Contingencies and Commitments

Contingencies

Litigation and Regulatory Proceedings

The Company is involved in a number of litigation and regulatory proceedings (including those described below). Many of these proceedings are in early stages, and many of them seek an indeterminate amount of damages. We estimate and provide for potential losses that may arise out of litigation and regulatory proceedings to the extent that such losses are probable and can be reasonably estimated. Significant judgment is required in making these estimates and our final liabilities may ultimately be materially different. Our total estimated liability in respect of litigation and regulatory proceedings is determined on a case-by-case basis and represents an estimate of probable losses after considering, among other factors, the progress of each case or proceeding, our experience and the experience of others in similar cases or proceedings, and the opinions and views of legal counsel. We account for legal defense costs in the period the costs are incurred.

July 2008 Common Stock Offering. On February 25, 2009, a putative class action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Company and certain of its officers and directors along with certain underwriters of the Company’s July 2008 common stock offering. Following the appointment of a lead plaintiff and counsel, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint on September 11, 2009 alleging that the registration statement for the offering contained material misstatements and omissions and seeking damages under Sections 11, 12 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 of an unspecified amount and rescission. The action was transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma on October 13, 2009. On September 2, 2010, the court denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss, and the court certified the class on March 30, 2012. Defendants moved for summary judgment on grounds of loss causation and materiality on December 16, 2011, and the motion was fully briefed as of August 21, 2012. Discovery in the case is proceeding. We are currently unable to assess the probability of loss or estimate a range of potential loss associated with the case.

A derivative action was also filed in the District Court of Oklahoma County, Oklahoma on March 10, 2009 against certain current and former directors and officers of the Company asserting breaches of fiduciary duties relating to alleged material omissions in the registration statement for the July 2008 offering. The derivative action is stayed pursuant to stipulation. On August 29, 2012, the plaintiff filed a motion to lift the stay, and on September 17, 2012, nominal defendant Chesapeake filed a cross-motion to stay the case pending resolution of the federal class action. A second derivative action relating to the July 2008 offering was filed against certain current and former directors and officers of the Company in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma on September 6, 2011. This action also asserts breaches of fiduciary duties with respect to alleged material omissions in the offering registration statement. On November 30, 2011, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the action, which was denied on September 28, 2012. Pursuant to court order, nominal defendant Chesapeake filed an answer on October 12, 2012. By stipulated order, the individual defendants are not required to answer the complaint unless and until the plaintiff establishes standing to pursue claims derivatively.

2008 CEO Compensation and Related Party Transaction. Three derivative actions were filed in the District Court of Oklahoma County, Oklahoma on April 28, May 7 and May 20, 2009 against the Company’s directors alleging, among other things, breaches of fiduciary duties relating to the 2008 compensation of the Company’s CEO, Aubrey K. McClendon, and seeking unspecified damages, equitable relief and disgorgement. These three derivative actions were consolidated and a Consolidated Derivative Shareholder Petition naming Chesapeake as a nominal defendant was filed on June 23, 2009. Chesapeake’s motion to dismiss was granted on February 26, 2010, and the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals affirmed the dismissal on August 26, 2011. The plaintiffs filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the Oklahoma Supreme Court on September 13, 2011.

On January 30, 2012, the District Court of Oklahoma County, Oklahoma approved a settlement between the parties in the consolidated derivative action, as well as a case on appeal at the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals requesting inspection of Company books and records relating to the December 2008 employment agreement with Mr. McClendon. The principal terms of the settlement include the rescission of the sale of an antique map collection that occurred in December 2008 between Mr. McClendon and the Company, whereby Mr. McClendon will pay the Company approximately $12 million plus interest and the Company will reconvey the map collection to Mr. McClendon, and the adoption and/or implementation of a variety of corporate governance measures. The court awarded attorney fees and expenses to plaintiffs’ counsel in the amount of $3.75 million that was paid by Chesapeake. Pursuant to the settlement, the consolidated derivative action and books and records action were dismissed with prejudice against all defendants. On February 29, 2012, certain shareholders filed a petition in error with the Oklahoma Supreme Court opposing the terms of the settlement. Appellants' opening brief was filed on September 14, 2012, and Chesapeake filed its response on October 24, 2012.

On September 6 and 8, 2011, in separate derivative actions filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma against certain of the Company’s current and former directors, two shareholders alleged that the Chesapeake board wrongfully refused their demands to investigate purported breaches of fiduciary duties relating to Mr. McClendon’s 2008 compensation and, as a result, each of these shareholders asserts he is entitled to seek relief on behalf of the Company. These federal derivative actions were consolidated on December 23, 2011 and on March 14, 2012 were stayed until 30 days after the Supreme Court of Oklahoma resolves the appeal of the settlement of the consolidated derivative action and books and records action.

FWPP, Conflict of Interest and Other Matters. From April 19 to June 29, 2012, 13 substantially similar shareholder derivative actions were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma against the Company and its directors alleging, among other things, violations of Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 14a-9 promulgated thereunder for purported material misstatements in the Company’s 2009 and subsequent proxy statements related to Mr. McClendon’s participation in the Founder Well Participation Program (FWPP) and breaches of fiduciary duties, corporate waste, and unjust enrichment against the Board for failing to make proper disclosures in the proxy statements and failing to properly monitor Mr. McClendon’s personal use of assets acquired pursuant to the FWPP. On July 13, 2012, these 13 shareholder actions were consolidated into a single case. On April 27, 2012, a shareholder derivative action was filed in the District Court of Oklahoma County, Oklahoma setting forth substantially similar claims to those alleged in the federal shareholder actions. Plaintiffs in both the federal consolidated derivative action and the state court derivative action stipulated to stay their cases pending a ruling on the motion to dismiss to be filed in the federal securities class action described in the following paragraph.

A putative class action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma on April 26, 2012 against the Company and Mr. McClendon alleging violations of Sections 10(b) (and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. On July 20, 2012, a lead plaintiff was appointed, and on October 19, 2012, an amended complaint was filed against the Company, Mr. McClendon and certain other officers. The amended complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) (and Rule 10b-5) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 based on alleged misrepresentations regarding the Company's asset monetization strategy, including liabilities associated with its volumetric production payment (VPP) transactions, as well as Mr. McClendon's personal loans and the Company's internal controls. The action seeks class certification, damages of an unspecified amount and attorneys' fees and other costs. We are currently unable to assess the probability of loss or estimate a range of potential loss associated with the case.

The Board of Directors is conducting an internal review of the financing arrangements between Mr. McClendon (and the entities through which he participates in the FWPP) and any third party that has had or may have a relationship with the Company in any capacity. In conjunction with Mr. McClendon’s employment agreement with the Company, the FWPP provides Mr. McClendon a contractual right through June 2014 to participate and invest as a working interest owner (with up to a 2.5% working interest) in new wells drilled on the Company’s leasehold.

On June 19, July 17 and July 20, 2012, putative class actions were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma against the Company, Chesapeake Energy Savings and Incentive Stock Bonus Plan (the Plan), and certain of the Company’s officers and directors alleging breaches of fiduciary duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The actions are brought on behalf of participants and beneficiaries of the Plan, and allege that as fiduciaries of the Plan, defendants owed fiduciary duties, which they purportedly breached by, among other things, failing to manage and administer the Plan’s assets with appropriate skill and care, failing to disclose material information concerning such matters as Mr. McClendon’s participation in the FWPP and his related financing arrangements and the Company’s VPP transactions, engaging in activities that were in conflict with the best interest of the Plan, and permitting the Plan to over-concentrate in Chesapeake stock. The plaintiffs seek class certification, damages of an unspecified amount, equitable relief, and attorneys’ fees and other costs. On August 16, 2012, defendants were given 60 days following the date on which a consolidated amended complaint is filed to answer. We are currently unable to assess the probability of loss or estimate a range of potential loss associated with these cases.

On May 2, 2012, Chesapeake and Mr. McClendon received notice from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that its Fort Worth Regional Office had commenced an informal inquiry into, among other things, certain of the matters alleged in the foregoing lawsuits. The Company and Mr. McClendon are providing information in response to the SEC’s inquiry. The Company has also received inquiries from other governmental and regulatory agencies and self-regulatory organizations concerning such matters and is responding to such inquiries.

Director and Officer Use of Company Aircraft. On May 8, 2012, a derivative action was filed in the District Court of Oklahoma County, Oklahoma against the Company’s directors alleging, among other things, breaches of fiduciary duties and corporate waste related to the Company’s officers and directors’ use of the Company’s fractionally owned corporate jets. Chesapeake was named a nominal defendant in the derivative action. On August 21, 2012, the District Court granted the Company's motion to dismiss the case. On October 11, 2012, the plaintiff appealed the dismissal to the Supreme Court of Oklahoma, and on October 15, 2012, the Supreme Court ordered the plaintiff to show cause why the appeal should not be dismissed as premature. On October 30, 2012, the plaintiff responded to the order to show cause.

Antitrust Investigations. On June 29, 2012, Chesapeake received a subpoena duces tecum from the Antitrust Division, Midwest Field Office of the U.S. Department of Justice. The subpoena requires the Company to produce certain documents before a grand jury in the Western District of Michigan, which is conducting an investigation into possible violations of antitrust laws in connection with the purchase and lease of oil and gas rights. The Company has also received demands for documents and information from certain state governmental agencies in connection with other investigations relating to the Company’s purchase and lease of oil and gas rights. Chesapeake is providing information in response to these investigations, and its Board of Directors is conducting an internal review of the matter.

Business Operations. Chesapeake is involved in various other lawsuits and disputes incidental to its business operations, including commercial disputes, personal injury claims, claims for underpayment of royalties, property damage claims and contract actions. With regard to contract actions, various mineral or leasehold owners have filed lawsuits against us seeking specific performance to require us to acquire their natural gas and oil interests and pay acreage bonus payments, damages based on breach of contract and/or, in certain cases, punitive damages based on alleged fraud. The Company has successfully defended a number of these cases in various courts, has settled others and believes that it has substantial defenses to the claims made in those pending at the trial court and on appeal. We have increased natural gas and oil properties by the full amount of a judgment entered in July 2012 against us in an action for specific performance of 2008 contracts to purchase natural gas and oil properties for $101 million in addition to recording prejudgment interest. The action was remanded following the reversal on appeal of the original trial court’s holding that the contracts were not enforceable. Enforcement of the judgment has been stayed. On August 10, 2012, Chesapeake filed a motion for new trial and/or to alter or amend the judgment. The motion has been fully briefed.

Based on management’s current assessment, we are of the opinion that no pending or threatened lawsuit or dispute incidental to the Company’s business operations is likely to have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The final resolution of such matters could exceed amounts accrued, however, and actual results could differ materially from management’s estimates.

Environmental Risk

The nature of the natural gas and oil business carries with it certain environmental risks for Chesapeake and its subsidiaries. Chesapeake has implemented various policies, procedures, training and auditing to reduce and mitigate such environmental risks. Chesapeake conducts periodic reviews, on a company-wide basis, to assess changes in our environmental risk profile. Environmental reserves are set for potential environmental liabilities that are probable and reasonably estimable. We manage our exposure to environmental liabilities in acquisitions by using an evaluation process that seeks to identify pre-existing contamination or compliance concerns and assessing the potential liability. Depending on the extent of an identified environmental concern, Chesapeake may, among other things, 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.

There are presently pending against our subsidiary, Chesapeake Appalachia, L.L.C. (CALLC), orders for compliance first initiated in the 2010 fourth quarter by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) related to our compliance with Clean Water Act (CWA) permitting requirements in West Virginia. We have responded to all pending orders and are actively working with the EPA to resolve these matters. For four of the sites subject to EPA orders for compliance, CALLC also received and responded to a subpoena issued by the grand jury of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia. On September 28, 2012, an information alleging misdemeanor violations of the CWA by CALLC was filed in this federal district court, and on October 5, 2012, CALLC pled guilty, pursuant to a binding plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia, to three misdemeanor counts of unauthorized discharge of dredge or fill materials into a water of the U.S. In the plea agreement, CALLC has agreed to pay a fine of $200,000 for each misdemeanor, for a total fine of $600,000, and accept a two-year probationary term. Additionally, the parties have agreed that potential violations by CALLC at the three other sites subject to the aforementioned subpoena would be addressed in the ongoing civil proceeding. All terms of the plea agreement, including the proposed sentence, are subject to court approval.

The CWA provides authority for significant civil penalties for the placement of fill in a jurisdictional stream or wetland without a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. CWA civil penalties can be as high as $37,500 per day, per violation. The CWA sets forth subjective criteria, including degree of fault and history of prior violations, that influence CWA penalty assessments, and the EPA may also seek to recover the economic benefit derived from non-compliance. While we expect that resolution of the EPA’s orders for compliance will include monetary sanctions exceeding $100,000, and CALLC has agreed to pay a fine of $600,000 with respect to CWA criminal misdemeanor charges, we believe the liability with respect to these matters will not have a material effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flow of the Company.

Commitments

Rig Leases

In a series of transactions beginning in 2006, our drilling subsidiaries have sold 70 drilling rigs (net of 24 purchased rigs) and related equipment and entered into master lease agreements under which we agreed to lease the rigs from the buyer for initial terms of five to ten years. The lease obligations are guaranteed by Chesapeake and certain of its subsidiaries. These transactions were recorded as sales and operating leasebacks and any related net gains are amortized to oilfield services expenses over the lease term. Under the leases, we can exercise an early purchase option or we can purchase the rigs at the expiration of the lease for the fair market value at the time. In addition, in most cases we have the option to renew a lease for negotiated new terms at the expiration of the lease. Commitments related to rig lease payments are not recorded in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. As of September 30, 2012, the minimum aggregate undiscounted future rig lease payments were approximately $332 million. During the Current Quarter, we repurchased 22 rigs from various lessors for an aggregate purchase price of $53 million, of which $25 million was deemed to be early lease termination costs and was recognized as Losses and Impairments of Fixed Assets and Other in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. See Note 11 for further discussion.

Chesapeake has contracts with various drilling contractors to utilize approximately 34 rigs with terms ranging from six months to three years. These commitments are not recorded in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. As of September 30, 2012, the aggregate undiscounted minimum future payments under these drilling rig commitments were approximately $316 million.

Compressor Leases

Through various transactions beginning in 2007, our compression subsidiary has sold 2,542 compressors (net of 11 purchased compressors), a significant portion of its compressor fleet, and entered into a master lease agreement. The term of the agreement varies by buyer ranging from four to ten years. The lease obligations are guaranteed by Chesapeake and certain of its subsidiaries. These transactions were recorded as sales and operating leasebacks and any related net gains are amortized to marketing, gathering and compression expenses over the lease term. Under the leases, we can exercise an early purchase option or we can purchase the compressors at the expiration of the lease for the fair market value at the time. In addition, in most cases we have the option to renew a lease for negotiated new terms at the expiration of the lease. Commitments related to compressor lease payments are not recorded in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. As of September 30, 2012, the minimum aggregate undiscounted future compressor lease payments were approximately $443 million. Subsequent to September 30, 2012, we repurchased 220 compressor units for approximately $28 million from various lessors, lowering our minimum aggregate undiscounted future compressor lease payments by approximately $23 million.

Gathering, Processing and Transportation Agreements

We have contractual commitments with midstream service companies and pipeline carriers for future gathering, processing and transportation of natural gas and liquids to move certain of our production to market. Working interest owners and royalty interest owners will be responsible for their proportionate share of these costs. Commitments related to gathering, processing and transportation agreements are not recorded in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets; however, they are reflected as adjustments to future natural gas, oil and NGL sales prices used in our proved reserves estimates.

The aggregate undiscounted commitments under our gathering, processing and transportation agreements, excluding any reimbursement from working interest and royalty interest owners, are presented below.



	September 30, 2012
	($ in millions)
2012	$	282
2013	1,194
2014	1,535
2015	1,626
2016	1,683
2017 - 2099	11,235
Total	$	17,555

Drilling Commitments

In December 2011, as part of our Utica joint venture development agreement with Total (see Note 8), we committed to spud no less than 90 cumulative Utica wells by December 31, 2012, 270 cumulative wells by December 31, 2013 and 540 cumulative wells by December 31, 2014. Through September 30, 2012, we had spud 87 cumulative Utica wells and are therefore ahead of the drilling pace required to meet the cumulative drilling commitment by December 31, 2012. If we fail to meet the drilling commitment at any such year end for any reason other than a force majeure event, the drilling carry percentage used to determine our promoted well reimbursement will be reduced from 60% to 45% for a number of wells drilled in the following calendar year equal to the number of wells we were short the drilling commitment. As such, any reduction would only affect the timing of the receipt of the drilling carry but not the total drilling carry to be received.

We have also committed to drill wells in conjunction with our CHK Utica and CHK C-T financial transactions and in conjunction with the formation of the Chesapeake Granite Wash Trust. See Note 6 for discussion of these transactions and commitments.

In conjunction with the acceleration in October 2011 of the remaining drilling carry owed to us by Total in our Barnett Shale joint venture, we agreed to maintain our operated rig count at no less than 12 rigs in the Barnett Shale through December 31, 2012. In January 2012, Chesapeake and Total agreed to reduce the minimum rig count from 12 to six rigs. In May 2012, Chesapeake and Total agreed to further reduce the minimum rig count from six to two rigs.

Property and Equipment Purchase Commitments

Much of the drilling equipment we purchase requires long production lead times. As a result, we have outstanding orders and commitments for such equipment. As of September 30, 2012, we had $197 million of purchase obligations related to future capital expenditures for drilling rigs and related equipment and hydraulic fracturing equipment in 2012 and 2013.

Natural Gas and Oil Purchase Commitments

We regularly commit to purchase natural gas and liquids from other owners in the properties we operate, including owners associated with our VPP transactions. Production purchased under these arrangements is based on market prices at the time of production, and the purchased natural gas and liquids are resold at market prices. See Note 8 for further discussion of our VPP transactions.

Net Acreage Maintenance Commitments

Under the terms of our joint venture agreements with Statoil and Total (see Note 8), we are required to extend, renew or replace certain expiring joint leasehold, at our cost, to ensure that the net acreage is maintained in certain designated areas. We do not expect to meet the net acreage maintenance commitment with Total under the terms of our Barnett Shale joint venture agreement. We expect to have a net acreage shortfall of approximately 18,000 net acres, which, if not met by the December 31, 2012 measurement date, will result in a 2012 fourth quarter charge against earnings and a cash payment of approximately $36 million to Total in the first half of 2013.

Other Commitments

In April 2011, we entered into a master frac service agreement with our equity affiliate, FTS International, Inc. (FTS), which expires on December 31, 2014. Pursuant to this agreement, we are committed to enter into a predetermined number of backstop contracts, providing at least a 10% gross margin to FTS, if utilization of FTS fleets falls below a certain level. To date, we have not entered into any backstop contracts and, since we use fracing services continuously, we do not anticipate any material payments under this commitment. In addition, in September 2012, we agreed to purchase our pro-rata share, equal to approximately $105 million, of preferred equity securities offered by FTS to existing stockholders. We expect to complete this transaction in November 2012. Each share of preferred stock is convertible into a specified number of shares of FTS common stock automatically upon a qualified initial public offering of FTS common stock and at our option at any time following the second anniversary of the issue date.

In July 2011, we agreed to invest $150 million in newly issued convertible promissory notes of Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (Nasdaq:CLNE), based in Seal Beach, California. The investment is being made in three equal $50 million promissory notes, the first two of which were issued in July 2011 and July 2012, with the remaining note scheduled to be issued in June 2013. The notes bear interest at the annual rate of 7.5%, payable quarterly, and are convertible at our option into shares of Clean Energy’s common stock at a 22.5% conversion premium over the price at the time of our original investment in July 2011, resulting in a conversion price of $15.80 per share. As of September 30, 2012, Clean Energy's common stock was trading at $13.17 per share. See Note 9 for further discussion of this investment.

In July 2011, we agreed to invest $155 million in preferred equity securities of Sundrop Fuels, Inc., a privately held cellulosic biofuels company based in Longmont, Colorado. As of September 30, 2012, we had funded $115 million of our commitment. The remaining tranches of preferred equity investment will be scheduled around certain funding and operational milestones that are expected to be reached by July 2013. See Note 9 for further discussion of this investment.

In December 2011, we sold Appalachia Midstream Services, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of our wholly owned subsidiary, Chesapeake Midstream Development, L.P. (CMD), to Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P. (now named Access Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE:ACMP)) for total consideration of $884 million. In addition, CMD has committed to pay ACMP for any quarterly shortfall between the actual adjusted EBITDA from the assets sold and specified quarterly targets, which total $100 million in 2012 and $150 million in 2013. We recorded this guarantee at an estimated fair value of $27 million at the time of the sale. It is included in other current and non-current liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2012. We will release this liability over the two-year term of the guarantee if the assets are meeting the specific quarterly targets. No payment was required for the Current Period, and we recognized $2 million of gain associated with the release of the liability related to the quarterly targets achieved in the Current Period. To the extent we are required to make payments under the guarantee, we will record the differences between the liability and the associated payments in earnings.

In conjunction with CMD’s investments in the newly formed entities Utica East Ohio Midstream, LLC, Cardinal Gas Services L.L.C., Ranch Westex JV, LLC and Glass Mountain Pipeline, LLC, as of September 30, 2012, CMD had committed to make capital contributions to these entities totaling approximately $1.1 billion through 2014. With the anticipated 2012 fourth quarter sale of substantially all of our midstream business, these commitments will become the responsibility of the acquirer of our midstream business. See Notes 9 and 10 for further discussion of these investments.

As part of our normal course of business, we enter into various agreements providing, or otherwise arranging, financial or performance assurances to third parties on behalf of our wholly owned guarantor subsidiaries. These agreements may include future payment obligations or commitments regarding operational performance that effectively guarantee our subsidiaries’ future performance.

In connection with divestitures, our purchase and sale agreements generally provide indemnification to the counterparty for liabilities incurred as a result of a breach of a representation or warranty by the indemnifying party or in regards to perfecting title to property. These indemnifications generally have a discrete term and are intended to protect the parties against risks that are difficult to predict or cannot be quantified at the time of the consummation of a particular transaction.

Certain of our natural gas and oil properties are burdened by non-operating interests such as royalty and overriding royalty interests, including overriding royalty interests sold through our VPP transactions. As the holder of the working interest from which such interests have been created, we have the responsibility to bear the cost of developing and producing the reserves attributable to such interests. See Note 8 for further discussion of our VPP transactions.