Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

Gathering and Intermediate Transportation Commitments

We have long-term agreements with Republic Midstream, LLC (“Republic Midstream”) and Republic Midstream Marketing, LLC (“Republic Marketing” and, together with Republic Midstream, collectively, “Republic”) to provide for gathering and intermediate pipeline transportation services for a substantial portion of our crude oil and condensate production in the South Texas region as well as volume capacity support for certain downstream interstate pipeline transportation.

In August 2016, the Bankruptcy Court approved a settlement with Republic and authorized the assumption of certain amended agreements with Republic (the “Amended Agreements”). We paid Republic $0.3 million in connection with the settlement which is included in “Reorganization items, net” in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Under the terms of the Amended Agreements, Republic is obligated to gather and transport our crude oil and condensate from within a dedicated area in the Eagle Ford (the “Dedication Area”) via a gathering system and intermediate takeaway pipeline connecting to a downstream interstate pipeline operated by a third party. The amended gathering agreement reduced our minimum volume commitment from 15,000 to 8,000 barrels of oil per day. The term of the amended gathering agreement runs through 2041, with the term of the minimum volume commitment extended from 10 to 15 years.

Under the amended marketing agreement, we have a 10-year commitment to sell 8,000 barrels per day of crude oil to Republic, or any third party, utilizing Republic Marketing’s capacity on a certain downstream interstate pipeline.

Excluding the potential impact of the effects of price escalation from commodity price changes, the minimum fee requirements under the Amended Agreements are as follows: $3.9 million for the remainder of 2016, $9.6 million for 2017, $10.4 million for 2018, $11.7 million for 2019, $13.0 million for 2020 through 2025, $7.4 million for 2026, $3.8 million for 2027 through 2030 and $2.2 million for 2031.

Legal and Regulatory

We are involved, from time to time, in various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. While the ultimate results of these proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, our management believes that these claims will not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. During the quarter ended September 30, 2016, we reduced our reserve for a litigation matter to $0.1 million from $0.9 million due to our expected dismissal from the subject litigation. As of September 30, 2016, we also had AROs of approximately $2.7 million attributable to the plugging of abandoned wells.