Fair value measurements (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Available-for-sale securities

Details of available-for-sale securities were as follows:

March 31, 2012	Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Insurance investment contract	$	37,250	$	11,454	$	—		$	48,704
Auction rate securities	11,400		—		—			11,400
Mortgage-backed securities	7,952		119		(1		)	8,070
U.S. Treasury securities	1,968		49		(1		)	2,016
Total	$	58,570	$	11,622	$	(2	)	$	70,190

December 31, 2011	Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Insurance investment contract	$	31,884	$	6,468	$	—		$	38,352
Auction rate securities	11,400		—		—			11,400
Mortgage-backed securities	8,206		95		(5		)	8,296
U.S. Treasury securities	1,619		37		—			1,656
Total	$	53,109	$	6,600	$	(5	)	$	59,704

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis

The Company's assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are as follows:

	Fair Value Measurements at March 31, 2012, Using
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Balance at March 31, 2012
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Money market funds	$	—	$	9,942	$	—	$	9,942
Available-for-sale securities:
Insurance investment contract*	—		48,704		—		48,704
Auction rate securities	—		11,400		—		11,400
Mortgage-backed securities	—		8,070		—		8,070
U.S. Treasury securities	—		2,016		—		2,016
Commodity derivative instruments	—		27,280		—		27,280
Total assets measured at fair value	$	—	$	107,412	$	—	$	107,412
Liabilities:
Commodity derivative instruments	$	—	$	26,330	$	—	$	26,330
Interest rate derivative instruments	—		3,321		—		3,321
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	—	$	29,651	$	—	$	29,651

*  The insurance investment contract invests approximately 29 percent in common stock of mid-cap companies, 29 percent in common stock of small-cap companies, 29 percent in common stock of large-cap companies and 13 percent in fixed-income and other investments.

	Fair Value Measurements at March 31, 2011, Using
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Balance at March 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Money market funds	$	—	$	75,658	$	—	$	75,658
Available-for-sale securities:
Insurance investment contract*	—		41,594		—		41,594
Auction rate securities	—		11,400		—		11,400
Mortgage-backed securities	—		8,064		—		8,064
U.S. Treasury securities	—		1,720		—		1,720
Commodity derivative instruments	—		16,398		—		16,398
Total assets measured at fair value	$	—	$	154,834	$	—	$	154,834
Liabilities:
Commodity derivative instruments	$	—	$	58,581	$	—	$	58,581
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	—	$	58,581	$	—	$	58,581

*  The insurance investment contract invests approximately 34 percent in common stock of mid-cap companies, 33 percent in common stock of small-cap companies, 32 percent in common stock of large-cap companies and 1 percent in cash and cash equivalents.

	Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2011, Using
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs  (Level 3)		Balance at December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Money market funds	$	—	$	97,500	$	—	$	97,500
Available-for-sale securities:
Insurance investment contract*	—		38,352		—		38,352
Auction rate securities	—		11,400		—		11,400
Mortgage-backed securities	—		8,296		—		8,296
U.S. Treasury securities	—		1,656		—		1,656
Commodity derivative instruments	—		30,455		—		30,455
Total assets measured at fair value	$	—	$	187,659	$	—	$	187,659
Liabilities:
Commodity derivative instruments	$	—	$	14,101	$	—	$	14,101
Interest rate derivative instruments	—		4,762		—		4,762
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	—	$	18,863	$	—	$	18,863

* The insurance investment contract invests approximately 33 percent in common stock of mid-cap companies, 34 percent in common stock of small-cap companies, 32 percent in common stock of large-cap companies and 1 percent in cash and cash equivalents.

Fair value of long term debt outstanding

The estimated fair value of the Company's Level 2 long-term debt was as follows:

	Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Long-term debt at March 31, 2012	$	1,416,189	$	1,578,395
Long-term debt at March 31, 2011	$	1,426,862	$	1,526,923
Long-term debt at December 31, 2011	$	1,424,678	$	1,592,807