Credit Losses

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Credit Loss [Abstract]

Credit Losses

Credit Losses

    The majority of our receivables are from purchasers of commodities or joint interest owners in properties we operate, both of which are recorded at estimated or invoiced amounts and do not bear interest. The majority of these receivables have payment terms of 30 days or less. At the end of each reporting period, we assess the collectability of our receivables and estimate the expected credit losses using historical data, current market conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions.

    We are exposed to credit losses through the receivables generated from sales of crude oil, NGLs and natural gas to our customers. When dealing with the commodity purchasers, we conduct a credit review to assess each counterparty’s ability to pay. The credit review considers our expected billing exposure, timing for payment and the counterparty’s established credit rating with the rating agencies or our internal assessment of the counterparty’s creditworthiness based on our analysis of their financial statements. Our evaluation also considers contract terms and other factors, such as country and/or political risk. A credit limit is established for each counterparty based on the outcome of this review. We may require a bank letter of credit or a prepayment to mitigate credit risk. We monitor our ongoing credit exposure through active review of counterparty balances against contract terms and due dates. The expected credit losses related to receivables with the commodity purchasers were determined using the weighted average probability of default method. We also collect revenues from our non-operated joint properties where other oil and gas exploration and production companies operate the properties and market our share of production and remit payments to us. The current expected credit losses related to these receivables were determined using the loss rate method applied to aging pools.

We are exposed to credit losses from joint interest billings to other joint interest owners for properties we operate. For this group of receivables, the expected credit losses are determined using the loss rate method applied to aging pools. Our counterparties in this group include numerous large, mid-size and small oil and gas exploration and production companies. Although we may have the ability to withhold future revenue disbursements to recover any non-payment of joint interest billings or require a prepayment of future costs through cash calls, our credit loss exposure with this group is more significant due to inherent ownership or billing adjustments. Also, some of our counterparties may experience liquidity problems and may not be able to meet their financial obligations to us. We expect that liquidity problems will increase in the future as a result of the recent demand and pricing decline for hydrocarbons. Our current-period provision reflects the anticipated effects caused by the recent market deterioration.

Changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts balance for the nine months ended were as follows:    

(In millions)	September 30, 2020
Beginning balance as of January 1	$	11
Cumulative-effect adjustment	12
Current period provision(a)	22
Current period write offs	(12)
Recoveries of amounts previously reserved	(8)
Ending balance as of September 30	$	25

(a)For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the current period provision increased by $10 million in joint interest receivables and $12 million in trade receivables.