REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

NOTE 10 REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS

Impact of Adoption

Effective October 1, 2018, we adopted ASU No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" and ASC 340-40, “Contracts with Customers.” ASC 606 introduced a five‑step approach to revenue recognition and ASC 340-40 introduced detailed rules for contract revenue related costs. Details of the new requirements as well as the impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements are described below.

We have applied ASC 606 in accordance with the modified retrospective transitional approach recognizing the cumulative effect of initially applying the revenue standard as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings during this period (October 1, 2018). Comparative prior year periods were not adjusted. In applying the modified retrospective approach, we elected practical expedients for (a) completed contracts as described in ASC 606-10-65-c2, and (b) contract modifications as described in ASC 606-10-65-1-f(4), allowing the application of the revenue standard only to contracts that were not completed as of the date of initial application and to reflect the aggregate effect of all modifications that occur before the adoption date in accordance with the new standard when: (i) identifying the satisfied and unsatisfied performance obligations, (ii) determining the transaction price, and (iii) allocating the transaction price to the satisfied and unsatisfied performance obligations. We believe that the impact on the opening balance of retained earnings during the period (October 1, 2018) would not have been significantly different had we not elected to use the practical expedients. Apart from providing more extensive disclosures for our revenue transactions, the application of ASC 606 has not had a significant impact on our financial position and/or financial performance.

Contract Drilling Services Revenue

Substantially all of our drilling services are performed on a “daywork” contract basis, under which we charge a rate per day, with the price determined by the location, depth and complexity of the well to be drilled, operating conditions, the duration of the contract, and the competitive forces of the market. These contract drilling services represent a series of distinct daily services that are substantially the same, with the same pattern of transfer to the customer. Because our customers benefit equally throughout the service period and our efforts in providing contract drilling services are incurred relatively evenly over the period of performance, revenue is recognized over time using a time-based input measure as we provide services to the customer.

Contracts generally contain renewal or extension provisions exercisable at the option of the customer at prices mutually agreeable to us and the customer. For contracts that are terminated by customers prior to the expirations of their fixed terms, contractual provisions customarily require early termination amounts to be paid to us. Revenues from early terminated contracts are recognized when all contractual requirements have been met. During the year ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, early termination revenue was approximately $11.3 million and $17.1 million, respectively.

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 these costs are variable, or dependent upon the activity that is 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.

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. These revenues are deferred and recognized ratably over the related contract term that drilling services are provided.

Demobilization fees expected to be received upon contract completion are estimated at contract inception and recognized on a straight-line basis over the 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.

Contract Costs

Mobilization costs include certain direct costs incurred for mobilization of contracted rigs. These costs relate directly to a contract, enhance resources that will be used in satisfying the future performance obligations and are expected to be recovered. These costs are capitalized when incurred and recorded as current or noncurrent contract fulfillment cost assets (depending on the length of the initial contract term), and are amortized on a systematic basis consistent with the pattern of the transfer of the goods or services to which the asset relates which typically includes the initial term of the related drilling contract or a period longer than the initial contract term if management anticipates a customer will renew or extend a contract, which we expect to benefit from the cost of mobilizing the rig. Abnormal mobilization costs are fulfillment costs that are incurred from excessive resources, wasted or spoiled materials, and unproductive labor costs that are not otherwise anticipated in the contract price and are expensed as incurred. As of September 30, 2019, we had capitalized fulfillment costs of $13.9 million.

If capital modification costs are incurred for rig modifications or if upgrades are required for a contract, these costs are considered to be capital improvements. These costs are capitalized as property, plant and equipment and depreciated over the estimated useful life of the improvement.

Remaining Performance Obligations

The total aggregate transaction price allocated to the unsatisfied performance obligations, commonly referred to as backlog, as of September 30, 2019 was approximately $1.2 billion, of which $0.9 billion is expected to be recognized during fiscal year 2020, and approximately $0.3 billion in fiscal year 2021 and thereafter. These amounts do not include anticipated contract renewals. Additionally, contracts that currently contain month-to-month terms are represented in our backlog as one month of unsatisfied performance obligations. Our contracts are subject to cancellation or modification at the election of the customer; however, due to the level of capital deployed by our customers on underlying projects, we have not been materially adversely affected by contract cancellations or modifications in the past. We do not have material long-term contracts related to our H&P Technologies segment.

Contract Assets and Liabilities

Amounts owed from our customers under our revenue contracts are typically billed on a monthly basis as the service is being provided and are due within 30 days of billing. Such amounts are classified as accounts receivable on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Under certain of our contracts, we recognize revenues in excess of billings, referred to as contract assets, within prepaid expenses and other current assets within our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Under certain of our contracts, we may be entitled to receive payments in advance of satisfying our performance obligations under the contract. We recognize a liability for these payments in excess of revenue recognized, referred to as deferred revenue or contract liabilities, within accrued liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Contract balances are presented at the net amount at a contract level.

The following table summarizes the balances of our contract assets and liabilities at the dates indicated:



(in thousands)	September 30, 2019		October 1, 2018
Contract assets	$	2,151	$	2,600



(in thousands)	September 30, 2019
Contract liabilities balance at October 1, 2018	$	38,472
Payment received/accrued and deferred	30,863
Revenue recognized during the period	(45,981		)
September 30, 2019	$	23,354