Impairments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

A summary of our impairments of oil and natural gas properties for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:


	Years Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
	($ in millions)
Impairments due to lower forecasted commodity prices	$	8,446	$	8	$	23
Impairments due to anticipated sale	—		—		55
Total impairments of oil and natural gas properties	$	8,446	$	8	$	78

During 2020, the decrease in demand for crude oil primarily due to the combined impacts of COVID-19 and the OPEC+ production increases resulted in decreases in current and expected long-term crude oil and NGL sale prices. These conditions resulted in reductions to the market capitalization of peer companies in the energy industry. We determined these adverse market conditions represented a triggering event to perform an impairment assessment of our long-lived assets used in, and in support of, our operations, including proved oil and gas properties, and our sand mine assets.

Proved Oil and Gas Properties

Our impairment test involved a Step 1 assessment to determine if the net book value of our proved oil and natural gas properties is expected to be recovered from the estimated undiscounted future cash flows.

•We calculated the expected undiscounted future net cash flows of our long-lived assets using management’s assumptions and expectations of (i) commodity prices, which are based on the NYMEX strip pricing escalated by an inflationary rate after 2 years, (ii) pricing adjustments for differentials, (iii) operating costs, (iv) capital investment plans, (v) future production volumes, and (vi) estimated proved reserves.

•Unprecedented volatility in the price of oil due to the decrease in demand has led us to rely on NYMEX strip pricing, which represents a Level 1 input.

Certain oil and gas properties in our Eagle Ford, Brazos Valley, Powder River Basin, and Mid-Continent and other non-core operating areas failed the Step 1 assessment. For these assets, we used a discounted cash flow analysis to estimate fair value. The expected future net cash flows were discounted using a rate of 11%, which we believe represents the estimated weighted average cost of capital of a theoretical market participant. Based on Step 2 of our long-lived assets impairment test, we recognized an $8.446 billion impairment because the carrying value exceeded estimated fair market value as of March 31, 2020.

•Significant inputs associated with the calculation of discounted future net cash flows include estimates of (i) recoverable reserves, (ii) production rates, (iii) future operating and development costs, (iv) future commodity prices escalated by an inflationary rate after two years, adjusted for differentials, and (v) a market-based weighted average cost of capital. We utilized NYMEX strip pricing, adjusted for differentials, to value the reserves. The NYMEX strip pricing inputs used are classified as Level 1 fair value assumptions and all other inputs are classified as Level 3 fair value assumptions.

A summary of our impairments of fixed assets by asset class and other charges for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:


	Years Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
	($ in millions)
Sand mine	$	76	$	—	$	—
Natural gas compressors	13		—		45
Buildings and land	—		1		4
Other	—		2		4
Total impairments of fixed assets and other	$	89	$	3	$	53