2.Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Basic and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Basic has no variable interest in any other organization, entity, partnership, or contract. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Estimates, Risks and Uncertainties

Preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management uses historical and other pertinent information to determine these estimates. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Areas where critical accounting estimates are made by management include:

• Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and intangible assets

• Impairment of property and equipment, goodwill and intangible assets

• Allowance for doubtful accounts

•Litigation and self-insured risk reserves

• Fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in an acquisition

•Stock-based compensation

• Income taxes

Revenue Recognition

Completion and Remedial Services — Completion and remedial services consists primarily of pumping services focused on cementing, acidizing and fracturing, nitrogen units, coiled tubing units, snubbing units, thru-tubing and rental and fishing tools. Basic recognizes revenue when services are performed, collection of the relevant receivables is probable, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists and the price is fixed or determinable. Basic prices completion and remedial services by the hour, day, or project depending on the type of service performed. When Basic provides multiple services to a customer, revenue is allocated to the services performed based on the fair value of the services.

Fluid Services — Fluid services consists primarily of the sale, transportation, treatment, storage and disposal of fluids used in the drilling, production and maintenance of oil and natural gas wells, and well site construction and maintenance services. Basic recognizes revenue when services are performed, collection of the relevant receivables is probable, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists and the price is fixed or determinable. Basic prices fluid services by the job, by the hour or by the quantities sold, disposed of or hauled.

Well Servicing — Well servicing consists primarily of maintenance services, workover services, completion services, plugging and abandonment services and rig manufacturing and servicing. Basic recognizes revenue when services are performed, collection of the relevant receivables is probable, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists and the price is fixed or determinable. Basic prices well servicing by the hour or by the day of service performed. Rig manufacturing revenue is recognized when the rig is accepted by the customer, based on the completed contract method by individual rig.

Contract Drilling — Contract drilling consists primarily of drilling wells to a specified depth using drilling rigs. Basic recognizes revenues based on either a “daywork” contract, in which an agreed upon rate per day is charged to the customer, a “footage” contract, in which an agreed upon rate is charged per the number of feet drilled, or a “turnkey” contract, in which an agreed upon single rate is charged for a drilled well.

Taxes assessed on sales transactions are presented on a net basis and are not included in revenue.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Basic considers all highly liquid instruments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Basic maintains its excess cash in various financial institutions, where deposits may exceed federally insured amounts at times.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following is a summary of the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our financial instruments as of December 31, 2015 and 2014. Fair value is defined as the amount 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.

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, accounts receivable-related parties, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value because of the short maturities of these instruments. The carrying amount of our revolving credit facility in long-term debt also approximates fair value due to its variable-rate characteristics.



	December 31, 2015				December 31, 2014
	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
7.75% Senior Notes due 2019, excluding premium		$ 475,000		$ 149,625		$ 475,000		$ 372,875
7.75% Senior Notes due 2022, excluding premium		300,000		87,030		300,000		225,000

7.75% Senior Notes due 2019, and 7.75% Senior Notes due 2022: The fair value of our long-term notes is based upon the quoted market prices at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Inventories

For rental and fishing tools, inventories consisting mainly of grapples, controls, and drill bits are stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost being determined on the average cost method. Other inventories, consisting mainly of manufacturing raw materials, rig components, repair parts, drilling and completion materials and gravel, are held for use in the operations of Basic and are stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost being determined on the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost or at estimated fair value at acquisition date if acquired in a business combination. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred and additions and improvements that significantly extend the lives of the assets are capitalized. Upon sale or other retirement of depreciable property, the cost and accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the related accounts and any gain or loss is reflected in operations. All property and equipment are depreciated or amortized (to the extent of estimated salvage values) on the straight-line method and the estimated useful lives of the assets are as follows:


Buildings and improvements	20-30 years
Well service units and equipment	3-15 years
Fluid services equipment	5-10 years
Brine and fresh water stations	15 years
Fracturing/test tanks	10 years
Pumping equipment	5-10 years
Construction equipment	3-10 years
Contract drilling equipment	3-10 years
Disposal facilities	10-15 years
Vehicles	3-7 years
Rental equipment	2-15 years
Aircraft	10 years
Software and computers	3 years

The components of a well servicing rig generally require replacement or refurbishment during the well servicing rig’s life and are depreciated over their estimated useful lives, which ranges from 3 to 15 years. The costs of the original components of a purchased or acquired well servicing rig are not maintained separately from the base rig.

Impairments

Long-lived assets, which include property, plant and equipment, and purchased intangibles subject to amortization with finite lives, are evaluated whenever events or changes in circumstances (“triggering events”) indicate that the carrying value of certain long-lived assets may not be recoverable. Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment upon the occurrence of a triggering event. An impairment loss is recorded in the period in which it is determined that the carrying amount of a long-lived asset is not recoverable. The determination of recoverability is made based upon the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows of assets grouped at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets with such cash flows to be realized over the estimated remaining useful life of the primary asset within the asset group, excluding interest expense. The Company determined the lowest level of identifiable cash flows that are independent of other asset groups to be at the reporting unit level, which consists of the well servicing, fluid servicing, completion and remedial services and contract drilling. If the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the related assets, an impairment loss is determined by comparing the fair value with the carrying value of the related assets.

Basic determined that the continued drop in utilization across reporting units during 2015 constituted a triggering event. Although the severity and extent of the industry downturn is uncertain, absent a significant recovery in utilization of assets across reporting units, expected cash flows may decline in future periods. As a result of the triggering event in 2015, a recoverability test was performed on the long-lived asset groups supporting each of the Company’s reporting units. As of December 31, 2015, the recoverability testing for each asset group yielded an estimated undiscounted net cash flow that was greater than the carrying amount of the related assets, and as such, no impairment loss was recognized during 2015. If recoverability testing is performed in future periods and any reporting unit experiences a decline in undiscounted cash flows, the reporting unit could be susceptible to an impairment loss.

Deferred Debt Costs

Basic capitalizes certain costs associated with borrowing, such as lender’s fees and related attorney’s fees. These costs are amortized and included in interest expense using the effective interest method.

Deferred debt costs were approximately $26.6 million net of accumulated amortization of $13.5 million, and $25.7 million net of accumulated amortization of $10.4 million at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. Amortization of deferred debt costs totaled approximately $3.1 million, $3.2 million and $3.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. In 2015, Basic recorded $508,000 of accelerated amortization of debt issuance costs related to the amended revolving credit agreement.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and other intangible assets not subject to amortization are tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. A qualitative assessment is allowed to determine if goodwill is potentially impaired. The qualitative assessment determines whether it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount. If it is more likely that not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying amount, then the two step impairment test is performed. First, the fair value of each reporting unit is compared to its carrying value to determine whether an indication of impairment exists. If impairment is indicated, then the fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill is determined by allocating the unit’s fair value to its assets and liabilities (including any unrecognized intangible assets) as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination. The amount of impairment for goodwill is measured as the excess of its carrying value over its fair value. Basic completes its assessment of goodwill impairment as of December 31 each year.

The Company performed an assessment of goodwill related to the completion and remedial reporting unit as of September 30, 2015. This assessment indicated that $81.9 million was impaired as of September 30, 2015. This non-cash charge eliminated all of the Company’s existing goodwill as of September 30, 2015, and is included as Impairment of Goodwill on the consolidated statement of operations. See Note 19 for further disclosure regarding goodwill.

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2015, are as follows (in thousands):



	Completion
	and Remedial
	Services
Balance as of December 31, 2014	$	78,011
Goodwill adjustments		3,866
Goodwill impairment		(81,877)
Balance as of December 31, 2015	$	-

Basic had trade names of $1.9 million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014. Trade names have an indefinite life and are tested for impairment annually.

Basic’s intangible assets subject to amortization were as follows (in thousands):


	December 31, 2015		December 31, 2014
Customer relationships	$	92,660	$	88,576
Non-Compete agreements		13,057		13,223
Trade names		1,939		1,939
Other intangible assets		2,086		2,097
		109,742		105,835
Less accumulated amortization		42,997		34,662
Intangible assets subject to amortization, net	$	66,745	$	71,173

Amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was approximately $8.9 million, $8.6 million, and $8.4 million, respectively.

Amortization expense for the next five succeeding years is expected to be as follows (in thousands):


	Amortization
	Expense
2016	$	8,519
2017		8,001
2018		6,682
2019		6,514
2020		6,403
Thereafter		30,626
	$	66,745



	Completion
	and Remedial
	Services		Well Servicing		Fluid Services		Contract Drilling		Total
Intangible assets subject to amortization, net	$	49,627	$	5,889	$	8,303	$	2,926	$	66,745

Customer relationships are amortized over a 15-year life, non-compete agreements are amortized over a five-year life, rig engineering plans and developed technology are amortized over 15-year life.

Stock-Based Compensation

Basic has historically compensated our directors, executives and employees through the awarding of stock options and restricted stock. Basic accounted for stock option and restricted stock awards in 2015, 2014, and 2013 using a grant date fair-value based method, resulting in compensation expense for stock-based awards being recorded in our consolidated statements of operations. For performance based restricted stock awards, compensation expense is recognized in the Company's financial statements based on their grant date fair value. Basic utilizes (i) the closing stock price on the date of grant to determine the fair value of vesting restricted stock awards and (ii) a Monte Carlo simulation to determine the fair value of restricted stock awards with a combination of market and service vesting criteria. The Monte Carlo simulation model utilizes multiple input variables that determine the probability of satisfying the market condition stipulated in the award grant and calculates the fair value of the award. The expected volatility utilized in the model was estimated using the historical volatility of the Company and our peer companies. The risk-free interest rate was based on the U.S. treasury rate for a term commensurate with the expected life of the grant. Stock options issued are valued on the grant date using Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model and restricted stock issued is valued based on the fair value of Basic’s common stock at the grant date. In addition, judgment is required in estimating the amount of stock-based awards that are expected to be forfeited. Because the determination of these various assumptions is subject to significant management judgment and different assumptions could result in material differences in amounts recorded in Basic’s consolidated financial statements, management believes that accounting estimates related to the valuation of stock options are critical.

On March 18, 2015, the Compensation Committee of Basic’s Board of Directors approved grants of performance-based phantom stock awards to certain members of management. The performance-based phantom stock awards are tied to Basic’s achievement of total stockholder return (“TSR”) relative to the TSR of a peer group of energy services companies over the performance period (defined as the one-year calculation period starting on the 20th NYSE trading day prior to and including the last NYSE trading day of 2014 and ending on the last NYSE trading day of 2015). The number of phantom shares to be issued will range from 0% to 150% of the 704,089 target number of phantom shares, depending on the performance noted above. Any phantom shares earned at the end of the performance period will then remain subject to vesting in one-third increments on March 15, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (subject to accelerated vesting in certain circumstances). As of December 31, 2015, Basic estimated that 66.7% of the target number of performance-based awards will be earned. The Compensation Committee also approved grants of phantom restricted stock awards to certain key employees. The number of phantom shares issued was 654,500. These grants remain subject to vesting over a three-year period, with the first portion vesting March 15, 2016. For further discussion of our share-based compensation, see Note 10. Incentive Plan.

Income Taxes

We record net deferred tax assets to the extent we believe these assets will more likely than not be realized. In making such determination, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies and recent financial operations. In the event we were to determine that we would be able to realize our deferred income tax assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, we would make an adjustment to the valuation allowance which would reduce the provision for income taxes.

Accounts Receivable

Basic estimates its allowance for losses on accounts receivable based on past collections and expectations for future collections. Basic regularly reviews accounts for collectability. After all collection efforts are exhausted, if the balance is still determined to be uncollectable, the balance is written off. Expense related to the write off of uncollected accounts is recorded in general and administrative expense. Realized losses have been within management’s expectations.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Financial instruments, which potentially subject Basic to concentration of credit risk, consist primarily of temporary cash investments and trade receivables. Basic restricts investment of temporary cash investments to financial institutions with high credit standing. Basic’s customer base consists primarily of multi-national and independent oil and natural gas producers. It performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers but generally does not require collateral on its trade receivables. Credit risk is considered by management to be limited due to the large number of customers comprising its customer base. Basic maintains an allowance for potential credit losses on its trade receivables, and such losses have been within management’s expectations.

Basic did not have any one customer which represented 10% or more of consolidated revenue for 2015, 2014 or 2013.

Asset Retirement Obligations

Basic is required to record the fair value of an asset retirement obligation as a liability in the period in which it incurs a legal obligation associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and capitalize an equal amount as a cost of the asset depreciating it over the life of the asset. Subsequent to the initial measurement of the asset retirement obligation, the obligation is adjusted at the end of each quarter to reflect the passage of time, changes in the estimated future cash flows underlying the obligation, acquisition or construction of assets, and settlements of obligations.

Environmental

Basic is subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. These laws, which are constantly changing, regulate the discharge of materials into the environment and may require Basic to remove or mitigate the adverse environmental effects of disposal or release of petroleum, chemical and other substances at various sites. Environmental expenditures are expensed or capitalized depending on the future economic benefit. Expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations and that have no future economic benefits are expensed. Liabilities for expenditures of a non-capital nature are recorded when environmental assessment and/or remediation is probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated.

Litigation and Self-Insured Risk Reserves

Basic estimates its reserves related to litigation and self-insured risks based on the facts and circumstances specific to the litigation and self-insured claims and its past experience with similar claims. Basic maintains accruals in the consolidated balance sheets to cover self-insurance retentions. Please see Note 7. Commitments and Contingencies for further discussion.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-01, “Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items.” The Updates eliminates the concept of an extraordinary item. The Update is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those annual periods. Basic does not believe this pronouncement will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, “Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. ” ASU 2015-03 requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The Update is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those annual periods. Basic does not believe this pronouncement will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In July 2015 the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, “Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory.” ASU 2015-11, changes the measurement principle for entities that do not measure inventory using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) or retail inventory method from the lower of cost or market to lower of cost and net realizable value. The Update also eliminates the requirement for these entities to consider replacement cost or net realizable value less an approximately normal profit margin when measuring inventory. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Basic is in the process of determining if this pronouncement will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In August 2015 the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers—Deferral of the Effective Date” , that defers by one year the effective date of ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”. The Update is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. Basic is in the process of determining if this pronouncement will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In September 2015 the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, “Business Combinations: Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustment”. ASU 2015-16 eliminates the requirement for an acquirer to retrospectively adjust the financial statements for measurement –period adjustments that occur in periods after a business combination is consummated. The Update is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those annual periods. Basic has early adopted this pronouncement and it did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. The main provision of this Update is to simplify the presentation of deferred income taxes by requiring that deferred tax assets and liabilities be classified as noncurrent in the statement of financial position. This Update is effective for Basic in annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The adoption of this Update will not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.