Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Asset Retirement Obligations

v3.8.0.1
Asset Retirement Obligations
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Asset Retirement Obligations [Abstract]  
Asset Retirement Obligations

7. ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

The following table summarizes the changes in our asset retirement obligations:





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

Balance at January 1

 

$

18,612 

 

$

16,166 

 

$

14,846 

Accretion

 

 

951 

 

 

903 

 

 

778 

Additions

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

1,085 

Acquisitions and dispositions

 

 

(103)

 

 

1,544 

 

 

 —

Revisions

 

 

703 

 

 

(1)

 

 

(543)

Balance at December 31

 

$

20,163 

 

$

18,612 

 

$

16,166 

Accretion is recorded in the line item “Depreciation, depletion and amortization” of our consolidated statements of operations.

We are required under the Etame PSC to conduct regular abandonment studies to update the estimated costs to abandon the offshore wells, platforms and facilities on the Etame Marin block.  The most recently completed abandonment study was in January 2016. The final results of the abandonment study resulted in an increase in the costs necessary to fund future abandonment obligations.