Organization and basis of presentation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Organization and basis of presentation

Organization and basis of presentation

a.    Organization

Laredo Petroleum, Inc. ("Laredo"), together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Laredo Midstream Services, LLC ("LMS") and Garden City Minerals, LLC ("GCM"), is an independent energy company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties, and midstream and marketing services, primarily in the Permian Basin of West Texas. LMS and GCM (together, the "Guarantors") guarantee all of Laredo's debt instruments. In these notes, the "Company" refers to Laredo, LMS and GCM collectively, unless the context indicates otherwise. All amounts, dollars and percentages presented in these unaudited consolidated financial statements and the related notes are rounded and, therefore, approximate.

b.    Basis of presentation

The unaudited consolidated financial statements were derived from the historical accounting records of the Company and reflect the historical financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods described herein. The unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). All material intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated in the consolidation of accounts.

The unaudited consolidated financial statements have not been audited by the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, except that the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018 is derived from audited consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, the unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all necessary adjustments to present fairly the Company's financial position as of March 31, 2019 and results of operations and cash flows for each of the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.

Certain disclosures have been condensed or omitted from the unaudited consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, the unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the 2018 Annual Report.

Significant accounting policies

See Note 2 in the 2018 Annual Report for discussion of significant accounting policies and Note 3 for those related to the adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 842, Leases ("ASC 842").

Use of estimates in the preparation of interim unaudited consolidated financial statements

The preparation of the unaudited consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates and the underlying assumptions 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 period. Although management believes these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ.

For further information regarding the use of estimates and assumptions, see Note 2.b in the 2018 Annual Report, Note 3 pertaining to the Company's leases and Note 6.c pertaining to the Company's 2019 performance unit awards.