MACH NATURAL RESOURCES LP

Our assets are located throughout Western Oklahoma, Southern Kansas and the panhandle of Texas and consist of approximately 4,600 gross operated PDP wells. Our average net daily production for the year ended December 31, 2023 was approximately 50 MBoe/d. Our wells are located almost exclusively in the Anadarko Basin, which has a more predictable production profile compared to less mature basins.

Additionally, we own a portfolio of midstream assets which support our leases, including ownership in four processing plants with combined processing capacity of 353 MMcf/d, along with 1,210 miles of gas gathering pipelines. Additionally, we own water infrastructure consisting of 880 miles of gathering pipeline and 55 disposal wells.

Development Plan and Capital Budget

Historically, our business plan has focused on acquiring and then exploiting the development and production of our assets. Funding sources for our acquisitions have included proceeds from borrowings under our revolving credit facilities, contributions from our equity partners and cash flow from operating activities. We spent approximately $302.8 million in 2023 on development costs and our budget for 2024 is between $250.0 million and $275.0 million. For purposes of calculating our cash available for distribution, we define development costs as all of our capital expenditures, other than acquisitions. Our development efforts and capital for 2024 is anticipated to focus on drilling Oswego wells given their high oil reserves and low breakeven costs.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, we spent approximately $261.6 million to drill 79.3 net wells and on related equipment, $28.8 million on remedial workovers and other capital projects, $12.4 million on midstream and other property and equipment capital projects, and $774.9 million on acquisitions.

Based on current commodity prices and our drilling success rate to date, we expect to be able to fund our 2024 capital development programs from cash flow from operations.

Our development plan and capital budget are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions about future events. While we consider these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. The amount and timing of these capital expenditures is largely discretionary and within our control. We could choose to defer a portion of these planned capital expenditures depending on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the success of our drilling activities, prevailing and anticipated commodity prices, the availability of necessary equipment, infrastructure, drilling rigs, labor and capital, the receipt and timing of required regulatory permits and approvals, seasonal conditions and drilling and completion costs.

Oil and Natural Gas Reserves

Reserve Data

The information with respect to our estimated proved reserves based on SEC pricing presented below has been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC.

Reserves Presentation

The following tables provide a summary of our estimated proved reserves and related PV-10 of proved reserves as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, using SEC pricing, based on evaluations prepared by Cawley, Gillespie & Associates Inc., our independent reserve engineer. See “— Preparation of reserve estimates” for the definitions of proved reserves and the technologies and economic data used in their estimation. Prices were adjusted for quality, energy content, transportation fees and market differentials, as applicable. The risk factors contained in this Annual Report including “Risk Factors —

Risks Related to Our Business — Oil and natural gas and NGL prices are volatile. A sustained decline in prices could adversely affect our business, financial condition, cash available for distribution and results of operations, liquidity and our ability to meet our financial commitments or cause us to delay our planned capital expenditures” and “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — Reserve estimates depend on many assumptions that may turn out to be inaccurate. Any material inaccuracies in reserve estimates or underlying assumptions will materially affect the quantities and present value of our reserves,” included in Item 1A of Part I of this Annual Report contain more information regarding the uncertainty associated with price and reserve estimates.

Summary Reserve Data

Our historical SEC reserves, PV-10 and Standardized Measure of proved reserves were calculated using oil and gas price parameters established by current SEC guidelines, including the use of an average effective price, calculated as prices equal to the 12-month unweighted arithmetic average of the first day of the month prices for each of the preceding 12 months as adjusted for location and quality differentials, unless prices are defined by contractual arrangements, excluding escalations based on future conditions (“SEC Pricing”). These prices were adjusted for differentials on a per-property basis, which may include local basis differential, fuel costs and shrinkage. All prices are held constant throughout the lives of the properties.

See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in Item 7 of Part II of this Annual Report and “— Oil, Natural Gas and NGL Production Prices and Production Costs” in evaluating the material presented below.

(1) Our estimated net proved reserves were determined using average first-day-of-the-month prices for the prior 12 months in accordance with SEC regulations. The unweighted arithmetic average first-day-of-the-month prices for the prior 12 months were $93.67 per barrel for oil and $6.36 per MMbtu for natural gas at December 31, 2022 and $78.22 per barrel for oil and $2.64 per MMBtu for natural gas at December 31, 2023. These base prices were adjusted for differentials on a per-property basis, which may include local basis differentials, fuel costs and shrinkage.

(2) The December 31, 2022 reserves reflect only the reserves of BCE-Mach III as the predecessor.

(3) PV-10 is a non-GAAP financial measure and represents the present value of estimated future cash inflows from proved oil and gas reserves, less future development and production costs, discounted at 10% per annum to reflect the timing of future cash flows. For more information on how we calculate PV-10 and a reconciliation of proved reserves PV-10 to its nearest GAAP measure, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Non-GAAP Financial Measures — Reconciliation of PV-10 to Standardized Measure” included in Item 7 of Part II of this Annual Report.

Preparation of Reserve Estimates

Our reserve estimates as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 included in this Annual Report are based on evaluations prepared by the independent petroleum engineering firm of Cawley, Gillespie & Associates Inc. 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. Our independent reserve engineers were selected for their historical experience and geographic expertise in engineering similar resources.

Under SEC rules, proved reserves are reserves 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 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. The term “reasonable certainty” implies a high degree of confidence that the quantities of oil or natural gas actually recovered will equal or exceed the estimate. To achieve reasonable certainty, we and the independent reserve engineers employed technologies that have been demonstrated to yield results with consistency and repeatability. The technologies and economic data used in the estimation of our proved reserves include, but are not limited to, well logs, geologic maps and available downhole and production data and well-test data.

Reserve engineering is, and must be recognized as, a subjective process of estimating volumes of economically recoverable 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, reserve estimates often differ from the quantities of natural gas that are ultimately recovered. Estimates of economically recoverable natural gas and of future net cash flows are based on a number of variables and assumptions, all of which may vary from actual results, including geologic interpretation, prices and future production rates and costs. See “Risk Factors” included in Item 1A of Part I of this Annual Report.

Internal Controls Over Reserve Estimates

Our internal staff of petroleum engineers and geoscience professionals work closely with our independent reserve engineers to ensure the integrity, accuracy and timeliness of data furnished to our independent reserve engineers in their preparation of reserve estimates. 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, reserve estimates often differ from the quantities of oil, natural gas and NGLs that are ultimately recovered. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — Reserve estimates depend on many assumptions that may turn out to be inaccurate. Any material inaccuracies in reserve estimates or underlying assumptions will materially affect the quantities and present value of our reserves” included in Item 1A of Part I of this Annual Report for more information. The reserves engineering group is responsible for the internal review of reserve estimates, and the technical person primarily responsible for overseeing the preparation of our reserve estimates has more than 16 years of experience in reserve engineering and has been with the Company since its inception. The reserves engineering group is independent of any of our operating areas. The reserves engineering group reviews the estimates with our third-party petroleum consultants, Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, an independent petroleum engineering firm.

Cawley, Gillespie & Associates is a Texas Registered Engineering Firm (F-693), made up of independent registered professional engineers and geologists that have provided petroleum consulting services to the oil and gas industry for over 60 years.

Proved Undeveloped Reserves (PUDs)

As of December 31, 2023, our proved undeveloped reserves were composed of 25,944 MBbls of oil, 197,102 MMcf of natural gas and 16,472 MBbls of NGLs for a total of 75,266 MBoe. PUDs will be converted from undeveloped to developed as the applicable wells begin production.

The following table summarizes our changes in PUDs, for the year ended December 31, 2023 (in MBoe):

(1) The balance at December 31, 2022 is that of BCE-Mach III as the predecessor, and purchases of reserves includes the acquisitions of reserves of BCE-Mach, BCE-Mach II, and Paloma.

Revisions of previous estimates of -14,991 MBoe during the year ended December 31, 2023 included the addition of 186 PUDs (23,014 MBoe) based on increasing our drilling activity within proven areas of development, and the deletion of 235 PUDs (-36,762 MBoe) due to changes in the corporate development plan and lower commodity prices (-115 Mboe). Additionally, changes to reflect current market conditions on lease operating expenses and product price differentials totaled -1,128 MBoe.

We converted 1,638 MBoe of any PUDs into proved developed reserves in 2023. Costs incurred relating to the development of all oil and natural gas reserves were $261.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2023.

We drilled 89 gross wells during 2023. We expect to drill or participate in the drilling of approximately 83 gross wells during 2024.

All of our PUD drilling locations are scheduled to be drilled within five years of December 31, 2023. We anticipate drilling and completing or participating in the drilling and completion of approximately 83 PUD locations during 2024, 72 during 2025, 66 during 2026, 40 during 2027 and 18 during 2028. These PUD locations relate to 75,266 MBoe of PUD reserves. Our development costs relating to the development of our PUDs at December 31, 2023 are projected to be approximately $210.0 million in 2024, $192.5 million in 2025, $225.2 million in 2026, $133.2 million in 2027 and $54.6 million in 2028 for a total of $815.5 million of future development costs. All of these PUD drilling locations are part of a development plan and a budget that is reviewed annually and adopted by management. We expect that the substantial cash flow generated by our existing wells, in addition to availability under the Revolving Credit Agreement, will be sufficient to fund our drilling program, maintenance capital expenditures and PUD conversion into proved developed reserves in accordance with our development schedule. Please see “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — Reserve estimates depend on many assumptions that may turn out to be inaccurate. Any material inaccuracies in reserve estimates or underlying assumptions will materially affect the quantities and present value of our reserves.” included in Item 1A of Part I of this Annual Report.

Oil, Natural Gas and NGL Production Prices and Production Costs

Production and Price History

We currently only have production in the Anadarko Basin. The following table sets forth information regarding our production volumes and realized prices for the periods indicated.

Operating Data

The following table sets forth information regarding our revenues and operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:

Developed and Undeveloped Acreage

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the total developed and undeveloped acreage in which we owned an interest 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 that will expire in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028 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. This undeveloped acreage includes approximately

928 acres that PUD locations have been assigned to; however, within 2024, we have since drilled or will have scheduled drilling on nearly all of these acres.

All of our acreage is located in the Anadarko Basin.

Drilling Results

The table below sets forth the results of our operated drilling activities for the periods indicated. The information should not be considered indicative of future performance, nor should it be assumed that there is necessarily any correlation among the number of productive wells drilled, quantities of reserves found or economic value. Productive wells are those that produce, or are capable of producing, commercial quantities of hydrocarbons, regardless of whether they produce a reasonable rate of return. Dry wells are those that prove to be incapable of producing hydrocarbons in sufficient quantities to justify completion.

The following table sets forth information regarding our drilling activities as of December 31, 2023, including with respect to our operated wells we have begun drilling and those which are drilled and awaiting completion.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company was in process of drilling 3 gross wells (2.9 net) and had finished drilling and was completing or awaiting completion on 2 gross wells (2.0 net). As of December 31, 2023, the Company had no material ongoing non-operated drilling and completion activities.

As of December 31, 2023, we were not a party to any long-term drilling rig contracts.

Productive Wells

As of December 31, 2023, we owned interests in the following number of productive wells:

Marketing and Customers

We market production from properties we operate for both our account and the account of the other working interest owners in these properties. We sell our production to purchasers at market prices.

For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, purchases by the following companies exceeded 10% of our receipts from oil, natural gas, and NGL sales:

• Purchaser did not account for greater than 10% of oil, natural gas, and NGL sales for the year.

Gathering & Processing Agreements and Firm Transportation

In some areas, we own our own gathering and/or processing assets but in other areas we incur gathering and processing expense under various gathering and/or processing agreements with third-party midstream providers. Only one of our gathering and/or processing agreements includes minimum volume commitments.

We are party to four firm transportation agreements to assist in transporting our natural gas from processing plants to various markets. Any unutilized capacity is monetized if market conditions allow by releasing the capacity to others or transporting third party gas. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 we incurred approximately $1.0 million, $0.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively, of transportation charges under these agreements.

The following table sets forth certain information regarding certain of our firm transportation agreements:

Competition

The oil and natural gas industry is intensely competitive, and we compete with other companies that have greater resources. Many of these companies not only explore for and produce 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 oil and natural gas properties or to define, evaluate, bid for and purchase a greater number of properties and prospects than our financial or human resources permit. In addition, these companies may have a greater ability to continue exploration activities during periods of low natural gas market prices. Our ability to acquire additional properties and to discover reserves in the future will be dependent upon our ability to evaluate and select suitable properties and to consummate transactions in a highly competitive environment. In addition, because we have fewer financial and human resources than many companies in our industry, we may be at a disadvantage in evaluating and bidding for oil and natural gas properties.

There is also competition between oil and natural gas producers and other industries producing energy and fuel. 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 we operate. It is not possible to predict the nature of any such legislation or regulation which may ultimately be adopted or its effects upon our future operations. Such laws and regulations may substantially increase the costs of developing natural gas and may prevent or delay the commencement or continuation of a given operation. Our 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 we can, which would adversely affect our competitive position.

Seasonality of Business

Generally, demand for natural gas, oil and NGL decreases during the spring and fall months and increases during the summer and winter months. However, certain natural gas and NGL markets utilize storage facilities and purchase some of their anticipated winter requirements during the summer, which can lessen seasonal demand fluctuations. In addition, seasonal anomalies such as mild winters or mild summers can have a significant impact on prices. These seasonal anomalies can pose challenges for meeting our well drilling objectives and can increase competition for equipment, supplies and personnel during the spring and summer months, which could lead to shortages, increased costs or delay operations.

Title to Properties

As is customary in the oil and natural gas industry, we initially conduct only a cursory review of the title to our properties in connection with acquisition of leasehold acreage. At such time as we determine to conduct drilling operations on those properties, we conduct a thorough title examination and perform curative work with respect to significant defects prior to commencement of drilling operations. To the extent title opinions or other investigations reflect title defects on those properties, we are typically responsible for curing any title defects at our expense. We generally will not commence drilling operations on a property until we have cured any material title defects on such property. We have obtained title opinions on substantially all of our producing properties and believe that we have satisfactory title to our producing properties in accordance with standards generally accepted in the oil and natural gas industry.

Prior to completing an acquisition of producing leases, we perform title reviews on the most significant leases and, depending on the materiality of properties, we may obtain a title opinion, obtain an updated title review or opinion or review previously obtained title opinions. Our natural gas properties are subject to customary royalty and other interests, liens for current taxes and other burdens which we believe do not materially interfere with the use of or affect our carrying value of the properties.

We believe that we have satisfactory title to all of our material assets. Although title to these properties 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 oil and natural gas industry, we believe that none of these liens, restrictions, easements, burdens and encumbrances will materially detract from the value of these properties or from our interest in these properties or materially interfere with our use of these properties in the operation of our business. In addition, we believe that we have obtained sufficient rights-of-way grants and permits from public authorities and private parties for us to operate our business in all material respects as described in this Annual Report.

Legislative and Regulatory Environment

Our natural gas, oil and NGL exploration, development, production and related operations and activities are subject to extensive federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations. Failure to comply with such rules and regulations can result in administrative, civil or criminal penalties, compulsory remediation and imposition of natural resource damages or other liabilities. Although the regulatory burden on the natural gas and oil industry increases our cost of doing business and, consequently, affects our profitability, we believe these obligations generally do not impact us differently or to any greater or lesser extent than they affect other operators in the natural gas and oil industry with similar operations and types, quantities and locations of production.

Regulation of Production

In many states, oil and natural gas companies are generally required to obtain permits for drilling operations, provide drilling bonds, file reports concerning operations and meet other requirements related to the exploration, development and production of natural gas, oil and NGL. Such states also have statutes and regulations addressing conservation matters, including provisions for unitization or pooling of natural gas and oil interests, rights and properties, the surface use and restoration of properties upon which wells are drilled and disposal of water produced or used in the drilling and completion process. These regulations include the establishment of maximum rates of production from natural gas and oil wells, rules as to the spacing, plugging and abandoning of such wells, restrictions on venting or flaring natural gas and requirements regarding the ratability of production, as well as rules governing the surface use and restoration of properties upon which wells are drilled.

These laws and regulations may limit the amount of natural gas, oil and NGL that can be produced from wells in which we own an interest and may limit the number of wells, the locations in which wells can be drilled, or the method of drilling wells. Additionally, the procedures that must be followed under these laws and regulations may result in delays in obtaining permits and approvals necessary for our operations and therefore our expected timing of drilling, completion and production may be negatively impacted. These regulations apply to us directly as the operator of our leasehold. The failure to comply with these rules and regulations can result in substantial penalties.

Regulation of Sales and Transportation of Liquids

Sales of condensate and NGLs are not currently regulated and are made at negotiated prices. Nevertheless, Congress has enacted price controls in the past and could reenact such controls in the future.

Our sales of NGLs are affected by the availability, terms and cost of transportation. The transportation of NGLs in common carrier pipelines is subject to rate and access regulation. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) regulates interstate oil, NGL and other liquid pipeline transportation rates under the Interstate Commerce Act. In general, interstate liquids pipeline rates are set using an annual indexing methodology, however, a pipeline may also use a cost-of-service approach, settlement rates or market-based rates in certain circumstances.

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. Insofar as effective interstate and intrastate rates and regulations regarding access are equally applicable to all comparable shippers, we believe that the regulation of liquids transportation will not affect our operations in any way that is of material difference from those of our competitors who are similarly situated.

Regulation of Transportation and Sales of Natural Gas

Historically, the transportation and sale for resale of natural gas in interstate commerce has been regulated by agencies of the U.S. federal government, primarily FERC. In the past, the federal government has regulated the prices at which natural gas could be sold. While sales by producers of natural gas can currently be made at uncontrolled market prices, Congress could reenact price controls in the future. Deregulation of wellhead natural gas sales began with the enactment of Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 (the “NGPA”) and culminated in adoption of the Natural Gas Wellhead Decontrol Act which removed controls affecting wellhead sales of natural gas effective January 1, 1993. The transportation and sale for resale of natural gas in interstate commerce is regulated primarily under the Natural Gas Act of 1938 (“NGA”) and the NGPA, and by regulations and orders promulgated by FERC. In certain limited circumstances, intrastate transportation and wholesale sales of natural gas may also be affected directly or indirectly by laws enacted by Congress and by FERC regulations.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (the “EPAct of 2005”) amended the NGA and NGPA to add an anti-market manipulation provision which makes it unlawful for any entity to engage in prohibited behavior to be prescribed by FERC. The EPAct of 2005 also provided FERC with the power to assess civil penalties of up to $1,000,000 per day (adjusted annually for inflation) for violations of the NGA and NGPA. As of 2023, the new adjusted maximum penalty amount is $1,496,035 per violation, per day. The civil penalty provisions are applicable to entities that engage in the sale and transportation of natural gas for resale in interstate commerce.

On January 19, 2006, FERC issued Order No. 670, implementing the anti-market manipulation provision of the EPAct of 2005, and subsequently denied rehearing. The resulting rules make it unlawful, in connection with the purchase or sale of natural gas subject to the jurisdiction of FERC, or the purchase or sale of transportation services subject to the jurisdiction of FERC, for any entity, directly or indirectly, to: (i) use or employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud; (ii) make any untrue statement of material fact or omit to make any such statement necessary to make the statements made not misleading; or (iii) engage in any act or practice that operates as a fraud or deceit upon any person. The anti-market manipulation rule does not apply to activities that relate only to intrastate or other non-FERC jurisdictional sales or gathering, but does apply to activities of gas pipelines and storage companies that provide interstate services. FERC also interprets its authority to reach otherwise non-jurisdictional entities to the extent the activities are conducted “in connection with” gas sales, purchases or transportation subject to FERC jurisdiction, which includes the annual reporting requirements under Order 704, described below. However, in October 2022, the Fifth Circuit ruled that FERC’s jurisdiction to regulate market manipulation is limited to interstate transactions only and does not reach intrastate natural gas transactions.

On December 26, 2007, FERC issued Order 704, a final rule on the annual natural gas transaction reporting requirements, as amended by subsequent orders on rehearing. As a result of these orders, wholesale buyers and sellers of more than 2.2 million MMBtus of physical natural gas in the previous calendar year, including oil and natural gas producers, gatherers and marketers, are now required to report, by May 1 of each year, aggregate volumes of natural gas purchased or sold at wholesale in the prior calendar year to the extent such transactions utilize, contribute to, or may 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 provided by FERC. Market participants must also indicate whether they report prices to any index publishers, and if so, whether their reporting complies with FERC’s policy statement on price reporting.

Gathering service, which occurs upstream of jurisdictional transportation services, is regulated by the states onshore and in state waters. Section 1(b) of the NGA exempts natural gas gathering facilities from regulation by FERC. Although FERC has set forth a general test for determining whether facilities perform a non-jurisdictional gathering facilities gathering function or a jurisdictional transportation function, FERC’s determinations as to the classification of facilities are done on a case-by-case basis. To the extent that FERC issues an order that reclassifies certain jurisdictional transportation facilities as non-jurisdictional gathering facilities, and depending on the scope of that decision, our costs of getting gas to point of sale locations may increase. We believe that the natural gas pipelines in our gathering systems meet the traditional tests FERC has used to establish a pipeline’s status as a gatherer not subject to regulation as a natural gas company. However, the distinction between FERC-regulated transportation services and federally unregulated gathering services could be the subject of ongoing litigation, so the classification and regulation of our gathering facilities could be subject to change based on future determinations by FERC, the courts or Congress. State regulation of natural gas gathering facilities generally includes various occupational 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, the pipelines in the gathering systems on which we rely may be subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”) has established a risk-based approach to determine which gathering pipelines are subject to regulation and what safety standards regulated gathering pipelines must meet. Over the past several years PHMSA has taken steps to expand the regulation of rural gathering lines and impose a number of reporting and inspection requirements on regulated pipelines, and additional requirements are expected in the future. On November 15, 2021, PHMSA released a final rule that expands the definition of regulated gathering pipelines and imposes safety measures on certain currently unregulated gathering pipelines. The final rule also imposes reporting requirements on all gathering pipelines and specifically requires operators to report safety information to PHMSA. The future adoption of laws or regulations that apply more comprehensive or stringent safety standards could increase the expenses we incur for gathering service.

The price at which we sell natural gas is not currently subject to federal rate regulation and, for the most part, is not subject to state regulation. However, with regard to our physical and financial sales of these energy commodities, we are required to observe anti-market manipulation laws and related regulations enforced by FERC under the EPAct of 2005 and by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) as amended by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and regulations promulgated thereunder. The CEA prohibits any person from manipulating or attempting to manipulate the price of any commodity in interstate commerce or futures on such commodity. The CEA also prohibits knowingly delivering or causing to be delivered false or misleading or knowingly inaccurate reports concerning market information or conditions that affect or tend to affect the price of a commodity as well as certain disruptive trading practices. Should we violate the anti-market manipulation laws and regulations, we could also be subject to related third-party damage claims by, among others, sellers, royalty owners and taxing authorities.

Intrastate natural gas transportation is also subject to regulation by state regulatory agencies. The basis for intrastate regulation of natural gas transportation and the degree of regulatory oversight and scrutiny given to intrastate natural gas pipeline rates and services varies from state to state. As such regulation within a particular state will generally affect all intrastate natural gas shippers within the state on a comparable basis, we believe that the regulation of similarly situated intrastate natural gas transportation in any states in which we operate and ship natural gas on an intrastate basis will not affect our operations in any way that is of material difference from those of our competitors. Like the regulation of interstate transportation rates, the regulation of intrastate transportation rates affects the marketing of natural gas that we produce, as well as the revenues we receive for sales of our natural gas.

Changes in law and to FERC, PHMSA, the CFTC, or state policies and regulations may adversely affect the availability and reliability of firm and/or interruptible transportation service on interstate and intrastate pipelines, and we cannot predict what future action FERC, PHMSA, the CFTC, or state regulatory bodies will take. We do not believe, however, that any regulatory changes will affect us in a way that materially differs from the way they will affect other oil and natural gas producers and marketers with which we compete.

Regulation of Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters Generally

Our operations are subject to numerous stringent federal, regional, state and local statutes and regulations governing environmental protection, occupational safety and health, and the release, discharge or disposal of materials into the environment, some of which carry substantial administrative, civil and criminal penalties for failure to comply. Applicable U.S. federal environmental laws include, but are not limited to, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), the CWA and the CAA. In addition, state and local laws and regulations set forth specific standards for drilling wells, the maintenance of bonding requirements in order to drill or operate wells, the spacing and location of wells, the method of drilling and casing wells, the surface use and restoration of properties upon which wells are drilled, the plugging and abandoning of wells, the prevention and cleanup of pollutants, and other matters. These laws and regulations may, among other things, require the acquisition of permits to conduct exploration, drilling, and production operations; 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 construction or drilling activities in sensitive areas such as wilderness, wetlands, frontier and other protected areas; require investigatory or remedial actions to prevent or mitigate pollution conditions caused by our operations; impose obligations to reclaim and abandon well sites and 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. Additionally, Congress and federal and state agencies frequently revise environmental laws and regulations, and any changes that result in delay or more stringent and costly permitting, waste handling, disposal and clean-up requirements for the oil and gas industry could have a significant impact on our operating costs. Although future environmental obligations are not expected to have a material impact on the results of our operations or financial condition, there can be no assurance that future developments, such as increasingly stringent environmental laws or enforcement thereof, will not cause us to incur material environmental liabilities or costs.

Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal fines and penalties, loss of leases, the imposition of investigatory or remedial obligations and the issuance of orders enjoining some or all of our operations in affected areas. These laws and regulations may also restrict the rate of oil and natural gas production below the rate that would otherwise be possible. The regulatory burden on the oil and gas industry increases the cost of doing business in the industry and consequently affects profitability. It is possible that, over time, environmental regulation could evolve to place more restrictions and limitations on activities that may affect the environment, and thus, any changes in environmental laws and regulations or reinterpretation of enforcement policies that result in more stringent and costly well drilling, construction, completion or water management activities or waste handling, storage, transport, disposal, or remediation requirements could require us to make significant expenditures to attain and maintain compliance and may otherwise have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position. We may be unable to pass on such increased compliance costs to our customers. Moreover, accidental releases or spills may occur in the course of our operations, and we cannot be sure that we will not 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. Although we believe that we are in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and that continued compliance with existing requirements will not have a material adverse impact on our business, there can be no assurance that this will continue in the future.

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 our business operations are subject and for which compliance may have a material adverse impact on our capital expenditures, results of operations or financial position.

Hazardous Substances and Wastes

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 with respect to the release of a “hazardous substance” into the environment. These classes of persons, or, as termed in CERCLA, potentially responsible parties, include the current and past owners or operators of a disposal site or site where the release occurred and anyone who disposed or arranged for the disposal of the hazardous substances found at such sites. 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. It is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by hazardous substances released into the environment. We are able to control directly the operation of only those wells with respect to which we act as operator. Notwithstanding our lack of direct control over wells operated by others, the failure of an operator other than us to comply with applicable environmental regulations may, in certain circumstances, be attributed to us. We generate materials in the course of our operations that may be regulated as hazardous substances under CERCLA and other environmental laws but we are unaware of any liabilities for which we may be held responsible that would materially and adversely affect our business operations. While petroleum and crude oil fractions are generally not considered hazardous substances under CERCLA and its analogues because of the so-called “petroleum exclusion,” adulterated petroleum products containing other hazardous substances have been treated as hazardous substances in the past.

We also generate solid and hazardous wastes that may be subject to the requirements of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended (“RCRA”), and analogous state laws. RCRA regulates the generation, handling, storage, treatment, transport 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. With the approval of the EPA, individual states can administer some or all of the provisions of RCRA and some states have adopted their own, more stringent requirements. However, legislation has been proposed from time to time and various environmental groups have filed lawsuits that, if successful, could result in the reclassification of certain natural gas and oil exploration and production wastes as “hazardous wastes,” which would make such wastes subject to much more stringent handling, disposal and clean-up requirements. Any future loss of the RCRA exclusion for drilling fluids, produced waters and related wastes could result in an increase in our costs to manage and dispose of generated wastes, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position. In addition, in the course of our operations, we generate some amounts of ordinary industrial wastes, such as paint wastes, waste solvents, laboratory wastes and waste compressor oils that may be regulated as hazardous wastes if such wastes are determined to have hazardous characteristics. Although the costs of managing hazardous waste may be significant, we do not believe that our costs in this regard are materially more burdensome than those for similarly situated companies.

We currently own, lease or operate numerous properties that may have been used by prior owners or operators for oil and natural gas development and production activities for many years. Although we believe that we have utilized operating and waste disposal practices that were standard in the industry at the time, hazardous substances, wastes or petroleum hydrocarbons may have been released on, under or from the properties owned or leased by us, 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 our properties may have been operated by third parties or by previous owners or operators whose treatment and disposal of hazardous substances, wastes or petroleum hydrocarbons was not under our control. These properties and the substances disposed or released on, under or from them may be subject to CERCLA, RCRA and/or analogous state laws. Under such laws, we could be required to undertake response or corrective measures, 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

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the CWA, and comparable state laws impose restrictions and strict controls regarding the discharge of pollutants, including spills and leaks of oil and other natural gas wastes, into or near waters of the United States or state waters. The discharge of pollutants into regulated waters is prohibited, except in accordance with the terms of a permit issued by the EPA or an analogous state agency. The discharge of dredge and fill material into regulated waters, including wetlands, is also prohibited, unless authorized by a permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the “Corps”). The EPA and the Corps issued a final rule on the federal jurisdictional reach over waters of the United States in 2015, which never took effect before being replaced by the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (the “NWPR”) in 2020. A coalition of states and cities, environmental groups, and agricultural groups challenged the NWPR, which was vacated by a federal district court in August 2021. In January 2023, the EPA and the Corps issued a final rule that based the definition of WOTUS on the pre-2015 definition. Separately, in May 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Sackett v. EPA invalidated the prior test used by the EPA to determine whether wetlands qualify as navigable waters of the United States, and in September 2023, the EPA and the Corps published a final rule to align the definition of “waters of the United States” with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. EPA. To the extent a stay of recent rules or the implementation of a revised rule expands the scope of the CWA’s jurisdiction, we could face increased costs and delays with respect to obtaining permits, including for dredge and fill activities in wetland areas. In addition, in an April 2020 decision defining the scope of the CWA that was issued days after the NWPR was published, the U.S. Supreme Court held that, in certain cases, discharges from a point source to a WOTUS through groundwater require a permit if the discharge is the “functional equivalent” of a direct discharge. The Court rejected the EPA and the Corps’ assertion that groundwater should be totally excluded from the CWA. In November 2023, the EPA issued draft guidance describing the functional equivalent analysis and the information that should be used to determine which discharges through groundwater may require a permit. If finalized, the guidance could subject previously unregulated discharges to CWA permit requirements. As a result, future implementation is uncertain at this time.

The process for obtaining permits also has the potential to delay our operations. For example, in April 2020, the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana vacated Nationwide Permit (“NWP”) 12, the general permit issued by the Corps for pipelines and utility projects. On May 11, 2020, the court narrowed its ruling, vacating and enjoining the use of NWP 12 only as it relates to construction of new oil and gas pipelines. The Corps appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. On July 6, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court granted in part and denied in part the Corps’ application for stay of the order issued by the district court. The U.S. Supreme Court stayed the lower court order except as it applies to the Keystone XL pipeline. On January 5, 2021, the Corps released the final version of a rule renewing twelve of its NWPs, including NWP 12. The new rule, which took effect on March 15, 2021, splits NWP 12 into three parts; NWP 12 will continue to be available to oil and gas pipelines. On March 28, 2022, the Corps published a notice announcing that it is undertaking formal review of NWP 12 and sought public comments. The Corps’ review has concluded, and a notice of proposed rulemaking to revise certain NWPs, including NWP 12, is expected in 2024. Any further changes to NWP 12 could have an impact on our business. We cannot predict at this time how the new Corps rule will be implemented, because permits are issued by the local Corps district offices. If new oil and gas pipeline projects are unable to utilize NWP 12 or identify an alternate means of CWA compliance, such projects could be significantly delayed. Additionally, spill prevention, control and countermeasure plans, also referred to as “SPCC plans,” are required by federal law in connection with on-site storage of significant quantities of oil. Compliance may require appropriate containment berms and similar structures to help prevent the contamination of navigable waters by a petroleum hydrocarbon tank spill, rupture or leak.

Safe Drinking Water Act

The SDWA grants the EPA broad authority to take action to protect public health when an underground source of drinking water is threatened with pollution that presents an imminent and substantial endangerment to humans. The SDWA also regulates saltwater disposal wells under the Underground Injection Control Program. The federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 amended the Underground Injection Control provisions of the SDWA to expressly exclude certain hydraulic fracturing from the definition of “underground injection,” but disposal of hydraulic fracturing fluids and produced water or their injection for enhanced oil recovery is not excluded. In 2014, the EPA issued permitting guidance governing hydraulic fracturing with diesel fuels. While we do not currently use diesel fuels in our hydraulic fracturing fluids, we may become subject to federal permitting under SDWA if our fracturing formula changes.

Air Emissions

The CAA and comparable state laws restrict the emission of air pollutants from many sources, including compressor stations, through the issuance of permits and other requirements. These laws and regulations may require us 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. The need to obtain permits has the potential to delay the development of oil and natural gas projects. Over the next several years, we may be required to incur certain capital expenditures for air pollution control equipment or other air emissions related issues. For example, in October 2015, the EPA lowered the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (“NAAQS”) for ozone from 75 to 70 parts per billion. In December 2020, the EPA announced its intention to leave the ozone NAAQS unchanged at 70 parts per billion. Further, in June 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 oil and gas industry. These rules could cause small facilities, on an aggregate basis, to be deemed a major source, thereby triggering more stringent air permitting processes and requirements.

State implementation of the revised NAAQS could result in stricter permitting requirements, delay or prohibit our ability to obtain such permits, 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 compound and methane emissions from certain fractured and refractured 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 compound and methane at certain well sites and compressor stations.

In November 2021, the EPA issued a proposed rule intended to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas sources. The proposed rule imposes emissions reduction standards on both new and existing sources in the oil and natural gas industry, expands the scope of CAA regulation by making regulations in Subpart OOOOa more stringent and creating a Subpart OOOOb to expand reduction requirements for new, modified, and reconstructed oil and gas sources, including standards focusing on certain source types that have never been regulated under the CAA, and imposes emissions reductions targets to meet the stated goals of the U.S. federal administration. In November 2022, the EPA issued the proposed rule supplementing the November 2021 proposed rule. Among other things, the November 2022 supplemental proposed rule removes an emissions monitoring exemption for small wellhead-only sites and creates a new third-party monitoring program to flag large emissions events, referred to in the proposed rule as “super emitters.” In December 2023, the EPA announced a final rule, which, among other things, requires the phase out of routine flaring of natural gas from newly constructed wells (with some exceptions) and routine leak monitoring at all well sites and compressor stations. Notably, the EPA updated the applicability date for Subparts OOOOb and OOOOc to December 6, 2022, meaning that sources constructed prior to that date will be considered existing sources with later compliance deadlines under state plans. The final rule gives states, along with federal tribes that wish to regulate existing sources, two years to develop and submit their plans for reducing methane emissions from existing sources. The final emissions guidelines under Subpart OOOOc provide three years from the plan submission deadline for existing sources to comply. Compliance with these and other air pollution control and permitting requirements has the potential to delay the development of natural gas projects and increase our costs of development, which costs could be significant.

Climate Change

More stringent laws and regulations relating to climate change and greenhouse gases (“GHGs”) may be adopted and could cause us to incur material expenses to comply with such laws and regulations. These requirements could adversely affect our operations and restrict or delay our ability to obtain air permits for new or modified sources. The EPA has adopted rules requiring the monitoring and reporting of GHG emissions from specified onshore and offshore oil and natural gas production sources in the United States on an annual basis, which include certain of our operations.

We cannot predict the scope of any final methane regulatory requirements or the cost to comply with such requirements. However, given the long-term trend toward increasing regulation, future federal GHG regulations of the oil and gas industry remain a significant possibility. There are also a number of state and regional efforts to regulate emissions of methane from new and existing sources within the oil and natural gas source category. Compliance with these rules will require enhanced record-keeping practices, the purchase of new equipment, and increased frequency of maintenance and repair activities to address emissions leakage at certain well sites and compressor stations, and also may require hiring additional personnel to support these activities or the engagement of third-party contractors to assist with and verify compliance.

In addition, Congress has from time to time considered adopting legislation to reduce emissions of GHGs, and the current U.S. presidential administration has taken and supported action aiming to limit GHG emissions. The $1 trillion legislative infrastructure package passed by Congress in November 2021 included a number of climate-focused spending initiatives targeted at climate resilience, enhanced response and preparation for extreme weather events, and clean energy and transportation investments. In addition, in August 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, which focuses on incentivizing the reduction of methane emissions and would impose a fee on methane produced by petroleum and natural gas facilities in excess of a specified threshold, among other initiatives. At the international level, in February 2021, the current administration announced reentry of the U.S. into the Paris Agreement (an international agreement from the 21 st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, France, which resulted in an agreement for signatory countries to nationally determine their contributions and set GHG emission reduction goals) along with a new “nationally determined contribution” for U.S. GHG emissions that would achieve emissions reductions of at least 50% relative to 2005 levels by 2030. Further, at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, member countries entered into an agreement that calls for actions toward achieving, at a global scale, a tripling of renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency improvements by 2030. The goals of the agreement, among other things, are to accelerate efforts toward the phase-down of unabated coal power, phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, and take other measures that drive the transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems.

In August 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, which focuses on incentivizing the reduction of methane emissions and would impose a fee on methane produced by petroleum and natural gas facilities in excess of a specified threshold, among other initiatives. The Inflation Reduction Act amends the CAA to include a Methane Emissions and Waste Reduction Incentive Program, which requires the EPA to impose a “waste emissions charge” on certain natural gas and oil sources that are already required to report under the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. To implement the program, the Inflation Reduction Act requires revisions to GHG reporting regulations for petroleum and natural gas systems (Subpart W) by 2024. In July 2023, the EPA proposed to expand the scope of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program for petroleum and natural gas facilities, as required by the Inflation Reduction Act. Among other things, the proposed rule would expand the emissions events that are subject to reporting requirements to include “other large release events” and apply reporting requirements to certain new sources and sectors. The rule is currently expected to be finalized in 2024 and become effective on January 1, 2025 in advance of the deadline for GHG reporting for 2024 (March 2025). In January 2024, the EPA proposed a rule implementing the Inflation Reduction Act’s methane emissions charge. The proposed rule includes potential methodologies for calculating the amount by which a facility’s reported methane emissions are below or exceed the waste emissions thresholds and contemplates approaches for implementing certain exemptions created by the Inflation Reduction Act. The methane emissions charge imposed under the Methane Emissions and Waste Reduction Incentive Program for 2024 would be $900 per ton emitted over annual methane emissions thresholds, and would increase to $1,200 in 2025, and $1,500 in 2026.

Separately, many U.S. state and local leaders and foreign governments have intensified or stated their intent to intensify efforts to support international climate commitments and treaties and have developed programs that are aimed at reducing GHG emissions, such as by means of cap and trade programs, carbon taxes, encouraging the use of renewable energy or alternative low-carbon fuels, or imposing new climate-related reporting requirements. Cap and trade programs, for example, typically require major sources of GHG emissions to acquire and surrender emission allowances in return for emitting those GHGs.

Financial institutions may be required to adopt policies that have the effect of reducing the funding provided to the fossil fuel sector. President Biden signed an executive order calling for the development of a “climate finance plan” and, separately, the Federal Reserve in 2020 announced that it joined the Network for Greening the Financial System, a consortium of financial regulators focused on addressing climate-related risks in the financial sector. In 2022, the Federal Reserve launched a pilot climate scenario analysis exercise to learn about certain large banking organizations’ climate risk-management practices and challenges and help ensure that supervised institutions are appropriately managing material financial risks related to climate change. 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.

Additionally, on March 6, 2024, the SEC adopted new rules regarding the enhancement and standardization of climate-related disclosures for investors (the “SEC Climate Rules”). The SEC Climate Rules will require registrants to include certain climate-related disclosures in their registration statements and periodic reports, including, but not limited to, information about material climate-related risks; the registrant’s governance of climate-related risks and relevant risk management processes; material climate-related targets and goals; and certain financial effects resulting from severe weather events and other natural conditions in a note to their audited financial statements (subject to de minimis thresholds). Larger registrants will also be required to disclose information about material Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, which will be subject to a phased-in assurance requirement. We are currently evaluating the impact of the SEC Climate Rules and there remains uncertainty as to whether these rules will withstand pending and future legal challenges. In addition, regulations requiring the disclosure of climate-related information have also been enacted or proposed at the state-level, including in California.

Further, in January 2024, President Biden announced a temporary pause on pending decisions on exports of LNG to non-free trade agreement countries until the Department of Energy can update the underlying analyses for authorizations, including an assessment of the impact of GHG emissions.

Any legislation or regulatory programs aimed at reducing GHG emissions, addressing climate change more generally, or requiring the disclosure of climate-related information could increase the cost of consuming, and thereby reduce demand for, the natural gas we produce or otherwise have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Hydraulic Fracturing

Hydraulic fracturing is a common practice that is used to stimulate production of oil and/or natural gas from low permeability subsurface rock formations and is important to our business. The hydraulic fracturing process involves the injection of water, proppants and chemicals under pressure into targeted subsurface formations to fracture the hydrocarbon-bearing rock formation and stimulate production of hydrocarbons. We regularly use hydraulic fracturing as part of our operations. Presently, hydraulic fracturing is primarily regulated at the state level, typically by state natural gas commissions, but the practice has become increasingly controversial in certain parts of the country, resulting in increased scrutiny and regulation. For example, the EPA has asserted federal regulatory authority pursuant to the 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.

In addition, there are heightened concerns by the public about hydraulic fracturing causing damage to aquifers and there is potential for future regulation to address those concerns. In December 2016, the EPA released its final report on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. The final report concluded that certain activities associated with hydraulic fracturing may impact drinking water resources under some circumstances.

At the state level, several states have adopted or are considering legal requirements that require oil and natural gas operators to disclose chemical ingredients and water volumes used to hydraulically fracture wells, in addition to more stringent well construction and monitoring requirements. Local governments may also adopt ordinances within their jurisdictions regulating the time, place and manner of drilling activities in general or hydraulic fracturing activities in particular. If new or more stringent federal, state, or local legal restrictions relating to the hydraulic fracturing process are adopted in areas where we operate, we could incur potentially significant added costs to comply with such requirements, experience delays or curtailment in the pursuit of exploration, development, or production activities, and perhaps even be precluded from drilling wells.

If new or more stringent federal, state or local legal restrictions relating to the hydraulic fracturing process are adopted in areas where we operate, our fracturing activities could become subject to additional permitting and financial assurance requirements, more stringent construction specifications, increased monitoring, reporting and recordkeeping obligations, plugging and abandonment requirements and attendant permitting delays and potential increases in costs. Such changes could cause us to incur substantial compliance costs, and compliance or the consequences of any failure to comply by us could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. At this time, it is not possible to estimate the impact on our business of newly enacted or potential legislation or regulation governing hydraulic fracturing, and any of the above risks could impair our ability to manage our business and have a material adverse effect on our operations, cash flows and financial position.

Oil Pollution Act

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (the “OPA”) establishes strict liability for owners and operators of facilities that are the source of a release of oil into waters of the U.S. The OPA and its associated regulations impose a variety of requirements on responsible parties, including owners and operators of certain facilities from which oil is released, related to the prevention of oil spills and liability for damages resulting from such spills. While liability limits apply in some circumstances, a party cannot take advantage of liability limits if the spill was caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct, resulted from violation of a federal safety, construction or operating regulation, or if the party fails to report a spill or to cooperate fully in the cleanup. Few defenses exist to the liability imposed by the OPA. The OPA imposes ongoing requirements on a responsible party, including the preparation of oil spill response plans and proof of financial responsibility to cover environmental cleanup and restoration costs that could be incurred in connection with an oil spill.

National Environmental Policy Act

Oil and natural gas exploration and production activities on federal lands are subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”). NEPA requires federal agencies to evaluate major agency actions having the potential to significantly impact the environment. The process involves the preparation of an environmental assessment and, if necessary, an environmental impact statement depending on whether the specific circumstances surrounding the proposed federal action have the potential to significantly impact the environment. The NEPA process involves public input through comments which can alter the nature of a proposed project either by limiting the scope of the project or requiring resource-specific mitigation. NEPA decisions can be appealed through the court system by process participants. This process may result in delaying the permitting and development of projects, may increase the costs of permitting and developing some facilities and could result in certain instances in the cancellation of existing leases. In July 2020, the Council on Environmental Quality (“CEQ”) revised NEPA’s implementing regulations to make the NEPA process more efficient, effective and timely. The rule required federal agencies to develop procedures consistent with the new rule within one year of the rule’s effective date (which was extended to two years in June 2021). These regulations are subject to ongoing litigation in several federal district courts, and in October 2021, CEQ issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend the NEPA regulatory changes adopted in 2020 in two phases. Phase I of the CEQ’s rulemaking process was finalized in April 2022, and generally restored provisions that were in effect prior to 2020. In July 2023, the Council on Environmental Quality proposed a Phase 2 rule that would accelerate NEPA reviews while maintaining consideration of relevant environmental, climate change and environmental justice effects. The final rule is expected in April 2024. However, several states and environmental groups have filed challenges to this rulemaking, and CEQ’s amendments are subject to reconsideration and may be subject to reversal or change under the Biden administration. Further, the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act signed into law in November 2021, codified some of the July 2020 amendments in statutory text. These amendments must be implemented into each agency’s implementing regulations, and each of those individual rulemakings could be subject to legal challenge. Additionally, in June 2023, President Biden signed the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which includes important changes to NEPA to streamline the environmental review process. The impact of changes to the NEPA regulations and statutory text therefore remains uncertain and could have an effect on our operations and our ability to obtain governmental permits.

Endangered Species Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act

The ESA restricts activities that may affect endangered or threatened species or their habitat. Similar protections are offered to migratory birds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (“MBTA”). We may conduct operations on natural gas leases in areas where certain species that are or could be listed as threatened or endangered are known to exist. In February 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a final policy which alters how it 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 natural gas development. In January 2021, the Department of the Interior finalized a rule limiting the application of the MBTA. In October 2021, the Biden administration published two rules that reversed those changes, and in June and July 2022, the FWS issued final rules rescinding Trump-era regulations concerning the definition of “habitat” and critical habitat exclusions. In June 2023, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued three proposed rules governing critical habitat designation and expanding protection options for species listed as threatened pursuant to the ESA. The comment periods for these rules ended in August 2023, and final rules are expected by April 2024. The designation of previously unprotected species as threatened or endangered or new critical or suitable habitat designations in areas where we conduct operations could result in limitations or prohibitions on our operations and could adversely impact our business, and it is possible the new rules could increase the portion of our lease areas that could be designated as critical habitat. It is possible the October 2021 rules could increase the portion of our lease areas that could be designated as critical habitat. If we were to have a portion of our leases designated as critical or suitable habitat, it could adversely impact the value of our leases.

The Department of the Interior also issued an opinion in December 2017 that would narrow certain protections afforded to migratory birds pursuant to the MBTA. The MBTA makes it illegal to, among other things, hunt, capture, kill, possess, sell, or purchase migratory birds, nests, or eggs without a permit, and concurrently finalized a rule limiting application of the MBTA. The Department of the Interior revoked the rule in October 2021 and issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking seeking comment to the Department of the Interior’s plan to develop regulations that authorize incidental take under certain prescribed conditions. In October 2021, the FWS issued an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking seeking comment on the Department’s plan to develop regulations that authorize incidental take pursuant to the MBTA under certain prescribed conditions. The notice of proposed rulemaking was initially expected in October 2023 with a final rule to follow by April 2024; however, the notice of proposed rulemaking has not yet been issued. The identification or designation of previously unprotected species as threatened or endangered in areas where underlying property operations are conducted could cause us to incur increased costs arising from species protection measures or could result in limitations on our development activities that could have an adverse impact on our ability to develop and produce reserves. If we were to have a portion of our leases designated as critical or suitable habitat, it could adversely impact the value of our leases. There is also increasing interest in nature-related matters beyond protected species, such as general biodiversity, which may similarly require us or our customers to incur costs or take other measures which may adversely impact our business or operations.

Worker Health and Safety

We are subject to a number of federal and state laws and regulations, including the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, as amended (“OSHA”), and comparable state statutes, whose purpose is to protect the health and safety of workers. For example, the OSHA hazard communication standard, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act and comparable state statutes and any implementing regulations require that we maintain, organize and/or disclose information about hazardous materials used or produced in our operations and that this information be provided to employees, state and local governmental authorities and citizens. Other OSHA standards regulate specific worker safety aspects of our operations. Failure to comply with OSHA requirements can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Related Permits and Authorizations

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

Related Insurance

We maintain insurance against some contamination risks associated with our development activities, including a coverage policy for gradual pollution events. 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 us. The occurrence of a significant event that is not fully insured or indemnified against could have a materially adverse effect on our financial condition and operations.

Human Capital Resources

We aim to provide a safe, healthy, respectful, and fair workplace for all employees. We believe our employees’ talent and wellbeing is foundational to delivering on our corporate strategy, and that intentional human capital management strategies enable us to attract, develop, retain and reward our dedicated employees.

As of December 31, 2023, Mach Resources had 444 total employees, 442 of which were full-time employees. From time to time, we utilize the services of independent contractors to perform various field and other services. Neither we nor Mach Resources are a party to any collective bargaining agreements and have not experienced any strikes or work stoppages. In general, we believe that employee relations are satisfactory.

Employee Safety and Health

The health, safety, and well-being or our employees is a top priority. In addition to our commitment to complying with all applicable safety, health, and environmental laws and regulations, we are focused on minimizing the risk of workplace incidents and preparing for emergencies as a priority element of our culture. We work to reduce safety incidents in our business and actively seek opportunities to make safety culture and procedural improvements.