Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Recent Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In January 2016, Devon adopted ASU 2015-03, Interest – Imputation of Interest (Topic 835): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. This ASU requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability to be presented on the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability rather than as an asset. As a result of the adoption, Devon reclassified unamortized debt issuance costs of $81 million as of December 31, 2015 from other long-term assets to a reduction of long-term debt on the consolidated balance sheets.

The FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. Its objective is to clarify guidance and eliminate diversity in practice of classification on certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for Devon beginning January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted. Devon early adopted this ASU as of September 30, 2016 using a retrospective transition method. As a result of the adoption, Devon has classified $82 million of debt retirement payments as cash flows from financing activities on the accompanying 2016 consolidated statements of cash flows. No other periods presented in the consolidated statements of cash flows were impacted by the adoption of this standard.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

The FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. Its objective is to simplify several aspects of the accounting for share-based payments, including accounting for income taxes when awards vest or are settled, statutory withholding and accounting for forfeitures. Classification of these aspects on the statement of cash flows is also addressed. This ASU is effective for Devon beginning January 1, 2017. Devon does not expect that this ASU will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

The FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This ASU will supersede the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition and industry-specific guidance in Subtopic 932-605, Extractive Activities – Oil and Gas – Revenue Recognition. This ASU provides guidance concerning the recognition and measurement of revenue from contracts with customers. Its objective is to increase the usefulness of information in the financial statements regarding the nature, timing and uncertainty of revenues. The effective date for ASU 2014-09 was delayed through the issuance of ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers – Deferral of the Effective Date, to annual and interim periods beginning in 2018, with early adoption permitted in 2017. The ASU is required to be adopted using either the retrospective transition method, which requires restating previously reported results or the cumulative effect (modified retrospective) transition method, which utilizes a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings in the period of adoption to account for prior period effects rather than restating previously reported results. Devon intends to use the cumulative effect transition method and is continuing to evaluate the impact this ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Devon does not plan on early adopting.

The FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This ASU will supersede the lease requirements in Topic 840, Leases. Its objective is to increase transparency and comparability among organizations. This ASU provides guidance requiring lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheet. Lessor accounting does not significantly change from Topic 840, except for some changes made to align with Topic 606. This ASU is effective for Devon beginning January 1, 2019 and will be applied using a modified retrospective transition method, which requires applying the new guidance to leases that exist or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest period in the financial statements. Early adoption is permitted. Devon is continuing to evaluate the impact this ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures and does not plan on early adopting.

Commitments And Contingencies

Devon is party to various legal actions arising in the normal course of business. Matters that are probable of unfavorable outcome to Devon and which can be reasonably estimated are accrued. Such accruals are based on information known about the matters, Devon’s estimates of the outcomes of such matters and its experience in contesting, litigating and settling similar matters. None of the actions are believed by management to involve future amounts that would be material to Devon’s financial position or results of operations after consideration of recorded accruals. Actual amounts could differ materially from management’s estimates.