Property, Plant and Equipment	6 Months Ended
Jul. 03, 2021
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment	3. Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment is recorded net of accumulated depreciation of $10.20 billion at July 3, 2021 ($9.86 billion at December 31, 2020). Nucor reviews its natural gas well assets for impairment if and when circumstances indicate that a decline in value below their carrying amounts may have occurred. Nucor last assessed its proved producing natural gas well assets in the fourth quarter of 2020 due to the continued low-price natural gas pricing environment. After completing its assessment, Nucor determined that as of such time there were no impairments of any of its three groups of proved well assets. Changes in the natural gas industry or a prolonged low-price environment beyond what has already been assumed in the assessments could cause management to revise the natural gas and natural gas liquids price assumptions, the estimated reserves or the estimated lease operating costs. Therefore, it is reasonably possible that unfavorable revisions to these assumptions or estimates could result in further impairment of some or all of the groups of proved well assets. The combined carrying value of the three groups of wells was $68.4 million at July 3, 2021 ($71.7 million at December 31, 2020). Nucor owns a 49% leasehold interest in unproved oil and natural gas properties covering approximately 54,000 acres in the South Piceance Basin located in Colorado. Nucor is subject to forfeiture of a portion of its leasehold interest in these properties if we do not drill new wells within various contractually specified time periods. A decision to not develop a portion of these properties within the specified time periods would likely result in a partial asset impairment in the future. Nucor has full discretion on its participation in all future drilling capital investments related to the leasehold interest. In the second quarter of 2021, Nucor made the decision that it would not develop a portion of its unproved oil and natural gas properties (“Portion A”) within the contractually specified time period related to Portion A. As a result of this decision, the Company will forfeit its leasehold rights for Portion A. The Company recorded a charge of $42.0 million to write off the value of Portion A that is included in losses on assets on the condensed consolidated statements of earnings for the three months and six months ended July 3, 2021. The decision not to develop Portion A was heavily influenced by the approaching deadline to commence development combined with Portion A’s expected near-term profitability not achieving management’s desired returns relative to the cost of development. A significant portion of the Company’s remaining leasehold interest in unproved oil and natural gas properties are already supported by active drilling on the properties or have various contractually specified time periods to drill new wells that expire later than the time period for Portion A. Accordingly, management does not believe the value assigned to those portions needs to be evaluated at this time. The carrying value of the remaining portions of unproved oil and natural gas properties was $96.0 million at July 3, 2021.

Property, Plant and Equipment

6 Months Ended

Jul. 03, 2021

Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]

3. Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment is recorded net of accumulated depreciation of $10.20 billion at July 3, 2021 ($9.86 billion at December 31, 2020).

Nucor reviews its natural gas well assets for impairment if and when circumstances indicate that a decline in value below their carrying amounts may have occurred. Nucor last assessed its proved producing natural gas well assets in the fourth quarter of 2020 due to the continued low-price natural gas pricing environment. After completing its assessment, Nucor determined that as of such time there were no impairments of any of its three groups of proved well assets. Changes in the natural gas industry or a prolonged low-price environment beyond what has already been assumed in the assessments could cause management to revise the natural gas and natural gas liquids price assumptions, the estimated reserves or the estimated lease operating costs. Therefore, it is reasonably possible that unfavorable revisions to these assumptions or estimates could result in further impairment of some or all of the groups of proved well assets. The combined carrying value of the three groups of wells was $68.4 million at July 3, 2021 ($71.7 million at December 31, 2020).

Nucor owns a 49% leasehold interest in unproved oil and natural gas properties covering approximately 54,000 acres in the South Piceance Basin located in Colorado. Nucor is subject to forfeiture of a portion of its leasehold interest in these properties if we do not drill new wells within various contractually specified time periods. A decision to not develop a portion of these properties within the specified time periods would likely result in a partial asset impairment in the future. Nucor has full discretion on its participation in all future drilling capital investments related to the leasehold interest.

In the second quarter of 2021, Nucor made the decision that it would not develop a portion of its unproved oil and natural gas properties (“Portion A”) within the contractually specified time period related to Portion A. As a result of this decision, the Company will forfeit its leasehold rights for Portion A. The Company recorded a charge of $42.0 million to write off the value of Portion A that is included in losses on assets on the condensed consolidated statements of earnings for the three months and six months ended July 3, 2021. The decision not to develop Portion A was heavily influenced by the approaching deadline to commence development combined with Portion A’s expected near-term profitability not achieving management’s desired returns relative to the cost of development. A significant portion of the Company’s remaining leasehold interest in unproved oil and natural gas properties are already supported by active drilling on the properties or have various contractually specified time periods to drill new wells that expire later than the time period for Portion A. Accordingly, management does not believe the value assigned to those portions needs to be evaluated at this time. The carrying value of the remaining portions of unproved oil and natural gas properties was $96.0 million at July 3, 2021.