Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Abstract]

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Note 5.  Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts were as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
(millions)
Balance, Beginning of Period	$	27		$	31		$	97
Changes
Allowance for Ecuador Receivable		-			1			14
Recovery of Ecuador Receivable (1)		(19	)		(7	)		(46	)
Allowance for SemCrude L.P. Receivable		-			-			12
Other Changes		1			2			2
Net Changes Before Write-offs		(18	)		(4	)		(18	)
Write-off of SemCrude L.P. Receivable (2)		-			-			(49	)
Other Write-offs		-			-			1
Balance, End of Period	$	9		$	27		$	31

(1) During 2011, recovery of approximately $19 million for outstanding receivables was included in the final terms of our agreement to transfer our assets and the associated electricity concession and PSC to the Ecuadorian government. See Note 3. Acquisitions and Divestitures. Amount in 2009 was received in accordance with the terms of a settlement agreement and included as a reduction in electricity generation expense.

(2) SemCrude, L.P. was a crude oil purchaser who filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in 2008.