NOTE 7 — JOINT VENTURE DRILLING PROGRAM

In March 2018, W&T and other members formed and funded Monza, which jointly participates with the Company in the exploration, drilling and development of certain drilling projects (the “Joint Venture Drilling Program”) in the Gulf of Mexico. The total commitments by all members, including W&T’s commitment to fund its retained interest in Monza projects held outside of Monza, was $361.4 million. W&T contributed 88.94% of its working interest in certain identified undeveloped drilling projects to Monza and retained 11.06% of its working interest. The Joint Venture Drilling Program is structured so that W&T initially receives an aggregate of 30.0% of the revenues less expenses, through the direct ownership from the retained working interest in the Monza projects and the Company’s indirect interest through its interest in Monza, for contributing 20.0% of the estimated total well costs plus associated leases and providing access to available infrastructure at agreed-upon rates. Any exceptions to this structure are approved by the Monza board of directors.

The members of Monza are third-party investors, W&T and an entity owned and controlled by W&T’s CEO. The entity affiliated with the Company’s CEO invested as a minority investor on the same terms and conditions as the third-party investors. Its investment is limited to 4.5% of total invested capital within Monza, and it made a capital commitment to Monza of $14.5 million.

Monza is an entity separate from any other entity with its own separate creditors who will be entitled, upon its liquidation, to be satisfied out of Monza’s assets prior to any value in Monza becoming available to holders of its equity. The assets of Monza are not available to pay creditors of the Company and its affiliates.

Through September 30, 2023, ten wells have been completed since the inception of the Joint Venture Drilling Program, and W&T is the operator for eight of these wells.

Since inception through September 30, 2023, members of Monza have made partner capital contributions, including W&T’s contributions of working interest in the drilling projects, to Monza totaling $302.4 million and received cash distributions totaling $206.4 million. Since inception through September 30, 2023, W&T has made capital contributions, including the contributions of working interest in the drilling projects, to Monza totaling $68.2 million and received cash distributions totaling $44.5 million.

Consolidation and Carrying Amounts

W&T’s interest in Monza is considered to be a variable interest that is proportionally consolidated. Through September 30, 2023, there have been no events or changes that would cause a redetermination of the variable interest status. W&T does not fully consolidate Monza because the Company is not considered the primary beneficiary of Monza.

The following table presents the amounts recorded by W&T on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets related to the consolidation of the proportional interest in Monza’s operations (in thousands):

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As required, W&T may call on Monza to provide cash to fund its portion of certain Joint Venture Drilling Program projects in advance of capital expenditure spending. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the unused advances were $2.8 million and $2.9 million, respectively, which are included in Advances from joint interest partners in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table presents the amounts recorded by W&T in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations related to the consolidation of the proportional interest in Monza’s operations (in thousands):

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