Fair Value Measurement

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurement

12. Fair Value Measurement

The following tables set forth the Company's assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at the dates indicated.

		Fair Value		Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2011
		as of		Using Fair Value Hierarchy
		December 31, 2011		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
		(In thousands)
Assets:
	Commodity derivatives	$	4,128	$	-	$	4,128	$	-
	Long-term investments		962		962		-		-
	Total	$	5,090	$	962	$	4,128	$	-
Liabilities:
	Commodity derivatives	$	44,302	$	-	$	44,302	$	-
	Interest-rate swap derivatives		79,725		-		79,725		-
	Total	$	124,027	$	-	$	124,027	$	-
		Fair Value		Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2010
		as of		Using Fair Value Hierarchy
		December 31, 2010		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
		(In thousands)
Assets:
	Commodity derivatives	$	133	$	-	$	133	$	-
	Long-term investments		937		937		-		-
	Total	$	1,070	$	937	$	133	$	-
Liabilities:
	Commodity derivatives	$	50,033	$	-	$	50,033	$	-
	Interest-rate swap derivatives		24,346		-		24,346		-
	Total	$	74,379	$	-	$	74,379	$	-

The Company's Level 1 instruments primarily consist of trading securities related to a non-qualified deferred compensation plan that are valued based on active market quotes. The Company's Level 2 instruments primarily include natural gas and NGL and NGL processing spread swap derivatives and interest-rate swap derivatives that are valued using pricing models based on an income approach that discounts future cash flows to a present value amount. The significant pricing model inputs for natural gas and NGL price swaps and NGL processing spread swap derivatives include published NYMEX forward index prices for delivery of natural gas at Henry Hub, Permian Basin and WAHA, and NGL at Mont Belvieu. The significant pricing model inputs for interest-rate swaps include published rates for U.S. Dollar LIBOR interest rate swaps. The pricing models also adjust for nonperformance risk associated with the counterparty or Company, as applicable, through the use of credit risk adjusted discount rates based on published default rates. The Company did not have any Level 3 instruments measured at fair value at December 31, 2011, 2010 or 2009.

The approximate fair value of the Company's cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable is equal to book value, due to their short-term nature.