bdco_10q.htm
 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
­
 
FORM 10-Q
 
(Mark One)

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended:  June 30, 2017
 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 No. 0-15905
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
 
73-1268729
State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
801 Travis Street, Suite 2100
Houston, Texas
 
77002
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
 (713) 568-4725
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) 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 ☒ No ☐
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, 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, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer 

Accelerated filer

 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer  

Smaller reporting company

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
 
 
Emerging growth company

 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ☐ No ☒
 
Number of shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share outstanding as of October 12, 2017:  10,818,371

 
 
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
GLOSSARY OF SELECTED OIL AND GAS TERMS
3
 
 
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
5
 
 
ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
5
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
5
Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
6
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
7
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
8
 
 
ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
39
 
 
ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
59
 
 
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
59
 
 
PART II OTHER INFORMATION
60
 
 
ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
60
 
 
ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS
61
 
 
ITEM 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
62
 
 
ITEM 3.  DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
62
 
 
ITEM 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
62
 
 
ITEM 5.  OTHER INFORMATION
63
 
 
ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS
63
 
 
SIGNATURES
64
 
 
 
2
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
 
GLOSSARY OF SELECTED OIL AND GAS TERMS
 
The following are abbreviations and definitions of certain commonly used oil and gas industry terms that are used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2017 (this “Quarterly Report”):
 
Atmospheric gas oil (“AGO”). The heaviest product boiled by a crude distillation unit operating at atmospheric pressure. This fraction ordinarily sells as distillate fuel oil, either in pure form or blended with cracked stocks. Blended AGO usually serves as the premium quality component used to lift lesser streams to the standards of saleable furnace oil or diesel engine fuel. Certain ethylene plants, called heavy oil crackers, can take AGO as feedstock.
 
Barrel (“bbl”). One stock tank bbl, or 42 U.S. gallons of liquid volume, used about oil or other liquid hydrocarbons.
 
Blending. The physical mixture of several different liquid hydrocarbons to produce a finished product with certain desired characteristics. Products can be blended in-line through a manifold system, or batch blended in tanks and vessels. In-line blending of gasoline, distillates, jet fuel and kerosene is accomplished by injecting proportionate amounts of each component into the main stream where turbulence promotes thorough mixing. Additives, including octane enhancers, metal deactivators, anti-oxidants, anti-knock agents, gum and rust inhibitors, and detergents, are added during and/or after blending to result in specifically desired properties not inherent in hydrocarbons.
 
Barrels per Day (“bpd”).  A measure of the bbls of daily output produced in a refinery or transported through a pipeline.
 
Complexity.  A numerical score that denotes, for a given refinery, the extent, capability, and capital intensity of the refining processes downstream of the crude oil distillation unit.  The higher a refinery’s complexity, the greater the refinery’s capital investment and number of operating units used to separate feedstock into fractions, improve their quality, and increase the production of higher-valued products. Refinery complexities range from the relatively simple crude oil distillation unit (“topping unit”), which has a complexity of 1.0, to the more complex deep conversion (“coking”) refineries, which have a complexity of 12.0.
 
Condensate. Liquid hydrocarbons that are produced in conjunction with natural gas.  Condensate is chemically more complex than LPG.  Although condensate is sometimes like crude oil, it is usually lighter.
 
Crude oil. A mixture of thousands of chemicals and compounds, primarily hydrocarbons. Crude oil quality is measured in terms of density (light to heavy) and sulfur content (sweet to sour). Crude oil must be broken down into its various components by distillation before these chemicals and compounds can be used as fuels or converted to more valuable products.
 
Depropanizer unit. A distillation column that is used to isolate propane from a mixture containing butane and other heavy components.
 
Distillates.  The result of crude distillation and therefore any refined oil product.  Distillate is more commonly used as an abbreviated form of middle distillate.  There are mainly four (4) types of distillates: (i) very light oils or light distillates (such as our LPG mix and naphtha), (ii) light oils or middle distillates (such as our jet fuel), (iii) medium oils, and (iv) heavy oils (such as our low-sulfur diesel and heavy oil-based mud blendstock (“HOBM”), reduced crude, and AGO).
Distillation. The first step in the refining process whereby crude oil and condensate is heated at atmospheric pressure in the base of a distillation tower. As the temperature increases, the various compounds vaporize in succession at their various boiling points and then rise to prescribed levels within the tower per their densities, from lightest to heaviest. They then condense in distillation trays and are drawn off individually for further refining. Distillation is also used at other points in the refining process to remove impurities. Lighter products produced in this process can be further refined in a catalytic cracking unit or reforming unit. Heavier products, which cannot be vaporized and separated in this process, can be further distilled in a vacuum distillation unit or coker.
 
Distillation tower. A tall column-like vessel in which crude oil and condensate is heated and its vaporized components distilled by means of distillation trays.
 
Feedstocks. Crude oil and other hydrocarbons, such as condensate and/or intermediate products, that are used as basic input materials in a refining process.  Feedstocks are transformed into one or more finished products.
 
Finished petroleum products.  Materials or products which have received the final increments of value through processing operations, and which are being held in inventory for delivery, sale, or use.
 
Intermediate petroleum products.  A petroleum product that might require further processing before it is saleable to the ultimate consumer.  This further processing might be done by the producer or by another processor.  Thus, an intermediate petroleum product might be a final product for one company and an input for another company that will process it further.
 
Jet fuel. A high-quality kerosene product primarily used in aviation.  Kerosene-type jet fuel (including Jet A and Jet A-1) has a carbon number distribution between about 8 and 16 carbon atoms per molecule; wide-cut or naphtha-type jet fuel (including Jet B) has between about 5 and 15 carbon atoms per molecule.
 
Kerosene. A middle distillate fraction of crude oil that is produced at higher temperatures than naphtha and lower temperatures than gas oil.  It is usually used as jet turbine fuel and sometimes for domestic cooking, heating, and lighting.
 
Leasehold interest. The interest of a lessee under an oil and gas lease.
 
Light crude. A liquid petroleum that has a low density and flows freely at room temperature.  It has a low viscosity, low specific gravity, and a high American Petroleum Institute gravity due to the presence of a high proportion of light hydrocarbon fractions.
 
Liquefied petroleum gas (“LPG”).  Manufactured during the refining of crude oil and condensate; burns relatively cleanly with no soot and very few sulfur emissions.
 
MMcf. One million cubic feet; a measurement of gas volume only.
 
3
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
 
 
Naphtha. A refined or partly refined light distillate fraction of crude oil. Blended further or mixed with other materials it can make high-grade motor gasoline or jet fuel. It is also a generic term applied to the lightest and most volatile petroleum fractions.
 
Petroleum. A naturally occurring flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds. The name petroleum covers both the naturally occurring unprocessed crude oils and petroleum products that are made up of refined crude oil.
 
Product Slate.  Represents type and quality of products produced.
 
Propane. A by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining. Propane is one of a group of LPGs. The others include butane, propylene, butadiene, butylene, isobutylene and mixtures thereof. (See also definition of LPG.)
 
Refined petroleum products. Refined petroleum products are derived from crude oil and condensate that have been processed through various refining methods. The resulting products include gasoline, home heating oil, jet fuel, diesel, lubricants and the raw materials for fertilizer, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.
 
Refinery. Within the oil and gas industry, a refinery is an industrial processing plant where crude oil and condensate is separated and transformed into petroleum products.
 
Sour crude. Crude oil containing sulfur content of more than 0.5%.
 
Stabilizer unit. A distillation column intended to remove the lighter boiling compounds, such as butane or propane, from a product.
 
Sweet crude. Crude oil containing sulfur content of less than 0.5%.
 
Sulfur. Present at various levels of concentration in many hydrocarbon deposits, such as petroleum, coal, or natural gas. Also, produced as a by-product of removing sulfur-containing contaminants from natural gas and petroleum. Some of the most commonly used hydrocarbon deposits are categorized per their sulfur content, with lower sulfur fuels usually selling at a higher, premium price and higher sulfur fuels selling at a lower, or discounted, price.
 
Topping unit. A type of petroleum refinery that engages in only the first step of the refining process -- crude distillation.  A topping unit uses atmospheric distillation to separate crude oil and condensate into constituent petroleum products. A topping unit has a refinery complexity range of 1.0 to 2.0.
 
Throughput.  The volume processed through a unit or a refinery or transported through a pipeline.
 
Turnaround. Scheduled large-scale maintenance activity wherein an entire process unit is taken offline for a week or more for comprehensive revamp and renewal.
 
Yield.  The percentage of refined petroleum products that is produced from crude oil and other feedstocks.
 
 
 
 
4
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
 
 
PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY & SUBSIDIARIES
 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 CURRENT ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cash and cash equivalents
 $65,064 
 $1,152,628 
 Restricted cash
  1,481,626 
  3,347,835 
 Accounts receivable, net
  436,305 
  2,022,166 
 Accounts receivable, related party
  - 
  1,161,589 
 Prepaid expenses and other current assets
  1,103,308 
  1,046,191 
 Deposits
  138,957 
  138,957 
 Inventory
  3,848,449 
  2,075,538 
 Total current assets
  7,073,709 
  10,944,904 
 
    
    
 Total property and equipment, net
  64,313,447 
  62,324,463 
 Restricted cash, noncurrent
  563,336 
  1,582,305 
 Surety bonds
  230,000 
  205,000 
 Trade name
  303,346 
  303,346 
 Total long-term assets
  65,410,129 
  64,415,114 
 TOTAL ASSETS
 $72,483,838 
 $75,360,018 
 
    
    
 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    
    
 
    
    
 CURRENT LIABILITIES
    
    
 Long-term debt less unamortized debt issue costs, current portion
  $32,311,034
 
 31,712,336
 
 Interest payable, current portion
    2,444,239
 
   323,756
 
 Long-term debt, related party, current portion
  500,000
 
  500,000
 
 Accounts payable
   3,677,808
 
   14,552,383 
 Accounts payable, related party
  672,000 
  369,600 
 Asset retirement obligations, current portion
  17,068 
  17,510 
 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
  1,805,266 
  1,281,582 
 Accrued arbitration award payable
  31,278,563
 
  -
 
 Total current liabilities
  72,706,068
 
  48,757,167 
 
    
    
 Long-term liabilities:
    
    
 Asset retirement obligations, net of current portion
  2,153,817 
  2,010,129 
 Deferred revenues and expenses
  62,542 
  83,390 
 Long-term debt less unamortized debt issue costs, net of current portion
  - 
  1,300,000 
 Long-term debt, related party, net of current portion
  7,240,372 
  4,814,690 
 Long-term interest payable, net of current portion
  - 
  1,691,383 
 Total long-term liabilities
  9,456,731 
  9,899,592 
 
    
    
 TOTAL LIABILITIES
  82,162,799
 
  58,656,759 
 
    
    
 Commitments and contingencies (Note 18)
    
    
 
    
    
 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    
    
 Common stock ($0.01 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized; 10,818,371 and
    
    
  10,624,714 shares issued at June 30,2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)
  108,184 
  106,248 
 Additional paid-in capital
  36,877,604 
  36,818,528 
 Accumulated deficit
  (46,664,749)
  (19,421,517)
 Treasury stock (0 and 150,000 shares at cost at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)
  - 
  (800,000)
 Total stockholders' equity
  (9,678,961)
  16,703,259 
 
    
    
 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 $72,483,838 
 $75,360,018 
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
 
 
5
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY & SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,  
 
 
 Six Months Ended June 30, 
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
REVENUE FROM OPERATIONS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Refined petroleum product sales
 $56,632,620 
 $41,402,286 
 $108,534,658 
 $72,595,423 
Tank rental revenue
  703,711 
  615,487 
  1,407,422 
  906,974 
Other operations
  - 
  24,687 
  - 
  52,339 
Total revenue from operations
  57,336,331 
  42,042,460 
  109,942,080 
  73,554,736 
 
    
    
    
    
COST OF OPERATIONS
    
    
    
    
Cost of refined products sold
  54,624,947 
  42,633,298 
  106,399,449 
  73,626,775 
Refinery operating expenses
  1,651,663 
  2,877,748 
  4,464,766 
  6,314,763 
Joint Marketing Agreement profit share
  - 
  97,527 
  - 
  (573,565)
Other operating expenses
  54,282 
  103,650 
  115,126 
  197,592 
Arbitration award and associated fees 
  24,338,628
 
  -
 
  24,338,628
 
  -
 
General and administrative expenses
  708,391 
  255,319 
  1,614,481 
  612,323 
Depletion, depreciation and amortization
  449,318 
  470,347 
  900,343 
  910,800 
Bad debt recovery
  - 
  - 
  - 
  (139,868)
Accretion expense
  71,844 
  28,186 
  143,688 
  56,372 
Total cost of operations
  81,899,073
 
  46,466,075 
  137,976,481
 
  81,005,192 
Loss from operations
  (24,562,742)
  (4,423,615)
  (28,034,401)
  (7,450,456)
 
    
    
    
    
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
    
    
    
    
Easement, interest and other income
  1,089 
  126,097 
  383,082 
  257,860 
Interest and other expense
  (831,629)
  (399,559)
  (1,426,413)
  (819,466)
Gain on disposal of property
  - 
  - 
  1,834,500 
  - 
Total other income (expense)
  (830,540)
  (273,462)
  791,169 
  (561,606)
 
    
    
    
    
Loss before income taxes
  (25,393,282)
  (4,697,077)
  (27,243,232)
  (8,012,062)
 
    
    
    
    
Income tax benefit
  - 
  1,534,341 
  - 
  2,700,242 
 
    
    
    
    
Net loss
 $(25,393,282)
 $(3,162,736)
 $(27,243,232)
 $(5,311,820)
 
    
    
    
    
 
    
    
    
    
Loss per common share:
    
    
    
    
Basic
 $(2.39)
 $(0.30)
 $(2.58)
 $(0.51)
Diluted
 $(2.39)
 $(0.30)
 $(2.58)
 $(0.51)
 
    
    
    
    
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
    
    
    
    
Basic
  10,637,101 
  10,459,996 
  10,556,356 
  10,458,895 
Diluted
  10,637,101 
  10,459,996 
  10,556,356 
  10,458,895 
           
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
 
 
6
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
 
  BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY & SUBSIDIARIES
   CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
 
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Net loss
 $(27,243,232)
 $(5,311,820)
   Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
    
    
used in operating activities:
    
    
Depletion, depreciation and amortization
  900,343 
  910,800 
Unrealized gain on derivatives
  - 
  (385,350)
Deferred tax benefit
  - 
  (2,700,242)
Amortization of debt issue costs
  64,242 
  64,243 
Accretion of asset retirement obligations
  143,688 
  56,372 
Common stock issued for services
  30,000 
  50,000 
Recovery of bad debt
  - 
  (139,868)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
    
    
Accounts receivable
  1,585,862 
  (3,535,787)
Accounts receivable, related party
  1,161,589 
  - 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
  (57,117)
  298,001 
Deposits and other assets
  (25,000)
  446,449 
Inventory
  (1,772,911)
  (1,875,803)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
 19,943,605 
  13,256,568 
Accounts payable, related party
  302,400 
  561,963 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
  (4,966,531)
  1,695,526 
 
    
    
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
    
    
Capital expenditures
  (1,407,701)
  (7,072,978)
Net cash used in investing activities
  (1,407,701)
  (7,072,978)
 
    
    
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
    
    
Payments on debt
  (855,204)
  (944,865)
Net activity on related-party debt
  3,256,694 
    
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
  2,401,490 
  (944,865)
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
  (3,972,742)
  (6,322,317)
 
    
    
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
  6,082,768 
  20,645,652 
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH AT END OF PERIOD
 $2,110,026 
 $14,323,335 
 
    
    
Supplemental Information:
    
    
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
    
    
Financing of capital expenditures via accounts payable
 $1,481,626 
 $2,593,379 
Financing of guaranty fees via long-term debt, related party
 $110,700 
 $- 
Conversion of accounts payable to short-term notes
 $- 
 $- 
Conversion of related-party notes to common stock
 $831,012 
 $- 
Interest paid
 $1,332,653 
 $988,979 
Income taxes paid
 $- 
 $- 
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
 
 
7
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
(1)
Organization
 
Nature of Operations.  Blue Dolphin Energy Company (“Blue Dolphin,”) is primarily an independent refiner and marketer of petroleum products.  Our primary asset is a 15,000-bpd crude oil and condensate processing facility located in Nixon, Texas (the “Nixon Facility”).  As part of our refinery business segment, we conduct petroleum storage and terminaling operations under third-party lease agreements at the Nixon Facility.  We also own pipeline assets and have leasehold interests in oil and gas properties. (See “Note (4) Business Segment Information” for further discussion of our business segments.)
 
Structure and Management. Blue Dolphin was formed as a Delaware corporation in 1986.  We are currently controlled by Lazarus Energy Holdings, LLC (“LEH”). LEH operates and manages all our properties pursuant to an Amended and Restated Operating Agreement (the “Amended and Restated Operating Agreement”).  Jonathan Carroll is Chairman of the Board of Directors (the “Board”), Chief Executive Officer, and President of Blue Dolphin, as well as a majority owner of LEH. Together LEH and Jonathan Carroll own approximately 81% of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock). (See “Note (8) Related Party Transactions,” “Note (10) Long-Term Debt, Net” and “Note (18) Commitments and Contingencies – Financing Agreements” for additional disclosures related to LEH, the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, and Jonathan Carroll.)
 
Our operations are conducted through the following active subsidiaries:
 

Lazarus Energy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“LE”).
 

Lazarus Refining & Marketing, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“LRM”).
 

Blue Dolphin Pipe Line Company (“BDPL”), a Delaware corporation.
 

Blue Dolphin Petroleum Company, a Delaware corporation.
 

Blue Dolphin Services Co., a Texas corporation.
 
See "Part I, Item 1. Business and Item 2. Properties” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 (the “Annual Report”) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for additional information regarding our operating subsidiaries, principal facilities, and assets.
 
References in this Quarterly Report to “we,” “us,” and “our” are to Blue Dolphin and its subsidiaries unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires.
 
Going Concern.  Management has determined that certain factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.  These factors inclue the following:
 
Final GEL Arbitration Award. As previously disclosed, we have been involved in arbitration proceedings (the “GEL Arbitration”) with GEL Tex Marketing, LLC (“GEL”), an affiliate of Genesis Energy, LP (“Genesis”), related to a contractual dispute involving a Crude Oil Supply and Throughput Services Agreement (the “Crude Supply Agreement”) and a Joint Marketing Agreement (the “Joint Marketing Agreement”), each between LE and GEL and dated August 12, 2011. On August 11, 2017, the arbitrator delivered its final award in the GEL Arbitration (the “Final Arbitration Award”). The Final Arbitration Award denied all of LE’s claims against GEL and granted substantially all of the relief requested by GEL in its counterclaims. Among other matters, the Final Arbitration Award awarded damages, legal and administrative fees and court costs to GEL in the aggregate amount of approximately $31.3 million. This resulted in a net increase in current liabilities of approximately $24.3 million on our consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2017.
 
 
8
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
A hearing on confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award was scheduled to occur on September 18, 2017 in state district court in Harris County, Texas. Prior to the scheduled hearing, LE and GEL jointly notified the court that the hearing would be continued for a period of no more than 90 days after September 18, 2017 (the “Continuance Period”), to facilitate settlement discussions between the parties. On September 26, 2017, LE and Blue Dolphin, together with LEH and Jonathan Carroll, entered into a Letter Agreement with GEL, effective September 18, 2017 (the “GEL Letter Agreement”), confirming the parties’ agreement to the continuation of the confirmation hearing during the Continuance Period, subject to the terms of the GEL Letter Agreement. GEL may terminate the GEL Letter Agreement on the 45th day of the Continuance Period, or November 1, 2017, if GEL determines, in its sole discretion, that settlement discussions between the parties are not advancing to an acceptable resolution. If we are unable to reach an acceptable settlement with Genesis and GEL and GEL seeks to confirm and enforce the Final Arbitration Award, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be materially affected, and we likely would be required to seek protection under bankruptcy laws.
 
Sovereign Bank (“Sovereign”) has delivered to us notices of default under our secured loan agreements with Sovereign, stating that the Final Arbitration Award constitutes an event of default under the secured loan agreements. The occurrence of an event of default permits Sovereign to declare the amounts owed under these loan agreements immediately due and payable, exercise its rights with respect to collateral securing our obligations under these loan agreements, and/or exercise any other rights and remedies available. Sovereign has informed us that it not currently exercising its rights and remedies under the secured loan agreements in light of the ongoing settlement discussions with GEL and the continuance of the hearing on confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award and to allow Sovereign to evaluate any proposed settlement agreement related to the Final Arbitration Award, which would require Sovereign’s approval. However, Sovereign expressly reserved all of its rights, privileges and remedies related to events of default under the secured loan agreements and informed us that it would consider a final confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award to be a material event of default under the loan agreements. Any exercise by Sovereign of its rights and remedies under the secured loan agreements would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and likely would require us to seek protection under bankruptcy laws. The debt associated with loans under secured loan agreements was classified within the current portion of long-term debt on our consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2017 due to existing or potential events of default related to the Final Arbitration Award as well as the uncertainty of our ability to meet financial covenants in the secured loan agreements in the future.
 
We are currently evaluating the effects of the Final Arbitration Award on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition to the matters described above, the Final Arbitration Award could materially and adversely affect our ability to procure adequate amounts of crude oil and condensate and our relationships with our customers.
 
For additional information regarding the Final Arbitration Award, the GEL Letter Agreement, and their potential effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations, see “Note (10) Long-Term Debt, Net,” “Note (18) Commitments and Contingencies” and “Note (19) Subsequent Events.”
 
Operating Risks. Successful execution of our business plan depends on several key factors, including having adequate crude oil and condensate supplies, increasing sales of refined petroleum products, and meeting contractual obligations. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, execution of our business plan was negatively impacted by several factors, including:
 

Net Losses – For the three months ended June 30, 2017, we reported a net loss of $25,393,282, or a loss of $2.39 per share, compared to a net loss of $3,162,736, or a loss of $0.30 per share, for the three months ended June 30, 2016.  The $2.09 per share increase in net loss between the periods was primarily the result of the Final Arbitration Award in the current three-month period.  For the six months ended June 30, 2017, we reported a net loss of $27,243,232, or a loss of $2.58 per share, compared to a net loss of $5,311,820, or a loss of $0.51 per share, for the six months ended June 30, 2016.  The $2.07 per share increase in net loss between the periods was primarily the result of the Final Arbitration Award.
 
 
 
9
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 

Working Capital Deficits – We had a working capital deficit of $65,632,359 at June 30, 2017 compared to a working capital deficit of $37,812,263 at December 31, 2016. Excluding long-term debt, we had a working capital deficit of $32,821,325 at June 30, 2017, compared to working capital of $5,599,927 at December 31, 2016. The significant increase in working capital deficit between the periods primarily related to recording a current liability of $31,278,563 related to the Final Arbitration Award, a decrease in cash and cash equivalents, and a decrease in accounts receivable.
 

Termination of Relationship with Genesis  and GEL – As previously disclosed and discussed elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, we ceased purchases of crude oil and condensate from GEL under the Crude Supply Agreement in November 2016 and suspended the marketing and sale of refined petroleum products under the Joint Marketing Agreement following the processing of all crude oil and condensate supplied by GEL.
 

Crude Supply Issues – We currently have in place a month-to-month evergreen crude supply contact with a major integrated oil and gas company.  This new supplier currently provides us with adequate amounts of crude oil and condensate, and we expect the supplier to continue to do so for the foreseeable future.  However, our ability to purchase adequate amounts of crude oil and condensate is dependent on our liquidity and access to capital, which have been adversely affected by the contract-related dispute with GEL and other factors, as noted above. The Final Arbitration Award could have a material adverse effect on our ability to procure adequate amounts and crude oil and condensate from our current supplier or otherwise.  
 

Financial Covenant Defaults – In addition to existing or potential events of default related to the Final Arbitration Award, at June 30, 2017, we were in violation of certain financial covenants in our secured loan agreements with Sovereign. Covenant defaults under the secured loan agreements would permit Sovereign to declare the amounts owed under these loan agreements immediately due and payable, exercise its rights with respect to collateral securing our obligations under these loan agreements, and/or exercise any other rights and remedies available. Sovereign waived the financial covenant defaults as of June 30, 2017.  However, the debt associated with these loans was classified within the current portion of long-term debt on our consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2017 due to existing or potential events of default related to the Final Arbitration Award as well as the uncertainty of our ability to meet the financial covenants in the future. There can be no assurance that Sovereign will provide a waiver of events of default related to the Final Arbitration Award, consent to any proposed settlement with GEL or provide future waivers of any financial covenant defaults, which may have an adverse impact on our financial position and results of operations.
 
We continued aggressive actions during the second quarter of 2017 to improve operations and liquidity.  We began selling all of our jet fuel to LEH immediately following production, which minimizes inventory, improves cash flow, and reduces commodity risk.  We also completed construction of several new petroleum storage tanks at the Nixon Facility.  Increasing petroleum storage capacity: (i) assists with de-bottlenecking the facility, which supports future increased refinery throughput to approximately 17,000 bpd without substantial capital expense, and (ii) provides an opportunity to generate additional tank rental revenue by leasing to third-parties.  Additional ongoing efforts to improve operations and liquidity include increasing jet fuel and HOBM sales volumes, the latter of which is prime for export to Mexico, and restructuring customer contracts on more favorable terms as they come up for renewal.  Management believes that it is taking the appropriate steps to improve our financial stability.  However, there can be no assurance that our plan will be successful, LEH and its affiliates will continue to fund our working capital needs, or that we will be able to obtain additional financing on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Among other factors, the Final Arbitration Award could prevent us from successfully executing our plan.
 
 
 
10
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
For additional disclosures related to the contract-related dispute with GEL, the Final Arbitration Award, the GEL Letter Agreement, defaults under secured loan agreements, and risk factors that could materially affect our future business, financial condition and results of operations, refer to the following sections within this Quarterly Report:
 

Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements, Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements:
 
-  
Note (8) Related Party Transactions
 
-  
Note (10) Long-Term Debt, Net
 
-  
Note (18) Commitments and Contingencies –  Legal Matters
 
-  
Note (19) Subsequent Events
 

Part I, Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations:
 
-  
GEL Contract - Related Dispute and Final Arbitration Award
 
-  
Results of Operations
 
-  
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 

Part II, Item 1. Legal Proceedings
 

Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors
 
(2)
Basis of Presentation
 
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements, which include Blue Dolphin and subsidiaries, have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim consolidated financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in our audited financial statements have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the SEC’s rules and regulations. Significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in the consolidation.  In management’s opinion, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included, disclosures are adequate, and the presented information is not misleading.
 
The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2016 was derived from the audited financial statements at that date.  The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report.  Operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017, or for any other period.
 
(3)
Significant Accounting Policies
 
The summary of significant accounting policies of Blue Dolphin is presented to assist in understanding our consolidated financial statements. Our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes are representations of management who is responsible for their integrity and objectivity. These accounting policies conform to GAAP and have been consistently applied in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.
 
Use of Estimates. We have made several estimates and assumptions related to the reporting of our consolidated assets and liabilities and to the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP. We believe our current estimates are reasonable and appropriate, however, actual results could differ from those estimated.
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents represent liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less. Cash balances are maintained in depository and overnight investment accounts with financial institutions that, at times, may exceed insured deposit limits. We monitor the financial condition of the financial institutions and have experienced no losses associated with these accounts.  Cash and cash equivalents were $65,064 at June 30, 2017 compared to cash and cash equivalents of $1,152,628 at December 31, 2016.
 
 
 
11
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
Restricted Cash. Restricted cash (current portion) primarily represents: (i) amounts held in our disbursement account with Sovereign attributable to construction invoices awaiting payment from that account, (ii) a payment reserve account held by Sovereign as security for payments under a loan agreement, and (iii) a construction contingency account under which Sovereign will fund contingencies.  Restricted cash, noncurrent represents funds held in the Sovereign disbursement account for payment of future construction related expenses to build new petroleum storage tanks. At June 30, 2017, total restricted cash was $2,044,962, comprised of restricted cash (current portion) totaling $1,481,626 and restricted cash, noncurrent totaling $563,336.  At December 31, 2016, total restricted cash was $4,930,140, comprised of restricted cash (current portion) totaling $3,347,835 and restricted cash, noncurrent totaling $1,582,305 (See “Note (10) Long-Term Debt, Net” for additional disclosures related to our loan agreements with Sovereign.)
 
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. Our accounts receivable consists of customer obligations due in the ordinary course of business.  Since we have a small number of customers with individually large amounts due on any given date, we evaluate potential and existing customers’ financial condition, credit worthiness, and payment history to minimize credit risk. Allowance for doubtful accounts is based on a combination of current sales and specific identification methods. If necessary, we establish an allowance for doubtful accounts to estimate the amount of probable credit losses.  Allowance for doubtful accounts totaled $0 at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.
 
Inventory. Our inventory primarily consists of refined petroleum products, crude oil and condensate, and chemicals.  Inventory is valued at lower of cost or net realizable value with cost being determined by the average cost method, and net realizable value being determined based on estimated selling prices less any associated delivery costs.  If the net realizable value of our refined petroleum products inventory declines to an amount less than our average cost, we record a write-down of inventory and an associated adjustment to cost of refined products sold.  (See “Note (6) Inventory” for additional disclosures related to our inventory.)
 
Property and Equipment.
 
Refinery and Facilities. Management expects to continue making improvements to the Nixon Facility based on operational needs and technological advances.  Additions to refinery and facilities assets are capitalized. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred and included as operating expenses under the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement.
 
We record refinery and facilities at cost less any adjustments for depreciation or impairment.  Adjustment of the asset and the related accumulated depreciation accounts are made for the refinery and facilities asset’s retirement and disposal, with the resulting gain or loss included in the consolidated statements of operations.  For financial reporting purposes, depreciation of refinery and facilities assets is computed using the straight-line method using an estimated useful life of 25 years beginning when the refinery and facilities assets are placed in service.  We did not record any impairment of our refinery and facilities assets for any period presented.
 
Pipelines and Facilities. Our pipelines and facilities are recorded at cost less any adjustments for depreciation or impairment.  Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives ranging from 10 to 22 years. In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC guidance on accounting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets, management performed periodic impairment testing of our pipeline and facilities assets in the fourth quarter of 2016. Upon completion of that testing, our pipeline assets were fully impaired.  All pipeline transportation services to third-parties have ceased, existing third-party wells along our pipeline corridor have been permanently abandoned, and no new third-party wells are being drilled near our pipelines.  However, management believes our pipeline assets have future value based on large-scale, third-party production facility expansion projects near the pipelines.
 
 
 
12
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
Oil and Gas Properties. Our oil and gas properties are accounted for using the full-cost method of accounting, whereby all costs associated with acquisition, exploration and development of oil and gas properties, including directly related internal costs, are capitalized on a cost center basis.  Amortization of such costs and estimated future development costs are determined using the unit-of-production method. All leases associated with our oil and gas properties have expired, and our oil and gas properties were fully impaired in 2011.
 
Construction in Progress. Construction in progress expenditures, which relate to construction and refurbishment activities at the Nixon Facility, are capitalized as incurred. Depreciation begins once the asset is placed in service.
 
(See “Note (7) Property, Plant and Equipment, Net” for additional disclosures related to our refinery and facilities assets, oil and gas properties, pipelines and facilities assets, and construction in progress.)
 
Intangibles – Other. Trade name, an intangible asset, represents the “Blue Dolphin Energy Company” brand name.  At June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, trade name totaled $303,346. We have determined the trade name to have an indefinite useful life. We account for other intangible assets under FASB ASC guidance related to intangibles, goodwill, and other. Under the guidance, we test intangible assets with indefinite lives annually for impairment. Management performed its regular annual impairment testing of trade name in the fourth quarter of 2016. Upon completion of that testing, we determined that no impairment was necessary at December 31, 2016.
 
Debt Issue Costs. We have debt issue costs related to certain refinery and facilities assets debt. Debt issue costs are capitalized and amortized over the term of the related debt using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method. Debt issue costs are presented net with the related debt liability.  (See “Note (10) Long-Term Debt, Net” for additional disclosures related to debt issue costs.) 
 
Revenue Recognition.
 
Refined Petroleum Products Revenue. Revenue from the sale of refined petroleum products is recognized when sales prices are fixed or determinable, collectability is reasonably assured, and title passes. Title passage occurs when refined petroleum products are delivered in accordance with the terms of the respective sales agreements, and customers assume the risk of loss when title is transferred. Transportation, shipping, and handling costs incurred are included in cost of refined products sold. Excise and other taxes that are collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are not included in revenue.
 
Tank Rental Revenue. We lease petroleum storage tanks to both related parties and third-parties.  Tank rental fees are invoiced monthly in accordance with the terms of the related lease agreement.  Tank rental revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis as earned.
 
Easement Revenue. Revenue from land easement fees was associated with a Master Easement Agreement between BDPL and FLNG Land II, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“FLNG”).  Easement revenue was recognized monthly as earned and was included in other income.  In February 2017, BDPL sold approximately 15 acres of certain property owned by BDPL located in Brazoria County Texas to FLIQ Common Facilities, LLC, an affiliate of FLNG.  In conjunction with the sale of real estate, the Master Easement Agreement was terminated.
 
Pipeline Transportation Revenue. Revenue from our pipeline operations was derived from fee-based contracts and was typically based on transportation fees per unit of volume transported multiplied by the volume delivered. Revenue was recognized when volumes were physically delivered for the customer through the pipeline.  All pipeline transportation services to third-parties have ceased, existing third-party wells along our pipeline corridor have been permanently abandoned, and no new third-party wells are being drilled near our pipelines.  (See “Note (4) Business Segment Information” for further discussion related to pipeline transportation revenue.)
 
Deferred Revenue. In 2014, we recognized $850,000 in deferred revenue related to cash collateral for supplemental pipeline bonds.  Deferred revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis as earned.
 
 
 
13
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
Income Taxes. We account for income taxes under FASB ASC guidance related to income taxes, which requires recognition of income taxes based on amounts payable with respect to the Current Three Months and the effects of deferred taxes for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in our financial statements or tax returns.  Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial accounting and tax basis of assets and liabilities, as well as for operating losses and tax credit carryforwards using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. 
 
As of each reporting date, management considers new evidence, both positive and negative, to determine the realizability of deferred tax assets.  Management considers whether it is more likely than not that a portion or all the deferred tax assets will be realized, which is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income prior to the expiration of any net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards.  When management determines that it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized, a valuation allowance is recorded to reduce deferred tax assets.  A significant piece of objective negative evidence evaluated was the cumulative loss incurred over the three-year period ended December 31, 2016. Such objective evidence limits the ability to consider other subjective evidence, such as our projections for future growth. Based on this evaluation, we recorded a full valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2016.
 
FASB ASC guidance related to income taxes also prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return, as well as guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosures, and transition.  (See “Note (15) Income Taxes” for further information related to income taxes.)
 
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. In accordance with FASB ASC guidance on accounting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets, we periodically evaluate our long-lived assets for impairment. Additionally, we evaluate our long-lived assets when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable. The carrying value is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset or group of assets. If the carrying value exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows, an impairment loss equal to the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the asset or group of assets is recognized. Significant management judgment is required in the forecasting of future operating results that are used in the preparation of projected cash flows and, should different conditions prevail or judgments be made, material impairment charges could be necessary.
 
Asset Retirement Obligations. FASB ASC guidance related to asset retirement obligations (“AROs”) requires that a liability for the discounted fair value of an ARO be recorded in the period in which it is incurred and the corresponding cost capitalized by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. The liability is accreted towards its future value each period, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. If the liability is settled for an amount other than the recorded amount, a gain or loss is recognized.
 
Management has concluded that there is no legal or contractual obligation to dismantle or remove the refinery and facilities assets. Further, management believes that these assets have indeterminate lives under FASB ASC guidance for estimating AROs because dates or ranges of dates upon which we would retire these assets cannot reasonably be estimated at this time. When a legal or contractual obligation to dismantle or remove the refinery and facilities assets arises and a date or range of dates can reasonably be estimated for the retirement of these assets, we will estimate the cost of performing the retirement activities and record a liability for the fair value of that cost using present value techniques.
 
 
 
14
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
We recorded an ARO liability related to future asset retirement costs associated with dismantling, relocating, or disposing of our offshore platform, pipeline systems, and related onshore facilities, as well as for plugging and abandoning wells and restoring land and sea beds. We developed these cost estimates for each of our assets based upon regulatory requirements, structural makeup, water depth, reservoir characteristics, reservoir depth, equipment demand, current retirement procedures, and construction and engineering consultations.  Because these costs typically extend many years into the future, estimating future costs are difficult and require management to make judgments that are subject to future revisions based upon numerous factors, including changing technology, political, and regulatory environments. We review our assumptions and estimates of future abandonment costs on an annual basis.  (See “Note (11) Asset Retirement Obligations” for additional information related to our AROs.)
 
Computation of Earnings Per Share. We apply the provisions of FASB ASC guidance for computing earnings per share (“EPS”). The guidance requires the presentation of basic EPS, which excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. The guidance requires dual presentation of basic EPS and diluted EPS on the face of our consolidated statements of operations and requires a reconciliation of the denominator of basic EPS and diluted EPS. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding, which includes the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue shares of common stock were converted to common stock that then shared in the earnings of the entity.
 
The number of shares related to options, warrants, restricted stock, and similar instruments included in diluted EPS is based on the “Treasury Stock Method” prescribed in FASB ASC guidance for computation of EPS. This method assumes theoretical repurchase of shares using proceeds of the respective stock option or warrant exercised, and, for restricted stock, the amount of compensation cost attributed to future services that has not yet been recognized and the amount of any current and deferred tax benefit that would be credited to additional paid-in-capital upon the vesting of the restricted stock, at a price equal to the issuer’s average stock price during the related earnings period. Accordingly, the number of shares includable in the calculation of EPS in respect of the stock options, warrants, restricted stock, and similar instruments is dependent on this average stock price and will increase as the average stock price increases.  (See “Note (16) Earnings Per Share” for additional information related to EPS.)
 
Treasury Stock. We accounted for treasury stock under the cost method.  In May 2017, our treasury stock was re-issued.  The net change in share price after acquisition of the treasury stock was recognized as a component of additional paid-in-capital in our consolidated balance sheets.  (See “Note (12) Treasury Stock” for additional disclosures related to treasury stock.)
 
New Pronouncements Adopted.  The FASB issues an Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) to communicate changes to the FASB ASC, including changes to non-authoritative SEC content.  Recently adopted ASUs include:
 
ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230: Restricted Cash (a Consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force. In November 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-18, which requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. We adopted this accounting pronouncement effective December 31, 2016. Accordingly, our consolidated statement of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was changed to combine restricted cash with cash and cash equivalents.
 
ASU 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. In July 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-11, which requires an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value.  We adopted this accounting pronouncement effective January 1, 2017.  The adoption of ASU 2015-11 did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.
 
 
 
15
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
New Pronouncements Issued, Not Yet Effective. The following are recently issued, but not yet effective, ASU’s that may influence our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows:
 
ASU 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment.  In January 2017, FASB issued ASU 2017-04.  This guidance simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test.  For public business entities that are SEC filers, the amendments in ASU 2017-04 are effective for the annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019.  ASU 2017-04 should be applied prospectively, and early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017.  We do not expect adoption of this guidance to have a significant impact on our consolidated balance sheets.
 
ASU 2016-13,Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments). In June 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-13. This guidance updates the current impairment model to incorporate both expected and incurred credit losses, eliminating potential overstatements of assets and resulting in more timely recognition of losses. For a public business entity, the amendments in ASU 2016-13 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early application as of the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, is permitted. We are evaluating the impact that adoption of this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.
 
ASU 2016-02,Leases (Topic 842). In February 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-02. This guidance increases transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements.  For a public business entity, the amendments in ASU 2016-02 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early application is permitted. We are evaluating the impact that adoption of this guidance will have on our consolidated balance sheets.
 
ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.  In May 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-09 and has since amended the standard with ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date; ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal Versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross Versus Net); ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing; ASU 2016-11, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Rescission of SEC Guidance Because of Accounting Standards Updates 2014-09 and 2014-16 Pursuant to Staff Announcements at the March 3, 2016 EITF Meeting (SEC Update); ASU 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients; and ASU 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.  These standards replace existing revenue recognition rules with a single comprehensive model to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers.  We are evaluating the impact that adoption of these ASU’s will have on our consolidated financial statements.
 
Other new pronouncements issued but not yet effective are not expected to have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations, or liquidity.
 
Reclassification.  Effective January 1, 2017, we reclassified amounts associated with our Pipeline Transportation operations to Corporate and Other.  (See “Note (4) Business Segment Information” for disclosures related to Corporate and Other.)
 
 
 
16
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
(4)
Business Segment Information
 
Effective January 1, 2017, we began reporting as a single business segment – Refinery Operations.  Business activities related to our Refinery Operations business segment are conducted at the Nixon Facility.  Due to their small size, current and prior three months’ amounts associated with Pipeline Transportation operations were reclassified to Corporate and Other. Pipeline Transportation operations diminished significantly as services to third-parties ceased and third-party wells along our pipeline corridor were permanently abandoned.  Business segment information for the periods indicated (and as of the dates indicated), was as follows:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
Segment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Refinery
 
 
Corporate &
 
 
 
 
 
Refinery
 
 
Corporate &
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operations
 
 
Other
 
 
Total
 
 
Operations
 
 
Other
 
 
Total
 
Revenue from operations
 $57,336,331 
 $- 
 $57,336,331 
 $42,017,773 
 $24,687 
 $42,042,460 
Less: cost of operations(1)
  (81,054,127)
  (395,628)
  (81,449,755)
  (45,534,109)
  (364,092)
  (45,898,201)
Other non-interest income(2)
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  125,000 
  125,000 
Less: JMA Profit Share(3)
  - 
  - 
  - 
  (97,527)
  - 
  (97,527)
EBITDA(4)
 $(23,717,796)
 $(395,628)
    
 $(3,613,863)
 $(214,405)
    
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Depletion, depreciation and
    
    
    
    
    
    
amortization
    
    
  (449,318)
    
    
  (470,347)
Interest expense, net
    
    
  (830,540)
    
    
  (398,462)
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Loss before income taxes
    
    
  (25,393,282)
    
    
  (4,697,077)
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Income tax benefit
    
    
  - 
    
    
  1,534,341 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Net loss
    
    
 $(25,393,282)
    
    
 $(3,162,736)
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Capital expenditures
 $858,233 
 $- 
 $858,233 
 $4,920,507 
 $- 
 $4,920,507 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Identifiable assets
 $71,436,425 
 $1,047,413 
 $72,483,838 
 $93,402,963 
 $5,760,191 
 $99,163,154 
 
(1) 
Operation cost within the Refinery Operations segment includes related general and administrative expenses.  Operation cost within Corporate and Other includes general and administrative expenses associated with corporate maintenance costs (such as accounting fees, director fees, and legal expense), as well as expenses associated with our pipeline assets and oil and/or gas leasehold interests (such as accretion and impairment expenses).
(2)
Other non-interest income reflects FLNG easement revenue.
(3) 
The JMA Profit Share represents the GEL Profit Share plus the Performance Fee for the period pursuant to the Joint Marketing Agreement, under which marketing activities have ceased.  (See “Note (18) Commitments and Contingencies – Legal matters” for further discussion related to the contract-related dispute with GEL.)
(4) 
EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure.  See “Part I, Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Results of Operations – Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for additional information related to EBITDA.
 
 
 
17
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
Segment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Refinery
 
 
Corporate &
 
 
 
 
 
Refinery
 
 
Corporate &
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operations
 
 
Other
 
 
Total
 
 
Operations
 
 
Other
 
 
Total
 
Revenue from operations
 $109,942,080 
 $- 
 $109,942,080 
 $73,502,397 
 $52,339 
 $73,554,736 
Less: cost of operations(1)
  (136,249,888)
  (826,250)
  (137,076,138)
  (79,956,962)
  (710,995)
  (80,667,957)
Other non-interest income(2)
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  255,665 
  255,665 
Less: JMA Profit Share(3)
  - 
  2,216,251 
  2,216,251 
  573,565 
  - 
  573,565 
EBITDA(4)
 $(26,307,808)
 $1,390,001 
    
 $(5,881,000)
 $(402,991)
    
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Depletion, depreciation and
    
    
    
    
    
    
amortization
    
    
  (900,343)
    
    
  (910,800)
Interest expense, net
    
    
  (1,425,082)
    
    
  (817,271)
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Loss before income taxes
    
    
  (27,243,232)
    
    
  (8,012,062)
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Income tax benefit
    
    
  - 
    
    
  2,700,242 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Net loss
    
    
 $(27,243,232)
    
    
 $(5,311,820)
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Capital expenditures
 $2,889,327 
 $- 
 $2,889,327 
 $10,304,149 
 $- 
 $10,304,149 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Identifiable assets
 $71,436,425 
 $1,047,413 
 $72,483,838 
 $93,402,963 
 $5,760,191 
 $99,163,154 
 
(1) 
Operation cost within the Refinery Operations segment includes related general and administrative expenses.  Operation cost within Corporate and Other includes general and administrative expenses associated with corporate maintenance costs (such as accounting fees, director fees, and legal expense), as well as expenses associated with our pipeline assets and oil and/or gas leasehold interests (such as accretion and impairment expenses).
(2)
Other non-interest income reflects FLNG easement revenue.
(3) 
The JMA Profit Share represents the GEL Profit Share plus the Performance Fee for the period pursuant to the Joint Marketing Agreement, under which marketing activities have ceased.  (See “Note (18) Commitments and Contingencies – Legal matters” for further discussion related to the contract-related dispute with GEL.)
(4) 
EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure.  See “Part I, Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Results of Operations – Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for additional information related to EBITDA.
 
(5)
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets as of the dates indicated consisted of the following:
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prepaid crude oil and condensate
 $732,078 
 $- 
Prepaid insurance
  371,230 
  248,853 
Short-term tax bond
  - 
  505,000 
Prepaid exise taxes
  - 
  292,338 
 
    
    
 
 $1,103,308 
 $1,046,191 
 
 
 
18
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
(6)
Inventory
 
Inventory as of the dates indicated consisted of the following:
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HOBM
 $2,263,477 
 $212,987 
Crude oil and condensate
  878,339 
  26,123 
Chemicals
  299,860 
  182,751 
AGO
  238,742 
  143,362 
Naphtha
  136,584 
  533,580 
Propane
  14,212 
  11,318 
Jet fuel
  10,977 
  964,124 
LPG mix
  6,258 
  1,293 
 
    
    
 
 $3,848,449 
 $2,075,538 
 
(7)
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
 
Property, plant and equipment, net, as of the dates indicated consisted of the following:
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Refinery and facilities
 $51,432,434 
 $50,814,309 
Land
  566,159 
  602,938 
Other property and equipment
  652,795 
  652,795 
 
  52,651,388 - 
  52,070,042 
 
    
    
Less: Accumulated depletion, depreciation, and amortization
  (7,585,586)
  (6,685,244)
 
  45,065,802 
  45,384,798 
 
    
    
Construction in progress
  19,247,645 
  16,939,665 
 
    
    
 
 $64,313,447 
 $62,324,463 
 
We capitalize interest cost incurred on funds used to construct property, plant, and equipment.  The capitalized interest is recorded as part of the asset to which it relates and is depreciated over the asset’s useful life.  Interest cost capitalized was $2,966,647 and $2,108,298 at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
 
 
 
19
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
(8)
Related Party Transactions
 
We are party to several agreements with related parties.  We believe these related party transactions were consummated on terms equivalent to those that prevail in arm's-length transactions.
 
Related Parties.
 
LEH.  LEH is our controlling shareholder.  Jonathan Carroll, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Blue Dolphin, is the majority owner of LEH.  Together LEH and Jonathan Carroll own approximately 81% of our Common Stock.  We are currently party to an Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, a Jet Fuel Sales Agreement, a Loan and Security Agreement, and an Amended and Restated Promissory Note with LEH.
 
Ingleside Crude, LLC (“Ingleside”).  Ingleside is a related party of LEH and Jonathan Carroll.  We are currently party to an Amended and Restated Promissory Note with Ingleside.
 
Lazarus Marine Terminal I, LLC (“LMT”).   LMT is a related party of LEH and Jonathan Carroll.  We are currently party to a Tolling Agreement with LMT.
 
Jonathan Carroll.  Jonathan Carroll is Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Blue Dolphin.  We are currently party to Amended and Restated Guaranty Fee Agreements and an Amended and Restated Promissory Note with Jonathan Carroll.
 
Operations Related Agreements.
 
Amended and Restated Operating Agreement.  LEH operates and manages all our properties pursuant to the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement.  The Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, which was restructured following cessation of crude supply and marketing activities under the Crude Supply Agreement and Joint Marketing Agreement with GEL, expires: (i) April 1, 2020, (ii) upon written notice of either party to the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of a material breach by the other party, or (iii) upon 90 days’ notice by the Board if the Board determines that the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement is not in our best interest. We reimburse LEH at cost plus five percent (5%) for all reasonable Blue Dolphin expenses incurred while LEH performs the services.   Amounts expensed as fees to LEH are reflected within refinery operating expenses in our consolidated statements of operations. Fees owed to LEH under the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, if any, are reflected within long-term debt, related party, net of current portion in our consolidated balance sheets.
 
Jet Fuel Sales Agreement.  We sell jet fuel and other products to LEH pursuant to a Jet Fuel Sales Agreement.  LEH resells these products to a government agency.   In support of the Jet Fuel Sales Agreement, we previously leased Nixon Facility petroleum storage tanks to LEH for the storage of the jet fuel under a Terminal Services Agreement (as described below).  The Jet Fuel Sales Agreement terminates on the earliest to occur of: (a) a one-year term expiring March 31, 2018 plus a 30-day carryover or (b) delivery of a maximum quantity of jet fuel as defined therein.  Sales to LEH under the Jet Fuel Sales Agreement are reflected within refined petroleum product sales in our consolidated statements of operations.
 
Terminal Services Agreement.  Pursuant to a Terminal Services Agreement, LEH leased petroleum storage tanks at the Nixon Facility for the storage of Blue Dolphin purchased jet fuel under the Jet Fuel Sales Agreement (as described above).  The Terminal Services Agreement was terminated in April 2017.  Rental fees received from LEH under the Terminal Services Agreement are reflected within tank rental revenue in our consolidated statements of operations.
 
Amended and Restated Tank Lease Agreement.  Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Tank Lease Agreement with Ingleside, we leased petroleum storage tanks to meet periodic, additional storage needs.  The Amended and Restated Tank Lease Agreement was terminated in April 2017. Rental fees owed to Ingleside under the tank lease agreement are reflected within long-term debt, related party, net of current portion in our consolidated balance sheets. Amounts expensed as rental fees to Ingleside under the Amended and Restated Tank Lease Agreement are reflected within refinery operating expenses in our consolidated statements of operations.
 
 
 
20
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
Tolling Agreement.  In May 2016, we entered a Tolling Agreement with LMT to facilitate loading and unloading of our petroleum products by barge at LMT’s dock facility in Ingleside, Texas.  The Tolling Agreement has a five-year term and may be terminated at any time by the agreement of both parties.  We pay LMT a flat monthly reservation fee of $50,400.  The monthly reservation fee includes tolling volumes up to 84,000 gallons per day.  Tolling volumes totaling more than 210,000 gallons per quarter are billed to us at $0.02 per gallon.  Amounts expensed as tolling fees to LMT under the Tolling Agreement are reflected in cost of refined products sold in our consolidated statements of operations.
 
Financial Agreements.
 
Loan and Security Agreement.  In August 2016, BDPL entered a loan and security agreement with LEH as evidenced by a promissory note in the original principal amount of $4.0 million (the “LEH Loan Agreement”).  The LEH Loan Agreement matures in August 2018, and accrues interest at rate of 16.00%.  Under the LEH Loan Agreement, BDPL makes a payment to LEH of $500,000 per year.  A final balloon payment is due at maturity.
 
The proceeds of the LEH Loan Agreement were used for working capital.  There are no financial maintenance covenants associated with the LEH Loan Agreement.  The LEH Loan Agreement is secured by the BDPL Property. Outstanding principal and interest less associated debt issue costs owed to LEH under the LEH Loan Agreement are reflected in long-term debt, related party, current portion and long-term debt, related party, net of current portion in our consolidated balance sheets.
 
Promissory Notes.  We currently rely on LEH and its affiliates (including Jonathan Carroll) to fund our working capital requirements.  The below promissory notes represent advances to fund our working capital requirements. There can be no assurance that LEH and its affiliates will continue to fund our working capital requirements.
 

June LEH Note – In March 2017, Blue Dolphin entered a promissory note with LEH in the original principal amount of $440,815 (the “March LEH Note”).  In June 2017, the March LEH Note was amended and restated to increase the amount by $2,043,482 (the “June LEH Note”).  Interest under the June LEH Note, which is compounded annually and accrued at a rate of 8.00%, was paid in kind and added to the outstanding balance.  The June LEH Note has a maturity date of January 2019.  Under the June LEH Note, prepayment, in whole or in part, is permissible at any time and from time to time, without premium or penalty.  Outstanding principal and interest owed to LEH under the June LEH Note are reflected in long-term debt, related party, net of current portion in our consolidated balance sheets.  At June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the outstanding principal and interest owed to LEH under a promissory note was $2,484,297 and $0, respectively.
 

March Ingleside Note – In March 2017, a promissory note between Blue Dolphin and Ingleside was amended and restated (the “March Ingleside Note”) to increase the principal amount by $473,445 and extend the maturity date to January 2019. Interest under the March Ingleside Note, which is compounded annually and accrued at a rate of 8.00%, was paid in kind and added to the outstanding balance.  Under the March Ingleside Note, prepayment, in whole or in part, is permissible at any time and from time to time, without premium or penalty.  Outstanding principal and interest owed to Ingleside under the March Ingleside Note are reflected in long-term debt, related party, net of current portion in our consolidated balance sheets. At June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the outstanding principal and interest owed to Ingleside under the March Ingleside Note was $1,143,803 and $722,278, respectively.
 

March Carroll Note – In March 2017, a promissory note between Blue Dolphin and Jonathan Carroll was amended and restated (the “March Carroll Note”) to increase the principal amount by $183,030, revise the payment terms to reflect payment in cash and shares of Blue Dolphin Common Stock, and extend the maturity date to January 2019.  Interest under the March Carroll Note, which is compounded annually and accrued at a rate of 8.00%, was paid in kind and added to the outstanding balance.  Under the March Carroll Note, prepayment, in whole or in part, is permissible at any time and from time to time, without premium or penalty.  Outstanding principal and interest owed to Jonathan Carroll under the March Carroll Note are reflected in long-term debt, related party, net of current portion in our consolidated balance sheets. At June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the outstanding principal and interest owed to Jonathan Carroll under the March Carroll Note was $112,272 and $592,412, respectively.
 
 
 
21
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
Amended and Restated Guaranty Fee Agreements.  Pursuant to Amended and Restated Guaranty Fee Agreements, Jonathan Carroll receives fees for providing his personal guarantee on certain of our long-term debt.  Jonathan Carroll was required to guarantee repayment of funds borrowed and interest accrued under certain loan agreements.  Amounts owed to Jonathan Carroll under Amended and Restated Guaranty Fee Agreements are reflected within long-term debt, related party, net of current portion in our consolidated balance sheets.  Amounts expensed related to Amended and Restated Guarantee Fee Agreements are reflected within interest and other expense in our consolidated statements of operations.  (See “Note (10) Long-Term Debt, Net” for further discussion related to these guaranty fee agreements.)
 
Financial Statements Impact.
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets.  At June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, accounts receivable, related party from LEH totaled $0 and $1,161,589.  Accounts payable, related party to LMT associated with the Tolling Agreement was $672,000 and $369,600 at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.  Long-term debt, related party associated with the LEH Loan Agreement, June LEH Note, March Ingleside Note, and March Carroll Note as of the dates indicated was as follows:
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LEH
 $6,484,297 
 $4,000,000 
Ingleside
  1,143,803 
  722,278 
Jonathan Carroll
  112,272 
  592,412 
 
    
    
 
  7,740,372 
  5,314,690 
 
    
    
Less: Long-term debt, related party,
    
    
         current portion
  (500,000)
  (500,000)
 
    
    
 
 $7,240,372 
 $4,814,690 
 
Accrued interest associated with the LEH Loan Agreement was $565,333 and $243,556 at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Accrued interest associated with the LEH Loan Agreement is reflected in accounts payable, related party.  Accrued interest associated with the June LEH Note, the March Ingleside Note, and the March Carroll Note are reflected in long-term debt.
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations.  Related party revenue from LEH associated with:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jet fuel sales
 $20,157,974 
 $8,912,074 
 $35,557,967 
 $8,912,074 
Jet fuel storage fees
  375,000 
  324,000 
  750,000 
  324,000 
HOBM sales
  - 
  - 
  3,656,638 
  - 
 
    
    
    
    
 
 $20,532,974 
 $9,236,074 
 $39,964,605 
 $9,236,074 
 
Related party cost of goods sold associated with the Tolling Agreement with LMT totaled $151,200 and $0 for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016; related party cost of goods sold for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 totaled $302,400 and $0.
 
 
 
22
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
Related party refinery operating expenses associated with the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement with LEH and the Amended and Restated Tank Lease Agreement with Ingleside for the periods indicated were as follows:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
Amount
 
 
Per bbl
 
 
Amount
 
 
Per bbl
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LEH
 $1,651,663 
 $1.53 
 $2,427,748 
 $3.42 
Ingleside
  - 
  - 
  450,000 
  0.63 
 
    
    
    
    
 
 $1,651,663 
 $1.53 
 $2,877,748 
 $4.05 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
Amount
 
 
Per bbl
 
 
Amount
 
 
Per bbl
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LEH
 $4,464,766 
 $2.14 
 $5,589,763 
 $2.95 
Ingleside
  - 
  - 
  725,000 
  0.38 
 
    
    
    
    
 
 $4,464,766 
 $2.14 
 $6,314,763 
 $3.33 
 
Interest expense associated with the LEH Loan Agreement and Amended and Restated Guaranty Fee Agreements for the periods indicated was as follows:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LEH
 $234,391 
 $- 
 $441,685 
 $- 
Jonathan Carroll
  166,270 
  174,243 
  334,095 
  350,631 
 
    
    
    
    
 
 $400,661 
 $174,243 
 $775,780 
 $350,631 
 
 
 
23
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
(9)
Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities
 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities as of the dates indicated consisted of the following: 
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unearned revenue
 $911,983 
 $408,770 
Customer deposits
  450,000 
  450,000 
Board of director fees payable
  171,429 
  136,429 
Other payable
  108,247 
  189,719 
Property taxes
  67,736 
  4,694 
Excise and income taxes payable
  67,473 
  24,187 
Insurance
  28,398 
  67,783 
 
 $1,805,266 
 $1,281,582 
 
(10)
Long-Term Debt, Net
 
Long-term debt, net represents the outstanding principal and interest of our long-term debt less associated debt issue costs.  Long-term debt, net as of the dates indicated consisted of the following:
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
First Term Loan Due 2034
 $23,551,966 
 $23,924,607 
Second Term Loan Due 2034
  9,607,032 
  9,729,853 
Notre Dame Debt
  1,300,000 
  1,300,000 
Term Loan Due 2017
  - 
  184,994 
Capital Leases
  50,790 
  135,879 
 
 $34,509,788 
 $35,275,333 
 
    
    
Less: Current portion of long-term debt, net
  (32,311,034)
  (31,712,336)
 
    
    
Less: Unamortized debt issue costs
  (2,198,754)
  (2,262,997)
 
    
    
 
 $- 
 $1,300,000 
 
 
 
24
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
Unamortized debt issue costs, which relate to secured loan agreements with Sovereign, as of the dates indicated consisted of the following:
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
First Term Loan Due 2034
 $1,673,545 
 $1,673,545 
Second Term Loan Due 2034
  767,673 
  767,673 
 
    
    
Less: Accumulated amortization
  (242,464)
  (178,221)
 
    
    
 
 $2,198,754 
 $2,262,997 
 
Amortization expense associated with our long-term debt, net, which is included in interest expense, was $32,121 and $32,121 for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.  Amortization expense was $64,242 and $63,990 for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
 
Accrued interest associated with our long-term debt, net is reflected as interest payable, current portion and long-term interest payable, net of current portion in our consolidated balance sheets and includes related party interest.  Accrued interest as of the dates indicated consisted of the following:
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notre Dame Debt
 $1,794,534 
 $1,691,383 
LEH Loan Agreement (related party)
  565,333 
  243,556 
Second Term Loan Due 2034
  47,904 
  44,984 
First Term Loan Due 2034
  36,135 
  33,866 
Capital Leases
  423 
  1,165 
Term Loan Due 2017
  - 
  185 
 
    
    
 
  2,444,329 
  2,015,139 
 
    
    
Less: Interest payable, current portion
  (2,444,329)
  (323,756)
 
    
    
 
 $- 
 $1,691,383 
 
Related Party.  See “Note (8) Related Party Transactions” for additional disclosures with respect to related party long-term debt.
 
First Term Loan Due 2034. In 2015, LE entered a loan agreement and related security agreement with Sovereign as administrative agent and lender, providing for a term loan in the principal amount of $25.0 million (the “First Term Loan Due 2034”).  The First Term Loan Due 2034 matures in June 2034, has a current monthly payment of principal and interest of $195,329, and accrues interest at a rate based on the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate plus 2.75%.  Pursuant to a construction rider in the First Term Loan Due 2034, proceeds available for use were placed in a disbursement account whereby Sovereign makes payments for construction related expenses. Amounts held in the disbursement account are reflected as restricted cash (current portion) and restricted cash, noncurrent in our consolidated balance sheets.
 
 
 
25
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
As described elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, Sovereign has notified us that the Final Arbitration Award constitutes an event of default under the First Term Loan Due 2034. In addition to existing or potential events of default related to the Final Arbitration Award, at June 30, 2017, LE was in violation of the debt service coverage ratio, the current ratio, and debt to net worth ratio financial covenants related to the first Term Loan Due 2034. LE also failed to replenish a payment reserve account as required. The occurrence of events of default under the First Term Loan Due 2034 permits Sovereign to declare the amounts owed under the First Term Loan Due 2034 immediately due and payable, exercise its rights with respect to collateral securing LE’s obligations under the loan agreement, and/or exercise any other rights and remedies available. Sovereign waived the financial covenant defaults as of June 30, 2017. Sovereign has informed us that it is not currently exercising its rights, privileges and remedies under the First Term Loan Due 2034 in light of the ongoing settlement discussions with GEL and the continuance of the hearing on confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award and to allow Sovereign to evaluate any proposed settlement agreement related to the Final Arbitration Award, which would require Sovereign’s approval. However, Sovereign expressly reserved all of its rights, privileges and remedies related to events of default under the First Term Loan Due 2034 and informed us that it would consider a final confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award to be a material event of default under the loan agreement. Any exercise by Sovereign of its rights and remedies under the First Term Loan Due 2034 would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and likely would require us to seek protection under bankruptcy laws. (See “Note (1) Organization – Going Concern and Operating Risks” and “Note (19) Subsequent Events” for additional disclosures related to the First Term Loan Due 2034, the Final Arbitration Award and financial covenant violations.)
 
As a condition of the First Term Loan Due 2034, Jonathan Carroll was required to guarantee repayment of funds borrowed and interest accrued under the loan.  For his personal guarantee, LE entered a Guaranty Fee Agreement with Jonathan Carroll whereby he receives a fee equal to 2.00% per annum, paid monthly, of the outstanding principal balance owed under the First Term Loan Due 2034.  Effective in April 2017, the Guaranty Fee Agreement associated with the First Term Loan Due 2034 was amended and restated to reflect payment in cash and shares of Blue Dolphin Common Stock.  For the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, guaranty fees related to the First Term Loan Due 2034 totaled $118,080 and $121,739, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, guaranty fees related to the First Term Loan Due 2034 totaled $237,071 and $244,372, respectively. Guaranty fees are recognized monthly as incurred and are included in interest and other expense in our consolidated statements of operations.  LEH, LRM and Blue Dolphin also guaranteed the First Term Loan Due 2034.  (See “Note (8) Related Party Transactions” for additional disclosures related to LEH and Jonathan Carroll; see “Note (19) Subsequent Events” for further discussion related to guaranty fee agreements.)
 
A portion of the proceeds of the First Term Loan Due 2034 were used to refinance approximately $8.5 million of debt owed under a previous debt facility with American First National Bank.  Remaining proceeds are being used primarily to construct new petroleum storage tanks at the Nixon Facility. The First Term Loan Due 2034 is secured by: (i) a first lien on all Nixon Facility business assets (excluding accounts receivable and inventory), (ii) assignment of all Nixon Facility contracts, permits, and licenses, (iii) absolute assignment of Nixon Facility rents and leases, including tank rental income, (iv) a $1.0 million payment reserve account held by Sovereign, and (v) a pledge of $5.0 million of a life insurance policy on Jonathan Carroll.  The First Term Loan Due 2034 contains representations and warranties, affirmative, restrictive, and financial covenants, as well as events of default which are customary for bank facilities of this type.
 
Second Term Loan Due 2034. In 2015, LRM entered a loan agreement and related security agreement with Sovereign as administrative agent and lender, providing for a term loan in the principal amount of $10.0 million (the “Second Term Loan Due 2034”).  The Second Term Loan Due 2034 matures in December 2034, has a current monthly payment of principal and interest of $74,111, and accrues interest at a rate based on the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate plus 2.75%.  Pursuant to a construction rider in the Second Term Loan Due 2034, proceeds available for use were placed in a disbursement account whereby Sovereign makes payments for construction related expenses. Amounts held in the disbursement account are reflected as restricted cash (current portion) and restricted cash, noncurrent in our consolidated balance sheets.
 
As described elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, Sovereign has notified us that the Final Arbitration Award constitutes an event of default under the Second Term Loan Due 2034. In addition to existing or potential events of default related to the Final Arbitration Award, at June 30, 2017, LRM was in violation of the debt service coverage ratio, the current ratio, and debt to net worth ratio financial covenants related to the Second Term Loan Due 2034. The occurrence of events of default under the Second Term Loan Due 2034 permits Sovereign to declare the amounts owed under the Second Term Loan Due 2034 immediately due and payable, exercise its rights with respect to collateral securing LRM’s obligations under the loan agreement, and/or exercise any other rights and remedies available. Sovereign waived the financial covenant defaults as of June 30, 2017. Sovereign has informed us that it is not currently exercising its rights, privileges and remedies under the Second Term Loan Due 2034 in light of the ongoing settlement discussions with GEL and the continuance of the hearing on confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award and to allow Sovereign to evaluate any proposed settlement agreement related to the Final Arbitration Award, which would require Sovereign’s approval. However, Sovereign expressly reserved all of its rights, privileges and remedies related to events of default under the Second Term Loan Due 2034 and informed us that it would consider a final confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award to be a material event of default under the loan agreement. Any exercise by Sovereign of its rights and remedies under the Second Term Loan Due 2034 would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and likely would require us to seek protection under bankruptcy laws. (See “Note (1) Organization – Going Concern and Operating Risks” and “Note (19) Subsequent Events” for additional disclosures related to the First Term Loan Due 2034, the Final Arbitration Award and financial covenant violations.)
 
 
 
26
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
As a condition of the Second Term Loan Due 2034, Jonathan Carroll was required to guarantee repayment of funds borrowed and interest accrued under the loan. For his personal guarantee, LRM entered a Guaranty Fee Agreement with Jonathan Carroll whereby hereceives a fee equal to 2.00% per annum, paid monthly, of the outstanding principal balance owed under the Second Term Loan Due 2034. Effective in April 2017, the Guaranty Fee Agreement associated with the Second Term Loan Due 2034 was amended and restated to reflect payment in cash and shares of Blue Dolphin Common Stock. For the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, guaranty fees related to the Second Term Loan Due 2034 totaled $48,190 and $49,420, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, guaranty fees related to the Second Term Loan Due 2034 totaled $96,613 and $99,168, respectively. Guaranty fees are recognized monthly as incurred and are included in interest and other expense in our consolidated statements of operations. LEH, LE and Blue Dolphin also guaranteed the Second Term Loan Due 2034. (See “Note (8) Related Party Transactions” for additional disclosures related to LEH and Jonathan Carroll.)
 
A portion of the proceeds of the Second Term Loan Due 2034 were used to refinance a previous bridge loan from Sovereign in the amount of $3.0 million.  Remaining proceeds are being used primarily to construct additional new petroleum storage tanks at the Nixon Facility. The Second Term Loan Due 2034 is secured by: (i) a second priority lien on the rights of LE in the Nixon Facility and the other collateral of LE pursuant to a security agreement; (ii) a first priority lien on the real property interests of LRM; (iii) a first priority lien on all of LRM’s fixtures, furniture, machinery and equipment; (iv) a first priority lien on all of LRM’s contractual rights, general intangibles and instruments, except with respect to LRM’s rights in its leases of certain specified tanks, with respect to which Sovereign has a second priority lien in such leases subordinate to a prior lien granted by LRM to Sovereign to secure obligations of LRM under the Term Loan Due 2017; and (v) all other collateral as described in the security documents.  The Second Term Loan Due 2034 contains representations and warranties, affirmative, restrictive, and financial covenants, as well as events of default which are customary for bank facilities of this type.
 
Notre Dame Debt. LE entered a loan with Notre Dame Investors, Inc. as evidenced by a promissory note in the original principal amount of $8.0 million, which is currently held by John Kissick (the “Notre Dame Debt”). The Notre Dame Debt matures in January 2018, and accrues interest at a rate of 16.00%.
 
The Notre Dame Debt is secured by a Deed of Trust, Security Agreement and Financing Statements (the “Subordinated Deed of Trust”), which encumbers the Nixon Facility and general assets of LE.  There are no financial maintenance covenants associated with the Notre Dame Debt.  Pursuant to a Subordination Agreement dated June 2015, the holder of the Notre Dame Debt agreed to subordinate any security interest and liens on the Nixon Facility, as well as its right to payments, in favor of Sovereign as holder of the First Term Loan Due 2034.
 
Term Loan Due 2017. LRM entered a Loan and Security Agreement with Sovereign in 2014, for a term loan facility in the principal amount of $2.0 million (the “Term Loan Due 2017”).  The Term Loan Due 2017 was amended in March 2015, pursuant to a Loan Modification Agreement (the “March Loan Modification Agreement”).  Under the March Loan Modification Agreement, the interest rate was modified to be the greater of the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate plus 2.75% or 6.00%, and the due date was extended to March 2017.  Pursuant to the March Loan Modification Agreement, the Term Loan Due 2017 had a monthly principal payment of $61,665 plus interest. The Term Loan Due 2017 was paid off in March 2017.
 
As a condition of the Term Loan Due 2017, Jonathan Carroll was required to guarantee repayment of funds borrowed and interest accrued under the loan.  For his personal guarantee, LRM entered a Guaranty Fee Agreement with Jonathan Carroll whereby he received a fee equal to 2.00% per annum, paid monthly, of the outstanding principal balance owed under the Term Loan Due 2017.  Effective in April 2017, the Guaranty Fee Agreement associated with the Term Loan Due 2017 was amended and restated to reflect payment in cash and shares of Blue Dolphin Common Stock.  (Guaranty Fee Agreements associated with the First Term Loan Due 2034, Second Term Loan Due 2034, and Term Loan Due 2017 are collectively referred to in this Quarterly Report as the “Amended and Restated Guaranty Fee Agreements”).  For the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, guaranty fees related to the Term Loan Due 2017 totaled $0 and $3,083, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, guaranty fees related to the Term Loan Due 2017 totaled $411 and $7,091, respectively. Guaranty fees are recognized monthly as incurred and are included in interest and other expense in our consolidated statements of operations.
 
 
 
27
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
Capital Leases. LRM entered a 36-month build-to-suit capital lease in August 2014 for the purchase of new boiler equipment for the Nixon Facility.  The equipment, which was delivered in December 2014, was added to construction in progress.  Once placed in service, the equipment will be reclassified to refinery and facilities and depreciation will begin. The capital lease, which requires a quarterly payment in the amount of $44,258, is guaranteed by Blue Dolphin.
 
A summary of equipment held under long-term capital leases as of the dates indicated follows:
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Boiler equipment
 $538,598 
 $538,598 
Less: accumulated depreciation
  - 
  - 
 
    
    
 
 $538,598 
 $538,598 
 
(11)
Asset Retirement Obligations
 
Refinery and Facilities. Management has concluded that there is no legal or contractual obligation to dismantle or remove the refinery and facilities assets. Management believes that the refinery and facilities assets have indeterminate lives under FASB ASC guidance for estimating AROs because dates or ranges of dates upon which we would retire these assets cannot reasonably be estimated at this time. When a legal or contractual obligation to dismantle or remove the refinery and facilities assets arises and a date or range of dates can reasonably be estimated for the retirement of these assets, we will estimate the cost of performing the retirement activities and record a liability for the fair value of that cost using present value techniques.
 
Pipelines and Facilities and Oil and Gas Properties.  We have AROs associated with the dismantlement and abandonment in place of our pipelines and facilities assets, as well as the plugging and abandonment of our oil and gas properties.  We recorded a discounted liability for the fair value of an ARO with a corresponding increase to the carrying value of the related long-lived asset at the time the asset was installed or placed in service. We depreciate the amount added to property and equipment and recognize accretion expense in connection with the discounted liability over the remaining life of the asset. Plugging and abandonment costs are recorded during the period incurred or as information becomes available to substantiate actual and/or probable costs.
 
Changes to our ARO liability for the periods indicated were as follows:
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Asset retirement obligations, at the beginning of the period
 $2,027,639 
 $1,985,864 
Liabilities settled
  (442)
  (70,969)
Accretion expense
  143,688 
  112,744 
 
  2,170,885 
  2,027,639 
Less: asset retirement obligations, current portion
  (17,068)
  (17,510)
 
    
    
Long-term asset retirement obligations, at the end of the period
 $2,153,817 
 $2,010,129 
 
Liabilities settled represents amounts paid for plugging and abandonment costs against the asset’s ARO liability.  At June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we recognized $442 and $70,969, respectively, in liabilities settled. Abandonment expense represents amounts paid for plugging and abandonment costs that exceed the asset’s ARO liability.  For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, we recognized $0 in abandonment expense.
 
 
 
28
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
(12)
Treasury Stock
 
At June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had 0 and 150,000 shares of treasury stock, respectively.  In May 2017, we issued 150,000 shares of treasury stock to Jonathan Carroll as payment of amounts due under the March Carroll Note.
 
(13)
Concentration of Risk
 
Bank Accounts. Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of risk consist primarily of cash, trade receivables and payables. We maintain our cash balances at financial institutions located in Houston, Texas. In the U.S., the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) insures certain financial products up to a maximum of $250,000 per depositor.  At June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had cash balances (including restricted cash) of more than the FDIC insurance limit per depositor in the amount of $1,597,835 and $5,372,689, respectively.
 
Key Supplier.
 
We purchased light crude oil and condensate for the Nixon Facility from GEL pursuant to the Crude Supply Agreement.  As discussed elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, we ceased purchases of crude oil and condensate from GEL under the Crude Supply Agreement in November 2016. (See “Part I, Item 1 Financial Statements – Note (18) Commitments and Contingencies – Legal Matters” in this Quarterly Report for disclosures related to the Crude Supply Agreement, the current contract-related dispute with GEL, and the Final Arbitration Award.)
 
We currently have in place a month-to-month evergreen crude supply contract with a major integrated oil and gas company.  This new supplier currently provides us with adequate amounts of crude oil and condensate, and we expect the supplier to continue to do so for the foreseeable future.  However, our ability to purchase crude oil and condensate is dependent on our liquidity and access to capital, which have been adversely affected by net losses, working capital deficits, the contract-related dispute with GEL, and financial covenant defaults in secured loan agreements. The Final Arbitration Award could have a material adverse effect on our ability to procure adequate amounts and crude oil and condensate from our current supplier or otherwise.
  
Significant Customers. We routinely assess the financial strength of our customers and have not experienced significant write-downs in our accounts receivable balances.  Therefore, we believe that our accounts receivable credit risk exposure is limited.
 
For the three months ended June 30, 2017, we had 4 customers that accounted for approximately 80% of our refined petroleum product sales. LEH, a related party, was 1 of these 4 significant customers and accounted for approximately 36% of our refined petroleum product sales.  At June 30, 2017, these 4 customers represented approximately $0.3 million in accounts receivable.  LEH represented approximately $0 million in accounts receivable.
 
For the three months ended June 30, 2016, we had 4 customers that accounted for approximately 71% of our refined petroleum product sales. LEH was one of these 4 significant customers and accounted for approximately 22% of our refined petroleum product sales.  At June 30, 2016, these 4 customers represented approximately $6.2 million in accounts receivable.
 
For the six months ended June 30, 2017, we had 3 customers that accounted for approximately 76% of our refined petroleum product sales.  LEH was 1 of these 3 significant customers and accounted for approximately 36% of our refined petroleum product sales.  At June 30, 2017, these 3 customers represented approximately $0.1 million in accounts receivable.  LEH represented approximately $0 million in accounts receivable.
 
 
 
29
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
For the six months ended June 30, 2016, we had 4 customers that accounted for approximately 64% of our refined petroleum product sales.  LEH was one of these 4 significant customers and accounted for approximately 12% of our refined petroleum product sales. At June 30, 2016, these 4 customers represented approximately $6.2 in accounts receivable.  LEH represented approximately $0 million in accounts receivable. LEH purchases our jet fuel and resells the jet fuel to a government agency.  Occasionally, LEH purchases HOBM to resell to U.S.-based customers.   (See “Note (8) Related Party Transactions” for additional disclosures related to our sale of jet fuel to LEH under the Jet Fuel Sales Agreement and the associated storage of LEH’s purchased jet fuel under the Terminal Services Agreement.)
 
Refined Petroleum Product Sales. Our refined petroleum products are primarily sold in the U.S. However, with the opening of the Mexican diesel market to private companies, we began exporting some of our low-sulfur diesel to Mexico during the second quarter of 2016.  Total refined petroleum product sales by distillation (from light to heavy) for the periods indicated consisted of the following:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
LPG mix
 $- 
  0.0%
 $133,757 
  0.3%
 $120,542 
  0.1%
 $384,304 
  0.8%
Naphtha
  13,253,969 
  23.4%
  7,287,804 
  17.6%
  27,016,913 
  24.9%
  16,313,325 
  28.9%
Jet fuel
  20,157,974 
  35.6%
  17,539,473 
  42.4%
  35,557,968 
  32.8%
  26,045,786 
  27.3%
HOBM
  10,883,053 
  19.2%
  7,889,499 
  19.1%
  21,568,793 
  19.9%
  11,052,994 
  10.1%
Reduced Crude
  - 
  0.0%
  546,112 
  1.3%
  - 
  0.0%
  3,791,919 
  10.4%
AGO
  12,337,624 
  21.8%
  8,005,641 
  19.3%
  24,270,442 
  22.3%
  15,007,095 
  22.5%
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
 
 $56,632,620 
  100.0%
 $41,402,286 
  100.0%
 $108,534,658 
  100.0%
 $72,595,423 
  100.0%
 
(14)
Leases
 
Our company headquarters is in downtown Houston, Texas.  We lease 13,878 square feet of office space, 7,389 square feet of which is used and paid for by LEH. The office lease had a 10-year term expiring in September 2017, but we extended the lease until December 2017.  We are currently exploring our leasing options. Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis.  For the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, rent expense totaled $45,092 and $29,857, respectively.  For the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, rent expense totaled $76,173 and $59,715, respectively.
 
(15)
Income Taxes
 
Income Tax Benefit.  For the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, we recognized an income tax benefit of $0 and $1,534,341, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, we recognized an income tax benefit of $0 and $2,700,242, respectively.
 
Deferred Income Taxes.  Deferred income tax balances reflect the effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax basis, as well as from NOL carryforwards.  We state those balances at the enacted tax rates we expect will be in effect when taxes are paid.  NOL carryforwards and deferred tax assets represent amounts available to reduce future taxable income.
 
 
 
30
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
NOL Carryforwards.  Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“IRC Section 382”), a corporation that undergoes an “ownership change” is subject to limitations on its use of pre-change NOL carryforwards to offset future taxable income. Within the meaning of IRC Section 382, an “ownership change” occurs when the aggregate stock ownership of certain stockholders (generally 5% shareholders, applying certain look-through rules) increases by more than 50 percentage points over such stockholders' lowest percentage ownership during the testing period (generally three years). For income tax purposes, we experienced ownership changes in 2005, in connection with a series of private placements, and in 2012, as a result of a reverse acquisition, that limit the use of pre-change NOL carryforwards to offset future taxable income.  In general, the annual use limitation equals the aggregate value of common stock at the time of the ownership change multiplied by a specified tax-exempt interest rate. The 2012 ownership change will subject approximately $16.3 million in NOL carryforwards that were generated prior to the ownership change to an annual use limitation of $638,196 per year.  Unused portions of the annual use limitation amount may be used in subsequent years.  As a result of the annual use limitation, approximately $6.7 million in NOL carryforwards that were generated prior to the 2012 ownership change will expire unused.  NOL carryforwards that were generated after the 2012 ownership change are not subject to an annual use limitation under IRC Section 382 and may be used for a period of 20 years in addition to available amounts of NOL carryforwards generated prior to the ownership change.
 
NOL carryforwards that remained available for future use for the periods indicated were as follow (amounts shown are net of NOLs that will expire unused because of the IRC Section 382 limitation):
 
 
 
Net Operating Loss Carryforward
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pre-Ownership Change
 
 
Post-Ownership Change
 
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2015
 $9,614,449 
 $9,616,941 
 $19,231,390 
 
    
    
    
Net operating losses
  - 
  13,945,128 
  13,945,128 
 
    
    
    
Balance at December 31, 2016
 $9,614,449 
 $23,562,069 
 $33,176,518 
 
    
    
    
Net operating losses
  - 
 9,477,523
 9,477,523
 
    
    
    
Balance at June 30, 2017
 $9,614,449 
 $33,039,592
 $42,654,041
 
 
 
31
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities.  At June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had $0 of net deferred tax assets available for future use.  Significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of the dates indicated were as follow:
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred tax assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net operating loss and capital loss carryforwards
 $16,772,696
 
 $13,550,338 
Accrued arbitration award payable
  6,674,017
 
  -
 
Start-up costs (Nixon Facility)
  1,304,695 
  1,373,363 
Asset retirement obligations liability/deferred revenue
  759,366 
  717,751 
AMT credit and other
  233,572 
  266,522 
Total deferred tax assets
  25,744,346
 
  15,907,974 
 
    
    
Deferred tax liabilities:
    
    
Basis differences in property and equipment
  (6,469,616)
  (5,895,943)
Total deferred tax liabilities
  (6,469,616)
  (5,895,943)
 
    
    
 
  19,274,730
 
  10,012,031 
 
    
    
Valuation allowance
  (19,274,730)
  (10,012,031)
 
    
    
Deferred tax assets, net
 $- 
 $- 
 
Valuation Allowance. As of each reporting date, management considers new evidence, both positive and negative, to determine the realizability of deferred tax assets.  Management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all the deferred tax assets will be realized, which is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income prior to the expiration of any NOL carryforwards. At June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, management determined that cumulative losses incurred over the prior three-year period provided significant objective evidence that limited the ability to consider other subjective evidence, such as projections for future growth. Based on this evaluation, we recorded a full valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.
 
 
 
32
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
Uncertain Tax Positions. We adopted the provisions of the FASB ASC guidance on accounting for uncertainty in income taxes. The guidance clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements. The guidance also prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The standard also provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition.
 
As part of this guidance, we record income tax related interest and penalties, if applicable, as a component of the provision for income tax benefit (expense). However, there were no amounts recognized relating to interest and penalties in the consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. Our federal income tax returns are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for tax years ending December 31, 2013, or after and by the state of Texas for tax years ending December 31, 2012, or after.  We believe there are no uncertain tax positions for both federal and state income taxes.
 
(16)
Earnings Per Share
 
A reconciliation between basic and diluted income per share for the periods indicated was as follows:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss
 $(25,393,282)
 $(3,162,736)
 $(27,243,232)
 $(5,311,820)
 
    
    
    
    
Basic and diluted income per share
 $(2.39)
 $(0.30)
 $(2.58)
 $(0.51)
 
    
    
    
    
Basic and Diluted
    
    
    
    
Weighted average number of shares of
    
    
    
    
common stock outstanding and potential
    
    
    
    
dilutive shares of common stock
  10,637,101 
  10,459,996 
  10,556,356 
  10,458,895 
 
Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding.  Diluted EPS for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was the same as basic EPS as there were no stock options or other dilutive instruments outstanding.
 
(17)
Inventory Risk Management
 
We began selling all of our jet fuel to LEH immediately following production, which minimizes inventory, improves cash flow, and reduces commodity risk.  Previously, Genesis/GEL used commodity futures contracts to mitigate the volatile change in value for certain of our refined petroleum products inventory.
 
The following table provides the effect of derivative instruments in our consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016: 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss Recognized
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
Derivatives
 
Statements of Operations Location
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts
 
Cost of refined products sold
 $- 
 $3,852,100 
 $- 
 $3,359,572 
 
When active, the fair value of commodity futures contracts was reflected in our consolidated balance sheets and the related net gain or loss was recorded within cost of refined products sold in our consolidated statements of operations. Quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets (Level 1) were considered to determine the fair values for marking to market the financial instruments at each period end.  Commodity transactions were executed to minimize transaction costs, monitor consolidated net exposures, and allow for increased responsiveness to changes in market factors.
 
 
33
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
At June 30, 2017, we had no futures contracts of refined petroleum products and crude oil and condensate that were entered as economic hedges.  We also had no derivative instruments that were reported in our consolidated balance sheets at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.
 
The following table provides the effect of derivative instruments in our consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016: 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss Recognized
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
Derivatives
 
Statements of Operations Location
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts
 
Cost of refined products sold
 $- 
 $3,852,100 
 $- 
 $3,359,572 
 
(18)
Commitments and Contingencies
 
Legal Matters.
 
GEL Contract-Related Dispute and Final Arbitration Award.  As described elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, we were party to a variety of agreements with Genesis and GEL for the purchase of crude oil and condensate, transportation of crude oil and condensate, and other services.
 
In May 2016, GEL filed, in state district court in Harris County, Texas, a petition and application for a temporary restraining order, temporary injunction, and permanent injunction (the “Petition”) against LE and LEH.  The Petition alleged that LE breached the Joint Marketing Agreement, and that LEH tortiously interfered with the Joint Marketing Agreement, in connection with an agreement by LEH to supply jet fuel acquired from LE to a government agency.  The Petition primarily sought temporary and permanent injunctions related to sales of product from the Nixon Facility to this customer.  In June 2016, the court issued a temporary injunction against LE and LEH as requested by GEL.
 
In a matter separate from the above referenced Petition, LE asserted that GEL materially breached the parties’ agreements in April 2016 by refusing to deliver our operational requirements of crude oil for an extended period.  LE filed a demand for arbitration in June 2016, pursuant to the terms of a Dispute Resolution Agreement between the parties. The GEL Arbitration alleged that GEL breached the Crude Supply Agreement by:
 
(i)
overcharging for crude oil and condensate based on Genesis’ cost as defined in the Crude Supply Agreement,
 
(ii)  
overcharging for trucking costs, and
 
(iii)  
significantly under-delivering crude oil and condensate, resulting in significant refinery downtime and significant decreases in refinery throughput, refinery production, and refined petroleum product sales during 2016.
 
GEL made counter claims in the GEL Arbitration with allegations against LE like those made in the Petition.  GEL sought substantial damages, as well as recovery of attorneys’ fee and costs, totaling approximately $44.0 million in the aggregate, based on allegations of breach of contract, fraudulent transfer and unjust enrichment.
 
Arbitration proceedings commenced in May 2017 and were declared closed in July 2017.
 
 
34
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
  
On August 11, 2017, the arbitrator delivered the Final Arbitration Award. The Final Arbitration Award denied all of LE’s claims against GEL and granted substantially all of the relief requested by GEL in its counterclaims. Among other matters, the Final Arbitration Award:
 
determined that LE materially breached the Crude Supply Agreement and the Joint Marketing Agreement;
 
determined that LE’s sales of jet fuel to LEH in connection with LEH’s supplying such jet fuel to a government agency was a fraudulent transfer under applicable law;
 
denied LE’s request to dissolve the temporary injunction and awarded to GEL certain funds held with the court related to the temporary injunction;
 
denied all other claims made by LE; and
 
awarded damages, legal and administrative fees and court costs to GEL in the aggregate amount of approximately $31.3 million, with such amounts to bear interest at a rate of 5.0% per annum until paid in full.
 
A hearing on confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award was scheduled to occur on September 18, 2017 in state district court in Harris County, Texas. Prior to the scheduled hearing, LE and GEL jointly notified the court of the Continuance Period to facilitate settlement discussions between the parties. On September 26, 2017, LE and Blue Dolphin, together with LEH and Jonathan Carroll, entered into the GEL Letter Agreement, confirming the parties’ agreement to the continuation of the confirmation hearing during the Continuance Period, subject to the terms of the GEL Letter Agreement. The GEL Letter Agreement includes the following key terms, among others:
 
the parties agreed to work together in good faith during the Continuance Period to negotiate and document the terms of a settlement and payment structure to resolve all of their disputes and obligations, including those related to and arising from the Final Arbitration Award;
 
LE agreed to pay GEL approximately $3.6 million, consisting of a cash payment and release of certain funds held in the court’s registry, which amount will be applied to reduce the balance of the Final Arbitration Award release;
 
we waived all objections to confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award, but GEL agreed that it would not take any action to confirm, enforce, collect, execute upon, perfect or exercise any remedies regarding that waiver or the Final Award prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Continuance Period without the parties’ agreeing to a settlement and (ii) termination of the GEL Letter Agreement;    

 
we agreed that, without GEL’s consent, we would not, subject to certain agreed-upon exceptions: (i) incur debt, (ii) create liens on our assets, (iii) sell, lease or otherwise transfer assets outside the ordinary course of business, (iv) engage in transactions with affiliates or amend the terms of existing affiliate transactions, (v) become party to bankruptcy, reorganization, liquidation or similar proceedings, (vi) make investments in, acquire material assets of or merge or consolidate with any other entity, (vii) allow changes to our equity ownership structures, or (viii) amend our debt instruments or organizational documents; and    
 
GEL may terminate the Letter Agreement on the 45th day of the Continuance Period, or November 1, 2017, if it determines, in its sole discretion, that settlement discussions between the parties are not advancing to an acceptable resolution.

As described elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, Sovereign has notified us that the Final Arbitration Award constitutes an event of default under our secured loan agreements with Sovereign. The occurrence of events of default under the secured loan agreements permits Sovereign to declare the amounts owed under these loan agreements immediately due and payable, exercise its rights with respect to collateral securing our obligations under these loan agreements, and/or exercise any other rights and remedies available. Sovereign has informed us that it is not currently exercising its rights, privileges and remedies under the secured loan agreements in light of the ongoing settlement discussions with GEL and the continuance of the hearing on confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award and to allow Sovereign to evaluate any proposed settlement agreement related to the Final Arbitration Award, which would require Sovereign’s approval. However, Sovereign expressly reserved all of its rights, privileges and remedies related to events of default under the secured loan agreements and informed us that it would consider a final confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award to be a material event of default under the loan agreements. Any exercise by Sovereign of its rights and remedies under the secured loan agreements would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and likely would require us to seek protection under bankruptcy laws. The debt associated with loans under our secured loan agreements was classified within the current portion of long-term debt on our consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2017 due to existing or potential events of default related to the Final Arbitration Award as well as the uncertainty of our ability to meet financial covenants in the secured loan agreements in the future.
 
We are currently evaluating the effects of the Final Arbitration Award on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition to the matters described above, the Final Arbitration Award could materially and adversely affect our ability to procure adequate amounts of crude oil and condensate or our relationships with our customers. The contract-related dispute has negatively affected our customer relationships, prevented us from taking advantage of business opportunities, disrupted refinery operations, diverted management’s focus away from running the business, and impacted our ability to obtain financing.
 
 
35
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
We can provide no assurance as to whether negotiations with GEL will result in a settlement or as to the potential terms of any such settlement or whether Sovereign would approve any such settlement. If we are unable to reach an acceptable settlement with GEL or Sovereign does not approve any such settlement and GEL seeks to confirm and enforce the Final Arbitration Award, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be materially adversely affected and we likely would be required to seek protection under bankruptcy laws.
 
Other Legal Matters.  From time to time we are involved in routine lawsuits, claims, and proceedings incidental to the conduct of our business, including mechanic’s liens and administrative proceedings.  Management does not believe that such matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, earnings, or cash flows.
 
Amended and Restated Operating Agreement. See “Note (8) Related Party Transactions” for additional disclosures related to the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement.
 
Financing Agreements. (See “Note (10) Long-Term Debt, Net” for additional disclosures related to financing agreements.)
 
Health, Safety and Environmental Matters. All our operations and properties are subject to extensive federal, state, and local environmental, health, and safety regulations governing, among other things, the generation, storage, handling, use and transportation of petroleum and hazardous substances; the emission and discharge of materials into the environment; waste management; characteristics and composition of jet fuel and other products; and the monitoring, reporting and control of greenhouse gas emissions. Our operations also require numerous permits and authorizations under various environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations. Failure to obtain and comply with these permits or environmental, health, or safety laws generally could result in fines, penalties or other sanctions, or a revocation of our permits.
 
Nixon Facility Expansion. We have made and continue to make capital and efficiency improvements to the Nixon Facility. Therefore, we incurred and will continue to incur capital expenditures related to these improvements, which include, among other things, facility and land improvements and completion of petroleum storage tanks.
 
 
36
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
Supplemental Pipeline Bonds. In August 2015, we received a letter from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (the “BOEM”) requiring additional supplemental bonds or acceptable financial assurance of approximately $4.2 million for existing pipeline rights-of-way. In July 2016, the BOEM issued Notice to Lessees (“NTL”) No. 2016-N01 (Requiring Additional Security), which changes the way that lessees and rights-of-way holders demonstrate financial strength and reliability to plug and abandon wells, as well as decommission and remove platforms and pipelines at the end of production or service activities. The NTL, which changed an earlier supplemental waiver process to a self-insurance model, became effective in September 2016. Pursuant to the NTL, the BOEM requested that lessees submit any relevant information needed for an overall financial review of the lessees account.  The BOEM indicated that it would use this information to evaluate a lessees’ ability to carry out its obligations and determine whether, and/or how much self-insurance a lessee can use.
 
In October 2016, we received a letter from the BOEM summarizing the amount required as additional security on our existing pipeline rights-of-way.  The letter, which is a courtesy and does not constitute a formal order by the BOEM, requested that we provide additional supplemental pipeline bonds or acceptable financial reassurance of approximately $4.6 million.  At June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we maintained approximately $0.9 million in credit and cash-backed pipeline rights-of-way bonds issued to the BOEM.  Of the five (5) pipeline rights-of-ways reflected in the BOEM’s October 2016 letter:
 
(i)  
the pipeline associated with one (1) right-of-way was decommissioned in 1997, and
 
(ii)  
the pipelines associated with three (3) rights-of-way (Segment Nos. 15635, 13101, and 9428) have been approved for decommissioning by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (the “BSEE”); decommissioning of Segment No. 9428 also requires approval by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which has not yet been granted.

There can be no assurance that the BOEM will accept a reduced amount of supplemental financial assurance or not require additional supplemental pipeline bonds related to our existing pipeline rights-of-way.  If we are required by the BOEM to provide significant additional supplemental bonds or acceptable financial assurance, we may experience a significant and material adverse effect on our operations, liquidity, and financial condition.
 
(19)
Subsequent Events
 
Final Award in GEL Arbitration. On August 11, 2017, the arbitrator delivered the Final Arbitration Award in the GEL Arbitration. The Final Arbitration Award denied all of LE’s claims against GEL and granted substantially all of the relief requested by GEL in its counterclaims. Among other matters, the Final Arbitration Award awarded damages, legal and administrative fees and court costs to GEL in the aggregate amount of approximately $31.3 million. This resulted in a net increase in current liabilities of approximately $24.3 million on our consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2017.
 
A hearing on confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award was scheduled to occur on September 18, 2017 in state district court in Harris County, Texas. Prior to the scheduled hearing, LE and GEL jointly notified the court of the Continuance Period to facilitate settlement discussions between the parties. On September 26, 2017, LE and Blue Dolphin, together with LEH and Jonathan Carroll, entered into the GEL Letter Agreement, confirming the parties’ agreement to the continuation of the confirmation hearing during the Continuance Period, subject to the terms of the GEL Letter Agreement. GEL may terminate the GEL Letter Agreement on the 45th day of the Continuance Period, or November 1, 2017, if GEL determines, in its sole discretion, that settlement discussions between the parties are not advancing to an acceptable resolution. If we are unable to reach an acceptable settlement with Genesis and GEL and GEL seeks to confirm and enforce the Final Arbitration Award, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be materially adversely affected and we likely would be required to seek protection under bankruptcy laws.
 
In addition to the matters described above and below under “Defaults Under Secured Loan Agreements,” the Final Arbitration Award could materially and adversely affect our ability to procure adequate amounts of crude oil and condensate and our relationships with our customers. For additional information regarding the Final Arbitration Award, the GEL Letter Agreement, and their potential effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations, see “Note (1) Organization Going Concern,” “Note (10) Long-Term Debt, Net” and “Note (18) Commitments and Contingencies.”
 
Defaults Under Secured Loan Agreements. As described elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, Sovereign has notified us that the Final Arbitration Award constitutes an event of default under our secured loan agreements with Sovereign. In addition to existing or potential events of default related to the Final Arbitration Award, at June 30, 2017, LE and LRM were in violation of certain financial covenants related to the First Term Loan Due 2034 and Second Term Loan Due 2034. LE also failed to replenish a payment reserve account as required related to the First Term Loan Due 2034. The occurrence of events of default under the secured loan agreements permits Sovereign to declare the amounts owed under these loan agreements immediately due and payable, exercise its rights with respect to collateral securing our obligations under these loan agreements, and/or exercise any other rights and remedies available.
 
By letter dated August14, 2017, Sovereign waived the financial covenant defaults as of June 30, 2017. However, the debt associated with these loans was classified within the current portion of long-term debt on our consolidated balance sheets due to existing or potential events of default related to the Final Arbitration Award as well as the uncertainty of ourability to meet the financial covenants in the future. There can be no assurance that Sovereign will provide a waiver of events of default related to the Final Arbitration Award, consent to any proposed settlement with GEL or provide future waivers of financial covenant defaults, which may have an adverse impact on our financial position and results of operations.
 
 
37
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
 
 
By letter dated August 25, 2017, Sovereign notified us that the Final Arbitration Award constitutes an event of default under the First Term Loan Due 2034 and Second Term Loan Due 2034 and demanded: (i) immediate payment of currently due amounts from each obligor obligated to pay any obligations due and owing under the First Term Loan Due 2034 and Second Term Loan Due 2034 and (ii) the immediate cure of any existing default relating to such obligor. However, Sovereign informed us that it was not currently exercising its other rights, privileges and remedies. Sovereign expressly reserved all of its rights, privileges and remedies. By letter dated September 14, 2017, Sovereign further notified us that it is not currently exercising its rights, privileges and remedies under the secured loan agreements in light of the ongoing settlement discussions with GEL and the continuance of the hearing on confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award and to allow Sovereign to evaluate any proposed settlement agreement related to the Final Arbitration Award, which would require Sovereign’s approval. However, Sovereign again expressly reserved all of its rights, privileges and remedies related to events of default under the secured loan agreements and informed us that it would consider a final confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award to be a material event of default under the loan agreements. Any exercise by Sovereign of its rights and remedies under the secured loan agreements would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and likely would require us to seek protection under bankruptcy laws.
 
June LEH Note.  On August 9, 2017, the Board approved the June LEH Note. The June LEH Note has a principal amount of $2,484,297, accrues interest, compounded annually, at a rate of 8.00%, and matures in January 2019. Under the June LEH Note, prepayment, in whole or in part, is permissible at any time and from time to time, without premium or penalty. (See “Note (8) Related Party Transactions” and “Part II, Item 5. Other Information” for additional disclosures related to the June LEH Note.)
 
Amended and Restated Guaranty Fee Agreements.  On August 9, 2017, the Board approved the Amended and Restated Guaranty Fee Agreements to reflect payment terms in cash and shares of Blue Dolphin Common Stock.  As a condition of the First Term Loan Due 2034, Second Term Loan Due 2034, and Term Loan Due 2017, Jonathan Carroll was required to guarantee repayment of funds borrowed and interest accrued under the loans.  Jonathan Carroll receives a fee equal to 2.00% per annum, paid monthly, of the outstanding principal balance owed under the loans.  (See “Note (10) Long-Term Debt, Net” and “Part II, Item 5. Other Information” for additional disclosures related to the Amended and Restated Guaranty Fee Agreements.
 
 
Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank
 
 
 
38
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
 
ITEM 2. 
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2017 (the Quarterly Report”), references to “Blue Dolphin,” “we,” “us” and “our” are to Blue Dolphin Energy Company and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires. You should read the following discussion together with the financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, as well as with the risk factors, financial statements, and related notes included thereto in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017 and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 (the “Annual Report”).  
 
Forward Looking Statements
 
Certain statements included in this Quarterly Report, including in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1935.  Forward-looking statements represent management’s beliefs and assumptions based on currently available information. Forward-looking statements relate to matters such as our industry, business strategy, goals and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, capital expenditures, liquidity and capital resources, access to supplies of crude oil and condensate, commitments and contingencies, and other financial and operating information. We have used the words “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “budget,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “will,” “future” and similar terms and phrases to identify forward-looking statements.
 
Forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations regarding future events, results, or outcomes. These expectations may or may not be realized. Some of these expectations may be based upon assumptions or judgments that prove to be incorrect. In addition, our business and operations involve numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could result in our expectations not being realized, or materially affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.  Actual events, results and outcomes may differ materially from our expectations due to a variety of factors. Although it is not possible to identify all these factors, they include, among others, the following and other factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Annual Report and this Quarterly Report:
 
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
 

Failure to reach a settlement agreement with GEL Tex Marketing, LLC (“GEL”) (see “GEL Contract-Related Dispute and Final Arbitration Award” below).
 
 

Inadequate liquidity to sustain operations due to the unfavorable outcome in the arbitration of the contract-related dispute with GEL, net losses, working capital deficits, and other factors, including crude supply issues tied to access to capital and financial covenant defaults in secured loan agreements, any of which could have a material adverse effect on us.
 
 

Dangers inherent in oil and gas operations that could cause disruptions and expose us to potentially significant losses, costs or liabilities and reduce our liquidity.
 
 

Geographic concentration of our assets, which creates a significant exposure to the risks of the regional economy.
 
 

Competition from companies having greater financial and other resources.
 
 

Laws and regulations regarding personnel and process safety, as well as environmental, health, and safety, for which failure to comply may result in substantial fines, criminal sanctions, permit revocations, injunctions, facility shutdowns, and/or significant capital expenditures.
 
 

Insurance coverage that may be inadequate or expensive.
 
 

Related party transactions with Lazarus Energy Holdings, LLC (“LEH”) and its affiliates, which may cause conflicts of interest.
 
 

Failure to comply with certain financial covenants related to certain secured loan agreements.
 
 

Our ability to use net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards to offset future taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which are subject to limitation.
 
 

Terrorist attacks, cyber-attacks, threats of war, or actual war may negatively affect our operations, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
 
 
 
39
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
 
Risks Related to Our Refinery Operations Business Segment
 

A determination by management that there is, and the report of our independent registered public accounting firm that expresses, substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
 
 

Volatility of refining margins.
 
 

Volatility of crude oil, other feedstocks, refined petroleum products, and fuel and utility services.
 
 

Our ability to acquire sufficient levels of crude oil on favorable terms to operate the Nixon Facility.
 
 

Refinery downtime, which could result in lost margin opportunity, increased maintenance costs, increased inventory, and a reduction in cash available for payment of our obligations and to which we are particularly vulnerable because all of our refining operations are conducted at a single facility.
 
 

Capital needs for which our internally generated cash flows and other sources of liquidity may not be adequate.
 
 

Our dependence on LEH and its affiliates for financing and management of our properties.
 
 

Loss of executive officers or key employees, as well as a shortage of skilled labor or disruptions in our labor force, which may make it difficult to maintain productivity.
 
 

Loss of market share by a key customer or consolidation among our customer base.
 
 

Failure to grow or maintain the market share for our refined petroleum products.
 
 

Our reliance on third-parties for the transportation of crude oil and condensate into and refined petroleum products out of the Nixon Facility.
 
 

Interruptions in the supply of crude oil and condensate sourced in the Eagle Ford Shale.
 
 

Changes in the supply/demand balance in the Eagle Ford Shale that could result in lower margins on refined petroleum products.
 
 

Regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, which could increase our operational costs and reduce demand for our products.
 
Risks Related to Our Pipelines and Oil and Gas Properties
 

Required increases in bonds or other sureties to maintain compliance with regulatory requirements, which could significantly impact our liquidity and financial condition.
 
 

More stringent regulatory requirements related to asset retirement obligations (“AROs”), which could significantly increase our estimated future AROs.
 
Any one of these factors or a combination of these factors could materially affect our future results of operations and could influence whether any forward-looking statements ultimately prove to be accurate. Our forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results and future performance may differ materially from those suggested in any forward-looking statements. We do not intend to update these statements unless we are required to do so.
 
GEL Contract-Related Dispute and Final Arbitration Award
 
As previously disclosed, we have been involved in arbitration proceedings (the “GEL Arbitration”) with GEL, an affiliate of Genesis Energy, LP (“Genesis”), related to a contractual dispute involving a Crude Oil Supply and Throughput Services Agreement (the “Crude Supply Agreement”) and a Joint Marketing Agreement (the “Joint Marketing Agreement”), each between Lazarus Energy, LLC ("LE") and GEL and dated August 12, 2011. On August 11, 2017, the arbitrator delivered its final award in the GEL Arbitration (the “Final Arbitration Award”). The Final Arbitration Award denied all of LE’s claims against GEL and granted substantially all of the relief requested by GEL in its counterclaims. Among other matters, the Final Arbitration Award awarded damages, legal and administrative fees and court costs to GEL in the aggregate amount of approximately $31.3 million. This resulted in a net increase in current liabilities of approximately $24.3 million on our consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2017.
 
 
 
40
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
 
A hearing on confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award was scheduled to occur on September 18, 2017 in state district court in Harris County, Texas. Prior to the scheduled hearing, LE and GEL jointly notified the court that the hearing would be continued for a period of no more than 90 days after September 18, 2017 (the “Continuance Period”), to facilitate settlement discussions between the parties. On September 26, 2017, LE and Blue Dolphin, together with LEH and Jonathan Carroll, entered into a Letter Agreement with GEL, effective September 18, 2017 (the “GEL Letter Agreement”), confirming the parties’ agreement to the continuation of the confirmation hearing during the Continuance Period, subject to the terms of the GEL Letter Agreement. GEL may terminate the GEL Letter Agreement on the 45th day of the Continuance Period, or November 1, 2017, if GEL determines, in its sole discretion, that settlement discussions between the parties are not advancing to an acceptable resolution. If we are unable to reach an acceptable settlement with Genesis and GEL and GEL seeks to confirm and enforce the Final Arbitration Award, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be materially affected, and we likely would be required to seek protection under bankruptcy laws.
 
Sovereign Bank (“Sovereign”) has delivered to us notices of default under our secured loan agreements with Sovereign, stating the that the Final Arbitration Award constitutes an event of default under the secured loan agreements. The occurrence of an event of default permits Sovereign to declare the amounts owed under these loan agreements immediately due and payable, exercise its rights with respect to collateral securing our obligations under these loan agreements, and/or exercise any other rights and remedies available. Sovereign has informed us that it is not currently exercising its rights and remedies under the secured loan agreements in light of the ongoing settlement discussions with GEL and the continuance of the hearing on confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award and to allow Sovereign to evaluate any proposed settlement agreement related to the Final Arbitration Award, which would require Sovereign’s approval. However, Sovereign expressly reserved all of its rights, privileges and remedies related to events of default under the secured loan agreements and informed us that it would consider a final confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award to be a material event of default under the loan agreements. Any exercise by Sovereign of its rights and remedies under the secured loan agreements would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and likely would require us to seek protection under bankruptcy laws. The debt associated with loans under secured loan agreements was classified within the current portion of long-term debt on our consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2017 due to existing or potential events of default related to the Final Arbitration Award as well as the uncertainty of our ability to meet financial covenants in the secured loan agreements in the future.
 
In addition to the matters described above, the Final Arbitration Award could materially and adversely affect our ability to procure adequate amounts of crude oil and condensate and our relationships with our customers.
 
Company Overview
 
Blue Dolphin is primarily an independent refiner and marketer of petroleum products.  Our primary asset is a 15,000-bpd crude oil and condensate processing facility that is in Nixon, Texas (the “Nixon Facility”).  As part of our refinery business segment, we also conduct petroleum storage and terminaling operations under third-party lease agreements at the Nixon Facility.  We also own pipeline assets and have leasehold interests in oil and gas wells.  The pipelines and oil and gas wells are inactive.  We maintain a website at http://www.blue-dolphin-energy.com.  Information on or accessible through our website is not incorporated by reference in or otherwise made a part of this Quarterly Report.
 
 
 
41
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
 
Major Influences on Results of Operations
 
As a margin-based business, our refinery operations are primarily affected by the per bbl price differential between crude oil and condensate and refined petroleum products, our product slate, and refinery downtime.
 
Feedstock and Product per Bbl Price Differentials
 
The prices of crude oil and refined petroleum products are the most significant driver of margins, and they have historically been subject to wide fluctuations. Our cost to acquire crude oil and condensate and the price for which our refined petroleum products are ultimately sold depend on the economics of supply and demand. Supply and demand are affected by numerous factors, most, if not all, of which are beyond our control, including:
 

Domestic and foreign market conditions, political affairs, and economic developments;
 

Import supply levels and export opportunities;
 

Existing domestic inventory levels;
 

Operating and production levels of competing refineries;
 

Expansion and/or upgrades of competitors’ facilities;
 

Governmental regulations (e.g., mandated renewable fuels standards, proposed climate change laws and regulations, and increased mileage standards for vehicles);
 

Weather conditions;
 

Availability of and access to transportation infrastructure;
 

Availability of competing fuels (e.g., renewables); and
 

Seasonal fluctuations.
 
For the three months ended June 30, 2017 (the “Current Three Months”), the average per bbl price differential between crude oil and condensate and refined petroleum products was $1.89 compared to a deficit of $1.44 for the three months ended June 30, 2016 (the “Prior Three Months”), reflecting an increase of $3.33.  Our gross profit increased $3,302,222 between the Current Three Months and Prior Three Months primarily because of increased sales volume.
 
For the six months ended June 30, 2017 (the “Current Six Months”), the average per bbl price differential between crude oil and condensate and refined petroleum products was $1.07 compared to a deficit of $0.57 for the six months ended June 30, 2016 (the “Prior Six Months”), reflecting an increase of $1.64.  Our gross profit increased $3,614,670 between the Current Six Months and Prior Six Months because of favorable commodity prices.
 
Product Slate
 
Management periodically determines whether to change product mix, as well as maintain, increase, or decrease inventory levels based on various factors.  These factors include the crude oil pricing market in the U.S. Gulf Coast region, the refined petroleum products market in the same region, the relationship between these two markets, fulfilling contract demands, and other factors that may impact our operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
 
 
 
42
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
 
Recent changes to our product slate include increased production of military grade jet fuel. Military grade jet fuel and Jet A fuel are produced by separating the distillate stream into kerosene and diesel and blending the kerosene with a portion of the heavy naphtha stream.   Military grade jet fuel and Jet A fuel are considered higher value products that significantly upgrade the value of the naphtha component. We have also increased production of HOBM. The sale of HOBM to customers exporting to Mexico offsets weaker demand in the U.S. local market. HOBM is produced from our heavy oil stream.
 
Refinery Downtime
 
The safe and reliable operation of the Nixon Facility is key to our financial performance and results of operations, and we are particularly vulnerable to disruptions in our operations because all our refining operations are conducted at a single facility. Although operating at anticipated levels, the Nixon Facility is still in a recommissioning phase and may require unscheduled downtime for unanticipated reasons, including maintenance and repairs, voluntary regulatory compliance measures, or cessation or suspension by regulatory authorities.
 
Occasionally, the Nixon Facility experiences a temporary shutdown due to power outages from high winds and thunderstorms. In such cases, we must initiate a standard refinery start-up process, which can last several days. We are typically able to resume normal operations the next day.  Any scheduled or unscheduled downtime may result in lost margin opportunity, increased maintenance expense and a build-up of refined petroleum products inventory, which could reduce our ability to meet our payment obligations.
 
Key Relationships
 
Relationship with LEH
 
We are party to a variety of agreements with LEH, including an Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, a Jet Fuel Sales Agreement, a Terminal Services Agreement, a Loan and Security Agreement, and a Promissory Note.  In addition, we currently rely on advances from LEH and its affiliates (including Jonathan Carroll) to fund our working capital requirements. There can be no assurances that LEH and its affiliates will continue to fund our working capital requirements.  (See “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements – Note (8) Related Party Transactions” for disclosures related to agreements that we have in place with LEH.)
 

 
 
 
43
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
 
Relationship with Crude Supplier
 
Operation of the Nixon Facility depends on our ability to purchase adequate amounts of crude oil and condensate on favorable terms.  We currently have in place a month-to-month evergreen crude supply contract with a major integrated oil and gas company.  This new supplier currently provides us with adequate amounts of crude oil and condensate, and we expect the supplier to continue to do so for the foreseeable future.  However, our ability to purchase crude oil and condensate is dependent on our liquidity and access to capital, which have been adversely affected by net losses, working capital deficits, the contract-related dispute with GEL, and financial covenant defaults in secured loan agreements.  Management believes that it is taking the appropriate steps to improve our financial stability.  However, there can be no assurance that our plan will be successful, LEH and its affiliates will continue to fund our working capital needs, or that we will be able to obtain additional financing on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Among other factors, the Final Arbitration Award could prevent us from successfully executing our plan. If our plan is unsuccessful, it could affect our ability to acquire adequate supplies of crude oil and condensate under the existing contract or otherwise.  Further, because our existing crude supply contract is a month-to-month arrangement, there can be no assurance that crude oil and condensate supplies will continue to be available under this contract in the future.
 
Results of Operations
 
Effective January 1, 2017, we began reporting a single business segment – Refinery Operations.  Business activities related to our Refinery Operations business segment are conducted at the Nixon Facility.  Due to their small size, amounts associated with Pipeline Transportation operations for the Current Three Months and Current Six Months were reclassified to Corporate and Other. Pipeline Transportation operations diminished significantly as services to third-parties ceased and third-party wells along our pipeline corridor were permanently abandoned.
 
In this Results of Operations section, we review:
 

Definitions of key financial performance measures used by management;
 

Consolidated results (reflect financial results for our Refinery Operations business segment and Corporate and Other);
 

Non-GAAP financial results; and
 

Refinery Operations business segment results.
 
 
Remainder of Page Left Blank
 
 
 
44
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 6/30/17
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
GLOSSARY OF SELECTED FINANCIAL AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES
 
Management uses generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and certain non-GAAP performance measures to assess our results of operations. Certain performance measures used by management to assess our operating results and the effectiveness of our business segment are considered non-GAAP performance measures. These performance measures may differ from similar calculations used by other companies within the petroleum industry, thereby limiting their usefulness as a comparative measure.
 
We refer to certain refinery throughput and production data in the explanation of our period over period changes in results of operations.  For our consolidated results, we refer to our consolidated statements of operations in the explanation of our period over period changes in results of operations.
 
Below are definitions of key financial performance measures used by management:
 
Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Income Taxes and Depreciation (“EBITDA”).  Reflects EBITDA excluding the JMA Profit Share.
 
-  
Refinery Operations Adjusted EBITDA. Reflects adjusted EBITDA for our refinery operations business segment.
 
-  
Total Adjusted EBITDA. Reflects adjusted EBITDA for our refinery operations business segment, as well as corporate and other.
 
Capacity Utilization Rate. A percentage measure that indicates the amount of available capacity that is being used in a refinery or transported through a pipeline.  With respect to the Nixon Facility, the rate is calculated by dividing total refinery throughput or total refinery production on a bpd basis by the total capacity of the Nixon Facility (currently 15,000 bpd).
 
Cost of Refined Products Sold. Primarily includes purchased crude oil and condensate costs, as well as transportation, freight and storage costs.
 
Depletion, Depreciation and Amortization. Represents property and equipment, as well as intangible assets that are depreciated or amortized based on the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the related asset.
 
Downtime. Scheduled and/or unscheduled periods in which the Nixon Facility is not operating.  Downtime may occur for a variety of reasons, including bad weather, power failures, preventive maintenance, equipment inspection, equipment repair due to mechanical failure, voluntary regulatory compliance measures, cessation or suspension by regulatory authorities, and inventory management.
 
Easement, Interest and Other Income. Reflects land easement fees received from FLNG Land II, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“FLNG”), pursuant to a Master Easement Agreement; fees recognized monthly as earned and recorded as land easement revenue within other income.
 
EBITDA. Reflects earnings before: (i) interest income (expense), (ii) income taxes, and (iii) depreciation and amortization.
 
-  
Refinery Operations EBITDA. Reflects EBITDA for our refinery operations business segment.
 
-  
Total EBITDA. Reflects EBITDA for our refinery operations business segment, as well as corporate and other.
 
General and Administrative Expenses. Primarily include corporate costs, such as accounting and legal fees, office lease expenses, and administrative expenses.
Gross Profit. Calculated as total revenue less cost of refined products sold.
 
Income Tax Expense. Includes federal and state taxes, as well as deferred taxes, arising from temporary differences between income for financial reporting and income tax purposes.
 
JMA Profit Share. Represents the GEL Profit Share plus the Performance Fee for the period under the Joint Marketing Agreement; an indirect operating expense. If Gross Profits were positive, then the JMA Profit Share reflected an expense.  If Gross Profits were negative, then the JMA Profit Share reflected a credit.
 
Net Income. Represents total revenue from operations less total cost of operations, total other expense, and income tax expense.
 
Operating Days. Represents the number of days in a period in which the Nixon Facility operated. Operating days is calculated by subtracting downtime in a period from calendar days in the same period.
 
Other Income (Expense).  Reflects working capital loan interest, guaranty fees paid to Jonathan Carroll, expensed interest related to long-term debt, and non-recurring income items.
 
Other Operating Expenses. Represents costs associated with our pipeline assets and leasehold interests in oil and gas properties.
 
Refinery Operating Expenses. Direct operating expenses of the Nixon Facility, including direct costs of labor, maintenance materials and services, chemicals and catalysts and utilities.  Includes fees paid to: (i) LEH to manage and operate the Nixon Facility pursuant to the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement and (ii) Ingleside Crude, LLC to lease petroleum storage tanks to meet periodic, additional storage needs under the Amended and Restated Tank Lease Agreement.
 
Revenue from Operations. Primarily consists of refined petroleum product sales, but also includes tank rental revenue. Excise and other taxes that are collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are not included in revenue.  Other revenue relates to fees received from pipeline transportation services, which ceased in 2016.
 
Total Refinery Production. Refers to the volume processed as output through the Nixon Facility. Refinery production includes finished petroleum products, such as jet fuel and exportable low-sulfur diesel, and intermediate petroleum products, such as LPG, naphtha, HOBM and AGO.
 
Total Refinery Throughput. Refers to the volume processed as input through the Nixon Facility.  Refinery throughput includes crude oil and condensate and other feedstocks.
 
 
45
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 3/31/17
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
 
Consolidated Results
 
Current Three Months Compared to Prior Three Months.
 
Total Revenue from Operations. For the Current Three Months, we had total revenue from operations of $57,336,331 compared to total revenue from operations of $42,042,460 for the Prior Three Months.  The approximate 36% increase in total revenue from operations between the periods was the result of a 24% increase in sales volume, higher commodity prices, and higher refinery production in the Current Three Months compared to the Prior Three Months.  Refinery production increased approximately 52% compared to the same period a year earlier due to higher refinery uptime.  The Nixon Facility experienced significant downtime for the Prior Three Months due to the contract-related dispute with GEL.
 
Cost of Refined Products Sold. Cost of refined products sold was $54,624,947 for the Current Three Months compared to $42,633,298 for the Prior Three Months.  The approximate 28% increase in cost of refined products sold was the result of  a 24% increase in sales volume, higher commodity prices, and increased refinery throughput in the Current Three Months compared to the Prior Three Months.
 
Gross Profit. For the Current Three Months, gross profit totaled $2,711,384 compared to a deficit of $590,838 for the Prior Three Months.  The $3,302,222 increase between the periods related to favorable commodity prices and higher refinery production in the Current Three Months compared to the Prior Three Months.
 
Refinery Operating Expenses.  We recorded refinery operating expenses of $1,651,663 in the Current Three Months compared to $2,877,748 in the Prior Three Months, a decrease of nearly 43%.  Refinery operating expenses per bbl of throughput were $1.53 in the Current Three Months compared to $4.05 in the Prior Three Months.  The $2.52 decrease in refinery operating expenses per bbl of throughput between the periods was the result of: (i) significantly lower refinery operating expenses under the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, which was restructured following cessation of crude supply and marketing activities under the Crude Supply Agreement and Joint Marketing Agreement with GEL and (ii) a decrease in off-site tank leasing expense under an Amended and Restated Tank Lease Agreement. (See “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements – Note (8) Related Party Transactions” for additional disclosures related to components of refinery operating expenses, the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, and the Amended and Restated Tank Lease Agreement.)
 
JMA Profit Share.  For the Current Three Months, the JMA Profit Share was $0 compared to an expense of $97,527 for the Prior Three Months.  Elimination of the JMA Profit Share between the periods was the result of termination of marketing activities under the Joint Marketing Agreement.  (See “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements – Note (18) Commitments and Contingencies – Genesis Agreements” for further discussion related to the Joint Marketing Agreement, JMA Profit Share, Gross Profits and the contract-related dispute with GEL.)
 
Arbitration Award and Associated Fees.  For the Current Three Months, legal settlement and fees totaled $24,338,628 compared to $0 for the Prior Three Months. Legal settlement and fees were associated with the Final Arbitration Award.
 
General and Administrative Expenses. We incurred general and administrative expenses of $708,391 in the Current Three Months compared to $255,319 in the Prior Three Months.  The significant increase in general and administrative expenses in the Current Three Months compared to the Prior Three Months primarily related to an increase in legal fees associated with the contract-related dispute with GEL.
 
Depletion, Depreciation and Amortization.  We recorded depletion, depreciation and amortization expenses of $449,318 in the Current Three Months compared to $470,347 in the Prior Three Months.  The approximate 4% decrease in depletion, depreciation and amortization expenses for the Current Three Months compared to the Prior Three Months primarily was because of less depreciation related to our pipeline assets.
 
Other Income (Expense).  We recorded $830,540 in other expense in the Current Three Months compared to $273,462 in other expense in the Prior Three Months.  The significant increase in other expense between the periods primarily related to a decrease in easement income and an increase in working capital loan interest.
 
Income Tax Benefit.  We recognized an income tax benefit of $0 in the Current Three Months compared to $1,534,341 in the Prior Three Months.  Income tax benefit in the Prior Three Months primarily related to deferred federal income taxes.  We recorded a full valuation allowance against deferred tax assets as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (See “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements – Note (15) Income Taxes” for additional disclosures related to income taxes.)
 
 
 
46
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 3/31/17
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
 
Net Loss.  For the Current Three Months, we reported a net loss of $25,393,282, or a loss of $2.39 per share, compared to net loss of $3,162,736, or loss of $0.30 per share, for the Prior Three Months. The $2.09 per share increase in net loss between the periods was primarily the result of accrued expenses related to the Final Arbitration Award in the Current Three Months compared to the Prior Three Months.
 
Current Six Months Compared to Prior Six Months.
 
Total Revenue from Operations. For the Current Six Months, we had total revenue from operations of $109,942,080 compared to total revenue from operations of $73,554,736 for the Prior Six Months.  The approximate 49% increase in total revenue from operations between the periods was primarily the result of higher commodity prices, higher refinery production, and an 11% increase in sales volume in the Current Six Months compared to the Prior Six Months.  Refinery production increased approximately 10% compared to the same period a year earlier due to higher refinery uptime.  The Nixon Facility experienced significant downtime for the Prior Six Months due to the contract-related dispute with GEL.
 
Cost of Refined Products Sold. Cost of refined products sold was $106,399,449 for the Current Six Months compared to $73,626,775 for the Prior Six Months.  The approximate 45% increase in cost of refined products sold was the result of higher commodity prices and increased refinery throughput in the Current Six Months compared to the Prior Six Months.
 
Gross Profit. For the Current Six Months, gross profit totaled $3,542,631 compared to a deficit of $72,039 for the Prior Six Months.  The $3,614,670 increase between the periods related to the favorable commodity prices in the Current Six Months compared to the Prior Six Months.
 
Refinery Operating Expenses.  We recorded refinery operating expenses of $4,464,766 in the Current Six Months compared to $6,314,763 in the Prior Six Months, a decrease of approximately 29%.  Refinery operating expenses per bbl of throughput were $2.14 in the Current Six Months compared to $3.33 in the Prior Six Months.  The $1.19 decrease in refinery operating expenses per bbl of throughput between the periods was the result of: (i) significantly lower refinery operating expenses under the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, which was restructured following cessation of crude supply and marketing activities under the Crude Supply Agreement and Joint Marketing Agreement with GEL and (ii) a decrease in off-site tank leasing expense under an Amended and Restated Tank Lease Agreement. (See “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements – Note (8) Related Party Transactions” for additional disclosures related to components of refinery operating expenses, the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, and the Amended and Restated Tank Lease Agreement.)
 
JMA Profit Share.  For the Current Six Months, the JMA Profit Share was $0 compared to a credit of $573,565 for the Prior Six Months.  Elimination of the JMA Profit Share between the periods was the result of termination of marketing activities under the Joint Marketing Agreement.  (See “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements – Note (18) Commitments and Contingencies – Legal Matters” for further discussion related to the Joint Marketing Agreement, JMA Profit Share, Gross Profits and the contract-related dispute with GEL.)
 
Arbitration Award and Associated Fees. For the Current Six Months, legal settlement and fees totaled $24,338,628 compared to $0 for the Prior Six Months. Legal settlement and fees were associated with the Final Arbitration Award.
 
General and Administrative Expenses. We incurred general and administrative expenses of $1,614,481 in the Current Six Months compared to $612,323 in the Prior Six Months.  The significant increase in general and administrative expenses in the Current Six Months compared to the Prior Six Months primarily related to an increase in legal fees associated with the contract-related dispute with GEL.
 
Depletion, Depreciation and Amortization.  We recorded depletion, depreciation and amortization expenses of $900,343 in the Current Six Months compared to $910,800 in the Prior Six Months.  The approximate 1% decrease in depletion, depreciation and amortization expenses for the Current Six Months compared to the Prior Six Months primarily was because of less depreciation related to our pipeline assets.
 
Other Income (Expense).  We recorded $791,169 in other income in the Current Six Months compared to $561,606 in other expense in the Prior Six Months.  The increase in other income between the periods related to FLNG easement payments and a gain on the sale of land to FLNG in the first quarter of 2017, which was offset by interest expense related to working capital loan interest, long-term debt interest expense, and guaranty fee expense. In February 2017, BDPL sold approximately 15 acres of certain of the property owned by BDPL located in Brazoria County Texas to FLIQ Common Facilities, LLC, an affiliate of FLNG.  In conjunction with the sale of real estate, the FLNG Easements were terminated.
 
 
 
47
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 3/31/17
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
 
Income Tax Benefit.  We recognized an income tax benefit of $0 in the Current Six Months compared to $2,700,242 in the Prior Six Months.  Income tax benefit in the Prior Six Months primarily related to deferred federal income taxes.  We recorded a full valuation allowance against deferred tax assets as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (See “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements – Note (15) Income Taxes” for additional disclosures related to income taxes.)
 
Net Loss.  For the Current Six Months, we reported a net loss of $27,243,232, or a loss of $2.58 per share, compared to net loss of $5,311,820, or loss of $0.51 per share, for the Prior Six Months.  The $2.07 per share increase in net loss between the periods was primarily the result of accrued expenses related to the Final Arbitration Award in the Current Six Months.
 
 
 
 
Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank
 
 
 
 
48
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 3/31/17
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
 
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
 
To supplement our consolidated results, management uses EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measures, to help investors evaluate our ongoing operating results and allow for greater transparency in reviewing our overall financial, operational and economic performance. EBITDA is reconciled to GAAP-based results below. EBITDA should not be considered an alternative for GAAP results. EBITDA is provided to enhance an overall understanding of our financial performance for the applicable periods and is an indicator management believes is relevant and useful. EBITDA may differ from similar calculations used by other companies within the petroleum industry, thereby limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure. (See “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements” for comparative GAAP results.)
 
EBITDA Current Three Months Compared to Prior Three Months.
 
Refinery Operations EBITDA.  Refinery operations EBITDA for the Current Three Months was a loss of $23,717,796 compared to a loss of $3,613,863 for the Prior Three Months.  The significant decrease in refinery operations EBITDA between the periods was primarily the result of accrued expenses related to the Final Arbitration Award in the Current Three Months.
 
EBITDA Reconciliation to GAAP – Three Month Periods.
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
Segment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Refinery
 
 
Corporate &
 
 
 
 
 
Refinery
 
 
Corporate &
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operations
 
 
Other
 
 
Total
 
 
Operations
 
 
Other
 
 
Total
 
Revenue from operations
 $57,336,331 
 $- 
 $57,336,331 
 $42,017,773 
 $24,687 
 $42,042,460 
Less: cost of operations(1)
  (81,054,127)
  (395,628)
  (81,449,755)
  (45,534,109)
  (364,092)
  (45,898,201)
Other non-interest income(2)
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  125,000 
  125,000 
Less: JMA Profit Share(3)
  - 
  - 
  - 
  (97,527)
  - 
  (97,527)
EBITDA
 $(23,717,796)
 $(395,628)
 $(24,113,424)
 $(3,613,863)
 $(214,405)
 $(3,828,268)
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Depletion, depreciation and
    
    
    
    
    
    
amortization
    
    
  (449,318)
    
    
  (470,347)
Interest expense, net
    
    
  (830,540)
    
    
  (398,462)
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Loss before income taxes
    
    
  (25,393,282)
    
    
  (4,697,077)
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Income tax benefit
    
    
  - 
    
    
  1,534,341 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Net loss
    
    
 $(25,393,282)
    
    
 $(3,162,736)

(1) 
Operation cost within the Refinery Operations segment includes related general and administrative expenses.  Operation cost within Corporate and Other includes general and administrative expenses associated with corporate maintenance costs (such as accounting fees, director fees, and legal expense), as well as expenses associated with our pipeline assets and oil and/or gas leasehold interests (such as accretion and impairment expenses).
(2)
Other non-interest income reflects FLNG easement revenue.
(3) 
The JMA Profit Share represents the GEL Profit Share plus the Performance Fee for the period pursuant to the Joint Marketing Agreement, under which marketing activies have ceased.  (See “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements – Note (18) Commitments and Contingencies – Legal matters” for further discussion of the contract-related dispute with GEL.)
 
 
 
49
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 3/31/17
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
 
EBITDA Current Six Months Compared to Prior Six Months.
 
Refinery Operations EBITDA.  Refinery operations EBITDA for the Current Six Months was a loss of $26,307,808 compared to a loss of $5,881,000 for the Prior Three Months.  The significant decrease in refinery operations EBITDA between the periods was primarily the result of accrued expenses related to the Final Arbitration Award in the Current Six Months.
 
EBITDA Reconciliation to GAAP – Six Month Periods.
 
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
Segment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Refinery
 
 
Corporate &
 
 
 
 
 
Refinery
 
 
Corporate &
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operations
 
 
Other
 
 
Total
 
 
Operations
 
 
Other
 
 
Total
 
Revenue from operations
 $109,942,080 
 $- 
 $109,942,080 
 $73,502,397 
 $52,339 
 $73,554,736 
Less: cost of operations(1)
  (136,249,888)
  (826,250)
  (137,076,138)
  (79,956,962)
  (710,995)
  (80,667,957)
Other non-interest income(2)
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  255,665 
  255,665 
Less: JMA Profit Share(3)
  - 
  2,216,251 
  2,216,251 
  573,565 
  - 
  573,565 
EBITDA
 $(26,307,808)
 $1,390,001 
 $(24,917,807)
 $(5,881,000)
 $(402,991)
 $(6,283,991)
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Depletion, depreciation and
    
    
    
    
    
    
amortization
    
    
  (900,343)
    
    
  (910,800)
Interest expense, net
    
    
  (1,425,082)
    
    
  (817,271)
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Loss before income taxes
    
    
  (27,243,232)
    
    
  (8,012,062)
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Income tax benefit
    
    
  - 
    
    
  2,700,242 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Net loss
    
    
 $(2,243,232)
    
    
 $(5,311,820)
 
(1) 
Operation cost within the Refinery Operations segment includes related general and administrative expenses.  Operation cost within Corporate and Other includes general and administrative expenses associated with corporate maintenance costs (such as accounting fees, director fees, and legal expense), as well as expenses associated with our pipeline assets and oil and/or gas leasehold interests (such as accretion and impairment expenses).
(2)
Other non-interest income reflects FLNG easement revenue.
(3) 
The JMA Profit Share represents the GEL Profit Share plus the Performance Fee for the period pursuant to the Joint Marketing Agreement, under which marketing activities have ceased.  (See “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements – Note (18) Commitments and Contingencies – Legal matters” for further discussion of the Joint Marketing Agreement and the contract-related dispute with GEL.)
 
Refinery Operations Business Segment Results
 
During the Current Three Months, the average per bbl price differential between crude oil and condensate and refined petroleum products was $1.89 compared to a deficit of $1.44 for the Prior Three Months, reflecting an increase of $3.33.  Our gross profit increased $3,302,222 between the Current Three Months and Prior Three Months primarily because of increased sales volume.
 
During the Current Six Months, the average per bbl price differential between crude oil and condensate and refined petroleum products was $1.07 compared to a deficit of $0.57 for the Prior Six Months, reflecting an increase of $1.64.  Our gross profit increased $3,614,670 between the Current Six Months and Prior Six Months primarily because of favorable commodity prices.
 
 
 
50
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 3/31/17
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
 
Refinery Throughput and Production Data.
 
Following are refinery operational metrics for the Nixon Facility:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Calendar Days
  91 
  91 
  181 
  182 
Refinery downtime
  (4)
  (29)
  (14)
  (29)
Operating Days
  87 
  62 
  167 
  153 
 
    
    
    
    
Total refinery throughput (bbls)
  1,078,488 
  710,992 
  2,082,660 
  1,894,798 
Operating days:
    
    
    
    
bpd
  12,396 
  11,468 
  12,471 
  12,384 
Capacity utilization rate
  82.6%
  76.5%
  83.1%
  82.6%
Calendar days:
    
    
    
    
bpd
  11,852 
  7,813 
  11,506 
  10,411 
Capacity utilization rate
  79.0%
  52.1%
  76.7%
  69.4%
 
    
    
    
    
Total refinery production (bbls)
  1,046,923 
  687,559 
  2,016,657 
  1,841,866 
Operating days:
    
    
    
    
bpd
  12,034 
  11,090 
  12,076 
  12,038 
Capacity utilization rate
  80.2%
  73.9%
  80.5%
  80.3%
Calendar days:
    
    
    
    
bpd
  11,505 
  7,556 
  11,142 
  10,120 
Capacity utilization rate
  76.7%
  50.4%
  74.3%
  67.5%
 
Note: 
The difference between total refinery throughput (volume processed as input) and total refinery production (volume processed as output) represents refinery fuel use and loss.
 
In the Current Three Months, the Nixon Facility experienced 4 days of refinery downtime related to throughput management.  In the Prior Three Months, the Nixon Facility experienced 29 days of refinery downtime due to significant under delivery of crude oil and condensate by GEL (27 days) and unscheduled maintenance and repairs (2 days).  Total refinery throughput bbls and total refinery production bbls increased approximately 52% in the Current Three Months due to improved refinery uptime associated with crude oil and condensate delivery.  The Nixon Facility experienced significant downtime for the Prior Three Months due to the contract-related dispute with GEL.
 
In the Current Six Months, the Nixon Facility experienced 14 days of refinery downtime related to throughput management.  In the Prior Six Months, the Nixon Facility experienced 29 days of refinery downtime due to significant under delivery of crude oil and condensate by GEL (27 days) and unscheduled maintenance and repairs (2 days).  Total refinery throughput bbls and total refinery production bbls increased approximately 10% in the Current Six Months due to improved refinery uptime associated with crude oil and condensate delivery.  The Nixon Facility experienced significant downtime for the Prior Six Months due to the contract-related dispute with GEL.
 
Refined Petroleum Product Sales Summary.
 
(See “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements - Note (13) Concentration of Risk” for a discussion of refined petroleum product sales.)
 
Refined Petroleum Products Economic Hedges.
 
We began selling all of our jet fuel to LEH immediately following production, which minimizes inventory, improves cash flow, and reduces commodity risk.  Previously, Genesis/GEL used commodity futures contracts to mitigate the volatile change in value for certain of our refined petroleum products inventory.
 
 
 
51
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 3/31/17
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
 
We had no open commodity contracts in the Current Three Months and Current Six Months.  For the Prior Three Months, our refinery operations business segment recognized a loss of $2,863,410 on settled transactions and a loss of $988,690 on the change in value of open contracts from March 31, 2016 to June 30, 2016.  For the Prior Six Months, our refinery operations business segment recognized a loss of $3,744,922 on settled transactions and a gain of $385,350 on the change in value of open contracts from December 31, 2015 to June 30, 2016. 
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Overview.
 
Historically, we relied on our profit share distribution and operations payments under a Joint Marketing Agreement with GEL, as well as LEH, to fund our liquidity needs.  As disclosed elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, beginning in the second quarter of 2016, we experienced an adverse change in our relationship with Genesis/GEL involving a contract-related dispute.  This shift in our relationship negatively affected our customer relationships, prevented us from taking advantage of business opportunities, disrupted refinery operations, diverted management’s focus away from running the business, and impacted our ability to obtain financing.  Combined with decreased commodity prices throughout 2016, our resultant financial state raised substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, which doubt has increased as a result of the Final Arbitration Award.  (As discussed elsewhere within this “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section, management has determined that there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern due to consecutive quarterly net losses, inadequate working capital, the Final Arbitration Award, crude supply issues tied to access to capital, and defaults under secured loan agreements. See “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements – Note (1) Organization – Going Concern” for additional discussion related to going concern.)
 
As discussed elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, on August 11, 2017, the arbitrator delivered the Final Arbitration Award in the GEL Arbitration. Among other matters, the Final Arbitration Award awarded damages, legal and administrative fees and court costs to GEL in the aggregate amount of approximately $31.3 million. This resulted in a net increase in current liabilities of approximately $24.3 million on our consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2017. We expect that we will be unable to pay the amounts awarded to GEL in full or in any substantial part. A hearing on confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award was scheduled to occur on September 18, 2017 in state district court in Harris County, Texas. Prior to the scheduled hearing, LE and GEL jointly notified the court of the Continuance Period to facilitate settlement discussions between the parties. On September 26, 2017, LE and Blue Dolphin, together with LEH and Jonathan Carroll, entered into the GEL Letter Agreement, confirming the parties’ agreement to the continuation of the confirmation hearing during the Continuance Period, subject to the terms of the GEL Letter Agreement. GEL may terminate the GEL Letter Agreement on the 45th day of the Continuance Period, or November 1, 2017, if GEL determines, in its sole discretion, that settlement discussions between the parties are not advancing to an acceptable resolution.
 
Sovereign has delivered to us notices of default under our secured loan agreements with Sovereign, stating the that the Final Arbitration Award constitutes an event of default under the secured loan agreements. The occurrence of an event of default permits Sovereign to declare the amounts owed under these loan agreements immediately due and payable, exercise its rights with respect to collateral securing our obligations under these loan agreements, and/or exercise any other rights and remedies available. Sovereign has informed us that it is not currently exercising its rights and remedies under the secured loan agreements in light of the ongoing settlement discussions with GEL and the continuance of the hearing on confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award and to allow Sovereign to evaluate any proposed settlement agreement related to the Final Arbitration Award, which would require Sovereign’s approval. However, Sovereign expressly reserved all of its rights, privileges and remedies related to events of default under the secured loan agreements and informed us that it would consider a final confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award to be a material event of default under the loan agreements. Any exercise by Sovereign of its rights and remedies under thesecured loan agreements would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and likely would require us to seek protection under bankruptcy laws. The debt associated with loans under secured loan agreementswas classified within the current portion of long-term debt on our consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2017 due to existing or potential events of default related to the Final Arbitration Award as well as the uncertainty of our ability to meet financial covenants in the secured loan agreements in the future.
 
We can provide no assurance as to whether negotiations with GEL will result in a settlement or as to the potential terms of any such settlement or whether Sovereign would approve any such settlement. If we are unable to reach an acceptable settlement with GEL or Sovereign does not approve any such settlement and GEL seeks to confirm and enforce the Final Arbitration Award, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be materially adversely affected and we likely would be required to seek protection under bankruptcy laws.
 
Following the termination of crude supplies under the Crude Supply Agreement with GEL, we put in place a month-to-month evergreen crude supply contract with a major integrated oil and gas company.  This new supplier currently provides us with adequate amounts of crude oil and condensate, and having crude supply continuity has boosted our customers’ confidence in our performance ability and enabled us to slowly rebuild counter-party relationships. However, we are currently evaluating the effects of the Final Arbitration Award on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition to the matters described above, the Final Arbitration Award could materially and adversely affect our ability to procure adequate amounts of crude oil and condensate and our relationships with our customers. 
 
Currently, we rely on revenue from operations, LEH and its affiliates (including Jonathan Carroll), and borrowings under bank facilities to meet our liquidity needs. We continued aggressive actions during the second quarter of 2017 to improve operations and liquidity. We began selling all of our jet fuel to LEH immediately following production, which minimizes inventory, improves cash flow, and reduces commodity risk. We also completed construction of several new petroleum storage tanks at the Nixon Facility.  Increasing petroleum storage capacity: (i) assists with de-bottlenecking the facility, which supports future increased refinery throughput to approximately 17,000 bpd without substantial capital expense, and (ii) provides an opportunity to generate additional tank rental revenue by leasing to third-parties.  Additional ongoing efforts to improve operations and liquidity include increasing jet fuel and HOBM sales volumes, the latter of which is prime for export to Mexico, and restructuring customer contracts on more favorable terms as they come up for renewal.  Management believes that it is taking the appropriate steps to improve our financial stability. However, there can be no assurance that our plan will be successful, LEH and its affiliates will continue to fund our working capital needs, or that we will be able to obtain additional financing on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Among other factors, the Final Arbitration Award could prevent us from successfully executing our plan.
 
 
 
52
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 3/31/17
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
 
Crude Oil and Condensate Supply.
 
Operation of the Nixon Facility depends on our ability to purchase adequate amounts of crude oil and condensate on favorable terms.  We currently have in place a month-to-month evergreen crude supply contract with a major integrated oil and gas company.  This new supplier currently provides us with adequate amounts of crude oil and condensate, and we expect the supplier to continue to do so for the foreseeable future.  However, our ability to purchase crude oil and condensate is dependent on our liquidity and access to capital, which have been adversely affected by net losses, working capital deficits, the contract-related dispute with GEL, and financial covenant defaults in secured loan agreements.
 
Management believes that it is taking the appropriate steps to improve our financial stability.  However, there can be no assurance that our plan will be successful, LEH and its affiliates will continue to fund our working capital needs, or that we will be able to obtain additional financing on commercially reasonable terms or at all.  If our plan is unsuccessful, it could affect our ability to acquire adequate supplies of crude oil and condensate under the existing contract or otherwise.  Among other factors, the Final Arbitration Award could prevent us from successfully executing our plan and could have a material adverse effect on our ability to procure adequate amounts and crude oil and condensate from our current supplier or otherwise. Further, because our existing crude supply contract is a month-to-month arrangement, there can be no assurance that crude oil and condensate supplies will continue to be available under this contract in the future.
 
Cash Flow.
 
Our cash flow from operations for the periods indicated was as follows:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,  
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,    
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flow from operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted loss from operations
 $(24,809,999)
 $(3,147,733)
 $(26,104,959)
 $(7,455,865)
Change in assets and current liabilities
 22,217,311 
  5,245,779 
 21,138,428 
  9,151,391 
 
    
    
    
    
Total cash inflows (outflows) from operations
  (2,592,688)
  2,098,046 
  (4,966,531)
  1,695,526 
 
    
    
    
    
Cash inflows (outflows)
    
    
    
    
Payments on debt
  (381,626)
  (466,434)
  (855,204)
  (944,865)
Net activity on related-party debt
  2,159,404 
  - 
  3,256,694 
  - 
Capital expenditures
  (596,869)
  (3,433,333)
  (1,407,701)
  (7,072,978)
Total cash inflows (outflows)
  1,180,909 
  (3,899,767)
  993,789 
  (8,017,843)
 
    
    
    
    
Total change in cash flows
 $(1,411,779)
 $(1,801,721)
 $(3,972,742)
 $(6,322,317)
 
For the Current Three Months, we experienced negative cash flow from operations of $2,592,688 compared to positive cash flow from operations of $2,098,046 for the Prior Three Months.  The $4,690,734 decrease in cash flow from operations between the periods was primarily the result of decreases in accounts payable as we worked to pay our vendors more quickly. 
 
For the Current Six Months, we experienced negative cash flow from operations of $4,966,531 compared to positive cash flow from operations of $1,695,526 for the Prior Six Months. The $6,662,057 decrease in cash flow from operations between the periods was primarily the result of decreases in accounts payable as we worked to pay our vendors more quickly.
 
 
 
53
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 3/31/17
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
 
Working Capital.
 
During the Current Three Months, net cash provided by financing activities totaled $1,777,778 compared to net cash used in financing activities totaling $466,434 in the Prior Three Months.  For the Current Six Months, net cash provided by financing activities totaled $2,401,490 compared to net cash used in financing activities totaling $944,865.  Working capital from financing activities represented advances from LEH and its affiliates (including Jonathan Carroll) under promissory notes.  (See “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements – Note (8) Related Party Transactions and Note (10) Long-Term Debt, Net,” as well as “Contractual Obligations – Related Party” within the Liquidity and Capital Resources section for additional disclosures with respect to related party promissory notes.)
 
We had a working capital deficit of $65,632,359 at June 30, 2017 compared to a working capital deficit of $37,812,263 at December 31, 2016. Excluding long-term debt, we had a working capital deficit of $32,821,325 at June 30, 2017, compared to working capital of $5,599,927 at December 31, 2016. The significant increase in working capital deficit between the periods primarily related to recording a current liability of $31,278,563 related to the Final Arbitration Award, a decrease in cash and cash equivalents, and a decrease in accounts receivable.
 
As discussed elsewhere within this “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section, the contract-related dispute with GEL has affected our ability to obtain working capital through financing.  We expect this to continue following the Final Arbitration Award.  We currently rely on LEH and its affiliates (including Jonathan Carroll) to fund our working capital requirements.  There can be no assurance that LEH and its affiliates (including Jonathan Carroll) will continue to fund our working capital requirements.
 
Capital Spending.
 
Capital improvements primarily relate to construction of new petroleum storage tanks to add to existing petroleum storage capacity.  During the Current Three Months, we completed several new tanks for which construction began during 2016. Increasing petroleum storage capacity (i) assists with de-bottlenecking the facility, which supports future increased refinery throughput to approximately 17,000 bpd without substantial capital expense, and (ii) provides an opportunity to generate additional tank rental revenue by leasing to third-parties.  When the Nixon Facility expansion project is complete, total crude oil, condensate, and refined petroleum products storage capacity at the plant will exceed 1,000,000 bbls.
 
Capital expenditures at the Nixon Facility are being funded by Sovereign Bank (“Sovereign”) through long-term debt that we secured in 2015.  Available funds under these loans are reflected in restricted cash (current and non-current portions) on our consolidated balance sheets.  Restricted cash (current portion) represents funds to pay outstanding construction invoices and to fund construction contingencies.  Restricted cash (current portion) totaled $1,481,626 and $3,347,835 at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.  Restricted cash, non-current represents funds held in our disbursement account with Sovereign to complete construction of new petroleum storage tanks. Restricted cash, noncurrent totaled $563,336 and $1,582,305 at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
 
Capital expenditures for the periods indicated were as follows:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures financed by:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash disbursements
 $645,823 
 $3,433,333 
 $1,456,655 
 $7,072,978 
Accounts payable(1)
  212,410 
  1,487,174 
  1,432,672 
  3,231,171 
 
 $858,233 
 $4,920,507 
 $2,889,327 
 $10,304,149 
 
(1)  
Represents construction-related vendor invoices awaiting payment from the loan disbursement account.
 
See “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements – Note (10) Long-Term Debt, Net” for additional disclosures related to borrowings for capital spending.
 
 
 
54
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 3/31/17
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
 
Contractual Obligations.
 
Related Party.  See “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements – Note (8) Related Party Transactions” in this Quarterly Report for a summary of the agreements we have in place with related parties.
 
Genesis.  See “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report, as well as “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements – Note (18) Commitments and Contingencies – Legal Matters” in this Quarterly Report for disclosures related to the contract-related dispute with GEL and the Final Arbitration Award.
 
Supplemental Pipeline Bonds.  See “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements – Note (18) Commitments and Contingencies – Supplemental Pipeline Bonds” for a discussion of supplemental pipeline bonding requirements.
 
Indebtedness.
 
The principal balances outstanding on our long-term debt, net (including related party) for the periods indicated were as follow:
 
 
 
 June 30,
 
 
 December 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
First Term Loan Due 2034
 $23,551,966 
 $23,924,607 
Second Term Loan Due 2034
  9,607,032 
  9,729,853 
LEH Loan Agreement
  4,000,000 
  4,000,000 
June LEH Note
  2,484,297 
  - 
Notre Dame Debt
  1,300,000 
  1,300,000 
March Ingleside Note
  1,143,803 
  722,278 
March Carroll Note
  112,272 
  592,412 
Capital Leases
  50,790 
  135,879 
Term Loan Due 2017
  - 
  184,994 
 
  42,250,160 
  40,590,023 
Less: Current portion of long-term debt, net
  (32,811,034)
  (32,212,336)
Less: Unamoritized debt issue costs
  (2,198,754)
  (2,262,997)
 
 $7,240,372 
 $6,114,690 
 
Payments on long-term debt totaled $381,626 for the Current Three Months compared to $466,434 in the Prior Three Months.  Payments on long-term debt totaled $855,204 for the Current Six Months compared to $944,865 in the Prior Six Months.
 
 
 
55
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 3/31/17
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
 
As described elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, Sovereign has notified us that the Final Arbitration Award constitutes an event of default under the First Term Loan Due 2034 and Second Term Loan Due 2034. In addition to existing or potential events of default related to the Final Arbitration Award, at June 30, 2017, LE and Lazarus Refining & Marketing, LLC were in violation of the debt service coverage ratio, the current ratio, and debt to net worth ratio financial covenants related to the secured loan agreements. LE also failed to replenish a payment reserve account as required. The occurrence of events of default under the secured loan agreements permits Sovereign to declare the amounts owed under the secured loan agreements immediately due and payable, exercise its rights with respect to collateral securing our obligations under the loan agreements, and/or exercise any other rights and remedies available. Sovereign waived the financial covenant defaults as of June 30, 2017. Sovereign has informed usthat it is not currently exercising its rights, privileges and remedies under the secured loan agreements in light of the ongoing settlement discussions with GEL and the continuance of the hearing on confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award and to allow Sovereign to evaluate any proposed settlement agreement related to the Final Arbitration Award, which would require Sovereign’s approval. However, Sovereign expressly reserved all of its rights, privileges and remedies related to events of default under the secured loan agreements and informed us that it would consider a final confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award to be a material event of default under the loan agreements. Any exercise by Sovereign of its rights and remedies under the secured loan agreements would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and likely would require us to seek protection under bankruptcy laws.
 
See “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements – Note (1) Organization – Going Concern, Note (10) Long-Term Debt, Net, and Note (19) Subsequent Events” for additional disclosures related to long-term debt financial covenant violations and events of default.
 
See “Contractual Obligations – Related Party” within the Liquidity and Capital Resources section for additional disclosures with respect to related party indebtedness.
 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
None.
 
Critical Accounting Policies
 
Long-Lived Assets.
 
Refinery and Facilities. Management expects to continue making improvements to the Nixon Facility based on operation needs and technological advances.  Additions to refinery and facilities assets are capitalized. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred and included as operating expenses under the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement.
 
We record refinery and facilities at cost less any adjustments for depreciation or impairment. Adjustment of the asset and the related accumulated depreciation accounts are made for the refinery and facilities asset’s retirement and disposal, with the resulting gain or loss included in the consolidated statements of operations.  For financial reporting purposes, depreciation of refinery and facilities assets is computed using the straight-line method using an estimated useful life of 25 years beginning when the refinery and facilities assets are placed in service.  We did not record any impairment of our refinery and facilities assets for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.
 
Pipelines and Facilities Assets. Our pipelines and facilities are recorded at cost less any adjustments for depreciation or impairment.  Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives ranging from 10 to 22 years. In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) guidance on accounting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets, management performed periodic impairment testing of our pipeline and facilities assets in the fourth quarter of 2016. Upon completion of that testing, our pipeline assets were fully impaired.  All pipeline transportation services to third-parties have ceased, existing third-party wells along our pipeline corridor were permanently abandoned, and no new third-party wells are being drilled near our pipelines. However, management believes our pipeline assets have future value based on large-scale, third-party production facility expansion projects near the pipelines.
 
Oil and Gas Properties. Our oil and gas properties are accounted for using the full-cost method of accounting, whereby all costs associated with acquisition, exploration and development of oil and gas properties, including directly related internal costs, are capitalized on a cost center basis.  Amortization of such costs and estimated future development costs are determined using the unit-of-production method.  All leases associated with our oil and gas properties have expired, and our oil and gas properties were fully impaired in 2011.
 
 
 
56
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 3/31/17
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
 
Construction in Progress. Construction in progress expenditures, which relate to construction and refurbishment activities at the Nixon Facility, are capitalized as incurred. Depreciation begins once the asset is placed in service.
 
Revenue Recognition.
 
Refined Petroleum Products Revenue.  Revenue from the sale of refined petroleum products is recognized when sales prices are fixed or determinable, collectability is reasonably assured, and title passes. Title passage occurs when refined petroleum products are delivered in accordance with the terms of the respective sales agreements, and customers assume the risk of loss when title is transferred.  Transportation, shipping and handling costs incurred are included in cost of refined products sold. Excise and other taxes that are collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are not included in revenue.
 
Tank Rental Revenue.  We lease petroleum storage tanks to third-parties.  Tank rental fees are invoiced monthly in accordance with the terms of the related lease agreement.  Tank rental revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis as earned.
 
Asset Retirement Obligations.
 
FASB ASC guidance related to AROs requires that a liability for the discounted fair value of an ARO be recorded in the period in which it is incurred and the corresponding cost capitalized by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. The liability is accreted towards its future value each period, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. If the liability is settled for an amount other than the recorded amount, a gain or loss is recognized.
 
Management has concluded that there is no legal or contractual obligation to dismantle or remove the refinery and facilities assets. Further, management believes that these assets have indeterminate lives under FASB ASC guidance for estimating AROs because dates or ranges of dates upon which we would retire these assets cannot reasonably be estimated at this time. When a legal or contractual obligation to dismantle or remove the refinery and facility assets arises and a date or range of dates can reasonably be estimated for the retirement of these assets, we will estimate the cost of performing the retirement activities and record a liability for the fair value of that cost using present value techniques.
 
We recorded an ARO liability related to future asset retirement costs associated with dismantling, relocating or disposing of our offshore platform, pipeline systems and related onshore facilities, as well as plugging and abandoning wells and restoring land and sea beds. We developed these cost estimates for each of our assets based upon regulatory requirements, structural makeup, water depth, reservoir characteristics, reservoir depth, equipment demand, current retirement procedures, and construction and engineering consultations.  Because these costs typically extend many years into the future, estimating future costs are difficult and require management to make judgments that are subject to future revisions based upon numerous factors, including changing technology, political, and regulatory environments. We review our assumptions and estimates of future abandonment costs on an annual basis.
 
Income Taxes.
 
We account for income taxes under FASB ASC guidance related to income taxes, which requires recognition of income taxes based on amounts payable with respect to the current reporting period and the effects of deferred taxes for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in our financial statements or tax returns.  Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial accounting and tax basis of assets and liabilities, as well as for operating losses and tax credit carryforwards using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse.
 
 
 
57
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 3/31/17
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
 
As of each reporting date, management considers new evidence, both positive and negative, to determine the realizability of deferred tax assets.  Management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all the deferred tax assets will be realized, which is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income prior to the expiration of any NOL carryforwards. At June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, management determined that cumulative losses incurred over the prior three-year period provided significant objective evidence that limited the ability to consider other subjective evidence, such as projections for future growth. Based on this evaluation, we recorded a full valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.
 
FASB ASC guidance related to income taxes also prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return, as well as guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosures, and transition.
 
(See “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements - Note (15) Income Taxes” for further information related to income taxes.)
 
Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance
 
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issues an Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) to communicate changes to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification, including changes to non-authoritative SEC content.  Recently adopted ASUs include:
 
ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230: Restricted Cash (a Consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force. In November 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-18, which requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. We adopted this accounting pronouncement effective December 31, 2016. Accordingly, our consolidated statement of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was changed to combine restricted cash with cash and cash equivalents.
 
ASU 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. In July 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-11, which requires an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value.  We adopted this accounting pronouncement effective January 1, 2017.  The adoption of ASU 2015-11 did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.
 
Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank
 
 
 
58
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 3/31/17
 
 
 
ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
Not applicable.
 
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
Under the supervision of, and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer), we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report. Based on our evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act, are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
Management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2016. There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank
 
 
 
59
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 3/31/17
 
 
PART II OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
GEL Contract-Related Dispute and Final Arbitration Award
 
We were party to a variety of contracts and agreements with Genesis Energy, LP (“Genesis”) and GEL Tex Marketing, LLC (“GEL”) for the purchase of crude oil and condensate, transportation of crude oil and condensate, and other services.
 
In May 2016, GEL filed, in state district court in Harris County, Texas, a petition and application for a temporary restraining order, temporary injunction, and permanent injunction (the “Petition”) against Lazarus Energy, LLC (“LE”) and Lazarus Energy Holdings, LLC (“LEH”).  The Petition alleged that LE breached the Joint Marketing Agreement, and that LEH tortiously interfered with the Joint Marketing Agreement, in connection with an agreement by LEH to supply jet fuel acquired from LE to a government agency.  The Petition primarily sought temporary and permanent injunctions related to sales of product from the Nixon Facility to this customer.  In June 2016, the court issued a temporary injunction against LE and LEH as requested by GEL.
 
In a matter separate from the above referenced Petition, LE asserted that GEL materially breached the parties’ agreements in April 2016 by refusing to deliver our operational requirements of crude oil for an extended period.  LE filed a demand for arbitration in June 2016, pursuant to the terms of a Dispute Resolution Agreement between the parties (the “GEL Arbitration”). The GEL Arbitration alleged that GEL breached the Crude Oil Supply and Throughput Services Agreement (the Crude Supply Agreement”) by:
 
(i)  
overcharging for crude oil and condensate based on Genesis’ cost as defined in the Crude Supply Agreement,
 
(ii)  
overcharging for trucking costs, and
 
(iii)  
significantly under-delivering crude oil and condensate, resulting in significant refinery downtime and significant decreases in refinery throughput, refinery production, and refined petroleum product sales during 2016.
 
GEL made counter claims in the Arbitration with allegations against LE like those made in the Petition.  GEL sought substantial damages, as well as recovery of attorneys’ fee and costs, totaling approximately $44.0 million in the aggregate, based on allegations of breach of contract, fraudulent transfer and unjust enrichment. 
 
Arbitration proceedings commenced on May 2017 and were declared closed in July 2017.
 
On August 11, 2017, the arbitrator delivered its final award in the GEL Arbitration (the “Final Arbitration Award”). The Final Arbitration Award denied all of LE’s claims against GEL and granted substantially all of the relief requested by GEL in its counterclaims. Among other matters, the Final Arbitration Award:
 
determined that LE materially breached the Crude Supply Agreement and the Joint Marketing Agreement;
 
determined that LE’s sales of jet fuel to LEH in connection with LEH’s supplying such jet fuel to a government agency was a fraudulent transfer under applicable law;
 
denied LE’s request to dissolve the temporary injunction and awarded to GEL certain funds held with the court related to the temporary injunction;
 
denied all other claims made by LE; and
 
awarded damages, legal and administrative fees and court costs to GEL in the aggregate amount of approximately $31.3 million, with such amounts to bear interest at a rate of 5.0% per annum until paid in full.
 
A hearing on confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award was scheduled to occur on September 18, 2017 in state district court in Harris County, Texas. Prior to the scheduled hearing, LE and GEL jointly notified the court that the hearing would be continued for a period of no more than 90 days after September 18, 2017 (the “Continuance Period”), to facilitate settlement discussions between the parties. On September 26, 2017, LE and Blue Dolphin, together with LEH and Jonathan Carroll, entered into a Letter Agreement with GEL, effective September 18, 2017 (the “GEL Letter Agreement”), confirming the parties’ agreement to the continuation of the confirmation hearing during the Continuance Period, subject to the terms of the GEL Letter Agreement. The GEL Letter Agreement includes the following key terms, among others:
 
The parties agreed to work together in good faith during the Continuance Period to negotiate and document the terms of a settlement and payment structure to resolve all of their disputes and obligations, including those related to and arising from the Final Arbitration Award;
 
LE agreed to pay GEL approximately $3.6 million, consisting of a cash payment and release of certain funds held in the court’s registry, which amount will be applied to reduce the balance of the Final Arbitration Award;
 
we waived all objections to confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award, but GEL agreed that it would not take any action to confirm, enforce, collect, execute upon, perfect or exercise any remedies regarding that waiver or the Final Award prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Continuance Period without the parties’ agreeing to a settlement and (ii) termination of the GEL Letter Agreement;
 
we agreed that, without GEL’s consent, we would not, subject to certain agreed-upon exceptions: (i) incur debt, (ii) create liens on our assets, (iii) sell, lease or otherwise transfer assets outside the ordinary course of business, (iv) engage in transactions with affiliates or amend the terms of existing affiliate transactions, (v) become party to bankruptcy, reorganization, liquidation or similar proceedings, (vi) make investments in, acquire material assets of or merge or consolidate with any other entity, (vii) allow changes to our equity ownership structures, or (viii) amend our debt instruments or organizational documents; and
 
GEL may terminate the Letter Agreement on the 45th day of the Continuance Period, or November 1, 2017, if it determines, in its sole discretion, that settlement discussions between the parties are not advancing to an acceptable resolution.
  
 
60
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 3/31/17
 
 
As described elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, Sovereign has notified us that the Final Arbitration Award constitutes an event of default under our secured loan agreements with Sovereign. The occurrence of events of default under the secured loan agreements permits Sovereign to declare the amounts owed under these loan agreements immediately due and payable, exercise its rights with respect to collateral securing our obligations under these loan agreements, and/or exercise any other rights and remedies available. Sovereign has informed us that it is not currently exercising its rights, privileges and remedies under the secured loan agreements in light of the ongoing settlement discussions with GEL and the continuance of the hearing on confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award and to allow Sovereign to evaluate any proposed settlement agreement related to the Final Arbitration Award, which would require Sovereign’s approval. However, Sovereign expressly reserved all of its rights, privileges and remedies related to events of default under the secured loan agreements and informed us that it would consider a final confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award to be a material event of default under the loan agreements. Any exercise by Sovereign of its rights and remedies under the secured loan agreements would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and likely would require us to seek protection under bankruptcy laws.
 
We are currently evaluating the effects of the Final Arbitration Award on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition to the matters described above, the Final Arbitration Award could materially and adversely affect our ability to procure adequate amounts of crude oil and condensate or our relationships with our customers. The contract-related dispute has negatively affected our customer relationships, prevented us from taking advantage of business opportunities, disrupted refinery operations, diverted management’s focus away from running the business, and impacted our ability to obtain financing.
 
We can provide no assurance as to whether negotiations with GEL will result in a settlement or as to the potential terms of any such settlement or whether Sovereign would approve any such settlement. If we are unable to reach an acceptable settlement with GEL or Sovereign does not approve any such settlement and GEL seeks to confirm and enforce the Final Arbitration Award, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be materially adversely affected and we likely would be required to seek protection under bankruptcy laws.
 
Other Legal Matters
 
From time to time we are involved in routine lawsuits, claims, and proceedings incidental to the conduct of our business, including mechanic’s liens and administrative proceedings.  Management does not believe that such matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, earnings, or cash flows.
 
ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS
 
In addition to the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report, careful consideration should be given to the risk factors discussed under “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017 and our Annual Report. These risks and uncertainties could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our operations could also be affected by additional factors that are not presently known to us or by factors that we currently consider immaterial to our business.  Except for the below risk factors, there have been no material changes in our assessment of our risk factors from those set forth in our Annual Report.
 
The adverse outcome in the arbitration of the contract-related dispute with GEL Tex Marketing, LLC could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and materially adversely affect the value of an investment in our common stock.
 
As previously disclosed, we have been involved in arbitration proceedings (the “GEL Arbitration”) with GEL Tex Marketing, LLC (“GEL”), an affiliate of Genesis Energy, LP (“Genesis”), related to a contractual dispute involving a Crude Oil Supply and Throughput Services Agreement and a Joint Marketing Agreement. On August 11, 2017, the arbitrator delivered its final award in the GEL Arbitration (the “Final Arbitration Award”). The Final Arbitration Award denied all of LE’s claims against GEL and granted substantially all of the relief requested by GEL in its counterclaims. Among other matters, the Final Arbitration Award awarded damages, legal and administrative fees and court costs to GEL in the aggregate amount of approximately $31.3 million. This resulted in a net increase in current liabilities of approximately $24.3 million on our consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2017.
 
A hearing on confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award was scheduled to occur on September 18, 2017 in state district court in Harris County, Texas. Prior to the scheduled hearing, LE and GEL jointly notified the court that the Continuance Period to facilitate settlement discussions between the parties. On September 26, 2017, LE and Blue Dolphin, together with LEH and Jonathan Carroll, entered into the GEL Letter Agreement, confirming the parties’ agreement to the continuation of the confirmation hearing during the Continuance Period, subject to the terms of the GEL Letter Agreement. GEL may terminate the GEL Letter Agreement on the 45th day of the Continuance Period, or November 1, 2017, if GEL determines, in its sole discretion, that settlement discussions between the parties are not advancing to an acceptable resolution.
 
Sovereign has notified us that the Final Arbitration Award constitutes an event of default under our secured loan agreements with Sovereign. The occurrence of events of default under the secured loan agreements permits Sovereign to declare the amounts owed under these loan agreements immediately due and payable, exercise its rights with respect to collateral securing our obligations under these loan agreements, and/or exercise any other rights and remedies available. Sovereign has informed us that it is not currently exercising its rights, privileges and remedies under the secured loan agreements in light of the ongoing settlement discussions with GEL and the continuance of the hearing on confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award and to allow Sovereign to evaluate any proposed settlement agreement related to the Final Arbitration Award, which would require Sovereign’s approval. However, Sovereign expressly reserved all of its rights, privileges and remedies related to events of default under the secured loan agreements and informed us that it would consider a final confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award to be a material event of default under the loan agreements. Any exercise by Sovereign of its rights and remedies under the secured loan agreements would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and likely would require us to seek protection under bankruptcy laws.
 
 
61
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 3/31/17
 
 
We can provide no assurance as to whether negotiations with GEL will result in a settlement or as to the potential terms of any such settlement or whether Sovereign would approve any such settlement. If we are unable to reach an acceptable settlement with GEL or Sovereign does not approve any such settlement and GEL seeks to confirm and enforce the Final Arbitration Award, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be materially adversely affected and we likely would be required to seek protection under bankruptcy laws.
  
We are currently evaluating the effects of the Final Arbitration Award on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition to the matters described above, the Final Arbitration Award could materially and adversely affect our ability to procure adequate amounts of crude oil and condensate and our relationships with our customers.
 
The Final Arbitration Award may have a material adverse effect on the trading prices of our common stock and on the value of an investment in our common stock, and holders of our common stock could lose their investment in our common stock in its entirety, particularly if we are required to seek bankruptcy protection as a result of the Final Arbitration Award.
 
For additional information regarding the Final Arbitration Award, the GEL Letter Agreement, and their potential effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations, see the notes to our financial statements in “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements,” “Part I, Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Part II, Item 1. Legal Proceedings” in this Quarterly Report.
 
Defaults under our secured loan agreements could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and materially adversely affect the value of an investment in our common stock.
 
As described elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, Sovereign has notified us that the Final Arbitration Award constitutes an event of default under our secured loan agreements with Sovereign. In addition to existing or potential events of default related to the Final Arbitration Award, at June 30, 2017, LE and Lazarus Refining & Marketing, LLC were in violation of the debt service coverage ratio, the current ratio, and debt to net worth ratio financial covenants related to the secured loan agreements. LE also failed to replenish a payment reserve account as required. The occurrence of events of default under the secured loan agreements permits Sovereign to declare the amounts owed under the secured loan agreements immediately due and payable, exercise its rights with respect to collateral securing our obligations under the loan agreements, and/or exercise any other rights and remedies available. Sovereign waived the financial covenant defaults as of June 30, 2017. Sovereign has informed us that it is not currently exercising its rights, privileges and remedies under the secured loan agreements in light of the ongoing settlement discussions with GEL and the continuance of the hearing on confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award and to allow Sovereign to evaluate any proposed settlement agreement related to the Final Arbitration Award, which would require Sovereign’s approval. However, Sovereign expressly reserved all of its rights, privileges and remedies related to events of default under the secured loan agreements and informed us that it would consider a final confirmation of the Final Arbitration Award to be a material event of default under the loan agreements. Any exercise by Sovereign of its rights and remedies under the secured loan agreements would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and likely would require us to seek protection under bankruptcy laws.
 
There can be no assurance that: (i) our assets or cash flow would be sufficient to fully repay borrowings under our outstanding long-term debt, either upon maturity or if accelerated, (ii) we would be able to refinance or restructure the payments on the long-term debt, and/or (iii) Sovereign will provide future waivers. Defaults under our secured loan agreements and any exercise by Sovereign of its rights and remedies related to such defaults may have a material adverse effect on the trading prices of our common stock and on the value of an investment in our common stock, and holders of our common stock could lose their investment in our common stock in its entirety, particularly if we are required to seek bankruptcy protection as a result of the exercise by Sovereign of such rights and remedies.
 
For additional information regarding defaults under our secured loan agreements and their potential effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations, see the notes to our financial statements in “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements” and “Part I, Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this Quarterly Report.
  
ITEM 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
 
None.
 
ITEM 3.  DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
 
See “Part I, Item. 1. Financial Statements – Note (10) Long-Term Debt, Net” for disclosures related to defaults on our debt.
 
ITEM 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
 
Not applicable.
 
 
 
62
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 3/31/17
 
 
ITEM 5.  OTHER INFORMATION
 
June LEH Note.  A promissory note between Blue Dolphin and LEH in the original principal amount of $2,484,297 was amended and restated (the “June LEH Note”) effective June 30, 2017. The June LEH Note was approved by the Board on August 9, 2017, to increase the principal amount by $2,043,482. The June LEH Note accrues interest, compounded annually, at a rate of 8.00% and matures in January 2019. Under the June LEH Note, prepayment, in whole or in part, is permissible at any time and from time to time, without premium or penalty.
 
Amended and Restated Guaranty Fee Agreements.  Guaranty Fee Agreements between Jonathan Carroll and: (i) Lazarus Refining & Marketing, LLC related to term loans in the principal amounts of $2.0 million and $10.0 million and (ii) LE related to a term loan in the principal amount of $25.0 million, were amended and restated (the “Amended and Restated Guaranty Fee Agreements”) effective April 1, 2017.  The Amended and Restated Guaranty Fee Agreements were approved by the Board on August 9, 2017, to reflect payment terms in cash and shares of Blue Dolphin Common Stock.
 
ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS
 
Exhibits Index
 
No. 
Description 
 
Amended and Restated Promissory Note dated June 30, 2017, of Blue Dolphin Energy Company in favor of Lazarus Energy Holdings, LLC.
Amended and Restated Guaranty Fee Agreement between Jonathan Carroll and Lazarus Refining & Marketing, LLC
Amended and Restated Guaranty Fee Agreement between Jonathan Carroll and Lazarus Refining & Marketing LLC
Amended and Restated Guaranty Fee Agreement between Jonathan Carroll and Lazarus Energy, LLC
Jonathan P. Carroll Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Tommy L. Byrd Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Jonathan P. Carroll Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Tommy L. Byrd Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Schema Document.
101.CAL
XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.LAB
XBRL Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE
XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF
XBRL Definition Linkbase Document.
 
*           All exhibits listed are filed herewith.
 
 
 
63
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
 
FORM 10-Q 3/31/17
 
 
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.
 
 
BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date: October 12, 2017
By:
/s/ JONATHAN P. CARROLL
 
 
 
Jonathan P. Carroll
 
 
 
Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer, President,
Assistant Treasurer and Secretary
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:  October 12, 2017
By:
/s/ TOMMY L. BYRD
 
 
 
Tommy L. Byrd
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
(Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
 
 
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