COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Environmental

We manage our exposure to environmental liabilities on properties to be acquired by identifying existing problems and assessing the potential liability. We also conduct periodic reviews, on a company-wide basis, to identify changes in our environmental risk profile. These reviews evaluate whether there is a probable liability, its amount, and the likelihood that the liability will be incurred. Any potential liability is determined by considering, among other matters, incremental direct costs of any likely remediation and the proportionate cost of employees expected to devote significant time directly to any possible remediation effort. As it relates to evaluations of purchased properties, depending on the extent of an identified environmental problem, we may exclude a property from the acquisition, require the seller to remediate the property to our satisfaction, or agree to assume liability for the remediation of the property.

We have not historically experienced significant environmental liability while being a contract driller since the greatest portion of that risk is borne by the operator. Any liabilities we have incurred have been small and were resolved while the drilling rig was on the location. Those costs were in the direct cost of drilling the well.

Litigation

The Company is subject to litigation and claims arising in the ordinary course of business which may include environmental, health and safety matters, commercial disputes with customers, or more routine employment related claims. The Company accrues for such items when a liability is both probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. As new information becomes available or because of legal or administrative rulings in similar matters or a change in applicable law, the Company's conclusions regarding the probability of outcomes and the amount of estimated loss, if any, may change. Although we are insured against various risks, there is no assurance that the nature and amount of that insurance will be adequate, in every case, to indemnify us against liabilities arising from future legal proceedings.

In February 2021, UPC finalized a settlement agreement for $2.1 million related to a well drilled in Beaver County, Oklahoma during 2013. Certain operational issues arose and one of the working interest owners in the well filed a lawsuit claiming that UPC’s actions violated its duties under the joint operating agreement and caused damages to the owners in the well. The case went to trial in January 2019 and the jury issued a verdict in favor of the working interest owner, awarding $2.4 million in damages, including pre- and post-judgment interest. UPC appealed the verdict and finalized the settlement agreement while the case was pending review in the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals.