Basis of Presentation (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Operations. W&T Offshore, Inc. (with subsidiaries referred to herein as “W&T,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”) is an independent oil and natural gas producer with substantially all of its operations offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. The Company is active in the exploration, development and acquisition of oil and natural gas properties. Our interests in fields, leases, structures and equipment are primarily owned by W&T Offshore, Inc. (on a stand-alone basis, the “Parent Company”) and its 100%-owned subsidiary, W & T Energy VI, LLC (“Energy VI”) and through our proportionately consolidated interest in Monza Energy LLC, as described in more detail below under the subheading “-Recent Events” in this Note and in Note 4 herein.

Interim Financial Statements

Interim Financial Statements. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim periods and the appropriate rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, the condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and footnote disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements for annual periods. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.

Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recent Events

Recent Events. The price we receive for our crude oil, natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) and natural gas production directly affects our revenues, profitability, cash flows, liquidity, access to capital, proved reserves and future rate of growth. The average realized prices of these commodities improved during the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the average realized prices in the three months ended March 31, 2017. Operating costs were lower for the three months ended March 31, 2018 on an absolute basis compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Our Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”) provides our revolver bank credit facility and matures on November 8, 2018. As of March 31, 2018, we had $0.3 million of letters of credit outstanding and no amounts borrowed on our revolving bank credit facility. Our 8.500% Senior Notes (the “Unsecured Senior Notes”) mature on June 15, 2019. If the Unsecured Senior Notes have not been extended, refunded, defeased, discharged, replaced or refinanced by February 28, 2019, then the 11.00% 1.5 Lien Term Loan, due November 15, 2019 (the “1.5 Lien Term Loan”) and the 8.50%/10.00% Third Lien Payment-In-Kind (“PIK”) Toggle Notes, due June 15, 2021, (the “Third Lien PIK Toggle Notes”) will both accelerate their maturity to February 28, 2019. During the remainder of 2018, we plan to address the issues of the potential maturity acceleration of these two debt instruments and to extend or replace the revolving bank credit facility. We expect to build sufficient cash balances in 2018 to be able to redeem, repurchase or refinance the Unsecured Senior Notes. Certain amendments under the Credit Agreement and the 1.5 Lien Term Loan will likely be required in the event we redeem or repurchase the Unsecured Senior Notes, which we anticipate would be granted if requested. Assuming we can also repay or refinance the 1.5 Lien Term Loan, then we believe that we would amend our revolving bank credit facility in such a manner that will permit an extension of the maturity of such facility. There can be no assurance that lenders will extend our revolving bank credit facility maturity, but under current market conditions and based on the outlook of our cash position in 2018 and further, we believe our lenders or replacement lenders will be amenable to participating in a refinancing or other corporate financing transaction.

On March 12, 2018, W&T and two initial members formed and initially funded a limited liability company, Monza Energy LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Monza”), that will jointly participate with us in the exploration, drilling and development of up to 14 identified drilling projects (the “JV Drilling Program”) in the Gulf of Mexico over the next three years. W&T contributed 88.94% of its working interest in the 14 identified projects to Monza and retained an 11.06% working interest. Since the initial closing, additional investors have joined in Monza and as of April 27, 2018, total commitments by all investors are $297.6 million. We anticipate additional investors will join in the program.

In summary, W&T owns a direct interest in the 14 drilling projects as well as an indirect interest via its interest in Monza. The JV Drilling Program is structured so that we initially receive an aggregate of 30.0% of the net revenues, through both our direct ownership of our working interest in the projects and our indirect interest through our interest in Monza, for contributing 20.0% of the estimated total well costs plus associated leases and providing access to available infrastructure at agreed upon rates. See Note 4 and Note 11 for additional information.

We have assessed our financial condition, the current capital markets and options given different scenarios of commodity prices. We believe we will have adequate available liquidity to fund our operations through May 2019, the period of assessment to qualify as a going concern. However, we cannot predict the potential changes in commodity prices or future Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (“BOEM”) bonding requirements, either of which could affect our operations, liquidity levels and compliance with debt covenants.

See our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 concerning risks related to our business and events occurring during 2017 and other information and the Notes herein for additional information.

Accounting Standard Updates Effective January 1, 2018

Accounting Standard Updates Effective January 1, 2018. Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-18, (“ASU 2016-18”), Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) – Restricted Cash became effective for us in the period ending March 31, 2018. As we did not have any amounts recorded as restricted cash in the three months ended March 31, 2018, or any amounts recorded as restricted cash during 2017, ASU 2016-18 did not affect the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

Accounting Standard Update No. 2014-09, (“ASU 2014-09”) Revenue from Customers (Topic 606), became effective for us in the period ending March 31, 2018. We reviewed our contracts using the five-step revenue recognition model, which did not identify any changes required as to the amount or timing of revenue recognition. We adopted the new standard using the modified retrospective approach which did not result in any cumulative-effect adjustment on the date of adoption. The implementation of ASU 2014-09 resulted in a change in our reporting in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations so that we now report revenue streams separately for oil, NGLs, natural gas and other revenues in compliance with the new standard.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition. We recognize revenue from the sale of crude oil, NGLs, and natural gas when our performance obligations are satisfied. Our contracts with customers are primarily short-term (less than 12 months). Our responsibilities to deliver a unit of crude oil, NGL, and natural gas under these contracts represent separate, distinct performance obligations. These performance obligations are satisfied at the point in time control of each unit is transferred to the customer. Pricing is primarily determined utilizing a particular pricing or market index, plus or minus adjustments reflecting quality or location differentials.

Reclassification

Reclassification. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior periods’ financial statements to conform to the current presentation as follows: Within the Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, adjustments were made to certain line items, of which did not change the total amount previous reported. The adjustments did not affect the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets or the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Prepaid Expenses And Other Assets

Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets. The amounts recorded are expected to be realized within one year and the major categories are presented in the following table (in thousands):

	March 31,		December 31,
	2018		2017
Prepaid/accrued insurance	$	1,983	$	2,401
Surety bond unamortized premiums		3,387		2,676
Prepaid deposits related to royalties		7,451		6,456
Deposit related to an acquisition		3,000		—
Proportional consolidation of Monza prepaids (Note 4)		2,399		—
Other		1,977		1,886
Prepaid expenses and other assets	$	20,197	$	13,419

Oil and Natural Gas Properties and Other, Net - at Cost

Oil and Natural Gas Properties and Other, Net – at cost. Oil and natural gas properties and equipment are recorded at cost using the full cost method. There were no amounts excluded from amortization as of the dates presented in the following table (in thousands):

	March 31,		December 31,
	2018		2017
Oil and natural gas properties and equipment	$	8,129,924	$	8,102,044
Furniture, fixtures and other		21,831		21,831
Total property and equipment		8,151,755		8,123,875
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization		7,578,403		7,544,859
Oil and natural gas properties and other, net	$	573,352	$	579,016

Accrued Liabilities

Accrued Liabilities. The major categories are presented in the following table (in thousands):

	March 31,		December 31,
	2018		2017
Accrued interest	$	14,889	$	4,200
Accrued salaries/payroll taxes/benefits		2,577		2,454
Incentive compensation plans		1,993		7,366
Litigation accruals		3,480		3,480
Other		354		430
Total accrued liabilities	$	23,293	$	17,930

Other Assets (Long-term)

Other Assets (long-term). The major categories are presented in the following table (in thousands):

	March 31,		December 31,
	2018		2017
Escrow deposit - Apache lawsuit	$	49,500	$	49,500
Appeal bond deposits		6,925		6,925
Investment in White Cap, LLC		2,593		2,511
Unamortized brokerage fee for Monza		1,724		—
Proportional consolidation of Monza other assets (Note 4)		2,387		—
Other		1,285		1,457
Total other assets	$	64,414	$	60,393

Other Liabilities (Long-term)

Other Liabilities (long-term). The major categories are presented in the following table (in thousands):

	March 31,		December 31,
	2018		2017
Apache lawsuit	$	49,500	$	49,500
Uncertain tax positions including interest/penalties		11,124		11,015
Other		6,369		6,351
Total other liabilities (long-term)	$	66,993	$	66,866

Recent Accounting Developments

Recent Accounting Developments. In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02 (“ASU 2016-02”), Leases (Subtopic 842). Under the new guidance, a lessee will be required to recognize assets and liabilities for leases with lease terms of more than 12 months. Consistent with current GAAP, the recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee primarily will depend on its classification as a financing or operating lease. However, unlike current GAAP, which requires only capital or financing leases to be recognized on the balance sheet, ASU 2016-02 will require both types of leases to be recognized on the balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 also will require disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users to better understand the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. These disclosures include qualitative and quantitative requirements, providing additional information about the amounts recorded in the financial statements. ASU 2016-02 does not apply for leases for oil and gas properties, but does apply to equipment used to explore and develop oil and gas resources. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and is to be applied using the modified retrospective approach. Our current operating leases that will be impacted by ASU 2016-02 are leases for office space, which is primarily in Houston, Texas, although ASU 2016-02 may impact the accounting for leases related to equipment depending on the term of the lease. We currently do not have any leases classified as financing leases nor do we have any leases recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. We have not yet fully determined or quantified the effect ASU 2016-02 will have on our financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13, (“ASU 2016-13”), Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Subtopic 326). The new guidance eliminates the probable recognition threshold and broadens the information to consider past events, current conditions and forecasted information in estimating credit losses. ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. We have not yet fully determined or quantified the effect ASU 2016-13 will have on our financial statements.

In August 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-12, (“ASU 2017-12”), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) – Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The amendments in ASU 2017-12 require an entity to present the earnings effect of the hedging instrument in the same income statement line in which the earning effect of the hedged item is reported. This presentation enables users of financial statements to better understand the results and costs of an entity’s hedging program. Also, relative to current GAAP, this approach simplifies the financial statement reporting for qualifying hedging relationships. ASU 2017-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. As we do not designate our commodity derivative positions as qualifying hedging instruments, our assessment is this amendment will not impact the presentation of the changes in fair values of our commodity derivative instruments on our financial statements.