HighPeak Energy Inc

The Company’s assets are located in the northeastern part of the Midland Basin. The majority of the acreage position is located across the eastern half of Howard and Borden Counties recently extending into far southwestern Scurry County and far northwestern Mitchell County in two largely contiguous acreage blocks, the northern position of which is referred to as the Flat Top area and the southern position of which is referred to as the Signal Peak area. The Midland Basin is part of the Permian Basin of West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. The Permian Basin covers an area of about 96,000 square miles and is comprised of five (5) sub-regions including the Midland Basin, the Central Basin Platform, the Delaware Basin, the Northwest Shelf and the Eastern Shelf. The Central Basin Platform (“CBP”) is a central uplift, with the Delaware Basin located to the west of the CBP, and the Midland Basin located to the east of the CBP. The bulk of the Permian Basin’s increase in crude oil production since 2007 has come from several target zones including the Spraberry and Wolfcamp formations. The Permian Basin has produced billions of barrels of equivalent crude oil and natural gas and is estimated by the United States Geologic Survey to contain significant remaining hydrocarbon potential.

HighPeak Energy developed its properties using up to six (6) drilling rigs and four (4) frac crews during the year ended December 31, 2023, ending the year using three (3) drilling rigs and one (1) frac crew. The Company expects to average two (2) drilling rigs and one (1) frac crew during 2024 under our current development plan. HighPeak Energy expects to fund its forecasted capital expenditures with cash on its balance sheet and cash generated by operations.

HighPeak Energy has the discretion to modify its capital program. Because HighPeak Energy operates a high percentage of its acreage, capital expenditure amounts and timing are largely discretionary and within its control. HighPeak Energy determines its capital expenditures depending on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the success of its drilling activities, prevailing and anticipated prices for crude oil and natural gas, the availability of necessary equipment, infrastructure and capital, limitations on expenditures under certain leverage scenarios pursuant to the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the receipt and timing of required regulatory permits and approvals, drilling and acquisition costs and the level of participation by other working interest owners. A deferral of planned capital expenditures, particularly with respect to drilling and completing new wells, could result in a reduction in anticipated production and cash flows. Additionally, if HighPeak Energy curtails or reallocates priorities in its drilling program, HighPeak Energy may lose a portion of its acreage through lease expirations. However, in the event of any such curtailment or reallocation of priorities, HighPeak Energy would expect to prioritize lease retention to minimize any expirations. Please see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Crude oil, NGL and natural gas prices are volatile. Sustained periods of low, or declines in, crude oil, NGL and natural gas prices could adversely affect HighPeak Energy’s business, financial condition and results of operations and its ability to meet its capital expenditure obligations and other financial commitments,” “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business —HighPeak Energy’s development projects and acquisitions will require substantial capital expenditures. HighPeak Energy may be unable to obtain required capital or financing on satisfactory terms, including as a result of recent increases in cost of capital resulting from Federal Reserve policies or otherwise, which could reduce its ability to access or increase production and reserves” and “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Certain of the undeveloped leasehold acreage of HighPeak Energy’s assets is subject to leases that will expire over the next several years unless production is established on units containing the acreage or the leases are renewed.”

Reserve Summary

The estimated proved reserves of the Company’s assets as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 were prepared by Cawley, Gillespie and Associates, Inc. (“CG&A”). As of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company’s assets contained 154,162, 122,958 and 64,213 MBoe, respectively, of estimated proved reserves. In addition, as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the estimated proved reserves of the Company’s assets were estimated by CG&A to be 91%, 92% and 92% crude oil and NGL, respectively, and 9%, 8% and 8% natural gas, respectively. The following table provides summary information regarding the estimated proved reserves data of the Company’s assets based on the 2023 Reserve Report, 2022 Reserve Report and 2021 Reserve Report (each defined below) as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively:

Reserve Data

Preparation of Reserve Estimates

The reserve estimates as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 included in this Annual Report are based on evaluations prepared by CG&A in accordance with Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers and definitions and guidelines established by the SEC (individually, the “2023 Reserve Report,” the “2022 Reserve Report” and the “2021 Reserve Report” and, collectively the “Reserve Reports”). CG&A was selected for their historical experience and geographic expertise in engineering similar resources. The summary information pertaining to reserve estimates as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, of HighPeak Energy, prepared by CG&A, were led by W. Todd Brooker. Mr. Brooker is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Texas and has been practicing at CG&A for 31 years and, including such 31 years, has over 33 years of total industry experience. Copies of the Reserve Reports are attached to this Annual Report as Exhibits 99.1,99.2 and 99.3, respectively.

Proved reserves are those quantities of crude oil, NGL and natural gas, which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible—from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations—prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation. The project to extract the hydrocarbons must have commenced or the operator must be reasonably certain that it will commence the project within a reasonable time. If deterministic methods are used, reasonable certainty means a high degree of confidence that the quantities will be recovered. If probabilistic methods are used, there should be at least a 90% probability the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the estimate. A high degree of confidence exists if the quantity is much more likely to be achieved than not, and, as changes due to increased availability of geoscience (geological, geophysical, and geochemical), engineering, and economic data are made to EUR with time, reasonably certain EUR is much more likely to increase or remain constant than to decrease. The technical and economic data used in the estimation of the proved reserves include, but are not limited to, well logs, geologic maps, well-test data, production data (including flow rates), well data (including lateral lengths), historical price and cost information, and property ownership interests. CG&A uses this technical data, together with standard engineering and geoscience methods, or a combination of methods, including performance analysis, volumetric analysis, and analogy. The proved developed reserves and EURs per well are estimated using performance analysis, analogs and volumetric analysis. The estimates of the proved developed reserves and EURs for each developed well are used to estimate the proved undeveloped reserves for each proved undeveloped location (utilizing type curves, statistical analysis, and analogy).

Internal Controls

The internal staffs of petroleum engineers and geoscience professionals at HighPeak Energy work closely with their independent reserve engineers to ensure the integrity, accuracy and timeliness of data furnished to their independent reserve engineers in the preparation of their reserve report. Periodically, HighPeak Energy’s technical teams meet with the independent reserve engineers to review properties and discuss methods and assumptions used to prepare reserve estimates for the Company’s assets.

Reserve engineering is a subjective process of estimating volumes of economically recoverable crude oil and natural gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation. As a result, the estimates of different engineers often vary. In addition, the results of drilling, testing and production may justify revisions of such estimates. Accordingly, estimates of economically recoverable crude oil, NGL and natural gas and of future net revenues are based on a number of variables and assumptions, all of which may vary from actual results, including geologic interpretation, prices, future production rates and costs. Please read the section entitled “Risk Factors” appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report.

The reserve estimates as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, were prepared by geologists and reservoir engineers who integrate geological, geophysical, engineering and economic data to produce high quality reserve estimates and economic forecasts. The process was supervised by Christopher Mundy, Vice President, Reserves and Evaluations, for HighPeak Energy, who has approximately 27 years of experience in crude oil and natural gas operations, reservoir engineering and management, reserves management, unconventional and conventional reservoir characterization and strategic planning.

The reserve estimation process and the reserve estimates of the Company’s assets as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, were reviewed and approved by our technical staff, other members of senior management and our Chief Executive Officer. The Reserve Reports prepared by CG&A contain further discussion of the reserve estimates and the procedures used in connection with its preparation.

The reserve estimates as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, included in this Annual Report are based on evaluations prepared by the independent petroleum engineering firm CG&A representing 100% of the Company’s assets’ total net proved reserves in accordance with Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers and definitions and guidelines established by the SEC. The Independent Reserve Engineers were selected for their historical experience and geographic expertise in engineering similar resources.

Estimated Proved Reserves

The following tables present the estimated net proved crude oil and natural gas reserves as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, based on the Reserve Reports of the Company’s assets as of such date.

Development of Proved Undeveloped Reserves

The following table summarizes the changes in HighPeak Energy’s proved undeveloped reserves for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023:

As of December 31, 2023, HighPeak Energy’s assets contained approximately 74,569 MBoe of proved undeveloped reserves, consisting of 60,923 MBbl of crude oil, 7,913 MBbl of NGL and 34,400 MMcf of natural gas. As of December 31, 2022, HighPeak Energy’s assets contained approximately 61,700 MBoe of proved undeveloped reserves, consisting of 50,971 MBbl of crude oil, 6,401 MBbl of NGL and 25,969 MMcf of natural gas. As of December 31, 2021, HighPeak Energy’s assets contained approximately 35,628 MBoe of proved undeveloped reserves, consisting of 29,215 MBbl of crude oil, 3,838 MBbl of NGL and 15,450 MMcf of natural gas. Proved undeveloped reserves will be converted from undeveloped to developed as we drill and complete each location and the wells begin production.

Proved undeveloped reserves changed during the year ended December 31, 2023 primarily as a result of the following significant factors:

Proved undeveloped reserves changed during the year ended December 31, 2022 primarily as a result of the following significant factors:

Proved undeveloped reserves changed during the year ended December 31, 2021 primarily as a result of the following significant factors:

Historically, the Company invested a significant amount of its capital budget to drill unproved locations rather than convert proved undeveloped reserves to proved developed reserves. However, in the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, $481.5 million and $391.3 million, respectively, of development capital expenditures were incurred primarily to convert proved undeveloped reserves to proved developed reserves, compared with $45.9 million in development capital expenditures in the year ended December 31, 2021. Also, a portion of the Company’s development capital expenditures each year was for the continued development of a water infrastructure system and the drilling of salt-water disposal wells to facilitate the Company’s increased levels of produced water, reduce its future water sourcing costs by recycling produced water and reduce the use of trucking for its produced water disposal activities as well as the continued construction of central tank batteries for handling of the Company’s increasing production volumes.

As of December 31, 2023, all our proved undeveloped reserves are scheduled to be developed within five years from the date they were initially recorded.

PV-10

PV-10 is a non-GAAP financial measure and differs from the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows, which is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. We refer to PV-10 as the present value of estimated future net cash flows of estimated proved reserves using a discount rate of 10%. This amount includes projected revenues, estimated production costs, estimated future development costs and estimated cash flows related to future asset retirement obligations.

Unlike PV-10, the standardized measure deducts future U.S. federal income taxes and Texas margin taxes and abandonment obligations on wells with no proved reserves as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Neither PV-10 nor standardized measure represents an estimate of the fair market value of the applicable crude oil and natural gas properties. It is industry standard to use PV-10 as a measure to compare the relative size and value of proved reserves held by companies without regard to the specific tax characteristics of such entities.

The following tables present the undiscounted estimated future net cash flows, PV-10 and standardized measure of the proved reserves of the Company at December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 (in thousands):

Estimated future net cash flows represents the estimated future revenue to be generated from the production of proved reserves, net of estimated production and future development costs, using pricing differentials and costs under existing economic conditions as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, and assuming commodity prices as set forth below. For the purpose of determining prices used in our reserve reports, in accordance with SEC guidelines, CG&A uses the unweighted arithmetic average of the prices on the first day of each month in the 12-month period ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. These prices were $78.22, $93.67 and $66.56 per Bbl for crude oil and NGL and $2.637, $6.358 and $3.598 per MMBtu for natural gas, respectively, before adjustment for energy content, gathering, transportation and processing fees and basis differential adjustments. The average adjusted prices realized over the remaining lives of the Company’s assets by CG&A were $78.13, $94.59 and $66.10 per barrel of crude oil, $17.33, $36.69 and $29.76 per barrel of NGL and $0.198, $4.871 and $0.786 per Mcf of natural gas as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. These prices should not be interpreted as a prediction of future prices. The amounts shown do not give effect to non-property-related expenses, such as corporate general and administrative expenses and debt service, or to DD&A.

Production, Revenue and Price History

For a description of historical production, revenues, average sales prices and unit costs of the Company, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Results of Operations.”

The following tables summarize the average net sales volumes, average unhedged sales prices by product and production costs of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:

Productive Wells

Productive wells consist of producing wells and wells capable of production, including natural gas wells awaiting pipeline connections to commence deliveries and crude oil wells awaiting connection to production facilities. Gross wells are the total number of producing wells in which HighPeak Energy holds an interest, and net wells are the sum of the fractional working interests owned in gross wells. The following table sets forth information relating to the productive wells in which HighPeak Energy holds a working interest as of December 31, 2023.

Acreage

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the total developed and undeveloped acreage in which HighPeak Energy holds an interest as of December 31, 2023. Approximately 64% of the net acreage of HighPeak Energy was held by production as of December 31, 2023.

Undeveloped Acreage Expirations

The following table sets forth the number of total net undeveloped acres as of December 31, 2023 across HighPeak Energy’s properties that will expire in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and thereafter, unless production is established within the spacing units covering the acreage prior to the expiration dates or unless such leasehold rights are extended or renewed.

With respect to the 27,424 net acres expiring in 2024 across our properties, HighPeak Energy intends to retain substantially all 27,424 net acres through initiating completion operations of existing wells and the drilling of new wells, with the remaining net acreage being retained either through lease renewals or extensions. HighPeak Energy intends to retain substantially all of its undeveloped acreage through its development plan. Please see “Item 1A. Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Business – Certain of the undeveloped leasehold acreage of HighPeak Energy’s assets is subject to leases that will expire over the next several years unless production is established on units containing the acreage or the leases are renewed.”

Drilling Activities

The following table describes new development and exploratory/extension wells drilled within the Company’s assets during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. The information should not be indicative of future performance, nor should it be assumed there is necessarily any correlation among the number of productive wells drilled, quantities of reserves found or economic value. As of December 31, 2023 and not included in the following table, were 10 gross (9.1 net) wells in the process of being drilled and 18 gross (13.4 net) wells either waiting on completion or in various stages of completion operations. In addition, the Company had three (3) gross (3.0 net) salt-water disposal wells in final stages of completion. As of December 31, 2023, HighPeak Energy was running a three-rig program. The Company expects to average two (2) drilling rigs and one (1) frac crew during 2024 under our current development plan. Our development program may change based on capital availability and other factors.

Delivery Commitments

Beginning October 2021, the Company has a minimum volume commitment under its crude oil marketing agreement in its Flat Top area whereby it must deliver minimum gross volumes to its central tank battery facilities of 5,000 Bopd for the first year, 7,500 Bopd for the second year and 10,000 Bopd for the remaining eight years of the contract. However, the Company has the ability under the contract to cumulatively bank excess volumes delivered to offset future minimum volume commitments. For the period from October 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023, the Company had delivered approximately 29,600 Bopd under the contract, banking excess volumes at the outset. Given the current production levels coupled with the wells planned to come on production in 2024 and beyond, the Company expects to meet the volume commitments under this agreement well in advance of the requirement. There are no material commitments to deliver a fixed and determinable quantity of natural gas production from the Company’s assets to customers under existing contracts.

Operations

General

As of December 31, 2023, HighPeak Energy’s properties consisted of 143,187 gross (131,636 net) acres with an average working interest of approximately 92%.

Facilities

Production facilities related to HighPeak Energy’s properties are located near the producing wells and consist of salt-water disposal wells and related facilities, a salt-water disposal pipeline systems throughout Flat Top and Signal Peak, storage tanks, two-phase and/or three-phase separation equipment, flowlines, metering equipment and safety systems. Predominant artificial lift methods include electrical submersible pumps, rod pumps and some plunger lifts. HighPeak Energy’s mostly contiguous acreage position allows for optimized capital expenditures for production facilities and associated water handling infrastructure.

Our properties are well serviced by existing crude oil, natural gas and water infrastructure and gathering systems. Currently, the majority of our crude oil production in Flat Top is transported by pipeline while the majority of our crude oil in Signal Peak is transported by truck. The Company used a competitive bidding process that resulted in attractive terms relative to market indices. The natural gas production from our properties is gathered by third-party processors with the majority of the natural gas production currently processed to extract NGL. The extracted liquids and residue natural gas are sold to various intrastate and interstate markets on a competitive pricing basis.

Marketing and Customers

The following table sets forth the percentage of revenues attributable to customers who have accounted for 10% or more of revenues attributable to the Company’s assets during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.

• Less than 10%.

No other purchaser accounted for 10% or more of revenue attributable to the Company’s assets on a combined basis in the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 or 2021. The loss of any such purchaser could adversely affect revenues attributable to the Company’s assets in the short term. Please see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—HighPeak Energy depends upon a small number of significant purchasers for the sale of most of its crude oil, NGL and natural gas production. The loss of one or more of such purchasers could, among other factors, limit HighPeak Energy’s access to suitable markets for the crude oil, NGL and natural gas it produces.”

For crude oil sales, HighPeak Energy currently is party to a ten-year contract with Delek, with production from Flat Top being mostly piped sales through a crude oil gathering system. Currently, the majority of our crude oil sales from Signal Peak are being trucked. The Flat Top crude oil contract is at known and published indices with a fixed primary term and an evergreen option thereafter. The contract contains a minimum volume commitment that commenced on October 1, 2021 based on the gross barrels delivered at the Company’s central tank battery facilities and is 5,000 Bopd for the first year, 7,500 Bopd for the second year and 10,000 Bopd for the remaining eight years of the contract. However, the Company has the ability under the contract to cumulatively bank excess volumes delivered to offset future minimum volume commitments. For the period from October 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023, the Company has delivered approximately 29,600 Bopd under the contract. The remaining monetary commitment as of December 31, 2023, if the Company never delivers any additional volumes under the agreement, is approximately $7.8 million. In addition, HighPeak Energy sells its natural gas production from the Company’s assets to multiple third-party purchasers pursuant to the terms of natural gas processing and purchase contracts at varying rates. The natural gas production is gathered and processed under agreements with a primary term and generally an evergreen extension option.

Competition

The crude oil and natural gas industry is intensely competitive, and HighPeak Energy competes with other companies that have greater resources. Many of these companies not only explore for and produce crude oil and natural gas, but also carry on midstream and refining operations and market petroleum and other products on a regional, national or worldwide basis. These companies may be able to pay more for productive crude oil and natural gas properties and exploratory prospects or to define, evaluate, bid for and purchase a greater number of properties and prospects than HighPeak Energy’s financial or human resources permit. In addition, these companies may have a greater ability to continue exploration activities during periods of low crude oil and natural gas market prices. HighPeak Energy’s larger or more integrated competitors may be able to absorb the burden of existing, and any changes to, federal, state and local laws and regulations more easily than HighPeak Energy can, which could adversely affect HighPeak Energy’s competitive position, as applicable. HighPeak Energy’s ability to acquire additional properties and to discover reserves in the future will be dependent upon its ability to evaluate and select suitable properties and to consummate transactions in a highly competitive environment. In addition, because HighPeak Energy will have fewer financial and human resources than many companies in their industry, HighPeak Energy may be at a disadvantage in bidding for exploratory prospects and producing crude oil and natural gas properties.

There is also competition between crude oil and natural gas producers and other industries producing energy and fuel. For example, HighPeak Energy also faces indirect competition from alternative energy sources, including wind and solar. Furthermore, competitive conditions may be substantially affected by various forms of energy legislation and/or regulation considered from time to time by the governments of the United States and the jurisdictions in which HighPeak Energy operates, including recently passed legislation such as the IRA 2022. It is not possible to predict the nature of any such legislation or regulation which may ultimately be adopted or its effects upon HighPeak Energy’s future operations as related to the Company’s assets. Such laws and regulations may substantially increase the costs of developing crude oil and natural gas and may prevent or delay the commencement or continuation of a given operation. HighPeak Energy’s larger competitors may be able to absorb the burden of existing, and any changes to, federal, state and local laws and regulations more easily than HighPeak Energy can, which would adversely affect HighPeak Energy’s competitive positions, as applicable. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Competition in the crude oil and natural gas industry is intense, which will make it more difficult for HighPeak Energy to acquire properties, market crude oil or natural gas and secure trained personnel.”

Seasonality of Business

Weather conditions can affect the demand for, and prices of, crude oil and natural gas. Demand for natural gas is typically higher in the fourth and first quarters resulting in higher prices while the demand for crude oil is typically higher during the second and third quarters. Due to these seasonal fluctuations, results of operations for individual quarterly periods may not be indicative of the results that may be realized on an annual basis.

Title to Properties

As is customary in the crude oil and natural gas industry, HighPeak Energy, as operator of the Company’s assets, initially conducts (at minimum) a cursory review of the title to properties in connection with acquisition of leasehold acreage. HighPeak Energy has also obtained title opinion coverage on a majority of the Company’s assets and has performed customary reviews of the title to substantially all of the Company’s assets. Additionally, at such time as HighPeak Energy determines to conduct drilling operations on those properties, HighPeak Energy will conduct a thorough title examination, will obtain division order title opinions, and will perform curative work with respect to any significant defects that may exist prior to: (i) commencement of drilling operations; and (ii) the initial disbursement of associated revenues. HighPeak Energy has obtained title opinions on substantially all its producing properties. The crude oil and natural gas properties within the Company’s assets are subject to customary royalty and other interests, liens for current taxes and other burdens which HighPeak Energy believes does not materially interfere with the use of, or affect the carrying value of, the properties.

Prior to completing an acquisition of producing crude oil and natural gas properties, HighPeak Energy may perform title reviews on the most significant leases and may obtain a title opinion, obtain an updated title opinion or review previously obtained title opinions.

HighPeak Energy believes it has satisfactory title to all the material properties within the Company’s assets in accordance with standards generally accepted in the crude oil and natural gas industry. Although title to the Company’s assets is subject to encumbrances in some cases, such as customary interests generally retained in connection with the acquisition of real property, customary royalty interests and contract terms and restrictions, liens under operating agreements, liens related to environmental liabilities associated with historical operations, liens for current taxes and other burdens, easements, restrictions and minor encumbrances customary in the crude oil and natural gas industry, none of these liens, restrictions, easements, burdens or encumbrances will likely materially detract from the value of the properties within the Company’s assets or from HighPeak Energy’s interests in these properties or materially interfere with HighPeak Energy’s use of these properties in the operation of their business. In addition, HighPeak Energy believes they have obtained sufficient rights-of-way grants and permits from public authorities and private parties for them to operate their business in all material respects as described in this Annual Report.

Crude Oil and Natural Gas Leases

The typical crude oil and natural gas lease agreement covering the properties within the Company’s assets provides for the payment of royalties to the mineral owner for all crude oil and natural gas produced from any wells drilled on the leased premises. The lessor royalties and other leasehold burdens on the properties within the Company’s assets are approximately 25%.

Regulation of the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Industry

Our operations are substantially affected by federal, state and local laws and regulations. Failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations can result in substantial penalties. The regulatory burden on the industry increases the cost of doing business and affects profitability. Although we believe we are in substantial compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, such laws and regulations are frequently amended or reinterpreted. Therefore, we are unable to predict the future costs or impact of compliance. Additional proposals and proceedings that affect the crude oil and natural gas industry are regularly considered by Congress, the states, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), the Department of Transportation (“DOT”), other federal agencies and the courts. We cannot predict when or whether any such proposals may become effective. We do not believe that we would be affected by any such action materially differently than similarly situated competitors.

In addition, unforeseen environmental incidents may occur or past non-compliance with environmental laws or regulations may be discovered.

Regulation of Production of Crude Oil and Natural Gas

Crude oil and natural gas production and related operations are substantially affected by federal, state and local laws and regulations. In particular, crude oil and natural gas production and related operations are, or have been, subject to price controls, taxes and numerous other laws and regulations. All the jurisdictions in which the Company’s assets are located have statutory provisions regulating the development and production of crude oil and natural gas, including provisions related to permits for the drilling of wells, bonding requirements to drill or operate wells, the location of wells, the method of drilling and casing wells, the surface use and restoration of properties upon which wells are drilled, sourcing and disposal of water used in the drilling and completion process, and the abandonment of wells. Crude oil and natural gas operations are also subject to various conservation laws and regulations. These include the regulation of the size of drilling and spacing units or proration units, the number of wells which may be drilled in an area, and the unitization or pooling of crude oil or natural gas wells, as well as regulations that generally prohibit the venting or flaring of natural gas, and impose certain requirements regarding the ratability or fair apportionment of production from fields and individual wells.

Failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations can result in substantial penalties. The regulatory burden on the industry increases the cost of doing business and affects profitability. Such laws and regulations are frequently amended or reinterpreted. Therefore, it is not possible to predict the future costs or impact of compliance. Additional proposals and proceedings that affect the crude oil and natural gas industry are regularly considered by Congress, the states, FERC, the EPA, the DOT, other federal agencies and the courts. It is not possible to predict when or whether any such proposals may become effective.

Federal, state and local statutes and regulations require permits for drilling, salt-water disposal and pipeline operations, drilling bonds and reports concerning operations. The Company’s assets are located in Texas, which regulates drilling and operating activities by, among other things, requiring permits for the drilling of wells, maintaining bonding requirements to drill or operate wells, and regulating the location of wells, the method of drilling and casing wells, the surface use and restoration of properties upon which wells are drilled and the plugging and abandonment of wells.

The laws of Texas also govern a number of conservation matters, including provisions for the unitization or pooling of crude oil and natural gas properties, the establishment of maximum allowable rates of production from crude oil and natural gas wells, the regulation of well spacing or density and plugging and abandonment of wells. The effect of these regulations is to limit the amount of crude oil and natural gas that the wells within the Company’s assets can produce and to limit the number of wells or the locations that can be drilled within the Company’s assets, although operators can apply for exceptions to such regulations or to have reductions in well spacing or density. Moreover, various states impose a production or severance tax with respect to the production and sale of crude oil, NGL and natural gas within their jurisdiction. Failure to comply with these rules and regulations can result in substantial penalties.

Regulation Affecting Sales and Transportation of Commodities

Sales prices of crude oil, NGL and natural gas are not currently regulated and are made at market prices. Although prices of these energy commodities are currently unregulated, Congress historically has been active in their regulation. We cannot predict whether new legislation to regulate crude oil and natural gas, or the prices charged for these commodities might be proposed, what proposals, if any, might actually be enacted by Congress or the various state legislatures and what effect, if any, the proposals might have on our operations. Sales of crude oil and natural gas may be subject to certain state and potentially federal reporting requirements.

The price and terms of service of transportation of the commodities, including access to pipeline transportation capacity, are subject to extensive federal and state regulation. Such regulation may affect the marketing of crude oil and natural gas produced, as well as the revenues received from sales of such production. Gathering systems may be subject to state ratable take and common purchaser statutes. Ratable take statutes generally require gatherers to take, without undue discrimination, crude oil and natural gas production that may be tendered to the gatherer for handling. Similarly, common purchaser statutes generally require gatherers to purchase, or accept for gathering, without undue discrimination as to source of supply or producer. These statutes are designed to prohibit discrimination in favor of one producer over another producer or one source of supply over another source of supply. These statutes may affect whether and to what extent gathering capacity is available for crude oil and natural gas production, if any, of the drilling program and the cost of such capacity. Further, state laws and regulations govern rates and terms of access to intrastate pipeline systems, which may similarly affect market access and cost.

The FERC regulates interstate natural gas pipeline transportation rates and service conditions. The FERC is continually proposing and implementing new rules and regulations affecting interstate transportation. The stated purpose of many of these regulatory changes is to promote competition among the various sectors of the natural gas industry and to promote market transparency. We do not believe that our drilling program will be affected by any such FERC action in a manner materially differently than other similarly situated natural gas producers.

Gathering services, which occur upstream of FERC jurisdictional transmission services, are regulated by the states onshore and in state waters. Although the FERC has set forth a general test for determining whether facilities perform a non-jurisdictional gathering function or a jurisdictional transmission function, the FERC’s determinations as to the classification of facilities is done on a case-by-case basis. State regulation of natural gas gathering facilities generally includes various safety, environmental and, in some circumstances, nondiscriminatory take requirements. Although such regulation has not generally been affirmatively applied by state agencies, natural gas gathering may receive greater regulatory scrutiny in the future.

In addition to the regulation of natural gas pipeline transportation, the FERC has jurisdiction over the purchase or sale of natural gas or the purchase or sale of transportation services subject to the FERC’s jurisdiction pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Under this law, it is unlawful for “any entity,” including producers such as us, that are otherwise not subject to the FERC’s jurisdiction under the Natural Gas Act of 1938 to use any deceptive or manipulative device or contrivance in connection with the purchase or sale of natural gas or the purchase or sale of transportation services subject to regulation by the FERC, in contravention of rules prescribed by the FERC. The FERC’s rules implementing this provision make it unlawful, in connection with the purchase or sale of natural gas subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC, or the purchase or sale of transportation services subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC, for any entity, directly or indirectly, to use or employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud, to make any untrue statement of material fact or omit to make any such statement necessary to make the statements made not misleading or to engage in any act or practice that operates as a fraud or deceit upon any person. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 also gives the FERC authority to impose civil penalties for violations of the Natural Gas Act of 1938 and the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 up to $1,544,521 per day per violation (adjusted annually based on inflation). The anti-manipulation rule applies to activities of otherwise non-jurisdictional entities to the extent the activities are conducted “in connection with” natural gas sales, purchases or transportation subject to FERC jurisdiction, which includes the annual reporting requirements under Order 704 (defined below).

In December 2007, the FERC issued a final rule on the annual natural gas transaction reporting requirements, as amended by subsequent orders on rehearing (“Order 704”). Under Order 704, any market participant, including a producer such as us, that engages in wholesale sales or purchases of natural gas that equal or exceed 2.2 million MMBtus of physical natural gas in the previous calendar year, must annually report such sales and purchases to the FERC on Form No. 552 on May 1 of each year. Form No. 552 contains aggregate volumes of natural gas purchased or sold at wholesale in the prior calendar year to the extent such transactions utilize or contribute to the formation of price indices. It is the responsibility of the reporting entity to determine which individual transactions should be reported based on the guidance of Order 704. Order 704 is intended to increase the transparency of the wholesale natural gas markets and to assist the FERC in monitoring those markets and in detecting market manipulation.

The FERC also regulates rates and service conditions for interstate transportation of liquids, including crude oil and NGL, under the Interstate Commerce Act (the “ICA”). Prices received from the sale of liquids may be affected by the cost of transporting those products to market. The ICA requires that pipelines maintain a tariff on file with the FERC. The tariff sets forth the established rates as well as the rules and regulations governing the service. The ICA requires, among other things, that rates and terms and conditions of service on interstate common carrier pipelines be “just and reasonable.” Such pipelines must also provide jurisdictional service in a manner that is not unduly discriminatory or unduly preferential. Shippers have the power to challenge new and existing rates and terms and conditions of service before the FERC.

Rates of interstate liquids pipelines are currently regulated by the FERC primarily through an annual indexing methodology, under which pipelines increase or decrease their rates in accordance with an index adjustment specified by the FERC. In December 2020, the FERC concluded its five-year index review to establish the new inflationary adjustment for the five-year period commencing July 1, 2021, for liquid pipeline rates subject to indexing. In this review, the FERC considered changes to pipeline industry costs, including, among other things, the effects of the legislation known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The FERC issued an order on December 17, 2020 establishing an inflationary adjustment of Producer Price Index for Finished Goods (“PPI-FG”) plus 0.78% (PPI-FG+0.78%) for the five-year period commencing July 1, 2021 (the “December 2020 Order”). Numerous requests for rehearing were filed. On May 14, 2021, the FERC published the oil pricing index factor utilizing the inflationary adjustment factor established in the December 2020 Order, resulting in a negative percentage change of approximately 0.58% for the index year July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. On January 20, 2022, the FERC issued an order on rehearing in which it modified the methodology used to calculate the inflationary adjustment resulting in a revised inflationary adjustment for the five-year period commencing July 1, 2021, of PPI-FG minus 0.21% (PPI-FG-0.21%) (the “Rehearing Order”). As a result of the Rehearing Order, the index factor for the July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 index year now provides for a negative percentage change of approximately 1.6%. The FERC directed all oil pipelines to ensure their rates were consistent with the revised index factor effective March 1, 2022. Following the Rehearing Order, some parties sought rehearing with the FERC while others filed petitions for review with the Fifth Circuit and D.C. Circuit. On May 6, 2022, the FERC issued its order denying the rehearing requests. Additional petitions for review were filed with the D.C. Circuit after the May 6th order and the challenges have been consolidated at the D.C. Circuit. The appeal remains pending before the D.C. Circuit.

Under the FERC’s regulations, a liquids pipeline can request the authority to charge market-based rates for transportation service if it satisfies certain criteria, and also can request a rate increase that exceeds the rate obtained through application of the indexing methodology by using a cost-of-service approach, but only after the pipeline establishes that a substantial divergence exists between the actual costs experienced by the pipeline and the rates resulting from application of the indexing methodology. Increases in liquids transportation rates may result in lower revenue and cash flows.

In addition, due to common carrier regulatory obligations of liquids pipelines, capacity must be prorated among shippers in an equitable manner in the event there are nominations in excess of capacity. Therefore, requests for service by new shippers or increased volume by existing shippers may reduce the capacity available to us. Any prolonged interruption in the operation or curtailment of available capacity of the pipelines that we rely upon for liquids transportation could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. However, we believe that access to liquids pipeline transportation services generally will be available to us to the same extent as to our similarly situated competitors.

Intrastate liquids pipeline transportation rates are subject to regulation by state regulatory commissions. The basis for intrastate liquids pipeline regulation and the degree of regulatory oversight and scrutiny given to intrastate liquids pipeline rates, varies from state to state. We believe that the regulation of liquids pipeline transportation rates will not affect our operations in any way that is materially different from the effects on our similarly situated competitors.

In addition to the FERC’s regulations, we are required to observe anti-market manipulation laws with regard to our physical sales of energy commodities. In November 2009, the FTC issued regulations pursuant to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 intended to prohibit market manipulation in the petroleum industry. Violators of the regulations face civil penalties of up to $1,472,546 per violation per day (adjusted annually based on inflation). In July 2010, Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Act, which incorporated an expansion of the authority of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) to prohibit market manipulation in the markets regulated by the CFTC. This authority, with respect to crude oil swaps and futures contracts, is similar to the anti-manipulation authority granted to the FTC with respect to crude oil purchases and sales. In July 2011, the CFTC issued final rules to implement its new anti-manipulation authority. The rules subject violators to a civil penalty of up to the greater of $1,450,040 (adjusted annually based on inflation) or triple the monetary gain to the person for each violation.

Regulation of Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters

Crude oil and natural gas development operations are subject to numerous stringent federal, regional, state and local statutes and regulations governing occupational safety and health, the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to environmental protection, some of which carry substantial administrative, civil and criminal penalties for failure to comply. These laws and regulations may require the acquisition of a permit before drilling or other regulated activity commences; restrict the types, quantities and concentrations of various substances that can be released into the environment in connection with drilling, production and transporting through pipelines; govern the sourcing and disposal of water used in the drilling and completion process; limit or prohibit drilling activities in certain areas and on certain lands lying within wilderness, wetlands, frontier, seismically active areas and other protected areas; require some form of remedial action to prevent or mitigate pollution from former operations such as plugging abandoned wells or closing earthen pits; establish specific safety and health criteria addressing worker protection; and impose substantial liabilities for pollution resulting from operations or failure to comply with regulatory filings. In addition, these laws and regulations may restrict the rate of production.

The regulatory burden on the crude oil and natural gas industry increases the cost of doing business in the industry and consequently affects profitability. The trend in environmental regulation has been to place more restrictions and limitations on activities that may affect the environment, and thus, any changes in environmental laws and regulations or re-interpretation of enforcement policies that result in more stringent and costly construction, drilling, water management, completion, emission or discharge limits or waste handling, disposal or remediation obligations could increase the cost to our operators of developing our properties. Moreover, accidental releases or spills may occur in the course of operations on our properties, causing our operators to incur significant costs and liabilities as a result of such releases or spills, including any third-party claims for damage to property, natural resources or persons.

The following is a summary of the more significant existing environmental and occupational health and safety laws and regulations, as amended from time to time, to which operations related to the Company’s assets may be subject.

Hazardous Substances and Waste Handling

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), also known as the “Superfund” law, and comparable state laws impose liability, without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct, on certain classes of persons that are considered responsible for the release of a “hazardous substance” into the environment. These persons include the current and past owner or operator of the disposal site or the site where the release occurred and persons that disposed or arranged for the disposal or the transportation for disposal of the hazardous substances at the site where the release occurred. Under CERCLA, such persons may be subject to joint and several strict liability for the costs of cleaning up the hazardous substances that have been released into the environment and for damages to natural resources, and it is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third-parties to file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the hazardous substances released into the environment. The failure of an operator other than the Company to comply with applicable environmental regulations may, in certain circumstances, be attributed to the Company.

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”) and analogous state laws, impose detailed requirements for the generation, handling, storage, treatment and disposal of nonhazardous and hazardous solid wastes. RCRA specifically excludes drilling fluids, produced waters and other wastes associated with the development or production of crude oil, natural gas or geothermal energy from regulation as hazardous wastes. However, these wastes may be regulated by the EPA or state agencies under RCRA’s less stringent nonhazardous solid waste provisions, state laws or other federal laws. Moreover, it is possible that these particular crude oil and natural gas development and production wastes now classified as nonhazardous solid wastes could be classified as hazardous wastes in the future. A loss of the RCRA exclusion for drilling fluids, produced waters and related wastes could result in an increase in the costs to manage and dispose of generated wastes. In addition, in the course of operating the Company’s assets, it is possible that some amounts of ordinary industrial wastes will be generated, such as paint wastes, waste solvents, laboratory wastes and waste compressor oils that may be regulated as hazardous wastes if such wastes have hazardous characteristics.

The Company’s assets consist of numerous properties that have been used for crude oil and natural gas development and production activities for many years. Hazardous substances, wastes or petroleum hydrocarbons may have been released on, under or from properties within the Company’s assets, or on, under or from other locations, including off-site locations, where such substances have been taken for recycling or disposal. In addition, some of the properties within the Company’s assets have been operated by third-parties or by previous owners or operators who have treated and disposed of hazardous substances, wastes or petroleum hydrocarbons. These properties and the substances disposed or released on, under or from them may be subject to CERCLA, RCRA and analogous state laws. Under such laws, the Company could be required to undertake responsive or corrective measures with respect to the Company’s assets, which could include removal of previously disposed substances and wastes, cleanup of contaminated property or performance of remedial plugging or pit closure operations to prevent future contamination.

Water Discharges, Fluid Disposal and NORM

The Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act (“CWA”) and comparable state laws impose restrictions and strict controls regarding the discharge of pollutants, including produced waters and other crude oil and natural gas wastes, into or near navigable waters. The discharge of pollutants into regulated waters is prohibited, except in accordance with the terms of a permit issued by the EPA or the state. The discharge of dredge and fill material in regulated waters, including wetlands, is also prohibited, unless authorized by a permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the “Corps”). The scope of jurisdiction under the CWA has been subject to several rulemakings by the EPA in recent years and is subject to ongoing litigation. Most recently, following legal action on a January 2023 final rule which established a definition of “waters of the United States” based on the broader pre-2015 definition, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision inSackett v. EPA, and the enactment of a subsequent September 2023 rule is enjoined subject to litigation, and the EPA and Corps are implementing the definition of “waters of the United States” consistent with the pre-2015 regulatory regime and the changes made by theSackett decision, which utilizes the “continuous surface connection” test to determine if wetlands qualify as waters of the United States. In the remaining 23 states, the agencies are implementing the September 2023 rule, which amended the January 2023 rule to incorporate theSackett decision. However, the September 2023 rule does not define the term “continuous surface connection,” and it is currently unclear how broadly the September 2023 rule and theSackett decision will be interpreted by the agencies. Therefore, the future reach of the CWA is uncertain at this time. To the extent any rule further expands the scope of the CWA’s jurisdiction, the Company could face increased costs and delays with respect to obtaining permits for dredge and fill activities in wetland areas. The timeliness associated with obtaining permits also has the potential to delay the development of crude oil and natural gas projects. These laws and any implementing regulations provide for administrative, civil and criminal penalties for any unauthorized discharges of crude oil and other substances in reportable quantities and may impose substantial potential liability for the costs of removal, remediation and damages.

Pursuant to these laws and regulations, the Company may be required to obtain and maintain approvals or permits for the discharge of wastewater or storm water and are required to develop and implement spill prevention, control and countermeasure plans, also referred to as “SPCC plans,” in connection with on-site storage of significant quantities of crude oil.

The primary federal law related specifically to crude oil spill liability is the Oil Pollution Act (“OPA”), which amends and augments the crude oil spill provisions of the CWA and imposes certain duties and liabilities on certain “responsible parties” related to the prevention of crude oil spills and damages resulting from such spills in or threatening waters of the United States or adjoining shorelines. For example, operators of certain crude oil and natural gas facilities must develop, implement and maintain facility response plans, conduct annual spill training for certain employees and provide varying degrees of financial assurance. Owners or operators of a facility, vessel or pipeline that is a source of a crude oil discharge or that poses the substantial threat of discharge is one type of “responsible party” who is liable. The OPA applies joint and several liability, without regard to fault, to each liable party for crude oil removal costs and a variety of public and private damages. Although defenses exist, they are limited.

Fluids resulting from crude oil and natural gas production, consisting primarily of salt-water, are disposed by injection in belowground disposal wells regulated under the Underground Injection Control (“UIC”) program and analogous state laws. The UIC program requires permits from the EPA or an analogous state agency for the construction and operation of disposal wells, establishes minimum standards for disposal well operations, and may restrict the types and quantities of fluids that may be disposed. In addition, state and federal regulatory agencies have focused on a possible connection between crude oil and natural gas activity and induced seismicity. For example, in 2015, the United States Geological Study identified eight states, including Texas, with areas of induced seismicity that could be attributed to fluid injection or crude oil and natural gas extraction.

In response to these concerns, some states, including Texas, have imposed additional requirements for the permitting of produced water disposal wells, such as volume and pressure limitations or seismicity thresholds for temporary cessations of activity. In September 2021, the Texas Railroad Commission (“TRRC”) issued a notice to operators in the city of Midland area to reduce daily injection volumes following multiple earthquakes above 3.5 magnitude over an 18-month period. The notice also required disposal well operators to provide injection data to TRRC staff to further analyze seismicity in the area. Subsequently, the TRRC ordered the indefinite suspension of all deep produced water injection wells in the area, effective December 31, 2021. The response area has since been expanded following an additional earthquake in December 2022 to cover an additional 17 wells. Other seismic response areas have also been established, including the Northern Culberson-Reeves Seismic Response Area, where 23 deep disposal well permits were suspended in December 2023. While the ultimate outcome of these actions is uncertain, the adoption and implementation of any new laws or regulations that restrict our operators’ ability to use hydraulic fracturing or dispose of produced water gathered from drilling and production activities by limiting volumes, disposal rates, disposal well locations or otherwise, or requiring them to shut down disposal wells, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In addition, naturally occurring radioactive material (“NORM”) is brought to the surface in connection with crude oil and natural gas production. Comprehensive federal regulation does not currently exist for NORM; however, the EPA has studied the impacts of technologically enhanced NORM, and several states, including Texas, regulate the disposal of NORM. Concerns have arisen over traditional NORM disposal practices (including discharge through publicly owned treatment works into surface waters), which may increase the costs associated with management of NORM. To the extent that federal or state regulation increases the compliance costs for NORM disposal, operators may incur additional costs that may make some properties unprofitable to operate.

Air Emissions

The Clean Air Act (“CAA”) and comparable state laws restrict the emission of air pollutants from many sources (e.g., compressor stations), through the imposition of air emissions standards, construction and operating permitting programs and other compliance requirements. These laws and regulations may require the Company to obtain pre-approval for the construction or modification of certain projects or facilities expected to produce or significantly increase air emissions, obtain and strictly comply with stringent air permit requirements or utilize specific equipment or technologies to control emissions of certain pollutants. For example, in October 2015, the EPA lowered the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone from 75 to 70 parts per billion and completed attainment/non-attainment designations in July 2018. While the EPA has determined that counties in which the Company currently operates are in attainment with the new ozone standards, these determinations may be revised in the future. Additionally, although the EPA announced in December 2020 that it intended to leave ozone NAAQS unchanged at 70 parts per billion, this decision has been subject to legal challenges, and the Biden Administration has announced plans to reconsider this standard. A final decision from the EPA remains pending. Reclassification of areas or imposition of more stringent standards may make it more difficult to construct new facilities or modify existing facilities in these newly designated non-attainment areas and result in increased expenditures for pollution control equipment, the costs of which could be significant.

In addition, the EPA has adopted new rules under the CAA that require the reduction of volatile organic compounds from certain fractured and refractured crude oil and natural gas wells for which well completion operations are conducted and further require that most wells use reduced emission completions, also known as “green completions.” These regulations also establish specific new requirements regarding emissions from production-related wet seal and reciprocating compressors, and from pneumatic controllers and storage vessels. In addition, the regulations place new requirements to detect and repair volatile organic compounds at certain crude oil and natural gas facilities. In May 2016, the EPA also finalized rules regarding criteria for aggregating multiple small surface sites into a single source for air-quality permitting purposes applicable to the crude oil and natural gas industry. This rule could cause small facilities, on an aggregate basis, to be deemed a major source, thereby triggering more stringent air permitting processes and requirements. Compliance with these and other air pollution control and permitting requirements has the potential to delay the development of crude oil and natural gas projects and increase the costs of development, which costs could be significant.

Regulation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

At the federal level, no comprehensive climate change legislation has been implemented to date, though the recently-passed IRA 2022 advances numerous climate-related objectives. The EPA has, however, adopted rules under authority of the CAA that, among other things, establish prevention of significant deterioration (“PSD”) construction and Title V operating permit reviews for greenhouse gases (“GHG”) emissions from certain large stationary sources that are also potential major sources of certain principal, or criteria, pollutant emissions. Under these regulations, facilities required to obtain PSD permits must meet “best available control technology” standards for those GHG emissions. In addition, the EPA has adopted rules requiring the monitoring and annual reporting of GHG emissions from certain petroleum and natural gas system sources in the U.S., including, among others, onshore and offshore production facilities, which include certain of our operators’ operations. The EPA has expanded the GHG reporting requirements to all segments of the crude oil and natural gas industry, including gathering and boosting facilities as well as completions and workovers from hydraulically fractured crude oil wells.

Federal agencies also have begun directly regulating emissions of methane from crude oil and natural gas operations. For example, in June 2016, the EPA published New Source Performance Standards, known as Subpart OOOOa, that requires certain new, modified or reconstructed facilities in the crude oil and natural gas sector to reduce these methane gas emissions. Although, in September 2020, the Trump Administration published regulations to rescind methane specific requirements and remove the transmission and storage segments from the crude oil and natural gas source category, the U.S. Congress approved, and President Biden signed into law, a resolution under the Congressional Review Act to repeal the September 2020 revisions, effectively reinstating the prior standards. Additionally, in December 2023, the EPA finalized a rule that established OOOOb as more stringent new source and OOOOc as first-time existing source standards of performance for methane and VOC emissions for the crude oil and natural gas source category. Under the final rules, owners or operators of affected emission units or processes have two years to prepare and submit their plans to impose methane emission controls on existing sources. The presumptive standards under the final rule are generally the same for both new and existing sources, including enhanced leak detection using optical gas imaging and subsequent repair requirements, reduction of regulated emissions through capture and control systems, zero-emission requirements for certain equipment or processes, operations and maintenance requirements and requirements for “green well” completions. The rule also revises requirements for fugitive emissions monitoring and repair as well as equipment leaks and the frequency of monitoring surveys, establishes a “super-emitter” response program to timely mitigate emissions events as detected by governmental agencies or qualified third parties, triggering certain investigation and repair requirements, and provides additional options for the use of advanced monitoring to encourage the deployment of innovative technologies to detect and reduce methane emissions. However, it is likely that these requirements will be subject to legal challenges. Several states have also adopted rules to control and minimize methane emissions from the production of crude oil and natural gas, and others have considered or may consider doing so in the future.

At the international level, in December 2015, the United States and 194 other participating countries adopted the Paris Agreement, which calls for each participating country to establish their own nationally determined standards for reducing carbon output. President Biden recommitted the United States to the Paris Agreement and, in April 2021, announced a goal of reducing again at the 26th Conference to the Parties on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (“COP26”), during which multiple announcements were made, including a call for parties to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies and pursue further action on non-CO2 GHGs. Relatedly, the United States and European Union jointly announced the launch of the “Global Methane Pledge,” which aims to cut global methane pollution at least 30% by 2030 relative to 2020 levels, including “all feasible reductions” in the energy sector. These goals were reaffirmed in November 2022 at the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (“COP27”), where countries were also called upon to accelerate efforts towards the phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. The United States also announced, in conjunction with the European Union and other partner countries, that it would develop standards for monitoring and reporting methane emissions to help create a market for low methane-intensity natural gas. At the 28 th Conference of the Parties (“COP28”), the parties signed onto an agreement to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems and increase renewable energy capacity, though no timeline for doing so was set. While non-binding, the agreements coming out of COP28 could result in increased pressure among financial institutions and various stakeholders to reduce or otherwise impose more stringent limitations on funding for and increase potential opposition to the production and use of fossil fuels. Although no firm commitment or timeline to phase out all fossil fuels was made at COP27 or COP28, there can be no guarantee that countries will not seek to implement such a phase-out in the future. The impacts of these actions cannot be predicted at this time.

The adoption and implementation of any international, federal or state legislation or regulations that require reporting of GHGs or otherwise restrict emissions of GHGs could result in increased compliance costs or additional operating restrictions for our operators, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. On January 27, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order calling for substantial action on climate change, including, among other things, the increased use of zero-emissions vehicles by the federal government, the elimination of subsidies provided to the fossil fuel industry, and increased emphasis on climate-related risks across agencies and economic sectors. In August 2022, the IRA 2022 was signed into law, which amends the CAA to establish the first-ever federal fee on methane emissions that exceed certain thresholds from sources required to report their GHG emissions to the EPA, including certain crude oil and natural gas operations. The methane emissions charge will start in calendar year 2024 at $900 per ton of methane, increase to $1,200 in 2025, and be set at $1,500 for 2026 and subsequent years. The methane emissions fee could increase our operating costs. Additionally, the IRA 2022 appropriates significant federal funding for renewable energy initiatives and incentives, which could accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels and therefore reduce demand for our products and adversely affect our business and results of operations. Other actions taken by the Biden Administration, states, or local jurisdictions in the future, such as limitations or bans on products that rely on crude oil and natural gas, could also reduce demand for our products.

There is also a risk that financial institutions will be required to adopt policies that have the effect of reducing the funding provided to the fossil fuel sector. In late 2020, the Federal Reserve announced it has joined the Network for Greening the Financial System (“NGFS”), a consortium of financial regulators focused on addressing climate-related risks in the financial sector and, in November 2021, issued a statement in support of the efforts of the NGFS to identify key issues and potential solutions for the climate-related challenges most relevant to central banks and supervisory authorities. In January 2023, the Federal Reserve issued instructions for a pilot climate scenario analysis being undertaken by six of the United States’ largest banks, which is expected to conclude at the end of 2023. Limitation of investments in and financing for fossil fuel energy companies could result in the restriction, delay or cancellation of drilling programs or development or production activities. Ultimately, this could make it more difficult for operators to secure funding for exploration and production activities. Additionally, activist shareholders have introduced proposals that may seek to force companies to adopt aggressive emission reduction targets or restrict more carbon-intensive activities. While we cannot predict the outcomes of such actions, they could make it more difficult for operators to engage in exploration and production activities. In addition, the SEC has proposed rules that would require registrants to report climate-related risks and business strategies, and disclose information on Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions and, in some cases, Scope 3 emissions. The final rule remains pending and the final form and substance of these requirements is not yet known. To the extent the rules impose additional reporting obligations, we could face increased costs. Additionally, certain states have enacted or are considering similar climate-related disclosure requirements. Enhanced climate-related disclosure requirements could increase operating costs and lead to reputational or other harm with customers, regulators, or other stakeholders to the extent that our disclosures do not meet their own standards or expectations. Consequently, we are also exposed to increased litigation risks relating to alleged climate-related damages resulting from our operations, statements alleged to have been made by us or others in our industry regarding climate change risks, or in connecting with any future disclosures we may make regarding reported emissions, particularly given the inherent uncertainties and estimation required with respect to calculating and reporting GHG emissions. Finally, many scientists have concluded that increasing concentrations of GHG in the atmosphere may produce climate changes that have significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, droughts, floods and other climate events that could have an adverse effect on the Company’s operations. For more information, please see our risk factor titled “The operations of HighPeak Energy are subject to a variety of risks arising from climate change.”

Hydraulic Fracturing Activities

Hydraulic fracturing is an important and common practice that is used to stimulate production of crude oil and/or natural gas from dense subsurface rock formations. The hydraulic fracturing process involves the injection of water, proppants and chemicals under pressure into targeted subsurface formations to fracture the surrounding rock and stimulate production. Hydraulic fracturing is regularly used by operators of the Company’s assets. Hydraulic fracturing is typically regulated by state crude oil and natural gas commissions, but the EPA has asserted federal regulatory authority pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act (“SDWA”) over certain hydraulic fracturing activities involving the use of diesel fuels and published permitting guidance in February 2014 addressing the performance of such activities using diesel fuels. The EPA has issued final regulations under the CAA establishing performance standards, including standards for the capture of air emissions released during hydraulic fracturing, and also finalized rules in June 2016 that prohibit the discharge of wastewater from hydraulic fracturing operations to publicly owned wastewater treatment plants.

At the state level, several states have adopted or are considering legal requirements that could impose more stringent permitting, disclosure and well construction requirements on hydraulic fracturing activities. For example, the TRRC has adopted a “well integrity rule,” which updated the requirements for drilling, putting pipe down and cementing wells. The rule also imposes new testing and reporting requirements, such as (i) the requirement to submit cementing reports after well completion or after cessation of drilling, whichever is later, and (ii) the imposition of additional testing on wells less than 1,000 feet below usable groundwater. Local governments also may seek to adopt ordinances within their jurisdictions regulating the time, place and manner of drilling activities in general or hydraulic fracturing activities in particular.

Certain governmental reviews are either underway or have been conducted that focus on the environmental aspects of hydraulic fracturing practices. For example, in December 2016, the EPA released its final report on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. The EPA report concluded that “water cycle” activities associated with hydraulic fracturing may impact drinking water resources under certain limited circumstances.

Compliance with existing laws has not had a material adverse effect on operations related to the Company’s assets, but if new or more stringent federal, state or local legal restrictions relating to the hydraulic fracturing process are adopted in areas where the Company’s assets are located, operators could incur potentially significant added costs to comply with such requirements, experience delays or curtailment in the pursuit of development activities, and perhaps even be precluded from drilling wells.

Endangered Species Act and Migratory Birds

The Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) and (in some cases) comparable state laws were established to protect endangered and threatened species. Pursuant to the ESA, if a species is listed as threatened or endangered, restrictions may be imposed on activities adversely affecting that species’ habitat. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) may designate critical habitat and suitable habitat areas that it believes are necessary for survival of a threatened or endangered species. A critical habitat or suitable habitat designation could result in further material restrictions to land use and may materially delay or prohibit land access for crude oil and natural gas development. Moreover, as a result of a settlement approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in September 2011, the FWS was required to make a determination on listing of more than 250 species as endangered or threatened under the ESA by no later than completion of the agency’s 2017 fiscal year. The agency missed the deadline but continues to review species for listing under the ESA. Similar protections are offered to migratory birds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (“MBTA”). The federal government in the past has pursued enforcement actions against crude oil and natural gas companies under the MBTA after dead migratory birds were found near reserve pits associated with drilling activities. Although the Department of Interior under the Trump Administration issued a rulemaking revoking its prior enforcement policy and concluded that an incidental take is not a violation of the MBTA, the Biden Administration has published a final rule rescinding this rulemaking, in addition to publishing an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking to codify a new definition for take that includes such incidental take as a violation of the MBTA. In any event, the identification or designation of previously unprotected species as threatened or endangered in areas where underlying property operations are conducted could cause increased costs arising from species protection measures or could result in limitations on development activities that could have an adverse impact on the ability to develop and produce reserves within the Company’s assets. For example, a review is currently pending to determine whether the dunes sagebrush lizard should be listed and, in November 2022 the FWS listed two distinct population segments of the lesser prairie-chicken under the ESA. If these species or others are listed, the FWS and similar state agencies may designate critical or suitable habitat areas that they believe are necessary for the survival of threatened or endangered species. If a portion of the Company’s assets were to be designated as a critical or suitable habitat, it could adversely impact the value of the Company’s assets.

Occupational Safety and Health Act

The Company will be subject to the requirements of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”) and comparable state statutes whose purpose is to protect the health and safety of workers. Violations can result in civil or criminal penalties as well as required abatement. In addition, the OSHA hazard communication standard, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act and comparable state statutes and any implementing regulations require that the Company organizes and/or disclose information about hazardous materials used or produced in its operations and that this information be provided to employees, state and local governmental authorities and citizens.

Related Permits and Authorizations

Many environmental laws require permits or other authorizations from state and/or federal agencies before initiating certain drilling, construction, production, operation or other crude oil and natural gas activities, and require maintaining these permits and compliance with their requirements for on-going operations. These permits are generally subject to protest, appeal or litigation, which could in certain cases delay or halt projects and cease production or operation of wells, pipelines and other operations related to the Company’s assets.

Related Insurance

The Company maintains insurance against some risks associated with above or underground contamination that may occur as a result of development activities. However, this insurance is limited to activities at the well site and there can be no assurance that this insurance will continue to be commercially available or that this insurance will be available at premium levels that justify its purchase by the Company.

Human Capital

We believe that our employees are the foundation to fostering the safe operation of our assets. We foster a collaborative, inclusive and safety-minded work environment, focused on working safely every day. We seek to identify qualified internal and external talent for our organization, enabling us to execute on our strategic objectives.

As of December 31, 2023, we employed forty-eight full-time employees dedicated to operating the Company’s assets. None of these employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements, and we consider our employee relations to be good.

Employee Health and Safety

Safety is important to us and begins with the protection and safety of our employees, contractors and communities where we operate. We value people above all else and remain committed to making safety and health our top priority. We continually seek to maintain and deepen our safety culture by providing a safe working environment that encourages active employee engagement, including implementing safety programs to achieve improvements in our safety culture.

The Company has taken steps to keep its employees safe during pandemics by implementing preventative* *measures and developing response plans intended to minimize unnecessary risk of exposure and infection among its employees. The Company has also modified certain business practices to conform to best practices encouraged by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other governmental and regulatory authorities.

Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to fostering a work environment in which all employees treat each other with dignity and respect. This commitment extends to providing equal employment and advancement opportunities based on merit and experience. We continually strive to attract a diverse workforce by identifying potential candidates to advance and strengthen our human capital management program.

Our employee demographic profile allows us to promote inclusion of thought, skill, knowledge and culture across our operations to achieve our social obligations and commitments.

Talent Development and Retention

We value and provide opportunities for cross training and increased responsibilities, including leadership learning. These efforts allow us to recruit from within our organization for future vocational and occupational opportunities. Our management promotes formal and informal learning and development throughout the organization. We offer developmental programs focused on building the skills of our employees and to help advance employee careers, knowledge, and skillsets through training and related programs.