XML 63 R34.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.3.1.900
Mineral Rights (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Extractive Industries [Abstract]  
Mineral Rights
The Partnership’s mineral rights consist of the following (in thousands):
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2015
 
Carrying Value
 
Accumulated Depletion
 
Net Book Value
Coal, Hard Mineral Royalty and Other
$
1,278,274

 
$
(432,260
)
 
$
846,014

VantaCore
112,700

 
(3,082
)
 
109,618

Oil and Gas
155,293

 
(16,898
)
 
138,395

Total
$
1,546,267

 
$
(452,240
)
 
$
1,094,027

 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
 
Carrying Value
 
Accumulated Depletion
 
Net Book Value
Coal, Hard Mineral Royalty and Other
$
1,680,169

 
$
(505,582
)
 
$
1,174,587

VantaCore
87,907

 
(482
)
 
87,425

Oil and Gas
560,395

 
(40,555
)
 
519,840

Total
$
2,328,471

 
$
(546,619
)
 
$
1,781,852

Schedule of Impairment Expense
During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Partnership identified facts and circumstances that indicated that the carrying value of certain of its mineral rights exceed future cash flows from those assets and recorded non-cash impairment expense as follows (in thousands):
 
For the years ended December 31,
Impaired Asset Description
2015
 
 
2014
 
 
2013
Oil and gas properties
$
367,576

(1
)
 
$

 
 
$

Coal properties
257,468

(2
)
 
16,793

(4
)
 
734

Hard mineral royalty properties
43,402

(3
)
 
3,013

(4
)
 
 
Total
$
668,446

 
 
$
19,806

 
 
$
734

 
 
 
 
 
(1)
We recorded $335.7 million of oil and gas property impairment during the third quarter 2015 and $31.9 million during the fourth quarter of 2015. The fair value measurement of these impaired assets recorded at fair value were $108.0 million at the end of the reporting period. These impairments primarily resulted from declines in future expected realized commodity prices and reduced expected drilling activity on our acreage. NRP compared net capitalized costs of its oil and natural gas properties to estimated undiscounted future net cash flows. If the net capitalized cost exceeded the undiscounted future net cash flows, NRP recorded an impairment for the excess of net capitalized cost over fair value. A discounted cash flow method was used to estimate fair value. Significant inputs used to determine the fair value include estimates of: (i) oil and natural gas reserves and risk-adjusted probable and possible reserves; (ii) future commodity prices; (iii) production costs, (iv) capital expenditures, (v) production and (vi) discount rates. The underlying commodity prices embedded in the Partnership's estimated cash flows are the product of a process that begins with NYMEX forward curve pricing as of the measurement date, adjusted for estimated location and quality differentials.
(2)
We recorded $1.5 million of coal property impairment during the second quarter of 2015, $247.8 million of coal property impairment during the third quarter of 2015 and $8.2 million during the fourth quarter of 2015. The fair value measurement of these impaired assets recorded at fair value were $0.4 million at the end of the reporting period. These impairments primarily resulted from the continued deterioration and expectations of further reductions in global and domestic coal demand due to reduced global steel demand, sustained low natural gas prices, and continued regulatory pressure on the electric power generation industry. NRP compared net capitalized costs of its coal properties to estimated undiscounted future net cash flows. If the net capitalized cost exceeded the undiscounted future cash flows, NRP recorded an impairment for the excess of net capitalized cost over fair value. Significant inputs used to determine fair value include estimates of future cash flow, discount rate and useful economic life. Estimated cash flows are the product of a process that began with current realized pricing as of the measurement date and included an adjustment for risk related to the future realization of cash flows.
(3)
We recorded $43.4 million of aggregates property impairment during the third quarter of 2015. The fair value measurement of these impaired assets recorded at fair value was $0.0 million at the end of the reporting period. This impairment primarily resulted from greenfield development projects that have not performed as projected, leading to recent lease concessions on minimums and royalties combined with the continued regional market decline for certain properties. NRP compared net capitalized costs of its aggregates properties to estimated undiscounted future net cash flows. If the net capitalized cost exceeded the undiscounted cash flows, NRP recorded an impairment for the excess of net capitalized cost over fair value. A discounted cash flow model was used to estimate fair value. Significant inputs used to determine fair value include estimates of future cash flow, discount rate and useful economic life. Estimated cash flows are the product of a process that began with current realized pricing as of the measurement date and included an adjustment for risk related to the future realization of cash flows.
(4)
We recorded $16.8 million of coal property impairment and $3.0 million impairment of our aggregates properties during the fourth quarter of 2014. Management concluded certain unleased properties were impaired due primarily to the ongoing regulatory environment and continued depressed coal markets with little indications of improvement in the near term. The fair values for those unleased properties were determined for the associated reserves using Level 2 market approaches based upon recent comparable sales and Level 3 expected cash flows.