FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Fair Value Accounting Policy [Abstract]

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Determining Fair Value - For our fair value measurements, we utilize market prices, third-party pricing services, present value methods and standard option valuation models to determine the price we would receive from the sale of an asset or the transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction at the measurement date. We measure the fair value of a group of financial assets and liabilities consistent with how a market participant would price the net risk exposure at the measurement date.

While many of the contracts in our derivative portfolio are executed in liquid markets where price transparency exists, some contracts are executed in markets for which market prices may exist, but the market may be relatively inactive. This results in limited price transparency that requires management’s judgment and assumptions to estimate fair values. For certain transactions, we may utilize modeling techniques using NYMEX-settled pricing data and implied forward LIBOR curves. Inputs into our fair value estimates include commodity-exchange prices, data obtained from third-party pricing services, LIBOR and other liquid money-market instrument rates. Our financial commodity derivatives are generally settled through a NYMEX or Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) clearing broker account with daily margin requirements. We validate our valuation inputs with third-party information and settlement prices from other sources, where available.

We compute the fair value of our derivative portfolio by discounting the projected future cash flows from our derivative assets and liabilities to present value using interest-rate yields to calculate present-value discount factors derived from the implied forward LIBOR yield curve. The fair value of our forward-starting interest-rate swaps is determined using financial models that incorporate the implied forward LIBOR yield curve for the same period as the future interest-rate swap settlements. We consider current market data in evaluating counterparties’, as well as our own, nonperformance risk, net of collateral, by using

counterparty-specific bond yields. Although we use our best estimates to determine the fair value of the derivative contracts we have executed, the ultimate market prices realized could differ materially from our estimates.

Fair Value Hierarchy - At each balance sheet date, we utilize a fair value hierarchy to classify fair value amounts recognized or disclosed in our financial statements based on the observability of inputs used to estimate such fair value. The levels of the hierarchy are described below:


•	Level 1 - fair value measurements are based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical securities in active markets. These balances are composed predominantly of exchange-traded derivative contracts for natural gas and crude oil.


•	Level 2 - fair value measurements are based on significant observable pricing inputs, including quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets and inputs from third-party pricing services supported with corroborative evidence. These balances are composed of over-the-counter interest-rate derivatives.

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Level 3 - fair value measurements are based on inputs that may include one or more unobservable inputs, including internally developed natural gas basis and NGL price curves that incorporate observable and unobservable market data from broker quotes and third-party pricing services. These balances are composed predominantly of exchange-cleared and over-the-counter derivatives for natural gas basis and NGLs. Our commodity derivatives are generally valued using forward quotes provided by third-party pricing services that are validated with other market data. We believe any measurement uncertainty at June 30, 2019, is immaterial as our Level 3 fair value measurements are based on unadjusted pricing information from broker quotes and third-party pricing services. We do not believe that our Level 3 fair value estimates have a material impact on our results of operations, as our derivatives are accounted for as hedges.

Determining the appropriate classification of our fair value measurements within the fair value hierarchy requires management’s judgment regarding the degree to which market data is observable or corroborated by observable market data. We categorize derivatives for which fair value is determined using multiple inputs within a single level, based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.