Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy prescribed by US GAAP requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value are:


•	Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets;


•	Level 2 – Quoted market prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical instruments in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets; and


•	Level 3 – Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable, such as those used in pricing models or discounted cash flow methodologies, for example.

The applicable level within the fair value hierarchy is the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below (in thousands):



			Estimated fair value measurements
	Carrying value		Quoted prices in active markets (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)		Significant other unobservable inputs (Level 3)
September 30, 2015:
Assets - cash equivalents	$	269,317	$	269,317	$	—	$	—
Other assets	13,977		13,977		—		—

December 31, 2014:
Assets - cash equivalents	$	314,570	$	314,570	$	—	$	—
Other assets	16,304		16,304		—		—

At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we held Egyptian pounds in the amount of $14.0 million and $16.3 million, respectively, which are classified as other noncurrent assets. We ceased drilling operations in Egypt in 2014, and are currently working to repatriate the funds to the extent they are not utilized.

Trade receivables and trade payables, which are required to be measured at fair value, have carrying values that approximate their fair values due to their short maturities.

Other Fair Value Measurements

Financial instruments not required to be measured at fair value consist of the Company’s publicly traded debt securities. Our publicly traded debt securities are classified as long-term debt and had a carrying value of $2.807 billion at September 30, 2015, and an estimated fair value at that date aggregating $2.201 billion, compared to a carrying and fair value of $2.807 billion and $2.755 billion, respectively, at December 31, 2014. Fair values of our publicly traded debt securities were provided by a broker who makes a market in such securities and were measured using a market-approach valuation technique. Fair value was determined by adding a spread based on actual trades for that security (or a trader quote where actual trades were unavailable) to the applicable benchmark Treasury security with a comparable maturity in order to derive a current yield. The yield is then used to determine a price given the individual security’s coupon rate and maturity. Such inputs are considered “significant other observable inputs” which are categorized as Level 2 inputs in the fair value hierarchy.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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