Permian Basin Royalty reduces June distribution due to high costs

Permian Basin Royalty Trust announces a reduced distribution for June due to ongoing excess costs at Waddell Ranch properties and lower volumes from Texas Royalty Properties.

Share:

Permian Basin Royalty Trust (PBT), managed by Argent Trust Company, declared a cash distribution of USD 0.012976 per unit, payable to unit holders recorded as of June 30, 2025. This distribution, payable on July 15, 2025, does not include revenues from Waddell Ranch properties, where production costs still exceed gross proceeds.

Complex situation at Waddell Ranch

Issues related to Waddell Ranch persist with the operator Blackbeard Operating LLC no longer providing monthly information necessary for precise calculation of the Net Profits Interest (NPI). Since May 2024, Blackbeard has limited this information to a quarterly frequency, preventing complete integration of data into the Trust’s monthly distributions.

Argent Trust specifies that no revenue from Waddell Ranch properties was received for the June distribution. Accumulated excess costs must be entirely recovered before resuming payments from this property.

Notable revenue decline in Texas

Meanwhile, Texas Royalty Properties recorded a decline in natural gas production volumes, dropping to 8,278 thousand cubic feet (Mcf) from 9,894 Mcf in the previous month. Despite a slight increase in gas prices to USD 9.48 per Mcf, total revenues were negatively impacted by a decline in oil prices to USD 65.46 per barrel from USD 68.39 the previous month.

In terms of volume, the Trust’s Texas properties produced 14,430 barrels of oil, slightly higher than the 13,619 barrels in the previous month but insufficient to offset the negative effects of overall pricing and volume. After deducting taxes and expenses amounting to USD 139,241, net profits reached USD 1,021,112, thus contributing USD 970,056 to the monthly distribution.

Ongoing judicial dispute

The litigation between the Trust and Blackbeard Operating continues in the District Court of Tarrant County, Texas. Argent Trust claims damages exceeding USD 9 million, alleging Blackbeard miscalculated and deducted certain operating costs between April 2020 and December 2023.

A joint audit of 2024 operations is currently underway. This lawsuit, scheduled to begin on November 17, 2025, promises complexity with significant financial implications for both parties.

This situation leaves open the question of the evolution of future distributions and the financial transparency of the involved operators.

Record Gulf crude imports expose structural vulnerabilities of Japanese refining amid rising geopolitical tensions and Asian competition.
Diamondback Energy posted a $699mn net income for the second quarter of 2025 and accelerated its share repurchase programme, supported by record production and an upward revision of its annual guidance.
Swiss group Transocean reported a net loss of $938mn for the second quarter 2025, impacted by asset impairments, while revenue rose to $988mn thanks to improved rig utilisation.
The rapid commissioning of bp’s Argos Southwest extension in the Gulf of America strengthens maintenance capabilities and optimises offshore oil production performance.
Eight OPEC+ countries boost output by 547,000 barrels per day in September, completing their increase program twelve months early as Chinese demand plateaus.
New Delhi calls US sanctions unjustified and denounces double standard as Trump threatens to substantially increase tariffs.
BP posts a net profit of $1.63 bn in the second quarter 2025, driven by operational performance, an operating cash flow of $6.3 bn and a new $750 mn share buyback programme.
The Saudi oil giant posts solid results despite falling oil prices. The company pays $21.3 billion in dividends and advances its strategic projects.
Dangote Group appoints David Bird, former Shell executive, as head of its Refining and Petrochemicals division to accelerate regional growth and open up equity to Nigerian investors.
Faced with falling discounts on Russian oil, Indian Oil Corp is purchasing large volumes from the United States, Canada and Abu Dhabi for September, shifting its usual sourcing strategy.
Independent Chinese oil companies are intensifying their investments in Iraq, aiming to double their production to 500,000 barrels per day by 2030 and compete with the sector’s historic majors.
The eight voluntary OPEC+ members accelerate their market return in September despite weakened global demand and record production from the Americas.
BP has announced the discovery of an oil and natural gas field off the coast of Brazil, in the Santos Basin, marking its most significant find in a quarter of a century.
The dispute over the Corentyne block licence pits Frontera Energy and CGX Energy against the Guyanese government, amid major contractual and offshore investment stakes in the oil sector.
Chevron resumes the shipment of Venezuelan oil to the United States after a multi-year suspension due to sanctions, highlighting the persistence of oil flows between the two countries.
A fire broke out at a Sotchi oil depot after an attack by Ukrainian drones, causing no casualties but temporarily disrupting air traffic and mobilising significant emergency resources.
The consortium formed by ONGC (40%), Reliance (30%) and BP (30%) has signed a joint operating agreement for block GS-OSHP-2022/2, marking the first tripartite collaboration in Indian oil exploration.
Serbia has secured a new 30-day reprieve from the application of US sanctions targeting NIS, operator of the country’s only refinery, which is majority owned by Gazprom.
OMS Energy Technologies Inc. reports solid financial results for 2025, driven by marked revenue growth, improved gross margin and a reinforced cash position in a shifting market.
Five employees injured in an explosion at the Pascagoula refinery are suing Chevron for negligence, seeking significant compensation and alleging major breaches of safety regulations.