COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
12 Months Ended |
|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES CorEnergy Legal Proceedings
The Company initiated litigation on March 26, 2019 to enforce the terms of the Grand Isle Lease Agreement requiring that the Company be provided with copies of certain financial statement information that it was required to file pursuant to SEC Regulation S-X, as described in Section 2340 of the SEC Financial Reporting Manual, in the case CorEnergy Infrastructure Trust, Inc. and Grand Isle Corridor, LP v. Energy XXI Gulf Coast, Inc. and Energy XXI GIGS Services, LLC, Case No. 01-19-0228-CV in the 11th District Court of Harris County, Texas. The Company sought and obtained a temporary restraining order mandating that our tenant deliver the required financial statements. On April 1, 2019, that order was stayed pending an appeal by the tenant to the Texas First District Court of Appeals in Houston. On January 6, 2020, that appellate court rejected the tenant's appeal and remanded the case for further proceedings in the 11th District Court of Harris County, Texas. While the appeal was pending, the original temporary restraining order lapsed by its own terms. In May 2020, the trial court granted the Company's motion for partial summary judgment mandating the tenant deliver the required financial statements. The parties agreed to stay this case in order to facilitate settlement discussions (see below).
In addition to the foregoing lawsuit, the Company's subsidiary, Grand Isle Corridor, filed a separate lawsuit against EGC and EGC Tenant to recover unpaid rent due and owed under the Grand Isle Lease Agreement. The lawsuit was filed in the 129th District Court of Harris County, Texas and was styled as Grand Isle Corridor, LP v. Energy XXI Gulf Coast, Inc. and Energy XXI GIGS Services, LLC, Case No. 202027212. Grand Isle Corridor filed a motion for summary judgment against the EGC Tenant in this action. Grand Isle Corridor filed two identical lawsuits in Harris County seeking unpaid rent for June and July (Case Nos. 202036038 and 202039219, respectively). These cases were stayed pending negotiation of a business resolution with EGC and EGC Tenant (see below).
On April 20, 2020, EGC and its parent company, CEXXI, LLC, filed an adversary proceeding against the Company and Grand Isle Corridor, Energy XXI Gulf Coast, LLC and CEXXI, LLC v. Grand Isle Corridor, LP and CorEnergy Infrastructure Trust, Inc., Adv. No. 20-03084, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. In this suit, EGC was asking the bankruptcy court in which EGC filed for bankruptcy in 2016 to declare that the assignment and assumption of the guarantee of the Grand Isle Lease Agreement, which was a part of that earlier bankruptcy proceeding, is null and void. The Company believes this claim was meritless. The parties agreed to stay this case (see below).
During the third quarter of 2020, the Company and Grand Isle Corridor reached an agreement with EGC, EGC Tenant, and CEXXI, LLC to stay each of the above-referenced lawsuits indefinitely while seeking a business resolution for their various disputes. During the agreed stay, all deadlines in the pending actions were suspended, and the parties may not engage in discovery, file pleadings, or initiate any new lawsuits against each other. Any party may terminate the agreed stay and resume litigation upon five days' written notice.
On February 4, 2021, the GIGS asset was used as partial consideration for the acquisition of its interest in Crimson. In connection with the disposition, the Company and Grand Isle Corridor entered into Settlement Agreement with the EXXI Entities. The EGC Tenant is the tenant under the Grand Isle Lease Agreement, dated June 30, 2015 with Grand Isle Corridor. Grand Isle Corridor initially received a Guaranty dated June 22, 2015 from Energy XXI Ltd. in connection with the original purchase of the GIGS, which was assumed by EGC, as guarantor of the obligations of the EGC Tenant pursuant to the terms of the Assignment and Assumption of Guaranty and Release dated December 30, 2016 (as assigned and assumed, the "Tenant Guaranty").
Pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the Company and Grand Isle Corridor released the EXXI Entities from any and all claims, except for the Environmental Indemnity under the Grand Isle Lease Agreement, which shall survive, and the EXXI Entities released the Company and Grand Isle Corridor from any and all claims. The parties have also agreed to jointly dismiss the litigation described above in connection with the Settlement Agreement. Additionally, the Grand Isle Lease Agreement and Tenant Guaranty were cancelled and terminated.
Crimson Legal Proceedings
On October 30, 2014, the owner of a property on which Crimson built a valve access vault filed an action against Crimson, claiming that Crimson's pre-existing pipeline easement did not authorize the construction of the vault. Crimson responded by filing a condemnation action on October 26, 2015 to acquire new easements for the vault and related pipeline, and the cases were consolidated into one action, Crimson California Pipeline L.P. v. Noarus Properties, Inc.; and Does 1 through 99, Case No. BC598951, in the Los Angeles Superior Court-Central District. The property owner has claimed damages/compensation in the approximate amount of $11.7 million. The judge currently presiding over this case has rescheduled a jury trial to determine the amount of damages, if any, for May 9, 2022, pending the determination of procedural issues in the case on which the judge has requested further briefing. Crimson is vigorously defending itself against the claims asserted by the property owner in this matter and, while the outcome cannot be predicted, management believes the ultimate resolution of this matter will not have a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
In June 2016, Crimson discovered a leak on its Ventura pipeline located in Ventura County, California, at which time Crimson began remediation of the observed release and concurrently took the pipeline out of service. The pipeline was properly repaired and returned to service in June 2016. The remediation efforts are complete, the affected area has been restored, and Crimson has implemented a monitoring program for the area. In November 2018, Crimson was notified by the California State Water Resources Board of a Forthcoming Assessment of Administrative Civil Liability concerning alleged violations of the California Water Code related to this incident. Through pre-enforcement settlement discussion, Crimson and the California State Water Board reached a settlement requiring Crimson to pay a penalty which, in connection with final approval from the State of California, was set at $330 thousand, (including incidental charges) and was paid during the three months ended September 30, 2021. Pursuant to that settlement, annually Crimson also must perform certain ongoing monitoring obligations related to the condition of the affected barranca. Additionally, in July 2020 Crimson entered into a Stipulation of Final Judgment related to the same incident with the Ventura County, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Oil Spill Response, pursuant to which Crimson agreed to pay penalties of $900 thousand plus reimbursement of certain investigative costs. Half of this settlement was paid during 2020 prior to the Crimson Transaction, and the remainder was paid during the three months ended September 30, 2021.
As a transporter of crude oil, Crimson is subject to various environmental regulations that could subject the Company to future monetary obligations. Crimson has received notices of violations and potential fines under various federal, state and local provisions relating to the discharge of materials into the environment or protection of the environment. Management believes that even if any one or more of these environmental proceedings were decided against Crimson, it would not be material to the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows, and the Company maintains insurance coverage for environmental liabilities in amounts that management believes to be appropriate and customary for the Company's business.
The Company also is subject to various other claims and legal proceedings covering a wide range of matters that arose in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, all such matters are adequately covered by insurance or by established reserves, and, if not so covered, are without merit or are of such kind, or involve such amounts, as would not have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.
California Bonds Indemnification
On March 31, 2021, the Company executed a General Agreement of Indemnity for the benefit of Federal Insurance Company, Westchester Fire Insurance Company and each of their respective direct and indirect subsidiaries, parent companies and affiliates related to the surety bonds at Crimson. On April 26, 2021, the Company executed a General Agreement of Indemnity for the benefit of Argonaut Insurance Company, itself, its subsidiaries, affiliates, parents, co-sureties, fronting companies and/or reinsurers and their successors and assigns, whether now in existence or formed hereafter, individually and collectively, as "Surety" related to the surety bonds of Crimson. On May 17, 2021, the Company executed a General Agreement of Indemnity for the benefit of Arch Insurance Company, itself, its subsidiaries, affiliates, parents, co-sureties, fronting companies, reinsurers and their successors and assigns, whether now in existence or hereafter formed, individually and collectively, as "Surety" related to the surety bonds of Crimson. The Company, jointly and severally, agrees to pay the Surety the agreed premium for the bonds and upon written request of the Surety at any time, collateral security for its suretyship until such time evidence is provided of the termination of any past, present and future liability under any bonds. The Indemnity Agreement may be terminated by the Company upon thirty days written notice. The total annual premium paid for the bonds currently outstanding is approximately $173 thousand.
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