| SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES | 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
Halcón Resources Corporation (Halcón or the Company) is an independent energy company focused on the acquisition, production, exploration and development of onshore liquids-rich oil and natural gas assets in the United States. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all majority-owned, controlled subsidiaries. The Company operates in one segment which focuses on oil and natural gas acquisition, production, exploration and development. The Company's oil and natural gas properties are managed as a whole rather than through discrete operating areas. Operational information is tracked by operating area; however, financial performance is assessed as a whole. Allocation of capital is made across the Company's entire portfolio without regard to operating area. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The Company has evaluated events or transactions through the date of issuance of this report in conjunction with the preparation of these consolidated financial statements.
Emergence from Voluntary Reorganization under Chapter 11
On July 27, 2016 (the Petition Date), the Company and certain of its subsidiaries (the Halcón Entities) filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the District of Delaware (the Bankruptcy Court) to pursue a joint prepackaged plan of reorganization (the Plan). On September 8, 2016, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order confirming the Plan and on September 9, 2016, the Plan became effective (the Effective Date) and the Halcón Entities emerged from chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Company's subsidiary, HK TMS, LLC which was divested on September 30, 2016, was not part of the chapter 11 bankruptcy filings. See Note 2, "Reorganization," for further details on the Company's chapter 11 bankruptcy and the Plan and Note 5, "Divestitures," for further details on the divestiture of HK TMS, LLC.
Upon emergence from chapter 11 bankruptcy, the Company adopted fresh-start accounting in accordance with provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board's (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 852, Reorganizations (ASC 852) which resulted in the Company becoming a new entity for financial reporting purposes on the Effective Date. Upon the adoption of fresh-start accounting, the Company's assets and liabilities were recorded at their fair values as of the fresh-start reporting date. As a result of the adoption of fresh-start accounting, the Company's consolidated financial statements subsequent to September 9, 2016 are not comparable to its consolidated financial statements prior to, and including, September 9, 2016. See Note 3, "Fresh-start Accounting," for further details on the impact of fresh-start accounting on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
References to "Successor" or "Successor Company" relate to the financial position and results of operations of the reorganized Company subsequent to September 9, 2016. References to "Predecessor" or "Predecessor Company" relate to the financial position and results of operations of the Company prior to, and including, September 9, 2016.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires the Company's management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, if any, at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the respective reporting periods. Estimates and assumptions that, in the opinion of management of the Company, are significant include oil and natural gas revenue accruals, capital and operating expense accruals, oil and natural gas reserves, depletion relating to oil and natural gas properties, asset retirement obligations, fair value estimates, including estimates of Reorganization Value, Enterprise Value and the fair value of assets and liabilities recorded as a result of the adoption of fresh-start accounting, and income taxes. The Company bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other assumptions and information that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Estimates and assumptions about future events and their effects cannot be perceived with certainty and, accordingly, these estimates may change as new events occur, as more experience is acquired, as additional information is obtained and as the Company's operating environment changes. Actual results may differ from the estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
The Company's accounts receivable are primarily receivables from joint interest owners and oil and natural gas purchasers. Accounts receivable are recorded at the amount due, less an allowance for doubtful accounts, when applicable. The Company establishes provisions for losses on accounts receivable if it determines that collection of all or part of the outstanding balance is doubtful. The Company regularly reviews collectability and establishes or adjusts the allowance for doubtful accounts as necessary using the specific identification method. There were no significant allowances for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2016 (Successor) or 2015 (Predecessor).
Oil and Natural Gas Properties
The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for its investment in oil and natural gas properties as prescribed by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Accordingly, all costs incurred in the acquisition, exploration and development of proved and unproved oil and natural gas properties, including the costs of abandoned properties, dry holes, geophysical costs, and annual lease rentals are capitalized. All general and administrative corporate costs unrelated to drilling activities are expensed as incurred. Sales or other dispositions of oil and natural gas properties are accounted for as adjustments to capitalized costs, with no gain or loss recorded unless the ratio of cost to proved reserves would significantly change. Depletion of evaluated oil and natural gas properties is computed on the units of production method based on proved reserves. The net capitalized costs of evaluated oil and natural gas properties are subject to a full cost ceiling limitation in which the costs are not allowed to exceed their related estimated future net revenues discounted at 10%, net of tax considerations.
Costs associated with unevaluated properties are excluded from the full cost pool until the Company has made a determination as to the existence of proved reserves. The Company reviews its unevaluated properties at the end of each quarter to determine whether the costs incurred should be transferred to the full cost pool and thereby subject to amortization. Investments in unevaluated oil and natural gas properties and exploration and development projects for which depletion expense is not currently recognized, and for which exploration or development activities are in progress, qualify for interest capitalization. The Company determines capitalized interest, when applicable, by multiplying the Company's weighted-average borrowing cost on debt by the average amount of qualifying costs incurred that were excluded from the full cost pool; however, the amount of capitalized interest cannot exceed the amount of gross interest expense incurred in any given period. The Successor Company's accounting policy on the capitalization of interest establishes thresholds for the determination of a development project for the purpose of interest capitalization.
Other Operating Property and Equipment
Gas gathering systems and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over a 30-year or 10-year estimated useful life applicable to gas gathering systems and compressed natural gas facilities, respectively. Upon disposition, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed and any gains or losses are reflected in current operations. Maintenance and repair costs are charged to operating expense as incurred. Material expenditures which increase the life or productive capacity of an asset are capitalized and depreciated over the estimated remaining useful life of the asset. With the adoption of fresh-start accounting, the Company recorded its gas gathering systems and equipment at fair value totaling approximately $16.3 million as of the fresh-start reporting date. Refer to Note 3, "Fresh-start Accounting," for a discussion of the valuation approach used. At December 31, 2016 (Successor) and 2015 (Predecessor), the Company had approximately $16.4 million and $87.2 million capitalized, respectively, related to the construction of its gas gathering systems, after any amounts impaired.
Other operating assets are recorded at cost. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives: automobiles and computers, three years; computer software, fixtures, furniture and equipment, five years or the lesser of lease term; trailers, seven years; heavy equipment, ten years; buildings, twenty years and leasehold improvements, lease term. Upon disposition, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed and any gains or losses are reflected in current operations. Maintenance and repair costs are charged to operating expense as incurred. Material expenditures which increase the life of an asset are capitalized and depreciated over the estimated remaining useful life of the asset. With the adoption of fresh-start accounting, the Company recorded its other operating assets at fair value totaling approximately $21.8 million as of the fresh-start reporting date. Refer to Note 3, "Fresh-start Accounting," for a discussion of the valuation approach used.
The Company reviews its gas gathering systems and equipment and other operating assets for impairment in accordance with ASC 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment (ASC 360). ASC 360 requires the Company to evaluate gas gathering systems and equipment and other operating assets for impairment as events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value below the carrying amount. If the carrying amount is not recoverable from its undiscounted cash flows, then the Company would recognize an impairment loss for the difference between the carrying amount and the current fair value. Further, the Company evaluates the remaining useful lives of its gas gathering systems and equipment and other operating assets at each reporting period to determine whether events and circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining depreciation periods. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 (Predecessor), the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $28.1 million related to $32.8 million gross investments in gas gathering infrastructure that were deemed non-economical due to a shift in exploration, drilling and developmental plans in a low commodity price environment. For the year ended December 31, 2014 (Predecessor), the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge for gas gathering systems and other related operating assets of $35.6 million, net of $1.9 million of accumulated depreciation. The majority of the impairment represents approximately half of the Predecessor Company's gas gathering infrastructure, right-of-way and permitting investments in the Utica / Point Pleasant area (Utica). These infrastructure related investments were related to acreage in certain non-core areas of the Utica play which, at the time of evaluation for impairment in December 2014, the Predecessor Company did not plan to develop in light of the downtrend in oil prices which rendered certain areas to be deemed uneconomical and/or non-strategic. These impairments were recorded in "Other operating property and equipment impairment" in the Company's consolidated statements of operations and in "Gas gathering and other operating assets" in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
In accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC 820), a financial instrument's level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The estimate of the fair value of the Company's gas gathering systems was based on an income approach that estimated future cash flows associated with those assets over the remaining asset lives. This estimation includes the use of unobservable inputs, such as estimated future production, gathering and compression revenues and operating expenses. The use of these unobservable inputs results in the fair value estimate of the Company's gas gathering systems being classified as Level 3.
Revenue Recognition
Revenues from the sale of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids are recognized when the product is delivered at a fixed or determinable price, title has transferred, and collectability is reasonably assured and evidenced by a contract. The Company follows the entitlement method of accounting for crude oil and natural gas sales, recognizing as revenues only its net interest share of all production sold. Any amount attributable to the sale of production in excess of or less than the Company's net interest is recorded as a balancing asset or liability. At December 31, 2016 (Successor) and 2015 (Predecessor), the Company's imbalances were immaterial.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
The Company operates a substantial portion of its oil and natural gas properties. As the operator of a property, the Company makes full payments for costs associated with the property and seeks reimbursement from the other working interest owners in the property for their share of those costs. The Company's joint interest partners consist primarily of independent oil and natural gas producers. If the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry in general was adversely affected, the ability of the Company's joint interest partners to reimburse the Company could be adversely affected.
The purchasers of the Company's oil and natural gas production consist primarily of independent marketers, major oil and natural gas companies and gas pipeline companies. Historically, the Company has not experienced any significant losses from uncollectible accounts. For the combined periods, September 10, 2016 through December 31, 2016 (Successor) and January 1, 2016 through September 9, 2016 (Predecessor), two individual purchasers of the Company's production, Crestwood Midstream Partners, formerly Arrow Field Services LLC (Crestwood), and Energy Marketing Inc. (Suncor), each accounted for more than 10% of total sales, collectively representing 58%, of the Company's total sales for the period. In 2015 and 2014 (Predecessor), three individual purchasers of the Company's production, Crestwood, Sunoco Inc. and Suncor, each accounted for more than 10% of total sales, collectively representing 57% and 66%, respectively, of the Company's total sales for the years.
Risk Management Activities
The Company follows ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815). From time to time, when derivative contracts are available at terms (or prices) acceptable to the Company, it may hedge a portion of its forecasted oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids production. Derivative contracts entered into by the Company have consisted of transactions in which the Company hedges the variability of cash flow related to a forecasted transaction. The Company recognized all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. The Company has elected to not designate any of its positions for hedge accounting. Accordingly, the Company records the net change in the mark-to-market valuation of these positions, as well as payments and receipts on settled contracts, in " Net gain (loss) on derivative contracts " on the consolidated statements of operations.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method wherein deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
The Company follows ASC 740, Income Taxes (ASC 740). ASC 740 creates a single model to address accounting for the uncertainty in income tax positions and prescribes a minimum recognition threshold a tax position must meet before recognition in the consolidated financial statements.
The evaluation of a tax position in accordance with ASC 740 is a two-step process. The first step is a recognition process to determine whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. In evaluating whether a tax position has met the more likely than not recognition threshold, it is presumed that the position will be examined by the appropriate taxing authority with full knowledge of all relevant information. The second step is a measurement process whereby a tax position that meets the more likely than not recognition threshold is calculated to determine the amount of benefit/expense to recognize in the consolidated financial statements. The tax position is measured at the largest amount of benefit/expense that is more likely than not of being realized upon ultimate settlement.
The Company has no liability for unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2016 (Successor) and 2015 (Predecessor). Accordingly, there is no amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate and there is no amount of interest or penalties currently recognized in the consolidated statements of operations or consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2016 (Successor), 2015 and 2014 (Predecessor). In addition, the Company does not believe that there are any positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within the next twelve months.
The Company includes interest and penalties relating to uncertain tax positions within " Interest expense and other, net " on the Company's consolidated statements of operations. Refer to Note 14, " Income Taxes, " for more details.
Generally, the Company's tax years 2013 through 2016 are either currently under audit or remain open and subject to examination by federal tax authorities or the tax authorities in Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio and certain other state taxing jurisdictions where the Company has, or previously had, principal operations. In certain of these jurisdictions, the Company operates through more than one legal entity, each of which may have different open years subject to examination. Additionally, it is important to note that years are open for examination until the statute of limitations in each respective jurisdiction expires.
Tax audits may be ongoing at any point in time. Tax liabilities are recorded based on estimates of additional taxes which may be due upon the conclusion of these audits. Estimates of these tax liabilities are made based upon prior experience and are updated for changes in facts and circumstances. However, due to the uncertain and complex application of tax regulations, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of audits may result in liabilities which could be materially different from these estimates.
Asset Retirement Obligations
ASC 410, Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations (ASC 410) requires that the fair value of an asset retirement cost, and corresponding liability, should be recorded as part of the cost of the related long-lived asset and subsequently allocated to expense using a systematic and rational method. The Company records asset retirement obligations to reflect the Company's legal obligations related to future plugging and abandonment of its oil and natural gas wells and gas gathering systems and equipment. The Company estimates the expected cash flows associated with the obligation and discounts the amounts using a credit-adjusted, risk-free interest rate. At least annually, the Company reassesses the obligation to determine whether a change in the estimated obligation is necessary. The Company evaluates whether there are indicators that suggest the estimated cash flows underlying the obligation have materially changed. Should these indicators suggest the estimated obligation may have materially changed on an interim basis (quarterly), the Company will accordingly update its assessment. Additional retirement obligations increase the liability associated with new oil and natural gas wells and gas gathering systems and equipment as these obligations are incurred.
401(k) Plan
The Company sponsors a 401(k) tax deferred savings plan, whereby the Company matches a portion of employees' contributions in cash. Participation in the plan is voluntary and all employees of the Company who are 18 years of age are eligible to participate. The Company provided matching contributions of $0.8 million and $2.0 million for the period September 10, 2016 through December 31, 2016 (Successor) and the period January 1, 2016 through September 9, 2016 (Predecessor), respectively. The Company provided matching contributions of $3.8 million and $4.5 million in 2015 and 2014 (Predecessor), respectively. The Company matches employee contributions dollar-for-dollar on the first 10% of an employee's pre-tax earnings, subject to individual IRS limitations.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In August 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) (ASU 2016-15). For public business entities, ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The areas for simplification in this ASU involve addressing eight specific classification issues in the statement of cash flows. An entity should apply the amendments in this ASU using a retrospective transition method. The Company is in the early stages of assessing the effects of the application of the new guidance.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (ASU 2016-09). For public business entities, ASU 2016-09 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is permitted. The areas for simplification in this ASU involve several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. Some of the areas for simplification apply only to nonpublic entities. As there are multiple amendments in this ASU, the FASB has issued guidance on how an entity should apply each amendment, either prospectively or retrospectively. The Company adopted ASU 2016-09 on September 9, 2016. See Note 13, "Stockholders' Equity" for further details.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-06, Contingent Put and Call Options in Debt Instruments (ASU 2016-06). For public business entities, ASU 2016-06 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is permitted. ASU 2016-06 provides new guidance that simplifies the analysis of whether a contingent put or call option in a debt instrument qualifies as a separate derivative. An entity should apply the amendments in this ASU on a modified retrospective basis to existing debt instruments as of the beginning of the fiscal year for which the amendments are effective. The Company adopted ASU 2016-06 in 2016 resulting in no changes to the accounting for its current debt instruments.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (ASU 2016-02). For public business entities, ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The FASB issued ASU 2016-02 to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. An entity should apply the amendments in this ASU on a modified retrospective basis. The transition will require application of the new guidance at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The Company is in the early stages of assessing the effects of the application of the new guidance and the financial statement and disclosure impacts. The Company will adopt ASU 2016-02 no later than January 1, 2019.
In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, Business Combinations—Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments (ASU 2015-16). For public business entities, ASU 2015-16 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015 and early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this ASU require that an acquirer, in a business combination, recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. To simplify the accounting for adjustments made to provisional amounts recognized in a business combination, the amendments in this ASU eliminate the requirement to retrospectively account for those adjustments, and instead present separately on the face of the income statement or disclose in the footnotes the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods. The adoption of ASU 2015-16 did not have a material impact to the Company's financial statements or disclosures.
In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis (ASU 2015-02). The amendments in ASU 2015-02 eliminate the previous presumption that a general partner controls a limited partner. ASU 2015-02 is effective for public entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. Entities may apply the guidance using a modified retrospective approach by recording a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity as of the beginning of the first fiscal year adopted or it may apply the amendment retrospectively. The adoption of ASU 2015-02 did not have an impact on the Company's financial statements or disclosures.
In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern (ASU 2014-15). ASU 2014-15 is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim periods within those periods) ending after December 15, 2016. Early application is permitted. The amendments in ASU 2014-15 create a new ASC Sub-topic 205-40, Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern and require management to assess for each annual and interim reporting period if conditions exist that raise substantial doubt about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern. The rule requires various disclosures depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding an entity's ability to continue as a going concern. Effective June 30, 2016, the Company early adopted ASU 2014-15 on a prospective basis.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09). ASU 2014-09 states that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard provides five steps an entity should apply in determining its revenue recognition. In March 2016, ASU 2014-09 was updated with ASU No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net) (ASU 2016-08), which provides further clarification on the principal versus agent evaluation. ASU 2014-09 is required to be adopted using either the full retrospective approach, with all prior periods presented adjusted, or the modified retrospective approach, with a cumulative adjustment to retained earnings on the opening balance sheet and is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods within that reporting period, after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is in the early stages of assessing the effects of the application of the new guidance and the financial statement and disclosure impacts. The Company will adopt ASU 2014-09 effective January 1, 2018. |
