Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
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 production of natural gas, crude oil and NGL in the United States. The Company's principal properties are located in Eastern Ohio targeting the Utica and in central Oklahoma targeting the SCOOP Woodford and SCOOP Springer formations. Gulfport filed for voluntary reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code on November 13, 2020, and subsequently operated as a debtor-in-possession, in accordance with applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, until its emergence on May 17, 2021. The Company refers to the post-emergence reorganized organization in the condensed financial statements and footnotes as the "Successor" for periods subsequent to May 17, 2021, and the pre-emergence organization as "Predecessor" for periods on or prior to May 17, 2021.
Voluntary Reorganization Under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code
On the Petition Date, the Debtors filed voluntary petitions of relief under the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. The Chapter 11 Cases were administered jointly under the caption In re Gulfport Energy Corporation, et al., Case No. 20-35562 (DRJ).
The Bankruptcy Court confirmed the Plan and entered the confirmation order on April 28, 2021. The Debtors emerged from the Chapter 11 Cases on the Emergence Date. The Company's bankruptcy proceedings and related matters have been summarized below.
During the pendency of the Chapter 11 Cases, the Company continued to operate its business in the ordinary course as debtors-in-possession in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code. The Bankruptcy Court granted the first day relief requested by the Company that was designed primarily to mitigate the impact of the Chapter 11 Cases on its operations, vendors, suppliers, customers and employees. As a result, the Company was able to conduct normal business activities and satisfy all associated obligations for the period following the Petition Date and was also authorized to pay mineral interest owner royalties, employee wages and benefits, and certain vendors and suppliers in the ordinary course for goods and services provided prior to the Petition Date. During the pendency of the Chapter 11 Cases, all transactions outside the ordinary course of business required the prior approval of the Bankruptcy Court.
Subject to certain specific exceptions under the Bankruptcy Code, the filing of the Chapter 11 Cases automatically stayed all judicial or administrative actions against the Company and efforts by creditors to collect on or otherwise exercise rights or remedies with respect to pre-petition claims. Absent an order from the Bankruptcy Court, substantially all of the Debtors’ pre-petition liabilities were subject to compromise and discharge under the Bankruptcy Code. The automatic stay was lifted on the Emergence Date.
The Company applied FASB ASC Topic 852 - Reorganizations ("ASC 852") in preparing the consolidated financial statements for the period ended May 17, 2021. ASC 852 specifies the accounting and financial reporting requirements for entities reorganizing through Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. These requirements include distinguishing transactions associated with the reorganization separate from activities related to the ongoing operations of the business. Accordingly, pre-petition liabilities that may be impacted by the Chapter 11 proceedings were classified as liabilities subject to compromise on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2020. Additionally, certain expenses, realized gains and losses and provisions for losses that are realized or incurred during the Chapter 11 Cases are recorded as reorganization items, net. Refer to Note 3 for more information regarding reorganization items.
In connection with the Company's emergence from bankruptcy and in accordance with ASC 852, the Company qualified for and applied fresh start accounting on the Emergence date. See Note 3 for more information regarding the application of fresh start accounting.
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. The COVID-19 pandemic and related shut-down of various sectors of the global economy resulted in a significant reduction in global demand for natural gas and crude oil since 2020. Changes in market supply and demand are also impacted by OPEC+ production levels, weather conditions, pipeline capacity constraints, inventory storage levels, basis differentials, export capacity, strength of the U.S. dollar and other factors. 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 13 for further discussion of the Company's commodity derivative contracts.
Gulfport remains focused on protecting the health and well-being of its employees and the communities in which it operates while assuring the continuity of its business operations. The Company implemented preventative measures and developed corporate and field response plans to minimize unnecessary risk of exposure and prevent infection. Additionally, the Company has a crisis management team for health, safety and environmental matters and personnel issues, and has established a COVID-19 Response Team to address various impacts of the situation, as they have been developing. Gulfport has modified certain business practices (including remote working for its corporate employees and restricted employee business travel) to conform to government restrictions and best practices encouraged by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and other governmental and regulatory authorities. The Company will continue to monitor trends and governmental guidelines and will adjust plans accordingly to ensure the health and safety of its employees. As a result of its business continuity measures, the Company has not experienced significant disruptions in executing its business operations in 2021.
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. Further, the Company measures financial performance as a single enterprise and not on an area-by-area basis.
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, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
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 noncash 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 a ceiling test impairment of $117.8 million in the second quarter of 2021.
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 $211.0 million and $1.5 billion at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, 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
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 5 years.
Foreign Currency
The U.S. dollar is the functional currency for Gulfport’s consolidated operations. However, the Company has an equity investment in a Canadian entity whose functional currency is the Canadian dollar. As of the Emergence Date, this investment is no longer accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method of accounting, the assets and liabilities of the Canadian investment were translated into U.S. dollars based on the current exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet dates. Canadian income and expenses were translated at average rates for the periods presented and equity contributions are translated at the current exchange rate in effect at the date of the contribution. In addition, until the Emergence Date, the Company had an equity investment in a U.S. company that has a subsidiary that is a Canadian entity whose functional currency is the Canadian dollar. Translation adjustments have no effect on net income and are included in accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders’ (deficit) equity.
The following table presents the balances of the Company’s cumulative translation adjustments included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, exclusive of taxes:
(In thousands)
December 31, 2019 $ (45,484)
December 31, 2020 $ (41,651)
December 31, 2021 $ — 
Net (Loss) Income per Common Share
Basic net (loss) income 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 (loss) income 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 (loss) income per common share are illustrated in Note 12.
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 jurisdictions. The Company’s 2016 – 2021 U.S. federal and 2016 - 2021 state income tax returns remain open to examination by tax authorities, due to net operating losses. As of December 31, 2021, 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 11 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 9 for additional discussion of revenue from contracts with customers.
Accounting for Stock-based Compensation
Share-based payments to employees, including grants of restricted stock units and performance vesting restricted stock units, are recognized as equity or liabilities at the fair value on the date of grant and to be expensed over the applicable vesting period. The vesting periods for restricted shares range between one to four 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.
Supplemental cash flow and non-cash information (in thousands)
Successor Predecessor
Period from May 18, 2021 through December 31, 2021 Period from January 1, 2021 through May 17, 2021 Year Ended December 31, 2020 Year Ended December 31, 2019
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for reorganization items, net $ 85,706  $ 87,199  $ 24,553  $ — 
Interest payments 33,295  7,272  84,823  142,664 
Income Tax Receipts (9,381) —  —  (1,794)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable - oil and natural gas sales (52,143) (60,832) 1,331  88,990 
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable - joint interest and other (5,178) (3,005) 36,055  (25,478)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities (72,912) 79,193  126,434  (19,821)
Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses 13,559  135,471  (154,948) 5,586 
Decrease (increase) in other assets 3,630  3,067  (2,087) 915 
Total changes in operating assets and liabilities $ (113,044) $ 153,894  $ 6,785  $ 50,192 
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions:
Capitalized stock-based compensation $ 1,101  $ 930  $ 2,860  $ 5,766 
Asset retirement obligation capitalized 7,964  546  2,358  6,883 
Asset retirement obligation removed due to divestiture —  —  (2,213) (30,146)
Interest capitalized 198  —  907  3,372 
Pre-petition revolver principal transfer to DIP credit facility —  —  157,500  — 
Fair value of contingent consideration asset on date of divestiture —  —  23,090  (1,137)
Release of New Common Stock Held in Reserve 23,893  —  —  — 
Foreign currency translation gain on equity method investments —  2,570  3,833  9,193 
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities consisted of the following at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 (in thousands):
Successor Predecessor
December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities $ 143,938  $ 120,275 
Revenue payable and suspense 180,857  124,628 
Accrued contract rejection damages and shares held in reserve 69,216  — 
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 394,011  $ 244,903 
Recent Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging— Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. This new standard simplifies and adds disclosure requirements for the accounting and measurement of convertible instruments. It eliminates the treasury stock method for convertible instruments and requires application of the “if-converted” method for certain agreements. In addition, the standard eliminates the beneficial conversion
and cash conversion accounting models that require separate accounting for embedded conversion features and the recognition of a debt discount and related amortization to interest expense of those embedded features.
The Company elected to early adopt this standard effective on the Emergence Date. The Company adopted the new standard using the modified retrospective approach transition method. No cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings was required upon adoption of the new standard. The consolidated financial statements for the Successor Period are presented under the new standard, while the predecessor periods and comparative periods are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the Company's historical accounting policy.