Financial Instruments and Risk Management

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Financial Instruments and Risk Management

Financial Instruments and Risk Management

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS – Murphy often uses derivative instruments to manage certain risks related to commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates.  The use of derivative instruments for risk management is covered by operating policies and is closely monitored by the Company’s senior management.  The Company does not hold any derivatives for speculative purposes, and it does not use derivatives with leveraged or complex features.  Derivative instruments are traded primarily with creditworthy major financial institutions or over national exchanges such as the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX).  The Company has a risk management control system to monitor commodity price risks and any derivatives obtained to manage a portion of such risks.  For accounting purposes, the Company has not designated commodity and foreign currency derivative contracts as hedges, and therefore, it recognizes all gains and losses on these derivative contracts in its Consolidated Statements of Operations.  Certain interest rate derivative contracts were accounted for as hedges and the gain or loss associated with recording the fair value of these contracts was deferred in AOCL and amortized to Interest expense over the life of the related liability.

Commodity Purchase Price Risks

The Company is subject to commodity price risk related to crude oil it produces and sells.  During the last three years, the Company had West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil price swap financial contracts to economically hedge a portion of its United States production.  Under these contracts, which matured monthly, the Company paid the average monthly price in effect and received the fixed contract prices.

At December 31, 2019, the Company had 45,000 barrels per day in WTI crude oil swap financial contracts maturing ratably during 2020 at an average price of $56.42. At December 31, 2018, the Company had no open WTI crude oil swap financial contracts. 

At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the fair value of derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments are presented in the following table.  

	December 31, 2019				December 31, 2018
(Thousands of dollars)	Asset (Liability) Derivatives				Asset (Liability) Derivatives
Type of Derivative Contract	Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value			Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
Commodity	Accounts payable	$	(33,364	)	Accounts receivable	$	3,837

For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, the gains and losses recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments are presented in the following table.

		Gain (Loss)
(Thousands of dollars)		Year Ended December 31,
Type of Derivative Contract	Statement of Operations Locations	2019			2018		2017
Commodity	Gain (loss) on crude contracts	$	(856	)	(41,975	)	9,566

Interest Rate Risks

Under hedge accounting rules, the Company deferred the net cost associated with derivative contracts purchased to manage interest rate risk associated with 10-year notes sold in May 2012 to match the payment of interest on these notes through 2022.  During the year ended December 31, 2019, $6.3 million of the deferred loss on the interest rate swaps was charged to Interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as a result of normal amortization and the early extinguishment of a portion of the deferred loss related to notes due 2022 (see Note H).  During each of the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, $3.0 million of the deferred loss was recognized in Interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The remaining loss (net of tax) deferred on these matured contracts at December 31, 2019 was $2.9 million, which is recorded, net of income taxes of $0.8 million, in Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  

Foreign Currency Exchange Risks

The Company is subject to foreign currency exchange risk associated with operations in countries outside the U.S.  The Company had no foreign currency exchange short-term derivative instruments outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2018.  

CREDIT RISKS – The Company’s primary credit risks are associated with trade accounts receivable, cash equivalents and derivative instruments.  Trade receivables arise mainly from sales of oil and natural gas in the U.S., Canada and Malaysia, and cost sharing amounts of operating and capital costs billed to partners for oil and natural gas fields operated by Murphy.  The credit history and financial condition of potential customers are reviewed before credit is extended, security is obtained when deemed appropriate based on a potential customer’s financial condition, and routine follow-up evaluations are made.  The combination of these evaluations and the large number of customers tends to limit the risk of credit concentration to an acceptable level.  Cash equivalents are placed with several major financial institutions, which limit the Company’s exposure to credit risk.  The Company controls credit risk on derivatives through credit approvals and monitoring procedures and believes that such risks are minimal because counterparties to the majority of transactions are major financial institutions.