Basis of Presentation Basis of Presentation (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Nuverra Environmental Solutions, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Nuverra,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) are unaudited, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Our condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018, included herein, has been derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (or “GAAP”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. In our opinion, the condensed consolidated financial statements include the normal, recurring adjustments necessary for the fair statement of the results for the interim periods. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on March 12, 2019 (the “2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K”).

All dollar and share amounts in the footnote tabular presentations are in thousands, except per share amounts and unless otherwise noted.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASC 842”), replacing the previous leasing standard Accounting Standards Codification 840, Leases (“ASC 840”), which requires an entity that is a lessee to recognize the assets and liabilities arising from leases with terms longer than 12 months on the balance sheet. Leases are to be classified as either operating or finance, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the statement of operations. The new standard was effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those annual periods.

We adopted this new lease standard on January 1, 2019 using a modified retrospective transition, with the cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of accumulated deficit as of the effective date (the “effective date method”). Under the effective date method, financial results reported in periods prior to 2019 are unchanged. We also elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which among other things, allowed us to carryforward the historical lease classification. In addition, we have made an accounting policy election to keep leases with an initial term of 12 months or less off of the balance sheet. We will continue to recognize those lease payments in the consolidated statement of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

The adoption of the new lease standard resulted in the recognition of operating lease assets and operating lease liabilities of approximately $4.9 million, respectively, as of January 1, 2019. Additionally, as of January 1, 2019, we recorded an adjustment of $0.8 million to accumulated deficit as a result of the re-measurement of the present value of remaining lease payments for the finance leases previously recorded as capital leases. The finance lease assets and finance lease liabilities as of January 1, 2019 were $1.8 million, respectively. We believe the adoption of the new lease standard will not materially impact our results of operations, nor have a notable impact on our liquidity. See Note 3 for further information on our leases.

There have been no other material changes or developments in our significant accounting policies or evaluation of accounting estimates and underlying assumptions or methodologies from those disclosed in our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Revenue Recognition

Water Transfer Services

The majority of our revenues are from the removal and disposal of flowback and produced saltwater originating from oil and natural gas wells or the transportation of fresh water and saltwater to customer sites for use in drilling and hydraulic fracturing activities by trucks or through lay flat temporary hose or permanent water transport pipelines. Water transfer rates for trucking are based upon either a fixed fee per barrel of disposal water or upon an hourly rate. Revenue is recognized once the water has been transferred, or over time, based upon the number of barrels transported or disposed of, or at the agreed upon hourly rate, depending upon the customer contract. Contracts for the use of our disposal water pipeline are priced at a fixed fee per disposal barrel transferred, with revenues recognized over time from when the water is injected into our pipeline until the transfer is complete. Water transfer services are all generally completed within 24 hours with no remaining performance obligation outstanding at the end of each month.

Disposal Services

Revenues for disposal services are generated through fees charged for disposal of oilfield wastes in our landfill and disposal of fluids in our disposal wells. Disposal rates are generally based on a fixed fee per barrel of disposal water, or on a per ton basis for landfill disposal, with revenues recognized once the disposal has occurred. The performance obligation for disposal services is considered complete once the disposal occurs. Therefore, disposal services revenues are recognized at a point in time.

Other Revenue

Other revenue primarily includes revenues from the sale of fresh water, as well as the sale of “junk” or “slop” oil obtained through the skimming of disposal water. Revenue is recognized for fresh water sales and “junk” or “slop” oil sales at a point in time once the goods are transferred. Also included is revenue generated by oilfield labor services, often times called “roustabout work,” provided by the Company. Revenue is recognized in other revenue for the oilfield labor services once the activity has been performed, or over time, based on the agreed upon hourly rate, depending upon the customer contract. Oilfield labor services are short-term in nature with hours tracked each day services are provided. As such, there are no remaining performance obligations outstanding at the end of each month.

Other revenue also historically included small-scale construction or maintenance projects, however we exited that business during the three months ended June 30, 2018. Revenue for construction and maintenance projects, which generally spanned approximately two to three months, was recognized over time under the milestone method which is considered an output method. Since our construction contracts were short term in nature, the contractual milestone dates occurred close together over time such that there was no risk that we would not recognize revenue for goods or services transferred to the customer. All construction costs were expensed as incurred.

Rental Revenue

We generate rental revenue from the rental of various equipment used in wellsite services. Rental rates are based upon negotiated rates with our customers and revenue is recognized over the rental service period. Revenues from rental equipment are recognized under ASC 840 for the periods prior to January 1, 2019, and under ASC 842 for the periods after January 1, 2019. As the rental service period for our equipment is very short term in nature and does not include any sales-type or direct financing leases, nor any variable rental components, the adoption of ASC 842 in 2019 did not have a material impact upon our consolidated statement of operations.

Revenues are generated upon the performance of contracted services under formal and informal contracts with customers. Revenues are recognized when the contracted services for our customers are completed in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those services. Sales and usage-based taxes are excluded from revenues. Payment is due when the contracted services are completed in accordance with the payment terms established with each customer prior to providing any services. As such, there is no significant financing component for any of our revenues.

Some of our contracts with customers involve multiple performance obligations as we are providing more than one service under the same contract, such as water transfer services and disposal services. However, our core service offerings are capable of being distinct and also are distinct within the context of contracts with our customers. As such, these services represent separate performance obligations when included in a single contract. We have standalone pricing for all of our services which is negotiated with each of our customers in advance of providing the service. The contract consideration is allocated to the individual performance obligations based upon the standalone selling price of each service, and no discount is offered for a bundled services offering.