Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

v2.4.0.6
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Abstract]  
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
10. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Certain of our assets and liabilities are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. For purposes of recording fair value adjustments for certain financial and non-financial assets and liabilities, and determining fair value disclosures, we estimate fair value at a price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal market for the asset or liability.

 

The fair value measurement and disclosure requirements of FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 820, Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures (ASC 820) requires inputs that we categorize using a three-level hierarchy, from highest to lowest level of observable inputs, as follows:

 

  •  

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets

 

  •  

Level 2 — Direct or indirect observable inputs, including quoted prices or other market data, for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or identical assets or liabilities in less active markets

 

  •  

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that require significant judgment for which there is little or no market data.

When multiple input levels are required for a valuation, we categorize the entire fair value measurement according to the lowest level of input that is significant to the measurement even though we may have also utilized significant inputs that are more readily observable.

The amounts reported in our consolidated condensed balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable approximate fair value. Fair values and related carrying values of our debt instruments are as follows:

 

                                 
     March 31, 2012     December 31, 2011  
    Carrying Amount     Fair Value     Carrying Amount     Fair Value  
    (in thousands)  

Long-term Debt

                                

9.125% Notes

   $ 300,000     $ 319,500     $ 300,000     $ 315,000  

2.125% Notes

     125,000       124,535       125,000       123,204  
   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

  

Total

   $ 425,000     $ 444,035     $ 425,000     $ 438,204  
   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

  

The carrying amount of our interest rate swap agreements represents the estimated fair value, measured using Level 2 inputs. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the carrying amount of our interest rate swap agreements was $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively, recorded in other long-term liabilities on our consolidated condensed balance sheets.

As discussed in Note 2, in accordance with the Impairment or disposal of long-lived assets subsections of ASC 360-10, Property, Plant and Equipment, during the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company recorded a non-cash pre-tax impairment charge of $170.0 million related to the AADU rigs in order to record them at their fair value of $169.5 million. The fair value of the AADU rigs was based on expected future cash flows using Level 3 inputs discounted at a 10 percent rate of interest.

Market conditions could cause an instrument to be reclassified from Level 1 to Level 2, or Level 2 to Level 3. There were no transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy or any changes in the valuation techniques used during the three months ended March 31, 2012.