Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Chesapeake were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and the rules and regulations of the SEC. Pursuant to such rules and regulations, certain disclosures have been condensed or omitted.

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Form 10-Q”) relates to the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 (the “Current Quarter” and the “Current Period”, respectively) and the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 (the “Prior Quarter” and the “Prior Period”, respectively). Our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (“2019 Form 10-K”) should be read in conjunction with this Form 10-Q. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of our condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes and include the accounts of our direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries and entities in which we have a controlling financial interest. Intercompany accounts and balances have been eliminated.

Going Concern

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern and contemplate the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. Our ability to continue as a going concern is contingent on our ability to comply with the financial and other covenants contained in our DIP Credit Facility, the Bankruptcy Court’s approval of the Plan and our ability to successfully implement the Plan and obtain exit financing, among other factors. As a result of the Bankruptcy Filing, the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities are subject to uncertainty. While operating as debtors-in-possession under Chapter 11, we may sell or otherwise dispose of or liquidate assets or settle liabilities, subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court or as otherwise permitted in the ordinary course of business (and subject to restrictions contained in the DIP Credit Facility), for amounts other than those reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. Further, the Plan could materially change the amounts and classifications of assets and liabilities reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements. The factors noted above raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities or any other adjustments that might be necessary should we be unable to continue as a going concern or as a consequence of the Bankruptcy Filing.

Accounting During Bankruptcy

We have applied Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 852 Reorganizations in preparing the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. ASC 852 requires that the financial statements, for periods subsequent to the Chapter 11 Cases, distinguish transactions and events that are directly associated with the reorganization from the ongoing operations of the business. Accordingly, certain revenues, expenses, realized gains and losses and provisions for losses that are realized or incurred during the bankruptcy proceedings, including losses related to executory contracts that have been approved for rejection by the Bankruptcy Court, and unamortized deferred financing costs, premiums and discounts associated with debt classified as liabilities subject to compromise, are recorded as reorganization items. In addition, pre-petition obligations that may be impacted by the Chapter 11 process have been classified on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2020 as liabilities subject to compromise. These liabilities are reported at the amounts we anticipate will be allowed by the Bankruptcy Court, even if they may be settled for lesser amounts. See Note 1 for more information regarding reorganization items.

Risks and Uncertainties

The global spread of COVID-19 created significant volatility, uncertainty, and economic disruption during the first six months of 2020. The pandemic has reached more than 200 countries and territories and has resulted in widespread adverse impacts on the global economy and on our customers and other parties with whom we have business relations. State and local authorities have also implemented multi-step policies with the goal of re-opening. However, certain jurisdictions began re-opening only to return to restrictions in the face of increases in new COVID-19 cases. To date, we have experienced limited operational impacts as a result of the restrictions from working remotely or COVID-19 directly. As an essential business under the guidelines issued by each of the states in which we operate, we have been allowed to continue operations. As a result, since mid-March, we have restricted access to all of our offices and for a

period of time directed employees to work remotely to the extent possible. We began to re-open our offices in phases beginning mid-May and special precautions have been implemented to minimize the risk of exposure. These actions have allowed us to maintain the engagement and connectivity of our personnel. However, due to severe impacts from the global COVID-19 pandemic on the global demand for oil and natural gas, financial results may not be necessarily indicative of operating results for the entire year. Moreover, future operations could be negatively affected if a significant number of our employees are quarantined as a result of exposure to the virus.

There is considerable uncertainty regarding the extent to which COVID-19 will continue to spread and the extent and duration of governmental and other measures implemented to try to slow the spread of the virus, such as large-scale travel bans and restrictions, border closures, quarantines, shelter-in-place orders and business and government shutdowns. One of the largest impacts of the pandemic has been a significant reduction in global demand for oil and, to a lesser extent, natural gas. This significant decline in demand has been met with a sharp decline in oil prices following the announcement of price reductions and production increases in March 2020 by members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) and other foreign, oil-exporting countries. Further, in April 2020, OPEC+ finalized an agreement to cut oil production by 9.7 million barrels per day during May and June 2020. On June 6, 2020, OPEC+ agreed to extend such production cuts until the end of July 2020. However, prices in the oil and gas market have remained depressed, as the oversupply and lack of demand in the market persist. Oil and natural gas prices are expected to continue to be volatile as a result of the near-term production instability and the ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks and as changes in oil and natural gas inventories, industry demand and global and national economic performance are reported. The resulting supply/demand imbalance is having disruptive impacts on the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry and on other industries that serve exploration and production companies. We expect to see continued volatility in oil and natural gas prices for the foreseeable future, and such volatility, combined with the current depressed prices, has impacted and is expected to continue to adversely impact our business. The continued low level of demand and prices for oil and natural gas or otherwise has had and will continue to have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.

We cannot predict the full impact that COVID-19 or the significant disruption and volatility currently being experienced in the oil and natural gas markets will have on our business, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations at this time due to numerous uncertainties. The ultimate impacts will depend on future developments, including the ultimate geographic spread of the virus, the consequences of governmental and other measures designed to prevent the spread of the virus, the development of effective treatments, the duration of the outbreak, actions taken by members of OPEC+ and other foreign, oil-exporting countries, governmental authorities, customers and other third parties, workforce availability, and the timing and extent to which normal economic and operating conditions resume.