Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Asset Retirement Obligations

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Asset Retirement Obligations
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]  
Asset Retirement Obligations

9. ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

 

Asset retirement obligations (“AROs”) associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets are recognized as liabilities with an increase to the carrying amounts of the related long-lived assets in the period incurred. The fair value of AROs is recognized as of the acquisition date of the working interest (see Note 6). The cost of the tangible asset, including the asset retirement cost, is depleted over the life of the asset. AROs are recorded at estimated fair value, measured by reference to the expected future cash outflows required to satisfy the retirement obligations discounted at the Company’s credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate. Accretion expense is recognized over time as the discounted liabilities are accreted to their expected settlement value. If estimated future costs of AROs change, an adjustment is recorded to both the ARO and the long-lived asset. Revisions to estimated AROs can result from changes in retirement cost estimates, revisions to estimated discount rates and changes in the estimated timing of abandonment.

 

Our ARO is measured using primarily Level 3 inputs. The significant unobservable inputs to this fair value measurement include estimates of plugging costs, remediation costs, inflation rate and well life. The inputs are calculated based on historical data as well as current estimated costs. For the Canadian property additions, abandonment and reclamation liabilities are prescribed by the province in which the Company operates in.

 

The following is a description of the Company’s asset retirement obligations:

 

    United States properties     Canadian properties     Total  
Asset retirement obligations at beginning of period   $ 473,868     $     $ 473,868  
Additions           1,313,982       1,313,982  
Accretion expense     17,476       1,011       18,487  
Foreign currency translation           7,885       7,885  
Asset retirement obligations at end of period   $ 491,344     $ 1,322,878     $ 1,814,222