This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 ("Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") regarding our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in and incorporated by reference into this report are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States ("U.S.") Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as expects, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements herein. These statements relate to, among other things: estimated future production (including the components of such production), sales, expenses, cash flows and liquidity; estimated crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) reserves; expected 2015 capital forecast allocations, including revised capital and production forecasts; anticipated increased 2015 capital projects, expenditures and opportunities; expected year-end exit rates; the impact of prolonged depressed commodity prices; anticipated 2015 capital projects, expenditures and opportunities; expected timing of additional drilling rigs;potential future impairments; availability of sufficient funding for our 2015 capital program and sources of that funding; expected 2015 capital forecast allocations; future exploration, drilling and development activities, including the numberour expected rig count; expectation of drilling rigs we expect to run during 2015;cash flow neutrality in 2016; potential additional revisions to our 2015 capital and production forecast; anticipated reductions in our 2015 cost structure; the expiration of certain significant and insignificant leases in the Utica Shale; our evaluation method of our customers' and derivative counterparties' credit risk;risk, in light of the impact of low commodity prices on certain of our Gas Marketing customers; our expected positive net settlements on our derivative positions in 2015; effectiveness of our derivative program in providing a degree of price stability; the impact of high line pressures and the timing, availability, cost and effect of additional midstream facilities and services going forward; expected differentials; compliance with debt covenants; expected funding sources upon conversion of our 3.25% convertible senior notes due 2016; the borrowing base under our credit facility; impact of litigation on our results of operations and financial position; the adequacy of existing insurance to cover operating hazards and the availability of such insurance on a cost effective basis in the future; that we do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future; and our future strategies, plans and objectives.

The above statements are not the exclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements herein. Although forward-looking statements contained in this report reflect our good faith judgment, such statements can only be based on facts and factors currently known to us. Consequently, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, including known and unknown risks and uncertainties incidental to the exploration for, and the acquisition, development, production and marketing of, crude oil, natural gas and NGLs, and actual outcomes may differ materially from the results and outcomes discussed in the forward-looking statements.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of PDC, our wholly-owned subsidiary Riley Natural Gas ("RNG"), our proportionate share of our four affiliated partnerships and, for the three and six months ended March 31,June 30, 2014, our proportionate share of PDCM. Pursuant to the proportionate consolidation method, our accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include our pro rata share of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the entities which we proportionately consolidate. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period financial statements to conform to the current year presentation. The reclassifications are mainly attributable to reporting the results of operations related to PDCM's Marcellus Shale assets as discontinued operations. These reclassifications had no impact on previously reported cash flows, net income, earnings per share or shareholders' equity.

On January 1, 2014, we adopted changes issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") regarding the accounting for income taxes. The change provides clarification on the presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward exists. Adoption of these changes had no impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.

In April 2014, the FASB issued changes related to the criteria for determining which disposals can be presented as discontinued operations and modified related disclosure requirements. Under the new pronouncement, a discontinued operation is defined as a component of an entity that either has been disposed of or is classified as held for sale and represents a strategic shift that has a major effect on the entity's operations and financial results. These changes were required to be applied prospectively for new disposals or components of an entity classified as held for sale during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted. On July 1, 2014, we elected to early adopt the new pronouncement.

In May 2014, the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") issued their converged standard on revenue recognition that provides a single, comprehensive model that entities will apply to determine the measurement of revenue and timing of when it is recognized. The underlying principle is that an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The standard outlines a five-step approach to apply the underlying principle: (a) identify the contract with the customer, (b) identify the separate performance obligations in the contract, (c) determine the transaction price, (d) allocate the transaction price to separate performance obligations and (e) recognize revenue when (or as) each performance obligation is satisfied. Entities are permitted to adopt theThe revenue standard early, beginning with annual reporting periods after December 15, 2016. In April 2015, the FASB voted to propose that the revenue standard beis effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period, and can be adopted under the full retrospective method or simplified transition method. Entities are permitted to adopt the revenue standard early, beginning with annual reporting periods after December 15, 2016. We are currently evaluating the impact these changes will have on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued a new standard related to the disclosure of uncertainties about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern. The new standard will explicitly require management to assess an entity's ability to continue as a going concern every reporting period and to provide related footnote disclosures in certain circumstances. The new standard will be effective for all entities in the first annual period ending after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. Adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In January 2015, the FASB issued new accounting guidance eliminating from current accounting guidance the concept of extraordinary items, which, among other things, required an entity to segregate extraordinary items considered to be unusual and infrequent from the results of ordinary operations and show the item separately in the income statement, net of tax, after income from continuing operations. This guidance is effective for public entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. Adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued an accounting update modifying existing consolidation guidance for reporting organizations that are required to evaluate whether they should consolidate certain legal entities. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2015, and require either a retrospective or a modified retrospective approach to adoption. Early adoption is permitted. Adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

In April 2015, the FASB issued an accounting update simplifying the presentation of debt issuance costs and requiring that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The update did not affect the recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs. This guidance is effective for public entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. Adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

We validate our fair value measurement through the review of counterparty statements and other supporting documentation, the determination that the source of the inputs is valid, the corroboration of the original source of inputs through access to multiple quotes, if available, or other information and monitoring changes in valuation methods and assumptions. While we use common industry practices to develop our valuation techniques and believe our valuation method is appropriate and consistent with those used by other market participants, changes in our pricing methodologies or the underlying assumptions could result in significantly different fair values.

Our fixed-price swaps, basis swaps and physical purchases are included in Level 2 and our collars and physical sales are included in Level 3. The following table presents, for each applicable level within the fair value hierarchy, our derivative assets and liabilities, including both current and non-current portions, measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

The following table presents a reconciliation of our Level 3 assets measured at fair value:

The significant unobservable input used in the fair value measurement of our derivative contracts is the implied volatility curve, which is provided by a third-party vendor. A significant increase or decrease in the implied volatility, in isolation, would have a directionally similar effect resulting in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement of our Level 3 derivative contracts. There has been no change in the methodology we apply to measure the fair value of our Level 3 derivative contracts.

    

The carrying value of the financial instruments included in current assets and current liabilities, excluding the current portion of long-term debt, approximate fair value due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.

 

The carrying value of our capital lease obligations approximates fair value as it represents the present value of future lease payments.

Our results of operations and operating cash flows are affected by changes in market prices for crude oil, natural gas and NGLs. To manage a portion of our exposure to price volatility from producing crude oil and natural gas, we utilize the following economic hedging strategies for each of our business segments.

We have elected not to designate any of our derivative instruments as hedges, and therefore do not qualify for use of hedge accounting. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of our derivative instruments are recorded in the statements of operations. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments related to our Oil and Gas Exploration and Production segment are recorded in commodity price risk management, net. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments related to our Gas Marketing segment are recorded in sales from and cost of natural gas marketing.

The following table presents the impact of our derivative instruments on our condensed consolidated statements of operations:

All of our financial derivative agreements contain master netting provisions that provide for the net settlement of all contracts through a single payment in the event of early termination. Our fixed-price physical purchase and sale agreements that qualify as derivative contracts

The following table reflects the impact of netting agreements on gross derivative assets and liabilities:

The following table presents the components of properties and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization ("DD&A"):

The following table presents impairment charges recorded for crude oil and natural gas properties:

We evaluate and update our estimated annual effective income tax rate on a quarterly basis based on current and forecasted operating results and tax laws. The estimated annual effective tax rate is adjusted quarterly based upon actual results and updated operating forecasts. Consequently, based upon the mix and timing of our actual earnings compared to annual projections, our effective tax rate may vary quarterly and may make quarterly comparisons not meaningful. A tax expense or benefit unrelated to the current year income or loss is recognized in its entirety as a discrete item of tax in the period identified. The quarterly income tax provision is generally comprised of tax expense on income or benefit on loss at the most recent estimated annual effective tax rate, adjusted for the effect of discrete items.

The effective tax rate for continuing operations for the three and six months ended March 31,June 30, 2015 was a 38.6% expense39.1% and 39.4% benefit on incomeloss, respectively, compared to a 38.8% benefit on loss for the three and six months ended March 31,June 30, 2014. The effective tax raterates for the three and six months ended March 31,June 30, 2015 isare based upon a full year forecasted tax provision on income and isare greater than the statutory rate, primarily due to state taxes and nondeductible officers' compensation, partially offset by percentage depletion and domestic production deduction. The effective tax rate for the three and six months ended March 31,June 30, 2014 differsdiffer from the statutory rate primarily due to percentage depletion and domestic production deduction partially offset by state taxes and nondeductible officers' compensation. There were no significant discrete items recorded during the three and six months ended March 31,June 30, 2015 or March 31, 2014.

As of March 31,June 30, 2015, we had no liability for unrecognized tax benefits. As of the date of this report, we are current with our income tax filings in all applicable state jurisdictions and are not currently under any state income tax examinations. We continue voluntary participation in the Internal Revenue Service’s ("IRS") Compliance Assurance Program for the 2014 and 2015 tax years. The IRS has notified us of full acceptance of our 2013 return with no changes.

Long-term debt consists of the following:

The Convertible Notes were not convertible at the option of holders as of March 31,June 30, 2015. NotwithstandingThe conversion right was triggered on June 16, 2015, when the inabilityclosing sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market exceeded $55.12 (130% of the applicable conversion price) for the 20th trading day in the 30 consecutive trading days ending on June 30, 2015. In the event a holder elects to convert its

The revolving credit facility contains covenants customary for agreements of this type, with the most restrictive being certain financial tests on a quarterly basis. The financial tests, as defined per the revolving credit facility, include requirements to: (a) maintain a minimum current ratio of 1.00 to 1.00 and (b) not exceed a maximum leverage ratio of 4.25 to 1.00. As of March 31,June 30, 2015, we were in compliance with all the revolving credit facility covenants and expect to remain in compliance throughout the next 12-month period.

Beginning in the three months ended March 31,first quarter of 2015, we have entered into non-cancelable lease agreements for vehicles utilized by our operations and field personnel. TheEach lease agreement has a term of each lease agreement is three years and is being accounted for as a capital lease, as the present value of minimum monthly lease payments, including the residual value guarantee, exceeds 90% of the fair value of the leased vehicles at inception of the lease.

 

Future minimum lease payments by year and in the aggregate, under non-cancelable capital leases with terms of one year or more, consist of the following:

Short-term capital lease obligations are included in other accrued expenses on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Long-term capital lease obligations are included in other liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

The following table presents the changes in carrying amounts of the asset retirement obligations associated with our working interestinterests in crude oil and natural gas properties:

Short-term asset retirement obligations are included in other accrued expenses on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

The following table presents gross volume information related to our long-term firm transportation, sales and processing agreements for pipeline capacity:

In October 2014, the Company and plaintiffs’ counsel reached a settlement agreement. That settlement agreement was signed in December 2014 and was given final court approval in March 2015. Under this settlement agreement, the plaintiffs received a cash payment of $37.5 million in January 2015, of which the Company paid $31.5 million and insurers paid $6 million. In March 2015, the class action was dismissed with prejudice and all class claims were released. As of December 31, 2014, the Company accrued a liability of $37.5 million related to this litigation, which was included in other accrued expenses in the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Environmental. Due to the nature of the natural gas and oil industry, we are exposed to environmental risks. We have various policies and procedures to minimize and mitigate the risks from environmental contamination. We conduct periodic reviews to identify changes in our environmental risk profile. Liabilities are recorded when environmental damages resulting from past events are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. As of March 31,June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we had accrued environmental liabilities in the amount of $3.6$3.8 million and $0.8 million, respectively, included in other accrued expenses on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. We are not aware of any environmental claims existing as of March 31,June 30, 2015 which have not been provided for or would otherwise have a material impact on our financial statements; however, there can be no assurance that current regulatory requirements will not change or unknown past non-compliance with environmental laws will not be discovered on our properties.

In March 2015, we completed a public offering of 4,002,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at a price to us of $50.73 per share. Net proceeds of the offering were $202.9 million, after deducting offering expenses and underwriting discounts, of which $40,020 is included in common shares-par value and $202.8 million is included in additional paid-in capital on the March 31,June 30, 2015 condensed consolidated balance sheet. The shares were issued pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC in March 2015.

The following table provides a summary of the impact of our outstanding stock-based compensation plans on the results of operations for the periods presented:

In January 2015, the Compensation Committee awarded 68,274 SARs to our executive officers. The fair value of each SAR award was estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes pricing model using the following assumptions:

The expected term of the award was estimated using historical stock option exercise behavior data. The risk-free interest rate was based on the U.S. Treasury yields approximating the expected life of the award in effect at the time of grant. Expected volatilities were based on our historical volatility. We do not expect to pay or declare dividends in the foreseeable future.

    

The following table presents the changes in our SARs:SARs for the periods presented:

Time-Based Awards. The fair value of the time-based restricted shares is amortized ratably over the requisite service period, primarily three years. The time-based shares vest ratably on each anniversary following the grant date that a participant is continuously employed.

Total compensation cost related to non-vested time-based awards, net of estimated forfeitures, and not yet recognized in our condensed consolidated statements of operations as of March 31,June 30, 2015 was $18.1$22.8 million. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.92.0 years.

Market-Based Awards. The fair value of the market-based restricted shares is amortized ratably over the requisite service period, primarily three years. The market-based shares vest if the participant is continuously employed throughout the performance period and the market-based performance measure is achieved, with a maximum vesting period of three years. All compensation cost related to the market-based awards will be recognized if the requisite service period is fulfilled, even if the market condition is not achieved.