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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
As of March 31, 2019, Apache’s significant accounting policies are consistent with those discussed in Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of its consolidated financial statements contained in Apache’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, with the exception of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (see “Leases” section in this Note 1 below).
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Apache and its subsidiaries after elimination of intercompany balances and transactions. The Company’s undivided interests in oil and gas exploration and production ventures and partnerships are proportionately consolidated. The Company consolidates all other investments in which, either through direct or indirect ownership, Apache has more than a 50 percent voting interest or controls the financial and operating decisions. Noncontrolling interests represent third-party ownership in the net assets of a consolidated Apache subsidiary and are reflected separately in the Company’s financial statements. Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Corporation (Sinopec) owns a one-third minority participation in Apache’s Egypt oil and gas business as a noncontrolling interest, which is reflected as a separate component of equity in Apache’s consolidated balance sheet.
Additionally, third-party investors own a minority interest of approximately 21 percent of Altus Midstream Company (ALTM), which is reflected as a separate noncontrolling interest component of equity in Apache’s consolidated balance sheet. Apache consolidates the activities of ALTM, which qualifies as a variable interest entity (VIE) under GAAP. Apache has concluded that it is the primary beneficiary of the VIE, as defined in the accounting standards, since Apache has the power, through its ownership, to direct those activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of ALTM and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could be potentially significant to ALTM. This conclusion was based on a qualitative analysis that considered ALTM’s governance structure, the commercial agreements between ALTM, Altus Midstream LP (collectively with ALTM, Altus), and Apache, and the voting rights established between the members, which provide Apache with the ability to control the operations of Altus.
Investments in which Apache holds less than 50 percent of the voting interest are typically accounted for under the equity method of accounting, with the balance recorded separately as “Equity method interests” in Apache’s consolidated balance sheet and results of operations recorded as a component of “Other” under “Revenues and Other” in the Company’s statement of consolidated operations.
Use of Estimates
Preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates with regard to these financial statements include the fair value determination of acquired assets and liabilities, the estimate of proved oil and gas reserves and related present value estimates of future net cash flows therefrom, the assessment of asset retirement obligations, the estimates of fair value for long-lived assets, and the estimate of income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Fair Value Measurements
Certain assets and liabilities are reported at fair value on a recurring basis in Apache’s consolidated balance sheet. Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 820-10-35, “Fair Value Measurement” (ASC 820), provides a hierarchy that prioritizes and defines the types of inputs used to measure fair value. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs, which consist of unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets. Level 2 inputs consist of quoted prices for similar instruments. Level 3 valuations are derived from inputs that are significant and unobservable; hence, these valuations have the lowest priority.
The valuation techniques that may be used to measure fair value include a market approach, an income approach, and a cost approach. A market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities. An income approach uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts to a single present amount based on current market expectations, including present value techniques, option-pricing models, and the excess earnings method. The cost approach is based on the amount that currently would be required to replace the service capacity of an asset (replacement cost).
Recurring fair value measurements are presented in further detail in Note 4—Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities and Note 9—Debt and Financing Costs.
Apache also uses fair value measurements on a nonrecurring basis when certain qualitative assessments of its assets indicate a potential impairment. The Company recorded no asset impairments in connection with fair value assessments in each of the first quarters of 2019 and 2018.
Oil and Gas Property
The Company follows the successful efforts method of accounting for its oil and gas property. Under this method of accounting, exploration costs such as exploratory geological and geophysical costs, delay rentals, and exploration overhead are expensed as incurred. All costs related to production, general corporate overhead, and similar activities are expensed as incurred. If an exploratory well provides evidence to justify potential development of reserves, drilling costs associated with the well are initially capitalized, or suspended, pending a determination as to whether a commercially sufficient quantity of proved reserves can be attributed to the area as a result of drilling. This determination may take longer than one year in certain areas depending on, among other things, the amount of hydrocarbons discovered, the outcome of planned geological and engineering studies, the need for additional appraisal drilling activities to determine whether the discovery is sufficient to support an economic development plan, and government sanctioning of development activities in certain international locations. At the end of each quarter, management reviews the status of all suspended exploratory well costs in light of ongoing exploration activities; in particular, whether the Company is making sufficient progress in its ongoing exploration and appraisal efforts or, in the case of discoveries requiring government sanctioning, whether development negotiations are underway and proceeding as planned. If management determines that future appraisal drilling or development activities are unlikely to occur, associated suspended exploratory well costs are expensed.
Acquisition costs of unproved properties are assessed for impairment at least annually and are transferred to proved oil and gas properties to the extent the costs are associated with successful exploration activities. Significant undeveloped leases are assessed individually for impairment based on the Company’s current exploration plans. Unproved oil and gas properties with individually insignificant lease acquisition costs are amortized on a group basis over the average lease term at rates that provide for full amortization of unsuccessful leases upon lease expiration or abandonment. Costs of expired or abandoned leases are charged to exploration expense, while costs of productive leases are transferred to proved oil and gas properties. Costs of maintaining and retaining unproved properties, as well as amortization of individually insignificant leases and impairment of unsuccessful leases, are included in exploration costs in the statement of consolidated operations.
Costs to develop proved reserves, including the costs of all development wells and related equipment used in the production of crude oil and natural gas, are capitalized. Depreciation of the cost of proved oil and gas properties is calculated using the unit-of-production (UOP) method. The UOP calculation multiplies the percentage of estimated proved reserves produced each quarter by the carrying value of associated proved oil and gas properties. The reserve base used to calculate depreciation for leasehold acquisition costs and the cost to acquire proved properties is the sum of proved developed reserves and proved undeveloped reserves. The reserve base used to calculate the depreciation for capitalized well costs is the sum of proved developed reserves only. Estimated future dismantlement, restoration and abandonment costs, net of salvage values, are included in the depreciable cost.
Oil and gas properties are grouped for depreciation in accordance with ASC 932 “Extractive Activities—Oil and Gas.” The basis for grouping is a reasonable aggregation of properties with a common geological structural feature or stratigraphic condition, such as a reservoir or field.
When circumstances indicate that the carrying value of proved oil and gas properties may not be recoverable, the Company compares unamortized capitalized costs to the expected undiscounted pre-tax future cash flows for the associated assets grouped at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are independent of cash flows of other assets. If the expected undiscounted pre-tax future cash flows, based on Apache’s estimate of future crude oil and natural gas prices, operating costs, anticipated production from proved reserves and other relevant data, are lower than the unamortized capitalized cost, the capitalized cost is reduced to fair value. Fair value is generally estimated using the income approach described in ASC 820. If applicable, the Company utilizes prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving assets and liabilities that are identical or comparable to the item being measured as the basis for determining fair value. The expected future cash flows used for impairment reviews and related fair value calculations are typically based on judgmental assessments of future production volumes, commodity prices, operating costs, and capital investment plans, considering all available information at the date of review. These assumptions are applied to develop future cash flow projections that are then discounted to estimated fair value, using a discount rate believed to be consistent with those applied by market participants. Apache has classified these fair value measurements as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
The following table represents non-cash impairments of the carrying value of the Company’s proved and unproved property and equipment for the first quarters of 2019 and 2018:
 
 
Quarter Ended March 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
(In millions)
Oil and Gas Property:
 
 
 
 
Proved
 
$

 
$

Unproved
 
23

 
16


On the statement of consolidated operations, unproved leasehold impairments are recorded as a component of “Exploration” expense, and all other impairments of proved and unproved properties are recorded separately in “Impairments,” when applicable.
Gains and losses on significant divestitures of the Company’s oil and gas properties are recognized in the statement of consolidated operations. See Note 2—Acquisitions and Divestitures for more detail.
Revenue Recognition
Sales of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs) are included in revenue when production is sold to a customer in fulfillment of performance obligations under the terms of agreed contracts. Performance obligations primarily comprise delivery of oil, gas, or NGLs at a delivery point, as negotiated within each contract. Each barrel of oil, million Btu (MMBtu) of natural gas, or other unit of measure is separately identifiable and represents a distinct performance obligation to which the transaction price is allocated. Performance obligations are satisfied at a point in time once control of the product has been transferred to the customer. The Company considers a variety of facts and circumstances in assessing the point of control transfer, including but not limited to: whether the purchaser can direct the use of the hydrocarbons, the transfer of significant risks and rewards, the Company’s right to payment, and transfer of legal title. In each case, the term between delivery and when payments are due is not significant.
Apache markets its own United States (U.S.) natural gas and crude oil production based on market-priced contracts. Typically, these contracts are adjusted for quality, transportation, and other market-reflective differentials. Since the Company’s production fluctuates because of operational issues, it is occasionally necessary to purchase third-party oil and gas to fulfill sales obligations and commitments. Sales proceeds related to third-party oil and gas purchases have been determined to be revenue from a customer. Proceeds for these volumes totaled $24 million and $104 million, for the periods ending March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Associated purchase costs for these volumes totaled $22 million and $105 million, for the periods ending March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Proceeds and costs are both recorded as “Other” under “Revenues and Other” in the statement of consolidated operations.
Internationally, Apache’s crude oil offshore the U.K. in the North Sea (North Sea) is sold under contracts with a market-based index price. Natural gas from the North Sea Beryl field is processed through the SAGE gas plant. The gas is sold to a third party at the St. Fergus entry point of the national grid on a National Balancing Point index price basis. Apache’s gas production in Egypt is sold primarily under an industry-pricing formula, a sliding scale based on Dated Brent crude oil with a minimum of
$1.50 per MMBtu and a maximum of $2.65 per MMBtu, plus an upward adjustment for liquids content. The Company’s Egypt oil production is sold at prices equivalent to the export market.
The Company’s Egyptian operations are conducted pursuant to production sharing contracts under which contractor partners pay all operating and capital costs for exploring and developing the concessions. A percentage of the production, generally up to 40 percent, is available to contractor partners to recover these operating and capital costs over contractually defined periods. The balance of the production is split among the contractor partners and the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) on a contractually defined basis. Additionally, the contractor partner’s income taxes, which remain the liability of the contractor partners under domestic law, are paid by EGPC on behalf of the contractor partners out of EGPC’s production entitlement. Income taxes paid to the Arab Republic of Egypt on behalf of Apache as contract partner are recognized as oil and gas sales revenue and income tax expense and reflected as production and estimated reserves. Revenues related to Egypt’s tax volumes are considered revenue from a non-customer.
For the period ending March 31, 2019, revenues from customers and non-customers were $1.6 billion and $119 million, respectively. For the period ending March 31, 2018, revenues from customers and non-customers were $1.7 billion and $155 million, respectively.
Apache records trade accounts receivable for its unconditional rights to consideration arising under sales contracts with customers. The carrying value of such receivables, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts, represents estimated net realizable value. The Company routinely assesses the collectability of all material trade and other receivables. The Company accrues a reserve on a receivable when, based on the judgment of management, it is probable that a receivable will not be collected and the amount of any reserve may be reasonably estimated. Receivables from contracts with customers, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, totaled $1.0 billion as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
Apache has concluded that disaggregating revenue by geographic area and by product appropriately depicts how the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors. Refer to Note 12—Business Segment Information for a disaggregation of revenue by each product sold.

Leases
On January 1, 2019, Apache adopted ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” which requires lessees to recognize separate right-of-use (ROU) assets and lease liabilities for most leases classified as operating leases under previous GAAP. Prior to adoption, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued transition guidance permitting an entity the option to not evaluate under ASU 2016-02 those existing or expired land easements that were not previously accounted for as leases, as well as an option to apply the provisions of the new standard at its adoption date instead of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. Apache elected both transitional practical expedients. Under these transition options, comparative reporting was not required, and the provisions of the standard were applied prospectively to leases in effect at the date of adoption.
As allowed under the standard, the Company also applied practical expedients to carry forward its historical assessments of whether existing agreements contain a lease, classification of existing lease agreements, and treatment of initial direct lease costs. Apache also elected to exclude short-term leases (those with terms of 12 months or less) from the balance sheet presentation and accounts for non-lease and lease components as a single lease component for all asset classes. Short-term lease expense was not material for the first quarter of 2019.
The Company determines if an arrangement is an operating or finance lease at the inception of each contract. If the contract is classified as an operating lease, Apache records an ROU asset and corresponding liability reflecting the total remaining present value of fixed lease payments over the expected term of the lease agreement. The expected term of the lease may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. If the Company’s lease does not provide an implicit rate in the contract, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate when calculating the present value. In the normal course of business, Apache enters into various lease agreements for real estate, drilling rigs, vessels, aircraft, and equipment related to its exploration and development activities, which are typically classified as operating leases under the provisions of the standard. ROU assets are reflected within “Deferred charges and other assets” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, and the associated operating lease liabilities are reflected within “Other current liabilities” and “Other noncurrent liabilities,” as applicable.
Operating lease expense associated with ROU assets is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Lease expense is reflected on the statement of consolidated operations commensurate with the leased activities and nature of the services performed. Fixed operating lease expense was $55 million for the first quarter of 2019.
In addition, the Company periodically enters into finance leases that are similar to those leases classified as capital leases under previous GAAP. Finance lease assets are included in property, plant, and equipment on the consolidated balance sheet, and the associated finance lease liabilities are reflected within “Current debt” and “Long-term debt,” as applicable. Prior periods include the reclassification of $39 million finance lease obligations from “Other noncurrent liabilities” to “Long-term debt” to conform with this presentation. There was no material impact to the Company’s statement of consolidated operations and statement of consolidated cash flows for its treatment of finance leases.
The following table represents the Company’s weighted average lease term and discount rate as of March 31, 2019:
 
 
Operating Leases
 
Finance Leases
Weighted average remaining lease term
 
3.4 years

 
8.7 years

Weighted average discount rate
 
4.3
%
 
4.3
%

The undiscounted future minimum lease payments reconciled to the carrying value of the lease liabilities as of March 31, 2019 were as follows:
Net Minimum Commitments
 
Operating Leases(1)
 
Finance Leases(2)
 
 
(In millions)
2019
 
$
159

 
$
22

2020
 
111

 
13

2021
 
46

 
3

2022
 
40

 
3

2023
 
24

 
3

Thereafter
 
41

 
39

Total future minimum lease payments
 
421

 
83

Less: imputed interest
 
(34
)
 
(15
)
Total lease liabilities
 
387

 
68

Current portion
 
(187
)
 
(30
)
Non-current portion
 
$
200

 
$
38

(1)
Amounts included for drilling rig and related operational equipment obligations represent future payments associated with oil and gas operations gross of amounts billable to partners and other working interest owners. Such payments may be capitalized as a component of oil and gas properties, and either depreciated, impaired, or written off as exploration expense.
(2)
Amounts represent the Company’s finance lease obligation related to physical power generators being leased on a one-year term with the right to purchase (entered into during the first quarter of 2019) and a separate lease for the Company’s Midland, Texas regional office building.
The lease liability reflected in the table above represents the Company’s fixed minimum payments that are settled in accordance with the lease terms. Actual lease payments during the period may also include variable lease components such as common area maintenance, usage-based sales taxes and rate differentials, or other similar costs that are not determinable at the inception of the lease. Variable lease payments for the period ended March 31, 2019 were $17 million.

New Pronouncements Issued But Not Yet Adopted
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses.” The standard changes the impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments, including trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities and loans, and requires entities to use a new forward-looking expected loss model that will result in the earlier recognition of allowance for losses. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Entities will apply the standard’s provisions as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is adopted. The Company is evaluating the new guidance and does not believe this standard will have a material impact on its financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Disclosure Framework: Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement,” which changes the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by removing, adding, and modifying certain disclosures. ASU 2018-13 is effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adoption of this ASU on its related disclosures and does not expect it to have a material impact on its financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, “Disclosure Framework: Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans,” which eliminates, modifies, and adds disclosure requirements for defined benefit plans. The ASU is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adoption of this ASU on its related disclosures and does not expect it to have a material impact on its financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, “Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract.” This pronouncement clarifies the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs in cloud computing arrangements and aligns them with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. This pronouncement is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period for which financial statements have not been issued. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adoption of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements and does not expect it to have a material impact.