Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Revenue from Contracts with Customers [Abstract]

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Text Block]

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

Our production services business segments earn revenues for well servicing and wireline 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.

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 the resulting contract liabilities are referred to herein as “deferred revenues.” When demobilization revenues are recognized prior to the activity being performed, they are not yet billable, and the resulting contract assets are included in our other current assets in our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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, contract assets and deferred costs as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were as follows (amounts in thousands):

	Successor		Predecessor
	September 30, 2020		December 31, 2019
Current deferred revenues	$	715	$	1,339
Current deferred costs	592		1,071
Noncurrent deferred revenues	$	—	$	57
Noncurrent deferred costs	24		267

The changes in contract balances during 2020 are primarily related to the amortization of deferred revenues and costs, partially offset by increases related to four rigs deployed under new contracts in 2020. Amortization of deferred revenues and costs were as follows (amounts in thousands):

	Successor		Predecessor
	Four Months Ended September 30, 2020		Five Months Ended May 31, 2020		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
Amortization of deferred revenues	$	288	$	2,705	$	3,453
Amortization of deferred costs	205		1,876		3,389

Beginning in late March 2020, rather than terminating their contracts with us, certain of our clients elected to temporarily stack three of our rigs, placing them on an extended standby for a reduced revenue rate and the option to reactivate the rigs through the remainder of the contract term. In May 2020, one of our domestic clients elected to early terminate their contract with us and make an upfront early termination payment based on a per day rate for the respective remaining contract term, resulting in $1.6 million of revenues recognized in the Predecessor period.