ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Asset Retirement Obligation [Abstract]

The Company recognizes an estimated liability for future costs to abandon its oil and gas properties. The fair value of the asset retirement obligation is recorded as a liability when incurred, which is typically at the time the asset is acquired or placed in service. There is a corresponding increase to the carrying value of the asset, which is included in the proved properties line item in the accompanying balance sheets. The Company depletes the amount added to proved properties and recognizes expense in connection with accretion of the discounted liability over the remaining estimated economic lives of the properties.

The Company’s estimated asset retirement obligation liability is based on historical experience in abandoning wells, estimated economic lives, estimated costs to abandon the wells, and regulatory requirements. The liability is discounted using the credit-adjusted risk-free rate estimated at the time the liability is incurred, which ranges from 5% to 7%.

A roll-forward of the Company's asset retirement obligation is as follows (in thousands):


	Amount
Beginning balance as of December 31, 2018	$	29,405
Liabilities settled	(2,006)
Additions	213
Accretion expense	1,144

Ending balance as of September 30, 2019	$	28,756