Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

(9) FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments as of March  31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were as follows:

	March 31,				December 31,
	2013				2012
	Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
	Amount		Value		Amount		Value
	(in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	17,508	$	17,508	$	53,583	$	53,583
Restricted cash	$	7,108	$	7,108	$	8,542	$	8,542
Unsecured revolving credit facility	$	35,100	$	35,100	$	–	$	–
Senior notes	$	1,669,503	$	1,885,523	$	1,669,473	$	1,917,005
Derivative instruments	$	104,554	$	104,554	$	287,878	$	287,878

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, other current assets and current liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets approximate fair value because of their short-term nature. For debt and derivative instruments, the following methods and assumptions were used to estimate fair value:

Debt: The fair values of the Company’s senior notes were based on the market for the Company’s publicly-traded debt as determined based on yield of the Company’s 7.5% Senior Notes due 2018, which was 2.5% at March 31, 2013 and 2.6% at December 31, 2012, and its 4.10% Senior Notes due 2022, which was 3.4% at March 31, 2013. The carrying value of the borrowings under the Company’s unsecured revolving credit facility at March 31, 2013, approximate fair value because the interest rate is variable and reflective of market rates.  As such, the Company considers the fair value of its debt to be a Level 2 measurement on the fair value hierarchy. 

Derivative Instruments: The fair value of all derivative instruments is the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged currently between willing parties. The amounts are based on quoted market prices, best estimates obtained from counterparties and an option pricing model, when necessary, for price option contracts.

GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. As presented in the tables below, this hierarchy consists of three broad levels:

Level 1 valuations - Consist of unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities and have the highest priority.

Level 2 valuations - Consist of quoted market information for the calculation of fair market value.

Level 3 valuations - Consist of internal estimates and have the lowest priority.

Pursuant to GAAP, the Company has classified its derivatives into these levels depending upon the data utilized to determine their fair values. The Company’s Level 2 fair value measurements include fixed-price and floating-price swaps and are estimated using internal discounted cash flow calculations using the NYMEX futures index. The Company’s Level 3 fair value measurements include fixed price call options and basis swaps. The Company’s fixed price call options are valued using the Black-Scholes model, an industry standard option valuation model, and takes into account inputs such as contract terms, including maturity, and market parameters, including assumptions of the NYMEX futures index, interest rates, volatility and credit worthiness.  The Company’s basis swaps are estimated using internal discounted cash flow calculations based upon forward commodity price curves. 

The accounting group, reporting to the Vice President and Controller, is responsible for determining the Company’s Level 3 fair value measurements.  Inputs to the Black-Scholes model, including the volatility input, which is the significant unobservable input for Level 3 fair value measurements, are obtained from a third-party pricing source, with independent verification of most significant inputs on a monthly basis. An increase (decrease) in volatility would result

in an increase (decrease) in fair value measurement, respectively.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below (in thousands):

	March 31, 2013
	Fair Value Measurements Using:
	Quoted Prices		Significant
	in Active		Other		Significant
	Markets		Observable Inputs		Unobservable Inputs		Assets (Liabilities)
	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		at Fair Value
Derivative assets	$	–	$	165,961	$	1,400	$	167,361
Derivative liabilities		–		(1,260)		(61,547)		(62,807)
Total	$	–	$	164,701	$	(60,147)	$	104,554
	December 31, 2012
	Fair Value Measurements Using:
	Quoted Prices		Significant
	in Active		Other		Significant
	Markets		Observable Inputs		Unobservable Inputs		Assets (Liabilities)
	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		at Fair Value
Derivative assets	$	–	$	287,993	$	4,151	$	292,144
Derivative liabilities		–		–		(4,266)		(4,266)
Total	$	–	$	287,993	$	(115)	$	287,878

The table below presents reconciliations for the change in net fair value of derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the threemonth periods ended March  31, 2013 and March 31, 2012. The fair values of Level 3 derivative instruments are estimated using proprietary valuation models that utilize both market observable and unobservable parameters. Level 3 instruments presented in the table consist of net derivatives valued using pricing models incorporating assumptions that, in the Company’s judgment, reflect the assumptions a reasonable marketplace participant would have used at March 31, 2013 and March  31, 2012.

	For the three months ended
	March 31,
	2013		2012
	(in thousands)
Balance at beginning of period	$	(115)	$	182,119
Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized):
Included in earnings		(59,025)		58,462
Included in other comprehensive income		–		290
Purchases, issuances, and settlements:
Purchases		–		–
Issuances		–		–
Settlements		(1,007)		(56,328)
Transfers into/out of Level 3		–		–
Balance at end of period	$	(60,147)	$	184,543
Change in unrealized gains included in earnings relating to derivatives still held as of March 31	$	(60,032)	$	2,134