Note 4 - Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Notes to Financial Statements

Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]

NOTE 4. Fair Value Measurements

The Company determines fair value based on the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value measurements are based upon inputs that market participants use in pricing an asset or liability, which are characterized according to a hierarchy that prioritizes those inputs based on the degree to which they are observable. Observable inputs represent market data obtained from independent sources, whereas unobservable inputs reflect a company's own market assumptions, which are used if observable inputs are not reasonably available without undue cost and effort. The fair value input hierarchy level to which an asset or liability measurement in its entirety falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the measurement in its entirety.

The three input levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

● Level 1 – quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

● Level 2 – quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (e.g., interest rates) and inputs derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

● Level 3 – unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, typically reflecting management’s estimate of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The fair values are therefore, determined using model-based techniques, including discounted cash flow models.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2021 are as follows (in thousands):

	As of September 30, 2021
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
Liabilities:
Commodity price derivatives – current	$	—	$	14,134	$	—	$	14,134
Commodity price derivatives – noncurrent		—		5,268		—		5,268
Commodity price derivatives	$	—	$	19,402	$	—	$	19,402

The Company did not have any assets or liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2020.

Commodity price derivatives. The Company’s commodity price derivatives are currently made up entirely of crude oil swap contracts. The Company measures derivatives using an industry-standard pricing model that is provided by a third party.  The inputs utilized in the third-party discounted cash flow and option-pricing models for valuing commodity price derivatives include forward prices for crude oil, contracted volumes, volatility factors and time to maturity, which are considered Level 2 inputs.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. These assets and liabilities are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances. Specifically, (i) stock-based compensation is measured at fair value on the date of grant based on Level 1 inputs for restricted stock awards or Level 2 inputs for stock option awards based upon market data, and (ii) the estimates and fair value measurements used for the evaluation of proved property for potential impairment using Level 3 inputs based upon market conditions in the area. The Company assesses the recoverability of the carrying amount of certain assets and liabilities whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset or liability may not be recoverable. These assets and liabilities can include inventories, proved and unproved crude oil and natural gas properties and other long-lived assets that are written down to fair value when they are impaired or held for sale. The Company did not record any impairments to proved or unproved crude oil and natural gas properties for the periods presented in the accompanying condensed consolidated and combined financial statements.

The Company has other financial instruments consisting primarily of cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, long-term debt and other current assets and liabilities that approximate fair value due to the nature of the instrument and their relatively short maturities.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on certain assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.

Proved Properties. The Company performs assessments of its proved crude oil and natural gas properties accounted for under the successful efforts method of accounting whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of those assets may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is indicated if the sum of the expected future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the assets. In these circumstances, the Company recognizes an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the estimated fair value of the assets.

The Company performed an impairment assessment of its proved crude oil and natural gas properties as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 and determined that its proved crude oil and natural gas properties were not impaired. The primary factors that may affect estimates of future cash flows for the Company's proved crude oil and natural gas properties are (i) future reserve adjustments, both positive and negative, to proved reserves and risk-adjusted probable and possible reserves, (ii) results of future drilling activities, (iii) management's price outlooks and (iv) increases or decreases in production and capital costs.

There is significant uncertainty surrounding the long-term impact to global crude oil demand due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is reasonably possible that the carrying value of the Company's proved crude oil and natural gas properties could exceed their estimated fair value resulting in the need to impair their carrying values in the future. If incurred, an impairment of the Company's proved crude oil and natural gas properties could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.