Fair Value Measurements

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or the price paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value measurements are based upon inputs that market participants use in pricing an asset or liability, which are characterized according to a hierarchy that prioritizes those inputs based on the degree to which they are observable. Observable inputs represent market data obtained from independent sources, whereas unobservable inputs reflect a company's own market assumptions, which are used if observable inputs are not reasonably available without undue cost and effort. The three input levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

• Level 1 – quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

• Level 2 – quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (e.g., interest rates) and inputs derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

• Level 3 – unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair value input hierarchy level to which an asset or liability measurement in its entirety falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the measurement in its entirety.

The following table presents the Company's assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value as of June 30, 2012:

	Fair Value Measurement at the End of the Reporting Period Using
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Fair Value at June 30, 2012
	(in thousands)
Recurring fair value measurements
Assets:
Trading securities	$	251	$	168		$	—	$	419
Commodity derivatives	—		569,691			—		569,691
Deferred compensation plan assets	44,191		—			—		44,191
Total assets	$	44,442	$	569,859		$	—	$	614,301
Liabilities:
Commodity derivatives	$	—	$	(13,742	)	$	—	$	(13,742	)
Interest rate derivatives	—		(34,693		)	—		(34,693		)
Total liabilities	$	—	$	(48,435	)	$	—	$	(48,435	)
Total recurring fair value measurements	$	44,442	$	521,424		$	—	$	565,866

Trading securities and deferred compensation plan assets. The Company's trading securities are comprised of securities that are both actively traded and not actively traded on major exchanges. The Company's deferred compensation plan assets represent investments in equity and mutual fund securities that are actively traded on major exchanges. These investments are measured based on directly observable prices on major exchanges. As of June 30, 2012, all significant inputs to these asset exchange values represented Level 1 independent active exchange market price inputs. Inputs for certain trading securities that are not actively traded on major exchanges were classified as Level 2 inputs.

Interest rate derivatives. The Company's interest rate derivative liabilities as of June 30, 2012 represent interest rate swap contracts. The Company utilizes discounted cash flow models for valuing its interest rate derivatives. The net derivative values attributable to the Company's interest rate derivative contracts as of June 30, 2012 are based on (i) the contracted notional amounts, (ii) LIBOR rate yield curves provided by counterparties and corroborated with forward active market-quoted LIBOR yield curves and (iii) the applicable credit-adjusted risk-free rate yield curve. The Company's interest rate derivative liability measurements represent Level 2 inputs in the hierarchy priority.

Commodity derivatives. The Company's commodity derivatives represent oil, natural gas liquids ("NGL"), gas and diesel swap contracts, collar contracts and collar contracts with short puts (which are also known as three-way collar contracts). The Company's oil, gas, NGL and diesel swap, collar and three-way collar derivative contract asset and liability measurements represent Level 2 inputs in the hierarchy priority. The Company utilizes discounted cash flow and option-pricing models for valuing its commodity derivatives.

The asset and liability values attributable to the Company's commodity derivatives were determined based on inputs which include (i) the contracted notional volumes, (ii) independent active market price quotes, (iii) the applicable estimated credit-adjusted risk-free rate yield curve and (iv) the implied rate of volatility inherent in the collar and three-way collar contracts, which is based on active and independent market-quoted volatility factors.

Financial instruments not carried at fair value. Carrying values and fair values of financial instruments that are not carried at fair value in the consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are as follows:

	June 30, 2012				December 31, 2011
	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
	(in thousands)
Long-term debt	$	3,285,497	$	3,934,014	$	2,528,905	$	3,105,585

Long term debt includes the Company's credit facility, the Pioneer Southwest credit facility and the Company's senior notes. The fair value of debt is determined utilizing inputs that are Level 2 measurements in the fair value hierarchy.

Credit facilities. The fair values of the Company's and Pioneer Southwest's credit facilities are calculated using a discounted cash flow model based on (i) forecasted contractual interest and fee payments, (ii) forward active market-quoted United States Treasury Bill rate (in the case of the Company's credit facility) or LIBOR (in the case of the Pioneer Southwest credit facility) yield curves and (iii) the applicable credit-adjustments.

Senior notes. The Company's senior notes represent debt securities that are not actively traded on major exchanges. The fair values of the Company's senior notes are based on their periodic values as quoted on the major exchanges.

The Company has other financial instruments consisting primarily of cash equivalents, short-term receivables, accounts payable trade and other liabilities that approximate fair value due to the nature of the instrument and relatively short maturities. Non-financial assets and liabilities initially measured at fair value include certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination, goodwill and asset retirement obligations.