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Asset Retirement Obligations
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]  
Asset Retirement Obligations
Note 4. Asset Retirement Obligations

The following table summarizes the changes in our asset retirement obligations for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017:
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
In thousands
 
2018
 
2017
Beginning asset retirement obligations
 
$
166,310

 
$
149,120

Liabilities incurred and assumed during period
 
2,201

 
2,698

Revisions in estimated retirement obligations
 
2,298

 
6,867

Liabilities settled and sold during period
 
(9,481
)
 
(5,617
)
Accretion expense
 
15,257

 
13,242

Ending asset retirement obligations
 
176,585

 
166,310

Less: current asset retirement obligations(1)
 
(2,115
)
 
(554
)
Long-term asset retirement obligations
 
$
174,470

 
$
165,756



(1)
Included in “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities” in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Liabilities assumed relate to minor acquisitions, with liabilities incurred generally relating to wells and facilities.

We have escrow accounts that are legally restricted for certain of our asset retirement obligations.  The balances of these escrow accounts were $42.1 million and $40.6 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.  These balances are primarily invested in U.S. Treasury bonds, recorded at amortized cost, and money market accounts, which investments are included in “Other assets” in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.  A portion of these investments are included in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash balances on our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (see Note 1, Significant Accounting Policies – Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash). The carrying value of these investments approximates their estimated fair market value as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.