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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Matador Resources Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, MRC Energy Company, as well as the accounts of MRC Energy Company’s four wholly-owned subsidiaries, Matador Production Company, Longwood Gathering and Disposal Systems GP, Inc., MRC Permian Company and MRC Rockies Company, and the accounts of Longwood Gathering and Disposal Systems, LP. These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The Company’s operations are conducted in the one segment generally referred to as the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior years’ financial statements to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported results of operations, cash flows or retained earnings.

 

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates and assumptions may also affect disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. While the Company believes its estimates are reasonable, changes in facts and assumptions or the discovery of new information may result in revised estimates. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

The Company’s consolidated financial statements are based on a number of significant estimates, including oil and natural gas revenues, accrued assets and liabilities, stock-based compensation, valuation of derivative instruments, deferred tax assets and liabilities and oil and natural gas reserves. The estimates of oil and natural gas reserves quantities and future net cash flows are the basis for the calculations of depletion and impairment of oil and natural gas properties, as well as estimates of asset retirement obligations and certain tax accruals. The Company’s oil and natural gas reserves estimates, which are inherently imprecise and based upon many factors that are beyond the Company’s control, including oil and natural gas prices, are prepared by the Company’s engineering staff in accordance with guidelines established by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and then audited for their reasonableness and conformance with SEC guidelines by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., independent reservoir engineers.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of thirty (30) days or less as cash equivalents, and cash equivalents are recorded at market. Except for small cash balances held in the Company’s operating accounts to conduct its ongoing business, the remainder of the Company’s cash equivalents during the year ended December 31, 2010 was held in money market accounts composed of United States Treasury securities offering daily liquidity. The Company had no cash equivalents as of December 31, 2012 or 2011.

Certificates of Deposit

Certificates of deposit (“CD’s”) are highly liquid, short-term investments with an original maturity of more than 30 days but not more than one year. Each CD is recorded at market and is fully insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Accounts Receivable

The Company sells its operated oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids production to various purchasers (see Note 14). Due to the nature of the markets for oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids, the Company does not believe that the loss of any one purchaser would significantly impact operations. In addition, the Company may participate with industry partners in the drilling, completion and operation of oil and natural gas wells. Substantially all of the Company’s accounts receivable are due from either purchasers of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids or participants in oil and natural gas wells for which the Company serves as the operator. Accounts receivable are due within 30 to 60 days of the production date and 30 days of the billing date, respectively, and are stated at amounts due from purchasers and industry partners. Amounts are considered past due if they have been outstanding for 60 days or more. No interest is typically charged on past due amounts.

The Company reviews its need for an allowance for doubtful accounts on a periodic basis, and determines the allowance, if any, by considering the length of time past due, previous loss history, future net revenues of the debtor’s ownership interest in oil and natural gas properties operated by the Company and the debtor’s ability to pay its obligations, among other things. The Company has no allowance for doubtful accounts related to its accounts receivable for any reporting period presented.

The Company wrote off receivables of $24,229 in 2011; there were no receivables written off in 2012 or 2010. When necessary, the Company accounts for a write off by recording the loss as a reduction of accounts receivable once the specific account has been determined to be uncollectible.

Lease and Well Equipment Inventory

Lease and well equipment inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market and consists entirely of equipment scheduled for use in future well operations or equipment held for sale.

Property and Equipment

The Company uses the full-cost method of accounting for its investments in oil and natural gas properties. Under this method of accounting, all costs associated with the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties and reserves, including unproved and unevaluated property costs, are capitalized as incurred and accumulated in a single cost center representing the Company’s activities, which are undertaken exclusively in the United States. Such costs include lease acquisition costs, geological and geophysical expenditures, lease rentals on undeveloped properties, costs of drilling both productive and non-productive wells, capitalized interest on qualifying projects and general and administrative expenses directly related to acquisition, exploration and development activities, but do not include any costs related to production, selling or general corporate administrative activities. The Company capitalized $2.6 million, $2.0 million and $1.6 million of its general and administrative costs in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company capitalized $1.6 million and $1.3 million of its interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The Company recorded only $3,235 in interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2010. As a result, the Company capitalized no interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2010.

The net capitalized costs of oil and natural gas properties are limited to the lower of unamortized costs less related deferred income taxes or the cost ceiling, with any excess above the cost center ceiling charged to operations as a full-cost ceiling impairment. Beginning January 1, 2011, the need for a full-cost ceiling impairment is assessed on a quarterly basis. The cost center ceiling is defined as the sum of (a) the present value discounted at 10 percent of future net revenues of proved oil and natural gas reserves, plus (b) unproved and unevaluated property costs not being amortized, plus (c) the lower of cost or estimated fair value of unproved and unevaluated properties included in the costs being amortized, if any, less (d) income tax effects related to the properties involved. Future net revenues from proved non-producing and proved undeveloped reserves are reduced by the estimated costs for developing these reserves. The fair value of the Company’s derivative instruments is not included in the ceiling test computation as the Company does not designate these instruments as hedge instruments for accounting purposes.

The estimated present value of after-tax future net cash flows from proved oil and natural gas reserves is highly dependent on the commodity prices used in these estimates. These estimates are determined in accordance with guidelines established by the SEC for estimating and reporting oil and natural gas reserves. Under these guidelines, oil and natural gas reserves are estimated using then-current operating and economic conditions, with no provision for price and cost escalations in future periods except by contractual arrangements. The commodity prices used to estimate oil and natural gas reserves are based on unweighted, arithmetic averages of first-day-of-the-month oil and natural gas prices for the previous 12-month period. For the period January through December 2012, these average oil and natural gas prices were $91.21 per barrel and $2.757 per MMBtu, respectively. For the period January through December 2011, these average oil and natural gas prices were $92.71 per barrel and $4.118 per MMBtu, respectively. For the period January through December 2010, these average oil and natural gas prices were $75.96 per barrel and $4.376 per MMBtu, respectively. In estimating the present value of after-tax future net cash flows from proved oil and natural gas reserves, the average oil prices were further adjusted by property for quality, transportation fees and regional price differentials, and the average natural gas prices were further adjusted by property for energy content, transportation fees and regional price differentials.

During the second quarter ended June 30, 2012, the Company’s net capitalized costs less related deferred income taxes exceeded the full-cost ceiling by $21.3 million. The Company recorded an impairment charge of $33.2 million to its net capitalized costs and a deferred income tax credit of $11.9 million related to the full-cost ceiling limitation. During the third quarter ended September 30, 2012, the Company’s net capitalized costs less related deferred income taxes exceeded the full-cost ceiling by $2.3 million. The Company recorded an impairment charge of $3.6 million to its net capitalized costs and a deferred income tax credit of $1.3 million related to the full-cost ceiling limitation. During the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2012, the Company’s net capitalized costs exceeded the cost center ceiling by $17.3 million. The Company recorded an impairment charge of $26.7 million to its net capitalized costs and a deferred income tax credit of $9.4 million related to the full-cost ceiling limitation. These charges for the second, third and fourth quarters of 2012 are reflected in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2012. Changes in oil and natural gas production rates, oil and natural gas prices, reserves estimates, future development costs and other factors will determine the Company’s actual ceiling test computation and impairment analyses in future periods.

During the first quarter ended March 31, 2011, the Company’s net capitalized costs less related deferred income taxes exceeded the full-cost ceiling by $23.0 million. The Company recorded an impairment charge of $35.7 million to its net capitalized costs and a deferred income tax credit of $12.7 million related to the full-cost ceiling limitation. These charges are reflected in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2011. The Company recorded no impairment to its net capitalized costs and no corresponding charge to its consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

As a non-cash item, the full-cost ceiling impairment impacts the accumulated depletion and the net carrying value of the Company’s assets on its balance sheet, as well as the corresponding shareholders’ equity, but it has no impact on the Company’s net cash flows as reported.

Capitalized costs of oil and natural gas properties are amortized using the unit-of-production method based upon production and estimates of proved reserves quantities. Unproved and unevaluated property costs are excluded from the amortization base used to determine depletion. Unproved and unevaluated properties are assessed for possible impairment on a periodic basis based upon changes in operating or economic conditions. This assessment includes consideration of the following factors, among others: the assignment of proved reserves, geological and geophysical evaluations, intent to drill, remaining lease term and drilling activity and results. Upon impairment, the costs of the unproved and unevaluated properties are immediately included in the amortization base. Exploratory dry holes are included in the amortization base immediately upon determination that the well is not productive.

Sales of oil and natural gas properties are accounted for as adjustments to net capitalized costs with no gain or loss recognized, unless such adjustments would significantly alter the relationship between net capitalized costs and proved reserves of oil and natural gas. All costs related to production activities and maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Significant workovers that increase the properties’ reserves are capitalized.

Other property and equipment are stated at cost. Computer equipment, furniture, software and other equipment are depreciated over their useful life (5 to 10 years) using the straight-line method. Support equipment and facilities include the pipelines and salt water disposal systems owned by Longwood Gathering and Disposal Systems, LP and are depreciated over a 30-year useful life using the straight-line, mid-month convention method. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the lesser of their useful lives or the term of the lease.

Asset Retirement Obligations

The Company recognizes the fair value of an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The asset retirement obligation is recorded as a liability at its estimated present value, with an offsetting increase recognized in oil and natural gas properties or support equipment and facilities on the balance sheet. Periodic accretion of the discounted value of the estimated liability is recorded as an expense in the consolidated statement of operations. In general, the Company’s future asset retirement obligations relate to future costs associated with plugging and abandonment of its oil and natural gas wells, removal of equipment and facilities from leased acreage and returning such land to its original condition. The amounts recognized are based on numerous estimates and assumptions, including future retirement costs, future recoverable quantities of oil and natural gas, future inflation rates and the Company’s credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate. Revisions to the liability can occur due to changes in its estimate or if federal or state regulators enact new plugging and abandonment requirements. At the time of actual plugging and abandonment of its oil and natural gas wells, the Company includes any gain or loss associated with the operation in the amortization base to the extent that the actual costs are different from the estimated liability.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments

From time to time, the Company uses derivative financial instruments to mitigate its exposure to commodity price risk associated with oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids prices. These instruments consist of put and call options in the form of costless (or zero-cost) collars and swap contracts. Costless collars provide the Company with downside price protection through the purchase of a put option which is financed through the sale of a call option. Because the call option proceeds are used to offset the cost of the put option, these arrangements are initially “costless” to the Company. In the case of a costless collar, the put option and the call option have different fixed price components. In a swap contract, a floating price is exchanged for a fixed price over a specified period, providing downside price protection. The Company’s derivative financial instruments are recorded on the balance sheet as either an asset or a liability measured at fair value. The Company has elected not to apply hedge accounting for its existing derivative financial instruments, and as a result, the Company recognizes the change in derivative fair value between reporting periods currently in its consolidated statement of operations (see Note 11). The fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments is determined using purchase and sale information available for similarly traded securities. Realized gains and realized losses from the settlement of derivative financial instruments and unrealized gains and losses from valuation changes in the remaining unsettled derivative financial instruments are reported under “Revenues” in our consolidated statement of operations.

Revenue Recognition

The Company follows the sales method of accounting for its oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids revenues, whereby it recognizes revenue, net of royalties, on all oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids sold to purchasers regardless of whether the sales are proportionate to its ownership in the property. Under this method, revenue is recognized at the time oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids are produced and sold, and the Company accrues for revenue earned but not yet received.

Stock-Based Compensation

Effective January 1, 2012, the Board of Directors adopted the 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2012 Incentive Plan”). The 2012 Incentive Plan was also approved by the Company’s shareholders at its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on June 7, 2012. During 2012, all stock option awards granted under the 2012 Incentive Plan were non-qualified options and the associated compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period, which is typically four years. All stock option awards granted in 2012 are classified as equity instruments due to the methods of exercise specified in the 2012 Incentive Plan. Compensation expense for restricted stock and restricted stock unit grants awarded in 2012 was recognized immediately or over the vesting period, which is typically three to four years.

The Company did not grant any stock option awards in 2011. Prior to 2011, all stock option awards were granted under the 2003 Stock and Incentive Plan (the “2003 Plan”), and since November 22, 2010, these awards have been accounted for as liability instruments. No additional stock-based compensation will be awarded under the 2003 Plan. Non-qualified stock option grants awarded under the 2003 Plan typically vested upon issuance, while incentive stock option grants awarded under the 2003 Plan typically vest over four years, and the associated compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. Compensation expense for restricted stock grants awarded under the 2003 Plan was recognized immediately or over the vesting period, which was typically three years.

At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company used the fair value method to measure and recognize the liability and equity associated with its outstanding stock options. At December 31, 2010, the Company measured and recognized the liability associated with its outstanding stock options using the intrinsic value method.

Prior to November 22, 2010, all of the Company’s then-outstanding stock options were classified as equity instruments, with all stock-based compensation expense measured on the date of grant and recognized over the vesting period, if any. On November 22, 2010, the Company changed its method of accounting for its then-outstanding stock options, reclassifying all of its then-outstanding stock options from equity to liability instruments. This change was made as a result of the Company purchasing shares from certain of its employees to assist them in the exercise of outstanding options of the Company’s Class A common stock. At December 31, 2012, we continue to account for all stock options granted under the 2003 Plan as liability instruments.

The Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 include a stock-based compensation (non-cash) expense of $0.1 million, $2.4 million and $0.9 million, respectively. This stock-based compensation expense includes common stock issuances and restricted stock units expense totaling $0.1 million, $0.2 million and $0.2 million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, paid to members of the Board of Directors and advisors as compensation for their services to the Company.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting. The Company evaluates the probability of realizing the future benefits of its deferred tax assets and provides a valuation allowance for the portion of any deferred tax assets where the likelihood of realizing an income tax benefit in the future does not meet the more likely than not criteria for recognition.

The Company recognizes the tax benefit of an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. Management believes that the material positions taken by the Company would more likely than not be sustained by examination. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company had not established any reserves for, nor recorded any unrecognized tax benefits related to, uncertain tax positions.

When necessary, the Company would include interest assessed by taxing authorities in “Interest expense” and penalties related to income taxes in “Other expense” on its consolidated statements of operations. The Company did not record any interest or penalties related to income tax for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

 

Earnings Per Common Share

The Company reports basic earnings per common share, which excludes the effect of potentially dilutive securities, and diluted earnings per common share, which includes the effect of all potentially dilutive securities, unless their impact is anti-dilutive.

Prior to consummation of the Company’s initial public offering (the “Initial Public Offering,” see Note 10) in February 2012, the Company had issued two classes of common stock, Class A and Class B. The holders of the Class B shares were entitled to be paid cumulative dividends at a per share rate of $0.26-2/3 annually out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends. These dividends were accrued and paid quarterly. Dividends declared during 2012 totaled $27,643. Dividends declared during 2011 and 2010 totaled $274,853 in each year. Class B dividends declared during the fourth quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012 were paid during the first quarter of 2012 totaling $96,356. As of December 31, 2012, the Company has not paid any dividends to holders of the Class A shares. Concurrent with the completion of the Initial Public Offering, all 1,030,700 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock were converted to Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. The Class A common stock is now referred to as the “common stock.”

The following are reconciliations of the numerators and denominators used to compute the Company’s basic and diluted distributed and undistributed earnings per common share as reported for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 (in thousands, except per share data).

 

                         
    Year ended December 31,  
    2012     2011     2010  

Net income (loss) — numerator

                       

Net (loss) income

  $ (33,261   $ (10,309   $ 6,377  

Less dividends to Class B shareholders — distributed earnings

    (28     (275     (275
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed (loss) earnings

  $ (33,289   $ (10,584   $ 6,102  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding — denominator

                       

Basic

                       

Class A

    53,852       41,687       40,007  

Class B

    105       1,031       1,031  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    53,957       42,718       41,038  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

                       

Class A

                       

Weighted average common shares outstanding for basic earnings (loss) per share

    53,852       41,687       40,007  

Dilutive effect of options

                96  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class A weighted average common shares outstanding — diluted

    53,852       41,687       40,103  

Class B

                       

Weighted average common shares outstanding — no associated dilutive shares

    105       1,031       1,031  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

    53,957       42,718       41,134  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

                         
    Year ended December 31,  
      2012         2011         2010    

Earnings (loss) per common share

                       

Basic

                       

Class A

                       

Distributed earnings

  $     $     $  

Undistributed (loss) earnings

  $ (0.62   $ (0.25   $ 0.15  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ (0.62   $ (0.25   $ 0.15  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

                       

Distributed earnings

  $ 0.27     $ 0.27     $ 0.27  

Undistributed (loss) earnings

  $ (0.62   $ (0.25   $ 0.15  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ (0.35   $ 0.02     $ 0.42  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

                       

Class A

                       

Distributed earnings

  $     $     $  

Undistributed (loss) earnings

  $ (0.62   $ (0.25   $ 0.15  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ (0.62   $ (0.25   $ 0.15  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

                       

Distributed earnings

  $ 0.27     $ 0.27     $ 0.27  

Undistributed (loss) earnings

  $ (0.62   $ (0.25   $ 0.15  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ (0.35   $ 0.02     $ 0.42  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

A total of 1,067,069 and 1,024,500 options to purchase shares of the Company’s Class A common stock and 162,368 and zero restricted stock units were excluded from the calculations above for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, because their effects were anti-dilutive. Additionally, 305,807 restricted shares, which are participating securities, were excluded from the calculations above for the year ended December 31, 2012 as the security holders do not have the obligation to share in the losses of the Company. There were no participating securities at December 31, 2011.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company measures and reports certain assets and liabilities on a fair value basis. Fair value is the price 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 (exit price). The Company follows FASB guidance establishing a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation methods used to measure fair value.

 

Credit Risk

The Company uses derivative financial instruments to mitigate its exposure to oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids price volatility. These transactions expose the Company to potential credit risk from its counterparties. Accounts receivable constitute the principal component of additional credit risk to which the Company may be exposed. The Company believes that any credit risk posed is insignificant and is offset by the creditworthiness of its customer base and industry partners.

Risks and Uncertainties

As an oil and natural gas exploration and production company focused on finding and developing its own prospects and reserves, the Company’s success is highly dependent on the results of its exploration and development program. Exploration activities involve numerous risks, including the risk that no commercially productive oil or natural gas reserves will be discovered. In addition, there are uncertainties as to the future costs or timing of drilling, completing and producing wells. Poor results from the Company’s exploration and development activities could limit the Company’s ability to replace and grow reserves and materially and adversely affect the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

As a result of the Company’s sale of certain assets to Chesapeake Louisiana, L.P. (“Chesapeake”) in 2008, the Company does not operate its most significant natural gas asset, that being the deep rights to explore for and develop the Haynesville shale formation (underlying its existing Cotton Valley production) on the Company’s Elm Grove/Caspiana leasehold in Northwest Louisiana. Although the Company has reserved the right to participate for a proportionately reduced 25% working interest in all wells that Chesapeake drills or participates in to develop the Haynesville on this acreage, and although the Company has the right to propose the drilling of Haynesville wells on these properties, the Company may have limited influence on when, how and at what pace these properties are developed. This could impact the Company’s ability to replace and grow reserves and materially and adversely affect the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, in 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company acquired other non-operated acreage positions in Northwest Louisiana that it believes to be prospective for the Haynesville shale. The Company has, or will have, small, non-operated working interests in the Haynesville units including these properties, and as a result, the Company will have limited influence on when, how and at what pace these properties are developed.

Estimating oil and natural gas reserves is complex and is inexact because of the numerous uncertainties inherent in the process. The process relies on interpretations of available geological, geophysical, petrophysical, engineering and production data. The extent, quality and reliability of both the data and the associated interpretations of that data can vary. The process also requires certain economic assumptions, including, but not limited to, oil and natural gas prices, drilling, completion and operating expenses, capital expenditures and taxes. Actual future production, oil and natural gas prices, revenues, taxes, development expenditures, operating expenses and quantities of recoverable oil and natural gas most likely will vary from the Company’s estimates. Any significant variance could materially and adversely affect the Company’s future reserves estimates, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Historically, the market for oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids has experienced significant price fluctuations, and this has been particularly evident in recent years. Oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids prices are impacted by supply and demand, both domestic and international, seasonal variations caused by changing weather conditions, political conditions, governmental regulations, the availability, proximity and capacity of gathering, processing and transportation systems for natural gas and natural gas liquids and numerous other factors. Increases or decreases in prices received could have a significant and material impact on the Company’s future reserves estimates, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

To mitigate its exposure to fluctuations in oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids prices, the Company, from time to time, enters into hedging arrangements with respect to a portion of its oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids production. Decisions as to whether and at what production volumes to hedge are difficult and depend on market conditions and the Company’s forecast of future production and commodity prices, and the Company may not always employ the optimal hedging strategy.

The federal, state and local governments in the areas in which the Company operates or has assets impose taxes on the oil and natural gas products sold, and sales and use taxes are charged on significant portions of the Company’s drilling, completion and operating costs. Many states have raised state taxes on energy sources or state taxes associated with the extraction of hydrocarbons, and additional increases may occur. In addition, there has been a significant amount of discussion by legislators and presidential administrations concerning a variety of energy tax proposals. President Obama has proposed sweeping changes in federal laws on the income taxation of small oil and natural gas exploration and production companies like Matador. Among other issues, President Obama has proposed to eliminate allowing small oil and natural gas companies to deduct intangible drilling costs as incurred and percentage depletion. Changes to tax laws could materially and adversely affect the Company’s future financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Balance Sheet. In January 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2013-01, Balance Sheet. The ASU clarifies the scope of ASU 2011-11 to limit the application of ASU 2011-11 to derivatives accounted for in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 815, Derivatives and Hedging, including bifurcated embedded derivatives, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending transactions that are either offset in accordance with ASC 210-20-45 or ASC 815-10-45 or subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement. The adoption of ASU 2013-01 is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements, but may require certain additional disclosures.

Balance Sheet. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, Balance Sheet. The requirements amend the disclosure requirements related to offsetting in ASC 210-20-50. The amendments require enhanced disclosures by requiring improved information about financial instruments and derivative instruments that are either (1) offset in accordance with either ASC 210-20-45 or ASC 815-10-45 or (2) subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement, irrespective of whether they are offset in accordance with either ASC 210-20-45 or ASC 815-10-45. The adoption of ASU 2011-11 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, but may require certain additional disclosures. The amendments in ASU 2011-11 are to be applied for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013 and are to be applied retrospectively for all periods presented.

Fair Value. In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS. ASU 2011-04 amends ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements, providing a consistent definition and measurement of fair value, as well as similar disclosure requirements between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. ASU 2011-04 changes certain fair value measurement principles, clarifies the application of existing fair value measurements and expands the ASC 820 disclosure requirements, particularly for Level 3 fair value measurements. The Company adopted ASU 2011-04 on January 1, 2012; adoption did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, but did require additional disclosures (see Note 12).