Fair Value Measurements

The Company follows a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy categorizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value into one of three different levels depending on the observability of the inputs employed in the measurement. The three levels are defined as follows:


•	Level 1: Observable inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets as of the reporting date.


•	Level 2: Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs corroborated by market data. These are inputs other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date.


•	Level 3: Unobservable inputs not corroborated by market data and may be used with internally developed methodologies that result in management’s best estimate of fair value.

A financial instrument’s categorization within the hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Level 1 inputs are given the highest priority in the fair value hierarchy while Level 3 inputs are given the lowest priority. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the placement of assets and liabilities within the levels of the hierarchy. As Level 1 inputs generally provide the most reliable evidence of fair value, the Company uses Level 1 inputs when available. The Company’s policy is to recognize transfers between the hierarchy levels as of the beginning of the reporting period in which the event or change in circumstances caused the transfer.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis

The Company’s derivative instruments are reported at fair value on a recurring basis. In determining the fair values of swap contracts, a discounted cash flow method is used due to the unavailability of relevant comparable market data for the Company’s exact contracts. The discounted cash flow method estimates future cash flows based on quoted market prices for forward commodity prices and a risk-adjusted discount rate. The fair values of swap contracts are calculated mainly using significant observable inputs (Level 2). Calculation of the fair values of collars requires the use of an industry-standard option pricing model that considers various inputs including quoted forward prices for commodities, time value, volatility factors, and current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments, as well as other relevant economic measures. These assumptions are observable in the marketplace or can be corroborated by active markets or broker quotes and are therefore designated as Level 2 within the valuation hierarchy. The Company’s calculation of fair value for each of its derivative positions is compared to the counterparty valuation for reasonableness.

The following tables summarize the valuation of financial instruments by pricing levels that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.



	Fair value measurements at December 31, 2017 using:
In thousands	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Derivative assets:
Swaps	$	—	$	2,603	$	—	$	2,603
Total	$	—	$	2,603	$	—	$	2,603



	Fair value measurements at December 31, 2016 using:
In thousands	Level 1		Level 2			Level 3		Total
Derivative liabilities:
Swaps	$	—	$	(12,297	)	$	—	$	(12,297	)
Collars	—		(43,131		)	—		(43,131		)
Total	$	—	$	(55,428	)	$	—	$	(55,428	)

Assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis

Certain assets are reported at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in the consolidated financial statements. The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair values for those assets.

Asset impairments – Proved crude oil and natural gas properties are reviewed for impairment on a field-by-field basis each quarter. The estimated future cash flows expected in connection with the field are compared to the carrying amount of the field to determine if the carrying amount is recoverable. If the carrying amount of the field exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, the carrying amount of the field is reduced to its estimated fair value. Risk-adjusted probable and possible reserves may be taken into consideration when determining estimated future net cash flows and fair value when such reserves exist and are economically recoverable. Due to the unavailability of relevant comparable market data, a discounted cash flow method is used to determine the fair value of proved properties. The discounted cash flow method estimates future cash flows based on the Company’s estimates of future crude oil and natural gas production, commodity prices based on commodity futures price strips adjusted for differentials, operating costs, and a risk-adjusted discount rate. The fair value of proved crude oil and natural gas properties is calculated using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). The following table sets forth quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used by the Company at December 31, 2017 to calculate the fair value of proved crude oil and natural gas properties using a discounted cash flow method.



Unobservable Input		Assumption
Future production		Future production estimates for each property
Forward commodity prices		Forward NYMEX strip prices through 2022 (adjusted for differentials), escalating 3% per year thereafter
Operating costs		Estimated costs for the current year, escalating 3% per year thereafter
Productive life of field		Ranging from 1 to 38 years
Discount rate		10%

Unobservable inputs to the fair value assessment are reviewed quarterly and are revised as warranted based on a number of factors, including reservoir performance, new drilling, crude oil and natural gas prices, changes in costs, technological advances, new geological or geophysical data, or other economic factors. Fair value measurements of proved properties are reviewed and approved by certain members of the Company’s management.

For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company determined the carrying amounts of certain proved properties were not recoverable from future cash flows, and therefore, were impaired. Impairments of proved properties amounted to $82.3 million for 2017, which reflect fair value adjustments in the Arkoma Woodford field ($81.2 million) and various non-core areas in the North and South regions ($1.1 million). The impaired properties were written down to their estimated fair value at the time of impairment of approximately $72 million.

Certain unproved crude oil and natural gas properties were impaired during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, reflecting recurring amortization of undeveloped leasehold costs on properties the Company expects will not be transferred to proved properties over the lives of the leases based on drilling plans, experience of successful drilling, and the average holding period.

The following table sets forth the non-cash impairments of both proved and unproved properties for the indicated periods. Proved and unproved property impairments are recorded under the caption “Property impairments” in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).



	Year ended December 31,
In thousands	2017		2016		2015
Proved property impairments	$	82,340	$	2,895	$	138,878
Unproved property impairments	155,030		234,397		263,253
Total	$	237,370	$	237,292	$	402,131

Financial instruments not recorded at fair value

The following table sets forth the estimated fair values of financial instruments that are not recorded at fair value in the consolidated financial statements.



	December 31, 2017				December 31, 2016
In thousands	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
Debt:
Revolving credit facility (1)	$	188,000	$	188,000	$	905,000	$	905,000
Term loan (1)	—		—		498,865		500,000
Note payable	9,974		9,900		12,176		10,200
5% Senior Notes due 2022	1,997,576		2,040,000		1,997,188		2,020,400
4.5% Senior Notes due 2023	1,486,690		1,526,800		1,484,524		1,474,800
3.8% Senior Notes due 2024	992,036		988,800		990,964		929,400
4.375% Senior Notes due 2028 (1)	988,061		987,200		—		—
4.9% Senior Notes due 2044	691,354		679,900		691,199		607,600
Total debt	$	6,353,691	$	6,420,600	$	6,579,916	$	6,447,400

(1) In December 2017, the Company issued $1.0 billion of 4.375% Senior Notes due 2028 and used the proceeds therefrom to repay in full and terminate its term loan and to repay a portion of the borrowings outstanding under its revolving credit facility. See Note 7. Long-Term Debt for further discussion.

The fair values of revolving credit facility borrowings and the term loan approximate carrying value based on borrowing rates available to the Company for bank loans with similar terms and maturities and are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of the note payable is determined using a discounted cash flow approach based on the interest rate and payment terms of the note payable and an assumed discount rate. The fair value of the note payable is significantly influenced by the discount rate assumption, which is derived by the Company and is unobservable. Accordingly, the fair value of the note payable is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

The fair values of the 5% Senior Notes due 2022 (“2022 Notes”), the 4.5% Senior Notes due 2023 (“2023 Notes”), the 3.8% Senior Notes due 2024 (“2024 Notes”), the 4.375% Senior Notes due 2028 (“2028 Notes”), and the 4.9% Senior Notes due 2044 (“2044 Notes”) are based on quoted market prices and, accordingly, are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

The carrying values of all classes of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, and trade payables are considered to be representative of their respective fair values due to the short term maturities of those instruments.