



 
outstanding balance becomes due. The note is secured by a first lien deed of trust on the property and improvements. As of March 31, 2011, $5.1 million was outstanding on the note.
 
Note 5. Earnings (Loss) Per Share
 
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share:
 
   
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Numerator:
           
Net (loss) income
  $ (10,019 )   $ 11,183  
Denominator:
               
Denominator for basic (loss) earnings per share -
               
Weighted-average shares
    85,867       75,805  
                 
Effect of dilutive securities:
               
Stock options and warrants
          213  
                 
Dilutive potential common shares
               
Denominator for diluted (loss) earnings  per share -
               
Weighted-average shares and assumed conversions
    85,867       76,018  
                 
Net (loss) income  per common share – basic
  $ (0.12 )   $ 0.15  
                 
Net (loss) income  per common share – diluted
  $ (0.12 )   $ 0.15  

For the three months ended March 31, 2011, none of the shares issuable in connection with stock options or warrants are included in diluted shares. Inclusion of these shares would be antidilutive due to losses incurred in the period. Had there not been losses in the period, dilutive shares would have been 3,286,378 shares for the three months ended March 31, 2011.

Note 6. Hedging Activities and Derivatives

The derivative instruments we utilize are based on index prices that may and often do differ from the actual oil and gas prices realized in our operations.  As a result, our derivative contract transactions do not qualify for hedge accounting as prescribed by ASC 815; therefore, fluctuations in the market value of the derivative contract are recognized in earnings during the current period.

The terms of our credit facility required us to enter into hedging arrangements for specified volumes, which equated to approximately 80% of the estimated oil and gas production from our net proved developed producing reserves (as of December 31, 2010) through December 31, 2012 and 67% for 2013.
 
The following table sets forth our derivative contract position at March 31, 2011:
 
   
Fixed Price Swap
 
   
Oil
   
Gas
 
Contract Periods
 
Daily Volume (Bbl)
   
Swap Price (per Bbl)
   
Daily Volume (MMbtu)
   
Swap Price (per MMbtu)
 
2011
    1,035     $ 76.61       9,580     $ 6.52  
2012
    946     $ 70.89       8,303     $ 6.77  
2013
    705     $ 80.79       5,962     $ 6.84  




At March 31, 2011, the aggregate fair value of our commodity derivative contracts was a liability of approximately $13.6 million.

In order to mitigate our interest rate exposure, we entered into an interest rate swap, effective August 12, 2008, to fix our floating LIBOR based debt. The two-year interest rate swap arrangement for $100 million at a fixed rate of 3.367% originally was set to expire on August 12, 2010.  The interest rate swap was amended in February 2009 lowering our fixed rate to 2.95%.  The interest rate swap was further amended in November 2009 lowering our fixed rate to 2.55% and extending the term through August 12, 2012.
 

The following table illustrates the impact of derivative contracts on the Company’s balance sheet:
 
 
March 31, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
 
 
Balance Sheet
Location
 
 
Fair Value
 
Balance Sheet
Location
 
 
Fair Value
 
NYMEX-based fixed price derivative contracts
Derivative asset - current
  $ 6,925  
Derivative asset - current
  $ 6,941  
                     
NYMEX-based fixed price derivative contracts
Derivative asset – long-term
  $ 7,151  
Derivative asset – long-term
  $ 8,674  
                     
NYMEX-based fixed price derivative contracts
Derivative liability - current
  $ 12,340  
Derivative liability - current
  $ 6,394  
                     
NYMEX-based fixed price derivative contracts
Derivative liability – long-term
  $ 15,302  
Derivative liability – long-term
  $ 11,672  
                     
Interest rate swap
Derivative liability - current
  $ 2,897  
Derivative liability - current
  $ 3,348  

Gains and losses from derivative activities are reflected as “Loss (gain) on derivative contracts” in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Note 7.  Fair Value

On January 1, 2009, the Company adopted the provisions of ASC 820-10 (formerly SFAS 157) for nonfinancial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis.  As it relates to the Company, the adoption applies to certain nonfinancial assets and liabilities as may be acquired in a business combination and thereby measured at fair value, investment in common stock and the initial recognition of asset retirement obligations for which fair value is used.

The adoption of ASC 820-10 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or its disclosures with respect to the initial recognition of asset retirement obligations for the year ended December 31, 2010 or the three months ended March 31, 2011.  These estimates are derived from historical costs as well as management’s expectation of future costs.  As there is no corroborating market activity to support the assumptions used, the Company has designated these liabilities as Level 3.

Fair Value Hierarchy—ASC 820-10 establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy categorizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value into one of three different levels depending on the observability of the inputs employed in the measurement. The three levels are defined as follows:

 
·
Level 1 – inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.




 
·
Level 2 – inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.

 
·
Level 3 - inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability. The Company is further required to assess the creditworthiness of the counter-party to the derivative contract. The results of the assessment of non-performance risk, based on the counter-party’s credit risk, could result in an adjustment of the carrying value of the derivative instrument.

The following tables present information about the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized by the Company to determine such fair value:

   
Quoted Prices
 in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
   
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
 (Level 2)
   
 
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
   
 
 
Balance as of
March 31,
2011
 
Assets
                       
Investment in common stock
  $ 197     $     $     $ 197  
NYMEX Fixed Price Derivative contracts
          14,076             14,076  
Total Assets
  $ 197     $ 14,076     $     $ 14,273  
Liabilities
                               
NYMEX Fixed Price Derivative contracts
  $     $ 27,642     $     $ 27,642  
Interest Rate Swaps
                2,897       2,897  
Total Liabilities
  $     $ 27,642     $ 2,897     $ 30,539  


   
Quoted Prices
 in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
   
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
 (Level 2)
   
 
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
   
 
 
Balance as of
December 31,
2010
 
Assets:
                       
Investment in common stock
  $ 181     $     $     $ 181  
NYMEX Fixed Price Derivative contracts
          15,615             15,615  
Total Assets
  $ 181     $ 15,615     $     $ 15,796  
Liabilities:
                               
NYMEX Fixed Price Derivative contracts
  $     $ 18,066     $     $ 18,066  
Interest Rate Swaps
                3,348       3,348  
Total Liabilities
  $     $ 18,066     $ 3,348     $ 21,414  



The Company has an investment in Insignia Energy Ltd, the surviving entity in the merger with a former subsidiary, consisting of shares of common stock. The stock is actively traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. This investment is valued at its quoted price as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 in US dollars. Accordingly, this investment is characterized as Level 1.

The Company’s derivative contracts consist of NYMEX-based fixed price commodity swaps and interest rate swaps, which are not traded on a public exchange. The NYMEX-based fixed price derivative contracts are indexed to NYMEX futures contracts, which are actively traded, for the underlying commodity, and are commonly used in the energy industry. A number of financial institutions and large energy companies act as counter-parties to these type of derivative contracts. As the fair value of these derivative contracts is based on a number of inputs, including contractual volumes and prices stated in each derivative contract, current and future NYMEX commodity prices, and quantitative models that are based upon readily observable market parameters that are actively quoted and can be validated through external sources, we have characterized these derivative contracts as Level 2.

In order to mitigate our interest rate exposure, we entered into an interest rate swap, effective August 12, 2008, to fix our floating LIBOR based debt. The two-year interest rate swap arrangement for $100 million at a fixed rate of 3.367% originally was set to expire on August 12, 2010.  The interest rate swap was amended in February 2009 lowering our fixed rate to 2.95%.  The interest rate swap was further amended in November 2009 lowering our fixed rate to 2.55% and extending the term through August 12, 1012. As there is no actively traded market for this type of swap and no observable market parameters, these derivative contracts are classified as Level 3.
 

Additional information for the Company’s recurring fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 inputs) for the three months ended March 31, 2011 is as follows:

   
Derivative Assets (Liabilities) - net
 
Balance December 31, 2010
  $ (3,348 )
Total realized and unrealized losses included in change in net liability
    (149 )
Settlements during the period
    600  
Balance March 31, 2011
  $ (2,897 )
 
Note 8. Business Segments

 
The following table provides the Company’s geographic operating segment data for the three months ended March 31, 2011:
 
   
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
 
   
U.S
 
Canada
 
Corporate
 
Total
 
Revenues:
                 
Oil and gas production
  $ 13,658   $ 189   $   $ 13,847  
Rig revenue
    195             195  
Other
            1     1  
      13,853     189     1     14,043  
                           
Costs and expenses:
                         
Lease operating
    3,886     135         4,021  
Production taxes
    1,254             1,254  
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
    3,273     95     62     3,430  
General and administrative
    516     219     1,911     2,646  
Rig operations
    189             189  
Net interest
            1,603     1,603  
Amortization of deferred financing fees
            500     500  
Equity in gain of joint venture
            (749 )   (749 )
Loss on derivative contracts
            11,093     11,093  
Other
            75     75  
Net income (loss) 
  $ 4,735   $ (260 ) $ (14,494 ) $ (10,019 )
                           



 

The following table provides the Company’s geographic asset data as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010:

Segment Assets:
 
March 31,
 2011
   
December 31,
2010
 
United States                                                           
  $ 122,003     $ 152,599  
Canada                                                           
    5,761       4,393  
Corporate                                                           
    52,506       25,917  
    $ 180,270     $ 182,909  
                 


Note 9. Contingencies – Litigation

From time to time, the Company is involved in litigation relating to claims arising out of its operations in the normal course of business. At March 31, 2011, the Company was not engaged in any legal proceedings that are expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on its operations.
 

 


 

 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

All tabular amounts are in thousands except per unit values.

The following is a discussion of our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and capital resources. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2011.

Critical Accounting Policies

There have been no changes from the Critical Accounting Policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

General
 
We are an independent energy company primarily engaged in the development and production of oil and gas in the United States and Canada. Historically, we have grown through the acquisition and subsequent development and exploitation of producing properties, principally through the redevelopment of old fields utilizing new technologies such as modern log analysis and reservoir modeling techniques as well as 3-D seismic surveys and horizontal drilling. As a result of these activities, we believe that we have a number of development opportunities on our properties. In addition, we intend to expand upon our development activities with complementary exploration projects in our core areas of operation. Success in our development and exploration activities is critical in the maintenance and growth of our current production levels and associated reserves.
 
 
Factors Affecting Our Financial Results 
 
While we have attained positive net income in three of the last five years, we cannot assure you that we can achieve positive operating income and net income in the future. Our financial results depend upon many factors, which significantly affect our results of operations including the following: 

 
·
commodity prices and the effectiveness of our hedging arrangements;
 
 
·
total sales volumes of oil and gas;
 
 
·
the availability of, and our ability to raise additional capital resources and provide liquidity to meet cash flow needs;
 
 
·
interest rates on borrowings; and
 
 
·
the level and success of exploration and development activity.

 
Commodity Prices and Hedging Activities
 
The results of our operations are highly dependent upon the prices received for our oil and gas production. The prices we receive for our production are dependent upon spot market prices, price differentials and the effectiveness of our derivative contracts, which we sometimes refer to as hedging arrangements. Substantially all of our sales of oil and gas are made in the spot market, or pursuant to contracts based on spot market prices, and not pursuant to long-term, fixed-price contracts. Accordingly, the prices received for our oil and gas production are dependent upon numerous factors beyond our control. Significant declines in prices for oil and gas could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and quantities of reserves recoverable on an economic basis. 

During the three months ended March 31, 2011, the price of oil increased significantly from the levels experienced during the three months ended March 31, 2010. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, the New York Mercantile (NYMEX) price for West Texas Intermediate crude oil (WTI) averaged $94.48 per barrel as compared to $78.81 per barrel during the three months ended March 31, 2010. During
 


the three months ended March 31, 2011, the average price of gas decreased from the levels experienced during the three months ended March 31, 2010. NYMEX Henry Hub spot prices for gas averaged $4.18 per MMbtu for the three months ended March 31, 2011 compared to $5.09 for the same period of 2010. Prices closed on March 31, 2011 at $106.72 per Bbl of oil and $4.30 per MMbtu of gas. The realized prices that we receive for our production differ from NYMEX futures and spot market prices, principally due to:
 
 
·
basis differentials which are dependent on actual delivery location;
 
 
·
adjustments for BTU content; and
 
 
·
gathering, processing and transportation costs.
 
During the three months ended March 31, 2011, differentials averaged $(9.35) per Bbl of oil and $(0.56) per Mcf of gas as compared to $(6.66) per Bbl of oil and $(0.22) per Mcf of gas during the three months ended March 31, 2010.  Oil and gas differentials increased due to overall increases in basis differentials for oil and gas across all of our operating areas. Increases in the differential between the benchmark prices for oil and gas and the wellhead price we receive could significantly reduce our revenues and our cash flow from operations.

Our credit facility required us to enter into hedging arrangements for specified volumes, which equated to approximately 80% of the estimated oil and gas production from our net proved developed producing reserves (as of December 31, 2010) through December 31, 2012 and 67% for 2013.
 
By removing a significant portion of price volatility on our future oil and gas production, we believe we will mitigate, but not eliminate, the potential effects of changing commodity prices on our cash flow from operations for those periods.  However, when prevailing market prices are higher than our contract prices, we will not realize increased cash flow on the portion of the production that has been hedged.  We have sustained and in the future will sustain realized and unrealized losses on our derivative contracts when market prices are higher than our contract prices. Conversely, when prevailing market prices are lower than our contract prices, we will sustain realized and unrealized gains on our commodity derivative contracts.   For the three months ended March 31, 2011, we incurred a realized gain of $457,000 and an unrealized loss of $11.4 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2011, we incurred a realized loss of $138,000 and an unrealized gain of $12.5 million. We have not designated any of these derivative contracts as a hedge as prescribed by applicable accounting rules.
 
The following table sets forth our derivative position at March 31, 2011:

   
Fixed Price Swap
 
   
Oil
   
Gas
 
Contract Periods
 
Daily Volume (Bbl)
   
Swap
Price
   
Daily Volume (MMbtu)
   
Swap
Price
 
2011
    1,035     $ 76.61       9,580     $ 6.52  
2012
    946     $ 70.89       8,303     $ 6.77  
2013
    705     $ 80.79       5,962     $ 6.84  

At March 31, 2011, the aggregate fair value of our oil and gas derivative contracts was a liability of approximately $13.6 million.

Production Volumes
 
 Because our proved reserves will decline as oil and gas are produced, unless we find, acquire or develop additional properties containing proved reserves or conduct successful exploration and development activities, our reserves and production will decrease.    Based on the reserve information set forth in our reserve estimates as of December 31, 2010, the average annual estimated decline rate for our net proved developed producing reserves is 12% during the first five years, 8% in the next five years, and approximately 7% thereafter.  These rates of decline are estimates and actual production declines could be materially higher.  While we have had some success in finding, acquiring and developing additional reserves, we have not always been able to fully replace the production volumes lost from natural field declines and prior property sales. Our ability to acquire or find additional reserves will be dependent, in part, upon the amount of available funds for acquisition, exploration and development projects. We


 
had capital expenditures of $9.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2011. We have a capital expenditure budget for 2011 of approximately $60.0 million.  Approximately 50% of the 2011 budget will be spent on unconventional horizontal oil wells in the Bakken/Three Forks and Niobrara plays in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States and the other 50% will target conventional oil plays in the Permian Basin and onshore Gulf Coast regions of the United States and in the province of Alberta, Canada.  The 2011 capital expenditure budget is subject to change depending upon a number of factors, including the availability and costs of drilling and service equipment and crews, economic and industry conditions at the time of drilling, prevailing and anticipated prices for oil and gas, the availability of sufficient capital resources, the results of our exploitation efforts, and our ability to obtain permits for drilling locations.
 
Availability of Capital
 
As described more fully under “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below, our sources of capital are cash flow from operating activities, borrowings under our credit facility, cash on hand, proceeds from the sale of properties, and if an appropriate opportunity presents itself, the sale of debt or equity securities, although we may not be able to complete any financing on terms acceptable to us, if at all.  As of March 31, 2011, we had $59.0 million of availability under our credit facility.
 
Exploration and Development Activity
 
We believe that our high quality asset base, high degree of operational control and inventory of drilling projects position us for future growth. At December 31, 2010, we operated properties accounting for approximately 80% of our PV-10, giving us substantial control over the timing and incurrence of operating and capital expenditures. We have identified numerous additional drilling locations (of which 154 were classified as proved undeveloped at December 31, 2010) on our existing leasehold, the successful development of which we believe could significantly increase our production and proved reserves.
 
Our future oil and gas production, and therefore our success, is highly dependent upon our ability to find, acquire and develop additional reserves that are profitable to produce. The rate of production from our oil and gas properties and our proved reserves will decline as our reserves are produced unless we acquire additional properties containing proved reserves, conduct successful development and exploration activities or, through engineering studies, identify additional behind-pipe zones or secondary recovery reserves. We cannot assure you that our exploration and development activities will result in increases in our proved reserves. If our proved reserves decline in the future, our production may also decline and, consequently, our cash flow from operations and the amount that we are able to borrow under our credit facility will also decline. In addition, approximately 49% of our estimated proved reserves at December 31, 2010 were undeveloped. By their nature, estimates of undeveloped reserves are less certain. Recovery of such reserves will require significant capital expenditures and successful drilling operations. We may be unable to acquire or develop additional reserves, in which case our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
 
2011 Developments
 
Sale of Common Stock
 
On February 1, 2011, we closed a public offering of 23.6 million shares of common stock (of which 8.5 million shares were sold by certain selling stockholders) at a public offering price of $4.40 per share for total net proceeds to us of approximately $62.1 million, after estimated fees and expenses.  We used the net proceeds from the offering to repay indebtedness outstanding under our credit facility, to increase our 2011 capital expenditure budget and for general corporate purposes.  We did not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholders.
 




Operational Update

Weather Related Downtime
   
    During the first quarter of 2011, we experienced above normal weather related downtime, principally in the Rocky Mountain region due to severe winter weather, which reduced production during the quarter by approximately 268 Boepd, or approximately 7% of our total production.

Rocky Mountain
   
    In Dunn, McKenzie and Sheridan Counties, North Dakota and Richland County, Montana, eight non-operated horizontal wells, targeting the Bakken or Three Forks formation, in which we own a working interest are currently in progress.  Four wells are waiting on completion and four are flowing back after each well was completed with a 24 stage fracture stimulation.  Our working interest ranges from 1.8% to 36.2% in each of these wells.  Since January 2010, we have elected to participate in 16 gross (0.97 net) non-operated wells in the Bakken/ Three Forks play, three of which have yet to spud.
   
    In our operated Bakken/Three Forks play in the Williston Basin, we are in the process of securing long-term contracts for a drilling rig and completion services, which if successful, we anticipate starting a multi-year operated drilling program late this summer.
 
    In Campbell and Niobrara Counties, Wyoming, a two well oil development program is scheduled to begin this summer.  One of these horizontal wells will target the Niobrara formation and one will target the Turner formation.  We own a 100% working interest in each of these wells.

West Texas
   
    In Nolan County, Texas, a multi-well oil development program is scheduled to begin in May 2011 on the Spires Ranch.  Each of these horizontal wells will target the Strawn formation at an approximate total measured depth of 9,900 feet, including a 2,600 foot lateral.  We own a 100% working interest in each of these wells.

South Texas
 
    In San Patricio County, Texas, a multi-well oil development program began in March 2011.  To-date, six wells have been drilled, three of which targeted the dual objectives of the 7,400 and 8,100 foot Frio sands and three targeted the 7,400 foot Frio sand.  Five of these wells have reached total depth and completion operations are underway.  The sixth well is currently drilling below 7,000 feet and the seventh well will spud shortly.  After the seventh well, the rig will be released in order to catch up on the completions and evaluate the program.  We own a 100% working interest in each of these vertical wells.
   
    In DeWitt County, Texas, Blue Eagle drilled the T Bird 1H to a total measured depth of 19,450 feet, including a 5,700 foot lateral which is one of the longest laterals drilled in the Eagle Ford Shale play to-date.  The well was completed with a 15-stage fracture stimulation and placed on-line in late January 2011 at a restricted rate.  During the first 45 days of production, the well produced an average of 1,500 Boepd on a 12/64-inch choke.  We currently own an approximate 50% equity interest in Blue Eagle, which is a joint venture between Rock Oil Company, LLC and us.
 
    In DeWitt County, Texas, Blue Eagle participated in a non-operated horizontal well targeting the Eagle Ford formation with its 43.9% working interest.  The well, the Matejek Gas Unit 1, was drilled to a total measured depth of approximately 17,865 feet, including a 3,600 foot lateral, and will be completed with a multi-stage fracture stimulation in the near future.


Canada
 
    In Alberta, Canada, two wells offsetting the successful Twining 9-11 well will be drilled back-to-back this summer.  The wells will be drilled horizontally and will target the Pekisko formation.  Our indirect wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary owns a 100% working interest in each of these wells.

 
Results of Operations
 
Results of Operations do not include our interest in the operations of Blue Eagle.
 
The following table sets forth certain of our consolidated operating data for the periods presented:
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Operating revenue: (1)
           
Oil sales
  $ 9,885     $ 8,779  
Gas sales
    3,772       7,000  
NGL sales
    190       84  
Rig operations
    195       261  
Other
    1       2  
    $ 14,043     $ 16,126  
                 
Operating income
  $ 2,503     $ 3,258  
                 
Oil production (MBbl)
    116       121  
Gas production (MMcf)
    1,041       1,438  
NGL production (MBbl)
    4       2  
Average oil sales price ($/Bbl) (1)
  $ 85.13     $ 72.51  
Average gas sales price ($/Mcf) (1)
  $ 3.62     $ 4.87  
Average NGL sales price ($/Bbl)
  $ 47.64     $ 47.46  

 
 
(1)
Revenue and average sales prices are before the impact of derivative activities.
 
Comparison of Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 to Three Months Ended March 31, 2010
 
Operating Revenue. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, operating revenue from oil gas and NGL sales decreased to $13.8 million compared to $15.9 million during the same period of 2010. The decrease in revenue was due to lower realized prices for gas, which offset higher realized prices for oil, as well as a decrease in sales volumes. Increased oil prices contributed $1.5 million to oil revenue, while decreased gas prices had a negative impact of $1.8 million to gas revenue. Decreased sales volumes had a negative impact of approximately $1.8 million on oil and gas revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2011.

Oil sales volumes decreased from 121 MBbls during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 to 116 MBbls for the same period of 2011. The decrease in oil sales volumes was due to sales of non-core properties during 2010, natural field declines and the timing of new wells being brought on line.  The divested properties produced 10 MBbls during the first quarter of 2010.  New wells brought onto production since the first quarter of 2010 contributed 18 MBbls to production for the three months ended March 31, 2011. Gas sales volumes decreased from 1,438 MMcf for the three months ended March 31, 2010 to 1,041 MMcf for the same period of 2011.  The decrease in gas production was due to sales of non-core properties during 2010, natural field declines and the timing of new wells being brought on line. The divested properties produced 213 MMcf during the first quarter of 2010.  New wells brought onto production since the first quarter of 2010 contributed 20 MMcf to production for the three months ended March 31, 2011.  NGL production increased to 4 MBbl for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from 2 MBbl for the same period of 2010. The increase in NGL production was primarily due to increased gas production in West Texas and North Dakota that has a higher NGL content than our historical gas production.
 
 
Lease Operating Expenses (“LOE”). LOE for the three months ended March 31, 2011 decreased to $4.0 million from $4.6 million for the same period in 2010. LOE related to properties sold were $511,000 in the first quarter of 2010. LOE  per Boe  for the three months ended March 31, 2011 was $13.69 compared to $12.65 for the same period of 2010.  The increase per Boe was primarily due to lower sales volumes for the three months ended March 31, 2011 as compared to the same period of 2010.

 
Production and Ad Valorem Taxes. Production and ad valorem taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2011 decreased to $1.3 million from $1.7 million for the same period of 2010. Production and advalorem taxes related to the properties sold were $202,000 in the first quarter of 2010. Increased production taxes resulting from higher oil prices were offset by lower gas prices for the first quarter of 2011 as compared to the same period of 2010.
 
General and Administrative (“G&A”) Expenses. G&A expenses, excluding stock-based compensation, for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased to $2.3 million from $1.8 million for the same period of 2010. The increase in G&A was primarily related to bonuses not realized in 2010 due to the timing of the bonus calculation. Final calculations were made subsequent to filing the 2010 Form 10-K.  G&A per Boe was $7.77 for the three months ended March 31, 2011 compared to $5.05 for the same period of 2010. The increase per Boe was primarily due to increased cost and lower production volumes for the three months ended March 31, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.
 
Stock-based Compensation.  Options granted to employees and directors are valued at the date of grant and expense is recognized over the options vesting period. In addition to options, restricted shares of the Company’s common stock have been granted and are valued at the date of grant and expense is recognized over their vesting period. For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, stock-based compensation was approximately $363,000 and $310,000, respectively. The increase in 2011 as compared to 2010 was due to stock option grants  in the first quarter of 2011.
 
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (“DD&A”) Expenses. DD&A expense for the three months ended March 31, 2011 decreased to $3.4 million from $4.2 million for same period of 2010. The decrease in DD&A was primarily the result of decreased production volumes for the first quarter of 2011 as compared to the same period of 2010, the contribution of properties to Blue Eagle and the divestiture of non-core properties, offset by an increase to the depletion base from an increase in future development costs as determined by the December 31, 2010 reserve report.  DD&A per Boe for the three months ended March 31, 2011 was $11.68 compared to $11.70 in 2010.

Interest Expense. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2011 decreased to $1.6 million from $2.3 million for the same period of 2010. The decrease in interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2011 was primarily due to lower levels of debt as compared to the same period of 2010.

Loss (gain) on derivative contracts. We account for derivative contract gains and losses based on realized and unrealized amounts. The realized derivative gains or losses are determined by actual derivative settlements during the period. Unrealized gains and losses are based on the periodic mark to market valuation of derivative contracts in place. Our derivative contract transactions do not qualify for hedge accounting as prescribed by ASC 815; therefore, fluctuations in the market value of the derivative contracts are recognized in earnings during the current period. Our derivative contracts consist of commodity swaps and interest rate swaps. The estimated value of our derivative contracts was a liability of approximately $16.5 million as of March 31, 2011. When our derivative contract prices are higher than prevailing market prices, we incur realized and unrealized gains and conversely, when our derivative contract prices are lower than prevailing market prices, we incur realized and unrealized losses. For the three months ended March 31, 2011, we realized a loss on our derivative contracts of $115,000, which included a realized gain of $457,000 on our commodity swaps and a realized loss of $572,000 on our interest rate swap.  For the three months ended March 31, 2011, we incurred an unrealized loss of $11.0 million on our derivative contracts, which included an unrealized loss of $11.4 million on our commodity swaps and an unrealized gain of $423,000 on our interest rate swap.   For the three months ended March 31, 2010, we realized a loss on our derivative contracts of $718,000, which included a realized loss of $138,000 on our commodity swaps and a realized loss of $580,000 on our interest rate swap.  For the three months ended March 31, 2010, we incurred an unrealized gain of $11.7 million, which included an unrealized gain of $12.5 million on our commodity swaps and an unrealized loss of $756,000 on our interest rate swap.
 
Equity in loss (gain) of joint venture. On August 18, 2010, Abraxas Petroleum and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Abraxas Operating, LLC, contributed 8,333 net acres in the Eagle Ford Shale play to Blue
 

Eagle Energy, LLC (“Blue Eagle”) and received a $25 million equity interest in Blue Eagle pursuant to the terms of the Subscription and Contribution Agreement among Abraxas Petroleum, Abraxas Operating, Blue Eagle and Rock Oil Company, LLC (“Rock Oil”) formerly known as Blue Stone Oil & Gas, LLC. Simultaneously, Rock Oil contributed $25 million in cash to Blue Eagle for a $25 million equity interest in Blue Eagle. Rock Oil committed to contribute an additional $50 million to Blue Eagle and upon full funding, Abraxas Petroleum will own a 25% equity interest in Blue Eagle and Rock Oil will own a 75% equity interest in Blue Eagle.
 
Blue Eagle’s subject area encompasses 12 counties across the Eagle Ford Shale play for expected future acreage acquisitions. Abraxas Petroleum will operate the wells owned by Blue Eagle and Rock Oil will manage the day-to-day business affairs of Blue Eagle.   Robert L. G. Watson, our President and CEO, serves as one of the three members of the Board of Managers of Blue Eagle.
 
Our investment in Blue Eagle for which we do not have a majority interest, but do have significant influence, is accounted for under the equity method. Under the equity method of accounting, our share of net income (loss) from the joint venture is reflected as an increase (decrease) in our investment account and is also recorded as equity investment income (loss). Our net share of Blue Eagle’s earnings or losses is reported as “Equity in loss (gain) of joint venture” in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. For three months ended March 31, 2011, our net share of Blue Eagle’s net income was $749,000.
 
The following table represents our equity interest in Blue Eagle’s production:
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2011
 
Oil production (MBbl)                                                                                        
    7,282  
Gas production (MMcf)                                                                                        
    107,063  
NGL  production (MBbl)                                                                                        
    11,539  
Average oil sales price ($/Bbl)                                                                                        
  $ 85.17  
Average gas sales price ($/Mcf)                                                                                        
  $ 4.04  
Average NGL sales price ($/Bbl)                                                                                        
  $ 43.00  


Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

We discuss recently adopted and issued accounting standards in Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 1, “Basis of Presentation.”

 Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
General. The oil and gas industry is a highly capital intensive and cyclical business. Our capital requirements are driven principally by our obligations to service debt and to fund the following:

 
·
the development of existing properties, including drilling and completion costs of wells;
 
 
·
acquisition of interests in additional oil and gas properties; and
 
 
·
production and transportation facilities.
 
The amount of capital expenditures we are able to make has a direct impact on our ability to increase cash flow from operations and, thereby, will directly affect our ability to service our debt obligations and to continue to grow the business through the development of existing properties and the acquisition of new properties.
 
Our principal sources of capital going forward will be cash flow from operations, borrowings under our credit facility, cash on hand, proceeds from the sale of properties, and if an opportunity presents itself, the sale of debt or equity securities, although we may not be able to complete any financings on terms acceptable to us, if at all.
 



 
Working Capital (Deficit). At March 31, 2011, our current liabilities of approximately $33.5 million exceeded our current assets of $20.9 million resulting in a working capital deficit of $12.6 million. This compares to a working capital deficit of approximately $8.9 million at December 31, 2010. Current liabilities at March 31, 2011 primarily consisted of the current portion of derivative liabilities of $15.2 million, trade payables of $9.2 million, revenues due third parties of $7.7 million, and other accrued liabilities of $1.2 million.
 
Capital expenditures. Capital expenditures during three months ended March 31, 2011 were $9.8 million compared to $5.2 million during the same period of 2010. The table below sets forth the components of these capital expenditures.
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Expenditure category:
           
Development
  $ 9,667     $ 5,133  
Facilities and other
    98       38  
Total
  $ 9,765     $ 5,171  

During the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, capital expenditures were primarily for development of our existing oil and gas properties.  We anticipate making capital expenditures in 2011 of $60.0 million. The 2011 capital expenditure budget is subject to change depending upon a number of factors, including the availability and costs of drilling and service equipment and crews, economic and industry conditions at the time of drilling, prevailing and anticipated prices for oil and gas, the availability of sufficient capital resources, the results of our exploitation efforts, and ability to obtain permits for drilling locations. With the increased number of drilling rigs running, particularly in the Williston Basin and in the Eagle Ford Shale play, together with the increased number of stages on a given frac job, frac crews and equipment are in short supply. As a result, we have experienced and may in the future experience delays in procuring services for the multi-stage frac jobs that we have planned for our operated wells, which would delay the completion of successfully drilled wells.  Our capital expenditures could also include expenditures for the acquisition of producing properties, if such opportunities arise.  Additionally, the level of capital expenditures will vary during future periods depending on economic and industry conditions and commodity prices. Should the prices of oil and gas decline and if our costs of operations increase or if our production volumes decrease, our cash flows will decrease which may result in a reduction of the capital expenditure budget. If we decrease our capital expenditure budget, we may not be able to offset oil and gas production decreases caused by natural field declines.
 
Sources of Capital. The net funds provided by and/or used in each of the operating, investing and financing activities are summarized in the following table and discussed in further detail below:
 

   
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
  $ (4,928 )   $ 4,017  
Net cash (used in)  provided by investing activities
    (1,308 )     3,304  
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    7,096       (8,206 )
Total
  $ 860     $ (885 )
 
Operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2011 used $4.9 million of cash compared to providing $4.0 million in the same period in 2010.  Net income plus non-cash expense items during the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 and net changes in operating assets and liabilities accounted for most of these funds.  Investing activities used $1.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2011 compared to providing $3.3 million for the same period of 2010. Funds used during the first three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 were expenditures for the development of our existing properties offset by proceeds from the sale of non-core properties.  Financing activities provided $7.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 compared to using $8.2 million for the same period in 2010. Funds provided during the three months ended March 31, 2011 were primarily the proceeds from our equity offering in February 2011 of $62.1 million offset by payments on our long term debt of $57.0 million.
 
    Future Capital Resources. Our principal sources of capital going forward are cash flow from operations, borrowings under our credit facility, cash on hand, proceeds from the sale of properties, and if an opportunity presents itself, the sale of debt or equity securities, although we may not be able to complete financing on terms acceptable to us, if at all.

In the fourth quarter of 2009 and throughout 2010, we sold certain non-operated, non-core assets, to generate cash for debt repayment and to accelerate our drilling program.  We sold properties in nine different states for combined net proceeds of approximately $32.2 million (of which $8.4 million was received in February 2011) at various property auctions to numerous buyers. The first $10.0 million of net proceeds was used to repay the term loan portion of our credit facility and the remaining $22.2 million was used to repay outstanding indebtedness under the revolving portion of the credit facility, for capital expenditures and general corporate purposes.
 
On February 1, 2011, we closed a public offering of 23.6 million shares of common stock (of which 8.5 million shares were sold by certain selling stockholders) at a public offering price of $4.40 per share for total net proceeds to us of approximately $62.1 million, after estimated fees and expenses.  We used the net proceeds from the offering to repay indebtedness outstanding under our credit facility, to increase our 2011 capital expenditure budget and for general corporate purposes.  We did not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholders.

Cash from operating activities is dependent upon commodity prices and production volumes.  Oil and gas prices are volatile; oil prices increased during 2010 and have continued to increase during the first three months of 2011, while gas prices remain weak. A decrease in commodity prices from current levels could reduce our cash flows from operations.  This could cause us to alter our business plans, including reducing our exploration and development plans.  Unless we otherwise expand and develop reserves, our production volumes may decline as reserves are produced.  In the future we may sell producing properties, which could further reduce our production volumes. To offset the loss in production volumes resulting from natural field declines and sales of producing properties, we must conduct successful exploration and development activities, acquire additional producing properties or identify and develop additional behind-pipe zones or secondary recovery reserves. We believe our numerous drilling opportunities will allow us to increase our production volumes; however, our drilling activities are subject to numerous risks, including the risk that no commercially productive oil and gas reservoirs will be found. Additionally, due to the increased number of drilling rigs running, particularly in the Williston Basin and in the Eagle Ford Shale play, together with the increased number of stages on any given frac job, frac crews and equipment are in short supply.  As a result, we have experienced and  may in the future experience delays in procuring services for the multi-stage frac jobs that we have planned for our operated wells, which would delay the completion of successfully drilled wells. If our proved reserves decline in the future, our production will also decline and, consequently, our cash flow from operations and the amount that we are able to borrow under our credit facility will also decline. The risk of not finding commercially productive reservoirs will be compounded by the fact that 49% of our total estimated proved reserves at December 31, 2010 were classified as undeveloped.

Contractual Obligations. We are committed to making cash payments in the future on the following types of agreements:
 
 
·
Long-term debt, and

 
·
Operating leases for office facilities. 




Below is a schedule of the future payments that we are obligated to make based on agreements in place as of March 31, 2011:
 
   
Payments due in twelve month periods ending:
 
Contractual Obligations
 
 
Total
   
March 31,
 2012
   
March 31,
2013-2014
   
March 31,
2015-2016
   
Thereafter
 
Long-term debt (1)
  $ 86,052     $ 153     $ 81,341     $ 4,558     $  
Interest on long-term debt (2) 
    8,344       4,980       3,043       321        
Lease obligations (3)
    130       46       84              
Total
  $ 94,526     $ 5,179     $ 84,468     $ 4,879     $  
 
 
(1)
These amounts represent the balances outstanding under our credit facility and the real estate lien note. These repayments assume that we will not borrow additional funds.
 
 
(2)
Interest expense assumes the balances of long-term debt at the end of the period and current effective interest rates.
 
 
(3)
Lease on office space in Calgary, Alberta, which expires on January 30, 2014.
 
We maintain a reserve for cost associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets. At March 31, 2011, our reserve for these obligations totaled $7.9 million for which no contractual commitment exists. For additional information relating to this obligation, see Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. At March 31, 2011, we had no existing off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined under SEC regulations, which have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
 
Contingencies. From time to time, we are involved in litigation relating to claims arising out of our operations in the normal course of business. At March 31, 2011, we were not engaged in any legal proceedings that were expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
 
Other obligations. We make and will continue to make substantial capital expenditures for the acquisition, development, exploration and production of oil and gas. In the past, we have funded our operations and capital expenditures primarily through cash flow from operations, sales of properties, sales of production payments and borrowings under our credit facilities and other sources. Given our high degree of operating control, the timing and incurrence of operating and capital expenditures is largely within our discretion.

Long-Term Indebtedness

Long-term debt consisted of the following:
 
   
March 31, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
Credit facility
  $ 81,000     $ 136,000  
Real estate lien note
    5,052       5,092  
      86,052       141,092  
Less current maturities
    (153 )     (152 )
    $ 85,899     $ 140,940  
 
Credit Facility. On October 5, 2009, we entered into an amended and restated senior secured credit facility with Société Générale, as administrative agent and issuing lender, and certain other lenders, which we refer to as the credit facility, which was amended on August 18, 2010.  As of March 31, 2011, $81.0 million was outstanding under the credit facility.

  
   The credit facility has a maximum commitment of $300.0 million and availability is subject to a borrowing base. The borrowing base is currently $140.0 million and is determined semi-annually by the lenders based upon our reserve reports, one of which must be prepared by our independent petroleum engineers and one of which may be prepared internally. The amount of the borrowing base is calculated by the lenders based upon their valuation of our proved reserves utilizing these reserve reports and their own internal decisions. In addition, the lenders, in their sole discretion, are able to make one additional borrowing base redetermination during any six-month period between scheduled redeterminations and we are able to request one redetermination during any six-month period between scheduled redeterminations.  The lenders are also able to make a redetermination in connection with any sales of producing properties with a market value of 5% or more of our then-current borrowing base and in connection with any hedge termination which could reduce the collateral value by 5% or more. Our borrowing base of $140.0 million was determined based upon our reserve report dated June 30, 2010. Our borrowing base can never exceed the $300.0 million maximum commitment amount.  Outstanding amounts under the credit facility bear interest at (a) the greater of (1) the reference rate announced from time to time by Société Générale, (2) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5%, and (3) a rate determined by Société Générale as the daily one-month LIBOR plus, in each case, (b) 1.5%—2.75%, depending on the utilization of the borrowing base, or, if we elect, at the greater of (1) 2.0% and (2) LIBOR plus, in each case, 2.5%—3.75%, depending on the utilization of the borrowing base. At March 31, 2011, the interest rate on the credit facility was 5.75%.

Subject to earlier termination rights and events of default, the stated maturity date of the credit facility is October 5, 2012. Interest is payable quarterly on reference rate advances and not less than quarterly on Eurodollar advances. We are permitted to terminate the credit facility and are able, from time to time, to permanently reduce the lenders’ aggregate commitment under the credit facility in compliance with certain notice and dollar increment requirements.

Each of our subsidiaries has guaranteed our obligations under the credit facility on a senior secured basis. Obligations under the credit facility are secured by a first priority perfected security interest, subject to certain permitted encumbrances, in all of our and our subsidiary guarantors’ material property and assets.

Under the credit facility, we are subject to customary covenants, including certain financial covenants and reporting requirements.  We are required to maintain a current ratio as of the last day of each quarter of not less than 1.00 to 1.00 and an interest coverage ratio as of the last day of each quarter of not less than 2.50 to 1.00.  We are also required to maintain a total debt to EBITDAX ratio as of the last day of each quarter of not more than 4.00 to 1.00.  The current ratio is defined as the ratio of consolidated current assets to consolidated current liabilities.  For the purposes of this calculation, current assets include the portion of the borrowing base which is undrawn but excludes any cash deposited with or at the request of a counter-party to a hedging arrangement and any assets representing a valuation account arising from the application of ASC 815 and ASC 410-20 and current liabilities exclude the current portion of long-term debt and any liabilities representing a valuation account arising from the application of ASC 815 and ASC 410-20.  The interest coverage ratio is defined as the ratio of consolidated EBITDAX to consolidated interest expense for the four fiscal quarters ended on the calculation date. For the purposes of this calculation, EBITDAX is consolidated net income plus interest expense, oil and gas exploration expenses, taxes, depreciation, amortization, depletion and other non-cash charges including non-cash charges resulting from the application of ASC 718, ASC 815 and ASC 410-20 plus all realized net cash proceeds arising from the settlement or monetization of any hedge contracts or upon the termination of any hedge contract minus all non-cash items of income which were included in determining consolidated net income, including all non-cash items resulting from the application of ASC 815 and ASC 410-20. Interest expense includes total interest, letter of credit fees and other fees and expenses incurred in connection with any debt. The total debt to EBITDAX ratio is defined as the ratio of total debt to consolidated EBITDAX for the four fiscal quarters ended on the calculation date.  For the purposes of this calculation, total debt is the outstanding principal amount of debt, excluding debt associated with the office building, and obligations with respect to surety bonds and hedge arrangements.  We were in compliance with all covenants as of March 31, 2011.

As of March 31, 2011, the current ratio was 4.77 to 1.00, the interest coverage ratio was 3.23 to 1.00 and the total debt to EBITDAX ratio was 2.48 to 1.00.

The credit facility also required that we enter into hedging arrangements for specified volumes, which equated to approximately 80% of the estimated oil and gas production from our net proved developed producing reserves (as of December 31, 2010) through December 31, 2012 and 67% for 2013.
 

 
In addition to the foregoing and other customary covenants, the credit facility contains a number of covenants that, among other things, restrict our ability to:
 
 
·           incur or guarantee additional indebtedness;
 
 
·           transfer or sell assets;
 
 
·           create liens on assets;
 
 
·           engage in transactions with affiliates other than on an “arm’s-length” basis;
 
 
·           make any change in the principal nature of our business; and
 
 
·           permit a change of control.
 
 
The credit facility also contains customary events of default, including nonpayment of principal or interest, violations of covenants, cross default and cross acceleration to certain other indebtedness, bankruptcy and material judgments and liabilities.
 
Real Estate Lien Note
 
On May 9, 2008, the Company entered into an advancing line of credit in the amount of $5.4 million for the purchase and finish out of a building to serve as its corporate headquarters. This note was refinanced in November 2008.  The note bears interest at a fixed rate of 6.375%, and is payable in monthly installments of principal and interest of $39,754 based on a twenty year amortization. The note matures in May 2015 at which time the outstanding balance becomes due. The note is secured by a first lien deed of trust on the property and improvements. As of March 31, 2011, $5.1 million was outstanding on the note.
 
 
Hedging Activities
 

Our results of operations are significantly affected by fluctuations in commodity prices and we seek to reduce our exposure to price volatility by hedging our production through swaps, options and other commodity derivative instruments. Under the terms of our credit facility, we entered into commodity swaps on approximately 80% of our estimated oil and gas production from our net proved developed producing reserves (as of December 31, 2010) through December 31, 2012 and on 67% for the calendar year 2013.

The following table sets forth our derivative contract position as of March 31, 2011:
 
   
Fixed-Price Swaps
 
   
Oil
   
Gas
 
 
 
Contract Period
 
Daily
Volume
(Bbl)
   
Swap
Price
   
Daily
Volume
(MMbtu)
   
Swap
Price
 
2011
    1,035     $ 76.61       9,580     $ 6.52  
2012
    946     $ 70.89       8,303     $ 6.77  
2013
    705     $ 80.79       5,962     $ 6.84  

By removing a significant portion of price volatility on our future oil and gas production, we believe that we will mitigate, but not eliminate, the potential effects of changing commodity prices on our cash flow from operations.  However, when prevailing market prices are higher than our contract prices, we will not realize increased cash flow on the portion of the production that has been hedged.  We have sustained, and in the future will sustain, realized and unrealized losses on our derivative contracts when market prices are higher than our contract prices. Conversely, when prevailing market prices are lower than our contract prices, we will sustain realized and unrealized gains on our commodity derivative contracts.  For the three months ended March 31, 2011, we incurred a realized gain of approximately $456,000 and an unrealized loss of approximately $11.4 million on our commodity derivative contracts as compared to a realized loss of approximately $138,000 and an unrealized gain of approximately $12.5 million on our commodity
 



 
derivative contracts during the same period of 2010. If the disparity between our contract prices and market prices continues, we will sustain realized and unrealized gains or losses on our derivative contracts. While unrealized gains and losses do not impact our cash flow from operations, realized gains and losses do impact our cash flow from operations.  In addition, as our derivative contracts expire over time, we expect to enter into new derivative contracts at then-current market prices.  If the prices at which we hedge future production are significantly lower than our existing derivative contracts, our future cash flow from operations would likely be materially lower. In addition, the borrowings under our credit facility bear interest at floating rates. If interest expense increases as a result of higher interest rates or increased borrowings, more cash flow from operations would be used to meet debt service requirements.  As a result, we would need to increase our cash flow from operations in order to fund the development of our  drilling opportunities which, in turn, will be dependent upon the level of our production volumes and commodity prices.
 
 See “—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Hedging Sensitivity” for further information.
 
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards.
 
At December 31, 2010, we had, subject to the limitation discussed below, $141.8 million of net operating loss carryforwards for U.S. tax purposes and $1.1 million of net operating loss carryforwards for Canadian tax purposes. The U.S.  loss carryforward will expire from 2022 through 2030 and the Canadian loss carryforward will expire in 2030 if not  utilized.
 
Uncertainties exist as to the future utilization of the net operating loss carryforwards under the criteria set forth under ASC 740-10. Therefore, we have established a valuation allowance of $91.9 million for deferred tax assets at December 31, 2010.
 
We account for uncertain tax positions under provisions of ASC 740-10. ASC 740-10 did not have any effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2010 or for the three months ended March 31, 2011. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. As of March 31, 2011, the Company did not have any accrued interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions. The tax years from 2000 through 2010 remain open to examination by the tax jurisdictions to which the Company is subject. The Company has been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that it plans to audit our 2009 Federal income tax return.

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
 
Commodity Price Risk

As an independent oil and gas producer, our revenue, cash flow from operations, other income and profitability, reserve values, access to capital and future rate of growth are substantially dependent upon the prevailing prices of oil and gas. Declines in commodity prices will adversely affect our financial condition, liquidity, ability to obtain financing and operating results. Lower commodity prices may reduce the amount of oil and gas that we can produce economically. Prevailing prices for such commodities are subject to wide fluctuation in response to relatively minor changes in supply and demand and a variety of additional factors beyond our control, such as global, political and economic conditions. Historically, prices received for our oil and gas production have been volatile and unpredictable, and such volatility is expected to continue. Most of our production is sold at market prices. Generally, if the commodity indexes fall, the price that we receive for our production will also decline. Therefore, the amount of revenue that we realize is partially determined by factors beyond our control. Assuming the production levels we attained during the three months ended March 31, 2011, a 10% decline in oil and gas prices would have reduced our operating revenue, cash flow and net income by approximately $1.4 million; however, due to the derivative contracts that we have in place, it is unlikely that a 10% decline in commodity prices from their current levels would significantly impact our operating revenue, cash flow and net income.

Derivative Instrument Sensitivity
 
   We account for our derivative contracts in accordance with ASC 815. The derivative instruments we utilize are based on index prices that may and often do differ from the actual oil and gas prices realized



in our operations.  Our derivative contract transactions do not qualify for hedge accounting as prescribed by ASC 815; therefore, fluctuations in the market value of the derivative contract are recognized in earnings during the current period.

The following table sets forth our derivative contract position as of March 31, 2011:
 
   
Fixed-Price Swaps
 
   
Oil
   
Gas
 
Contract Period
 
Daily
Volume
(Bbl)
   
Swap
Price
   
Daily
Volume
(MMbtu)
   
Swap
Price
 
2011
    1,035     $ 76.61       9,580     $ 6.52  
2012
    946     $ 70.89       8,303     $ 6.77  
2013
    705     $ 80.79       5,962     $ 6.84  

 
In order to mitigate our interest rate exposure, we entered into an interest rate swap, effective August 12, 2008, to fix our floating LIBOR based debt. The two-year interest rate swap arrangement for $100 million at a fixed rate of 3.367% originally was set to expire on August 12, 2010.  The interest rate swap was amended in February 2009 lowering our fixed rate to 2.95%.  The interest rate swap was further amended in November 2009 lowering our fixed rate to 2.55% and extending the term through August 12, 2012.
 
At March 31, 2011, the aggregate fair market value of our commodity derivative contracts was a liability of approximately $13.6 million and the aggregate fair market value of our interest rate swap was a liability of approximately $2.9 million.
 
For the three months ended March 31, 2011, we recognized a realized gain of $457,000 and an unrealized loss of $11.4 million on our commodity derivative contracts and we recognized a realized loss of $572,000 and an unrealized gain of $423,000 on our interest rate swap.

Interest rate risk

We are subject to interest rate risk associated with borrowings under our credit facility.  As of March 31, 2011, we had $81.0 million of outstanding indebtedness under our credit facility.  Outstanding amounts under the credit facility bear interest at (a) the greater of (1) the reference rate announced from time to time by Société Générale, (2) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5%, and (3) a rate determined by Société Générale as the daily one-month LIBOR plus, in each case, (b) 1.5%—2.75%, depending on the utilization of the borrowing base, or, if we elect, at the greater of (1) 2.0% and (2) LIBOR plus, in each case, 2.5%—3.75%, depending on the utilization of the borrowing base. At March 31, 2011, the interest rate on the credit facility was 5.75%.  For every percentage point that the LIBOR rate rises, our interest expense would increase by approximately $465,000 on an annual basis. In order to mitigate our interest rate exposure, we entered into an interest rate swap, effective August 12, 2008, to fix our floating LIBOR based debt. The two-year interest rate swap arrangement for $100 million at a fixed rate of 3.367% originally was set ti expire on August 12, 2010.  The interest rate swap was amended in February 2009 lowering our fixed rate to 2.95%.  The interest rate swap was further amended in November 2009 lowering our fixed rate to 2.55% and extending the term through August 12, 2012.
 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of Abraxas’ “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rules 13a-15(e)and 15d-15(e)) and concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during the three months  ended March 31, 2011 covered by this report that could materially affect, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our financial reporting.


ABRAXAS PETROLEUM CORPORATION
 
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1.              Legal Proceedings.

There have been no changes in legal proceedings from that described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, and in Note 9 in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Part I of this report on Form 10-Q.

Item 1A.                      Risk Factors.

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing Abraxas. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.


Item 2.              Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

    None

Item 3.              Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

    None

Item 4.              [Removed and Reserved].


Item 5.              Other Information.
   
    None

Item 6.              Exhibits

 
(a)
      Exhibits
 
 
Exhibit 31.1
Certification  - Robert L.G. Watson, CEO
 
Exhibit 31.2
Certification – Chris E. Williford, CFO
 
Exhibit 32.1
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 – Robert L.G. Watson, CEO
 
Exhibit 32.2
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 – Chris E. Williford, CFO




ABRAXAS PETROLEUM CORPORATION
 
SIGNATURES
 

 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 

 
Date:  May 9, 2011
By:/s/ Robert L.G. Watson
ROBERT L.G. WATSON,
President and Chief
Executive Officer
   
Date:  May 9, 2011
By:/s/ Chris E. Williford
CHRIS E. WILLIFORD,
Executive Vice President and
Principal Accounting Officer