Impairment

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

The Company analyzes various property, plant and equipment for impairment when certain triggering events occur by comparing the carrying values of the assets to their estimated fair values. Estimated fair values of drilling, midstream, electrical transmission and other assets were determined in accordance with the policies discussed in Note 2.

Impairment for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Successor 2016 Period and the Predecessor 2016 Period consists of the following (in thousands):


	Successor								Predecessor
	Year Ended December 31, 2018		Year Ended December 31, 2017		Period from October 2, 2016 through December 31, 2016		Period from January 1, 2016 through October 1, 2016
Full cost pool ceiling limitation(1)(2)	$	—	$	—	$	319,087	$	657,392
Drilling assets(3)(4)	22		4,019		—		3,511
Electrical infrastructure assets(5)	—		—		—		55,600
Midstream assets(6)	4,148		—		—		1,691

	$	4,170	$	4,019	$	319,087	$	718,194

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1.Impairment recorded in the Successor 2016 Period resulted from the application of fresh start accounting, whereby the fair value of the Successor Company full cost pool was determined based upon forward strip oil and natural gas prices as of the Emergence Date. Because these prices were higher than the 12-month weighted average prices used in the full cost ceiling limitation calculation at December 31, 2016, the Successor Company incurred a ceiling test impairment.

2.Impairment recorded for the Predecessor Company in 2016 was due to full cost ceiling limitations recognized in each of the first three quarters of 2016. The impairment recorded in the first two quarters of 2016 resulted primarily from the significant decrease in oil prices, and to a lesser extent, natural gas prices, that began in the latter half of 2014 and continued throughout 2015 and the first half of 2016. The impairment recorded in the third quarter of 2016 resulted primarily from downward revisions to forecasted reserves due to a decrease in projected Mid-Continent production volumes.

3.Impairment recorded in the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 reflects the write-down of remaining drilling and oilfield services assets classified as held for sale to net realizable value.

4.Impairment recorded in the Predecessor 2016 Period resulted from the write-down of certain drilling assets after the Company discontinued drilling operations in the Permian region.

5.Impairment in the Predecessor 2016 Period resulted from a decrease in projected Mid-Continent production volumes supporting the system’s usage.

6.Impairment recorded in 2018 reflects the write down of midstream generator assets classified as held for sale to the net realizable value. The impairment recorded in the Predecessor 2016 Period resulted from the evaluation of certain midstream pipe inventory, natural gas compressors, gas treating plants and a CO₂ compressor station after determining that their future use was limited.