Basis of Presentation, Significant Accounting Policies, and Recently Issued Accounting Standards	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation, Significant Accounting Policies, and Recently Issued Accounting Standards	Note 2 - Basis of Presentation, Significant Accounting Policies, and Recently Issued Accounting Standards Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of SM Energy have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X. They do not include all information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. However, except as disclosed herein, there has been no material change in the information disclosed in the notes to consolidated financial statements included in SM Energy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 (the “2013 Form 10-K”). In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals considered necessary for a fair presentation of interim financial information, have been included. Operating results for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of expected results for the full year. In connection with the preparation of its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company evaluated events subsequent to the balance sheet date of June 30, 2014, through the filing date of this report. Significant Accounting Policies The significant accounting policies followed by the Company are set forth in Note 1 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements in its 2013 Form 10-K, and are supplemented by the notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in this report. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the 2013 Form 10-K. Recently Issued Accounting Standards In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new authoritative accounting guidance related to the recognition and presentation of discontinued operations in the financial statements. The guidance intends to reduce the frequency of disposals reported as discontinued operations by focusing on strategic shifts that have or will have a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results. This authoritative accounting guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014, and is to be applied prospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of this authoritative guidance and assessing its impact, but does not believe it will have a material effect on the Company's financial statements or disclosures. In May 2014, the FASB issued new authoritative accounting guidance related to the recognition of revenue. This authoritative accounting guidance is effective for the annual period beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period, and is to be applied using one of two acceptable methods. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of this guidance and assessing its impact on the Company’s financial statements and disclosures. In June 2014, the FASB issued new authoritative accounting guidance related to the recognition of share-based compensation when an award provides that a performance target can be achieved after the requisite service period. This authoritative accounting guidance may be applied either prospectively or retrospectively and is effective for annual periods and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of this guidance and assessing its impact on the Company’s financial statements and disclosures. There are no other new significant accounting standards applicable to the Company that have been issued but not yet adopted by the Company as of June 30, 2014, and through the filing date of this report.

Note 2 - Basis of Presentation, Significant Accounting Policies, and Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of SM Energy have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X. They do not include all information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. However, except as disclosed herein, there has been no material change in the information disclosed in the notes to consolidated financial statements included in SM Energy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 (the “2013 Form 10-K”). In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals considered necessary for a fair presentation of interim financial information, have been included. Operating results for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of expected results for the full year. In connection with the preparation of its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company evaluated events subsequent to the balance sheet date of June 30, 2014, through the filing date of this report.

Significant Accounting Policies

The significant accounting policies followed by the Company are set forth in Note 1 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements in its 2013 Form 10-K, and are supplemented by the notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in this report. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the 2013 Form 10-K.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new authoritative accounting guidance related to the recognition and presentation of discontinued operations in the financial statements. The guidance intends to reduce the frequency of disposals reported as discontinued operations by focusing on strategic shifts that have or will have a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results. This authoritative accounting guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014, and is to be applied prospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of this authoritative guidance and assessing its impact, but does not believe it will have a material effect on the Company's financial statements or disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB issued new authoritative accounting guidance related to the recognition of revenue. This authoritative accounting guidance is effective for the annual period beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period, and is to be applied using one of two acceptable methods. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of this guidance and assessing its impact on the Company’s financial statements and disclosures.

In June 2014, the FASB issued new authoritative accounting guidance related to the recognition of share-based compensation when an award provides that a performance target can be achieved after the requisite service period. This authoritative accounting guidance may be applied either prospectively or retrospectively and is effective for annual periods and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of this guidance and assessing its impact on the Company’s financial statements and disclosures.

There are no other new significant accounting standards applicable to the Company that have been issued but not yet adopted by the Company as of June 30, 2014, and through the filing date of this report.