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Commitments and Contingencies | 9 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies |
Commitments and Contingencies | 10.Commitments and Contingencies In conjunction with our current drilling rig construction program, purchase commitments for equipment, parts and supplies of approximately $4.9 million are outstanding at June 30, 2016. We are contingently liable to sureties in respect of bonds issued by the sureties in connection with certain commitments entered into by us in the normal course of business. We have agreed to indemnify the sureties for any payments made by them in respect of such bonds. During the ordinary course of our business, contingencies arise resulting from an existing condition, situation or set of circumstances involving an uncertainty as to the realization of a possible gain contingency. We account for gain contingencies in accordance with the provisions of ASC 450, Contingencies, and, therefore, we do not record gain contingencies or recognize income until realized. The property and equipment of our Venezuelan subsidiary was seized by the Venezuelan government on June 30, 2010. Our wholly-owned subsidiaries, Helmerich & Payne International Drilling Co. and Helmerich & Payne de Venezuela, C.A., filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on September 23, 2011 against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (“PDVSA”) and PDVSA Petroleo, S.A. (“Petroleo”). Our subsidiaries seek damages for the taking of their Venezuelan drilling business in violation of international law and for breach of contract. While there exists the possibility of realizing a recovery, we are currently unable to determine the timing or amounts we may receive, if any, or the likelihood of recovery. No gain contingencies are recognized in our Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company and its subsidiaries are parties to various pending legal actions arising in the ordinary course of our business. We maintain insurance against certain business risks subject to certain deductibles. Although no assurance can be given, we believe, based on our experiences to date and taking into account established reserves and insurance, that the ultimate resolution of such items will not have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations. When we determine a loss is probable of occurring and is reasonably estimable, we accrue an undiscounted liability for such contingencies based on our best estimate using information available at that time. If the estimated loss is a range of potential outcomes and there is no better estimate within the range, we accrue the amount at the low end of the range. We disclose contingencies where an adverse outcome may be material, or in the judgment of management, we conclude the matter should otherwise be disclosed. On November 8, 2013, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana approved the previously disclosed October 30, 2013 plea agreement between our wholly owned subsidiary, Helmerich & Payne International Drilling Co., and the United States Department of Justice, United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana (“DOJ”). The court’s approval of the plea agreement resolved the DOJ’s investigation into certain choke manifold testing irregularities that occurred in 2010 at one of Helmerich & Payne International Drilling Co.’s offshore platform rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. We have been engaged in discussions with the Inspector General’s office of the Department of Interior regarding the same events that were the subject of the DOJ’s investigation. Although we presently believe that the outcome of our discussions will not have a material adverse effect on the Company, we cannot estimate the amount of any potential loss, nor can we provide any assurances as to the timing or eventual outcome of these discussions. On or about April 28, 2015, Joshua Keel (“Keel”), an employee of Helmerich & Payne International Drilling Co. (“HPIDC”), filed a petition in the 152 nd Judicial Court for Harris County, Texas (Cause No. 2015-24531) against Helmerich & Payne Inc., HPIDC, the operator, and several subcontractors of the operator. The suit arises from injuries Keel sustained in an accident that occurred while he was working on HPIDC Rig 223 in New Mexico in July of 2014. Keel alleges that the defendants were negligent and negligent per se, acted recklessly, intentionally, and/or with an utterly wanton disregard for the rights and safety of the plaintiff and has recently indicated he will seek damages well in excess of $100 million. Pursuant to the terms of the drilling contract between HPIDC and the operator, HPIDC has indemnified most of the co-defendants in the lawsuit, subject to certain reservations. We believe we have meritorious defenses to this matter and intend to vigorously defend the Company and HPIDC, both of whom have motions for summary judgment pending. The trial for this matter is set to begin September 19, 2016. We will continue to defend our position and will look to our insurance carriers to respond to any liability that may arise from this incident, including our contractual indemnity obligations; however, we cannot predict the outcome. We have accrued the amount of our self-insured retention.

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