Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                     to                     .

Commission file number 000-08565

 

 

Marine Petroleum Trust

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Texas   75-6008017

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

c/o The Corporate Trustee:

U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management

P. O. Box 830650, Dallas, Texas 75283-0650

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

(800) 985-0794

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

None

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ¨    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   x

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

Indicate the number of units of beneficial interest outstanding as of the latest practicable date:

As of May 7, 2012, Marine Petroleum Trust had 2,000,000 units of beneficial interest outstanding.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

MARINE PETROLEUM TRUST

INDEX

 

      Page
Number
 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)

     1   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Trust Corpus as of March  31, 2012 and June 30, 2011

     1   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Distributable Income for the Three and Nine Months Ended March  31, 2012 and 2011

     2   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Trust Corpus for the Nine Months Ended March  31, 2012 and 2011

     3   

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

     4   

Item 2. Trustee’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     6   

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     11   

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

     12   

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

  

Item 1A. Risk Factors

     13   

Item 6. Exhibits

     13   


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

MARINE PETROLEUM TRUST AND SUBSIDIARY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND TRUST CORPUS

As of March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2011

ASSETS

 

     March 31,
2012
(Unaudited)
     June 30,
2011
(Audited)
 

Current assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,261,285       $ 1,345,960   

Federal income taxes refundable

     14,425         14,425   

Producing oil and natural gas properties

     7         7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 1,275,717       $ 1,360,392   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
LIABILITIES AND TRUST CORPUS      

Current liabilities:

     

Federal income taxes payable

   $ —         $ —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

   $ —         $ —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Trust corpus – authorized 2,000,000 units of beneficial interest, issued 2,000,000 units at nominal value

   $ 1,275,717       $ 1,360,392   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 1,275,717       $ 1,360,392   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

1


Table of Contents

MARINE PETROLEUM TRUST AND SUBSIDIARY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF DISTRIBUTABLE INCOME

For the Three and Nine Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
     Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2012      2011      2012      2011  

Income:

           

Oil and natural gas royalties

   $ 968,000       $ 736,242       $ 2,973,633       $ 1,980,637   

Oil and natural gas royalties from affiliate

     91,551         165,696         304,657         489,180   

Interest income

     13         —           13         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total income

     1,059,564         901,938         3,278,303         2,469,817   

Expenses:

           

General and administrative

     86,359         102,082         232,228         203,850   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributable income before Federal income taxes

     973,205         799,856         3,046,075         2,265,967   

Federal income taxes of subsidiary

     —           —           2,800         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributable income

   $ 973,205       $ 799,856       $ 3,043,275       $ 2,265,967   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributable income per unit

   $ 0.49       $ 0.40       $ 1.52       $ 1.13   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributions per unit

   $ 0.50       $ 0.36       $ 1.56       $ 1.08   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Units outstanding

     2,000,000         2,000,000         2,000,000         2,000,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

2


Table of Contents

MARINE PETROLEUM TRUST AND SUBSIDIARY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN TRUST CORPUS

For the Nine Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2012     2011  

Trust corpus, beginning of period

   $ 1,360,392      $ 1,157,886   

Distributable income

     3,043,275        2,265,967   

Distributions to unitholders

     (3,127,950     (2,155,616
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Trust corpus, end of period

   $ 1,275,717      $ 1,268,237   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

MARINE PETROLEUM TRUST AND SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2012

(Unaudited)

Note 1. Accounting Policies

The financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q include the financial statements of Marine Petroleum Trust (the “Trust”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Marine Petroleum Corporation (“MPC,” and collectively with the Trust, “Marine”). The financial statements are condensed and consolidated and should be read in conjunction with Marine’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011. The financial statements included herein are unaudited, but in the opinion of the trustee of the Trust, they include all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for the periods indicated. Operating results for the interim periods reported herein are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012.

Note 2. Basis of Accounting

The financial statements of Marine are prepared on the modified cash basis method and are not intended to present financial position and results of operations in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Under the modified cash basis method:

 

   

Royalty income is recognized in the month when received by Marine.

 

   

Marine’s expenses (including accounting, legal, other professional fees, trustees’ fees and out-of-pocket expenses) are recorded on an actual paid basis. Reserves for liabilities that are contingent or uncertain in amount may also be established if considered necessary.

 

   

Distributions to unitholders are recognized when declared by the trustee of the Trust.

The financial statements of Marine differ from financial statements prepared in conformity with GAAP because of the following:

 

   

Royalty income is recognized in the month received rather than in the month of production.

 

   

Reserves may be established for contingencies that would not be recorded under GAAP.

This comprehensive basis of accounting corresponds to the accounting principles permitted for royalty trusts by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as specified by Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 12:E, Financial Statements of Royalty Trusts.

Note 3. Distributable Income

The Trust’s Indenture (the “Indenture”) provides that the trustee is to distribute all cash in the Trust, less an amount reserved for the payment of accrued liabilities and estimated future expenses, to unitholders on the 28th day of March, June, September and December of each year. If the 28th day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the distribution is payable on the immediately succeeding business day.

As stated under “Note 1. Accounting Policies” above, the financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are the condensed and consolidated account balances of the Trust and MPC. However, distributable income is paid from the account balances of the Trust. Distributable income is comprised of (i) royalties from offshore Texas leases owned directly by the Trust, (ii) 98% of the royalties received from offshore Louisiana leases owned by MPC, which are retained by and delivered to the Trust on a quarterly basis, (iii) cash distributions from the Trust’s interest in Tidelands Royalty Trust “B” (“Tidelands”), a separate publicly traded royalty trust, (iv) dividends paid by MPC, less (v) administrative expenses incurred by the Trust. Distributions fluctuate from quarter to quarter primarily due to changes in oil and natural gas prices and production quantities.

 

4


Table of Contents

Note 4. Investment in Affiliate — Tidelands Royalty Trust “B”

At March 31, 2012 and 2011, the Trust owned 32.6% of the outstanding units of beneficial interest in Tidelands.

The following summary financial statements have been derived from the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Tidelands:

TIDELANDS CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF DISTRIBUTABLE INCOME

 

     Nine Months
Ended

March  31,
2012
     Nine Months
Ended

March  31,
2011
 

Income

   $ 845,743       $ 1,406,506   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Expenses

     124,026         162,632   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributable income before Federal income taxes

     721,717         1,243,874   

Federal income taxes of Tidelands’ subsidiary

     —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributable income

   $ 721,717       $ 1,243,874   

Tidelands is a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and has filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. Reference should be made to Tidelands’ public filings for current information concerning Tidelands and its financial condition and results of operations.

 

5


Table of Contents

Item 2. Trustee’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Organization

The Trust is a royalty trust that was created in 1956 under the laws of the State of Texas. U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management serves as corporate trustee (the “Trustee”). The Indenture provides that the term of the Trust will expire on June 1, 2021, unless extended by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding units of beneficial interest. The Trust is not permitted to engage in any business activity because it was organized for the sole purpose of providing an efficient, orderly, and practical means for the administration and liquidation of rights to payments from certain oil and natural gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico, pursuant to license agreements and amendments between the Trust’s predecessors and Gulf Oil Corporation (“Gulf”). As a result of various transactions that have occurred since 1956, the Gulf interests now are held by Chevron Corporation (“Chevron”) and its assignees. The Trust holds title to interests in properties that are situated offshore of Texas.

The Trust’s wholly-owned subsidiary, MPC, holds title to interests in properties that are situated offshore of Louisiana because at the time the Trust was created, trusts could not hold these interests under Louisiana law. MPC is prohibited from engaging in a trade or business and only takes those actions that are necessary for the administration and liquidation of its properties.

Marine’s rights are generally referred to as overriding royalty interests in the oil and natural gas industry. An overriding royalty interest is created by an assignment by the owner of a working interest in an oil or natural gas lease. The royalty rights associated with an overriding royalty interest terminate when the underlying lease terminates. All production and marketing functions are conducted by the working interest owners of the leases. Income from overriding royalties is paid to Marine either (i) on the basis of the selling price of oil, natural gas and other minerals produced, saved and sold, or (ii) at the value at the wellhead as determined by industry standards, when the selling price does not reflect the value at the wellhead.

The Trustee assumes that some units of beneficial interest are held by middlemen, as such term is broadly defined in U.S. Treasury Regulations (and includes custodians, nominees, certain joint owners, and brokers holding an interest for a customer in street name). Therefore, the Trustee considers the Trust to be a widely held fixed investment trust (“WHFIT”) for U.S. Federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Trust will provide tax information in accordance with applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations governing the information reporting requirements of the Trust as a WHFIT. The representative of the Trust that will provide the required information is U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management and the contact information for the representative is as follows:

U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management

P.O. Box 830650

Dallas, Texas 75283-0650

Telephone number: (800) 985-0794

Each unitholder should consult its own tax advisor for compliance matters concerning U.S. Federal income taxes.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Due to the limited purpose of the Trust as stated in the Trust’s Indenture, there is no requirement for capital. The Trust’s only obligation is to distribute to unitholders the distributable income that is actually collected. As an administrator of oil and natural gas royalty properties, the Trust collects royalties monthly, pays administration expenses and disburses all net royalties that are collected to its unitholders each quarter.

The Trust’s Indenture (and MPC’s charter and by-laws) expressly prohibits the operation of any kind of trade or business. The Trust’s oil and natural gas properties are depleting assets and are not being replaced due to the prohibition against investments. These restrictions, along with other factors, allow the Trust to be treated as a grantor trust. As a grantor trust, all income and deductions for state and U.S. Federal tax purposes generally flow through to each individual unitholder. In May 2006, the State of Texas passed legislation to implement a franchise or “margin” tax. The Trust does not believe that it is subject to the franchise tax because at least 90% of its income comes from passive sources. Please see Marine’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 for further information. MPC is a taxable entity and pays state and U.S. Federal taxes on its income if such taxes are owed as well as state franchise taxes. However, MPC’s income specifically excludes 98% of oil and natural gas royalties collected by MPC, which are retained by and delivered to the Trust in respect of the Trust’s net profits interest.

 

6


Table of Contents

The Leases

Marine relies on public records for information regarding drilling and work over operations. The public records available up to the date of this report indicate that there were seven new well completions made during the nine months ended March 31, 2012 on leases in which Marine has an interest. Public records also indicate that there were three wells in the process of being drilled or recompleted on other leases in which Marine has an interest and that operators have designated one additional location for work, which may include drilling, permits to work over or recomplete a well or other types of operations. There is no assurance that wells will be drilled or recompleted, and if they are drilled or recompleted, that they will be successful.

Marine holds an overriding royalty interest that is equal to three-fourths of 1% of the working interest and is calculated on the value at the well of any oil, natural gas or other minerals produced and sold from 55 leases covering 199,868 gross acres located in the Gulf of Mexico. Marine’s overriding royalty interest applies only to existing leases and does not apply to any new leases that Chevron may acquire. Two leases, which consisted of an aggregate of 3,748 gross acres, terminated in the second half of 2011. There were no wells drilled on these leases in the royalty area and there was no production from these leases in the royalty area. The Trust also owns a 32.6% interest in Tidelands. Tidelands has an overriding royalty interest in five leases covering 22,948 gross acres located in the Gulf of Mexico. As of May 1, 2012, four of these five leases contained active wells. As a result of this ownership, the Trust receives periodic distributions from Tidelands.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

In accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 12:E, Financial Statements of Royalty Trusts, Marine uses the modified cash basis method of accounting. Under this accounting method, royalty income is recorded when received, and distributions to unitholders are recorded when declared by the Trustee of the Trust. Expenses of Marine (including accounting, legal, other professional fees, trustees’ fees and out-of-pocket expenses) are recorded on an actual paid basis. Marine also reports distributable income instead of net income under the modified cash basis method of accounting. Cash reserves are permitted to be established by the Trustee for certain contingencies that would not be recorded under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

Marine did not have any changes in critical accounting policies or in significant accounting policies during the nine months ended March 31, 2012. Please see Marine’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 for a detailed discussion of its critical accounting policies.

General

Marine’s royalty income is derived from the oil and natural gas production activities of unrelated parties. Marine’s royalty income fluctuates from period to period based upon factors beyond Marine’s control, including, without limitation, the number of productive wells drilled and maintained on leases that are subject to Marine’s interest, the level of production over time from such wells and the prices at which the oil and natural gas from such wells are sold.

Important aspects of Marine’s operations are conducted by third parties. Marine’s royalty income is dependent on the operations of the working interest owners of the leases on which Marine has an overriding royalty interest. The oil and natural gas companies that lease tracts subject to Marine’s interests are responsible for the production and sale of oil and natural gas and the calculation of royalty payments to Marine. The only obligation of the working interest owners to Marine is to make monthly overriding royalty payments of Marine’s interest in the oil and natural gas sold. Marine’s distributions are processed and paid by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC as the agent for Marine.

 

7


Table of Contents

The volume of oil and natural gas produced and their selling prices are primary factors in the calculation of overriding royalty payments. Production is affected by the natural production declines of the producing wells, the number of new wells drilled and the number of existing wells re-worked and placed back in production. Production from existing wells is anticipated to decrease in the future due to normal well depletion. Marine has no input with the operators regarding future drilling or re-working operations that could impact the oil and natural gas production on the leases on which Marine has an overriding royalty interest.

Summary of Operating Results

During the nine months ended March 31, 2012, Marine realized 80% of its royalty income from the sale of oil and 20% from the sale of natural gas, excluding its interest in Tidelands. During the nine months ended March 31, 2011, Marine realized 73% of its royalty income from the sale of oil and 27% from the sale of natural gas, excluding its interest in Tidelands. Royalty income consists of oil and natural gas royalties received from producers. During the nine months ended March 31, 2012, Marine’s interest in Tidelands accounted for 9% of its total income. During the nine months ended March 31, 2011, Marine’s interest in Tidelands accounted for 20% of its total income.

Distributable income per unit for the nine months ended March 31, 2012 increased to $1.52 as compared to $1.13 for the comparable period in 2011. Distributions to unitholders amounted to $1.56 per unit for the nine months ended March 31, 2012, an increase from distributions of $1.08 per unit for the comparable period in 2011. During the nine months ended March 31, 2012, the difference between distributable income per unit and distributions per unit resulted from timing differences between the closing of the financial statements and the determination date of the distribution amount to unitholders.

For the nine months ended March 31, 2012, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, oil production increased by 3,659 barrels (bbls) and natural gas production increased by 1,841 thousand cubic feet (mcf) from the levels realized for the comparable period in 2011. For the nine months ended March 31, 2012, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, the average realized price per bbl of oil increased $31.90 to $113.80 per bbl from the price realized for the comparable period in 2011 and the average realized price per mcf of natural gas increased $0.03 to $4.95 from the price realized for the comparable period in 2011.

The following table presents the net production quantities of oil and natural gas and distributable income and distributions per unit for the last six quarters.

 

     Net Production  Quantities (1)                
        Quarter Ended    Oil (bbls)      Natural
Gas (mcf)
     Distributable
Income Per  Unit
     Distributions
Per Unit
 

December 31, 2010

     5,783         35,475       $ 0.35       $ 0.34   

March 31, 2011

     6,300         38,404       $ 0.40       $ 0.36   

June 30, 2011

     6,532         37,304       $ 0.35       $ 0.41   

September 30, 2011

     7,288         32,882       $ 0.55       $ 0.54   

December 31, 2011

     6,920         38,698       $ 0.49       $ 0.52   

March 31, 2012

     7,126         38,676       $ 0.49       $ 0.50   

 

(1) Excludes the Trust’s interest in Tidelands.

Results of Operations—Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011

Income from oil and natural gas royalties increased $231,758 to $968,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2012 from $736,242 realized for the comparable three months in 2011. Marine believes that royalties increased for the three months ended March 31, 2012 primarily due to the 28% increase in the average realized price of oil, which was partially offset by the 9% decrease in the average realized price of natural gas in the comparable three months in 2011. In addition, for the three months ended March 31, 2012, oil production increased 13% and natural gas production increased 1% from the comparable three months in 2011.

 

8


Table of Contents

Distributable income increased to $973,205 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 from $799,856 realized for the comparable three months in 2011.

Income from oil royalties, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, for the three months ended March 31, 2012 increased to $798,948 from $552,490 realized for the comparable three months in 2011. The volume of oil sold in the three months ended March 31, 2012 increased by 826 bbls, while the average price realized for a bbl of oil increased $24.42 to $112.12 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 from $87.70 realized in the comparable period in 2011.

Income from natural gas royalties, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, for the three months ended March 31, 2012 decreased to $169,052 from $183,752 for the comparable three months in 2011. The volume of natural gas sold in the three months ended March 31, 2012 increased by 272 mcf, while the average price realized for an mcf of natural gas decreased $0.41 to $4.37 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 from $4.78 realized in the comparable period in 2011.

Income from the Trust’s interest in Tidelands for the three months ended March 31, 2012 decreased to $91,551 from $165,696 for the comparable three months in 2011.

The following table presents the quantities of oil and natural gas sold and the average price realized for the three months ended March 31, 2012, and those realized for the comparable three months in 2011, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands.

 

 

      Three Months Ended March 31,         
     2012
(Unaudited)
     2011
(Unaudited)
     % Change  

Oil

        

Bbls sold

     7,126         6,300         13

Average price

   $ 112.12       $ 87.70         28

Natural gas

        

Mcf sold

     38,676         38,404         1

Average price

   $ 4.37       $ 4.78         (9 )% 

General and administrative expenses decreased to $86,359 in the three months ended March 31, 2012 from $102,082 in the comparable period of 2011, primarily due to decreased professional fees and expenses.

Results of Operations—Nine Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared to the Nine Months Ended March 31, 2011

Income from oil and natural gas royalties increased $992,996 to $2,973,633 during the nine months ended March 31, 2012 from $1,980,637 realized for the comparable nine months in 2011. Marine believes that royalties increased for the nine months ended March 31, 2012 primarily due to the 39% increase in the average realized price of oil compared to the comparable nine months of 2011. In addition, for the nine months ended March 31, 2012, oil production increased 21% from the comparable nine months in 2011.

Distributable income increased to $3,043,275 for the nine months ended March 31, 2012 from $2,265,967 realized for the comparable nine months in 2011.

Income from oil royalties, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, for the nine months ended March 31, 2012 increased to $2,427,898 from $1,447,527 realized for the comparable nine months in 2011. The volume of oil sold in the nine months ended March 31, 2012 increased by 3,659 bbls, while the average price realized per bbl of oil increased $31.90 to $113.80 for the nine months ended March 31, 2012 from $81.90 realized in the comparable period in 2011.

 

9


Table of Contents

Income from natural gas royalties, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands, for the nine months ended March 31, 2012 increased to $545,735 from $533,110 realized for the comparable nine months in 2011. The volume of natural gas sold for the nine months ended March 31, 2012 increased by 1,841 mcf, while the average price realized for an mcf of natural gas increased $0.03 to $4.95 for the nine months ended March 31, 2012 from $4.92 realized in the comparable period in 2011.

Income from the Trust’s interest in Tidelands for the nine months ended March 31, 2012 decreased to $304,657 from $489,180 for the comparable nine months in 2011.

The following table presents the quantities of oil and natural gas sold and the average price realized for the nine months ended March 31, 2012, and those realized for the comparable nine months in 2011, excluding the Trust’s interest in Tidelands.

 

      Nine Months Ended March 31,         
     2012
(Unaudited)
     2011
(Unaudited)
     % Change  

Oil

        

Bbls sold

     21,334         17,675         21

Average price

   $ 113.80       $ 81.90         39

Natural gas

        

Mcf sold

     110,256         108,415         2

Average price

   $ 4.95       $ 4.92         1

General and administrative expenses increased to $232,228 in the nine months ended March 31, 2012 from $203,850 in the comparable period of 2011, primarily due to increased professional fees and expenses.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements discussed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q regarding Marine’s future financial performance and results, and other statements that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “budget,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” or other similar words are used to identify forward-looking statements in this report. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they discuss future expectations, contain projections of Marine’s financial condition, and/or state other “forward-looking” information. Actual results may differ from expected results because of: reductions in price or demand for oil and natural gas, which might then lead to decreased production; reductions in production due to the depletion of existing wells or disruptions in service, which may be caused by storm damage to production facilities, blowouts or other production accidents, or geological changes such as cratering of productive formations; changes in regulations; and the expiration or release of leases subject to Marine’s interests. Additional risks are set forth in Marine’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011. Events may occur in the future that Marine is unable to accurately predict or over which it has no control. If one or more of these uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those forward-looking statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Website

Marine has an Internet website and has made available its Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to such reports, filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, at www.marps-marinepetroleumtrust.com. Each of these reports will be posted on this website as soon as reasonably practicable after such report is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC.

 

10


Table of Contents

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Marine did not experience any material changes in market risk during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Marine’s market risk is described in more detail in “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

 

11


Table of Contents

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management, as Trustee of the Trust, is responsible for establishing and maintaining Marine’s disclosure controls and procedures. Marine’s disclosure controls and procedures include controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by Marine in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by Marine in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Trustee as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Trustee carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of Marine’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, the Trustee concluded that Marine’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There has not been any change in Marine’s internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, Marine’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

12


Table of Contents

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Marine’s Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

Item 6. Exhibits

The following exhibits are included herein:

 

  31.1 Certification of the Corporate Trustee pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

  32.1 Certification of the Corporate Trustee pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

13


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

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

 

     

MARINE PETROLEUM TRUST

U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth

Management, Trustee

May 10, 2012     By:   /s/ Ron E. Hooper
      Ron E. Hooper
      Senior Vice President

 

14