Organization and Operations of the Company (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Oasis Petroleum Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, “Oasis” or the “Company”) was formed on February 25, 2010, pursuant to the laws of the State of Delaware, to become a holding company for Oasis Petroleum LLC (“OP LLC”), the Company’s predecessor, which was formed as a Delaware limited liability company on February 26, 2007. In connection with its initial public offering in June 2010 and related corporate reorganization, the Company acquired all of the outstanding membership interests in OP LLC in exchange for shares of the Company’s common stock. In 2007, Oasis Petroleum North America LLC (“OPNA”), a Delaware limited liability company, was formed to conduct domestic oil and natural gas exploration and production activities. In 2011, the Company formed Oasis Well Services LLC (“OWS”), a Delaware limited liability company, to provide well services to OPNA, and Oasis Petroleum Marketing LLC (“OPM”), a Delaware limited liability company, to provide marketing services to OPNA. In 2013, the Company formed Oasis Midstream Services LLC (“OMS”), a Delaware limited liability company, to provide midstream services to OPNA. As part of the formation of OMS, the Company transferred substantially all of its salt water disposal and other midstream assets from OPNA to OMS.

Nature of Business

The Company is an independent exploration and production company focused on the acquisition and development of unconventional oil and natural gas resources in the Williston Basin. The Company’s proved and unproved oil and natural gas properties are located in the North Dakota and Montana areas of the Williston Basin and are owned by OPNA. The Company also operates a marketing business (OPM), a well services business (OWS) and a midstream services business (OMS), all of which are complementary to its primary development and production activities. Both OWS and OMS are separate reportable business segments.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of Oasis and its wholly owned subsidiaries: OP LLC, OPNA, OWS, OMS and OPM. These statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain reclassifications of prior year balances have been made to conform such amounts to current year classifications. These reclassifications have no impact on net income.

Use of Estimates

Preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The most significant estimates pertain to proved oil and natural gas reserves and related cash flow estimates used in impairment tests of long-lived assets, estimates of future development, dismantlement and abandonment costs, estimates relating to certain oil and natural gas revenues and expenses and estimates of expenses related to legal, environmental and other contingencies. Certain of these estimates require assumptions regarding future commodity prices, future costs and expenses and future production rates. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

As an oil and natural gas producer, the Company’s revenue, profitability and future growth are substantially dependent upon the prevailing and future prices for oil and natural gas, which are dependent upon numerous factors beyond its control such as economic, political and regulatory developments and competition from other energy sources. The energy markets have historically been very volatile and there can be no assurance that oil and natural gas prices will not be subject to wide fluctuations in the future. A substantial or extended decline in oil and natural gas prices could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, cash flows and quantities of oil and natural gas reserves that may be economically produced.

Estimates of oil and natural gas reserves and their values, future production rates and future costs and expenses are inherently uncertain for numerous reasons, including many factors beyond the Company’s control. Reservoir engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of oil and natural gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of data available and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. In addition, estimates of reserves may be revised based on actual production, results of subsequent exploration and development activities, prevailing commodity prices, operating costs and other factors. These revisions may be material and could materially affect future depletion, depreciation and amortization expense, dismantlement and abandonment costs, and impairment expense.

Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments

The Company invests in certain money market funds, commercial paper and time deposits, all of which are stated at fair value or cost which approximates fair value due to the short-term maturity of these investments. The Company classifies all such investments with original maturity dates less than 90 days as cash equivalents. The Company classifies all such investments with original maturity dates greater than 90 days as held-to-maturity securities based on management’s intentions to hold the investments to their maturity dates.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are carried on a gross basis, with no discounting. The Company regularly reviews all aged accounts receivable for collectability and establishes an allowance as necessary for individual customer balances. No allowance for doubtful accounts was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.

Inventory

Equipment and materials consist primarily of tubular goods, well equipment to be used in future drilling or repair operations and well fracturing equipment, chemicals and proppant, all of which are stated at the lower of cost or market with cost determined on an average cost method. Crude oil inventories include oil in tank and line fill and are valued at the lower of average cost or market value. Inventory consists of the following:



	December 31,
	2013		2012
	(In thousands)
Equipment and materials	$	11,669	$	16,438
Crude oil inventory	8,983		4,269
	$	20,652	$	20,707

Joint Interest Partner Advances

The Company participates in the drilling of oil and natural gas wells with other working interest partners. Due to the capital intensive nature of oil and natural gas drilling activities, the working interest partner responsible for conducting the drilling operations may request advance payments from other working interest partners for their share of the costs. The Company expects such advances to be applied by working interest partners against joint interest billings for its share of drilling operations within 90 days from when the advance is paid.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Proved Oil and Gas Properties

Oil and natural gas exploration and development activities are accounted for using the successful efforts method. Under this method, all property acquisition costs and costs of exploratory and development wells are capitalized when incurred, pending determination of whether the well has found proved reserves. If an exploratory well does not find proved reserves, the costs of drilling the well are charged to expense. The costs of development wells are capitalized whether productive or nonproductive.

The provision for depreciation, depletion and amortization (“DD&A”) of oil and natural gas properties is calculated on a field-by-field basis using the unit-of-production method. All capitalized well costs and leasehold costs of proved properties are amortized on a unit-of-production basis over the remaining life of proved developed reserves and total proved reserves, respectively. Natural gas is converted to barrel equivalents at the rate of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil. The calculation for the unit-of-production DD&A method takes into consideration estimated future dismantlement, restoration and abandonment costs, which are net of estimated salvage values.

Costs of retired, sold or abandoned properties that constitute a part of an amortization base (partial field) are charged or credited, net of proceeds, to accumulated DD&A unless doing so significantly affects the unit-of-production amortization rate for an entire field, in which case a gain or loss is recognized currently. In November 2011, the Company sold its remaining interests in non-core oil and natural gas producing properties located in the Barnett shale in Texas and interests in other properties for an aggregate $2.2 million in cash. The Company recognized a loss of $0.2 million from these divestures. No gain or loss for the sale of oil and natural gas properties was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2013 or 2012.

Expenditures for maintenance, repairs and minor renewals necessary to maintain properties in operating condition are expensed as incurred. Major betterments, replacements and renewals are capitalized to the appropriate property and equipment accounts. Estimated dismantlement and abandonment costs for oil and natural gas properties are capitalized, net of salvage, at their estimated net present value and amortized on a unit-of-production basis over the remaining life of the related proved developed reserves.

The Company reviews its proved oil and natural gas properties for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that a decline in the recoverability of their carrying value may have occurred. The Company estimates the expected undiscounted future cash flows of its oil and natural gas properties and compares such undiscounted future cash flows to the carrying amount of the oil and natural gas properties to determine if the carrying amount is recoverable. If the carrying amount exceeds the estimated undiscounted future cash flows, the Company will adjust the carrying amount of the oil and natural gas properties to fair value. The factors used to determine fair value are subject to management’s judgment and expertise and include, but are not limited to, recent sales prices of comparable properties, the present value of future cash flows, net of estimated operating and development costs using estimates of proved reserves, future commodity pricing, future production estimates, anticipated capital expenditures and various discount rates commensurate with the risk and current market conditions associated with realizing the expected cash flows projected. These assumptions represent Level 3 inputs, as further discussed in Note 3 — Fair Value Measurements. No impairment of proved oil and natural gas properties was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.

Unproved Oil and Gas Properties

Unproved properties consist of costs incurred to acquire unproved leases, or lease acquisition costs. Lease acquisition costs are capitalized until the leases expire or when the Company specifically identifies leases that will revert to the lessor, at which time the Company expenses the associated lease acquisition costs. The expensing of the lease acquisition costs is recorded as impairment of oil and gas properties in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Lease acquisition costs related to successful exploratory drilling are reclassified to proved properties and depleted on a unit-of-production basis.

The Company assesses its unproved properties periodically for impairment on a property-by-property basis based on remaining lease terms, drilling results or future plans to develop acreage. The Company considers the following factors in its assessment of the impairment of unproved properties:


•	the remaining amount of unexpired term under its leases;


•	its ability to actively manage and prioritize its capital expenditures to drill leases and to make payments to extend leases that may be close to expiration;


•	its ability to exchange lease positions with other companies that allow for higher concentrations of ownership and development;


•	its ability to convey partial mineral ownership to other companies in exchange for their drilling of leases; and


•	its evaluation of the continuing successful results from the application of completion technology in the Bakken and Three Forks formations by the Company or by other operators in areas adjacent to or near the Company’s unproved properties.

As a result of expiring unproved property leases and periodic assessments of unproved properties, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges of $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 and $3.6 million for each of the years ended ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.

For sales of entire working interests in unproved properties, gain or loss is recognized to the extent of the difference between the proceeds received and the net carrying value of the property. Proceeds from sales of partial interests in unproved properties are accounted for as a recovery of costs unless the proceeds exceed the entire cost of the property.

Capitalized Interest

The Company capitalizes a portion of its interest expense incurred on its outstanding debt. The amount capitalized is determined by multiplying the capitalization rate by the average amount of eligible accumulated capital expenditures and is limited to actual interest costs incurred during the period. The accumulated capital expenditures included in the capitalized interest calculation begin when the first costs are incurred and end when the asset is either placed into production or written off. The Company capitalized $4.6 million, $3.3 million and $3.1 million of interest costs for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. These amounts will be amortized over the life of the related assets.

Other Property and Equipment

Salt water disposal facilities, furniture, software, equipment and leasehold improvements are recorded at cost and are depreciated on the straight-line method based on expected lives of the individual assets. The Company uses estimated lives of 30 years for salt water disposal facilities, 20 years for buildings, two to seven years for furniture, software and equipment and the remaining lease term for leasehold improvements. The calculation for the straight-line DD&A method for salt water disposal facilities takes into consideration estimated future dismantlement, restoration and abandonment costs, which are net of estimated salvage values. The cost of assets disposed of and the associated accumulated depletion, depreciation and amortization are removed from the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet with any gain or loss realized upon the sale or disposal included in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Exploration Expenses

Exploration costs, including certain geological and geophysical expenses and the costs of carrying and retaining undeveloped acreage, are charged to expense as incurred.

Costs from drilling exploratory wells are initially capitalized, but charged to expense if and when a well is determined to be unsuccessful. Determination is usually made on or shortly after drilling or completing the well, however, in certain situations a determination cannot be made when drilling is completed. The Company defers capitalized exploratory drilling costs for wells that have found a sufficient quantity of producible hydrocarbons but cannot be classified as proved because they are located in areas that require major capital expenditures or governmental or other regulatory approvals before production can begin. These costs continue to be deferred as wells-in-progress as long as development is underway, is firmly planned for the near future or the necessary approvals are actively being sought.

Net changes in capitalized exploratory well costs are reflected in the following table for the periods presented:



	December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Beginning of period	$	40,424		$	20,207		$	5,176
Exploratory well cost additions (pending determination of proved reserves)	346,814			160,813			73,947
Exploratory well cost reclassifications (successful determination of proved reserves)	(264,023		)	(140,091		)	(57,646		)
Exploratory well dry hole costs (unsuccessful in adding proved reserves)	—			(505		)	(1,270		)
End of period	$	123,215		$	40,424		$	20,207

As of December 31, 2013, the Company had no exploratory well costs that were capitalized for a period greater than one year.

Business Combinations

The Company accounts for business combinations under the acquisition method of accounting. Accordingly, the Company recognizes amounts for identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed equal to their estimated acquisition date fair values. Transaction and integration costs associated with business combinations are expensed as incurred.

The Company makes various assumptions in estimating the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. As fair value is a market-based measurement, it is determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use. The most significant assumptions relate to the estimated fair values of proved and unproved oil and natural gas properties. The fair values of these properties are measured using valuation techniques that convert future cash flows to a single discounted amount. Significant inputs to the valuation include estimates of reserves, future operating and development costs, future commodity prices and a market-based weighted average cost of capital rate. The market-based weighted average cost of capital rate is subjected to additional project-specific risking factors. In addition, when appropriate, the Company reviews comparable purchases and sales of oil and natural gas properties within the same regions, and uses that data as a proxy for fair market value; for example, the amount a willing buyer and seller would enter into in exchange for such properties.

Any excess of the acquisition price over the estimated fair value of net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Any excess of the estimated fair value of net assets acquired over the acquisition price is recorded in current earnings as a gain on bargain purchase. Deferred taxes are recorded for any differences between the assigned values and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Estimated deferred taxes are based on available information concerning the tax basis of assets acquired and liabilities assumed and loss carryforwards at the acquisition date, although such estimates may change in the future as additional information becomes known.

Assets Held for Sale

The Company occasionally markets non-core oil and gas properties. At the end of each reporting period, the Company evaluates the properties being marketed to determine whether any should be reclassified as held-for-sale. The held-for-sale criteria include: management commits to a plan to sell; the asset is available for immediate sale; an active program to locate a buyer exists; the sale of the asset is probable and expected to be completed within one year; the asset is being actively marketed for sale; and it is unlikely that significant changes to the plan will be made. If each of these criteria is met, the property is reclassified as held-for-sale in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet and measured at the lower of their carrying amount or estimated fair value less costs to sell. Depreciation, depletion, and amortization expense is not recorded on assets to be divested once they are classified as held for sale.

Deferred Financing Costs

The Company capitalizes costs incurred in connection with obtaining financing. These costs are included in deferred costs and other assets on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet and are amortized over the term of the related financing using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method.

Asset Retirement Obligations

In accordance with the Financial Accounting Standard Board’s (“FASB”) authoritative guidance on asset retirement obligations (“ARO”), the Company records the fair value of a liability for a legal obligation to retire an asset in the period in which the liability is incurred with the corresponding cost capitalized by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. For oil and gas properties, this is the period in which the well is drilled or acquired. The ARO represents the estimated amount the Company will incur to plug, abandon and remediate the properties at the end of their productive lives, in accordance with applicable state laws. The liability is accreted to its present value each period and the capitalized costs are amortized using the unit-of-production method. The accretion expense is recorded as a component of depreciation, depletion and amortization in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.

The Company determines the ARO by calculating the present value of estimated cash flows related to the liability. Estimating the future ARO requires management to make estimates and judgments regarding timing and existence of a liability, as well as what constitutes adequate restoration. Inherent in the fair value calculation are numerous assumptions and judgments including the ultimate costs, inflation factors, credit adjusted discount rates, timing of settlement and changes in the legal, regulatory, environmental and political environments. These assumptions represent Level 3 inputs, as further discussed in Note 3 — Fair Value Measurements. To the extent future revisions to these assumptions impact the fair value of the existing ARO liability, a corresponding adjustment is made to the related asset.

Revenue Recognition

Oil and gas revenue from the Company’s interests in producing wells is recognized when the product is delivered, at which time the customer has taken title and assumed the risks and rewards of ownership, and collectability is reasonably assured. Substantially all of the Company’s production is sold to purchasers under short-term (less than twelve months) contracts at market-based prices. The sales prices for oil and natural gas are adjusted for transportation and other related deductions. These deductions are based on contractual or historical data and do not require significant judgment. Subsequently, these revenue deductions are adjusted to reflect actual charges based on third-party documents. Since there is a ready market for oil and natural gas, the Company sells the majority of its production soon after it is produced at various locations. As a result, the Company maintains a minimum amount of product inventory in storage.

Well services revenue is recognized when well completion services have been performed or related products have been delivered. OWS provides wells services and sells related products primarily to OPNA. Midstream revenues consist of revenues from salt water disposal for OPNA’s operated wells. Prior to the formation of OMS in 2013, the salt water disposal systems were owned by OPNA, and the related income was included as a reduction to lease operating expenses. The revenues related to OPNA’s working interests are eliminated in consolidation, and only the revenues related to other working interest owners in OPNA’s wells are included in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Revenues and Production Taxes Payable

The Company calculates and pays taxes and royalties on oil and natural gas in accordance with the particular contractual provisions of the lease, license or concession agreements and the laws and regulations applicable to those agreements.

Concentrations of Market and Credit Risk

The future results of the Company’s oil and natural gas operations will be affected by the market prices of oil and natural gas. The availability of a ready market for oil and natural gas products in the future will depend on numerous factors beyond the control of the Company, including weather, imports, marketing of competitive fuels, proximity and capacity of oil and natural gas pipelines and other transportation facilities, any oversupply or undersupply of oil, natural gas and liquid products, the regulatory environment, the economic environment, and other regional and political events, none of which can be predicted with certainty.

The Company operates in the exploration, development and production sector of the oil and gas industry. The Company’s receivables include amounts due from purchasers of its oil and natural gas production and amounts due from joint interest partners for their respective portions of operating expenses and exploration and development costs. While certain of these customers and joint interest partners are affected by periodic downturns in the economy in general or in their specific segment of the oil or natural gas industry, the Company believes that its level of credit-related losses due to such economic fluctuations has been and will continue to be immaterial to the Company’s results of operations over the long-term. In addition, a portion of the Company’s trade receivables are collateralized.

The Company manages and controls market and counterparty credit risk. In the normal course of business, collateral is not required for financial instruments with credit risk. Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist principally of temporary cash balances and derivative financial instruments. The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents in bank deposit accounts which, at times, may exceed the federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any significant losses from such investments. The Company attempts to limit the amount of credit exposure to any one financial institution or company. The Company believes the credit quality of its customers is generally high. In the normal course of business, letters of credit or parent guarantees are required for counterparties which management perceives to have a higher credit risk.

Risk Management

The Company utilizes derivative financial instruments to manage risks related to changes in oil prices. As of December 31, 2013, the Company utilized two-way and three-way costless collar options, put spreads, swaps and swaps with sub-floors to reduce the volatility of oil prices on a significant portion of the Company’s future expected oil production (see Note 4 — Derivative Instruments).

The Company records all derivative instruments on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as either assets or liabilities measured at their estimated fair value. Derivative assets and liabilities arising from derivative contracts with the same counterparty are reported on a net basis, as all counterparty contracts provide for net settlement. The Company has not designated any derivative instruments as hedges for accounting purposes and does not enter into such instruments for speculative trading purposes. Cash settlements of commodity derivative instruments and gains and losses from valuation changes in the remaining unsettled commodity derivative instruments are reported in the other income (expense) section of the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations. The Company’s cash flow is only impacted when the actual settlements under the derivative contracts result in making or receiving a payment to or from the counterparty. These cash settlements are reflected as investing activities in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

Derivative financial instruments that hedge the price of oil are executed with major financial institutions that expose the Company to market and credit risks and which may, at times, be concentrated with certain counterparties or groups of counterparties. The Company has derivatives in place with six counterparties. Although notional amounts are used to express the volume of these contracts, the amounts potentially subject to credit risk in the event of nonperformance by the counterparties are substantially smaller. The credit worthiness of the counterparties is subject to continual review. The Company believes the risk of nonperformance by its counterparties is low. Full performance is anticipated, and the Company has no past-due receivables from its counterparties. The Company’s policy is to execute financial derivatives only with major, credit-worthy financial institutions.

The Company’s derivative contracts are documented with industry standard contracts known as a Schedule to the Master Agreement and International Swaps and Derivative Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA”). Typical terms for the ISDAs include credit support requirements, cross default provisions, termination events and set-off provisions. The Company is not required to provide any credit support to its counterparties other than cross collateralization with the properties securing the Company’s revolving credit facility (see Note 9 — Long-Term Debt). As of December 31, 2013, the Company had limitations under its revolving credit facility, including a provision limiting the total amount of production that may be hedged by the Company to the lesser of projected production or 110% of Current Production (as defined in the revolving credit facility) for the period from 1 to 12 months, 100% of Current Production for the period from 13 to 24 months, 75% of Current Production for the period from 25 to 36 months, and 50% of Current Production for the period from 37 to 60 months after the date of each derivative. As of December 31, 2013, the Company was in compliance with these limitations.

Environmental Costs

Environmental expenditures are expensed or capitalized, as appropriate, depending on their future economic benefit. Expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations, and which do not have future economic benefit, are expensed. Liabilities related to future costs are recorded on an undiscounted basis when environmental assessments and/or remediation activities are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated.

Stock-Based Compensation

Restricted Stock Awards

The Company has granted restricted stock awards to employees and directors under its 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan, the majority of which vest over a three-year period. The fair value of restricted stock grants is based on the value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Compensation expense is recognized ratably over the requisite service period. Beginning January 1, 2013, the Company assumed annual forfeiture rates by employee group ranging from 0% to 11% based on the Company’s forfeiture history for this type of award as adjusted for management’s expectations of forfeitures. Stock-based compensation expense recorded for restricted stock awards is included in general and administrative expenses on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Performance Share Units

The Company recognizes compensation expense for its performance share units (“PSUs”) granted to its officers under its 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Stock-based compensation expense is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the performance period, which is generally the vesting period. The fair value of the PSUs is based on the calculation derived from a Monte Carlo simulation model. The Monte Carlo simulation model uses assumptions regarding random projections and must be repeated numerous times to achieve a probable assessment. Any change in inputs or number of inputs to this calculation could impact the valuation and thus the stock-based compensation expense recognized (see Note 12 — Stock-Based Compensation for a description of these inputs). Stock-based compensation expense recorded for PSUs is included in general and administrative expenses on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Associated Excess Tax Benefits

Any excess tax benefit arising from the Company’s stock-based compensation plan is recognized as a credit to additional paid-in-capital when realized and is calculated as the amount by which the tax benefit related to the tax deduction received exceeds the deferred tax asset associated with the recorded stock-based compensation expense. As of December 31, 2013, the excess federal tax deduction related to stock-based compensation was $4.8 million and the excess state tax deduction related to stock-based compensation was $3.5 million. Since the Company has been in and continues to be in a net operating loss position for tax purposes, none of the excess tax deduction is reflected in additional paid-in-capital. Pursuant to GAAP, the Company’s deferred tax asset related to net operating loss carryforward is net of the unrealized tax benefit from stock-based compensation.

Treasury Stock

Treasury stock shares represent shares withheld by the Company equivalent to the payroll tax withholding obligations due from employees upon the vesting of restricted stock awards. The Company includes the withheld shares as treasury stock on its Consolidated Balance Sheet and separately pays the payroll tax obligation. These retained shares are not part of a publicly announced program to repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock and are accounted for at cost. The Company does not have a publicly announced program to repurchase shares of its common stock.

Income Taxes

The Company’s provision for taxes includes both federal and state taxes. The Company records its federal income taxes in accordance with accounting for income taxes under GAAP which results in the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the book carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences and carryforwards are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is established to reduce deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that the related tax benefits will not be realized.

The Company applies significant judgment in evaluating its tax positions and estimating its provision for income taxes. During the ordinary course of business, there are many transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. The actual outcome of these future tax consequences could differ significantly from the Company’s estimates, which could impact its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

The Company also accounts for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements in accordance with GAAP by prescribing a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Authoritative guidance for accounting for uncertainty in income taxes requires that the Company recognize the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. The Company did not have any uncertain tax positions outstanding and, as such, did not record a liability for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.

Fair Value of Financial and Non-Financial Instruments

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other payables approximate their respective fair market values due to their short-term maturities. The Company’s derivative instruments and asset retirement obligations are also recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at amounts which approximate fair market value. See Note 3 — Fair Value Measurements.