United States

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission file number 333-150925-02

 

ATLAS RESOURCES PUBLIC #18-2009 (B) L.P.

(Name of small business issuer in its charter)

 

 

 

Issuer’s telephone number, including area code: (412)-489-0006

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 ☑ 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, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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

 

 

 

 

 

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ATLAS RESOURCES PUBLIC #18-2009 (B) L.P.

(A Delaware Limited Partnership)

INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT

ON FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

ATLAS RESOURCES PUBLIC #18-2009 (B) L.P.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.

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ATLAS RESOURCES PUBLIC #18-2009 (B) L.P.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.

 

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ATLAS RESOURCES PUBLIC #18-2009 (B) L.P.

CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN PARTNERS’ (DEFICIT) CAPITAL  

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.

 

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ATLAS RESOURCES PUBLIC #18-2009 (B) L.P.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.

 

 

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ATLAS RESOURCES PUBLIC #18-2009 (B) L.P.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

(Unaudited)

 

NOTE 1 - DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

 

Atlas Resources Public #18-2009 (B) L.P. (the “Partnership”) is a Delaware limited partnership, formed on April 8, 2008 with Atlas Resources, LLC serving as its Managing General Partner (“Atlas Resources” or the “MGP”). Atlas Resources is an indirect subsidiary of Titan Energy, LLC (“Titan”; OTCQX: TTEN). Titan is an independent developer and producer of natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids, with operations in basins across the United States. Titan also sponsors and manages tax-advantaged investment partnerships, in which it co-invests to finance a portion of its natural gas and oil production activities. Titan is the successor to the business and operations of Atlas Resource Partners, L.P. (“ARP”), a Delaware limited partnership organized in 2012. Unless the context otherwise requires, references below to “the Partnership”, “we,” “us”, “our” and “our company”, refer to Atlas Resources Public #18-2009 (B) L.P.

 

Atlas Energy Group, LLC (“Atlas Energy Group”; OTCQX: ATLS) is a publicly traded company and manages Titan and the MGP through a 2% preferred member interest in Titan.  

The Partnership drilled wells located in Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Indiana and currently operates the wells in Indiana. We have no employees and rely on our MGP for management, which in turn, relies on Atlas Energy Group for administrative services.

 

The Partnership’s operating cash flows are generated from its wells, which produce natural gas and oil. Produced natural gas and oil is then delivered to market through affiliated and/or third-party gas gathering systems. The Partnership intends to produce its wells until they are depleted or become uneconomical to produce, at which time they will be plugged and abandoned or sold. The Partnership does not expect to drill additional wells and expects no additional funds will be required for drilling.

 

The economic viability of the Partnership’s production is based on a variety of factors including proved developed reserves that it can expect to recover through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods or in which the cost of additional required extraction equipment is relatively minor compared to the cost of a new well; and through currently installed extraction equipment and related infrastructure which is operational at the time of the reserves estimate (if the extraction is by means not involving drilling, completing or reworking a well). There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proven reserves and in projecting future net revenues.

The prices at which the Partnership’s natural gas and oil will be sold are uncertain and the Partnership is not guaranteed a specific price for the sale of its production. Changes in natural gas and oil prices have a significant impact on the Partnership’s cash flow and the value of its reserves. Lower natural gas and oil prices may not only decrease the Partnership’s revenues, but also may reduce the amount of natural gas and oil that the Partnership can produce economically.

Liquidity, Capital Resources and Ability to Continue as a Going Concern

 

The Partnership is generally limited to the amount of funds generated by the cash flow from its operations to fund its obligations and make distributions, if any, to its partners. Historically, there has been no need to borrow funds from the MGP to fund operations as the cash flow from the Partnership’s operations had been adequate to fund its obligations and distributions to its partners. Prices for oil and natural gas began to decline significantly during the fourth quarter of 2014 and continue to remain low in 2017. These lower commodity prices have negatively impacted the Partnership’s revenues, earnings and cash flows. Sustained low commodity prices will have a material and adverse effect on the Partnership’s liquidity position and may make it uneconomical for the Partnership to produce its wells until they are depleted as the Partnership originally intended. In addition, the Partnership has experienced significant downward revisions of its natural gas and oil reserves volumes and values due to the declines in commodity prices. The MGP continues to implement various cost saving measures to reduce the Partnership’s operating and general and administrative costs, including renegotiating contracts with contractors, suppliers and service providers, reducing the number of staff and contractors and deferring and eliminating discretionary costs. The MGP will continue to be strategic in managing the Partnership’s cost structure and, in turn, liquidity to meet its operating needs. To the extent commodity prices remain low or decline further, or the Partnership experiences other disruptions in the industry, the Partnership’s ability to fund its operations and make distributions may be further impacted, and could result in the liquidation of the Partnership’s operations.

 

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The uncertainties of Titan’s and the MGP’s liquidity and capital resources (as further described below) raise substantial doubt about Titan’s and the MGP’s ability to continue as a going concern, which also raises substantial doubt about the Partnership’s ability to continue as a going concern. If Titan is unsuccessful in taking actions to resolve its liquidity issues (as further described below), the MGP’s ability to continue the Partnership’s operations may be further impacted and may make it uneconomical for the Partnership to produce its wells until they are depleted as originally intended.

 

If the Partnership is not able to continue as a going concern, the Partnership will liquidate. If the Partnership’s operations are liquidated, a valuation of the Partnership’s assets and liabilities would be determined by an independent expert in accordance with the partnership agreement. It is possible that based on such determination, the Partnership would not be able to make any liquidation distributions to its limited partners. A liquidation could result in the transfer of the post-liquidation assets and liabilities of the Partnership to the MGP and could occur without any further contributions from or distributions to the limited partners.

 

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis of accounting, which contemplates continuity of operations, realization of assets, and satisfaction of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of the going concern uncertainty. If the Partnership cannot continue as a going concern, adjustments to the carrying values and classification of the Partnership’s assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of income and expenses could be required and could be material.  

MGP’s Liquidity, Capital Resources, and Ability to Continue as a Going Concern

 

The MGP’s primary sources of liquidity are cash generated from operations, capital raised through its drilling partnership program, and borrowings under Titan’s credit facilities. The MGP’s primary cash requirements are operating expenses, payments to Titan for debt service including interest, and capital expenditures.

 

The MGP has historically funded its operations, acquisitions and cash distributions primarily through cash generated from operations, amounts available under Titan’s credit facilities and equity and debt offerings. The MGP’s future cash flows are subject to a number of variables, including oil and natural gas prices. Prices for oil and natural gas began to decline significantly during the fourth quarter of 2014 and continue to remain low in 2017. These lower commodity prices have negatively impacted the MGP’s revenues, earnings and cash flows. Sustained low commodity prices could have a material and adverse effect on the MGP’s liquidity position. In addition, challenges with the MGP’s ability to raise capital through its drilling partnership program, either as a result of downturn in commodity prices or other difficulties affecting the fundraising channel, have negatively impacted Titan’s and the MGP’s ability to remain in compliance with the covenants under its credit facilities.

 

Titan was not in compliance with certain of the financial covenants under its credit facilities as of December 31, 2016, as well as the requirement to deliver audited financial statements without a going concern qualification. Titan and the MGP do not currently have sufficient liquidity to repay all of Titan’s outstanding indebtedness, and as a result, there is substantial doubt regarding Titan’s and the MGP’s ability to continue as a going concern.

 

On April 19, 2017, Titan entered into a third amendment to its first lien credit facility. The amendment provides for, among other things, waivers of non-compliance, increases in certain financial covenant ratios and scheduled decreases in Titan’s borrowing base. As part of its overall business strategy, Titan has continued to execute on sales of non-core assets, which include the sale of its Appalachian and Rangely operations. The proceeds of the consummated asset sales were used to repay borrowings under its first lien credit facility. Titan’s strategy is to continue to sell non-core assets to reduce its leverage position, which will also help Titan to comply with the requirements of its first lien credit facility amendment.

 

On April 21, 2017, the lenders under the Titan’s second lien credit facility delivered a notice of events of default and reservation of rights, pursuant to which they noticed events of default related to financial covenants and the failure to deliver financial statements without a “going concern” qualification. The delivery of such notice began the 180-day standstill period under the intercreditor agreement, during which the lenders under the second lien credit facility are prevented from pursuing remedies against the collateral securing Titan’s obligations under the second lien credit facility. The lenders have not accelerated the payment of amounts outstanding under the second lien credit facility.

 

On May 4, 2017, Titan entered into a definitive purchase and sale agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) to sell its conventional Appalachia and Marcellus assets to Diversified Gas & Oil, PLC (“Diversified”), for $84.2 million. The transaction includes the sale of approximately 8,400 oil and gas wells across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee, New York and West Virginia, along with the associated infrastructure (the “Appalachian Assets”).  On June 30, 2017, Titan completed a majority of the Appalachian Assets sale for net cash proceeds of $65.6 million, which included customary preliminary purchase price adjustments, all of which was used to repay a portion of the outstanding indebtedness under its first lien credit facility. Effective on June 30, 2017, the MGP delegated operational activities to an affiliate of Diversified for the Partnership’s natural gas wells in Pennsylvania and Tennessee.  

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On June 12, 2017, Titan entered into a definitive agreement to sell its 25% interest in Rangely Field to an affiliate of Merit Energy Company, LLC for $105 million.  On August 7, 2017, Titan completed the sale of Rangely Field for net cash proceeds of $103.5 million, which included customary preliminary purchase price adjustments, all of which was used to repay a portion of the outstanding indebtedness under its first lien credit facility and achieve compliance with the requirements to reduce its first lien credit facility borrowings below $360 million as required by August 31, 2017. 

On September 27, 2017, the lenders under Titan’s second lien credit facility entered into a letter agreement with Titan and its lenders under the first lien credit facility (the “Extension Letter”). Pursuant to the Extension Letter, the second lien credit facility lenders agreed to extend the 180-day standstill period under the intercreditor agreement (during which the lenders under the second lien credit facility are prevented from pursuing remedies against the collateral securing Titan’s obligations under the second lien credit facility) by an additional 35 days from October 18, 2017 to November 22, 2017. In addition, the extension of the standstill period extends the waiver of certain defaults under the first lien credit facility, which terminates 15 business days prior to the expiration of the standstill period. The parties agreed to extend the standstill period to provide Titan with additional time to negotiate proposed amendments to each of the first lien credit facility and the second lien credit facility.

On September 29, 2017, Titan completed the remainder of the Appalachia Assets sale for additional cash proceeds of $10.4 million, all of which was used to repay a portion of outstanding borrowings under its first lien credit facility.

Titan continually monitors the capital markets and the MGP’s capital structure and may make changes to its capital structure from time to time, with the goal of maintaining financial flexibility, preserving or improving liquidity, strengthening its balance sheet, meeting its debt service obligations and/or achieving cost efficiency. For example, Titan could pursue options such as refinancing, restructuring or reorganizing its indebtedness or capital structure or seek to raise additional capital through debt or equity financing to address its liquidity concerns and high debt levels. Titan is evaluating various options, but there is no certainty that Titan will be able to implement any such options, and cannot provide any assurances that any refinancing or changes in its debt or equity capital structure would be possible or that additional equity or debt financing could be obtained on acceptable terms, if at all, and such options may result in a wide range of outcomes for Titan’s stakeholders. .

 

 

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding interim financial reporting and include all adjustments that are necessary for a fair presentation of our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows for the periods shown, including normal, recurring accruals and other items. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. The year-end condensed balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. For a more complete discussion of our accounting policies and certain other information, refer to our financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

 

Titan’s Appalachia Divestiture

 

Among other things, the Purchase Agreement included the sale of Titan’s indirect interests in the assets and liabilities associated with the Partnership’s natural gas and oil wells in Pennsylvania and Tennessee that were transferred to DGOC Series 18(B), L.P., a newly formed entity and former subsidiary of the Partnership (“DGOC”), for which Atlas Resources served as its managing general partner.  We refer to this transfer as the “separation.”

 

On September 29, 2017, the separation was accomplished through a transaction in which all of the natural gas and oil development and production assets of the Partnership located in Pennsylvania and Tennessee were transferred to DGOC. After the separation, the Partnership distributed to its unit holders, on a pro rata basis, common units representing one hundred percent of the limited partner interest in DGOC. In connection with the completion of the separation and distribution, the MGP transferred its limited partner and general partner interests in DGOC (the “DGOC equity interests”) to DGOC Partnership Holdings II, LLC (“DGOC Holdings”) formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of Titan to serve as DGOC’s new managing general partner (the “DGOC MGP”).  Following the completion of the separation and distribution and the transfer of the DGOC equity interests to the DGOC MGP, the equity interests of the DGOC MGP were transferred to Diversified and Diversified owns the managing general partner of the DGOC.

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Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Partnership’s financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities that exist at the date of the Partnership’s condensed financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and costs and expenses during the reporting periods. The Partnership’s condensed financial statements are based on a number of significant estimates, including the revenue and expense accruals, depletion, impairments, fair value of derivative instruments and the probability of forecasted transactions. The natural gas industry principally conducts its business by processing actual transactions many as 60 days after the month of delivery. Consequently, the most recent two months’ financial results were recorded using estimated volumes and contract market prices. Actual results could differ from those estimates.  

 

Discontinued Operations

 

A disposal of a component of our entity is classified as discontinued operations if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on our operations and financial results.  For components classified as discontinued operations, the balance sheet amounts and results of operations are reclassified from their historical presentation to assets and liabilities held for sale on the condensed balance sheet and to net income (loss) from discontinued operations on the condensed statement of operations for all periods presented. See Note 3 for additional disclosures regarding discontinued operations.

 

Gas and Oil Properties

The following is a summary of gas and oil properties at the dates indicated:

 

 

Derivative Instruments

The Partnership’s MGP entered into certain financial contracts to manage the Partnership’s exposure to movement in commodity prices. On January 1, 2015, the Partnership discontinued hedge accounting through de-designation for all of its existing commodity derivatives which were qualified as hedges. As such, subsequent changes in fair value after December 31, 2014 of these derivatives were recognized immediately within gain (loss) on mark-to-market derivatives in the Partnership’s statements of operations, while the fair values of the instruments recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31, 2014 were reclassified to the statements of operations in the periods in which the respective derivative contracts settled. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Partnership did not have any derivative activity as all derivative contracts have been matured.  During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Partnership recorded $0 and $1,200 respectively subsequent to hedge accounting recognized in loss on mark-to-market derivatives.

   

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Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) updated the accounting guidance related to leases. The updated accounting guidance requires lessees to recognize a lease asset and liability at the commencement date of all leases (with the exception of short-term leases), initially measured at the present value of the lease payments. The updated guidance is effective for us as of January 1, 2019 and requires a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest period presented. We are currently in the process of determining the impact that the updated accounting guidance will have on our condensed financial statements.

 

In May 2014, the FASB updated the accounting guidance related to revenue recognition. The updated accounting guidance provides a single, contract-based revenue recognition model to help improve financial reporting by providing clearer guidance on when an entity should recognize revenue, and by reducing the number of standards to which an entity has to refer. In July 2015, the FASB voted to defer the effective date by one year to December 15, 2017 for annual reporting periods beginning after that date. We have made progress on our contract reviews and documentation. Substantially all of our revenue is earned pursuant to agreements under which we have currently interpreted one performance obligation, which is satisfied at a point-in-time. We are currently unable to reasonably estimate the expected financial statement impact; however, we do not believe the new accounting guidance will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. We intend to adopt the new accounting guidance using the modified retrospective method. The new accounting guidance will require that our revenue recognition policy disclosures include further detail regarding our performance obligations as to the nature, amount, timing, and estimates of revenue and cash flows generated from our contracts with customers.

 

NOTE 3 – DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 

As disclosed in Note 2, on September 29, 2017, Titan completed the remainder of the Appalachia Assets sale, which included the sale of Titan’s indirect interests in the assets and liabilities associated with the Partnership’s natural gas and oil wells in Pennsylvania and Tennessee that were transferred to DGOC.

 

The Partnership determined that the natural gas and oil wells in Pennsylvania and Tennessee that were transferred to DGOC represent discontinued operations as they constitute a disposal of a group of components and a strategic shift that will have a major effect on the Partnership’s operations and financial results. As a result, the Partnership reclassified the balances and activities of its natural gas and oil wells in Pennsylvania and Tennessee that were transferred to DGOC from their historical presentation to assets and liabilities held for sale on the condensed balance sheet and to net income (loss) from discontinued operations on the condensed statement of operations for all periods presented. Our financial results and cash flows for future periods following the separation, including the Partnership’s ability to make distributions, will be different from historical trends and the differences may be material.

 

The following table reconciles the major classes of line items from the Partnership’s natural gas and oil wells in Pennsylvania and Tennessee that were transferred to DGOC classified as discontinued operations included within net income (loss) from discontinued operations for the periods presented:    

 

 

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The following table details the major classes of assets and liabilities of the Partnership’s natural gas and oil wells in Pennsylvania and Tennessee that were transferred to DGOC on September 29, 2017 and were classified as held for sale at December 31,2016:

 

 

 

NOTE 4 - CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

The Partnership has entered into the following significant transactions with the MGP and its affiliates as provided under its Partnership Agreement. Administrative costs, which are included in general and administrative expenses in the Partnership’s condensed statements of operations, are payable at $75 per well per month. Monthly well supervision fees, which are included in production expense in the Partnership’s condensed statements of operations, are payable at $1,500 per well per month for New Albany wells for operating and maintaining the wells. Well supervision fees are proportionately reduced to the extent the Partnership does not acquire 100% of the working interest in a well. Transportation fees are included in production expenses in the Partnership’s condensed statements of operations and are generally payable at 16% of the natural gas sales price. Direct costs, which are included in production and general administrative expenses in the Partnership’s condensed statements of operations, are payable to the MGP and its affiliates as reimbursement for all costs expended on the Partnership’s behalf.

 

The MGP and its affiliates perform all administrative and management functions for the Partnership, including billing revenues and paying expenses. Accounts receivable trade-affiliate on the Partnership’s balance sheets includes the net production revenues due from the MGP. Accounts payable trade-affiliate on the Partnership’s balance sheets include costs relating to well construction paid by the MGP.

 

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NOTE 5 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

General Commitments

Subject to certain conditions, investor partners may present their interests for purchase by the MGP. The purchase price is calculated by the MGP in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement. The MGP is not obligated to purchase more than 5% of the total outstanding units in any calendar year. In the event that the MGP is unable to obtain the necessary funds, it may suspend its purchase obligation.

Beginning one year after each of the Partnership’s wells has been placed into production, the MGP, as operator, may retain $200 per month per well to cover estimated future plugging and abandonment costs. As of September 30, 2017, the MGP has withheld $27,300 of net production revenue for future plugging and abandonment costs. The decision by the MGP to withhold funds for plugging and abandonment may affect the ability of the Partnership to make distributions to partners in future periods.  Effective on June 30, 2017, the MGP delegated operational activities to an affiliate of Diversified for the Partnership’s natural gas wells in Pennsylvania and Tennessee.

Legal Proceedings

 

The Partnership and affiliates of the MGP and their subsidiaries are party to various routine legal proceedings arising out of the ordinary course of its business. The MGP’s management believes that none of these actions, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Partnership’s or the MGP’s financial condition or results of operations.

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Forward-Looking Statements

When used in this Form 10-Q, the words “believes”, “anticipates,” “expects” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results stated or implied in this document. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to forward-looking statements which we may make to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Form 10-Q or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

General

Atlas Resources Public #18-2009 (B) L.P. is a Delaware limited partnership, formed on April 8, 2008 with Atlas Resources, LLC serving as its Managing General Partner (“Atlas Resources” or the “MGP”). Atlas Resources is an indirect subsidiary of Titan Energy, LLC (“Titan”; OTCQX: TTEN). Titan is an independent developer and producer of natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids, with operations in basins across the United States. Titan also sponsors and manages tax-advantaged investment partnerships, in which it co-invests to finance a portion of its natural gas and oil production activities. Titan is the successor to the business and operations of Atlas Resource Partners, L.P. (“ARP”), a Delaware limited partnership organized in 2012. Unless the context otherwise requires, references below to “the Partnership”, “we,” “us”, “our” and “our company”, refer to Atlas Resources Public #18-2009 (B) L.P.

Atlas Energy Group, LLC (“Atlas Energy Group”; OTCQX: ATLS) is a publicly traded company and manages Titan and the MGP through a 2% preferred member interest in Titan.

We drilled and wells located in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Indiana and currently operate wells located in Indiana. We have no employees and rely on our MGP for management, which in turn, relies on Atlas Energy Group, for administrative services.

 

The Partnership’s operating cash flows are generated from its wells, which produce natural gas and oil. Produced natural gas and oil is then delivered to market through affiliated and/or third-party gas gathering systems. The Partnership intends to produce its wells until they are depleted or become uneconomical to produce, at which time they will be plugged and abandoned or sold. The Partnership does not expect to drill additional wells and expects no additional funds will be required for drilling.

 

The economic viability of the Partnership’s production is based on a variety of factors including proved developed reserves that it can expect to recover through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods or in which the cost of additional required extraction equipment is relatively minor compared to the cost of a new well; and through currently installed extraction equipment and related infrastructure which is operational at the time of the reserves estimate (if the extraction is by means not involving drilling, completing or reworking a well). There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proven reserves and in projecting future net revenues.

The prices at which the Partnership’s natural gas and oil will be sold are uncertain and the Partnership is not guaranteed a specific price for the sale of its production. Changes in natural gas and oil prices have a significant impact on the Partnership’s cash flow and the value of its reserves. Lower natural gas and oil prices may not only decrease the Partnership’s revenues, but also may reduce the amount of natural gas and oil that the Partnership can produce economically.

Liquidity, Capital Resources and Ability to Continue as a Going Concern

 

The Partnership is generally limited to the amount of funds generated by the cash flow from its operations to fund its obligations and make distributions, if any, to its partners. Historically, there has been no need to borrow funds from the MGP to fund operations as the cash flow from the Partnership’s operations had been adequate to fund its obligations and distributions to its partners. Prices for oil and natural gas began to decline significantly during the fourth quarter of 2014 and continue to remain low in 2017. These lower commodity prices have negatively impacted the Partnership’s revenues, earnings and cash flows. Sustained low commodity prices will have a material and adverse effect on the Partnership’s liquidity position and may make it uneconomical for the Partnership to produce its wells until they are depleted as the Partnership originally intended. In addition, the Partnership has experienced significant downward revisions of its natural gas and oil reserves volumes and values due to the declines in commodity prices. The MGP continues to implement various cost saving measures to reduce the Partnership’s operating and general and administrative costs, including renegotiating contracts with contractors, suppliers and service providers, reducing the number of staff and contractors and deferring and eliminating discretionary costs. The MGP will continue to be strategic in managing the Partnership’s cost structure and, in turn, liquidity to meet its operating needs. To the extent commodity prices remain low or decline further, or the Partnership experiences other disruptions in the industry, the Partnership’s ability to fund its operations and make distributions may be further impacted, and could result in the liquidation of the Partnership’s operations.

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The uncertainties of Titan’s and the MGP’s liquidity and capital resources (as further described below) raise substantial doubt about Titan’s and the MGP’s ability to continue as a going concern, which also raises substantial doubt about the Partnership’s ability to continue as a going concern. If Titan is unsuccessful in taking actions to resolve its liquidity issues (as further described below), the MGP’s ability to continue the Partnership’s operations may be further impacted and may make it uneconomical for the Partnership to produce its wells until they are depleted as originally intended.

If the Partnership is not able to continue as a going concern, the Partnership will liquidate. If the Partnership’s operations are liquidated, a valuation of the Partnership’s assets and liabilities would be determined by an independent expert in accordance with the partnership agreement. It is possible that based on such determination, the Partnership would not be able to make any liquidation distributions to its limited partners. A liquidation could result in the transfer of the post-liquidation assets and liabilities of the Partnership to the MGP and could occur without any further contributions from or distributions to the limited partners.

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis of accounting, which contemplates continuity of operations, realization of assets, and satisfaction of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of the going concern uncertainty. If the Partnership cannot continue as a going concern, adjustments to the carrying values and classification of the Partnership’s assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of income and expenses could be required and could be material.

 

MGP’s Liquidity, Capital Resources, and Ability to Continue as a Going Concern

 

The MGP’s primary sources of liquidity are cash generated from operations, capital raised through its drilling partnership program, and borrowings under Titan’s credit facilities. The MGP’s primary cash requirements are operating expenses, payments to Titan for debt service including interest, and capital expenditures.

 

The MGP has historically funded its operations, acquisitions and cash distributions primarily through cash generated from operations, amounts available under Titan’s credit facilities and equity and debt offerings. The MGP’s future cash flows are subject to a number of variables, including oil and natural gas prices. Prices for oil and natural gas began to decline significantly during the fourth quarter of 2014 and continue to remain low in 2017. These lower commodity prices have negatively impacted the MGP’s revenues, earnings and cash flows. Sustained low commodity prices could have a material and adverse effect on the MGP’s liquidity position. In addition, challenges with the MGP’s ability to raise capital through its drilling partnership program, either as a result of downturn in commodity prices or other difficulties affecting the fundraising channel, have negatively impacted Titan’s and the MGP’s ability to remain in compliance with the covenants under its credit facilities.

 

Titan was not in compliance with certain of the financial covenants under its credit facilities as of December 31, 2016, as well as the requirement to deliver audited financial statements without a going concern qualification. Titan and the MGP do not currently have sufficient liquidity to repay all of Titan’s outstanding indebtedness, and as a result, there is substantial doubt regarding Titan’s and the MGP’s ability to continue as a going concern.

 

On April 19, 2017, Titan entered into a third amendment to its first lien credit facility. The amendment provides for, among other things, waivers of non-compliance, increases in certain financial covenant ratios and scheduled decreases in Titan’s borrowing base. As part of its overall business strategy, Titan has continued to execute on sales of non-core assets, which included the sale of its Appalachia and Rangely operations. The proceeds of the consummated asset sales were used to repay borrowings under its first lien credit facility. Titan’s strategy is to continue to sell non-core assets to reduce its leverage position, which will also help Titan to comply with the requirements of its first lien credit facility amendment.

 

On April 21, 2017, the lenders under the Titan’s second lien credit facility delivered a notice of events of default and reservation of rights, pursuant to which they noticed events of default related to financial covenants and the failure to deliver financial statements without a “going concern” qualification. The delivery of such notice began the 180-day standstill period under the intercreditor agreement, during which the lenders under the second lien credit facility are prevented from pursuing remedies against the collateral securing Titan’s obligations under the second lien credit facility. The lenders have not accelerated the payment of amounts outstanding under the second lien credit facility.

 

On May 4, 2017, Titan entered into a definitive purchase and sale agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) to sell its conventional Appalachia and Marcellus assets to Diversified Gas & Oil, PLC (“Diversified”), for $84.2 million. The transaction includes the sale of approximately 8,400 oil and gas wells across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee, New York and West Virginia, along with the associated infrastructure (the “Appalachian Assets”).  On June 30, 2017, Titan completed a majority of the Appalachian Assets sale for net cash proceeds of $65.6 million, which included customary preliminary purchase price adjustments, all of which was used to repay a portion of the outstanding indebtedness under its first lien credit facility. Effective on June 30, 2017, the MGP delegated operational activities to an affiliate of Diversified for the Partnership’s natural gas wells in Pennsylvania and Tennessee.

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On June 12, 2017, Titan entered into a definitive agreement to sell its 25% interest in Rangely Field to an affiliate of Merit Energy Company, LLC for $105 million. On August 7, 2017, Titan completed the sale of Rangely Field for net cash proceeds of $103.5 million subject to customary preliminary purchase price adjustments, all of which was used to repay a portion of the outstanding indebtedness under its first lien credit facility and achieve compliance with the requirement to reduce its first lien credit facility borrowings below $360 million, as required by August 31, 2017.

On September 27, 2017, the lenders under Titan’s second lien credit facility entered into a letter agreement with Titan and its lenders under the first lien credit facility (the “Extension Letter”). Pursuant to the Extension Letter, the second lien credit facility lenders agreed to extend the 180-day standstill period under the intercreditor agreement (during which the lenders under the second lien credit facility are prevented from pursuing remedies against the collateral securing Titan’s obligations under the second lien credit facility) by an additional 35 days from October 18, 2017 to November 22, 2017. In addition, the extension of the standstill period extends the waiver of certain defaults under the first lien credit facility, which terminates 15 business days prior to the expiration of the standstill period. The parties agreed to extend the standstill period to provide Titan with additional time to negotiate proposed amendments to each of the first lien credit facility and the second lien credit facility.

On September 29, 2017, Titan completed the remainder of the Appalachia Assets sale for additional cash proceeds of $10.4 million, all of which was used to repay a portion of outstanding borrowings under its first lien credit facility. Titan continually monitors the capital markets and the MGP’s capital structure and may make changes to its capital structure from time to time, with the goal of maintaining financial flexibility, preserving or improving liquidity, strengthening its balance sheet, meeting its debt service obligations and/or achieving cost efficiency. For example, Titan could pursue options such as refinancing, restructuring or reorganizing its indebtedness or capital structure or seek to raise additional capital through debt or equity financing to address its liquidity concerns and high debt levels. Titan is evaluating various options, but there is no certainty that Titan will be able to implement any such options, and cannot provide any assurances that any refinancing or changes in its debt or equity capital structure would be possible or that additional equity or debt financing could be obtained on acceptable terms, if at all, and such options may result in a wide range of outcomes for Titan’s stakeholders.

 

Titan’s Appalachia Divestiture

 

Among other things, the Purchase Agreement included the sale of Titan’s indirect interests in the assets and liabilities associated with the Partnership’s natural gas and oil wells in Pennsylvania and Tennessee that were transferred to DGOC Series 18(B), L.P., a newly formed entity and former subsidiary of the Partnership (“DGOC”), for which Atlas Resources served as its managing general partner.  We refer to this transfer as the “separation.”

 

On September 29, 2017, the separation was accomplished through a transaction in which all of the natural gas and oil development and production assets of the Partnership located in Pennsylvania and Tennessee were transferred to DGOC. After the separation, the Partnership distributed to its unit holders, on a pro rata basis, common units representing one hundred percent of the limited partner interest in DGOC. In connection with the completion of the separation and distribution, the MGP transferred its limited partner and general partner interests in DGOC (the “DGOC equity interests”) to DGOC Partnership Holdings II, LLC (“DGOC Holdings”) formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of Titan to serve as DGOC’s new managing general partner (the “DGOC MGP”).  Following the completion of the separation and distribution and the transfer of the DGOC equity interests to the DGOC MGP, the equity interests of the DGOC MGP were transferred to Diversified and Diversified owns the managing general partner of the DGOC.

Overview

The following discussion provides information to assist in understanding our financial condition and results of operations. Our operating cash flows are generated from our wells, which produce primarily natural gas, but also some oil. Our produced natural gas and oil is then delivered to market through affiliated and/or third-party gas gathering systems. Our ongoing operating and maintenance costs have been and are expected to be fulfilled through revenues from the sale of our natural gas and oil production. We pay our MGP, as operator, a monthly well supervision fee, which covers all normal and regularly recurring operating expenses for the production and sale of natural gas and oil such as:

The well supervision fees, however, do not include costs and expenses related to the purchase of certain equipment, materials and brine disposal. If these expenses are incurred, we pay cost for third-party services, materials and a competitive charge for services performed directly by our MGP or its affiliates. Also, beginning one year after each of our wells has been placed into production, our

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MGP, as operator, may retain $200 per month, per well, to cover the estimated future plugging and abandonment costs of the well. As of September 30, 2017, our MGP has withheld $27,300 of net production revenues for this purpose. The decision by the MGP to withhold funds for plugging and abandonment may affect the ability of the Partnership to make distributions to partners in future periods.  Effective on June 30, 2017, the MGP delegated operational activities to an affiliate of Diversified for the Partnership’s natural gas wells in Pennsylvania and Tennessee.

Markets and Competition

The availability of a ready market for natural gas and oil produced by us, and the price obtained, depends on numerous factors beyond our control, including the extent of domestic production, imports of foreign natural gas and oil, political instability or terrorist acts in gas and oil producing countries and regions, market demand, competition from other energy sources, the effect of federal regulation on the sale of natural gas and oil in interstate commerce, other governmental regulation of the production and transportation of natural gas and oil and the proximity, availability and capacity of pipelines and other required facilities. Our MGP is responsible for selling our production. During 2017 and 2016, we experienced no problems in selling our natural gas and oil. Product availability and price are the principal means of competing in selling natural gas and oil production. While it is impossible to accurately determine our comparative position in the industry, we do not consider our operations to be a significant factor in the industry.

Results of Operations

Discontinued operations. The Partnership determined that the natural gas and oil wells in Pennsylvania and Tennessee that were transferred to DGOC represent discontinued operations as they constitute a disposal of a group of components and a strategic shift that will have a major effect on the Partnership’s operations and financial results. As a result, the Partnership reclassified the balances and activities of its natural gas and oil wells in Pennsylvania and Tennessee that were transferred to DGOC from their historical presentation to assets and liabilities held for sale on the condensed balance sheet and to net income (loss) from discontinued operations on the condensed statement of operations for all periods presented. Our financial results and cash flows for future periods following the separation, including the Partnership’s ability to make distributions, will be different from historical trends and the differences may be material.

 

Revenues. We did not recognize any revenues on our condensed statements of operations for the three or nine months ended September 30, 2017 as all our remaining natural gas and oil wells in Indiana are currently not producing.  Revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 were nominal.

 

Gain on Mark-to-Market Derivatives. We recognized changes in fair value of our derivatives immediately within gain on mark-to-market derivatives on our condensed statements of operations. As of December 31, 2016, all derivative contracts have matured and we have not entered into any new contracts.

 

We recognized a loss on mark-to-market derivatives of $0 and $1,200 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. This change was due to mark-to-market changes primarily related to the change in natural gas prices during the period.

Costs and Expenses. Production expenses were $1,400 and $1,200 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, an increase of $200 (17%).  Production expenses were $9,000 and $32,900 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, a decrease of $23,900 (73%).  The decrease for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 when compared to the prior year similar period is primarily due to a combination of lower water hauling and disposal costs as a result of managing well pressures and reducing water production along with a decrease in supervision fees.

 

Cash Flows Overview. Cash flows from continuing operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 consists of $(2,300) and $(61,400), respectively, net cash used in operating activities for cash receipts and disbursements attributable to our normal monthly operating cycle for gas and oil production, lease operating expenses, gathering, processing and transportation expenses, severance taxes, general and administrative expenses.

There was no cash provided by or used in continuing investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

Cash used in financing activities increased $512,500 during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to $853,800 from $341,300 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. This increase was due to an increase in cash distributions to partners.

 

Our MGP may withhold funds for future plugging and abandonment costs. Through September 30, 2017, our MGP has withheld $27,300 of funds for this purpose. Any additional funds, if required, will be obtained from production revenues or borrowings from our MGP or its affiliates, which are not contractually committed to make loans to us. The amount that we may borrow at any one time may not at any time exceed 5% of our total subscriptions, and we will not borrow from third-parties.

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Critical Accounting Policies

See Note 2 to our condensed financial statements for additional information related to recently issued accounting standards.

For a more complete discussion of the accounting policies and estimates that we have identified as critical in the preparation of our condensed financial statements, please refer to our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Securities Exchange Act of 1934 reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our general partner’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and our management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

 

Under the supervision of our general partner’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and with the participation of our disclosure committee appointed by such officers, we have carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, our general partner’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of June 30, 2017, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

As previously disclosed in our June 30, 2017 Form 10-Q in connection with the preparation of our interim financial statements, our management identified control deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting that constituted a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. Specifically, the material weakness resulted from an insufficient review of contract pricing information used to estimate unbilled revenue at March 31, 2016. There was no impact on Partnership distributions for any period.

As of the date of filing this Form 10-Q, our management completed its remediation plan, which included a more formal and thorough review of its pricing inputs used to calculate estimated unbilled revenue as well as a direct and precise analytical review control for assessing changes in revenues quarter over quarter. As a result, this material weakness has been remediated.

Other than the above referenced item, there have been no changes in the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II OTHER INFORMATION

 

The Partnership is a party to various routine legal proceedings arising out of the ordinary course of its business. Management believes that none of these actions, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Partnership’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

Affiliates of the MGP and their subsidiaries are party to various routine legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of their respective businesses. The MGP’s management believes that none of these actions, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the MGP’s financial condition or results of operations.

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

 

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

 

 

 

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