(3) NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Not Yet Adopted

In February 2016, an accounting standards update was issued that requires an entity to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability for all leases with terms of more than twelve months. Classification of leases as either a finance or operating lease will determine the recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses. This accounting standards update also requires certain quantitative and qualitative disclosures about leasing arrangements. This standard is effective for us in first quarter 2019 and will be applied using a modified retrospective approach for leases that exist or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period in the financial statements and early adoption is permitted. We do not plan to early adopt this new standard. This standard does not apply to leases to explore for or use minerals, oil or natural gas resources, including the right to explore for those natural resources and rights to use the land in which those natural resources are contained. We are evaluating each of our lease arrangements but have not determined the aggregate amount of change. We are currently enhancing our systems to track and calculate additional information necessary for adoption of this standard. We are evaluating the provisions of this accounting standards update and assessing the impact it will have on our consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows. We believe this new guidance will likely increase our recorded assets and liabilities that are not currently recognized under currently applicable guidance.

In June 2016, an accounting standards update was issued that changes the impairment model for trade receivables, net investments in leases, debt securities, loans and certain other instruments. The standards update requires the use of a forward-looking “expected loss” model as opposed to the current “incurred loss” model. This standards update is effective for us in first quarter 2020 and should be adopted on a modified retrospective basis though a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the adoption period. Early adoption is permitted starting January 2019. We are evaluating the provisions of this accounting standards update and assessing the impact, if any, it may have on our consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

Recently Adopted

In March 2017, an accounting standards update was issued which provides additional guidance on the presentation of net benefit cost in the statement of operations. Employers will present the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost in the same consolidated results of operations line item as other employee compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period. This new standards update is effective for annual reporting periods in first quarter 2018 and must be applied retrospectively. We adopted this standards update in first quarter 2018. The adoption did not impact our consolidated results of operations, financial position, cash flows or disclosures. We had no service cost recorded prior to 2018 due to the implementation of our postretirement benefit plan at the end of 2017. In 2018, our service cost is recorded in general and administrative expense.

In May 2017, an accounting standards update was issued which clarifies what constitutes a modification of a share-based award. This standards update is intended to provide clarity and reduce both diversity in practice and cost and complexity to a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. We adopted this standards update in first quarter 2018. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our financial position or consolidated results of operations.

In May 2014, an accounting standards update was issued that superseded the existing revenue recognition requirements. This standard included a five-step revenue recognition model to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which we expect to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Among other things, the standard also eliminated industry-specific revenue guidance, required enhanced disclosures about revenue, provided guidance for transactions that were not previously addressed comprehensively and improved guidance for multiple-element arrangements. This standard was effective for us in first quarter 2018 and we adopted the new standard using the modified retrospective method. We utilized a bottom-up approach to analyze the impact of the new standard by reviewing our current accounting policies and practices to identify potential differences that would result from applying the requirements of the new standard to our revenue contracts and the impact of adopting this standards update on our total revenues, operating income and our consolidated balance sheet. Our implementation of this standard did not result in a cumulative-effect adjustment on date of adoption; however, our financial statement presentation related to revenue received from certain gas processing contracts changed. Based on previous accounting guidance, certain of our gas processing contracts were reported in revenue at the net price (net of processing costs) we receive. Upon adoption of this accounting standards update, these contracts are now reported as a gross price received at a delivery point and separate transportation, marketing and processing expense. The impact of adoption of the new revenue recognition standard on our current period results is as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
	As Reported				Previous Revenue Recognition Method
		$		$ Per mcfe		$		$ Per mcfe		Increase		$ Per mcfe
Revenues:
Natural gas, NGLs and oil sales	$	696,629	$	3.53	$	658,802	$	3.34	$	37,827	$	0.19
Costs and expenses:
Transportation, gathering, processing and compression	$	244,628	$	1.24	$	206,801	$	1.05	$	37,827	$	0.19
Net income	$	49,238			$	49,238			$	—

Changes to natural gas, NGLs and oil sales and transportation, gathering, processing, and compression expenses is due to the conclusion that we represent the role of principal in a certain gas processing and marketing agreement with a midstream entity in accordance with the new accounting standard. This represents a change from our previous conclusion utilizing the principal versus agent indication that we acted as the agent in that agreement. As a result, we were required to modify our presentation to present revenue on a gross basis for amounts expected to be received from third-party customers through the marketing process, with expenses incurred prior to control of the products transferring to the midstream entity at the tailgate of the plant presented as transportation, gathering, processing and compression expense.

In January 2017, an accounting standards update was issued that eliminates the requirements to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure goodwill impairment charge. Instead, entities will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value. This standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and should be applied on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted for any goodwill impairment tests performed in first quarter 2017 or later. We elected to adopt this accounting standards update in first quarter 2017. The adoption did not have a significant impact on our consolidated results of operations, financial position, cash flows or disclosures; however, this standard did change our policy for our annual goodwill impairment assessment by eliminating the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill.

In July 2015, an accounting standards update was issued that requires an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value. This excludes inventory measured using LIFO or the retail inventory method. This standard was effective for us in first quarter 2017 and was applied prospectively. Adoption of this standard did not have an impact on our consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In August 2016, an accounting standards update was issued that clarifies how entities classify certain cash receipts and cash payments on the statement of cash flows. The guidance is effective for us in first quarter 2018 and should be applied retrospectively with early adoption permitted. We adopted this new standard in fourth quarter 2017 on a retrospective basis. Adoption of this standard did not have an impact on our consolidated cash flow statement presentation.

In January 2017, an accounting standards update was issued which clarifies the definition of a business. This new standard is effective for us in first quarter 2018 with early adoption permitted. We adopted this new standard in fourth quarter 2017. Adoption of this standard did not have a significant impact on our consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.