COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

The table below shows the Company’s future payments under non-cancelable operating leases and unconditional purchase obligations as of December 31, 2012.

	2013		2014		2015		2016		2017		After 2017		Total
	(In Thousands)
Operating leases(1)	$	30,070	$	24,188	$	17,573	$	17,026	$	10,032	$	10,135	$	109,024
Unconditional purchase obligations(2)	1,935		140		105		—		—		—		2,180
	$	32,005	$	24,328	$	17,678	$	17,026	$	10,032	$	10,135	$	111,204

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(1) Includes future rental payments for office facilities and equipment, drilling rigs, and compressors under the remaining terms of non-cancelable operating leases with initial terms in excess of one year.

(2) Includes unconditional purchase obligations for throughput and voice and data services. Payments made under these unconditional purchase obligations were $.8 million in each of the years 2012, 2011, and 2010.

Net rental payments under non-cancelable operating leases applicable to exploration and development activities and capitalized to oil and gas properties approximated $15.6 million in 2012, $21.0 million in 2011, and $14.0 million in 2010. Net rental payments under non-cancelable operating leases, including compressor rentals, charged to expense approximated $22.0 million in 2012, $16.5 million in 2011, and $18.4 million in 2010. The Company has no leases that are accounted for as capital leases.

Forest, in the ordinary course of business, is a party to various lawsuits, claims, and proceedings. While the Company believes that the amount of any potential loss upon resolution of these matters would not be material to its consolidated financial position, the ultimate outcome of these matters is inherently difficult to predict with any certainty. In the event of an unfavorable outcome, the potential loss could have an adverse effect on Forest’s results of operations and cash flow. Forest is also involved in a number of governmental proceedings in the ordinary course of business, including environmental matters.