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Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

                        TBPE REGISTERED ENGINEERING FIRM F-1580 FAX (303) 623-4258
                        621 SEVENTEENTH STREET    SUITE 1550 DENVER, COLORADO 80293 TELEPHONE (303) 623-9147

March 31, 2015

Arête Industries, Inc.

P.O. Box 141

Westminster, CO 80036-0141

Gentlemen:

At your request, Ryder Scott Company, L.P. (Ryder Scott) has prepared an estimate of the proved and probable reserves, future production, and income attributable to certain leasehold interests of Arête Industries, Inc. (Arête) as of December 31, 2014. The subject properties are located in the states of Colorado, Kansas, Montana and Wyoming. The reserves and income data were estimated based on the definitions and disclosure guidelines of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) contained in Title 17, Code of Federal Regulations, Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting, Final Rule released January 14, 2009 in the Federal Register (SEC regulations). Our third party study, completed on March 31, 2015 and presented herein, was prepared for public disclosure by Arête in filings made with the SEC in accordance with the disclosure requirements set forth in the SEC regulations.

The properties evaluated by Ryder Scott represent 100 percent of the total net proved and probable liquid hydrocarbon reserves and 100 percent of the total net proved and probable gas reserves of Arête as of December 31, 2014.

The estimated reserves and future net income amounts presented in this report, as of December 31, 2014, are related to hydrocarbon prices. The hydrocarbon prices used in the preparation of this report are based on the average prices during the 12-month period prior to the “as of date” of this report, determined as the unweighted arithmetic averages of the prices in effect on the first-day-of-the-month for each month within such period, unless prices were defined by contractual arrangements, as required by the SEC regulations. Actual future prices may vary significantly from the prices required by SEC regulations; therefore, volumes of reserves actually recovered and the amounts of income actually received may differ significantly from the estimated quantities presented in this report. The results of this study are summarized below.


Arête Industries, Inc.

March 31, 2015

Page 2

 

SEC PARAMETERS

Estimated Net Reserves and Income Data

Certain Leasehold Interests of

Arête Industries, Inc.

As of December 31, 2014

 

     Proved  
     Developed
Producing
     Undeveloped      Total
Proved
 

Net Remaining Reserves

        

Oil/Condensate – Barrels

     173,375         57,155         230,530   

Gas – MCF

     614,943         0         614,943   

Income Data

        

Future Gross Revenue

   $ 17,123,043       $ 4,822,873       $ 21,945,916   

Deductions

     7,394,447         1,932,466         9,326,913   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Future Net Income (FNI)

$ 9,728,596    $ 2,890,407    $ 12,619,003   

Discounted FNI @ 10%

$ 5,358,676    $ 1,783,784    $ 7,142,460   

 

     Total
Probable
Undeveloped
 

Net Remaining Reserves

  

Oil/Condensate – Barrels

     6,699   

Gas – MCF

     0   

Income Data

  

Future Gross Revenue

   $ 576,750   

Deductions

     273,714   
  

 

 

 

Future Net Income (FNI)

$ 303,036   

Discounted FNI @ 10%

$ 193,312   

Liquid hydrocarbons are expressed in standard 42 gallon barrels. All gas volumes are reported on an “as sold” basis expressed in thousands of cubic feet (MCF) at the official temperature and pressure bases of the areas in which the gas reserves are located. In this report, the revenues, deductions, and income data are expressed as U.S. dollars.

The estimates of the reserves, future production, and income attributable to properties in this report were prepared using the economic software package PHDWin Petroleum Economic Evaluation Software, a copyrighted program of TRC Consultants, L.C. Ryder Scott has found this program to be generally acceptable, but notes that certain summaries and calculations may vary due to rounding and may not exactly match the sum of the properties being summarized. Furthermore, one line economic summaries may vary slightly from the more detailed cash flow projections of the same properties, also due to rounding. The rounding differences are not material.

The future gross revenue is after the deduction of production taxes. The deductions incorporate the normal direct costs of operating the wells, ad valorem taxes and development costs. The future net income is before the deduction of state and federal income taxes and general administrative overhead, and has not been adjusted for outstanding loans that may exist nor does it include any adjustment for cash on hand or undistributed income.


Arête Industries, Inc.

March 31, 2015

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Liquid hydrocarbon reserves account for approximately 84 percent of the total future gross revenue from proved reserves and gas reserves account for the remaining 16 percent of total future gross revenue from the proved reserves reported herein. Liquid hydrocarbon reserves account for approximately 100 percent of the total future gross revenue from probable reserves and gas reserves account for 0 percent of the total future gross revenue from the probable reserves reported herein. There are no possible reserves included in this evaluation.

The discounted future net income shown above was calculated using a discount rate of 10 percent per annum compounded monthly. Future net income was discounted at four other discount rates which were also compounded monthly. These results are shown in summary form as follows.

 

     Discounted Future Net Income
As of December 31, 2014
 

Discount Rate Percent

   Total
Proved
     Total
Probable
 

5

   $ 9,117,465       $ 240,505   

12

   $ 6,571,628       $ 177,621   

15

   $ 5,865,787       $ 156,793   

20

   $ 4,968,881       $ 127,924   

The results shown above are presented for your information and should not be construed as our estimate of fair market value.

Reserves Included in This Report

The proved and probable reserves included herein conform to the definition as set forth in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Regulations Part 210.4-10(a). An abridged version of the SEC reserves definitions from 210.4-10(a) entitled “Petroleum Reserves Definitions” is included as an attachment to this report.

The various proved and probable reserve status categories are defined under the attachment entitled “Petroleum Reserves Status Definitions and Guidelines” in this report.

No attempt was made to quantify or otherwise account for any accumulated gas production imbalances that may exist. The proved and probable gas volumes presented herein do not include volumes of gas consumed in operations as reserves.

Reserves are “estimated remaining quantities of oil and gas and related substances anticipated to be economically producible, as of a given date, by application of development projects to known accumulations.” All reserve estimates involve an assessment of the uncertainty relating the likelihood that the actual remaining quantities recovered will be greater or less than the estimated quantities determined as of the date the estimate is made. The uncertainty depends chiefly on the amount of reliable geologic and engineering data available at the time of the estimate and the interpretation of these data. The relative degree of uncertainty may be conveyed by placing reserves into one of two principal classifications, either proved or unproved. Unproved reserves are less certain to be recovered than proved reserves, and may be further sub-classified as probable and possible reserves to denote progressively increasing uncertainty in their recoverability. At Arête’s request, this report addresses the proved and probable reserves attributable to the properties evaluated herein.


Arête Industries, Inc.

March 31, 2015

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Proved oil and gas reserves are “those quantities of oil and gas which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible from a given date forward”. The SEC has defined reasonable certainty for proved reserves, when based on deterministic methods, as a “high degree of confidence that the quantities will be recovered.” Probable reserves are “those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than proved reserves but which, together with proved reserves, are as likely as not to be recovered.” Possible reserves are “those additional reserves which are less certain to be recovered than probable reserves” and thus the probability of achieving or exceeding the proved plus probable plus possible reserves is low.

The reserves included herein were estimated using deterministic methods and presented as incremental quantities. Under the deterministic incremental approach, discrete quantities of reserves are estimated and assigned separately as proved, probable or possible based on their individual level of uncertainty. Because of the differences in uncertainty, caution should be exercised when aggregating quantities of oil and gas from different reserves categories. Furthermore, the reserves and income quantities attributable to the different reserve categories that are included herein have not been adjusted to reflect these varying degrees of risk associated with them and thus are not comparable.

Reserve estimates will generally be revised only as additional geologic or engineering data become available or as economic conditions change. For proved reserves, the SEC states that “as changes due to increased availability of geoscience (geological, geophysical, and geochemical), engineering, and economic data are made to the estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) with time, reasonably certain EUR is much more likely to increase or remain constant than to decrease.” Moreover, estimates of proved and probable reserves may be revised as a result of future operations, effects of regulation by governmental agencies or geopolitical or economic risks. Therefore, the proved and probable reserves included in this report are estimates only and should not be construed as being exact quantities, and if recovered, the revenues therefrom, and the actual costs related thereto, could be more or less than the estimated amounts.

Arête’s operations may be subject to various levels of governmental controls and regulations. These controls and regulations may include, but may not be limited to, matters relating to land tenure and leasing, the legal rights to produce hydrocarbons, drilling and production practices, environmental protection, marketing and pricing policies, royalties, various taxes and levies including income tax and are subject to change from time to time. Such changes in governmental regulations and policies may cause volumes of proved and probable reserves actually recovered and amounts of proved and probable income actually received to differ significantly from the estimated quantities.

The estimates of reserves presented herein were based upon a detailed study of the properties in which Arête owns an interest; however, we have not made any field examination of the properties. No consideration was given in this report to potential environmental liabilities that may exist nor were any costs included for potential liabilities to restore and clean up damages, if any, caused by past operating practices.

Estimates of Reserves

The estimation of reserves involves two distinct determinations. The first determination results in the estimation of the quantities of recoverable oil and gas and the second determination results in the estimation of the uncertainty associated with those estimated quantities in accordance with the definitions set forth by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Regulations Part 210.4-10(a). The


Arête Industries, Inc.

March 31, 2015

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process of estimating the quantities of recoverable oil and gas reserves relies on the use of certain generally accepted analytical procedures. These analytical procedures fall into three broad categories or methods: (1) performance-based methods, (2) volumetric-based methods and (3) analogy. These methods may be used singularly or in combination by the reserve evaluator in the process of estimating the quantities of reserves. Reserve evaluators must select the method or combination of methods which in their professional judgment is most appropriate given the nature and amount of reliable geoscience and engineering data available at the time of the estimate, the established or anticipated performance characteristics of the reservoir being evaluated, and the stage of development or producing maturity of the property.

In many cases, the analysis of the available geoscience and engineering data and the subsequent interpretation of this data may indicate a range of possible outcomes in an estimate, irrespective of the method selected by the evaluator. When a range in the quantity of reserves is identified, the evaluator must determine the uncertainty associated with the incremental quantities of the reserves. If the reserve quantities are estimated using the deterministic incremental approach, the uncertainty for each discrete incremental quantity of the reserves is addressed by the reserve category assigned by the evaluator. Therefore, it is the categorization of reserve quantities as proved, probable and/or possible that addresses the inherent uncertainty in the estimated quantities reported. For proved reserves, uncertainty is defined by the SEC as reasonable certainty wherein the “quantities actually recovered are much more likely than not to be achieved.” The SEC states that “probable reserves are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than proved reserves but which, together with proved reserves, are as likely as not to be recovered.” The SEC states that “possible reserves are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than probable reserves and the total quantities ultimately recovered from a project have a low probability of exceeding proved plus probable plus possible reserves.” All quantities of reserves within the same reserve category must meet the SEC definitions as noted above.

Estimates of reserves quantities and their associated reserve categories may be revised in the future as additional geoscience or engineering data become available. Furthermore, estimates of reserves quantities and their associated reserve categories may also be revised due to other factors such as changes in economic conditions, results of future operations, effects of regulation by governmental agencies or geopolitical or economic risks as previously noted herein.

The proved and probable reserves for the properties included herein were estimated by performance methods or by analogy. Approximately 100 percent of the proved producing reserves attributable to producing wells and/or reservoirs were estimated by the performance methods. These performance methods include decline curve analysis which utilized extrapolations of historical production and pressure data available through December, 2014. The data utilized in this analysis considered sufficient for the purpose thereof.

Approximately 100 percent of the proved and 100 percent of the probable undeveloped reserves included herein were estimated by the analogy method. The analogy method utilized pertinent well data supplied to Ryder Scott by Arête or which we have obtained from public data sources that were available through December 2014. The data utilized in this analysis considered sufficient for the purpose thereof.

To estimate economically recoverable proved and probable oil and gas reserves and related future net cash flows, we consider many factors and assumptions including, but not limited to, the use of reservoir parameters derived from geological, geophysical and engineering data which cannot be measured directly, economic criteria based on current costs and SEC pricing requirements, and forecasts of future production rates. Under the SEC regulations 210.4-10(a)(22)(v) and (26), proved and probable reserves must be anticipated to be economically producible from a given date forward


Arête Industries, Inc.

March 31, 2015

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based on existing economic conditions including the prices and costs at which economic producibility from a reservoir is to be determined. While it may reasonably be anticipated that the future prices received for the sale of production and the operating costs and other costs relating to such production may increase or decrease from those under existing economic conditions, such changes were, in accordance with rules adopted by the SEC, omitted from consideration in making this evaluation.

Arête has informed us that they have furnished us all of the material accounts, records, geological and engineering data, and reports and other data required for this investigation. In preparing our forecast of future proved and probable production and income, we have relied upon data furnished by Arête with respect to property interests owned, production and well tests from examined wells, normal direct costs of operating the wells or leases, other costs such as transportation and/or processing fees, ad valorem and production taxes, recompletion and development costs, development plans, product prices based on the SEC regulations and adjustments or differentials to product prices. Ryder Scott reviewed such factual data for its reasonableness; however, we have not conducted an independent verification of the data furnished by Arête. We consider the factual data used in this report appropriate and sufficient for the purpose of preparing the estimates of reserves and future net revenues herein.

In summary, we consider the assumptions, data, methods and analytical procedures used in this report appropriate for the purpose hereof, and we have used all such methods and procedures that we consider necessary and appropriate to prepare the estimates of reserves herein. The proved and probable reserves included herein were determined in conformance with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting; Final Rule, including all references to Regulation S-X and Regulation S-K, referred to herein collectively as the “SEC Regulations.” In our opinion, the proved and probable reserves presented in this report comply with the definitions, guidelines and disclosure requirements as required by the SEC regulations.

Future Production Rates

For wells currently on production, our forecasts of future production rates are based on historical performance data. If no production decline trend has been established, future production rates were held constant, or adjusted for the effects of curtailment where appropriate, until a decline in ability to produce was anticipated. An estimated rate of decline was then applied to depletion of the reserves. If a decline trend has been established, this trend was used as the basis for estimating future production rates.

Offset analogies and other related information were used to estimate the anticipated initial production rates for those wells or locations that are not currently producing. For reserves not yet on production, sales were estimated to commence at an anticipated date furnished by Arête. Wells or locations that are not currently producing may start producing earlier or later than anticipated in our estimates due to unforeseen factors causing a change in the timing to initiate production. Such factors may include delays due to weather, the availability of rigs, the sequence of drilling, completing and/or recompleting wells and/or constraints set by regulatory bodies.

The future production rates from wells currently on production or wells or locations that are not currently producing may be more or less than estimated because of changes including, but not limited to, reservoir performance, operating conditions related to surface facilities, compression and artificial lift, pipeline capacity and/or operating conditions, producing market demand and/or allowables or other constraints set by regulatory bodies.


Arête Industries, Inc.

March 31, 2015

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Hydrocarbon Prices

The hydrocarbon prices used herein are based on SEC price parameters using the average prices during the 12-month period prior to the “as of date” of this report, determined as the unweighted arithmetic averages of the prices in effect on the first-day-of-the-month for each month within such period, unless prices were defined by contractual arrangements. For hydrocarbon products sold under contract, the contract prices, including fixed and determinable escalations, exclusive of inflation adjustments, were used until expiration of the contract. Upon contract expiration, the prices were adjusted to the 12-month unweighted arithmetic average as previously described.

Ryder Scott furnished Arête the above mentioned average prices in effect on December 31, 2014. These initial SEC hydrocarbon prices were determined using the 12-month average first-day-of-the-month benchmark prices appropriate to the geographic area where the hydrocarbons are sold. These benchmark prices are prior to the adjustments for differentials as described herein. The table below summarizes the “benchmark prices” and “price reference” used for the geographic areas included in the report.

The product prices that were actually used to determine the future gross revenue for each property reflect adjustments to the benchmark prices for gravity, quality, local conditions, and/or distance from market, referred to herein as “differentials.” The differentials used in the preparation of this report were estimated by Ryder Scott based on information furnished by Arête.

In addition, the table below summarizes the net volume weighted benchmark prices adjusted for differentials and referred to herein as the “average realized prices.” The average realized prices shown in the table below were determined from the total future gross revenue before production taxes and the total net reserves by reserve category for the geographic area and presented in accordance with SEC disclosure requirements for each of the geographic areas included in the report.

 

Geographic

Area

 

Product

 

Price

Reference

 

Average

Benchmark

Prices

 

Average

Proved

Realized

Prices

 

Average

Probable

Realized

Prices

United States

  Oil/Condensate   WTI Cushing   $94.99/Bbl   $84.09/Bbl   $89.99/Bbl
  Gas   Henry Hub   $4.35/MMBTU   $6.09/MCF   $0.00/MCF

The effects of derivative instruments designated as price hedges of oil and gas quantities are not reflected in our individual property evaluations.

Costs

Operating costs for the leases and wells in this report were furnished by Arête and are based on the operating expense reports of Arête and include only those costs directly applicable to the leases or wells. The operating costs include a portion of general and administrative costs allocated directly to the leases and wells. The operating costs furnished to us were accepted as factual data and reviewed by us for their reasonableness; however, we have not conducted an independent verification of the operating cost data used by Arête. No deduction was made for loan repayments, interest expenses, or exploration and development prepayments that were not charged directly to the leases or wells.


Arête Industries, Inc.

March 31, 2015

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Development costs were furnished to us by Arête and are based on authorizations for expenditure for the proposed work or actual costs for similar projects. Arête’s estimates of zero abandonment costs after salvage value were used in this report. Ryder Scott has not performed a detailed study of the abandonment costs or the salvage value and makes no warranty for Arête’s estimate.

The proved and probable developed undeveloped reserves in this report have been incorporated herein in accordance with Arête’s plans to develop these reserves as of December 31, 2014. The implementation of Arête’s development plans as presented to us and incorporated herein is subject to the approval process adopted by Arête’s management. As the result of our inquiries during the course of preparing this report, Arête has informed us that the development activities included herein have been subjected to and received the internal approvals required by Arête’s management at the appropriate local, regional and/or corporate level. In addition to the internal approvals as noted, certain development activities may still be subject to specific partner AFE processes, Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) requirements or other administrative approvals external to Arête. Additionally, Arête has informed us that they are not aware of any legal, regulatory or political obstacles that would significantly alter their plans. While these plans could change from those under existing economic conditions as of December 31, 2014, such changes were, in accordance with rules adopted by the SEC, omitted from consideration in making this evaluation.

Current costs used by Arête were held constant throughout the life of the properties.

Standards of Independence and Professional Qualification

Ryder Scott is an independent petroleum engineering consulting firm that has been providing petroleum consulting services throughout the world since 1937. Ryder Scott is employee-owned and maintains offices in Houston, Texas; Denver, Colorado; and Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We have over eighty engineers and geoscientists on our permanent staff. By virtue of the size of our firm and the large number of clients for which we provide services, no single client or job represents a material portion of our annual revenue. We do not serve as officers or directors of any privately-owned or publicly-traded oil and gas company and are separate and independent from the operating and investment decision-making process of our clients. This allows us to bring the highest level of independence and objectivity to each engagement for our services.

Ryder Scott actively participates in industry-related professional societies and organizes an annual public forum focused on the subject of reserves evaluations and SEC regulations. Many of our staff have authored or co-authored technical papers on the subject of reserves related topics. We encourage our staff to maintain and enhance their professional skills by actively participating in ongoing continuing education.

Prior to becoming an officer of the Company, Ryder Scott requires that staff engineers and geoscientists have received professional accreditation in the form of a registered or certified professional engineer’s license or a registered or certified professional geoscientist’s license, or the equivalent thereof, from an appropriate governmental authority or a recognized self-regulating professional organization.

We are independent petroleum engineers with respect to Arête. Neither we nor any of our employees have any financial interest in the subject properties and neither the employment to do this work nor the compensation is contingent on our estimates of reserves for the properties which were reviewed.


Arête Industries, Inc.

March 31, 2015

Page 9

 

The results of this study, presented herein, are based on technical analysis conducted by teams of geoscientists and engineers from Ryder Scott. The professional qualifications of the undersigned, the technical person primarily responsible for overseeing, reviewing and approving the evaluation of the reserves information discussed in this report, are included as an attachment to this letter.

Terms of Usage

The results of our third party study, presented in report form herein, were prepared in accordance with the disclosure requirements set forth in the SEC regulations and intended for public disclosure as an exhibit in filings made with the SEC by Arête.

Arête makes periodic filings on Form 10-K with the SEC under the 1934 Exchange Act. Our written consent for such use is included as a separate exhibit to the filings made with the SEC by Arête.

We have provided Arête with a digital version of the original signed copy of this report letter. In the event there are any differences between the digital version included in filings made by Arête and the original signed report letter, the original signed report letter shall control and supersede the digital version.

The data and work papers used in the preparation of this report are available for examination by authorized parties in our offices. Please contact us if we can be of further service.

 

        Very truly yours,
        RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P.
        TBPE Firm Registration No. F-1580
        \s\ James L. Baird
    [Seal] James L. Baird, P.E.
        Colorado License No. 41521
        Managing Senior Vice President
        \s\ Thomas E. Venglar
[Seal]                             Thomas E. Venglar, P.E.
Colorado License No. 28846
        Senior Petroleum Engineer

JLB-TEV (DCR)/pl


Professional Qualifications of Primary Technical Person

The conclusions presented in this report are the result of technical analysis conducted by teams of geoscientists and engineers from Ryder Scott Company, L.P. James Larry Baird was the primary technical person responsible for overseeing the estimate of the reserves.

Mr. Baird, an employee of Ryder Scott Company, L.P. (Ryder Scott) since 2006, is a Managing Senior Vice President and also serves as Manager of the Denver office, responsible for coordinating and supervising staff and consulting engineers of the company in ongoing reservoir evaluation studies worldwide. Before joining Ryder Scott, Mr. Baird served in a number of engineering positions with Gulf Oil Corporation (1970-1973), Northern Natural Gas (1973-1975) and Questar Exploration & Production (1975-2006). For more information regarding Mr. Baird’s geographic and job specific experience, please refer to the Ryder Scott Company website at www.ryderscott.com/Experience/Employees.

Mr. Baird earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Missouri at Rolla in 1970 and is a registered Professional Engineer in the States of Colorado and Utah. He is also a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

In addition to gaining experience and competency through prior work experience, the Colorado and Utah Board of Professional Engineers recommend continuing education annually, including at least one hour in the area of professional ethics, which Mr. Baird fulfills. As part of his 2011 continuing education hours, Mr. Baird attended an internally presented sixteen hours of formalized training as well as an eight hour public forum. Mr. Baird attended the 2010 and 2011 RSC Reserves Conference and various professional society presentations specifically on the new SEC regulations relating to the definitions and disclosure guidelines contained in the United States Securities and Exchange Commission Title 17, Code of Federal Regulations, Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting, Final Rule released January 14, 2009 in the Federal Register. Mr. Baird attended an additional sixteen hours of formalized in-house and external training during 2011, 2012 and 2013 covering such topics as the SPE/WPC/AAPG/SPEE Petroleum Resources Management System, reservoir engineering, geoscience and petroleum economics evaluation methods, reserve reconciliation processes, overviews of the various productive basins of North America, evaluations of resource play reserves, procedures and software and ethics for consultants. Mr. Baird was a keynote speaker, presenting the Changing Landscape of the SEC Reporting, at the 2009 Unconventional Gas International Conference held in Fort Worth, Texas.

Based on his educational background, professional training and more than 43 years of practical experience in the estimation and evaluation of petroleum reserves, Mr. Baird has attained the professional qualifications as a Reserves Estimator and Reserves Auditor set forth in Article III of the “Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information” promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers as of February 19, 2007.

RYDER SCOTT COMPANY    PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS