TRI-VALLEY CORPORATION - Form 10-K

As Filed with the SEC on March 29, 2002

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2001

Commission File No. 0-6119

 

TRI-VALLEY CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware

84-0617433

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

5555 Business Park South, Suite 200, Bakersfield, California 93309
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant's Telephone Number Including Area Code: (661) 864-0500

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
None

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, $0.001 par value
(Title of Class)

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

Check if there is no disclosure of delinquent filers in response to Item 405 of Regulation S-K contained in this form, and no disclosure will be contained to the best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K, if applicable, or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X]

The issuer's revenues for the most recent fiscal year were $2,130,187.

As of January
25, 2002, 19,689,748 common shares were issued and outstanding, and the aggregate market value of the common shares of Tri-Valley Corporation held by non-affiliates on that date was approximately $25,852,886.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: None

Transitional Small Business Disclosure Format (check one): Yes [ ] No [X]

Exhibit Index appears on page 42.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

 

1

ITEM 1.

Business

1

 

Competition

1

 

Governmental Regulation

1

 

Mechanical and Environmental Issues

2

 

Employees

3

ITEM 2.

Properties

3

 

Oil and Gas Operations

3

 

Precious Metals

5

ITEM 3.

Legal Proceedings

6

ITEM 4.

Submission of Matters To A Vote Of Security Holders

6

     

PART II

 

7

ITEM 5.

Market Price Of The Registrant's Common Stock And Related Security Holder Matters

7

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

7

ITEM 6.

Selected Historical Financial Data

7

ITEM 7.

Management's Discussion And Analysis Of Financial Condition

8

 

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

8

 

Overview

8

 

Natural Gas Activities

8

 

Petroleum Activities

9

 

Precious Metals Activity

9

 

Telecommunications

9

 

Results of Operations

10

   

Comparison of Years Ended December 31,2001 and 2000

10

   

Balance Sheet

10

   

Revenues

10

   

Costs and Expenses

10

   

Comparison of Years Ended December 31,2000 and 1999

10

   

Balance Sheet

10

   

Revenues

11

   

Costs and Expenses

11

 

Financial Condition

11

   

Commitments

11

   

Losses from Operating Activities

11

   

Investing Activities

12

   

Financing Activities

12

   

Liquidity

12

ITEM 8.

Financial Statements

14

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

20

     

PART III

 

36

ITEM 9.

Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

36

ITEM 10.

Executive Compensation

38

 

Employment Agreement with Our President

39

 

Aggregated 2001 Option Exercises and Year-End Values

39

 

Compensation of Directors

40

 

Performance Graph

40

ITEM 11.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

41

ITEM 12.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

42

ITEM 13.

Exhibits, Lists, and Reports on Form 8-K

42

SIGNATURES

 

43

PART I

ITEM 1. Business


Tri-Valley Corporation, a Delaware corporation formed in 1971, is in the business of exploring, acquiring and developing prospective and producing petroleum and precious metals properties and interests therein. Tri-Valley has two wholly owned subsidiaries. Tri-Valley Oil & Gas Company ("TVOG") operates the oil & gas activities. TVOG derives the majority of its revenue from gas production. Tri-Valley Power Corporation is the other wholly owned subsidiary. However, this subsidiary is inactive at the present time. The precious metals activity is operated directly by Tri-Valley Corporation.


TVOG primarily generates its own exploration prospects from its internal database, and also screens prospect submittals from other geologists and companies. TVOG generates these geological "plays" within a certain geographic area of mutual interest. The prospect is then presented to potential co-venturers. The company deals with both sophisticated individual investors and energy industry companies. TVOG is the operator of these co-ventures.


In 1987, we acquired precious metals claims on Alaska state lands. We have conducted exploration operations on these properties and have reduced our original claims to a block of approximately 27,440 acres (42.9 square miles). We have conducted trenching, core drilling, bulk sampling and assaying activities to date and have reason to believe that mineralization exists to justify additional exploration activities. However, to date, we have not identified probable mineral reserves on these properties. There is no assurance that a commercially viable mineral deposit exists on any of these above-mentioned mineral properties. Further exploration is required before a final evaluation as to the economic and legal feasibility can be determined.


We sell substantially all of our oil and gas production to Phillips Petroleum Company. Other gatherers of oil and gas production operate within our area of operations in California, and we are confident that if Phillips ceased purchasing our production we could find another purchaser on similar terms with no adverse consequences to our income or operations.


Competition


The oil and gas industry is highly competitive in all its phases. Competition is particularly intense with respect to the acquisition of desirable producing properties, the acquisition of oil and gas prospects suitable for enhanced production efforts, and the hiring of experienced personnel. Our competitors in oil and gas acquisition, development, and production include the major oil companies in addition to numerous independent oil and gas companies, individual proprietors and drilling programs. Many of these competitors possess and employ financial and personnel resources substantially greater than those which are available to us and may be able to pay more for desirable producing properties and prospects and to define, evaluate, bid for, and purchase a greater number of producing properties and prospects than we can. Our financial or personnel resources to generate reserves in the future will be dependent on our ability to select and acquire suitable producing properties and prospects in competition with these companies.


Governmental Regulation


Domestic exploration for the production and sale of oil and gas is extensively regulated at both the federal and state levels. Legislation affecting the oil and gas industry is under constant review for amendment or expansion, frequently increasing the regulatory burden. Also, numerous departments and agencies, both federal and state, are authorized by statute to issue, and have issued, rules and regulations affecting the oil and gas industry which often are difficult and costly to comply with and which carry substantial penalties for noncompliance. State statutes and regulations require permits for drilling operations, drilling bonds, and reports concerning operations. Most states in which we will operate also have statutes and regulations governing conservation matters, including the unitization or pooling of properties and the establishment of maximum rates of production from wells. Many state statutes and regulations may limit the rate at which oil and gas could otherwise be produced from acquired properties. Some states have also enacted statutes prescribing ceiling prices for natural gas sold within their states. Our operations are also subject to numerous laws and regulations governing plugging and abandonment, the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to environmental protection. The heavy regulatory burden on the oil and gas industry increases its costs of doing business and consequently affects its profitability. We cannot be sure that a change in such laws, rules, regulations, or interpretations, will not harm our financial condition or operating results.


Mechanical and Environmental Issues


Mining Activities


Mining activities in the United States are subject to federal and state laws and regulations covering mining safety and environmental quality. However, because we do not have active mining operations at present, these regulations have little impact on our current activities. In 2001, 2000 and 1999, the regulatory requirements had no significant effect on our precious metals activity as we continued our exploration efforts.


Should we seek to develop our precious metals claims, development efforts would require compliance with mining laws and regulations. State and federal laws impose minimum safety standards to protect workers in the construction and development of mines and conduct of mining operations. Mining activities are subject to environmental regulation of the output of mines, particularly in the storage and disposal of waste from mining operations. Environmental regulations restrict the storage, use and disposal of both the materials used in mining operations and the waste contained in mineral ore, all of which contain toxic materials that would damage the surrounding land and ground water if not carefully handled.


In addition, federal and state regulations call for reclamation of land which has been altered by mining activities. These regulations may require significant expenditures to clean up a mining site during and after mining.


Before we could begin actual mining operations on our claims, we would have to develop a feasibility study which would, among other things, address the potential costs of labor, safety and environmental regulation on any proposed mining activity. We do not expect to begin a feasibility study in 2002 and do not expect to incur any significant regulatory costs or liabilities in connection with government regulation of our claims.


Energy Operations


Our energy operations are subject to risks of fire, explosions, blow-outs, pipe failure, abnormally pressured formations and environmental hazards, such as oil spills, natural gas leaks, ruptures or discharges of toxic gases, the occurrence of any of which could result in substantial losses due to injury or loss of life, severe damage to or destruction of property, natural resources and equipment, pollution or other environmental damage, clean-up responsibilities, regulatory investigation and penalties and suspension of operations. In accordance with customary industry practice, we maintain insurance against these kinds of risks, but we cannot be sure that our level of insurance will cover all losses in the event of a drilling or production catastrophe. Insurance is not available for all operational risks, such as risks that we will drill a dry hole, fail in an attempt to complete a well or have problems maintaining production from existing wells.


Oil and gas activities can result in liability under federal, state, and local environmental regulations for activities involving, among other things, water pollution and hazardous waste transport, storage, and disposal. Such liability can attach not only to the operator of record of the well, but also to other parties that may be deemed to be current or prior operators or owners of the wells or the equipment involved. Numerous governmental agencies issue rules and regulations to implement and enforce such laws, which are often difficult and costly to comply with and which carry substantial administrative, civil and criminal penalties and in some cases injunctive relief for failure to comply. Some laws, rules and regulations relating to the protection of the environment may, in certain circumstances, impose "strict liability" for environmental contamination. These laws render a person or company liable for environmental and natural resource damages, cleanup costs and, in the case of oil spills in certain states, consequential damages without regard to negligence or fault. Other laws, rules and regulations may require the rate of oil and gas production to be below the economically optimal rate or may even prohibit exploration or production activities in environmentally sensitive areas. In addition, state laws often require some form of remedial action, such as closure of inactive pits and plugging of abandoned wells, to prevent pollution from former or suspended operations.


The federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or CERCLA, also known as the "Superfund" law, imposes liability, without regard to fault, on certain classes of persons with respect to the release of a "hazardous substance" into the environment. These persons include the current or prior owner or operator of the disposal site or sites where the release occurred and companies that transported, disposed or arranged for the transport or disposal of the hazardous substances found at the site. Persons who are or were responsible for releases of hazardous substances under CERCLA may be subject to joint and several liability for the costs of cleaning up the hazardous substances that have been released into the environment and for damages to natural resources, and it is not uncommon for the federal or state government to pursue such claims. It is also not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal injury or property or natural resource damages allegedly caused by the hazardous substances released into the environment. Under CERCLA, certain oil and gas materials and products are, by definition, excluded from the term "hazardous substances." At least two federal courts have held that certain wastes associated with the production of crude oil may be classified as hazardous substances under CERCLA. Similarly, under the federal Resource, Conservation and Recovery Act, or RCRA, which governs the generation, treatment, storage and disposal of "solid wastes" and "hazardous wastes," certain oil and gas materials and wastes are exempt from the definition of "hazardous wastes." This exemption continues to be subject to judicial interpretation and increasingly stringent state interpretation. During the normal course of operations on properties in which we have an interest, exempt and non-exempt wastes, including hazardous wastes, that are subject to RCRA and comparable state statutes and implementing regulations are generated or have been generated in the past. The federal Environmental Protection Agency and various state agencies continue to promulgate regulations that limit the disposal and permitting options for certain hazardous and non-hazardous wastes.


Compliance with environmental requirements, including financial assurance requirements and the costs associated with the cleanup of any spill, could have a material adverse effect on our capital expenditures or earnings. These laws and regulations have not had a material affect on our capital expenditures or earnings to date. Nevertheless, changes in environmental laws have the potential to adversely affect operations. At this time, we have no plans to make any material capital expenditures for environmental control facilities.


Employees


We had a total of five full-time employees, one part-time bookkeeper, and two consultants on December 31, 2001.



ITEM 2. Properties


Our headquarters and administrative offices are located at 5555 Business Park South, Suite 200, Bakersfield, California 93309. We lease approximately 4,500 square feet of office space at that location. Our principal properties consist of proven and unproven oil and gas properties, mining claims on unproven precious metals properties, maps and geologic records related to prospective oil and gas and unproven precious metal properties, office and other equipment. TVOG has a worldwide geologic library with data on every continent except Antarctica including over 700 leads and prospects in California, our present area of emphasis.


Oil and Gas Operations


The oil and gas properties in which we hold interests are primarily located in the area of central California known as the Sacramento Valley. We also lease exploration acreage in the San Joaquin and Santa Maria Valleys. We contract for the drilling of all its wells and do not own any drilling equipment, bulk storage facilities, or refineries. We do own a small segment of pipeline at Tracy, California.


We have retained the services of Cecil Engineering, an independent engineer qualified to estimate our net share of proved developed oil and gas reserves on all of our oil and gas properties at December 31, 2001 for SEC filing. We do not include any undeveloped reserves in these reserve studies. Only proved developed reserves are listed in our reserve report. Price is a material factor in our stated reserves, because higher prices permit relatively higher-cost reserves to be produced economically. Higher prices generally permit longer recovery, hence larger reserves at higher values. Conversely, lower prices generally limit recovery to lower-cost reserves, hence smaller reserves. The process of estimating oil and gas reserve quantities is inherently imprecise. Ascribing monetary values to those reserves, therefore, yields imprecise estimated data at best.


Our estimated future net recoverable oil and gas reserves from proved developed properties as of December 31, 2001, December 31, 2000 and December 31, 1999 were as follows:

   

BBL

 

MCF

                 

December 31, 2001

 

Condensate

 

162

 

Natural Gas

 

1,616,418

December 31, 2000

 

Condensate

 

299

 

Natural Gas

 

1,842,672

December 31, 1999

 

Condensate

 

185

 

Natural Gas

 

1,540,003


Using year-end oil and gas prices and current levels of lease operating expenses, the estimated present value of the future net revenue to be derived from our proved developed oil and gas reserves, discounted at 10%, was $1,758,183 at December 31, 2001, $12,920,069 at December 31, 2000, and $1,308,178 at December 31, 1999. The unaudited supplemental information attached to the consolidated financial statements provides more information on oil and gas reserves and estimated values.


The following table sets forth the net quantities of natural gas and crude oil that we produced during:

   

Year Ended December 31, 2001

 

Year Ended December 31, 2000

 

Year Ended December 31, 1999

             

Natural Gas (MCF)

 

230,392

 

249,011

 

210,333

Crude Oil (BBL)

 

14

 

50

 

119


The following table sets forth our average sales price and average production (lifting) cost per unit of oil and gas produced during:

   

Year Ended

 

Year Ended

 

Year Ended

   

December 31, 2001

 

December 31, 2000

 

December 31, 1999

                         
   

Gas (Mcf)

 

Oil (Bbl*)

 

Gas (Mcf)

 

Oil (Bbl*)

 

Gas (Mcf)

 

Oil (Bbl*)

Sales Price

 

$6.93

 

$22.32

 

$3.99

 

$19.98

 

$2.39

 

$11.57

                         

Production Costs

 

$0.40

 

0

 

.29

 

0

 

.67

 

0

                         

Net Profit

 

$6.53

 

$22.32

 

$3.70

 

$19.98

 

$1.72

 

$11.57


* Amount represents total sales price of associated condensate, unable to determine price per barrel.


As of December 31, 2001, we had the following gross and net position in wells and developed acreage:

Wells (1)

 

Acres (2)

Gross

 

Net

 

Gross

 

Net

11

 

4.537

 

2,192

 

645

(1) "Gross" wells represent the total number of producing wells in which we have a working interest. "Net" wells represent the number of gross producing wells multiplied by the percentages of the working interests which we own. "Net wells" recognizes only those wells in which we hold an earned working interest. Working interests earned at payout have not been included.


(2) "Gross" acres represent the total acres in which we have a working interest; "net" acres represent the aggregate of the working interests which we own in the gross acres.


We drilled one exploratory well in 2001, which was a dry hole. We drilled two exploratory wells in 2000. One, the Sunrise-Mayel No. 1 was non-commercial. We intend to hydraulically fracture the second well, Ekho No. 1, to determine if this well is capable of commercial production. See Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition - Petroleum Activities, page 8.


The following table sets forth the number of productive and dry exploratory and development wells which we drilled during:

 

Year Ended

Year Ended

Year Ended

 

December 31, 2001

December 31, 2000

December 31, 1999

       

Exploratory

 

1

 

Producing

-0-

-0-

-0-

Dry

1

1

-0-

Total

1

-0-

-0-

       

Development

     

Producing

-0-

-0-

-0-

Dry

-0-

-0-

-0-

Total

-0-

-0-

-0-


The following table sets forth information regarding undeveloped oil and gas acreage in which we had an interest on December 31, 2001.

State

Gross Acres

Net Acres

California

49,329

43,541

Nevada

16,616

16,616


Some of our undeveloped acreage is held pursuant to leases from landowners. Such leases have varying dates of execution and generally expire one to five years after the date of the lease. In the next three years, the following lease gross acreage expires:

Expires in 2002

5,852 acres

Expires in 2003

7,843 acres

Expires in 2004

2,374 acres

Precious Metals


The precious metals properties are located in interior Alaska. As of December 31, 2001, we had no proven precious metal reserves, but we are exploring these properties. They are comprised of 626 40-acre claims and 15 160-acre claims, of which 104 claims are leased from others, located solely on State open lands requiring annual assessment work, and an annual per claim fee. All fees are current.


The mining claim block covers about 42.9 square miles or 27,740 acres of land, all of which is owned by the State of Alaska. The claims lie within T-5-6-7 S, R 5-6-7-8 E, Fairbanks Meridian (Plate 1), immediately north of the Richardson Highway, an all-weather paved highway that connects Fairbanks, Alaska, with points south and east. Fairbanks is approximately 65 miles northwest of Richardson, and Delta Junction, also on the highway, is about 30 miles to the southeast. The Trans Alaska Pipeline corridor is near the northeastern edge of the claim block and the service road along the pipeline provides access to the claims from the north. Numerous good to fair dirt roads traverse the claims.


The following table sets forth the information regarding the acreage position we have under lease in Alaska as of December 31, 2001:

State

Gross Acres

Net Acres

Alaska

27,740

26,946


Mineral properties claimed on open state land require minimum annual assessment work of $100 worth per State of Alaska claim. In May 2001, we staked 16 160-acre claims. In September 2001, we decided to drop a total of 280 claims, including 9 160-acre claims. In October 2001, we staked 8 new 160-acre claims. Expenditures on the Richardson, Alaska acreage have already carried forward annual assessment requirements more than four years on all its claims. We have no Federal claims.


We have had a joint scientific research agreement with TsNIGRI, the Central Research Institute of Geological Prospecting for Base and Precious Metals, based in Moscow, Russia since 1991. The proprietary technology they use for evaluating large areas of covered sub-arctic terrain has been impressive and encouraging to our efforts. Minute amounts of gold have been found at 60 locations along a 20-mile swath and over 1,000 samples have been assayed by Bondar-Clegg, a respected assay house. We believe we have a great potential and intend to continue our exploration of these properties.


We intend to continue our exploration efforts for precious metals on our claim block in Richardson, Alaska. With the help of TsNIGRI, we have explored and evaluated this property during the summer months, due to the constraints of the weather in the winter months. This work will consist of field activity which includes drilling bore holes, mapping and other geological work.



ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings


We were not party to any material legal proceedings during 2001.



ITEM 4. Submission of Matters To A Vote Of Security Holders


We held our annual meeting on October 22, 2001. At the meeting, the shareholders re-elected all of the six directors who were recommended by the board. They also approved the appointment of Brown Armstrong as our independent accountants.


The shareholder votes were as follows:

Measure #1 - Election of Directors

       
   

FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

Earl H. Beistline

 

18,871,219

 

81,696

   

F. Lynn Blystone

 

18,880,919

 

71,996

   

Milton J. Carlson

 

18,881,219

 

71,696

   

C. Chase Hoffman

 

18,881,219

 

71,696

   

Dennis P. Lockhart

 

18,880,919

 

71,996

   

Loren J. Miller

 

18,880,919

 

71,996

   
             

Measure #2 - Appoint Brown Armstrong as the Company's independent accountants.

   

FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

   

18,837,629

 

85,231

 

30,055

PART II


ITEM 5. Market Price Of The Registrant's Common Stock And Related Security Holder Matters


Shares of Tri-Valley Corporation stock are traded over-the-counter on the Electronic Bulletin Board under the symbol "TRIL." The following table shows the high and low bid and asked prices of Tri-Valley stock for the quarterly periods indicated as reported by the OTC Stock Journal:

   

Bid Prices

 

Asked Prices

   

High

 

Low

 

High

 

Low

2001

               

First Quarter

 

$2.063

 

$1.25

 

$2.50

 

$1.22

Second Quarter

 

$2.980

 

$0.85

 

$3.20

 

$0.69

Third Quarter

 

$2.500

 

$1.40

 

$2.65

 

$1.40

Fourth Quarter

 

$1.900

 

$1.20

 

$2.05

 

$1.20

                 

2000

               

First Quarter

 

$3.438

 

$1.44

 

$3.63

 

$1.43

Second Quarter

 

$4.125

 

$2.03

 

$4.53

 

$1.88

Third Quarter

 

$3.188

 

$1.75

 

$3.38

 

$1.72

Fourth Quarter

 

$1.938

 

$1.13

 

$2.06

 

$1.06


As of December 31, 2001, we estimate that our common stock was held by approximately 2,000 shareholders of record in 40 states and at least 4 foreign countries.


We historically have paid no dividends, and at this time do not plan to pay any dividends in the immediate future. Rather, we strive to add share value through discovery success. As of January 25, 2001, we had 17 market makers for our stock. In 2001, trading volume exceeded 8 million shares.


Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities


During 2001 we issued the following shares of common stock without registration under the Securities Act of 1933. All of these securities were issued pursuant to privately negotiated transactions in reliance on the exemption contained in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.


- One director and one former employee exercised options to purchase 16,000 common shares at $0.50 each.


- One individual, Edgar L. Moss, exercised options (purchased from a former employee in 2000) to purchase 99,000 common shares at $0.50 per share.


- We issued 10,000 shares to Trans Seismic International for services. The closing market price of our common stock on the date we awarded these shares (February 27, 2001) was $1.44 per share.


- We issued 10,000 shares to TVOG president, Joseph R. Kandle, for services. The closing market price of our common stock on the date we awarded these shares (April 9, 2001) was $0.87 per share.


ITEM 6. Selected Historical Financial Data

   

Year Ended December 31,

   

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

1998

 

1997

Income Statement Data:

                   

Revenues

 

$ 2,130,187

 

$ 2,197,369

 

$ 2,686,129

 

$ 977,982

 

$ 915,519

Operating Income (Loss)

 

$ (117,975)

 

$ (1,360,263)

 

$ (12,417)

 

$ (1,004,790)

 

$ (3,306,561)

Basic Earnings Per Share

 

$ -

 

$ (0.07)

 

$ -

 

$ (0.05)

 

$ (0.19)

Revenues

 

$ 2,130,187

 

$ 2,197,369

 

$ 2,686,129

 

$ 977,982

 

$ 915,519

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

   

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

1998

 

1997

Balance Sheet Data:

                   

Property and Equipment, net

 

$ 2,010,457

 

$ 1,357,959

 

$ 1,059,755

 

$ 1,038,237

 

$ 821,614

Total Assets

 

$ 3,381,757

 

$ 4,053,257

 

$ 9,802,463

 

$ 2,216,958

 

$ 4,921,127

Long Term Obligations

 

$ 8,371

 

$ 12,038

 

$ 21,055

 

$ 8,527

 

$ 116,950

Stockholder's Equity

 

$ 353,776

 

$ 391,651

 

$ 391,651

 

$ 1,230,849

 

$ 2,091,687



ITEM 7. Management's Discussion And Analysis Of Financial Condition


Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements


This report contains forward-looking statements. The words, "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "plan," "intend," "estimate," "project," "could," "may," "foresee," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include information regarding expected development of the Company's business, lending activities, relationship with customers, and development in the oil and gas industry. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially and adversely from those anticipated, believed, estimated or otherwise indicated.


Overview


We believe that, after 20 years of downsizing in the petroleum industry, increased oil and natural gas prices during the past year have created a favorable environment for renewed growth. Production from existing reserves continues to decline, while demand increases. While the trend for demand to outstrip available supplies is worldwide as well as national, we believe that it is particularly acute in California, our primary venue for exploration and production, which imports 53% of its oil and 85% of its natural gas demand. Oil prices tend to be set based on worldwide supplies and prices, while natural gas prices seem to be more dependent on local conditions. Over the past year, natural gas prices in California have risen and fallen, dramatically, and our revenue from gas sales has reflected these price variancies. We expect that gas prices will hold steady or possibly increase over the next year. If, however, prices should fall, for instance due to new regulatory measures or the discovery of new and easily producible reserves, our revenue from oil and gas sales would also fall.


We are continuing grading and prioritizing our geologic library, which contains over 700 California leads and prospects, for exploratory drilling. We use our library to decide where we should seek oil and gas leases for future explorations. Of course, we cannot be sure that any future prospect can be obtained at an attractive lease price or that any exploration efforts would result in a commercially successful well.


We seek to fund and drill enough exploratory wells for commercial discoveries to make up for the cost of the inevitable dry holes that we can expect, in the exploration business. We believe our existing inventory and projects bear a high enough ratio of potentially successful to unsuccessful projects to deliver value to our drilling partners and our shareholders from successful wells, in excess of the total costs of all successful and unsuccessful projects. Our future results will depend on our success in finding new reserves and commercial production, and there can be no assurance what revenue we can ultimately expect from any new discoveries.


Tri-Valley Corporation does not engage in hedging activities and does not use commodity futures or forward contracts in its cash management functions.


Natural Gas Activities


The Company generally sells a percentage of production on a fixed contract price and the remainder at the monthly spot price. In times when we expect the price of gas to weaken, we try to increase the amount we sell under fixed prices. When we expect the price of gas to rise, we seek to sell more gas in the spot market. In 2000, we sold 49% of our production under fixed price contracts and 51% on the spot market. In 2001, we sold our gas 100% on the spot market. Because we expect gas prices to rise, we intend to sell 100% of our production on the spot market in 2002. Because we plan to sell only on the spot market in 2002, a drop in the price of gas could possibly have a more adverse impact on us than if we entered into some fixed price contracts for sale of future production.


Our proved hydrocarbon reserves were valued using a standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows of $1,005,010 at December 31, 2001, a decrease of $7,478,716 from December 31, 2000 after taking into account a 10% discount rate and also taking into consideration the effect of income tax. This was due primarily to the decrease in gas prices. Estimates such as these are subject to numerous uncertainties inherent in the estimation of quantities of proved reserves. Because of unpredictable variances in expenses and capital forecasts, crude oil and natural gas price changes, largely influenced and controlled by U.S. and foreign government actions, and the fact that the basis for such estimates vary significantly, management believes the usefulness of these projections is limited. Estimates of future net cash flows presented do not represent management's assessment of future profitability or future cash flows to the Company. This value does not appear on the balance sheet because accounting rules require discovered reserves to be carried on the balance sheet at the cost of obtaining them rather than the actual future net revenue from producing them.


Tri-Valley usually sells most of the working interest in its test wells on prospects to third parties. The sales price of the interest is intended to pay for all drilling and testing costs on the property. Tri-Valley retains a minority "carried" ownership interest in the well and does not pay its proportionate share of drilling and testing costs for the well. Under these arrangements, we usually minimize the Company's cost to drill and also receive a minority interest from the reserves we discover. On the other hand, we occasionally incur extra expenses for drilling or development that we choose, in our discretion, not to pass on to other venture participants.


Petroleum Activities


We began drilling the Ekho No. 1 on February 7, 2000. We hoped to drill into a naturally fractured area of the target formation to achieve natural flow potential. The well did encounter oil that is 48.6 API gravity and 1,460 Btu gas with no hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen or water. Gravity is the determining factor in the value of oil, the higher the gravity the more valuable the oil. Generally oil gravity in Kern County is 13 to 35 gravity. Btu (British thermal units) is the method used to determine the energy value of natural gas, the higher the btu the more valuable the gas. 1,460 Btu gas is considered to be a very high value. H2S (hydrogen sulfide/poison gas), CO2 (carbon dioxide), nitrogen and water are contaminants, which increase operating costs and decrease the value of the gas. However, the borehole encountered "tight" sands or a formation of low permeability, which will require artificial fracturing to provide avenues for the oil and gas to flow at higher rates. The term 'tight sands' refers to gas bearing sands that holds gas too tightly for conventional extraction to bring it to the surface economically without special stimulation.


This additional cost came at a time when the Canadian partners in the joint venture encountered national market conditions that precluded them from raising sufficient funds to stay in the project and all but one of the Canadian partners elected not to continue. Tri-Valley is in the process of repartnering the project with stronger partners to assure that the project can go forward through completion of the Ekho No. 1.


Precious Metals Activity


The price of gold has fluctuated in the last 12 months from a high of $292.85 per oz. to a low of $256.70 per oz. As funds become available the Company will continue to explore its claim block for discovery success. Historically the Company has done its exploration on a seasonal basis, normally in the warmer months.


We are confident that other parties will be willing to participate when the price of gold recovers.


Telecommunications


In May 1998, we loaned $125,000, secured by partnership property, to Third Mobile of Central New York, a partnership that owned wireless cable properties and licenses. The partnership filed chapter 11 bankruptcy in the bankruptcy court in Sacramento, CA. We pursued our claim in bankruptcy court, for the loan amount plus our attorney fees and expenses. In the fourth quarter of 2001, we received $200,000 plus related equipment from the partnership in a settlement which was approved by the bankruptcy court. We decided not to pursue any further investment in the telecommunications business.


Results of Operations


Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2001 and 2000


Balance Sheet


The Company had $911,913 cash on hand at December 31, 2001 compared to $1,373,570 at December 31,2000. This decrease resulted from the Company spending funds that had been advanced by our joint venture partners to drill Sunrise-Mayel#1. Accounts receivables were $711,136 less in 2001 due to the receipts owed us at the end of 2000, which were higher, as the price per mcf of gas was much higher in 2000 than in 2001. Trade accounts payable were $284,016 less in the year ending 2001 due to reduced drilling activity in the latter part of 2001 compared to 2000. Accounts payable to joint venture participants was $480,511 less in 2001 than in 2000 due to the amounts and timing of revenue receipts and their distribution to the participants. The $125,000 note receivable that was recorded on our balance sheet on December 31, 2000, was repaid with interest and expenses during 2001 in settlement of a claim we made in bankruptcy court.


Revenues


Oil and gas income amounted to $1,656,265 for the year ended 2001 compared to $1,044,013 for the year ended 2000. This increase was mainly due to the increase in natural gas prices paid for our production in northern California during the first half of 2001 compared to 2000. Our oil and gas income includes sales of oil and gas, royalties, and partnership income. The decrease of $645,074 in sale of oil and gas prospects was because the prospect we sold in 2001 was smaller than the prospect sold in 2000.


Gain on sale of property was $154,760 less in 2001 because we had no sale of property in 2001. Sale of oil and gas prospects is $645,074 less in 2001 compared to 2000 because of the smaller prospect sales in 2001 than in 2000.


Interest income decreased $75,637 for the year ended 2001 compared to the year ended 2000 due to reduced funds on deposit earning interest. Other income increased $196,037 due to the settlement and payment of the telecommunications claim.


Costs and Expenses


Costs and expenses are $1,309,470 less in the year ended 2001 compared to the year ended 2000. Mining expenses were $60,901 greater due to more exploratory activity on our Alaska claims. Workover expenses were $202,932 more in 2001 due to more wells having work done on them to enhance production capabilities. The cost of oil and gas prospects sold was $275,889 less in 2001 due to the size of the prospect we sold being smaller than the one sold in 2000. General and administrative costs were $813,462 less this year due to the settlement of a lawsuit and the costs related to it in the year ended December 31, 2000. Our well write-off expenses were $490,921 less in 2001 due to the fact we did not write off any wells in the year 2001.


Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2000 and 1999


Balance Sheet


We had $1,373,570 cash on hand at December 31, 2000 compared to $8,050,469 at December 31, 1999. This decrease was the result of our spending funds that had been advanced by our joint venture partners to drill Ekho #1. Trade accounts receivable are $663,177 (427% greater) for the year ended December 31, 2000 compared to the same period last year. This was the result of increased production due to re-working of some of our wells and the increase of natural gas prices. Trade accounts payable were $189,913 (48% greater) in the year ended December 31, 2000 due to invoices to be paid related to drilling the Sunrise-Mayel #1 well. Accounts payable to joint venture participants is larger this year due to accrued revenue at year-end on their behalf. The decrease in advances from joint venture participants is because at year end 1999 we had funds on deposit for the Ekho #1 that were paid out over 2000 as the well was drilled.


Revenues


Oil and gas income amounted to $1,045,013 for the year ended 2000 compared to $522,591 for the year ended 1999, a 199% increase. This $522,422 increase was mainly due to the increase in natural gas prices paid for our production in northern California during the last half of the year. Our oil and gas income includes sales of oil and gas, royalties, and partnership income. The decrease of $928,791 in sale of oil and gas prospects was because the prospect we sold in 2000 was smaller than the prospect sold in 1999.


Interest income increased by $66,881 (207%) in 2000 to $99,234, from $32,353 in 1999. The increased interest income came from funds we had on account.


Other income dropped to $34,862 in 2000 from $261,460 in 1999, because Placer Dome USA, paid us $225,000 pursuant to an option agreement to conduct exploration activities, which we signed in 1999.


Costs and Expenses


Costs and expenses are $883,920 greater for the fiscal year 2000, a 33% increase. The oil and gas lease expenses were $426,428 larger due to the write off of a well that was drilled in a previous year. Cost of oil and gas prospects sold are $276,051 (26%) less this year because this prospect was smaller than the one sold in 1999. General and administrative expenses are $928,847 (107%) greater due to legal costs and the settlement of a lawsuit filed in 1997.


In 1999, we recorded $148,334 for impairment of acquisition costs, as we wrote down the value of previously acquired properties. We incurred no such impairment expense in 2000.


Financial Condition


Commitments


Generally, our financial commitments arise from selling interests in our drilling prospects to third parties, which results in an obligation to drill and develop the prospect. If we are unable to sell sufficient interests in a prospect to fund its drilling and development, we must either amend our agreements to drill the prospect, locate a substitute prospect acceptable to the participants or refund the participants' funds. At December 31, 2001, we had drilling commitments resulting from the sale of prospects that amounted to approximately $850,000. At December 31, 2000, our commitments amounted to approximately $750,000.


Delay rentals for oil and gas leases amounted to $726,854 in 2001. Advance royalty payments and gold mining claims maintenance fees were $126,885 for the same period. We expect that approximately equal delay rentals and fees will be paid in 2002 from operating revenues.


Losses from Operating Activities


Tri-Valley had a positive cash flow of $45,072 for the year ended 2001 compared to a negative cash flow of $6,769,317 during 2000, primarily due to well workover expenses in 2001. The Company hopes to have a positive cash flow in the fiscal year 2002 by increasing exploration activity. Our internal source of liquidity is derived from our prospect and oil and gas sales. External capital is generally acquired through the sale of our restricted common stock in private transactions.


In 2000, we had negative cash flow largely because of a one-time charge of $600,000 to settle a lawsuit between us and a former consultant. Also, we incurred a write-off of a well deemed to be non-commercial. In 1999, joint venture participants advanced $7,742,568 for the Ekho #1 well. In 2000, we recorded a decrease of funds advanced of $5,359,863 as we expended the funds to drill the well.


Investing Activities


In 2001, we spent $702,613 on capital expenditures, compared to $293,489 in 2000. The capital expenditures were incurred in connection with leasing activities. Our proceeds from sale of property decreased by $154,760 in 2001. Overall, our cash used by investing activities rose to $557,655 in 2001 from $155,782 in 2000, a $401,873 increase.


In 2000, we spent $293,489 on capital expenditures, compared to $91,713 in 1999 - a 220% increase. These capital expenditures were incurred in connection with leasing activities. Our proceeds from sale of property increased by $74,760 (93%) in 2000 to $154,760, compared to $80,000 in 1999. Overall, our cash used by investing activities rose to $155,782 in 2000 from $13,033 in 1999, a $142,749 (1,095%) increase.


Financing Activities


Cash provided by financing activities was $50,926 in fiscal year 2001 compared to cash provided financing activities of $248,200 for fiscal 2000 and $178,338 for fiscal 1999.


The Company in recent years has financed a portion of its operations by the sale of the Company's common stock in private placement transactions. In 2001, we raised $57,000 from private placements of common stock, compared to $285,000 in 2000 and $171,499 in 1999.


The overall changes in all activity related to our cash flows in 2001 were directly related to the difference in the size of projects in 2001 compared to the projects in 2000. In 2000 we had large expenditures (compared to other years) for drilling the Ekho #1 well, for which the funds were largely raised in 1999.


Liquidity


The recoverability of the Company's oil and gas properties is dependent of future events, including obtaining adequate financing for its exploration and development program, the successful completion of its planned drilling program, and the achievement of a level of operating revenues that is sufficient to support the Company's cost structure. At various times during the life of the Company to date, it has been necessary for the Company to raise additional capital through private placements of equity financing. When such a need has arisen, the Company has met it successfully. It is management's belief that it will continue to be able to meet its needs for additional capital as such needs arise in the future. Tri-Valley Corporation's needs for additional financing may include the following:


Should the Company choose to make an acquisition of producing oil and gas properties, it is likely that such an acquisition would require that some portion of the purchase price be paid in cash, and thus would create need for additional capital. Additional capital could be obtained from a combination of funding sources. The potential funding sources include:


Tri-Valley's ability to raise additional capital will depend on the results of its operations and the status of various capital and industry markets at the time such additional capital is sought. Accordingly, there can be no assurances that capital will be available to the Company from any source or that, if available, it will be on terms acceptable to the Company.

 

ITEM 8: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

TRI-VALLEY CORPORATION
INDEX

 

   

Page(s)

     

Report of Independent Auditor

 

15

     

Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2001 and 2000

 

16

     

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended

   

December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999

 

17

     

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the

   

Years Ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999

 

18

     

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended

   

December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999

 

19

     

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

20-32

     

Supplemental Information about Oil and Gas Producing

   

Activities (Unaudited)

 

33-35

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITOR



The Board of Directors
Tri-Valley Corporation
Bakersfield, California


We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Tri-Valley Corporation as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2001. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.


We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.


In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly in all material respects the financial position of Tri-Valley Corporation at December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2001, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.


BROWN ARMSTRONG RANDALL PAULDEN

McCOWN HILL STARBUCK & KEETER

ACCOUNTANCY CORPORATION



Bakersfield, California
February 13, 2002

TRI-VALLEY CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

December 31,

   

2001

 

2000

ASSETS

       

Current Assets

       

Cash

$

911,913

$

1,373,570

Accounts receivable, trade

 

107,225

 

818,361

Prepaid expenses

 

12,029

 

12,029

         

Total Current Assets

 

1,031,167

 

2,203,960

         

Property and Equipment, Net (Notes 1 and 2)

 

2,010,457

 

1,357,959

         

Other Assets

       

Deposits

 

104,705

 

100,105

Note receivable (Note 9)

 

-

 

125,000

Investments in partnerships (Note 1)

 

9,101

 

29,059

Goodwill (net of accumulated amortization of $221,439 and

       

$210,593 at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively) (Note 1)

 

212,414

 

223,260

Other

 

13,913

 

13,914

         

Total Other Assets

 

340,133

 

491,338

         

TOTAL ASSETS

$

3,381,757

$

4,053,257

         

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

       

Current Liabilities

       

Notes payable (Note 3)

$

8,265

$

10,672

Trade accounts payable

 

297,001

 

581,017

Amounts payable to joint venture participants

 

59,631

 

540,142

Advances from joint venture participants, net (Note 1)

 

2,654,713

 

2,517,737

       

Total Current Liabilities

 

3,019,610

 

3,649,568

         

Long-Term Portion of Notes Payable (Note 3)

 

8,371

 

12,038

         

Shareholders' Equity

       

Common stock, $.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares

       

authorized; 19,689,748 and 19,554,748 issued and outstanding

       

at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively

 

19,690

 

19,555

Less: common stock in treasury, at cost, 179,42 and 179,425

       

shares at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively

 

(21,913)

 

(21,913)

Capital in excess of par value

 

8,746,653

 

8,666,688

Accumulated deficit

 

(8,390,654)

 

(8,272,679)

         

Total Shareholders' Equity

 

353,776

 

391,651

         

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

$

3,381,757

$

4,053,257

TRI-VALLEY CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS





 

For the Years Ended December 31,

   

2001

 

2000

 

1999

             

Revenues

           

Sale of oil and gas

$

1,446,308

$

891,774

$

444,429

Royalty income

 

6,952

 

11,406

 

4,699

Partnership income

 

203,005

 

140,833

 

73,463

Gain on sale of property

 

-

 

154,760

 

77,434

Interest income

 

23,597

 

99,234

 

32,353

Sale of oil and gas prospects

 

218,426

 

863,500

 

1,792,291

Other income

 

231,899

 

35,862

 

261,460

             

Total Revenues

 

2,130,187

 

2,197,369

 

2,686,129

             

Costs and Expenses

           

Mining exploration costs

 

223,643

 

162,741

 

193,069

Oil and gas leases

 

91,440

 

72,213

 

155,237

Well workover

 

240,718

 

37,786

 

4,086

Severed acreage

 

174

 

1,026

 

16,195

Cost of oil and gas prospects sold

 

508,821

 

784,710

 

1,060,761

General and administrative

 

1,117,643

 

1,931,105

 

1,002,258

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

60,962

 

57,400

 

76,280

Interest

 

4,761

 

19,730

 

17,492

Well write-off

 

-

 

490,921

 

-

Impairment of acquisition costs

 

-

 

-

 

148,334

             

Total Costs and Expenses

 

2,248,162

 

3,557,632

 

2,673,712

             

Net Income (Loss) before Income Taxes

 

(117,975)

 

(1,360,263)

 

12,417

             

Tax Provision (Note 5)

 

-

 

-

 

-

             

Net Income (Loss)

$

(117,975)

$

(1,360,263)

$

12,417

             
             

Basic Earnings (Loss) per Common Share

$

-

$

(.07)

$

-

             

Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Common Share

$

N/A

$

N/A

$

N/A

             

Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding

$

19,495,693

$

19,293,188

$

18,957,278

TRI-VALLEY CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY





 

Total

   

Capital in

     
 

Common

Treasury

 

Excess of

Accumulated

Treasury

Shareholders'

Shares

Shares

Par Value

Par Value

Deficit

Stock

Equity

               

Balance at

             

December 31, 1998,

             

as restated

19,088,248

172,925

$ 19,088

$ 8,177,655

$ (6,924,833)

$ (41,061)

$ 1,230,849

             

Issuance of common stock

213,000

-

213

171,287

-

-

171,500

Treasury shares acquired

-

6,500

-

 

-

(4,102)

(4,102)

Stock issuance costs

-

-

-

(4,500)

-

-

(4,500)

Net Income

-

-

-

-

12,417

-

12,417

               

Balance at

             

December 31, 1999,

             

as restated

19,301,248

179,425

19,301

8,344,462

(6,912,416)

(45,163)

1,406,164

               

Issuance of common stock

253,500

(15,500)

254

373,396

-

23,250

396,900

Stock issuance costs

-

 

-

(51,150)

-

-

(51,150)

Net income (loss)

-

-

-

-

(1,360,263)

-

(1,360,263)

               

Balance at

             

December 31, 2000,

             

as restated

19,554,748

163,925

19,555

8,666,688

(8,272,679)

(21,913)

391,651

               

Issuance of common stock

135,000

 

135

79,965

-

-

80,100

Stock issuance costs

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

Net income (loss)

-

-

-

-

(117,975)

-

(117,975)

               

Balance at

             

December 31, 2001

19,689,748

163,925

$ 19,690

$ 8,746,653

$ (8,390,654)

$ (21,913)

$ 353,776

TRI-VALLEY CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

For the Years Ended December 31,

   

2001

 

2000

 

1999

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

           

Net income (loss)

$

(117,975)

$

(1,360,263)

$

12,417

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash

           

used by operating activities:

           

Depreciation, depletion, and amortization

 

60,962

 

57,400

 

76,280

(Gain) on sale of property

 

-

 

(154,760)

 

(77,434)

Non-employee stock compensation

 

23,100

 

88,650

 

-

Impairment, dry hole and other disposals of property

           

and equipment

 

-

 

-

 

164,529

Changes in operating capital:

           

(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable

 

711,136

 

(663,177)

 

152,389

Increase in prepaids

 

-

 

(10,000)

 

-

Increase in deposits and other assets

 

(4,600)

 

(1,375)

 

(28,992)

Increase (decrease) in trade accounts payable

 

(284,016)

 

189,915

 

(191,431)

Increase (decrease) in amounts payable to joint venture

           

participants and related parties

 

(480,511)

 

444,156

 

(154,390)

Increase (decrease) in advances from j.v. participants

 

136,976

 

(5,359,863)

 

7,742,568

             

Net Cash Provided (Used) by Operating Activities

 

45,072

 

(6,769,317)

 

7,695,936

             

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

           

Payments on notes receivable

 

125,000

 

-

 

-

Proceeds from sale of property

 

-

 

154,760

 

80,000

Capital expenditures

 

(702,613)

 

(293,489)

 

(91,713)

(Investment in) distribution from partnerships

 

19,958

 

(17,053)

 

(1,320)

             

Net Cash Used by Investing Activities

 

(557,655)

 

(155,782)

 

(13,033)

             

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

           

Principal payments on long-term debt

 

(6,074)

 

(8,900)

 

(5,134)

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

 

134

 

274

 

192

Additional paid in capital

 

56,866

 

284,726

 

171,307

Purchase of treasury stock

 

-

 

-

 

(4,102)

Sale of treasury stock

 

-

 

23,250

 

-

Proceeds from loan

 

-

 

-

 

18,575

Stock issuance costs

 

-

 

(51,150)

 

(4,500)

             

Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities

 

50,926

 

248,200

 

176,338

             

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

(461,657)

 

(6,676,899)

 

7,859,241

             

Cash at Beginning of Year

 

1,373,570

 

8,050,469

 

191,226

             

Cash at End of Year

$

911,913

$

1,373,570

$

8,050,469

             

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

             

Interest paid

$

4,761

$

19,730

$

17,492

           

Income taxes paid

$

-

$

15,756

$

4,662

TRI-VALLEY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2001, 2000 AND 1999



NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES


This summary of significant accounting policies of Tri-Valley Corporation is presented to assist in understanding the Company's financial statements. The financial statements and notes are representations of the Company's management, which is responsible for their integrity and objectivity. These accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles and have been consistently applied in the preparation of the financial statements.


Principles of Consolidation


The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Tri-Valley Oil & Gas Co. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.


Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements


The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and disclosures at the date of the financial statements as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.


Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change relate to the estimate of Company oil and gas reserves prepared by an independent engineering consultant. Such estimates are subject to numerous uncertainties inherent in the estimation of quantities of proved reserves. Estimated reserves are used in the calculation of depletion, depreciation and amortization as well as the Company's assessment of proved oil and gas properties for impairment.


History and Business Activity


The Company has been historically an oil and gas exploration and production company, emphasizing the Sacramento Valley natural gas province and is now also very active in the south San Joaquin Valley. In the fiscal year 1987, the Company added precious metals exploration. The Company conducts its oil and gas business primarily through its wholly owned oil and gas subsidiary, Tri-Valley Oil & Gas Company ("TVOG"). TVOG is engaged in the exploration, acquisition and production of oil and gas properties. At present, the precious metals exploration activities are conducted directly by the parent, Tri-Valley Corporation ("TVC"). TVC has traditionally sought acquisition or merger opportunities within and outside of petroleum and mineral industries.


Cash Equivalent and Short-Term Investments


Cash equivalents include cash on hand and on deposit, and highly liquid debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less.


Goodwill


The consolidated financial statements include the net assets purchased of Tri-Valley Corporation's wholly owned oil and gas subsidiary, TVOG. Net assets are carried at their fair market value at the acquisition date. The excess of acquisition costs over the fair value of assets acquired is included in and has been allocated to goodwill. Goodwill of $433,853 is being amortized on a straight-line basis over 40 years. The carrying amount of goodwill is evaluated


NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)


periodically. Factors used in the evaluation include the Company's ability to raise capital as a public company and anticipated cash flows from operating and non-operating mineral properties.


Drilling Agreements/Joint Ventures


Tri-Valley frequently participates in drilling agreements whereby it acts as operator of drilling and producing activities. As operator, TVOG is liable for the activities of these ventures. The Company typically owns a carried interest and/or overriding royalty interest in such ventures, earning a working interest at payout.


Receivables from and amounts payable to these related parties (as well as other related parties) have been segregated in the accompanying financial statements. In the event the Company has expended funds for a project in an amount greater than the original contribution from investors, the Company cash-calls the participants for additional funds. Excess project funding is held until it is determined that no further requirement exists for abandonment or plugging back of project wells, at which time the funds are refunded. In 2000, the Company expensed $490,921 worth of joint venture project costs attributed to a dry hole project.


Sale of Oil and Gas Prospects


The Company sells the rights to unproven oil and gas prospects to the joint ventures created for drilling and exploration activities. These amounts represent the Company's costs of leasing and acquiring the prospects, and other geological and geophysical costs (hereafter referred to as "GGLA") plus a profit to the Company. The Company recognizes gain on the sale of prospect GGLA at the point when the joint venture is fully funded, as the portion of the project cost attributed to GGLA is nonrefundable upon completion of project funding.


Oil and Gas Property and Equipment (Successful Efforts)


The Company accounts for its oil and gas exploration and development costs on the successful efforts method. Under this method, costs to acquire mineral interests in oil and gas properties, to drill and complete exploratory wells that find proved reserves and to drill and complete development wells are capitalized. Exploratory dry-hole costs, geological and geophysical costs and costs of carrying and retaining unproved properties are expensed when incurred, except those GGLA expenditures incurred on behalf of joint venture drilling projects, which the Company defers until the GGLA is sold at the completion of project funding. Expenditures incurred in drilling exploratory wells are accumulated as work in process until the Company determines whether the well has encountered commercial oil and gas reserves. If the well has encountered commercial reserves, the accumulated cost is transferred to oil and gas properties; otherwise, the accumulated cost, net of salvage value, is charged to dry hole expense. If the well has encountered commercial reserves but cannot be classified as proved within one year after discovery, then the well is considered to be impaired, and the capitalized costs (net of any salvage value) of drilling the well are charged to expense. In 1999, 2000, and 2001 there was no impairment of exploratory well costs. Depletion, depreciation and amortization of oil and gas producing properties are computed on an aggregate basis using the units-of-production method based upon estimated proved developed reserves.


The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and/or Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of," requires that long-lived assets be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The provisions of SFAS 121 are applicable to proved properties and our costs of wells and related equipment. Periodically, if there is a large decrease in oil and gas reserves or production on a property, or if a dry hole is drilled on or near one of its properties the Company will review the properties for impairment. SFAS 121 also established guidelines for determining recoverability based on future net cash flows from the use of the asset and for the measurement of the impairment loss. Impairment loss under SFAS No. 121 is calculated as the difference between the carrying amount of the asset and its fair value. If the carrying amount exceeds the undiscounted future net revenues, an impairment is recognized equal to the difference between the

NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)


Oil and Gas Property and Equipment (Successful Efforts) (Continued)


carrying value and the discounted estimated future net revenues of that property, which closely reflects fair market value. Any impairment loss is recorded in the current period in which the recognition criteria are first applied and met. Under the successful efforts method of accounting for oil and gas operations, the Company periodically assesses its proved properties for impairments by comparing the aggregate net book carrying amount of all proved properties with their aggregate future net cash flows. The statement requires that the impairment review be performed on the lowest level of asset groupings for which there are identifiable cash flows. In the case of the Company, this results in a field by field impairment review.


Upon the sale of oil and gas reserves in place, costs less accumulated amortization of such property are removed from the accounts and resulting gain or loss on sale is reflected in operations. Impairment of non-producing leasehold costs and undeveloped mineral and royalty interests are assessed periodically on a property-by-property basis, and any impairment in value is currently charged to expense. In addition, we assess the capitalized costs of unproved properties periodically to determine whether their value has been impaired below the capitalized costs. We recognize a loss to the extent that such impairment is indicated. In making these assessments, we consider factors such as exploratory drilling results, future drilling plans, and lease expiration terms. When an entire interest in an unproved property is sold, gain or loss is recognized, taking into consideration any recorded impairment. When a partial interest in an unproved property is sold, the amount is treated as a reduction of the cost of the interest retained. Upon abandonment of properties, the reserves are deemed fully depleted and any unamortized costs are recorded in the statement of operations under leases sold, relinquished and impaired.


Gold Mineral Property


The Company has invested in several gold mineral properties with exploration potential. All mineral claim acquisition costs and exploration and development expenditures are charged to expense as incurred. We capitalize acquisition and exploration costs only after persuasive engineering evidence is obtained to support recoverability of these costs (ideally upon determination of proven and/or probable reserves based upon dense drilling samples and feasibility studies by a recognized independent engineer).


Change in Accounting for Well Database Costs


Effective December 31, 1998, the Company changed its method of accounting for the costs of 2D Seismic studies. Previously the Company capitalized these costs as inventoriable expenditures recoverable by sale or by development. Portions of the database used for Company projects have been capitalized as part of the carrying costs of proved properties. The Company has evaluated whether it is appropriate to report these costs as inventoriable expenditures and has determined that these costs are more appropriately reported as exploration geological and geophysical to be expensed when incurred. Accordingly, the Company has restated its financial statements to reflect the effect of expensing these costs at the time of acquisition prior to fiscal 1999. The restatement had no effect on basic or diluted earnings per share for 1999 and 2000 as previously reported.


Properties and Equipment


Properties and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

Office furniture and fixtures

3 - 7 years

Building

40 years


Leasehold improvements are amortized over the life of the lease.


Maintenance and repairs, which neither materially add to the value of the property nor appreciably prolong its life, are charged to expense as incurred. Gains or losses on dispositions of property and equipment other than oil and gas are reflected in operations.

NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)


Concentration of Credit Risk and Fair Value of Financial Instruments


As discussed in Note 6, the Company sells oil, gas and natural gas liquids to primarily one purchaser located in the northern California region.


The Company places its temporary cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions and limits the amount of credit exposure to any one financial institution.


Fair value of financial instruments are estimated to approximate the related book value, unless otherwise indicated, based on market information available to the Company. The fair value of the Company's note receivable is estimated based on the discounted value of the future cash flows expected to be received, and considers the length of time the note has been in default.


Revenue Recognition


Crude oil and natural gas revenues are recognized as production takes place and the sale is completed and the risk of loss transfers to a third party purchaser.


Reclassification


Certain amounts in the financial statements have been reclassified to be consistent and comparable from year-to-year.


Treasury Stock


The Company records acquisition of its capital stock for treasury at cost. Differences between proceeds for reissuance of treasury stock and average cost are charged to retained earnings or credited thereto to the extent of prior charges and thereafter to capital in excess of par value.


Accounting Pronouncements


In April 2000, the FASB issued Financial Interpretation Number (FIN) 44, Accounting for Certain Transactions Involving Stock Compensation--an Interpretation of Accounting Principles Board No. 25. FIN 44 clarifies the application of Opinion No. 25. This Interpretation was effective immediately and all issues are to be handled prospectively. The adoption of FIN 44 did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.


In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Statements of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141 "Business Combinations" ("SFAS 141") and No. 142 "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" ("SFAS 142"). SFAS 141 requires all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 to be accounted for under the purchase method. For all business combinations for which the date of acquisition is after June 30, 2001, SFAS 141 also establishes specific criteria for the recognition of intangible assets separately from goodwill. SFAS 141 also requires unallocated negative goodwill (in a case where the purchase price is less than fair market value of the acquired assets) to be written off immediately as an extraordinary gain, rather than deferred and amortized. SFAS 142 changes the accounting for goodwill and other intangible assets after an acquisition. The most significant changes made by SFAS 142 are: 1) goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives will no longer be amortized; 2) goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives must be tested for impairment at least annually; and 3) the amortization period for intangible assets with finite lives will no longer be limited to 40 years.


Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in business combinations completed before July 1, 2001 will continue to be amortized prior to the adoption of Statement No. 142. Statement No. 141 will require, upon adoption of Statement No. 142, that the Company evaluate its existing intangible assets and goodwill that were acquired in a prior purchase

NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)


Accounting Pronouncements (Continued)


business combination, and to make any necessary reclassifications in order to conform with the new criteria in Statement No. 141 for recognition apart from goodwill. Upon adoption of Statement No. 142, the Company will be required to reassess the useful lives and residual values of all intangible assets acquired in purchase business combinations, and make any necessary amortization period adjustments by the end of the first interim period after adoption. In addition, to the extent an intangible asset is identified as having an indefinite useful life, the Company will be required to test the intangible asset for impairment in accordance with the provisions of Statement No. 142 within the first interim period. Any impairment loss will be measured as of the date of adoption and recognized as the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle in the first interim period. In connection with the transitional goodwill impairment evaluation, Statement No. 142 will require the Company to perform an assessment, by reporting unit, of whether there is an indication that goodwill is impaired as of the date of adoption. Management believes the Company has one reporting unit. The Company will then have up to six months from the date of adoption to determine the fair value of its reporting unit and compare it to the reporting unit's carrying amount. To the extent the reporting unit's carrying amount exceeds its fair value, an indication exists that the reporting unit's goodwill may be impaired and the Company must perform the second step of the transitional impairment test. In the second step, the Company must compare the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill, determined by allocating the reporting unit's fair value to all of it assets (recognized and unrecognized) and liabilities in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation in accordance with Statement No. 141, to its carrying amount, both of which would be measured as of the date of adoption. This second step is required to be completed as soon as possible, but no later than the end of the year of adoption. Any transitional impairment loss will be recognized as the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle in the Company's statement of earnings. SFAS 142 is effective for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2002. As of the date of adoption, the Company expects to have unamortized goodwill in the amount of $212,414 all of which will be subject to the transition provisions of Statements 141 and 142. Amortization expense related to goodwill was $10,846 per year for the fiscal years 2001, 2000, and 1999. The Company does not believe that the adoption of these statements will have a material effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.


In June 2001, the FASB also approved for issuance SFAS 143 "Asset Retirement Obligations." SFAS 143 establishes accounting requirements for retirement obligations associated with tangible long-lived assets such as wells and production facilities. SFAS 143 guidance covers (1) the timing of the liability recognition, (2) initial measurement of the liability, (3) allocation of asset retirement cost to expense, (4) subsequent measurement of the liability and (5) financial statement disclosures. SFAS 143 requires that an asset retirement cost should be capitalized as part of the cost of the related long- lived asset and subsequently allocated to expense using a systematic and rational method. The Company will adopt the statement effective no later than January 1, 2003, as required. The transition adjustment resulting from the adoption of SFAS 143 will be reported as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle. At this time, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the effect of the adoption of this statement on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.


In August 2001, the FASB also approved SFAS 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets" ("SFAS 144"). SFAS 144 replaces SFAS 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of." The new accounting model for long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale applies to all long-lived assets, including discontinued operations, and replaces the provisions of APB Opinion No. 30, "Reporting Results of Operations-Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business", for the disposal of segments of a business. SFAS 144 requires that those long-lived assets be measured at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell, whether reported in continuing operations or in discontinued operations. Therefore, discontinued operations will no longer be measured at net realizable value or include amounts for operating losses that have not yet occurred. SFAS 144 also broadens the reporting of discontinued operations to include all components of an entity with operations that can be distinguished from the rest of the entity and that will be eliminated from the ongoing operations of the entity in a disposal transaction. The provisions of SFAS 144 are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001 and, generally are to be applied prospectively. At this time, the Company cannot estimate the effect of this statement on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

NOTE 2 - PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT


Oil and gas properties, and equipment and fixtures consist of the following:

   

December 31,

   

2001

 

2000

         

Oil and Gas - California

       

Proved properties, net of accumulated

       

depletion of $562,311, $525,916, and $496,282 at

       

December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively

$

190,396

$

226,790

Unproved properties

 

1,692,702

 

990,089

         

Total Oil and Gas Properties

 

1,883,098

 

1,216,879

         

Other Property and Equipment

       

Land

 

12,281

 

12,281

Building, net of accumulated depreciation

 

   

$10,623, $9,495 and $8,367 at December 31,

       

2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively

 

39,771

 

40,899

Transmission Tower

 

45,000

 

45,000

Office equipment, vehicle, and leasehold

       

improvements net of accumulated depreciation

       

of $151,195, $142,348 and $125,427 at

       

December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively

 

30,307

 

42,900

         

Total Other Property and Equipment

 

127,359

 

141,080

         

Property and Equipment (Net)

$

2,010,457

$

1,357,959


NOTE 3 - NOTES PAYABLE

   

December 31,

   

2001

 

2000

         

Note payable to National Bank of Alaska dated

August 27, 1992; secured by property; payable

       

in monthly installments of $539 including

       

interest. Interest rate at 12.00%, December 31,

       

2000, and December 31, 1999.

$

-

$

2,706

         

Note payable to Imperial Premium Finance, Inc.,

       

dated June 9, 1997; secured by contractual policy;

       

interest at 12.00%; payable in monthly installments

       

of $680 including interest.

 

4,574

 

4,574

         

Note payable to Union Bank, dated January

       

15, 2000; secured by a vehicle; interest at 8.5%;

       

payable in 60 monthly installments of $380.

 

12,062

 

15,430

         
   

16,636

 

22,710

Less current portion

 

8,265

 

10,672

         

Long-Term Portion of Notes Payable

$

8,371

$

12,038

NOTE 3 - NOTES PAYABLE (Continued)


Maturities of long-term debt for the years subsequent to December 31, 2001 are as follows:

Year Ended

 

December 31,

 
   

2002

$ 8,265

2003

4,017

2004

4,354

   
 

$ 16,636



Employee Stock Options


The Company has a qualified and a nonqualified stock option plan which provides for the granting of options to key employees, consultants, and nonemployee directors of the Company. The option price, number of shares and grant date are determined at the discretion of the Company's board of directors. Options granted under the plans are exercisable immediately, however, the plan expires in August 2008.


The Company has elected to account for the stock option plans under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued for Employees," and related interpretations. Accordingly, no compensation expense has been recognized for the stock option plans.


The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant the Black-Scholes American option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions used for grant in 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively. Expected life of 6, 7, and 8 years for 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively, no expected dividends, expected volatility of 82.91 percent for 2001, 89.28 and 89.97 percent for 2000, and 84.02 and 82.05 for 1999 and risk-free interest rates of 4.85, 5.25, and 7.25 percent, respectively.


A summary of the status of the Company's fixed stock option plan as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and changes during the years ending on those dates is presented below:

 

2001

2000

1999

   

Weighted-Average

 

Weighted-Average

 

Weighted-Average

 

Shares

Exercise Price

Shares

Exercise Price

Shares

Exercise Price

Fixed Options

           
             

Outstanding at beginning of year

2,644,000

$1.20

1,248,000

$0.77

660,000

$ .71

Granted

700,000

$1.35

1,410,000

$1.57

600,000

$ .63

Exercised

(115,000)

$0.50

(14,000)

$0.50

(18,000)

$ .50

Canceled

-

 

-

 

-

 
             

Outstanding at end of year

3,229,000

$1.26

2,644,000

$1.20

1,248,000

$ .77

 

         

Options exercisable at year-end

3,229,000

 

2,644,000

 

1,248,000

 
             

Weighted-average fair value of options granted during the year

$ 1.02

 

$ 1.30

 

$ .53

 

NOTE 4 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Continued)


The following table summarizes information about fixed stock options outstanding at December 31, 2001:

 

Options Outstanding and Exercisable

   

Weighted-Average

 
 

Number Outstanding

Remaining

Weighted-Average

Range of Exercise Prices

at December 31, 2001

Contractual Life

Exercise Price

       

$.50 - $2.43

3,229,000

6.65

$ 1.26


A summary of option transactions during the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999 is presented below:

 

Number

Weighted-Average

 

of Shares

Exercise Price

     

Outstanding at December 31, 1998

666,000

$ 0.71

     

Issued

600,000

0.63

Exercised

(18,000)

0.50

     

Outstanding at December 31, 1999

1,248,000

0.77

     

Issued

1,410,000

1.57

Exercised

(14,000)

0.50

     

Outstanding at December 31, 2000

2,644,000

1.20

     

Issued

700,000

1.35

Exercised

(115,000)

0.50

     

Outstanding at December 31, 2001

3,229,000

1.26

     

Exercisable at December 31, 2001

3,229,000

1.26

     

Available for Issuance at December 31, 2001

290,000

 


Beneficial Owners


The following is known to the Company to be the only beneficial owner of 5% or more of the Company's outstanding common stock at December 31, 2001:

 

Ownership Shares

Percentage

F. Lynn Blystone

1,325,264

6.4%

Dennis Vaughan

1,009,200

5.1%


Partnerships


Tri-Valley is a general partner and operator of the Tri-Valley Oil & Gas Exploration Programs 1971-1 and Martins-Severin Partnerships. The Company accounts for these partnerships on the equity method. Income derived from these activities follows:

 

December 31,

December 31,

December 31,

 

2001

2000

1999

Partnership income, net of expenses

$ 203,005

$ 140,833

$ 73,463

NOTE 5 - INCOME TAXES


At December 31, 2001, the Company had available net operating loss carry forwards for financial statements and federal income tax purposes of approximately $1,400,000. These loss carryforwards expire between 2001 and 2014.


The components of the net deferred tax assets were as follows:

   

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

   

2001

 

2000

 

1999

             

Deferred Tax Assets:

           

Net operating loss carryforwards

$

606,550

$

802,644

$

1,160,000

Statutory depletion carryforwards

 

291,276

 

259,233

 

215,000

             

Total Deferred Tax Assets

 

897,826

 

1,061,877

 

1,375,000

Valuation Allowance

 

(897,826)

 

(1,061,877)

 

(1,375,000)

             

Net Deferred Tax Assets

$

-

$

-

$

-


A full valuation allowance has been established for the deferred tax assets generated by net operating loss and statutory depletion carryforwards due to the uncertainty of future utilization.



NOTE 6 - MAJOR CUSTOMERS


Oil and Gas


The Company received in excess of 10% of its oil and gas revenue from various sources as follows:

 

A

Other

Period Ended:

   

December 31, 1999

$ 491,573

$ 31,018

     

December 31, 2000

$ 994,553

$ 50,460

     

December 31, 2001

$ 1,597,771

$ 58,494


Substantially all oil and gas sales have occurred in the northern California gas market.



NOTE 7 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION RELATING TO INDUSTRY SEGMENTS


The Company adopted SFAS No. 131, Disclosure About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information in 1998 which changes the way the Company reports information about its operating segments.


The Company identifies reportable segments by product and country, although the Company currently does not have foreign country segments. The Company includes revenues from both external customers and revenues from transactions with other operating segments in its measure of segment profit or loss. The Company also includes interest revenue and expense, DD&A, and other operating expenses in its measure of segment profit or loss.


The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those described in the Summary of Significant Accounting Principles (see Note 1).


The Company's operations are classified into two principal industry segments. Following is a summary of segmented information for 2001, 2000, and 1999:

NOTE 7 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION RELATING TO INDUSTRY SEGMENTS (Continued)

 

Oil and Gas

 

Precious Metals

 

Total

Year Ended December 31, 2001

           
             

Revenues from External Customers

$

1,656,265

$

-

$

1,656,265

             

Interest Revenue

$

23,597

$

-

$

23,597

             

Interest Expense

$

4,761

$

-

$

4,761

             

Expenditures for Segment Assets

$

702,613

$

-

$

702,613

             

Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization

$

60,962

$

-

$

60,962

             

Total Assets

$

3,381,757

$

-

$

3,381,757

             

Net Income (Loss)

$

105,668

$

(223,643)

$

(117,975)

           

Year Ended December 31, 2000

           
             

Revenues from External Customers

$

1,044,013

$

-

$

1,044,013

             

Interest Revenue

$

99,234

$

-

$

99,234

             

Interest Expense

$

19,730

$

-

$

19,730

             

Expenditures for Segment Assets

$

293,489

$

-

$

293,489

             

Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization

$

57,400

$

-

$

57,400

             

Total Assets

$

4,053,257

$

-

$

4,053,257

             

Net Income (Loss)

$

(1,197,522)

$

(162,741)

$

(1,360,263)

             

Year Ended December 31, 1999

           
             

Revenues from External Customers

$

522,591

$

-

$

522,591

             

Interest Revenue

$

32,353

$

-

$

32,353

             

Interest Expense

$

17,492

$

-

$

17,492

             

Expenditures for Segment Assets

$

91,713

$

-

$

91,713

             

Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization

$

76,280

$

-

$

76,280

             

Total Assets

$

9,802,463

$

-

$

9,802,463

             

Net Income (Loss)

$

205,486

$

(193,069)

$

12 ,417

NOTE 8 - COMMON STOCK


During 2001 we issued the following shares of common stock without registration under the Securities Act of 1933. All of these securities were issued pursuant to privately negotiated transactions in reliance on the exemption contained in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.


- One director and one former employee exercised options to purchase 16,000 common shares at $0.50 each.


- One individual, Edgar L. Moss, exercised options (purchased from a former employee in 2000) to purchase 99,000 common shares at $0.50 per share.


- We issued 10,000 shares to Trans Seismic International for services. The closing market price of our common stock on the date we awarded these shares (February 27, 2001) was $1.44.


- We issued 10,000 shares to TVOG president, Joseph R. Kandle, for services. The closing market price of our common stock on the date we awarded these shares (April 9, 2001) was $0.87.



NOTE 9 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES


Litigation


During the year ended 1997, the Company filed an action against an unrelated Corporation (defendant) for breach of contract, declaratory relief, breach of confidence, deceit, negligent misrepresentation, interference with prospective economic advantage, unfair competition, and constructive trust. The matter proceeded to trial on January 19, 1999, and resulted in a judgement for defendants. The defendants filed a motion to recover their attorney fees and were successful in this motion. In November 2000, the matter was settled and the Company paid $600,000, which is included in general and administrative expenses as reported in results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2000.


On May 7, 1997, the Company loaned $125,000 to a telecommunications partnership, Third Mobile of Central New York, which the Company had contemplated acquiring. Subsequently, the Company learned that this partnership listed its assets as belonging to a different partnership, Central New York Systems, whom had filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Sacramento, CA. The Company filed a motion to force the issue of ownership of the assets and in December 2001, the Company received $200,000 plus related equipment in full satisfaction of this receivable.


Mining Activities


On March 22, 1999, the Company and Placer Dome U.S., Inc. (PDUS), executed a definitive agreement for PDUS to explore approximately 36 square miles of the Company's then 61.5-square mile claim block at Richardson, Alaska. Terms of the agreement called for PDUS to expend a minimum of $6.5 million in work on the property and partially reimburse the Company for some of its previous exploration, all within five years, in order for PDUS to earn 51% interest in the property. The Company received payments from PDUS totaling $225,000 during 1999, which was reported as other revenue. After spending $750,000, PDUS terminated this agreement on September 18, 2000, and the 36 square miles has reverted back to the Company. Kennecott Exploration has signed a confidentiality/non-compete agreement on Tri-Valley's entire claim block plus another 50 square miles surrounding.


Contingencies


The Company is subject to possible loss contingencies pursuant to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. These include existing and potential obligations to investigate the effects of the release of certain hydro-carbons or other substances at various sites; to remediate or restore these sites; and to compensate others for

NOTE 9 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)


Contingencies (Continued)


damages and to make other payments as required by law or regulation. These obligations relate to sites owned by the

Company or others, and are associated with past and present oil and gas operations. The amount of such obligations is indeterminate and will depend on such factors as the unknown nature and extent of contamination, the unknown timing, extent and method of remedial actions which may be required, the determination of the Company's liability in proportion to other responsible parties, and the state of the law.


Natural Gas Contracts


The Company sells its gas under three separate gas contracts. Each of the contracts is effective for a twelve month period and are renegotiated annually. During 1999, 2000, and 2001, the Company sold all of its produced gas under these agreements. The terms of the agreements are identical among the contracts. During 2001, the terms of the agreements were as follows: 100% percent of the produced gas was purchased at the monthly spot price, which is the PG&E Citygate price. During 2000, the terms of the agreements were as follows: Sixty percent of the produced gas was purchased at a fixed price of $2.35, the remaining forty percent was purchased at the monthly spot price, which is the PG&E Citygate price. During 1999, the terms of the agreement were as follows: Sixty percent of the produced gas was purchased at a fixed price of $2.15, the remaining forty percent was purchased at the monthly spot price.


Joint Venture Advances


As discussed in Note 1, the Company receives advances from joint venture participants which represent funds raised to drill exploratory wells. The Company receives a carried working interest if the well is successfully drilled and completed. The Company acts as both the fiduciary agent and Operator during the period required to drill and equip the well, and as Operator while the well is produced. The Company is obligated to use these funds for expenditures of the joint venture prospect. The joint venture agreements specify that the Company must drill the subject well or substitute another prospect. Some agreements require that the interest earned on joint venture advances be credited to the project account. Expenditures of the projects are charged directly against the obligation.


The balance of the joint venture advance represents the sum of amounts contributed for drilling prospects, net of expenditures for the projects. Residual project balances are held until the Company makes a final determination concerning any remedial obligations of the joint venturers. The balance at December 31, 2001 consists primarily of the following projects:


Ekho


The Ekho project was originally a three-well project which commenced February 7, 2000 with the first well. The first well has been drilled to its target depth of just over 19,000 feet. The original majority joint interest partners were unable to fulfill their obligations to continue to fund well completion activities. The Company is currently seeking substitute partners in order to raise funds to fracture and complete the well. Ekho joint venture project status at December 31, 2001, which is included in the joint venture advance, is as follows:

Total Ekho joint venture contributions

$ 9,137,403

Total Ekho joint venture expenditures

$ 8,535,903

Interest credited to the joint account

$ 185,485


Sunrise


The Sunrise project is a potential 40 - well project which commenced December 2000. The initial well was completed January 2001 and is not capable of commercial production since recent technological advances indicate

NOTE 9 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)


horizontal wells that are hydraulically fractured wells are required to achieve commercial production rates. The next phase is a planned 4-well delineation package, in which the Company will be carried. The summary of Sunrise project is as follows:

Total Sunrise joint venture contributions

$ 1,250,790

Total Sunrise joint venture expenditures

$ 1,203,457


Sonata


The Sonata project is a four-well project which commenced capital formation in late 2000. In 2001, the Company drilled the first of four wells; the well was deemed to be non-commercial, and will be plugged and abandoned. The summary of the balance of the Sonata project is as follows:

Total Sonata joint venture contributions

$ 1,751,800

Total Sonata joint venture expenditures

$ 315,422


Leases


The Company leases its office space on a three-year lease from 8/1/01 to 7/31/06.


Stock Sale Agreement


Effective February 6, 2002, the Company completed a Securities Act registration of 8,500,000 shares of its common stock to be sold to Swartz Private Equity, LLC ("Swartz") under an Investment Agreement dated September 13, 2001 for a total value of up to $15,000,000, subject to a formula based on the Company's stock price and trading volume, over a three year period beginning from the effective date of the registration. The Company may also receive an additional $1,210,000 from sales to Swartz on the exercise of outstanding warrants. The proceeds of the sale will be used to finance property acquisition and development, for working capital, and to pay the expenses of the offering.


Under the Investment Agreement with Swartz, when the common shares are sold to Swartz the Company will receive the lesser of (1) 93% of the market price for the Company's stock or (2) the market price minus $0.12 per share. The number of shares sold to Swartz may not exceed 15% of the aggregate trading volume during the twenty trading days following the date the Company invokes a put right, and is subject to other volume limitations.


Common Stock Warrants


On April 20, 2001, the Company issued 500,000 common stock warrants to Swartz Private Equity, LLC. The warrants are exercisable at $2.42 per warrant and expire on April 20, 2006.

 

TRI-VALLEY CORPORATION
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ABOUT OIL AND GAS PRODUCING
ACTIVITIES (UNAUDITED)


The following estimates of proved oil and gas reserves, both developed and undeveloped, represent interests owned by the Company located solely in the United States.


Disclosures of oil and gas reserves which follow are based on estimates prepared by independent engineering consultants for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999. Such analyses are subject to numerous uncertainties inherent in the estimation of quantities of proved reserves and in the projection of future rates of production and the timing of development expenditures. These estimates do not include probable or possible reserves.


These estimates are furnished and calculated in accordance with requirements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Because of unpredictable variances in expenses and capital forecasts, crude oil and natural gas price changes, largely influenced and controlled by U.S. and foreign government actions, and the fact that the basis for such estimates vary significantly, management believes the usefulness of these projections is limited. Estimates of future net cash flows presented do not represent management's assessment of future profitability or future cash flows to the Company. Management's investment and operating decisions are based upon reserve estimates that include proved reserves as well as probable reserves, and upon different price and cost assumptions from those used here.


It should be recognized that applying current costs and prices and a 10 percent standard discount rate does not convey fair market value. The discounted amounts arrived at are only one measure of the value of proved reserves.


Capitalized costs relating to oil and gas producing activities and related accumulated depletion, depreciation and amortization were as follows:

   

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

   

2001

 

2000

 

1999

             

Aggregate capitalized costs:

 

       

Proved properties

$

752,706

$

752,706

$

696,386

Unproved properties

 

1,692,702

 

990,089

 

762,521

Accumulated depletion, depreciation and amortization

 

(562,310)

 

(525,916)

 

(496,282)

             

Net Capitalized Assets

$

1,833,098

$

1,216,879

$

962,625


The following sets forth costs incurred for oil and gas property acquisition, exploration and development activities, whether capitalized or expensed, during:

   

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

   

2001

 

2000

 

1999

             

Acquisition of producing properties and productive and

           

non-productive acreage

$

-

$

56,320

$

80,398

             

Exploration costs

$

702,613

$

227,568

$

14,000

 

Results of operations from oil and gas producing activities


The results of operations from oil and gas producing activities are as follows:

   

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

   

2001

 

2000

 

1999

             

Sales to unaffiliated parties

$

1,656,265

$

1,045,013

$

521,271

Production costs

 

(332,160)

 

(601,946)

 

(175,518)

Depletion, depreciation and amortization

 

(38,388)

 

(29,634)

 

(51,596)

             
   

1,285,717

 

413,433

 

294,157

Income tax expense

 

(461,867)

 

(144,489)

 

(103,431)

             

Results of operations from activities before

           

extraordinary items (excluding corporate

           

overhead and interest costs)

$

823,850

$

268,944

$

190,726

Changes in estimated reserve quantities

The net interest in estimated quantities of proved developed and undeveloped reserves of crude oil and natural gas at December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999, and changes in such quantities during each of the years then ended, were as follows:

 

December 31, 2001

December 31, 2000

December 31, 1999

 

Oil

(BBL)

Gas

(MCF)

Oil (BBL)

Gas

(MCF)

Oil

(BBL)

Gas

(MCF)

             

Proved developed and undeveloped reserves:

           

Beginning of year

299

1,842,672

185

1,540,004

234

1,434,499

Revisions of previous estimates extensions,

           

discoveries and other additions

(121)

72,477

164

551,679

70

315,838

Production

(14)

(230,392)

(50)

(249,011)

(119)

(210,333)

             

End of year

164

1,684,757

299

1,842,672

185

1,540,004

             

Proved developed reserves:

           

Beginning of year

299

1,842,672

185

1,540,004

234

1,434,499

             

End of year

164

1,684,757

299

1,842,672

185

1,540,004

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserves


A standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows is presented below for the year ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999.


The future net cash inflows are developed as follows:

(1) Estimates are made of quantities of proved reserves and the future periods during which they are expected to be produced based on year-end economic conditions.

(2) The estimated future production of proved reserves is priced on the basis of year-end prices.

(3) The resulting future gross revenue streams are reduced by estimated future costs to develop and to produce proved reserves, based on year end cost estimates.

(4) The resulting future net revenue streams are reduced to present value amounts by applying a ten percent discount.


Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserves (Continued)


Disclosure of principal components of the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows provides information concerning the factors involved in making the calculation. In addition, the disclosure of both undiscounted and discounted net cash flows provides a measure of comparing proved oil and gas reserves both with and without an estimate of production timing. The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved reserves reflects income taxes.

 

December 31, 2001

December 31, 2000

December 31, 1999

       

Future cash in flows

$ 4,231,473

$ 25,127,878*

$ 3,265,995

Future production and development costs

(1,293,017)

(1,975,633)

(875,081)

Future income tax expenses

(430,547)

(7,951,963)

(122,128)

       

Future net cash flows

2,507,909

15,200,282

2,268,786

10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash flows

1,502,899

6,716,556

1,051,537

       

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow

$ 1,005,010

$ 8,483,726

$ 1,217,249


* Refer to the following table for analysis in changes in standardized measure.


Changes in standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow from proved reserve quantities


This statement discloses the sources of changes in the standardized measure from year to year. The amount reported as "Net changes in prices and production costs" represents the present value of changes in prices and production costs multiplied by estimates of proved reserves as of the beginning of the year. The "accretion of discount" was computed by multiplying the ten percent discount factor by the standardized measure as of the beginning of the year. The "Sales of oil and gas produced, net of production costs" is expressed in actual dollar amounts. "Revisions of previous quantity estimates" is expressed at year-end prices. The "Net change in income taxes" is computed as the change in present value of future income taxes.


Changes in standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow from proved reserve quantities (Continued)

 

December 31,

December 31,

December 31,

 

2001

2000

1999

       

Standardized measure - beginning of period

$ 8,483,726

$ 1,217,249

$ 1,178,295

       

Sales of oil and gas produced, net of production costs

(60,294)

(443,067)

(260,215)

Revisions of estimates of reserves provided in prior years:

     

Net changes in prices

(1,336,765)

10,411,028

40,691

Revisions of previous quantity estimates

(295,610)

3,186,723

354,958

Extensions and discoveries

495,354

694,792

-

Purchases of minerals in place

-

842,668

-

Accretion of discount

117,937

1,306,674

221,930

Changes in production rates (timing) and other

1,122,078

(902,506)

(381,372)

Net change in income taxes

(7,521,416)

(7,829,835)

62,962

       

Net increase (decrease)

$ (7,478,716)

7,266,477

38,954

       

Standardized measure - end of period

$ 1,005,010

$ 8,483,726

$ 1,217,249

PART III


ITEM 9. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant


All directors of the Company serve one year terms from the time of their election to the time their successor is elected and qualified. The following information is furnished with respect to each director and executive officer:

   

Year First

 
   

Became Director or

 

Name of Director

Age

Executive Officer

Position With Company

       

F. Lynn Blystone

66

1974

President, CEO, Director, TVC

     

CEO and Director, TVOG

     

President, CEO, Director, TVPC

       

Dennis P. Lockhart(1)

55

1982

Director

       

Milton J. Carlson(1)

71

1985

Director

       

Earl H. Biestline

85

1992

Director

       

Loren J. Miller(1)

57

1992

Director

       

C. Chase Hoffman

79

2000

Director

       

Thomas J. Cunningham

59

1997

Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and

     

Secretary, TVC, TVOG, and TVPC

       

Joseph R. Kandle

59

1999

President, TVOG


(1)- Member of Audit Committee

F. Lynn Blystone - 66

President and Chief Executive Officer of Tri-Valley Corporation and Tri-Valley Power Corporation, and CEO of Tri-Valley Oil & Gas Company, which are two wholly owned subsidiaries of Tri-Valley Corporation, Bakersfield, California

1974

     

Mr. Blystone became president of Tri-Valley Corporation in October, 1981, and was nominally vice president from July to October, 1981. His background includes institution management, venture capital and various management functions for a mainline pipeline contractor including the Trans Alaska Pipe-line Project. He has founded, run and sold companies in several fields including Learjet charter, commercial construction, municipal finance and land development. He is also president of a family corporation, Bandera Land Company, Inc., with real estate interests in Kern, Riverside and Orange Counties California. A graduate of Whittler College, California, he did graduate work at George Williams College, Illinois in organization management. He gives full time to Tri-Valley.

 

 

Dennis P. Lockhart - 55

Director

1982

     

Mr. Lockhart is currently associated with Zephyr Management L.P., a global investment firm headquartered in New York. Mr. Lockhart was until recently a senior officer and director of Heller Financial Inc. and President of Heller's international subsidiary which operates in 18 countries. Heller Financial is a NYSE company active in various lines of commercial finance. He was president of Heller International Group from 1988 through 2001. Prior to 1988, Mr. Lockhart was an officer of Citicorp/Citibank and held a number of corporate banking and management positions in the U.S. and overseas. He is a graduate of Stanford University and The John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. He also attended the Senior Executive Program at the Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

     

Milton J. Carlson - 71

Director

1985

     

Since 1989, Mr. Carlson has been a principal in Earthsong Corporation, which, in part, consults on environmental matters and performs environmental audits for government agencies and public and private concerns. Mr. Carlson attended the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Denver.

     

Loren J. Miller, CPA - 57

Director

1992

     

Mr. Miller has served in a treasury and other senior financial capacities at the Jankovich Company since 1994. Prior to that he served successively as vice president and chief financial officer of Hershey Oil Corporation from 1987 to 1990 and Mock Resources from 1991 to 1992. Prior to that he was vice president and general manager of Tosco Production Finance Corporation from 1975 to 1986 and was a senior auditor the accounting firm of Touche Ross & Company from 1968 to 1973. He is experienced in exploration, production, product trading, refining and distribution as well as corporate finance. He holds a B.S. in accounting and a M.B.A. in finance from the University of Southern California.

     

Earl H. Beistline, LLD. - 85

Director

1992

     

Since his retirement in 1982 as a mining professor at the University of Alaska Dr. Beistline has been a miner and a mining consultant. He is a past chairman of the Alaska State Minerals Commission from June 1986 until August 1997 and dean emeritus of the School of Mineral Industry of the University of Alaska since 1982. Born in Juneau, he has achieved a special position in Alaska during its transition from territorial status into statehood. He has numerous honors from local, state and federal governments, academia, professional and civic organizations and the mineral industry. An active miner in the Central Circle Mining District, Dr. Beistline also serves as a director of one of the state's primary companies, Usibelli Coal Mines, Inc. He holds a Bachelor of Mining Engineering, Engineer of Mines and Honorary Doctor of Law degree from the University of Alaska.

     

C. Chase Hoffman - 79

Director

2000

     

Since 1965 Mr. Hoffman has owned and operated a milk cow dairy and farmed 4,000 acres of land. Additionally, he has been a commercial and residential land developer in California and Hawaii since 1978. From 1973 to 1978 he was a senior vice president and general manager for Knudsen for the State of California. Mr. Hoffman also sits as a director for two companies whose shares are listed on the Canadian Venture Exchange: Seine River Resources, Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia, with California gold operations and Guatemala oil properties, and International Powerhouse Energy Corporation, a British Columbia, Canada, hydroelectric project. He is a graduate of Stanford University with a degree in Economics and Business Administration from Graduate School of Business.

     

 

Thomas J. Cunningham - 59

Secretary, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of Tri-Valley Corporation, and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Tri-Valley Oil & Gas Company and Tri-Valley Power Corporation, Bakersfield, California

1997

     

Named as Tri-Valley Corporation's treasurer and chief financial officer in February 1997, and as corporate secretary on December 1998. From 1987 to 1997 he was a self employed management consultant in finance, marketing and human resources. Prior to that he was executive vice president, chief financial officer and director for Star Resources from 1977 to 1987. He was the controller for Tucker Drilling Company from 1974 to 1977. He has over 25 years experience in corporate finance, Securities Exchange Commission public company reporting, shareholder relations and employee benefits. He received his education from Angelo State University, Texas.

 

Joseph R. Kandle - 59

President and Chief Operating Officer Tri-Valley Oil & Gas Company, wholly owned subsidiary of Tri-Valley Corporation Bakersfield, California

1998

 

Mr. Kandle was named as president of Tri-Valley Oil & Gas Co. February 1999 after joining the Company June 1998 as vice president - engineering. From 1995 to 1998 he was employed as a petroleum engineer for R & R Resources, self-employed as a consulting petroleum engineer from 1994 to 1995. He was vice president - engineering for Atlantic Oil Company from 1983 to 1994. From 1981 to 1983 he was vice president for Star Resources. He was vice president and chief engineer for Great Basins Petroleum from 1973 to 1981. He began his career with Mobil Oil (from 1965 to 1973) after graduating from the Montana School of Mines in 1965.


Subsequent Events


Effective March 18, 2002, Dr. Earl H. Beistline, who has decided to reduce his overall activities, resigned as a member of Tri-Valley Corporation's board of directors. Mr. Beistline, 85, has served as a director since 1992.


Dr. Harold J. Noyes has been appointed to fill the vacancy created by Dr. Beistline's resignation. Since August 2000, he has been president of H.J. Noyes and Associates, Inc., a firm that provides consulting and business development for the minerals industry. He has also been serving since October 2001 as vice president, marketing and business development for Black Street Investments, Inc., a money management and investment advisory firm. From 1997 to 2000 he was president of North Star Exploration, Inc. He was manager, resource development for Doyon Limited from 1983 to 1997. Dr. Noyes graduated from the University of Minnesota Magna Cum Laude in geology and took his Ph.D in geology and geochemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Later he earned a Masters in Business Administration at the University of Chicago.


Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act


Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Securities and Exchange Commission regulations require that the Company's directors, certain officers, and greater than 10 percent shareholders file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC and must furnish the Company with copies of all such reports they file. Based solely on the information furnished to the Company, we believe that no person failed to file required Section 16(a) reports on a timely basis during or in respect of 2001.


ITEM 10. Executive Compensation


The following table summarizes the compensation of the chairman of the board and the president of the Company and its subsidiaries, F. Lynn Blystone (the "Named Officer"), for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999.


The Board of Directors (excluding Mr. Blystone) served as the compensation committee for fiscal year 2001.

               

Long Term

               

Compensation

       

Annual Compensation

 

Awards

(a)

 

(b)

 

( c )

 

(d)

 

(e)

           

Other

 

Securities

Name

 

Period Covered

 

Salary

 

Compensation

 

Underlying Options

F. Lynn

 

FYE 12/31/01

 

$115,250 (1)

       

Blystone, CEO

 

FYE 12/31/00

 

$105,720 (2)

       
   

FYE 12/31/99

 

$ 97,712 (3)

       

(1) Includes a bonus of $16,250 for 2001.


(2) Includes value of 5,000 common shares issued on April 3, 2000, pursuant to Mr. Blystone's employment contract, with a fair market value of $9,850 ($1.97 per share).


(3) Includes value of 5,000 common shares issued on June 19, 1999, pursuant to Mr. Blystone's employment contract, with a fair market value of $2,000 ($0.40 per share).


Employment Agreement with Our President


We have an employment agreement with F. Lynn Blystone, our President and Chief Executive Officer, which ends in August 2002, and is automatically renewable for three one-year periods after 2002, unless we terminate the agreement by giving him 90 days written notice. The base salary amount is $99,000 per year plus 5,000 shares of our common stock at the end of each year of service. Mr. Blystone is also entitled to a bonus (not to exceed $25,000) equal to 10% of net operating cash flow before taxes, including interest income and excluding debt service. Mr. Blystone is also entitled to a bonus of 4% of the company's annual net after-tax income. The total of the bonuses from cash flow and net income may not exceed $50,000 per year.


The employment agreement also provides a severance payment to Mr. Blystone if he is terminated within 12 months after a sale of control of Tri-Valley. The severance payment equals $150,000. In additon, Mr. Blystone is entitled to a bonus equal to to 10% of net operating cash flow before taxes, including interest income and excluding debt service, plus 4% of the company's annual net after-tax income, up to a maximum of $50,000 (with the maximum amount pro-rated over the period for which the payment is made). For purposes of the severance provision, a sale of control is deemed to be the sale of ownership of 30% of the outstanding stock of Tri-Valley or the acquisition by one person of enough stock to appoint a majority of the board of directors of the company.


We carry key man life insurance of $500,000 on Mr. Blystone's life.


Aggregated 2001 Option Exercises and Year-End Values


The following table summarizes the number and value of all unexercised stock options held by the Named Officer and the Directors at the end of 2001.

 

( a )

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

     

Number of Securities

Value of Unexercised In-

Underlying Unexercised

The-Money Options/SARs

     

Options/SARs at FY-End (#)

at FY-End ($)*

 

Shares Acquired

     

Name

On Exercise (#)

Value Realized ($)

Exercisable/Unexercisable

Exercisable/Unexercisable

         

F. Lynn Blystone

1,000

$

894,000/0

$/0


*Based on a fair market value of $1.60 per share, which was the closing bid price of the Company's Common Stock in the NASD National Market System on December 31, 2001.


Compensation of Directors


The Company compensates non-employee directors for their service on the board of directors.


On October 22, 2001, each non-employee director received 50,000 stock options with an exercise price of $1.35 based on the closing market price on October 22, 2001. All of these options expire on August 22, 2008.


The following table sets forth information regarding the cash compensation paid to outside directors in 2001.

(a)

(b)

Name

Fees

Earl Beistline

$1,950

   

Milton Carlson

$2,900

   

Dennis P. Lockhart

$2,650

   

Loren J. Miller

$2,650

   

C. Chase Hoffman

$2,900


Performance Graph


The following stock price performance graph is included in accordance with the SEC's executive compensation disclosure rules and is intended to allow stockholders to review our executive compensation policies in light of corresponding stockholder returns, expressed in terms of the appreciation of our common stock relative to two broad-based stock performance indices. The information is included for historical comparative purposes only and should not be considered indicative of future stock performance. The graph compares the yearly percentage change in the cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock with the cumulative total return of Royale Energy, Inc., Parallel Petroleum Corporation and Equity Oil Company from December 31, 1997 through December 31, 2001.


Total returns assume $100 invested on December 31, 1997 in shares of Tri-Valley Corporation, Royale Energy Inc., Parallel Petroleum Corporation, and Equity Oil Company, assuming reinvestment of dividends for each measurement period.

 

 

Total Return Analysis

12/31/1997

12/31/1998

12/31/1999

12/31/2000

12/31/2001

Tri-Valley Corp

$ 100.00

$ 44.44

$ 133.33

$ 144.45

$ 142.22

Royale Energy, Inc.

$ 100.00

$ 75.00

$ 62.00

$ 178.00

$ 157.00

Parallel Petroleum Corp.

$ 100.00

$ 21.00

$ 25.00

$ 56.00

$ 47.00

Equity Oil Co.

$ 100.00

$ 32.00

$ 38.00

$ 114.00

$ 59.00



ITEM 11. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management


As of December 31, 2001, there were 19,689,748 shares of the Company's common stock outstanding. The following persons were known by the Company to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of such outstanding common stock:

 

Number of

Percent of

Name and Address

Shares

Total

     

F. Lynn Blystone

P.O. Box 1105

Bakersfield, CA 93302

1,325,264(1)

6.4%

     

Dennis Vaughan

2298 Featherhill Road

Santa Barbara, CA 93108

1,009,200(1)

5.1%


Includes 894,000 shares of stock Mr. Blystone has the right to acquire upon the exercise of options, and 30,200 shares held in the name of Bandera Land Company, Inc., a family corporation of which Mr. Blystone is the president.


The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of the Company's common stock as of December 31, 2001 by each director, by each of the executive officers named in Item 11, and by the executive officer named in Item 10 and directors as a group:

 

Number of

Percent of

Directors

Shares(1)

Total(2)

     

F. Lynn Blystone

1,325,264(3)

6.4%

     

Dennis P. Lockhart

332,091(3)

1.7%

     

Milton J. Carlson

339,000(3)

1.7%

     

Loren J. Miller

305,300(3)

1.5%

     

Earl H. Beistline

298,000(3)

1.5%

     

C. Chase Hoffman

247,500(3)

1.2%

     

Total group (all directors and

   

Executive officers - 6 persons)

2,847,155(3)

13.0%

     


(1) Includes shares which the listed shareholder has the right to acquire from options as follows: Dennis P. Lockhart 270,000; Milton J. Carlson 268,000; C. Chase Hoffman 200,000; Loren J. Miller 270,000 and Earl H. Beistline 248,000. F. Lynn Blystone has 894,000.


(2) Based on total outstanding shares of 19,689,748 as of December 31, 2001. The persons named herein have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws where applicable.


(3) Includes 30,200 shares held in the name of Bandera Land Company, Inc., a family corporation of which Mr. Blystone is the president.



ITEM 12. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions


None.


ITEM 13. Exhibits, Lists, and Reports on Form 8-K


(a) Exhibits.

Exhibit

 

Number

Description of Exhibit

   

3.1

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company's Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1999.

3.2

Amended and Restated Bylaws, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of the Company's Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1999.

10.1

Employment Agreement with F. Lynn Blystone, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's form 10-KSB/A, Amendment No. 3 to Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2000, filed December 14, 2001.

21.1

Subsidiaries of the Registrant, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 of the Company's form 10-KSB/A, Amendment No. 3 to Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2000, filed December 14, 2001.

23.1*

Consent of Brown Armstrong Randall Paulden McCown Hill Starbuck & Keeter Accountancy Corporation

* Filed herewith.

(b) Reports on Form 8-K

None

SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

 

 

Date: March 26, 2002

By:

F. Lynn Blystone                                                       

   

F. Lynn Blystone

   

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

     

Date: March 26, 2002

By:

Thomas J. Cunningham                                            

   

Thomas J. Cunningham

   

Secretary, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Date: March 26, 2002

By:

F. Lynn Blystone                                                       

   

F. Lynn Blystone

   

Director

     

Date: March 26, 2002

By:

Milton J. Carlson                                                      

   

Milton J. Carlson

   

Director

     

Date: March 26, 2002

By:

                                                                                  

   

C. Chase Hoffman

   

Director

     

Date: March 26, 2002

By:

                                                                                  

   

Dennis P. Lockhart

   

Director

     

Date: March 26, 2002

By:

Loren J. Miller                                                         

   

Loren J. Miller

   

Director

     

Date: March 26, 2002

By:

Harold J. Noyes                                                        

   

Harold J. Noyes

   

Director