2.2.0.7 false Deferred Compensation 0207 - Disclosure - Deferred Compensation true false false false 1 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Pure Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 $ 2 Deferred Compensation [Abstract] 0 wll_DeferredCompensationAbstract wll false na duration DeferredCompensation. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string DeferredCompensation. false 3 DEFERRED COMPENSATION 1 us-gaap_CompensationRelatedCostsGeneralTextBlock us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0   <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>7.</b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td><b>DEFERRED COMPENSATION</b></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td><b><i>Production Participation Plan</i></b>—The Company has a Production Participation Plan (the “Plan”) in which all employees participate. On an annual basis, interests in oil and gas properties acquired, developed or sold during the year are allocated to the Plan as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. Once allocated, the interests (not legally conveyed) are fixed. Interest allocations prior to 1995 consisted of 2%-3% overriding royalty interests. Interest allocations since 1995 have been 2%-5% of oil and gas sales less lease operating expenses and production taxes.</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>Payments of 100% of the year’s Plan interests to employees and the vested percentages of former employees in the year’s Plan interests are made annually in cash after year-end. Accrued compensation expense under the Plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 amounted to $21.2 million and $10.4 million, respectively, charged to general and administrative expense and $2.9 million and $1.5 million, respectively, charged to exploration expense.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 6pt"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>Employees vest in the Plan ratably at 20% per year over a five year period. Pursuant to the terms of the Plan, (i) employees who terminate their employment with the Company are entitled to receive their vested allocation of future Plan year payments on an annual basis; (ii) employees will become fully vested at age 62, regardless of when their interests would otherwise vest; and (iii) any forfeitures inure to the benefit of the Company.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 6pt"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>The Company uses average historical prices to estimate the vested long-term Production Participation Plan liability. At September 30, 2010, the Company used three-year average historical NYMEX prices of $79.48 for crude oil and $5.81 for natural gas to estimate this liability. If the Company were to terminate the Plan or upon a change in control of the Company (as defined in the Plan), all employees fully vest, and the Company would distribute to each Plan participant an amount based upon the valuation method set forth in the Plan in a lump sum payment twelve months after the date of termination or within one month after a change in control event. Based on current strip prices at September 30, 2010, if the Company elected to terminate the Plan or if a change of control event occurred, it is estimated that the fully vested lump sum cash payment to employees would approximate $146.3 million. This amount includes $15.3 million attributable to proved undeveloped oil and gas properties and $24.1 million relating to the short-term portion of the Plan liability, which has been accrued as a current payable to be paid in February 2011. The ultimate sharing contribution for proved undeveloped oil and gas properties will be awarded in the year of Plan termination or change of control. However, the Company has no intention to terminate the Plan.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 6pt"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>The following table presents changes in the estimated long-term liability related to the Plan (in thousands):</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div align="center"> <table style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">  <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="88%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> </tr>   <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Long-term Production Participation Plan liability, January 1, 2010 </div></td> <td> </td> <td align="left">$</td> <td align="right">69,433</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Change in liability for accretion, vesting, change in estimates and new Plan year activity </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">33,601</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Cash payments accrued as compensation expense and reflected as a current payable </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td align="right">(24,051</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">)</td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">  </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Long-term Production Participation Plan liability, September 30, 2010 </div></td> <td> </td> <td align="left">$</td> <td align="right">78,983</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">  </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> <td> </td> </tr>  </table> </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged Note false false false us-types:textBlockItemType textblock Disclosure of compensation costs including compensated absences accruals, compensated absences liability, deferred compensation arrangements and income statement compensation items. Deferred compensation arrangements may include a description of an arrangement with an individual employee, which is generally an employment contract between the entity and a selected officer or key employee containing a promise by the employer to pay certain amounts at designated future dates, usually including a period after retirement, upon compliance with stipulated requirements. This type of arrangement is distinguished from broader based employee benefit plans as it is usually tailored to the employee. Disclosure also typically includes the amount of related compensation expense recognized during the reporting period, the number of shares issued during the period under such arrangements, and the carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the related liability. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 123R -Paragraph 64, 65 false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true