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Commitments and Contingencies | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | Com mitments and Contingencies Devon is party to various legal actions arising in connection with its business. Matters that are probable of unfavorable outcome to Devon and which can be reasonably estimated are accrued. Such accruals are based on information known about the matters, Devon’s estimates of the outcomes of such matters and its experience in contesting, litigating and settling similar matters. None of the actions are believed by management to likely involve future amounts that would be material to Devon’s financial position or results of operations after consideration of recorded accruals. Actual amounts could differ materially from management’s estimates. Royalty Matters Numerous oil and natural gas producers and related parties, including Devon, have been named in various lawsuits alleging royalty underpayments. Devon is currently named as a defendant in a number of such lawsuits, including some lawsuits in which the plaintiffs seek to certify classes of similarly situated plaintiffs. Among the allegations typically asserted in these suits are claims that Devon used below-market prices, made improper deductions, paid royalty proceeds in an untimely manner without including required interest, used improper measurement techniques and entered into gas purchase and processing arrangements with affiliates that resulted in underpayment of royalties in connection with oil, natural gas and NGLs produced and sold. Devon is also involved in governmental agency proceedings and royalty audits and is subject to related contracts and regulatory controls in the ordinary course of business, some that may lead to additional royalty claims. As of September 30, 2024, Devon has accrued approximately $60 million in other current liabilities pertaining to such royalty matters. Environmental and Climate Change Matters Devon’s business is subject to numerous federal, state, tribal and local laws and regulations governing the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to environmental protection. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal fines and penalties, as well as remediation costs. Although Devon believes that it is in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and that continued compliance with existing requirements will not have a material adverse impact on its business, there can be no assurance that this will continue in the future. As previously disclosed, the Company received separate notices of violation (“NOV”) from the EPA alleging emissions and permitting violations relating to certain of our historic operations in North Dakota, western Texas and New Mexico, respectively. The Company has been engaging with the EPA to resolve each of these matters, and Devon is actively negotiating a draft consent decree with the EPA and the Department of Justice with respect to the North Dakota NOV matter. If finalized, the consent decree may include monetary sanctions and obligations to complete mitigation projects and implement specific injunctive relief. Given that negotiations of the draft consent decree are ongoing and the uncertainty as to the ultimate result of the North Dakota NOV matter, we are currently unable to provide an estimate of potential loss; however, the costs associated with the resolution of the North Dakota NOV matter or any of the other NOV matters could be significant in amount and may include monetary penalties. Beginning in 2013, various parishes in Louisiana filed suit against numerous oil and gas companies, including Devon, alleging that the companies’ operations and activities in certain fields violated the State and Local Coastal Resource Management Act of 1978, as amended, and caused substantial environmental contamination, subsidence and other environmental damages to land and water bodies located in the coastal zone of Louisiana. The plaintiffs’ claims against Devon relate primarily to the operations of several of Devon’s corporate predecessors. The plaintiffs seek, among other things, payment of the costs necessary to clear, re-vegetate and otherwise restore the allegedly impacted areas. Although Devon cannot predict the ultimate outcome of these matters, Devon denies the allegations in these lawsuits and intends to vigorously defend against these claims. The State of Delaware has filed legal proceedings against numerous oil and gas companies, including Devon, seeking relief to abate alleged impacts of climate change. These proceedings include far-reaching claims for monetary damages and injunctive relief. Although Devon cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, Devon denies the allegations asserted in this lawsuit and intends to vigorously defend against these claims. Other Indemnifications and Legacy Matters Pursuant to various sale agreements relating to divested businesses and assets, Devon has indemnified various purchasers against liabilities that they may incur with respect to the businesses and assets acquired from Devon. Additionally, federal, state and other laws in areas of former operations may require previous operators (including corporate successors of previous operators) to perform or make payments in certain circumstances where the current operator may no longer be able to satisfy the applicable obligation. Such obligations may include plugging and abandoning wells, removing production facilities, undertaking other restorative actions or performing requirements under surface agreements in existence at the time of disposition. For example, a predecessor entity of a Devon subsidiary previously sold certain private, state and federal oil and gas leases covering properties in shallow waters off the coast of Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico. These assets are generally referred to as the East Bay Field. The current operator of the East Bay Field has filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and may be unable to satisfy the eventual decommissioning obligations associated with the East Bay Field. Other companies in the chain of title of the East Bay Field have also sought bankruptcy protection and may be similarly unable to satisfy the eventual decommissioning obligations associated with the East Bay Field. Depending upon the outcome of these bankruptcy proceedings, amounts available under decommissioning bonds and a cash security account and other factors, Devon may be required to perform or fund certain decommissioning obligations associated with the East Bay Field under state and federal regulations applicable to predecessor operators. As a result of these factors and uncertainties, we are currently unable to provide an estimate of potential loss.

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