APA (APA) 10-Q2021 Q2 Quarterly report

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, 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, 2020, 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,” “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 the 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.

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 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 Annual Report on Form 10-K of Apache Corporation, the Company’s predecessor registrant, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, which contains a summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies and other disclosures.

On January 4, 2021, Apache Corporation announced plans to implement a holding company reorganization (the Holding Company Reorganization), which was thereafter completed on March 1, 2021. In connection with the Holding Company Reorganization, Apache Corporation became a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of APA Corporation, and all of Apache Corporation’s outstanding shares were automatically converted into equivalent corresponding shares of APA. Pursuant to the Holding Company Reorganization, APA became the successor issuer to Apache Corporation pursuant to Rule 12g-3(a) under the Exchange Act and replaced Apache Corporation as the public company trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “APA.” The Holding Company Reorganization modernized the Company’s operating and legal structure to more closely align with its growing international presence, making it more consistent with other companies that have subsidiaries operating around the globe.

As of June 30, 2021, 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 Apache Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. The Company’s financial statements for prior periods include reclassifications that were made to conform to the current-year presentation.

The implementation of the Holding Company Reorganization was accounted for as a merger under common control. APA recognized the assets and liabilities of Apache at carryover basis. The consolidated financial statements of APA present comparative information for prior years on a combined basis, as if both APA and Apache were under common control for all periods presented.

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 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, third-party investors own a minority interest of approximately 21 percent of Altus Midstream Company (ALTM), which is reflected as a separate noncontrolling interest component of equity in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. ALTM qualifies as a variable interest entity under GAAP, for which APA consolidates because a wholly-owned subsidiary of APA has 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 require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of 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. The Company determines fair value measurements in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 820-10-35, “Fair Value Measurement” (ASC 820), which provides a hierarchy that prioritizes and defines the types of inputs used to base fair value measurements. 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).

Fair value measurements are recorded on a nonrecurring basis when certain qualitative assessments of the Company’s assets indicate potential impairment. Asset impairments recorded in connection with fair value assessments were as follows:

The Company recorded 0 asset impairments in connection with fair value assessments during the first six months of 2021.

During the second quarter of 2020, the Company recorded asset impairments totaling $20 million in connection with fair value assessments on proved property in Egypt. These properties were impaired to their estimated fair values as a result of changes to planned development activity.

During the first quarter of 2020, the Company recorded asset impairments totaling $4.5 billion in connection with fair value assessments. Given the crude oil price collapse on lower demand and economic activity resulting from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and related governmental actions, the Company assessed its oil and gas property and gathering, processing, and transmission (GPT) facilities for impairment based on the net book value of its assets as of March 31, 2020. The Company recognized proved property impairments totaling $3.9 billion, $354 million, and $7 million in the U.S., Egypt, and North Sea, respectively, to reduce the carrying value of its oil and gas properties to the estimated fair values as a result of lower forecasted commodity prices, changes to planned development activity, and increasing market uncertainty. Impairments totaling $68 million were similarly recorded for GPT facilities in Egypt. These impairments are discussed in further detail below in “Property and Equipment - Oil and Gas Property” and “Property and Equipment - Gathering, Processing, and Transmission Facilities.”

During the first quarter of 2020, the Company also recognized impairments of $13 million for the early termination of drilling rig leases and $5 million for inventory revaluations, both in the U.S.

During the first quarter of 2020, the Company performed an interim impairment analysis of the goodwill related to its Egypt reporting segment. Reductions in the estimated net present value of expected future cash flows from oil and gas properties resulted in fair values below the carrying values of the Company’s Egypt reporting unit. As a result of these assessments, the Company recognized non-cash impairments of the entire amount of recorded goodwill in the Egypt reporting unit of $87 million.

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, 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.

The significant decline in crude oil and natural gas prices, as well as longer-term commodity price outlooks, related to reduced demand for oil and natural gas as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and related governmental actions indicated possible impairment of the Company’s proved and unproved oil and gas properties in early 2020. In addition to estimating risk-adjusted reserves and future production volumes, estimated future commodity prices are the largest driver in variability of undiscounted pre-tax cash flows. Expected cash flows were estimated based on management’s views of published West Texas Intermediate (WTI), Brent, and Henry Hub forward pricing as of the balance sheet dates. Other significant assumptions and inputs used to calculate estimated future cash flows include estimates for future development activity, exploration plans and remaining lease terms. A 10 percent discount rate, based on a market-based weighted-average cost of capital estimate, was applied to the undiscounted cash flow estimate to value all of the Company’s asset groups that were subject to impairment charges in the first and second quarters of 2020.

The following table represents non-cash impairment charges of the carrying value of the Company’s proved and unproved properties:

Proved properties impaired during the first and second quarters of 2020 had aggregate fair values of $1.9 billion and $32 million, respectively.

GPT facilities totaled $668 million and $670 million as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, with accumulated depreciation for these assets totaling $358 million and $323 million for the respective periods. 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.

The Company assessed its long-lived infrastructure assets for impairment at March 31, 2020, and recorded an impairment of $68 million on its GPT facilities in Egypt during the first quarter of 2020. The fair values of the impaired assets, which were determined to be $46 million, were estimated using the income approach, which considers internal estimates based on future throughput volumes from applicable development concessions in Egypt and estimated costs to operate. These assumptions were applied based on throughput assumptions developed in relation to the oil and gas proved property impairment assessment, as discussed above, to develop future cash flow projections that were then discounted to estimated fair value, using a 10 percent discount rate, based on a market-based weighted-average cost of capital estimate. The Company has classified these non-recurring fair value measurements as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

There have been no significant changes to the Company’s contracts with customers during the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020.

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.

The following table presents the Company’s revenues generated from contracts with customers and non-customers:

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.

In recent years, the Company streamlined its portfolio through strategic divestitures and centralized certain operational activities in an effort to capture greater efficiencies and cost savings through shared services. In light of the continued streamlining of the Company’s asset portfolio through divestitures and strategic transactions, in late 2019, management initiated a comprehensive redesign of the Company’s organizational structure and operations. Efforts related to this reorganization were substantially completed during 2020. The Company incurred and paid a cumulative total of $79 million of reorganization costs through December 31, 2020. An additional $4 million of reorganization costs were incurred in the second quarter and first six months of 2021, primarily related to ongoing consulting and separation activities in the Company’s international operations.

The Company recorded $10 million and $37 million of TRS costs during the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively. TRS costs incurred in the first six months of 2020 comprised $34 million of separation costs associated with the reorganization, $2 million for transaction consulting fees, and $1 million of office closure costs.

During the second quarter of 2021, the Company completed the sale of certain non-core assets in the Permian Basin with a net carrying value of $157 million, for cash proceeds of $178 million and the assumption of asset retirement obligations of $44 million. The Company recognized a gain of approximately $65 million in connection with the sale.

During the first quarter of 2021, the Company completed leasehold and property acquisitions, primarily in the Permian Basin, for total cash consideration of $2 million. The Company also completed the sale of certain non-core assets and leasehold, primarily in the Permian Basin, in multiple transactions for total cash proceeds of $3 million. The Company recognized a gain of approximately $2 million upon closing of these transactions during the first quarter of 2021.

During the second quarter and first six months of 2020, the Company completed leasehold and property acquisitions, primarily in the Permian Basin, for total cash consideration of $2 million and $3 million, respectively.

During the first six months of 2020, the Company completed the sale of certain non-core assets and leasehold, primarily in the Permian Basin, in multiple transactions for total cash proceeds of $47 million. The Company recognized a gain of approximately $6 million upon closing of these transactions.

In December 2019, the Company entered into a joint venture agreement with TotalEnergies (formerly Total S.A.) to explore and develop Block 58 offshore Suriname. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company and TotalEnergies each hold a 50 percent working interest in Block 58. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company operated the drilling of the first four wells, the Maka Central-1, Sapakara West-1, Kwaskwasi-1, and Keskesi East-1, and subsequently transferred operatorship of Block 58 to TotalEnergies on January 1, 2021; however, the Company continued to operate the Keskesi exploration well until completion of drilling operations during the first six months of 2021.

In connection with the agreement, the Company received $100 million from TotalEnergies upon closing in the fourth quarter of 2019 and $79 million upon satisfying certain closing conditions in the first quarter of 2020 for reimbursement of 50 percent of all costs incurred on Block 58 as of December 31, 2019. All proceeds were applied against the carrying value of the Company’s Suriname properties and associated inventory. The Company recognized a $19 million gain in the first quarter of 2020 associated with the transaction.

Key terms of the agreement provide for Total S.A. to pay a proportionately larger share of appraisal and development costs, which would be recoverable through hydrocarbon participation. For the first $10 billion of gross capital expenditures, Total S.A. pays 87.5 percent, and the Company pays 12.5 percent; for the next $5 billion in gross expenditures, Total pays 75 percent and the Company pays 25 percent; and for all gross expenditures above $15 billion, Total pays 62.5 percent and the Company pays 37.5 percent. The Company will also receive various other forms of consideration, including a $75 million cash payment upon achieving first oil production, and future contingent royalty payments from successful joint development projects.

The Company’s capitalized exploratory well costs were $260 million and $197 million as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The increase is primarily attributable to additional drilling activity in Suriname and Egypt, partially offset by dry hole write-offs during the period.

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 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 also 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, 2021, the Company had derivative positions with 11 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 changes in commodity prices, currency exchange rates, or interest rates.

As of June 30, 2021, the Company had the following open crude oil derivative positions:

As of June 30, 2021, the Company had the following open crude oil financial basis swap contracts:

As of June 30, 2021, the Company had the following open natural gas financial basis swap contracts:

During the fourth quarter of 2019 and first quarter of 2020, the Company entered into separate agreements to assign a portion of its contracted capacity under an existing transportation agreement to third parties. Embedded in these agreements are arrangements under which the Company has the potential to receive payments calculated based on pricing differentials between Houston Ship Channel and Waha during calendar years 2020 and 2021. These features require bifurcation and measurement of the change in market values for each period. Unrealized gains or losses in the fair value of these features are recorded as “Derivative instrument losses, net” under “Revenues and Other” in the statement of consolidated operations. Any proceeds received will be deferred and reflected in income over the original tenure of the transportation agreement.

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

The fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments and pipeline capacity embedded derivatives 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.

The fair value of the Preferred Units embedded derivative is calculated using an income approach, a Level 3 fair value measurement, and determination is based on a range of factors, including expected future interest rates using the Black-Karasinski model, Altus’ imputed interest rate, interest rate volatility, the expected timing of periodic cash distributions, the estimated timing for the potential exercise of the exchange option, and anticipated dividend yields of the Preferred Units. As of the June 30, 2021 valuation date, the Company used the forward B-rated Energy Bond Yield curve to develop the following key unobservable inputs used to value this embedded derivative:

A one percent increase in the imputed interest rate assumption would significantly increase the value of the embedded derivative as of June 30, 2021, while a one percent decrease would lead to a similar decrease in value as of June 30, 2021. The assumed expected timing until exercise of the exchange option as of June 30, 2021 was 4.95 years.

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 losses (gains), net” in “Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities.”

As part of the Company’s ordinary course of business, the Company seeks to maintain a balance between “first of month” and “gas daily pricing” for its U.S. natural gas portfolio and sales activities in a given month. This is typically implemented through a combination of physical and financial contracts that settle monthly. In January 2021, the Company entered into financial contracts that increased its exposure to “gas daily pricing” and reduced its exposure to “first of month” pricing for February 2021. The Company realized a gain of $147 million in connection with these contracts in the first quarter of 2021 as a result of extreme daily gas price volatility across Texas in February resulting from Winter Storm Uri.

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

As of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company, through its ownership of Altus, had the following equity method interests in 4 Permian Basin long-haul pipeline entities, which are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. For each of the equity method interests, Altus has the ability to exercise significant influence based on certain governance provisions and its participation in activities and decisions that impact the management and economic performance of the equity method interests. The table below presents the ownership percentages held by the Company and associated carrying values for each entity:

As of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, unamortized basis differences included in the equity method interest balances were $37 million and $38 million, respectively. These amounts represent differences in Altus’ contributions to date and Altus’ underlying equity in the separate net assets within the financial statements of the respective entities. Unamortized basis differences will be amortized into net income over the useful lives of the underlying pipeline assets.

The following table presents the activity in Altus’ equity method interests for the six months ended June 30, 2021: