Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

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 December 31, 2015

OR

 

¨ 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 000-08565

 

 

Marine Petroleum Trust

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Texas   75-6008017
(State or other jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)   Identification No.)

c/o The Corporate Trustee:

Southwest Bank

2911 Turtle Creek Blvd.

Dallas, Texas 75219

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(855) 588-7839

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

None

(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 such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes   x    No  ¨

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 the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer    ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company    x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).     Yes   ¨     No   x

Indicate the number of units of beneficial interest outstanding as of the latest practicable date:

As of February 1, 2016, Marine Petroleum Trust had 2,000,000 units of beneficial interest outstanding.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

MARINE PETROLEUM TRUST

INDEX

 

     Page
Number
 
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION   

Item 1. Financial Statements

     1   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Trust Corpus as of December  31, 2015 (Unaudited) and June 30, 2015

     1   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Distributable Income for the Three and Six Months Ended December  31, 2015 and 2014 (Unaudited)

     2   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Trust Corpus for the Six Months Ended December  31, 2015 and 2014 (Unaudited)

     3   

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

     4   

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

     5   

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     10   

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

     11   
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION   

Item 1A. Risk Factors

     12   

Item 6. Exhibits

     12   


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

MARINE PETROLEUM TRUST AND SUBSIDIARY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND TRUST CORPUS

As of December 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015

ASSETS

 

     December 31,
2015
     June 30,
2015
 
     (Unaudited)         

Current assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 823,762       $ 792,265   

Federal income tax refundable

     2,800         2,800   

Producing oil and natural gas properties

     7         7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 826,569       $ 795,072   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND TRUST CORPUS

     

Current liabilities:

     

Federal income tax payable

   $ —         $ —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

   $ —         $ —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Trust corpus – 2,000,000 units of beneficial interest

authorized, 2,000,000 units issued at nominal value

   $ 826,569       $ 795,072   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 826,569       $ 795,072   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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MARINE PETROLEUM TRUST AND SUBSIDIARY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF DISTRIBUTABLE INCOME

For the Three and Six Months Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
     Six Months Ended
December 31,
 
     2015      2014      2015      2014  

Income:

           

Oil and natural gas royalties

   $ 172,405       $ 660,619       $ 457,649       $ 1,365,862   

Oil and natural gas royalties from affiliate

     23,058         32,534         30,007         59,649   

Interest income

     63         46         70         60   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total income

     195,526         693,199         487,726         1,425,571   

Expenses:

           

General and administrative

     75,455         77,037         99,355         128,212   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributable income before federal income taxes

     120,071         616,162         388,371         1,297,359   

Federal income taxes of subsidiary

     —           —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributable income

   $ 120,071       $ 616,162       $ 388,371       $ 1,297,359   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributable income per unit

   $ 0.06       $ 0.31       $ 0.19       $ 0.65   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributions per unit

   $ 0.07       $ 0.29       $ 0.18       $ 0.66   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Units outstanding

     2,000,000         2,000,000         2,000,000         2,000,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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MARINE PETROLEUM TRUST AND SUBSIDIARY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN TRUST CORPUS

For the Six Months Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014

(Unaudited)

 

     Six Months Ended
December 31,
 
     2015     2014  

Trust corpus, beginning of period

   $ 795,072      $ 1,134,744   

Distributable income

     388,371        1,297,359   

Distributions to unitholders

     (356,874     (1,318,384
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Trust corpus, end of period

   $ 826,569      $ 1,113,719   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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MARINE PETROLEUM TRUST AND SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

December 31, 2015

(Unaudited)

Note 1. Accounting Policies

The financial statements herein include the financial statements of Marine Petroleum Trust (the “Trust”) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Marine Petroleum Corporation (“MPC,” and collectively with the Trust, “Marine”). The financial statements are condensed and consolidated and should be read in conjunction with Marine’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015. The financial statements included herein are unaudited, but in the opinion of Southwest Bank (the “Trustee”), the Trustee of the Trust, they include all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for the periods presented. Operating results for the interim periods reported herein are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016.

Note 2. Basis of Accounting

The financial statements of Marine are prepared on the modified cash basis method and are not intended to present Marine’s financial position and results of operations in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). Under the modified cash basis method the financial statements of Marine differ from financial statements prepared in conformity with GAAP because of the following:

 

    Royalty income is recognized in the month when received by Marine rather than in the month of production.

 

    Marine’s expenses (including accounting, legal, other professional fees, trustees’ fees and out-of-pocket expenses) are recorded on an actual paid basis in the month paid rather than in the month incurred. Reserves for liabilities that are contingent or uncertain in amount may also be established if considered necessary, which would not be recorded under GAAP.

 

    At the time the Trust was established, no determinable market value was available for the assets transferred to the Trust; consequently, nominal values were assigned. Accordingly, no allowance for depletion has been included. All income from oil and natural gas royalties relate to proved developed oil and natural gas reserves.

The modified cash basis method of accounting corresponds to the accounting principles permitted for royalty trusts by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as specified by Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 12:E, Financial Statements of Royalty Trusts.

Note 3. Distributable Income

The Trust’s Indenture (the “Indenture”) provides that the Trustee is to distribute all cash in the Trust, less an amount reserved for payment of accrued liabilities and estimated future expenses, to unitholders of record on the 28th day of March, June, September and December of each year. If the 28th day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the payments are to be made on the immediately succeeding business day.

As stated under “Note 1. Accounting Policies” above, the financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are the condensed and consolidated financial statements of the Trust and MPC. However, distributable income is paid from the account balances of the Trust. Distributable income is comprised of (i) royalties from offshore Texas leases owned directly by the Trust, (ii) 98% of the royalties received from offshore Louisiana leases owned by MPC, which are retained by and delivered to the Trust on a quarterly basis, (iii) cash distributions from the Trust’s interest in Tidelands Royalty Trust “B” (“Tidelands”), a separate publicly traded royalty trust, (iv) dividends paid by MPC, less (v) administrative expenses incurred by the Trust. Distributions fluctuate from quarter to quarter primarily due to changes in oil and natural gas prices and production quantities.

 

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Note 4. Investment in Affiliate — Tidelands Royalty Trust “B”

At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Trust owned 32.6% of the outstanding units of beneficial interest in Tidelands.

The following summary financial statements have been derived from the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Tidelands:

TIDELANDS CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF DISTRIBUTABLE INCOME

 

     Three
Months
Ended
September 30,
2015
     Three
Months
Ended
December 31,
2014
     Six
Months
Ended
December 31,
2014
 

Income

   $ 115,619       $ 191,064       $ 444,769   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Expenses

     25,900         46,385         76,088   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributable income before Federal income taxes

     89,719         144,679         368,681   

Federal income taxes of Tidelands’ subsidiary

     —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributable income

   $ 89,719       $ 144,679       $ 368,681   

Tidelands is a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that has filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. Tidelands has not yet filed its financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 with the SEC. Therefore, the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Distributable Income of Tidelands have been taken from Tidelands’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2015 and Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, the latest periods for which such information is publicly available. Reference should be made to Tidelands’ public filings for current information concerning Tidelands’ financial position and results of operations.

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

Organization

Marine Petroleum Trust (the “Trust”) is a royalty trust that was created in 1956 under the laws of the State of Texas. Southwest Bank, an independent state bank chartered under the laws of the State of Texas and headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, serves as corporate trustee (the “Trustee”). The Trust’s Indenture (the “Indenture”) provides that the term of the Trust will expire on June 1, 2021, unless extended by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding units of beneficial interest. The Trust is not permitted to engage in any business activity because it was organized for the sole purpose of providing an efficient, orderly and practical means for the administration and liquidation of rights to payments from certain oil and natural gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico, pursuant to license agreements and amendments between the Trust’s predecessors and Gulf Oil Corporation (“Gulf”). As a result of various transactions that have occurred since 1956, these interests now are held by Chevron Corporation (“Chevron”) and its assignees. The Trust holds title to interests in properties that are situated offshore of Texas.

 

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The Trust’s wholly owned subsidiary, Marine Petroleum Corporation (“MPC,” and collectively with the Trust, “Marine”), holds title to interests in properties that are situated offshore of Louisiana because at the time the Trust was created, trusts could not hold these interests under Louisiana law. MPC is prohibited from engaging in a trade or business and only takes those actions that are necessary for the administration and liquidation of its properties.

Marine’s rights are generally referred to as overriding royalty interests in the oil and natural gas industry. An overriding royalty interest is created by an assignment by the owner of a working interest in an oil or natural gas lease. The royalty rights associated with an overriding royalty interest terminate when the underlying lease terminates. All production and marketing functions are conducted by the working interest owners of the leases. Income from overriding royalties is paid to Marine either (i) on the basis of the selling price of oil, natural gas and other minerals produced, saved or sold, or (ii) at the value at the wellhead as determined by industry standards, when the selling price does not reflect the value at the wellhead.

The Trustee assumes that some units of beneficial interest are held by middlemen, as such term is broadly defined in U.S. Treasury Regulations (and includes custodians, nominees, certain joint owners and brokers holding an interest for a customer in street name). Therefore, the Trustee considers the Trust to be a widely held fixed investment trust (“WHFIT”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Trust will provide tax information in accordance with applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations governing the information reporting requirements of the Trust as a WHFIT. The Trustee will provide the required information and the contact information for the Trustee is below:

Southwest Bank

2911 Turtle Creek Blvd., Suite 850

Dallas, Texas 75219

Telephone number: (855) 588-7839

Each unitholder should consult its own tax advisor for compliance with U.S. federal income tax laws and regulations.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As stated in the Indenture, there is no requirement for capital due to the limited purpose of the Trust. The Trust’s only obligation is to distribute the distributable income that is actually collected to unitholders. As an administrator of oil and natural gas royalty interests, the Trust collects royalties monthly, pays administrative expenses and disburses all net royalties that are collected to its unitholders each quarter.

The Indenture (and MPC’s charter and by-laws) expressly prohibits the operation of any kind of trade or business. The Trust’s oil and natural gas properties are depleting assets that are not being replaced due to the prohibition against investments. These restrictions, along with other factors, allow the Trust to be treated as a grantor trust. As a grantor trust, all income and deductions for state and U.S. federal income tax purposes generally flow through to each individual unitholder. The State of Texas imposes a franchise tax, but the Trust does not believe that it is subject to the franchise tax because at least 90% of its income is from passive sources. Please see Marine’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015 for further information. MPC is a taxable entity that pays state and U.S. federal income taxes and state franchise taxes. However, MPC’s income specifically excludes 98% of the oil and natural gas royalties collected by MPC, which are retained by and delivered to the Trust because of the Trust’s net profits interest.

The Leases

Marine relies on public records for information regarding drilling and workover operations. The public records available up to the date of this report indicate that there were no new well completions made during the three months ended December 31, 2015 on leases in which Marine has an interest. As of February 1, 2016, public records also indicated that there were no wells in the process of being drilled or recompleted on other leases in which Marine has an interest.

 

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Marine holds an overriding royalty interest that is equal to three-fourths of one percent of the working interest and is calculated on the value at the well of any oil, natural gas or other minerals produced and sold from 55 leases covering 199,868 gross acres located in the Gulf of Mexico. Marine’s overriding royalty interest applies only to existing leases and does not apply to any new leases that Chevron may acquire. The Trust also owns a 32.6% interest in Tidelands Royalty Trust “B” (“Tidelands”). Tidelands has an overriding royalty interest in four oil and natural gas leases covering 17,188 gross acres in the Gulf of Mexico. As a result of this ownership, the Trust receives periodic distributions from Tidelands.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

In accordance with the Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 12:E, Financial Statements of Royalty Trusts, Marine uses the modified cash basis method of accounting. Under this accounting method, royalty income is recorded when received, and distributions to unitholders are recorded when declared by the Trustee of the Trust. Expenses of Marine (including accounting, legal, other professional fees, trustees’ fees and out-of-pocket expenses) are recorded on an actual paid basis. Marine also reports distributable income instead of net income under the modified cash basis method of accounting. Cash reserves are permitted to be established by the Trustee for certain contingencies that would not be recorded under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

Marine did not have any changes in its critical accounting policies or estimates during the three months ended December 31, 2015. Please see Marine’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015 for a detailed discussion of its critical accounting policies.

New Accounting Pronouncements

There are no new pronouncements that are expected to have a significant impact on Marine’s financial statements.

General

Marine’s royalty income is derived from the oil and natural gas production activities of third parties. Marine’s royalty income fluctuates from period to period based upon factors beyond Marine’s control, including, without limitation, the number of productive wells drilled and maintained on leases that are subject to Marine’s interest, the level of production over time from such wells and the prices at which the oil and natural gas from such wells are sold.

Important aspects of Marine’s operations are conducted by third parties. Marine’s royalty income is dependent on the operations of the working interest owners of the leases on which Marine has an overriding royalty interest. The oil and natural gas companies that lease tracts subject to Marine’s interests are responsible for the production and sale of oil and natural gas and the calculation of royalty payments to Marine. The only obligation of the working interest owners to Marine is to make monthly overriding royalty payments that reflect Marine’s interest in the oil and natural gas sold. Marine’s distributions are processed and paid by its transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

The volume of oil and natural gas produced and the selling prices of such oil and natural gas are the primary factors in calculating overriding royalty payments. Production is affected by the natural production decline of the producing wells, the number of new wells drilled and the number of existing wells that are re-worked and placed back in production on the leases. Production from existing wells is anticipated to decrease in the future due to normal well depletion. The operators do not provide Marine with information regarding future drilling or re-working operations that could impact the oil and natural gas production from the leases for which Marine has an overriding royalty interest.

Summary of Operating Results

During the six months ended December 31, 2015, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, the Trust realized approximately 83% of its royalty income from the sale of oil and approximately 17% of its royalty income from the sale of natural gas. During the six months ended December 31, 2014, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, the Trust realized approximately 77% of its royalty income from the sale of oil and approximately 23% of its royalty income from the sale of natural gas. Royalty income includes royalties from oil and natural gas received from producers.

 

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Distributable income per unit for the six months ended December 31, 2015 decreased to $0.19 as compared to $0.65 for the comparable period in 2014. Distributions per unit amounted to $0.18 per unit for the six months ended December 31, 2015, a decrease from distributions of $0.66 per unit for the comparable period in 2014. During the six months ended December 31, 2015, the difference between distributable income per unit and distributions per unit resulted from timing differences between the closing of the financial statements and the determination date of the distribution amount to unitholders.

For the six months ended December 31, 2015, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, oil production decreased to 6,512 barrels (bbls) from 10,473 bbls and natural gas production decreased to 32,034 thousand cubic feet (mcf) from 53,286 mcf as compared to the comparable period in 2014. For the six months ended December 31, 2015, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, the average price realized for oil decreased to $58.41 per bbl as compared to the price of $101.02 realized for the comparable period in 2014 and the average price realized for natural gas decreased to $2.42 per mcf as compared to the average price of $5.78 realized for the comparable period in 2014.

The following table presents the net production quantities of oil and natural gas and distributable income and distributions per unit for the last six quarters.

 

     Net Production
Quantities (1)
               

Quarter Ended

   Oil
(bbls)
     Natural
Gas (mcf)
     Distributable
Income Per Unit
     Distributions
Per Unit
 

September 30, 2014

     4,977         25,882       $ 0.34       $ 0.37   

December 31, 2014

     5,496         27,404       $ 0.31       $ 0.29   

March 31, 2015

     3,842         17,265       $ 0.17       $ 0.31   

June 30, 2015

     3,204         17,599       $ 0.12       $ 0.14   

September 30, 2015

     4,019         16,485       $ 0.13       $ 0.11   

December 31, 2015

     2,493         15,549       $ 0.06       $ 0.07   

 

(1) Excludes the Trust’s interest in Tidelands.

Results of Operations—Three Months Ended December 31, 2015 Compared to the Three Months Ended December 31, 2014

Income from oil and natural gas royalties, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, decreased to $172,405 during the three months ended December 31, 2015 from $660,619 realized for the comparable period in 2014. Royalties decreased for the three months ended December 31, 2015 primarily due to a decrease in the production and prices of oil and natural gas as compared to the comparable period in 2014.

Distributable income decreased to $120,071 for the three months ended December 31, 2015 from $616,162 realized for the comparable period in 2014.

Income from oil royalties, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, for the three months ended December 31, 2015 decreased to $140,330 from $536,300 realized for the comparable period in 2014. The volume of oil sold in the three months ended December 31, 2015 decreased to 2,493 bbls from 5,496 bbls realized for the comparable period in 2014, and the average price realized for oil decreased to $56.29 per bbl for the three months ended December 31, 2015 from $97.58 per bbl realized for the comparable period in 2014.

 

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Income from natural gas royalties, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, for the three months ended December 31, 2015 decreased to $32,075 from $124,319 for the comparable period in 2014. The volume of natural gas sold in the three months ended December 31, 2015 decreased to 15,549 mcf from 27,404 mcf realized for the comparable period in 2014, and the average price realized for natural gas decreased to $2.09 per mcf for the three months ended December 31, 2015 from $4.53 per mcf realized for the comparable period in 2014.

Income from distributions received from Tidelands for the three months ended December 31, 2015 decreased to $23,058 from $32,534 for the comparable period in 2014.

The following table presents the quantities of oil and natural gas sold and the average price realized for the three months ended December 31, 2015, and those realized for the comparable period in 2014, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands.

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
 
     2015      2014  
     (unaudited)  

Oil

     

Bbls sold

     2,493         5,496   

Average price

   $ 56.29       $ 97.58   

Natural gas

     

Mcf sold

     15,549         27,404   

Average price

   $ 2.09       $ 4.53   

General and administrative expenses decreased to $75,455 for the three months ended December 31, 2015 from $77,037 for the comparable period of 2014, primarily due to decreased professional fees and expenses.

Results of Operations—Six Months Ended December 31, 2015 Compared to the Six Months Ended December 31, 2014

Income from oil and natural gas royalties, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, decreased to $457,649 during the six months ended December 31, 2015 from $1,365,862 realized for the comparable period in 2014. Royalties decreased for the six months ended December 31, 2015 primarily due to a decrease in the production and prices of oil and natural gas as compared to the comparable period in 2014.

Distributable income decreased to $388,371 for the six months ended December 31, 2015 from $1,297,359 realized for the comparable period in 2014.

Income from oil royalties, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, for the six months ended December 31, 2015 decreased to $380,366 from $1,057,982 realized for the comparable period in 2014. The volume of oil sold in the six months ended December 31, 2015 decreased to 6,512 bbls from 10,473 bbls realized for the comparable period in 2014, and the average price realized for oil decreased to $58.41 per bbl for the six months ended December 31, 2015 from $101.02 per bbl realized for the comparable period in 2014.

Income from natural gas royalties, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, for the six months ended December 31, 2015 decreased to $77,283 from $307,880 for the comparable period in 2014. The volume of natural gas sold in the six months ended December 31, 2015 decreased to 32,034 mcf from 53,286 mcf realized for the comparable period in 2014, and the average price realized for natural gas decreased to $2.42 per mcf for the six months ended December 31, 2015 from $5.78 per mcf realized for the comparable period in 2014.

Income from distributions received from Tidelands for the six months ended December 31, 2015 decreased to $30,007 from $59,649 for the comparable period in 2014.

 

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The following table presents the quantities of oil and natural gas sold and the average price realized for the six months ended December 31, 2015, and those realized for the comparable period in 2014, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands.

 

     Six Months Ended
December 31,
 
     2015      2014  
     (unaudited)  

Oil

     

Bbls sold

     6,512         10,473   

Average price

   $ 58.41       $ 101.02   

Natural gas

     

Mcf sold

     32,034         53,286   

Average price

   $ 2.42       $ 5.78   

General and administrative expenses decreased to $99,355 for the six months ended December 31, 2015 from $128,212 for the comparable period of 2014, primarily due to decreased professional fees and expenses.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements discussed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q regarding Marine’s future financial performance and results, and other statements that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. This report uses the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “budget,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” or other similar words to identify forward-looking statements. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they discuss future expectations, contain projections of Marine’s financial condition, and/or state other “forward-looking” information. Actual results may differ from expected results because of: reductions in price or demand for oil and natural gas, which might then lead to decreased production; reductions in production due to the depletion of existing wells or disruptions in service, which may be caused by storm damage to production facilities, blowouts or other production accidents, or geological changes such as cratering of productive formations; changes in regulations; general economic conditions; actions and policies of petroleum-producing nations; other changes in domestic and international energy markets; the resignation of the Trustee; and the expiration, termination or release of leases subject to Marine’s interests. Additional risks are set forth in Marine’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015. Events may occur in the future that Marine is unable to accurately predict or over which it has no control. If one or more of these uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those forward-looking statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Except as required by applicable securities laws, Marine does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Website

Marine makes available, free of charge, its Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to such reports at its website at www.marps-marine.com. Each of these reports will be posted on this website as soon as reasonably practicable after such report is electronically filed with, or furnished, to the SEC.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

There has been no material change from the information provided in Marine’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, “Item 7A: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015.

 

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Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Southwest Bank, as Trustee of the Trust, is responsible for establishing and maintaining Marine’s disclosure controls and procedures. Marine’s disclosure controls and procedures include controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by Marine in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by Marine in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Trustee as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

As of December 31, 2015, the Trustee carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of Marine’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rules 13a-15(b) and 15d-15(b) of the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, the Trustee concluded that Marine’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2015.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have not been any changes in Marine’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Marine’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A. Risk Factors

As of the date of this filing, there have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in the “Risk Factors” in Marine’s Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015.

Item 6. Exhibits

The following exhibits are included herein:

31.1    Certification of the Corporate Trustee pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1    Certification of the Corporate Trustee pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

MARINE PETROLEUM TRUST
Southwest Bank, trustee of Marine Petroleum Trust and not in its individual capacity or otherwise

February 16, 2016

By:  

/s/ Ron E. Hooper

Ron E. Hooper
Senior Vice President