Next Bridge Hydrocarbons, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated in Nevada on August 31, 2021, as OilCo Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Next Bridge Hydrocarbons, Inc. pursuant to its Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation filed on June 30, 2022. The Company spun off from Meta Materials, Inc. (“Meta”) on December 14, 2022, resulting in the Company becoming an independent company (the “Spin-Off”). Prior to the Spin-Off, the Company was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meta. Meta became the parent of the Company’s subsidiaries in June 2021 in a merger transaction with Torchlight Energy Resources, Inc. (“Torchlight”), the previous parent of the subsidiaries and developer of the properties from their inception up to June 2021.

The Company is an energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, exploitation and development of oil and natural gas properties in the United States. The Company’s primary focus has been the development of interests in an oil and natural gas project the Company holds in the Orogrande Basin in West Texas in Hudspeth County, Texas (the “Orogrande Project”). In addition, the Company has minor interests in the Eastern edge of the Midland Basin in Texas (the “Hazel Project”), and two minor well interests in the Hunton wells located in Oklahoma (the “Oklahoma Properties”). The Company currently has no full-time employees, and the Company employs consultants for various roles as needed.

The Company operates its business through nine wholly owned subsidiaries Torchlight Energy, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“TEI”), Hudspeth Oil Corporation, a Texas corporation (“Hudspeth”), Torchlight Hazel, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Torchlight Hazel”), Wolfbone Investments, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Wolfbone”), Hudspeth Operating, LLC, a Texas limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of Hudspeth (“Hudspeth Operating”), Wildcat Panther, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Panther”), Wildcat Valentine, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Valentine”), Wildcat Cowboy, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Cowboy”), Wildcat Packer, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Packer”). All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

At September 30, 2024, the Company had not yet achieved profitable operations. The Company had a net loss of $1,417,903 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The Company expects to incur further losses in the development of its business. The Company had a working capital deficit as of September 30, 2024, of $50,038,916. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on its ability to generate future profitable operations or to obtain the necessary financing to meet its obligations and repay its liabilities arising from normal business operations when they come due. Management’s plan to address the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern includes: (1) obtaining debt or equity funding from private placement, institutional, or public sources; (2) obtaining loans from financial institutions, where possible, or (3) participating in joint venture transactions with third parties. Although management believes that it will be able to obtain the necessary funding to allow the Company to remain a going concern through the methods discussed above, there can be no assurances that such methods will prove successful.

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern and therefore, the financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amount and classifications of liabilities that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

The Company maintains its accounts on the accrual method of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Accounting principles followed and the methods of applying those principles, which materially affect the determination of financial position, results of operations and cash flows are summarized below:

Unevaluated costs as of September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, include cumulative costs of developing projects including the Orogrande and unevaluated costs related to the Louisiana Wildcat projects.

The Company periodically adjusts for the separation of evaluated versus unevaluated costs within its full cost pool to recognize the value impairment related to the expiration of, or changes in market value, of unevaluated leases. The impact of reclassifications as they become necessary is to increase the basis for calculation of future period’s depletion, depreciation and amortization which effectively recognizes the impairment on the consolidated statement of operations over future periods. Reclassified costs also become evaluated costs for purposes of ceiling tests, and which may cause recognition of increased impairment expense in future periods.

The Company had no proved reserve value associated with our properties as of September 30, 2024.

Due to the volatility of commodity prices, should oil and natural gas prices decline in the future, it is possible that a write-down could occur. Proved reserves are estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs, which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions. The independent engineering estimates include only those amounts considered to be proved reserves and do not include additional amounts which may result from new discoveries in the future, or from application of secondary and tertiary recovery processes where facilities are not in place or for which transportation or marketing contracts are not in place. Estimated reserves to be developed through secondary or tertiary recovery processes are classified as unevaluated properties.

Current Projects

The Company is an energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, exploitation and/or development of oil and natural gas properties in the United States. The Company is primarily focused on the acquisition of early-stage projects, the development and delineation of these projects, and then the monetization of those assets once these activities are completed.

The Company’s primary focus is the development of interests in oil and natural gas projects it holds in the Permian Basin in West Texas. The Company also holds minor interests in certain other oil and natural gas projects in Central Oklahoma.

As of September 30, 2024, the Company had interests in four oil and natural gas projects: the Orogrande Project in Hudspeth County, Texas, the Hazel Project in Sterling, Tom Green, and Irion Counties, Texas, two wells in Central Oklahoma, and the Wildcat properties that hold mineral leases in Louisiana.

Orogrande Project, West Texas

On August 7, 2014, Torchlight entered into a Purchase Agreement with Hudspeth, McCabe Petroleum Corporation (“MPC”), and Gregory McCabe (“Mr. McCabe”). Mr. McCabe was the sole owner of both Hudspeth and MPC. Under the terms and conditions of the Purchase Agreement, Torchlight purchased 100% of the capital stock of Hudspeth which held certain oil and natural gas assets, including a 100% working interest in approximately 172,000 predominately contiguous acres in the Orogrande Basin in West Texas. Mr. McCabe has, at his option, a 10% working interest back-in after payout and a reversionary interest if drilling obligations are not met, all under the terms and conditions of a participation and development agreement among Hudspeth, MPC and Mr. McCabe. Such back-in interest is expected to be contributed to the Company pursuant to that certain Contribution Agreement (as defined below). See Note 11—Subsequent Events for additional information regarding the Contribution Agreement. Mr. McCabe also holds a 4.5% overriding royalty interest in the Orogrande acreage, —which he obtained prior to, and was not a part of the August 2014 transaction.

Effective March 27, 2017, the Orogrande acreage became subject to a University Lands D&D Unit Agreement (“DDU Agreement”), which allows for all 192 existing leases covering approximately 134,000 gross acres leased from University Lands to be combined into one drilling and development unit for development purposes. The term of the DDU Agreement expires on December 31, 2024, and the time to drill on the drilling and development unit continues through December 31, 2024. The DDU Agreement also grants the right to extend the DDU Agreement through December 31, 2028 if compliance with the DDU Agreement is met and the extension fee associated with the additional time is paid. The Company expects to exercise its option to extend the term under the DDU Agreement prior to its expiration.

Drilling obligations under the DDU Agreement include five wells per year in years 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. The drilling obligations are minimum yearly requirements and may be exceeded if acceleration is desired.

Drilling Requirement 2023

Effective as of October 6, 2023, the Company and certain investor participants (each a “Participant” and collectively the “Participants”) entered into twenty-five separate Participation Agreements (the “Participation Agreements”), “The Johnson Project”, to conduct drilling of wells in approximately 17,000 acres in Hudspeth County, Texas, which is a portion of the Company’s Orogrande Prospect. The aggregate total of Prospect Fees paid by the participants was $1,700,000.

As of December 31, 2023, and at September 30, 2024, the drilling requirements had been met and leases covering approximately 134,000 acres remained in effect. 

Acquisition of Working Interest

On December 21, 2022, the Company entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Hudspeth, Wolfbone, MPC and Mr. McCabe, pursuant to which in a series of transactions the oil and natural gas leases, the lands covered by such leases, pooling and communitization agreements, rights-of-way, the surface estate of the lands and all wells located in Orogrande Project will be transferred, conveyed and assigned to Hudspeth (or its designated assignee) in consideration of (1) treating the Orogrande Obligations (as defined in the Merger Agreement) as having been irrevocably satisfied and discharged in full with respect to MPC and (2) an issuance of 56,297,638 shares of Company common stock to Mr. McCabe (such series of transactions collectively, the “Merger”).

The Merger became effective on April 25, 2023. As a result of the Merger, the Company acquired Wolfbone’s 22.6249% remaining rights to working interest in the Orogrande Project in consideration of the issuance by the Company of the 56,297,638 shares of the Company’s common stock to Mr. McCabe.

The Merger was completed in accordance with the Texas Business Organizations Code, whereby (a) the Company formed NBH MergeCo, LLC with the State of Texas (“MergeCo”) in order to cause Hudspeth to assign all of its rights under the Merger Agreement to MergeCo and MergeCo assumed Hudspeth’s obligations under the Merger Agreement, (b) MergeCo, Wolfbone and MPC merged with each of Wolfbone and MPC as surviving entities, and (c) Wolfbone became a direct and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The closing of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement occurred on May 11, 2023.

On May 11, 2023, the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Hudspeth, entered into a contribution and exchange agreement with each of the prior working interest owners in the Orogrande Project named in the table below (each an “Orogrande Owner” and collectively, the “Orogrande Owners”), pursuant to which, the Company issued to the Orogrande Owners the number of shares of the Company’s common stock set forth opposite such Orogrande Owner’s name below in exchange for and in order to acquire such Orogrande Owner’s rights to working interest in the Orogrande Project.

Hazel Project in the Midland Basin in West Texas

Effective April 4, 2016, TEI acquired from MPC a 66.66% working interest in approximately 12,000 acres in the Midland Basin. A back-in after payout of a 25% working interest was retained by MPC and another unrelated working interest owner.

In October 2016, the holders of all of Torchlight’s then-outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock (which were issued in July 2016) elected to convert into a total 33.33% working interest in our Hazel Project, reducing TEI’s ownership from 66.66% to a 33.33% working interest.

Acquisition of Additional Interests in Hazel Project

On January 30, 2017, Torchlight entered into and closed an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization and a Plan of Merger with an entity which was wholly owned by Mr. McCabe, which resulted in the acquisition of approximately 40.66% working interest in the 12,000 gross acres, 9,600 net acres, in the Hazel Project.

Also on January 30, 2017, Torchlight entered into and closed a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Wolfbone. Under the agreement, Torchlight acquired certain of Wolfbone’s Hazel Project assets, including its interest in the Flying B Ranch #1 well and the 40-acre unit surrounding the well.

Upon the closing of the transactions, the Torchlight working interest in the Hazel Project increased by 40.66% to a total ownership of 74%.

Effective June 1, 2017, Torchlight acquired an additional 6% working interest from unrelated working interest owners increasing its working interest in the Hazel project to 80%, and an overall net revenue interest of 75%.

Seven test wells have been drilled on the Hazel Project to capture and document the scientific base in support of demonstrating the production potential of the property.

Option Agreement with Masterson Hazel Partners, LP

On August 13, 2020, the Company’s subsidiaries TEI and Torchlight Hazel (collectively, “Torchlight Subs”) entered into an option agreement (the “Option Agreement”) with Masterson Hazel Partners, LP (“MHP”) and MPC. Under the agreement, MHP was obligated to drill and complete, or cause to be drilled and completed, at its sole cost and expense, a new lateral well (the “Well”) on the Hazel Project, sufficient to satisfy Torchlight Subs’s continuous development obligations on the southern half of the prospect no later than September 30, 2020. MHP has satisfied this drilling obligation. MHP paid to Torchlight Subs $1,000 as an option fee at the time of execution of the Option Agreement. MHP is entitled to receive, as its sole recourse for the recoupment of drilling costs, the revenue from production of the Well attributable to Torchlight Subs’s interest until such time as it has recovered its reasonable costs and expenses for drilling, completing, and operating the well.

In exchange for MHP satisfying the above drilling obligations, Torchlight Subs granted to MHP the exclusive right and option to perform operations, at MHP’s sole cost and expense, on the Hazel Project sufficient to satisfy Torchlight Subs’s continuous development obligations on the northern half of the prospect. MHP declined to exercise its option to purchase the entire Hazel Project.

Hunton Play, Central Oklahoma

As of September 30, 2024, the Company was producing from one well in the Viking Area of Mutual Interest and one well in Prairie Grove.

Louisiana Projects

In March 2024, we enter into and closed a Contribution Agreement with Wildcat Partners SPV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Wildcat”), under which Wildcat transferred to us 100% of the issued and outstanding membership interests in each of (a) Wildcat Cowboy, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Cowboy”), (b) Wildcat Packer, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Packer”), (c) Wildcat Panther, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Panther”) and (d) Wildcat Valentine, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Valentine”). As consideration, we issued 2,500,000 shares of our common stock, under the terms and conditions of the Contribution Agreement.

MPC previously owned and sold to Wildcat the underlying oil and gas prospects owned by Cowboy, Packer, Panther and Valentine. MPC always retained a 25% back-in after payout and various overriding royalty interests in the prospects owned by Cowboy, Packer, Panther and Valentine, but MPC agreed to waive its 25% back-in after payout but retain its overriding royalty interests in all such prospects in an effort to facilitate the transactions described below, including the sale of the leases owned by Valentine, including a leasehold estates in approximately 3,878.90 gross acres and 3,626.25 net acres of land situated in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana (the “Valentine Leases”), and the leases owned by Panther, including leasehold estates in approximately 618 gross acres and 618 net acres of land situated in Acadia Parish, Louisiana (the “Panther Leases”), the leases owned by Packer, including leasehold estates in approximately 4,349 gross acres and 4,349 net acres of land situated in Acadia and Lafourche Parish, Louisiana (the “Packer Leases”), the leases owned by Cowboy, including leasehold estates in approximately 835 gross acres and 835 net acres of land situated in Acadia Parish, Louisiana (the “Cowboy Leases).

Concurrent with the closing of the above transactions with Wildcat, we entered into and closed a Participation Agreement with Magnetar an unrelated developer of oil and gas properties (“Magnetar”) under which we sold a 100% working interest, entitled to not less than a 75% net revenue interest, in and to the Valentine Leases, along with a 100% right, title and interest in all contracts affecting the Valentine Leases, all under the terms and conditions of such Participation Agreement, including the following consideration: (a) Magnetar paid $964,448 from which we are required to pay bonuses of $240,000 to consultants resulting in net proceeds to us of $664,448; (b) Magnetar agrees to pay all delay rentals pertaining to the Valentine Leases which accrue during calendar year 2024 and during the months of January through August of 2025, provided, however, that if the initial test well is commenced at any time prior to the end of August, 2025, Magnetar’s obligation to bear delay rental expenses thereafter will be deemed terminated, and the obligation for the payment of subsequent delay rentals shall be governed by the subject operating agreement; (c) in the event Magnetar has not commenced actual drilling operations on lands covered by the Valentine Leases on or prior August 31, 2025, then Developer shall have the option to continue paying rentals or extending the leases within the Area of Mutual Interest (the “AMI”) until December 31, 2026; (d) we will have the option to participate for up to a 1/3 working interest in the initial test well to be undertaken by Magnetar on lands covered by the Valentine Leases, with this right to extend to subsequent wells to be undertaken by Magnetar, subject to the further provisions regarding operations; and (e) at least three working days prior to its spudding the initial test well, Magnetar will pay to us a spud fee of $600,000 of which $360,000 of the cost thereof will be shared with consultants leaving us with $240,000.

Also concurrent with the closing of the above transactions with Wildcat, we enter into and closed a Participation Agreement with Magnetar under which we sold to Developer a 100% working interest, entitled to not less than a 75% net revenue interest, in and to the Panther Leases covering approximately 618 gross acres of land situated within the AMI provided therein, along with a 100% right, title and interest in all contracts affecting the Panther Leases, for the following consideration: (a) Magnetar paid $428,918.05 to us and $70,081.95 to MPC for delay rentals paid by it; (b) Magnetar agrees to reimburse McCabe for its payment of delay rentals to sustain certain of the Panther Leases coming due in March and April 2024 in the amount of $70,081.98; (c) Magnetar agrees to pay all delay rentals pertaining to the Panther Leases which accrue during calendar year 2024, shown to be $23,888.90; (d) in the event Magnetar is unable to commence actual drilling operations on lands covered by the Subject Panther Leases on or prior February 1, 2025, then Magnetar shall have the option to extend or take new leases on any of the Panther Leases that would expire during the following 12 calendar months; (e) we will have the option to participate up to a 1/3 working interest in the initial test well to be undertaken by Magnetar on lands covered by the Panther Leases, with this right to extend to subsequent wells to be undertaken by Magnetar, subject to the further provisions regarding operations; (f) prior to its spudding the initial test well, Magnetar will pay to us a spud fee equal to $100,000 of which $20,000 will be shared with a consultant.

The McCabe Contribution Agreement

On July 25, 2023, the Company entered into a Contribution Agreement among the Company, Mr. McCabe, and MPC, an entity exclusively owned and operated by Mr. McCabe (the “McCabe Contribution Agreement”), pursuant to which Mr. McCabe will contribute up to a ten percent (10%) back-in working interest option for the Orogrande Project exercisable following the point in time at which the proceeds of all production from all operations conducted on the Orogrande Project (exclusive of royalty, overriding royalty and taxes chargeable to the working interest) equals the actual cost incurred by NBH and its predecessors in drilling, testing, equipping and the cost of operating the wells located on the Orogrande Prospect, inclusive of overhead charges (the “Back-In Interest”), an option originally granted to Mr. McCabe pursuant to that certain Participation Agreement, dated September 23, 2014 (the “Participation Agreement”), by and among Mr. McCabe, Hudspeth, and MPC, and MPC will contribute up to one hundred percent (100%) of the interest currently held by MPC in the drilling project located on over 1,150 acres in Vermillion Parish, Louisiana (the “Bronco Prospect”). Pursuant to the McCabe Contribution Agreement, and subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions provided therein, including the effectiveness of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-273442) filed with the SEC on July 26, 2023 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”), Mr. McCabe would contribute an amount of the Back-In Interest and MPC would contribute an amount of the Bronco Prospect in proportion to the percentage of shares of common stock of NBH that were directly registered in the name of the beneficial owner with the Company’s transfer agent on or prior to the record date (as defined in the Registration Statement) and remain directly registered with the Company’s transfer agent for the holding period (as defined in the Registration Statement). The Registration Statement, however, was ultimately withdrawn at the request of the SEC and the Company is presently evaluating other alternatives.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, we recorded an account payable to MPC of $97,027 to recognize payments made previously by MPC to maintain the Bronco oil and natural gas leases. Since the transfer of the Bronco project has not occurred as of September 30, 2024, these costs are recorded as Prepayments - development costs. 

The 2021 Note and Loan Agreement

On October 1, 2021, the Company entered into a note payable with Meta, its former parent, to borrow up to $15 million which bears interest at 8% per annum, computed on the basis of a 360-day year (the “2021 Note”). The 2021 Note was initially to mature on March 31, 2023 (the “2021 Note Maturity Date”); provided, however, if the Company raised $30 million or more in capital through debt or equity or a combination thereof by the 2021 Note Maturity Date, the 2021 Note Maturity Date would be extended to September 30, 2023, and the outstanding principal of the 2021 Note would amortize in six equal, monthly installments. If an event of default has occurred and is continuing, interest on the 2021 Note may accrue at the default rate of 12% per annum. The outstanding principal of the 2021 Note, together with all accrued interest thereon, becomes due on the 2021 Note Maturity Date. The 2021 Note includes a restrictive covenant that, subject to certain exceptions and qualifications, restricts the Company’s ability to merge or consolidate with another person or entity, or sell or transfer all or substantially all of its assets, unless the Company is the surviving entity, or the successor entity assumes all of obligations under the 2021 Note. The 2021 Note is collateralized by certain shares of common stock in Meta held by one of Meta’s stockholders, Mr. McCabe, and by a lien on a 25% interest in the Orogrande Project owned by Wolfbone, a subsidiary of the Company.

On September 2, 2022, the Company entered into a loan agreement with Meta, as lender (the “Loan Agreement”) that would govern prior loan amounts advanced to the Company from Meta. As of August 11, 2022, and August 29, 2022, the Company borrowed an additional $1.2 million and $1.46 million, respectively, representing the remaining amount available for borrowing under the Loan Agreement and resulting in a total of $5 million principal amount outstanding related to the Loan Agreement, the proceeds of which were used for working capital and general corporate purposes. The term loans under the Loan Agreement bear interest at a per annum rate equal to 8% and were to mature on March 31, 2023 (the “Maturity Date”); provided, however, if the Company raised $30 million or more in capital through debt or equity, or a combination thereof by the Maturity Date, the Maturity Date would be extended to October 3, 2023 and the term loan would be amortized in six equal monthly installments. The Loan Agreement includes customary representations and covenants that, subject to exceptions and qualifications, restrict our ability to do certain things, such as: engage in mergers, acquisitions, and asset sales; transact with affiliates; undergo a change in control; incur additional indebtedness; incur liens; make loans and investments; declare dividends or redeem or repurchase equity interests; and enter into certain restrictive agreements. In addition, the Loan Agreement contains customary events of default, mandatory prepayment events and affirmative covenants, including, without limitation, covenants regarding the payment of taxes and other obligations, maintenance of insurance, maintenance of our material properties, reporting requirements, compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and formation or acquisition of new subsidiaries.

On March 31, 2023, the Company entered into an amendment to the 2021 Note and an amendment to Loan Agreement in order to extend each of the 2021 Note Maturity Date and the Maturity Date respectively from March 31, 2023, to October 3, 2023. Such amendments also removed the provisions allowing for extensions of the 2021 Note Maturity Date and the Maturity Date in the event the Company raised $30 million or more in capital through debt or equity or a combination thereof by March 31, 2023.

Under the terms of the Arrangement Agreement that governed the merger transaction between Torchlight and Meta in June 2021, the oil and natural gas assets were to be sold or spun out from Meta and the costs of any sale or spin-off incurred by Meta were to be borne the then-existing shareholders of Torchlight. The amount of the reimbursement payable to Meta in connection with the Spin-Off is $2.59 million which was added to the principal amount of the Loan Agreement for a principal balance outstanding of $7.59 million as of March 31, 2023. Concurrently with the amendment to the Loan Agreement, the Company made a prepayment of $1 million to reduce the principal balance to $6.59 million.

On August 7, 2023, Mr. McCabe and Meta entered into a Loan Sale Agreement whereby Mr. McCabe purchased from Meta (i) the 2021 Note and (ii) all outstanding loans made to the Company by Meta pursuant to the Loan Agreement (the “Loan Purchase”). As a result of the Loan Purchase, Mr. McCabe replaced Meta as the lender and secured party under the 2021 Note and the Loan Agreement. Additionally, as part of the Loan Purchase, Meta assigned to Mr. McCabe its lien on 25% of the Orogrande Prospect. The Company’s obligations and responsibilities under the 2021 Note and the Loan Agreement remain unchanged.

The combined balance on the 2021 Note and the Loan Agreement as of September 30, 2024, was $21.22 million. As of September 30, 2024, the combined total accrued and unpaid interest under the 2021 Note and the Loan Agreement was $4.34 million.

On October 1, 2023, the Company entered into an amendment to the 2021 Note and an amendment to Loan Agreement in order to extend each of the 2021 Note Maturity Date and the Maturity Date respectively from October 3, 2023 to March 31, 2024. An additional Amendment in March, 2024 extended the maturity date to September 30, 2024.

December 2022 Note

On December 22, 2022, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note in the principal amount of up to $20 million in favor of Mr. McCabe (the “2022 Note”), which bears interest at 5% per annum, computed on the basis of a 365-day year.

On December 31, 2023, the Company entered into an amendment to the 2022 Note in order to extend the 2022 Note Maturity Date to March 31, 2024. An additional Amendment in March, 2024 extended the maturity date to September 30, 2024.

As of September 30, 2024, the Company had $21.28 million in principal amount outstanding under the 2022 Note. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had $1.58 million in accrued but unpaid interest on the 2022 Note.

As of September 30, 2024, the total Related Party balances include the 2021 Note and Loan Agreement and the December 2022 Note, as detailed above, totaling $42.50 million, and additional borrowing and adjustment to the December 2022 Note during the six months ended March 31, 2024, as detailed below:

On January 23, 2024, Mr. McCabe loaned $1,000,000 to us, which was evidenced under a 0% Senior Unsecured Promissory Note effective as of that date (the “McCabe Note”), which provided, among other things, that the loan will be due on February 28, 2025, with the Company having the option to extend the loan by one additional year. The loan will bear interest at the rate of 0% per annum and will be payable in one balloon payment of principal and interest on the maturity date. If we elect to extend the loan for one year, the loan will continue to bear interest at the rate of 0% per annum and will be payable in one balloon payment of principal and interest on the extended maturity date. Additionally, on March 28, 2024, $278,054 was added to the principal of the loan in lieu of reimbursing Mr. Mcabe for lease rentals connected to the Louisiana properties acquired on that date. Additional reimbursements due to Mr. McCabe of $1,750 were added to the balance of the Note during the three months ended September 30, 2024.

Imputed interest has been recorded on the -0-% note in the amount of $25,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

During the six months ended June 30, 2024, we recorded an account payable to MPC to recognize payments made previously by MPC to maintain the Bronco oil and natural gas leases. Since the transfer of the Bronco project has not occurred as of September 30, 2024, these costs are recorded as Prepayments - development costs.

Legal Matters 

On April 30, 2020, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Hudspeth, filed suit against Datalog LWT, Inc. d/b/a Cordax Evaluation Technologies (“Cordax”). The suit, Hudspeth and Wolfbone Investments, LLC v. Datalog LWT, Inc. d/b/a Cordax Evaluation Technologies, was filed in the 189th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas. The suit seeks the recovery of approximately $1.4 million in costs incurred as a result of a tool failure during drilling activities on the University Founders A25 #2 well that is located in the Orogrande Field. Wolfbone, a subsidiary of the Company, is a co-plaintiff in that action. After the suit was filed, Cordax filed a mineral lien in the amount of $104,500 against the Orogrande Field and has sued the operator and counterclaimed against Hudspeth for breach of contract, seeking the same amount as the lien. Meta, as the Company’s parent at the time, determined to add the manufacturer of one of the tool components that it contends was one of the causes of the tool failure. It was later disclosed that Cordax is the subsidiary of a Canadian parent company, who has also been added to the case. Cordax’s current Chairman of the Board filed a special appearance after being served with a citation, alleging that he was a Canadian citizen with no meaningful ties to Texas. After discovery was conducted on this issue, a nonsuit without prejudice for this defendant was filed, dismissing him from the case. The remaining parties attended mediation on June 15, 2022, that was unsuccessful in resolving the case. Cordax filed a motion for summary judgment, attempting to dismiss Hudspeth and Wolfbone’s claims. The Court denied Cordax’s motion. Discovery is substantially complete. The Company is required to indemnify Meta in connection with this matter pursuant to the terms of the Distribution Agreement with Meta entered into in connection with the consummation of the Spin-Off. Prior to trial, in 2024, the parties settled the case. As soon as Cordax fulfills its payment obligations to Hudspeth (the amount of which is confidential), the Harris County case will be dismissed with prejudice. Cordax’s releases of Hudspeth and Wolfbone were effective when the Settlement Agreement was signed, May 16, 2024.

On March 18, 2021, Cordax filed a lawsuit in Hudspeth County, Texas seeking to foreclose its mineral lien against the Orogrande Field in the amount of $104,500.01 and recover related attorney’s fees. The foreclosure action, Datalog LWT Inc. d/b/a Cordax Evaluation Technologies v. Torchlight Energy Resources, Inc., was filed in the 205th Judicial District Court of Hudspeth County, Texas. The Company is contesting the lien in good faith and filed a Plea in Abatement on May 10, 2021, seeking a stay in the Hudspeth County lien foreclosure case pending final disposition of the related case currently pending in Harris County, Texas. The Company is required to indemnify Meta in connection with this matter pursuant to the terms of the Distribution Agreement with Meta. As part of the settlement in the Harris County case, Cordax has released the mineral lien, and the case has been dismissed with prejudice.

During June 2024, $306,554 was received as the initial settlement payment arising from the Cordax matter. Additional settlement funds of $63,500 were received during the third quarter ended September 30, 2024.

On March 15, 2024, a securities class action captioned Targgart v. Next Bridge Hydrocarbons, Inc., et al., No. 24-cv-1927, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The action is brought on behalf of a putative class of persons or entities that acquired the Company’s shares in connection with the Company’s spin-off from Meta Materials, Inc., in December 2022. The complaint names as defendants the Company and certain of its current and former officers and directors. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act, alleging that the Form S-1 that the Company filed with the SEC on July 14, 2022, which became effective on November 18, 2022, contained untrue statements or omissions. The complaint seeks, among other things, unspecified statutory and compensatory damages.

On May 7, 2024, a stockholder derivative petition captioned Bartok v. Greg McCabe, et al., No. 017-352565-24, was filed in the District Court of Tarrant County, Texas. The petition names the Company as a nominal defendant and asserts breach of fiduciary duty and other assorted claims against current and former officers and directors of the Company and of Meta Materials, Inc. The stockholder makes allegations about the defendants’ conduct in the Company’s 2022 spin-off from Meta Materials, Inc., and alleges continuing breaches by failing to correct allegedly misleading statements made in connection with the spin-off.

Environmental Matters

The Company is subject to contingencies as a result of environmental laws and regulations. Present and future environmental laws and regulations applicable to the Company’s operations could require substantial capital expenditures or could adversely affect its operations in other ways that cannot be predicted at this time. As of September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, no amounts had been recorded because no specific liability has been identified that is reasonably probable of requiring the Company to fund any future material amounts.

The Company has 500,000,000 authorized shares of common stock, par value of $0.0001 per share and 50,000,000 authorized shares of preferred stock, par value of $0.0001 per share.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had 248,830,516 outstanding shares of common stock and no shares of preferred stock outstanding.

Nine Months ended September 30, 2024

Effective February 29, 2024, the Company issued 500,000 shares of common stock as compensation under a third party consulting agreement.

In March 2024, we enter into and closed a Contribution Agreement with Wildcat Partners SPV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Wildcat”), under which Wildcat transferred to us 100% of the issued and outstanding membership interests in each of (a) Wildcat Cowboy, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Cowboy”), (b) Wildcat Packer, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Packer”), (c) Wildcat Panther, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Panther”) and (d) Wildcat Valentine, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Valentine”). As consideration, we issued 2,500,000 shares of our common stock, under the terms and conditions of the Contribution Agreement.

On April 2, 2024, we entered into a Consulting Agreement with a third party individual, under which the Consultant has agreed to provide analysis and advisory services to us for consideration of 100,000 shares of common stock.

As of September 30, 2024, the Company had 251,930,516 outstanding shares of common stock and no shares of preferred stock outstanding. 

Stock Based Compensation

In 2022, the Company’s board of directors adopted, and the stockholders approved, the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2022 Plan”). The 2022 Plan permits the Company to grant stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares awards and any one or more of the foregoing, for up to a maximum of 58,273,612 shares following an automatic increase to the number of shares reserved under the 2022 Plan on January 1, 2023. During the first and second quarters, 2023 the Company granted 35,856,521 stock options as authorized under the 2022 Plan. Vesting is subject to continued service with the Company for up to one year with provisions for earlier vesting subject to the attainment of events outlined in the Plan. Upon the resignations by certain of the Company’s employees in second quarter, 2023, 6,618,889 of the options granted to those employees were forfeited, canceled and returned to the option pool available under the 2022 Plan.

Vesting was subject to continued service with the Company for up to one year with provisions for earlier vesting subject to the attainment of events outlined in the Plan.

Options were fully vested as of December 31, 2023.

Options granted were valued using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model resulting in a total value for 2023 of $4,781,278. 

Option expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and the year ended December 31, 2023, net of forfeitures, was $-0- and $4,781,278, respectively. No options were granted in the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

Stock based compensation valued at $54,081 incurred for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 reflects compensation attributable to consulting services under a Consulting Agreement effective February 29, 2024, prescribing compensation in the form of 500,000 shares of common stock valued at $4,341, and for consulting services under a Consulting Agreement effective April 2, 2024, prescribing compensation in the form of 100,000 shares of common stock valued at $49,740.

The Company recorded no income tax provision at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 because of anticipated losses for the 2024 fiscal year and actual losses incurred in 2023.

The Company estimates its annual effective income tax rate in recording its quarterly provision for income taxes in the various jurisdictions in which it operates. Statutory tax rate changes and other significant or unusual items are recognized as discrete items in the quarter in which they occur. The Company recorded no income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 because the Company expects to incur a tax loss in the current year. Similarly, no income tax expense was recognized for the year ended December 31, 2023.

The Company had a Gross deferred tax asset related to federal net operating loss carryforwards of $71,123,129 and $67,582,243 at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The federal net operating loss carryforward will begin to expire in 2034. Realization of the deferred tax asset is dependent, in part, on generating sufficient taxable income prior to expiration of the loss carryforwards. The Company has placed a 100% valuation allowance against the net deferred tax asset because future realization of these assets is not assured.

2021 Note

On October 1, 2021, we issued a secured, revolving promissory note in an original principal amount of up to $15 million, which was subsequently increased to $20 million, in favor of Meta (as amended to date, the “2021 Note”). The 2021 Note was fully drawn with a principal balance outstanding of $20 million, bears interest at 8% per annum, computed on the basis of a 360-day year. If an event of default has occurred and is continuing, interest on the 2021 Note may accrue at the default rate of 12% per annum.

On August 7, 2023, following the Loan Purchase, Mr. McCabe replaced Meta as the lender and secured party under the 2021 Note but the Company’s obligations under the 2021 Note remain unchanged.

On December 31, 2023, the Company and Mr. McCabe as successor in interest to Meta entered into an amendment to the 2021 Note and an amendment to the Loan Agreement extending the 2021 Note Maturity Date and the Maturity Date. An additional Amendment effective June 30, 2024 extended the maturity dates to September 30, 2024.

Loan Agreement

Additionally, we have an aggregate principal balance of $6,589,362 outstanding under the Loan Agreement with Mr. McCabe as successor-in-interest to Meta, which bears interest at a fixed rate of 8% per annum if no event of default exists, and at a fixed rate of 12% per annum if an event of default exists.

On December 31, 2023, the Company and Mr. McCabe entered an amendment to the 2022 Note extending the 2022 Note Maturity Date. An additional Amendment effective June 30, 2024 extended the maturity date to September 30, 2024.

The combined balance on the 2021 Note ($15 million) and the Loan Agreement ($6.2 million) as of September 30, 2024, was $21.22 million. As of September 30, 2024, the total accrued and unpaid interest under the 2021 Note and the Loan Agreement was $4.34 million.

December 2022 Note

In connection with the Merger, on December 22, 2022, the Company entered into an additional Note in the principal amount of up to $20 million in favor of Mr. McCabe. Mr. McCabe is the largest shareholder of the Company’s common stock and the chairman of the board of directors of the Company. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had a balance of $21.28 million and accrued and unpaid interest of $1.58 million due under the 2022 Note. An Amendment effective June 30, 2024 extended the maturity date to September 30, 2024.

As of September 30, 2024, the Company had $21.28 million in principal amount outstanding under the 2022 Note. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had $1.58 million in accrued but unpaid interest on the 2022 Note.

As of September 30, 2024, Notes Payable – related party includes balances of the 2021 Note and Loan Agreement and the December 2022 Note, as detailed above, totaling $42.50 million, and additional borrowing and adjustment to the December 2022 note during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, as detailed below:

On January 23, 2024, Mr. McCabe loaned $1,000,000 to us, which was evidenced under a 0% Senior Unsecured Promissory Note effective as of that date (the “McCabe Note”), which provided, among other things, that the loan will be due on February 28, 2025, with the Company having the option to extend the loan by one additional year. The loan will bear interest at the rate of 0% per annum and will be payable in one balloon payment of principal and interest on the maturity date. If we elect to extend the loan for one year, the loan will continue to bear interest at the rate of 0% per annum and will be payable in one balloon payment of principal and interest on the extended maturity date. 

Imputed interest has been recorded on the -0-% note in the amount of $25,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

CAPCO Note February 2024

On February 29, 2024, CAPCO Holding, Inc., a Texas corporation (“Capco”), loaned us $2,000,000 under a 12% Secured Promissory Note (the “Capco Note”), which provides, among other things, that the loan will be due in one year, with us having the option to extend the loan by one additional year. The loan will bear interest at the rate of 12% per annum and will be payable in one balloon payment of principal and interest on the maturity date. If we elect to extend the loan for one year, we must pay all accrued interest for that first year, and thereafter, the loan will bear interest at a rate that is mutually agreeable to us and Capco, which rate will not exceed 18% per annum, and will be payable in one balloon payment of principal and interest on the extended maturity date. As part of the transaction, Gregory McCabe, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, entered into a Stock Pledge and Security Agreement with Capco under which he pledged 250,000 of his shares of common stock of the Company to secure our obligations under the Capco Note. Further, Mr. McCabe entered into a Subordination Agreement (the “Subordination Agreement”) with Capco and us under which Mr. McCabe agreed to subordinate all of the Company’s indebtedness and obligations owed to Mr. McCabe to the Capco Note, under the terms and conditions of the Subordination Agreement. Accrued and unpaid interest as of September 30, 2024 was $140,995. 

On October 8, 2024, the Company received notice from University Lands that they would not be allowing the extension of the Orogrande DDU agreement at its scheduled renewal date of December 31, 2024.

Effective December 30, 2024, the Company issued 8,432,047 shares of common stock to the Participants in the Johnson Project. On October 6, 2023, the Company and certain investor participants (each a “Participant” and collectively the “Participants”) entered into twenty-five separate Participation Agreements (the “Participation Agreements”) to conduct drilling of wells in the Company’s approximately 17,000-acre Johnson Prospect in Hudspeth County, Texas, which was a portion of the Company’s Orogrande Prospect. Within a specified period following drilling of the initial five wells, pursuant to the Participation Agreement, each Participant had the right to elect to transfer and assign all its interests to the Company in exchange for the issuance of shares of common stock. All 25 participants elected to exercise that right effective December 30, 2024, requiring the issuance of common stock.

On December 31, 2024, the Company authorized issuance of a total of 3,000,000 shares of common stock to directors, an officer, and a consultant for services.

On March 10, 2025, the Company authorized issuance of a total of 1,025,000 shares of common stock to directors, and an officer for services.

The accounting treatment of the stock issuance reported in our Form 10-Q for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, for the Wildcat acquisition in March 2024, was based on an independent valuation of our common stock, which valuation was used in recording the subsequent sale of a portion of the assets acquired that resulted in a gain on sale of those assets of $618,504. After subsequently reconsidering the valuation method alternatives for the basis of the stock issued, the cash received from the subsequent sales (as described below) was used to substitute for the independent valuation in recording of the sale of the assets. An adjustment of the transaction has been recorded to reduce the gain on sale to $-0-.