v3.19.3.a.u2
Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Consolidation Principles and Investments
Consolidation Principles and Investments
—Our consolidated financial statements
 
include the accounts
of majority-owned, controlled subsidiaries
 
and variable interest entities where we are the primary
beneficiary.
 
The equity method is used to account for
 
investments in affiliates in which we have the
ability to exert significant influence over the affiliates’
 
operating and financial policies.
 
When we do not
have the ability to exert significant influence,
 
the investment is measured at fair value
 
except when the
investment does not have a readily determinable
 
fair value.
 
For those exceptions, it will be measured at
cost minus impairment, plus or minus observable
 
price changes in orderly transactions for an identical
 
or
similar investment of the same issuer.
 
Undivided interests in oil and gas joint ventures,
 
pipelines, natural
gas plants and terminals are consolidated on a proportionate
 
basis.
 
Other securities and investments are
generally carried at cost.
We manage our operations through six operating segments, defined by geographic
 
region: Alaska, Lower
48, Canada, Europe and North Africa, Asia Pacific
 
and Middle East, and Other International.
 
For
additional information, see Note 25—Segment
 
Disclosures and Related Information.
 
Foreign Currency Translation
Foreign Currency Translation
—Adjustments resulting from the process of translating
 
foreign
functional currency financial statements into
 
U.S. dollars are included in accumulated other
comprehensive loss in common stockholders’ equity.
 
Foreign currency transaction gains and losses
 
are
included in current earnings.
 
Some of our foreign operations use their local currency
 
as the functional
currency.
Use of Estimates
Use of Estimates
—The preparation of financial statements
 
in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the U.S. requires management
 
to make estimates and assumptions that
 
affect the
reported amounts of assets, liabilities,
 
revenues and expenses, and the disclosures of contingent
 
assets and
liabilities.
 
Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue Recognition
—Revenues associated with the sales of crude
 
oil, bitumen, natural gas, LNG,
NGLs and other items are recognized at the point
 
in time when the customer obtains control
 
of the asset.
 
In evaluating when a customer has control of the
 
asset, we primarily consider whether the
 
transfer of legal
title and physical delivery has occurred, whether
 
the customer has significant risks and rewards
 
of
ownership, and whether the customer has accepted
 
delivery and a right to payment exists.
 
These products
are typically sold at prevailing market prices.
 
We allocate variable market-based consideration to
deliveries (performance obligations) in the
 
current period as that consideration relates
 
specifically to our
efforts to transfer control of current period deliveries to the
 
customer and represents the amount we
expect to be entitled to in exchange for the related
 
products.
 
Payment is typically due within 30 days or
less.
 
Revenues associated with transactions commonly
 
called buy/sell contracts, in which the
 
purchase and sale
of inventory with the same counterparty are entered
 
into “in contemplation” of one another, are combined
and reported net (i.e., on the same income statement
 
line).
Typically,
 
our commodity sales contracts are less than
 
12 months in duration; however, in certain specific
cases may extend longer, which may be out to the end of
 
field life.
 
We have long-term commodity sales
contracts which use prevailing market prices at the time of delivery, and under these contracts, the market-
based variable consideration for each performance obligation (i.e., delivery of commodity) is allocated to each
wholly unsatisfied performance obligation within the contract.
 
Accordingly,
we have applied the practical
expedient allowed in ASC Topic 606 and do not disclose the aggregate amount of the transaction price
allocated to performance obligations or when we expect to recognize revenues that are unsatisfied (or partially
unsatisfied) as of the end of the reporting period.
Cash Equivalents
Cash Equivalents
—Cash equivalents are highly liquid, short-term
 
investments that are readily
convertible to known amounts of cash and have
 
original maturities of 90 days or less from
 
their date of
purchase.
 
They are carried at cost plus accrued interest,
 
which approximates fair value.
 
Investment, Policy
Short-Term Investments
—Short-term investments include investments
 
in bank time deposits and
marketable securities (commercial paper and government
 
obligations) which are carried at cost plus
accrued interest and have original maturities
 
of greater than 90 days but within one year or when
 
the
remaining maturities are within one year.
 
We also invest in financial instruments classified as available
for sale debt securities which are carried at fair
 
value. Those instruments are included in short-term
investments when they have remaining maturities
 
within one year as of the balance sheet date.
 
Long-Term Investments in Debt Securities
—Long-term investments in debt securities
 
includes
financial instruments classified as available for sale
 
debt securities with remaining maturities
 
greater than
one year as of the balance sheet date.
 
They are carried at fair value and presented
 
within the “Investments
and long-term receivables” line of our consolidated
 
balance sheet.
 
Inventories
Inventories
—We have several valuation methods for our various types of inventories
 
and consistently
use the following methods for each type of inventory.
 
The majority of our commodity-related inventories
are recorded at cost using the LIFO basis.
 
We measure these inventories at the lower-of-cost-or-market in
the aggregate.
 
Any necessary lower-of-cost-or-market write-downs at year
 
end are recorded as
permanent adjustments to the LIFO cost basis.
 
LIFO is used to better match current inventory
 
costs with
current revenues.
 
Costs include both direct and indirect expenditures
 
incurred in bringing an item or
product to its existing condition and location,
 
but not unusual/nonrecurring costs or research
 
and
development costs.
 
Materials, supplies and other miscellaneous inventories,
 
such as tubular goods and
well equipment, are valued using various methods,
 
including the weighted-average-cost
 
method, and the
FIFO method, consistent with industry practice.
Fair Value Measurements
Fair Value Measurements
—Assets and liabilities measured at fair value
 
and required to be categorized
within the fair value hierarchy are categorized into
 
one of three different levels depending on the
observability of the inputs employed in the measurement.
 
Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active
markets for identical assets or liabilities.
 
Level 2 inputs are observable inputs other than
 
quoted prices
included within Level 1 for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly
 
through market-corroborated
inputs.
 
Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for
 
the asset or liability reflecting significant
 
modifications
to observable related market data or our assumptions
 
about pricing by market participants.
Derivative Instruments
Derivative Instruments
—Derivative instruments are recorded on the balance
 
sheet at fair value.
 
If the
right of offset exists and certain other criteria are met,
 
derivative assets and liabilities with the same
counterparty are netted on the balance sheet and the
 
collateral payable or receivable is netted
 
against
derivative assets and derivative liabilities,
 
respectively.
Recognition and classification of the gain or loss
 
that results from recording and adjusting
 
a derivative to
fair value depends on the purpose for issuing or
 
holding the derivative.
 
Gains and losses from derivatives
not accounted for as hedges are recognized immediately
 
in earnings.
Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
—Oil and gas exploration and development
 
costs are
accounted for using the successful efforts method of
 
accounting.
Property Acquisition Costs
—Oil and gas leasehold acquisition costs are
 
capitalized and included in
the balance sheet caption PP&E.
 
Leasehold impairment is recognized based
 
on exploratory
experience and management’s judgment.
 
Upon achievement of all conditions necessary for
 
reserves
to be classified as proved, the associated leasehold
 
costs are reclassified to proved properties.
Exploratory Costs
—Geological and geophysical costs and the
 
costs of carrying and retaining
undeveloped properties are expensed as incurred.
 
Exploratory well costs are capitalized, or
“suspended,” on the balance sheet pending further
 
evaluation of whether economically recoverable
reserves have been found.
 
If economically recoverable reserves are not found,
 
exploratory well costs
are expensed as dry holes.
 
If exploratory wells encounter potentially
 
economic quantities of oil and
gas, the well costs remain capitalized on the balance
 
sheet as long as sufficient progress assessing the
reserves and the economic and operating viability
 
of the project is being made.
 
For complex
exploratory discoveries, it is not unusual to
 
have exploratory wells remain suspended
 
on the balance
sheet for several years while we perform additional
 
appraisal drilling and seismic work on the
potential oil and gas field or while we seek government
 
or co-venturer approval of development plans
or seek environmental permitting.
 
Once all required approvals and permits have been
 
obtained, the
projects are moved into the development phase,
 
and the oil and gas resources are designated
 
as proved
reserves.
Management reviews suspended well balances quarterly, continuously monitors
 
the results of the
additional appraisal drilling and seismic work,
 
and expenses the suspended well costs
 
as dry holes
when it judges the potential field does not
 
warrant further investment in the near term.
 
See Note 8—
Suspended Wells and Other Exploration Expenses, for additional information
 
on suspended wells.
Development Costs
—Costs incurred to drill and equip development
 
wells, including unsuccessful
development wells, are capitalized.
Depletion and Amortization
—Leasehold costs of producing properties
 
are depleted using the unit-
of-production method based on estimated proved
 
oil and gas reserves.
 
Amortization of intangible
development costs is based on the unit-of-production
 
method using estimated proved developed
 
oil
and gas reserves.
Capitalized Interest
Capitalized Interest
—Interest from external borrowings is
 
capitalized on major projects with an
expected construction period of one year or longer.
 
Capitalized interest is added to the cost of
 
the
underlying asset and is amortized over the useful
 
lives of the assets in the same manner
 
as the underlying
assets.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and Amortization
—Depreciation and amortization of PP&E
 
on producing hydrocarbon
properties and certain pipeline and LNG assets
 
(those which are expected to have a declining
 
utilization
pattern), are determined by the unit-of-production method.
 
Depreciation and amortization of all other
PP&E are determined by either the individual-unit-straight-line
 
method or the group-straight-line method
(for those individual units that are highly integrated
 
with other units).
Impairment of Properties, Plants and Equipment
Impairment of Properties, Plants and Equipment
—PP&E used in operations are assessed for
impairment whenever changes in facts and circumstances
 
indicate a possible significant deterioration
 
in
the future cash flows expected to be generated
 
by an asset group and annually in the fourth
 
quarter
following updates to corporate planning assumptions.
 
If there is an indication the carrying amount of
 
an
asset may not be recovered, the asset is monitored
 
by management through an established
 
process where
changes to significant assumptions such as prices,
 
volumes and future development plans are reviewed.
 
If, upon review, the sum of the undiscounted before-tax cash flows is less
 
than the carrying value of the
asset group, the carrying value is written down to
 
estimated fair value through additional
 
amortization or
depreciation provisions and reported as impairments
 
in the periods in which the determination
 
of the
impairment is made.
 
Individual assets are grouped for impairment
 
purposes at the lowest level for which
there are identifiable cash flows that are largely independent
 
of the cash flows of other groups of assets—
generally on a field-by-field basis for E&P assets.
 
Because there usually is a lack of quoted
 
market prices
for long-lived assets, the fair value of impaired assets
 
is typically determined based on the present values
of expected future cash flows using discount rates
 
believed to be consistent with those used by
 
principal
market participants or based on a multiple of operating
 
cash flow validated with historical
 
market
transactions of similar assets where possible.
 
Long-lived assets committed by management for
 
disposal
within one year are accounted for at the lower
 
of amortized cost or fair value, less cost
 
to sell, with fair
value determined using a binding negotiated price,
 
if available, or present value of expected future cash
flows as previously described.
The expected future cash flows used for impairment
 
reviews and related fair value calculations are
 
based
on estimated future production volumes, prices
 
and costs, considering all available evidence at the date
 
of
review.
 
The impairment review includes cash flows from
 
proved developed and undeveloped reserves,
including any development expenditures necessary
 
to achieve that production.
 
Additionally, when
probable and possible reserves exist, an appropriate
 
risk-adjusted amount of these reserves may be
included in the impairment calculation.
Impairment of Investments in Nonconsolidated Entities
Impairment of Investments in Nonconsolidated
 
Entities
—Investments in nonconsolidated entities
 
are
assessed for impairment whenever changes in
 
the facts and circumstances indicate a loss
 
in value has
occurred and annually following updates to corporate
 
planning assumptions.
 
When such a condition is
judgmentally determined to be other than temporary, the carrying value of the
 
investment is written down
to fair value.
 
The fair value of the impaired investment is
 
based on quoted market prices, if available,
 
or
upon the present value of expected future cash
 
flows using discount rates believed to be consistent
 
with
those used by principal market participants,
 
plus market analysis of comparable assets
 
owned by the
investee, if appropriate.
Maintenance and Repairs
Maintenance and Repairs
—Costs of maintenance and repairs, which are
 
not significant improvements,
are expensed when incurred.
Property Dispositions
Property Dispositions
—When complete units of depreciable property
 
are sold, the asset cost and related
accumulated depreciation are eliminated,
 
with any gain or loss reflected in the “Gain on dispositions”
 
line
of our consolidated income statement.
 
When less than complete units of depreciable property
 
are
disposed of or retired which do not significantly
 
alter the DD&A rate, the difference between asset
 
cost
and salvage value is charged or credited to accumulated
 
depreciation.
Asset Retirement Obligations and Environmental Costs
Asset Retirement Obligations and Environmental Costs
—The
 
fair value of legal obligations to retire
and remove long-lived assets are recorded in
 
the period in which the obligation is incurred
 
(typically
when the asset is installed at the production location).
 
When the liability is initially recorded,
 
we
capitalize this cost by increasing the carrying amount
 
of the related PP&E.
 
If, in subsequent periods, our
estimate of this liability changes, we will record an
 
adjustment to both the liability and
 
PP&E.
 
Over time
the liability is increased for the change in its present
 
value, and the capitalized cost in PP&E is
depreciated over the useful life of the related asset.
 
Reductions to estimated liabilities for assets that
 
are
no longer producing are recorded as a credit
 
to impairment, if the asset had been previously
 
impaired, or
as a credit to DD&A, if the asset had not been previously
 
impaired.
 
For additional information, see
Note 10—Asset Retirement Obligations and Accrued
 
Environmental Costs.
Environmental expenditures are expensed or capitalized,
 
depending upon their future economic benefit.
 
Expenditures relating to an existing condition
 
caused by past operations, and those having no future
economic benefit, are expensed.
 
Liabilities for environmental expenditures are
 
recorded on an
undiscounted basis (unless acquired in a purchase
 
business combination, which we record
 
on a discounted
basis) when environmental assessments or cleanups
 
are probable and the costs can be reasonably
estimated.
 
Recoveries of environmental remediation costs
 
from other parties are recorded as assets when
their receipt is probable and estimable.
Guarantees
Guarantees
—The fair value of a guarantee is determined
 
and recorded as a liability at the time the
guarantee is given.
 
The initial liability is subsequently reduced
 
as we are released from exposure under
the guarantee.
 
We amortize the guarantee liability over the relevant time period, if one exists, based on
the facts and circumstances surrounding each type
 
of guarantee.
 
In cases where the guarantee term is
indefinite, we reverse the liability when we have
 
information indicating the liability
 
is essentially relieved
or amortize it over an appropriate time
 
period as the fair value of our guarantee exposure
 
declines over
time.
 
We amortize the guarantee liability to the related income statement line item based
 
on the nature of
the guarantee.
 
When it becomes probable that we will have
 
to perform on a guarantee, we accrue a
separate liability if it is reasonably estimable,
 
based on the facts and circumstances at that
 
time.
 
We
reverse the fair value liability only when there
 
is no further exposure under the guarantee.
Stock-Based Compensation
Share-Based Compensation
—We recognize share-based compensation expense over the shorter of the
service period (i.e., the stated period of time required
 
to earn the award) or the period beginning at
 
the
start of the service period and ending when an
 
employee first becomes eligible for retirement.
 
We have
elected to recognize expense on a straight-line
 
basis over the service period for the entire
 
award, whether
the award was granted with ratable or cliff vesting.
Income Taxes
Income Taxes
—Deferred income taxes are computed using
 
the liability method and are provided on all
temporary differences between the financial reporting basis
 
and the tax basis of our assets and liabilities,
except for deferred taxes on income and temporary
 
differences related to the cumulative translation
adjustment considered to be permanently reinvested
 
in certain foreign subsidiaries and
 
foreign corporate
joint ventures.
 
Allowable tax credits are applied currently
 
as reductions of the provision for income
taxes.
 
Interest related to unrecognized tax benefits
 
is reflected in interest and debt expense, and
 
penalties
related to unrecognized tax benefits are reflected
 
in production and operating expenses.
Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities
Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities
—Sales and value-
added taxes are recorded net.
Net Income (Loss) Per Share of Common Stock
Net Income (Loss) Per Share of Common Stock
—Basic net income (loss) per share of common stock
is calculated based upon the daily weighted-average
 
number of common shares outstanding during
 
the
year.
 
Also, this
 
calculation includes fully vested stock and unit
 
awards that have not yet been issued as
common stock, along with an adjustment to
 
net income (loss) for dividend equivalents
 
paid on unvested
unit awards that are considered participating
 
securities.
 
Diluted net income per share of common stock
includes unvested stock, unit or option awards granted
 
under our compensation plans and vested but
unexercised stock options, but only to the extent these
 
instruments dilute net income per share, primarily
under the treasury-stock method.
 
Diluted net loss per share, which is calculated
 
the same as basic net loss
per share, does not assume conversion or exercise
 
of securities that would have an antidilutive
 
effect.
 
Treasury stock is excluded from the daily weighted-average number
 
of common shares outstanding in
both calculations.
 
The earnings per share impact of the participating
 
securities is immaterial.
Shipping and Handling Cost, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Shipping and Handling Costs
—We typically incur shipping and handling costs prior to control
transferring to the customer and account for these
 
activities as fulfillment costs.
 
Accordingly, we include
shipping and handling costs in production and operating
 
expenses for production activities.
 
Transportation costs related to marketing activities are recorded in
 
purchased commodities.
 
Freight costs
billed to customers are treated as a component of the
 
transaction price and recorded as a component
 
of
revenue when the customer obtains control.
Long-Duration Contracts Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]
We have entered into contractual arrangements where we license proprietary technology to customers related
to the optimization process for operating LNG plants. The agreements typically provide for negotiated
payments to be made at stated milestones. The payments are not directly related to our performance under the
contract and are recorded as deferred revenue to be recognized as revenue when the customer can utilize and
benefit from their right to use the license. Payments are received in installments over the construction period.