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Related Party Transactions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions
Related Party Transactions

The Company enters into transactions in the ordinary course of business with certain related parties. These transactions primarily consist of purchases related to drilling and completion activities, gas treating services and drilling equipment and sales of oil field services, equipment and natural gas. See Note 6 and Note 11 for accounts receivable and accounts payable, respectively, attributable to related party transactions. During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, sales to and reimbursements from related parties were $12.8 million, $21.5 million and $15.7 million, respectively. These amounts primarily relate to sales of natural gas to Southern Union, the Company’s partner in GRLP.

Oklahoma City Thunder Agreements. The Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and one of its independent directors own minority interests in a limited liability company that owns and operates the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team. The Company is party to a sponsorship agreement, through the 2013 season, whereby it pays approximately $3.3 million per year for advertising and promotional activities related to the Oklahoma City Thunder. During 2012, the Company paid an additional $0.6 million in sponsorship fees for the 2012 playoffs. Additionally, the Company has an agreement to license a suite at the arena where the Oklahoma City Thunder plays its home games. Under this agreement, the Company pays an annual license fee of $0.2 million through September 2020. At December 31, 2012, the Company had $0.9 million due under these agreements. At December 31, 2011, the Company had no amounts due under these agreements.

Office Lease. In July 2012, the Company entered into a commercial lease to rent space in a building owned by an entity that is partially owned by one of the Company’s Board of Directors. The terms provide for an initial lease term of three years with annual rent of approximately $0.5 million, and any renovation costs paid by the Company with respect to the leased space will be applied toward future rent payments. Renovation costs in excess of the total rent will be reimbursed to the Company at the end of the lease agreement. As of December 31, 2012, the Company has made renovations costing approximately $3.5 million. The terms of the lease were reviewed and approved by the Company’s Board of Directors and the Company believes that the rent expense to be paid under the lease is at a fair market rate.

See Note 17 for discussion of a receivable from the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.