Asset Retirement Obligations

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]

Asset Retirement Obligations

4.       Asset Retirement Obligations

The Partnership has recognized an estimated asset retirement obligation liability (“ARO”) for future plugging and abandonment costs. A liability for the estimated fair value of the future plugging and abandonment costs is recorded with a corresponding increase in the full cost pool at the time a new well is drilled. Depreciation expense associated with estimated plugging and abandonment costs is recognized in accordance with the full cost methodology.

The Partnership estimates a liability for plugging and abandonment costs based on historical experience and estimated well life. The liability is discounted using the credit-adjusted risk-free rate. Revisions to the liability could occur due to changes in well plugging and abandonment costs or well useful lives, or if federal or state regulators enact new well restoration requirements. The Partnership recognizes accretion expense in connection with the discounted liability over the remaining life of the well.

A reconciliation of the Partnership’s liability for well plugging and abandonment costs for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and the year ended December 31, 2016 is as follows:

	2017			2016
Balance, beginning of period	$	572,433		$	545,723
Liabilities incurred		2,757			7,204
Liabilities reduced due to settlements		(6,097	)		(4,730	)
Accretion expense		12,969			24,236
Balance, end of period	$	582,062		$	572,433