Revenue from Contracts with Customers

Our production services business segments earn revenues for well servicing, wireline services and coiled tubing services pursuant to master services agreements based on purchase orders or other contractual arrangements with the client. Production services jobs are generally short-term (ranging in duration from several hours to less than 30 days) and are charged at current market rates for the labor, equipment and materials necessary to complete the job. Production services jobs are varied in nature, but typically represent a single performance obligation, either for a particular job, a series of distinct jobs, or a period of time during which we stand ready to provide services as our client needs them. Revenue is recognized for these services over time, as the services are performed.

Our drilling services business segments earn revenues by drilling oil and gas wells for our clients under daywork contracts. Daywork contracts are comprehensive agreements under which we provide a comprehensive service offering, including the drilling rig, crew, supplies and most of the ancillary equipment necessary to operate the rig. Contract modifications that extend the term of a dayrate contract are generally accounted for prospectively as a separate dayrate contract. We account for our services provided under daywork contracts as a single performance obligation comprised of a series of distinct time increments which are satisfied over time. Accordingly, dayrate revenues are recognized in the period during which the services are performed.

With most drilling contracts, we also receive payments contractually designated for the mobilization and demobilization of drilling rigs and other equipment to and from the client’s drill site. Revenues associated with the mobilization and demobilization of our drilling rigs to and from the client’s drill site do not relate to a distinct good or service and are recognized ratably over the related contract term.

The amount of demobilization revenue that we ultimately collect is dependent upon the specific contractual terms, most of which include provisions for reduced (or no) payment for demobilization when, among other things, the contract is renewed or extended with the same client, or when the rig is subsequently contracted with another client prior to the termination of the current contract. Since revenues associated with demobilization activity are typically variable, at each period end, they are estimated at the most likely amount, and constrained when the likelihood of a significant reversal is probable. Any change in the expected amount of demobilization revenue is accounted for with the net cumulative impact of the change in estimate recognized in the period during which the revenue estimate is revised.

The upfront costs that we incur to mobilize the drilling rig to our client’s initial drilling site are capitalized and recognized ratably over the term of the related contract, including any contracted renewal or extension periods, which is our estimate of the period during which we expect to benefit from the cost of mobilizing the rig. Costs associated with the final demobilization at the end of the contract term are expensed when incurred, when the demobilization activity is performed.

We also act as a principal for certain reimbursable services and auxiliary equipment provided by us to our clients, for which we incur costs and earn revenues, many of which are variable, or dependent upon the activity that is actually performed each day under the related contract. Accordingly, reimbursements that we receive for out-of-pocket expenses are recorded as revenues and the out-of-pocket expenses for which they relate are recorded as operating costs during the period to which they relate within the series of distinct time increments.

All of our revenues are recognized net of sales taxes, when applicable.

Contract Asset and Liability Balances and Contract Cost Assets

Contract asset and contract liability balances relate to demobilization and mobilization revenues, respectively. Demobilization revenue that we expect to receive is recognized ratably over the related contract term, but invoiced upon completion of the demobilization activity. Mobilization revenue, which is typically collected upon the completion of the initial mobilization activity, is deferred and recognized ratably over the related contract term. Contract asset and liability balances are netted at the contract level, with the net current and noncurrent portions separately classified in our condensed consolidated balance sheets, and referred to herein as “deferred revenues.”

Contract cost assets represent the costs associated with the initial mobilization required in order to fulfill the contract, which are deferred and recognized ratably over the period during which we expect to benefit from the mobilization, or the period during which we expect to satisfy the performance obligations of the related contract. Contract cost assets are presented as either current or noncurrent, according to the duration of the original contract to which it relates, and referred to herein as “deferred costs.”

Our current and noncurrent deferred revenues and costs as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 were as follows (amounts in thousands):



	September 30, 2019		December 31, 2018
Current deferred revenues	$	1,616	$	1,722
Current deferred costs	2,418		1,543

Noncurrent deferred revenues	$	77	$	437
Noncurrent deferred costs	130		679

The changes in deferred revenue and cost balances during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 are primarily related to increases in deferred revenue and costs for the deployment of rigs under five new domestic and four new international contracts in 2019, offset by decreases related to the amortization of deferred revenues and costs during the period. Amortization of deferred revenues and costs during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (amounts in thousands):



	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Amortization of deferred revenues	$	1,219	$	720	$	3,453	$	1,762
Amortization of deferred costs	1,293		1,100		3,389		2,050

In 2019, two of our domestic clients elected to early terminate their contract with us and make upfront early termination payments based on a per day rate for the respective remaining contract term, resulting in $2.2 million and $2.6 million of revenue recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively. Currently, 21 of our 25 rigs are earning under daywork contracts, 12 of which are domestic term contracts. Unlike our domestic term contracts, our international drilling contracts are cancelable by our clients without penalty, although the contracts require 15 to 30 days notice and payment for demobilization services. The spot contracts for our domestic drilling rigs are also terminable by our client with 30 days notice and include a required payment for demobilization services.