Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Hedging Activities

v2.4.1.9
Hedging Activities
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
General Discussion of Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract]  
Hedging Activities
HEDGING ACTIVITIES
Oil Price Hedging Activities
The Company seeks to reduce its exposure to unfavorable changes in oil and natural gas prices, which are subject to significant and often volatile fluctuation, by entering into fixed price swaps. These contracts allow the Company to predict with greater certainty the effective oil and natural gas prices to be received for hedged production and benefit operating cash flows and earnings when market prices are less than the fixed prices provided in the contracts. However, the Company will not benefit from market prices that are higher than the fixed prices in the contracts for hedged production.
The Company accounts for its oil and natural gas derivative instruments as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes under FASB ASC 815 and related pronouncements. All derivative contracts are marked to market each quarter end and are included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as derivative assets and liabilities.
During 2013 and 2014, the Company entered into fixed price swap and swaption contracts for 2013 through 2017 with four financial institutions. The Company’s fixed price swap contracts are tied to the commodity prices on the International Petroleum Exchange (“IPE”) and NYMEX. The Company will receive the fixed price amount stated in the contract and pay to its counterparty the current market price as listed on the IPE for Brent Crude and the NYMEX WTI for oil and on the NYMEX Henry Hub for natural gas. At December 31, 2014, the Company had the following fixed price swaps in place:
 
 
Daily Volume (MMBtu/day)
 
Weighted
Average Price
January 2015 - March 2015
190,625

 
$
4.12

April 2015
191,250

 
$
4.05

May 2015 - June 2015
201,250

 
$
4.05

July 2015 - September 2015
216,875

 
$
4.04

October 2015 - December 2015
232,500

 
$
4.04

January 2016 - March 2016
172,500

 
$
3.99

April 2016
162,500

 
$
3.99

May 2016 - December 2016
92,500

 
$
3.97

January 2017 - June 2017
62,500

 
$
3.96


At December 31, 2014 the fair value of derivative assets and liabilities related to the fixed price swaps was as follows:
 
 
(In thousands)
Short-term derivative instruments - asset
$
78,391

Long-term derivative instruments - asset
$
24,448


At December 31, 2013 the fair value of derivative assets and liabilities related to the fixed price swaps and swaptions was as follows:

 
(In thousands)
Short-term derivative instruments - asset
$
324

Long-term derivative instruments - asset
$
521

Short-term derivative instruments - liability
$
12,280

Long-term derivative instruments - liability
$
11,366


All fixed price swaps have been executed in connection with the Company’s oil and natural gas price hedging program. For fixed price swaps qualifying as cash flow hedges pursuant to FASB ASC 815, the realized contract price is included in oil and gas sales in the period for which the underlying production was hedged.
For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges and meeting the effectiveness guidelines of FASB ASC 815, changes in fair value are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into earnings as a component of oil and condensate sales for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 are presented below.
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
(In thousands)
Reduction to oil and condensate sales
$
—

 
$
(9,779
)
 
$
(1,517
)

At December 31, 2014, no amounts related to fixed price swaps remain in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
The following table presents the balances of the Company’s cumulative hedging activities included in other comprehensive loss.
 
 
(In thousands)

December 31, 2011
$
1,576

December 31, 2012
$
(9,660
)
December 31, 2013
$
—

December 31, 2014
$
—


Hedge effectiveness is measured at least quarterly based on the relative changes in fair value between the derivative contract and the hedged item over time. Any change in fair value resulting from ineffectiveness is recognized immediately in earnings. The Company recognized a gain of $121.1 million related to hedge ineffectiveness for the year ended December 31, 2014, which is included in oil and condensate and gas sales in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company recognized a loss of $18.2 million related to hedge ineffectiveness for the year ended December 31, 2013, which is included in oil and condensate and gas sales in the consolidated statements of operations. This loss was comprised of a loss of $9.1 million related to hedge ineffectiveness and a loss of $9.1 million related to the amortization of other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2013. The Company recognized a loss of $0.1 million related to hedge ineffectiveness for the year ended December 31, 2012, which is included in oil and condensate sales in the consolidated statements of operations.
The Company delivered approximately 62% of its 2014 production under fixed price swaps.