Basis of Presentation (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

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, 2019, 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, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 10, 2020 (the “2019 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.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions for the reporting periods covered by the financial statements. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value represents an exit price, representing the amount that would be received from the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. GAAP establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

• Level 1 — Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities;

• Level 2 — Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and

• Level 3 — Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326). Due to the issuance of ASU No. 2019-10, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842), and the fact that we are a smaller reporting company, the new standard is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2022. The standard replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology under current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires the use of a forward-looking expected credit loss model for accounts receivables, loans, and other financial instruments. The standard requires a modified retrospective approach through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. We plan to adopt the new credit loss standard effective January 1, 2023. We do not expect the new credit loss standard to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which is intended to simplify various aspects related to accounting for income taxes. The standard removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and also clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. The new standard will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. We plan to adopt this new ASU effective January 1, 2021. We do not expect the adoption of the new tax standard to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions affected by reference rate reform, if certain criteria are met. ASU No. 2020-04 only applies to contracts and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform. The new standard is effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new reference rate reform practical expedient will have on our consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

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 transport 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.

Water Transport Services

The majority of our revenues are from the removal and disposal of produced water and flowback originating from oil and natural gas wells or the transportation of fresh water and produced water to customer sites for use in drilling and hydraulic fracturing activities by trucks or through temporary or permanent water transfer pipelines. Water transport rates for trucking are based upon either a fixed fee per barrel or upon an hourly rate. Revenue is recognized once the water has been transported, 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 water disposal pipeline are priced at a fixed fee per disposal barrel transported, with revenues recognized over time from when the water is injected into our pipeline until the transport is complete. Water transport 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 fluids near disposal wells and disposal of oilfield wastes in our landfill. Disposal rates are generally based on a fixed fee per barrel of produced 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 includes revenues from the sale of “junk” or “slop” oil obtained through the skimming of disposal water. Under the new revenue standard, revenue is recognized for “junk” or “slop” oil sales at a point in time once the goods are transferred.

Rental Revenue

We generate rental revenue from the rental of 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 not within the scope of the new revenue standard, but rather are recognized under ASC 842, Leases. 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.