Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Organization and Principles of Consolidation.

  Newpark Resources, Inc. was organized in 1932 as a Nevada corporation. In 1991, we changed our state of incorporation to Delaware. The consolidated financial statements include our company and our wholly-owned subsidiaries (“we”, “our” or “us”). All intercompany transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

We are a geographically diversified oil and gas industry supplier providing products and services primarily to the oil and gas exploration (“E&P”) industry. We operate our business through two reportable segments: Fluids Systems and Mats and Integrated Services. Our Fluids Systems segment provides customized drilling fluids solutions to E&P customers globally, operating through four geographic regions: North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”), Latin America, and Asia Pacific. Our Mats and Integrated Services segment provides composite mat rentals, well site construction and related site services to oil and gas customers at well, production, transportation and refinery locations in the U.S. In addition, mat rental activity is expanding into applications in other industries, including petrochemicals, utilities, and pipeline. We also sell composite mats to E&P customers outside of the U.S., and to domestic customers outside of the oil and gas industry.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates and Market Risks

.

  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“US GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates used in preparing our consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to the following: allowances for product returns, allowances for doubtful accounts, reserves for self-insured retentions under insurance programs, estimated performance and values associated with employee incentive programs, fair values used for goodwill impairment testing, undiscounted future cash flows used for impairment testing of long-lived assets and valuation allowances for deferred tax assets.

Our operating results depend primarily on oil and gas drilling activity levels in the markets we serve. Drilling activity, in turn, depends on oil and gas commodity pricing, inventory levels, product demand and regulatory restrictions. Oil and gas prices and activity are cyclical and volatile. This market volatility has a significant impact on our operating results.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash Equivalents.

  All highly liquid investments with a remaining maturity of three months or less at the date of acquisition are classified as cash equivalents.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Restricted

Cash.

  Cash that is restricted as to withdrawal or usage is recognized as restricted cash.

Receivables, Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.

  Reserves for uncollectible accounts receivable are determined on a specific identification basis when we believe that the required payment of specific amounts owed to us is not probable. The majority of our revenues are from mid-sized and international oil companies as well as government-owned or government-controlled oil companies, and we have receivables in several foreign jurisdictions. Changes in the financial condition of our customers or political changes in foreign jurisdictions could cause our customers to be unable to repay these receivables, resulting in additional allowances.

Revenue Recognition, Sales Returns [Policy Text Block]

Allowance for Product Returns.

  We maintain reserves for estimated customer returns of unused products in our Fluids Systems segment. The reserves are established based upon historical customer return levels and estimated gross profit levels attributable to product sales.

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Inventories.

  Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (principally average cost) or market. Certain conversion costs associated with the acquisition, production, blending and storage of inventory in our Fluids Systems segment as well as in the manufacturing operations in the Mats and Integrated Services segment are capitalized as a component of the carrying value of the inventory and expensed as a component of cost of revenues as the products are sold. Reserves for inventory obsolescence are determined based on the fair value of the inventory using factors such as our historical usage of inventory on-hand, future expectations related to our customers’ needs, market conditions and the development of new products.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property, Plant and Equipment.

  Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Additions and improvements that extend the useful life of the assets are capitalized. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. The cost of property, plant and equipment sold or otherwise disposed of and the accumulated depreciation thereon are eliminated from the property and related accumulated depreciation accounts, and any gain or loss is credited or charged to income.

For financial reporting purposes, depreciation is provided on property, plant and equipment, including assets held under capital leases, primarily utilizing the straight-line method over the following estimated useful service lives or lease term:

Computer hardware and office equipment	3	-	5	years
Computer software	3	-	10	years
Autos & light trucks	5	-	7	years
Furniture, fixtures & trailers	7	-	10	years
Composite mats (rental fleet)	7	-	12	years
Machinery and heavy equipment	5	-	15	years
Owned buildings	20	-	39	years
Leasehold improvements	Lease term, including reasonably assured renewal periods

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

.  Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of acquisitions over the fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired. Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized. Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized either on a straight-line basis over the asset’s estimated useful life or on a basis that reflects the pattern in which the economic benefits of the asset are realized. Any period costs of maintaining intangible assets are expensed as incurred.

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Including Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

.  Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment annually as of November 1, or more frequently, if an indication of impairment exists. The impairment test includes a comparison of the carrying value of net assets of our reporting units, including goodwill, with their estimated fair values, which we determine using a combination of a market multiple and discounted cash flow approach. If the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value, an impairment charge is recorded in the period in which such review is performed. We identify our reporting units based on our analysis of several factors, including our operating segment structure, evaluation of the economic characteristics of our geographic regions within each of our operating segments, and the extent to which our business units share assets and other resources.

We review property, plant and equipment, finite-lived intangible assets and certain other assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. We assess recoverability based on expected undiscounted future net cash flows. In estimating expected cash flows, we use a probability-weighted approach. Should the review indicate that the carrying value is not fully recoverable; the amount of impairment loss is determined by comparing the carrying value to the estimated fair value.

Self Insurance Reserve [Policy Text Block]

Insurance

.  We maintain reserves for estimated future payments associated with our self-insured employee healthcare programs, as well as the self-insured retention exposures under our general liability, auto liability and workers compensation insurance policies. Our reserves are determined based on historical experience under these programs, including estimated development of known claims and estimated incurred-but-not-reported claims.

Stockholders' Equity, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Treasury Stock

.

  Treasury stock is carried at cost, which includes the entire cost of the acquired stock.

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition

.  The Fluids Systems segment recognizes sack and bulk material additive revenues upon shipment of materials and passage of title. Formulated liquid systems revenues are recognized when utilized or lost downhole while drilling. An allowance for product returns is maintained, reflecting estimated future customer product returns. Engineering and related services are provided to customers as an integral component of the fluid system delivery, at agreed upon hourly or daily rates, and revenues are recognized when the services are performed.

For the Mats and Integrated Services segment, revenues from the sale of mats are recognized when title passes to the customer, which is upon shipment or delivery, depending upon the terms of the underlying sales contract. Revenues for services and rentals provided by this segment are generated from both fixed-price and unit-priced contracts, which are short-term in duration. The activities under these contracts include site preparation, pit design, construction, drilling waste management, and the installation and rental of mat systems for a period of time generally not to exceed 60 days. Revenues from services provided under these contracts are recognized as the specified services are completed. Revenues from any subsequent extensions to the rental agreements are recognized over the extension period.

Shipping and handling costs are reflected in cost of revenues, and all reimbursements by customers of shipping and handling costs are included in revenues.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

.  We provide for deferred taxes using an asset and liability approach by measuring deferred tax assets and liabilities due to temporary differences existing at year end using currently enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. We reduce deferred tax assets by a valuation allowance when, based on our estimates, it is more likely than not that a portion of those assets will not be realized in a future period. The estimates utilized in recognition of deferred tax assets are subject to revision, either up or down, in future periods based on new facts or circumstances. We evaluate uncertain tax positions and record a liability as circumstances warrant.

Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]

Stock-Based Compensation

.  All share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, are recognized in the income statement based on their fair values. We use the Black-Scholes option-pricing model for measuring the fair value of stock options granted and recognize stock-based compensation based on the grant date fair value, net of an estimated forfeiture rate, for all share-based awards, on a straight-line basis over the vesting term. Performance-based restricted stock units are valued at the date of grant using the Monte Carlo valuation model.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Foreign Currency

Translation

.  The functional currency for substantially all international subsidiaries is their respective local currency. Financial statements for these international subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate at each balance sheet date for assets and liabilities and the average exchange rates in effect during the respective period for revenues and expenses. Exchange rate adjustments resulting from translation of foreign currency financial statements are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive loss in stockholders’ equity whereas exchange rate adjustments resulting from foreign currency denominated transactions are recorded in income. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, accumulated other comprehensive loss related to foreign subsidiaries reflected in stockholders’ equity amounted to $58.3 million and $32.0 million, respectively.

Derivatives, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Derivative Financial Instruments

.  We monitor our exposure to various business risks including interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates and occasionally use derivative financial instruments to manage the impact of certain of these risks. At the inception of a new derivative, we designate the derivative as a cash flow or fair value hedge or we determine the derivative to be undesignated as a hedging instrument based on the underlying facts. We do not enter into derivative instruments for trading purposes.

Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Reclassifications.

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

New Accounting Standards

.

  In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued updated guidance that changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations including enhanced disclosure requirements. Under the new guidance, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations should be presented as discontinued operations. Those strategic shifts should have a major effect on the organization´s operations and financial results. The new guidance was effective for us in the first quarter of 2015; however, the adoption did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In April and August 2015, the FASB issued updated guidance that changes the presentation of debt issuance costs in financial statements. Under the new guidance, an entity is required to present debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset, except for debt issuance costs related to revolving debt agreements, which may continue to be presented as an asset. Amortization of the costs will continue to be reported as interest expense. The new guidance would have been effective for us in the first quarter of 2016, however, as permitted, we elected to early adopt the new guidance retrospectively in 2015. As such, we have reclassified the presentation of debt issuance costs as a direct deduction from the related debt liability, except for debt issuance costs related to our revolving debt agreements, in each of the accompanying balance sheets and related disclosures.

In November 2015, the FASB issued updated guidance to simplify the balance sheet classification of deferred taxes. Under the new guidance, an entity is required to present deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent in the balance sheet based on an analysis of each taxpaying component within a jurisdiction. The new guidance would have been effective for us in the first quarter of 2017, however, as permitted, we elected to early adopt the new guidance retrospectively in 2015. As such, we have reclassified the presentation of deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent in each of the accompanying balance sheets and related disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB amended the existing accounting standards for revenue recognition. The amendments are based on the principle that revenue should be recognized to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In July 2015, the FASB deferred the effective date of the new guidance by one year and provided entities the option to early adopt the new guidance. The new guidance is effective for us in the first quarter of 2018 with early adoption permitted in the first quarter of 2017. The amendments may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of initial application. We are currently evaluating the impact of these amendments, including the adoption and transition alternatives on our consolidated financial statements.

In July 2015, the FASB issued updated guidance that simplifies the subsequent measurement of inventory. It replaces the current lower of cost or market test with the lower of cost or net realizable value test. Net realizable value is defined as the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The new guidance is effective prospectively for us in the first quarter of 2017 with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In September 2015, the FASB issued updated guidance that eliminates the requirement to restate prior periods to reflect adjustments made to provisional amounts recognized in a business combination. The new guidance requires that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The new guidance is effective prospectively for us in the first quarter of 2016.