COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Firm Transportation, Processing and Sales Agreements. We enter into contracts that provide firm transportation, sales and processing agreements on pipeline systems through which we transport or sell crude oil and natural gas. Satisfaction of the volume requirements includes volumes produced by us, purchased from third parties and produced by our affiliated partnerships and other third-party working interest owners. We record in our financial statements only our share of costs based upon our working interest in the wells. These contracts require us to pay these transportation and processing charges, whether or not the required volumes are delivered.

The following table presents gross volume information related to our long-term firm transportation, sales and processing agreements for pipeline capacity:



	For the Twelve Months Ending March 31,
Area	2016		2017		2018		2019		2020 and Through Expiration		Total		Expiration Date

Natural gas (MMcf)
Appalachian Basin	7,136		7,117		7,117		7,117		24,049		52,536		August 31, 2022
Utica Shale	2,745		2,737		2,737		2,737		11,874		22,830		July 22, 2023
Total	9,881		9,854		9,854		9,854		35,923		75,366

Crude oil (MBbls)
Wattenberg Field	2,017		2,413		2,413		2,413		2,818		12,074		May 31, 2020

Dollar commitment (in thousands)	$	15,526	$	17,575	$	16,850	$	16,326	$	28,430	$	94,707

Litigation. The Company is involved in various legal proceedings that it considers normal to its business. The Company reviews the status of these proceedings on an ongoing basis and, from time to time, may settle or otherwise resolve these matters on terms and conditions that management believes are in the best interests of the Company. There is no assurance that settlements can be reached on acceptable terms or that adverse judgments, if any, in the remaining litigation will not exceed the amounts reserved. Although the results cannot be known with certainty, we currently believe that the ultimate results of such proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

Class Action Regarding 2010 and 2011 Partnership Purchases

In December 2011, the Company and its wholly-owned merger subsidiary were served with an alleged class action on behalf of unit holders of 12 former limited partnerships, related to its repurchase of the 12 partnerships, which were formed beginning in late 2002 through 2005. The mergers were completed in 2010 and 2011. The action was filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and was titled Schulein v. Petroleum Development Corp. The complaint primarily alleged that the disclosures in the proxy statements issued in connection with the mergers were inadequate, and a state law breach of fiduciary duty. In January 2014, the plaintiffs were certified as a class by the court.

In October 2014, the Company and plaintiffs’ counsel reached a settlement agreement. That settlement agreement was signed in December 2014 and was given final court approval in March 2015. Under this settlement agreement, the plaintiffs received a cash payment of $37.5 million in January 2015, of which the Company paid $31.5 million and insurers paid $6 million. In March, 2015, the class action was dismissed with prejudice and all class claims were released. As of December 31, 2014, the Company accrued a liability of $37.5 million related to this litigation, which was included in other accrued expenses in the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Environmental. Due to the nature of the natural gas and oil industry, we are exposed to environmental risks. We have various policies and procedures to minimize and mitigate the risks from environmental contamination. We conduct periodic reviews to identify changes in our environmental risk profile. Liabilities are recorded when environmental damages resulting from past events are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we had accrued environmental liabilities in the amount of $3.6 million and $0.8 million, respectively, included in other accrued expenses on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. We are not aware of any environmental claims existing as of March 31, 2015 which have not been provided for or would otherwise have a material impact on our financial statements; however, there can be no assurance that current regulatory requirements will not change or unknown past non-compliance with environmental laws will not be discovered on our properties.

Employment Agreements with Executive Officers. Each of our senior executive officers may be entitled to a severance payment and certain other benefits upon the termination of the officer's employment pursuant to the officer's employment agreement and/or the Company's executive severance compensation plan. The nature and amount of such benefits would vary based upon, among other things, whether the termination followed a change of control of the Company.