Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SilverBow and its wholly owned subsidiary, SilverBow Resources Operating LLC, which are engaged in the exploration, development, acquisition, and operation of oil and gas properties, with a focus on oil and natural gas reserves in the Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk trend in Texas. Our undivided interests in oil and gas properties are accounted for using the proportionate consolidation method, whereby our proportionate share of the assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses are included in the appropriate classifications in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in preparing the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of certain revenues and expenses during each reporting period. Such estimates and assumptions are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from such estimates. Significant estimates and assumptions underlying these financial statements include:

•the estimated quantities of proved oil and natural gas reserves used to compute depletion of oil and natural gas properties, the related present value of estimated future net cash flows therefrom, and the Ceiling Test impairment calculation,

•estimates related to the collectability of accounts receivable and the creditworthiness of our customers,

•estimates of the counterparty bank risk related to letters of credit that our customers may have issued on our behalf,

•estimates of future costs to develop and produce reserves,

•accruals related to oil and gas sales, capital expenditures and lease operating expenses (“LOE”),

•estimates in the calculation of share-based compensation expense,

•estimates of our ownership in properties prior to final division of interest determination,

•the estimated future cost and timing of asset retirement obligations,

•estimates made in our income tax calculations, including the valuation of our deferred tax assets,

•estimates in the calculation of the fair value of commodity derivative assets and liabilities,

•estimates in the assessment of current litigation claims against the Company,

•estimates used in the assessment of business combinations and asset purchases,

•estimates in amounts due with respect to open state regulatory audits, and

•estimates on future lease obligations.

While we are not currently aware of any material revisions to any of our estimates, there will likely be future revisions to our estimates resulting from matters such as new accounting pronouncements, changes in ownership interests, payouts, joint venture audits, reallocations by purchasers or pipelines, or other corrections and adjustments common in the oil and gas industry, many of which relate to prior periods. These types of adjustments cannot be currently estimated and are expected to be recorded in the period during which the adjustments are known.

We are subject to legal proceedings, claims, liabilities and environmental matters that arise in the ordinary course of business. We accrue for losses when such losses are considered probable and the amounts can be reasonably estimated.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment. We follow the “full-cost” method of accounting for oil and natural gas property and equipment costs. Under this method of accounting, all productive and nonproductive costs incurred in the exploration, development, and acquisition of oil and natural gas reserves are capitalized. Such costs may be incurred both prior to and after the acquisition of a property and include lease acquisitions, geological and geophysical services, drilling, completion, and equipment. Internal costs incurred that are directly identified with exploration, development, and acquisition activities undertaken by us for our own account, and which are not related to production, general corporate overhead, or similar activities, are also capitalized. For the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, such internal costs capitalized totaled $1.4 million and $1.1 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, such internal costs capitalized totaled $4.1 million and $3.3 million, respectively. Interest costs are also capitalized to unproved oil and natural gas properties. There was no capitalized interest on our unproved properties for both the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 and the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022.

The “Property and Equipment” balances on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets are summarized for presentation purposes. The following is a detailed breakout of our “Property and Equipment” balances (in thousands):

	September 30, 2023		December 31, 2022
Property and Equipment
Proved oil and gas properties	$	2,827,145	$	2,506,853
Unproved oil and gas properties	27,821		16,272
Furniture, fixtures and other equipment	6,301		6,098
Less – Accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization & impairment	(1,151,141)		(1,004,044)
Property and Equipment, Net	$	1,710,126	$	1,525,179

No gains or losses are recognized upon the sale or disposition of oil and natural gas properties, except in transactions involving a significant amount of reserves or where the proceeds from the sale of oil and natural gas properties would significantly alter the relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves of oil and natural gas attributable to a cost center. Internal costs associated with selling properties are expensed as incurred.

We compute the provision for depreciation, depletion and amortization (“DD&A”) of oil and natural gas properties using the unit-of-production method. Under this method, we compute the provision by multiplying the total unamortized costs of oil and natural gas properties, including future development costs, gas processing facilities, and both capitalized asset retirement obligations and undiscounted abandonment costs of wells to be drilled, net of salvage values, but excluding costs of unproved properties, by an overall rate determined by dividing the physical units of oil and natural gas produced (which excludes natural gas consumed in operations) during the period by the total estimated units of proved oil and natural gas reserves (which excludes natural gas consumed in operations) at the beginning of the period. Future development costs are estimated on a property-by-property basis based on current economic conditions. The period over which we will amortize these properties is dependent on our production from these properties in future years. Furniture, fixtures and other equipment are recorded at cost and are depreciated by the straight-line method at rates based on the estimated useful lives of the property, which range between two and 20 years. Repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred.

Geological and geophysical (“G&G”) costs incurred on developed properties are recorded in “Proved oil and gas properties” and therefore subject to amortization. G&G costs incurred that are associated with unproved properties are capitalized in “Unproved oil and gas properties” and evaluated as part of the total capitalized costs associated with a prospect. The cost of unproved properties not being amortized is assessed quarterly, on a property-by-property basis, to determine whether such properties have been impaired. In determining whether such costs should be impaired, we evaluate current drilling results, lease expiration dates, current oil and gas industry conditions, economic conditions, capital availability and available geological and geophysical information. Any impairment assessed is added to the cost of proved properties being amortized.

Full-Cost Ceiling Test

Full-Cost Ceiling Test. At the end of each quarterly reporting period, the unamortized cost of oil and natural gas properties (including natural gas processing facilities, capitalized asset retirement obligations, net of related salvage values and deferred income taxes) is limited to the sum of the estimated future net revenues from proved properties (excluding cash outflows from recognized asset retirement obligations, including future development and abandonment costs of wells to be drilled, using the preceding 12-months’ average price based on closing prices on the first day of each month, adjusted for price differentials, discounted at 10% and the lower of cost or fair value of unproved properties) adjusted for related income tax effects (“Ceiling Test”).The quarterly calculations of the Ceiling Test and provision for DD&A are based on estimates of proved reserves. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves and in projecting the future rates of production, timing and plan of development. The accuracy of any reserves estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Results of drilling, testing, and production subsequent to the date of the estimate may justify revision of such estimates. Accordingly, reserves estimates are often different from the quantities of oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered.

Accounts Receivable, Net

Accounts Receivable, Net. We assess the collectability of accounts receivable based on a broad range of reasonable and forward-looking information including historical losses, current economic conditions, future forecasts and contractual terms. The Company's credit losses based on these assessments are considered immaterial. At September 30, 2023, December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, we had an allowance of less than $0.1 million. The allowance has been deducted from the total “Accounts receivable, net” balance on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Supervision Fees

Supervision Fees. Consistent with industry practice, we charge a supervision fee to the wells we operate, including our wells, in which we own up to a 100% working interest. Supervision fees are recorded as a reduction to “General and administrative, net,” on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes. Deferred taxes are determined based on the estimated future tax effects of differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities, given the provisions of the enacted tax laws. The Company's effective tax rate was approximately 17% and 4% for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and 22% and 4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company recorded an income tax benefit of $0.9 million and income tax provision of $33.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, and an income tax provision of $6.1 million and $7.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively. The tax impact for both periods was a product of the overall forecasted annual effective tax rate applied to the year to date income.

Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 382”) imposes limitations on a corporation’s ability to utilize its net operating losses (“NOLs”) if it experiences an ownership change. Generally, an “ownership change” occurs if one or more shareholders, each of whom is deemed to own five percent or more in value of a corporation’s stock, increase their aggregate percentage ownership by more than 50 percent over the lowest percentage of stock owned by those shareholders at any time during the preceding three-year period. In the event of an ownership change, utilization of the NOLs would be subject to an annual limitation under Section 382. We believe we had an ownership change in August 2022 and, therefore, are subject to an annual limitation on the usage of our NOLs generated prior to the ownership change. However, we do not expect to have any of our NOLs expire before becoming available to be utilized by the Company. Management will continue to monitor the potential impact of Section 382 with respect to our NOLs.

Our policy is to record interest and penalties relating to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we did not have any accrued liability for uncertain tax positions and do not anticipate recognition of any significant liabilities for uncertain tax positions during the next 12 months.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition. Our reported oil and gas sales are comprised of revenues from oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) sales. Revenues from each product stream are recognized at the point when control of the product is transferred to the customer and collectability is reasonably assured. Prices for our products are either negotiated on a monthly basis or tied to market indices. The Company has determined that these contracts represent performance obligations which are satisfied when control of the commodity transfers to the customer, typically through the delivery of the specified commodity to a designated delivery point. Natural gas revenues are recognized based on the actual volume of natural gas sold to the purchasers.

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities. The “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities” balances on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets are summarized below (in thousands):

	September 30, 2023		December 31, 2022
Trade accounts payable	$	30,708	$	23,660
Accrued operating expenses	11,266		10,572
Accrued compensation costs	3,267		4,814
Asset retirement obligations – current portion	1,578		1,284
Accrued non-income based taxes	13,303		4,849
Accrued corporate and legal fees	181		388
WTI contingency payouts - current portion	1,537		1,600
Payable for settled derivatives	3,549		6,026
Other payables	9,342		7,007
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	74,731	$	60,200

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy

Cash and Cash Equivalents. We consider all highly liquid instruments with an initial maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. These amounts do not include cash balances that are contractually restricted. The Company maintains cash and cash equivalent balances with major financial institutions, which at times exceed federally insured limits. The Company monitors the financial condition of the financial institutions and has experienced no losses associated with these accounts.

Treasury Stock

Treasury Stock. Our treasury stock repurchases are reported at cost and are included in “Treasury stock, held at cost” on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.