COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES On March 21, 2016, we received notice letters from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management ("BOEM") stating that BOEM had determined that we no longer qualified for a supplemental bonding waiver under the financial criteria specified in BOEM’s guidance to lessees at such time. In late March 2016, we proposed a tailored plan to BOEM for financial assurances relating to our abandonment obligations, which provides for posting some incremental financial assurances in favor of BOEM. On May 13, 2016, we received notice letters from BOEM rescinding its demand for supplemental bonding with the understanding that we will continue to make progress with BOEM towards finalizing and implementing our long-term tailored plan. In July 2016, BOEM issued a Notice to Lessees ("NTL"), with an effective date of September 12, 2016, that augments requirements for the posting of additional financial assurances by offshore lessees. The NTL discontinues the policy of Supplemental Bonding Waivers and allows for the ability to self insure up to 10% of a company’s tangible net worth, where a company can demonstrate a certain level of financial strength. The NTL also provides new procedures for how BOEM determines a lessee’s decommissioning obligations. A global update of the GOM decommissioning estimates was made on August 29, 2016, and BOEM requested that we resubmit our tailored plan to reflect the updated decommissioning estimates. We received a Self-Insurance letter from BOEM dated September 30, 2016 stating that we are not eligible to self-insure any of our additional security obligations and received a Proposal letter from BOEM dated October 20, 2016 indicating that additional security may be required. The September 30, 2016 Self-Insurance determination letter was rescinded by BOEM on March 24, 2017. In the first quarter of 2017, BOEM announced that it will extend the implementation timeline for the new NTL by an additional six months. Currently, we have posted an aggregate of approximately $118 million in surety bonds in favor of BOEM, third party bonds and letters of credit, all relating to our offshore abandonment obligations. The bonds represent guarantees by the surety insurance companies that we will operate in accordance with applicable rules and regulations and perform certain plugging and abandonment obligations as specified by applicable working interest purchase and sale agreements. A revised tailored plan may require incremental financial assurance or bonding for non-sole liability properties by the end of 2017 or in 2018, dependent on adjustments following ongoing discussions with BOEM and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement ("BSEE"), and any modifications to the NTL. Under the revised proposed plan, additional financial assurance would be required for subsequent years. There is no assurance that our current tailored plan will be approved by BOEM, and BOEM may require further revisions to our plan.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

On March 21, 2016, we received notice letters from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management ("BOEM") stating that BOEM had determined that we no longer qualified for a supplemental bonding waiver under the financial criteria specified in BOEM’s guidance to lessees at such time. In late March 2016, we proposed a tailored plan to BOEM for financial assurances relating to our abandonment obligations, which provides for posting some incremental financial assurances in favor of BOEM. On May 13, 2016, we received notice letters from BOEM rescinding its demand for supplemental bonding with the understanding that we will continue to make progress with BOEM towards finalizing and implementing our long-term tailored plan.

In July 2016, BOEM issued a Notice to Lessees ("NTL"), with an effective date of September 12, 2016, that augments requirements for the posting of additional financial assurances by offshore lessees. The NTL discontinues the policy of Supplemental Bonding Waivers and allows for the ability to self insure up to 10% of a company’s tangible net worth, where a company can demonstrate a certain level of financial strength. The NTL also provides new procedures for how BOEM determines a lessee’s decommissioning obligations. A global update of the GOM decommissioning estimates was made on August 29, 2016, and BOEM requested that we resubmit our tailored plan to reflect the updated decommissioning estimates.

We received a Self-Insurance letter from BOEM dated September 30, 2016 stating that we are not eligible to self-insure any of our additional security obligations and received a Proposal letter from BOEM dated October 20, 2016 indicating that additional security may be required. The September 30, 2016 Self-Insurance determination letter was rescinded by BOEM on March 24, 2017. In the first quarter of 2017, BOEM announced that it will extend the implementation timeline for the new NTL by an additional six months.

Currently, we have posted an aggregate of approximately $118 million in surety bonds in favor of BOEM, third party bonds and letters of credit, all relating to our offshore abandonment obligations. The bonds represent guarantees by the surety insurance companies that we will operate in accordance with applicable rules and regulations and perform certain plugging and abandonment obligations as specified by applicable working interest purchase and sale agreements. A revised tailored plan may require incremental financial assurance or bonding for non-sole liability properties by the end of 2017 or in 2018, dependent on adjustments following ongoing discussions with BOEM and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement ("BSEE"), and any modifications to the NTL. Under the revised proposed plan, additional financial assurance would be required for subsequent years. There is no assurance that our current tailored plan will be approved by BOEM, and BOEM may require further revisions to our plan.