COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2022

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

NOTE 13 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Purchase Commitments

Equipment, parts and supplies are ordered in advance to promote efficient construction and capital improvement progress. At March 31, 2022, we had purchase commitments for equipment, parts and supplies of approximately $79.6 million.

Guarantee Arrangements

We are contingently liable to sureties in respect of bonds issued by the sureties in connection with certain commitments entered into by us in the normal course of business. We have agreed to indemnify the sureties for any payments made by them in respect of such bonds.

Contingencies

During the ordinary course of our business, contingencies arise resulting from an existing condition, situation or set of circumstances involving an uncertainty as to the realization of a possible gain or loss contingency. We account for gain contingencies in accordance with the provisions of ASC 450, Contingencies, and, therefore, we do not record gain contingencies or recognize income until realized. The property and equipment of our Venezuelan subsidiary was seized by the Venezuelan government on June 30, 2010. Our wholly-owned subsidiaries, Helmerich & Payne International Drilling Co. ("HPIDC") and Helmerich & Payne de Venezuela, C.A., filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on September 23, 2011 against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. and PDVSA Petroleo, S.A., seeking damages for the taking of their Venezuelan drilling business in violation of international law and for breach of contract. While there exists the possibility of realizing a recovery, we are currently unable to determine the timing or amounts we may receive, if any, or the likelihood of recovery.

In May 2018, an employee of our subsidiary, HPIDC, was involved in a car accident in his personal vehicle while not clocked in for work. The accident resulted in a fatality of a passenger in the other vehicle. The estate of the victim, his widow and children subsequently brought a lawsuit against the employee and HPIDC in Texas State District Court in January 2020. In February 2022, trial began in the matter and the jury reached a verdict against HPIDC and our employee for approximately $126.0 million, including interest. In March 2022, the court entered a judgment consistent with the findings of the jury. In April 2022, the Company and its insurers filed post-trial motions and if unsuccessful, the Company and its insurers plan to appeal the judgment. Accordingly, the Company cannot make an estimate of the possible loss at this time. As of March 31, 2022, we have accrued a total of $3.0 million, and currently have incurred some expense, mainly legal fees, against the deductible. However, as our insurance carriers are responsible for amounts over our insurance deductible up to a coverage amount, we believe any foreseeable exposure to the Company at this time above the $3.0 million will be paid for by insurance recoveries. Accordingly, we do not believe it is reasonably possible that our exposure will exceed our insurance coverage amount.

The Company and its subsidiaries are parties to various other pending legal actions arising in the ordinary course of our business. We maintain insurance against certain business risks subject to certain deductibles. Although no assurance can be given, we believe, based on our experiences to date and taking into account established reserves and insurance, that the ultimate resolution of such items will not have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations. When we determine a loss is probable of occurring and is reasonably estimable, we accrue an undiscounted liability for such contingencies based on our best estimate using information available at that time. If the estimated loss is a range of potential outcomes and there is no better estimate within the range, we accrue the amount at the low end of the range. We disclose contingencies where an adverse outcome may be material, or in the judgment of management, we conclude the matter should otherwise be disclosed.