9.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Drilling and other commitments

In connection with the PSC Extension, the Etame Marin block joint owners are committed to drill two wells and two appraisal well bores by September 16, 2020.  The estimated cost for these wells is approximately $61.2 million ($20.5 million, net to VAALCO). In addition to the drilling commitment, the Etame Marin block joint owners are required to pay $5.0 million ($1.7 million, net to VAALCO) in cash to the government of Gabon following the end of the drilling activities for the two wells.  As the payment is not contingent on the success of these wells and at least $5.0 million would be paid if no wells are drilled, we have accrued a liability for our net $1.7 million share as of September 30, 2018.  The joint owners are also obligated to perform two technical studies estimated to cost $1.3 million ($0.4 million, net to VAALCO).  The costs related to these studies will be recognized in future periods when the studies are performed.

Abandonment funding

As part of securing the first of two five-year extensions to the Etame field production license to which we are entitled from the government of Gabon, we agreed to a cash funding arrangement for the eventual abandonment of all offshore wells, platforms and facilities on the Etame Marin block. The agreement was finalized in the first quarter of 2014 (effective as of 2011) providing for annual funding over a period of ten years in amounts equal to 12.14% of the total abandonment estimate for the first seven years and 5.0% per year for the last three years of the production license. The amounts paid will be reimbursed through the cost account and are non-refundable. The abandonment estimate used for this purpose is approximately $61.1 million ($19.0 million net to VAALCO) on an undiscounted basis. Through September 30, 2018,  $34.8 million ($10.8 million net to VAALCO) on an undiscounted basis has been funded. This cash funding is reflected under “Other noncurrent assets” as “Abandonment funding” on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. Future changes to the anticipated abandonment cost estimate could change our asset retirement obligation and the amount of future abandonment funding payments.   

FPSO charter 

In connection with the charter of the FPSO, we, as operator of the Etame Marin block, guaranteed all of the lease payments under the charter through its contract term, which expires in September 2020. At our election, the charter may be extended for two one-year periods beyond September 2020. We obtained guarantees from each of the joint venture owners for their respective shares of the payments. Our net share of the charter payment is 31.1%, or approximately $9.7 million per year. Although we believe the need for performance under the charter guarantee is remote, we recorded a liability of $0.4 million as of September 30, 2018 and $0.5 million as of December 31, 2017 representing the guarantee’s estimated fair value. The guarantee of the offshore Gabon FPSO lease has $61.8 million and $85.2 million in remaining gross minimum obligations as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

Regulatory and Joint Interest Audits

We are subject to periodic routine audits by various government agencies in Gabon, including audits of our petroleum cost account, customs, taxes and other operational matters, as well as audits by other members of the contractor group under our joint operating agreements. 

In 2016, the government of Gabon conducted an audit of our operations in Gabon, covering the years 2013 through 2014. We received the findings from this audit and responded to the audit findings in January 2017.  Since providing our response, there have been changes in the Gabonese officials responsible for the audit.  We are currently working with the newly appointed representatives to resolve the audit findings.  We do not anticipate that the ultimate outcome of this audit will have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

In 2017, the government of Gabon conducted a tax audit of our Gabon subsidiary covering the years 2013 through 2016, and in December 2017, we received a report on their findings.  In April 2018, we reached a final settlement of the audit resulting in a payment for taxes of $0.2 million and penalties of $0.2 million, net to VAALCO.  At December 31, 2017, we had an accrual of $0.5 million, net to VAALCO, for the estimated additional taxes along with penalties in the “Accrued liabilities and other” line item of our consolidated balance sheets.

At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had accrued $1.3 million, net to VAALCO, in “Accrued liabilities and other” on our condensed consolidated balance sheets for potential fees which may result from a customs audit.