SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES	1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation Halcón Resources Corporation (Halcón or the Company) is an independent energy company focused on the acquisition, production, exploration and development of onshore liquids‑rich oil and natural gas assets in the United States. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all majority‑owned, controlled subsidiaries. The Company operates in one segment which focuses on oil and natural gas acquisition, production, exploration and development. Allocation of capital is made across the Company’s entire portfolio without regard to operating area. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The Company has evaluated events and transactions through the date of issuance of this report in conjunction with the preparation of these consolidated financial statements. Emergence from Voluntary Reorganization under Chapter 11 On July 27, 2016 (the Petition Date), the Company and certain of its subsidiaries (the Halcón Entities) filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the District of Delaware (the Bankruptcy Court) to pursue a joint prepackaged plan of reorganization (the Plan). On September 8, 2016, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order confirming the Plan and on September 9, 2016, the Plan became effective (the Effective Date) and the Halcón Entities emerged from chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Company’s subsidiary, HK TMS, LLC which was divested on September 30, 2016, was not part of the chapter 11 bankruptcy filings. See Note 2, “Reorganization,” for further details on the Company’s chapter 11 bankruptcy and the Plan and Note 5, “Acquisitions and Divestitures,” for further details on the divestiture of HK TMS, LLC. Upon emergence from chapter 11 bankruptcy, the Company adopted fresh-start accounting in accordance with provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 852, Reorganizations (ASC 852) which resulted in the Company becoming a new entity for financial reporting purposes on the Effective Date. Upon the adoption of fresh-start accounting, the Company’s assets and liabilities were recorded at their fair values as of the fresh-start reporting date. As a result of the adoption of fresh-start accounting, the Company’s consolidated financial statements subsequent to September 9, 2016 are not comparable to its consolidated financial statements prior to, and including, September 9, 2016. See Note 3, “Fresh-start Accounting,” for further details on the impact of fresh-start accounting on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. References to “Successor” or “Successor Company” relate to the financial position and results of operations of the reorganized Company subsequent to September 9, 2016. References to “Predecessor” or “Predecessor Company” relate to the financial position and results of operations of the Company prior to, and including, September 9, 2016. Use of Estimates The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, if any, at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the respective reporting periods. Estimates and assumptions that, in the opinion of management of the Company, are significant include oil and natural gas revenue accruals, capital and operating expense accruals, oil and natural gas reserves, depletion relating to oil and natural gas properties, asset retirement obligations, fair value estimates, including estimates of Reorganization Value, Enterprise Value and the fair value of assets and liabilities recorded as a result of the adoption of fresh-start accounting, plus the estimated fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with the Pecos County Acquisition and the fair value of assets sold in connection with the Williston Divestiture and the El Halcón Divestiture (see Note 5, “Acquisitions and Divestitures,” for information on the Pecos County Acquisition, the Williston Divestiture and the El Halcón Divestiture), including the gains on sales recorded, and income taxes. The Company bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other assumptions and information that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Estimates and assumptions about future events and their effects cannot be predicted with certainty and, accordingly, these estimates may change as new events occur, as more experience is acquired, as additional information is obtained and as the Company’s operating environment changes. Actual results may differ from the estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid short-term investments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. These investments are carried at cost, which approximates fair value. Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts The Company’s accounts receivable are primarily receivables from joint interest owners and oil and natural gas purchasers. Accounts receivable are recorded at the amount due, less an allowance for doubtful accounts, when applicable. The Company establishes provisions for losses on accounts receivable if it determines that collection of all or part of the outstanding balance is doubtful. The Company regularly reviews collectability and establishes or adjusts the allowance for doubtful accounts as necessary using the specific identification method. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, allowances for doubtful accounts were approximately $0.2 million and $0.7 million, respectively. Oil and Natural Gas Properties The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for its investment in oil and natural gas properties as prescribed by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Accordingly, all costs incurred in the acquisition, exploration and development of proved and unproved oil and natural gas properties, including the costs of abandoned properties, dry holes, geophysical costs, and annual lease rentals are capitalized. All general and administrative corporate costs unrelated to drilling activities are expensed as incurred. Sales or other dispositions of oil and natural gas properties are accounted for as adjustments to capitalized costs, with no gain or loss recorded unless the ratio of cost to estimated proved reserves would significantly change. Depletion of evaluated oil and natural gas properties is computed on the units of production method based on estimated proved reserves. The net capitalized costs of evaluated oil and natural gas properties are subject to a full cost ceiling limitation in which the costs are not allowed to exceed their related estimated future net revenues discounted at 10%, net of tax considerations. Costs associated with unevaluated properties are excluded from the full cost pool until the Company has made a determination as to the existence of proved reserves. The Company reviews its unevaluated properties at the end of each quarter to determine whether the costs incurred should be transferred to the full cost pool and thereby subject to amortization. Investments in unevaluated oil and natural gas properties and exploration and development projects for which depletion expense is not currently recognized, and for which exploration or development activities are in progress, qualify for interest capitalization. The Company determines capitalized interest, when applicable, by multiplying the Company’s weighted-average borrowing cost on debt by the average amount of qualifying costs incurred that were excluded from the full cost pool; however, the amount of capitalized interest cannot exceed the amount of gross interest expense incurred in any given period. The Company’s accounting policy on the capitalization of interest establishes thresholds for the determination of a development project for the purpose of interest capitalization. Other Operating Property and Equipment Other operating property and equipment additions are recorded at cost. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives: gas gathering systems, thirty years, gas treating systems and buildings, twenty years; automobiles and computers, three years; computer software, fixtures, furniture and equipment, the lesser of lease term or five years; trailers, seven years; heavy equipment, eight to ten years and leasehold improvements, lease term. Upon disposition, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed and any gains or losses are reflected in current operations. Maintenance and repair costs are charged to operating expense as incurred. Material expenditures which increase the life or productive capacity of an asset are capitalized and depreciated over the estimated remaining useful life of the asset. Refer to Note 3, “Fresh-start Accounting,” for a discussion of the valuation approach used to record other operating property and equipment at fair value as of September 9, 2016. Refer to Note 5, “Acquisitions and Divestitures,” for a discussion of other operating property and equipment acquired and divested. The Company reviews its other operating property and equipment for impairment in accordance with ASC 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment (ASC 360). ASC 360 requires the Company to evaluate other operating property and equipment for impairment as events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value below the carrying amount. If the carrying amount is not recoverable from its undiscounted cash flows, then the Company would recognize an impairment loss for the difference between the carrying amount and the current fair value. Further, the Company evaluates the remaining useful lives of its other operating property and equipment at each reporting period to determine whether events and circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining depreciation periods. For the period from January 1, 2016 through September 9, 2016, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $28.1 million related to $32.8 million gross investments in gas gathering infrastructure that were deemed non-economical due to a shift in exploration, drilling and developmental plans in a low commodity price environment. This impairment was recorded in “Other operating property and equipment impairment” in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and in “Other operating property and equipment” in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. In accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC 820), a financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The estimate of the fair value of the Company’s gas gathering systems was based on an income approach that estimated future cash flows associated with those assets over the remaining asset lives. This estimation includes the use of unobservable inputs, such as estimated future production, gathering and compression revenues and operating expenses. The use of these unobservable inputs results in the fair value estimate of the Company’s gas gathering systems being classified as Level 3. Concentrations of Credit Risk The purchasers of the Company's oil and natural gas production consist primarily of independent marketers, major oil and natural gas companies and gas pipeline companies. Historically, the Company has not experienced any significant losses from uncollectible accounts. For the year ended December 31, 2018, two individual purchasers of the Company's production, Sunoco, Inc. and Western Refining, Inc., each accounted for more than 10% of total sales, collectively representing 77% of the Company's total sales for the period. In 2017 and 2016, two individual purchasers of the Company's production, Crestwood Midstream Partners and Suncor Energy Marketing, Inc., each accounted for more than 10% of total sales, collectively representing 58% of the Company's total sales for each year. The Company operates a substantial portion of its oil and natural gas properties. As the operator of a property, the Company makes full payments for costs associated with the property and seeks reimbursement from the other working interest owners in the property for their share of those costs. The Company's joint interest partners consist primarily of independent oil and natural gas producers. If the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry in general was adversely affected, the ability of the Company's joint interest partners to reimburse the Company could be adversely affected. Risk Management Activities The Company follows ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815). From time to time, when derivative contracts are available at terms (or prices) acceptable to the Company, it may hedge a portion of its forecasted oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids production. Derivative contracts entered into by the Company have consisted of transactions in which the Company hedges the variability of cash flow related to a forecasted transaction. The Company recognized all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. The Company has elected to not designate any of its positions for hedge accounting. Accordingly, the Company records the net change in the mark‑to‑market valuation of these positions, as well as payments and receipts on settled contracts, in “Net gain (loss) on derivative contracts” on the consolidated statements of operations. Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method wherein deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company classifies all deferred tax assets and liabilities, along with any related valuation allowance, as noncurrent on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company follows ASC 740, Income Taxes (ASC 740). ASC 740 creates a single model to address accounting for the uncertainty in income tax positions and prescribes a minimum recognition threshold a tax position must meet before recognition in the consolidated financial statements. The evaluation of a tax position in accordance with ASC 740 is a two‑step process. The first step is a recognition process to determine whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. In evaluating whether a tax position has met the more likely than not recognition threshold, it is presumed that the position will be examined by the appropriate taxing authority with full knowledge of all relevant information. The second step is a measurement process whereby a tax position that meets the more likely than not recognition threshold is calculated to determine the amount of benefit/expense to recognize in the consolidated financial statements. The tax position is measured at the largest amount of benefit/expense that is more likely than not of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company has no liability for unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. Accordingly, there is no amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate and there is no amount of interest or penalties currently recognized in the consolidated statements of operations or consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016. In addition, the Company does not believe that there are any positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within the next twelve months. The Company includes interest and penalties relating to uncertain tax positions within “Interest expense and other, net” on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Refer to Note 13, “Income Taxes,” for more details. Generally, the Company’s income tax years 2015 through 2018 remain open for federal purposes and are subject to examination by Federal tax authorities. The Company’s income tax returns are also subject to audit by the tax authorities in Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio and certain other state taxing jurisdictions where the Company has, or previously had, operations. In certain jurisdictions the Company operates through more than one legal entity, each of which may have different open years subject to examination. The open years for state purposes can vary from the normal three year statue expiration period for federal purposes. Tax audits may be ongoing at any point in time. Tax liabilities are recorded based on estimates of additional taxes which may be due upon the conclusion of these audits. Estimates of these tax liabilities are made based upon prior experience and are updated for changes in facts and circumstances. However, due to the uncertain and complex application of tax regulations, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of audits may result in liabilities which could be materially different from these estimates. Asset Retirement Obligations ASC 410, Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations (ASC 410) requires that the fair value of an asset retirement cost, and corresponding liability, should be recorded as part of the cost of the related long-lived asset and subsequently allocated to expense using a systematic and rational method. The Company records asset retirement obligations to reflect the Company’s legal obligations related to future plugging and abandonment of its oil and natural gas wells and other operating property and equipment. The Company estimates the expected cash flows associated with the obligation and discounts the amounts using a credit-adjusted, risk-free interest rate. At least annually, the Company reassesses the obligation to determine whether a change in the estimated obligation is necessary. The Company evaluates whether there are indicators that suggest the estimated cash flows underlying the obligation have materially changed. Should these indicators suggest the estimated obligation may have materially changed on an interim basis (quarterly), the Company will accordingly update its assessment. Additional retirement obligations increase the liability associated with new oil and natural gas wells and other operating property and equipment as these obligations are incurred. Restructuring The Company had reductions in its workforce in conjunction with its divestiture activities in 2017 and the decrease in drilling and developmental activities planned for 2016. Consequently, for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the period from January 1, 2016 through September 9, 2016, the Company incurred approximately $0.1 million, $7.5 million and $5.2 million, respectively, in severance costs and accelerated stock-based compensation expense related to the termination of certain employees. These costs were recorded in “Restructuring” on the consolidated statements of operations. Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest On June 16, 2014, funds and accounts managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management (Apollo) contributed $150 million in cash to HK TMS, a Delaware limited liability company, which was then wholly owned by the Company and held all of the Company’s acreage in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS) formation, located in Mississippi and Louisiana, in exchange for the issuance by HK TMS of 150,000 preferred shares. Holders of the HK TMS preferred shares were to receive quarterly cash dividends of 8% cumulative perpetual per annum, subject to HK TMS’ option to pay such dividends “in-kind” through the issuance of additional preferred shares. The preferred shares were expected to be automatically redeemed and cancelled when the holders received cash dividends and distributions on the preferred shares equating to the greater of a 12% annual rate of return plus principal and 1.25 times their investment plus applicable fees (the Redemption Price), subject to adjustment under certain circumstances. On September 30, 2016, certain wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company executed an Assignment and Assumption Agreement with an affiliate of Apollo pursuant to which 100% of the common shares in HK TMS (the Membership Interests) were assigned to Apollo (the HK TMS Divestiture). In exchange for the assignment, Apollo assumed all obligations relating to such Membership Interests. See Note 5, “Acquisitions and Divestitures,” for further information regarding the HK TMS Divestiture. The preferred shares were classified as “Redeemable noncontrolling interest” and included in “Mezzanine equity” between total liabilities and stockholders’ equity on the consolidated balance sheets pursuant to ASC 480-10-S99-3A. The preferred shares were considered probable of becoming redeemable and therefore were accreted up to the estimated required redemption value. The accretion was presented as a deemed dividend and recorded in “Redeemable noncontrolling interest” on the consolidated balance sheets and within “Preferred dividends and accretion on redeemable noncontrolling interest” on the consolidated statements of operations. In accordance with ASC 480-10-S99-3A, an adjustment to the carrying amount presented in mezzanine equity was recognized as charges against retained earnings and reduced income available to common stockholders in the calculation of earnings per share. For the period of September 10, 2016 through September 30, 2016 and January 1, 2016 through September 9, 2016, HK TMS issued 791 and 9,329 additional preferred shares to Apollo for dividends paid-in-kind, respectively. These dividends were presented within “Preferred dividends and accretion on redeemable noncontrolling interest” on the consolidated statements of operations. HK TMS was not included in the chapter 11 bankruptcy filings or the Restructuring Support Agreement discussed in Note 2, “Reorganization.” 401(k) Plan The Company sponsors a 401(k) tax deferred savings plan, whereby the Company matches a portion of employees’ contributions in cash. Participation in the plan is voluntary and all employees of the Company who are 18 years of age are eligible to participate. The Company provided matching contributions of $1.5 million and $2.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The Company provided matching contributions of $0.8 million and $2.0 million for the period September 10, 2016 through December 31, 2016 and the period January 1, 2016 through September 9, 2016, respectively. The Company matches employee contributions dollar‑for‑dollar on the first 10% of an employee’s pre‑tax earnings, subject to individual IRS limitations. Related Party Transactions Crude Oil Gathering Agreement On July 27, 2018, a subsidiary of the Company entered into a crude oil gathering agreement with SCM Crude, LLC (SCM) pursuant to which the Company agreed to dedicate, for a term of 15 years, production of crude oil from its currently owned, or later acquired acreage in designated areas in Ward and Winkler Counties, Texas (excluding certain specific wells) for the receipt, gathering and transportation on a gathering system to be designed, engineered and constructed by SCM. The gathering system is expected to be operational by February 28, 2019. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company began selling its crude oil to SCM while the gathering system is under construction. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company received $13.0 million and recorded a $10.9 million receivable from SCM for its crude oil sales. The agreement with SCM was the culmination of a lengthy process during which the Company analyzed the most effective method of gathering and transportation of its future oil production in these areas. During the course of its investigation, the Company considered a variety of alternatives and solicited and received numerous third party proposals. The Company received and evaluated proposals from eleven companies covering some or all of its oil production in the region and determined that among the proposals it received, SCM’s was superior for economic and strategic reasons. Because certain funds under the control of Ares Management LLC (Ares) are the majority owners and controlling parties of SCM, the Audit Committee of the board of directors of the Company and the disinterested members of the Company’s board of directors evaluated and approved (in a vote that excluded the Company director who is employed by Ares) the process by which the Company determined the SCM proposal to be superior to other alternatives, as well as the principal terms of the agreement, in accordance with applicable Company policies, including its Code of Conduct and Corporate Governance Guidelines (copies of which are available through the Company’s website at www.halconresources.com) and the Company’s procedures for the review and approval of transactions with related parties. Ares also controls other funds which own in excess of ten percent (10%) of the common stock of the Company. No Ares fund that is a stockholder of the Company has an interest in SCM but one of the Company’s directors, who is employed by Ares, also serves on the board of directors of SCM’s parent company. Gas Purchase and Processing Agreement On November 16, 2017, a subsidiary of the Company entered into a gas purchase and processing agreement with Salt Creek Midstream, LLC (Salt Creek) pursuant to which the Company agreed to dedicate for a term of 15 years, all production from its acreage in Ward County, Texas (that is not otherwise previously dedicated) and certain sections in Winkler County, Texas to a natural gas gathering pipeline and processing facilities to be constructed by Salt Creek. The facilities were completed and placed in service in May 2018. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company received $0.4 million from Salt Creek under the gas purchase and processing agreement. The agreement with Salt Creek was the culmination of a lengthy process during which the Company investigated the most efficient method of gathering, processing and marketing its future natural gas production in these areas. During the course of its investigation, the Company considered the construction of Company owned gas gathering and processing facilities, Company owned high pressure pipeline to a third-party processing plant and solicited and received proposals from numerous third parties for long-term gathering and processing options. The Company received proposals from eight midstream companies, determined that third party options were more attractive from a variety of business perspectives, and that among the proposals it received, Salt Creek’s was superior. Certain funds under the control of Ares are the majority owners and controlling parties of Salt Creek. Ares also controls other funds which own in excess of ten percent (10%) of the stock of the Company. No Ares fund that is a stockholder of the Company has an interest in Salt Creek but one of the Company’s directors, who is employed by Ares, and is a director of the Company, also serves on the board of directors of Salt Creek. Due to these relationships, prior to entering into the gas purchase and processing agreement, the process by which the Company determined the Salt Creek proposal to be superior to other alternatives, as well as the terms of the agreement, were evaluated and approved in advance by the Audit Committee of the Company and the disinterested members of the Company’s board of directors, in a vote that excluded the Company director who is employed by Ares in accordance with applicable Company policies, including its Code of Conduct and Corporate Governance Guidelines (copies of which are available through the Company’s website at www.halconresources.com), and the Company’s procedures for the review and approval of transactions with related parties. Charter of Aircraft In the ordinary course of its business, the Company occasionally charters a private aircraft for business use. Floyd C. Wilson, Halcón’s former Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, owns an aircraft which the Company has chartered from time to time. For a portion of 2017, Mr. Wilson’s aircraft was managed by an independent air charter company unaffiliated with both Mr. Wilson and Halcón. The aircraft in the air charter company’s fleet are available to the public for charter based upon a standard fee schedule established by the air charter company, with the fees dependent primarily upon the type and size of the aircraft utilized and the duration of the flight. Because the air charter company established fees for the use of the aircraft in its fleet, Mr. Wilson did not receive any greater benefit from Halcón’s charter of the aircraft indirectly owned by him than he would have if any third party were to charter the aircraft. During the course of 2017, Mr. Wilson terminated the independent air charter company and removed his aircraft from the charter company’s fleet, pending his search for a new charter company to manage his aircraft. During the search period for a new charter company, fees for the use of Mr. Wilson’s aircraft by the Company were based upon comparable costs that the Company would have incurred in chartering the same type and size of aircraft from an independent third party utilizing data from several independent third party aircraft leasing companies. The terms for this use were evaluated and approved by the Audit Committee of the Company, and subsequently by the disinterested members of the Company’s board of directors upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, in accordance with the Company’s procedures for the review and approval of transactions with related parties. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company paid approximately $0.9 million to Mr. Wilson for the Company’s use of the aircraft. As of December 31, 2018, the Company recorded a $0.2 million payable to Mr. Wilson. The payable is recorded in “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities,” on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet. The Company has terminated all charter arrangements with Mr. Wilson relating to the use of his aircraft. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business (ASU 2017-01). For public business entities, ASU 2017-01 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The amendments in this ASU should be applied prospectively on or after the effective date. The ASU was issued to clarify the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions of assets or businesses. The Company applied the provisions of ASU 2017-01 to the acquisition of the West Quito Draw Properties and the divestiture of the Water Assets, which are discussed further in Note 5, “Acquisitions and Divestitures.” In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) (ASU 2016-15). For public business entities, ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The areas for simplification in this ASU involve addressing eight specific classification issues in the statement of cash flows. An entity should apply the amendments in this ASU using a retrospective transition method. The Company adopted ASU 2016-15 effective January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated statement of cash flows. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (ASU 2016-02). For public business entities, ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The FASB issued ASU 2016-02 to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. In January 2018, ASU 2016-02 was updated with ASU No. 2018-01, Leases (Topic 842)—Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842, which provides an optional transition practical expedient to not evaluate under Topic 842 existing or expired land easements that were not previously accounted for as leases under Topic 840, Leases. An entity that elects this practical expedient should evaluate new or modified land easements under Topic 842 beginning at the date that the entity adopts Topic 842. An entity that does not elect this practical expedient should evaluate all existing or expired land easements in connection with the adoption of the new lease requirements in Topic 842 to assess whether they meet the definition of a lease. In July 2018, ASU 2016-02 was updated with ASU No. 2018-11, Targeted Improvements to ASC 842 (ASU 2018-11), which provides entities with relief from the costs of implementing certain aspects of the new leasing standard. Specifically, under the amendments in ASU 2018-11, (1) entities may elect not to recast the comparative periods presented when transitioning to ASC 842 and (2) lessors may elect not to separate lease and nonlease components when certain conditions are met. Before ASU 2018-11 was issued, transition to the new lease standard required application of the new guidance at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 effective January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective approach as of the adoption date. The Company is substantially complete with its initial lease population and with development of accounting policies and procedures to address the provisions of ASU 2016-02. In addition, the Company implemented an accounting software solution to facilitate compliance with the new lease accounting requirements. ASU 2016-02 provides a number of optional practical expedients for transition, as well as ongoing accounting, and the Company has chosen to elect many of the practical expedients available under the new standard, including the expedients related to short-term lease recognition exemption and land easements. The most significant effects of the adoption of ASU 2016-02 relate to 1) the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets (that are not recognized under historical lease accounting guidance) and 2) new disclosures regarding the Company’s leasing activities. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $15.6 million of contractual obligations related to its non-cancelable operating leases and drilling contracts and certain of these contractual obligations will be recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet under ASU 2016-02. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09). ASU 2014-09 states that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard provides five steps an entity should apply in determining its revenue recognition. In March 2016, ASU 2014-09 was updated with ASU No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net) (ASU 2016-08), which provides further clarification on the principal versus agent evaluation. The Company adopted ASC 606 effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach. See Note 4, “Operating Revenues,” for further details.

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

Halcón Resources Corporation (Halcón or the Company) is an independent energy company focused on the acquisition, production, exploration and development of onshore liquids‑rich oil and natural gas assets in the United States. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all majority‑owned, controlled subsidiaries. The Company operates in one segment which focuses on oil and natural gas acquisition, production, exploration and development. Allocation of capital is made across the Company’s entire portfolio without regard to operating area. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The Company has evaluated events and transactions through the date of issuance of this report in conjunction with the preparation of these consolidated financial statements.

Emergence from Voluntary Reorganization under Chapter 11

On July 27, 2016 (the Petition Date), the Company and certain of its subsidiaries (the Halcón Entities) filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the District of Delaware (the Bankruptcy Court) to pursue a joint prepackaged plan of reorganization (the Plan). On September 8, 2016, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order confirming the Plan and on September 9, 2016, the Plan became effective (the Effective Date) and the Halcón Entities emerged from chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Company’s subsidiary, HK TMS, LLC which was divested on September 30, 2016, was not part of the chapter 11 bankruptcy filings. See Note 2, “Reorganization,” for further details on the Company’s chapter 11 bankruptcy and the Plan and Note 5, “Acquisitions and Divestitures,” for further details on the divestiture of HK TMS, LLC.

Upon emergence from chapter 11 bankruptcy, the Company adopted fresh-start accounting in accordance with provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 852, Reorganizations (ASC 852) which resulted in the Company becoming a new entity for financial reporting purposes on the Effective Date. Upon the adoption of fresh-start accounting, the Company’s assets and liabilities were recorded at their fair values as of the fresh-start reporting date. As a result of the adoption of fresh-start accounting, the Company’s consolidated financial statements subsequent to September 9, 2016 are not comparable to its consolidated financial statements prior to, and including, September 9, 2016. See Note 3, “Fresh-start Accounting,” for further details on the impact of fresh-start accounting on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

References to “Successor” or “Successor Company” relate to the financial position and results of operations of the reorganized Company subsequent to September 9, 2016. References to “Predecessor” or “Predecessor Company” relate to the financial position and results of operations of the Company prior to, and including, September 9, 2016.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, if any, at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the respective reporting periods. Estimates and assumptions that, in the opinion of management of the Company, are significant include oil and natural gas revenue accruals, capital and operating expense accruals, oil and natural gas reserves, depletion relating to oil and natural gas properties, asset retirement obligations, fair value estimates, including estimates of Reorganization Value, Enterprise Value and the fair value of assets and liabilities recorded as a result of the adoption of fresh-start accounting, plus the estimated fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with the Pecos County Acquisition and the fair value of assets sold in connection with the Williston Divestiture and the El Halcón Divestiture (see Note 5, “Acquisitions and Divestitures,” for information on the Pecos County Acquisition, the Williston Divestiture and the El Halcón Divestiture), including the gains on sales recorded, and income taxes. The Company bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other assumptions and information that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Estimates and assumptions about future events and their effects cannot be predicted with certainty and, accordingly, these estimates may change as new events occur, as more experience is acquired, as additional information is obtained and as the Company’s operating environment changes. Actual results may differ from the estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid short-term investments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. These investments are carried at cost, which approximates fair value.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company’s accounts receivable are primarily receivables from joint interest owners and oil and natural gas purchasers. Accounts receivable are recorded at the amount due, less an allowance for doubtful accounts, when applicable. The Company establishes provisions for losses on accounts receivable if it determines that collection of all or part of the outstanding balance is doubtful. The Company regularly reviews collectability and establishes or adjusts the allowance for doubtful accounts as necessary using the specific identification method. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, allowances for doubtful accounts were approximately $0.2 million and $0.7 million, respectively.

Oil and Natural Gas Properties

The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for its investment in oil and natural gas properties as prescribed by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Accordingly, all costs incurred in the acquisition, exploration and development of proved and unproved oil and natural gas properties, including the costs of abandoned properties, dry holes, geophysical costs, and annual lease rentals are capitalized. All general and administrative corporate costs unrelated to drilling activities are expensed as incurred. Sales or other dispositions of oil and natural gas properties are accounted for as adjustments to capitalized costs, with no gain or loss recorded unless the ratio of cost to estimated proved reserves would significantly change. Depletion of evaluated oil and natural gas properties is computed on the units of production method based on estimated proved reserves. The net capitalized costs of evaluated oil and natural gas properties are subject to a full cost ceiling limitation in which the costs are not allowed to exceed their related estimated future net revenues discounted at 10%, net of tax considerations.

Costs associated with unevaluated properties are excluded from the full cost pool until the Company has made a determination as to the existence of proved reserves. The Company reviews its unevaluated properties at the end of each quarter to determine whether the costs incurred should be transferred to the full cost pool and thereby subject to amortization. Investments in unevaluated oil and natural gas properties and exploration and development projects for which depletion expense is not currently recognized, and for which exploration or development activities are in progress, qualify for interest capitalization. The Company determines capitalized interest, when applicable, by multiplying the Company’s weighted-average borrowing cost on debt by the average amount of qualifying costs incurred that were excluded from the full cost pool; however, the amount of capitalized interest cannot exceed the amount of gross interest expense incurred in any given period. The Company’s accounting policy on the capitalization of interest establishes thresholds for the determination of a development project for the purpose of interest capitalization.

Other Operating Property and Equipment

Other operating property and equipment additions are recorded at cost. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives: gas gathering systems, thirty years, gas treating systems and buildings, twenty years; automobiles and computers, three years; computer software, fixtures, furniture and equipment, the lesser of lease term or five years; trailers, seven years; heavy equipment, eight to ten years and leasehold improvements, lease term. Upon disposition, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed and any gains or losses are reflected in current operations. Maintenance and repair costs are charged to operating expense as incurred. Material expenditures which increase the life or productive capacity of an asset are capitalized and depreciated over the estimated remaining useful life of the asset.

Refer to Note 3, “Fresh-start Accounting,” for a discussion of the valuation approach used to record other operating property and equipment at fair value as of September 9, 2016. Refer to Note 5, “Acquisitions and Divestitures,” for a discussion of other operating property and equipment acquired and divested.

The Company reviews its other operating property and equipment for impairment in accordance with ASC 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment (ASC 360). ASC 360 requires the Company to evaluate other operating property and equipment for impairment as events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value below the carrying amount. If the carrying amount is not recoverable from its undiscounted cash flows, then the Company would recognize an impairment loss for the difference between the carrying amount and the current fair value. Further, the Company evaluates the remaining useful lives of its other operating property and equipment at each reporting period to determine whether events and circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining depreciation periods. For the period from January 1, 2016 through September 9, 2016, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $28.1 million related to $32.8 million gross investments in gas gathering infrastructure that were deemed non-economical due to a shift in exploration, drilling and developmental plans in a low commodity price environment. This impairment was recorded in “Other operating property and equipment impairment” in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and in “Other operating property and equipment” in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

In accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC 820), a financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The estimate of the fair value of the Company’s gas gathering systems was based on an income approach that estimated future cash flows associated with those assets over the remaining asset lives. This estimation includes the use of unobservable inputs, such as estimated future production, gathering and compression revenues and operating expenses. The use of these unobservable inputs results in the fair value estimate of the Company’s gas gathering systems being classified as Level 3.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

The purchasers of the Company's oil and natural gas production consist primarily of independent marketers, major oil and natural gas companies and gas pipeline companies. Historically, the Company has not experienced any significant losses from uncollectible accounts. For the year ended December 31, 2018, two individual purchasers of the Company's production, Sunoco, Inc. and Western Refining, Inc., each accounted for more than 10% of total sales, collectively representing 77% of the Company's total sales for the period. In 2017 and 2016, two individual purchasers of the Company's production, Crestwood Midstream Partners and Suncor Energy Marketing, Inc., each accounted for more than 10% of total sales, collectively representing 58% of the Company's total sales for each year.

The Company operates a substantial portion of its oil and natural gas properties. As the operator of a property, the Company makes full payments for costs associated with the property and seeks reimbursement from the other working interest owners in the property for their share of those costs. The Company's joint interest partners consist primarily of independent oil and natural gas producers. If the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry in general was adversely affected, the ability of the Company's joint interest partners to reimburse the Company could be adversely affected.

Risk Management Activities

The Company follows ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815). From time to time, when derivative contracts are available at terms (or prices) acceptable to the Company, it may hedge a portion of its forecasted oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids production. Derivative contracts entered into by the Company have consisted of transactions in which the Company hedges the variability of cash flow related to a forecasted transaction. The Company recognized all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. The Company has elected to not designate any of its positions for hedge accounting. Accordingly, the Company records the net change in the mark‑to‑market valuation of these positions, as well as payments and receipts on settled contracts, in “Net gain (loss) on derivative contracts” on the consolidated statements of operations.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method wherein deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company classifies all deferred tax assets and liabilities, along with any related valuation allowance, as noncurrent on the consolidated balance sheets.

The Company follows ASC 740, Income Taxes (ASC 740). ASC 740 creates a single model to address accounting for the uncertainty in income tax positions and prescribes a minimum recognition threshold a tax position must meet before recognition in the consolidated financial statements.

The evaluation of a tax position in accordance with ASC 740 is a two‑step process. The first step is a recognition process to determine whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. In evaluating whether a tax position has met the more likely than not recognition threshold, it is presumed that the position will be examined by the appropriate taxing authority with full knowledge of all relevant information. The second step is a measurement process whereby a tax position that meets the more likely than not recognition threshold is calculated to determine the amount of benefit/expense to recognize in the consolidated financial statements. The tax position is measured at the largest amount of benefit/expense that is more likely than not of being realized upon ultimate settlement.

The Company has no liability for unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. Accordingly, there is no amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate and there is no amount of interest or penalties currently recognized in the consolidated statements of operations or consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016. In addition, the Company does not believe that there are any positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within the next twelve months.

The Company includes interest and penalties relating to uncertain tax positions within “Interest expense and other, net” on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Refer to Note 13, “Income Taxes,” for more details.

Generally, the Company’s income tax years 2015 through 2018 remain open for federal purposes and are subject to examination by Federal tax authorities. The Company’s income tax returns are also subject to audit by the tax authorities in Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio and certain other state taxing jurisdictions where the Company has, or previously had, operations. In certain jurisdictions the Company operates through more than one legal entity, each of which may have different open years subject to examination. The open years for state purposes can vary from the normal three year statue expiration period for federal purposes.

Tax audits may be ongoing at any point in time. Tax liabilities are recorded based on estimates of additional taxes which may be due upon the conclusion of these audits. Estimates of these tax liabilities are made based upon prior experience and are updated for changes in facts and circumstances. However, due to the uncertain and complex application of tax regulations, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of audits may result in liabilities which could be materially different from these estimates.

Asset Retirement Obligations

ASC 410, Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations (ASC 410) requires that the fair value of an asset retirement cost, and corresponding liability, should be recorded as part of the cost of the related long-lived asset and subsequently allocated to expense using a systematic and rational method. The Company records asset retirement obligations to reflect the Company’s legal obligations related to future plugging and abandonment of its oil and natural gas wells and other operating property and equipment. The Company estimates the expected cash flows associated with the obligation and discounts the amounts using a credit-adjusted, risk-free interest rate. At least annually, the Company reassesses the obligation to determine whether a change in the estimated obligation is necessary. The Company evaluates whether there are indicators that suggest the estimated cash flows underlying the obligation have materially changed. Should these indicators suggest the estimated obligation may have materially changed on an interim basis (quarterly), the Company will accordingly update its assessment. Additional retirement obligations increase the liability associated with new oil and natural gas wells and other operating property and equipment as these obligations are incurred.

Restructuring

The Company had reductions in its workforce in conjunction with its divestiture activities in 2017 and the decrease in drilling and developmental activities planned for 2016. Consequently, for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the period from January 1, 2016 through September 9, 2016, the Company incurred approximately $0.1 million, $7.5 million and $5.2 million, respectively, in severance costs and accelerated stock-based compensation expense related to the termination of certain employees. These costs were recorded in “Restructuring” on the consolidated statements of operations.

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest

On June 16, 2014, funds and accounts managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management (Apollo) contributed $150 million in cash to HK TMS, a Delaware limited liability company, which was then wholly owned by the Company and held all of the Company’s acreage in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS) formation, located in Mississippi and Louisiana, in exchange for the issuance by HK TMS of 150,000 preferred shares. Holders of the HK TMS preferred shares were to receive quarterly cash dividends of 8% cumulative perpetual per annum, subject to HK TMS’ option to pay such dividends “in-kind” through the issuance of additional preferred shares. The preferred shares were expected to be automatically redeemed and cancelled when the holders received cash dividends and distributions on the preferred shares equating to the greater of a 12% annual rate of return plus principal and 1.25 times their investment plus applicable fees (the Redemption Price), subject to adjustment under certain circumstances. On September 30, 2016, certain wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company executed an Assignment and Assumption Agreement with an affiliate of Apollo pursuant to which 100% of the common shares in HK TMS (the Membership Interests) were assigned to Apollo (the HK TMS Divestiture). In exchange for the assignment, Apollo assumed all obligations relating to such Membership Interests. See Note 5, “Acquisitions and Divestitures,” for further information regarding the HK TMS Divestiture.

The preferred shares were classified as “Redeemable noncontrolling interest” and included in “Mezzanine equity” between total liabilities and stockholders’ equity on the consolidated balance sheets pursuant to ASC 480-10-S99-3A. The preferred shares were considered probable of becoming redeemable and therefore were accreted up to the estimated required redemption value. The accretion was presented as a deemed dividend and recorded in “Redeemable noncontrolling interest” on the consolidated balance sheets and within “Preferred dividends and accretion on redeemable noncontrolling interest” on the consolidated statements of operations. In accordance with ASC 480-10-S99-3A, an adjustment to the carrying amount presented in mezzanine equity was recognized as charges against retained earnings and reduced income available to common stockholders in the calculation of earnings per share.

For the period of September 10, 2016 through September 30, 2016 and January 1, 2016 through September 9, 2016, HK TMS issued 791 and 9,329 additional preferred shares to Apollo for dividends paid-in-kind, respectively. These dividends were presented within “Preferred dividends and accretion on redeemable noncontrolling interest” on the consolidated statements of operations.

HK TMS was not included in the chapter 11 bankruptcy filings or the Restructuring Support Agreement discussed in Note 2, “Reorganization.”

401(k) Plan

The Company sponsors a 401(k) tax deferred savings plan, whereby the Company matches a portion of employees’ contributions in cash. Participation in the plan is voluntary and all employees of the Company who are 18 years of age are eligible to participate. The Company provided matching contributions of $1.5 million and $2.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The Company provided matching contributions of $0.8 million and $2.0 million for the period September 10, 2016 through December 31, 2016 and the period January 1, 2016 through September 9, 2016, respectively. The Company matches employee contributions dollar‑for‑dollar on the first 10% of an employee’s pre‑tax earnings, subject to individual IRS limitations.

Related Party Transactions

Crude Oil Gathering Agreement

On July 27, 2018, a subsidiary of the Company entered into a crude oil gathering agreement with SCM Crude, LLC (SCM) pursuant to which the Company agreed to dedicate, for a term of 15 years, production of crude oil from its currently owned, or later acquired acreage in designated areas in Ward and Winkler Counties, Texas (excluding certain specific wells) for the receipt, gathering and transportation on a gathering system to be designed, engineered and constructed by SCM. The gathering system is expected to be operational by February 28, 2019. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company began selling its crude oil to SCM while the gathering system is under construction. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company received $13.0 million and recorded a $10.9 million receivable from SCM for its crude oil sales.

The agreement with SCM was the culmination of a lengthy process during which the Company analyzed the most effective method of gathering and transportation of its future oil production in these areas. During the course of its investigation, the Company considered a variety of alternatives and solicited and received numerous third party proposals. The Company received and evaluated proposals from eleven companies covering some or all of its oil production in the region and determined that among the proposals it received, SCM’s was superior for economic and strategic reasons.

Because certain funds under the control of Ares Management LLC (Ares) are the majority owners and controlling parties of SCM, the Audit Committee of the board of directors of the Company and the disinterested members of the Company’s board of directors evaluated and approved (in a vote that excluded the Company director who is employed by Ares) the process by which the Company determined the SCM proposal to be superior to other alternatives, as well as the principal terms of the agreement, in accordance with applicable Company policies, including its Code of Conduct and Corporate Governance Guidelines (copies of which are available through the Company’s website at www.halconresources.com) and the Company’s procedures for the review and approval of transactions with related parties. Ares also controls other funds which own in excess of ten percent (10%) of the common stock of the Company. No Ares fund that is a stockholder of the Company has an interest in SCM but one of the Company’s directors, who is employed by Ares, also serves on the board of directors of SCM’s parent company.

Gas Purchase and Processing Agreement

On November 16, 2017, a subsidiary of the Company entered into a gas purchase and processing agreement with Salt Creek Midstream, LLC (Salt Creek) pursuant to which the Company agreed to dedicate for a term of 15 years, all production from its acreage in Ward County, Texas (that is not otherwise previously dedicated) and certain sections in Winkler County, Texas to a natural gas gathering pipeline and processing facilities to be constructed by Salt Creek. The facilities were completed and placed in service in May 2018. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company received $0.4 million from Salt Creek under the gas purchase and processing agreement.

The agreement with Salt Creek was the culmination of a lengthy process during which the Company investigated the most efficient method of gathering, processing and marketing its future natural gas production in these areas. During the course of its investigation, the Company considered the construction of Company owned gas gathering and processing facilities, Company owned high pressure pipeline to a third-party processing plant and solicited and received proposals from numerous third parties for long-term gathering and processing options. The Company received proposals from eight midstream companies, determined that third party options were more attractive from a variety of business perspectives, and that among the proposals it received, Salt Creek’s was superior.

Certain funds under the control of Ares are the majority owners and controlling parties of Salt Creek. Ares also controls other funds which own in excess of ten percent (10%) of the stock of the Company. No Ares fund that is a stockholder of the Company has an interest in Salt Creek but one of the Company’s directors, who is employed by Ares, and is a director of the Company, also serves on the board of directors of Salt Creek. Due to these relationships, prior to entering into the gas purchase and processing agreement, the process by which the Company determined the Salt Creek proposal to be superior to other alternatives, as well as the terms of the agreement, were evaluated and approved in advance by the Audit Committee of the Company and the disinterested members of the Company’s board of directors, in a vote that excluded the Company director who is employed by Ares in accordance with applicable Company policies, including its Code of Conduct and Corporate Governance Guidelines (copies of which are available through the Company’s website at www.halconresources.com), and the Company’s procedures for the review and approval of transactions with related parties.

Charter of Aircraft

In the ordinary course of its business, the Company occasionally charters a private aircraft for business use. Floyd C. Wilson, Halcón’s former Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, owns an aircraft which the Company has chartered from time to time. For a portion of 2017, Mr. Wilson’s aircraft was managed by an independent air charter company unaffiliated with both Mr. Wilson and Halcón. The aircraft in the air charter company’s fleet are available to the public for charter based upon a standard fee schedule established by the air charter company, with the fees dependent primarily upon the type and size of the aircraft utilized and the duration of the flight. Because the air charter company established fees for the use of the aircraft in its fleet, Mr. Wilson did not receive any greater benefit from Halcón’s charter of the aircraft indirectly owned by him than he would have if any third party were to charter the aircraft. During the course of 2017, Mr. Wilson terminated the independent air charter company and removed his aircraft from the charter company’s fleet, pending his search for a new charter company to manage his aircraft. During the search period for a new charter company, fees for the use of Mr. Wilson’s aircraft by the Company were based upon comparable costs that the Company would have incurred in chartering the same type and size of aircraft from an independent third party utilizing data from several independent third party aircraft leasing companies. The terms for this use were evaluated and approved by the Audit Committee of the Company, and subsequently by the disinterested members of the Company’s board of directors upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, in accordance with the Company’s procedures for the review and approval of transactions with related parties. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company paid approximately $0.9 million to Mr. Wilson for the Company’s use of the aircraft. As of December 31, 2018, the Company recorded a $0.2 million payable to Mr. Wilson. The payable is recorded in “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities,” on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet. The Company has terminated all charter arrangements with Mr. Wilson relating to the use of his aircraft.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business (ASU 2017-01). For public business entities, ASU 2017-01 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The amendments in this ASU should be applied prospectively on or after the effective date. The ASU was issued to clarify the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions of assets or businesses. The Company applied the provisions of ASU 2017-01 to the acquisition of the West Quito Draw Properties and the divestiture of the Water Assets, which are discussed further in Note 5, “Acquisitions and Divestitures.”

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) (ASU 2016-15). For public business entities, ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The areas for simplification in this ASU involve addressing eight specific classification issues in the statement of cash flows. An entity should apply the amendments in this ASU using a retrospective transition method. The Company adopted ASU 2016-15 effective January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated statement of cash flows.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (ASU 2016-02). For public business entities, ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The FASB issued ASU 2016-02 to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. In January 2018, ASU 2016-02 was updated with ASU No. 2018-01, Leases (Topic 842)—Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842, which provides an optional transition practical expedient to not evaluate under Topic 842 existing or expired land easements that were not previously accounted for as leases under Topic 840, Leases. An entity that elects this practical expedient should evaluate new or modified land easements under Topic 842 beginning at the date that the entity adopts Topic 842. An entity that does not elect this practical expedient should evaluate all existing or expired land easements in connection with the adoption of the new lease requirements in Topic 842 to assess whether they meet the definition of a lease. In July 2018, ASU 2016-02 was updated with ASU No. 2018-11, Targeted Improvements to ASC 842 (ASU 2018-11), which provides entities with relief from the costs of implementing certain aspects of the new leasing standard. Specifically, under the amendments in ASU 2018-11, (1) entities may elect not to recast the comparative periods presented when transitioning to ASC 842 and (2) lessors may elect not to separate lease and nonlease components when certain conditions are met. Before ASU 2018-11 was issued, transition to the new lease standard required application of the new guidance at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 effective January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective approach as of the adoption date. The Company is substantially complete with its initial lease population and with development of accounting policies and procedures to address the provisions of ASU 2016-02. In addition, the Company implemented an accounting software solution to facilitate compliance with the new lease accounting requirements. ASU 2016-02 provides a number of optional practical expedients for transition, as well as ongoing accounting, and the Company has chosen to elect many of the practical expedients available under the new standard, including the expedients related to short-term lease recognition exemption and land easements. The most significant effects of the adoption of ASU 2016-02 relate to 1) the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets (that are not recognized under historical lease accounting guidance) and 2) new disclosures regarding the Company’s leasing activities. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $15.6 million of contractual obligations related to its non-cancelable operating leases and drilling contracts and certain of these contractual obligations will be recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet under ASU 2016-02.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09). ASU 2014-09 states that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard provides five steps an entity should apply in determining its revenue recognition. In March 2016, ASU 2014-09 was updated with ASU No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net) (ASU 2016-08), which provides further clarification on the principal versus agent evaluation. The Company adopted ASC 606 effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach. See Note 4, “Operating Revenues,” for further details.