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Exploration and Production Activities (Unaudited) (Notes)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Industries Disclosures [Abstract]  
Exploration and production activities
Exploration and Production Activities (Unaudited)
In the third and fourth quarters of 2015 and the first quarter of 2016, the Company entered into purchase and sale agreements to sell the vast majority of Fidelity's assets, comprising greater than 93 percent of total production for 2014. A majority of the sales were completed in the fourth quarter of 2015. At the time the Company committed to a plan to sell Fidelity, the Company stopped the use of the full-cost method of accounting for its oil and natural gas production activities. The assets and liabilities have been classified as held for sale and the results of operations included in income (loss) from discontinued operations, other than certain general and administrative costs and interest expense which do not meet the criteria for income (loss) from discontinued operations. Prior to the asset sales, Fidelity was significantly involved in the development and production of oil and natural gas resources. For more information, see Note 2.
Fidelity shares revenues and expenses from the development of specified properties in proportion to its ownership interests. The information that follows includes Fidelity's proportionate share of all its oil and natural gas interests.
The following table sets forth capitalized costs and accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization related to oil and natural gas producing activities at December 31:
 
2015

*
2014

2013

 
(In thousands)
Subject to amortization
$

 
$
3,205,036

$
2,893,010

Not subject to amortization

 
132,141

124,869

Total capitalized costs

 
3,337,177

3,017,879

Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

 
1,752,566

1,562,116

Net capitalized costs
$

 
$
1,584,611

$
1,455,763


* Excludes assets held for sale.
 

Capital expenditures, including those not subject to amortization, related to oil and natural gas producing activities were as follows:
Years ended December 31,
2015

*
2014

**
2013

**
 
(In thousands)
 
Acquisitions:
 

 
 

 
 

 
Proved properties
$

 
$
87,919

 
$
1,817

 
Unproved properties

 
138,683

 
4,608

 
Exploration

 
16,879

 
26,975

 
Development

 
331,400

 
355,421

 
Total capital expenditures
$

 
$
574,881

 
$
388,821

 
* No wells were drilled in 2015.
** Excludes net additions/(reductions) to property, plant and equipment related to the recognition of future liabilities for asset retirement obligations associated with the plugging and abandonment of oil and natural gas wells of $(9.0) million and $(10.7) million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
 

The preceding table excludes proceeds from the sales of oil and natural gas properties of $246.6 million and $83.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
The following reflects the results of operations from the Company's oil and natural gas producing activities included in discontinued operations, excluding corporate overhead and financing costs:
Years ended December 31,
2015

2014

2013

 
 
(In thousands)

 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
$
(772,385
)
$
111,998

$
110,191


Estimates of proved reserves were prepared in accordance with guidelines established by the industry and the SEC. The estimates are arrived at using actual historical wellhead production trends and/or standard reservoir engineering methods utilizing available geological, geophysical, engineering and economic data. The proved reserve estimates as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, were calculated using SEC Defined Prices. Other factors used in the proved reserve estimates are current estimates of well operating and future development costs (which include asset retirement costs), taxes, timing of operations, and the interests owned by the Company in the properties. These estimates are refined as new information becomes available.
The reserve estimates are prepared by internal engineers assigned to an asset team by geographic area. Senior management reviews and approves the reserve estimates to ensure they are materially accurate.
Estimates of economically recoverable oil, NGL and natural gas reserves and future net revenues therefrom are based upon a number of variable factors and assumptions. For these reasons, estimates of economically recoverable reserves and future net revenues may vary from actual results.
The changes in the Company's estimated quantities of proved oil, NGL and natural gas reserves for the year ended December 31, 2015, were as follows:
 
Oil
(MBbls)

NGL
(MBbls)

Natural Gas
(MMcf)

Total
(MBOE)

Proved developed and undeveloped reserves:
 
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of year
43,918

7,187

245,011

91,940

Production
(3,286
)
(393
)
(16,747
)
(6,471
)
Extensions and discoveries
744

29

681

888

Improved recovery




Purchases of proved reserves




Sales of proved reserves
(16,474
)
(6,864
)
(202,560
)
(57,097
)
Revisions of previous estimates
(12,215
)
252

(23,854
)
(15,939
)
Balance at end of year
12,687

211

2,531

13,321

Significant changes in proved reserves for the year ended December 31, 2015, include:
Sales of proved reserves of (57.1) MMBOE, primarily due to the Company's decision to sell Fidelity and exit the exploration and production business
Revisions of previous estimates of (15.9) MMBOE, largely the result of lower commodity prices
The changes in the Company's estimated quantities of proved oil, NGL and natural gas reserves for the year ended December 31, 2014, were as follows:
 
Oil
(MBbls)

NGL
(MBbls)

Natural Gas
(MMcf)

Total
(MBOE)

Proved developed and undeveloped reserves:
 
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of year
41,019

6,602

198,445

80,695

Production
(4,919
)
(609
)
(20,822
)
(8,998
)
Extensions and discoveries
9,654

3,634

64,420

24,025

Improved recovery




Purchases of proved reserves
5,463


7,711

6,748

Sales of proved reserves
(4,945
)
(3,109
)
(40,451
)
(14,796
)
Revisions of previous estimates
(2,354
)
669

35,708

4,266

Balance at end of year
43,918

7,187

245,011

91,940

Significant changes in proved reserves for the year ended December 31, 2014, include:
Extensions and discoveries of 24.0 MMBOE, primarily due to drilling activity at the Company's East Texas, Bakken and Powder River Basin properties
Purchases of proved reserves of 6.7 MMBOE, primarily due to the purchase of working interests and leasehold positions in the Powder River Basin
Sales of proved reserves of (14.8) MMBOE, primarily at the Company's South Texas and Bakken properties
Revisions of previous estimates of 4.3 MMBOE, largely the result of higher natural gas prices and well performance revisions
The changes in the Company's estimated quantities of proved oil, NGL and natural gas reserves for the year ended December 31, 2013, were as follows:
 
Oil
(MBbls)

NGL
(MBbls)

Natural Gas
(MMcf)

Total
(MBOE)

Proved developed and undeveloped reserves:
 
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of year
33,453

7,153

239,278

80,486

Production
(4,815
)
(781
)
(28,008
)
(10,264
)
Extensions and discoveries
13,313

1,333

26,428

19,050

Improved recovery




Purchases of proved reserves




Sales of proved reserves
(1,286
)
(25
)
(40,055
)
(7,987
)
Revisions of previous estimates
354

(1,078
)
802

(590
)
Balance at end of year
41,019

6,602

198,445

80,695

Significant changes in proved reserves for the year ended December 31, 2013, include:
Extensions and discoveries of 19.1 MMBOE, primarily due to drilling activity and new PUD locations at the Company's Bakken and Paradox Basin properties, as well as new PUD locations at Big Horn and East Texas
Sales of proved reserves of (8.0) MMBOE, primarily at the Company's Green River Basin property
The following table summarizes the breakdown of the Company's proved reserves between proved developed and PUD reserves at December 31:
 
2015

2014

2013

Proved developed reserves:
 
 
 
Oil (MBbls)
11,380

30,130

31,394

NGL (MBbls)
144

4,217

5,322

Natural Gas (MMcf)
2,033

184,437

176,546

Total (MBOE)
11,865

65,086

66,140

PUD reserves:
 
 
 
Oil (MBbls)
1,307

13,788

9,625

NGL (MBbls)
67

2,970

1,280

Natural Gas (MMcf)
498

60,574

21,899

Total (MBOE)
1,456

26,854

14,555

Total proved reserves:
 
 
 
Oil (MBbls)
12,687

43,918

41,019

NGL (MBbls)
211

7,187

6,602

Natural Gas (MMcf)
2,531

245,011

198,445

Total (MBOE)
13,321

91,940

80,695

As of December 31, 2015, the Company had 1.5 MMBOE of PUD reserves, which is a decrease of 25.4 MMBOE from December 31, 2014. The decrease relates to the various asset sales during 2015 and certain PUD reserves becoming uneconomic due to lower commodity prices. At December 31, 2015, the Company did not have any PUD locations that remained undeveloped for five years of more.
The standardized measure of the Company's estimated discounted future net cash flows of total proved reserves associated with its various oil and natural gas interests at December 31 was as follows:
 
2014

2013

 
(In thousands)
Future cash inflows
$
5,185,500

$
4,507,000

Future production costs
1,856,900

1,734,800

Future development costs
570,200

403,000

Future net cash flows before income taxes
2,758,400

2,369,200

Future income tax expense
686,100

545,200

Future net cash flows
2,072,300

1,824,000

10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash flows
997,400

810,000

Discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil, NGL and natural gas reserves
$
1,074,900

$
1,014,000

Note:
Standardized measure not applicable in 2015 as the remaining oil and natural gas properties are held for sale and subject to fair value impairment.
 
The following are the sources of change in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows by year:
 
2014

2013

 
(In thousands)
Beginning of year
$
1,014,000

$
883,400

Net revenues from production
(368,900
)
(398,000
)
Net change in sales prices and production costs related to future production
86,300

162,200

Extensions and discoveries, net of future production-related costs
231,900

366,500

Improved recovery, net of future production-related costs


Purchases of proved reserves, net of future production-related costs
103,800


Sales of proved reserves
(219,300
)
(37,800
)
Changes in estimated future development costs
65,100

6,700

Development costs incurred during the current year
104,600

141,500

Accretion of discount
109,400

94,600

Net change in income taxes
(33,400
)
(141,400
)
Revisions of previous estimates
(16,300
)
(55,800
)
Other
(2,300
)
(7,900
)
Net change
60,900

130,600

End of year
$
1,074,900

$
1,014,000

Note:
Standardized measure not applicable in 2015 as the remaining oil and natural gas properties are held for sale and subject to fair value impairment.
 
Historically, the estimated discounted future cash inflows from estimated future production of proved reserves were computed using prices as previously discussed. Future production and development costs, which include asset retirement costs, attributable to proved reserves were computed by applying year-end costs to be incurred in producing and further developing the proved reserves. Future income tax expenses were computed by applying statutory tax rates to the estimated net future pretax cash flows less the tax basis of the oil and gas properties, adjusted for permanent differences and tax credits.
The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows does not purport to represent the fair market value of oil and natural gas properties. There are significant uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves and in projecting rates of production and the timing and amount of future costs.