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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

(13) Commitments and Contingencies

We have operating leases for office space and equipment, which expire on various dates through 2019. Expense relating to operating obligations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $7.5 million, $2.4 million and $1.8 million, respectively. Future minimum commitments as of December 31, 2013 under these operating obligations are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

$

1,073 

2015

 

 

1,222 

2016

 

 

1,239 

2017

 

 

661 

2018

 

 

542 

Thereafter

 

 

406 

Future minimum commitments

 

$

5,143 

   In connection with our exploration and development efforts, we are contractually committed to the acquisition of seismic data in the aggregate amount of $40.5 million to be incurred over the next four years.

We maintain restricted escrow funds in a trust for future abandonment costs at our East Bay property. The trust was originally funded with $15.0 million and, with accumulated interest, increased to $16.7 million at December 31, 2008. We may draw from the trust upon completion of qualifying abandonment activities at our East Bay field. At December 31, 2013, we had $6.0 million remaining in restricted escrow funds for decommissioning work in our East Bay field, which will remain restricted until substantially all required decommissioning in the East Bay field is complete. Amounts on deposit in the trust account are reflected in Restricted cash on our consolidated balance sheets.

We record liabilities when we deliver production that is in excess of our interest in certain properties. In addition to these imbalances, we may, from time to time, be allocated cash sales proceeds in excess of amounts that we estimate are due to us for our interest in production. These allocations may be subject to further review, may require more information to resolve or may be in dispute. In July 2010, we were notified by a purchaser of oil production from one of our non-operated fields that we were allocated, and received sales proceeds from, more oil production than we actually sold to that purchaser. The oil purchaser’s initial estimate of the oil volumes misallocated to us was approximately 74,000 barrels, which may have been valued at up to $6.9 million based on information provided by the oil purchaser. We had previously recorded an amount that we believed may have been payable related to a potential reallocation, which amount was reflected in Accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2012. In connection with the sale of the BM Interests in 2013, the buyer assumed any liability we may have had related to this matter.

We and our oil and gas joint interest owners are subject to periodic audits of the joint interest accounts for leases in which we participate and/or operate. As a result of these joint interest audits, amounts payable or receivable by us for costs incurred or revenue distributed by the operator or by us on a lease may be adjusted, resulting in adjustments, increases or decreases, to our net costs or revenues and the related cash flows. Such adjustments may be material. When they occur, these adjustments are recorded in the current period, which generally is one or more years after the related cost or revenue was incurred or recognized by the joint account.

We are a defendant in a number of lawsuits and are involved in governmental and regulatory proceedings, all of which  arose in the ordinary course of business, including, but not limited to, personal injury claims, royalty claims, contract claims, and environmental claims, including claims involving assets owned by acquired companies. While the ultimate outcome and impact on us cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes that the resolution of pending proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.