ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]

Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Text Block]

ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

The following table presents the changes in carrying amounts of the asset retirement obligations associated with our working interest in crude oil and natural gas properties:

	2013			2012
	(in thousands)
Balance at beginning of year, January 1	$	62,563		$	46,566
Obligations incurred with development activities and assumed with acquisitions	2,389			14,169
Accretion expense	4,747			4,060
Revisions in estimated cash flows	612			—
Obligations discharged with divestitures of properties and asset retirements (1)	(29,281		)	(2,232		)
Balance end of year, December 31	41,030			62,563
Less: Liabilities held for sale (1)	(2,061		)	—
Less: Current portion	(1,158		)	(1,000		)
Long-term portion	$	37,811		$	61,563

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(1) Represents asset retirement obligations related to assets sold and assets held for sale. See Note 14, Assets Held for Sale, Divestitures and Discontinued Operations, for additional information.