Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Asset Retirement Obligation

v3.20.4
Asset Retirement Obligation
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]  
Asset Retirement Obligation ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION
A component of the consideration exchanged to purchase the GIGS assets in June 2015 was the assumption of the seller's ARO associated with such assets. The ARO represents the estimated costs of decommissioning the GIGS pipelines and onshore oil receiving and separation facilities in Grand Isle, Louisiana at retirement. The Company recognized the ARO at its estimated fair value on the date of acquisition with a corresponding ARO asset capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the related long-lived assets to be depreciated over the assets' remaining useful lives.
The Company's tenant, EGC Tenant, has an ARO related to the platform which is currently attached to the GIGS pipelines. If in the future, EGC Tenant is unable to fulfill their obligation, the Company may be required to assume the liability for the related asset removal costs.
In periods subsequent to the initial measurement of an ARO, the Company recognizes changes in the liability resulting from (a) the passage of time through accretion expense and (b) revisions to either the timing or the amount of the estimate of undiscounted cash flows based on periodic revaluations. Future expected cash flows are based on subjective estimates and assumptions, which inherently include significant uncertainties which are beyond the Company's control. These assumptions represent Level 3 inputs in the fair value hierarchy. The Company has no assets that are legally restricted for purposes of settling asset retirement obligations.
In 2020, the Company revised its estimates to reflect a decrease in timing of the cash flows due to a change in the useful life of the ARO segments identified during the GIGS asset impairment discussed in Note 3 ("Leased Properties And Leases"). In 2019, the Company revised its estimates to reflect a decrease in (i) average marketplace rates for labor and other costs, (ii) for the expected timing of work and for (iii) recent decommissioning estimates. During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company decommissioned a segment of the GIGS pipeline system. The Company incurred decommissioning costs of approximately $939 thousand compared to the estimated segment ARO liability of $628 thousand resulting in a loss on settlement of ARO of $311 thousand. The loss on settlement of ARO is recorded in general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2018. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the changes in estimate did not result in any charges to income.
The following table is a reconciliation of the asset retirement obligation as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:
Asset Retirement Obligation
For the Years Ended December 31,
2020 2019
Beginning asset retirement obligation $ 8,044,200  $ 7,956,343 
Liabilities assumed —  — 
ARO accretion expense 461,713  443,969 
Liabilities settled —  — 
Revision in cash flow estimates 256,666  (356,112)
Ending asset retirement obligation $ 8,762,579  $ 8,044,200 
On February 4, 2021, the Company disposed of the ARO upon providing the GIGS asset as partial consideration for the Crimson Transaction. Refer to Note 3 ("Leased Properties And Leases") and Note 16 ("Subsequent Events") for further details.