Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

In the ordinary course of conducting our business, we become involved in litigation and other claims from private party actions, as well as judicial and administrative proceedings involving governmental authorities at the federal, state, and local levels. While the outcome of litigation or other proceedings against us cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not expect that any loss resulting from such litigation or other proceedings, in excess of any amounts accrued or covered by insurance, will have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Kenedy, Texas Drilling Fluids Facility Fire

In July 2018, a fire occurred at our Kenedy, Texas drilling fluids facility, destroying the distribution warehouse, including inventory and surrounding equipment. In addition, nearby residences and businesses were evacuated as part of the response to the fire. In order to avoid any customer service disruptions, we implemented contingency plans to supply products from alternate facilities in the area and region. During the third quarter of 2018 and subsequently, we have received petitions seeking payment for alleged bodily injuries, property damage, and punitive damages claimed to have been incurred as a result of the fire and the subsequent efforts we undertook to remediate any potential smoke damage. As of December 31, 2019, there are open claims with 19 plaintiffs seeking a total of approximately $1.5 million. While no trial date has been set for the matter at this time, we have been advised by our insurer that these claims are insured under our general liability insurance program. While this event and related claims are covered by our property, business interruption, and general liability insurance programs, these programs contain self-insured retentions, which remain our financial obligations.

During 2018, we incurred fire-related costs of $4.8 million, which included $1.9 million for inventory and property, plant and equipment, $2.1 million in property-related cleanup and other costs, and $0.8 million relating to our self-insured retention for third-party claims. Based on the provisions of our insurance policies and initial insurance claims filed, we estimated $4.0 million in expected insurance recoveries and recognized a charge of $0.8 million in other operating (income) loss, net, in the third quarter of 2018. The insurance receivable balance included in other receivables was $0.3 million and $0.6 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. As of December 31, 2019, the claims related to the fire under our property, business interruption, and general liability insurance programs have not been finalized.

Escrow Claims Related to Sale of Environmental Services Business

Under the terms of the March 2014 sale of our previous Environmental Services business to Ecoserv, LLC (“Ecoserv”), $8.0 million of the sales price was withheld and placed in an escrow account to satisfy claims for possible breaches of representations and warranties contained in the purchase/sale agreement. In December 2014, we received a letter from Ecoserv asserting that we had breached certain representations and warranties contained in the purchase/sale agreement, including failing to disclose operational problems and service work performed on injection/disposal wells and increased barge rental costs. The letter indicated that Ecoserv expected the damages associated with these claims to exceed the escrow amount. In July 2015 we filed an action against Ecoserv in state district court in Harris County, Texas, seeking release of the escrow funds. Thereafter, Ecoserv filed a counterclaim seeking recovery in excess of the escrow funds based on the alleged breach of representations and covenants in the purchase/sale agreement. Ecoserv also alleged that we committed fraud in connection with the March 2014 transaction. Following commencement of the trial in December 2017, we reached a settlement agreement with Ecoserv in the first quarter of 2018, under which Ecoserv received $22.0 million in cash, effectively reducing the net sales price of the Environmental Services business by such amount in exchange for dismissal of the pending claims in the lawsuit, and release of any future claims related to the March 2014 transaction. As a result of the settlement, we recognized a charge to discontinued operations in the fourth quarter of 2017 for $22.0 million ($17.4 million net of tax) to reduce the previously recognized gain from the sale of the Environmental Services business. The reduction in sales price was funded in the first quarter of 2018 with a cash payment of $14.0 million and release of the $8.0 million that had been held in escrow since the March 2014 transaction. In March 2018, the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice. Litigation expenses related to this matter were included in corporate office expenses in operating income. 

Other

We do not have any special purpose entities. At December 31, 2019, we had $52.5 million in outstanding letters of credit, performance bonds, and other guarantees for which certain of the letters of credit are collateralized by $8.2 million in restricted cash. We also enter into normal short-term operating leases for office and warehouse space, as well as rolling stock and other

pieces of operating equipment. None of these off-balance sheet arrangements either had, or is expected to have, a material effect on our financial statements.

We are self-insured for health claims, subject to certain “stop loss” insurance policies. Claims in excess of $250,000 per incident are insured by third-party insurers. Based on historical experience, we had accrued liabilities of $0.8 million for unpaid claims incurred at both December 31, 2019 and 2018. Substantially all of these estimated claims are expected to be paid within six months of their occurrence. In addition, we are self-insured for certain workers’ compensation, auto, and general liability claims up to a certain policy limit. Claims in excess of $750,000 are insured by third-party reinsurers. Based on historical experience, we had accrued liabilities of $1.9 million and $2.2 million for the uninsured portion of claims as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

We also maintain accrued liabilities for asset retirement obligations, which represent obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets that result from the normal operation of the long-lived asset. Our asset retirement obligations primarily relate to required expenditures associated with owned and leased facilities. Upon settlement of the liability, a gain or loss for any difference between the settlement amount and the liability recorded is recognized. We had accrued asset retirement obligations of $1.2 million and $1.1 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.