XML 59 R22.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.8
Commitments and Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies

(15) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Litigation

We are the subject of, or party to, a number of pending or threatened legal actions, administrative proceedings and claims arising in the ordinary course of our business. While many of these matters involve inherent uncertainty, we believe that the amount of the liability, if any, ultimately incurred with respect to proceedings or claims will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position as a whole or on our liquidity, capital resources or future annual results of operations. We will continue to evaluate our litigation quarterly and will establish and adjust any litigation reserves as appropriate to reflect our assessment of the then current status of litigation.

Transportation and Gathering Contracts

In the three months ended March 31, 2014, our transportation and gathering commitments increased by approximately $628.4 million over the next 25 years primarily due to two new firm transportation contracts. In addition, we have entered into additional agreements which are contingent on certain pipeline and gathering modifications and/or construction, that will range between five and fifteen year terms and are expected to begin in late 2014 through 2017. Based on these new contracts, we will have transportation and gathering obligations for a range of natural gas volumes from 25,000 mcf per day to 300,000 mcf per day through the end of the contract term.