Contingencies |
12 Months Ended |
|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2018 | |
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| Contingencies |
CONTINGENCIES
In two separate complaints, one filed by the State of Louisiana and the Parish of Cameron in the 38th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Cameron on February 9, 2016 and the other filed by the State of Louisiana and the District Attorney for the 15th Judicial District of the State of Louisiana in the 15th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Vermilion on July 29, 2016, the Company was named as a defendant, among 26 oil and gas companies, in the Cameron Parish complaint and among more than 40 oil and gas companies in the Vermilion Parish complaint, or the Complaints. The Complaints were filed under the State and Local Coastal Resources Management Act of 1978, as amended, and the rules, regulations, orders and ordinances adopted thereunder, which the Company referred to collectively as the CZM Laws, and allege that certain of the defendants’ oil and gas exploration, production and transportation operations associated with the development of the East Hackberry and West Hackberry oil and gas fields, in the case of the Cameron Parish complaint, and the Tigre Lagoon and Lac Blanc oil and gas fields, in the case of the Vermilion Parish complaint, were conducted in violation of the CZM Laws. The Complaints allege that such activities caused substantial damage to land and waterbodies located in the coastal zone of the relevant Parish, including due to defendants’ design, construction and use of waste pits and the alleged failure to properly close the waste pits and to clear, re-vegetate, detoxify and return the property affected to its original condition, as well as the defendants’ alleged discharge of waste into the coastal zone. The Complaints also allege that the defendants’ oil and gas activities have resulted in the dredging of numerous canals, which had a direct and significant impact on the state coastal waters within the relevant Parish and that the defendants, among other things, failed to design, construct and maintain these canals using the best practical techniques to prevent bank slumping, erosion and saltwater intrusion and to minimize the potential for inland movement of storm-generated surges, which activities allegedly have resulted in the erosion of marshes and the degradation of terrestrial and aquatic life therein. The Complaints also allege that the defendants failed to re-vegetate, refill, clean, detoxify and otherwise restore these canals to their original condition. In these two petitions, the plaintiffs seek damages and other appropriate relief under the CZM Laws, including the payment of costs necessary to clear, re-vegetate, detoxify and otherwise restore the affected coastal zone of the relevant Parish to its original condition, actual restoration of such coastal zone to its original condition, and the payment of reasonable attorney fees and legal expenses and pre-judgment and post judgment interest.
The Company was served with the Cameron complaint in early May 2016 and with the Vermilion complaint in early September 2016. The Louisiana Attorney General and the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources intervened in both the Cameron Parish suit and the Vermilion Parish suit. Shortly after the Complaints were filed, certain defendants removed the cases to the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. In both cases, the plaintiffs filed motions to remand the lawsuits to state court, which were ultimately granted by the district courts. However, on May 23, 2018, a group of defendants again removed the Cameron Parish and Vermilion Parish lawsuits to federal court. In response, the plaintiffs again filed motions to remand the cases to state court. The removing defendants have opposed plaintiffs’ motions to remand. On January 16, 2019, the federal district court held a hearing on plaintiffs motion to remand. The court took the matter under advisement and has not yet issued a ruling. Further action in the cases will be stayed until the courts rule on the motions to remand. Also, shortly after the May 23, 2018 removal, the removing defendants filed motions with the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (the “MDL Panel”) requesting that the Cameron Parish and Vermilion Parish lawsuits be consolidated with 40 similar lawsuits so that pre-trial proceedings in the cases could be coordinated. The MDL Panel denied the motion to consolidate the lawsuits. Due to the procedural posture of the lawsuits, the cases are still in their early stages and the parties have conducted very little discovery. As a result, the Company has not had the opportunity to evaluate the applicability of the allegations made in plaintiffs' complaints to the Company's operations and management cannot determine the amount of loss, if any, that may result.
In addition, due to the nature of the Company's business, it is, from time to time, involved in routine litigation or subject to disputes or claims related to its business activities. While the outcome of the pending litigation, disputes or claims cannot be predicted with certainty, in the opinion of the Company's management, none of these matters, if decided adversely, will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.
Insurance Proceeds
For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2016 the Company was reimbursed $0.2 million and $5.7 million, respectively, net of related legal fees by its insurance provider, which is included in insurance proceeds in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. There were no insurance proceeds received in the year ended December 31, 2017.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Gulfport operates in the oil and natural gas industry principally in the states of Ohio, Oklahoma and Louisiana with sales to refineries, re-sellers such as marketers, and other end users. While certain of these customers are affected by periodic downturns in the economy in general or in their specific segment of the oil and gas industry, Gulfport believes that its level of credit-related losses due to such economic fluctuations has been immaterial and will continue to be immaterial to the Company’s results of operations in the long term.
The Company maintains cash balances at several banks. Accounts at each institution are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to $250,000. At December 31, 2018, Gulfport held cash in excess of insured limits in these banks totaling $50.3 million.
During the year ended December 31, 2018, two customers accounted for approximately 17% and 10% of the Company's total sales. During the year ended December 31, 2017, one customer accounted for approximately 40% of the Company's total sales. During the year ended December 31, 2016, three customers accounted for approximately 59%, 12% and 10% of the Company's total sales. The Company does not believe that the loss of any of these customers would have a material adverse effect on its oil, natural gas and NGL sales as alternative customers are readily available.
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