Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Note 12. Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Proceedings   We are involved in various legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business. These proceedings are subject to the uncertainties inherent in any litigation. We are defending ourselves vigorously in all such matters and we believe that the ultimate disposition of such proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Marcellus Shale Firm Transportation Contracts In connection with the 2017 Marcellus Shale upstream divestiture, we retained certain firm transportation obligations to flow Marcellus Shale natural gas production to various markets inside and outside of the Marcellus Basin. Our financial commitment for these agreements, which have remaining terms of two to 16 years, is approximately $1.4 billion, undiscounted. The agreements for firm transportation primarily relate to services on certain pipelines which were placed into service in late 2017/early 2018 or for services on new pipeline projects to be constructed by, and connecting to, existing and new interstate pipeline systems, with estimated in-service dates in late 2018.

We are currently engaged in actions to commercialize and address these remaining commitments, which provide for the transportation of approximately 450,000 MMBtu/d of natural gas. Actions include the permanent assignment of capacity, negotiation of capacity release, utilization of capacity through purchase of third party natural gas, and other potential arrangements. We expect these actions, some of which may require pipeline and/or FERC approval, to ultimately reduce our financial commitment associated with these contracts. At the date each pipeline is placed in service and our commitment begins, we will evaluate our position. If we determine that we will not utilize a portion, or all, of the contracted pipeline capacity, we will accrue a liability at fair value for the net amount of the estimated remaining financial commitment.

We cannot guarantee our commercialization efforts will be successful and we may recognize substantial future liabilities, at fair value, for the net amount of the estimated remaining commitments under these contracts. As of March 31, 2018, our exit cost accrual, relating to certain transportation arrangements, totals $84 million, discounted. For first quarter 2018, we incurred expense of $2 million related to unutilized commitments related to these contracts.

Colorado Air Matter In April 2015, we entered into a joint consent decree (Consent Decree) with the US Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Justice, and State of Colorado to improve emission control systems at a number of our condensate storage tanks that are part of our upstream crude oil and natural gas operations within the Non-Attainment Area of the DJ Basin. The Consent Decree was entered by the US District Court for the District of Colorado on June 2, 2015.   

The Consent Decree, which alleges violations of the Colorado Air Pollution Prevention and Control Act and Colorado’s federal approved State Implementation Plan, specifically Colorado Air Quality Control Commission Regulation Number 7, requires us to perform certain injunctive relief activities and to complete mitigation projects and supplemental environmental projects (SEP), and pay a civil penalty. Costs associated with the settlement consist of $5.0 million in civil penalties which were paid in 2015. Mitigation costs of $4.5 million and SEP costs of $4 million are being expended in accordance with schedules established in the Consent Decree. Costs associated with the injunctive relief are also being expended in accordance with schedules established in the Consent Decree. Since 2015, we have incurred approximately $82 million to undertake injunctive relief at certain tank systems following the outcome of adequacy of design evaluations and certain operation and maintenance activities to handle potential peak instantaneous vapor flow rates. Future costs associated with injunctive relief are not yet precisely quantifiable as we are continually evaluating various approaches to meet the ongoing obligations of the Consent Decree.

Overall compliance with the Consent Decree has resulted in the temporary shut-in and permanent plugging and abandonment of certain wells and associated tank batteries. Consent Decree compliance could result in additional temporary shut-ins and permanent plugging and abandonment of certain wells and associated tank batteries. The Consent Decree sets forth a detailed compliance schedule with deadlines for achievement of milestones through early 2019 that may be extended depending on certain situations. The Consent Decree contains additional obligations for ongoing inspection and monitoring beyond that which is required under existing Colorado regulations.

We have concluded that the penalties, injunctive relief, and mitigation expenditures that resulted from this settlement did not have, and based on currently available information will not have, a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Colorado Water Quality Control Division Matter In January 2017, we received a Notice of Violation/Cease and Desist Order (NOV/CDO) advising us of alleged violations of the Colorado Water Quality Control Act (Act) and its implementing regulations as it relates to our Colorado Discharge Permit System General Permit for construction activities associated with oil and gas exploration and /or production within our Wells Ranch Drilling and Production field located in Weld County, Colorado (Permit).  The NOV/CDO further orders us to cease and desist from all violations of the Act, the regulations and the Permit and to undertake certain corrective actions.  Given the uncertainty associated with administrative actions of this nature, we are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of this action at this time but believe that the resolution of this action will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Administrative Order on Consent   In November 2017, we received a proposed Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) from the Colorado Oil and Gas conservation Commission (COGCC) to resolve allegations of noncompliance associated with site preparation and stabilization at an oil and gas location in Weld County, Colorado. The AOC, which provides for an opportunity to further discuss the offer of settlement, has not yet been executed. Given the uncertainty associated with administrative actions of this nature, we are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of this action at this time, but believe that the resolution of this action will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.