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References in this document to "us," "we," the "Registrant," or the "Company" refer to Avalon Oil & Gas, Inc., and its predecessors.
Statements contained in this Form 10-K discuss future expectations and plans which are considered forward-looking statements as defined by Section 27 (a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Sentences which incorporate words such as "believes," "intends," expects," "predicts," "may," "will," "should," "contemplates," "anticipates," or similar statements are based on our beliefs and expectations using the most current information available to us. In view of the fact that our discussions in the Form 10-K are based on upon estimates and beliefs concerning circumstances and events which have not yet occurred, the anticipated results are subject to changes and variations as future operations and events actually occur and could differ materially from those discussed in forward-looking statements. Moreover, although we reasonably expect, to the best of our knowledge and belief, that the results to be achieved by us will be as set forth in the following discussion, the following discussion is not a guarantee and there can be no assurance that any of the potential results which are described will occur. Furthermore, there will usually be differences between the forecasted and actual results because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, and the difference may be material.
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Business Development
We were originally incorporated in Colorado in April 1991 under the name Snow Runner (USA), Inc. We were the general partner of Snow Runner (USA) Ltd., a Colorado limited partnership formed to sell proprietary snow skates under the name "Sled Dogs" which was dissolved in August 1992. In late 1993, we relocated our operations to Minnesota and in January 1994 changed our name to Snow Runner, Inc. In November 1994 we changed our name to the Sled Dogs Company. On November 5, 1997, we filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
In September 1998, we emerged from protection of Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In May, 1999, we changed our state of domicile to Nevada and our name to XDOGS.COM, Inc. In August 2000, following our bankruptcy, we made a decision to re-focus to a traditional wholesale to retail distributor, and obtained the exclusive North American rights to distribute high-end European outdoor apparel and equipment. We first intended to exploit these rights over the Internet under the name XDOGS.COM, Inc. However, due to the general economic conditions and the ensuing general downturn in e-commerce and internet-based businesses, we decided that to best preserve our core assets we would need to adopt a more traditional strategy. Thus, we abandoned this approach and to better reflect our new focus, we changed our name to XDOGS, Inc. On July 22, 2005, the Board of Directors and a majority of the Company's shareholders approved an amendment to our Articles of Incorporation to change the Company's name to Avalon Oil & Gas, Inc. ("Avalon"), and to increase the authorized number of shares of our common stock from 200,000,000 shares to 1,000,000,000 shares, par value of $0.001, and engage in the acquisition of producing oil and gas properties. On November 16, 2011, a majority of the Company's shareholders approved an amendment to our Articles of Incorporation to increase the authorized number of shares of our common stock from 1,000,000,000 shares to 3,000,000,000 shares par value of $0.001.
Acquisition Strategy
Our strategy is to acquire oil and gas producing properties that have proven reserves and established in-field drilling locations with a combination of cash, debt, and equity. We believe that acquisition of such properties minimizes our risk, allows us to generate immediate cash flow, and provides in-field drilling locations to expand production within the proven oil and gas fields. We will aggressively develop these low cost/low risk properties in order to enhance shareholder value. In addition, Avalon's technology group acquires oil production enhancing technologies. Through its strategic partnership with Innovaro Corporation, (ASE: INV) a transfer technology company, Avalon is building an asset portfolio of innovative technologies in the oil and gas industry to maximize enhancement opportunities at its various oil and gas properties.
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In furtherance of the foregoing strategy, we have engaged in the following transactions during the last three years:
In June 2008, the Company entered into an agreement with Bedford Energy to acquire a 2.5% working interest in Grace Well #2 in East Chandler Field, Oklahoma, which had been producing 350 thousand cubic feet of gas per day. In August 2008, the Company entered into an additional agreement with Bedford Energy (the “Expanded Bedford Agreement”) to increase its working interest in the Grace #2 from 2.5% to 7.5%; and to increase its net revenue interest in the Grace #2 to 11.95%. In addition, the Company acquired a 10% working interest and a 13.825% net revenue interest in the Grace #1, Grace #3, Grace #5A and Grace #6 wells. In March, 2009 Avalon additionally increased its working interest in the Grace wells as follows: in the Grace #1 to 42.125%; in the Grace # 2 to 30.5%; in the Grace #3 to 39.0%, in the Grace #5A to 40.0%, and in the Grace #6 to 34.0%.
In September 2008, the Company sold 15% of its recently acquired interest in the Bedford assets, for cash in the amount of $262,500.
The Company also acquired an undivided fifty (50%) percent interest in a salt water disposal well and offset and development acreage in the two quarter sections of the East Chandler Field. In addition, the Company acquired a fifty (50%) percent interest in 540 acres adjoining the 320 acre East Chandler Field.
As part of the Expanded Bedford Agreement, the Company also acquired the right to operate Grace Wells #1, #2, #3, #5A, and #6 (the “Grace Wells”). The Company hired a third party to operate the Grace Wells and to upgrade the operation of the Grace Wells (“Workover”). In February and March 2009, the Company made formal buyout offers (the “Grace Wells Buyout Offer”) to the approximately 93 additional working interest holders in the Grace Wells (the “Additional Grace Wells Owners”). The Grace Wells Buyout Offer provided three options to the Additional Grace Wells Owners: (1) The Additional Grace Wells Owners would continue to participate in the operation of the Grace Wells, and would remit to the Company funds representing their pro rata portion of the Workover costs; (2) The Additional Grace Wells Owners would sell their interests in the Grace Wells to the Company for cash and stock in the Company; (3) The Additional Grace Wells Owners could do nothing. If this third option was chosen, the Additional Grace Well Owner would retain their interest in the Grace Wells, but their pro-rata portion of the costs would be subject to a 500% penalty; in addition, their pro-rata portion of the revenue generated by the Grace Wells would be applied to their portion of the costs, including the 500% penalty, before they would receive any payment. As of March 31, 2009, the approximately 93 Grace Wells investors had selected the following options: Approximately 22 selected option 1, continued participation; 29 selected option 2, the Company buyout; 17 were in Option 3, non-consent; and 25 were still pending and had not made a selection.
During the three months ended June 30, 2009, the Company amended the agreement with Bedford Energy, whereby the Company transferred a 2.25% carried interest in the Grace Wells #1, #2, #3, #5A and #6 in consideration for the cancellation of the note payable and accrued interest to Bedford in the amounts of $390,000 and $18,627, respectively.
During the three months ended December 31, 2009, the Company reduced the amount recorded for the assumption of accounts payable pursuant to the Bedford Energy transaction in the amount of $26,785. Also during the three months ended December 31, 2009, the Company determined that the Leak Location Technology license and the BIO-CAT Technology license value was impaired, which resulted in a write-down of $564,711.
During the three months ended June 30, 2010, the Company sold working interests in wells located in Blackmon - Hall Unit, New Diana Field, Upshur County, Texas (the “New Diana Wells”), of which it had previously acquired a ten percent (10%) working interest in April, 2008, for a note receivable in the amount of $42,857. These properties had a net book value at the time of the sale of $20,379. This resulted in a gain from the sale of the working interest in the wells in the amount of $22,478.
The Company reached an agreement to purchase a 13.50% working interest in the Grace # 1, a 22.50% working interest in the Grace # 2, a 14.50% working interest in the Grace # 3 and an 11.50% working interest in the Grace # 5A, and a 21.50% working interest in the Grace #6, for $43,837.50, from 17 working interest owners during the three months ending September 30, 2010. We closed this purchase in January 2011.
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We also purchased a 5.75% working interest in the Grace # 1, a 6.25% working interest in the Grace # 2, an 8.5% working interest in the Grace# 3, a 4.50% working interest in the Grace# 5A and a 3.50% working interest in the Grace# 6, during the year ended March 31, 2011 by issuing 294,000 shares of common stock to two (2) working interest owners.
We plan to raise additional capital during the coming fiscal year, but currently have not identified additional funding sources. Our ability to continue operations is highly dependent upon our ability to obtain additional financing, or generate revenues from our acquired oil and gas leasehold interests, none of which can be guaranteed.
Ultimately, our success is dependent upon our ability to generate revenues from our acquired oil and gas leasehold interests, and to achieve profitability, which is dependent upon a number of factors, including general economic conditions and the sustained profitability resulting from the operation of the acquired oil and gas leaseholds. There is no assurance that even with adequate financing or combined operations, we will generate revenues and be profitable.
PATENTS, TRADEMARKS, AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
On May 17, 2006, The Company signed a strategic alliance agreement with Innovaro Corporation, a technology transfer company to build a portfolio of new technologies for the oil and gas industry.
On November 9, 2006, The Company acquired Intelli-Well Technologies, Inc., ("IWT"). IWT holds a license for borehole casing technology developed by researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
On March 29, 2007, The Company acquired Leak Location Technologies, Inc., ("LLT"). LLT owns an exclusive license to a system for determining the presence and location of leaks in underground pipes.
On May 17, 2007, The Company renewed its strategic alliance agreement with Innovaro Corporation, a technology transfer company to develop a portfolio of new technologies for the oil and gas industry.
On August 16, 2007, Kent Rodriguez, the Company's President and CEO, presented a proposal to the Board of Directors to spin-off Oiltek Inc. ("Oiltek"), which specializes in oil and gas recovery technology to Avalon's shareholders. The oil and gas technology include, but are not limited, to the Patent; a system to detect hazardous gas leaks including small leaks in natural gas pipelines; and a system for intelligent drilling and completion sensors to provide real-time oil reservoir monitoring of subsurface information.
On September 22, 2007 the Company entered into an agreement with respect to its purchase of a 75.6% interest in Oiltek for $50,000 and the right of Oiltek to promote Avalon's intellectual property.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
During the last three fiscal years, compliance with environmental laws and regulations did not have a specific impact on the Company's operations. The Company does not anticipate that it will incur any material capital expenditures for environmental control facilities during the next fiscal year.
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EMPLOYEES
As of March 31, 2012 we had two full time employees, our President, Kent Rodriguez and an administrative assistant. The Board retains consultants and advisors on as needed basis. They are compensated with cash and also with the issuance of the Company’s common stock. We also have three part time employees at this time.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
During the last three fiscal years, we did not incur research and development expenses.