SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

12 Months Ended

Feb. 29, 2012

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Text Block]

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Organization
The Company was incorporated on May 12, 2006 in the State of Nevada. The Company’s fiscal year end is February 28.

Basis of presentation
These financial statements are presented in United States dollars and have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles.

Oil and gas properties
The Company follows the full cost method of accounting for its oil and gas operations whereby all costs related to the acquisition of methane, petroleum, and natural gas interests are capitalized. Under this method, all productive and non-productive costs incurred in connection with the exploration for and development of oil and gas reserves are capitalized. Such costs include land and lease acquisition costs, annual carrying charges of non-producing properties, geological and geophysical costs, costs of drilling and equipping productive and non-productive wells, and direct exploration salaries and related benefits. Proceeds from the disposal of oil and gas properties are recorded as a reduction of the related capitalized costs without recognition of a gain or loss unless the disposal would result in a change of 20 percent or more in the depletion rate. The Company currently operates solely in the U.S.

Depreciation and depletion of proved oil and gas properties is computed on the units-of-production method based upon estimates of proved reserves, as determined by independent consultants, with oil and gas being converted to a common unit of measure based on their relative energy content.

The costs of acquisition and exploration of unproved oil and gas properties, including any related capitalized interest expense, are not subject to depletion, but are assessed for impairment either individually or on an aggregated basis. The costs of certain unevaluated leasehold acreage are also not subject to depletion. Costs not subject to depletion are periodically assessed for possible impairment or reductions in recoverable value. If a reduction in recoverable value has occurred, costs subject to depletion are increased or a charge is made against earnings for those operations where a reserve base is not yet established.

Estimated future removal and site restoration costs are provided over the life of proven reserves on a units-of-production basis. Costs, which include production equipment removal and environmental remediation, are estimated each period by management based on current regulations, actual expenses incurred, and technology and industry standards. The charge is included in the provision for depletion and depreciation and the actual restoration expenditures are charged to the accumulated provision amounts as incurred.

The Company applies a ceiling test to capitalized costs which limits such costs to the aggregate of the estimated present value, using a ten percent discount rate of the estimated future net revenues from production of proven reserves at year end at market prices less future production, administrative, financing, site restoration, and income tax costs plus the lower of cost or estimated market value of unproved properties. If capitalized costs are determined to exceed estimated future net revenues, a write-down of carrying value is charged to depletion in the period.

Asset retirement obligations
The Company has adopted the provisions of FASB ASC 410-20 “Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations," which requires the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation to be recognized in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the related oil and gas properties. As of February 29, 2012, there have been no asset retirement obligations recorded.

Use of estimates
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 and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant areas requiring management’s estimates and assumptions are the determination of the fair value of transactions involving common stock, stock based compensation, financial instruments as well as deferred tax balances and asset impairment tests. Further, depreciation, depletion and amortization of oil and gas properties and the impairment of oil and gas properties are determined using estimates of oil and gas reserves. There are numerous uncertainties in estimating the quantity of reserves and in projecting the future rates of production and timing of development expenditures, including future costs to dismantle, dispose, plug, and restore the Company's properties. Oil and gas reserve engineering must be recognized as a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of oil and gas that cannot be measured in an exact way. Proved reserves of oil and natural gas are estimated quantities that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in the future from known reservoirs under existing conditions.

Financial instruments
The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities approximate their carrying values due to the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments.

Concentrations of credit risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalent accounts in financial institutions. As of February 29, 2012, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents do not exceed federally insured limits.

Earnings (loss) per common share
Basic earnings (loss) per share includes no dilution and is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Dilutive earnings (loss) per share reflect the potential dilution of securities that could share in the earnings of the Company. Where applicable, dilutive loss per share is equal to that of basic loss per share as the effects of stock options and warrants have been excluded as they are anti-dilutive. Using the treasury stock method, there were no diluted shares.

Revenue Recognition
Oil and natural gas revenues are recorded using the sales method, whereby the Company recognizes oil and natural gas revenue based on the amount of oil and gas sold to purchasers, when title passes, the amount is determinable and collection is reasonably assured. Actual sales of gas are based on sales, net of the associated volume charges for processing fees and for costs associated with delivery, transportation, marketing, and royalties in accordance with industry standards. Operating costs and taxes are recognized in the same period in which revenue is earned.

Income taxes
The Company follows the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax balances. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted or substantially enacted tax rates expected to apply to the taxable income in the years in which those differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the date of enactment or substantive enactment. At February 28, 2012, the Company has a current income tax liability of $Nil. The original balance of $2,600,000 recorded during the period was attributable to the net taxable gain realized from the sale of the Haynesville Shale assets in the East Holly prospect to Exco Operating Company, LP which has been fully offset by deductible exploration costs incurred on the drilling of the Burkley-Phillips #1 well in Mississippi (see Note 3).

Stock-based compensation
The Company has adopted FASB ASC 718-10, “Compensation-Stock Compensation”, which requires the compensation cost related to share-based payments, such as stock options and employee stock purchase plans, be recognized in the financial statements based on the grant-date fair value of the award. The Company accounts for equity instruments issued in exchange for the receipt of goods or services from other than employees in accordance with FASB ASC 718-10 and the conclusions reached by the FASB ASC 505-50. Costs are measured at the estimated fair market value of the consideration received or the estimated fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measurable. The value of equity instruments issued for consideration other than employee services is determined on the earliest of a performance commitment or completion of performance by the provider of goods or services as defined by FASB ASC 505-50.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity.

+ References+ Details

MAINLAND RESOURCES INC. 10-K