Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Basis of Presentation

v3.3.0.814
Basis of Presentation
12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation
Note 1 - Basis of Presentation
Description of Operations
Magellan Petroleum Corporation (the "Company" or "Magellan" or "MPC" or "we") is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company focused on the development of CO2-enhanced oil recovery ("CO2-EOR") projects in the Rocky Mountain region. Historically active internationally, Magellan also owns significant exploration acreage in the Weald Basin, onshore UK, and an exploration block, NT/P82, in the Bonaparte Basin, offshore Northern Territory, Australia, which the Company currently plans to farmout.
The Company conducts its operations through three wholly owned subsidiaries corresponding to the geographical areas in which the Company operates: Nautilus Poplar LLC ("NP") in the US, Magellan Petroleum (UK) Limited ("MPUK") in the UK, and Magellan Petroleum Australia Pty Ltd ("MPA") in Australia.
Our strategy is to enhance shareholder value by maximizing the value of our existing assets. Our portfolio of operations includes several early stage oil and gas exploration and development projects, the successful development of which requires significant capital, as well as significant engineering and management resources. We are committed to efficiently investing financial, technical and management capital into these projects to establish their technical and economic viability, which in turn could create significant value for our shareholders.
We were founded in 1957 and incorporated in Delaware in 1967.  The Company's common stock has been trading on NASDAQ since 1972 under the ticker symbol "MPET".
Our principal executive offices are located at 1775 Sherman Street, Suite 1950, Denver, Colorado 80203, and our phone number is (720) 484-2400.

Going Concern
The Company has incurred losses from operations for the year ended June 30, 2015, of $30.3 million. In addition, during the fiscal year working capital has decreased from $25.6 million at June 30, 2014, to $3.9 million at June 30, 2015, and the Company's cash balance has decreased to $1.1 million as of June 30, 2015. The Company continues to experience liquidity constraints and has begun selling certain of its non-core assets to fund its operations. However, proceeds from these asset sales may not provide sufficient liquidity to fund operations for the next twelve months. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or amounts of liabilities that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
The Company is currently looking for potential merger candidates that may offer improved liquidity and the ability to raise additional capital. The Company is focused on maintaining production while efficiently reducing its operating and general and administrative costs.

Special Committee of the Board of Directors
On June 5, 2015, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the formation of a special committee of the Board of Directors ("the "Special Committee") to i) engage in a strategic alternatives review process and ii) amend compensation arrangements of executives and employees for the purpose of retention and alignment of interests with the interests of the common stockholders during such strategic alternatives review process.

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Magellan and its wholly owned subsidiaries, NP, MPUK, and MPA, and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") and the instructions to Form 10-K and Regulation S-X published by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on the prior year net income, accumulated deficit, net assets, or total shareholders' equity. The Company has evaluated events or transactions through the date of issuance of this report in conjunction with the preparation of these consolidated financial statements. All amounts presented are in US dollars, unless otherwise noted. Amounts expressed in Australian currency are indicated as "AUD." Amounts expressed in the currency of the United Kingdom are indicated as "GBP."
During the year ended June 30, 2015, the Company formed a majority owned subsidiary, Utah CO2 LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Utah CO2"), through which the Company purchased an option to acquire CO2 at Farnham Dome in Utah. The Company owns a controlling 51% of the equity in Utah CO2 and consolidates this entity in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The remaining 49% is owned by two separate third parties. Another third-party owns a 10% economic participation interest in the Company's 51% equity interest in Utah CO2, which participation interest does not bear any governance rights over the Company's investment in Utah CO2. The non-controlling interest reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements relates to the non-controlling interest in this entity, including the participation interest.
As of June 30, 2015 the Company owned an 11% interest in Central Petroleum Limited (ASX:CTP) ("Central"), a Brisbane-based exploration and production company traded on the Australian Securities Exchange. The Company accounts for this investment as securities available-for-sale in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Reverse Stock Split
On July 10, 2015, the Company's stockholders approved and the Company completed a one-for-eight reverse stock split with respect to the Company's common stock. For purposes of presentation, the consolidated financial statements and footnotes have been adjusted for the number of post-split shares as if the split had occurred at the beginning of the earliest period presented.

Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of oil and gas reserves, assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses, including stock-based compensation expense, during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Foreign Currency Translation
The functional currency of our foreign subsidiaries is their local currency. Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries are translated to US dollars at period-end exchange rates, and our consolidated statements of operations and cash flows are translated at average exchange rates during the reporting periods. Resulting translation adjustments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, a separate component of stockholders' equity. A component of accumulated other comprehensive loss will be released into income when the Company executes a partial or complete sale of an investment in a foreign subsidiary or a group of assets of a foreign subsidiary considered a business and/or when the Company no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a foreign subsidiary or group of assets of a foreign subsidiary considered a business.
Transactions denominated in currencies other than the local currency are recorded based on exchange rates at the time such transactions arise. Subsequent changes in exchange rates result in foreign currency transaction gains and losses that are reflected in results of operations as unrealized (based on period end translation) or realized (upon settlement of the transactions) and reported under general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.
During the year ended June 30, 2015, the Company made a determination that it was no longer permanently invested in its foreign subsidiaries because (i) the Company has begun an effort to repay its intercompany balances through the repatriation of cash from these subsidiaries and (ii) the Company is increasingly focusing on its US operations. As such, the Company recorded on its statement of operations an expense reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive loss arising from foreign currency exchange losses on its intercompany account balances.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Concentration of Credit Risk
The Company considers all highly liquid short term investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition to be cash equivalents. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value due to the short term nature of these instruments.
The Company's financial instruments exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents. The Company regularly assesses the level of credit risk we are exposed to and whether there are better ways of managing credit risk. The Company invests its cash and cash equivalents with reputable financial institutions. At times, balances deposited may exceed FDIC insured limits. The Company has not incurred any losses related to these deposits.

Securities Available-for-Sale
Securities available-for-sale are comprised of investments in publicly traded securities and are carried at quoted market prices. Unrealized gains and losses are excluded from earnings and recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss in stockholders' equity, net of deferred income taxes. The Company recognizes gains or losses when securities are sold. On a quarterly basis, the Company performs an assessment to determine whether there have been any events or economic circumstances to indicate that a security with an unrealized loss has suffered other-than-temporary impairment. During the year, the Company determined that the value of its investment in Central had suffered an other-than temporary impairment. As such, the unrealized loss was reclassified from other comprehensive income to the consolidated statement of operations.

Accounts Receivable
Trade accounts receivable consist mainly of receivables from oil and gas purchasers. For receivables from working interest partners, the Company typically has the ability to withhold future revenue disbursements to recover non-payment of joint interest billings. Generally, oil and gas receivables are collected within two months. The collectability of accounts receivable is continuously monitored and analyzed based upon historical experience. The use of judgment is required to establish a provision for allowance for doubtful accounts for specific customer collection issues identified. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $0 as of June 30, 2015, and 2014.

Inventories
Our inventories consist of oil and gas drilling or repair items such as tubing, casing, chemicals, operating supplies, ordinary maintenance materials, and parts and production equipment for use in future drilling operations or repair operations. All inventories are carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value.

Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Activities
The Company follows the successful efforts method of accounting for its oil and gas exploration and production activities. Under this method, all property acquisition costs and costs of exploratory and development wells are capitalized until a determination is made that the well has found proved reserves or is deemed non-commercial. If an exploratory well is deemed to be non-commercial, the well costs are charged to exploration expense as dry hole costs. Exploration expenses include dry hole costs, geological, and geophysical expenses. Non-commercial development well costs are charged to impairment expense if circumstances indicate that a decline in the recoverability of the carrying value may have occurred.
The Company records its proportionate share in joint venture operations in the respective classifications of assets, liabilities, and expenses. The cost of CO2 injection is capitalized until a production response is seen as a result of the injection and it is determined that the well has found proved reserves. After oil production from the well begins, CO2 injection costs are expensed as incurred.
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization ("DD&A") of capitalized costs related to proved oil and gas properties is calculated on a property-by-property basis using the units-of-production method based upon proved reserves. The computation of DD&A takes into consideration restoration, dismantlement, and abandonment costs as well as the estimated proceeds from salvaging equipment.
The sale of a partial interest in a proved oil and gas property is accounted for as normal retirement, and no gain or loss is recognized as long as the treatment does not significantly affect the units-of-production depletion rate. A gain or loss is recognized for all other sales of producing properties.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews the carrying amount of its oil and gas properties and unproved leaseholds for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that a decline in the recoverability of their carrying value may have occurred. The Company estimates the expected future cash flows of its oil and gas properties and compares such future cash flows to the carrying amount of the oil and gas properties to determine if the carrying amount is recoverable. If the carrying amount exceeds the estimated undiscounted future cash flows, the Company will adjust the carrying amount of the oil and gas properties to fair value. The factors used to determine fair value include, but are not limited to, recent sales prices of comparable properties, the present value of estimated future cash flows, net of estimated operating and development costs, using estimates of reserves, future commodity pricing, future production estimates, anticipated capital expenditures, and various discount rates commensurate with the risk and current market conditions associated with realizing the expected cash flows projected. The Company undertook such a review during the year ended June 30, 2015, and as a result of the recent decline in oil prices, the Company concluded that its proved oil and gas properties were impaired and recorded an impairment loss of $17.4 million in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

Land, Buildings, and Equipment
Land, buildings, and equipment are recorded at cost. Costs of renewals and improvements that substantially extend the useful lives of the assets are capitalized. Maintenance and repair costs are expensed when incurred. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from three to fifteen years.

Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the assets acquired net of the fair value of liabilities assumed in an acquisition. GAAP requires goodwill to be evaluated on an annual basis for impairment, or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change that could potentially result in impairment.
As of June 30, 2015, management concluded that as a result of the decline in reserve value, principally due to the decline in commodity prices, and a downward revision in reserve quantities as the result of the exclusion of PUD reserves from the Company's reserve estimates, goodwill related to Nautilus Poplar had been impaired and recorded an impairment expense of $0.7 million . There was no impairment of goodwill at June 30, 2014. The qualitative factors used in our assessment include macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, cost factors, and overall financial performance. The quantitative analysis performed included a review of the June 30, 2015 reserve estimates using forward commodity prices and an estimate of the differential less the liabilities for NP, and comparing the result of the analysis to the recorded carrying value of the net assets. The analysis indicated that the carrying value of the net assets exceeded the calculated value of the reserves net of liabilities, and therefore, an impairment had occurred.
As of June 30, 2015, $0.2 million of recorded goodwill related to MPUK, and $0.3 million related to MPA. Changes in goodwill can be summarized as follows for the years ended:
 
June 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(In thousands)
Fiscal year opening balance
$
1,174

 
$
2,174

Sale of Amadeus Basin assets (see Note 3)

 
(1,000
)
Impairment of Nautilus Poplar goodwill
$
(674
)
 
 
Fiscal year closing balance
$
500


$
1,174



Asset Retirement Obligations
The Company recognizes an estimated liability for future costs associated with the plugging and abandonment of its oil and gas properties. A liability for the fair value of an asset retirement obligation and corresponding increase in the carrying value of the related long-lived asset are recorded at the time a well is acquired or the liability to plug is legally incurred. The increase in carrying value is included in proved oil and gas properties in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company depletes the amount added to proved oil and gas property costs, net of estimated salvage values, and recognizes expense in connection with the accretion of the discounted liability over the remaining estimated economic lives of the respective oil and gas properties (see Note 6).

Revenue Recognition
The Company derives revenue primarily from the sale of produced oil. Oil revenues are recognized when production is sold to a purchaser at a fixed or determinable price, when delivery has occurred and title has transferred, and collection of the revenue is probable.

Major Customers
The Company's consolidated oil production revenue is derived from its NP segment and was generated from two customers for the year ended June 30, 2015, and a single customer for the year ended June 30, 2014.

Stock Based Compensation
Stock option grants may contain time based, market based, or performance based vesting provisions. Time based options ("TBOs") are expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. Market based options ("MBOs") are expensed on a straight-line basis over the derived service period, even if the market condition is not achieved. Performance based options ("PBOs") are amortized on a straight-line basis between the date upon which the achievement of the relevant performance condition is deemed probable and the date the performance condition is expected to be achieved. Management re-assesses whether achievement of performance conditions is probable at the end of each reporting period. If changes in the estimated outcome of the performance conditions affect the quantity of the awards expected to vest, the cumulative effect of the change is recognized in the period of change.
The fair value of the stock options is determined on the grant date and is affected by our stock price and other assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. These variables include our expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, risk free interest rates, expected dividends, and the expected option exercise term. The Company estimates the fair value of PBOs and time based stock options using the Black-Scholes-Merton pricing model. The simplified method is used to estimate the expected term of stock options due to a lack of related historical data regarding exercise, cancellation, and forfeiture. For MBOs, the fair value is estimated using Monte Carlo simulation techniques.

Accounting for Income Taxes
The Company follows the liability method in accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax bases 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. The Company records a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that such assets will not be recovered.
GAAP prescribes a comprehensive model for recognizing, measuring, presenting, and disclosing in the financial statements uncertain tax positions that the Company has taken or expects to take in its tax returns. Under GAAP, the Company recognizes tax positions when it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. In evaluating whether a tax position has met the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the Company has presumed that its positions will be examined by the appropriate taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. The next step consists of measurement. A tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. A tax position is measured at the largest amount of benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it does not meet the more-likely-than-not threshold. To appropriately account for income tax matters, the Company is required to make significant judgments and estimates regarding the recoverability of deferred tax assets, the likelihood of the outcome of examinations of tax positions that may or may not be currently under review, and potential scenarios involving settlements of such matters. Changes in these estimates could materially impact the consolidated financial statements. There are no uncertain tax positions that would meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2015, or 2014, respectively.
The Company has adopted an accounting policy to record all tax related interest under interest expense and tax related penalties under general and administrative expense in the consolidated statement of operations.

Financial Instruments
The carrying value for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and debt approximates fair value based on the timing of the anticipated cash flows and current market conditions.

Segment Information
As of June 30, 2015, the Company determined, based on the criteria of Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") ASC Topic 280, it operates in three segments, NP, MPUK and MPA, as well as a head office, Magellan ("Corporate"), which is treated as a cost center. As of June 30, 2015, these three operating segments met the minimum quantitative threshold to qualify for separate segment reporting.
The Company's chief operating decision maker is J. Thomas Wilson (President and CEO of the Company), who reviews the results and manages operations of the Company in the three reporting segments of NP, MPUK, MPA, and Corporate. The presentation of all segment information herein reflects the manner in which the Company's management monitors performance and allocates resources. For information pertaining to our reporting segments, see Note 13 - Segment Information.

(Loss) Earnings per Common Share
Income and losses per common share are based upon the weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. The effects of potentially dilutive securities in the determinations of diluted earnings per share are the dilutive effect of stock options, non-vested restricted stock, and the shares of Series A convertible preferred stock.
The potentially dilutive impact of stock options, and non-vested restricted stock is determined using the treasury stock method. The potentially dilutive impact of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock is determined using the "if-converted" method. In applying the if-converted method, conversion is not assumed for purposes of computing dilutive shares if the effect would be anti-dilutive. The preferred stock is convertible at a rate of one common share to one preferred share. We did not include any stock options or common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock in the calculation of diluted earnings (loss) per share during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015, and 2014, respectively, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Comprehensive (loss) income is presented net of applicable income taxes in the accompanying consolidated statements of stockholders' equity and comprehensive (loss) income. Other comprehensive (loss) income is comprised of revenues, expenses, gains, and losses that under GAAP are reported as separate components of stockholders' equity instead of net (loss) income.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In August 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2015-15, which amends presentation and disclosure requirements outlined in ASU 2015-03 (discussed below) by clarifying guidance for debt issuance costs related to line of credit arrangements, providing that the SEC would not object to presentation of debt issuance costs related to a line of credit arrangement as an asset, and amortizing them ratably over the term of the line of credit arrangement. The Company does not expect adoption of ASU 2015-15 to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.
In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 (discussed below) by one year, and would allow entities the option to early adopt the new revenue standard as of the original effective date. 
In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, which requires that inventory that is measured using first-in, first-out or average cost method be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. The standard will be effective for the first interim period within the Company's fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2016 and is required to be adopted prospectively; early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this accounting standard to have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, which requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability to be presented on the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the debt liability, similar to the presentation of debt discounts.  Prior to the issuance of ASU 2015-03, debt issuance costs were required to be presented as deferred charge assets, separate from the related debt liability. ASU 2015-03 does not change the recognition and measurement requirements for debt issuance costs. ASU 2015-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and early adoption is permitted. At June 30, 2015, adoption of this standard would have resulted in a reclassification from other long term assets to note payable of $50 thousand on the Company's accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, which provides guidance on management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about a company’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. ASU 2014-15 is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2016, and annual and interim periods thereafter. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.
In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, which requires a reporting entity to treat a performance target included within a share-based payment award that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period as a performance condition. It is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. ASU 2014-12 may be adopted either prospectively for share-based payment awards granted or modified on or after the effective date, or retrospectively, using a modified retrospective approach. The modified retrospective approach would apply to share-based payment awards outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements on adoption, and to all new or modified awards thereafter. The Company has chosen to early adopt this standard retrospectively to July 1, 2013, which adoption did not impact the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, which establishes a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard designed to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. In doing so, companies may need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under current revenue recognition guidance. The ASU allows for the use of either the full or modified retrospective transition method, and the standard, as amended by ASU 2015-14, above, will be effective for us in the first quarter of our fiscal year 2019; unless early adopted in the prior fiscal year as permitted under the amendment. The Company is currently evaluating the timing of adoption, which transition approach to use and the impact of the adoption of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.
In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02 which requires additional disclosures regarding the reporting of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. ASU No. 2013-02 requires an entity to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income, but only if the amount reclassified is required under GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. This guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The Company adopted this guidance effective July 1, 2013. The Company's adoption of this standard did not have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-05, which permits an entity to release cumulative translation adjustments into net income when a reporting entity (parent) ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a business within a foreign entity. Accordingly, the cumulative translation adjustment should be released into net income only if the sale or transfer results in the complete or substantially complete liquidation of a foreign subsidiary or foreign group of assets comprising a business. The Company's adoption of this standard did not have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.
There are no new significant accounting standards applicable to the Company that have been issued but not yet adopted by the Company as of June 30, 2015.