XML 56 R56.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT

Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations (Schedule of Asset Retirement Obligations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis
ARO liability at beginning of year	$ 56,140	$ 92,911	$ 85,358
Liabilities incurred	0	0	0
Liabilities settled	(450)	(793)	(85)
Revisions to estimate	1,929	(41,670)	(377)
Accretion expense	5,165	5,692	8,015
ARO liability at end of year	$ 62,784	$ 56,140	$ 92,911

The carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Amount of accretion expense recognized during the period that is associated with an asset retirement obligation. Accretion expense measures and incorporates changes due to the passage of time into the carrying amount of the liability.

+ References+ Details