Organization and Basis of Presentation (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Organization and Basis of Presentation

ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Energen Corporation (Energen or the Company) is an oil and natural gas exploration and production company engaged in the exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas liquids-rich properties and natural gas in the Permian Basin in west Texas and the San Juan Basin in New Mexico and Colorado. Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, our operations are conducted through our subsidiary, Energen Resources Corporation (Energen Resources).

Energen may, in the ordinary course of business, be involved in the sale of developed or undeveloped properties. All assets held for sale are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or estimated fair value. Certain of these held for sale properties also qualify as discontinued operations when the sale results in the elimination of operations and cash flows from company operations and when there will be no significant continuing involvement in the operations and cash flows of the sold component. The results of operations of these properties are reclassified and reported as discontinued operations for prior periods.

Prior to September 2, 2014, Energen owned Alabama Gas Corporation (Alagasco), which was engaged in the purchase, distribution and sale of natural gas principally in central and north Alabama. On September 2, 2014, Energen completed the transaction to sell Alagasco to The Laclede Group, Inc. (Laclede) for $1.6 billion, less the assumption of $267 million in debt. The net pre-tax proceeds to Energen totaled approximately $1.32 billion resulting in a pre-tax gain of $726.5 million. This sale had an effective date of August 31, 2014. Energen used cash proceeds from the sale to reduce long-term and short-term indebtedness. During the second quarter of 2014, Energen classified Alagasco as held for sale and reflected the associated operating results in discontinued operations. See Note 15, Discontinued Operations and Held for Sale Properties, for further information regarding the sale of Alagasco.