v3.3.1.900
Disclosures About Oil and Gas Producing Activities (unaudited)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Text Block [Abstract]  
Disclosures About Oil and Gas Producing Activities (unaudited)
10. Disclosures About Oil and Gas Producing Activities (unaudited)

Proved Reserves

All of our estimated oil and natural gas reserves are attributable to properties within the United States, primarily in the Permian Basin in West Texas. The estimates of proved reserves and related valuations for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, were prepared by DeGolyer and MacNaughton, independent petroleum engineers. Each year’s estimate of proved reserves and related valuations were also prepared in accordance with then-current rules and guidelines established by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

The following table summarizes the prices used in the reserve estimates for 2015, 2014 and 2013. Commodity prices used for the reserve estimates, adjusted for basis differentials, grade and quality, are as follows:

 

     2015      2014      2013  

Oil (per Bbl)

   $ 50.16       $ 94.56       $ 97.28   

Natural gas liquids (per Bbl)

   $ 15.13       $ 31.50       $ 30.16   

Gas (per Mcf)

   $ 2.64       $ 4.55       $ 3.66   

 

Oil, NGL and natural gas reserve estimates are subject to numerous uncertainties inherent in the estimation of quantities of proved reserves and in the projection of future rates of production and the timing of development expenditures. The accuracy of such estimates is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Results of subsequent drilling, testing and production may cause either upward or downward revision of previous estimates. Further, the volumes considered to be commercially recoverable fluctuate with changes in prices and operating costs. The Company emphasizes that reserve estimates are inherently imprecise and that estimates of new discoveries are more imprecise than those of currently producing oil and natural gas properties. Accordingly, these estimates are expected to change as additional information becomes available in the future.

The following table provides a summary of the changes of the total proved reserves for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, as well as proved developed and proved undeveloped reserves at the beginning and end of each respective year.

 

Total Proved Reserves

   Oil
(MBbls)
     NGLs
(MBbls)
     Natural Gas
(MMcf)
     Total
(MBoe)
 

Balance — December 31, 2012

     37,252         29,100         174,760         95,479   

Extensions and discoveries

     14,252         6,531         38,993         27,282   

Purchases of minerals in place

     62         14         197         109   

Production(1)

     (1,444      (951      (6,737      (3,517

Revisions to previous estimates

     (4,055      (2,102      8,789         (4,692
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance — December 31, 2013

     46,067         32,593         216,002         114,661   

Extensions and discoveries

     19,347         10,658         79,454         43,247   

Production(1)

     (2,024      (1,461      (10,773      (5,281

Revisions to previous estimates

     (8,052      (883      15,337         (6,379
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance — December 31, 2014

     55,338         40,907         300,020         146,248   

Extensions and discoveries

     11,054         10,630         79,268         34,895   

Production(1)

     (1,882      (1,694      (13,262      (5,787

Revisions to previous estimates

     (10,014      (357      9,962         (8,710
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance — December 31, 2015

     54,496         49,486         375,988         166,646   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Production includes 560 MMcf, 1,390 MMcf and 1,530 MMcf related to field fuel in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

 

Total Proved Reserves

   Oil
(MBbls)
     NGLs
(MBbls)
     Natural Gas
(MMcf)
     Total
(MBoe)
 

Proved Developed Reserves:

           

January 1, 2013

     8,816         11,761         73,178         32,774   

December 31, 2013

     13,646         14,919         99,742         45,189   

January 1, 2014

     13,646         14,919         99,742         45,189   

December 31, 2014

     17,978         19,082         138,961         60,220   

January 1, 2015

     17,978         19,082         138,961         60,220   

December 31, 2015

     15,667         20,414         154,652         61,856   

Proved Undeveloped Reserves:

           

January 1, 2013

     28,436         17,339         101,582         62,705   

December 31, 2013

     32,421         17,674         116,260         69,472   

January 1, 2014

     32,421         17,674         116,260         69,472   

December 31, 2014

     37,360         21,825         161,059         86,028   

January 1, 2015

     37,360         21,825         161,059         86,028   

December 31, 2015

     38,829         29,072         221,335         104,790   

The following is a discussion of the material changes in our proved reserve quantities for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013:

Year Ended December 31, 2015

Extensions and discoveries for 2015 were 34.9 MMBoe, primarily attributable to our development project in the Wolfcamp shale oil resource play in the Permian Basin. During 2015, we recorded net downward revisions totaling 8.7 MMBoe, including the reclassification of 11.9 MMBoe of proved reserves to unproved reserves. The reserves reclassified are attributable to horizontal and vertical well locations in Project Pangea that are no longer expected to be developed within five years from their initial booking, as required by SEC rules. Revisions also included 13 MMBoe of positive revisions resulting from cost reductions, updated well performance and technical parameters, offset by 9.8 MMBoe of negative revisions due to lower commodity prices. We produced 5.8 MMBoe during 2015. This production included 1,530 MMcf of gas that was produced and used as field fuel (primarily for compressors and artificial lift) before the gas was delivered to a sales point.

Year Ended December 31, 2014

Extensions and discoveries for 2014 were 43.2 MMBoe, primarily attributable to our development project in the Wolfcamp shale oil resource play in the Permian Basin. During 2014, we recorded downward revisions totaling 6.4 MMBoe, including the reclassification of 9.3 MMBoe of proved undeveloped reserves to probable undeveloped. The reserves reclassified from proved undeveloped to probable undeveloped included 5.8 MMBoe attributable to vertical Canyon locations in Project Pangea that we do not plan to drill within five years from their initial booking, and 3.5 MMBoe attributable to horizontal Wolfcamp locations that are no longer included in our proved development plan. Revisions also included 6.3 MMBoe of positive net revisions attributable to updated well performance and 0.7 MMBoe of positive revisions due to pricing, offset by 4.1 MMBoe of negative revisions resulting from updated technical parameters and costs. We produced 5.3 MMBoe during 2014. This production included 1,390 MMcf of gas that was produced and used as field fuel (primarily for compressors and artificial lift) before the gas was delivered to a sales point.

 

Year Ended December 31, 2013

Extensions and discoveries for 2013 were 27.3 MMBoe, primarily attributable to our development project in the Wolfcamp shale oil resource play in the Permian Basin. We produced 3.5 MMBoe during 2013. This production included 560 MMcf of gas that was produced and used as field fuel (primarily for compressors and artificial lifts) before the gas was delivered to a sales point. During 2013, we recorded downward revisions totaling 4.7 MMBoe. Revisions included the reclassification of 7.8 MMBoe of proved undeveloped reserves to probable undeveloped, partially offset by 3.1 MMBoe of positive revisions attributable to gas that will be produced and utilized as field fuel. The reserves reclassified from proved undeveloped to probable undeveloped were attributable to vertical Canyon locations in Project Pangea. Due to our horizontal Wolfcamp development project, including pad drilling, postponement of these deeper locations beyond five years from initial booking was necessary to integrate their development with the shallower Clearfork and Wolfcamp target zones.

Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows Relating to Proved Reserves

The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows is computed by applying the 12-month unweighted average of the first-day-of-the-month pricing for oil and natural gas (with consideration of price changes only to the extent provided by contractual arrangements) to the estimated future production of proved oil and natural gas reserves less estimated future expenditures (based on year-end costs) to be incurred in developing and producing the proved reserves, discounted using a rate of 10 percent per year to reflect the estimated timing of the future cash flows. Future income taxes are calculated by comparing undiscounted future cash flows to the tax basis of oil and natural gas properties plus available carryforwards and credits and applying the current tax rates to the difference.

Discounted future cash flow estimates like those shown below are not intended to represent estimates of the fair value of oil and natural gas properties. Estimates of fair value would also consider probable and possible reserves, anticipated future oil and natural gas prices, interest rates, changes in development and production costs and risks associated with future production. Because of these and other considerations, any estimate of fair value is necessarily subjective and imprecise.

The following table provides the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2015      2014      2013  

Future cash flows

   $ 4,097,568       $ 7,430,368       $ 5,953,060   

Future production costs

     (1,237,888      (1,704,333      (1,372,005

Future development costs

     (934,814      (1,247,446      (1,154,685

Future income tax expense

     (307,374      (1,267,025      (919,454
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Future net cash flows

     1,617,492         3,211,564         2,506,916   

10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash flows

     (1,157,097      (2,155,749      (1,830,639
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows

   $ 460,395       $ 1,055,815       $ 676,277   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Future cash flows as shown above were reported without consideration for the effects of commodity derivative transactions outstanding at each period end.

 

Changes in Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows

The changes in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil and natural gas reserves are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2015     2014     2013  

Balance, beginning of period

   $ 1,055,815      $ 676,277      $ 494,220   

Net change in sales and transfer prices and in production (lifting) costs related to future production

     (1,405,864     (59,920     74,088   

Changes in estimated future development costs

     231,900        (388,772     (301,132

Sales and transfers of oil and gas produced during the period

     (91,278     (209,893     (149,310

Net change due to extensions, discoveries and improved recovery

     156,783        534,231        360,080   

Net change due to purchase of minerals in place

                   1,435   

Net change due to revisions in quantity estimates

     (59,305     (78,801     (61,931

Previously estimated development costs incurred during the period

     146,237        382,995        287,898   

Accretion of discount

     105,582        113,188        87,937   

Other

     6,915        (11,897     1,896   

Net change in income taxes

     313,610        98,407        (118,904
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Standardized Measure of discounted future net cash flows

   $ 460,395      $ 1,055,815      $ 676,277