In third quarter 2020, we sold our North Louisiana assets and retained certain gathering, transportation and processing obligations which extend into 2030. These are contracts where we will not realize any future benefit. The estimated obligations are included in current and long-term divestiture contract obligation in our consolidated balance sheets. In first three months 2024, we recorded accretion expense of $10.3 million compared to $10.2 million in the same period of the prior year. The estimated discounted divestiture contract obligation was $379.8 million at March 31, 2024.

In second quarter 2020, we negotiated capacity releases on certain transportation pipelines in Pennsylvania effective May 31, 2020 and extending through the remainder of the contract. The estimated remaining discounted obligation for these transportation capacity releases as of March 31, 2024 was $1.9 million.

The following summarizes our exit costs (including accretion of discount and any adjustments) for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2024		2023
Transportation contract capacity releases	$	48	$	108
Divestiture contract obligation		10,267		12,215
	$	10,315	$	12,323

The following details the accrued exit cost liability activity for the three months ended March 31, 2024 (in thousands):


	Exit Costs (a)
Balance at December 31, 2023	$	399,989
Accretion of discount		10,315
Payments		(28,587	)
Balance at March 31, 2024	$	381,717

(a) Includes the divestiture contract obligation and the transportation contract capacity release obligation.