Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Basis of Presentation

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Basis of Presentation
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation

1.  Basis of Presentation

Operations.  W&T Offshore, Inc. (with subsidiaries referred to herein as “W&T,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”) is an independent oil and natural gas producer with substantially all of its operations offshore in the Gulf of Mexico.  The Company is active in the exploration, development and acquisition of oil and natural gas properties.  Our interest in fields, leases, structures and equipment are primarily owned by W&T Offshore, Inc. (on a stand-alone basis, the “Parent Company”) and its 100%-owned subsidiary, W & T Energy VI, LLC (“Energy VI”).  

Interim Financial Statements.  The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim periods and the appropriate rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Accordingly, the condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and footnote disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements for annual periods.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.

Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year.  These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Use of Estimates.  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of 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 the reporting periods.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recent Events.  The price we receive for our crude oil, natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) and natural gas production directly affects our revenues, profitability, cash flows, liquidity, access to capital, proved reserves and future rate of growth.  The average prices of these commodities improved during the first half of 2017 compared to the average prices in the first half of 2016 and for the full year of 2016.  Operating costs were lower in the first half of 2017 on a barrel oil equivalent (“Boe”) basis compared to the first half of 2016.  In September 2016, we consummated the Exchange Transaction, as defined and described below in Note 2, which reduced our interest payments in the first half of 2017 compared to the first half of 2016.  In addition, the Exchange Transaction extended the maturities on a portion of our debt, although for a portion of the New Debt, as defined and described below, the maturities of two of the new loans will accelerate if certain events do not transpire.

We continued working to further reduce our operating costs, capital expenditures and costs related to asset retirement obligations (“ARO”).  Our 2017 capital budget is relatively modest by historical standards and we have some flexibility for the balance of the year.  The 2017 capital budget is higher than the capital expenditures incurred during 2016, but it is significantly lower than spending levels incurred during 2015 and 2014.  

During the first half of 2017, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (“BOEM”) extended the implementation timeline (without setting a revised implementation date) for Notice to Lessees #2016-N01 (“NTL #2016-N01”) regarding financial assurances to be provided by lessees in connection with Outer Continental Shelf (“OCS”) leases, rights-of-way (“ROWs”) or rights of use and easement (“RUEs”) for which there are co-lessees and/or predecessors in interest (non-sole liability properties), with certain exceptions.  Also, in the first quarter of 2017, the BOEM withdrew the orders related to its so called “sole liability” properties it had issued in December 2016 to allow time for the new President’s administration to review the complex financial assurance program.

Actions are underway for the BOEM to rescind the previous orders regarding financial assurances issued in the first quarter of 2016 totaling $260.8 million.  See Note 9 and Note 10 for additional information.

During the second quarter of 2017, a final trial court judgment was rendered in Apache Corporation’s (“Apache”) lawsuit against us.  As a result, we deposited $49.5 million in an escrow account from cash on hand as a first step to allow us to appeal the decision.  See Note 9 for additional information.    

We have assessed our financial condition, the current capital markets and options given different scenarios of commodity prices.  We believe we will have adequate liquidity to fund our operations beyond September 2018, the period of assessment to qualify as a going concern.  However, we cannot predict the potential changes in commodity prices or the future bonding requirements, either of which could affect our operations, liquidity levels and compliance with debt covenants.

See our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 concerning risks related to our business and events occurring during 2016 and other information and the Notes herein for additional information.  

Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets.  The amounts recorded in Prepaid expenses and other assets are expected to be realized within one year.  The major categories are presented in the following table (in thousands):

 

 

June 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Derivative assets (1)

$

6,365

 

 

$

 

Prepaid/accrued insurance

 

3,802

 

 

 

2,924

 

Surety bond unamortized premiums

 

2,855

 

 

 

2,462

 

Prepaid deposits related to royalties

 

6,155

 

 

 

6,237

 

Other

 

2,767

 

 

 

2,881

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

$

21,944

 

 

$

14,504

 

 

(1)

Includes open and closed (and not settled) derivative commodity contracts recorded at fair value.

Oil and Natural Gas Properties and Other, Net – at cost.  Oil and natural gas properties and equipment are recorded at cost using the full cost method.  There were no amounts excluded from amortization as of the dates presented in the following table (in thousands):

 

 

June 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Oil and natural gas properties and equipment

$

8,007,073

 

 

$

7,932,504

 

Furniture, fixtures and other

 

21,751

 

 

 

20,898

 

Total property and equipment

 

8,028,824

 

 

 

7,953,402

 

Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

7,478,143

 

 

 

7,406,349

 

Oil and natural gas properties and other, net

$

550,681

 

 

$

547,053

 

 

Accrued Liabilities.  The major categories recorded in Accrued liabilities are presented in the following table (in thousands):

 

 

June 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Accrued interest

$

4,196

 

 

$

4,189

 

Accrued salaries/payroll taxes/benefits

 

4,627

 

 

 

2,777

 

Other

 

4,299

 

 

 

2,234

 

Total accrued liabilities

$

13,122

 

 

$

9,200

 

Other Assets (long-term).  The major categories recorded in Other assets are presented in the following table (in thousands):

 

 

June 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Escrow deposit - Apache lawsuit

$

49,500

 

 

$

 

Appeal bond deposits

 

6,925

 

 

 

6,925

 

Other

 

4,571

 

 

 

4,539

 

Total other assets

$

60,996

 

 

$

11,464

 

Other Liabilities (long-term).  The major categories recorded in Other liabilities are presented in the following table (in thousands):

 

 

June 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Apache lawsuit

$

49,500

 

 

$

 

Uncertain tax positions including interest/penalties

 

10,796

 

 

 

10,584

 

Other

 

6,613

 

 

 

6,521

 

Total other liabilities (long-term)

$

66,909

 

 

$

17,105

 

Recent Accounting Developments.  In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 (“ASU 2014-09”), Summary and Amendments That Create Revenue from Contracts and Customers (Subtopic 606).  ASU 2014-09 amends and replaces current revenue recognition requirements, including most industry-specific guidance.  The revised guidance establishes a five step approach to be utilized in determining when, and if, revenue should be recognized.  ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017.  Upon application, an entity may elect one of two methods, either restatement of prior periods presented or recording a cumulative adjustment in the initial period of application (modified retrospective approach).  Our current intention is to adopt the standard utilizing the modified retrospective approach.  Our evaluation to date is that the adoption of ASU 2014-09 is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.  We have not fully completed our analysis and subsequent guidance may change this assessment.  Our disclosures related to revenue will be modified when the new guidance is effective.  ASU 2014-09 will be effective for us in the first quarter of 2018.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02 (“ASU 2016-02”), Leases (Subtopic 842).  Under the new guidance, a lessee will be required to recognize assets and liabilities for leases with lease terms of more than 12 months. Consistent with current GAAP, the recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee primarily will depend on its classification as a finance or operating lease.  However, unlike current GAAP, which requires only capital leases to be recognized on the balance sheet, ASU 2016-02 will require both types of leases to be recognized on the balance sheet.  ASU 2016-02 also will require disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users to better understand the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases.  These disclosures include qualitative and quantitative requirements, providing additional information about the amounts recorded in the financial statements.  ASU 2016-02 does not apply for leases for oil and gas properties, but does apply to equipment used to explore and develop oil and gas resources.  Our current operating leases that will be impacted by ASU 2016-02 are leases for office space in Houston, Texas and New Orleans, Louisiana, although ASU 2016-02 may impact the accounting for leases related to equipment depending on the term of the lease.  We currently do not have any leases classified as financing leases nor do we have any leases recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.  ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and is to be applied using the modified retrospective approach.  We have not yet fully determined or quantified the effect ASU 2016-02 will have on our financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13, (“ASU 2016-13”), Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Subtopic 326).  The new guidance eliminates the probable recognition threshold and broadens the information to consider past events, current conditions and forecasted information in estimating credit losses.  ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018.  We have not yet fully determined or quantified the effect ASU 2016-13 will have on our financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-15, (“ASU 2016-15”), Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) – Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments.  ASU 2016-15 addresses the classification of several items that previously had diversity in practice.  Items identified in the new standard which were incurred by us in the past are: (a) debt prepayment or extinguishment costs; (b) contingent consideration made after a business acquisition; and (c) proceeds from settlement of insurance claims.  The item described in clause (b) would be the only such item changed under our historical classification in the statement of cash flows (financing vs. investing) and the amount of such change would not have been material; therefore, we do not anticipate the new standard will have a material effect on our financial statements.  ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted.

In November 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-18, (“ASU 2016-18”), Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) – Restricted Cash.  ASU 2016-18 addresses diversity in practice and requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows.  ASU 2016-18 is expected to change some of the presentation in our statement of cash flows, but not materially impact total cash flows from operating, investing or financing activities.  ASU 2016-18 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period.