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Related Party Transactions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions
Related Party Transactions

The Company entered into transactions in the ordinary course of business with certain related parties. These transactions primarily consisted of sales of oil and natural gas. See Note 10 for accounts payable attributable to related party transactions. During the year ended December 31, 2013 sales to related parties were $1.6 million. This amount primarily related to sales of natural gas from the Permian Properties, which were sold in February 2013, to the Company’s partner in GRLP.

Former Chairman and CEO Severance. On June 28, 2013, the Company’s then current CEO, Tom Ward, separated employment from the Company. In accordance with the terms of Mr. Ward’s employment agreement, the Company incurred $57.9 million in salary and bonus expense and $36.8 million associated with the accelerated vesting of approximately 6.3 million shares of restricted stock awards during the third quarter of 2013. As of December 31, 2015, the remaining amount due under the terms of his employment agreement include $1.5 million to be paid in monthly installments through December 2016. This amount is included in other current liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. See Note 16 for discussion of the stockholder receivable due from Mr. Ward.

Other Employee Termination Benefits. Certain employees received termination benefits, including severance and accelerated stock vesting, upon separation of service from the Company during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, employee termination benefits were $12.5 million and $8.9 million, respectively, primarily as a result of a reduction in workforce and executives’ separation from employment, and the sale of the Gulf Properties. For the year ended December 31, 2013, employee termination benefits, excluding amounts attributable to the Company’s former chairman and CEO, were $23.2 million, primarily as a result of other executives’ separation from employment.

Oklahoma City Thunder Agreements. Until April 2014, the Company’s former Chairman and CEO owned, and one of the Company’s directors currently owns, minority interests in a limited liability company that owns and operates the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team. The Company was party to a sponsorship agreement, whereby it paid approximately $3.3 million per year for advertising and promotional activities related to the Oklahoma City Thunder, which terminated with the conclusion of the 2012-2013 season.

Office Lease. The Company is party to a commercial lease to rent space in a building owned by an entity that is partially owned by one of the Company’s directors. The terms provide for a lease term through December 2017 with annual rent of approximately $0.5 million. Any renovation costs paid by the Company with respect to the leased space are applied toward future rent payments. As of December 31, 2015, the Company has made renovations costing approximately $3.3 million.

2014 Divestiture. See Note 3 for discussion of the sale of the Gulf Properties to Fieldwood and the Company’s guarantee on behalf of Fieldwood of certain associated plugging and abandonment obligations associated with the Gulf Properties. Fieldwood is a portfolio company of Riverstone Holdings LLC, affiliates of which own a significant number of shares of the Company’s common stock.

Acquisition of Ownership Interest. In March 2014, the Company purchased the additional ownership interest owned by its partner in GRLP and Genpar, which was deemed a related party at the time. See Note 4 for additional discussion.