The following review of operations for the three month periods ended March 31,
2021 and 2020 should be read in conjunction with our Condensed Consolidated
Financial Statements and the Notes included in this Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q (Form 10-Q) and with the Consolidated Financial Statements, Notes and
Management's Discussion and Analysis included in the Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (Form 10-K).
OVERVIEW
Financial and Operating Overview
Financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2021
compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020 reflect the following:
•Natural gas production decreased 9.2 Bcf from 215.0 Bcf, or 2,363 Mmcf per day,
in the 2020 period to 205.8 Bcf, or 2,287 Mmcf per day, in the 2021 period. The
decrease was driven by reduced capital spending during 2020 related to our
maintenance capital program and the timing of our drilling and completion
activities in the Marcellus Shale in 2021.
•Average realized natural gas price was $2.31 per Mcf, 34 percent higher than
the $1.72 per Mcf realized in the corresponding period of the prior year.
•Total capital expenditures were $124.0 million compared to $160.3 million in
the corresponding period of the prior year.
•Drilled 28 gross wells (25.1 net) with a success rate of 100 percent compared
to 22 gross wells (22.0 net) with a success rate of 100 percent for the
corresponding period of the prior year. Wells drilled represents wells drilled
to total depth during the period.
•Completed 14 gross wells (13.0 net) in 2021 compared to 13 gross wells (13.0
net) in the corresponding period of 2020. Wells completed includes wells
completed during the period, regardless of when they were drilled.
•Average rig count during 2021 was approximately 3.0 rigs in the Marcellus
Shale, compared to an average rig count of approximately 2.8 rigs during the
corresponding period of 2020.
•Repaid $88.0 million of our 5.58% weighted-average senior notes, which matured
in January 2021.
Market Conditions and Commodity Prices
Our financial results depend on many factors, particularly commodity prices and
our ability to market our production on economically attractive terms. Commodity
prices are affected by many factors outside of our control, including changes in
market supply and demand, which are impacted by pipeline capacity constraints,
inventory storage levels, basis differentials, weather conditions and other
factors. Our realized prices are also further impacted by our hedging
activities.
Our revenues, operating results, financial condition and ability to borrow funds
or obtain additional capital depend substantially on prevailing commodity
prices, particularly natural gas prices. Since substantially all of our
production and reserves are natural gas, significant declines in natural gas
prices could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial
condition, liquidity and ability to obtain financing. Lower natural gas prices
also may reduce the amount of natural gas that we can produce economically. In
addition, in periods of low natural gas prices, we may elect to curtail a
portion of our production from time to time. Historically, natural gas prices
have been volatile, with prices sometimes fluctuating widely, and they may
remain volatile. As a result, we cannot accurately predict future commodity
prices and, therefore, cannot determine with any degree of certainty what effect
increases or decreases in these prices will have on our capital program,
production volumes or revenues. In addition to commodity prices and production
volumes, finding and developing sufficient amounts of natural gas reserves at
economical costs are critical to our long-term success.
We account for our derivative instruments on a mark-to-market basis, with
changes in fair value recognized in operating revenues in the Condensed
Consolidated Statement of Operations. As a result of these mark-to-market
adjustments associated with our derivative instruments, we will experience
volatility in our earnings due to commodity price volatility. Refer to "Impact
of Derivative Instruments on Operating Revenues" below and Note 4 of the Notes
to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.
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The ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, which the World Health Organization (WHO)
declared as a pandemic on March 11, 2020, has reached more than 200 countries
and territories and there continues to be considerable uncertainty regarding the
extent to which COVID-19 and its variants will continue to spread, the
widespread availability and efficacy of treatments and recently developed
vaccines and the extent and duration of governmental and other measures
implemented to try to slow the spread of the virus and alleviate strain on the
healthcare system and the economic impacts of those actions. One of the impacts
of the COVID-19 pandemic was a significant reduction in demand for crude oil,
and to a lesser extent, natural gas. The supply/demand imbalance driven by the
COVID-19 pandemic, as well as production disagreements among members of the
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and certain other oil exporting
countries (OPEC+), led to significant global economic contraction generally in
2020 and has continued to have disruptive impacts on the oil and gas industry.
Although the members of OPEC+ agreed in April 2020 to cut oil production  and
later extended such production cuts through early 2021, crude oil prices
remained at depressed levels until the first quarter of 2021 as the oversupply
and lack of demand in the market persisted. Natural gas prices increased in the
first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020 but weakened toward
the end of the first quarter of 2021, in part, due to lower seasonal demand
during the shoulder season of 2021 and slightly increasing production levels.
Meanwhile, NYMEX natural gas futures prices have shown improvements since the
implementation of pandemic-related restrictions and OPEC+ price disagreements.
The improvements in natural gas futures prices are based on market expectations
that declines in future natural gas supplies due to a substantial reduction of
associated gas related to the curtailment of operations in oil basins throughout
the United States will more than offset the lower demand recently experienced
with the COVID-19 pandemic. While the current outlook on natural gas prices is
generally favorable and our operations have not been significantly impacted in
the short-term, in the event these disruptions continue for an extended period
of time, our operations could be adversely impacted, commodity prices could
decline and our costs may increase. Although we are unable to predict future
commodity prices, at current natural gas price levels, we do not believe that an
impairment of our oil and gas properties is reasonably likely to occur in the
near future; however, in the event that commodity prices significantly decline
from current levels, management would evaluate the recoverability of the
carrying value of our oil and gas properties.
We have implemented preventative measures and developed response plans intended
to minimize unnecessary risk of exposure and prevent infection among our
employees and the communities in which we operate. We also have modified certain
business practices (including those related to nonoperational employee work
locations and the cancellation of physical participation in meetings, events and
conferences) to conform to government restrictions and best practices encouraged
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the WHO and other
governmental and regulatory authorities. In addition, we implemented and
provided training on a COVID-19 Safety Policy containing personal safety
protocols; provided additional personal protective equipment to our workforce;
implemented rigorous COVID-19 self-assessment, contract tracing and quarantine
protocols; increased cleaning protocols at all of our employee work locations;
and provided additional paid leave to employees with actual or presumed COVID-19
cases. We also collaborated, and continue to collaborate, with customers,
suppliers and service providers to minimize potential impacts to or disruptions
of our operations and to implement longer-term emergency response protocols. We
intend to continue monitoring developments affecting our workforce, our
customers, our suppliers, our service providers and the communities in which we
operate, including any significant resurgence in COVID-19 transmission and
infection, and we will take additional precautions as we believe are warranted.
Our efforts to respond to the challenges presented by the on-going pandemic, as
well as certain operational decisions we previously implemented such as our
maintenance capital program, have helped to minimize the impact, and any
resulting disruptions, of the pandemic to our business and operations. We have
not required any loans under any COVID-19-related federal or other governmental
programs to support our operations, and we do not expect to have to utilize any
such funding. As a result, we currently believe that we are well-positioned to
manage the challenges presented by the ongoing low commodity pricing
environment, and we believe we can endure the current downturn in the energy
industry and continued volatility in current and future commodity prices by
continuing to:
•Exercise discipline in our capital program with the expectation of funding our
capital expenditures with cash on hand, operating cash flows, and if required,
borrowings under our revolving credit facility;
•Manage our portfolio by strategically curtailing production in periods of
weaker natural gas prices;
•Optimize our drilling, completion and operational efficiencies;
•Manage our balance sheet, which we believe provides sufficient availability
under our revolving credit facility and existing cash balances to meet our
capital requirements and maintain compliance with our debt covenants; and
•Manage price risk by strategically hedging our production.
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The impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on our business, cash flows,
liquidity, financial condition and results of operations will depend on future
developments, including, among others, the duration, ultimate geographic spread
and severity of the virus and its variants, any resurgence in virus transmission
and infection in affected regions after they have begun to experience an
improvement, the consequences of governmental and other measures designed to
mitigate the spread of the virus and alleviate strain on the healthcare system,
the distribution and effectiveness of therapeutic treatments and recently
developed vaccines, actions taken by governmental authorities, customers,
suppliers and other third parties, workforce availability, and the timing and
extent to which normal economic and operating conditions resume.
For information about the impact of realized commodity prices on our revenues,
refer to "Results of Operations" below.
Outlook
We expect our 2021 capital program to be approximately $530.0 million to
$540.0 million, which contemplates a maintenance capital program as a result of
the weaker natural gas price environment. We expect to fund these capital
expenditures with our operating cash flow and, if required, cash on hand.
In 2020, we drilled 74 gross wells (64.3 net) and completed 86 gross wells (77.3
net), of which 26 gross wells (26.0 net) were drilled but uncompleted in prior
years. For the full year of 2021, our capital program will focus on the
Marcellus Shale, where we expect to drill and complete 80 net wells. We allocate
our planned program for capital expenditures based on market conditions, return
on capital and free cash flow expectations and availability of services and
human resources. We will continue to assess the natural gas price environment
and may adjust our capital expenditures accordingly.
Financial Condition
Capital Resources and Liquidity
Our primary source of cash for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was from
net cash flows related to the sale of natural gas production. These cash flows
were used to fund our capital expenditures, principal and interest payments on
debt and payment of dividends. See below for additional discussion and analysis
of our cash flows.
The borrowing base under the terms of our revolving credit facility is
redetermined annually in April. In addition, either we or the banks may request
an interim redetermination twice a year or in connection with certain
acquisitions or divestitures of oil and gas properties. At March 31, 2021 and
during the three months then ended, we had no borrowings outstanding under our
revolving credit facility and our unused commitments were $1.5 billion. Refer to
Note 3 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more
information.
Effective April 21, 2021, the borrowing base and available commitments were
reaffirmed at $3.2 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively.
A decline in commodity prices could result in the future reduction of our
borrowing base and related commitments under our revolving credit facility.
Unless commodity prices decline significantly from current levels, we do not
believe that any such reductions would have a significant impact on our ability
to service our debt and fund our drilling program and related operations.
We strive to manage our debt at a level below the available credit line in order
to maintain borrowing capacity. Our revolving credit facility includes a
covenant limiting our total debt. We believe that, with operating cash flows,
cash on hand and availability under our revolving credit facility, we have the
capacity to fund our spending plans.
At March 31, 2021, we were in compliance with all financial and other covenants
applicable to our revolving credit facility and senior notes. Refer to our
Form 10-K for further discussion of our restrictive financial covenants.
Cash Flows
Our cash flows from operating activities, investing activities and financing
activities are as follows:
                                                                      Three Months Ended
                                                                           March 31,
(In thousands)                                                        2021           2020
Cash flows provided by operating activities                       $  290,527      $ 204,897
Cash flows used in investing activities                             (123,525)      (158,113)
Cash flows used in financing activities                             

(133,456) (46,130) Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 33,546 $ 654


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Operating Activities. Fluctuations in our operating cash flow are substantially
driven by commodity prices, changes in our production volumes and operating
expenses. Commodity prices have historically been volatile, primarily as a
result of supply and demand for natural gas, pipeline infrastructure
constraints, basis differentials, inventory storage levels, seasonal influences
and other factors. In addition, fluctuations in cash flow may result in an
increase or decrease in our capital expenditures.
Our working capital is substantially influenced by the variables discussed above
and fluctuates based on the timing and amount of borrowings and repayments under
our revolving credit facility, repayments of debt, the timing of cash
collections and payments on our trade accounts receivable and payable,
respectively, payment of dividends, repurchases of our securities and changes in
the fair value of our commodity derivative activity. From time to time, our
working capital will reflect a deficit, while at other times it will reflect a
surplus. This fluctuation is not unusual. At March 31, 2021 and December 31,
2020, we had a working capital surplus of $96.8 million and a surplus of $25.5
million, respectively. We believe that we have adequate liquidity and
availability under our revolving credit facility to meet our working capital
requirements over the next 12 months.
Net cash provided by operating activities in the first three months of 2021
increased by $85.6 million compared to the first three months of 2020. This
increase was primarily due to higher natural gas revenues, higher cash received
from derivative settlements, lower operating expenses and favorable changes in
working capital compared to the prior year. The increase in natural gas revenues
was primarily due to higher realized prices, partially offset by lower
production. Average realized natural gas prices increased by 34 percent for the
first three months of 2021 compared to the first three months of 2020. The
decrease in natural gas production for the first three months of 2021 compared
to the first three months of 2020 was driven by reduced capital spending during
2020 related to our maintenance capital program and the timing of our drilling
and completion activities in the Marcellus Shale in 2021.
Refer to "Results of Operations" for additional information relative to
commodity price, production and operating expense fluctuations. We are unable to
predict future commodity prices and, as a result, cannot provide any assurance
about future levels of net cash provided by operating activities.
Investing Activities. Cash flows used in investing activities decreased by $34.6
million for the first three months of 2021 compared to the first three months of
2020. The decrease was primarily due to $25.1 million of lower capital
expenditures as a result of the continuation of our maintenance capital program
in 2021 and a decrease in net cash outflows of $9.4 million related to the sale
of equity method investments in 2020.
Financing Activities. Cash flows used in financing activities increased by $87.3
million for the first three months of 2021 compared to the first three months of
2020. This increase was primarily due to $88.0 million higher net repayments of
debt in 2021 compared to 2020.
Capitalization
Information about our capitalization is as follows:
                                      March 31,        December 31,
(In thousands)                           2021              2020
Debt (1)                            $ 1,046,123       $ 1,133,924
Stockholders' equity                  2,305,970         2,215,707
Total capitalization                $ 3,352,093       $ 3,349,631
Debt to total capitalization                 31  %             34  %
Cash and cash equivalents           $   173,659       $   140,113
_______________________________________________________________________________
(1)Includes $100.0 million and $188.0 million of current portion of long-term
debt at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. There were no
borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility as of March 31, 2021
and December 31, 2020.
We did not repurchase any shares of our common stock during the first three
months of 2021 and 2020. During the first three months of 2021 and 2020, we paid
dividends of $39.9 million ($0.10 per share) and $39.8 million ($0.10 per
share), respectively, on our common stock.
In April 2021, our Board of Directors approved an increase in the quarterly
dividend on our common stock from $0.10 per share to $0.11 per share.
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Capital and Exploration Expenditures
On an annual basis, we generally fund most of our capital expenditures,
excluding any significant property acquisitions, with operating cash flows, cash
on hand and, if required, borrowings under our revolving credit facility. We
budget these expenditures based on our projected cash flows for the year.
The following table presents major components of our capital and exploration
expenditures:
                                  Three Months Ended
                                       March 31,
(In thousands)                    2021           2020
Capital expenditures
Drilling and facilities       $  122,972      $ 157,992
Leasehold acquisitions               612            879

Other                                441          1,434
                                 124,025        160,305
Exploration expenditures           2,627          2,190
                              $  126,652      $ 162,495



For the full year of 2021, we plan to allocate substantially all of our capital
to the Marcellus Shale, where we expect to drill and complete 80 net wells. Our
2021 capital program is expected to be approximately $530.0 million to
$540.0 million. Refer to "Outlook" for additional information regarding the
current year drilling program. We will continue to assess the commodity price
environment and may increase or decrease our capital expenditures accordingly.
Contractual Obligations
We have various contractual obligations in the normal course of our operations.
There have been no material changes to our contractual obligations described
under "Transportation and Gathering Agreements" and "Lease Commitments" as
disclosed in Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and
the obligations described under "Contractual Obligations" in Item 7
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" included in our Form 10-K.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations
are based on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make
estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities,
revenues and expenses. Refer to our Form 10-K for further discussion of our
critical accounting policies.
Results of Operations
First Three Months of 2021 and 2020 Compared
We reported net income in the first three months of 2021 of $126.4 million, or
$0.32 per share, compared to net income of $53.9 million, or $0.14 per share, in
the first three months of 2020. The increase in net income was primarily due to
higher operating revenues and lower operating expenses, partially offset by
higher income tax expense.
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Revenue, Price and Volume Variances
Our revenues vary from year to year as a result of changes in commodity prices
and production volumes. Below is a discussion of revenue, price and volume
variances.
                                                       Three Months Ended March 31,                           Variance
(In thousands)                                           2021                  2020               Amount                Percent
Operating Revenues
  Natural gas                                     $       472,859          $  370,340          $  102,519                       28  %

(Loss) gain on derivative instruments                     (13,238)             16,062             (29,300)                    (182) %
  Other                                                        59                  55                   4                        7  %
                                                  $       459,680          $  386,457          $   73,223                       19  %


Natural Gas Revenues

                                                Three Months Ended March 31,                       Variance                         Increase
                                                                                                                                   (Decrease)
                                                   2021                 2020             Amount              Percent             (In thousands)
Price variance ($/Mcf)                      $          2.30          $   1.72          $   0.58                    34  %       $       118,343

Volume variance (Bcf)                                 205.8             215.0              (9.2)                   (4) %               (15,824)
Total                                                                                                                          $       102,519


The increase in natural gas revenues of $102.5 million was primarily due to
higher natural gas prices, partially offset by lower production. The decrease in
production was due to reduced capital spending during 2020 related to the
maintenance capital program and the timing of our drilling and completion
activities in the Marcellus Shale in 2021.
Impact of Derivative Instruments on Operating Revenues
                                                                      Three Months Ended
                                                                           March 31,
(In thousands)                                                        2021            2020

Cash received (paid) on settlement of derivative instruments (Loss) gain on derivative instruments

$     3,397      $      -
Non-cash gain (loss) on derivative instruments
(Loss) gain on derivative instruments                                 (16,635)       16,062
                                                                  $   (13,238)     $ 16,062


Operating and Other Expenses
                                                             Three Months Ended March 31,                          Variance
(In thousands)                                                  2021                  2020              Amount               Percent

Operating and Other Expenses


  Direct operations                                      $        16,876          $  17,244          $    (368)                     (2) %
  Transportation and gathering                                   136,702            143,332             (6,630)                     (5) %
  Taxes other than income                                          4,805              3,738              1,067                      29  %
  Exploration                                                      2,627              2,190                437                      20  %
  Depreciation, depletion and amortization                        94,148            100,135             (5,987)                     (6) %

  General and administrative                                      29,155             33,429             (4,274)                    (13) %
                                                         $       284,313          $ 300,068          $ (15,755)                     (5) %

Loss on equity method investments                        $             -          $     (59)         $      59                    (100) %
Gain on sale of assets                                                71                 71                  -                       -  %
Interest expense, net                                             12,377             14,211             (1,834)                    (13) %

Other expense                                                         46                 66                (20)                    (30) %
Income tax expense                                                36,661             18,214             18,447                     101  %


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Total costs and expenses from operations decreased by $15.8 million in the first
three months of 2021 compared to the corresponding period of 2020. The primary
reasons for this fluctuation are as follows:
•Direct operations decreased $0.4 million, due to a decrease in production.
•Transportation and gathering decreased $6.6 million, primarily due to lower
production.
•Taxes other than income increased $1.1 million, primarily due to $1.1 million
higher drilling impact fees driven by an increase in rates associated with
higher natural gas prices.
•Depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&A) decreased $6.0 million,
primarily due to lower DD&A of $3.8 million and lower amortization of unproved
properties of $2.3 million. The decrease in DD&A was due to lower production in
2021 compared to the corresponding period of 2020. The DD&A rate was flat at
$0.44 per Mcfe for the first three months of 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Amortization of unproved properties decreased due to lower amortization rates.

•General and administrative decreased $4.3 million, primarily due to lower
stock-based compensation expense of $4.7 million associated with certain of our
market-based performance awards, partially offset by $2.4 million of higher
severance costs that were incurred in the first quarter of 2021. The remaining
changes in general and administrative expenses were not individually
significant.
Interest Expense, net
Interest expense, net decreased $1.8 million, primarily due to the repayment of
$87.0 million of our 6.51% weighted-average senior notes, which matured in July
2020, and the repayment of $88.0 million of our 5.58% weighted-average senior
notes, which matured in January 2021.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense increased $18.4 million due to higher pre-tax income,
partially offset by a lower effective tax rate. The effective tax rates for the
first three months of 2021 and 2020 were 22.5 percent and 25.3 percent,
respectively. The effective tax rate was lower for the first three months of
2021 compared to the first three months of 2020 due to a decrease in tax expense
related to book compensation expense exceeding the federal and state tax
deductions for employee stock-based compensation awards that vested during the
period, a decrease in non-deductible executive compensation, and the impact of
non-recurring discrete items recorded in 2021.
Forward-Looking Information
The statements regarding future financial and operating performance and results,
strategic pursuits and goals, market prices, future hedging and risk management
activities, and other statements that are not historical facts contained in this
report are forward-looking statements. The words "expect," "project,"
"estimate," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "budget," "plan," "forecast,"
"target," "predict," "may," "should," "could" and similar expressions are also
intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements involve risks
and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the continuing effects of the
COVID-19 pandemic and the impact thereof on our business, financial condition
and results of operations, the availability of cash on hand and other sources of
liquidity to fund our capital expenditures, actions by, or disputes among or
between, members of OPEC+, market factors, market prices (including geographic
basis differentials) of natural gas, results of future drilling and marketing
activity, future production and costs, legislative and regulatory initiatives,
electronic, cyber or physical security breaches and other factors detailed
herein and in our other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Refer to
"Risk Factors" in Item 1A of our Form 10-K for additional information about
these risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or
uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect,
actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated.
ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Market Risk
Our primary market risk is exposure to natural gas prices. Realized prices are
mainly driven by spot market prices for North American natural gas production,
which can be volatile and unpredictable.
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Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Activities
Our risk management strategy is designed to reduce the risk of commodity price
volatility for our production in the natural gas markets through the use of
financial commodity derivatives. A committee that consists of members of senior
management oversees our risk management activities. Our financial commodity
derivatives generally cover a portion of our production and provide only partial
price protection by limiting the benefit to us of increases in prices, while
protecting us in the event of price declines. Further, if any of our
counterparties defaulted, this protection might be limited as we might not
receive the full benefit of our financial commodity derivatives. Please read the
discussion below as well as Note 6 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial
Statements in our Form 10-K for a more detailed discussion of our derivative
instruments.
Periodically, we enter into financial commodity derivatives including collar and
swap agreements, to protect against exposure to commodity price declines related
to our natural gas production. Our credit agreement restricts our ability to
enter into financial commodity derivatives other than to hedge or mitigate risks
to which we have actual or projected exposure or as permitted under our risk
management policies and not subjecting us to material speculative risks. All of
our financial derivatives are used for risk management purposes and are not held
for trading purposes. Under the collar agreements, if the index price rises
above the ceiling price, we pay the counterparty. If the index price falls below
the floor price, the counterparty pays us. Under the swap agreements, we receive
a fixed price on a notional quantity of natural gas in exchange for paying a
variable price based on a market-based index, such as the NYMEX natural gas
futures.
As of March 31, 2021, we had the following outstanding financial commodity
derivatives:

                                                                                                                                                                      Collars                                                                                       Estimated Fair
                                                                                                                                             Floor                                             Ceiling                                 Swaps                          Value Asset
                                                                                                                                Range               Weighted-Average               Range               Weighted-Average           Weighted-Average                    (Liability)
Type of Contract                                Volume (Mmbtu)                           Contract Period                      ($/Mmbtu)                ($/Mmbtu)                 ($/Mmbtu)                ($/Mmbtu)                  ($/Mmbtu)                      (In thousands)
Natural gas (NYMEX)                               13,750,000                           Apr. 2021-Dec. 2021                                                                                                                      $            2.74                $               38
Natural gas (NYMEX)                               123,750,000                          Apr. 2021-Dec. 2021                    $2.50 - $2.85       $            2.68              $2.83 - $3.80       $            3.03                                                        8,202
Natural gas (NYMEX)                               10,700,000                           Apr. 2021-Oct. 2021                $            -          $            2.50          $            -          $            2.80                                                         (454)
Natural gas (NYMEX)                               21,400,000                           Apr. 2021-Oct. 2021                                                                                                                      $            2.78                             1,793

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 $            9,579


The amounts set forth in the table above represent our total unrealized
derivative position at March 31, 2021 and exclude the impact of non-performance
risk. Non-performance risk is considered in the fair value of our derivative
instruments that are recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
and is primarily evaluated by reviewing credit default swap spreads for the
various financial institutions with which we have derivative contracts, while
our non-performance risk is evaluated using a market credit spread provided by
several of our banks.
A significant portion of our expected natural gas production for 2021 and beyond
is currently unhedged and directly exposed to the volatility in natural gas
prices, whether favorable or unfavorable.
During the first three months of 2021, natural gas collars with floor prices
ranging from $2.50 to $2.85 per Mmbtu and ceiling prices ranging from $3.00 to
$3.94 per Mmbtu covered 39.3 Bcf, or 19 percent of natural gas production at a
weighted-average price of $2.77 per Mmbtu. Natural gas swaps covered 4.4 Bcf, or
two percent of natural gas production at a weighted-average price of $2.74 per
Mmbtu.
We are exposed to market risk on financial commodity derivative instruments to
the extent of changes in market prices of natural gas. However, the market risk
exposure on these derivative contracts is generally offset by the gain or loss
recognized upon the ultimate sale of the commodity. Although notional contract
amounts are used to express the volume of natural gas agreements, the amounts
that can be subject to credit risk in the event of non-performance by third
parties are substantially smaller. Our counterparties are primarily commercial
banks and financial service institutions that our management believes present
minimal credit risk and our derivative contracts are with multiple
counterparties to minimize our exposure to any individual counterparty. We
perform both quantitative and qualitative assessments of these counterparties
based on their credit ratings and credit default swap rates where applicable. We
have not incurred any losses related to non-performance risk of our
counterparties and we do not anticipate any material impact on our financial
results due to non-performance by third parties. However, we cannot be certain
that we will not experience such losses in the future.
The preceding paragraphs contain forward-looking information concerning future
production and projected gains and losses, which may be impacted by both
production and changes in the future commodity prices. Refer to "Forward-Looking
Information" for further details.
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Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments
The estimated fair value of other financial instruments is the amount at which
the instrument could be exchanged currently between willing parties. The
carrying amounts reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet for cash,
cash equivalents and restricted cash approximate fair value due to the
short-term maturities of these instruments.
We use available market data and valuation methodologies to estimate the fair
value of debt. The fair value of debt is the estimated amount we would have to
pay a third party to assume the debt, including a credit spread for the
difference between the issue rate and the period end market rate. The credit
spread is our default or repayment risk. The credit spread (premium or discount)
is determined by comparing our outstanding debt to new issuances (secured and
unsecured) and secondary trades of similar size and credit statistics for both
public and private debt. The estimated fair value of our outstanding debt is
based on interest rates currently available to us.
The carrying amount and estimated fair value of debt is as follow:
                                                                   March 31, 2021                               December 31, 2020
                                                          Carrying            Estimated Fair            Carrying            Estimated Fair
(In thousands)                                             Amount                 Value                  Amount                 Value
Long-term debt                                         $ 1,046,123          $     1,121,176          $ 1,133,924          $     1,213,811
Current maturities                                        (100,000)                (100,900)            (188,000)                (189,332)
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities           $   946,123

$ 1,020,276 $ 945,924 $ 1,024,479

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