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Basis of Presentation (Notes)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation, Business Description and Accounting Policies Disclosure
Basis of Presentation
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Chesapeake Energy Corporation ("Chesapeake" or the "Company") and its subsidiaries were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) and include the accounts of our direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries and entities in which Chesapeake has a controlling financial interest. Intercompany accounts and balances have been eliminated. These financial statements were prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and, therefore, do not include all disclosures required for financial statements prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP.
This Form 10-Q relates to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 (the "Current Quarter" and the “Current Period”, respectively) and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 (the "Prior Quarter" and the “Prior Period”, respectively). Chesapeake's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 ("2015 Form 10-K") includes certain definitions and a summary of significant accounting policies that should be read in conjunction with this Form 10-Q. All material adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods have been reflected. The results for the Current Quarter and the Current Period are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
Risks and Uncertainties
Our ability to grow, make capital expenditures and service our debt depends primarily upon the prices we receive for the oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) we sell. Substantial expenditures are required to replace reserves, sustain production and fund our business plans. Historically, oil and natural gas prices have been very volatile, and may be subject to wide fluctuations in the future. The substantial decline in oil, natural gas and NGL prices from 2014 levels has negatively affected the amount of cash we have available for capital expenditures and debt service. A substantial or extended decline in oil, natural gas and NGL prices could have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows and on the quantities of reserves that we may economically produce. Other risks and uncertainties that could affect us in the current commodity price environment include, but are not limited to, counterparty credit risk for our receivables, access to capital markets, regulatory risks and our ability to meet financial ratios and covenants in our financing agreements.
Reclassifications
In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued guidance that requires debt issuance costs related to term debt to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the associated debt liability. This standard requires retrospective application and is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. This change in accounting principle is preferable since it allows debt issuance costs and debt issuance discounts to be presented similarly in the consolidated balance sheets as a reduction to the face amount of our debt balances. A retrospective change to our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015, as previously presented, is required pursuant to the guidance. The retrospective adjustment to the December 31, 2015 consolidated balance sheet is shown below.
 
 
As Previously Reported
 
December 31, 2015 Adjustment Effect
 
As Adjusted
 
 
$ in millions
Other long-term assets
 
$
333

 
$
(43
)
 
$
290

Long-term debt, net
 
$
10,354

 
$
(43
)
 
$
10,311


Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2015, we began presenting third party gathering, processing and transportation costs as a component of operating expenses in our statement of operations. Previously, these costs were reflected as deductions to oil, natural gas and NGL sales. These costs have been reclassified in our condensed consolidated statement of operations for the Prior Quarter and the Prior Period to conform to the presentation used for the Current Quarter and the Current Period. The net effect of this reclassification did not impact our previously reported net loss, stockholders’ equity or cash flows; however, previously reported oil, natural gas and NGL sales have increased from the amounts previously reported, and total operating expenses have increased by those same amounts.