The Company is exposed to fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas prices on its production. It can utilize derivative strategies that consist of either a single derivative instrument or a combination of instruments to manage the variability in cash flows associated with the forecasted sale of its future domestic oil and natural gas production. While the use of derivative instruments may limit or partially reduce the downside risk of adverse commodity price movements, the use also may limit future income from favorable commodity price movements.

 

During March 2019, the Company entered into new derivative contracts in the form of costless collars of WTI Crude Oil prices in order to protect the Company’s cash flow from price fluctuation and maintain its capital programs.  “Costless collars” are the combination of two options, a put option (floor) and call option (ceiling) with the options structured so that the premium paid for the put option will be offset by the premium received from selling the call option.  The trades were for a total of 3,500 barrels of oil per day and were for the period of April 2019 through December 2019. The following is a table reflects the put and call prices of those contracts:

 

 

On September 25, 2017, the Company entered into derivative contracts in the form of costless collars for the period of January 2018 through December 2018 for 1,000 barrels per day with a put price of $49.00 and a call price of $54.60.

 

On October 27, 2017, the Company entered into costless collars of WTI Crude Oil for the period of January 2018 through December 2018 for an additional 1,000 barrels of oil per day with a put price of $51.00 and a call price of $54.80.

 

Derivative financial instruments are recorded at fair value and included as either assets or liabilities in the accompanying balance sheets. Any gains or losses resulting from changes in fair value of outstanding derivative financial instruments and from the settlement of derivative financial instruments are recognized in earnings and included as a component of other income (expense) in the accompanying statements of operations.

 

The use of derivative transactions involves the risk that the counterparties, which generally are financial institutions, will be unable to meet the financial terms of such transactions. At March 31, 2019, 100% of our volumes subject to derivative instruments are with lenders under our Credit Facility (as defined in Note 8).

 

As noted in Note 13, the Company entered into additional derivative contracts subsequent to March 31, 2019. These contracts were for an additional 2,000 barrels per day for the period April 2019 through December 2019 and for 2,000 barrels per day for the period January 2020 through December 2020.