Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Fair Value Measurements

v3.22.1
Fair Value Measurements
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Measurements
Accounting guidelines for measuring fair value establish a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy categorizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value into one of three different levels depending on the observability of the inputs employed in the measurement. The three levels are defined as follows:
Level 1 – Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.
Level 2 – Other inputs that are observable directly or indirectly such as quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data and which the Company makes its own assumptions about how market participants would price the assets and liabilities.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Investments. The carrying amounts for these instruments approximate fair value due to the short-term nature or maturity of the instruments.
Debt. The carrying amount of borrowings outstanding under the Credit Facility approximates fair value as the borrowings bear interest at variable rates and are reflective of market rates. The following table presents the principal amounts of the Company’s Second Lien Notes and Senior Unsecured Notes with the fair values measured using quoted secondary market trading prices which are designated as Level 2 within the valuation hierarchy. See “Note 6 - Borrowings” for further discussion.
March 31, 2022 December 31, 2021
Principal Amount Fair Value Principal Amount Fair Value
(In thousands)
6.125% Senior Notes
$460,241  $456,789  $460,241  $455,639 
9.00% Second Lien Notes
319,659  339,638  319,659  343,633 
8.25% Senior Notes
187,238  189,110  187,238  184,429 
6.375% Senior Notes
320,783  317,575  320,783  309,556 
8.00% Senior Notes
650,000  684,125  650,000  663,000 
Total $1,937,921  $1,987,237  $1,937,921  $1,956,257 
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Certain assets and liabilities are reported at fair value on a recurring basis in the consolidated balance sheets. The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate fair value:
Commodity Derivative Instruments. The fair value of commodity derivative instruments is derived using a third-party income approach valuation model that utilizes market-corroborated inputs that are observable over the term of the commodity derivative contract. The Company’s fair value calculations also incorporate an estimate of the counterparties’ default risk for commodity derivative assets and an estimate of the Company’s default risk for commodity derivative liabilities. As the inputs in the model are substantially observable over the term of the commodity derivative contract and there is a wide availability of quoted market prices for similar commodity derivative contracts, the Company designates its commodity derivative instruments as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. See “Note 7 - Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” for further discussion.
The following tables present the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021:
March 31, 2022
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
(In thousands)
Commodity derivative assets $—  $—  $— 
Commodity derivative liabilities (1)
—  (427,362) — 
     
December 31, 2021
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
(In thousands)
Assets      
Commodity derivative instruments $—  $1,798  $— 
Contingent consideration arrangements —  20,833  — 
Liabilities      
Commodity derivative instruments (2)
—  (172,386) — 
Contingent consideration arrangements —  (25,000) — 
Total net assets (liabilities) $—  ($174,755) $— 
(1)    Includes approximately $0.9 million of deferred premiums, which will be paid as the applicable contracts settle.
(2)    Includes approximately $2.9 million of deferred premiums, which will be paid as the applicable contracts settle.
There were no transfers between any of the fair value levels during any period presented.
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
Acquisitions. The fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are measured as of the acquisition date by a third-party valuation specialist using a combination of income and market approaches, which are not observable in the market and are therefore designated as Level 3 inputs. Significant inputs include expected discounted future cash flows from estimated reserve quantities, estimates for timing and costs to produce and develop reserves, oil and natural gas forward prices, and a risk-adjusted discount rate. See “Note 3 - Acquisitions and Divestitures” for additional discussion.
Asset Retirement Obligations. The Company measures the fair value of asset retirement obligations as of the date a well begins drilling or when production equipment and facilities are installed using a discounted cash flow model based on inputs that are not observable in the market and therefore are designated as Level 3 within the valuation hierarchy. Significant inputs to the fair value measurement of asset retirement obligations include estimates of the costs of plugging and abandoning oil and gas wells, removing production equipment and facilities, restoring the surface of the land as well as estimates of the economic lives of the oil and gas wells and future inflation rates.