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Exploration and Production Activities (Unaudited) (Notes)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Industries Disclosures [Abstract]  
Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Industries Disclosures [Text Block]
Exploration and Production Activities (Unaudited)
Fidelity is involved in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas resources. Fidelity shares revenues and expenses from the development of specified properties in the Rocky Mountain and Mid-Continent/Gulf States regions of the United States in proportion to its ownership interests.

The information that follows includes Fidelity's proportionate share of all its oil and natural gas interests.

The following table sets forth capitalized costs and accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization related to oil and natural gas producing activities at December 31:

 
2013

2012

2011

 
(In thousands)
Subject to amortization
$
2,893,010

$
2,531,562

$
2,345,114

Not subject to amortization
124,869

191,794

232,462

Total capitalized costs
3,017,879

2,723,356

2,577,576

Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization
1,562,116

1,383,386

1,229,654

Net capitalized costs
$
1,455,763

$
1,339,970

$
1,347,922

Note: Net capitalized costs reflect noncash write-downs of the Company's oil and natural gas properties, as discussed in Note 1.


Capital expenditures, including those not subject to amortization, related to oil and natural gas producing activities were as follows:

Years ended December 31,
2013

*
2012

*
2011

*
 
(In thousands)
 
Acquisitions:
 

 
 

 
 

 
Proved properties
$
1,817

 
$
839

 
$
3,999

 
Unproved properties
4,608

 
31,109

 
63,354

 
Exploration
26,975

 
235,906

 
41,775

 
Development
355,421

 
275,959

 
161,647

 
Total capital expenditures
$
388,821

 
$
543,813

 
$
270,775

 
* Excludes net additions/(reductions) to property, plant and equipment related to the recognition of future liabilities for asset retirement obligations associated with the plugging and abandonment of oil and natural gas wells, as discussed in Note 10, of $(10.7) million, $(200,000) and $(1.8) million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.


The preceding table excludes proceeds from the sales of oil and natural gas properties of $83.6 million, $6.0 million and $12.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
The following summary reflects income resulting from the Company's operations of oil and natural gas producing activities, excluding corporate overhead and financing costs:

Years ended December 31,
2013

2012

2011

 
(In thousands)
Revenues:
 
 
 
Sales to affiliates
$
45,099

$
35,966

$
93,713

Sales to external customers
497,018

379,647

348,428

Realized gain on commodity derivatives
173

33,628

9,618

Unrealized gain (loss) on commodity derivatives
(6,267
)
(624
)
1,827

Production costs
144,136

134,795

140,606

Depreciation, depletion and amortization*
182,352

157,078

139,539

Write-downs of oil and natural gas properties

391,800


Pretax income (loss)
209,535

(235,056
)
173,441

Income tax expense (benefit)
75,836

(88,612
)
63,655

Results of operations for producing activities
$
133,699

$
(146,444
)
$
109,786

* Includes accretion of discount for asset retirement obligations of $3.6 million, $3.3 million and $3.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, as discussed in Note 10.


Estimates of proved reserves were prepared in accordance with guidelines established by the industry and the SEC. The estimates are arrived at using actual historical wellhead production trends and/or standard reservoir engineering methods utilizing available geological, geophysical, engineering and economic data. The proved reserve estimates as of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, were calculated using SEC Defined Prices. Other factors used in the proved reserve estimates are current estimates of well operating and future development costs (which include asset retirement costs), taxes, timing of operations, and the interests owned by the Company in the properties. These estimates are refined as new information becomes available.

The reserve estimates are prepared by internal engineers assigned to an asset team by geographic area. Senior management reviews and approves the reserve estimates to ensure they are materially accurate. In addition, the Company engaged Ryder Scott, an independent third party, to audit its proved reserve quantity estimates.

Estimates of economically recoverable oil, NGL and natural gas reserves and future net revenues therefrom are based upon a number of variable factors and assumptions. For these reasons, estimates of economically recoverable reserves and future net revenues may vary from actual results.

The Company's interests in oil, NGL and natural gas reserves are located in the United States and in and around the Gulf of Mexico.

The changes in the Company's estimated quantities of proved oil, NGL and natural gas reserves for the year ended December 31, 2013, were as follows:
 
Oil
(MBbls)

NGL
(MBbls)

Natural Gas
(MMcf)

Total
(MBOE)

Proved developed and undeveloped reserves:
 
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of year
33,453

7,153

239,278

80,486

Production
(4,815
)
(781
)
(28,008
)
(10,264
)
Extensions and discoveries
13,313

1,333

26,428

19,050

Improved recovery




Purchases of proved reserves




Sales of proved reserves
(1,286
)
(25
)
(40,055
)
(7,987
)
Revisions of previous estimates
354

(1,078
)
802

(590
)
Balance at end of year
41,019

6,602

198,445

80,695


Significant changes in proved reserves for the year ended December 31, 2013, include:

Extensions and discoveries of 19.1 MMBOE, primarily due to drilling activity and new PUD locations at the Company's Bakken and Paradox Basin properties, as well as new PUD locations at Big Horn and East Texas
Sales of proved reserves of (8.0) MMBOE, primarily at the Company's Green River Basin property
The changes in the Company's estimated quantities of proved oil, NGL and natural gas reserves for the year ended December 31, 2012, were as follows:
 
Oil
(MBbls)

NGL
(MBbls)

Natural Gas
(MMcf)

Total
(MBOE)

Proved developed and undeveloped reserves:
 
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of year
27,005

7,342

379,827

97,651

Production
(3,694
)
(828
)
(33,214
)
(10,058
)
Extensions and discoveries
9,874

1,817

18,386

14,756

Improved recovery




Purchases of proved reserves




Sales of proved reserves
(39
)

(2,307
)
(423
)
Revisions of previous estimates
307

(1,178
)
(123,414
)
(21,440
)
Balance at end of year
33,453

7,153

239,278

80,486


Significant changes in proved reserves for the year ended December 31, 2012, include:

Extension and discoveries of 14.8 MMBOE primarily due to drilling activity at the Company's Bakken, South Texas and Paradox properties
Revisions of previous estimates of (21.4) MMBOE, largely the result of lower natural gas prices resulting in a reduction of PDP and PUD reserves principally in the Company's Coalbed, Baker, Bowdoin, East Texas and Green River Basin natural gas properties

The changes in the Company's estimated quantities of proved oil, NGL and natural gas reserves for the year ended December 31, 2011, were as follows:
 
Oil
(MBbls)

NGL
(MBbls)

Natural Gas
(MMcf)

Total
(MBOE)

Proved developed and undeveloped reserves:
 
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of year
25,666

7,201

448,397

107,599

Production
(2,724
)
(776
)
(45,598
)
(11,099
)
Extensions and discoveries
4,717

1,421

28,221

10,842

Improved recovery




Purchases of proved reserves
223

16

54

247

Sales of proved reserves




Revisions of previous estimates
(877
)
(520
)
(51,247
)
(9,938
)
Balance at end of year
27,005

7,342

379,827

97,651


Significant changes in proved reserves for the year ended December 31, 2011, include:

Extensions and discoveries of 10.8 MMBOE primarily due to drilling activity at the Company's Bakken and Big Horn properties
Revisions of previous estimates of (9.9) MMBOE, largely the result of a reduction in PUD reserves of 8.9 MMBOE resulting principally in the Company's Bowdoin, Baker, Coalbed, East Texas and Big Horn Basin properties. The remaining negative revisions were a reduction in PDP natural gas reserves.

The following table summarizes the breakdown of the Company's proved reserves between proved developed and PUD reserves at December 31:

 
2013

2012

2011

Proved developed reserves:
 
 
 
Oil (MBbls)
31,394

27,412

23,653

NGL (MBbls)
5,322

5,342

5,225

Natural Gas (MMcf)
176,546

218,259

303,495

Total (MBOE)
66,140

69,131

79,460

PUD reserves:
 
 
 
Oil (MBbls)
9,625

6,041

3,352

NGL (MBbls)
1,280

1,811

2,117

Natural Gas (MMcf)
21,899

21,019

76,332

Total (MBOE)
14,555

11,355

18,191

Total proved reserves:
 
 
 
Oil (MBbls)
41,019

33,453

27,005

NGL (MBbls)
6,602

7,153

7,342

Natural Gas (MMcf)
198,445

239,278

379,827

Total (MBOE)
80,695

80,486

97,651



As of December 31, 2013, the Company had 14.6 MMBOE of PUD reserves, which is an increase of 3.2 MMBOE from December 31, 2012. The increase relates to the Company adding 11.9 MMBOE of new PUD reserves, primarily in the Company's oil properties. This was partially offset by the Company converting 7.1 MMBOE, requiring $127.3 million of drilling and completion capital in 2013 and PUD revision of (1.6) MMBOE. At December 31, 2013, the Company did not have any PUD locations that remained undeveloped for five years or more. Future development costs estimated to be spent in each of the next three years to develop PUD reserves as of December 31, 2013, are $143.6 million in 2014, $116.0 million in 2015 and $18.1 million in 2016.

The standardized measure of the Company's estimated discounted future net cash flows of total proved reserves associated with its various oil and natural gas interests at December 31 was as follows:
 
 
2013

2012

2011

 
(In thousands)
Future cash inflows
$
4,507,000

$
3,696,200

$
4,188,000

Future production costs
1,734,800

1,536,500

1,560,300

Future development costs
403,000

301,600

285,300

Future net cash flows before income taxes
2,369,200

1,858,100

2,342,400

Future income tax expense
545,200

304,900

531,100

Future net cash flows
1,824,000

1,553,200

1,811,300

10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash flows
810,000

669,800

832,500

Discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil, NGL and natural gas reserves
$
1,014,000

$
883,400

$
978,800


The following are the sources of change in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows by year:

 
2013

2012

2011

 
(In thousands)
Beginning of year
$
883,400

$
978,800

$
896,100

Net revenues from production
(398,000
)
(280,800
)
(301,500
)
Net change in sales prices and production costs related to future production
162,200

(406,300
)
82,300

Extensions and discoveries, net of future production-related costs
366,500

355,300

226,300

Improved recovery, net of future production-related costs



Purchases of proved reserves, net of future production-related costs


9,500

Sales of proved reserves
(37,800
)
(2,600
)

Changes in estimated future development costs
6,700

37,600

51,100

Development costs incurred during the current year
141,500

77,700

56,300

Accretion of discount
94,600

121,400

105,000

Net change in income taxes
(141,400
)
110,000

(55,800
)
Revisions of previous estimates
(55,800
)
(100,700
)
(92,900
)
Other
(7,900
)
(7,000
)
2,400

Net change
130,600

(95,400
)
82,700

End of year
$
1,014,000

$
883,400

$
978,800



The estimated discounted future cash inflows from estimated future production of proved reserves were computed using prices as previously discussed. Future production and development costs, which include asset retirement costs, attributable to proved reserves were computed by applying year-end costs to be incurred in producing and further developing the proved reserves. Future income tax expenses were computed by applying statutory tax rates to the estimated net future pretax cash flows less the tax basis of the oil and gas properties, adjusted for permanent differences and tax credits.

The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows does not purport to represent the fair market value of oil and natural gas properties. There are significant uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves and in projecting rates of production and the timing and amount of future costs. In addition, future realization of oil, NGL and natural gas prices over the remaining reserve lives may vary significantly from SEC Defined Prices.