Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements [Text Block]

11. Fair Value Measurements

As more fully discussed in Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in EOG's 2012 Annual Report, certain of EOG's financial and nonfinancial assets and liabilities are reported at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The following table provides fair value measurement information within the fair value hierarchy for certain of EOG's financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (in millions):

	Fair Value Measurements Using:
	Quoted		Significant
	Prices in		Other		Significant
	Active		Observable		Unobservable
	Markets		Inputs		Inputs
	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Total
At March 31, 2013
Financial Assets:
Crude Oil Swaps	$	-	$	11	$	-	$	11
Crude Oil Options/Swaptions		-		4		-		4
Natural Gas Options/Swaptions		-		18		-		18
Financial Liabilities:
Crude Oil Options/Swaptions	$	-	$	45	$	-	$	45
Natural Gas Options/Swaptions		-		14		-		14
Foreign Currency Rate Swap		-		49		-		49
Interest Rate Swap		-		3		-		3
At December 31, 2012
Financial Assets:
Crude Oil Swaps	$	-	$	65	$	-	$	65
Crude Oil Options/Swaptions		-		36		-		36
Natural Gas Options/Swaptions		-		65		-		65
Financial Liabilities:
Crude Oil Options/Swaptions	$	-	$	8	$	-	$	8
Natural Gas Options/Swaptions		-		13		-		13
Foreign Currency Rate Swap		-		55		-		55
Interest Rate Swap		-		4		-		4

EOG RESOURCES, INC.NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)(Unaudited)

The estimated fair value of crude oil and natural gas derivative contracts (including options/swaptions) and the interest rate swap contract was based upon forward commodity price and interest rate curves based on quoted market prices.  The estimated fair value of the foreign currency rate swap was based upon forward currency rates.  Swaps were valued using market prices and discount rates from an independent third-party provider of financial market data.  The Black 76 Model is utilized in valuing options.

The initial measurement of asset retirement obligations at fair value is calculated using discounted cash flow techniques and based on internal estimates of future retirement costs associated with property, plant and equipment.  Significant Level 3 inputs used in the calculation of asset retirement obligations include plugging costs and reserve lives.  A reconciliation of EOG's asset retirement obligations is presented in Note 6.

Proved oil and gas properties and other assets with a carrying amount of $68 million were written down to their fair value of $41 million, resulting in pretax impairment charges of $27 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013.  Significant Level 3 assumptions associated with the calculation of discounted cash flows used in the impairment analysis include EOG's estimate of future crude oil and natural gas prices, production costs, development expenditures, anticipated production of proved reserves, appropriate risk-adjusted discount rates and other relevant data.

Fair Value of Debt.At both March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, EOG had outstanding $6,290 million aggregate principal amount of debt, which had estimated fair values of approximately $6,980 million and $7,032 million, respectively.  The estimated fair value of debt was based upon quoted market prices and, where such prices were not available, other observable (Level 2) inputs regarding interest rates available to EOG at the end of each respective period.