592 - Determination of unit of production values.

§  592.  Determination  of unit of production values. 1. (a) The state  board shall annually develop one or more economic profiles for  gas  and  one  or  more  economic profiles for oil for use in the determination of  unit of production values. The establishment of more than  one  economic  profile for either gas or oil shall be based upon common factors such as  geologic formation, geographic region, economic and cost characteristics  of  such  profiles  and  such other criteria as the state board may deem  appropriate.    (b) At least forty-five days prior to the  tentative  roll  date  each  year,  the  state  board  shall establish a tentative unit of production  value for each economic profile and shall provide to  appropriate  local  officials  and  industry representatives notice of the tentative unit of  production values. The board shall conduct at least one  public  hearing  to receive comments on the tentative unit of production values. At least  fifteen  days  prior  to  the tentative roll date, the state board shall  certify to each assessor appropriate unit of production values  for  use  in the assessment of oil and gas economic units.    (c)  Unit  of  production  values  shall  be based upon the average of  typical income, expense and operating data for five consecutive calendar  years beginning with the sixth calendar year preceding the year in which  the unit of production values are to be certified.  In determining  unit  of  production  values,  the state board shall use a discounted net cash  flow approach in which gross income shall be reduced by  the  following:  operating  expenses;  landowner  royalty payments, which the state board  shall deem to  be  the  value  of  one-eighth  of  the  economic  unit's  production;  and  other  costs,  if  any,  such  as  overriding  royalty  interests not retained by the owners of the working interest, additional  capital investment required, depletion and depreciation. In  determining  the  unit  of  production  values,  the  minimum  discount rate or rates  applied by the state board shall be the sum of (1) the  average  of  the  discount rates established by the United States federal reserve board on  the first business day of each month for each of the five calendar years  upon  which the economic profiles are based and that precede the year in  which the unit of production values are to  be  certified,  plus  (2)  a  seventeen and one-half percent factor to account for risk, nonliquidity,  management,  real  property  taxes, intangible drilling costs and income  taxes.    2. For the purpose of developing  economic  profiles  and  determining  discounted  net  cash  flow,  the  state  board may require producers to  submit statements of income and expenses related to the  economic  units  for    five consecutive calendar years beginning with the sixth calendar  year preceding the year in which the unit of production values are to be  certified. Such statements of  income  and  expenses  shall  consist  of  information  usually  kept  in  the  ordinary  course  of business. This  subdivision is not applicable to producers of one  thousand  barrels  of  oil or two hundred million cubic feet of gas per year or less.    3. The state board shall promulgate rules establishing the methodology  for determining unit of production values pursuant to subdivision one of  this  section.  Such  rules  shall include a description of the economic  data to be compiled, the method for their compilation and a  delineation  of  the  process to be followed in applying the discounted net cash flow  methodology. Such rules shall provide that, subject to the  availability  of  suitable  economic  data,  the  establishment  of unit of production  values  shall  take  into  account  and  reflect  varying  economic  and  operating conditions and characteristics.