Annual report [Section 13 and 15(d), not S-K Item 405]

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

v3.25.0.1
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Description of Company
Gulfport Energy Corporation is an independent natural gas-weighted exploration and production company focused on the exploration, acquisition and production of natural gas, crude oil and NGL in the United States with primary focus in the Appalachia and Anadarko basins. The Company's principal properties are located in eastern Ohio targeting the Utica and Marcellus and in central Oklahoma targeting the SCOOP Woodford and Springer formations.
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report are prepared in accordance with GAAP and the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Risks and Uncertainties
The Company's revenue, profitability and future growth are substantially dependent upon the prevailing and future prices for oil, gas and NGL, which are affected by many factors outside of Gulfport’s control, including changes in market supply and demand. Field-level prices received for Gulfport’s production have historically been volatile and may be subject to significant fluctuations in the future. The Company's derivative contracts serve to mitigate in part the effect of this price volatility on the Company's cash flows, and the Company has derivative contracts in place for a portion of its expected future natural gas, crude oil and NGL production. See Note 12 for further discussion of the Company's commodity derivative contracts.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Gulfport Energy Operating Corporation, Grizzly Holdings Inc., Jaguar Resources LLC, Gator Marine, Inc., Gator Marine Ivanhoe, Inc., Westhawk Minerals LLC, Puma Resources, Inc., Gulfport Appalachia LLC, Gulfport Midstream Holdings, LLC, Gulfport MidCon, LLC and Mule Sky LLC. All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.
Segments
The Company's assets and operations consist of one reportable segment. The Company has a single management team that administers all properties as a whole rather than by geographic operating area. See Note 2, Segment Information, for further detail.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents for purposes of the consolidated financial statements.
Accounts Receivable
The Company sells oil and natural gas to various purchasers and participates in drilling, completion and operation of oil and natural gas wells with joint interest owners on properties the Company operates. The related receivables are classified as accounts receivable—oil and natural gas sales and accounts receivable—joint interest and other, respectively. Credit is extended based on evaluation of a customer’s payment history and, generally, collateral is not required. Accounts receivable are due within 30 days and are stated at amounts due from customers, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts when the Company believes collection is doubtful. Accounts outstanding longer than the contractual payment terms are considered past due. The Company determines its allowance by considering a number of factors, including the length of time accounts receivable are past due, the Company’s previous loss history, the customer’s current ability to pay its obligation to the Company, amounts which may be obtained by an offset against production proceeds due the customer and the condition of the general economy and the industry as a whole. No material allowance was deemed necessary at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
Oil and Gas Properties
The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for oil and gas operations. Accordingly, all costs, including nonproductive costs and certain general and administrative costs directly associated with acquisition, exploration and development of oil and gas properties, are capitalized. Additionally, interest is capitalized on the cost of unproved oil and natural gas properties that are excluded from amortization for which exploration and development activities are in process or expected within the next 12 to 18 months.
Under the full cost method of accounting, the Company is required to perform a ceiling test each quarter. The test determines a limit, or ceiling, on the book value of the proved oil and gas properties. Net capitalized costs are limited to the lower of unamortized cost net of deferred income taxes or the cost center ceiling. The cost center ceiling is defined as the sum of (a) estimated future net revenues, discounted at 10% per annum, from proved reserves, based on the 12-month unweighted average of the first-day-of-the-month price, adjusted for any contract provisions or financial derivatives, if any, that hedge the Company’s oil and natural gas revenue (only to the extent that the derivative instruments are treated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes), and excluding the estimated abandonment costs for properties with asset retirement obligations recorded on the balance sheet, (b) the cost of unproved properties not being amortized, if any, and (c) the lower of cost or market value of unproved properties included in the cost being amortized, including related deferred taxes for differences between the book and tax basis of the oil and natural gas properties. If the net book value, including related deferred taxes, exceeds the ceiling, an impairment or non-cash write-down is required. Ceiling test impairment can result in a significant loss for a particular period; however, future depletion expense would be reduced. A decline in oil and gas prices may result in an impairment of oil and gas properties. The Company recognized ceiling test impairments of $373.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2024. There were no impairments recognized in 2023 or 2022.
Such capitalized costs, including the estimated future development costs and site remediation costs of proved undeveloped properties, are depleted by an equivalent units-of-production method, converting barrels to gas at the ratio of one barrel of oil to six Mcf of gas. No gain or loss is recognized upon the disposal of oil and gas properties, unless such dispositions significantly alter the relationship between capitalized costs and proved oil and gas reserves. Oil and gas properties not subject to amortization consist of the cost of unproved leaseholds and totaled approximately $221.7 million and $204.2 million at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. These costs are reviewed quarterly by management for impairment. If impairment has occurred, the portion of cost in excess of the current value is transferred to the cost of oil and gas properties subject to amortization. Factors considered by management in its impairment assessment include drilling results by Gulfport and other operators, the terms of oil and gas leases not held by production, and available funds for exploration and development.
The Company accounts for its abandonment and restoration liabilities by recording a liability equal to the fair value of the estimated cost to retire an asset. The asset retirement liability is recorded in the period in which the obligation meets the definition of a liability, which is generally when the asset is placed into service. When the liability is initially recorded, the Company increases the carrying amount of oil and natural gas properties by an amount equal to the original liability. The liability is accreted to its present value each period, and the capitalized cost is included in capitalized costs and depreciated consistent with depletion of reserves. Upon settlement of the liability or the sale of the well, the liability is reversed. These liability amounts may change because of changes in asset lives, estimated costs of abandonment or legal or statutory remediation requirements.
Other Property and Equipment
Other property and equipment is recorded at cost. The Company expenses maintenance and repairs in the period incurred. Depreciation of other property and equipment is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which range from 3 to 30 years.
Net Income (Loss) per Common Share
Basic net income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing income attributable to common stock by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net income (loss) per common share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if options or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. Potential common shares are not included if their effect would be anti-dilutive. Calculations of basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share are illustrated in Note 11.
Income Taxes
The amount of income taxes recorded by Gulfport requires interpretations of complex rules and regulations of various tax jurisdictions throughout the United States. Gulfport uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences of (1) temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of existing assets and liabilities and (2) operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are based on enacted tax rates applicable to the future period when those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income during the period the rate change is enacted. Deferred tax assets are recognized as income in the year in which realization becomes determinable. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
The Company is subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax of multiple state jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2021. As of December 31, 2024, the Company has no unrecognized tax benefits that would have a material impact on the effective rate. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to income tax matters as interest expense and general and administrative expenses, respectively. See Note 10 for further discussion of the Company's income taxes.
Revenue Recognition
The Company’s revenues are primarily derived from the sale of natural gas, oil and condensate and NGL. Sales of natural gas, oil and condensate and NGL are recognized in the period that the performance obligations are satisfied. The Company generally considers the delivery of each unit (MMBtu or Bbl) to be separately identifiable and represents a distinct performance obligation that is satisfied at a point-in-time once control of the product has been transferred to the customer. The Company considers a variety of facts and circumstances in assessing the point of control transfer, including but not limited to (i) whether the purchaser can direct the use of the product, (ii) the transfer of significant risks, (iii) the Company’s right to payment and (iv) transfer of legal title.
Gathering, processing and compression fees attributable to gas processing, as well as any transportation fees, including firm transportation fees, incurred to deliver the product to the purchaser, are presented as transportation, gathering, processing and compression in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Revenue is measured based on consideration specified in the contract with the customer, and excludes any amounts collected on behalf of third parties. These contracts typically include variable consideration that is based on pricing tied to market indices and volumes delivered in the current month. As such, this market pricing may be constrained (i.e., not estimable) at the inception of the contract but will be recognized based on the applicable market pricing, which will be known upon transfer of the goods to the customer. The payment date is usually within 30 days of the end of the calendar month in which the commodity is delivered.
The recognition of gains or losses on derivative instruments is outside the scope of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers and is not considered revenue from contracts with customers subject to ASC 606. The Company may use financial or physical contracts accounted for as derivatives as economic hedges to manage price risk associated with normal sales, or in limited cases may use them for contracts the Company intends to physically settle but do not meet all of the criteria to be treated as normal sales.
The Company has elected to exclude from the measurement of the transaction price all taxes assessed by governmental authorities that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction and collected by the Company from a customer, such as sales tax, use tax, value-added tax and similar taxes.
See Note 8 for additional discussion of revenue from contracts with customers.
Accounting for Stock-based Compensation
Share-based payments to employees and members of its Board of Directors, including grants of restricted stock units and performance vesting restricted stock units, are recognized as equity at the fair value on the date of grant and to be expensed over the applicable vesting period. The vesting periods for restricted shares generally range between one year to three years with annual vesting installments. The Company does not recognize expense based on an estimate of forfeitures, but rather recognizes the impact of forfeitures only as they occur.
Derivative Instruments
The Company utilizes commodity derivatives to manage the price risk associated with forecasted sale of its natural gas, crude oil and NGL production. All derivative instruments are recognized as assets or liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets, measured at fair value. The Company does not apply hedge accounting to derivative instruments. Accordingly, the changes in fair value are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations in the period of change. Gains and losses on derivatives are included in cash flows from operating activities.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Significant estimates with regard to these financial statements include the estimate of proved oil and gas reserve quantities and the related present value of estimated future net cash flows there from, the amount and timing of asset retirement obligations, the realization of deferred tax assets, the fair value determination of acquired assets and liabilities and the realization of future net operating loss carryforwards available as reductions of income tax expense. The estimate of the Company’s oil and gas reserves is used to compute depletion, depreciation, amortization and impairment of oil and gas properties. Although management believes these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from these estimates.
Reclassification
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period financial statements and related disclosures to conform to current period presentation. These reclassifications have no impact on previous reported total assets, total liabilities, net income (loss) or total operating cash flows.
Supplemental Cash Flow and Non-Cash Information (in thousands)
Year Ended December 31, 2024 Year Ended December 31, 2023 Year Ended December 31, 2022
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest payments, net of amounts capitalized $ 46,406  $ 53,820  $ 57,685 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net:
Accounts receivable - oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids sales (33,463) 155,925  (45,550)
Accounts receivable - joint interest and other 13,494  (743) (1,095)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 4,067  (126,329) 59,879 
Prepaid expenses 667  (215) 4,863 
Other assets 23  63  1,330 
Total changes in operating assets and liabilities, net $ (15,212) $ 28,701  $ 19,427 
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions:
Capitalized stock-based compensation $ 5,397  $ 4,046  $ 2,948 
Asset retirement obligation capitalized 682  588  2,169 
Asset retirement obligation removed due to divestiture and settlements —  (1,267) (7)
Asset retirement obligation revisions 19  (5,077) 2,072 
Release of common stock held in reserve 1,996  —  28,220 
Unamortized 2026 Senior Notes debt issuance costs 447  —  — 
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):
December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
Revenue payable and suspense $ 139,703  $ 148,598 
Accounts payable 34,668  43,517 
Accrued capital expenditures 20,229  38,322 
Accrued transportation, gathering, processing, and compression 36,170  32,849 
Accrued contract rejection damages and shares held in reserve —  1,996 
Other accrued liabilities 67,311  44,250 
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 298,081  $ 309,532 
Other, net
Other, net in the Company's consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2024, included approximately $4.9 million related to changes in the Company's legal reserves for certain litigation and regulatory proceedings. Additionally, Other, net included approximately $1.9 million as a result of a write-down of certain of its pipe inventory that the Company does not expect to utilize in its drilling and completion activities.
As part of its Chapter 11 Cases and restructuring efforts, the Company filed motions to reject certain firm transportation agreements between the Company and affiliates of TC Energy Corporation (“TC”) and Rover Pipeline LLC (“Rover”). During the first quarter of 2023, Gulfport finalized a settlement agreement with Rover that was approved by the Bankruptcy Court on February 21, 2023. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Gulfport and Rover agreed that the firm transportation contracts between them would be rejected. As part of the settlement, Gulfport paid a $1.0 million administrative claim, which is included in Other, net. On February 24, 2023, Gulfport received an additional $17.8 million interim distribution for its TC claim, which is also included in Other, net. Other, net in the second quarter of 2023 included a $5.0 million recoupment of previously placed collateral for certain firm transportation commitments during the Company's Chapter 11 Cases. Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2023, Gulfport received an additional $8.3 million distribution related to its TC claim.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (Topic 280). The amendments require disclosure for each reportable segment, the significant expense categories and amounts that are regularly provided to the CODM and included in each reported measure of a segment’s profit or loss. Additionally, this ASU enhances interim disclosure requirements and provides new segment disclosure requirements for entities with a single reportable segment. The Company adopted ASU 2023-07 during the year ended December 31, 2024. See Note 2, Segment Information, for further detail.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes: Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (Topic 740). The amendment requires annual disclosure of additional categories of information about federal, state, and foreign income taxes in the rate reconciliation table and to provide more details about the reconciling items in some categories if the items meet a quantitative threshold. Additionally, the amendment requires disclosure of annual income taxes paid (net of refunds received) disaggregated by federal, state, and foreign taxes and to disaggregate the information by jurisdiction based on a quantitative threshold. ASU 2023-09 is effective for the Company’s annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted, and should be applied on a prospective basis, with a retrospective option. The Company is currently evaluating the effect the adoption of ASU 2023-09 will have on its disclosures and does not expect it to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, which requires disclosures about specific types of expenses included in the expense captions presented on the face of the income statement as well as disclosures about selling expenses. ASU 2024-03 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. The requirements will be applied prospectively with the option for retrospective application. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this accounting standard will have on its financial disclosures.