Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Income Taxes	(14) INCOME TAXES The Company’s effective tax rate was approximately 0% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 primarily as a result of the recognition of a valuation allowance. A valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, including net operating losses, is recognized when it is more likely than not that some or all of the benefit from the deferred tax assets will not be realized. To assess that likelihood, the Company uses estimates and judgment regarding future taxable income, and considers the tax consequences in the jurisdiction where such taxable income is generated, to determine whether a valuation allowance is required. Such evidence can include current financial position, results of operations, both actual and forecasted, the reversal of deferred tax liabilities, and tax planning strategies as well as the current and forecasted business economics of the oil and gas industry. The Company maintained its net deferred tax asset position at March 31, 2018 primarily due to the write-downs of the carrying value of natural gas and oil properties in 2015 and 2016. The Company recorded decreases in its valuation allowance of $51 million and $75 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Management assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate whether sufficient future taxable income will be generated to permit the use of deferred tax assets. In management’s view, the cumulative loss incurred over recent years outweighs any positive factors, such as the possibility of future growth. The amount of the deferred tax assets considered realizable, however, could be adjusted if estimates of future taxable income are increased or if objective negative evidence in the form of cumulative losses is no longer present and additional weight is given to subjective evidence such as future expected growth. On December 22, 2017 the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Tax Reform) was enacted, which made significant changes to the U.S. federal income tax law affecting the Company. Major changes in this legislation applicable to the Company relate to the reduction in tax rate for corporations to 21%, repeal of the corporate alternative minimum tax, interest deductibility and net operating loss carryforward limitations, changes to certain executive compensation and full expensing provisions related to business assets. The Company included tax reform impacts in its 2017 Annual Report and continues to examine the impact of this legislation and future regulations. The first quarter 2018 tax accrual calculated under the estimated annual effective tax rate method reflects the law changes that are effective January 1, 2018. Due to the tax valuation allowance currently in place, any adjustments required to deferred taxes in the current interim period would be fully offset by valuation allowance adjustments and are immaterial to the financial statements. In February 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-02 amending the FASB Accounting Standards relating to tax effects in accumulated other comprehensive income. See Note 15 – New Accounting Pronouncements for more information regarding this update.

(14) INCOME TAXES

The Company’s effective tax rate was approximately 0% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 primarily as a result of the recognition of a valuation allowance. A valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, including net operating losses, is recognized when it is more likely than not that some or all of the benefit from the deferred tax assets will not be realized. To assess that likelihood, the Company uses estimates and judgment regarding future taxable income, and considers the tax consequences in the jurisdiction where such taxable income is generated, to determine whether a valuation allowance is required. Such evidence can include current financial position, results of operations, both actual and forecasted, the reversal of deferred tax liabilities, and tax planning strategies as well as the current and forecasted business economics of the oil and gas industry.

The Company maintained its net deferred tax asset position at March 31, 2018 primarily due to the write-downs of the carrying value of natural gas and oil properties in 2015 and 2016. The Company recorded decreases in its valuation allowance of $51 million and $75 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Management assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate whether sufficient future taxable income will be generated to permit the use of deferred tax assets. In management’s view, the cumulative loss incurred over recent years outweighs any positive factors, such as the possibility of future growth. The amount of the deferred tax assets considered realizable, however, could be adjusted if estimates of future taxable income are increased or if objective negative evidence in the form of cumulative losses is no longer present and additional weight is given to subjective evidence such as future expected growth.

On December 22, 2017 the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Tax Reform) was enacted, which made significant changes to the U.S. federal income tax law affecting the Company. Major changes in this legislation applicable to the Company relate to the reduction in tax rate for corporations to 21%, repeal of the corporate alternative minimum tax, interest deductibility and net operating loss carryforward limitations, changes to certain executive compensation and full expensing provisions related to business assets. The Company included tax reform impacts in its 2017 Annual Report and continues to examine the impact of this legislation and future regulations. The first quarter 2018 tax accrual calculated under the estimated annual effective tax rate method reflects the law changes that are effective January 1, 2018. Due to the tax valuation allowance currently in place, any adjustments required to deferred taxes in the current interim period would be fully offset by valuation allowance adjustments and are immaterial to the financial statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-02 amending the FASB Accounting Standards relating to tax effects in accumulated other comprehensive income. See Note 15 – New Accounting Pronouncements for more information regarding this update.