Oil And Natural Gas Properties	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Oil And Natural Gas Properties
Oil And Natural Gas Properties	NOTE 2 – OIL AND NATURAL GAS PROPERTIES Full cost accounting rules require us to review the carrying value of our oil and natural gas properties at the end of each quarter. Under those rules, the maximum amount allowed as the carrying value of those properties is referred to as the ceiling. The ceiling is the sum of the present value (using a 10% discount rate) of the estimated future net revenues from our proved reserves based on the unescalated 12-month average price on our oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and natural gas adjusted for any cash flow hedges, plus the cost of properties not being amortized, plus the lower of cost or estimated fair value of unproved properties included in the costs being amortized, less related income taxes. In the event the unamortized cost of the amortized oil and natural gas properties exceeds the full cost ceiling, the excess amount is charged to expense in the period during which the excess occurs. Once incurred, a write-down of oil and natural gas properties is not reversible. At September 30, 2011, using the existing 12-month average commodity prices, including the discounted value of our commodity hedges, we were not required to record a ceiling test write-down. However, if there are declines in the 12-month average prices, including the discounted value of our commodity hedges, we may be required to record a write-down in future periods. Our qualifying cash flow hedges used in the ceiling test determination at September 30, 2011, consisted of swaps covering 1.8 MMBoe in 2011, 4.7 MMBoe in 2012 and 0.7 MMBoe in 2013. The effect of those hedges on the September 30, 2011 ceiling test was a $13.7 million pre-tax increase in the discounted net cash flows of our oil and natural gas properties. Even without the impact of those hedges, we would not have been required to take a write-down for the quarter. Our oil and natural gas hedging is discussed in Note 10 of the Notes to our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Oil And Natural Gas Properties

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

NOTE 2 – OIL AND NATURAL GAS PROPERTIES

Full cost accounting rules require us to review the carrying value of our oil and natural gas properties at the end of each quarter. Under those rules, the maximum amount allowed as the carrying value of those properties is referred to as the ceiling. The ceiling is the sum of the present value (using a 10% discount rate) of the estimated future net revenues from our proved reserves based on the unescalated 12-month average price on our oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and natural gas adjusted for any cash flow hedges, plus the cost of properties not being amortized, plus the lower of cost or estimated fair value of unproved properties included in the costs being amortized, less related income taxes. In the event the unamortized cost of the amortized oil and natural gas properties exceeds the full cost ceiling, the excess amount is charged to expense in the period during which the excess occurs. Once incurred, a write-down of oil and natural gas properties is not reversible.

At September 30, 2011, using the existing 12-month average commodity prices, including the discounted value of our commodity hedges, we were not required to record a ceiling test write-down. However, if there are declines in the 12-month average prices, including the discounted value of our commodity hedges, we may be required to record a write-down in future periods. Our qualifying cash flow hedges used in the ceiling test determination at September 30, 2011, consisted of swaps covering 1.8 MMBoe in 2011, 4.7 MMBoe in 2012 and 0.7 MMBoe in 2013. The effect of those hedges on the September 30, 2011 ceiling test was a $13.7 million pre-tax increase in the discounted net cash flows of our oil and natural gas properties. Even without the impact of those hedges, we would not have been required to take a write-down for the quarter. Our oil and natural gas hedging is discussed in Note 10 of the Notes to our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.