ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Sterling Gas Drilling Fund 1982 (the "Registrant" or the "Partnership") is a limited partnership formed under the laws of the State of New York on July 28, 1982. The sole business of the Partnership was the drilling of formation extension wells principally for natural gas in various locations in the State of West Virginia. No exploratory drilling was undertaken.
The principal place of business of the Partnership is at One Landmark Square, Stamford, Connecticut 06901, telephone (203) 358-5700. The Managing General Partner of the Partnership is PrimeEnergy Management Corporation, a New York corporation, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of PrimeEnergy Corporation, a publicly held Delaware corporation. Messrs. Charles E. Drimal, Jr., Oliver J. Sterling and Samuel R. Campbell also are General Partners. Mr. Drimal is a Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of PrimeEnergy Management Corporation and PrimeEnergy Corporation, and Mr. Campbell is a Director of PrimeEnergy Corporation.
The aggregate contributions to the Partnership were $14,370,000, all of which, net of the organization expenses of the Partnership, was expended in the drilling of such formation extension wells. Such properties are located in Clay, Roane, Calhoun, Wirt, Kanawha, Lincoln and Putnam Counties, West Virginia. The Partnership does not operate any of the properties in which it has an interest, but generally such properties are operated and serviced by Prime Operating Company, a Texas corporation, and Eastern Oil Well Service Company, a West Virginia corporation, both wholly-owned subsidiaries of PrimeEnergy Corporation.
During 2000, the Partnership did not engage in any development drilling activities or the acquisition of any significant additional properties, but engaged in the production of oil and gas from its producing properties in the usual and customary course. Since January 1, 2001, and to the date of this Report, the Partnership has not engaged in any drilling activities nor participated in the acquisition of any material producing oil and gas properties.
During 2000, PrimeEnergy Management negotiated a Farmout Agreement with Columbia Natural Resources, Inc. (CNR) covering leasehold interests in approximately 5,000 acres in Clay County, West Virginia. Acreage held by Sterling Gas Drilling Fund 1982 Limited Partnership has been included in the Farmout Agreement. Pursuant to this agreement, CNR has the right but not the obligation to select acreage and drill a deep well on the selected acreage, subject to an overriding royalty interest due to the leasehold owners. This agreement terminates in April 2001. At this time it is unlikely that CNR will exercise their rights to select acreage and drill a well. If CNR does not exercise their rights under this agreement PrimeEnergy will attempt to find other parties interested in this acreage, however there is no guarantee that a new agreement will be made.
COMPETITION AND MARKETS
Competitors of the Partnership in the marketing of its oil and gas production include oil and gas companies, independent concerns, and individual producers and operators, many of which have financial resources, staffs and facilities substantially greater than those available to the Partnership. Furthermore, domestic producers of oil and gas must not only compete with each other in marketing their output, but must also compete with producers of imported oil and gas and alternative energy sources such as coal, nuclear power and hydro-electric power.
The availability of a ready market for any oil and gas produced by the Partnership at acceptable prices per unit of production will depend upon numerous factors beyond the control of the Partnership, including the extent of domestic production and importation of oil and gas, the proximity of the Partnership's producing properties to gas pipelines and the availability and capacity of such pipelines, the marketing of other competitive fuels, fluctuation in demand, governmental regulation of production, refining, transportation and sales, general national and worldwide economic conditions, and pricing, use and allocation of oil and gas and their substitute fuels.
The Partnership does not currently own or lease any bulk storage facilities or pipelines, other than adjacent to and used in connection with producing wells. The Partnership deals with a number of major and independent companies for the purchase of its oil and gas production, in the areas of production. Sales are made under short-term contractual arrangements or monthly spot prices. In 2000, approximately $251,149 or 82.94% and $34,214 or 11.30% of the Partnership's gas production was purchased by Phoenix Diversified and Cabot O & G, respectively, and about $32,066, or 100%, of the Partnership's oil production was purchased by the American Refining Group. None of these purchasers has any relationship or is otherwise affiliated with the Partnership. The Partnership believes that its current purchasers will continue to purchase oil and gas products and, if not, could be replaced by other purchasers.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
The petroleum industry is subject to numerous federal and state environmental statutes, regulations and other pollution controls. In general, the Partnership is, and will be subject to, present and future environmental statutes and regulations, and in the future the cost of its activities may materially increase as a result thereof. The Partnership's expenses relating to preserving the environment during 2000 as they relate to its oil and gas operations were not significant in relation to operating costs and the Partnership expects no material change in the near future. The Partnership believes that environmental regulations should not, in the future, result in a curtailment of production or otherwise have a materially adverse effect on the Partnership's operations or financial condition.
REGULATION
The Partnership's oil and gas operations are subject to a wide variety of federal, state and local regulations. Administrative agencies in such jurisdictions may promulgate and enforce rules and regulations relating to, among other things, drilling and spacing of oil and gas wells, production rates, prevention of waste, conservation of natural gas and oil, pollution control, and various other matters, all of which may affect the Partnership's future operations and production of oil and gas. The Partnership's natural gas production and prices received for natural gas are regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") and the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 and
various state regulations. The Partnership is also subject to state drilling and proration regulations affecting its drilling operations and production rates.
The FERC continues to regulate interstate natural gas pipeline transportation rates and service conditions pursuant to the NGA and NGPA. Federal regulation of interstate transporter's affects the marketing of natural gas produced by the Partnership as well as the revenues received by the Partnership for sales of such natural gas. Since the latter part of 1985, through its Order Nos. 436, 500 and 636 rulemakings, the FERC has endeavored to make natural gas transportation accessible to gas buyers and sellers on an open and non-discriminatory basis. The FERC's efforts have significantly altered the marketing and pricing of natural gas. No prediction can be made as to what additional legislation may be proposed, if any, affecting the competitive status of a gas producer, restricting the prices at which a producer may sell its gas, or the market demand for gas, nor can it be predicted which proposals, including those presently under consideration, if enacted, might be effective.
Additional proposals and proceedings that might affect the natural gas industry are considered from time to time by Congress, the FERC, state regulatory bodies and the courts. The Partnership cannot predict when or if any such proposals might become effective, or their effect, if any, on the Partnership's operations. The Partnership believes that it will comply with all orders and regulation changes applicable to its operations. However, in view of the many uncertainties with respect to the current controls, including their duration and possible modification together with any new proposals that may be enacted, the Partnership cannot predict the overall effect, if any, of such controls on its operations.
TAXATION
The Partnership received an opinion of its counsel that the Partnership would be classified as a partnership and the holders of Partnership Units would be treated as limited partners for federal income tax purposes. The Partnership itself, to the extent that it is treated for federal income tax purposes as a partnership, is not subject to any federal income taxation, but it is required to file annual partnership returns. Each holder of Partnership Units will be allocated his distributive shares of the Partnership's income, gain, profit, loss, deductions, credits, tax preference items and distributions for any taxable year of the Partnership ending within or with his taxable year without regard as to whether such holder has received or will receive any cash distributions from the Partnership.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Partnership has no interest in any properties other than its oil and gas properties. The information set forth below summarizes the Partnership's oil and gas wells, production and reserves, for the periods indicated.
PRODUCING WELLS AND OPERATING INFORMATION
The Partnership, following its formation, and in December, 1982, contracted for the drilling of 51 development wells, which resulted in 50 producing wells and one dry hole.
As of December 31, 2000, the Partnership had ownership interests in the following gross and net producing oil and gas wells and gross and net producing acres.(1) The Partnership has no material undeveloped leasehold, mineral or royalty acreage.
Producing wells:
(1) A gross well is a well in which an interest is owned; a net well is the sum of the interests owned in gross wells. Wells are classified by their primary product. Some wells produce both oil and gas.
The following table sets forth the Partnership's oil & gas production, average sales price and average production costs as of and for the periods indicated:
OIL AND GAS RESERVES
The Ryder Scott Company, L.P. has evaluated the Partnership's interests in proved developed oil and gas properties for the periods indicated below. All of the Partnership's reserves are located in the continental United States. The following table summarizes the Partnership's oil and gas reserves at the dates shown (figures rounded):
The estimated future net revenue using current prices and costs as of the dates indicated, exclusive of income taxes (at a 10% discount for estimated timing of cash flow) for the Partnership's proved developed oil and gas reserves for the periods indicated are summarized as follows (figures rounded):
The estimated reserve quantities and future income quantities are related to hydrocarbon prices. Therefore, volumes of reserves actually recovered and amounts of income actually received may differ significantly from the estimated quantities presented in this report.
In accordance with FASB Statement No. 69, December 31, 2000 market prices were determined using the daily oil price or daily gas sales price ("spot price") adjusted for oilfield or gas gathering hub and wellhead price differentials (e.g. grade, transportation, gravity, sulfur, and BS&W) as appropriate. Also, in accordance with SEC and FASB specifications, changes in market prices subsequent to December 31, 2000 were not considered. The spot price for gas at December 31, 2000 was $9.23 per MMBTU. The range of spot prices during the year 2000 was a low of $2.14 and a high of $10.50 and the average was $4.28. The range during the first quarter of 2001 has been from $4.67 to $10.69 with an average of $6.42. The recent futures market prices have been in the $5.00 range. While it may reasonably be anticipated that the prices received by Sterling Gas Drilling Fund 1982 for the sale of its production may be higher or lower than the prices used in this evaluation, as described above, and the operating costs relating to such production may also increase or decrease from existing levels, such possible changes in prices and costs were, in accordance with rules
adopted by the SEC, omitted from consideration in making this evaluation for the SEC case. Actual volumes produced, prices received and costs incurred by the partnership may vary significantly from the SEC case
Since January 1, 2000, the Partnership has not filed any estimates of its oil and gas reserves with, nor were any such estimates included in any reports, to any federal authority or agency, other than the Securities and Exchange Commission.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Partnership is not a party to, nor is any of its property the subject of, any legal proceedings actual or threatened, which would have a material adverse effect on the business and affairs of the Partnership.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
There were no matters submitted during 2000 for vote by the holders of Partnership Units.
PART II
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
There is no market for the Limited Partnership Units (the "Units") of the Partnership. As of March 15, 2001, there were 897 holders of record of the Units.
The Units are not regarded as stock and payments or distributions to holders of Units are not made in the form of dividends. There were no distributions to the holders of Units in 2000 or 1999. Aggregate cash distributions to the holders of the Units as of December 31, 2000, was $1,402,512.
The Managing General Partner may purchase Units directly from the unit holders if presented to the Managing General Partner, subject to conditions, including limitations on numbers of Units, and at a price to be fixed by the Managing General Partner in accordance with certain procedures, all as provided for in the Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership.
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table summarizes certain selected financial data to highlight significant trends in the Registrant's financial condition and results of operations for the periods indicated. The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report.
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION & RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
1. Liquidity: The oil and gas industry is competitive in all its phases. There is also competition between this industry and other industries in supplying energy and fuel requirements of industrial and residential consumers. It is not possible for the Registrant to calculate its position in the industry as the Registrant competes with many other companies having substantially greater financial and other resources. In accordance with the terms of the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, the General Partners of the Registrant will make cash distributions of as much of the Partnership cash credited to the capital accounts of the partners as the General Partners have determined is not necessary or desirable for the payment of any contingent debts, liabilities or expenses for the conduct of the Partnership business. As of December 31, 2000, the General Partners have distributed to the Limited Partners $1,402,512 or 9.76% of the total Limited Partner capital contributions.
The net proved oil and gas reserves of the Partnership are considered to be a primary indicator of financial strength and future liquidity. The present value of unescalated future net revenue (S.E.C. case) associated with such reserves, discounted at 10% as of December 31, 2000 was approximately $4,363,671, as compared to December 31, 1999, of about $936,729. Overall reservoir engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of gas and oil that can not be measure in an exact manner. The estimated reserve quantities and future income quantities are related to hydrocarbon prices. Therefore, volumes of reserves actually recovered and amounts
of income actually received may differ significantly from the estimated quantities presented in this report.
In accordance with FASB Statement No. 69, December 31, 2000 market prices were determined using the daily oil price or daily gas sales price ("spot price") adjusted for oilfield or gas gathering hub and wellhead price differentials (e.g. grade, transportation, gravity, sulfur, and BS&W) as appropriate. Also, in accordance with SEC and FASB specifications, changes in market prices subsequent to December 31, 2000 were not considered. The spot price for gas at December 31, 2000 was $9.23 per MMBTU. The range of spot prices during the year 2000 was a low of $2.14 and a high of $10.50 and the average was $4.28. The range during the first quarter of 2001 has been from $4.67 to $10.69 with an average of $6.42. The recent futures market prices have been in the $5.00 range. While it may reasonably be anticipated that the prices received by Sterling Gas Drilling Fund 1982 for the sale of its production may be higher or lower than the prices used in this evaluation, as described above, and the operating costs relating to such production may also increase or decrease from existing levels, such possible changes in prices and costs were, in accordance with rules adopted by the SEC, omitted from consideration in making this evaluation for the SEC case. Actual volumes produced, prices received and costs incurred by the partnership may vary significantly from the SEC case
2. Capital resources: The Partnership was formed for the sole intention of drilling oil and gas wells. The Partnership entered into a drilling contract with an independent drilling contractor in December, 1982 for $11,400,000. Pursuant to the terms of this contract, fifty-one wells have been drilled resulting in fifty producing wells and one dry-hole. The Partnership has had a reserve report prepared which details reserve value information, and such information is available to the Limited Partners pursuant to the buy-out provision of the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership.
3. Results of operations:
2000 compared to 1999
The Partnership's overall operating revenue increased from $246,405 in 1999 to $ 373,290 in 2000. The Partnership receives the majority of its revenue from gas production combined with some oil production. During 2000, the Partnership's oil production was stable and average price per barrel was significantly higher than the previous year, from 1,226 barrels and $14.81 in 1999 to 1,174 barrels and $27.32 in 2000. The main contributing factor to the overall revenue increase was a higher average price per MCF, $2.53 in 1999 to $3.53 in 2000. The Partnership was not adversely affected by lower gas production than in the previous year, from 88,511 MCF in 1999 to 85,689 MCF in 2000. The Partnership also received $38,424 in revenue from a one time settlement of a class action lawsuit in which the Partnership participated. Production declines can be of a normal nature, a result of minor shut-ins due to repairs or even as a result of variations in pressure flows between the wells gas lines and the main transport line.
Production expenses increased from $122,394 in 1999 to $147,353 in 2000. During 2000 and 1999, the production related expenditures included repairs, maintenance, labor, supplies and other normal upkeep expenses. Some lease operating expenses vary with the amount of production sold. The variable costs expended in both 2000 and 1999 were reasonable based upon each years production. General and administrative costs remained relatively unchanged from $107,109 in 1999
to $105,407 in 2000. Management will use in-house resources if it provides efficient and timely services to the partnership. Amounts in both years are substantially less than the $ 718,500 allowed to be allocated to the Partnership under the Partnership Agreement. The lower allocable amounts reflect management's efforts to limit costs, both incurred and allocated to the Partnership.
The Partnership records additional depreciation, depletion and amortization to the extent that the net capitalized costs exceed the undiscounted future net cash flows attributable to the partnership. No additional depletion deduction was needed in 2000 or 1999. The overall depreciation, depletion and amortization was consistent with the rates used and the existing property basis.
1999 compared to 1998
The Partnership's overall operating revenue declined from $322,770 in 1998 to $246,405 in 1999. The Partnership receives the majority of its revenue from gas production combined with some oil production. During 1999 both the Partnership's oil production and average price per barrel were higher than the previous year, from 982 bbls and $11.69 in 1998 to 1,226 bbls and $14.81 in 1999. The main contributing factor to the overall revenue decline was lower gas production, from 99,089 mcf in 1998 to 88,511 mcf in 1999 and a significantly lower average price per mcf, $3.14 in 1998 to $2.53 in 1999. Production declines can be of a normal nature, a result of minor shut-ins due to repairs or even as a result of variations in pressure flows between the wells gas lines and the main transport line.
Production expenses showed a decrease from $156,536 in 1998 to $122,394 in 1999. During 1999 and 1998, the production related expenditures included repairs, maintenance, labor, supplies and other normal upkeep expenses. Some lease operating expenses vary with the amount of production sold. The variable costs expended in both 1999 and 1998 were reasonable based upon each years production. General and administrative costs remained relatively unchanged from $106,143 in 1998 to $107,109 in 1999. Management will use in-house resources if it provides efficient and timely services to the partnership. Amounts in both years are substantially less than the $718,500 allowed to be allocated to the Partnership under the Partnership Agreement. The lower allocable amounts reflect management's efforts to limit costs, both incurred and allocated to the Partnership.
The Partnership records additional depreciation, depletion and amortization to the extent that the net capitalized costs exceed the undiscounted future net cash flows attributable to the partnership. No additional depletion deduction was needed in 1999 or 1998. The overall depreciation, depletion and amortization was consistent with the rates used and the existing property basis.
STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982 (a New York limited partnership)
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
To the Partners of Sterling Gas Drilling Fund 1982:
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Sterling Gas Drilling Fund 1982 (a New York limited partnership) as of December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the related statements of operations, changes in partners' equity, and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Partnership's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Sterling Gas Drilling Fund 1982 as of December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the results of its operations and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
Our audits were made for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The schedules listed in the index to financial statements and schedules are presented for purposes of complying with the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and are not part of the basic financial statements. These schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the examination of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, fairly state in all material respects the financial data required to be set forth therein in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.
PUSTORINO, PUGLISI & CO., LLP New York, New York March 1, 2001
STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982 (a New York limited partnership)
BALANCE SHEETS
DECEMBER 31, 2000 AND 1999
The Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982 (a New York limited partnership)
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
The Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982 (a New York limited partnership)
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN PARTNERS' EQUITY
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
The Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982 (a New York limited partnership)
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
The Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982 (a New York limited partnership)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(1) Organization and Capital Contributions:
Sterling Gas Drilling Fund 1982, a New York limited partnership (the "Partnership"),was formed on July 28, 1982 for the primary purpose of acquiring, drilling, developing, operating and producing oil and gas in the state of West Virginia. The general partners are: PrimeEnergy Management Corporation (PEMC), a wholly owned subsidiary of PrimeEnergy Corporation (PEC), formerly known as K.R.M. Petroleum Corporation (KRM), Charles E. Drimal, Jr., Oliver J. Sterling and Samuel R. Campbell. Fourteen thousand three hundred seventy limited partnership units, (14,370), were sold at $1,000 per unit aggregating $14,370,000 in total limited partner capital contributions. The general partners' made no capital contributions. Partnership operations commenced on December 22, 1982.
(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:
Revenue Recognition:
The Partnership recognizes operating revenues, consisting of sales of oil and gas production, in the month of sale. Uncollected revenue is accrued based on known facts and trends of the relevant oil and gas properties on a monthly basis.
Basis of Accounting:
The accounts of the Partnership are maintained in accordance with accounting practices permitted for federal income tax reporting purposes. Under this method of accounting, (a) substantially all exploration and development costs except leasehold and equipment costs are expensed as paid, (b) costs of abandoned leases and equipment are expensed when abandoned, and (c) depreciation (for equipment placed in service) is provided on an accelerated basis. In order to present the accompanying financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, memorandum adjustments have been made to account for oil and gas properties, as discussed below.
Oil and Gas Producing Activities:
The Partnership accounts for its oil and gas operations using the successful efforts method of accounting on a property by property basis. The Partnership only participates in developmental drilling. Accordingly, all costs of drilling and equipping these wells, together with leasehold acquisition costs, are capitalized. These capitalized costs are amortized on a property by property basis
STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982 (a New York limited partnership)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - (Cont'd):
(utilizing aggregations of common geological structures) by the unit-of-production method based upon the ratio of production to proved developed oil and gas reserves. Additional depreciation, depletion and amortization may be recorded if net capitalized costs exceed the undiscounted future net cash flows attributable to Partnership properties. (See Note 4)
Federal Income Taxes:
As federal income taxes are the liability of the individual partners, the accompanying financial statements do not include any provision for federal income taxes. (See Note 8)
Limited Partners' Income (Loss) Per Equity Unit:
The limited partners' income (loss) per equity unit is computed on the 14,370 limited partner equity units.
Cash and Cash Equivalents:
For purposes of the statements of cash flows the Partnership considers all highly liquid debt instruments with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Use of Estimates:
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982 (a New York limited partnership)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(3) Oil and Gas Properties:
The Partnership acquired leases or farmouts from PEMC at its cost. Cost is defined as any amount paid for delay rentals, lease bonuses, if any, surveys and other expenses including such portion of any of the general partners', or their affiliates' reasonable, necessary and actual expenses for geological, geophysical, seismic, land, engineering, drafting, accounting, legal and other services. During 1982, the Partnership, as reimbursement of costs for leases it acquired from PEMC, paid PEMC $466,804. The Partnership currently pays royalties of approximately 12.5% to 19.8% of the selling price of the gas and oil extracted.
The following table sets forth certain revenue and expense data concerning the Partnership's oil and gas activities for the years ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998:
(4) Quantities of Oil and Gas Reserves:
The amount of proved developed reserves presented below has been estimated by an independent firm of petroleum engineers as of January 1, 2001. Petroleum engineers on the staff of PEC have reviewed the data presented below, as of December 31, 2000, for consistency with current year production and operating history. All of the Partnership's gas and oil reserves are located within the United States:
STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982 (a New York limited partnership)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(4) Quantities of Oil and Gas Reserves - (Cont'd):
The revisions of previous estimates are primarily due to price changes that have occurred during the years. If future prices were to decline, operation of certain wells would become uneconomic, on a pretax basis, as production levels decline with age. In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, proved reserves exclude production which would be uneconomic. The partners are entitled to certain tax benefits and credits which, if available in the future, may result in production continuing beyond that included above.
Revisions arise from changes in current prices, as well as engineering and geological data which would alter the useful life and therefore the overall predicted production of each well. Future changes in these estimates are common and would impact the reserve quantities used to calculate depreciation, depletion, and amortization.
As discussed in Note 2, the Partnership may record additional depreciation, depletion and amortization if net capitalized costs exceed the undiscounted future net cash flows attributable to Partnership properties. Significant price declines affect estimated future net revenues both directly and as a consequence of their impact on estimates of future production. The Partnership has recorded no additional provision in 2000, 1999 and 1998. If the additional provision had been computed based on the limited partners' interest in capitalized costs and estimated future net revenues, rather than on the basis of total Partnership interests, the limited partners income would not have been reduced in 2000, 1999 and 1998.
STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982 (a New York limited partnership)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(5) Allocation of Partnership Revenues, Income, Costs and Expenses:
Under the terms of the Limited Partnership Agreement, all Partnership income and expenditures, including deductions attributable thereto, are to be allocated as follows:
Drilling and completion costs (paid out of initial capital contributions): Limited partners 99.00% General partners 1.00% ------- 100.00% =======
Syndication costs sales commission and cost acquiring leases: Limited partners -- % General partners 100.00% ------- 100.00% =======
Offering costs up to $50,000 incurred by Dealer-Manager: Limited partners -- % General partners 100.00% ------- 100.00% =======
Offering costs other than $50,000 paid by the general partners (up to a maximum of $50,000): Limited partners 99.00% General partners 1.00% ------- 100.00% =======
Net Revenue from oil and gas operations, general and administrative expenses and production operating fees: Limited partners 84.15% General partners 15.85% ------- 100.00% =======
All other income, gains, losses, costs, expenses, deductions and credits: Limited partners 99.00% General partners 1.00% ------- 100.00% =======
STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982 (a New York limited partnership)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(6) Transactions With Affiliates:
(a) The payable to affiliates at December 31, 2000 and 1999 represents general and administrative and certain other expenses incurred on behalf of the Partnership by PEC and its subsidiaries, including amounts due for production operator's fees (Note 6(b)), and advances to finance the Partnerships' loan payments net of revenues collected on behalf of the Partnership. PEMC intends to continue to make advances to the Partnership to fund any working capital deficiencies in the future on an interest free basis.
(b) As operator of the Partnership's properties, Prime Operating Company (POC), a subsidiary of PEC, receives, as compensation from the Partnership, a monthly production operator's fee of $493 for each producing gas well and $890 for each producing oil or combination gas and oil well, based on the Partnership's percentage of working interest in the well. These fees are subject to annual adjustments by the percentage increase in the Cost of Living Index published by the U.S. Department of Labor over the year $92,043 $62,122 and $104,060 of production operator's fees were incurred, respectively.
(c) Eastern Oil Well Services Company (EOWSC), a subsidiary of PEC, provided field services to the Partnership during the years ending December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998 for which it was billed $5,971, $14,234, and $1,456 respectively.
(7) General and Administrative Expenses:
In accordance with the Management Agreement, PEMC will be reimbursed for the portion of PEMC's in-house overhead, including salaries and related benefits, attributable to the affairs and operations of the Partnership.
This amount combined with certain direct expenses for geology, engineering, legal, accounting, auditing, insurance and other items shall not exceed an annual amount equal to 5% of limited partner capital contributions. Excess shall be borne by the general partners in their individual capacity.
During 2000, 1999 and 1998, the Partnership recognized general and administrative expenses incurred on its behalf by a general partner of $85,000, for each year.
STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982 (a New York limited partnership)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(8) Federal Income Taxes:
The following is a reconciliation between the net income as reported on the Partnership's federal income tax return and the net income (loss) reported in the accompanying financial statements:
The tax returns of the Partnership, the qualifications of the Partnership as such for tax purposes, and the amount of Partnership income or loss are subject to examination by federal and state taxing authorities. If such examinations result in changes with respect to Partnership's qualifications or in changes to its income or loss, the tax liability of the partners would be changed accordingly.
STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982 (a New York limited partnership)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(9) Major Customers:
A schedule of the major purchases of the Partnership's production is as follows:
The Partnership renewed its gas purchase contracts in December, 2000 resulting in a fixed price for one year.
(10) Other Revenue:
In 2000 the Partnership was a member of a Class of Oil Producers involved in litigation alleging that the principal refiners of Penn Grade crude engaged in a conspiracy to fix, lower, maintain and stabilize the purchase prices of crude purchased by the refiners from the oil producers. The Partnership received this amount pursuant to the Settlement Agreement of this litigation.
In 1999 other revenue represents settled claims against Columbia Gas Transmission Corp. (Columbia) arising from amounts due from Columbia when they declared bankruptcy. No significant additional claims are expected concerning this matter.
SCHEDULE V STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982 (a New York limited partnership)
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT - OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
SCHEDULE VI
STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982 (a New York limited partnership)
ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION, DEPLETION AND AMORTIZATION - OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
EXHIBIT INDEX