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Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Denbury Resources Inc., a Delaware corporation, is a growing independent oil and natural gas company. We are the largest combined oil and natural gas producer in both Mississippi and Montana, own the largest reserves of CO₂ used for tertiary oil recovery east of the Mississippi River, and hold significant operating acreage in the Rocky Mountain and Gulf Coast regions. Our goal is to increase the value of our acquired properties through a combination of exploitation, drilling and proven engineering extraction practices, with the most significant emphasis relating to CO₂ tertiary recovery operations.

Principles of Reporting and Consolidation

Encore Merger. On March 9, 2010, we acquired Encore Acquisition Company (“Encore”), pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Encore Merger Agreement”), under which Encore was merged with and into Denbury (the “Encore Merger”), with Denbury surviving the Encore Merger following approval by the stockholders of both Denbury and Encore, closing of a new revolving credit facility as part of the financing for the Encore Merger, and satisfaction of other conditions precedent. The Encore Merger provided Encore stockholders stock and/or cash and included the assumption of Encore’s debt by Denbury. Denbury has consolidated Encore’s results of operations since the March 9, 2010 acquisition date. See Note 2, Acquisitions and Divestitures, for more information.

Principles of Reporting and Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements herein have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of Denbury and entities in which we hold a controlling financial interest. Undivided interests in oil and gas joint ventures are consolidated on a proportionate basis. Investments in non-controlled entities over which we exercise significant influence are accounted for under the equity method. Other investments are carried at cost. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

From March 9, 2010 through December 31, 2010, we owned approximately 46% of Encore Energy Partners LP (“ENP”) outstanding common units and 100% of Encore Energy Partners GP LLC (“ENP GP LLC”) membership interests, which was ENP’s general partner. Considering the presumption of control of ENP GP LLC in accordance with the Consolidation topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Codification (“FASC”), the results of operations and cash flows of ENP were consolidated with those of Denbury for this period. On December 31, 2010, we sold all of our ownership interests in ENP and ENP GP LLC; therefore, we did not consolidate ENP in our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2010. As presented in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2010, “Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest” of $13.8 million represents ENP’s results of operations attributable to limited partners other than Denbury for the portion of the year for which we consolidated ENP.

Use Of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of certain assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during each reporting period. Management believes its estimates and assumptions are reasonable; however, such estimates and assumptions are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from such estimates. Significant estimates underlying these financial statements include: (1) the fair value of financial derivative instruments; (2) the estimated quantities of proved oil and natural gas reserves used to compute depletion of oil and natural gas properties, the related present value of estimated future net cash flows therefrom and the ceiling test; (3) the estimated quantities of proved and probable CO₂ reserves used to compute depletion of CO₂ properties; (4) accruals related to oil and natural gas sales volumes and revenues, capital expenditures and lease operating expenses; (5) the estimated costs and timing of future asset retirement obligations; (6) estimates made in the calculation of income taxes; and (7) estimates made in determining the fair values for purchase price allocations, including goodwill. While management is not aware of any significant revisions to any of its estimates, there will likely be future revisions to its estimates resulting from matters such as revisions in estimated oil and natural gas volumes, changes in ownership interests, payouts, joint venture audits, re-allocations by purchasers or pipelines, or other corrections and adjustments common in the oil and natural gas industry, many of which require retroactive application. These types of adjustments cannot be currently estimated and will be recorded in the period in which the adjustment occurs.

Reclassifications

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation. Such reclassifications had no impact on our reported net income, current assets, total assets, current liabilities, total liabilities or stockholders' equity.

Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid investments to be cash equivalents if they have maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash at December 31, 2012 consists of proceeds from the exchange of oil and gas properties with Exxon Mobil Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary XTO Energy Inc. (see Note 2, Acquisitions and Divestitures) being held by a qualified intermediary through three separate financial institutions and which are restricted for application towards future potential acquisitions to facilitate an anticipated like-kind-exchange transaction for federal income tax purposes. We manage and control counterparty credit risk related to this restricted cash using a trust agreement, whereby the assets held in trust must be segregated from the financial institution's assets, and in the event of a bankruptcy, the funds would not be subject to payments to the creditors of the financial institution.

Short-term Investments

Short-term investments represent available-for-sale securities recorded at fair value with any unrealized gains or losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income. At December 31, 2011, short-term investments consisted entirely of our investment in Vanguard Natural Resources LLC (“Vanguard”) common units obtained as partial consideration for the sale of our interests in ENP to a subsidiary of Vanguard on December 31, 2010 (see Note 2, Acquisitions and Divestitures). Our original cost basis of this investment was $93.0 million. We received distributions of $7.2 million on the Vanguard common units we owned for the year ended December 31, 2011, which are included in “Interest income and other income” on our Consolidated Statements of Operations. Due to the decline in the market value of this investment and the expectation that the investment would not recover its cost basis prior to the time of sale, we recorded a $6.3 million “other-than-temporary” impairment loss on this investment for the year ended December 31, 2011, which is included in “Impairment of assets” on our Consolidated Statements of Operations. During January 2012, we sold our investment in Vanguard for cash consideration of $83.5 million, net of related transaction fees. The Company recognized a pretax loss on the sale of $3.1 million, which is included in “Other expenses” on our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Oil and Natural Gas Properties

Capitalized Costs. We follow the full cost method of accounting for oil and natural gas properties. Under this method, all costs related to acquisitions, exploration and development of oil and natural gas reserves are capitalized and accumulated in a single cost center representing our activities, which are undertaken exclusively in the United States. Such costs include lease acquisition costs, geological and geophysical expenditures, lease rentals on undeveloped properties, costs of drilling both productive and nonproductive wells, capitalized interest on qualifying projects, and general and administrative expenses directly related to exploration and development activities, and do not include any costs related to production, general corporate overhead or similar activities. We assign the purchase price of oil and natural gas properties we acquire to proved and unevaluated properties based on the estimated fair values as defined in the FASC Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures topic. Proceeds received from disposals are credited against accumulated costs except when the sale represents a significant disposal of reserves, in which case a gain or loss would be recognized. A disposal of twenty-five percent or more of our proved reserves would be considered significant.

Depletion and Depreciation. The costs capitalized, including production equipment and future development costs, are depleted or depreciated using the unit-of-production method, based on proved oil and natural gas reserves as determined by independent petroleum engineers. Oil and natural gas reserves are converted to equivalent units on a basis of 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of crude oil. The depletion and depreciation rate per BOE associated with our oil and gas producing activities was $18.69 in 2012, $16.42 in 2011 and $15.82 in 2010.

Under full cost accounting, we may exclude certain unevaluated costs from the amortization base pending determination of whether proved reserves can be assigned to such properties. The costs classified as unevaluated are transferred to the full cost amortization base as the properties are developed, tested and evaluated.

Ceiling Test. The net capitalized costs of oil and natural gas properties are limited to the lower of unamortized cost or the cost center ceiling. The cost center ceiling is defined as: (1) the present value of estimated future net revenues from proved reserves before future abandonment costs (discounted at 10%), based on the average first-day-of-the-month oil and natural gas price for each month during the 12-month period prior to the end of a particular reporting period; plus (2) the cost of properties not being amortized; plus (3) the lower of cost or estimated fair value of unproved properties included in the costs being amortized, if any; less (4) related income tax effects. Our future net revenues from proved reserves are not reduced for development costs related to the cost of drilling for and developing CO₂ reserves nor those related to the cost of constructing CO₂ pipelines, as those costs have previously been incurred by the Company. Therefore, we include in the ceiling test, as a reduction of future net revenues, that portion of our capitalized CO₂ costs related to CO₂ reserves and CO₂ pipelines that we estimate will be consumed in the process of producing our proved oil and natural gas reserves. The fair value of our oil and natural gas derivative contracts is not included in the ceiling test, as we do not designate these contracts as hedge instruments for accounting purposes. The cost center ceiling test is prepared quarterly. We did not have a ceiling test write-down during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 or 2010.

Joint Interest Operations. Substantially all of our oil and natural gas exploration and production activities are conducted jointly with others. These financial statements reflect only our proportionate interest in such activities, and any amounts due from other partners are included in trade receivables.

Tertiary Injection Costs. Our tertiary operations are conducted in reservoirs that have already produced significant amounts of oil over many years; however, in accordance with the SEC rules and regulations for recording proved reserves, we cannot recognize proved reserves associated with enhanced recovery techniques, such as CO₂ injection, until there is a production response to the injected CO₂, or unless the field is analogous to an existing flood.

We capitalize, as a development cost, injection costs in fields that are in their development stage, which means we have not yet seen incremental oil production due to the CO₂ injections (i.e., a production response). These capitalized development costs are included in our unevaluated property costs if there are not already proved tertiary reserves in that field. After we see a production response to the CO₂ injections (i.e., the production stage), injection costs are expensed as incurred, and once proved reserves are recognized, previously deferred unevaluated development costs become subject to depletion.

Property, Plant, and Equipment Policy

CO₂ Properties

We own and produce CO₂ reserves, a non-hydrocarbon resource, that are used in our tertiary oil recovery operations on our own behalf and on behalf of other interest owners in enhanced recovery fields, with a portion sold to third-party industrial users. We record revenue from our sales of CO₂ to third parties when it is produced and sold. Expenses related to the production of CO₂ are allocated between volumes sold to third parties and volumes consumed internally that are directly related to our tertiary production. The expenses related to third-party sales are recorded in “CO₂ discovery and operating expenses,” and the expenses related to internal use are recorded in “Lease operating expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, or are capitalized as oil and gas properties in our Consolidated Balance Sheets, depending on the status of floods that receive the CO₂ (see Tertiary Injection Costs above for further discussion).

During 2010 and 2011, we acquired interests in the Riley Ridge Federal Unit (“Riley Ridge”), in which helium and CO₂ (non-hydrocarbon resources) as well as natural gas (a hydrocarbon resource) are present. It is not possible to separately identify the capitalized costs related to the development of each product in the commingled gas stream; thus, these costs are allocated to each product based on the relative future revenue value of each product line and classified accordingly on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

During 2010, we revised our capitalization policies for CO₂ properties. Previously, we accounted for our CO₂ source properties in a manner similar to our method of accounting for oil and natural gas properties, as the process and activities to identify, develop and produce CO₂ reserves are virtually identical to those used to identify, develop and produce oil and natural gas reserves. However, because CO₂ is not a hydrocarbon, it is excluded from the scope of FASC Topic 932, Extractive Industries – Oil and Gas; therefore, we are precluded from accounting for our CO₂ operations in accordance with FASC Topic 932. Accordingly, commencing in July 2010, costs incurred to search for CO₂ are expensed as incurred until proved or probable reserves are established. Once proved or probable reserves are established, costs incurred to obtain those reserves are capitalized and classified as “CO₂ properties” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Capitalized CO₂ is aggregated by geologic formation and depleted on a unit-of-production basis over proved and probable reserves. The impact of the revised accounting policy on our financial statements was not material to any individual year. We recognized the cumulative impact of the revised accounting policy as a noncash net reduction to depletion, depreciation and amortization during the year ended December 31, 2010, resulting in a pretax credit of $9.6 million ($6.0 million after tax), which reflected a reduction to “CO₂ properties” of $26.1 million offset by a decrease in “Accumulated depletion, depreciation and amortization” of $35.7 million. The cumulative adjustment did not have an impact on our net cash flows.

The portion of our capitalized CO₂ costs related to CO₂ reserves and CO₂ pipelines that we estimate will be consumed in the process of producing our proved oil reserves is included in the ceiling test as a reduction to future net revenues. The remaining net capitalized CO₂ properties, equipment and pipelines balance is evaluated for impairment by comparing the net carrying costs to the expected future net revenues from (1) the production of our probable and possible tertiary oil reserves and (2) the sale of CO₂ to third-party industrial users.

Pipelines and Plants

CO₂ used in our tertiary floods is transported to our fields through CO₂ pipelines. Costs of CO₂ pipelines under construction are not depreciated until the pipelines are placed into service. Pipelines are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, which range from 15 to 50 years.

Pipelines and plants include the Riley Ridge gas plant in southwestern Wyoming, which is currently under construction. The plant is being withheld from depreciation until it is placed in service, which we currently expect to occur during mid-2013.

Property and Equipment – Other

Other property and equipment, which includes furniture and fixtures, vehicles, computer equipment and software, and capitalized leases, is depreciated principally on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives. Vehicles and furniture and fixtures are generally depreciated over a useful life of five to ten years, and computer equipment and software are generally depreciated over a useful life of three to five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the estimated useful life or the remaining lease term.

Leased property meeting certain capital lease criteria is capitalized, and the present value of the related lease payments is recorded as a liability. Amortization of capitalized leased assets is computed using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful life or the initial lease term.

Maintenance and repair costs that do not extend the useful lives of property and equipment are charged to expense as incurred.

Asset Retirement Obligations

In general, our future asset retirement obligations relate to future costs associated with plugging and abandoning our oil, natural gas and CO₂ wells, removing equipment and facilities from leased acreage, and returning land to its original condition. The fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation is recorded in the period in which it is incurred, discounted to its present value using our credit-adjusted-risk-free interest rate, and a corresponding amount capitalized by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. The liability is accreted each period, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. Revisions to estimated retirement obligations will result in an adjustment to the related capitalized asset and corresponding liability. If the liability is settled for an amount other than the recorded amount, the difference is recorded to the full cost pool, unless significant.

Asset retirement obligations are estimated at the present value of expected future net cash flows and are discounted using our credit-adjusted-risk-free rate. We utilize unobservable inputs in the estimation of asset retirement obligations that include, but are not limited to, costs of labor, costs of materials, profits on costs of labor and materials, the effect of inflation on estimated costs, and the discount rate. Accordingly, asset retirement obligations are considered a Level 3 measurement under the FASC Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures topic.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

We utilize oil and natural gas derivative contracts to mitigate our exposure to commodity price risk associated with our future oil and natural gas production. These derivative contracts have historically consisted of options, in the form of price floors or collars, and fixed price swaps. From time to time, we have also used interest rate lock contracts to mitigate our exposure to interest rate fluctuations related to sale-leaseback financing of certain equipment used at our oilfield facilities. Our derivative financial instruments are recorded on the balance sheet as either an asset or a liability measured at fair value. We do not apply hedge accounting to our oil and natural gas derivative contracts; accordingly, the changes in the fair value of these instruments are recognized in our Consolidated Statements of Operations in the period of change.

Oil and Natural Gas Derivative Contracts

We do not apply hedge accounting treatment to our oil and natural gas derivative contracts; therefore, the changes in the fair values of these instruments are recognized in income in the period of change. These fair value changes, along with the cash settlements of expired contracts, are shown under “Derivatives expense (income)” in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

From time to time, we enter into various oil and natural gas derivative contracts to provide an economic hedge of our exposure to commodity price risk associated with anticipated future oil and natural gas production. We do not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. These contracts have consisted of price floors, collars and fixed price swaps. The production that we hedge has varied from year to year depending on our levels of debt and financial strength and expectation of future commodity prices. We currently employ a strategy to hedge a portion of our forecasted production approximately two years in the future from the current quarter, as we believe it is important to protect our future cash flow to provide a level of assurance for our capital spending in those future periods in light of current worldwide economic uncertainties and commodity price volatility. We do not have any natural gas derivative contracts for 2013 or beyond. Because our current and forecasted production is primarily oil, we currently use only oil derivative contracts in our commodity market risk management program.

Financial Instruments with Off-Balance-Sheet Risk and Concentrations of Credit Risk

Our financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash equivalents, trade and accrued production receivables, and the derivative instruments discussed above. Our cash equivalents represent high-quality securities placed with various investment-grade institutions. This investment practice limits our exposure to concentrations of credit risk. Our trade and accrued production receivables are dispersed among various customers and purchasers; therefore, concentrations of credit risk are limited. We evaluate the credit ratings of our purchasers, and if customers are considered a credit risk, letters of credit are the primary security obtained to support lines of credit. We attempt to minimize our credit risk exposure to the counterparties of our oil and natural gas derivative contracts through formal credit policies, monitoring procedures and diversification. All of our derivative contracts are with banks, which are part of the syndicate of banks in our bank credit facility, or with their affiliates. There are no margin requirements with the counterparties of our derivative contracts.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired in the acquisition of a business. Goodwill is not amortized; rather, it is tested for impairment annually during the fourth quarter and when events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not the fair value of a reporting unit with goodwill has been reduced below its carrying value. The impairment test requires allocating goodwill and other assets and liabilities to reporting units. However, we have only one reporting unit. To assess impairment, we have the option to qualitatively assess if it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value. Absent a qualitative assessment, or, through the qualitative assessment, if we determine it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value, a quantitative assessment is prepared to calculate the fair market value of the reporting unit. If it is determined that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value, the recorded goodwill is impaired to its implied fair value with a charge to operating expense. We completed our annual goodwill impairment assessment during the fourth quarter of 2012 and did not record any goodwill impairment during 2012, nor have we recorded a goodwill impairment historically.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized at the time oil and natural gas is produced and sold. Any amounts due from purchasers of oil and natural gas are included in accrued production receivable.

We follow the sales method of accounting for our oil and natural gas revenue, whereby we recognize revenue on all oil or natural gas sold to our purchasers regardless of whether the sales are proportionate to our ownership in the property. A receivable or liability is recognized only to the extent that we have an imbalance on a specific property greater than the expected remaining proved reserves. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, our aggregate oil and natural gas imbalances were not material to our consolidated financial statements.

We recognize revenue and expenses of purchased producing properties at the time we assume effective control, commencing from either the closing or purchase agreement date, depending on the underlying terms and agreements. We follow the same methodology in reverse when we sell properties by recognizing revenue and expenses of the sold properties until the closing date.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method, under which deferred income taxes are recognized for the future tax effects of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of existing assets and liabilities using the enacted statutory tax rates in effect at year end. The effect on deferred taxes for a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is recorded when it is more likely than not that the benefit from the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

We recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement.

Net Income Per Common Share

Basic net income per common share is computed by dividing the net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share is calculated in the same manner, but includes the impact of potentially dilutive securities. Potentially dilutive securities consist of stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), nonvested restricted stock and nonvested performance equity awards. For each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012, there were no adjustments to net income for purposes of calculating basic and diluted net income per common share.

Basic weighted average common shares excludes 3.7 million, 3.4 million and 3.2 million shares of nonvested restricted stock during the year ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. As these restricted shares vest or become retirement eligible, they will be included in the shares outstanding used to calculate basic net income per common share (although all restricted stock is issued and outstanding upon grant). For purposes of calculating diluted weighted average common shares, the nonvested restricted stock is included in the computation using the treasury stock method, with the deemed proceeds equal to the average unrecognized compensation during the period, adjusted for any estimated future tax consequences recognized directly in equity.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Presentation of Comprehensive Income. In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2011-05”). ASU 2011-05 requires the presentation of comprehensive income in either (1) a continuous statement of comprehensive income or (2) two separate but consecutive statements. ASU 2011-05 was effective for Denbury beginning January 1, 2012. Since ASU 2011-05 only amended presentation requirements, it did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Fair Value. In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs (“ASU 2011-04”). ASU 2011-04 amends the FASC Fair Value Measurements topic by providing a consistent definition and measurement of fair value, as well as similar disclosure requirements between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. ASU 2011-04 changes certain fair value measurement principles, clarifies the application of existing fair value measurements and expands the fair value disclosure requirements, particularly for Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2011-04 was effective for Denbury beginning January 1, 2012. The adoption of ASU 2011-04 did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements, but did require additional disclosures. See Note 10, Fair Value Measurements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Reclassifications. In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ("ASU 2013-02"). ASU 2013-02 requires disclosure of amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income but only if the amount reclassified is required to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For amounts not reclassified in their entirety to net income, an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures that provide additional detail about those amounts. ASU 2013-02 is effective prospectively for our fiscal year beginning January 1, 2013. The adoption of ASU 2013-02 will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Balance Sheet Offsetting. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, Disclosure about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities (“ASU 2011-11”). ASU 2011-11 requires an entity to disclose information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of its financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on its financial position. In January 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-01, Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities ("ASU 2013-01"). The update clarifies that the scope of ASU 2011-11 applies to derivatives accounted for in accordance with the Derivatives and Hedging topic of the FASC, including bifurcated embedded derivatives, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending transactions that are either offset or subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement. ASU 2011-11 and ASU 2013-01 are effective for our fiscal year beginning January 1, 2013 and will be applied retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The adoption of ASU 2011-11 and ASU 2013-01 will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements, but may require additional disclosures.

Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures

The FASC Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures topic defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or would be paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). We utilize market data or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated or generally unobservable. We primarily apply the market approach for recurring fair value measurements and endeavor to utilize the best available information. Accordingly, we utilize valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. We are able to classify fair value balances based on the observability of those inputs. The FASC establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurement) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurement). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:


•	Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date.

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Level 2 — Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reported date. Level 2 includes those financial instruments that are valued using models or other valuation methodologies. Instruments in this category include non-exchange-traded oil and natural gas derivatives that are based on NYMEX pricing. Our costless collars are valued using the Black-Scholes model, an industry standard option valuation model, that takes into account inputs such as contractual prices for the underlying instruments, including maturity, quoted forward prices for commodities, interest rates, volatility factors and credit worthiness, as well as other relevant economic measures. Substantially all of these assumptions are observable in the marketplace throughout the full term of the instrument, can be derived from observable data or are supported by observable levels at which transactions are executed in the marketplace.

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Level 3 — Pricing inputs include significant inputs that are generally less observable from objective sources. These inputs may be used with internally developed methodologies that result in management’s best estimate of fair value. At December 31, 2011, instruments in this category also included non-exchange-traded natural gas derivatives swaps that were based on regional pricing other than NYMEX (i.e., Houston Ship Channel). Our basis swaps were estimated using discounted cash flow calculations based upon forward commodity price curves.

We adjust the valuations from the valuation model for nonperformance risk, using our estimate of the counterparty’s credit quality for asset positions and our credit quality for liability positions. We use multiple sources of third-party credit data in determining counterparty nonperformance risk, including credit default swaps.