Note 3—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a) Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are comprised of cash in banks and highly liquid instruments with original maturities of three months or less, primarily consisting of bank time deposits and investments in institutional money market funds. The carrying amounts approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these items. Cash in bank accounts at times may exceed federally insured limits.

(b) Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are carried at estimated net realizable value. Receivables deemed uncollectible are charged directly to expense. Trade credit is generally extended on a short-term basis, and therefore, accounts receivable do not bear interest, although a finance charge may be applied to such receivables that are past due. A valuation allowance is provided for those accounts for which collection is estimated as doubtful and uncollectible accounts are written off and charged against the allowance. In estimating the allowance, management considers, among other things, how recently and how frequently payments have been received and the financial position of the counterparty. The Company did not deem any of its accounts receivables to be uncollectible as of September 30, 2015 or December 31, 2014.

The Company accrues revenue due to timing differences between the delivery of natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and crude oil and the receipt of a delivery statement. These revenues are recorded based upon volumetric data from the Company’s records and management’s estimates of the related commodity sales and transportation and compression fees. The Company had $21.3 million and $24.1 million of accrued revenues, net of certain expenses at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, which were included in accounts receivable within the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.

(c) Property and Equipment

Oil and Natural Gas Properties

The Company follows the successful efforts method of accounting for its oil and natural gas operations. Acquisition costs for oil and natural gas properties, costs of drilling and equipping productive wells, and costs of unsuccessful development wells are capitalized and amortized on an equivalent unit-of-production basis over the life of the remaining related oil and gas reserves. The estimated future costs of dismantlement, restoration, plugging and abandonment of oil and gas properties and related disposal are capitalized when asset retirement obligations are incurred and amortized as part of depreciation, depletion and amortization expense (see Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization below).

Costs incurred to acquire producing and non-producing leaseholds are capitalized. All unproved leasehold acquisition costs are initially capitalized, including the cost of leasing agents, title work and due diligence. If the Company acquires leases in a prospective area, these costs are capitalized as unproved leasehold costs. If no leases are acquired by the Company with respect to the initial costs incurred or the Company discontinues leasing in a prospective area, the costs are charged to exploration expense. Unproved leasehold costs that are determined to have proved oil and gas reserves are transferred to proved leasehold costs.

Upon the sale or retirement of a complete field of a proved property, the cost is eliminated from the property accounts, and the resultant gain or loss is reclassified to the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations. Upon the sale of an individual well, the proceeds are credited to accumulated depreciation and depletion within the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. Upon sale of an entire interest in an unproved property where the property had been assessed for impairment individually, a gain or loss is recognized in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations. If a partial interest in an unproved property is sold, any funds received are accounted for as a reduction of the cost in the interest retained.

A summary of property and equipment including oil and natural gas properties is as follows (in thousands):


	September 30, 2015			December 31, 2014
Oil and natural gas properties:
Unproved	$	934,844		$	1,044,469
Proved		1,179,866			802,112

Gross oil and natural gas properties		2,114,710			1,846,581
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization		(300,016	)		(131,857	)

Oil and natural gas properties, net		1,814,694			1,714,724
Other property and equipment		11,391			8,912
Less accumulated depreciation		(3,010	)		(809	)

Other property and equipment, net		8,381			8,103

Property and equipment, net	$	1,823,075		$	1,722,827

Exploration expenses, including geological and geophysical expenses and delay rentals for unevaluated oil and gas properties are charged to expense as incurred. Exploratory drilling costs are initially capitalized as unproved property, not subject to depletion, but charged to expense if and when the well is determined not to have found proved oil and gas reserves.

Other Property and Equipment

Other property and equipment include land, buildings, leasehold improvements, vehicles, computer equipment and software, telecommunications equipment, and furniture and fixtures. These items are recorded at cost, or fair value if acquired through a business acquisition.

(d) Revenue Recognition

Oil and natural gas sales revenue is recognized when produced quantities of oil and natural gas are delivered to a custody transfer point such as a pipeline, processing facility or a tank lifting has occurred, persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement exists, the rights and responsibility of ownership pass to the purchaser upon delivery, collection of revenue from the sales is reasonably assured and the sales price is fixed or determinable. Revenues from the sales of natural gas, crude oil and NGLs in which the Company has an interest with other producers are recognized using the sales method on the basis of the Company’s net revenue interest. The Company did not have any material imbalances as of September 30, 2015 or December 31, 2014.

In accordance with the terms of joint operating agreements, from time to time, the Company may be paid monthly fees for operating or drilling wells for outside owners. The fees are meant to recoup some of the operator’s general and administrative costs in connection with well and drilling operations and are accounted for as credits to general and administrative expense.

Brokered natural gas and marketing revenues include revenues from brokered gas or revenue we receive as a result of selling and buying natural gas that is not related to our production and revenue from the release of transportation capacity. We realize brokered margins as a result of buying and selling natural gas utilizing separate purchase and sale transactions, typically with separate counterparties, whereby the Company or the counterparty takes title to the natural gas purchased or sold. Revenues and expenses related to brokering natural gas are reported gross as part of revenue and expense in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We consider these activities as ancillary to our natural gas sales and thus report them within one operating segment.

(e) Major Customers

The Company sells production volumes to various purchasers. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, there were five and four customers that, on an individual basis, accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s natural gas, NGLs and oil sales. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, there were two customers that accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s total natural gas, NGLs and oil sales. The following table sets forth the Company’s major customers and associated percentage of revenue for the periods indicated:


	For the three months ended September 30,						For the nine months ended September 30,
	2015			2014			2015			2014
Purchaser
Antero Resources Corporation		19	%		48	%		18	%		57	%
ARM Energy Management, LLC		10	%		26	%		12	%		20	%
Enlink Midstream Operating, L.P.		20	%		—			24	%		—
Tenaska Marketing Ventures		14	%		—			6	%		—
Sequent Energy Management, L.P.		22	%		—			20	%		—

Total		85	%		74	%		80	%		77	%

Management believes that the loss of any one customer would not have an adverse effect on the Company’s ability to sell natural gas, NGLs and oil production because it believes that there are potential alternative purchasers and that it may be necessary to establish relationships with new purchasers. However, there can be no assurance that the Company can establish such relationships or that those relationships will result in an increased number of purchasers.

(f) Concentration of Credit Risk

Although the Company is exposed to a concentration of credit risk due to the fact that several customers account for a significant portion of its total natural gas, NGLs and oil sales, management believes that all of the Company’s purchasers are credit worthy. The following table summarizes concentration of receivables, net of allowances, by product or service as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 (in thousands):


	September 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
Receivables by product or service:
Sale of oil and natural gas and related products and services	$	14,861	$	22,777
Joint interest owners		5,455		20,666
Miscellaneous other		3,291		2,935

Total	$	23,607	$	46,378

Oil and natural gas customers include pipelines, distribution companies, producers, gas marketers and industrial users primarily located in the State of Ohio. As a general policy, collateral is not required for receivables, but customers’ financial condition and credit worthiness are evaluated regularly. By using derivative instruments that are not traded on an exchange to hedge exposures to changes in commodity prices, the Company exposes itself to the credit risk of counterparties. Credit risk is the potential failure of the counterparty to perform under the terms of the derivative contract. When the fair value of a derivative contract is positive, the counterparty is expected to owe the Company, which creates credit risk. To minimize the credit risk in derivative instruments, it is the Company’s policy to enter into derivative contracts only with counterparties that are creditworthy financial institutions deemed by management as competent and competitive market-makers. Additionally, the Company uses master netting agreements to minimize credit-risk exposure. The creditworthiness of the Company’s counterparties is subject to periodic review. The fair value of the Company’s commodity derivative contracts is a net asset position of $25.1 million at September 30, 2015 and a net asset position of $19.0 million as December 31, 2014. Other than as provided by the revolving credit facility, the Company is not required to provide credit support or collateral to any of its counterparties under the Company’s contracts, nor are they required to provide credit support to the Company. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company did not have past-due receivables from or payables to any of the counterparties.

(g) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive loss includes net loss and all other changes in the equity of a business during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources that, under U.S. GAAP, have not been recognized in the calculation of net loss. These changes, other than net loss, are referred to as “other comprehensive loss” and for the Company they include a pension benefit plan that requires the Company to (i) recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of a defined benefit retirement plan as an asset or liability in its consolidated balance sheet and (ii) recognize changes in that funded status in the year in which the changes occur through other comprehensive loss. The Company’s pension plan was fully funded at September 30, 2015 and underfunded $1.3 million at December 31, 2014, respectively. Effective March 31, 2014, benefit accruals in the plan were frozen resulting in a gain on reduction of pension obligations of $2.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

(h) Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

Oil and Natural Gas Properties

Depreciation, depletion, and amortization (“DD&A”) of capitalized costs of proved oil and natural gas properties is computed using the unit-of-production method on a field level basis using total estimated proved reserves. The reserve base used to calculate DD&A for leasehold acquisition costs and the cost to acquire proved properties is the sum of proved developed reserves and proved undeveloped reserves. The reserve base used to calculate DD&A for drilling, completion and well equipment costs, which include development costs and successful exploration drilling costs, includes only proved developed reserves. DD&A expense relating to proved oil and natural gas properties for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 totaled approximately $66.7 million and $29.6 million, respectively; and for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 totaled approximately $168.9 million and $51.4 million, respectively.

Through September 30, 2014, the Company calculated depletion of proved properties at the individual unit level. Effective October 1, 2014, the Company changed its estimate for calculating depletion expense of proved properties to be performed at the field level consistent with the assessment for impairment of proved property costs.

Other Property and Equipment

Depreciation with respect to other property and equipment is calculated using straight-line methods based on expected lives of the individual assets or groups of assets ranging from 5 to 40 years. Depreciation for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 totaled approximately $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively; and for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 totaled approximately $1.3 million and $0.6 million, respectively. This amount is included in DD&A expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

(i) Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews its long lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If it is determined that an asset’s estimated future cash flows will not be sufficient to recover its carrying amount, an impairment charge will be recorded to reduce the carrying amount for that asset to its estimated fair value if such carrying amount exceeds the fair value.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company changed its estimate for assessing impairment of proved property costs. Through September 30, 2014, such assessments were performed at the individual unit level. Effective October 1, 2014, assessment for impairment of proved properties is performed at the field level, which for the Company consists of three fields, including Conventional production, the Utica Shale, and the Marcellus Shale. With the increase in the Company’s activity level, this change will result in a more appropriate identification of cash flows utilized in the assessment of recoverability of proved properties as additional units are placed into production, resulting in increased sharing of revenues and costs across units related to infrastructure, equipment, and fulfillment of sales and transportation contracts.

The review for impairment of the Company’s oil and gas properties is done by determining if the historical cost of proved properties less the applicable accumulated DD&A and abandonment is less than the estimated expected undiscounted future cash flows. The expected future cash flows are estimated based on the Company’s plans to continue to produce and develop proved reserves and a risk-adjusted portion of probable reserves. Expected future cash flow from the sale of production of reserves is calculated based on estimated future prices. The Company estimates prices based upon current contracts in place, adjusted for basis differentials and market-related information, including published futures prices. The estimated future level of production is based on assumptions surrounding future prices and costs, field decline rates, market demand and supply and the economic and regulatory climates. If the carrying value exceeds the expected future cash flows, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between the estimated fair market value (as determined by discounted future cash flows) and the carrying value of the assets. There were no impairments of proved properties for the three or nine months ended September 30, 2015. Impairment of proved properties for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $4.6 million.

The determination of oil and natural gas reserve estimates is a subjective process, and the accuracy of any reserve estimate depends on the quality of available data and the application of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Estimates of economically recoverable reserves and future net cash flows depend on a number of variable factors and assumptions that are difficult to predict and may vary considerably from actual results.

Unproved properties are reviewed annually for impairment or whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. An impairment charge is recorded if conditions indicate the Company will not explore the acreage prior to expiration of the applicable leases. The Company recorded impairment charges of unproved oil and gas properties related to lease expirations of $1.0 million and $7.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. The Company recorded $0.5 million and $4.2 million to impairment of unproved oil and gas properties related to lease expirations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. These costs are included in exploration expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

(j) Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method as set out in the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 740 “Income Taxes.” Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, operating losses and other tax attribute carry-forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company recognizes fines and penalties as income tax expense.

Upon the closing of the Corporate Reorganization, the Company acquired 100% of Eclipse I, Eclipse Resources-Ohio, LLC and Eclipse Operating. Eclipse I was a limited partnership not subject to federal income taxes before the Corporate Reorganization. However, in connection with the closing of the Corporate Reorganization, the Company became a corporation subject to federal and state income tax and, as such, the Company’s future income taxes will be dependent upon its future taxable income. The change in tax status requires the recognition of a deferred tax asset or liability for the initial temporary differences at the time of the change in status. The resulting net deferred tax liability of approximately $97.6 million was recorded as income tax expense in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2014.

ASC Topic 740 further provides that a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits. Income tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold at the effective date to be recognized upon the adoption of the uncertain tax position guidance and in subsequent periods. This interpretation also provides guidance on measurement, derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The Company has not recorded a reserve for any uncertain tax positions to date.

(k) Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company has established a hierarchy to measure its financial instruments at fair value which requires it to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The hierarchy defines three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1—Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical, unrestricted assets and liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level 2—Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset and liability or can be corroborated with observable market date for substantially the entire contractual term of the asset or liability.

Level 3—Unobservable inputs that reflect the entity’s own assumptions about the assumption market participants would use in the pricing of the asset or liability and are consequently not based on market activity but rather through particular valuation techniques.

Valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs are favored. Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest priority level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the placement of assets and liabilities within the levels of the fair value hierarchy.

(l) Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company uses derivative financial instruments to reduce exposure to fluctuations in the prices of the energy commodities it sells.

Derivatives are recorded at fair value and are included on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as current and noncurrent assets and liabilities. Derivatives are classified as current or noncurrent based on the contractual expiration date. Derivatives with expiration dates within the next 12 months are classified as current. The Company netted the fair value of derivatives by counterparty in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets where the right to offset exists. The Company’s derivative instruments were not designated as hedges for accounting purposes for any of the periods presented. Accordingly, the changes in fair value are recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of operations in the period of change. Gains and losses on derivatives are included in cash flows from operating activities. Premiums for options are included in cash flows from operating activities.

The valuation of the Company’s derivative financial instruments represents a Level 2 measurement in the fair value hierarchy.

(m) Asset Retirement Obligation

The Company recognizes a legal liability for its asset retirement obligations (“ARO”) in accordance with ASC Topic 410, “Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations,” associated with the retirement of a tangible long-lived asset, in the period in which it is incurred or becomes determinable, with an associated increase in the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. The cost of the tangible asset, including the initially recognized asset retirement cost, is depreciated over the useful life of the asset and accretion expense is recognized over time as the discounted liability is accreted to its expected settlement value. The Company measures the fair value of its ARO using expected future cash outflows for abandonment discounted back to the date that the abandonment obligation was measured using an estimated credit adjusted rate, which was 10.45% and 8.96% for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Estimating the future ARO requires management to make estimates and judgments based on historical estimates regarding timing and existence of a liability, as well as what constitutes adequate restoration, inherent in the fair value calculation are numerous assumptions and judgments including the ultimate costs, inflation factors, credit adjusted discount rates, timing of settlement and changes in the legal, regulatory, environmental and political environments. To the extent future revisions to these assumptions impact the fair value of the existing ARO liability, a corresponding adjustment is made to the related asset.

The following table sets forth the changes in the Company’s ARO liability for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 (in thousands):


	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
Asset retirement obligations, beginning of period	$	17,400
Additional liabilities incurred		495
Accretion		1,197

Asset retirement obligations, end of period	$	19,092

The inputs used to determine such fair value are primarily based upon costs incurred historically for similar work, as well as estimates from independent third parties for costs that would be incurred to restore leased property to the contractually stipulated condition. Additions to ARO represent a significant nonrecurring Level 3 measurement.

(n) Lease Obligations

The Company leases office space under operating leases that expire between the years 2016—2025. The lease terms begin on the date of initial possession of the leased property for purposes of recognizing lease expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. The Company does not assume renewals in its determination of the lease terms unless the renewals are deemed to be reasonably assured at lease inception.

(o) Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

(p) Segment Reporting

The Company operates in one industry segment: the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry in the United States. All of its operations are conducted in one geographic area of the United States. All revenues are derived from customers located in the United States.

(q) Debt Issuance Costs

The expenditures related to issuing debt are capitalized and included in debt issuance costs in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. These costs are amortized over the expected life of the related instruments using the effective interest rate method. When debt is retired before maturity or modifications significantly change the cash flows, related unamortized costs are expensed.

(r) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“Update 2014-09”)”, which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements (and some cost guidance) in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance throughout the industry topics of the Accounting Standards Codification. In addition, the existing requirements for the recognition of a gain or loss on the transfer of nonfinancial assets that are not in a contract with a customer (for example, assets within the scope of Topic 360, “Property, Plant and Equipment”, and intangible assets within the scope of Topic 350, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other”) are amended to be consistent with the guidance on recognition and measurement (including the constraint on revenue) in Update 2014-09. Topic 606 requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve this, an entity should identify the contract with a customer, identify the performance obligations in the contract, determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies the performance obligations. These requirements are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption on its financial position, results of operations and related disclosures.

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08, “Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity”. The objective of the amendments in this update is to change the criteria for reporting discontinued operations and enhance convergence of the FASB’s and the International Accounting Standard Board’s (IASB) reporting requirements for discontinued operations. The amendments in this update change the requirements for reporting discontinued operations in Subtopic 205-20. A discontinued operation may include a component of an entity or a group of components of an entity, or a business or nonprofit activity. A disposal of a component of an entity or a group of components of an entity is required to be reported in discontinued operations if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results. The amendments in this update require an entity to present, for each comparative period, the assets and liabilities of a disposal group that includes a discontinued operation separately in the asset and liability sections, respectively, of the statement of financial position. The amendments in this update also require additional disclosures about discontinued operations. Public business entities must apply the amendments in this update prospectively to both of the following: (1) All disposals (or classifications as held for sale) of components of an entity that occur within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those years; (2) All businesses or nonprofit activities that, on acquisition, are classified as held for sale that occur within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted, but only for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued or available for issuance. The adoption of this update did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and related disclosures.

In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-15, “Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern.” The new standard provides guidance on determining when and how to disclose going concern uncertainties in the financial statements. Management will be required to perform interim and annual assessments of the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date and financial statements are issued. ASU 2014-15 is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statement disclosures.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, “Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs,” which expands upon the guidance on the presentation of debt issuance costs. The ASU requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. This guidance requires retrospective application and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015 and for interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, and related disclosures.

(s) Cash Flow Revision

The Company revised the presentation of delay rentals and geological and geophysical costs within the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, to conform to the current period presentation. Previously, such costs had been presented as cash outflows from investing activities; however, U.S. GAAP requires such costs to be presented as cash outflows from operating activities. This revision resulted in a reduction to cash flows provided by operating activities and a corresponding reduction to cash flows used in investing activities of approximately $11.8 million compared to the previously reported amounts. The Company evaluated the materiality of this error on both a quantitative and qualitative basis under the guidance of ASC 250 - Accounting Changes and Error Corrections and determined that it did not have a material impact to previously issued financial statements.