NEWFIELD EXPLORATION CO /DE/ | 2013 | FY | 3


Discontinued Operations:

In February 2013, we announced our decision to explore strategic alternatives for our international businesses. In accordance with specific accounting requirements, we met the criteria to classify our international businesses as held-for-sale and discontinued operations during the second quarter of 2013. As a result, the historical results of operations for our Malaysia and China businesses are reflected in our financial statements as “discontinued operations.”

Malaysia Update

As discussed in Note 17, "Subsequent Events," we closed the sale of our Malaysia business on February 10, 2014.

China Update
 
In August of 2013, during the installation of the LF-7 topside facilities by a third-party contractor, a hydraulic jacking system malfunctioned and the installation was suspended. The installation of the facility has been delayed and the potential cost and timing for the reinstallation is uncertain at this time. As a result of this incident, the timing of the China divestiture has been delayed. The Company continues to actively market its China business. After reevaluating the criteria to be classified as discontinued operations, we believe that our China operations continue to meet the “held for sale” criteria and therefore remain in discontinued operations as of December 31, 2013. We will continue to monitor the facts and circumstances surrounding the completion of the production facilities and sale of our China operations on a quarterly basis.

Financial Results of Discontinued Operations
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
 
(In millions)
Oil and gas revenues (1)
 
$
891

 
$
1,092

 
$
729

Operating expenses
 
689

 
664

 
508

    Income from discontinued operations
 
202

 
428

 
221

Other income (expense)
 
4

 
(3
)
 

Income from discontinued operations before income taxes
 
206

 
425

 
221

Income tax provision (benefit):
 


 


 


    Current
 
90

 
193

 
76

    Deferred
 
77

 
514

 
7

    Total income tax provision (benefit)
 
167

 
707

 
83

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
 
$
39

 
$
(282
)
 
$
138


________________
(1) Certain payments to foreign governments made on our behalf that are part of the revenue process are recorded as a reduction of the related oil and gas revenues.

Income Taxes

The effective tax rates for our discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were 81%, 166% and 37%, respectively. Historically, our international effective tax rate was approximately 37%. However, the effective tax rates for 2013 and 2012 were affected by our decision to repatriate earnings from our foreign operations, which resulted in net income of our international businesses being taxed both in the U.S. and the local country, and the recording of a valuation allowance related to our deferred tax asset in Malaysia.
Assets and Liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet from Discontinued Operations


December 31,


2013

2012


(In millions)
Current assets:




Cash and cash equivalents

$
84

 
$
76

Accounts receivable

200

 
207

Inventories

130

 
91

  Other current assets

33

 
31

Total current assets

447

 
405

Noncurrent assets:



 


 Oil and gas properties, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of $1,121 and $843 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively

989

 
781

Deferred taxes

19

 
24

  Other assets

4

 
4

Total noncurrent assets

1,012

 
809

Total assets

$
1,459

 
$
1,214





 


Current liabilities:



 


Accounts payable

$
38

 
$
50

  Accrued liabilities

324

 
269

Asset retirement obligations
 
49

 
5

  Other current liabilities

18

 
16

Total current liabilities

429
 
340
Noncurrent liabilities:



 


  Asset retirement obligations

86

 
37

Deferred taxes

129

 
41

  Other liabilities

11

 
24

Total noncurrent liabilities

226

 
102

Total liabilities

$
655

 
$
442



Crude Oil Inventories

Substantially all of the crude oil from our offshore operations in Malaysia and China is produced into floating production, storage and off-loading vessels (FPSOs) or onshore storage terminals and “lifted” and sold periodically as barge quantities are accumulated. The product inventory from our international operations consisted of approximately 1.1 million barrels and 0.7 million barrels of crude oil valued at cost of $90 million and $64 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and are included in the "Inventories" line item in the preceding table and our consolidated balance sheet. Cost for purposes of the carrying value of oil inventory is the sum of production costs and depletion expense.

Oil and Gas Properties

At December 31, 2013, the oil and gas properties associated with our discontinued operations included $115 million not subject to amortization, comprised of $45 million incurred prior to 2011, $2 million incurred in 2011, $24 million incurred in 2012 and $44 million incurred in 2013.

At December 31, 2013, we performed a fair value assessment of our Malaysia and China discontinued operations, noting no indication of impairment based on the current carrying value.


During 2012, when our Malaysia and China businesses were reported as continuing operations, we performed a ceiling test for each full cost pool. The ceiling value of our reserves was calculated based upon SEC pricing of $2.76 per MMBtu for natural gas and $94.84 per barrel for oil. At December 31, 2011, the ceiling value of our reserves was calculated based upon SEC pricing of $4.12 per MMBtu for natural gas and $96.13 per barrel for oil. Using these prices, the cost center ceilings with respect to our Malaysia and China full cost pools exceeded the net capitalized costs of the respective cost centers at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and as such, no ceiling test writedowns were required.

The change in our ARO for discontinued operations for each of the three years ended December 31, is set forth below: 
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
 
(In millions)
Balance at January 1
 
$
42

 
$
39

 
$
12

Accretion expense
 
3

 
3

 
2

Additions
 
4

 
4

 
29

Revisions
 
101

 

 

Settlements
 
(15
)
 
(4
)
 
(4
)
Balance at December 31
 
135

 
42

 
39

Less: Current portion of ARO at December 31
 
(49
)
 
(5
)
 
(6
)
Total long-term ARO at December 31
 
$
86

 
$
37

 
$
33


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