(12) DERIVATIVE ACTIVITIES

We use commodity-based derivative contracts to manage exposure to commodity price fluctuations. We do not enter into these arrangements for speculative or trading purposes. We utilize commodity swaps, calls or swaptions to (1) reduce the effect of price volatility of the commodities we produce and sell and (2) support our annual capital budget and expenditure plans. The fair value of our derivative contracts, represented by the estimated amount that would be realized upon termination, based on a comparison of the contract price and a reference price, generally the New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) for natural gas and crude oil or Mont Belvieu for NGLs, approximated a net loss of $19.9 million at March 31, 2018. These contracts expire monthly through December 2020. The following table sets forth our commodity-based derivative volumes by year as of March 31, 2018, excluding our basis and freight swaps which are discussed separately below:

Period	Contract Type	Volume Hedged	Weighted Average Hedge Price
Natural Gas
2018	Swaps	1,001,127 Mmbtu/day		$ 2.96
2019	Swaps	324,658 Mmbtu/day		$ 2.82
October-December 2018	Calls	70,000 Mmbtu/day		$ 3.10 ⁽¹⁾
2018	Swaptions	160,000 Mmbtu/day		$ 3.07 ⁽²⁾
2019	Swaptions	170,137 Mmbtu/day		$ 2.92 ⁽²⁾


Crude Oil
2018	Swaps	8,748 bbls/day		$ 53.25
2019	Swaps	5,872 bbls/day		$ 53.73
January-June 2020	Swaps	250 bbls/day		$ 55.00

NGLs (C2-Ethane)
2018	Swaps	250 bbls/day		$ 0.29/gallon

NGLs (C3-Propane)
2018	Swaps	7,451 bbls/day		$ 0.68/gallon

NGLs (NC4-Normal Butane)
2018	Swaps	4,333 bbls/day		$ 0.81/gallon

NGLs (C5-Natural Gasoline)
2018	Swaps	4,904 bbls/day		$ 1.21/gallon
January-June 2019	Swaps	1,000 bbls/day		$ 1.24/gallon

⁽¹⁾	Weightedaverage deferred premium of $0.16.

⁽²⁾

Contains a combined derivative instrument consisting of a fixed price swap and a sold option to extend or double the volume. For April through December of 2018, we have swaps in place for 160,000 Mmbtu per day on which the counterparty can elect to extend the contract through December 2019 at a weighted average price of $3.07. We have swaps in place for 2019 for 140,000 Mmbtu/day on which the counterparty can elect to double the volume at a weighted average price of $2.93. We also have swaps in place for 2019 for 40,000 Mmbtu per day on which the counterparty can elect to extend the contract through December 2020 at a weighted average price of $2.85.

Every derivative instrument is required to be recorded on the balance sheet as either an asset or a liability measured at its fair value. We recognize all changes in fair value of these derivatives as earnings in derivative fair value income or loss in the periods in which they occur.

Basis Swap Contracts

In addition to the swaps, calls and swaptions described above, at March 31, 2018, we had natural gas basis swap contracts which lock in the differential between NYMEX Henry Hub and certain of our physical pricing indices primarily in Appalachia. These contracts settle monthly through October 2020 and include a total volume of 91,440,000 Mmbtu. The fair value of these contracts was a gain of $2.2 million at March 31, 2018.

At March 31, 2018, we also had propane spread swap contracts which lock in the differential between Mont Belvieu and international propane indices. The contracts settle monthly through December 2019 and include a total volume of 2,063,000 barrels. The fair value of these contracts was a loss of $1.4 million at March 31, 2018.

Freight Swap Contracts

In connection with our international propane sales, we utilize propane swaps. To further hedge our propane price, at March 31, 2018, we had freight swap contracts which lock in the freight rate for a specific trade route on the Baltic Exchange. These contracts settle monthly through December 2018 and cover 5,000 metric tons per month with a fair value loss of $34,000 at March 31, 2018. These contracts use observable third-party pricing inputs that we consider to be Level 2 fair value classification.

Derivative Assets and Liabilities

The combined fair value of derivatives included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 is summarized below. The assets and liabilities are netted where derivatives with both gain and loss positions are held by a single counterparty and we have master netting arrangements. The tables below provide additional information relating to our master netting arrangements with our derivative counterparties (in thousands):

		March 31, 2018
		Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets		Gross Amounts Offset in the Balance Sheet			Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Balance Sheet
Derivative assets:
Natural gas	–swaps	$	43,074	$	(13,076	)	$	29,998
	–swaptions		20,159		(13,927	)		6,232
	–basis swaps		3,150		(449	)		2,701
	–calls		—		(365	)		(365	)
Crude oil	–swaps		31		(9,497	)		(9,466	)
NGLs	–C2 ethane swaps		24		—			24
	–C3 propane swaps		500		(3,671	)		(3,171	)
	–C3 propane spread swaps		9,913		(9,913	)		—
	–NC4 butane swaps		10		(1,489	)		(1,479	)
	–C5 natural gasoline swaps		—		(1,342	)		(1,342	)
		$	76,861	$	(53,729	)	$	23,132

		March 31, 2018
		Gross Amounts of Recognized (Liabilities)			Gross Amounts Offset in the Balance Sheet		Net Amounts of (Liabilities) Presented in the Balance Sheet
Derivative (liabilities):
Natural gas	–swaps	$	(7,255	)	$	13,076	$	5,821
	–swaptions		(10,026	)		13,927		3,901
	–basis swaps		(990	)		449		(541	)
	–calls		(853	)		365		(488	)
Crude oil	–swaps		(34,097	)		9,497		(24,600	)
NGLs	–C3 propane swaps		(15,573	)		3,671		(11,902	)
	–C3 propane spread swaps		(11,286	)		9,914		(1,372	)
	–NC4 butane swaps		(4,093	)		1,488		(2,605	)
	–C5 natural gasoline swaps		(11,760	)		1,342		(10,418	)
Freight	–swaps		(34	)		—		(34	)
		$	(95,967	)	$	53,729	$	(42,238	)

		December 31, 2017
		Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets		Gross Amounts Offset in the Balance Sheet			Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Balance Sheet
Derivative assets:
Natural gas	–swaps	$	87,794	$	(4,106	)	$	83,688
	–swaptions		18,817		(8,103	)		10,714
	–basis swaps		1,815		(6,673	)		(4,858	)
	–collars		3,039		(500	)		2,539
Crude oil	–swaps		2		(7,928	)		(7,926	)
NGLs	–C2 ethane swaps		57		—			57
	–C3 propane swaps		—		(12,556	)		(12,556	)
	–C3 propane collars		85		(85	)		—
	–C3 propane spread swaps		12,762		(12,762	)		—
	–NC4 butane swaps		—		(6,051	)		(6,051	)
	–C5 natural gasoline swaps		—		(6,727	)		(6,727	)
Freight	–swaps		276		(276	)		—
		$	124,647	$	(65,767	)	$	58,880

		December 31, 2017
		Gross Amounts of Recognized (Liabilities)			Gross Amounts Offset in the Balance Sheet		Net Amounts of (Liabilities) Presented in the Balance Sheet
Derivative (liabilities):
Natural gas	–swaps	$	(216	)	$	4,106	$	3,890
	–swaptions		(12,283	)		8,103		(4,180	)
	–basis swaps		(9,580	)		6,673		(2,907	)
	–collars		—			500		500
Crude oil	–swaps		(24,726	)		7,928		(16,798	)
NGLs	–C3 propane swaps		(34,325	)		12,556		(21,769	)
	–C3 propane collars		—			85		85
	–C3 propane spread swaps		(13,983	)		12,762		(1,221	)
	–NC4 butane swaps		(11,188	)		6,051		(5,137	)
	–C5 natural gasoline swaps		(13,488	)		6,727		(6,761	)
Freight	–swaps		—			276		276
		$	(119,789	)	$	65,767	$	(54,022	)

The effects of our derivatives on our consolidated statements of operations are summarized below (in thousands):

		Derivative Fair Value (Loss) Income
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2018			2017
Commodity swaps	$	(16,536	)	$	166,752
Swaptions		3,599			—
Collars		(77	)		9,475
Puts		—			6,707
Calls		177			510
Basis swaps		(864	)		(17,972	)
Freight swaps		(308	)		85
Total	$	(14,009	)	$	165,557