2.2.0.7 false ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS 115 - Disclosure - ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS true false false false 1 USD false false iso4217_USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 iso4217_USD_per_shares Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 $ 5 ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS 3 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationDisclosureTextBlock us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 <div> NOTE 7 – ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS We are required to record the estimated fair value of the liabilities relating to the future retirement of our long-lived assets. Our oil and natural gas wells are plugged and abandoned when the oil and natural gas reserves in those wells are depleted or the wells are no longer able to produce. The plugging and abandonment expense for a well is recorded in the period in which the obligation is incurred (at the time the well is drilled or acquired). None of our assets are restricted for purposes of settling these AROs.   The following table shows certain information about our AROs for the periods indicated:   <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="84%" align="center"> <tr> <td width="82%"></td> <td valign="bottom" width="4%"></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td valign="bottom" width="4%"></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid" valign="bottom" colspan="6" align="center">Nine Months  Ended September 30,</td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid" valign="bottom" colspan="2" align="center">2010</td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid" valign="bottom" colspan="2" align="center">2009</td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom" colspan="6" align="center">(In thousands)</td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="8"></td> <td height="8" colspan="4"></td> <td height="8" colspan="4"></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td valign="top"> ARO liability, January 1: </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom">$</td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">56,404</td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap">  </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom">$</td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">49,230</td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap">  </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> Accretion of discount </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">2,138</td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap">  </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">1,927</td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap">  </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td valign="top"> Liability incurred </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">2,901</td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap">  </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">2,485</td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap">  </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> Liability settled </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">(622</td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap">) </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">(2,226</td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap">) </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td valign="top"> Revision of estimates (1) </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">3,822</td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap">  </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">2,897</td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap">  </td> </tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1px"> <td valign="bottom"></td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid" valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid" valign="bottom">  </td> <td> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid" valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid" valign="bottom">  </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> ARO liability, September 30: </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">64,643</td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap">  </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">54,313</td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap">  </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td valign="top"> Less current portion </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">1,617</td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap">  </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">1,149</td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap">  </td> </tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1px"> <td valign="bottom"></td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid" valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid" valign="bottom">  </td> <td> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid" valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid" valign="bottom">  </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> Total long-term plugging liability </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom">$</td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">63,026</td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap">  </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom">$</td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">53,164</td> <td valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap">  </td> </tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1px"> <td valign="bottom"></td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 3px double" valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 3px double" valign="bottom">  </td> <td> </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 3px double" valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 3px double" valign="bottom">  </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" colspan="8">   (1)        Plugging liability estimates were revised upward in both 2010 and 2009 due to increases in the cost of services used to plug wells over the preceding years. </td> <td valign="top">      </td> </tr> </table> </div> NOTE 7 – ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS We are required to record the estimated fair value of the liabilities relating to the future retirement of our false false false us-types:textBlockItemType textblock Description of the asset retirement obligation and the associated long-lived asset. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement from service of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees. This element may be used for all the disclosures related to asset retirement obligations. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 143 -Paragraph 22 false 1 1 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true