Asset Retirement Obligations

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]

Note G – Asset Retirement Obligations

The asset retirement obligations liabilities (ARO) recognized by the Company are related to the estimated costs to dismantle and abandon its producing oil and natural gas properties and related equipment.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending aggregate carrying amount of the ARO for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 is shown in the following table.


(Thousands of dollars)	September 30, 2023		September 30, 2022
Balance at beginning of year	$	911,653	$	971,893
Accretion	34,196		34,725
Liabilities incurred	16,441		(18,555)

Revisions of previous estimates	(822)		–
Liabilities settled	(89,340)		(28,927)



Changes due to translation of foreign currencies	(340)		(13,592)
Balance at end of period	871,788		945,544
Current portion of liability 1	(12,665)		(96,937)
Noncurrent portion of liability	$	859,123	$	848,607

1 Included in “Other accrued liabilities” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The estimation of future ARO is based on a number of assumptions requiring professional judgment. The Company cannot predict the type of revisions to these assumptions that may be required in future periods due to the availability of additional information such as: prices for oil field services, technological changes, governmental requirements and other factors.