Quarterly report pursuant to sections 13 or 15(d)

6. Research and development

v2.4.0.6
6. Research and development
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Research and Development [Abstract]  
Note 6. Research and development

AOT Testing

 

The Company is currently conducting research and development of its AOT technology prototypes in a testing facility in Midwest, Wyoming, located at the U.S. Department of Energy Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center, Naval Petroleum Reserve #3 (US DOE). The Company constructs the AOT technology prototypes through the assistance of various third party entities, located in Casper, Wyoming. Costs incurred and expensed includes fees charged by the US DOE, purchase of test equipment, pipeline pumping equipment, crude oil tank batteries, viscometers, SCADA systems, computer equipment and other related equipment and various logistical expenses for the purposes of evaluating and testing its AOT prototypes.

 

The Company incurred costs of $219,680 and $188,591 for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and has been reflected in Research and Development expenses on the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations.

 

Temple University Research & Development Agreement

 

On August 1, 2011, the Company and Temple University (“Temple”) entered into two (2) Exclusive License Agreements (collectively, the “License Agreements”) relating to Temple’s patent applications, patents and technical information pertaining to technology associated with an electric and/or magnetic field assisted fuel injector system (the “First Temple License”), and to technology to reduce crude oil viscosity (the “Second Temple License”). The License Agreements are exclusive and the territory licensed to the Company is worldwide and replace previously issued License Agreements.

 

Pursuant to the two licensing agreements, the Company agreed to pay Temple the following: (i) non-refundable license maintenance fee of $300,000; (ii) annual maintenance fees of $187,500; (iii) royalty fee ranging from 4% up to 7% from revenues generated from the licensing agreements; and (iv) 25% of all revenues generated from sub-licensees to secure or maintain the sub-license or option thereon. Temple also agreed to cancel $37,500 of the amount due if the Company agrees to fund at least $250,000 in research or development of Temple’s patent rights licensed to the Company. The term of the licenses commenced in August 2011 and will expire upon the expiration of the patents. The agreement can also be terminated by either party upon notification under terms of the licensing agreements or if the Company ceases the development of the patent or failure to commercialize the patent rights.

 

Total expenses recognized during the period ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 pursuant to these two agreements amounted to $46,875 for both periods and has been reflected in Research and Development expenses on the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations.

 

As of March 31, 2013, there were no revenues generated from these two licenses.

 

As of March 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company accrued a total of $162,500 and $125,000 respectively pursuant to these licensing agreements which are included as part of Accounts Payable – licensing agreement in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. In January 2013, the Company and Temple agreed to defer payment of the amount due pending renegotiation of the agreement. As of the date of this quarterly report, the amount due is currently past due and the Company deemed in default. The Company has not received any termination notice or notice of default from Temple and is currently renegotiating the existing agreement.

 

Temple University Sponsored Research Agreement

 

On March 19, 2012, the Company entered into a Sponsored Research Agreement (“Research Agreement”) with Temple University (“Temple”), whereby Temple, under the direction of Dr. Rongjia Tao, will perform ongoing research related to the Company’s AOT device (the “Project”), for the period April 1, 2012, through April 1, 2014.  All rights and title to intellectual property resulting from Temple’s work related to the Project shall be subject to the Exclusive License Agreements between Temple and the Company, dated August 1, 2011.  In exchange for Temple’s research efforts on the Project, the Company has agreed to pay Temple $500,000, payable in quarterly installments of $62,500.

 

During the period ended March 31, 2013, the Company recognized a total of $62,500 pursuant to this agreement and has been reflected in Research and Development expenses on the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations.

 

As of March 31, 2013, the Company accrued a total of $250,000 pursuant to this agreement which is included as part of Accounts Payable – licensing agreement in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.   There was no such amount in 2012.

 

In January 2013, the Company and Temple agreed to defer payment of the amount due pending renegotiation of the agreement.