NOTE 12 — CONTINGENCIES

Appeal with the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (“ONRR”) – In 2009, we recognized allowable reductions of cash payments for royalties owed to the ONRR for transportation of their deepwater production through our subsea pipeline systems. In 2010, the ONRR audited our calculations and support related to this usage fee, and in 2010, we were notified that the ONRR had disallowed approximately $4.7 million of the reductions taken. We recorded a reduction to other revenue in 2010 to reflect this disallowance with the offset to a liability reserve; however, we disagree with the position taken by the ONRR. We filed an appeal with the ONRR, which ultimately led to our posting a bond in the amount of $7.2 million and cash collateral of $6.9 million with the surety in order to appeal the Interior Board of Land Appeals decision, of which the cash collateral held by the surety was subsequently returned during the first quarter of 2020. We have continued to pursue our legal rights and, at present, the case is in front of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana where both parties have filed cross-motions for summary judgment and opposition briefs. W&T has filed a Reply in support of its Motion for Summary Judgment and the government has in turn filed its Reply brief. With briefing now completed, we are waiting for the district court’s ruling on the merits. In compliance with the ONRR’s request for W&T to periodically increase the surety posted in the appeal to cover pre- and post-judgement interest, the sum of the bond posted is currently $8.2 million.

Notices of Proposed Civil Penalty Assessments – In January 2021, we executed a Settlement Agreement with BSEE which resolved nine pending civil penalties issued by BSEE. The civil penalties pertained to Incidents of Non-Compliance issued by BSEE alleging regulatory non-compliance at separate offshore locations on various dates between July 2012 and January 2018, with the proposed civil penalty amounts totaling $7.7 million. Under the Settlement Agreement, W&T will pay a total of $720,000 in three annual installments. The first and second installments were paid in March 2021 and March 2022, respectively. In addition, W&T committed to implement a Safety Improvement Plan with various deliverables due over a period ending in 2022, which we are on schedule to complete before the deadline. 

Retained Liabilities Related to Divested Property Interests – We may be subject to retained liabilities with respect to certain divested property interests by operation of law. For example, recent historical declines in commodity prices created an environment where there is an increased risk that owners and/or operators of interests purchased from us may no longer be able to satisfy plugging or abandonment obligations that attach to those interests. In that event, due to operation of law, we may be required to assume plugging or abandonment obligations for those interests. During 2021, as a result of the declaration of bankruptcy by a third party that is the indirect successor in title to certain offshore interests that we previously divested, we recorded a loss contingency accrual of $4.5 million related to the anticipated cost to decommission certain wells, pipelines, and production facilities for which we may receive decommissioning orders from BSEE. We no longer own these assets nor are they related to our current operations. We intend to seek contribution from other parties that owned an interest in the facilities. We did not recognize any additional liabilities related to divested property interests during the three months ended March 31, 2022.

Other Claims – We are a party to various pending or threatened claims and complaints seeking damages or other remedies concerning our commercial operations and other matters in the ordinary course of our business. In addition, claims or contingencies may arise related to matters occurring prior to our acquisition of properties or related to matters occurring subsequent to our sale of properties. In certain cases, we have indemnified the sellers of properties we have acquired, and in other cases, we have indemnified the buyers of properties we have sold. We are also subject to federal and state administrative proceedings conducted in the ordinary course of business including matters related to alleged royalty underpayments on certain federal-owned properties. Although we can give no assurance about the outcome of pending legal and federal or state administrative proceedings and the effect such an outcome may have on us, we believe that any ultimate liability resulting from the outcome of such proceedings, to the extent not otherwise provided for or covered by insurance, will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

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