v3.8.0.1
Disclosures About Oil and Gas Producing Activities (unaudited)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Extractive Industries [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, 2017, 2016 and 2015, 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 2017, 2016 and 2015. Commodity prices used for the reserve estimates, adjusted for basis differentials, grade and quality, are as follows:

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Oil (per Bbl)

 

$

51.34

 

 

$

42.69

 

 

$

50.16

 

Natural gas liquids (per Bbl)

 

$

18.67

 

 

$

14.12

 

 

$

15.13

 

Gas (per Mcf)

 

$

2.99

 

 

$

2.47

 

 

$

2.64

 

 

Oil, NGLs 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, 2017, 2016 and 2015, 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 — January 1, 2015

 

 

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

 

Extensions and discoveries

 

 

6,529

 

 

 

4,564

 

 

 

33,347

 

 

 

16,651

 

Production(1)

 

 

(1,275

)

 

 

(1,529

)

 

 

(11,734

)

 

 

(4,759

)

Revisions to previous estimates

 

 

(9,719

)

 

 

(4,887

)

 

 

(45,324

)

 

 

(22,161

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance — December 31, 2016

 

 

50,031

 

 

 

47,634

 

 

 

352,277

 

 

 

156,377

 

Extensions and discoveries

 

 

10,546

 

 

 

9,975

 

 

 

76,710

 

 

 

33,307

 

Acquisition of minerals in place

 

 

710

 

 

 

394

 

 

 

2,808

 

 

 

1,572

 

Production(1)

 

 

(1,107

)

 

 

(1,486

)

 

 

(11,148

)

 

 

(4,452

)

Revisions to previous estimates

 

 

(10,120

)

 

 

1,431

 

 

 

20,581

 

 

 

(5,259

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance — December 31, 2017

 

 

50,060

 

 

 

57,948

 

 

 

441,228

 

 

 

181,545

 

 

(1)

Production included 1,530 MMcf, 1,330 MMcf and 1,319 MMcf related to field fuel in 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively.

 

Total Proved Reserves

 

Oil

(MBbls)

 

 

NGLs

(MBbls)

 

 

Natural Gas

(MMcf)

 

 

Total

(MBoe)

 

Proved Developed Reserves:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2015

 

 

17,978

 

 

 

19,082

 

 

 

138,961

 

 

 

60,220

 

December 31, 2015

 

 

15,667

 

 

 

20,414

 

 

 

154,652

 

 

 

61,856

 

December 31, 2016

 

 

13,466

 

 

 

20,375

 

 

 

150,208

 

 

 

58,875

 

December 31, 2017

 

 

13,853

 

 

 

23,180

 

 

 

176,201

 

 

 

66,399

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proved Undeveloped Reserves:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2015

 

 

37,360

 

 

 

21,825

 

 

 

161,059

 

 

 

86,028

 

December 31, 2015

 

 

38,829

 

 

 

29,072

 

 

 

221,335

 

 

 

104,790

 

December 31, 2016

 

 

36,565

 

 

 

27,259

 

 

 

202,069

 

 

 

97,502

 

December 31, 2017

 

 

36,207

 

 

 

34,768

 

 

 

265,028

 

 

 

115,146

 

 

The following is a discussion of the material changes in our proved reserve quantities for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015:

Year Ended December 31, 2017

Extensions and discoveries for 2017 were 33.3 MMBoe, primarily attributable to our development project in the Wolfcamp shale oil resource play in the Permian Basin.  During 2017, we acquired 1.6 MMBoe of proved reserves through the Bolt-On Acquisition, and we reclassified 17.7 MMBoe of proved undeveloped reserves to unproved reserves. The reserves reclassified are attributable to horizontal 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 included an increase of 9.4 MMBoe resulting from updated well performance and technical parameters and an increase of 3.1 MMBoe due to higher commodity prices We produced 4.5 MMBoe during 2017. This production included 1,319 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, 2016

Extensions and discoveries for 2016 were 16.7 MMBoe, primarily attributable to our development project in the Wolfcamp shale oil resource play in the Permian Basin. During 2016, we reclassified 22.4 MMBoe of proved undeveloped reserves to unproved reserves. The reserves reclassified are attributable to horizontal 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 included an increase of 2.1 MMBoe resulting from cost reductions, updated well performance and technical parameters, offset by a decrease of 1.9 MMBoe due to lower commodity prices. We produced 4.8 MMBoe during 2016. This production included 1,330 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, 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 reclassified 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 included an increase of 13 MMBoe resulting from cost reductions, updated well performance and technical parameters, offset by a decrease of 9.8 MMBoe 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.

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, 2017, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Future cash flows

 

$

4,451,665

 

 

$

3,319,551

 

 

$

4,097,568

 

Future production costs

 

 

(1,279,777

)

 

 

(1,054,211

)

 

 

(1,237,888

)

Future development costs

 

 

(982,284

)

 

 

(829,926

)

 

 

(934,814

)

Future income tax expense

 

 

(323,308

)

 

 

(132,834

)

 

 

(307,374

)

Future net cash flows

 

 

1,866,296

 

 

 

1,302,580

 

 

 

1,617,492

 

10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash

   flows

 

 

(1,405,265

)

 

 

(1,004,825

)

 

 

(1,157,097

)

Standardized measure of discounted future net

   cash flows

 

$

461,031

 

 

$

297,755

 

 

$

460,395

 

 

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,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

$

297,755

 

 

$

460,395

 

 

$

1,055,815

 

Net change in sales and transfer prices and in

   production (lifting) costs related to future

   production

 

 

229,139

 

 

 

(191,841

)

 

 

(1,405,864

)

Changes in estimated future development costs

 

 

(72,439

)

 

 

17,405

 

 

 

231,900

 

Sales and transfers of oil and gas produced during

   the period

 

 

(78,803

)

 

 

(62,835

)

 

 

(91,278

)

Net change due to acquisition of minerals in place

 

 

17,331

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change due to extensions, discoveries and

   improved recovery

 

 

49,377

 

 

 

13,988

 

 

 

156,783

 

Net change due to revisions in quantity estimates

 

 

(3,817

)

 

 

(25,236

)

 

 

(59,305

)

Previously estimated development costs incurred

   during the period

 

 

43,202

 

 

 

15,884

 

 

 

146,237

 

Accretion of discount

 

 

30,789

 

 

 

46,040

 

 

 

105,582

 

Other

 

 

(1,677

)

 

 

(9,500

)

 

 

6,915

 

Net change in income taxes

 

 

(49,826

)

 

 

33,455

 

 

 

313,610

 

Standardized Measure of discounted future net

   cash flows

 

$

461,031

 

 

$

297,755

 

 

$

460,395