Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

(9) Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value on a Recurring Basis. Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, derivatives, the Credit Facility and the Second Lien notes. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the highly liquid or short-term nature of these instruments.

The fair values of our derivative contracts are computed using observable market data whereas our derivative collar contracts are valued using a Black-Scholes pricing model. The fair value of the current and long-term 2021 WTI Contingency Payout and 2022 WTI Contingency Payout, included within “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities” and “Other long-term liabilities” on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, respectively, is estimated using observable market data and a Monte Carlo pricing model. These are considered Level 2 valuations (defined below).

The carrying value of our Credit Facility and Second Lien approximates fair value because the respective borrowing rates do not materially differ from market rates for similar borrowings. These are considered Level 3 valuations (defined below).

Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis. The Company applies the provisions of the fair value measurement standard on a non-recurring basis to its non-financial assets and liabilities, including oil and gas properties acquired and assessed for classification as a business or an asset and asset retirement obligations. These assets and liabilities are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value estimation when acquisitions occur or asset retirement obligations are recorded. These are considered Level 3 valuations (defined below).

Asset retirement obligations. The initial measurement of asset retirement obligations (“ARO”) at fair value is recorded in the period in which the liability is incurred. Fair value is determined by calculating the present value of estimated future cash flows related to the liability. Estimating the future ARO requires management to make estimates and judgments regarding the timing and existence of a liability, as well as what constitutes adequate restoration when considering current regulatory requirements. 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.

Acquisitions. The Company recognized the assets acquired in our acquisitions at cost at a relative fair value basis (refer to Note 7 of these Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). Fair value was determined using a discounted cash flow model. The underlying future commodity prices included in the Company’s estimated future cash flows of its proved oil and gas properties were determined using NYMEX forward strip prices as of the closing date of each acquisition. The estimated future cash flows also included management’s assumptions for the estimates of production from the crude oil and natural gas proved properties, future operating, development costs and income taxes of the acquired properties and risk adjusted discount rates.

The fair value hierarchy has three levels based on the reliability of the inputs used to determine the fair value:

Level 1 – Uses quoted prices in active markets for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities. Instruments in this category have comparable fair values for identical instruments in active markets.

Level 2 – Uses quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or observable inputs for assets or liabilities in non-active markets. Instruments in this category are periodically verified against quotes from brokers and include our commodity derivatives that we value using commonly accepted industry-standard models which contain inputs such as contract prices, risk-free rates, volatility measurements and other observable market data that are obtained from independent third-party sources.

Level 3 – Uses unobservable inputs for assets or liabilities that are in non-active markets.

The following table presents our assets and liabilities that are measured on a recurring basis at fair value as of each of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy. For additional discussion related to the fair value of the Company's derivatives, refer to Note 8 of these Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


	Fair Value Measurements at
(in thousands)	Total		Quoted Prices in Active markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
September 30, 2023
Assets
Natural Gas Derivatives	$	53,032	$	—	$	53,032	$	—
Natural Gas Basis Derivatives	5,395		—		5,395		—
Oil Derivatives	418		—		418		—
Oil Basis Derivatives	254		—		254		—
NGL Derivatives	5,270		—		5,270		—
Liabilities
Natural Gas Derivatives	5,346		—		5,346		—
Natural Gas Basis Derivatives	5,415		—		5,415		—
Oil Derivatives	41,908		—		41,908		—
Oil Basis Derivatives	858		—		858		—
NGL Derivatives	785		—		785		—
2021 WTI Contingency Payout	2,459		—		2,459		—

December 31, 2022
Assets
Natural Gas Derivatives	$	25,960	$	—	$	25,960	$	—
Natural Gas Basis Derivatives	26,023		—		26,023		—
Oil Derivatives	14,604		—		14,604		—
NGL Derivatives	10,134		—		10,134		—
Liabilities
Natural Gas Derivatives	28,579		—		28,579		—
Natural Gas Basis Derivatives	409		—		409		—
Oil Derivatives	19,442		—		19,442		—
NGL Derivatives	104		—		104		—
2022 WTI Contingency Payout	2,135		—		2,135		—
2021 WTI Contingency Payout	1,453		—		1,453		—

Our current and long-term unsettled derivative assets and liabilities in the table above are measured at gross fair value and are shown on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets in “Fair value of commodity derivatives” and “Fair Value of Long-Term Commodity Derivatives,” respectively.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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