Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

8. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

As required by FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“FASB ASC 820”), the Company defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and establishes a three level hierarchy for measuring fair value. Fair value measurements are classified and disclosed in one of the following categories:

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities that we have the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, and inputs that are derived from observable market data by correlation or other means. Instruments categorized in Level 2 include non-exchange traded derivatives such as over-the-counter forwards and swaps.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, including situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability.

The valuation assumptions the Company has used to measure the fair value of its commodity derivatives were observable inputs based on market data obtained from independent sources and are considered Level 2 inputs (quoted prices for similar assets, liabilities (adjusted) and market-corroborated inputs).

		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Current derivative asset	$	-	$	104,190	$	-	$	104,190

In consideration of counterparty credit risk, the Company assessed the possibility of whether each counterparty to the derivative would default by failing to make any contractually required payments as scheduled in the derivative instrument in determining the fair value. Additionally, the Company considers that it is of substantial credit quality and has the financial resources and willingness to meet its potential repayment obligations associated with the derivative transactions.

Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Non-recurring Basis

The Company uses fair value to determine the value of its asset retirement obligations (“ARO”). The inputs used to determine such fair value under the expected present value technique are primarily based upon internal estimates prepared by reservoir engineers for costs of dismantlement, removal, site reclamation and similar activities associated with the Company’s oil and gas properties and would be classified Level 3 inputs.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The estimated fair value of financial instruments is the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged currently between willing parties. The carrying amounts reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. The carrying amount of floating-rate debt approximates fair value because the interest rates are variable and reflective of market rates. We use available market data and valuation methodologies to estimate the fair value of our fixed rate debt. The inputs utilized to estimate the fair value of the Company’s fixed rate debt are considered Level 2 fair value inputs. This disclosure is presented in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments, and does not impact our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

		December 31, 2014				December 31, 2013
		Carrying		Estimated		Carrying		Estimated
		Amount		Fair Value		Amount		Fair Value
5.45% Notes due March 2015, issued 2008	$	100,000	$	101,931	$	100,000	$	105,913
7.31% Notes due March 2016, issued 2009		62,000		65,027		62,000		70,228
4.98% Notes due January 2017, issued 2010		116,000		116,240		116,000		126,342
5.92% Notes due March 2018, issued 2008		200,000		203,738		200,000		226,127
5.75% Notes due December 2018, issued 2013		450,000		414,505		450,000		466,946
7.77% Notes due March 2019, issued 2009		173,000		187,105		173,000		211,877
5.50% Notes due January 2020, issued 2010		207,000		201,371		207,000		229,068
4.51% Notes due October 2020, issued 2010		315,000		283,335		315,000		323,732
5.60% Notes due January 2022, issued 2010		87,000		82,581		87,000		95,736
4.66% Notes due October 2022, issued 2010		35,000		30,476		35,000		35,494
6.125% Notes due October 2024, issued 2014		850,000		754,485		-		-
5.85% Notes due January 2025, issued 2010		90,000		83,876		90,000		99,142
4.91% Notes due October 2025, issued 2010		175,000		147,649		175,000		175,744
Credit Facility due October 2016		518,000		518,000		460,000		460,000
	$	3,378,000	$	3,190,319	$	2,470,000	$	2,626,349

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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