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INCOME TAXES
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations [Abstract]  
INCOME TAXES INCOME TAXESThe Company’s effective tax rate was approximately 0% and (16)% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively. The change in the effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 related to the effects of recording a valuation allowance against the Company’s U.S. deferred tax assets. A valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, including net operating losses, is recognized when it is more likely than not that some or all of the benefit from the deferred tax assets will not be realized.  To assess that likelihood, the Company uses estimates and judgment regarding future taxable income, and considers the tax consequences in the jurisdiction where such taxable income is generated, to determine whether a valuation allowance is required.  Such evidence can include current financial position, results of operations, both actual and forecasted, the reversal of deferred tax liabilities and tax planning strategies as well as current and forecasted business economics of the oil and gas industry.
Due to significant pricing declines and the material write-down of the carrying value of the Company’s natural gas and oil properties in addition to other negative evidence, the Company concluded that it was more likely than not that these deferred tax assets will not be realized and recorded a discrete tax expense of $408 million for the increase in its valuation allowance in the first quarter of 2020. The net change in valuation allowance is reflected as a component of income tax expense. The Company also has retained a valuation allowance of $87 million related to net operating losses in jurisdictions in which it no longer operates. Management will continue to assess available positive and negative evidence to estimate whether sufficient future taxable income will be generated to permit the use of deferred tax assets. The amount of the deferred tax asset considered realizable, however, could be adjusted based on changes in subjective estimates of future taxable income or if objective negative evidence is no longer present.
The Company’s effective tax rate was approximately 18% and (105)% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was primarily the effect of releasing the valuation allowances previously recorded against the Company’s deferred tax assets.  As of the first quarter of 2019, the Company had sustained and projected to sustain a three-year cumulative level of profitability. Based on this factor and other positive evidence available at the time, the Company concluded that it was more likely than not that the deferred tax assets would be realized and determined $522 million of the valuation allowance would be released during 2019, of which $400 million was released on a discrete basis in the first nine months of 2019.