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Asset Retirement Obligations
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Asset Retirement Obligation [Abstract]  
Asset Retirement Obligations
Note 3. Asset Retirement Obligations

The following table summarizes the changes in our asset retirement obligations for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012:
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
In thousands
 
2013
 
2012
Beginning asset retirement obligation
 
$
106,430

 
$
93,468

Liabilities incurred and assumed during period
 
22,216

 
50,956

Revisions in estimated retirement obligations
 
4,730

 
5,334

Liabilities settled and sold during period
 
(15,523
)
 
(50,556
)
Accretion expense
 
8,448

 
7,228

Ending asset retirement obligation
 
126,301

 
106,430

Less: current asset retirement obligation (1)
 
(6,413
)
 
(3,700
)
Long-term asset retirement obligation
 
$
119,888

 
$
102,730



(1)
Included in "Accounts payable and accrued liabilities" in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Liabilities incurred and assumed generally relate to the drilling of incremental wells and liabilities assumed upon the purchase of additional interests in the CCA during 2013 and the acquisition of Thompson, Webster and Hartzog Draw fields during 2012. Liabilities settled and sold in 2012 include the plugging of old wells in the Tinsley Field and sales of non-core assets located in the Paradox Basin of Utah, Gulf Coast region and Bakken area assets in North Dakota and Montana.

We have escrow accounts that are legally restricted for certain of our asset retirement obligations.  The balances of these escrow accounts were $36.0 million and $35.2 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.  These balances are primarily invested in U.S. Treasury bonds, are recorded at amortized cost and are included in "Other assets" in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The carrying value of these investments approximates their estimated fair market value at December 31, 2013 and 2012.