4. Impairments

Impairments of Long-Lived Assets Impairments of long-lived assets are included in impairment expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income. The following summarizes impairments of long-lived assets and the related post-impairment fair values by segment:



	Three Months Ended
millions	Impairment		Fair Value⁽¹⁾
March 31, 2017
Oil and gas exploration and production
Gulf of Mexico properties	$	204	$	231
Midstream	169		49
Total	$	373	$	280

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⁽¹⁾	Measured as of the impairment date using the income approach and Level 3 inputs. The primary assumptions used to estimate undiscounted future net cash flows include anticipated future production, commodity prices, and capital and operating costs.

Impairments during the three months ended March 31, 2017, were primarily related to oil and gas properties in the Gulf of Mexico due to lower forecasted commodity prices and a U.S. onshore midstream property due to a reduced throughput fee as a result of a producer’s bankruptcy.

Impairments of Unproved Properties Impairments of unproved properties are included in exploration expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company recognized $532 million of impairments of unproved Gulf of Mexico properties during the three months ended March 31, 2017, of which $467 million related to the Shenandoah project. The unproved property balance related to the Shenandoah project originated from the purchase price allocated to Gulf of Mexico exploration projects from the acquisition of Kerr-McGee Corporation in 2006. For additional details on the Shenandoah project, see Note 5—Suspended Exploratory Well Costs.

Potential for Future Impairments

Oil price sensitivity At March 31, 2017, the Company’s estimate of undiscounted future cash flows attributable to certain asset groups, primarily related to international and offshore properties, with a combined net book value of approximately $2.7 billion indicated that the carrying amounts were expected to be recovered; however, these asset groups may be at risk for impairment if the estimates of future cash flows decline. The Company estimates that a 10% decline in oil prices (with all other assumptions unchanged) could result in non-cash impairments in excess of $1.0 billion.

Natural-gas price sensitivity At March 31, 2017, the Company’s estimate of undiscounted future cash flows attributable to certain U.S. onshore asset groups with a combined net book value of approximately $1.3 billion indicated that the carrying amounts were expected to be recovered; however, these asset groups may be at risk for impairment if the estimates of future cash flows decline. The Company estimates that a 10% decline in natural-gas prices (with all other assumptions unchanged) could result in non-cash impairments in excess of $500 million.

It is also reasonably possible that significant declines in commodity prices, further changes to the Company’s drilling plans in response to lower prices, reduction of proved and probable reserve estimates, or increases in drilling or operating costs could result in other additional impairments.