APA (APA) 10-Q2023 Q2 Quarterly report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

This report includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). All statements other than statements of historical facts included or incorporated by reference in this report, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s future financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected revenues, projected costs, and plans and objectives of management for future operations and capital returns framework, are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s examination of historical operating trends, the information that was used to prepare its estimate of proved reserves as of December 31, 2022, and other data in the Company’s possession or available from third parties. In addition, forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “project,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “believe,” “continue,” “seek,” “guidance,” “goal,” “might,” “outlook,” “possibly,” “potential,” “prospect,” “should,” “would,” or similar terminology, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward looking. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable under the circumstances, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include, but are not limited to, its assumptions about:

Other factors or events that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all such factors or events. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company, or persons acting on its behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise these statements, whether based on changes in internal estimates or expectations, new information, future developments, or otherwise.

DEFINITIONS

All defined terms under Rule 4-10(a) of Regulation S-X shall have their statutorily prescribed meanings when used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. As used herein:

“3-D” means three-dimensional.

“4-D” means four-dimensional.

“b/d” means barrels of oil or NGLs per day.

“bbl” or “bbls” means barrel or barrels of oil or NGLs.

“bcf” means billion cubic feet of natural gas.

“bcf/d” means one bcf per day.

“boe” means barrel of oil equivalent, determined by using the ratio of one barrel of oil or NGLs to six Mcf of gas.

“boe/d” means boe per day.

“Btu” means a British thermal unit, a measure of heating value.

“Liquids” means oil and NGLs.

“LNG” means liquefied natural gas.

“Mb/d” means Mbbls per day.

“Mbbls” means thousand barrels of oil or NGLs.

“Mboe” means thousand boe.

“Mboe/d” means Mboe per day.

“Mcf” means thousand cubic feet of natural gas.

“Mcf/d” means Mcf per day.

“MMbbls” means million barrels of oil or NGLs.

“MMboe” means million boe.

“MMBtu” means million Btu.

“MMBtu/d” means MMBtu per day.

“MMcf” means million cubic feet of natural gas.

“MMcf/d” means MMcf per day.

“NGL” or “NGLs” means natural gas liquids, which are expressed in barrels.

“NYMEX” means New York Mercantile Exchange.

“oil” includes crude oil and condensate.

“PUD” means proved undeveloped.

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Tcf” means trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

“U.K.” means United Kingdom.

“U.S.” means United States.

With respect to information relating to the Company’s working interest in wells or acreage, “net” oil and gas wells or acreage is determined by multiplying gross wells or acreage by the Company’s working interest therein. Unless otherwise specified, all references to wells and acres are gross.

References to “APA,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to APA Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, including Apache Corporation, unless otherwise specifically stated. References to “Apache” refer to Apache Corporation, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise specifically stated.

ITEM 1.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

APA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

APA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(Unaudited)

APA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

APA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

(Unaudited)

APA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED CHANGES IN EQUITY (DEFICIT) AND NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

(Unaudited)

APA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED CHANGES IN EQUITY (DEFICIT) AND NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS - Continued

(Unaudited)

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared by APA Corporation (APA or the Company) without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). They reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods, on a basis consistent with the annual audited financial statements, with the exception of any recently adopted accounting pronouncements. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Certain information, accounting policies, and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read along with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, which contains a summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies and other disclosures.

As of June 30, 2023, the Company's significant accounting policies are consistent with those discussed in Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. The Company’s financial statements for prior periods may include reclassifications that were made to conform to the current-year presentation.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of APA and its subsidiaries after elimination of intercompany balances and transactions.

The Company’s undivided interests in oil and gas exploration and production ventures and partnerships are proportionately consolidated. The Company consolidates all other investments in which, either through direct or indirect ownership, it has more than a 50 percent voting interest or controls the financial and operating decisions. Noncontrolling interests represent third-party ownership in the net assets of a consolidated subsidiary of APA and are reflected separately in the Company’s financial statements.

Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Corporation (Sinopec) owns a one-third minority participation in the Company’s consolidated Egypt oil and gas business as a noncontrolling interest, which is reflected as a separate noncontrolling interest component of equity in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. Additionally, prior to the BCP Business Combination defined below, third-party investors owned a minority interest of approximately 21 percent of Altus Midstream Company (ALTM or Altus), which was reflected as a separate noncontrolling interest component of equity in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. ALTM qualified as a variable interest entity under GAAP, which APA consolidated because a wholly owned subsidiary of APA had a controlling financial interest and was determined to be the primary beneficiary.

Preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The Company evaluates its estimates and assumptions on a regular basis. Actual results may differ from these estimates and assumptions used in preparation of the Company’s financial statements, and changes in these estimates are recorded when known.

Certain assets and liabilities are reported at fair value on a recurring basis in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 820-10-35, “Fair Value Measurement” (ASC 820), provides a hierarchy that prioritizes and defines the types of inputs used to measure fair value. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs, which consist of unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets. Level 2 inputs consist of quoted prices for similar instruments. Level 3 valuations are derived from inputs that are significant and unobservable; hence, these valuations have the lowest priority.

The valuation techniques that may be used to measure fair value include a market approach, an income approach, and a cost approach. A market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities. An income approach uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts to a single present amount based on current market expectations, including present value techniques, option-pricing models, and the excess earnings method. The cost approach is based on the amount that currently would be required to replace the service capacity of an asset (replacement cost).

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded no asset impairments in connection with fair value assessments.

There have been no significant changes to the Company’s contracts with customers during the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022.

Payments under all contracts with customers are typically due and received within a short-term period of one year or less after physical delivery of the product or service has been rendered. Receivables from contracts with customers, including receivables for purchased oil and gas sales, in each case, net of allowance for credit losses, were $1.2 billion and $1.3 billion as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

Oil and gas production revenues from non-customers represent income taxes paid to the Arab Republic of Egypt by Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation on behalf of the Company. Revenue and associated expenses related to such tax volumes are recorded as “Oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids production revenues” and “Current income tax provision,” respectively, in the Company’s statement of consolidated operations.

In accordance with the provisions of ASC 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” variable market prices for each short-term commodity sale are allocated entirely to each performance obligation as the terms of payment relate specifically to the Company’s efforts to satisfy its obligations. As such, the Company has elected the practical expedients available under the standard to not disclose the aggregate transaction price allocated to unsatisfied, or partially unsatisfied, performance obligations as of the end of the reporting period.

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company recorded $46 million of impairments in connection with valuations of drilling and operations equipment inventory upon the Company’s decision to suspend drilling operations in the North Sea.

The carrying value of the Company’s property and equipment represents the cost incurred to acquire the property and equipment, including capitalized interest, net of any impairments. For business combinations and acquisitions, property and equipment cost is based on the fair values at the acquisition date.

The Company follows the successful efforts method of accounting for its oil and gas property. Under this method of accounting, exploration costs, such as exploratory geological and geophysical costs, delay rentals, and exploration overhead, are expensed as incurred. All costs related to production, general corporate overhead, and similar activities are expensed as incurred. If an exploratory well provides evidence to justify potential development of reserves, drilling costs associated with the well are initially capitalized, or suspended, pending a determination as to whether a commercially sufficient quantity of proved reserves can be attributed to the area as a result of drilling. This determination may take longer than one year in certain areas depending on, among other things, the amount of hydrocarbons discovered, the outcome of planned geological and engineering studies, the need for additional appraisal drilling activities to determine whether the discovery is sufficient to support an economic development plan, and government sanctioning of development activities in certain international locations. At the end of each quarter, management reviews the status of all suspended exploratory well costs in light of ongoing exploration activities; in particular, whether the Company is making sufficient progress in its ongoing exploration and appraisal efforts or, in the case of discoveries requiring government sanctioning, whether development negotiations are underway and proceeding as planned. If management determines that future appraisal drilling or development activities are unlikely to occur, associated suspended exploratory well costs are expensed.

Acquisition costs of unproved properties are assessed for impairment at least annually and are transferred to proved oil and gas properties to the extent the costs are associated with successful exploration activities. Significant undeveloped leases are assessed individually for impairment based on the Company’s current exploration plans. Unproved oil and gas properties with individually insignificant lease acquisition costs are amortized on a group basis over the average lease term at rates that provide for full amortization of unsuccessful leases upon lease expiration or abandonment. Costs of expired or abandoned leases are charged to exploration expense, while costs of productive leases are transferred to proved oil and gas properties. Costs of maintaining and retaining unproved properties, as well as amortization of individually insignificant leases and impairment of unsuccessful leases, are included in exploration costs in the statement of consolidated operations.

Costs to develop proved reserves, including the costs of all development wells and related equipment used in the production of crude oil and natural gas, are capitalized. Depreciation of the cost of proved oil and gas properties is calculated using the unit-of-production (UOP) method. The UOP calculation multiplies the percentage of estimated proved reserves produced each quarter by the carrying value of associated proved oil and gas properties. The reserve base used to calculate depreciation for leasehold acquisition costs and the cost to acquire proved properties is the sum of proved developed reserves and proved undeveloped reserves. The reserve base used to calculate the depreciation for capitalized well costs is the sum of proved developed reserves only. Estimated future dismantlement, restoration and abandonment costs, net of salvage values, are included in the depreciable cost.

Oil and gas properties are grouped for depreciation in accordance with ASC 932, “Extractive Activities—Oil and Gas.” The basis for grouping is a reasonable aggregation of properties with a common geological structural feature or stratigraphic condition, such as a reservoir or field.

When circumstances indicate that the carrying value of proved oil and gas properties may not be recoverable, the Company compares unamortized capitalized costs to the expected undiscounted pre-tax future cash flows for the associated assets grouped at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are independent of cash flows of other assets. If the expected undiscounted pre-tax future cash flows, based on the Company’s estimate of future crude oil and natural gas prices, operating costs, anticipated production from proved reserves and other relevant data, are lower than the unamortized capitalized cost, the capitalized cost is reduced to fair value. Fair value is generally estimated using the income approach described in ASC 820. The expected future cash flows used for impairment reviews and related fair value calculations are typically based on judgmental assessments, a Level 3 fair value measurement.

GPT facilities are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimation of useful life takes into consideration anticipated production lives from the fields serviced by the GPT assets, whether APA-operated or third party-operated, as well as potential development plans by the Company for undeveloped acreage within, or close to, those fields.

The Company assesses the carrying amount of its GPT facilities whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. If the carrying amount of these facilities is more than the sum of the undiscounted cash flows, an impairment loss is recognized for the excess of the carrying value over its fair value.

During the second quarter and first six months of 2023, the Company completed leasehold and property acquisitions, primarily in the Permian Basin, for total cash consideration of approximately $4 million and $10 million, respectively.

During the second quarter and first six months of 2023, the Company completed the sale of non-core assets and leasehold in multiple transactions for total cash proceeds of $7 million and $28 million, respectively, recognizing a gain of approximately $5 million and $6 million, respectively, upon closing of these transactions.

During the second quarter and first six months of 2022, the Company completed leasehold and property acquisitions, primarily in the Permian Basin, for total cash consideration of $26 million.

During the second quarter and first six months of 2022, the Company completed the sale of non-core assets and leasehold in multiple transactions for total cash proceeds of $7 million and $15 million, respectively, recognizing a gain of approximately $1 million and $2 million, respectively, upon closing of these transactions.

During the first six months of 2022, the Company completed a transaction to sell certain non-core mineral rights in the Delaware Basin. The Company received total cash proceeds of approximately $726 million after certain post-closing adjustments and recognized an associated gain of approximately $560 million.

The BCP Business Combination was completed on February 22, 2022. As consideration for the contribution of the Contributed Interests, ALTM issued 50 million shares of Class C Common Stock (and Altus Midstream LP issued a corresponding number of common units) to BCP’s unitholders, which are principally funds affiliated with Blackstone and I Squared Capital. ALTM’s stockholders continued to hold their existing shares of common stock. As a result of the transaction, the Contributor, or its designees, collectively owned approximately 75 percent of the issued and outstanding shares of ALTM common stock. Apache Midstream LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of APA, which owned approximately 79 percent of the issued and outstanding shares of ALTM common stock prior to the BCP Business Combination, owned approximately 20 percent of the issued and outstanding shares of Kinetik common stock after the transaction closed.

As a result of the BCP Business Combination, the Company deconsolidated ALTM on February 22, 2022 and recognized a gain of approximately $609 million that reflects the difference between the Company’s share of ALTM’s deconsolidated balance sheet of $193 million and the fair value of $802 million of its approximate 20 percent retained ownership in the combined entity.

The Company’s capitalized exploratory well costs were $547 million and $474 million as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The increase is attributable to additional drilling activity offshore Suriname and in Egypt.

Projects with suspended exploratory well costs capitalized for a period greater than one year since the completion of drilling are those identified by management as exhibiting sufficient quantities of hydrocarbons to justify potential development. Management is actively pursuing efforts to assess whether proved reserves can be attributed to these projects.

The Company is exposed to fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas prices on the majority of its worldwide production, as well as fluctuations in exchange rates in connection with transactions denominated in foreign currencies. The Company manages the variability in its cash flows by occasionally entering into derivative transactions on a portion of its crude oil and natural gas production and foreign currency transactions. The Company utilizes various types of derivative financial instruments, including forward contracts, futures contracts, swaps, and options, to manage fluctuations in cash flows resulting from changes in commodity prices or foreign currency values.

The use of derivative instruments exposes the Company to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the counterparty. To reduce the concentration of exposure to any individual counterparty, the Company utilizes a diversified group of investment-grade rated counterparties, primarily financial institutions, for its derivative transactions. As of June 30, 2023, the Company had derivative positions with seven counterparties. The Company monitors counterparty creditworthiness on an ongoing basis; however, it cannot predict sudden changes in counterparties’ creditworthiness. In addition, even if such changes are not sudden, the Company may be limited in its ability to mitigate an increase in counterparty credit risk. Should one of these counterparties not perform, the Company may not realize the benefit of some of its derivative instruments resulting from lower commodity prices or changes in currency exchange rates.

As of June 30, 2023, the Company had the following open natural gas financial basis swap contracts:

The following table presents the Company’s derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

(1)    The derivative fair values are based on analysis of each contract on a gross basis, excluding the impact of netting agreements with counterparties and reclassifications between long-term and short-term balances.

The fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments are not actively quoted in the open market. The Company primarily uses a market approach to estimate the fair values of these derivatives on a recurring basis, utilizing futures pricing for the underlying positions provided by a reputable third party, a Level 2 fair value measurement.

All derivative instruments are reflected as either assets or liabilities at fair value in the consolidated balance sheet. These fair values are recorded by netting asset and liability positions where counterparty master netting arrangements contain provisions for net settlement. The carrying value of the Company’s derivative assets and liabilities and their locations on the consolidated balance sheet are as follows:

The following table summarizes the effect of derivative instruments on the Company’s statement of consolidated operations:

Derivative instrument gains and losses are recorded in “Derivative instrument gains (losses), net” under “Revenues and Other” in the Company’s statement of consolidated operations. Unrealized gains (losses) for derivative activity recorded in the statement of consolidated operations are reflected in the statement of consolidated cash flows separately as “Unrealized derivative instrument (gains) losses, net” under “Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities.”

The following table provides detail of the Company’s other current assets:

The Kinetik Class A Common Stock held by the Company is treated as an interest in equity securities measured at fair value. The Company elected the fair value option for measuring its equity method interest in Kinetik based on practical expedience, variances in reporting timelines, and cost-benefit considerations. The fair value of the Company’s interest in Kinetik is determined using observable share prices on a major exchange, a Level 1 fair value measurement. Fair value adjustments are recorded as a component of “Other, net” under “Revenues and other” in the Company’s statement of consolidated operations.

The Company has received approximately 2.1 million shares of Kinetik’s Class A Common Stock as paid-in-kind dividends through June 30, 2023. As of June 30, 2023, the Company’s ownership of 19.8 million shares represented approximately 13 percent of Kinetik’s outstanding Class A Common Stock.

The Company recorded changes in the fair value of its equity method interest in Kinetik totaling gains of $90 million and $42 million in the second quarters of 2023 and 2022, respectively, and gains of $71 million and $66 million in the first six months of 2023 and 2022, respectively. These gains were recorded as a component of “Revenues and other” in the Company’s statement of consolidated operations.

The following table represents sales and costs associated with Kinetik:

As of June 30, 2023, the Company has recorded accrued costs payable to Kinetik of approximately $39 million and receivables from Kinetik of approximately $22 million.

The following table provides detail of the Company’s other current liabilities:

The following table describes changes to the Company’s asset retirement obligation (ARO) liability:

The following table presents the carrying values of the Company’s debt:

(1)    The fair values of the Apache notes and debentures were $4.1 billion and $4.2 billion as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

(2)    The carrying value of borrowings on credit facilities approximates fair value because interest rates are variable and reflective of market rates.

At each of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, current debt included $2 million of finance lease obligations.

During the six months ended June 30, 2023, Apache purchased in the open market and canceled senior notes issued under its indentures in an aggregate principal amount of $74 million for an aggregate purchase price of $65 million in cash, including accrued interest and broker fees, reflecting a discount to par of an aggregate $10 million. The Company recognized a $9 million gain on these repurchases. The repurchases were partially financed by Apache’s borrowing under the Company’s US dollar-denominated revolving credit facility.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, Apache closed cash tender offers for certain outstanding notes issued under its indentures, accepting for purchase $1.1 billion aggregate principal amount of notes. Apache paid holders an aggregate $1.2 billion in cash, reflecting principal, premium to par, and accrued and unpaid interest. The Company recognized a $66 million loss on extinguishment of debt, including $11 million of unamortized debt discount and issuance costs in connection with the note purchases. The repurchases were partially financed by borrowing under Apache’s former revolving credit facility.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, Apache purchased in the open market and canceled senior notes issued under its indentures in an aggregate principal amount of $15 million for an aggregate purchase price of $16 million in cash, including accrued interest and broker fees, reflecting a premium to par of $1 million. The Company recognized a $1 million loss on these repurchases. The repurchases were partially financed by borrowing under Apache’s former revolving credit facility.

On January 18, 2022, Apache redeemed the outstanding $213 million principal amount of 3.25% senior notes due April 15, 2022, at a redemption price equal to 100 percent of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. The redemption was financed by borrowing under Apache’s former revolving credit facility.

On April 29, 2022, the Company entered into two unsecured syndicated credit agreements for general corporate purposes that replaced and refinanced Apache’s 2018 unsecured syndicated credit agreement (the Former Facility).

As of June 30, 2023, there were $762 million of borrowings under the USD Agreement and an aggregate £590 million in letters of credit outstanding under the GBP Agreement. As of June 30, 2023, there were no letters of credit outstanding under the USD Agreement. As of December 31, 2022, there were $566 million of borrowings and a $20 million letter of credit outstanding under the USD Agreement, and an aggregate £652 million in letters of credit outstanding under the GBP Agreement. The letters of credit denominated in pounds were issued to support North Sea decommissioning obligations, the terms of which required such support after Standard & Poor’s reduced Apache’s credit rating from BBB to BB+ on March 26, 2020.

Apache, from time to time, has and uses uncommitted credit and letter of credit facilities for working capital and credit support purposes. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were no outstanding borrowings under these facilities. As of June 30, 2023, there were £185 million and $3 million in letters of credit outstanding under these facilities. As of December 31, 2022, there were £199 million and $17 million in letters of credit outstanding under these facilities.

The following table presents the components of the Company’s financing costs, net:

The Company estimates its annual effective income tax rate in recording its quarterly provision for income taxes in the various jurisdictions in which the Company operates. Non-cash impairments on the carrying value of the Company’s oil and gas properties, gains and losses on the sale of assets, statutory tax rate changes, and other significant or unusual items are recognized as discrete items in the quarter in which they occur.

During the second quarter of 2023, the Company’s effective income tax rate was primarily impacted by a decrease in the amount of valuation allowance against its U.S. deferred tax assets. The Company’s 2023 year-to-date effective income tax rate was primarily impacted by a deferred tax expense related to the remeasurement of taxes in the U.K. as a result of the enactment of Finance Act 2023 on January 10, 2023, and a decrease in the amount of valuation allowance against its U.S. deferred tax assets. During the second quarter of 2022, the Company’s effective income tax rate was primarily impacted by a decrease in the amount of valuation allowance against its U.S. deferred tax assets. The Company’s 2022 year-to-date effective income tax rate was primarily impacted by the gain associated with deconsolidation of Altus, the gain on sale of certain non-core mineral rights in the Delaware Basin, and a decrease in the amount of valuation allowance against its U.S. deferred tax assets.

On January 10, 2023, Finance Act 2023 was enacted, receiving Royal Assent, and included amendments to the Energy (Oil and Gas) Profits Levy Act of 2022, increasing the levy from a 25 percent rate to a 35 percent rate, effective for the period of January 1, 2023 through March 31, 2028. Under U.S. GAAP, the financial statement impact of new legislation is recorded in the period of enactment. Therefore, in the first quarter of 2023, the Company recorded a deferred tax expense of $174 million related to the remeasurement of the December 31, 2022 U.K. deferred tax liability.

On August 16, 2022, the U.S. enacted the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). The IRA includes a new 15 percent corporate alternative minimum tax (Corporate AMT) on applicable corporations with an average annual financial statement income that exceeds $1 billion for any three consecutive years preceding the tax year at issue. The Corporate AMT is effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2022. The Company is continuing to evaluate the provisions of the IRA and awaits further guidance from the U.S. Treasury Department to properly assess the impact of these provisions on the Company. Under the existing guidance, the Company does not believe the IRA will have a material impact for 2023.

The Company has a full valuation allowance against its U.S. net deferred tax assets. The Company will continue to maintain a full valuation allowance on its U.S. net deferred tax assets until there is sufficient evidence to support the reversal of all or some portion of this allowance. However, given the Company’s current and anticipated future domestic earnings, the Company believes that there is a reasonable possibility that within the next 12 months sufficient positive evidence may become available to allow the Company to reach a conclusion that a significant portion of the U.S. valuation allowance will no longer be needed. A release of the valuation allowance would result in the recognition of certain deferred tax assets and a decrease to income tax expense, which could be material, for the period the release is recorded.

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income or capital taxes in various states and foreign jurisdictions. The Company’s tax reserves are related to tax years that may be subject to examination by the relevant taxing authority.

The Company is party to various legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, including litigation and governmental and regulatory controls, which also may include controls related to the potential impacts of climate change. As of June 30, 2023, the Company has an accrued liability of approximately $52 million for all legal contingencies that are deemed to be probable of occurring and can be reasonably estimated. The Company’s estimates are based on information known about the matters and its experience in contesting, litigating, and settling similar matters. Although actual amounts could differ from management’s estimate, none of the actions are believed by management to involve future amounts that would be material to the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or liquidity after consideration of recorded accruals. With respect to material matters for which the Company believes an unfavorable outcome is reasonably possible, the Company has disclosed the nature of the matter and a range of potential exposure, unless an estimate cannot be made at this time. It is management’s opinion that the loss for any other litigation matters and claims that are reasonably possible to occur will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or liquidity.

For additional information on Legal Matters described below, refer to Note 11—Commitments and Contingencies to the consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

On March 12, 2014, the Company and its subsidiaries completed the sale of all of the Company’s subsidiaries’ operations and properties in Argentina to YPF Sociedad Anonima (YPF). As part of that sale, YPF assumed responsibility for all of the past, present, and future litigation in Argentina involving Company subsidiaries, except that Company subsidiaries have agreed to indemnify YPF for certain environmental, tax, and royalty obligations capped at an aggregate of $100 million. The indemnity is subject to specific agreed conditions precedent, thresholds, contingencies, limitations, claim deadlines, loss sharing, and other terms and conditions. On April 11, 2014, YPF provided its first notice of claims pursuant to the indemnity. Company subsidiaries have not paid any amounts under the indemnity but will continue to review and consider claims presented by YPF. Further, Company subsidiaries retain the right to enforce certain Argentina-related indemnification obligations against Pioneer Natural Resources Company (Pioneer) in an amount up to $45 million pursuant to the terms and conditions of stock purchase agreements entered in 2006 between Company subsidiaries and subsidiaries of Pioneer.

As more fully described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, Louisiana surface owners often file lawsuits or assert claims against oil and gas companies, including the Company, claiming that operators and working interest owners in the chain of title are liable for environmental damages on the leased premises, including damages measured by the cost of restoration of the leased premises to its original condition, regardless of the value of the underlying property. From time to time, restoration lawsuits and claims are resolved by the Company for amounts that are not material to the Company, while new lawsuits and claims are asserted against the Company. With respect to each of the pending lawsuits and claims, the amount claimed is not currently determinable or is not material. Further, the overall exposure related to these lawsuits and claims is not currently determinable. While adverse judgments against the Company are possible, the Company intends to actively defend these lawsuits and claims.

Starting in November of 2013 and continuing into 2023, several parishes in Louisiana have pending lawsuits against many oil and gas producers, including the Company. In these cases, the Parishes, as plaintiffs, allege that defendants’ oil and gas exploration, production, and transportation operations in specified fields were conducted in violation of the State and Local Coastal Resources Management Act of 1978, as amended, and applicable regulations, rules, orders, and ordinances promulgated or adopted thereunder by the Parish or the State of Louisiana. Plaintiffs allege that defendants caused substantial damage to land and water bodies located in the coastal zone of Louisiana. Plaintiffs seek, among other things, unspecified damages for alleged violations of applicable law within the coastal zone, the payment of costs necessary to clear, re-vegetate, detoxify, and otherwise restore the subject coastal zone as near as practicable to its original condition, and actual restoration of the coastal zone to its original condition. While adverse judgments against the Company might be possible, the Company intends to vigorously oppose these claims.

Pursuant to a Sale and Purchase Agreement dated April 9, 2015 (Quadrant SPA), the Company and its subsidiaries divested Australian operations to Quadrant Energy Pty Ltd (Quadrant). Closing occurred on June 5, 2015. In April 2017, the Company filed suit against Quadrant for breach of the Quadrant SPA. In its suit, the Company seeks approximately AUD $80 million. In December 2017, Quadrant filed a defense of equitable set-off to the Company’s claim and a counterclaim seeking approximately AUD $200 million in the aggregate. The Company believes that Quadrant’s claims lack merit and will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operation, or liquidity.

On July 17, 2017, in three separate actions, San Mateo and Marin Counties, and the City of Imperial Beach, California, all filed suit individually and on behalf of the people of the state of California against over 30 oil and gas companies alleging damages as a result of global warming. Plaintiffs seek unspecified damages and abatement under various tort theories. On December 20, 2017, in two separate actions, the City of Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz County filed similar lawsuits against many of the same defendants. On January 22, 2018, the City of Richmond filed a similar lawsuit. On November 14, 2018, the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, Inc. also filed a similar lawsuit against many of the same defendants.

On September 10, 2020, the State of Delaware filed suit, individually and on behalf of the people of the State of Delaware, against over 25 oil and gas companies alleging damages as a result of global warming. Plaintiffs seek unspecified damages and abatement under various tort theories.

The Company believes that it is not subject to jurisdiction of the California courts and that claims made against it in the California and Delaware litigation are baseless. The Company intends to challenge jurisdiction in California and to vigorously defend the Delaware lawsuit.

As of June 30, 2023, the Company had an undiscounted reserve for environmental remediation of approximately $1 million.

On September 11, 2020, the Company received a Notice of Violation and Finding of Violation, and accompanying Clean Air Act Information Request, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) following site inspections in April 2019 at several of the Company’s oil and natural gas production facilities in Lea and Eddy Counties, New Mexico. The notice and information request involve alleged emissions control and reporting violations. The Company is cooperating with the EPA and has responded to the information request. The EPA has referred the notice for civil enforcement proceedings; however, at this time the Company is unable to reasonably estimate whether such proceedings will result in monetary sanctions and, if so, whether they would be more or less than $100,000, exclusive of interest and costs.

On December 29, 2020, the Company received a Notice of Violation and Opportunity to Confer, and accompanying Clean Air Act Information Request, from the EPA following helicopter flyovers in September 2019 of several of the Company’s oil and natural gas production facilities in Reeves County, Texas. The notice and information request involve alleged emissions control and reporting violations. The Company is cooperating with the EPA and has responded to the information request. The EPA has referred the notice for civil enforcement proceedings; however, at this time the Company is unable to reasonably estimate whether such proceedings will result in monetary sanctions and, if so, whether they would be more or less than $100,000, exclusive of interest and costs.

The Company is not aware of any environmental claims existing as of June 30, 2023 that have not been provided for or would otherwise have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations, or liquidity. There can be no assurance, however, that current regulatory requirements will not change or past non-compliance with environmental laws will not be discovered on the Company’s properties.

In 2013, Apache sold its Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Shelf operations and properties and its GOM operating subsidiary, GOM Shelf LLC (GOM Shelf) to Fieldwood Energy LLC (Fieldwood). Under the terms of the purchase agreement, Apache received cash consideration of $3.75 billion and Fieldwood assumed the obligation to decommission the properties held by GOM Shelf and the properties acquired from Apache and its other subsidiaries (collectively, the Legacy GOM Assets). In respect of such abandonment obligations, Fieldwood posted letters of credit in favor of Apache (Letters of Credit) and established trust accounts (Trust A and Trust B) of which Apache was a beneficiary and which were funded by two net profits interests (NPIs) depending on future oil prices. On February 14, 2018, Fieldwood filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In connection with the 2018 bankruptcy, Fieldwood confirmed a plan under which Apache agreed, inter alia, to (i) accept bonds in exchange for certain of the Letters of Credit and (ii) amend the Trust A trust agreement and one of the NPIs to consolidate the trusts into a single Trust (Trust A) funded by both remaining NPIs. Currently, Apache holds two bonds (Bonds) and five Letters of Credit to secure Fieldwood’s asset retirement obligations on the Legacy GOM Assets as and when Apache is required to perform or pay for decommissioning any Legacy GOM Asset over the remaining life of the Legacy GOM Assets.

On August 3, 2020, Fieldwood again filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. On June 25, 2021, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (Houston Division) entered an order confirming Fieldwood’s bankruptcy plan. On August 27, 2021, Fieldwood’s bankruptcy plan became effective. Pursuant to the plan, the Legacy GOM Assets were separated into a standalone company, which was subsequently merged into GOM Shelf. Under GOM Shelf’s limited liability company agreement, the proceeds of production of the Legacy GOM Assets will be used to fund decommissioning of Legacy GOM Assets.

By letter dated April 5, 2022, replacing two prior letters dated September 8, 2021 and February 22, 2022, and by subsequent letter dated March 1, 2023, GOM Shelf notified the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) that it was unable to fund the decommissioning obligations that it is currently obligated to perform on certain of the Legacy GOM Assets. As a result, Apache and other current and former owners in these assets have received orders from BSEE to decommission certain of the Legacy GOM Assets included in GOM Shelf’s notifications to BSEE. Apache expects to receive similar orders on the other Legacy GOM Assets included in GOM Shelf’s notification letters. Apache has also received orders to decommission other Legacy GOM Assets that were not included in GOM Shelf’s notification letters. Further, Apache anticipates that GOM Shelf may send additional such notices to BSEE in the future and that it may receive additional orders from BSEE requiring it to decommission other Legacy GOM Assets.

As of June 30, 2023, Apache has incurred $464 million in decommissioning costs related to several Legacy GOM Assets. GOM Shelf did not, and has confirmed that it will not, reimburse Apache for these decommissioning costs. As a result, Apache has sought and will continue to seek reimbursement from its security for these costs, of which $276 million had been reimbursed from Trust A as of June 30, 2023. If GOM Shelf does not reimburse Apache for further decommissioning costs incurred with respect to Legacy GOM Assets, then Apache will continue to seek reimbursement from Trust A, to the extent of available funds, and thereafter, will seek reimbursement from the Bonds and the Letters of Credit until all such funds and securities are fully utilized. In addition, after such sources have been exhausted, Apache has agreed to provide a standby loan to GOM Shelf of up to $400 million to perform decommissioning (Standby Loan Agreement), with such standby loan secured by a first and prior lien on the Legacy GOM Assets.

If the combination of GOM Shelf’s net cash flow from its producing properties, the Trust A funds, the Bonds, and the remaining Letters of Credit are insufficient to fully fund decommissioning of any Legacy GOM Assets that Apache may be required to perform or fund, or if GOM Shelf’s net cash flow from its remaining producing properties after the Trust A funds, Bonds, and Letters of Credit are exhausted is insufficient to repay any loans made by Apache under the Standby Loan Agreement, then Apache may be forced to effectively use its available cash to fund the deficit.

As of June 30, 2023, Apache estimates that its potential liability to fund the remaining decommissioning of Legacy GOM Assets it may be ordered to perform or fund ranges from $922 million to $1.1 billion on an undiscounted basis. Management does not believe any specific estimate within this range is a better estimate than any other. Accordingly, the Company has recorded a contingent liability of $922 million as of June 30, 2023, representing the estimated costs of decommissioning it may be required to perform or fund on Legacy GOM Assets. Of the total liability recorded, $472 million is reflected under the caption “Decommissioning contingency for sold Gulf of Mexico properties,” and $450 million is reflected under “Other current liabilities” in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. Changes in significant assumptions impacting Apache’s estimated liability, including expected decommissioning rig spread rates, lift boat rates, and planned abandonment logistics could result in a liability in excess of the amount accrued.

As of June 30, 2023, the Company has also recorded a $507 million asset, which represents the amount the Company expects to be reimbursed from the Trust A funds, the Bonds, and the Letters of Credit for decommissioning it may be required to perform on Legacy GOM Assets. Of the total asset recorded, $57 million is reflected under the caption “Decommissioning security for sold Gulf of Mexico properties,” and $450 million is reflected under “Other current assets.”

The following table presents a reconciliation of the components of basic and diluted net income per common share in the consolidated financial statements: