Oil and Gas Property
The Company follows the full-cost method of accounting for its oil and gas property. Under this method of accounting, all costs incurred for both successful and unsuccessful exploration and development activities, including salaries, benefits, and other internal costs directly identified with these activities, and oil and gas property acquisitions are capitalized. All costs related to production, general corporate overhead, and similar activities are expensed as incurred. Apache capitalized $401 million, $402 million, and $335 million of internal costs in 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively.
Proved properties are amortized on a country-by-country basis using the units of production method (UOP). The UOP calculation multiplies the percentage of estimated proved reserves produced each quarter by the cost of those reserves. The amortization base in the UOP calculation includes the sum of proved property, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&A), estimated future development costs (future costs to access and develop proved reserves), and asset retirement costs, less related salvage value.
The cost of unproved properties and properties under development are excluded from the amortization calculation until it is determined whether or not proved reserves can be assigned to such properties or until development projects are placed in service. Geological and geophysical costs not associated with specific prospects are recorded to proved property immediately. Unproved properties and properties under development are reviewed for impairment at least quarterly. In countries where proved reserves exist, exploratory drilling costs associated with dry holes are transferred to proved properties immediately upon determination that a well is dry and amortized accordingly. In countries where a reserve base has not yet been established, impairments are charged to earnings and are determined through an evaluation considering, among other factors, seismic data, requirements to relinquish acreage, drilling results, remaining time in the commitment period, remaining capital plan, and political, economic, and market conditions. In 2013, Apache’s statement of consolidated operations includes additional DD&A of $75 million related to exiting operations in Kenya. In 2012, Apache recorded additional DD&A of $28 million related to exiting operations in New Zealand and $15 million of seismic costs incurred in countries where it has no established presence. In 2011, Apache recorded additional DD&A of $60 million related to exiting operations in Chile and $49 million of seismic costs incurred in countries where it has no established presence.
Under the full-cost method of accounting, the net book value of oil and gas properties, less related deferred income taxes, may not exceed a calculated “ceiling.” The ceiling limitation is the estimated after-tax future net cash flows from proved oil and gas reserves, discounted at 10 percent per annum and adjusted for designated cash flow hedges. Future cash outflows associated with settling accrued asset retirement obligations are excluded from the calculation. Estimated future net cash flows are calculated using end-of-period costs and an unweighted arithmetic average of commodity prices in effect on the first day of each of the previous 12 months, held flat for the life of the production, except where prices are defined by contractual arrangements. See Note 14 — Supplemental Oil and Gas Disclosures for a discussion of the calculation of estimated future net cash flows.
Any excess of the net book value of proved oil and gas properties, less related deferred income taxes, over the ceiling is charged to expense and reflected as additional DD&A in the accompanying statement of consolidated operations. Such limitations are imposed separately on a country-by-country basis and are tested quarterly. During 2013, Apache recorded non-cash write-downs of the carrying value of the Company’s proved oil and gas properties totaling $1.1 billion. The after-tax impact of these write-downs was $356 million in the U.S., $139 million in the North Sea, and $118 million in Argentina. Cash flow hedges did not materially affect the 2013 calculations. During 2012, the Company recorded a $1.9 billion ($1.4 billion net of tax) non-cash write-down of the carrying value of the Company’s Canadian proved oil and gas properties. Excluding the effects of cash flow hedges in calculating the ceiling limitation, the write-down for the full year would have been higher by $135 million ($101 million net of tax).
Proceeds from the sale or disposition of oil and gas properties are accounted for as a reduction to capitalized costs unless a significant portion (greater than 25 percent) of the Company’s reserve quantities in a particular country are sold, in which case a gain or loss is recognized in income. No gain or loss was recorded on the Company’s divestitures in 2013, 2012, or 2011.