Table of Contents


UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_______________________________

FORM 10-K

_______________________________10-K

(Mark One)

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021

or

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number: 001-32886

_______________________________

clr-20211231_g1.jpg

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CONTINENTAL RESOURCES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

_______________________________

Oklahoma

73-0767549

Oklahoma73-0767549

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)jurisdiction)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

20 N. Broadway,

Oklahoma City,

Oklahoma

73102

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (405) (405) 234-9000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

None

Title of each class

 Trading symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par valueCLRNew York Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

_______________________________

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes x¨ No  ¨No

x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes  ¨Yesx No x¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x¨ No  ¨No

x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer

x

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

x

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.

¨

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements.

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b).

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes No x

The aggregate market value

Effective November 22, 2022, Continental Resources, Inc. became a privately held corporation and has no publicly available common shares outstanding at the time of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2021 was approximately $2.5 billion, based upon the closing price of $38.03 per share as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on such date.

364,298,349this filing.

shares of our $0.01 par value common stock were outstanding on January 31, 2022.


DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None.

Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement of Continental Resources, Inc. for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in May 2022, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.




Table of Contents

Table of Contents

PART I

Item 1.

31

41

2310

2411

Item 1A.

2512

Item 1B.

3822

Item 1C.

Cybersecurity

22

Item 2.

3823

Item 3.

3823

Item 4.

3823

PART II

Item 5.

3924

Item 6.

4224

Item 7.

4325

Item 7A.

6037

Item 8.

6239

Item 9.

10370

Item 9A.

10370

Item 9B.

10672

Item 9C.

10672

PART III

Item 10.

10673

Item 11.

10674

Item 12.

10677

Item 13.

10678

Item 14.

10678

PART IV

Item 15.

10779




Table of Contents

Glossary of Crude Oil and Natural Gas Terms

The terms defined in this section may be used throughout this report:

“basin” A large natural depression on the earth’s surface in which sediments generally brought by water accumulate.

“Bbl” One stock tank barrel, of 42 U.S. gallons liquid volume, used herein in reference to crude oil, condensate or natural gas liquids.

“Bcf” One billion cubic feet of natural gas.

“Boe” Barrels of crude oil equivalent, with six thousand cubic feet of natural gas being equivalent to one barrel of crude oil based on the average equivalent energy content of the two commodities.

“Btu” British thermal unit, which represents the amount of energy needed to heat one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit and can be used to describe the energy content of fuels.

“completion” The process of treating a drilled well followed by the installation of permanent equipment for the production of crude oil and/or natural gas.
“conventional play” An area believed to be capable of producing crude oil and natural gas occurring in discrete accumulations in structural and stratigraphic traps.

“DD&A” Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion.

de-risked” Refers to acreage and locations in which the Company believes the geological risks and uncertainties related to recovery of crude oil and natural gas have been reduced as a result of drilling operations to date. However, only a portion of such acreage and locations have been assigned proved undeveloped reserves and ultimate recovery of hydrocarbons from such acreage and locations remains subject to all risks of recovery applicable to other acreage.

“developed acreage” The number of acres allocated or assignable to productive wells or wells capable of production.

“development well” A well drilled within the proved area of a crude oil or natural gas reservoir to the depth of a stratigraphic horizon known to be productive.

“dry hole” Exploratory or development well that does not produce crude oil and/or natural gas in economically producible quantities.

“enhanced recovery” The recovery of crude oil and natural gas through the injection of liquids or gases into the reservoir, supplementing its natural energy. Enhanced recovery methods are sometimes applied when production slows due to depletion of the natural pressure.

“exploratory well” A well drilled to find crude oil or natural gas in an unproved area, to find a new reservoir in an existing field previously found to be productive of crude oil or natural gas in another reservoir, or to extend a known reservoir beyond the proved area.

“field” An area consisting of a single reservoir or multiple reservoirs all grouped on, or related to, the same individual geological structural feature or stratigraphic condition. The field name refers to the surface area, although it may refer to both the surface and the underground productive formations.

“formation” A layer of rock which has distinct characteristics that differs from nearby rock.
“fracture stimulation”A process involving the high pressure injection of water, sand and additives into rock formations to stimulate crude oil and natural gas production. Also may be referred to as hydraulic fracturing.

“gross acres” or “gross wells” Refers to the total acres or wells in which a working interest is owned.

“held by production” or “HBP” Refers to an oil and gas lease continued into effect into its secondary term for so long as a producing oil and/or gas well is located on any portion of the leased premises or lands pooled therewith.
“horizontal drilling” A drilling technique used in certain formations where a well is drilled vertically to a certain depth and then drilled horizontally within a specified interval.

“MBbl” One thousand barrels of crude oil, condensate or natural gas liquids.

“MBoe” One thousand Boe.

“Mcf” One thousand cubic feet of natural gas.

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“MMBo” One million barrels of crude oil.

“MMBoe” One million Boe.

“MMBtu” One million British thermal units.

“MMcf” One million cubic feet of natural gas.

“net acres” or “net wells” Refers to the sum of the fractional working interests owned in gross acres or gross wells.

“NGL” or "Net crude oilNGLs" Refers to natural gas liquids, which are hydrocarbon products that are separated during natural gas processing and include ethane, propane, isobutane, normal butane, and natural gas sales"gasoline. Represents total crude oil and natural gas sales less total transportation expenses. Net crude oil and natural gas sales presented herein is a non-GAAP measure. See Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial Measures for a discussion and calculation of this measure.

"Net sales price" Represents the average net wellhead sales price received by the Company for its crude oil or natural gas sales after deducting transportation expenses. Net sales price is calculated by taking revenues less transportation expenses divided by sales volumes for a period, whether for crude oil or natural gas, as applicable. Net sales prices presented herein are non-GAAP measures. See Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial Measures for a discussion and calculation of this measure.

“NYMEX” The New York Mercantile Exchange.

“pad drilling” or “pad development” Describes a well site layout which allows for drilling multiple wells from a single pad resulting in less environmental impact and lower per-well drilling and completion costs.
“play” A portion of the exploration and production cycle following the identification by geologists and geophysicists of areas with potential crude oil and natural gas reserves.
“productive well” A well found to be capable of producing hydrocarbons in sufficient quantities such that proceeds from the sale of the production exceed production expenses and taxes.
“prospect” A potential geological feature or formation which geologists and geophysicists believe may contain hydrocarbons. A prospect can be in various stages of evaluation, ranging from a prospect that has been fully evaluated and is ready to drill to a prospect that will require substantial additional seismic data processing and interpretation.

“proved reserves” The quantities of crude oil and natural gas, which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates renewal is reasonably certain.

“proved developed reserves” Reserves expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods.

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“proved undeveloped reserves” or “PUD” Proved reserves expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for completion.

“PV-10” When used with respect to crude oil and natural gas reserves, PV-10 represents the estimated future gross revenues to be generated from the production of proved reserves using a 12-month unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month commodity prices for the period of January to December, net of estimated production and future development and abandonment costs based on costs in effect at the determination date, before income taxes, and without giving effect to non-property-related expenses, discounted to a present value using an annual discount rate of 10% in accordance with the guidelines of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). PV-10 is not a financial measure calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and generally differs from Standardized Measure, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, because it does not include the effects of income taxes on future net revenues. Neither PV-10 nor Standardized Measure represents an estimate of the fair market value of the Company’s crude oil and natural gas properties. The Company and others in the industry use PV-10 as a measure to compare the relative size and value of proved reserves held by companies without regard to the specific tax characteristics of such entities.
“reservoir” A porous and permeable underground formation containing a natural accumulation of producible crude oil and/or natural gas that is confined by impermeable rock or water barriers and is separate from other reservoirs.

“residue gas” Refers to gas that has been processed to remove natural gas liquids.

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“resource play” Refers to an expansive contiguous geographical area with prospective crude oil and/or natural gas reserves that has the potential to be developed uniformly with repeatable commercial success due to advancements in horizontal drilling and completion technologies.

“royalty interest” Refers to the ownership of a percentage of the resources or revenues produced from a crude oil or natural gas property. A royalty interest owner does not bear exploration, development, or operating expenses associated with drilling and producing a crude oil or natural gas property.

“SCOOP” Refers to the South Central Oklahoma Oil Province, a term used to describe properties located in the Anadarko basin of Oklahoma in which we operate. Our SCOOP acreage extends across portions of Garvin, Grady, Stephens, Carter, McClain and Love counties of Oklahoma and has the potential to contain hydrocarbons from a variety of conventional and unconventional reservoirs overlying and underlying the Woodford formation.
“STACK” Refers to Sooner Trend Anadarko Canadian Kingfisher, a term used to describe a resource play located in the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma characterized by stacked geologic formations with major targets in the Meramec, Osage and Woodford formations.
“spacing” The distance between wells producing from the same reservoir. Spacing is often expressed in terms of acres (e.g., 640-acre spacing) and is often established by regulatory agencies.
“Standardized Measure” Discounted future net cash flows estimated by applying the 12-month unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month commodity prices for the period of January to December to the estimated future production of year-end proved reserves. Future cash inflows are reduced by estimated future production and development costs based on period-end costs to determine pre-tax net cash inflows. Future income taxes, if applicable, are computed by applying the statutory tax rate to the excess of pre-tax cash inflows over the tax basis in the crude oil and natural gas properties. Future net cash inflows after income taxes are discounted using a 10% annual discount rate.
“unconventional play” An area believed to be capable of producing crude oil and natural gas occurring in accumulations that are regionally extensive, but may lack readily apparent traps, seals and discrete hydrocarbon-water boundaries that typically define conventional reservoirs. These areas tend to have low permeability and may be closely associated with source rock, as is the case with oil and gas shale, tight oil and gas sands and coalbed methane, and generally require horizontal drilling, fracture stimulation treatments or other special recovery processes in order to achieve economic production.

“undeveloped acreage” Lease acreage on which wells have not been drilled or completed to a point that would permit the production of commercial quantities of crude oil and/or natural gas.

“unit” The joining of all or substantially all interests in a reservoir or field, rather than a single tract, to provide for development and operation without regard to separate property interests. Also, the area covered by a unitization agreement.
“well bore” The hole drilled by the bit that is equipped for crude oil or natural gas production on a completed well. Also called a well or borehole.

“working interest” The right granted to the lessee of a property to explore for and to produce and own crude oil, natural gas, or other minerals. The working interest owners bear the exploration, development, and operating costs on either a cash, penalty, or carried basis.

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Table of Contents

Cautionary Statement for the Purpose of the “Safe Harbor” Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This report and information incorporated by reference in this report include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including, but not limited to, forecasts or expectations regarding the Company’s business and statements or information concerning the Company’s future operations, performance, financial condition, production and reserves, schedules, plans, timing of development, rates of return, budgets, costs, business strategy, objectives, and cash flows, included in this report are forward-looking statements. The words “could,” “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “budget,” “target,” “plan,” “continue,” “potential,” “guidance,” “strategy” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words.

Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about:

our strategy;
our strategy;
our business and financial plans;
our future operations;
our crude oil and natural gasproved reserves and related development plans;
technology;
future crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas prices and differentials;
the timing and amount of future production of crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas and flaring activities;
the amount, nature and timing of capital expenditures;
estimated revenues, expenses and results of operations;
drilling and completing of wells;
shutting in of production and the resumption of production activities;
competition;
marketing of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas;gas liquids;
transportation of crude oil, natural gas, liquids, and natural gas liquids to markets;
property exploitation, property acquisitions and dispositions, strategic investments, or joint development opportunities;
costs of exploiting and developing our properties and conducting other operations;operations, including any impacts from inflation;
our financial position, dividend payments, bond repurchases, share repurchases,position;
the timing and amount of debt borrowings or repayments;
the timing and amount of income tax payments;
the impact of the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic on economic conditions, the demand for crude oil, the Company's operations
current and the operations of its customers, suppliers, and service providers;potential litigation matters;
credit markets;
geopolitical events and conditions in, or affecting other, crude oil-producing or natural gas-producing nations;
credit markets;
our liquidity and access to capital;
the impact of governmental policies, laws and regulations, as well as regulatory and legal proceedings involving us and of scheduled or potential regulatory or legal changes;
our future operating and financial results;
our future commodity or other hedging arrangements; and
the ability and willingness of current or potential lenders, hedging contract counterparties, customers, and working interest owners to fulfill their obligations to us or to enter into transactions with us in the future on terms that are acceptable to us.

Forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and assumptions about future events and currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Although the Company believes these assumptions and expectations are reasonable, they are inherently subject to numerous business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company’s control. No assurance can be given that such expectations will be correct or achieved or that the assumptions are accurate or will not change over time. The risks and

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uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance and results of the business and forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those risk factors and other cautionary statements described under Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors and elsewhere in this report registration statements we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and other disclosures or announcements we make from time to time.

Many of the foregoing risks and uncertainties have been, and may further be, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and any potential worsening of the global economic environment. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all such factors.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which such statement is made. Additionally, new factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all such factors. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this report occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, the Company’sCompany's actual results and plans could differ materially from those

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expressed in any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Except as expressly stated above or otherwise required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly correct or update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances after the date of this report, or otherwise.

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Table of Contents

Part I

You should read this entire report carefully, including the risks described under Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors and our consolidated financial statements and the notes to those consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this report to “Continental Resources,” “Continental,” “we,” “us,” “our,” “ours” or “the Company” refer to Continental Resources, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Item 1. Business

General

Nature of business

We are an independent crude oil and natural gas company formed in 1967 engaged in the exploration, development, management, and production of crude oil and natural gas and associated products with properties primarily located in four leading basins in the United States – the Bakken field of North SouthDakota and East regionsMontana, the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma, the United States.Permian Basin of Texas, and the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. Additionally, we pursue the acquisition and management of perpetually owned minerals located in certain of our key operating areas.

During 2021 we executed strategic acquisitions to expand our operations into the Permian Basin of Texas and the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. See the subsequent section titled Acquisition Activities as well as Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2. Property Acquisitions and Dispositions for additional information on these acquisitions.
Our North region consists of properties north of Kansas and west of the Mississippi River and includes North Dakota Bakken, Montana Bakken, Powder River Basin, and the Red River units. Our South region includes all properties south of Nebraska and west of the Mississippi River and includes the SCOOP and STACK areas of Oklahoma and the Permian Basin of Texas. Our East region is primarily comprised of undeveloped leasehold acreage east of the Mississippi River with no significant drilling or production operations.
Our operations in the North region comprised 55% of our crude oil and natural gas production and 63% of our crude oil and natural gas revenues for the year ended December 31, 2021. Approximately 46% of our proved reserves as of December 31, 2021 are located in the North region. Our operations in the South region comprised 45% of our crude oil and natural gas production, 37% of our crude oil and natural gas revenues, and 54% of our proved reserves as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021.

We focus our activities in large crude oil and natural gas plays that provide us the opportunity to acquire undeveloped acreage positions and apply our geologic and operational expertise to drill and develop properties at attractive rates of return. We have been successful in targeting large repeatable resource plays where three dimensional seismic, horizontal drilling, geosteering technologies, advanced completion technologies, (e.g., fracture stimulation), pad/row development, and enhanced recovery technologies allow us to develop and produce crude oil and natural gas reserves from unconventional formations. As

Effective November 22, 2022, Continental Resources, Inc. became a result of these efforts, we have grown substantially throughprivately held corporation and has no publicly available common shares outstanding. We continue to furnish Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Reports on Form 10-K with the drill bit. We also grew in 2021 through the strategic acquisitions described below under Part I, Item 1. Business—Acquisition Activities. From January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2021, proved reserves added through extensions, discoveries and other additions totaled 828 MMBoe and proved reserves added through property acquisitions totaled 252 MMBoe.

As of December 31, 2021,SEC as required by our proved reserves were 1,645 MMBoe, with proved developed reserves representing 908 MMBoe, or 55%, of our total proved reserves. The standardized measure of our discounted future net cash flows totaled $16.64 billion at December 31, 2021. For 2021, we generated crude oil and natural gas revenues of $5.79 billion and operating cash flows of $3.97 billion. Crude oil accounted for 49% of our total production and 68% of our crude oil and natural gas revenues for 2021. Our total production averaged 329,647 Boe per day for 2021, an increase of 10% compared to 2020.
The table below summarizes our total proved reserves, PV-10 (non-GAAP) and net producing wells as of December 31, 2021 and our average daily production for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 for our principal operating areas. The PV-10 values shown below are not intended to represent the fair market value of our crude oil and natural gas properties. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of crude oil and natural gas reserves.senior note indentures. See Part I,II. Item 1A. Risk Factors8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 1. Organization and “CriticalSummary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates” in Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of this report for further discussion of uncertainties inherent in the reserve estimates.
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 December 31, 2021Average daily
production for
fourth quarter
2021
(Boe per day)
 
 Proved
reserves
(MBoe)
Percent
of total
PV-10 (1)
(In millions)
Net
producing
wells
Percent
of total
North Region:
Bakken708,369 43.2 %$9,659 1,997 175,585 51.6 %
Powder River Basin31,901 1.9 %$464 148 7,189 2.1 %
Red River Units23,354 1.4 %$396 251 6,212 1.8 %
South Region:
Oklahoma678,535 41.2 %$7,027 825 146,131 43.0 %
Permian Basin (2)203,103 12.3 %$2,946 319 4,997 1.5 %
Other48 — %$54 — %
Total1,645,310 100.0 %$20,493 3,544 340,168 100.0 %
(1)PV-10 is a non-GAAP financial measure and generally differs from Standardized Measure, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, because it does not include the effects of income taxes on future net revenues of approximately $3.86 billion. Neither PV-10 nor Standardized Measure represents an estimate of the fair market value of our crude oil and natural gas properties. We and others in the crude oil and natural gas industry use PV-10 as a measure to compare the relative size and value of proved reserves held by companies without regard to the specific income tax characteristics of such entities. See Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial MeasuresPolicies—2022 Take-Private Transaction for further discussion.additional information.

(2)The presentation of average daily 2021 fourth quarter production represents production during the period from the closing of our acquisition of Permian properties on December 21, 2021 through December 31, 2021 averaged over 92 days in the fourth quarter. At the time of closing, our Permian properties produced on average approximately 42,000 Boe per day based on two-stream reporting.

Our Business Strategies

Our business strategies continue to be focused on generating significant shareholderincreasing enterprise value by finding and developing crude oil and natural gas reserves at low costs and attractive rates of return. For 2022,2024, our primary business strategies will include:

Continuing to exercise capital discipline and operational disciplineexcellence to maximize cash flow generation and competitive returns on capital employed;generation;
Reducing outstanding debt and maintaining a strongstrengthening our balance sheet to further enhance financial flexibility;
Maintaining strong shareholder alignment by maximizing
Continuing to optimize the efficiency of our capital programs and corporate returnsproduction operations to shareholders;further reduce costs and enhance returns; and
Developing our recently acquired properties in the Permian Basin and Powder River Basin by applying our geologic and operational expertise;
Maintaining low-cost, capital efficient operations; and
Driving continued improvement in our health, safety, and environmental performance and governance programs.
Our Business Strengths
We have a number of strengths to allow us to successfully execute our business strategies, including the following:
Large acreage inventory with access to both crude oil and natural gas resources. We held approximately 538,400 net undeveloped acres and 1.40 million net developed acres under lease as of December 31, 2021 concentrated in core areas of premier U.S. resource plays that provide optionality and access to crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids.
Expertise with pad and row development, horizontal drilling, and optimized completion methods. We have substantial experience with horizontal drilling and optimized completion methods and continue to be among industry leaders in the use of new drilling and completion technologies. We continue to improve drilling and completion efficiencies through the use of multi-well pad and row development strategies. Further, we are among industry leaders in drilling long lateral lengths. We have also been among industry leaders in testing and utilizing optimized completion technologies involving various combinations of fluid types, proppant types and volumes, and stimulation stage spacing to determine optimal methods for improving recoveries and rates of return. We continually refine our drilling and completion techniques in an effort to deliver improved results across our properties.
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Control operations over a substantial portion of our assets and investments. As of December 31, 2021, we operated properties comprising 89% of our total proved reserves. By controlling a significant portion of our operations, we are able to more effectively manage the cost and timing of exploration and development of our properties, including the drilling and completion methods used. Additionally, we capitalize on our geologic knowledge and land expertise to strategically acquire minerals in areas of future growth, thereby allowing us to enhance cash flows and project economics through the alignment of mineral ownership with our drilling schedule. Further, we continue to grow our significant portfolio of water gathering, recycling, and disposal infrastructure assets which allow for uninterrupted flow back and recycling capabilities, supports timely completion activities, and generates additional service revenues and cash flows. Our strategies for growing our mineral ownership portfolio and water infrastructure assets serve as additional avenues to generate shareholder value.
Experienced Management Team. Our senior management team has extensive expertise in the oil and gas industry and with operating in challenging commodity price environments. Our Chairman of the Board, Harold G. Hamm, began his career in the oil and gas industry in 1967. Our 9 executive officers have an average of 40 years of oil and gas industry experience.
Financial Position and Liquidity. We have a credit facility with lender commitments totaling $2.0 billion that matures in October 2026. We had approximately $1.76 billion of borrowing availability on our credit facility at January 31, 2022 after considering outstanding borrowings and letters of credit. Our credit facility is unsecured and does not have a borrowing base requirement that is subject to periodic redetermination based on changes in commodity prices and proved reserves. Additionally, downgrades or other negative rating actions with respect to our credit rating do not trigger a reduction in our current credit facility commitments, nor do such actions trigger a security requirement or change in covenants.
Acquisition Activities
We regularly seek to acquire oil and gas properties that complement our operations, provide exploration and development opportunities, and provide enhanced cash flows and corporate returns. On December 21, 2021, we acquired oil and gas properties and related assets in the Permian Basin of Texas from certain subsidiaries of Pioneer Natural Resources Company for $3.06 billion of cash, representing a $3.25 billion purchase price less customary closing adjustments. The properties included approximately 92,000 net leasehold acres, approximately 50,000 net royalty acres in the same area normalized to a 1/8th royalty, production totaling approximately 42,000 Boe per day (~78% oil) based on two-stream reporting at the time of closing, and extensive water infrastructure. We funded the purchase price and related transaction costs through a combination of cash on hand, utilization of credit facility borrowing capacity, and the issuance of senior notes.
Additionally, in March 2021 and November 2021 we executed strategic acquisitions to expand our operations into the Powder River Basin of Wyoming for aggregate cash consideration of $453 million and, on January 24, 2022, we executed a definitive agreement to acquire additional oil and gas properties in the Powder River Basin for $450 million of cash, the closing of which is expected to occur in late March 2022 and remains subject to the completion of customary due diligence procedures and closing conditions. See Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2. Property Acquisitions and Dispositions and Note 20. Subsequent Events for additional information on the above acquisitions.
As a result of our acquisitions in the Permian Basin and Powder River Basin we now have substantial strategic positions in four leading basins in the United States, providing our Company and shareholders with enhanced geologic and geographic diversity and commodity optionality. We believe these transactions will be accretive on financial metrics and will complement our existing deep portfolio of assets in the Bakken and Oklahoma. We expect enhanced cash flows from the acquisitions will provide continued support for additional returns to shareholders via debt reduction, dividend increases, share repurchases, and increased returns on capital employed.
Information on the proved reserves and leasehold acreage associated with our new positions in the Permian Basin and Powder River Basin as of December 31, 2021 is presented in the tables that follow.





3



Crude Oil and Natural Gas Operations

Proved Reserves

Proved reserves are those quantities of crude oil and natural gas, which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates renewal is reasonably certain. In connection with the estimation of proved reserves, the term “reasonable certainty” implies a high degree of confidence the quantities of crude oil and/or natural gas actually recovered will equal or exceed the estimate. To achieve reasonable certainty, our internal reserve engineers and Ryder Scott Company, L.P (“Ryder Scott”), our independent reserve engineers, employed technologies demonstrated to yield results with consistency and repeatability. The technologies and economic data used in the estimation of our proved reserves include, but are not limited to, well logs, geologic maps including isopach and structure maps, analogy and statistical analysis, and available downhole, production, seismic, and well test data.

The table below sets forth estimated proved crude oil and natural gas reserves information by reserve category as of December 31, 2021.2023. Proved reserves attributable to noncontrolling interests are not material relative to our consolidated reserves and are not separately presented herein. The standardized measure of our discounted future net cash flows totaled approximately $16.64 billion at December 31, 2021. Our reserve estimates as of December 31, 20212023 are based primarily on a reserve report prepared by Ryder Scott. In preparing its report, Ryder Scott evaluated properties representing approximately 98% of our PV-10 and 98%99% of our total proved reserves as of December 31, 2021.2023. Our internal technical staff evaluated the remaining properties. A copy of Ryder Scott’s summary report is included as an exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

1


Our estimated proved reserves and related future net revenues Standardized Measure and PV-10 at December 31, 20212023 were determined using the 12-month unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month commodity prices for the period of January 20212023 through December 2021,2023, without giving effect to derivative transactions, and were held constant throughout the lives of the properties. These prices were $66.56$78.22 per Bbl for crude oil and $3.60$2.64 per MMBtu for natural gas ($62.1973.67 per Bbl for crude oil and $3.46$2.00 per Mcf for natural gas adjusted for location and quality differentials). These average prices are significantly higher than 2020 levels, which resulted in significant upward price-related revisions to proved reserves in 2021, as further discussed below.

The following table summarizes our estimated proved reserves by commodity and reserve classification as of December 31, 2021.

Crude Oil
(MBbls)
Natural Gas
(MMcf)
Total
(MBoe)
PV-10 (1)
(in millions)
Proved developed producing415,861 2,853,980 891,524 $13,256.4 
Proved developed non-producing8,292 47,167 16,154 230.5 
Proved undeveloped369,377 2,209,532 737,632 7,006.0 
Total proved reserves793,530 5,110,679 1,645,310 $20,492.9 
Standardized Measure (1)$16,636.4 
(1)2023.PV-10 is a non-GAAP financial measure and generally differs from Standardized Measure, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, because it does not include the effects of income taxes on future net revenues of approximately $3.86 billion. See Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 for further discussion.

4

 

Crude Oil
(MBbls)

 

 

Natural Gas
(MMcf)

 

 

Total
(MBoe)

 

 

Proved developed producing

 

 

394,532

 

 

 

3,186,722

 

 

 

925,653

 

 

Proved developed non-producing

 

 

7,319

 

 

 

34,844

 

 

 

13,126

 

 

Proved undeveloped

 

 

512,183

 

 

 

2,376,765

 

 

 

908,310

 

 

Total proved reserves

 

 

914,034

 

 

 

5,598,331

 

 

 

1,847,089

 

 


The following table provides additional information regarding our estimated proved crude oil and natural gas reserves by region as of December 31, 2021.2023.

 

 Proved DevelopedProved Undeveloped
 Crude Oil
(MBbls)
Natural Gas
(MMcf)
Total
(MBoe)
Crude Oil
(MBbls)
Natural Gas
(MMcf)
Total
(MBoe)
North Region:
Bakken222,986 856,607 365,754 241,364 607,509 342,615 
Powder River Basin12,080 22,661 15,857 12,585 20,758 16,044 
Red River Units23,354 — 23,354 — — — 
South Region:
Oklahoma81,586 1,826,973 386,081 50,614 1,451,038 292,454 
Permian Basin84,122 194,769 116,584 64,814 130,227 86,519 
Other25 137 48 — — — 
Total424,153 2,901,147 907,678 369,377 2,209,532 737,632 

 

Proved Developed

 

 

Proved Undeveloped

 

 

Crude Oil
(MBbls)

 

 

Natural Gas
(MMcf)

 

 

Total
(MBoe)

 

 

Crude Oil
(MBbls)

 

 

Natural Gas
(MMcf)

 

 

Total
(MBoe)

 

Bakken

 

 

187,125

 

 

 

916,570

 

 

 

339,887

 

 

 

201,766

 

 

 

630,987

 

 

 

306,931

 

Anadarko Basin

 

 

80,047

 

 

 

1,933,019

 

 

 

402,216

 

 

 

77,239

 

 

 

1,042,211

 

 

 

250,941

 

Powder River Basin

 

 

30,871

 

 

 

150,785

 

 

 

56,002

 

 

 

57,496

 

 

 

155,329

 

 

 

83,384

 

Permian Basin

 

 

82,261

 

 

 

220,725

 

 

 

119,049

 

 

 

175,682

 

 

 

548,238

 

 

 

267,054

 

All other

 

 

21,547

 

 

 

467

 

 

 

21,625

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

401,851

 

 

 

3,221,566

 

 

 

938,779

 

 

 

512,183

 

 

 

2,376,765

 

 

 

908,310

 

The following table provides information regarding changes in total estimated proved reserves for the periods presented.

 

 Year Ended December 31,
MBoe202120202019
Proved reserves at beginning of year1,103,762 1,619,265 1,522,365 
Revisions of previous estimates53,569 (504,874)(148,848)
Extensions, discoveries and other additions371,105 91,387 365,034 
Production(120,321)(109,833)(124,244)
Sales of minerals in place(148)— (1,840)
Purchases of minerals in place237,343 7,817 6,798 
Proved reserves at end of year1,645,310 1,103,762 1,619,265 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

MBoe

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Proved reserves at beginning of year

 

 

1,863,764

 

 

 

1,645,310

 

 

 

1,103,762

 

Revisions of previous estimates

 

 

(369,264

)

 

 

(133,061

)

 

 

53,569

 

Extensions, discoveries and other additions

 

 

438,367

 

 

 

395,490

 

 

 

371,105

 

Production

 

 

(160,660

)

 

 

(146,657

)

 

 

(120,321

)

Sales of minerals in place

 

 

(15,594

)

 

 

(144

)

 

 

(148

)

Purchases of minerals in place

 

 

90,476

 

 

 

102,826

 

 

 

237,343

 

Proved reserves at end of year

 

 

1,847,089

 

 

 

1,863,764

 

 

 

1,645,310

 

Revisions of previous estimates. Revisions for 20212023 are comprised of (i) upwarddownward price revisions of 9222 MMBo and 458344 Bcf (totaling 16879 MMBoe) due to the significant increasea decrease in average crude oil and natural gas prices in 20212023 compared to 2020 resulting from the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, the resumption of normal economic activity, and the resulting improvement in supply and demand fundamentals,2022, (ii) the removal of 3114 MMBo and 155148 Bcf (totaling 5739 MMBoe) of PUD reserves no longer scheduled to be drilled within five years of initial booking due to continual refinement of our drilling and development programs and reallocation of capital to areas providing the best opportunities to improve efficiencies, recoveries, and rates of return, (iii) downward revisions of 1295 MMBo and 263446 Bcf (totaling 56170 MMBoe) from the removal of PUD reserves due to changes in anticipated well densities, economics, performance, and other factors, and (iv) downward revisions for oil reserves of 3557 MMBo and upward revisions for natural gas reserves of 195149 Bcf (netting to 2 MMBoe of downward revisions)(totaling 82 MMBoe) due to changes in ownership interests, operating costs, anticipated production, and other factors.

Extensions, discoveries and other additions. Extensions, discoveries and other additions for each of the three years reflected in the table above were due to successful drilling and completion activities and continual refinement of our drilling programs. ProvedFor 2023, proved reserve additions in the Bakken totaled 202 MMBoe, 41 MMBoe, and 160 MMBoe for 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively, while reserve additions in Oklahoma totaled 169 MMBoe, 50 MMBoe, and 205 MMBoe for 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.438 MMBoe. See the subsequent section titled Summary of Crude Oil and Natural Gas Properties and Projects for a discussion of our 20212023 drilling activities.

Sales of minerals in place. We had no individually significant dispositions of proved reserves in the past three years.

Purchases of minerals in place. Purchases in 2023, 2022, and 2021 were primarily attributable to our acquisitions of properties as discussed in the Permian BasinPart II. Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2. Property Acquisitions and Powder River Basin described above. Proved reserves acquired in the Permian Basin totaled 149 MMBo and 326 Bcf (totaling 203 MMBoe) and proved reserves acquired in the Powder River Basin totaled 26 MMBo and 46 Bcf (totaling 34 MMBoe). We had no individually significant acquisitions of proved reserves in 2020 and 2019.Dispositions.

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2



Table of Contents

Proved Undeveloped Reserves

All of our PUD reserves at December 31, 20212023 are located in our most active development areas. The following table provides information regarding changes in our PUD reserves for the year ended December 31, 2021.2023. Our PUD reserves at December 31, 20212023 include 6849 MMBoe of reserves associated with wells where drilling has occurred but the wells have not been completed or are completed but not producing ("(“DUC wells"wells”). Our DUC wells are classified as PUD reserves when relatively major expenditures are required to complete and produce from the wells.
 Crude Oil
(MBbls)
Natural Gas
(MMcf)
Total
(MBoe)
Proved undeveloped reserves at December 31, 2020215,069 1,567,713 476,355 
Revisions of previous estimates(45,340)(329,237)(100,214)
Extensions, discoveries and other additions157,384 1,183,484 354,631 
Sales of minerals in place— — — 
Purchases of minerals in place77,399 150,985 102,563 
Conversion to proved developed reserves(35,135)(363,413)(95,703)
Proved undeveloped reserves at December 31, 2021369,377 2,209,532 737,632 

 

Crude Oil
(MBbls)

 

 

Natural Gas
(MMcf)

 

 

Total
(MBoe)

 

Proved undeveloped reserves at December 31, 2022

 

 

435,240

 

 

 

2,358,578

 

 

 

828,336

 

Revisions of previous estimates

 

 

(147,483

)

 

 

(908,770

)

 

 

(298,945

)

Extensions, discoveries and other additions

 

 

230,136

 

 

 

979,737

 

 

 

393,426

 

Sales of minerals in place

 

 

(242

)

 

 

(673

)

 

 

(354

)

Purchases of minerals in place

 

 

52,043

 

 

 

192,274

 

 

 

84,088

 

Conversion to proved developed reserves

 

 

(57,511

)

 

 

(244,381

)

 

 

(98,241

)

Proved undeveloped reserves at December 31, 2023

 

 

512,183

 

 

 

2,376,765

 

 

 

908,310

 

Revisions of previous estimates. As previously discussed, in 20212023 we removed 3114 MMBo and 155148 Bcf (totaling 5739 MMBoe) of PUD reserves no longer scheduled to be drilled within five years of initial booking due to continual refinement of our drilling and development programs and reallocation of capital to areas providing the best opportunities to improve efficiencies, recoveries, and rates of return. Of these removals, 25 MMBo and 53 Bcf (totaling 34 MMBoe) was related to Bakken properties and 6 MMBo and 102 Bcf (totaling 23 MMBoe) was related to Oklahoma properties. Additionally, changes in anticipated well densities, economics, performance, and other factors resulted in downward PUD reserve revisions of 1295 MMBo and 263446 Bcf (totaling 56170 MMBoe) in 2021.2023. The significant increasesdecreases in average crude oil and natural gas prices in 20212023 resulted in upwarddownward price revisions of 152 MMBo and 73135 Bcf (totaling 2725 MMBoe). Finally, changes in ownership interests, operating costs, anticipated production, and other factors resulted in downward revisions for oil PUD reserves of 1736 MMBo and net upward revisions for natural gas PUD reserves of 16180 Bcf (totaling a net downward revision of 1565 MMBoe) in 2021.2023.

Extensions, discoveries and other additions. Extensions, discoveries and other additions were due to successful drilling activities and continual refinement of our drilling and development programs. PUD reserve additions in the Bakken totaled 133230 MMBo and 359980 Bcf (totaling 193393 MMBoe) in 2021, while PUD reserve additions in Oklahoma totaled 24 MMBo and 824 Bcf (totaling 161 MMBoe).2023.

Sales of minerals in place. We had no individually significant dispositions of PUD reserves in 2021.2023.

Purchases of minerals in place. Purchases in 20212023 were primarily attributable to our acquisitions of properties as discussed in the Permian BasinPart II. Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2. Property Acquisitions and Powder River Basin described above. PUD reserves acquired in the Permian Basin totaled 65 MMBo and 130 Bcf (totaling 87 MMBoe) and PUD reserves acquired in the Powder River Basin totaled 12 MMBo and 21 Bcf (totaling 16 MMBoe).Dispositions.

Conversion to proved developed reserves. In 2021,2023, we developed approximately 24%20% of our PUD locations and 20%12% of our PUD reserves booked as of December 31, 20202022 through the drilling and completion of 269454 gross (137(213 net) development wells at an aggregate capital cost of approximately $508 million$1.2 billion incurred in 2021.2023.

Development plans. We have acquired substantial leasehold positions in our key operating areas. Our drilling programs to date in our historical operating areas have focused on proving our undeveloped leasehold acreage through strategic drilling, thereby increasing the amount of leasehold acreage in the secondary term of the lease with no further drilling obligations (i.e., categorized as held by production) and resulting in a reduced amount of leasehold acreage in the primary term of the lease. While we may opportunistically drill strategic exploratory wells, a substantial portion of our future capital expenditures will be focused on developing our PUD locations, including our drilled but not completed locations. Our inventory of DUC wells classified as PUDs total 259164 gross (83(65 net) operated and non-operated locations at December 31, 20212023 and represent 9%5% of our PUD reserves at that date. The costs to drill our uncompleted wells were incurred prior to December 31, 20212023 and only the remaining completion costs are included in future development plans.

Estimated future development costs relating to the development of PUD reserves at December 31, 20212023 are projected to be approximately $1.2 billion in 2022, $1.9 billion in 2023, $1.7$2.0 billion in 2024, $1.7$1.8 billion in 2025, and $1.2$2.6 billion in 2026.2026, $2.7 billion in 2027, and $2.3 billion in 2028. These capital expenditure projections have been established based on an expectation of drilling and completion costs, available cash flows, borrowing capacity, and the commodity price environment in effect at the time of preparing our reserve estimates and may be adjusted as market conditions evolve. Development of our existing PUD reserves at December 31, 20212023 is expected

6


to occur within five years of the date of initial booking of the PUDs. PUD reserves not expected to be drilled within five years of initial booking because of changes in business strategy or for other reasons have been removed from our reserves at December 31, 2021.2023. We had no PUD reserves at December 31, 20212023 that remain undrilled beyond five years from the date of initial booking.

3


Qualifications of Technical Persons and Internal Controls Over Reserves Estimation Process

Ryder Scott, our independent reserves evaluation consulting firm, estimated, in accordance with generally accepted petroleum engineering and evaluation principles and definitions and guidelines established by the SEC, 98% of our PV-10 and 98%99% of our total proved reserves as of December 31, 20212023 included in this Form 10-K. The Ryder Scott technical personnel responsible for preparing the reserve estimates presented herein meet the requirements regarding qualifications, independence, objectivity and confidentiality set forth in the Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers. Refer to Exhibit 99 included with this Form 10-K for further discussion of the qualifications of Ryder Scott personnel.

We maintain an internal staff of petroleum engineers and geoscience professionals who work closely with our independent reserves engineers to ensure the integrity, accuracy and timeliness of data furnished to Ryder Scott in their reserves estimation process. Our technical team is in contact regularly with representatives of Ryder Scott to review properties and discuss methods and assumptions used in Ryder Scott’s preparation of the year-end reserves estimates. Proved reserves information is reviewed by our Audit Committee with representativescertain members of Ryder Scott and by our internal technical staffsenior management before the information is filed with the SEC on Form 10-K. Additionally, certain members of our senior management review and approve the Ryder Scott reserves report and on a semi-annual basis review any internal proved reserves estimates.

Our Vice President—Manager of Corporate Reserves is the technical person primarily responsible for overseeing the preparation of our reserve estimates. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering, an MBA in Finance and 3739 years of industry experience with positions of increasing responsibility in operations, acquisitions, engineering and evaluations. He has worked in the area of reserves and reservoir engineering most of his career and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. The Vice President—Manager of Corporate Reserves reports directly to our Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice ChairmanPresident of Strategic Growth Initiatives.Planning. The reserves estimates are reviewed and approved by certain members of the Company's executivesenior management.

Proved Reserves, Standardized Measure, and PV-10 Sensitivities
Our year-end 2021 proved reserves, Standardized Measure, and PV-10 estimates were prepared using 2021 average first-day-of-the-month prices of $66.56 per Bbl for crude oil and $3.60 per MMBtu for natural gas ($62.19 per Bbl for crude oil and $3.46 per Mcf for natural gas adjusted for location and quality differentials). Actual future prices may be materially higher or lower than those used in our year-end estimates.
Provided below are sensitivities illustrating the potential impact on our estimated proved reserves, Standardized Measure, and PV-10 at December 31, 2021 under different commodity price scenarios for crude oil and natural gas. In these sensitivities, all factors other than the commodity price assumption have been held constant for each well. These sensitivities do not take into account a potential increase in our drilling activities and associated booking of additional proved reserves that may occur at higher commodity prices and there is no assurance the outcomes reflected below will be realized.


The crude oil price sensitivities provided below show the impact on proved reserves, Standardized Measure, and PV-10 under certain crude oil price scenarios, with natural gas prices being held constant at the 2021 average first-day-of-the-month price of $3.60 per MMBtu.
7


clr-20211231_g2.jpg
8


The natural gas price sensitivities provided below show the impact on proved reserves, Standardized Measure, and PV-10 under certain natural gas price scenarios, with crude oil prices being held constant at the 2021 average first-day-of-the-month price of $66.56per Bbl.
clr-20211231_g3.jpg
9


Developed and Undeveloped Acreage

The following table presents our total gross and net developed and undeveloped acres by region as of December 31, 2021:2023:

 

 Developed acresUndeveloped acresTotal
 GrossNetGrossNetGrossNet
North Region:
Bakken1,125,023 702,709 116,922 69,175 1,241,945 771,884 
Powder River Basin111,197 76,750 189,180 140,835 300,377 217,585 
Red River Units154,643 139,363 19,891 10,186 174,534 149,549 
Other80,287 54,113 29,040 25,654 109,327 79,767 
South Region:
Oklahoma581,811 341,056 219,872 107,231 801,683 448,287 
Permian Basin80,605 80,605 76,015 65,756 156,620 146,361 
Other20,916 9,364 90,425 72,763 111,341 82,127 
East Region734 661 52,929 46,815 53,663 47,476 
Total2,155,216 1,404,621 794,274 538,415 2,949,490 1,943,036 

 

Developed acres

 

 

Undeveloped acres

 

 

Total

 

 

Gross

 

 

Net

 

 

Gross

 

 

Net

 

 

Gross

 

 

Net

 

Bakken

 

 

1,115,481

 

 

 

711,024

 

 

 

74,353

 

 

 

42,151

 

 

 

1,189,834

 

 

 

753,175

 

Anadarko Basin

 

 

636,070

 

 

 

372,087

 

 

 

239,550

 

 

 

130,334

 

 

 

875,620

 

 

 

502,421

 

Powder River Basin

 

 

247,057

 

 

 

181,250

 

 

 

279,382

 

 

 

194,793

 

 

 

526,439

 

 

 

376,043

 

Permian Basin

 

 

118,803

 

 

 

105,930

 

 

 

108,950

 

 

 

87,345

 

 

 

227,753

 

 

 

193,275

 

All other

 

 

186,906

 

 

 

152,037

 

 

 

234,150

 

 

 

147,973

 

 

 

421,056

 

 

 

300,010

 

Total

 

 

2,304,317

 

 

 

1,522,328

 

 

 

936,385

 

 

 

602,596

 

 

 

3,240,702

 

 

 

2,124,924

 

The following table sets forth the number of gross and net undeveloped acres as of December 31, 20212023 scheduled to expire over the next three years by region unless production is established within the spacing units covering the acreage prior to the expiration dates or the leases are renewed.

 

2024

 

 

2025

 

 

2026

 

 

Gross

 

 

Net

 

 

Gross

 

 

Net

 

 

Gross

 

 

Net

 

Bakken

 

 

14,980

 

 

 

9,441

 

 

 

6,050

 

 

 

4,246

 

 

 

1,484

 

 

 

918

 

Anadarko Basin

 

 

34,856

 

 

 

13,976

 

 

 

82,207

 

 

 

48,836

 

 

 

29,377

 

 

 

22,004

 

Powder River Basin

 

 

8,715

 

 

 

4,050

 

 

 

2,707

 

 

 

2,378

 

 

 

10,258

 

 

 

7,392

 

Permian Basin

 

 

41,758

 

 

 

33,594

 

 

 

24,713

 

 

 

18,181

 

 

 

11,486

 

 

 

11,159

 

All other

 

 

31,803

 

 

 

14,260

 

 

 

16,843

 

 

 

11,392

 

 

 

23,285

 

 

 

15,844

 

Total

 

 

132,112

 

 

 

75,321

 

 

 

132,520

 

 

 

85,033

 

 

 

75,890

 

 

 

57,317

 

 202220232024
 GrossNetGrossNetGrossNet
North Region:
Bakken47,272 29,243 9,779 7,639 10,467 6,986 
Powder River Basin10,893 10,142 3,044 1,703 2,268 1,695 
Other— — 17,847 17,847 — — 
South Region:
Oklahoma54,083 29,789 35,837 16,704 26,109 13,426 
Permian Basin— — — — 26,347 16,285 
Other14,660 11,031 13,436 13,086 37,399 9,985 
East Region4,856 3,732 5,968 5,272 3,052 2,717 
Total131,764 83,937 85,911 62,251 105,642 51,094 
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4



Table of Contents

Drilling Activity

During the three years ended December 31, 2021,2023, we participated in the drilling and completion of exploratory and development wells as set forth in the table below.
 202120202019
 GrossNetGrossNetGrossNet
Exploratory wells:
Crude oil11 8.0 — 1.6 
Natural gas1.9 — 1.8 
Dry holes— — 0.9 — — 
Total exploratory wells13 9.9 0.9 3.4 
Development wells:
Crude oil376 144.6 300 115.5 615 222.9 
Natural gas38 20.3 31 15.9 68 9.7 
Dry holes— — — — — — 
Total development wells414 164.9 331 131.4 683 232.6 
Total wells427 174.8 334 132.3 689 236.0 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

Gross

 

 

Net

 

 

Gross

 

 

Net

 

 

Gross

 

 

Net

 

Exploratory wells:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil

 

 

33

 

 

 

25.9

 

 

 

17

 

 

 

12.1

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

8.0

 

Natural gas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

1.9

 

Dry holes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total exploratory wells

 

 

33

 

 

 

25.9

 

 

 

20

 

 

 

13.1

 

 

 

13

 

 

 

9.9

 

Development wells:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil

 

 

548

 

 

 

259.0

 

 

 

407

 

 

 

153.6

 

 

 

376

 

 

 

144.6

 

Natural gas

 

 

27

 

 

 

7.6

 

 

 

65

 

 

 

28.8

 

 

 

38

 

 

 

20.3

 

Dry holes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total development wells

 

 

575

 

 

 

266.6

 

 

 

472

 

 

 

182.4

 

 

 

414

 

 

 

164.9

 

Total wells

 

 

608

 

 

 

292.5

 

 

 

492

 

 

 

195.5

 

 

 

427

 

 

 

174.8

 

As of December 31, 2021,2023, there were 393203 gross (153(113 net) operated and non-operated wells that have been spud and are in the process of drilling, completing or waiting on completion.


Summary of Crude Oil and Natural Gas Properties and Projects

In the following

Following is a discussion we review our budgeted number of wells and capital expenditures for 20222023 activities in our key operating areas.

Bakken Field

Our total Bakken production averaged 220,428 Boe per day for the fourth quarter of 2023, up 26% from the 2022 capital budget, based onfourth quarter. For the year ended December 31, 2023, our current expectations of commodity prices and costs, is expectedaverage daily Bakken production increased 18% compared to be funded from operating cash flows. Our2022. In 2023, we participated in the drilling and completion activities and the actual amount and timing of our capital expenditures may differ materially from our budget as a result of, among other things, available cash flows, unbudgeted acquisitions, actual drilling and completion results, the availability of drilling and completion rigs and other services and equipment, the availability of transportation and processing capacity, changes in commodity prices, and regulatory, technological and competitive developments. We monitor our capital spending closely based on actual and projected cash flows and may scale back our spending should commodity prices materially decrease from current levels.

The following table provides information regarding well counts and budgeted capital expenditures for 2022.
 2022 Plan
 Gross wells (1)Net wells (1)Capital expenditures 
(in millions) (2)
 
Bakken264 116 $800 
Powder River Basin34 20 200 
Oklahoma117 41 400 
Permian Basin49 46 400 
Total exploration and development464 223 $1,800 
Land127 
Mineral acquisitions attributable to Continental (3)23 
Capital facilities, workovers, water infrastructure, and other344 
Seismic
2022 capital budget attributable to Continental$2,300 
Mineral acquisitions attributable to Franco-Nevada (3)91 
Total 2022 capital budget (4)$2,391 
(1) Represents operated and non-operated363 gross (166 net) wells expected to have first production in 2022.
(2) Represents total capital expenditures for operated and non-operated wells expected to have first production in 2022 and wells spud that will be in the process of drilling, completing or waiting on completion as of year-endBakken compared to 266 gross (93 net) wells in 2022.
11


(3)    Represents planned spending for mineral acquisitions by The Mineral Resources Company II, LLC ("TMRC II") under our relationship with Franco-Nevada Corporation described in Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 17. Noncontrolling Interests

. Continental holds a controlling financial interest in TMRC II and therefore consolidates the financial results and capital expenditures of the entity. With a carry structure in place, Continental will fund 20% of 2022 planned spending, or $23 million, and Franco-Nevada will fund the remaining 80%, or $91 million.

(4)    Amount excludes the $450 million purchase price for our pending acquisition ofOur Bakken properties in the Powder River Basin as discussed in Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 20. Subsequent Events.
North Region
Our properties in the North region represented 46%35% of our total proved reserves as ofat December 31, 20212023 and 55%49% of our average daily Boe production for the fourth quarter of 2021. Our principal producing properties in the North region are located in the Bakken field of North Dakota and Montana and our recently acquired properties in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming.
Bakken Field
The Bakken field of North Dakota and Montana is one of the largest crude oil resource plays in the United States. We are a leading producer, leasehold owner and operator in the Bakken. As of December 31, 2021, we controlled one of the largest leasehold positions in the Bakken with approximately 1.2 million gross (771,900 net) acres under lease.
Our total Bakken production averaged 175,585 Boe per day for the fourth quarter of 2021, down 4% from the 2020 fourth quarter. For the year ended December 31, 2021, our average daily Bakken production increased 7% compared to 2020, reflecting the impact of voluntary production curtailments in 2020 and additional drilling and completion activities in 2021. In 2021, we participated in the drilling and completion of 252 gross (102 net) wells in the Bakken compared to 188 gross (77 net) wells in 2020. Our 2021 activities in the Bakken focused on ongoing multi-zone unit development in core areas of the play.
Our Bakken properties represented 43% of our total proved reserves at December 31, 2021 and 52% of our average daily Boe production for the 20212023 fourth quarter. Our total proved Bakken field reserves as of December 31, 20212023 were 708647 MMBoe, an increasea decrease of 39%12% compared to December 31, 2020 primarily due to reserves added from our drilling program and upward reserve revisions prompted by improved commodity prices.2022. Our inventory of proved undeveloped drilling locations in the Bakken totaled 1,2541,006 gross (701(539 net) wells as of December 31, 2021.
For 2022, our budget for exploration and development capital expenditures in the Bakken is $800 million. In 2022, we plan to average approximately six operated rigs and two well completion crews in the Bakken and expect to have first production on 264 gross (116 net) operated and non-operated wells during the year. Our 2022 drilling and completion activities in the Bakken will continue to focus on multi-zone unit development in areas that provide opportunities to improve capital efficiency, reduce finding and development costs, improve recoveries and rates of return, and maximize cash flows.
Powder River2023.

Anadarko Basin

Our production in the Powder River Basin averaged 7,189 Boe per day for the fourth quarter of 2021. During 2021, we participated in the drilling and completion of 10 gross (8 net) wells in the play. Our Powder River properties represented 2% of our total proved reserves at December 31, 2021 and 2% of our average daily Boe production for the 2021 fourth quarter. Our proved reserves in the play totaled 32 MMBoe as of December 31, 2021 and our inventory of proved undeveloped drilling locations totaled 55 gross (34 net) wells.
For 2022, our budget for exploration and development capital expenditures in the Powder River Basin is $200 million. In 2022, we plan to average approximately two operated rigs and one well completion crew in the play and expect to have first production on 34 gross (20 net) operated and non-operated wells during the year.
South Region

Our properties in the South regionAnadarko Basin represented 54%35% of our total proved reserves as of December 31, 20212023 and 45%32% of our average daily Boe production for the fourth quarter of 2021. Our principal producing properties2023. Production in the South region are locatedAnadarko Basin averaged 144,158 Boe per day during the fourth quarter of 2023, down 13% compared to the 2022 fourth quarter. We participated in the SCOOPdrilling and STACK areascompletion of Oklahoma and our recently acquired properties120 gross (43 net) wells in the PermianAnadarko Basin of Texas.

Oklahoma
We are a leading producer, leasehold owner and operatorduring 2023 compared to 155 gross (44 net) wells in Oklahoma. As2022.

Our proved reserves in the Anadarko Basin as of December 31, 2021, we controlled one2023 totaled 653 MMBoe, a decrease of 6% compared to December 31, 2022. Our inventory of proved undeveloped drilling locations in the largest leasehold positions in Oklahoma with approximately 801,700Anadarko Basin totaled 272 gross (448,300(161 net) acres under lease.

12

wells as of December 31, 2023.


Powder River Basin

Our Powder River properties in Oklahoma represented 41%8% of our total proved reserves as ofat December 31, 20212023 and 43%6% of our average daily Boe production for the 2023 fourth quarter of 2021. Productionquarter. Our production in Oklahomathe Powder River Basin averaged 146,13125,577 Boe per day duringfor the fourth quarter of 2021, down 2%2023, a decrease of 9% compared to the 20202022 fourth quarter. For the year ended December 31, 2021, average daily production in Oklahoma increased 9% compared to 2020, reflecting the impact of voluntary production curtailments in 2020 and additional drilling and completion activities in 2021. WeDuring 2023, we participated in the drilling and completion of 16153 gross (63(17 net) wells in Oklahoma during 2021the play compared to 14531 gross (54(23 net) wells in 2020. 2022.

Our proved reserves in Oklahomathe Powder River Basin totaled 139 MMBoe as of December 31, 2021 totaled 679 MMBoe,2023, an increase of 18%34% compared to December 31, 2020 primarily due to reserves added from our drilling program and upward reserve revisions prompted by improved commodity prices.2022. Our inventory of proved undeveloped drilling locations in Oklahomathe play totaled 313136 gross (170(103 net) wells as of December 31, 2021.2023.

5


For 2022, our aggregate budget for exploration and development capital expenditures in Oklahoma is $400 million. In 2022, we plan to average approximately seven operated rigs and two well completion crews in Oklahoma and expect to have first production on 117 gross (41 net) operated and non-operated wells during the year. Our 2022 activities will focus on continued development in areas that provide opportunities to improve capital efficiency, reduce finding and development costs, improve recoveries and rates

Table of return, and maximize cash flows.Contents

Permian Basin

Proved reserves associated with our

Our Permian Basin properties acquired in late 2021 totaled 203 MMBoe, representing 12%represented 21% of our total proved reserves at December 31, 2023 and 13% of our average daily Boe production for the 2023 fourth quarter. Our production in the Permian Basin averaged 58,601 Boe per day for the fourth quarter of 2023, an increase of 30% compared to the 2022 fourth quarter. During 2023, we participated in the drilling and completion of 72 gross (66 net) wells in the play compared to 39 gross (35 net) wells in 2022.

Our proved reserves in the Permian Basin totaled 386 MMBoe as of December 31, 2021. Production from our Permian properties averaged approximately 42,000 Boe per day based on two-stream reporting during our short duration2023, an increase of ownership from December 21, 202127% compared to December 31, 2021.

For 2022, our budget for exploration and development capital expenditures in the Permian Basin is $400 million. In 2022, we plan to average approximately four operated rigs and one well completion crew2022. Our inventory of proved undeveloped drilling locations in the play and expect to have first production on 49totaled 459 gross (46(377 net) operated and non-operated wells during the year.
13

at year-end 2023.


Production and Price History

The following table sets forth information concerning our production results, average sales prices and production costs for the years ended December 31, 2021, 20202023, 2022 and 20192021 in total and for each field containing 15 percent or more of our total proved reserves as of December 31, 2021.  

 Year ended December 31,
 202120202019
Net production volumes:
Crude oil (MBbls)
North Dakota Bakken40,121 40,052 52,420 
SCOOP11,318 12,585 11,679 
Total Company58,636 58,745 72,267 
Natural gas (MMcf)
North Dakota Bakken120,517 97,532 98,186 
SCOOP179,553 136,410 111,436 
Total Company370,110 306,528 311,865 
Crude oil equivalents (MBoe)
North Dakota Bakken60,207 56,308 68,784 
SCOOP41,244 35,320 30,252 
Total Company120,321 109,833 124,244 
Average net sales prices (1):
Crude oil ($/Bbl)
North Dakota Bakken$63.24 $33.53 $50.96 
SCOOP66.46 37.88 54.92 
Total Company64.06 34.71 51.82 
Natural gas ($/Mcf)
North Dakota Bakken$4.52 $0.23 $1.28 
SCOOP5.33 1.64 2.36 
Total Company4.88 1.04 1.77 
Crude oil equivalents ($/Boe)
North Dakota Bakken$51.21 $24.24 $40.66 
SCOOP41.44 19.90 29.80 
Total Company46.24 21.47 34.56 
Average costs per Boe:
Production expenses ($/Boe)
North Dakota Bakken$4.27 $4.35 $4.28 
SCOOP1.24 1.06 1.21 
Total Company3.38 3.27 3.58 
Production taxes ($/Boe)$3.36 $1.75 $2.88 
General and administrative expenses ($/Boe)$1.94 $1.79 $1.57 
DD&A expense ($/Boe)$15.76 $17.12 $16.25 
(1)     See 2023.Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 for a discussion and calculation of net sales prices, which are non-GAAP measures.

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Net production volumes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil (MBbls)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North Dakota Bakken

 

 

48,032

 

 

 

39,917

 

 

 

40,121

 

SCOOP

 

 

11,652

 

 

 

10,051

 

 

 

11,318

 

Permian Delaware

 

 

14,762

 

 

 

11,832

 

 

 

 

Total Company

 

 

84,710

 

 

 

72,827

 

 

 

58,636

 

Natural gas (MMcf)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North Dakota Bakken

 

 

146,026

 

 

 

124,411

 

 

 

120,517

 

SCOOP

 

 

179,165

 

 

 

185,755

 

 

 

179,553

 

Permian Delaware

 

 

27,980

 

 

 

20,804

 

 

 

 

Total Company

 

 

455,698

 

 

 

442,980

 

 

 

370,110

 

Crude oil equivalents (MBoe)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North Dakota Bakken

 

 

72,370

 

 

 

60,652

 

 

 

60,207

 

SCOOP

 

 

41,513

 

 

 

41,010

 

 

 

41,244

 

Permian Delaware

 

 

19,425

 

 

 

15,300

 

 

 

 

Total Company

 

 

160,660

 

 

 

146,657

 

 

 

120,321

 

Average sales prices:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil ($/Bbl)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North Dakota Bakken

 

$

76.41

 

 

$

94.51

 

 

$

67.08

 

SCOOP

 

 

76.82

 

 

 

94.58

 

 

 

66.71

 

Permian Delaware

 

 

76.21

 

 

 

95.14

 

 

 

69.54

 

Total Company

 

 

76.89

 

 

 

94.95

 

 

 

67.21

 

Natural gas ($/Mcf)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North Dakota Bakken

 

$

2.54

 

 

$

8.30

 

 

$

4.56

 

SCOOP

 

 

2.93

 

 

 

7.00

 

 

 

5.46

 

Permian Delaware

 

 

2.53

 

 

 

7.27

 

 

 

7.33

 

Total Company

 

 

2.60

 

 

 

7.15

 

 

 

4.98

 

Average costs per Boe:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production expenses ($/Boe)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North Dakota Bakken

 

$

5.23

 

 

$

5.05

 

 

$

4.27

 

SCOOP

 

 

1.50

 

 

 

1.44

 

 

 

1.24

 

Permian Delaware

 

 

5.72

 

 

 

7.27

 

 

 

 

Total Company

 

 

4.47

 

 

 

4.24

 

 

 

3.38

 

Production and ad valorem taxes ($/Boe)

 

$

3.76

 

 

$

4.98

 

 

$

3.36

 

General and administrative expenses ($/Boe)

 

$

1.74

 

 

$

2.74

 

 

$

1.94

 

DD&A expense ($/Boe)

 

$

14.11

 

 

$

12.86

 

 

$

15.76

 

14

6


The following table sets forth information regarding our average daily production by region for the fourth quarter of 2021:2023:

 

 Fourth Quarter 2021 Daily Production
 Crude Oil
(Bbls per day)
Natural Gas
(Mcf per day)
Total
(Boe per day)
North Region:
Bakken116,548 354,222 175,585 
Powder River Basin5,704 8,912 7,189 
Red River Units6,212 — 6,212 
South Region:
Oklahoma34,314 670,904 146,131 
Permian Basin (1)3,885 6,671 4,997 
Other31 133 54 
Total166,694 1,040,842 340,168 

 

Fourth Quarter 2023 Daily Production

 

 

Crude Oil
(Bbls per day)

 

 

Natural Gas
(Mcf per day)

 

 

Total
(Boe per day)

 

Bakken

 

 

146,841

 

 

 

441,521

 

 

 

220,428

 

Anadarko Basin

 

 

33,979

 

 

 

661,075

 

 

 

144,158

 

Powder River Basin

 

 

15,688

 

 

 

59,333

 

 

 

25,577

 

Permian Basin

 

 

43,647

 

 

 

89,727

 

 

 

58,601

 

All other

 

 

5,635

 

 

 

188

 

 

 

5,666

 

Total

 

 

245,790

 

 

 

1,251,844

 

 

 

454,430

 

(1)The presentation of average daily 2021 fourth quarter production represents production during the period from the closing of our acquisition of Permian properties on December 21, 2021 through December 31, 2021 averaged over 92 days in the fourth quarter. At the time of closing, our Permian properties produced on average approximately 42,000 Boe per day (78% oil) based on two-stream reporting.

Productive Wells

Gross wells represent the number of wells in which we own a working interest and net wells represent the total of our fractional working interests owned in gross wells. The following table presents the total gross and net productive wells by region and by crude oil or natural gas completion as of December 31, 2021.2023. One or more completions in the same well bore are counted as one well.

 Crude Oil WellsNatural Gas WellsTotal Wells
 Gross    Net    Gross    Net    Gross    Net    
North Region:
Bakken5,610 1,997 — — 5,610 1,997 
Powder River Basin235 143 242 148 
Red River Units267 251 — — 267 251 
South Region:
Oklahoma1,214 521 943 304 2,157 825 
Permian Basin409 318 411 319 
Other23 25 
Total7,737 3,232 975 312 8,712 3,544 
15


 

Crude Oil Wells

 

 

Natural Gas Wells

 

 

Total Wells

 

 

Gross

 

 

Net

 

 

Gross

 

 

Net

 

 

Gross

 

 

Net

 

Bakken

 

 

6,127

 

 

 

2,236

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,127

 

 

 

2,236

 

Anadarko Basin

 

 

1,184

 

 

 

525

 

 

 

974

 

 

 

321

 

 

 

2,158

 

 

 

846

 

Powder River Basin

 

 

484

 

 

 

379

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

490

 

 

 

384

 

Permian Basin

 

 

473

 

 

 

400

 

 

 

55

 

 

 

33

 

 

 

528

 

 

 

433

 

All other

 

 

268

 

 

 

254

 

 

 

26

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

294

 

 

 

259

 

Total

 

 

8,536

 

 

 

3,794

 

 

 

1,061

 

 

 

364

 

 

 

9,597

 

 

 

4,158

 

Title to Properties

As is customary in the crude oil and natural gas industry, upon initiation of acquiring oil and gas leases covering fee mineral interests on undeveloped lands which do not have associated proved reserves, contract landmen conduct a title examination of courthouse records and production databases to determine fee mineral ownership and availability. Title, lease forms and terms are reviewed and approved by Company landmen prior to consummation.

For acquisitions from third parties, whether lands are producing crude oil and natural gas or non-producing, Company and contract landmen perform title examinations at applicable courthouses, obtain physical well site inspections, and examine the seller’s internal records (land, legal, operational, production, environmental, well, marketing and accounting) upon execution of a mutually acceptable purchase and sale agreement. Company landmen may also procure an acquisition title opinion from outside legal counsel on higher value properties.

Prior to the commencement of drilling operations, Company landmen procure an original title opinion, or supplement an existing title opinion, from outside legal counsel and perform curative work to satisfy requirements pertaining to material title issues, if any. Company landmen will not approve commencement of drilling operations until material title defects pertaining to the Company’s interest are cured.

The Company has cured material title opinion issues as to Company interests on substantially all of its producing properties and believes it holds at least defensible title to its producing properties in accordance with standards generally accepted in the crude oil and natural gas industry. The Company’s crude oil and natural gas properties are subject to customary royalty and leasehold burdens which do not materially interfere with the Company’s interest in the properties or affect the Company’s carrying value of such properties.

Marketing

We sell most of our operated crude oil production to crude oil refining companies or midstream marketing companies at major market centers. In the Bakken, Powder River, Permian, SCOOP, and STACK areasAnadarko basins we have significant volumes of production directly connected to pipeline gathering systems, with the remaining production primarily transported by truck to a point on a pipeline system for further delivery. We do not transport any of our oil production prior to sale by rail, but several purchasers of our Bakken production are connected to rail delivery systems and may choose those methods to transport the oil they have purchased from us. We sell some operated crude oil production at the lease. Our share of crude oil production from non-operated properties is marketed at the discretion of the operators.

7


We sell most of our operated natural gas and natural gas liquids production to midstream customers at our lease locations based on market prices in the field where the sales occur, with the remaining production sold at centrally gathered locations or natural gas processing plants. These contracts include multi-year term agreements, many with acreage dedications. Under certain arrangements, we have the right to take a volume of processed residue gas and/or natural gas liquids ("NGLs") in-kind at the tailgate of the midstream customer's processing plant in lieu of a monetary settlement for the sale of our operated natural gas production. When we do take volumes in kind, we pay third parties to transport the residue gas volumes taken in kind to downstream delivery points, where we then sell to customers at prices applicable to those downstream markets. Sales at the downstream markets are mostly under daily and monthly packaged volumes deals, shorter term seasonal packages, and long term multi-year contracts. We continue to develop relationships and have the potential to enter into additional contracts with end-use customers, including utilities, industrial users, and liquefied natural gas exporters, for sale of products we elect to take in-kind in lieu of monetary settlement for our leasehold sales. Our share of natural gas and NGL production from non-operated properties is generally marketed at the discretion of the operators.

Environmental Stewardship
Throughout our operations, we seek to limit associated waste through emissions management and mitigation programs, increased recycling and re-use of produced water, and the use of footprint-reducing measures. Our environmental stewardship strategies, policies, and efforts are monitored by our Board of Directors’ Nominating, Environmental, Social and Governance Committee (“Committee”), which is the primary Committee responsible for overseeing and managing our ESG initiatives in respect of our business goals. Our focus on continuous improvement in ESG performance has resulted in sustained, year-over-year decreases since 2016 in both greenhouse gas and methane intensities. From 2019 through 2020, the most recent reporting year, we achieved a 28% decrease in greenhouse gas intensity and a 34% decrease in methane intensity.

Competition

We operate in a highly competitive environment for acquiring properties, marketing crude oil and natural gas, and securing trained personnel. Also, there is substantial competition for capital available for investment in the crude oil and natural gas industry. Our competitors vary within the regions in which we operate, and some of our competitors may possess and employ financial, technical and personnel resources greater than ours. Those companies may be able to pay more for crude oil and

16


natural gas properties, minerals, and exploratory prospects and to evaluate, bid for and purchase a greater number of properties and prospects than our financial or personnel resources permit. Our ability to acquire additional prospects and to find and develop reserves in the future will depend on our ability to evaluate and select suitable properties and to consummate transactions economically in a highly competitive environment. In addition, as a result of depressed commodity pricessupply chain disruptions in recent years the number of providers of materials and services has decreased in the regions where we operate. Further, recent supply chain disruptions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic have led to shortages of certain materials and equipment and increased costs. As a result, the likelihood of experiencing competition and shortages of materials and services may be further increased in connection with any period of sustained commodity price recovery.increased. Finally, the emerging impact of climate change activism, fuel conservation measures, governmental requirements for renewable energy resources, increasing demand for alternative forms of energy, and technological advances in energy generation devices may result in reduced demand for the crude oil and natural gas we produce.

Regulation of the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Industry

All of our operations are conducted onshore in the United States. The crude oil and natural gas industry in the United States is subject to various types of regulation at the federal, state and local levels. Laws, rules, regulations, policies, and interpretations affecting our industry have been and are pervasive with the frequent imposition of new or increased requirements. These laws, regulations and other requirements often carry substantial penalties for failure to comply and may have a significant effect on our operations and may increase the cost of doing business and reduce our profitability. In addition, because public policy changes affecting the crude oil and natural gas industry are commonplace and because laws, rules and regulations may be enacted, amended or reinterpreted, we are unable to predict the future cost or impact of complying with such laws, rules and regulations. We do not expect future legislative or regulatory initiatives will affect us materially different than they will affect our similarly situated competitors.

The following is a discussionare significant areas of certain significant laws, rules and regulations, as amended from time to time,regulation that may affect us in the areas in which we operate.

Regulation of sales

Environmental, health, and transportation of crude oil and natural gas liquids

Our physical sales of crude oil and any derivative instruments relating to crude oil are subject to anti-market manipulation laws and related regulations enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). These laws, among other things, prohibit fraudulent or deceptive conduct in connection with wholesale purchases or sales of crude oil and price manipulation in the commodity and futures markets. If we violate the anti-market manipulation laws and regulations, we can be subject to substantial penalties and related third-party damage claims by, among others, sellers, royalty owners and taxing authorities.
We transport most of our operated crude oil production to market centers using a combination of trucks and pipeline transportation facilities owned and operated by third parties. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration establishes safety regulations relating to transportation of crude oil by pipeline. Further, our sales of crude oil are affected by the availability, terms and costs of transportation. The transportation of crude oil and natural gas liquids ("NGLs") is subject to rate and access regulation. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) regulates interstate crude oil and NGL pipeline transportation rates under the Interstate Commerce Act and the Energy Policy Act of 1992, and intrastate crude oil and NGL pipeline transportation rates may be subject to regulation by state regulatory commissions. As the interstate and intrastate transportation rates we pay are generally applicable to all comparable shippers, the regulation of such transportation rates will not affect us in a way that materially differs from the effect on our similarly situated competitors.
Further, interstate pipelines and intrastate common carrier pipelines must provide service on an equitable basis and offer service to all similarly situated shippers requesting service on the same terms and under the same rates. When such pipelines operate at full capacity we are subject to proration provisions, which are described in the pipelines’ published tariffs. We generally will have access to crude oil pipeline transportation services to the same extent as our similarly situated competitors.
From time to time we may sell our operated crude oil production at market centers in the United States to third parties who then subsequently export and sell the crude oil in international markets. The International Maritime Organization ("IMO"), an agency of the United Nations, has issued regulations requiring the maritime shipping industry to gradually reduce its carbon emissions over time by mandating a 1% improvement in the efficiency of fleets each year between 2015 and 2025. In conjunction with this initiative, the IMO issued regulations requiring ship owners to lower the concentration of the sulfur content used in their fuels from 3.5% to 0.5% beginning on January 1, 2020. To achieve and maintain compliance with the new regulations, it is expected ship owners will either have to switch to more expensive higher quality marine fuel, install and utilize
17


emissions-cleaning systems, or switch to alternative fuels such as liquefied natural gas. Failure to comply with the regulations may result in fines or shipping vessels being detained, thereby resulting in exportation capacity constraints that inhibit a third party's ability to transport and sell domestic crude oil production overseas, which may have a material impact on the markets and prices for various grades of domestic and international crude oil. The ultimate long-term impact of the IMO regulations is uncertain.
We do not own or operate pipeline or rail transportation facilities, rail cars, or infrastructure used to facilitate the exportation of crude oil. However, regulations that impact the domestic transportation of crude oil could increase our costs of doing business and limit our ability to transport and sell our crude oil at market centers throughout the United States. We do not expect such regulations will affect us in a materially different way than similarly situated competitors.
Regulation of sales and transportation of natural gas
We are also required to observe the aforementioned anti-market manipulation laws and related regulations enforced by the FERC and CFTC in connection with physical sales of natural gas and any derivative instruments relating to natural gas. Additionally, the FERC regulates interstate natural gas transportation rates and service conditions under the Natural Gas Act and the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978, which affects the marketing of natural gas we produce, as well as revenues we receive for sales of our natural gas. The FERC has endeavored to increase competition and make natural gas transportation more accessible to natural gas buyers and sellers on an open and non-discriminatory basis and has issued a series of orders to implement its open access policies. We cannot provide any assurance the pro-competitive regulatory approach established by the FERC will continue. However, we do not believe any action taken by the FERC will affect us in a materially different way than similarly situated natural gas producers.
The gathering of natural gas, which occurs upstream of jurisdictional transmission services, is generally regulated by the states. Although its policies on gathering systems have varied in the past, the FERC has reclassified certain jurisdictional transmission facilities as non-jurisdictional gathering facilities, which has the potential to increase costs for our purchasers and reduce the revenues we receive for our natural gas stream. State regulation of natural gas gathering facilities generally includes various safety, environmental, and in some circumstances, equitable take requirements. We do not believe such regulations will affect us in a materially different way than our similarly situated competitors.
Intrastate natural gas transportation service is also subject to regulation by state regulatory agencies. Like the regulation of interstate transportation rates, the regulation of intrastate transportation rates affects the marketing of natural gas we produce, as well as the revenues we receive for sales of our natural gas. The basis for intrastate regulation of natural gas transportation and the degree of regulatory oversight and scrutiny given to intrastate natural gas pipeline rates and services varies from state to state. Insofar as such regulation within a particular state will generally affect all intrastate natural gas shippers on a comparable basis, the regulation of intrastate natural gas transportation in states in which we operate will not affect us in a way that materially differs from our similarly situated competitors.
The U.S. Department of Energy (“U.S. DOE”) regulates the terms and conditions for the exportation and importation of natural gas (including liquefied natural gas or “LNG”). U.S. law provides for very limited regulation of exports to and imports from any country that has entered into a Free Trade Agreement (“FTA”) with the United States providing for national treatment of trade in natural gas; however, the U.S. DOE’s regulation of imports and exports from and to countries without an FTA is more comprehensive. The FERC also regulates the construction and operation of import and export facilities, including LNG terminals. Regulation of imports and exports and related facilities may materially affect natural gas markets and sales prices and could inhibit the development of LNG infrastructure.
Regulation of production
The production of crude oil and natural gas is regulated by a wide range of federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations, which require, among other matters, permits for drilling operations, drilling bonds, and reports concerning operations. Each of the states where we own and operate properties have laws and regulations governing conservation, including provisions for the unitization or pooling of crude oil and natural gas properties, the establishment of maximum allowable rates of production from crude oil and natural gas wells, the regulation of well spacing, the plugging and abandonment of wells, the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, and limitations or prohibitions on the venting or flaring of natural gas. These laws and regulations directly and indirectly limit the amount of crude oil and natural gas we can produce from our wells and the number of wells and locations we can drill, although we can and do apply for exceptions to such laws and regulations or to have reductions in well spacing. Moreover, each state generally imposes a production, severance or excise tax on the production and sale of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids within its jurisdiction.
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The failure to comply with the above laws, rules, and regulations can result in substantial penalties. Our similarly situated competitors are generally subject to the same laws, rules, and regulations as we are.
Environmental regulation
General. We are subject to stringent, complex, and overlapping federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations governing environmental compliance, includingand occupational safety and health, as well as the discharge of materials into, and the environment. Theseprotection of, the environment and natural resources. Environmental, health, and safety laws, rules and regulations may relate to, among other things:

the discharge or other release of pollutants into federal and state waters and the ambient air;
assessing the environmental impact of seismic acquisition, drilling and construction activities;
require
the generation, storage, transportation and disposal of waste materials, including hazardous substances;
the emission of certain gases, including methane, into the atmosphere;
the acquisition of various permits to conduct exploration, drilling and production operations;
restrict
the restriction of types, quantities and concentrationconcentrations of various substances that can be released into the environment in connection with drilling, production and transportation activities;
limit
the limitation or prohibitprohibition of drilling activities on certain lands lying within wilderness, wetlands and other protected areas including areas containing endangered species of plants and animals;

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require
the requirement of remedial measures to mitigate pollution from former and ongoing operations, such as requirements to close pits and plug abandoned wells; and
impose
the imposition of substantial liabilities for pollution resulting from drilling and production operations.operations;

the development of emergency response and spill contingency plans; and
worker protection.

These laws, rules and regulations may restrict the level of substances generated by our operations that may be emitted into the air, discharged to surface water, and disposed or otherwise released to surface and below-ground soils and groundwater, and may also restrict the rate of our crude oil and natural gas production to a rate that is economically infeasible for continued production. The regulatory burden on the crude oil and natural gas industry increases the cost of doing business and affects profitability. Additionally, in the name of combatting climate change, President Biden has issued, and may continue to issue, executive orders that result in more stringent and costly requirements for the domestic crude oil and natural gas industry, or which restrict, delay or ban oil and gas permitting or leasing on federal lands. Any regulatory or executive changes that impose further requirements on domestic producers for emissions control, waste handling, disposal, cleanup and remediation could have a significant impact on our operating costs and production of oil and gas. For example, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized federal regulations in December 2023 regarding methane emissions for new and existing oil and gas sources. These rules require more stringent emissions controls for new sources and for the first time impose similar requirements on existing sources, and fines and penalties for violations of the rules can be substantial. Separately, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA”) established a methane emissions charge, effective January 1, 2024, on specific types of oil and gas production facilities that report emissions in excess of applicable thresholds. Failure to comply with these and other laws, rules and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal penalties, the imposition of corrective or remedial obligations or the incurrence of capital expenditures, the occurrence of restrictions, delays or cancellations in the permitting, development or expansion of projects, the issuance of orders enjoining performance of some or all of our operations, and potential litigation in a particular area. Additionally, certain of these environmental laws may result in imposition of joint and several or strict liability, which could cause us to become liable for the conduct of others or for consequences of our own actions. For instance, an accidental release from one of our wells could subject us to substantial liabilities arising from environmental cleanup and restoration costs, claims made by neighboring landowners or other third parties for personal injury and property damage and fines or penalties for related violations of environmental laws or regulations. Certain environmental laws also provide for certain citizen suits, which allow persons or organizations to act in place of the government and sue operators for alleged violations of environmental laws. We have incurred and will continue to incur operating and capital expenditures, some of which may be material, to comply with environmental, lawshealth, and regulations. The following is a description of some of the environmentalsafety laws, rules, and regulations, as amended from time to time, that apply to our operations.

regulations.

Air emissions. Federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations have been and, in the future, will likely be enacted to address concerns about emissions of regulated air pollutants. These laws and regulations may require us to obtain pre-approval for the construction or modification of certain projects or facilities expected to produce or significantly increase air emissions, obtain and strictly comply with stringent air permit standards or utilize specific equipment or technologies to control emissions of certain pollutants. For example, in October 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) announced its intention to initiate a rule-making to reassess and lower, by the end of 2023, the current National Ambient Air Quality Standard (“NAAQS”) for ground-level ozone, which was last set by the EPA under the Obama Administration in 2015. State implementation of a revised NAAQS for ground-level ozone could result in stricter permitting requirements, delay or prohibit our ability to obtain such permits, or result in increased expenditures for pollution control equipment, the costs of which could be significant.

Regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. The threat of climate change continues to attract considerable attention in the United States and in foreign countries and, as a result, numerous proposals have been made and are likely to continue to be made at the international, national, regional and state levels of government to monitor and limit existing emissions of greenhouse gases as well as to reduce, restrict, or eliminate such future emissions. As a result, our operations as well as the operationsOther regulation of the oil and gas industry in general

The Company’s oil and gas operations are subject to a seriesvarious federal, state, and local laws and regulations that relate to matters including, among other things:

location, drilling and casing of regulatory, political, litigationwells;
hydraulic fracturing;
well production operations;
disposal of produced water;
regulation of transportation and financial risks associated with the productionsale of fossil fuels and emission of greenhouse gases.
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Federal regulatory initiatives have focused on establishing construction and operating permit reviews for greenhousecrude oil, natural gas, emissions from certain large stationary sources, requiring the monitoring and annual reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from certain petroleum and natural gas system sources,liquids;
surface usage;
calculation and reducing methane emissions fromdisbursement of royalty payments and production taxes; and
restoration of properties used for oil and gas production and natural gas processing and transmissionoperations.

Our operations through limitations on venting and flaring andalso are subject to conservation regulations, including the implementation of enhanced emission leak detection and repair requirements. In recent years, there has been considerable uncertainty surrounding regulation of methane emissions. During 2020, the Trump Administration revised performance standards for methane establishedsize of drilling and spacing units or proration units; the number of wells that may be drilled in 2016 to lessena unit; the impactrate of those standards and remove the transmission and storage segmentsproduction allowable from the source category for certain regulations. However, shortly after taking office in 2021, President Biden issued an executive order calling on the EPA to revisit federal regulations regarding methane and establish new or more stringent standards for existing or new sources in the oil and gas sector, including the transmission and storage segments. The U.S. Congress also passed, and President Biden signed into law, a revocation of the 2020 rulemaking, effectively reinstating the 2016 standards. In response to President Biden’s executive order, in November 2021 the EPA issued a proposed rule that, if finalized, would establish Quad Ob new source and Quad Oc first-time existing source standards of performance for methane and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions in the crude oil and natural gas source category. This proposed rule would apply to upstreamwells; and midstream facilities at oil and natural gas well sites, natural gas gathering and boosting compressor stations, natural gas processing plants, and transmission and storage facilities. Ownersthe unitization or operatorspooling of affected emission units or processes would have to comply with specific standards of performance that may include leak detection using optical gas imaging and subsequent repair requirements, reduction of emissions by 95% through capture and control systems, zero-emission requirements, operation and maintenance requirements, and so-called green well completion requirements. The EPA plans to issue a supplemental proposal enhancing this proposed rulemaking in 2022 that will contain additional requirements that were not included in the November 2021 proposed rule. The EPA anticipates issuing a final rule before end-of-year 2022. Additionally, the House of Representatives version of the Build Back Better Act included a fee on methane emissions, targeting industries that produce, transport, and store natural gas throughout the United States at $900 per ton in 2023, $1,200 per ton in 2024, and $1,500 per ton in 2025 and beyond. Congress could seek to include this or a similar fee in future legislation.

Additionally, various states and groups of states have adopted or are considering adopting legislation, regulations or other regulatory initiatives that are focused on such areas as greenhouse gas cap and trade programs, carbon taxes, reporting and tracking programs, and restriction of emissions. At the international level, there exists the United Nations-sponsored “Paris Agreement,” which is a non-binding agreement among participating nations to limit their greenhouse gas emissions through individually-determined reduction goals every five years after 2020. President Biden announced in April 2021 a new, more rigorous nationally determined emissions reduction level of 50%-52% reduction from 2005 levels in economy-wide net GHG emissions by 2030. Moreover, in November 2021 at the 26th Conference of the Parties (“COP26”), multiple announcements (not having the effect of law) were made, including a call for parties to eliminate certain measures perceived to subsidize fossil fuel production and consumption, and to pursue further action on non-CO2 GHGs. Relatedly, the United States and European Union jointly announced at COP26 the launch of a Global Methane Pledge, an initiative which over 100 counties joined, committing to a collective goal of reducing global methane emissions by at least 30 percent from 2020 levels by 2030, including “all feasible reductions” in the energy sector. The impacts of these orders, pledges, agreements and any legislation or regulation promulgated to fulfill the United States’ commitments under the Paris Agreement, COP26, or other international conventions cannot be predicted at this time.
Governmental, scientific and public concern over the threat of climate change arising from greenhouse gas emissions has given rise to increasing federal political risk for the domestic crude oil and natural gas industry. In the United States, President Biden has issued several executive orders calling for more expansive action to address climate change and suspend new oil and gas operationsproperties. Some states allow the forced pooling or unitization of tracts to facilitate exploration and development, while other states rely on federalvoluntary pooling of lands and waters. The suspensionleases. Such rules often impact the ultimate timing of the federal leasing activities prompted legal action by several states against the Biden Administration, resulting in issuance of a nationwide preliminary injunction by a federal district judge in Louisiana in June 2021, effectively halting implementation of the leasing suspension. The federal government is appealing the district court decision. Litigation risks are also increasing, as a number of states, municipalities and other parties have sought to bring suit against the largest oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in state or federal court, alleging, among other things, that such companies created public nuisances by producing fuels that contributed to global warming effects, such as rising sea levels, and therefore are responsible for roadway and infrastructure damages, or that the companies have been aware of the adverse effects of climate change for some time but failed to adequately disclose those impacts.
Moreover, our access to capital may be impacted by climate change policies. Stockholders and bondholders currently invested in energy companies but concerned about the potential effects of climate change may elect to shift some or all of their investments into non-energy related sectors. Institutional investors who provide financing to energy companies have also focused on sustainability lending practices that favor alternative power sources perceived to be more clean (despite their negative impacts on the environment), such as wind and solar. Some of these investors may elect not to provide traditional funding for energy companies. Many of the largest U.S. banks have made “net zero” carbon emission commitments and have announced that they will be assessing financed emissions across their portfolios and taking steps to quantify and reduce those
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emissions. At COP26, the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (“GFANZ”) announced that commitments from over 450 firms across 45 countries had resulted in over $130 trillion in capital committed to net zero goals. The various sub-alliances of GFANZ generally require participants to set short-term, sector-specific targets to transition their financing, investing, and/or underwriting activities to net zero emissions by 2050. These and other developments in the financial sector could lead to some lenders restricting or eliminating access to capital for or divesting from certain industries or companies, including the oil and natural gas sector, or requiring that borrowers take additional steps to reduce their GHG emissions. Additionally, there is the possibility that financial institutions will be required to adopt policies that limit funding to the fossil fuel sector. In late 2020, the Federal Reserve announced that it had joined the Network for Greening the Financial System (“NGFS”), a consortium of financial regulators focused on addressing climate-related risks in the financial sector. More recently, in November 2021, the Federal Reserve issued a statement in support of the efforts of the NGFS to identify key issues and potential solutions for the climate-related challenges most relevant to central banks and supervisory authorities. While we cannot predict what policies may result from this, a material reduction in the capital available to the fossil fuel industry could make it more difficult to secure funding for acquisition, exploration, development, production, transportation, and processing activities, which could impact our business and operations. To the extent the rules impose additional reporting obligations, we could face increased costs. Furthermore, the SEC has announced it will propose rules that, among other matters, will establish a framework for the reporting of climate risks. However, no such rules have been proposed to date and we cannot predict what any such rules may require. To the extent rules impose additional reporting obligations, we could face increased costs. Separately, the SEC has also announced it is scrutinizing existing climate-change related disclosures in public filings, increasing the potential for enforcement if the SEC was to allege that an issuer’s existing climate disclosures were misleading or deficient.
Environmental protection and natural gas flaring. One of our environmental initiatives is the reduction of air emissions produced from our operations, including the flaring of natural gas from our operated well sites in the Bakken field of North Dakota. North Dakota law permits flaring of natural gas from a well that has not been connected to a gas gathering line for a period of one year from the date of a well’s first production. After one year, a producer is required to cap the well, connect it to a gas gathering line, find acceptable alternative uses for a percentage of the flared gas, or apply to the North Dakota Industrial Commission ("NDIC") for a written exemption for any future flaring; otherwise, the producer is required to pay royalties and production taxes based on the volume and value of the gas flared from the unconnected well.
In addition, NDIC rules for new drilling permit applications also require the submission of gas capture plans setting forth plans taken by operators to capture and not flare produced gas, regardless of whether it has been or will be connected within the first year of production. The NDIC currently requires us to capture 91% of the natural gas produced from a field. We capture in excess of the NDIC requirement. If an operator is unable to attain the applicable gas capture percentage goal at maximum efficient rate, wells will be restricted in production to 200 barrels of crude oil per day if at least 60% of the monthly volume of associated natural gas produced from the well is captured, or otherwise crude oil production from such wells is not permitted to exceed 100 barrels of crude oil per day. However, the NDIC will consider temporary exemptions from the foregoing restrictions or for other types of extenuating circumstances after notice and hearing if the effect is a significant net increase in gas capture within one year of the date such relief is granted. Monetary penalty provisions also apply under this regulation if an operator fails to timely file for a hearing with the NDIC upon being unable to meet such percentage goals or if the operator fails to timely implement production restrictions once below the applicable percentage goals. Ongoing compliance with the NDIC’s flaring requirements or the imposition of any additional limitations on flaring could result in increased costs and have an adverse effect on our operations.
We seek to reduce or eliminate natural gas flaring, but our efforts may not always be successful or cost-effective. Our levels of flaring are impacted by external factors such as investment from third parties in the development and continued operation of gas gathering and processing facilities and the granting of reasonable right-of-way access by land owners. Increased emissions from our facilities due to flaring could subject our facilities to more stringent air emission permitting requirements, resulting in increased compliance costs and potential construction delays.
Hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing involves the injection of water, sand or other proppant and additives under pressure into rock formations to stimulate crude oil and natural gas production. In recent years there has been public concern regarding an alleged potential for hydraulic fracturing to adversely affect drinking water supplies or to induce seismic events. As a result, several federal and state agencies have studied the environmental risks with respect to hydraulic fracturing, and proposals have been made to enact separate federal, state and local legislation that would potentially increase the regulatory burden imposed on hydraulic fracturing.
At the federal level, the EPA has asserted federal regulatory authority pursuant to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act ("SDWA") over certain hydraulic fracturing activities involving the use of diesel fuels and published permitting guidance related to such activities. Also, the EPA has issued a final regulation under the Clean Water Act prohibiting discharges to publicly owned treatment works of wastewater from onshore unconventional oil and gas extraction facilities. We do not
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discharge wastewater to publicly owned treatment works, so the impact of this regulation on us is not currently, and is not expected to be, material.
In late 2016 the EPA published a final study of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing activities on water resources in which the EPA indicated it found evidence that such activities can impact drinking water resources under some circumstances. In its final report, the EPA indicated it was not able to calculate or estimate the national frequency of impacts on drinking water resources from hydraulic fracturing activities or fully characterize the severity of impacts. Nonetheless, the results of the EPA’s study or similar governmental reviews could spur initiatives to regulate hydraulic fracturing under the SDWA or otherwise.
In 2016, the BLM under the Obama Administration published final rules related to the regulation of hydraulic fracturing activities on federal lands, including requirements for chemical disclosure, well bore integrity, and handling of flowback water. However, the BLM under the Trump Administration published a final rule rescinding the 2016 final rule in November 2018. Litigation challenging the BLM's 2016 final rule as well as its 2018 final rule rescinding the 2016 rule has been pursued by various states and industry and environmental groups. While a California federal court vacated the 2018 final rule in July 2020, a Wyoming federal court subsequently vacated the 2016 final rule in October 2020 and, accordingly, the 2016 final rule is no longer in effect. However, appeals to those decisions are ongoing. Notwithstanding these recent legal developments, further administrative and regulatory restrictions may be adopted by the Biden Administration that could restrict hydraulic fracturing activities on federal lands and waters.
In addition, regulators in states in which we operate have adopted additional requirements related to seismicity and its potential association with hydraulic fracturing. For example, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (the “OCC”) has promulgated guidance for operators of crude oil and natural gas wells in certain seismically-active areas of the SCOOP and STACK plays in Oklahoma. The OCC's guidance provides for seismic monitoring and for implementation of mitigation procedures, which may include curtailment or even suspension of operations in the event of concurrent seismic events within a particular radius of operations of a magnitude exceeding 2.5 on the Richter scale. If seismic events exceeding the OCC guidance thresholds were to occur near our active stimulation operations on a frequent basis, they could have an adverse effect on our operations.
Waste water disposal. Underground injection wells are a predominant method for disposing of waste water from oil and gas activities. In response to seismic events near underground injection wells used for the disposal of oil and gas-related waste waters, federal and some state agencies have investigated whether such wells have caused increased seismic activity. To address concerns regarding seismicity, some states, including states in which we operate, have pursued remedies that included delaying permit approvals, mandating a reduction in injection volumes, or shutting down or imposing moratoria on the use of injection wells. Moreover, regulators in states in which we operate have implemented additional requirements related to seismicity. For example, the OCC has adopted rules for operators of saltwater disposal wells in certain seismically-active areas in the Arbuckle formation of Oklahoma. These rules require, among other things, that disposal well operators conduct mechanical integrity testing or make certain demonstrations of such wells’ respective depths that, depending on the depth, could require plugging the well and/or the reduction of volumes disposed in such wells. Oklahoma utilizes a “traffic light” system wherein the OCC reviews new or existing disposal wells for proximity to faults, seismicity in the area and other factors in determining whether such wells should be permitted, permitted only with special restrictions, or not permitted. At the federal level, the EPA’s current regulatory requirements for such wells do not require the consideration of seismic impacts when issuing permits. We cannot predict the EPA’s future actions in this regard.
The introduction of new environmental laws and regulations related to the disposal of wastes associated with the exploration, development or production of hydrocarbons could limit or prohibit our ability to utilize underground injection wells. A lack of waste water disposal sites could cause us to delay, curtail or discontinue our exploration and development plans. Additionally, increased costs associated withIn addition, federal and state conservation laws generally limit the transportation and disposalventing or flaring of produced water, includingnatural gas. These regulations limit the costamounts of complying with regulations concerning produced water disposal, may reduce our profitability. These costs are commonly incurred by oil and gas producerswe can produce from our wells and the number of wells or the locations at which we do not expectcan drill.

Certain of our leases are granted or approved by the costs associatedfederal government and administered by the Bureau of Land Management or Bureau of Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior. Such leases require compliance with the disposaldetailed federal regulations and orders that regulate, among other matters, drilling and operations on lands covered by these leases and calculation and disbursement of produced water will have a material adverse effect on our operations to any greater degree than other similarly situated competitors. In recent years, we have increased our operation and use of water recycling and distribution facilities that economically reuse stimulation water for both operational efficiencies and environmental benefits.

We have incurred in the past, and expect to incur in the future, capital and other expenditures related to environmental compliance. Such expenditures are included within our overall capital and operating budgets and are not separately itemized. Historically, our environmental compliance costs have not had a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations; however, there can be no assurance that such costs will not be material in the future or that such future compliance will not have a material impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
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Employee Healthroyalty payments to the federal government, tribes or tribal members. Moreover, the permitting process for oil and Safety. We are alsogas activities on federal and Indian lands can sometimes be subject to the requirementsdelay, including as a result of thechallenges to permits or other regulatory decisions brought by non-governmental organizations or other parties, which can hinder development activities or otherwise adversely impact operations. The federal Occupational Safetygovernment has, from time to time, evaluated and, Health Act and comparable state laws that regulate the protection of the health and safety of workers. In addition, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration hazard communication standard, the EPA community right-to-know regulation under Title III of the federal superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act and similar state lawsin some cases, promulgated new rules and regulations requireregarding competitive lease bidding, venting and flaring, oil and gas measurement and royalty payment obligations for production from federal lands.

For additional information be maintained about hazardous materials used or produced in operationson the Company’s regulatory risks, see Part 1, Item 1A. Risk Factors—Legal and Regulatory Risks of this information be provided to employees, state and local governmental authorities and citizens.report.

Human Capital


Employees and Labor Relations

As of December 31, 2021,2023, we employed 1,2541,457 people, all of which were employed in the United States, with 721818 employees being located at our corporate headquarters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and 533639 employees located in our field offices located in Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Texas. None of our employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements. We believe our overall relations with our workforce are good.


Compensation

Compensation

Because we operate in a highly competitive environment, we have designed our compensation program to attract, retain and motivate experienced, talented individuals. Our program is also designed to align employee’s interests with those of our shareholdersowners and to reward them for achieving the business and strategic objectives determined to be important to help the Company create and maintain advantage in a competitive environment. We align our employee’s interests with those of our shareholdersowners by making annual restricted stocklong-term incentive awards to virtually all of our salaried employees. We reward our employees for their performance in helping the Company achieve its annual business and strategic objectives through our bonus program, which is also available to virtually all of our employees. In order to ensure our compensation package remains competitive and fulfills our goal of recruiting and retaining talented employees, we consider competitive market compensation paid by other companies comparable to the Company in size, geographic location, and operations.


Safety

Safety

Safety is our highest priority and one of our core values. We promote safety with a robust health and safety program that includes employee orientation and training, contractor management, risk assessments, hazard identification and mitigation, audits, incident reporting and investigation, and corrective/preventative action development.


Through our “Brother’s Keeper” program, we encourage each of our employees to be a proactive participant in ensuring the safety of all of the Company’s personnel. We developed this program to leverage and continuously improve our ability to identify and prevent reoccurrence of unsafe behaviors and conditions. This program recognizes and rewards Company employees and contractors who observe and report outstanding safety and environmental behavior such as utilizing stop work authority, looking out for a co-worker, reporting incidents and near misses, or following proper safety procedures. This program positively impacts safety culture and performance and has contributed to a substantial increase in our reporting rates and to decreases in recordable incident and lost time incident rates. Our Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR), a commonly used safety metric that measures the number of recordable incidents per 100 full-time employees and contractors during a one year period,

has decreased sequentially in each of the past four years and measured 0.33 for 2021, a 61% decrease compared to 2017.


Training and Development

We are committed to the training and development of our employees. We believe that supporting our employees in achieving their career and development goals is a key element of our approach to attracting and retaining top talent. We have invested in a variety of resources to support employees in achieving their career and development goals, including developing learning paths for individual contributors and leaders, operating the Continental Leadership Learning Center which offers numerous instructor-led programs designed to foster employee development and maintaining a learning management system which provides access to numerous technical and soft skills online courses. We also invest time and resources in supporting the creation of individual development plans for our employees.


Health and Wellness

We offer various benefit programs designed to promote the health and well-being of our employees and their families. These benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance plans; disability and life insurance plans; paid time off, for holidays, vacation, sick leave, and other personal leave; and healthcare flexible spending accounts, among other things. In addition to these programs, we have a number of other programs designed to further promote the health and wellness of our employees. For

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instance, employees at our corporate headquarters have

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access to our fitness center. Additionally, we have an employee assistance program that offers counseling and referral services for a broad range of personal and family situations. We also offer a wellness plan that includes annual biometric screenings, flu shots, smoking cessation programs, and healthy snack options in our break rooms to encourage total body wellness.

From the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic we have taken, and continue to take, proactive measures to protect the health and safety of our employees, both at work and at home. These measures have included offering free in-office testing, providing flexible work schedules for impacted employees, holding in-office vaccination clinics so that interested employees and household members could conveniently receive vaccinations as soon as possible, maintaining physical distancing policies, limiting the number of employees attending meetings, reducing the number of people at our sites, requiring the use of masks in certain circumstances, frequently and extensively disinfecting common areas, and implementing self-isolation and quarantine requirements, among other things. We are committed to maintaining best practices with our COVID-19 response protocols and will continue to work under the guidance of public health officials to ensure a safe workplace as long as COVID-19 remains a threat to our employees and communities.


Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to providing a diverse and inclusive workplace and career development opportunities to attract and retain talented employees. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, political affiliation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. We also maintain a robust compliance program rooted in our Code of Business Conduct, and Ethics, which provides policies and guidance on non-discrimination, anti-harassment, and equal employment opportunities.

We believe embracing diversity and inclusion is more than a matter of compliance. We recognize and appreciate the importance of creating an environment in which all employees feel valued, included, and empowered to do their best work and bring great ideas to the table. We believe a diverse and inclusive workforce provides the best opportunity to obtain unique perspectives, experiences, ideas, and solutions to help sustain our business success; a diverse and inclusive culture is the high-performance fuel that enhances our ability to innovate, execute and grow. To that end, we have begun implementingimplemented a long-term initiative for enhancing awareness of, and continuously improving our approach to, building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive culture. We have chartered a Diversity and Inclusion Committee comprised of employees across all company functions. We have engaged external training resources for our entire workforce, including interview training for hiring managers focused on ensuring a fair and systematic approach for recruiting and selecting individuals from diverse backgrounds for competitive job openings. We are intentional about proactively conducting outreach and recruitment at job fairs and other events hosted by diverse organizations. We are working withThrough our newly formed Diversity and Inclusion Committee towe provide new opportunities for our leadership and all employees to hold targeted discussions on issues related to diversity and inclusion, such as unconscious bias, disability inclusion, and equality through inclusive interaction. We are committed to continuous improvement in this critical area, evaluating more ways to sustain and strengthen our diverse and inclusive workforce.

Company Contact Information

Our corporate internet website is www.clr.com. Through the investor relations“Stakeholders” section of our website, we make available free of charge our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after the report is filed with or furnished to the SEC. For a current version of various corporate governance documents, including our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, Corporate Governance Guidelines, and the charters for various committees of our Board of Directors, please see our website. We intend to disclose amendments to, or waivers from, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics by posting to our website. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this report and you should not consider information contained on our website as part of this report.

We intend to use our website as a means of disclosing material information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under SEC Regulation FD. Such disclosures will be included on our website in the “Investors” section. Accordingly, investors should monitor that portion of our website in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts.

We electronically file periodic reports and proxy statements with the SEC.SEC as required by our senior note indentures. The SEC maintains an internet website that contains reports proxy and information statements, and other information registrants file with the SEC. The address of the SEC’s website is www.sec.gov.

Our principal executive offices are located at 20 N. Broadway, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102, and our telephone number at that address is (405) 234-9000.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

You should carefully consider each of the risks described below, together with all other information contained in this report in connection with an investment in our debt securities. If any of the following risks develop into actual events, our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows could be materially adversely affected, the trading price of our securities could decline and you may lose all or part of your investment.

affected.

Business and Operating Risks

Substantial declines in commodity prices or extended periods of low commodity prices adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and our ability to meet our capital expenditure needs and financial commitments.

The prices we receive for sales of our crude oil and natural gas production impact our revenue, profitability, cash flows, access to capital, capital budget, rate of growth, and carrying value of our properties. Crude oil and natural gas are commodities and prices are subject to wide fluctuations in response to relatively minor changes in supply and demand. Historically, the markets for crude oil and natural gas have been volatile and unpredictable and commodity prices will likely remain volatile in the future. Our future crude oil production and a portion of our future natural gas production is unhedged as of the time of this filing and is exposed to continued volatility in market prices, whether favorable or unfavorable.

The prices we receive for sales of our production depend on numerous factors beyond our control. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

worldwide, domestic, and regional economic conditions impacting the supply of, and demand for, crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids;
the actions of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) and other petroleum producing nations;
the nature, extent, and impact of domestic and foreign governmental laws, regulations, and taxation, including environmental laws and regulations governing the imposition of trade restrictions and tariffs;
executive, regulatory or legislative actions by Congress, the Biden Administration, or states in which we operate;
geopolitical events and conditions, including domestic political uncertainty or foreign regime changes that impact government energy policies;
the level of global, national, and regional crude oil and natural gas exploration and production activities;
the level of global, national, and regional crude oil and natural gas inventories, which may be impacted by economic sanctions applied to certain producing nations;
the level and effect of speculative trading in commodity futures markets;
the relative strength of the United States dollar compared to foreign currencies;
the price and quantity of imports of foreign crude oil;
the price and quantity of exports of crude oil or liquefied natural gas from the United States;
military and political conditions in, or affecting other, crude oil-producing and natural gas-producing nations;nations, including the continuation of, or any increase in the severity of, the conflict in Ukraine, Israel and Palestine and the Middle East;
localized supply and demand fundamentals;
the cost and availability, proximity and capacity of transportation, processing, storage and refining facilities for various quantities and grades of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids;
adverse climatic conditions, natural disasters, and national and global health epidemics and concerns, including the COVID-19 pandemic;concerns;
technological advances affecting energy production and consumption;
the effect of worldwide energy conservation and greenhouse gas emission limitations or other environmental protection efforts;
the impact arising from increasing attention to environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) matters; and
the price and availability of alternative fuels or other energy sources.
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Sustained material declines in commodity prices reduce cash flows available for capital expenditures, repayment of indebtedness and other corporate purposes; may limit our ability to borrow money or raise additional capital; and may reduce our proved reserves and the amount of crude oil and natural gas we can economically produce.

In addition to reducing our revenue, cash flows and earnings, depressed prices for crude oil and/or natural gas may adversely affect us in a variety of other ways. If commodity prices decrease substantially, some of our exploration and development projects could become uneconomic, and we may also have to make significant downward adjustments to our estimated proved reserves and our

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estimates of the present value of those reserves. If these price effects occur, or if our estimates of production or economic factors change, accounting rules may require us to write down the carrying value of our crude oil and/or natural gas properties.

Lower commodity prices may also lead to reductions in our drilling and completion programs, which may result in insufficient production to satisfy our transportation and processing commitments. If production is not sufficient to meet our commitments we would incur deficiency fees that would need to be paid absent any cash inflows generated from the sale of production.

Lower commodity prices may also reduce our access to capital and lead to a downgrade or other negative rating action with respect to our credit rating. A downgrade of our credit rating could negatively impact our cost of capital, increase borrowing costs under our revolving credit facility and term loan, and limit our ability to access debt capital markets and execute aspects of our business plans. As a result, substantial declines in commodity prices or extended periods of low commodity prices may materially and adversely affect our future business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity and ability to meet our capital expenditure needs and commitments.

The ability or willingness of Saudi Arabia and other members of OPEC, and other oil exporting nations, including Russia, to set and maintain production levels has a significant impact on crude oil prices.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries ("OPEC")

OPEC is an intergovernmental organization that seeks to manage the price and supply of crude oil on the global energy market. Actions taken by OPEC members, including those taken alongside other oil exporting nations such as Russia, may have a significant impact on global oil supply and pricing. There can be no assurance that OPEC members and other oil exporting nations will comply with agreed-upon production targets, agree to further production targets in the future, or utilize other actions to support and stabilize oil prices, nor can there be any assurance they will not increase production or deploy other actions aimed at reducing oil prices. Uncertainty regarding future actions to be taken by OPEC members or other oil exporting countries could lead to increased volatility in the price of oil, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

Our business operations, financial position, results of operations, and cash flows have been and may continue to be materially and adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted, and may continue to negatively impact, the global economy which has led to, among other things, reduced global demand for crude oil, disruption of global supply chains, and significant volatility and disruption of financial and commodity markets. The adverse effects of COVID-19 have included and may in the future include the following:
Reduced crude oil prices;

Limitations on storage and transportation capacity and an inability to market our production;

Curtailment or shutting in of production;
Delay or cessation of drilling and completion projects;
Insufficient production to satisfy transportation and processing commitments;
Impairment of assets;
Downgrades or other negative credit rating actions resulting in increased borrowing costs;
An inability to develop acreage before lease expiration;
A reduction in the volume and value of proved reserves from price declines, changes in drilling programs, and the effects of shutting in production;
Increased difficulty in our ability to repay or refinance indebtedness, increase our credit facility commitments, borrow money, or raise capital;
Disruptions in energy industry supply chains and increased rates of inflation;
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Credit losses due to insolvency of customers, joint interest owners, and counterparties;
Cyber incidents or information security breaches resulting in information theft, data corruption, operational disruption, and/or financial loss as a consequence of employees accessing information from remote work locations; and
Shortages of drilling rigs, well completion crews, field services, personnel, and equipment in future periods of commodity price recovery.
The future impact of the pandemic on global and local economies and our business will continue to depend on future developments such as the emergence of future variant strains of COVID-19, the availability and distribution of effective medical treatments and vaccines, vaccination rates, as well as government-imposed restrictions or mandates, all of which are uncertain and cannot be predicted.
Drilling for and producing crude oil and natural gas are high risk activities with many uncertainties that could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. We may not be insured for, or our insurance may be inadequate to protect us against, these risks.

Our future financial condition and results of operations depend on the success of our exploration, development and production activities. Our crude oil and natural gas exploration and production activities are subject to numerous risks, including the risk that drilling will not result in commercially viable crude oil or natural gas production. Our decisions to purchase, explore, or develop prospects or properties will depend in part on the evaluation of data obtained through geophysical and geological analyses, production data, and engineering studies, the results of which are often inconclusive or subject to varying interpretations. Our cost of drilling, completing and operating wells may be uncertain before drilling commences.

In this report, we describe some of our current prospects and plans to develop our key operating areas.

Our management has specifically identified prospects and scheduled drilling locations as an estimation of our future multi-year drilling activities on our existing acreage. Our ability to drill and develop these locations is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties as described herein. If future drilling results do not establish sufficient reserves to achieve an economic return, we may curtail our drilling and completion activities. Prospects we decide to drill that do not produce crude oil or natural gas in expected quantities may adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, and rates of return on capital employed. The use of seismic data and other technologies and the study of producing fields in the same area will not enable us to know conclusively prior to drilling whether crude oil or natural gas will be present in expected or economically producible quantities. We cannot assure you the wells we drill will be as productive as anticipated or whether the analogies we draw from other wells, more fully explored prospects, or producing fields will be applicable to our drilling prospects. Because of these uncertainties, we do not know if our potential drilling locations will ever be drilled or if we will be able to produce crude oil or natural gas from these or any other potential drilling locations in sufficient quantities to achieve an economic return.

Risks we face while drilling include, but are not limited to, failing to place our well bore in the desired target producing zone; not staying in the desired drilling zone while drilling horizontally through the formation; failing to run our casing the entire length of the well bore; and not being able to run tools and other equipment consistently through the horizontal well bore. Risks we face while completing our wells include, but are not limited to, not being able to fracture stimulate the planned number of stages; failing to run tools the entire length of the well bore during completion operations; not successfully cleaning out the well bore after completion of the final fracture stimulation stage; increased seismicity in areas near our completion activities; unintended interference of completion activities performed by us or by third parties with nearby operated or non-operated wells being drilled, completed, or producing; and failure of our optimized completion techniques to yield expected levels of production.

Further, many factors may occur that cause us to curtail, delay or cancel scheduled drilling and completion projects, including but not limited to:

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abnormal pressure or irregularities in geological formations;
shortages of or delays in obtaining equipment or qualified personnel;
shortages of or delays in obtaining components used in fracture stimulation processes such as water and proppants;
delays associated with suspending our operations to accommodate nearby drilling or completion operations being conducted by other operators;
mechanical difficulties, fires, explosions, equipment failures or accidents, including ruptures of pipelines or storage facilities, or train derailments;
restrictions on the use of underground injection wells for disposing of waste water from oil and gas activities;
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political events, public protests, civil disturbances, terrorist acts or cybercybersecurity attacks;
decreases in, or extended periods of low, crude oil and natural gas prices;
title problems;
environmental hazards, such as uncontrollable flows of crude oil, natural gas, brine, well fluids, hydraulic fracturing fluids, toxic gas or other pollutants into the environment, including groundwater and shoreline contamination;
adverse climatic conditions and natural disasters;
spillage or mishandling of crude oil, natural gas, brine, well fluids, hydraulic fracturing fluids, toxic gas or other pollutants by us or by third party service providers;
limitations in infrastructure, including transportation, processing, refining and exportation capacity, or markets for crude oil and natural gas; and
delays imposed by or resulting from compliance with regulatory requirements including permitting.

Any of the above risks could adversely affect our ability to conduct operations or result in substantial losses to us as a result of:

injury or loss of life;
damage to or destruction of property, natural resources and equipment;
pollution and other environmental damage;
regulatory investigations and penalties;
suspension of our operations;
repair and remediation costs; and
litigation.

litigation.

We are not insured against all risks associated with our business. We may elect to not obtain insurance if we believe the cost of available insurance is excessive relative to the risks presented or for other reasons. In addition, pollution and environmental risks are generally not fully insurable.

Losses and liabilities arising from any of the above events could hinder our ability to conduct normal operations and could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Reserve estimates depend on many assumptions that may turn out to be inaccurate. The present value of future net revenues from our proved reserves will not necessarily be the same as the current market value of our estimated crude oil and natural gas reserves. Any material inaccuracies in our reserve estimates or underlying assumptions will materially affect the quantities and present value of our reserves. The Company’sCompany's current estimates of reserves could change, potentially in material amounts, in the future due to changes in commodity prices, business strategies, and other factors. Additionally, unless we replace our crude oil and natural gas reserves, our total reserves and production will decline, which could adversely affect our cash flows and results of operations.

The process of estimating crude oil and natural gas reserves is complex and inherently imprecise. It requires interpretation of available technical data and many assumptions, including assumptions relating to current and future economic conditions, production rates, drilling and operating expenses, and commodity prices. Any significant inaccuracy in these interpretations or assumptions could materially affect our estimated quantities and present value of our reserves. See Part I, Item 1. Business—Crude Oil and Natural Gas Operations—Proved Reserves for information about our estimated crude oil and natural gas reserves standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows, and PV-10 as of December 31, 2021.2023.

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In order to prepare reserve estimates, we must project production rates and the amount and timing of development expenditures. We must also analyze available geological, geophysical, production and engineering data in preparing reserve estimates. The extent, quality and reliability of this data can vary which in turn can affect our ability to model the porosity, permeability and pressure relationships in unconventional resources. The process also requires economic assumptions, based on historical data projected into the future, about crude oil and natural gas prices, drilling and operating expenses, capital expenditures, taxes, and availability of funds.

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Actual future production, crude oil and natural gas sales prices, revenues, taxes, development expenditures, operating expenses and quantities of recoverable crude oil and natural gas reserves will vary and could vary significantly from our estimates. Any significant variance could materially affect the estimated quantities and present value of our reserves, which in turn could have an adverse effect on the value of our assets. In addition, we may remove or adjust estimates of proved reserves, potentially in material amounts, to reflect production history, results of exploration and development activities, changes in business strategies, prevailing crude oil and natural gas prices and other factors, some of which are beyond our control.

You should not assume the present value of future net revenues from our proved reserves is the current market value of our estimated crude oil and natural gas reserves. We base the estimated discounted future net revenues from proved reserves on the 12-month unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month commodity prices for the preceding twelve months. Actual future prices may be materially higher or lower than the average prices used in the calculations. In addition, the use of a 10% discount factor, which is required by the SEC to be used to calculate discounted future net revenues for reporting purposes, may not be the most appropriate discount factor based on interest rates in effect from time to time and risks associated with our reserves or the crude oil and natural gas industry. For the year ended December 31, 2021, average prices used to calculate our estimated proved reserves were $66.56 per Bbl for crude oil and $3.60 per MMBtu for natural gas ($62.19 per Bbl for crude oil and $3.46 per Mcf for natural gas adjusted for location and quality differentials). NYMEX WTI crude oil and Henry Hub natural gas first-day-of-the-month commodity prices for January 1, 2022 and February 1, 2022 averaged $81.71 per barrel and $4.65 per MMBtu, respectively. See Part I, Item 1. Business—Crude Oil and Natural Gas Operations—Proved Reserves—Proved Reserves, Standardized Measure, and PV-10 Sensitivities for proved reserve sensitivities under certain increasing and decreasing commodity price scenarios.

In addition, the development of our proved undeveloped reserves may take longer than anticipated and may not be ultimately developed or produced. At December 31, 2021,2023, approximately 45%49% of our total estimated proved reserves (by volume) were undeveloped. Recovery of undeveloped reserves requires significant capital expenditures and successful drilling operations. Our reserve estimates assume we can and will make these expenditures and conduct these operations successfully. These assumptions may not prove to be accurate. Our reserve report at December 31, 20212023 includes estimates of total future development costs over the next five years associated with our proved undeveloped reserves of approximately $7.7$11.4 billion. We cannot be certain the estimated costs of the development of these reserves are accurate, development will occur as scheduled, or the results of such development will be as estimated. If we choose not to spend the capital to develop these reserves, or if we are not otherwise able to successfully develop these reserves as a result of our inability to fund necessary capital expenditures or otherwise, we willmay be required to remove the associated volumes from our reported proved reserves. Proved undeveloped reserves generally must be drilled within five years from the date of initial booking under SEC reserve rules. Changes in the timing of development plans that impact our ability to develop such reserves in the required time frame have resulted, and will likelymay in the future result, in fluctuations in reserves between periods as reserves booked in one period may need to be removed in a subsequent period. In 2021, 57 MMBoe of proved undeveloped reserves were removed from our year-end reserve estimates associated with locations no longer scheduled to be drilled within five years from the date of initial booking due to the continual refinement of our drilling and development programs and reallocation of capital to areas providing the best opportunities to improve efficiencies, recoveries, and rates of return.

Additionally, unless production is established within the spacing units covering the undeveloped acres on which some of the locations are identified, the leases for such acreage will expire. If we are not able to renew leases before they expire, any proved undeveloped reserves associated with such leases will be removed from our proved reserves. The combined net acreage expiring in the next three years represents 37%36% of our total net undeveloped acreage at December 31, 2021. At that date, we had leases representing 83,937 net acres expiring in 2022, 62,251 net acres expiring in 2023, and 51,094 net acres expiring in 2024.

2023.

Furthermore, unless we conduct successful exploration, development and exploitation activities or acquire properties containing proved reserves, our proved reserves will decline as those reserves are produced. Producing crude oil and natural gas reservoirs are generally characterized by declining production rates that vary depending upon reservoir characteristics and other factors. Our future crude oil and natural gas reserves and production, and therefore our cash flows and results of operations, are highly dependent on our success in efficiently developing our current reserves and economically finding or acquiring additional recoverable reserves. We may not be able to develop, find or acquire sufficient additional reserves to replace our current and future production. If we are unable to replace our current and future production, the value of our reserves will decrease, and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Our business depends on crude oil and natural gas transportation, processing, refining, and export facilities, most of which are owned by third parties.

The value we receive for our crude oil and natural gas production depends in part on the availability, proximity and capacity of gathering, pipeline and rail systems and processing, refining, and export facilities owned by third parties. The inadequacy or unavailability of capacity on these systems and facilities could result in the shut-in of producing wells, the delay or

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discontinuance of development plans for properties, or higher operational costs associated with air quality compliance controls. Although we have some contractual control over the transportation of our products, changes in these business relationships or failure to obtain such services on acceptable terms could adversely affect our operations. If our production becomes shut-in for any of these or other reasons, we will be unable to realize revenue from those wells until other arrangements are made for the sale or delivery of our products and acreage lease terminations could result if production is shut-in for a prolonged period.

The disruption of transportation, processing, refining, or export facilities due to contractual disputes or litigation, labor disputes, maintenance, civil disturbances, international trade disputes, public protests, terrorist attacks, cybercybersecurity attacks, adverse climatic events, natural disasters, seismic events, health epidemics and concerns, changes in tax and energy policies, federal, state and international regulatory developments, changes in supply and demand, equipment failures or accidents, including pipeline and gathering system ruptures or train derailments, and general economic conditions could negatively impact our ability to achieve the most favorable prices for our crude oil and natural gas production. We have no control over when or if access to such facilities would be restored or the impact on prices in the areas we operate. A significant shut-in of production in connection with any of the

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aforementioned items could materially affect our cash flows, and if a substantial portion of the impacted production fulfills transportation or processing commitments or is hedged at lower than market prices, those commitments or financial hedges would have to be paid from borrowings in the absence of sufficient operating cash flows.

Our operated crude oil and natural gas production is ultimately transported to downstream market centers in the United States primarily using transportation facilities and equipment owned and operated by third parties. See Part I, Item 1. Business—Regulation of the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Industry for a discussion of regulations impacting the transportation of crude oil and natural gas. From time to time we may sell our operated crude oil production at market centers in the United States to third parties who then subsequently export and sell the crude oil in international markets. We do not currently own or operate infrastructure used to facilitate the transportation and exportation of crude oil; however, third party compliance with regulations that impact the transportation or exportation of our production may increase our costs of doing business and inhibit a third party's ability to transport and sell our production, whether domestically or internationally, the consequences of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

In response to a July 2020 U.S. District Court decision vacating the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”) grant of an easement to the Dakota Access Pipeline (“DAPL”) and issuance of an order requiring the Corps to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) for the pipeline, the Corps is currently conducting the court-ordered environmental review to determine the potential effects of the pipeline, including whether DAPL poses a threat to the drinking water supply of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. DAPL currently remainsThe Corps published a draft EIS on September 8, 2023 and anticipates issuing a final EIS in operation and, while the owners of DAPL appealed the District Court decision to the U.S. Supreme Court in September 2021, the Corps continues to conduct the review, which is estimated to be completed no later than November 2022.2024. Once the review is completed, the Corps will determine whether DAPL is safe to operate or must be shut down. There has not been any decision on whether the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the appeal andDAPL currently remains in operation, but we are unable to determine the outcome or the impact of these actions on DAPL in the future.

We utilize DAPL to transport a portion of our North regionBakken crude oil production to ultimate markets on the U.S. gulf coast. Our transportation commitment on the pipeline increased from 3,550 barrels per day tototals 30,000 barrels per day effective August 1, 2021 in conjunction with the completion of a DAPL expansion project. This commitmentwhich will continue through February 2026 at which time the commitment decreases to 26,450 barrels per day through July 2028.

If transportation capacity on DAPL becomes restricted or unavailable, we have the ability to utilize other third party pipelines or rail facilities to transport our Bakken crude oil production to market, although such alternatives may be more costly. A restriction of DAPL’sDAPL's takeaway capacity may have an impact on prices for Bakken-produced barrels and result in wider differentials relative to WTI benchmark prices in the future, the amount of which is uncertain.

Our exploration, development and exploitation projects require substantial capital expenditures. We may be unable to obtain needed capital or financing on acceptable terms, which could lead to a decline in our crude oil and natural gas reserves, production and revenues.

The crude oil and natural gas industry is capital intensive. We make and expect to continue to make substantial capital expenditures in our business for the exploration, development, exploitation, production and acquisition of crude oil and natural gas reserves. We have budgeted $2.30 billion for capital expenditures attributable to us in 2022, excluding acquisitions, of which approximately $1.80 billion is allocated to explorationmonitor and development activities. We may adjust our 2022 capital spending plans upward or downward depending on market conditions. Our 20222024 capital budget, based on our current expectations of commodity prices and costs, is expected to be funded from operating cash flows. However, the sufficiency of our cash flows from operations is subject to a number of variables, including but not limited to:

the prices at which crude oil and natural gas are sold;
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the volume of our proved reserves;
the volume of crude oil and natural gas we are able to produce and sell from existing wells; and
our ability to acquire, locate and produce new reserves;

If oil and gas industry conditions weaken as a result of low commodity prices or other factors, we may not be able to generate sufficient cash flows and may have limited ability to obtain the capital necessary to sustain our operations at current or planned levels. A decline in cash flows from operations may require us to revise our capital program or alterseek financing in banking or increasedebt capital markets to fund our capitalization substantially through the issuance of debt or equity securities.

operations.

We have a revolving credit facility with lender commitments totaling $2.0$2.255 billion that matures in October 2026. In the future, we may not be able to access adequate funding under our revolving credit facility if our lenders are unwilling or unable to meet their funding obligations or increase their commitments under the credit facility. Our lenders could decline to increase their commitments based on our financial condition, the financial condition of our industry or the economy as a whole or for other reasons beyond our control. Due to these and other factors, we cannot be certain that funding, if needed, will be available to the extent required or on terms we find acceptable. If operating cash flows are insufficient and we are unable to access funding or execute debt capital transactions when needed on acceptable terms, we may not be able to fully implement our business plans, fund our capital program and commitments, complete new property acquisitions to replace reserves, take advantage of business opportunities, respond to

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competitive pressures, or refinance debt obligations as they come due. Should any of the above risks occur, they could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The unavailability or high cost of drilling rigs, well completion crews, water, equipment, supplies, personnel and field services could adversely affect our ability to execute our exploration and development plans within budget and on a timely basis.

In the regions in which we operate, there have been shortages of drilling rigs, well completion crews, equipment, personnel, field services, and supplies, including key components used in fracture stimulation processes such as water and proppants, as well as high costs associated with these critical components of our operations. With current technology, water is an essential component of drilling and hydraulic fracturing processes. The availability of water sources and disposal facilities is becoming increasingly competitive, constrained, subject to social and regulatory scrutiny, and impacted by third-party supply chains over which we may have limited control. Limitations or restrictions on our ability to secure, transport, and use sufficient amounts of water, including limitations resulting from natural causes such as drought, could adversely impact our operations. In some cases, water may need to be obtained from new sources and transported to drilling or completion sites, resulting in increased costs.

The demand for qualified and experienced field service providers and associated equipment, supplies, and materials can fluctuate significantly, often in correlation with commodity prices or supply chain disruptions, causing periodic shortages and/or higher costs. For instance, recent supply chain disruptions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic have led to shortages of certain materials and equipment and increased costs. While we have not yet experienced material shortages in supply as a resultAny of these disruptions, if they become prolonged or expand in scope the resulting shortages or higherfactors may cause costs could delay the execution of our drilling and development plans or cause us to incur expenditures not provided for in our capital budget or to not achieve the rates of return we are targeting for our development program, all ofrise which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We have been an early entrant into new or emerging plays. As a result, our drilling results in these areas are uncertain, and the value of our undeveloped acreage will decline if drilling results are unsuccessful.

While our costs to acquire undeveloped acreage in new or emerging plays have generally been less than those of later entrants into a developing play, our drilling results in new or emerging areas are more uncertain than drilling results in developed and producing areas. Since new or emerging plays have limited or no production history, we are unable to use past drilling results in those areas to help predict our future drilling results. As a result, our cost of drilling, completing and operating wells in these areas may be higher than initially expected, and the value of our undeveloped acreage in the emerging areas may decline if drilling results are unsuccessful.

We have limited control over the activities on properties we do not operate.

Some of the properties in which we have an ownership interest are operated by other companies and involve third-party working interest owners. As of December 31, 2021,2023, non-operated properties represented 14%13% of our estimated proved developed reserves, 7%8% of our estimated proved undeveloped reserves, and 11%10% of our estimated total proved reserves. We have limited ability to influence or control the operations or future development of non-operated properties, including the

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marketing of oil and gas production, compliance with environmental, occupational safety and health and other regulations, or the amount of expenditures required to fund the development and operation of such properties. Moreover, we are dependent on other working interest owners on these projects to fund their contractual share of capital and operating expenditures. These limitations and our dependence on the operators and other working interest owners for these projects could cause us to incur unexpected future costs and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.


We may be subject to risks in connection with acquisitions, divestitures, and joint development arrangements.

As part of our business strategy, we have made and expect to continue making acquisitions of oil and gas properties, divest assets, and enter into joint development arrangements. The successful acquisition of oil and gas properties requires an assessment of several factors, including but not limited to:

reservoir modeling and evaluation of recoverable reserves;
future crude oil and natural gas prices and location and quality differentials;
the quality of the title to acquired properties;
the ability to access future drilling locations;
availability and cost of gathering, processing, and transportation facilities;
availability and cost of drilling and completion equipment and of skilled personnel;
future development and operating costs and potential environmental and other liabilities; and
regulatory, permitting and similar matters.

The accuracy of these acquisition assessments is inherently uncertain. In connection with these assessments, we perform a review, which we believe to be generally consistent with industry practices, of the subject properties. Our review will not reveal all existing or

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potential problems nor will it permit us to become sufficiently familiar with the properties to fully assess their deficiencies and capabilities prior to acquisition. Inspections may not always be performed on every property, and environmental problems are not necessarily observable even when an inspection is undertaken. Even when problems are identified, the seller of the subject properties may be unwilling or unable to provide effective contractual protection against all or part of the problems. We sometimes are not entitled to contractual indemnification for environmental liabilities and acquire properties on an “as is” basis. Significant acquisitions and other strategic transactions may involve other risks that may impact our business, including:

diversion of our management’smanagement's attention to evaluating, negotiating and integrating significant acquisitions and strategic transactions;
the challenge and cost of integrating acquired assets and operations with our preexisting assets and operations while carrying on our ongoing business; and
the failure to realize the full benefit that we expect in estimated proved reserves, production volume, cost savings from operating synergies or other benefits anticipated from an acquisition, or to realize these benefits within the expected time frame.

As a result of our 2021 propertystrategy of assessing and executing on accretive acquisitions, in the Permian Basin and Powder River Basin, the size and geographic footprint of our business has increased and may continue to do so, including into new jurisdictions. Our future success will depend, in part, on our ability to manage our expanded business, which may pose challenges including those related to the management and monitoring of new operations and basins and associated increased costs and complexity. We believe theseour acquisitions will complement our business strategies by delivering enhanced free cash flows and corporate returns, and shareholder value, among other things. However, the anticipated benefits of the transactions may be less significant than expected or may take longer to achieve than anticipated. If we are not able to achieve these objectives and realize the anticipated benefits within anticipated timing or at all, our business, financial condition and operating results may be adversely affected.

In addition, from time to time we may sell or otherwise dispose of certain assets as a result of an evaluation of our asset portfolio or to provide cash flow for use in reducing debt and enhancing liquidity. Such divestitures have inherent risks, including possible delays in closing, the risk of lower-than-expected sales proceeds for the disposed assets, and potential post-closing adjustments and claims for indemnification. Additionally, volatility and unpredictability in commodity prices may result in fewer potential bidders, unsuccessful sales efforts, and a higher risk that buyers may seek to terminate a transaction prior to

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closing. The occurrence of any of the matters described above could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Volatility in the financial markets or in global economic conditions, including consequences resulting from domestic political uncertainty, geopolitical events, international trade disputes and tariffs, and health epidemics could adversely impact our business.

United States and global economies may experience periods of volatility and uncertainty from time to time, resulting in unstable consumer confidence, diminished consumer demand and spending, diminished liquidity and credit availability, and inability to access capital markets. In recent years, certain global economies have experienced periods of political uncertainty, slowing economic growth, rising interest rates, inflation, changing economic sanctions, health-related concerns, and currency volatility. These global macroeconomic conditions may have a negative impact on commodity prices and the availability and cost of materials used in our industry, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

In recent years, the United States government has initiated new tariffs on certain imported goods and has imposed increases to certain existing tariffs on imported goods. In response, certain foreign governments, most notably China, imposed retaliatory tariffs on certain goods their countries import from the United States. These and other events, including the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union and the COVID-19 pandemic, have contributed to increased uncertainty for domestic and global economies. Additionally, growing trends toward populism and political polarization globally and in the U.S. have resulted in uncertainty regarding potential changes in regulations, fiscal policy, social programs, domestic and foreign relations, and government energy policies, which could pose a potential threat to domestic and global economic growth.

Trade restrictions or other governmental actions related to tariffs or trade policies have impacted in the past, and have the potential to further impact, our business and industry by increasing the cost of materials used in various aspects of upstream, midstream, and downstream oil and gas activities. Furthermore, tariffs and any quantitative import restrictions, particularly those impacting the cost and availability of steel and aluminum, may cause disruption in the energy industry’sindustry's supply chain, resulting in the delay or cessation of drilling and completion efforts or the postponement or cancellation of new pipeline transportation projects the U.S. industry is relying on to transport its onshore production to market, as well as endangering U.S. liquefied natural gas export projects resulting in negative impacts on natural gas production. Additionally, trade and/or tariff disputes have impacted in the past, and have the potential to further impact, domestic and global economies overall, which could result in reduced demand for crude oil and natural gas. Any of the above consequences could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

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A cybercybersecurity incident could result in information theft, data corruption, operational disruption, and/or financial loss.

Our business and industry has become increasingly dependent on digital technologies to conduct day-to-day operations including certain exploration, development and production activities. We rely heavily on digital technologies, including information and operational systems and related infrastructure as well as cloud applications and services, to process and record financial and operating data; analyze seismic, drilling, completion and production information; manage production equipment; conduct reservoir modeling and reserves estimation; communicate with employees and business associates; perform compliance reporting and many other activities. The availability and integrity of these systems are essential for us to conduct our operations. Our business associates, including employees, vendors, service providers, financial institutions, and transporters, processors, and purchasers of our production are also heavily dependent on digital technology.

As dependence on digital technologies has increased, cybercybersecurity incidents, including deliberate attacks or unintentional events, have also increased.evolved and increased in frequency. Cybersecurity attacks are becoming more sophisticated and include, but are not limited to, malicious software, surveillance, credential stuffing, spear phishing, social engineering, use of deepfakes (i.e., highly realistic synthetic media generated by artificial intelligence), ransomware attacks, attempts to gain unauthorized access to data, and other electronic security breaches. Our technologies, systems, networks, and those of our business associates have been and continue to be the target of cybercybersecurity attacks or information security breaches, which could lead to disruptions in critical systems, unauthorized release or theft of confidential or protected information, corruption of data, interruption of operating activities, challenges in maintaining our books and records, environmental damage, communication interruptions or other disruptions of our business operations. For example, there have been well-publicized cases in recent years involving cybercybersecurity attacks on software vendors utilized by the Company. In response to those incidents, we deployed our cybersecurity incidence response protocols and promptly took steps to contain and remediate potential vulnerabilities. We believe there have been noAs of the date of this report, we are not aware of any material compromises to our operations as a result of the attacks; however, other similar attacks in the future could have a significant negative impact on our systems and operations.

A cybercybersecurity attack involving our information or operational systems and related infrastructure, and/or that of our business associates and customers, could disrupt our business and negatively impact our operations in a variety of ways, including but not limited to unauthorized access to, or theft of, confidential, sensitive or proprietary information, and data corruption, interruption of operating activities, challenges in maintaining our books and records, environmental damage, communication interruptions or operational disruption that adversely affects our ability to carry on our business. Any such event could damage our reputation and lead to financial losses from remedial actions, loss of business, legal claims or proceedings, litigation costs, regulatory investigations and enforcement, penalties and fines, increased costs for compliance requirements or potential liability, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. In addition, certain cybercybersecurity incidents such as reconnaissance of our

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systems and those of our business associates, may remain undetected for an extended period, which could result in significant consequences. We do not maintain specialized insurance for possible liability resulting from cybercybersecurity attacks due to lack of coverage for what we consider sensitive and proprietary data.

While the Company has well-established cyber securitymaintains cybersecurity systems and controls, disclosure controls and procedures and incident response protocols, these systems, controls, procedures and protocols may not identify all risks and threats we face, or may fail to protect data or mitigate the adverse effects of data loss.

To our knowledge No security measure is infallible.

As of the date of this report, we havedo not believe that the Company has experienced any material losses relating to cybercybersecurity attacks; however, there can be no assurance that we will not suffer material losses in the future either as a result of a breach of our systems or those of our business associates. As cybercybersecurity threats continue to evolve, we may be required to expend significant additional resources to continue to modify or enhance our protective measures or to investigate and remediate any information security vulnerabilities. Additionally, the growth of cybercybersecurity attacks has resulted in evolving legal and compliance matters which may impose significant costs that are likely to increase over time.

Competition in the crude oil and natural gas industry is intense, making it more difficult for us to acquire properties, market crude oil and natural gas and secure trained personnel.

Our ability to acquire additional prospects and find and develop reserves in the future will depend on our ability to evaluate and select suitable properties and to consummate transactions in a highly competitive environment for acquiring properties, securing long-term transportation and processing capacity, marketing crude oil and natural gas, and securing trained personnel. Also, there is substantial competition for capital available for investment in the crude oil and natural gas industry. Our competitors may possess and employ financial, technical and personnel resources greater than ours. Those companies may be able to pay more for productive crude oil and natural gas properties and exploratory prospects and to evaluate, bid for and purchase a greater number of properties and prospects than our financial or personnel resources permit. Our inability to effectively compete in this environment could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

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Severe climaticweather events and natural disasters could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Severe climaticweather events and natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, seismic events, floods, blizzards, extreme cold, drought, and ice storms affecting the areas in which we operate, including our corporate headquarters, could cause disruptions and in some cases suspension of our or our third party service providers’providers' operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Climate changes could result in increased frequency and severity of these climatic events, as well as chronic shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns. The consequences of such events may include the evacuation of personnel; damage to and disruption of production equipment, drilling rigs, or gathering, transportation, processing, storage, refining, and export facilities; delivery stoppages by third party vendors upon whom we rely upon for goods and services; the shut-in of production resulting from an inability to transport crude oil or natural gas products to market centers and other factors; an inability to access well sites; destruction of information and communication systems; and the disruption of administrative and management processes, any of which could hinder our ability to conduct normal operations and could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Our planning for normal climatic variation, natural disasters, insurance programs and emergency recovery plans may inadequately mitigate the effects of such climatic conditions, and not all such effects can be predicted, eliminated or insured against. Longer term changes in temperature and precipitation patterns may result in changes to the amount, timing, or location of demand for energy or our production. While our consideration of changing climatic conditions and inclusion of safetywe consider these factors in design is intended to reduce the uncertainties that climate change and other events may potentially introduce, our ability to mitigate the adverse impacts of these events depends in part on the effectiveness of our facilities and our disaster preparedness and response and business continuity planning, whichwe may not have consideredconsider or be preparedprepare for every eventuality.

Terrorist activities could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Terrorist attacks and the threat of terrorist attacks, whether domestic or foreign attacks, as well as military or other actions takeneventuality in response to these acts, could cause instability in the global financial and energy markets. Continued hostilities abroad and the occurrence or threat of terrorist attacks in the United States or other countries could adversely affect the global economy in unpredictable ways, including the disruption of energy supplies and markets, increased volatility in commodity prices or the possibility that infrastructure we rely on could be a direct target or an indirect casualty of an act of terrorism. Any of these events could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
such planning.

Financial Risks

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Our derivative activities could result in financial losses or reduce our earnings.
To achieve more predictable cash flows and reduce our exposure to adverse fluctuations in commodity prices, from time to time we may enter into derivative instruments for a potentially significant portion of our production. See Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 6. Derivative Instruments for a summary of our commodity derivative positions as of December 31, 2021. Additionally, see Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Derivative Instruments for a summary of additional derivative instruments entered into subsequent to December 31, 2021. We do not designate our derivative instruments as hedges for accounting purposes and we record all derivatives on our balance sheet at fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recognized in earnings. Accordingly, our earnings may fluctuate materially as a result of changes in commodity prices and resulting changes in the fair value of any outstanding derivatives.
Derivative instruments expose us to the risk of financial loss in certain circumstances, including when:
production is less than the volume covered by the derivative instruments;
the counterparty to the derivative instrument defaults on its contractual obligations; or
there is an increase in the differential between the underlying price in the derivative instrument and actual prices received.
In addition, derivative arrangements limit the benefit we would otherwise receive from increases in commodity prices. Our decision on the quantity and price at which we choose to hedge our future production is based in part on our view of current and future market conditions and our desire to stabilize cash flows necessary for the development of our proved reserves. We may choose not to hedge future production if the pricing environment for certain time periods is deemed to be unfavorable. Additionally, we may choose to settle derivative positions prior to the expiration of their contractual maturities.
Our revolving credit facility, term loan, and indentures for our senior notes contain certain covenants and restrictions, that may inhibit our ability to make certain investments, incur additional indebtedness and engage in certain other transactions,the violation of which could adversely affect our ability to meet our goals.
business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our revolving credit facility containsand term loan contain restrictive covenants with which we must comply, including covenants that may limit our ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, incur liens, engage in sale and leaseback transactions, and merge, consolidate or sell all or substantially all of our assets. Our revolving credit facility and term loan also containscontain a requirement that we maintain a consolidated net debt to total capitalization ratio of no greater than 0.65 to 1.00. This ratio represents the ratio of net debt (calculated as total face value of debt plus outstanding letters of credit less cash and cash equivalents) divided by the sum of net debt plus total shareholders’shareholders' equity plus, to the extent resulting in a reduction of total shareholders’shareholders' equity, the amount of any non-cash impairment charges incurred, net of any tax effect, after June 30, 2014. At December 31, 2021,2023, we had $500$210 million of outstanding borrowings and $2.04 billion of available borrowing capacity on our credit facility and our consolidated net debt to total capitalization ratio, as defined, was 0.43.0.37.

The indentures governing our senior notes contain covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to create liens securing certain indebtedness, enter into certain sale and leaseback transactions, and consolidate, merge or transfer certain assets.

The covenants in our revolving credit facility and senior note indentures may restrict our ability to expand or pursue our business strategies.

Our ability to comply with the provisions of our revolving credit facility, term loan or senior note indentures may be impacted by changes in economic or business conditions, results of operations, or events beyond our control. The breach of any covenant could result in a default under our revolving credit facility, term loan or senior note indentures, in which case, depending on the actions taken by the lenders or trustees thereunder or their successors or assignees, could result in all amounts outstanding thereunder, together with accrued interest, to be due and payable. If our indebtedness is accelerated, our assets may not be sufficient to repay in full such indebtedness, which would have a material adverse effect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

The inability of joint interest owners, significant customers, and service providers to meet their obligations to us may adversely affect our financial results.

Our principal exposure to credit risk is through the sale of our crude oil and natural gas production, which we market to energy marketing companies, crude oil refining companies, and natural gas gathering and processing companies ($1.11.2 billion in receivables at December 31, 2021)2023) and our joint interest and other receivables ($279351 million at December 31, 2021)2023). These counterparties may experience insolvency or liquidity issues and may not be able to meet their obligations and liabilities owed to us, particularly during a period of depressed commodity prices. Defaults by these counterparties could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.

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Additionally, we rely on field service companies and midstream companies for services associated with the drilling and completion of wells and for certain midstream services. A prolonged worsening of the commodity price environment may result in a material adverse impact on the liquidity and financial position of the parties with whom we do business, resulting in delays in payment of, or non-payment of, amounts owed to us, delays in operations, loss of access to equipment and facilities and similar impacts. These events could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Legal and Regulatory Risks

Laws, regulations, guidance, executive actions or other regulatory initiatives regarding environmental protection and occupational safety and health could increase our costs of doing business and result in operating restrictions, delays, or cancellations in the drilling and completion of crude oil and natural gas wells, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

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Our crude oil and natural gas exploration and production operations are subject to stringent federal, state and local legal requirements governing environmental protection and occupational safety and health. These requirements may take the form of laws, regulations, executive actions and various other legal initiatives. See Part I, Item 1. Business—Regulation of the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Industry for a discussionsummary of thosecertain significant environmental and occupational safety and health legal requirements that govern us, including with respectus. Such requirements include those pertaining to air emissions, including natural gas flaring limitations and ozone standards; climate change, including restriction of methane or other greenhouse gas emissions and suspensions of, or more stringent limitations upon, new leasing and permitting on federal lands and waters; hydraulic fracturing; waste water disposal regulatory developments;disposal; occupational safety standards, and other risks or regulations relating to environmental protection. One or more of these legal requirements could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

We are subject to certain complex federal, state and local laws and regulations in areas other than environmental protection and occupational safety and health that could result in increased costs, operating restrictions or delays, limitations or prohibitions on our ability to develop and produce reserves, or expose us to significant liabilities.

Our crude oil and natural gas exploration and production operations are subject to complex and stringent federal, state and local laws and regulations in areas other than environmental protection and occupational safety and health, including with respect to production, sales and transport of crude oil, NGLs and natural gas, and employees and labor relations. Following is a discussion of certain significant laws, rulesrelations, and regulations that affect us in these areas in which we operate. See Part I, Item 1. Business—Regulation of the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Industry for further discussion of the regulations that affect us.

Taxation of oil and gas activities—taxation. For instance, President Biden's administration is pursuinghas pursued, and may continue to pursue, legislative changes to eliminate or defer certain key U.S. federal income tax deductions historically available to oil and gas exploration and production companies, including: (i) the elimination of deductions for intangible drilling and exploration and development costs; (ii) a repeal of the percentage depletion allowance for crude oil and natural gas properties; (iii) the elimination of the deduction for certain production activities; and (iv) an extension of the amortization period for certain geological and geophysical expenditures. It is uncertain whether these or other changes being pursued will be enacted or, if enacted, how soon any such changes would become effective.

Additionally, in August 2022 President Biden signed the IRA into law, which provides various tax provisions, incentives, and tax credits aimed at curbing inflation by lowering prescription drug costs, health care costs, and energy costs. The passage of such legislation or any other similar change in U.S. federal income tax law could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Dodd-Frank Act derivative regulations—In 2010, the U.S. Congress adopted the Dodd-Frank Act, which,IRA introduces, among other provisions, established federal oversightthings, (i) a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax on profits for corporations whose average annual adjusted financial statement income for any consecutive three-year period ending after December 31, 2021 exceeds $1 billion and regulation(ii) a methane emissions charge, effective January 1, 2024, on specific types of the over-the-counter derivatives market. If we do not qualify for an end user exemption from the Dodd-Frank Act requirements, the regulations could increase the costoil and gas production facilities that report emissions in excess of derivative contracts, reduce the availability of derivatives to protect against risks we encounter, reduce our ability to monetize or restructure existing derivative contracts, lead to fewer potential counterparties, and increase our exposure to less creditworthy counterparties, any of which could limit our desire and ability to implement commodity price risk management strategies. Certain other regulations, including regulations related to capital requirements, which are yet to be implemented, may have an effect that results in the reduction of the number of products and counterparties in the over-the-counter derivatives market available to us and could result in significant additional costs being passed through to us. If our use of derivatives becomes limited as a result of the regulations, our results of operations may become more volatile and our cash flows may be less predictable. Aspects of the Dodd-Frank rulemaking have been finalized in certain areas, but other areas have not been finalized or implemented and the ultimate effect of these regulations on our business remains uncertain.applicable thresholds.

Failure to comply with the above and other laws and regulations, including those summarized in Part I, Item 1. Business—Regulation of the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Industry, may trigger a variety of administrative, civil and criminal enforcement investigations or actions, including investigatory actions, the assessment of monetary penalties, the imposition of remedial requirements, the issuance of orders or judgments limiting or enjoining future operations, criminal sanctions, or litigation. Moreover, changes to existing laws or regulations or changes in interpretations of laws and regulations may unfavorably impact us or the infrastructure used for transporting our products. Similarly, changes in regulatory policies and

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priorities including those in response to the January 2021 change in U.S. presidential administrations and shift in control of Congress, could result in the imposition of new laws or regulations that adversely impact us or our industry. Any such changes could increase our operating costs, delay our operations or otherwise alter the way we conduct our business, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Our operations and the operations of our customers are subject to a number of risks arising out of the threat of climate change, energy conservation measures, or initiatives that stimulate demand for alternative forms of energy that could result in increased operating costs, limit the areas in which oil and natural gas production may occur, and reduce the demand for the crude oil and natural gas we produce.

Risks arising out of the threat of climate change, fuel conservation measures, governmental requirements for renewable energy resources, increasing consumer demand for alternative forms of energy, and technological advances in fuel economy and energy generation devices may create new competitive conditions that result in reduced demand for the crude oil and natural gas we produce. The potential impact of changing demand for crude oil and natural gas services and products may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Additionally, variability in power generation output from alternative energy facilities that are dependent on weather conditions, such as wind and solar, may result in intermittent changes in demand for the commodities we produce which could lead to increased volatility in commodity prices. See Part I, Item 1. Business—Regulation of the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Industry for further discussion relating to risks arising out of the threat of climate change and emission of greenhouse gases, climate change activism, energy conservation measures, initiatives that stimulate demand for alternative forms of energy, and physical effects of climate change. One or more of these developments could have an adverse effect on our assets and operations.

We are involved in legal proceedings that could result in substantial liabilities.
Like other similarly-situated oil and gas companies, we are, from time to time, involved in various legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business including, but not limited to, commercial disputes, claims from royalty and surface owners, property damage claims, personal injury claims, regulatory compliance matters, disputes with tax authorities, and other matters. The outcome of such legal matters often cannot be predicted with certainty. We vigorously defend ourselves in all such matters. However, if our efforts to defend ourselves are not successful, it is possible the outcome of one or more such proceedings could result in substantial liability, penalties, sanctions, judgments, consent decrees, or orders requiring a change in our business practices, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Judgments and estimates to determine accruals related to legal and other proceedings could change from period to period, and such changes could be material.


Increasing scrutiny on environmental, social, and corporate governance matters may impact our business.

Companies across all industries are facing increasing scrutiny from a wide array of stakeholders related to their ESG practices. ESG standards are evolving and if we are perceived to have not responded appropriately to certain standards, regardless of whether there is a legal requirement to do so, we may suffer from reputational damage and our business or financial condition, and/or stock price could be materially and

21


adversely affected. Increasing attention to climate change, increasing societal expectations on companies to address climate change, and potential consumer use of alternative forms of energy may result in increased costs, reduced demand for hydrocarbon products, reduced profits, increased investigations and litigation, and negative impacts on our stock price, our ability to recruit necessary talent, and our access to debt capital markets.

In addition, organizations

Institutional lenders who provide financing for fossil fuel energy companies also have become more attentive to sustainable lending practices that favor “clean” power sources such as wind and solar, making those sources more attractive for investment, and some of them may elect not to provide informationfunding for fossil fuel energy companies or impose certain ESG-related targets or goals as a condition to investors on corporate governance and related matters have developed ratings processes for evaluating companies on their approach to ESG matters. Currently, there are no universal standards for such scores or ratings and, in fact, different standards focus, to varying degrees, on different attributes of environmental, social, and corporate governance matters. This disparity between the “standards”funding. While we cannot predict what polices may result in investors focusing on inadequate or improper metrics which may lead to a misperception of a company and its ESG practices. Conversely, pressures to createfrom these developments, such efforts could make it more uniformity among these “standards” may result in a skewed and potentially misplaced focus on certain factors over other, equally valuable factors. For example, of the 17 United Nations Sustainability Goals, the vast majority fall within the societal component, but many sustainability “standards” provide little weight to these goals, instead emphasizing the environmental component. Nonetheless, the importance of sustainability evaluations is becoming more broadly accepted by investors and shareholders. ESG ratings are used by some investors to inform their investment and voting decisions. Additionally, certain investors use these scores to benchmark companies against their peers, and if a company is perceived as lagging, these investors may engage withdifficult for fossil fuel companies to require improved ESG disclosure or performance. Moreover, certain memberssecure funding as well as negatively affect the cost of, the broader investment community may consider a company’s sustainability score as a reputationaland terms for, financings to fund growth projects or other factor in making an investment decision. Consequently, a low sustainability score could result in exclusionaspects of our stock from consideration by certain investment funds, engagement by investors seeking to improve such scores, and a negative perception of our operations by certain investors.

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business.
Risks Related to our Corporate Structure
Our Chairman of the Board and members of his family beneficially own approximately 82% of our outstanding common stock, giving them influence and control in corporate transactions and other matters, including a sale of our Company.
As of December 31, 2021, Harold G. Hamm, our Chairman of the Board, and members of his family, beneficially owned approximately 82% of our outstanding common shares. As a result, Mr. Hamm and his family have control over our Company and will continue to be able to control the election of our directors, determine our corporate and management policies and determine, without the consent of our other shareholders, the outcome of certain corporate transactions or other matters submitted to our shareholders for approval, including potential mergers or acquisitions, asset sales and other significant corporate transactions. Therefore, Mr. Hamm and his family could cause, delay or prevent a change of control of our Company. The interests of Mr. Hamm and his family may not coincide with the interests of other holders of our common stock.
We have historically entered into, and may enter into, transactions from time to time with companies or persons affiliated with Mr. Hamm and his family, if, after an independent review by our Audit Committee or by the independent members of our Board of Directors, it is determined such transactions are in the Company’s best interests and are on terms no less favorable to us than could be achieved with an unaffiliated third party. These transactions may result in conflicts of interest between Mr. Hamm’s affiliated parties and us.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

Not applicable.

Item 1C. Cybersecurity

Our business and industry has become increasingly dependent upon digital technologies, including information and operational systems and related infrastructure as well as cloud applications and services, to process and record financial and operating data; analyze seismic, drilling, completion and production information; manage production equipment; conduct reservoir modeling and reserves estimation; communicate with employees and business associates; perform compliance reporting and many other activities. We recognize the importance of developing, implementing, and maintaining effective cybersecurity measures to safeguard our information systems and protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our data. The Company has an Insider Threat and Data Loss Prevention program that is designed to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of such data, and we maintain processes designed to assess, identify, and manage material risks from cybersecurity threats.

The Company has a cybersecurity team with relevant subject-matter expertise that is part of the Company’s Information Technology department (the “Cybersecurity Team”). This team reports to the Company’s Vice President and Chief Information Officer (“CIO”) and is led by the Company’s Chief Information Security Officer (“CISO”), who has primary responsibility for oversight of the Company’s assessment, identification, and management of cybersecurity risks. The CISO has 27 years of cybersecurity experience, 17 of which are in the oil and gas industry. The Company’s CISO is certified in strategic planning, policy and leadership, and is one of less than 400 CISOs globally that has graduated from the FBI’s CISO Academy in Quantico, Virginia. The CIO and CISO jointly determine whether a given cybersecurity matter is sufficiently important to warrant elevating it to the attention of the Company’s Cybersecurity Executive Committee (defined below) and/or Board of Directors.

The Cybersecurity Team monitors the cybersecurity environment for threats and indicators of compromise. It also considers the risks attendant to the Company’s business operations and strategy and develops solutions and mitigation measures for the risks identified, including risks arising in connection with third-party interactions and the integration of newly acquired assets. In addition, the Company invests in Security Awareness training to help promote employee awareness of cybersecurity.

The Company’s internal cybersecurity efforts are supported by a team of outside consultants, assessors, and third-party vendors who assist with identifying and monitoring risks and indications of compromise.

The Cybersecurity Team regularly engages third-party assessors to conduct evaluations of the Company’s cybersecurity risk mitigation efforts and strategy. The Company also engages a third-party auditing firm to periodically assess our information security program. Audits are also conducted from time-to-time by other third parties, such as insurance adjusters and regulators.

The Cybersecurity Team engages third-party vendors to assist with managing endpoint security, managing the Company’s security operations center, providing threat detection and response capabilities, monitoring certain operational technology and control system environments, and providing threat detection and vulnerability identification and remediation services. Additionally, the Company is a member of the Oil and Natural Gas Information and Analysis Center. This center provides the Company with information regarding threats to the oil and gas industry and threats reported by other industry participants. Finally, the Cybersecurity Team periodically engages with the cybersecurity-related guidance of other third parties such as law enforcement, industry trade groups and vendors.

The Cybersecurity Team reviews the integrity of services provided by vendors engaged to support the Company’s cybersecurity efforts using the same methods as are used to evaluate the services provided by other vendors engaged to support the Company’s regular business operations.

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The above cybersecurity risk management processes are integrated into the Company’s overall enterprise risk management program. Cybersecurity risks are understood to be significant business risks, and as such, are considered an important component of our enterprise-wide risk management approach.

Since the Company is private, it has no unresolved Securitiesindependent members of its Board of Directors. All of the Company’s directors are also executive officers. The body primarily responsible for oversight of the Cybersecurity Team is the Cybersecurity Executive Committee, which is composed of the Company’s President and Exchange Commission staff commentsChief Executive Officer; Executive Vice President, Chief Culture Officer and Administrative Officer (both of whom are also members of the Company’s Board of Directors); Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning; Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary; CIO; Director of Corporate Security; and the Information Security Manager. The Cybersecurity Executive Committee meets regularly and during these meetings its members review and discuss cybersecurity information provided by the CISO, which may include: (i) metrics relevant to cybersecurity issues; (ii) summaries of changes or proposed changes to the Company’s cybersecurity program; and (iii) cybersecurity risk and threat updates. Information regarding any critical cybersecurity-related matter is communicated to the Cybersecurity Executive Committee as soon as practicable.

In addition, the CISO annually briefs the Company's Audit Committee regarding cybersecurity matters at December 31, 2021.

a regularly scheduled committee meeting and these briefings cover the same types of information as is presented to the Cybersecurity Executive Committee. The Audit Committee is composed of the two members of the Board of Directors who are also members of the Cybersecurity Executive Committee.

The Company has developed a Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan (the “Response Plan”), which is based upon NASA’s mission control incident response procedures to address and manage certain cybersecurity incidents. If an incident meets certain criteria, the incident response plan is invoked by the CISO and General Counsel. Once the plan is invoked, an impact assessment is conducted and a remediation plan is developed, if needed. The plan also sets forth procedures for monitoring incidents and post-incident follow-up so that any lessons learned can be discussed. Where appropriate, the post-incident follow up identifies measures that can be implemented to aid with future incident prevention and detection. Under the Response Plan any incident-related information is communicated using the channels outlined in the Response Plan.

As of the date of this report, though the Company and our service providers have experienced certain cybersecurity incidents, the Company does not believe any prior cybersecurity threat or incident has materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company, including its business operations or prospects. However, the Company acknowledges that cybersecurity threats are continually evolving and the possibility of future cybersecurity incidents remains. Despite the implementation of our cybersecurity processes, our security measures cannot guarantee that a significant cyberattack will not occur. A successful attack on our information technology systems could have significant consequences for the business. While we devote resources to our security measures to protect our systems and information, these measures cannot provide absolute security. No security measure is infallible. For additional information about the risks to our business associated with cybersecurity incidents, please see “A cybersecurity incident could result in information theft, data corruption, operational disruption, and/or financial loss” under Part I, Item IA. Risk Factors.

Item 2. Properties

The information required by Item 2 is contained in Part I, Item 1. Business—Crude Oil and Natural Gas Operations and Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Delivery Commitments and is incorporated herein by reference.


Item 3. Legal Proceedings

We are involved in various legal proceedings including, but not limited to, commercial disputes, claims from royalty and surface owners, property damage claims, claims made by former shareholders in connection with the take-private transaction, antitrust claims related to the market price of hydrocarbons, personal injury claims, regulatory compliance matters, disputes with tax authorities and other matters. While the outcome of these legal matters cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not expect them to have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.


Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

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Part II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Our

Effective November 22, 2022, Continental Resources, Inc. became a privately held corporation and has no publicly available common stock is listed onshares outstanding at the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the symbol “CLR.” Astime of February 2, 2022, the number of record holders of our common stock was 1,269. On February 2, 2022, after inquiry, management believes that the number of beneficial owners of our common stock is 79,854. On February 2, 2022, the last reported sales price of our common stock, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, was $55.08 per share.

In May 2019, our Board of Directors approved the initiation of a dividend payment program. On February 9, 2022, the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.23 per share on its outstanding common stock, which will be paid on March 4, 2022 to shareholders of record as of February 22, 2022. this filing.

The Company intendshas no dividend policy and currently has no plans to continue paying a quarterly dividend; however, any payment of futurepay cash dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on, among other things, our future earnings, financial condition, cash flows, capital requirements, levels of indebtedness, prevailing business conditions and other considerations our Board of Directors may deem relevant.

The following table provides information about purchases of our common stock during the quarter ended December 31, 2021:
PeriodTotal number of shares purchasedAverage price paid per shareTotal number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs (1)Maximum dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs (in millions) (1)
October 1, 2021 to October 31, 2021
Repurchases for tax withholdings (2)11,288 $52.13 — $— 
November 1, 2021 to November 30, 2021
Repurchases for tax withholdings (2)41,154 $49.36 — $— 
Share repurchase program (1)1,102,682 $46.30 1,102,682 $566.5 
Purchases by principal shareholder (3)108,500 $47.69 — $— 
December 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021
Share repurchase program (1)179,820 $42.33 179,820 $558.9 
Purchases by principal shareholder (3)367,020 $43.82 — $— 
Total for the quarter1,810,464 $45.59 1,282,502 
(1)In May 2019 our Board of Directors approved the initiation of a share repurchase program to acquire up to $1 billion of our common stock beginning in June 2019 at times and levels deemed appropriate by management. The program was announced on June 3, 2019 and does not have a set expiration date. As of December 31, 2021, the total dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the original program totaled $558.9 million. On February 8, 2022, our Board of Directors approved an increase in the size of the share repurchase program to $1.5 billion, inclusive of cumulative amounts repurchased to date. As of the date of this filing, we have repurchased a cumulative $441.1 million of our common stock. Accordingly, the total dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased now totals approximately $1.06 billion under the modified program. The share repurchase program does not require the Company to repurchase a specific number of shares and may be modified, suspended, or terminated by the Board of Directors at any time.future year.
(2)Amounts represent shares surrendered by employees to cover tax liabilities in connection with the vesting of restricted stock granted under the Company's 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan. We paid the associated taxes to the applicable taxing authorities. The price paid per share was the closing price of our common stock on the date the restrictions lapsed on such shares.
(3)Represents shares of our common stock purchased in open market transactions by Harold G. Hamm, our Chairman of the Board and principal shareholder.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table sets forth the information as of December 31, 2021 relating to equity compensation plans:

 

39


Number of Shares
to be Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options

Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options
Remaining Shares
Available for Future
Issuance Under Equity
Compensation Plans (1)
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Shareholders— — 8,492,645
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Shareholders— — — 
(1)Represents the remaining shares available for issuance under the 2013 Plan.
40


Performance Graph
The following graph compares our common stock performance with the performance of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index (“S&P 500 Index”) and the Dow Jones US Oil and Gas Index (“Dow Jones US O&G Index”) for the period of December 31, 2016 through December 31, 2021. The graph assumes the value of the investment in our common stock and in each index was $100 on December 31, 2016 and that any dividends were reinvested. The stock performance shown on the graph below is not indicative of future price performance.
The information provided in this section is being furnished to, and not filed with, the SEC. As such, this information is neither subject to Regulation 14A or 14C nor to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
clr-20211231_g4.jpg

41


Item 6. Reserved


24

42


ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes included elsewhere in this report. Results attributable to noncontrolling interests are not material relative to consolidated results and are not separately presented or discussed below.

The following discussion and analysis includes forward-looking statements and should be read in conjunction with Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in this report, along with Cautionary Statement for the Purpose of the “Safe Harbor” Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 at the beginning of this report, for information about the risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to be materially different than our forward-looking statements.

Overview

We are an independent crude oil and natural gas company engaged in the exploration, development, management, and production of crude oil and natural gas and associated products.products with properties primarily located in four leading basins in the United States – the Bakken field of North Dakota and Montana, the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma, the Permian Basin of Texas, and the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. Additionally, we pursue the acquisition and management of perpetually owned minerals located in certain of our key operating areas. We derive the majority of our operating income and cash flows from the sale of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids and expect this to continue in the future.We are the largest leaseholder and the largest producer in the Bakken field of North Dakota and Montana. We also have significant positions in the SCOOP and STACK plays in Oklahoma and recently acquired positions in the Permian Basin of Texas and Powder River Basin of Wyoming.Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CLR” and our corporate internet website is www.clr.com.

2021 Highlights
Financial and operating highlights for 2021 are summarized below. Our 2021 results underscore our continued focus on maximizing cash flow generation, maintaining low-cost capital efficient operations As discussed in an environmentally responsible manner, achieving consistent asset performance, and delivering capital and corporate returns to shareholders.
Generated $1.25 billion in operating cash flows in the fourth quarter, bringing year-to-date operating cash flows to a Company record $3.97 billion;
Completed strategic acquisitions to expand our operations into the Permian Basin for cash consideration of $3.06 billion and the Powder River Basin for cash consideration totaling $453 million;
Sequentially increased our quarterly fixed dividend throughout year, paying $166 million of dividends in 2021 with an additional $82 million of declared dividends to be paid in the first quarter of 2022;
Repurchased 3.2 million shares of common stock in 2021 under our share repurchase program at an aggregate cost of $124 million; and
Continued to maintain low cost operations with production expenses averaging $3.38 per Boe for 2021.
With our acquisitions in the Permian Basin and Powder River Basin in 2021 we now have substantial strategic positions in four leading basins in the United States, providing our Company and shareholders with enhanced geologic and geographic diversity and commodity optionality. We believe these transactions will be accretive on financial metrics and will complement our existing deep portfolio of assets in the Bakken and Oklahoma. We expect enhanced cash flows from the acquisitions will provide continued support for additional returns to shareholders via debt reduction, dividend increases, share repurchases, and increased returns on capital employed. See Part I, Item 1. Business—Acquisition Activities and Part II,II. Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2. Property Acquisitions1. Organization and DispositionsSummary of Significant Accounting Policies—2022 Take-Private Transaction, for additional information on the acquisitions.effective November 22, 2022 Continental Resources, Inc. became a privately held corporation and has no publicly available common shares outstanding.

Financial and Operating Metrics

Our operating results for 2020 were severely impacted by the economic effects from the COVID-19 pandemic on crude oil demand and prices. In response to the significant reduction in crude oil prices during 2020, we curtailed approximately 55% of our operated crude oil production and associated natural gas in the 2020 second quarter and significantly reduced our capital spending. In July 2020 we began to gradually restore our curtailed production and subsequently brought our remaining curtailed production back online in September 2020. These actions resulted in material reductions in our production, revenues, and cash flows for 2020.
Crude oil and natural gas

Commodity prices have increased significantly in 2021 comparedremained volatile due to 2020 levels in response to the liftingvarious factors, some of COVID-19 restrictions, the resumption of normal economic activity, and the resulting improvement inwhich include global supply and demand, fundamentals. The increase in commodityglobal inventory levels, and regional conflicts. Average NYMEX oil prices for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and resumption of our operations resulted in significantly improved operating results in 2021 compared to 2020 as further described below.

43


were $77.57, $94.17, and $68.05, respectively. Average NYMEX gas prices for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 were $2.73, $6.72, and $3.88, respectively. The following table contains financial and operating highlightsmetrics for the periods presented. Average net sales prices exclude any effect of derivative transactions. Per-unit expenses have been calculated using sales volumes.

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Average daily production:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil (Bbl per day)

 

 

232,083

 

 

 

199,526

 

 

 

160,647

 

Natural gas (Mcf per day) (1)

 

 

1,248,488

 

 

 

1,213,643

 

 

 

1,014,000

 

Crude oil equivalents (Boe per day)

 

 

440,164

 

 

 

401,800

 

 

 

329,647

 

Average sales prices:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil ($/Bbl)

 

$

76.89

 

 

$

94.95

 

 

$

67.21

 

Natural gas ($/Mcf) (1)

 

$

2.60

 

 

$

7.15

 

 

$

4.98

 

Production expenses ($/Boe)

 

$

4.47

 

 

$

4.24

 

 

$

3.38

 

Production and ad valorem taxes (% of net crude oil and natural gas sales)

 

 

8.2

%

 

 

7.5

%

 

 

7.3

%

DD&A ($/Boe)

 

$

14.11

 

 

$

12.86

 

 

$

15.76

 

Total general and administrative expenses ($/Boe)

 

$

1.74

 

 

$

2.74

 

 

$

1.94

 

The previously described Permian Basin acquisition closed on December 21, 2021(1)
Natural gas production volumes, sales volumes, and thus had a limited impact on fourth quarter and full year 2021 operating results given our short duration of ownership. The acquired Permian assets contributed 460 MBoe of production (42,000 Boe per day on average of which 78% was oil), $29.4 million of revenues, and $14.1 million ($0.04 per basic and diluted share) of net income to our consolidated results during the period of ownership from December 21, 2021 to December 31, 2021.
 Year ended December 31,
 202120202019
Average daily production:
Crude oil (Bbl per day)160,647 160,505 197,991 
Natural gas (Mcf per day)1,014,000 837,509 854,424 
Crude oil equivalents (Boe per day)329,647 300,090 340,395 
Average net sales prices: (1)
Crude oil ($/Bbl)$64.06 $34.71 $51.82 
Natural gas ($/Mcf)$4.88 $1.04 $1.77 
Crude oil equivalents ($/Boe)$46.24 $21.47 $34.56 
Crude oil net sales price discount to NYMEX ($/Bbl)$(4.00)$(5.80)$(5.15)
Natural gas net sales price premium (discount) to NYMEX ($/Mcf)$1.00 $(1.10)$(0.86)
Production expenses ($/Boe)$3.38 $3.27 $3.58 
Production taxes (% of net crude oil and natural gas sales)7.3 %8.2 %8.3 %
DD&A ($/Boe)$15.76 $17.12 $16.25 
Total general and administrative expenses ($/Boe)$1.94 $1.79 $1.57 
(1)     See the subsequent section titled Non-GAAP Financial Measures for asales prices presented throughout management's discussion and calculationanalysis reflect the combined value for natural gas and natural gas liquids.

25


Results of Operations

The following table presents selected financial and operating information for the periods presented.

44


  Year Ended December 31,
In thousands, except sales price data202120202019
Crude oil and natural gas sales$5,793,741 $2,555,434 $4,514,389 
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net(128,864)(14,658)49,083 
Crude oil and natural gas service operations54,441 45,694 68,475 
Total revenues5,719,318 2,586,470 4,631,947 
Operating costs and expenses(3,257,638)(3,140,362)(3,374,535)
Other expenses, net(275,542)(220,859)(270,250)
Income (loss) before income taxes2,186,138 (774,751)987,162 
(Provision) benefit for income taxes(519,730)169,190 (212,689)
Net income (loss)1,666,408 (605,561)774,473 
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests5,440 (8,692)(1,168)
Net income (loss) attributable to Continental Resources$1,660,968 $(596,869)$775,641 
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to Continental Resources$4.56 $(1.65)$2.08 
Production volumes:
Crude oil (MBbl)58,636 58,745 72,267 
Natural gas (MMcf)370,110 306,528 311,865 
Crude oil equivalents (MBoe)120,321 109,833 124,244 
Sales volumes:
Crude oil (MBbl)58,757 58,793 72,136 
Natural gas (MMcf)370,110 306,528 311,865 
Crude oil equivalents (MBoe)120,442 109,881 124,113 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

In thousands

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids sales

 

$

7,684,263

 

 

$

10,074,675

 

 

$

5,793,741

 

Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net

 

 

943,768

 

 

 

(671,095

)

 

 

(128,864

)

Crude oil and natural gas service operations

 

 

103,710

 

 

 

70,128

 

 

 

54,441

 

Total revenues

 

 

8,731,741

 

 

 

9,473,708

 

 

 

5,719,318

 

Operating costs and expenses

 

 

(4,419,008

)

 

 

(4,120,028

)

 

 

(3,257,638

)

Other expenses, net

 

 

(383,786

)

 

 

(285,267

)

 

 

(275,542

)

Income before income taxes

 

 

3,928,947

 

 

 

5,068,413

 

 

 

2,186,138

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

(827,630

)

 

 

(1,020,804

)

 

 

(519,730

)

Income before equity in net loss of affiliate

 

 

3,101,317

 

 

 

4,047,609

 

 

 

1,666,408

 

Equity in net loss of affiliate

 

 

(3,129

)

 

 

(1,489

)

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

3,098,188

 

 

 

4,046,120

 

 

 

1,666,408

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

2,361

 

 

 

21,562

 

 

 

5,440

 

Net income attributable to Continental Resources

 

$

3,095,827

 

 

$

4,024,558

 

 

$

1,660,968

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production volumes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil (MBbl)

 

 

84,710

 

 

 

72,827

 

 

 

58,636

 

Natural gas (MMcf)

 

 

455,698

 

 

 

442,980

 

 

 

370,110

 

Crude oil equivalents (MBoe)

 

 

160,660

 

 

 

146,657

 

 

 

120,321

 

Sales volumes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil (MBbl)

 

 

84,508

 

 

 

72,732

 

 

 

58,757

 

Natural gas (MMcf)

 

 

455,698

 

 

 

442,980

 

 

 

370,110

 

Crude oil equivalents (MBoe)

 

 

160,457

 

 

 

146,562

 

 

 

120,442

 

Year ended December 31, 20212023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020

2022

Below is a discussion of changes in our results of operations for 20212023 compared to 2020.2022. A discussion of changes in our results of operations for 20202022 compared to 20192021 has been omitted from this Form 10-K, but may be found in Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20202022 as filed with the SEC on February 16, 2021.22, 2023.

Production

The following table summarizes the changes in our average daily Boe production by major operating area for the periods presented.

 Fourth QuarterYear Ended December 31,
Boe production per day20212020% Change20212020% Change
Bakken175,585 183,141 (4 %)169,636 158,604 %
Oklahoma146,131 149,341 (2 %)147,249 134,506 %
Powder River Basin7,189 — — %5,161 — — %
Permian Basin (1)4,997 — — %1,260 — — %
All other6,266 6,825 (8 %)6,341 6,980 (9 %)
Total340,168 339,307 — %329,647 300,090 10 %

(1)

 

Fourth Quarter

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

Boe production per day

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

% Change

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

% Change

 

Bakken

 

 

220,428

 

 

 

174,397

 

 

 

26

%

 

 

202,610

 

 

 

171,025

 

 

 

18

%

Anadarko Basin

 

 

144,158

 

 

 

165,225

 

 

 

(13

)%

 

 

153,426

 

 

 

158,221

 

 

 

(3

)%

Powder River Basin

 

 

25,577

 

 

 

28,057

 

 

 

(9

)%

 

 

23,757

 

 

 

24,602

 

 

 

(3

)%

Permian Basin

 

 

58,601

 

 

 

44,925

 

 

 

30

%

 

 

54,651

 

 

 

41,917

 

 

 

30

%

All other

 

 

5,666

 

 

 

5,552

 

 

 

2

%

 

 

5,720

 

 

 

6,035

 

 

 

(5

)%

Total

 

 

454,430

 

 

 

418,156

 

 

 

9

%

 

 

440,164

 

 

 

401,800

 

 

 

10

%

The presentation of average daily production represents production during the period from the closing of our acquisition of Permian properties on December 21, 2021 through December 31, 2021 averaged over the respective fourth quarter and full year periods. At the time of closing, our Permian properties produced on average approximately 42,000 Boe per day based on two-stream reporting.

The following tables reflecttable summarizes the changes in our production by product and region for the periods presented.

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

Volume

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

Volume

 

 

percent

 

 

Volume

 

 

Percent

 

 

Volume

 

 

Percent

 

 

increase

 

 

increase

 

Crude oil (MBbl)

 

 

84,710

 

 

 

53

%

 

 

72,827

 

 

 

50

%

 

 

11,883

 

 

 

16

%

Natural gas (MMcf)

 

 

455,698

 

 

 

47

%

 

 

442,980

 

 

 

50

%

 

 

12,718

 

 

 

3

%

Total (MBoe)

 

 

160,660

 

 

 

100

%

 

 

146,657

 

 

 

100

%

 

 

14,003

 

 

 

10

%

45

26


 Year Ended December 31,Volume increase
(decrease)
Volume
percent increase
(decrease)
 20212020
 VolumePercentVolumePercent
Crude oil (MBbl)58,636 49 %58,745 53 %(109)— %
Natural gas (MMcf)370,110 51 %306,528 47 %63,582 21 %
Total (MBoe)120,321 100 %109,833 100 %10,488 10 %
 Year Ended December 31,Volume increaseVolume
percent
increase
 20212020
 MBoePercentMBoePercent
North Region66,105 55 %60,591 55 %5,514 %
South Region54,216 45 %49,242 45 %4,974 10 %
Total120,321 100 %109,833 100 %10,488 10 %
Over

The 16% increase in crude oil production in 2023 compared to 2022 was primarily driven by new well completions in the Bakken field over the past year, we increasedwhich led to an increase of 7,939 MBbls, or 19%, compared to 2022. The increase was also driven by our allocation of capital to gas-weighted projects to capitalize on improvementsproperty acquisitions and subsequent new well completions in market prices for natural gas and natural gas liquids. These actionsthe Permian Basin over the past year, which contributed to an increase in our natural gas2023 production by 3,275 MBbls, or 28%, compared to 2022. Additionally, as a percentageresult of totalnew well completions over the past year our crude oil production and ledincreased 1,240 MBbls, or 11%, in the Anadarko Basin in 2023 compared to 2022. These increases were partially offset by a 21%467 MBbls, or 8%, decrease in crude oil production in the Powder River Basin due to variation in the timing of new well completions between years.

The 3% increase in natural gas production in 20212023 compared to 2020. Natural gas production2022 was primarily driven by new well completions in Oklahoma increased 37,345the Bakken field over the past year, which led to an increase of 21,534 MMcf, or 18%17%, compared to 2022. The increase was also driven by our property acquisitions and subsequent new well completions in the Permian Basin over the past year, which contributed to an increase in our 2023 production by 8,240 MMcf, or 40%, compared to 2022. These increases were partially offset by a 17,943 MMcf, or 6%, decrease in natural gas production in the Bakken increased 23,122 MMcf, or 23%, over the prior year. Additionally, properties acquired in the Powder RiverAnadarko Basin in March and November 2021 added 2,517 MMcfdue to our natural gas production, while properties acquired in the Permian Basin added 614 MMcf during the short duration of our ownership of the properties in late 2021.

Our crude oil production was flat in 2021 compared to 2020 resulting from our change in allocation of capital from oil-weighted projects to gas-weighted projectsspending over the past year and the timing of well completions. Crude oil productionbeing allocated primarily to oil-weighted projects in the Bakken was flat between years, while oil production in Oklahoma decreased 1,708 MBbls, or 12%, compared to 2020. This decrease was offset by new production added from our 2021 acquisitions. Properties acquired in the Powder River Basin in March and November 2021 added 1,464 MBbls to our crude oil production, while properties acquired in the Permian Basin added 357 MBbls during the short duration of our ownership of the properties in late 2021.
play.

Revenues

Our revenues consist of sales of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids, gains and losses resulting from changes in the fair value of our derivative instruments, and revenues associated with crude oil and natural gas service operations.

Net crudeCrude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids sales. Sales for 2023 totaled $7.68 billion, a 24% decrease compared to sales and related netof $10.07 billion for 2022 due to decreases in sales prices, presented below are non-GAAP measures. See the subsequent section titled Non-GAAP Financial Measures for discussion and calculation of these measures.

Net crude oil and natural gas sales. Net crude oil and natural gas sales for 2021 totaled $5.57 billion, a 136% increase compared to net sales of $2.36 billion for 2020 due to significantpartially offset by increases in net sales prices and natural gas sales volumes as discussed below.

Total sales volumes for 20212023 increased 10,56113,895 MBoe, or 10%9%, compared to 2020, reflecting reduced sales in2022 due to additional drilling and completion activities and new wells added from our property acquisitions over the prior period from the previously described production curtailments in the second and third quarters of 2020 and our subsequent resumption of usual operations.past year. For 2021,2023, our crude oil sales volumes were flatincreased 16% compared to 2020, while2022 and our natural gas sales volumes increased 21% driven by our increased allocation of capital toward gas-weighted projects over the past year.

3% compared to 2022.

Our crude oil net sales prices averaged $64.06$76.89 per barrel for 2021, an increase2023, a decrease of 85%19% compared to $34.71$94.95 per barrel for 20202022 due to a significant increasedecrease in market prices driven by improved supply and demand fundamentals along with improved price differentials. The differentialresulting from changes in various macroeconomic conditions between NYMEX West Texas Intermediate calendar month crude oil prices and our realized crude oil netperiods.

Our natural gas sales prices averaged $4.00 per barrel in 2021 compared to $5.80 per barrel in 2020. Crude oil prices for 2020 were severely impacted by adverse changes in supply and demand fundamentals from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which negatively impacted location differentials and price realizations in the 2020 period with no similar impacts in 2021.

Our natural gas net sales prices averaged $4.88$2.60 per Mcf for 20212023 compared to $1.04$7.15 per Mcf for 20202022 due to a significant increasedecrease in market prices for residue gas and improved price differentials. The difference between our net sales prices and NYMEX Henry Hub calendar month natural gas prices was a premium of $1.00 per Mcf for 2021 compared to a discount of $1.10 per Mcf for 2020.
46

liquids.
In February 2021, severe winter weather and freezing temperatures in the southern United States led to a period of increased spot prices for residue natural gas that resulted in a significant improvement in our price realizations in the 2021 first quarter compared to the prior year. Additionally, prices for natural gas liquids have increased significantly in 2021 compared to 2020 levels in conjunction with increased crude oil prices and other factors, resulting in improved price realizations for our natural gas sales stream. For the fourth quarter of 2021, the difference between our net sales prices and NYMEX Henry Hub prices was a premium of $0.49 per Mcf.

Derivatives. The significant improvement inReduced commodity prices in 20212023 had an overall unfavorablefavorable impact on the fair value of our derivatives, which resulted in negativepositive revenue adjustments of $128.9$943.8 million for the year, representing $149.7$257.2 million of realized cash losses partially offset by $20.8gains and $686.6 million of unsettled non-cash gains. For 2020, we recognizedgains, compared to negative revenue adjustments of $14.7totaling $671.1 million resulting from changes in market prices that had an unfavorable impact on the fair value of our derivatives. 2022.

Crude oil and natural gas service operations. Our crude oil and natural gas service operations consist primarily of revenues associated with water gathering, recycling, delivery, and disposal activities, which are impacted by our production volumes and the timing and extent of our drilling and completion projects. Revenues associated with such activities increased $8.7$33.6 million, or 19%48%, from $45.7$70.1 million for 20202022 to $54.4$103.7 million for 20212023 due to increased water handling activities resulting from increases in completion activities and production volumes compared to 2020.2022, which also contributed to an increase in service-related operating expenses in the current year.

Operating Costs and Expenses

Production expenses. Production expenses increased $47.6$95.6 million, or 13%15%, to $406.9$717.5 million for 20212023 compared to $359.3$621.9 million for 2020 primarily2022 due to the previously described 10%an increase in total sales volumes.the number of producing wells from drilling activities and property acquisitions, cost inflation for services and materials, and higher workover-related activities aimed at enhancing production from producing properties. Production expenses on a per-Boe basis averaged $3.38$4.47 per Boe for 2021, consistent with $3.272023 compared to $4.24 per Boe for 2020.2022, the increase of which reflects higher workover-related activities, cost inflation, and a higher proportion of production coming from oil-weighted properties over the past year which typically have higher per-unit operating costs compared to gas-weighted properties.

Production and ad valorem taxes. Production and ad valorem taxes increased $211.6decreased $126.6 million, or 110%17%, to $404.4$603.5 million for 20212023 compared to $192.7$730.1 million for 20202022 due to the previously described increasedecrease in crude oil, and natural gas, sales partially offset by a decrease in our average production tax rate.and NGL sales. Our production taxes as a percentage of net sales averaged 8.2% for 2023 compared to 7.5% for 2022. This increase was the result of changes in sales mix of crude oil and natural gas sales decreasedin the Company's operating areas between periods.

Transportation, gathering, processing, and compression. These charges increased $21.8 million, or 7%, to 7.3%$338.2 million for 20212023 compared to 8.2%$316.4 million for 20202022 primarily resulting from andue to our 9% increase in the proportiontotal sales volumes.

27


Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion (“DD&A”). Total DD&A amounted to $1.90$2.26 billion for 2021, consistent with $1.882023, an increase of $378.9 million, or 20%, compared to $1.89 billion for 2020,2022, reflecting a 10%9% increase in total sales volumes the impact of which was nearly offset by a decreaseas well as an increase in our DD&A rate per Boe as further discussed below. The following table shows the components of our DD&A on a unit of sales basis for the periods presented.

 Year ended December 31,
$/Boe20212020
Crude oil and natural gas properties$15.45 $16.84 
Other equipment0.22 0.19 
Asset retirement obligation accretion0.09 0.09 
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion$15.76 $17.12 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

$/Boe

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Crude oil and natural gas properties

 

$

13.58

 

 

$

12.57

 

Other equipment

 

 

0.44

 

 

 

0.20

 

Asset retirement obligation accretion

 

 

0.09

 

 

 

0.09

 

Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion

 

$

14.11

 

 

$

12.86

 

Estimated proved reserves are a key component in our computation of DD&A expense. Proved reserves are determined using the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month commodity prices for the preceding twelve months as required by SEC rules. Holding all other factors constant, if proved reserves are revised downward due to commodity price declines or other reasons, the rate at which we record DD&A expense increases. Conversely, if proved reserves are revised upward, the rate at which we record DD&A expense decreases.

Our proved reserves werehave been revised upward in 2021downward over the past year prompted by significant increasesdecreases in first-day-of-the-month commodity prices and other factors, which resulted in a decreasean increase in our DD&A rate for crude oil and natural gas properties in the current period. As a result of these upward revisions, our2023 compared to 2022. Our DD&A rate decreased to $14.34totaled $15.76 per Boe for the 20212023 fourth quarter compared to $19.01 per Boe for the 2020 fourth quarter, the impact of which helped offset higher DD&A recognized in 2021 from increased sales volumes.

NYMEX WTI crude oil and Henry Hub natural gas first-day-of-the-month commodity prices for January 1, 2022 and February 1, 2022 averaged $81.71 per barrel and $4.65 per MMBtu, respectively, which are notably higher than average prices in 2021. If commodity prices remain at current levels for an extended period, additional upward price-related revisions of proved reserves may occur in the future, which may be significant and could result in a further decrease in our DD&A rate relative to the 2021 fourth quarter. We are unable to predict the timing and amount of future reserve revisions or the impact such revisions may have on our future DD&A rate.
47


Property impairments. Property impairments decreased $239.6$3.6 million to $38.4$66.8 million for 20212023 compared to $277.9$70.4 million for 2020, primarily reflecting lower2022 due in part to $17.5 million of proved property impairments recognized in the current period. No2022 compared to $15.5 million of proved property impairments werebeing recognized in 2021 as estimated future net cash flows were determined to be in excess of cost basis due to improved commodity prices, while proved property impairments totaled $207.1 million in 2020.2023. Additionally, impairments of unproved properties decreased $32.5$1.6 million in 20212023 compared to 20202022 reflecting a decrease in the amortization of undeveloped leasehold costs from changes in management's estimates of properties not expected to be developed before lease expiration in response to significantly improved commodity prices compared toover the priorpast year. Our unamortized balance of unproved properties increased significantly in late 2021 in connection with our 2021 fourth quarter property acquisitions and now totals $1.36 billion at December 31, 2021. Accordingly, our amortized impairments of unproved property costs are expected to increase in 2022 relative to 2021 levels, the amount of which is uncertain.

General and administrative ("(“G&A"&A”) expenses. G&A expenses increased $37.0decreased $122.3 million, or 19%30%, to $233.6$279.3 million for 20212023 compared to $196.6$401.6 million for 2020.2022.

Total G&A expenses include non-cash charges for incentive compensation/prior equity compensationawards of $63.2$91.3 million and $64.6$217.7 million for 20212023 and 2020,2022, respectively. This decrease was primarily driven by the prior year remeasurement of cumulative compensation expense on restricted stock awards that were replaced with new liability-classified awards in conjunction with the Hamm Family’s take-private transaction. The remeasurement in 2022 resulted in the recognition of additional non-cash equity/incentive compensation expense totaling $136 million ($0.93 per Boe), reflecting the increase in the value of the awards from the original grant date to the November 2022 modification date.

G&A expenses other than incentive compensation/prior equity compensationawards totaled $170.4$188.0 million for 2021,2023, an increase of $38.4$4.2 million, or 29%2%, compared to $132.0$183.8 million for 20202022 primarily due to an increasethe growth of our operations and increases in payroll costs and employee benefits, partially offset by higher overhead recoveries from joint interest owners driven by increased drilling, completion, and production activities compared to 2020.

2022.

The following table shows the components of G&A expenses on a unit of sales basis for the periods presented.

  Year ended December 31,
$/Boe20212020
General and administrative expenses$1.42 $1.20 
Non-cash equity compensation0.52 0.59 
Total general and administrative expenses$1.94 $1.79 
Acquisition

 

Year ended December 31,

 

$/Boe

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

General and administrative expenses

 

$

1.17

 

 

$

1.25

 

Incentive compensation/prior equity awards

 

 

0.57

 

 

 

1.49

 

Total general and administrative expenses

 

$

1.74

 

 

$

2.74

 

Transaction costs. WeIn 2022, we incurred $13.9$32 million of expenses in connection with our December 2021 acquisition of properties inlegal and advisory fees related to the Permian Basin,Hamm Family's take-private transaction, which are reflectedincluded in the caption “Acquisition costs”"Transaction costs" in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for 2021.2022, with no similar charges being incurred in 2023.

Interest expense. Interest expense decreased $6.6increased $95.1 million, or 3%32%, to $251.6$395.8 million for 20212023 compared to $258.2$300.7 million for 20202022 due to a decreasean increase in our annual weighted average outstanding debt balance from $5.8$6.8 billion in 20202022 to $5.6$7.9 billion in 2021.2023 coupled with an increase in the variable interest rates incurred on outstanding credit facility and term loan borrowings. Our outstanding debt totaled $6.8$6.6 billion at December 31, 2021, reflecting an increase of $2.1 billion in the 2021 fourth quarter due to credit facility and senior note borrowings incurred to fund a portion of our December 2021 acquisition of properties in the Permian Basin.2023.

Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt. See Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 8. Long-Term Debt for discussion of gains and losses recognized on debt extinguishments in 2021 and 2020.
Other non-operating expense. As discussed in Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 13. Commitments and Contingencies—Pledge commitment, we recognized a $25.0 million charge to earnings upon execution of an irrevocable ten-year pledge commitment in December 2021, which is reflected in the caption “Other income (expense)—Other” in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for 2021.

Income Taxes. For 2021 and 2020 weWe provided for income taxes at a combined federal and state tax rate of 24.5% of pre-tax income/loss.23.5% for both 2023 and 2022. We recorded an income tax provisionprovisions of $519.7$827.6 million and an income tax benefit of $169.2 million$1.02 billion for 20212023 and 2020,2022, respectively, which resulted in effective tax rates of 23.8%

28


21.1% and 21.8%20.1%, respectively, after taking into account the application of statutory tax rates, permanent taxable differences, estimated tax effects from equity compensation, changes in valuation allowances,credits, and other items. See Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 11. Income Taxes for a summary of the sources and tax effects of items comprising our income tax provision and resulting effective tax rates for 20212023 and 2020.2022.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary sources of liquidity have historically been cash flows generated from operating activities, financing provided by our credit facility and the issuance of debt securities. Additionally, asset dispositions and joint development arrangements have provided a source of cash flow for use in reducing debt and enhancing liquidity. We are committed to operating in a responsible manner to preserve financial flexibility, liquidity, and the strength of our balance sheet.

48


At January 31, 2022,February 1, 2024, we had approximately $1.76$2.2 billion of borrowing availability under our credit facility after considering outstanding borrowings and letters of credit, which represents a $260 million increase in availability compared to year-end 2021.credit. Our credit facility, which is unsecured and has no borrowing base subject to redetermination, does not mature until October 2026.

Based on our planned capital spending, including our pending property acquisition described below, our forecasted cash flows, and projected levels of indebtedness, we expect to maintain compliance with the covenants under our credit facility, term loan, and senior note indentures. Further, based on current market indications, we expect to meet our contractual cash commitments to third parties subsequently described under the heading Future Capital Requirements, recognizing we may be required to meet such commitments even if our business plan assumptions were to change. We monitor our capital spending closely based on actual and projected cash flows and have the ability to reduce spending or dispose of assets if needed to preserve liquidity and financial flexibility to fund our operations.

Cash Flows

Cash flows from operating activities

Net cash provided by operating activities increased $2.55decreased $2.0 billion, or 179%28%, to $3.97$5.06 billion for 20212023 compared to $1.42$7.04 billion for 2020 primarily due to2022. The decrease was driven by a $3.24$2.39 billion increasedecrease in crude oil, and natural gas, and NGL revenues due to the previously described increasesdecrease in commodity prices and natural gas sales volumesincreases in the current period. This increase was partially offset by a $211.6 million increase in production taxes associated with higher crude oil and natural gas revenues and a $121.5 million increase in realized cash losses on matured commodity derivatives in the current period. Additionally, we experienced an increase in certain other cash operating expenses primarily due to an increase in totalassociated with increased sales volumes whichand the growth of our Company over the past year. Increased cash operating expenses included a $47.6$96 million increase in production expenses, and a $28.3$22 million increase in transportation, expenses.

gathering, processing, and compression expenses, a $108 million increase in cash paid for interest, a $96 million increase in cash payments for income taxes, and $130 million of cash payments for vested incentive compensation awards. These increases were partially offset by a $715 million improvement in realized cash settlements on matured commodity derivatives and a $127 million decrease in production and ad valorem taxes associated with lower revenues.

Cash flows used in investing activities

Net cash used in investing activities totaled $4.99 billion and $1.51$3.56 billion for 20212023, consistent with $3.53 billion for 2022. Our investing cash flows for 2023 included $3.55 billion of exploration and 2020, respectively,development costs compared to $2.84 billion of exploration and development costs for 2022, reflecting a planned increase in budgeted spending. This increase in spending was partially offset by lower acquisitions of producing crude oil and natural gas properties, with $161 million acquired in 2023 compared to $422 million acquired in 2022, as well as increased proceeds from the $3.48 billion increasesale of which reflects our 2021 property acquisition activities discussedassets with $390 million of proceeds received in Part II, Item 8. Notes2023 compared to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2. Property Acquisitions and Dispositions.$6 million of proceeds received in 2022. Additionally, contributions to unconsolidated affiliates decreased $178 million from $212 million in 2022 to $34 million in 2023.

Cash flows from financing activities

Net cash provided byused in financing activities for 20212023 totaled $989.1 million,$1.61 billion, primarily consisting of $1.59 billion$950 million of net proceeds received fromrepayments on our November 2021 issuancescredit facility, $636 million of cash used to redeem senior notes and $340$31 million of net credit facility borrowings incurredcash distributed to noncontrolling interests.

Net cash used in financing activities for 2022 totaled $3.39 billion, primarily consisting of $4.3 billion of cash used to fund a portion of our December 2021 Permian Basin acquisition. These increases were partially offset by $630.8the Hamm Family's take-private transaction, $284 million of senior note redemptions during the year, $123.9cash dividends paid on common stock, $100 million of cash used to repurchase shares of our common stock prior to the take-private transaction, and $165.9 million of cash dividends paid on common stock.

Net cash provided by financing activities for 2020 totaled $97.1 million, primarily resulting from $1.48 billion of net proceeds received from our November 2020 issuance of senior notes due 2031, $105.0 million of net credit facility borrowings, and net proceeds of $26.0 million from term loans executed during 2020. These increases were partially offset by $1.34 billion of senior note repurchases and redemptions during 2020 using available cash and proceeds from our issuance of 2031 Notes, $25.2 million of premiums and costs paid upon the redemptions and repurchases, $126.9$32 million of cash used to repurchase shares of our common stock, and $18.5senior notes. These cash outflows were partially offset by $660 million of cash dividends paidnet borrowings on common stock.our credit facility and $750 million of proceeds from the issuance of a new term loan to fund a portion of the take-private transaction.

29


Future Sources of Financing

Although we cannot provide any assurance, we believe funds from operating cash flows, our cash balance, and availability under our credit facility should be sufficient to meet our normal operating needs, debt service obligations, budgeted capital expenditures, the pending property acquisition described below,and cash payments for income taxes and dividend payments for at least the next 12 months and to meet our contractual cash commitments to third parties described under the heading Future Capital Requirements beyond 12 months.

Based on current market indications supported by cash flow protection provided by our hedge portfolio against commodity price declines, our budgeted capital spending plans for 20222024 are expected to be funded from operating cash flows. Any deficiencies in operating cash flows relative to budgeted spending are expected to be funded by borrowings under our credit facility. If cash flows are materially impacted by declines in commodity prices, we have the ability to reduce our capital expenditures or utilize the availability of our credit facility if needed to fund our operations and business plans.

operations.

We may choose to access banking or debt capital markets for additional financing or capital to fund our operations or take advantage of business opportunities that may arise. Further, we may sell assets or enter into strategic joint development opportunities in order to obtain funding if such transactions can be executed on satisfactory terms. However, no assurance can be given that such transactions will occur.

49


Credit facility

We have an unsecured credit facility, maturing in October 2026, with aggregate lender commitments totaling $2.0$2.255 billion. The commitments are from a syndicate of 1213 banks and financial institutions. We believe each member of the current syndicate has the capability to fund its commitment. As of January 31, 2022, we had $1.76 billion of borrowing availability on our credit facility after considering outstanding borrowings and letters of credit.

The commitments under our credit facility are not dependent on a borrowing base calculation subject to periodic redetermination based on changes in commodity prices and proved reserves. Additionally, downgrades or other negative rating actions with respect to our credit rating do not trigger a reduction in our current credit facility commitments, nor do such actions trigger a security requirement or change in covenants. Downgrades of our credit rating will, however, trigger increases in our credit facility's interest rates and commitment fees paid on unused borrowing availability under certain circumstances.

Our credit facility contains restrictive covenants that may limit our ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, incur liens, engage in sale and leaseback transactions, or merge, consolidate or sell all or substantially all of our assets. Our credit facility also contains a requirement that we maintain a consolidated net debt to total capitalization ratio of no greater than 0.65 to 1.00. See Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 8. Long-Term Debt for a discussion of how this ratio is calculated pursuant to our credit agreement.

We were in compliance with our credit facility covenants at December 31, 20212023 and expect to maintain compliance. At December 31, 2021,2023, our consolidated net debt to total capitalization ratio was 0.43.0.37. We do not believe the credit facility covenants are reasonably likely to limit our ability to undertake additional debt financing if needed to support our business.

Future Capital Requirements

Our material future cash requirements are summarized below. Based on current market indications, we expect to meet our contractual cash commitments to third parties as of December 31, 2021,2023, recognizing we may be required to meet such commitments even if our business plan assumptions were to change.

Senior notes

Our debt includes outstanding senior note obligations totaling $6.36$5.7 billion at December 31, 2021,2023, exclusive of interest payment obligations thereon. Our senior notes are not subject to any mandatory redemption or sinking fund requirements. The earliest scheduled senior note maturity is our $649.6$893 million of 20232024 Notes due in AprilJune 2024, which is reflected as a current liability in the caption “Current portion of long-term debt” in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2023. We expect to fully redeem our 2024 Notes by the maturity date using a combination of available cash flows and utilization of credit facility borrowing capacity if necessary. For further information on the face values, maturity dates, semi-annual interest payment dates, optional redemption periods and covenant restrictions related to our senior notes, refer to Note 8. Long-Term Debt in Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

We were in compliance with our senior note covenants at December 31, 20212023 and expect to maintain compliance. We do not believe the senior note covenants will materially limit our ability to undertake additional debt financing. Downgrades or other negative rating actions with respect to the credit ratings assigned to our senior unsecured debt do not trigger additional senior note covenants.

30


Credit facility borrowings

As of January 31, 2022,February 1, 2024, we had $240$10 million of outstanding borrowings on our credit facility, which represents a decrease of $260 million compared to $500 million outstanding at year-end 2021.facility. Our credit facility matures in October 2026.

Term loan

We have a $750 million term loan that matures in November 2025. The covenant requirements in the term loan are consistent with the covenants in our revolving credit facility, including the requirement that we maintain a consolidated net debt to total capitalization ratio of no greater than 0.65 to 1.0. We were in compliance with the term loan covenants at December 31, 2023 and expect to maintain compliance. Downgrades or other negative rating actions with respect to the credit ratings assigned to our senior unsecured debt do not trigger a security requirement or change in covenants for the term loan.

Transportation, gathering, and processing commitments

We have entered into transportation, gathering, and processing commitments to guarantee capacity on crude oil and natural gas pipelines and natural gas processing facilities that require us to pay per-unit charges regardless of the amount of capacity used. Future commitments remaining as of December 31, 20212023 under the arrangements amount to approximately $1.31 billion.$824 million. See Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 13. Commitments and Contingencies for additional information.

Capital Expenditures

2021

2023 Capital Spending

For the year ended December 31, 2021,2023, we invested $1.54$3.25 billion in our capital program excluding $3.58 billion$681.2 million of unbudgeted acquisitions, excluding $21.3$9.7 million of mineral acquisitions attributable to Franco-Nevada, and including $114.1$22.3 million of capital costs associated with increased accruals for capital expenditures as compared to December 31, 2020.2022. Our 20212023 capital

50


expenditures were allocated as follows by quarter. Seeshown in the table below.

In millions

 

2023

 

Exploration and development drilling

 

$

2,734.9

 

Land costs

 

 

134.6

 

Mineral acquisitions attributable to Continental

 

 

2.4

 

Capital facilities, workovers, water infrastructure, and other corporate assets

 

 

381.5

 

Capital expenditures attributable to Continental, excluding unbudgeted acquisitions

 

$

3,253.4

 

Unbudgeted acquisitions

 

 

681.2

 

Total capital expenditures attributable to Continental

 

$

3,934.6

 

Mineral acquisitions attributable to Franco-Nevada

 

 

9.7

 

Total capital expenditures

 

$

3,944.3

 

2024 Capital Expenditures Budget

For 2024, our capital expenditures budget attributable to us is $3.4 billion. Costs of acquisitions and investments, such as those described in Note 18. Equity Investment in Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2. Property Acquisitions and DispositionsStatements, for discussion of our notable property acquisitions executed in 2021.

In millions1Q 20212Q 20213Q 20214Q 2021Total 2021
Exploration and development drilling$255.6 $216.2 $312.3 $382.6 $1,166.7 
Land costs7.5 14.5 18.5 111.1 151.6 
Mineral acquisitions attributable to Continental0.2 1.3 1.5 2.9 5.9 
Capital facilities, workovers, water infrastructure, and other corporate assets27.4 57.3 51.0 68.4 204.1 
Seismic2.7 0.2 0.4 9.2 12.5 
Capital expenditures attributable to Continental, excluding unbudgeted acquisitions$293.4 $289.5 $383.7 $574.2 $1,540.8 
Acquisitions of producing properties (1)183.3 (5.4)0.3 2,390.3 2,568.5 
Acquisitions of non-producing properties (1)24.3 18.7 3.0 967.5 1,013.5 
Total unbudgeted acquisitions207.6 13.3 3.3 3,357.8 3,582.0 
Total capital expenditures attributable to Continental501.0 302.8 387.0 3,932.0 5,122.8 
Mineral acquisitions attributable to Franco-Nevada0.9 2.8 6.0 11.6 21.3 
Total capital expenditures501.9 305.6 393.0 3,943.6 5,144.1 
(1)    Fourth quarter amounts primarily represent our December 2021 Permian Basin acquisition. See Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2. Property Acquisitions and Dispositions for additional information.
2022 Capital Budget
In 2022, we will remain committed to operating in a disciplined, capital-efficient manner to maximize cash flow generation and capital and corporate returns to shareholders. Our 2022 capital budget is expected to be allocated as reflected in the table below. Acquisition expenditures are not budgeted,included in our 2024 capital budget, with the exception of planned levels of spending for mineral acquisitions made in conjunction with our relationship with Franco-Nevadaacquisitions.

.

In millions2022 Budget
Exploration and development$1,800 
Land costs127 
Mineral acquisitions attributable to Continental (1)23 
Capital facilities, workovers, water infrastructure, and other corporate assets344 
Seismic
2022 capital budget attributable to Continental$2,300 
Mineral acquisitions attributable to Franco-Nevada (1)91 
Total 2022 capital budget (2)$2,391 
(1)    Represents planned spending for mineral acquisitions by TMRC II under our relationship with Franco-Nevada Corporation. Continental holds a controlling financial interest in TMRC II and therefore consolidates the financial results and capital expenditures of the entity. With a carry structure in place, Continental will fund 20% of 2022 planned spending, or $23 million, and Franco-Nevada will fund the remaining 80%, or $91 million.
(2)    Excludes the $450 million purchase price for our pending acquisition of properties in the Powder River Basin discussed below under the caption Pending Property Acquisition.
Our drilling and completion activities and the actual amount and timing of our capital expenditures may differ materially from our budget as a result of, among other things, available cash flows, unbudgeted acquisitions, actual drilling and completion results, operational process improvements, the availability of drilling and completion rigs and other services and equipment, cost inflation, the availability of transportation, gathering and processing capacity, changes in commodity prices, and regulatory, technological and competitive developments. We monitor our capital spending closely based on actual and projected cash flows and may scale backadjust our spending should commodity prices materially decreasechange from current levels.
51


Pending Property Acquisition
As discussed in Note 20. Subsequent Events in Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, on January 24, 2022, we executed a definitive agreement to acquire oil and gas properties in the Powder River Basin for $450 million of cash, subject to customary closing price adjustments. The properties include approximately 172,000 net leasehold acres and producing properties with production totaling approximately 16,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day based on two-stream reporting. Closing of the acquisition is expected to occur in late March 2022 and remains subject to the completion of customary due diligence procedures and closing conditions.
We expect to continue participating as a buyer of properties when and if we have the ability to increase our position in strategic plays at attractive terms.

Cash Payments for Income Taxes

As

For the year ended December 31, 2023, we made cash payments for federal and state income taxes totaling $566 million, representing payments associated with 2022 tax return filing extensions and estimated quarterly payments for 2023 federal and state income taxes based on estimates of February 10, 2022, the publicly available forwardtaxable income for 2023. Significant judgment is involved in estimating future taxable income as we are required to make assumptions about future commodity strip prices, for the remainderprojected production, development activities, capital spending, profitability, and general economic conditions, all of 2022 averaged $83.38 per barrel for crude oil and $4.09 per Mcf for natural gas.which are subject to material revision in future periods as better information

31


becomes available. If commodity prices remain at thesecurrent levels, for the year, we could potentially utilize the full amount of our federal net operating loss carryforwards and certain state net operating loss carryforwards and generateexpect to continue generating significant taxable income in 2022,through at least year-end 2024, which couldwould result in us making cashcontinuing to make estimated tax payments for income taxeson a quarterly basis in 2024 that could approximate the upcoming year.payments made in 2023. Because of the significant uncertainty inherent in numerous factors utilized in projecting taxable income, including future commodity prices, production levels, development activities, capital spending, profitability, and general economic conditions, we cannot predict the amount of future income tax payments with certainty, but suchcertainty.

Long-term incentive compensation awards

As discussed in Note 15. Incentive Compensation in Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements we have recognized a current liability of $130.6 million and a non-current liability of $41.7 million in the consolidated balance sheets associated with unvested incentive compensation awards granted to employees that are scheduled to vest in 2024, 2025, and 2026. We intend to settle these awards in cash at the time vesting occurs. Our recognized liabilities will be remeasured each reporting period leading up to the applicable award vesting dates to reflect additional service rendered by employees and to reflect changes in expected cash payments could be significant.

Dividend Declaration
On February 9, 2022,arising from underlying changes in the value of the Company declared a quarterlybased on independent third party appraisals. The current liability at December 31, 2023 was paid in cash dividendto employees in February 2024 upon the scheduled vesting of $0.23 per shareawards. We intend to grant additional awards on its outstanding common stock, which will be paid on March 4, 2022an annual basis that we plan to shareholders of record as of February 22, 2022.
settle in cash upon vesting.

Delivery Commitments

We have various natural gas volume delivery commitments that are related to our North and Southkey operating areas. We expect to primarily fulfill our contractual natural gas obligations with production from our proved reserves. However, we may purchase third-party volumes to satisfy our commitments. Additionally, in the Permian Basin certain of our firm sales contracts for crude oil include delivery commitments that specify the delivery of a fixed and determinable quantity. We expect to primarily fulfill our contractual crude oil obligations with production from our proved reserves. As of December 31, 2023, we were committed to deliver the following fixed quantities of natural gas and crude oil production. The volumes disclosed herein represent gross production associated with properties operated by us and do not reflect our net proportionate share of such amounts. Additionally, in the South region certain of our firm sales contracts for oil include delivery commitments that specify the delivery of a fixed and determinable quantity. We expect to primarily fulfill our contractual obligations with production from our proved reserves. As of December 31, 2021, we were committed to deliver the following fixed quantities of natural gas production.

Year EndingNatural GasCrude Oil
December 31,BcfMMBo
202214613
20238413
2024733
202518
202615
Derivative Instruments
See Note 6. Derivative Instruments

 in

Year Ending

 

Natural Gas

 

 

Crude Oil

 

December 31,

 

Bcf

 

 

MMBo

 

2024

 

 

126

 

 

 

13

 

2025

 

 

74

 

 

 

3

 

2026

 

 

38

 

 

 

 

2027

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

for discussion of our hedging activities, including a summary of derivative contracts in place as of December 31, 2021. Between January 1, 2022 and February 10, 2022 we entered into additional derivative instruments as summarized in the tables below.

52


Natural gas derivatives
Weighted Average Hedge Price ($/MMBtu)
Period and Type of ContractAverage Volumes HedgedSwapsFloorCeiling
April 2022 - September 2022
Swaps - Henry Hub200,000 MMBtus/day$4.03 
April 2022 - September 2022
Collars - Henry Hub110,000 MMBtus/day$4.50 $6.00 
July 2022 - December 2022
Swaps - WAHA45,000 MMBtus/day$3.41 
October 2022 - March 2023
Collars - Henry Hub210,000 MMBtus/day$4.12 $5.52 
January 2023 - December 2023
Swaps - WAHA40,000 MMBtus/day$2.69 
April 2023 - September 2023
Swaps - Henry Hub100,000 MMBtus/day$3.25 
October 2023 - March 2024
Collars - Henry Hub100,000 MMBtus/day$3.14 $4.00 
April 2024 - December 2024
Swaps - Henry Hub100,000 MMBtus/day$3.11 
Crude oil derivatives
Period and Type of ContractAverage Volumes HedgedWeighted Average Hedge Price ($/Bbl)
March 2022 - December 2022
NYMEX Roll Swaps24,000 Bbls/day$1.10 
Share repurchase program
In May 2019 our Board of Directors approved the initiation of a share repurchase program to acquire up to $1 billion of our common stock beginning in June 2019. On February 8, 2022, our Board of Directors approved an increase in the size of the share repurchase program to $1.5 billion, inclusive of cumulative amounts repurchased to date. As of the date of this filing, we have repurchased and retired a cumulative total of approximately 17.0 million shares under the program at an aggregate cost of $441.1 million, leaving approximately $1.06 billion of authorized repurchasing capacity under the modified program. The timing and amount of the Company's share repurchases are subject to market conditions and management discretion. The share repurchase program does not require the Company to repurchase a specific number of shares and may be modified, suspended, or terminated by the Board of Directors at any time.
Senior note repurchases and redemptions

As discussed in Note 8. Long-Term Debt in Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, inIn recent yearsperiods we have repurchasedredeemed or redeemedrepurchased a portion of our outstanding senior notes. From time to time, we may seek to execute additional repurchasesredemptions or redemptionsrepurchases of our senior notes for cash in open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise. SuchThe timing and amount of any such redemptions or repurchases or redemptions will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity and prospects for future access to capital, and other factors. The amounts involved in any such transactions, individually or in the aggregate, may be material. Our $893 million of 2024 Notes is due in June 2024. We expect to fully redeem our 2024 Notes by the maturity date using a combination of available cash flows and utilization of credit facility borrowing capacity if necessary.

Derivative Instruments

The fair value of our derivative instruments at December 31, 2023 was a net asset of $508 million. See Note 6. Derivative Instruments in Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of our hedging activities, including a summary of derivative contracts in place as of December 31, 2023. The estimated fair value of our derivatives is highly sensitive to market price volatility and therefore subject to significant fluctuations from period to period. See Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk for information on how hypothetical changes in commodity prices would impact the fair value of our derivatives as of December 31, 2023.

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our consolidated financial statements and related footnotes contain information that is pertinent to our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to select appropriate accounting policies and to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, and the disclosure and estimation of contingent assets and liabilities. See Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 1. Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 9. Revenues for descriptions of our major accounting policies. Certain of these accounting policies involve judgments and uncertainties to such an extent that there is a reasonable likelihood that materially different amounts could have been reported under different conditions or if different assumptions had been used.

In management’s opinion, the most significant reporting areas impacted by management’s judgments and estimates are crude oil and natural gas reserve estimations, revenue recognition, the choice of accounting method for crude oil and natural gas activities and derivatives, impairment of assets, income taxes and contingent liabilities. These areas are discussed below. Management’s judgments and estimates in these areas are based on information available from both internal and external sources, including engineers, geologists and historical experience in similar matters and are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on a regular basis. Actual results could differ from the estimates as additional information becomes known.

Crude Oil and Natural Gas Reserves Estimation and Standardized Measure of Future Cash Flows

Our external independent reserve engineers, Ryder Scott, and internal technical staff prepare the estimates of our crude oil and natural gas reserves and associated future net cash flows. Even though Ryder Scott and our internal technical staff are knowledgeable and follow authoritative guidelines for estimating reserves, they must make a number of subjective assumptions based on professional judgments in developing the reserve estimates. Estimates of reserves and their values, future production rates, and future costs and expenses are inherently uncertain for various reasons, including many factors beyond the Company’s control. Reserve estimates are updated by us at least semi-annually and take into account recent production levels and other technical information about each of our properties.

Crude oil and natural gas reserve engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of crude oil and natural gas that cannot be precisely measured. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Periodic revisions or removals of estimated reserves and future cash flows may be necessary as a result of a number of factors, including reservoir performance, new drilling, crude oil and natural gas prices, changes in costs, technological advances, new geological or geophysical data, changes in business strategies, or other economic factors. Accordingly, reserve estimates may differ significantly from the quantities of crude oil and natural gas ultimately recovered. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, net upward (downward) revisions of our proved reserves totaled approximately 54 MMBoe, (505) MMBoe, and (149) MMBoe, respectively. We cannot predict the amounts or timing of future reserve revisions or removals.

Estimates of proved reserves are key components of the Company’s most significant financial estimates including the computation of depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment of proved crude oil and natural gas properties. Holding all other factors constant, if proved reserves are revised downward, the rate at which we record DD&A expense would increase, reducing net income. Conversely, if proved reserves are revised upward, the rate at which we record DD&A expense would decrease. Future revisions of reserves may be material and could significantly alter future depreciation, depletion, and amortization expense and may result in material impairments of assets.

At December 31, 2021, our proved reserves totaled 1,645 MMBoe as determined using 12-month average first-day-of-the-month prices of $66.56 per barrel for crude oil and $3.60 per MMBtu for natural gas. Actual future prices may be materially higher or lower than those used in our year-end estimates. NYMEX WTI crude oil and Henry Hub natural gas first-day-of-the-month commodity prices for January 1, 2022 and February 1, 2022 averaged $81.71 per barrel and $4.65 per MMBtu, respectively.
Holding all other factors constant, if crude oil prices used in our year-end reserve estimates were increased to $80 per barrel our proved reserves at December 31, 2021 could increase by approximately 21 MMBoe, or 1%. If the increase in proved reserves under this oil price sensitivity existed throughout 2021, our DD&A expense for 2021 would have decreased by approximately 2%.
Holding all other factors constant, if natural gas prices used in our year-end reserve estimates were increased to $4.50 per MMBtu our proved reserves at December 31, 2021 could increase by approximately 8 MMBoe, or less than 1%. If the increase in proved reserves under this gas price sensitivity existed throughout 2021, our DD&A expense for 2021 would have decreased by approximately 1%.
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Our DD&A calculations for oil and gas properties are performed on a field basis and revisions to proved reserves will not necessarily be applied ratably across all fields and may not be applied to some fields at all. Further, reserve revisions in significant fields may individually affect our DD&A rate. As a result, the impact on DD&A expense from revisions in reserves cannot be predicted with certainty and may result in changes in expense that are greater or less than the underlying changes in reserves.
See Part I, Item 1. Business—Crude Oil and Natural Gas Operations—Proved Reserves—Proved Reserves, Standardized Measure, and PV-10 Sensitivities

for additional proved reserve sensitivities under certain increasing and decreasing commodity price scenarios for crude oil and natural gas.

Revenue Recognition

We derive substantially all of our revenues from the sale of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas.NGLs. See Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 9. Revenues for discussion of our accounting policies governing the recognition and presentation of revenues.

Operated crude oil, and natural gas, and NGL revenues are recognized during the month in which control transfers to the customer and it is probable the Company will collect the consideration it is entitled to receive. For non-operated properties, the Company's proportionate share of production is generally marketed at the discretion of the operators. Non-operated revenues are recognized by the Company during the month in which production occurs and it is probable the Company will collect the consideration it is entitled to receive.

At the end of each month, to record revenues we estimate the amount of production delivered and sold to customers and the prices at which they were sold. Variances between estimated revenues and actual amounts received for all prior months are recorded in the

33


month payment is received and are reflected in our financial statements as crude oil and natural gas sales. These variances have historically not been material.

For the sale of crude oil, and natural gas, and NGLs we evaluate whether we are the principal, and report revenues on a gross basis (revenues presented separately from associated expenses), or an agent, and report revenues on a net basis. In this assessment, we consider if we obtain control of the products before they are transferred to the customer as well as other indicators. Judgment may be required in determining the point in time when control of products transfers to customers.

Successful Efforts Method of Accounting

Our business is subject to accounting rules that are unique to the crude oil and natural gas industry. Two generally accepted methods of accounting for oil and gas activities are availablethe successful efforts method and the full cost method. The most significant differences between these two methods are the treatment of exploration costs and the manner in which the carrying value of oil and gas properties are amortized and evaluated for impairment. We use the successful efforts method of accounting for our oil and gas properties. See Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 1. Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for further discussion of the accounting policies applicable to the successful efforts method of accounting.

Derivative Activities

From time to time we may utilize derivative contracts to hedge against the variability in cash flows associated with the forecasted sale of future crude oil and natural gas production and for other purposes. We have elected not to designate any of our price risk management activities as cash flow hedges. As a result, we mark our derivative instruments to fair value and recognize the changes in fair value in current earnings.

In determining the amounts to be recorded for outstanding derivative contracts, we are required to estimate the fair value of the derivatives. We use an independent third party to provide our derivative valuations. The third party’s valuation models for derivative contracts are industry-standard models that consider various inputs including quoted forward prices for commodities, time value, volatility factors, and current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments, as well as other relevant economic measures. The fair value calculations for collars requires the use of an option-pricing model. The estimated future prices are compared to the prices fixed by the derivative agreements and the resulting estimated future cash inflows or outflows over the lives of the derivatives are discounted to calculate the fair value of the derivative contracts. These pricing and discounting variables are sensitive to market volatility as well as changes in future price forecasts and interest rates.

We validate our derivative valuations through management review and by comparison to our counterparties’ valuations for reasonableness. Differences between our fair value calculations and counterparty valuations have historically not been material.

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Impairment of Assets

All of our long-lived assets are monitored for potential impairment when circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may be greater than its future net cash flows, including cash flows from risk-adjusted proved reserves. Risk-adjusted probable and possible reserves may be taken into consideration when determining estimated future net cash flows and fair value when such reserves exist and are economically recoverable.

Proved crude oil and natural gas properties are reviewed for impairment on a field-by-field basis. If the carrying amount of a field exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, the carrying amount of the field is reduced to its estimated fair value using a discounted cash flow model. For producing properties, the impairment evaluations involve a significant amount of judgment since the results are based on estimated future events, such as future sales prices for crude oil and natural gas, future costs to produce those products, estimates of future crude oil and natural gas reserves to be recovered and the timing thereof, the economic and regulatory climates and other factors. The need to test a field for impairment may result from significant declines in sales prices or downward revisions or removals of crude oil and natural gas reserves. Estimates of anticipated sales prices and recoverable reserves are highly judgmental and are subject to material revision in future periods.

No impairments were recognized

Impairment provisions for our proved crude oil and natural gas properties totaled $15.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 as estimated future net cash flows were determined to be in excess of cost basis.2023. Commodity price assumptions used for the year-end December 31, 20212023 impairment calculations were based on publicly available average annual forward commodity strip prices through year-end 20262028 and were then escalated at 3% per year thereafter. Holding all other factors constant, as forward commodity prices decrease, our probability for recognizing producing property impairments may increase, or the magnitude of impairments to be recognized may increase. Conversely, as forward commodity prices increase, our probability for recognizing producing property impairments may decrease, or the magnitude of impairments to be recognized may decrease or be eliminated. As of December 31, 2021,2023 , the publicly available forward commodity strip prices for the year 20262028 used in our fourth quarter impairment calculations averaged $58.42$61.94 per barrel for crude oil and $3.03$3.80 per Mcf for natural gas. If forward commodity prices materially decrease from current levels for an extended period, impairments of producing properties may be recognized in the

34


future. Because of the uncertainty inherent in the numerous factors utilized in determining the fair value of producing properties, we cannot predict the timing and amount of future impairment charges, if any.

Impairment losses for unproved properties are generally recognized by amortizing the portion of the properties’ costs which management estimates will not be transferred to proved properties over the lives of the leases based on drilling plans, experience of successful drilling, and the average holding period. The impairment assessments are affected by economic factors such as the results of exploration activities, commodity price outlooks, anticipated drilling programs, remaining lease terms, and potential shifts in business strategy employed by management. The estimated timing and rate of successful drilling is highly judgmental and is subject to material revision in future periods as better information becomes available.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management must consider whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. We apply judgment to determine the weight of both positive and negative evidence in order to conclude whether a valuation allowance is necessary for our deferred tax assets. In determining whether a valuation allowance is required, we consider, among other factors, our financial position, results of operations, projected future taxable income, reversal of existing deferred tax liabilities against deferred tax assets, and tax planning strategies. Significant judgment is involved in this determination as we are required to make assumptions about future commodity prices, projected production, development activities, profitability of future business strategies and forecasted economics in the oil and gas industry. Additionally, changes in the effective tax rate resulting from changes in tax law and our level of earnings may limit utilization of deferred tax assets and may affect the valuation of deferred tax balances in the future. Changes in judgment regarding future realization of deferred tax assets may result in a reversal of all or a portion of thea valuation allowance.

We believe our net deferred tax assets at December 31, 2023 will ultimately be realized. During 2020, a $14.5 million valuation allowance was established for the deferred tax asset associated with a portion of our Oklahoma state net operating loss carryforwards. In 2021, we reassessed the realizability of the deferred tax asset related to Oklahoma state net operating loss carryforwards, and based on current year activity, determined it was more likely than not that such assets would be realized. Therefore, it was determined that the previously recorded valuation allowance in 2020 should be released in 2021. We will continue to evaluate both the
56


positive and negative evidence on a quarterly basis in determining the need for a valuation allowance with respect to our deferred tax assets.

We make certain estimates and judgments in determining our income tax expense for financial reporting purposes. Our federal and state income tax returns are generally not prepared or filed before our consolidated financial statements are prepared; therefore, we estimate the tax basis of our assets and liabilities at the end of each period as well as the effects of tax rate changes, tax credits, and net operating loss carryforwards, among other things. Adjustments related to these estimates are recorded in our tax provision in the period in which we file our income tax returns. Accordingly, our effective tax rate is subject to variability from period to period as a result of factors other than changes in federal and state tax rates and/or changes in tax laws which can affect tax-paying companies. For instance, our effective tax rate is affected by, among other things, permanent taxable differences, tax credits, valuation allowances, and changes in the apportionment of property, revenues, and payroll between states in which we own property as rates vary from state to state, all of which could have a material effect on current period earnings.

Contingent Liabilities

A provision for legal, environmental and other contingencies is charged to expense when a loss is probable and the loss or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. Determining when liabilities and expenses should be recorded for these contingencies and the appropriate amounts of accruals is subject to an estimation process that requires subjective judgment of management. In certain cases, management’s judgment is based on the advice and opinions of legal counsel and other advisers, the interpretation of laws and regulations which can be interpreted differently by regulators and/or courts of law, the experience of the Company and other companies dealing with similar matters, and management’s decision on how it intends to respond to a particular matter; for example, a decision to contest it vigorously or a decision to seek a negotiated settlement. Actual losses can differ from estimates for various reasons, including differing interpretations of laws and opinions and assessments on the amount of damages. We closely monitor known and potential legal, environmental and other contingencies and make our best estimate of when or if to record liabilities and losses for matters based on available information.

New Accounting Pronouncement

See Part II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 1. Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Adoption of new accounting pronouncement for a discussion of the new income tax accounting standard adopted on January 1, 2021, which did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Legislative and Regulatory Developments

The crude oil and natural gas industry in the United States is subject to various types of regulation at the federal, state and local levels. In January 2021, President Biden, issued executive orders that, among other things, establish new greenhouse gas emission standards for the oil and gas sector. Additionally, the Biden Administration is pursuing legislative changes to eliminate or defer certain key U.S. federal income tax deductions historically available to oil and gas exploration and production companies, as well as other tax policy changes including a proposed increase in the U.S. corporate income tax rate, among other things. These changes, if enacted, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows. President Biden may continue to issue additional executive orders in pursuit of his regulatory agenda, has issued, and may continue to issue, executive orders that result in more stringent and costly requirements for the domestic crude oil and natural gas industry and there is the potential for the revision of existing laws and regulations or the adoption of new legislation that could adversely affect the oil and gas industry. Such changes, if enacted, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows. See Part I, Item 1. Business—Regulation of

35


the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Industry for further discussiona summary of significant laws and regulations that have been enacted or are currently being considered by regulatory bodies that may affect us in the areas in which we operate.

Inflation

Inflation
Certain drilling

Inflationary pressures experienced in recent years may continue in 2024. Some of the underlying factors impacting inflation may include, but are not limited to, global supply chain disruptions, shipping bottlenecks, labor market constraints, and completionside effects from monetary and fiscal expansions. If these inflationary pressures persist or worsen, we may incur additional costs and costs of oilfield services,for equipment and materials, decreased in recent years asand from service providers reduced their costs in response to reduced demand arising from historically low crude oil prices. However,providers. Our budgeted expenditures include an estimate for the impact of cost inflation and, despite inflationary pressures, returned in 2021 and are expectedwe expect to continue in 2022 in conjunction with thegenerating significant improvement inamounts of free cash flow at current commodity prices over the past year in response to the liftingprice levels.

36


Revenues and transportation expenses associated with production from our operated properties are reported separately as discussed in ContentsPart II, Item 8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 9. Revenues

. For non-operated properties, we receive a net payment from the operator for our share of sales proceeds which is net of costs incurred by the operator, if any. Such non-operated revenues are recognized at the net amount of proceeds received. As a result, the separate presentation of revenues and transportation expenses from our operated properties differs from the net presentation from non-operated properties. This impacts the comparability of certain operating metrics, such as per-unit sales prices, when such metrics are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP using gross presentation for some revenues and net presentation for others.

57


In order to provide metrics prepared in a manner consistent with how management assesses the Company's operating results and to achieve comparability between operated and non-operated revenues, we have presented crude oil and natural gas sales net of transportation expenses in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, which we refer to as "net crude oil and natural gas sales," a non-GAAP measure. Average sales prices calculated using net crude oil and natural gas sales are referred to as "net sales prices," a non-GAAP measure, and are calculated by taking revenues less transportation expenses divided by sales volumes, whether for crude oil or natural gas, as applicable. Management believes presenting our revenues and sales prices net of transportation expenses is useful because it normalizes the presentation differences between operated and non-operated revenues and allows for a useful comparison of net realized prices to NYMEX benchmark prices on a Company-wide basis.
The following table presents a reconciliation of total Company crude oil and natural gas sales (GAAP) to net crude oil and natural gas sales and related net sales prices (non-GAAP) for 2021, 2020, and 2019.
Total CompanyYear Ended December 31, 2021Year Ended December 31, 2020Year Ended December 31, 2019
In thousandsCrude oilNatural gasTotalCrude oilNatural gasTotalCrude oilNatural gasTotal
Crude oil and natural gas sales (GAAP)$3,949,294 $1,844,447 $5,793,741 $2,199,976 $355,458 $2,555,434 $3,929,994 $584,395 $4,514,389 
Less: Transportation expenses(185,130)(39,859)(224,989)(158,989)(37,703)(196,692)(191,998)(33,651)(225,649)
Net crude oil and natural gas sales (non-GAAP)$3,764,164 $1,804,588 $5,568,752 $2,040,987 $317,755 $2,358,742 $3,737,996 $550,744 $4,288,740 
Sales volumes (MBbl/MMcf/MBoe)58,757 370,110 120,442 58,793 306,528 109,881 72,136 311,865 124,113 
Net sales price (non-GAAP)$64.06 $4.88 $46.24 $34.71 $1.04 $21.47 $51.82 $1.77 $34.56 
The following tables present reconciliations of crude oil and natural gas sales (GAAP) to net crude oil and natural gas sales and related net sales prices (non-GAAP) for North Dakota Bakken and SCOOP for 2021, 2020, and 2019 as presented in Part I, Item 1. Business—Crude Oil and Natural Gas Operations—Production and Price History.
North Dakota BakkenYear Ended December 31, 2021Year Ended December 31, 2020Year Ended December 31, 2019
In thousandsCrude oilNatural gasTotalCrude oilNatural gasTotalCrude oilNatural gasTotal
Crude oil and natural gas sales (GAAP)$2,695,738 $549,932 $3,245,670 $1,469,450 $24,714 $1,494,164 $2,826,136 $128,426 $2,954,562 
Less: Transportation expenses(154,359)(4,831)(159,190)(127,036)(2,580)(129,616)(157,076)(2,530)(159,606)
Net crude oil and natural gas sales (non-GAAP)$2,541,379 $545,101 $3,086,480 $1,342,414 $22,134 $1,364,548 $2,669,060 $125,896 $2,794,956 
Sales volumes (MBbl/MMcf/MBoe)40,186 120,517 60,272 40,040 97,532 56,295 52,374 98,186 68,738 
Net sales price (non-GAAP)$63.24 $4.52 $51.21 $33.53 $0.23 $24.24 $50.96 $1.28 $40.66 
SCOOPYear Ended December 31, 2021Year Ended December 31, 2020Year Ended December 31, 2019
In thousandsCrude oilNatural gasTotalCrude oilNatural gasTotalCrude oilNatural gasTotal
Crude oil and natural gas sales (GAAP)$756,596 $980,323 $1,736,919 $486,076 $246,125 $732,201 $640,097 $277,230 $917,327 
Less: Transportation expenses(2,854)(23,808)(26,662)(5,275)(21,909)(27,184)(3,539)(14,795)(18,334)
Net crude oil and natural gas sales (non-GAAP)$753,742 $956,515 $1,710,257 $480,801 $224,216 $705,017 $636,558 $262,435 $898,993 
Sales volumes (MBbl/MMcf/MBoe)11,341 179,553 41,267 12,694 136,410 35,429 11,592 111,436 30,164 
Net sales price (non-GAAP)$66.46 $5.33 $41.44 $37.88 $1.64 $19.90 $54.92 $2.36 $29.80 
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PV-10
Our PV-10 value, a non-GAAP financial measure, is derived from the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows, which is the most directly comparable financial measure computed using U.S. GAAP. PV-10 generally differs from Standardized Measure because it does not include the effects of income taxes on future net revenues. At December 31, 2021, our PV-10 totaled approximately $20.49 billion. The standardized measure of our discounted future net cash flows was approximately $16.64 billion at December 31, 2021, representing a $3.86 billion difference from PV-10 due to the effect of deducting estimated future income taxes in arriving at Standardized Measure. We believe the presentation of PV-10 is relevant and useful to investors because it presents the discounted future net cash flows attributable to proved reserves held by companies without regard to the specific income tax characteristics of such entities and is a useful measure of evaluating the relative monetary significance of our crude oil and natural gas properties. Investors may utilize PV-10 as a basis for comparing the relative size and value of our proved reserves to other companies. PV-10 should not be considered as a substitute for, or more meaningful than, the Standardized Measure as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Neither PV-10 nor Standardized Measure represents an estimate of the fair market value of our crude oil and natural gas properties.
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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

General. We are exposed to a variety of market risks including commodity price risk, credit risk, and interest rate risk. We seek to address these risks through a program of risk management which may include the use of derivative instruments.

Commodity Price Risk. Our primary market risk exposure is in the prices we receive from sales of our crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas.gas liquids. Realized pricing is primarily driven by the prevailing worldwide price for crude oil and spot market prices applicable to our natural gas production. Prices for crude oil and natural gas liquids production. Commodity prices have been volatile and unpredictable for several years, and we expect this volatility to continue in the future. The prices we receive for production depend on many factors outside of our control, including volatility in the differences between product prices at sales points and the applicable index prices. Based on our average daily production for the quarter ended December 31, 2021,2023, and excluding any effect of our derivative instruments in place, our annual revenue would increase or decrease by approximately $608$897 million for each $10.00 per barrel change in crude oil prices at December 31, 20212023 and $380$457 million for each $1.00 per Mcf change in natural gas prices at December 31, 2021.2023.

To reduce price risk caused by market fluctuations in crude oil and natural gascommodity prices, from time to time we may economically hedge a portion of our anticipated crude oil and natural gas production as part of our risk management program. In addition, we may utilize basis contracts to hedge the differential between derivative contract index prices and those of our physical pricing points. Reducing our exposure to price volatility helps secure funds to be used for our capital program and for general corporate purposes. Our decision on the quantity and price at which we choose to hedge our production is based in part on our view of current and future market conditions. We may choose not to hedge future production if the price environment for certain time periods is deemed to be unfavorable. Additionally, we may choose to settle existing derivative positions prior to the expiration of their contractual maturities. While hedging, if utilized, may limit the downside risk of adverse price movements, it also may limit future revenues from upward price movements.

The fair value of our derivative instruments at December 31, 20212023 was a net asset of $34.3$508 million, which is comprised of a $33.3$355 million net asset associated with our natural gas derivatives and a $1.0$153 million net asset associated with our crude oil derivatives. The following table shows how a hypothetical +/- 10% change in the underlying forward prices used to calculate the fair value of our derivatives would impact the fair value estimates as of December 31, 2021.2023.
Hypothetical Fair Value
In thousandsChange in Forward PriceAsset (Liability)
Crude Oil-10%$1,273
Crude Oil+10%$641
Natural Gas-10%$99,641
Natural Gas+10%($33,074)

 

 

 

Hypothetical Fair Value

 

In thousands

 

Change in Forward Price

 

Asset (Liability)

 

Crude Oil

 

-10%

 

$

347,530

 

Crude Oil

 

+10%

 

$

(41,267

)

Natural Gas

 

-10%

 

$

578,959

 

Natural Gas

 

+10%

 

$

130,894

 

Changes in the fair value of our derivatives from the above price sensitivities would produce a corresponding change in our total revenues.

Credit Risk. We monitor our risk of loss due to non-performance by counterparties of their contractual obligations. Our principal exposure to credit risk is through the sale of our crude oil and natural gas production, which we market to energy marketing companies, crude oil refining companies, and natural gas gathering and processing companies ($1.11.2 billion in receivables at December 31, 2021)2023) and our joint interest and other receivables ($279351 million at December 31, 2021)2023).

We monitor our exposure to counterparties on crude oil and natural gas sales primarily by reviewing credit ratings, financial statements and payment history. We extend credit terms based on our evaluation of each counterparty’s credit worthiness. We have not generally required our counterparties to provide collateral to secure crude oil and natural gas sales receivables owed to us. Historically, our credit losses on crude oil and natural gas sales receivables have been immaterial.

Joint interest receivables arise from billing the individuals and entities who own a partial interest in the wells we operate. These individuals and entities participate in our wells primarily based on their ownership in leases included in units on which we wish to drill. We can do very little to choose who participates in our wells. In order to minimize our exposure to this credit risk we generally request prepayment of drilling costs where it is allowed by contract or state law. For such prepayments, a liability is recorded and subsequently reduced as the associated work is performed. This liability was $19$37 million at December 31, 2021,2023, which will be used to offset future capital costs when billed. In this manner, we reduce credit risk. We may have the right to place a lien on a co-owner’s interest in the well, to net production proceeds against amounts owed in order to secure payment or, if necessary, foreclose on the interest. Historically, our credit losses on joint interest receivables have been immaterial.

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Interest Rate Risk. Our exposure to changes in interest rates relates primarily to variable-rate borrowings we may have outstanding from time to time under our credit facility.facility and our $750 million term loan. Such borrowings bear interest at market-based interest rates plus a margin based on the terms

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of the borrowing and the credit ratings assigned to our senior, unsecured, long-term indebtedness. All of our other long-term indebtedness is fixed rate and does not expose us to the risk of cash flow loss due to changes in market interest rates.

We had $240$10 million of variable rate borrowings outstanding on our credit facility and $750 million of variable rate borrowings on our term loan at January 31, 2022.February 1, 2024. The impact of a 0.25% increase in interest rates on this amount of debt would result in increased interest expense and reduced income before income taxes of approximately $0.6$1.9 million per year.

We manage our interest rate exposure by monitoring both the effects of market changes in interest rates and the proportion of our debt portfolio that is variable-rate versus fixed-rate debt. We may utilize interest rate derivatives to alter interest rate exposure in an attempt to reduce interest rate expense related to existing debt issues. Interest rate derivatives may be used solely to modify interest rate exposure and not to modify the overall leverage of the debt portfolio. We currently have no interest rate derivatives.

The following table presents our debt maturities and the weighted average interest rates by expected maturity date as of December 31, 2021:2023:

 

In thousands20222023202420252026ThereafterTotal
Fixed rate debt:
Senior Notes:
Principal amount (1)$— $649,625 $911,000 $— $800,000 $4,000,000 $6,360,625 
Weighted-average interest rate— 4.5%3.8%— 2.3 %4.7 %4.2 %
Notes payable:
Principal amount (1)$2,326 $2,410 $2,495 $2,587 $2,681 $9,952 $22,451 
Interest rate3.5 %3.5 %3.5 %3.5 %3.5 %3.5 %3.5 %
Variable rate debt:
Credit facility:
Principal amount$— $— $— $— $500,000 $— $500,000 
Weighted-average interest rate— — — — 1.6 %— 1.6 %

In thousands

 

2024

 

 

2025

 

 

2026

 

 

2027

 

 

2028

 

 

Thereafter

 

 

Total

 

Fixed rate debt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Notes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal amount (1)

 

$

893,126

 

 

$

 

 

$

800,000

 

 

$

 

 

$

1,000,000

 

 

$

3,000,000

 

 

$

5,693,126

 

Weighted-average interest rate

 

 

3.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

2.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

4.4

%

 

 

4.8

%

 

 

4.2

%

Notes payable:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal amount (1)

 

$

2,495

 

 

$

2,587

 

 

$

2,681

 

 

$

2,777

 

 

$

2,876

 

 

$

4,299

 

 

$

17,715

 

Interest rate

 

 

3.5

%

 

 

3.5

%

 

 

3.5

%

 

 

3.5

%

 

 

3.5

%

 

 

3.5

%

 

 

3.5

%

Variable rate debt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit facility:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal amount

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

210,000

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

210,000

 

Weighted-average interest rate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.0

%

Term loan:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal amount

 

$

 

 

$

750,000

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

750,000

 

Weighted-average interest rate

 

 

 

 

 

7.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.0

%

(1)
Amounts represent scheduled maturities and do not reflect any discount or premium at which the notes were issued or any debt issuance costs.
61

38


Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data



Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

62

39


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


Board of Directors and Shareholders

Continental Resources, Inc.


Opinion on the financial statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Continental Resources, Inc. (an Oklahoma corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, (loss), equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021,2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021,2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework

issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”), and our report datedFebruary 14, 2022expressed an unqualified opinion.

Basis for opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’sCompany's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOBPublic Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB.PCAOB and in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical audit matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Estimation of proved crude oil and natural gas reserves as it relates to the recognition of depletion expense, proved and unproved crude oil and natural gas reserves used in the assessment and measurement of impairment, of proved crude oil and natural gas properties, and recording of the fair valuevaluation of crude oil and natural gas properties in the Permian Basin Acquisitionfrom certain 2023 executed acquisitions of proved oil and Powder River Basin Acquisitionsgas properties (herein referred to as “the crude oil and natural gas reserves”).

As described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company accounts for its crude oil and natural gas properties using the successful efforts method of accounting, which requires management to make estimates of proved crude oil and natural gas reserve volumes and future cash flows to record depletion expense

63


and proved and unproved crude oil and natural gas reserves to assess its crude oil and natural gas properties for impairment. Additionally, as described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company acquired significant oil and natural gas properties through asset acquisitions and a business combination.acquisitions. Crude oil and natural gas reserves are a significant input to the determination of the acquisition date fair value of crude oil and natural gas properties acquired by the Company in asset acquisitions and business combinations.acquisitions. To estimate the crude oil and natural gas reserves and future cash flows, management makes significant estimates and assumptions including forecasting the production decline rate of producing crude oil and natural gas properties and forecasting the timing and volume of production associated with the Company’sCompany's development plan for proved undeveloped properties and unproved properties. In addition, the estimation of the crude oil and natural gas reserves is also impacted by management’smanagement's judgments and estimates regarding the financial performance of wells associated with the crude oil and natural gas reserves to determine if wells are expected with reasonable certainty to be economical under the appropriate pricing assumptions required in the estimation of depletion

40


expense and impairment assessments / assessments/measurements. We identified the estimation of proved crude oil and natural gas reserves as it relates to the recognition of depletion expense and the recording of fair values of properties acquired in the 2023 acquisitions, and proved and unproved crude oil and natural gas reserves for the assessment / assessment/measurement of impairment of crude oil and natural gas properties as a critical audit matter.

The principal considerationsconsideration for our determination that the estimation of proved crude oil and natural gas reserves as it relates to the recognition of depletion expense and proved and unproved crude oil and natural gas reserves for the assessment / measurement of impairment of crude oil and natural gas properties and the recording of oil and natural gas propertiesproperty values in the Permian Basin Acquisition and Powder River Basin Acquisitions2023 acquisitions is a critical audit matter is that relatively minor changes in certain highly subjective inputs and assumptions which require a high degree of subjectivity,that are necessary to estimate the volume and future cash flows of the Company’sCompany's crude oil and natural gas reserves could have a significant impact on the measurement of depletion expense or assessment / measurement of impairment expense and the acquisition date values of crude oil and natural gas properties.

Our audit procedures related to the estimation of proved crude oil and natural gas reserves as it relates to the recognition of depletion expense and proved and unproved crude oil and natural gas reserves for the assessment and measurement of impairment and the amount of crude oil and natural gas properties recorded from acquisitions and business combinations included the following, among others.

others:

Tested the design and operating effectiveness of controls relating to management’s estimation of proved crude oil and natural gas reserves for the purpose of estimating depletion expense and proved and unproved crude oil and natural gas reserves for assessing / measuring the Company’s proved crude oil and gas properties for impairment and acquisitions and business combinations.
AssessedWe assessed the independence, objectivity, and professional qualifications of the Company’sCompany's reservoir engineer specialists, made inquiries of these specialists (internal and external) regarding the process followed and judgments used to make significant estimates, including but not limited to crude oil and natural gas reserve volumes, decline rates, and economically recoverable crude oil and natural gas reserves and reviewed the reserve estimates prepared by the Company’sCompany's specialists.
To the extent key inputs and assumptions used to determine crude oil and natural gas reserve volumes and other cash flow inputs and assumptions are derived from the Company’sCompany's accounting records, including, but not limited to: historical pricing differentials, operating costs, estimated capital costs, discount rates, and ownership interests, we tested management’smanagement's process for determining the assumptions, including examining underlying support on a sample basis. Specifically, our audit procedures involvedrelated to testing management’smanagement's assumptions by:included the following:

Compared
We compared the estimated pricing differentials used in the reserve report to realized prices related to revenue transactions recorded in the current year and examined contractual support for the pricing differentialsdifferentials.
Evaluated
We evaluated the models used to estimate the operating costs at year-end and compared to historical operating costs
64


costs.
Compared
We compared the estimates of future capital expenditures in the reserve reports to management’smanagement's forecasts and amounts expended for recently drilled and completed wellswells.
Evaluated
We evaluated the working and net revenue interests used in the reserve report by inspecting land and division order recordsrecords.
Evaluated
We evaluated the Company’sCompany's evidence supporting the amount of proved undeveloped properties reflected in the reserve report by examining historical conversion rates and support for the Company’sCompany's ability to fund and intent to develop the proved undeveloped propertiesproperties.
Applied
We applied analytical procedures to the reserve report by comparing to historical actual results and to the prior year reserve reportreport.
Evaluated
We evaluated the reasonableness of the Company’s classification of reserves as proved or unprovedunproved.
Evaluated
We evaluated the reasonableness of risk-adjustment factors applied to unproved crude oil and natural gas reserves that were taken into consideration to determine estimated future net cash flows used to evaluate proved property impairment and for acquisitions and business combinationsimpairment.
As it relates to the recording of the acquisition date values of crude oil and natural gas properties in asset acquisitions, and a business combination, we utilized internal valuation specialists with specialized skills and knowledge to assist with evaluating certain assumptions, such as risk-adjustment factors and the valuation of unproved oil and gas properties on a per net acre basis, as compared to industry surveys and publicly available market datadata.


/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP


We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2004.


Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

February 14, 2022

22, 2024


41


65


Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

December 31,

 

In thousands, except par values and share data

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

26,397

 

 

$

137,788

 

Receivables:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids sales

 

 

1,196,262

 

 

 

1,313,538

 

Joint interest and other

 

 

350,907

 

 

 

458,391

 

Allowance for credit losses

 

 

(3,172

)

 

 

(5,514

)

Receivables, net

 

 

1,543,997

 

 

 

1,766,415

 

Derivative assets

 

 

353,261

 

 

 

39,280

 

Inventories

 

 

190,762

 

 

 

173,264

 

Prepaid expenses and other

 

 

33,450

 

 

 

27,508

 

Total current assets

 

 

2,147,867

 

 

 

2,144,255

 

Net property and equipment, based on successful efforts method of accounting

 

 

19,786,889

 

 

 

18,471,914

 

Investment in unconsolidated affiliates

 

 

240,484

 

 

 

210,805

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

 

 

38,656

 

 

 

25,158

 

Derivative assets, noncurrent

 

 

155,252

 

 

 

3,548

 

Other noncurrent assets

 

 

18,293

 

 

 

22,670

 

Total assets

 

$

22,387,441

 

 

$

20,878,350

 

Liabilities and equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable trade

 

$

835,012

 

 

$

850,547

 

Revenues and royalties payable

 

 

768,381

 

 

 

882,256

 

Accrued liabilities and other

 

 

354,537

 

 

 

343,777

 

Current portion of incentive compensation liability

 

 

130,583

 

 

 

125,653

 

Current portion of income tax liabilities

 

 

84,556

 

 

 

152,149

 

Derivative liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

88,136

 

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

 

 

18,112

 

 

 

4,086

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

 

895,105

 

 

 

638,058

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

3,086,286

 

 

 

3,084,662

 

Long-term debt, net of current portion

 

 

5,734,007

 

 

 

7,571,582

 

Other noncurrent liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred income tax liabilities, net

 

 

2,867,283

 

 

 

2,538,312

 

Incentive compensation liability, noncurrent

 

 

41,707

 

 

 

100,066

 

Asset retirement obligations, noncurrent

 

 

391,957

 

 

 

257,152

 

Derivative liabilities, noncurrent

 

 

586

 

 

 

133,363

 

Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent

 

 

19,482

 

 

 

20,055

 

Other noncurrent liabilities

 

 

36,346

 

 

 

43,550

 

Total other noncurrent liabilities

 

 

3,357,361

 

 

 

3,092,498

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 25,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized;

 

 

 

 

 

 

299,610,267 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023 and 2022;

 

 

2,996

 

 

 

2,996

 

Retained earnings

 

 

9,850,687

 

 

 

6,754,174

 

Total shareholders’ equity attributable to Continental Resources

 

 

9,853,683

 

 

 

6,757,170

 

Noncontrolling interests

 

 

356,104

 

 

 

372,438

 

Total equity

 

 

10,209,787

 

 

 

7,129,608

 

Total liabilities and equity

 

$

22,387,441

 

 

$

20,878,350

 


 December 31,
In thousands, except par values and share data20212020
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents$20,868 $47,470 
Receivables:
Crude oil and natural gas sales1,122,415 561,127 
Joint interest and other278,753 143,829 
Allowance for credit losses(2,814)(2,462)
Receivables, net1,398,354 702,494 
Derivative assets22,334 15,303 
Inventories105,568 72,157 
Prepaid expenses and other17,266 15,121 
Total current assets1,564,390 852,545 
Net property and equipment, based on successful efforts method of accounting16,975,465 13,737,292 
Derivative assets, noncurrent13,188 — 
Operating lease right-of-use assets16,370 8,557 
Other noncurrent assets21,698 34,704 
Total assets$18,591,111 $14,633,098 
Liabilities and equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable trade$582,317 $361,704 
Revenues and royalties payable627,171 327,029 
Accrued liabilities and other285,740 167,013 
Derivative liabilities899 227 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities1,674 2,588 
Current portion of long-term debt2,326 2,245 
Total current liabilities1,500,127 860,806 
Long-term debt, net of current portion6,826,566 5,530,173 
Other noncurrent liabilities:
Deferred income tax liabilities, net2,139,884 1,620,154 
Asset retirement obligations, net of current portion215,701 177,194 
Derivative liabilities, noncurrent318 1,584 
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion13,800 5,839 
Other noncurrent liabilities38,390 14,623 
Total other noncurrent liabilities2,408,093 1,819,394 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)00
Equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 25,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding— — 
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized;
364,297,520 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021;
365,220,435 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2020;3,643 3,652 
Additional paid-in capital1,131,602 1,205,148 
Retained earnings6,340,211 4,847,646 
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to Continental Resources7,475,456 6,056,446 
Noncontrolling interests380,869 366,279 
Total equity7,856,325 6,422,725 
Total liabilities and equity$18,591,111 $14,633,098 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
66

42


Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

In thousands, except per share data

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids sales

 

$

7,684,263

 

 

$

10,074,675

 

 

$

5,793,741

 

Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net

 

 

943,768

 

 

 

(671,095

)

 

 

(128,864

)

Crude oil and natural gas service operations

 

 

103,710

 

 

 

70,128

 

 

 

54,441

 

Total revenues

 

 

8,731,741

 

 

 

9,473,708

 

 

 

5,719,318

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production expenses

 

 

717,478

 

 

 

621,921

 

 

 

406,906

 

Production and ad valorem taxes

 

 

603,534

 

 

 

730,132

 

 

 

404,362

 

Transportation, gathering, processing, and compression

 

 

338,217

 

 

 

316,414

 

 

 

224,989

 

Exploration expenses

 

 

16,368

 

 

 

23,068

 

 

 

21,047

 

Crude oil and natural gas service operations

 

 

82,392

 

 

 

37,002

 

 

 

21,480

 

Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion

 

 

2,264,334

 

 

 

1,885,465

 

 

 

1,898,082

 

Property impairments

 

 

66,798

 

 

 

70,417

 

 

 

38,370

 

Transaction costs

 

 

 

 

 

33,796

 

 

 

13,920

 

General and administrative expenses

 

 

279,306

 

 

 

401,551

 

 

 

233,628

 

Net (gain) loss on sale of assets and other

 

 

50,581

 

 

 

262

 

 

 

(5,146

)

Total operating costs and expenses

 

 

4,419,008

 

 

 

4,120,028

 

 

 

3,257,638

 

Income from operations

 

 

4,312,733

 

 

 

5,353,680

 

 

 

2,461,680

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

(395,765

)

 

 

(300,662

)

 

 

(251,598

)

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

 

 

 

(403

)

 

 

(290

)

Other

 

 

11,979

 

 

 

15,798

 

 

 

(23,654

)

 

 

(383,786

)

 

 

(285,267

)

 

 

(275,542

)

Income before income taxes

 

 

3,928,947

 

 

 

5,068,413

 

 

 

2,186,138

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

(827,630

)

 

 

(1,020,804

)

 

 

(519,730

)

Income before equity in net loss of affiliate

 

 

3,101,317

 

 

 

4,047,609

 

 

 

1,666,408

 

Equity in net loss of affiliate

 

 

(3,129

)

 

 

(1,489

)

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

3,098,188

 

 

 

4,046,120

 

 

 

1,666,408

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

2,361

 

 

 

21,562

 

 

 

5,440

 

Net income attributable to Continental Resources

 

$

3,095,827

 

 

$

4,024,558

 

 

$

1,660,968

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share attributable to Continental Resources:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

10.33

 

 

$

11.45

 

 

$

4.61

 

Diluted

 

$

10.33

 

 

$

11.45

 

 

$

4.56

 

 Year Ended December 31,
In thousands, except per share data202120202019
Revenues:
Crude oil and natural gas sales$5,793,741 $2,555,434 $4,514,389 
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net(128,864)(14,658)49,083 
Crude oil and natural gas service operations54,441 45,694 68,475 
Total revenues5,719,318 2,586,470 4,631,947 
Operating costs and expenses:
Production expenses406,906 359,267 444,649 
Production taxes404,362 192,718 357,988 
Transportation expenses224,989 196,692 225,649 
Exploration expenses21,047 17,732 14,667 
Crude oil and natural gas service operations21,480 18,294 33,230 
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion1,898,082 1,880,959 2,017,383 
Property impairments38,370 277,941 86,202 
Acquisition costs13,920 — — 
General and administrative expenses233,628 196,572 195,302 
Net (gain) loss on sale of assets and other(5,146)187 (535)
Total operating costs and expenses3,257,638 3,140,362 3,374,535 
Income (loss) from operations2,461,680 (553,892)1,257,412 
Other income (expense):
Interest expense(251,598)(258,240)(269,379)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt(290)35,719 (4,584)
Other(23,654)1,662 3,713 
(275,542)(220,859)(270,250)
Income (loss) before income taxes2,186,138 (774,751)987,162 
(Provision) benefit for income taxes(519,730)169,190 (212,689)
Net income (loss)1,666,408 (605,561)774,473 
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests5,440 (8,692)(1,168)
Net income (loss) attributable to Continental Resources$1,660,968 $(596,869)$775,641 
Net income (loss) per share attributable to Continental Resources:
Basic$4.61 $(1.65)$2.09 
Diluted$4.56 $(1.65)$2.08 
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)$1,666,408 $(605,561)$774,473 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments— — 140 
Release of cumulative translation adjustments— — (555)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax— — (415)
Comprehensive income (loss)1,666,408 (605,561)774,058 
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests5,440 (8,692)(1,168)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Continental Resources$1,660,968 $(596,869)$775,226 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

67

43


Table of Contents

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Equity

 

Shareholders’ equity attributable to Continental Resources

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In thousands, except share data

 

Shares
outstanding

 

 

Common
stock

 

 

Additional
paid-in
capital

 

 

Treasury
stock

 

 

Retained
earnings

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity of Continental Resources

 

 

Noncontrolling
interests

 

 

Total
equity

 

Balance at December 31, 2020

 

 

365,220,435

 

 

$

3,652

 

 

$

1,205,148

 

 

$

 

 

$

4,847,646

 

 

$

6,056,446

 

 

$

366,279

 

 

$

6,422,725

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,660,968

 

 

 

1,660,968

 

 

 

5,440

 

 

 

1,666,408

 

Cash dividends declared

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(168,536

)

 

 

(168,536

)

 

 

 

 

 

(168,536

)

Change in dividends payable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

133

 

 

 

133

 

 

 

 

 

 

133

 

Common stock repurchased

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(123,924

)

 

 

 

 

 

(123,924

)

 

 

 

 

 

(123,924

)

Common stock retired

 

 

(3,198,571

)

 

 

(32

)

 

 

(123,892

)

 

 

123,924

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

63,145

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

63,145

 

 

 

 

 

 

63,145

 

Restricted stock:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

 

3,050,491

 

 

 

31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31

 

 

 

 

 

 

31

 

Repurchased and canceled

 

 

(478,697

)

 

 

(5

)

 

 

(12,799

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(12,804

)

 

 

 

 

 

(12,804

)

Forfeited

 

 

(296,138

)

 

 

(3

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3

)

 

 

 

 

 

(3

)

Contributions from noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

33,086

 

 

 

33,086

 

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(23,936

)

 

 

(23,936

)

Balance at December 31, 2021

 

 

364,297,520

 

 

$

3,643

 

 

$

1,131,602

 

 

$

 

 

$

6,340,211

 

 

$

7,475,456

 

 

$

380,869

 

 

$

7,856,325

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,024,558

 

 

 

4,024,558

 

 

 

21,562

 

 

 

4,046,120

 

Cash dividends declared

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(287,035

)

 

 

(287,035

)

 

 

 

 

 

(287,035

)

Change in dividends payable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

205

 

 

 

205

 

 

 

 

 

 

205

 

Common stock repurchased prior to take-private transaction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(99,855

)

 

 

 

 

 

(99,855

)

 

 

 

 

 

(99,855

)

Common stock retired prior to take-private transaction

 

 

(1,842,422

)

 

 

(18

)

 

 

(99,837

)

 

 

99,855

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(8,085

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(8,085

)

 

 

 

 

 

(8,085

)

Restricted stock:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

 

1,575,847

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

 

Repurchased and canceled

 

 

(627,742

)

 

 

(7

)

 

 

(35,438

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(35,445

)

 

 

 

 

 

(35,445

)

Forfeited

 

 

(384,536

)

 

 

(4

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4

)

 

 

 

 

 

(4

)

Restricted stock canceled from take-private transaction (see Note 15)

 

 

(5,349,141

)

 

 

(53

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(53

)

 

 

 

 

 

(53

)

Take-private transaction (see Note 1)

 

 

(58,059,259

)

 

 

(581

)

 

 

(988,242

)

 

 

 

 

 

(3,323,765

)

 

 

(4,312,588

)

 

 

 

 

 

(4,312,588

)

Contributions from noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,498

 

 

 

12,498

 

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(42,491

)

 

 

(42,491

)

Balance at December 31, 2022

 

 

299,610,267

 

 

$

2,996

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

6,754,174

 

 

$

6,757,170

 

 

$

372,438

 

 

$

7,129,608

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,095,827

 

 

 

3,095,827

 

 

 

2,361

 

 

 

3,098,188

 

Change in dividends payable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

686

 

 

 

686

 

 

 

 

 

 

686

 

Contributions from noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,188

 

 

 

10,188

 

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(28,883

)

 

 

(28,883

)

Balance at December 31, 2023

 

 

299,610,267

 

 

$

2,996

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

9,850,687

 

 

$

9,853,683

 

 

$

356,104

 

 

$

10,209,787

 


Shareholders’ equity attributable to Continental Resources
In thousands, except share dataShares
outstanding
Common
stock
Additional
paid-in
capital
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income
Treasury
stock
Retained
earnings
Total shareholders’ equity of Continental ResourcesNoncontrolling
interests
Total
equity
Balance at December 31, 2018376,021,575 $3,760 $1,434,823 $415 $— $4,706,135 $6,145,133 $276,728 $6,421,861 
Net income (loss)— — — — — 775,641 775,641 (1,168)774,473 
Cash dividends declared— — — — — (18,747)(18,747)— (18,747)
Change in dividends payable— — — — — 195 195 — 195 
Common stock repurchased— — — — (190,239)— (190,239)— (190,239)
Common stock retired(5,646,553)(56)(190,183)— 190,239 — — — — 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax— — — (415)— — (415)— (415)
Stock-based compensation— — 52,030 — — — 52,030 — 52,030 
Restricted stock:
Granted1,526,825 15 — — — — 15 — 15 
Repurchased and canceled(477,789)(5)(21,938)— — — (21,943)— (21,943)
Forfeited(350,022)(3)— — — — (3)— (3)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests— — — — — — — 105,528 105,528 
Distributions to noncontrolling interests— — — — — — — (14,404)(14,404)
Balance at December 31, 2019371,074,036 $3,711 $1,274,732 $— $— $5,463,224 $6,741,667 $366,684 $7,108,351 
Net loss— — — — — (596,869)(596,869)(8,692)(605,561)
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of ASU 2016-13— — — — — (137)(137)— (137)
Cash dividends declared— — — — — (18,580)(18,580)— (18,580)
Change in dividends payable— — — — — — 
Common stock repurchased— — — — (126,906)— (126,906)— (126,906)
Common stock retired(8,122,104)(81)(126,825)— 126,906 — — — — 
Stock-based compensation— — 64,585 — — — 64,585 — 64,585 
Restricted stock:
Granted2,738,625 27 — — — — 27 — 27 
Repurchased and canceled(306,845)(3)(7,344)— — (7,347)— (7,347)
Forfeited(163,277)(2)— — — — (2)— (2)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests— — — — — — — 21,557 21,557 
Distributions to noncontrolling interests— — — — — — — (13,270)(13,270)
Balance at December 31, 2020365,220,435 $3,652 $1,205,148 $— $— $4,847,646 $6,056,446 $366,279 $6,422,725 
Net income— — — — — 1,660,968 1,660,968 5,440 1,666,408 
Cash dividends declared— — — — — (168,536)(168,536)— (168,536)
Change in dividends payable— — — — — 133 133 — 133 
Common stock repurchased— — — — (123,924)— (123,924)— (123,924)
Common stock retired(3,198,571)(32)(123,892)— 123,924 — — — — 
Stock-based compensation— — 63,145 — — — 63,145 — 63,145 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
68

44


Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Equity

Cash Flows

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

In thousands

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

3,098,188

 

 

$

4,046,120

 

 

$

1,666,408

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion

 

 

2,265,948

 

 

 

1,886,491

 

 

 

1,893,106

 

Property impairments

 

 

66,798

 

 

 

70,417

 

 

 

38,370

 

Non-cash (gain) loss on derivatives, net

 

 

(686,598

)

 

 

212,976

 

 

 

(20,814

)

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

217,650

 

 

 

63,173

 

Provision for deferred income taxes

 

 

328,970

 

 

 

398,429

 

 

 

519,730

 

Equity in net loss of affiliate

 

 

3,129

 

 

 

1,489

 

 

 

 

Dry hole costs

 

 

 

 

 

12,305

 

 

 

 

Net (gain) loss on sale of assets and other

 

 

50,581

 

 

 

262

 

 

 

(5,146

)

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

 

 

 

403

 

 

 

290

 

Other, net

 

 

21,594

 

 

 

27,294

 

 

 

35,614

 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

222,091

 

 

 

(372,529

)

 

 

(694,981

)

Inventories

 

 

(17,600

)

 

 

(67,478

)

 

 

(33,411

)

Other current assets

 

 

(6,118

)

 

 

(10,242

)

 

 

(2,144

)

Accounts payable trade

 

 

(38,740

)

 

 

164,071

 

 

 

106,367

 

Revenues and royalties payable

 

 

(111,738

)

 

 

253,286

 

 

 

298,552

 

Accrued liabilities and other

 

 

2,940

 

 

 

51,222

 

 

 

109,540

 

Incentive compensation liability

 

 

(53,429

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current income taxes liability

 

 

(67,593

)

 

 

152,149

 

 

 

 

Other noncurrent assets and liabilities

 

 

(17,436

)

 

 

(4,625

)

 

 

(803

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

5,060,987

 

 

 

7,039,690

 

 

 

3,973,851

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exploration and development

 

 

(3,550,502

)

 

 

(2,838,075

)

 

 

(2,382,413

)

Purchase of producing crude oil and natural gas properties

 

 

(161,408

)

 

 

(421,850

)

 

 

(2,548,575

)

Purchase of other property and equipment

 

 

(205,356

)

 

 

(68,189

)

 

 

(66,598

)

Proceeds from sale of assets

 

 

390,034

 

 

 

5,740

 

 

 

8,041

 

Contributions to unconsolidated affiliates

 

 

(33,862

)

 

 

(212,294

)

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(3,561,094

)

 

 

(3,534,668

)

 

 

(4,989,545

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit facility borrowings

 

 

4,792,000

 

 

 

3,886,000

 

 

 

1,663,000

 

Repayment of credit facility

 

 

(5,742,000

)

 

 

(3,226,000

)

 

 

(1,323,000

)

Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,587,776

 

Redemption and repurchase of Senior Notes

 

 

(636,000

)

 

 

(31,829

)

 

 

(630,782

)

Proceeds from other debt

 

 

 

 

 

750,000

 

 

 

 

Repayment of other debt

 

 

(2,410

)

 

 

(2,326

)

 

 

(2,243

)

Debt issuance costs

 

 

(242

)

 

 

(5,148

)

 

 

(12,082

)

Contributions from noncontrolling interests

 

 

10,580

 

 

 

13,665

 

 

 

31,493

 

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

 

 

(31,156

)

 

 

(40,685

)

 

 

(22,447

)

Repurchase of common stock prior to take-private transaction

 

 

 

 

 

(99,855

)

 

 

(123,924

)

Take-private transaction (see Note 1)

 

 

 

 

 

(4,312,642

)

 

 

 

Repurchase of restricted stock for tax withholdings

 

 

 

 

 

(35,444

)

 

 

(12,804

)

Dividends paid on common stock

 

 

(2,056

)

 

 

(283,838

)

 

 

(165,895

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

(1,611,284

)

 

 

(3,388,102

)

 

 

989,092

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(111,391

)

 

 

116,920

 

 

 

(26,602

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

 

137,788

 

 

 

20,868

 

 

 

47,470

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

26,397

 

 

$

137,788

 

 

$

20,868

 


Restricted stock:
Granted3,050,491 31 — — — — 31 — 31 
Repurchased and canceled(478,697)(5)(12,799)— — (12,804)— (12,804)
Forfeited(296,138)(3)— — — — (3)— (3)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests— — — — — — — 33,086 33,086 
Distributions to noncontrolling interests— — — — — — — (23,936)(23,936)
Balance at December 31, 2021364,297,520 $3,643 $1,131,602 $— $— $6,340,211 $7,475,456 $380,869 $7,856,325 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
69

45


Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 Year Ended December 31,
In thousands202120202019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)$1,666,408 $(605,561)$774,473 
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion1,893,106 1,882,458 2,019,704 
Property impairments38,370 277,941 86,202 
Non-cash (gain) loss on derivatives, net(20,814)(13,492)15,612 
Stock-based compensation63,173 64,613 52,044 
Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes519,730 (166,971)212,689 
Net (gain) loss on sale of assets and other(5,146)187 (535)
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt290 (35,719)4,584 
Other, net35,614 16,970 10,408 
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable(694,981)332,128 (33,619)
Inventories(33,411)12,859 (21,204)
Other current assets(2,144)1,471 (4,459)
Accounts payable trade106,367 (133,977)(36,359)
Revenues and royalties payable298,552 (143,260)69,195 
Accrued liabilities and other109,540 (66,071)(36,467)
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities(803)(1,272)3,420 
Net cash provided by operating activities3,973,851 1,422,304 3,115,688 
Cash flows from investing activities:
Exploration and development(2,382,413)(1,408,149)(2,783,149)
Purchase of producing crude oil and natural gas properties(2,548,575)(81,994)(51,558)
Purchase of other property and equipment(66,598)(23,994)(25,983)
Proceeds from sale of assets8,041 2,779 88,734 
Net cash used in investing activities(4,989,545)(1,511,358)(2,771,956)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Credit facility borrowings1,663,000 2,052,000 1,216,000 
Repayment of credit facility(1,323,000)(1,947,000)(1,161,000)
Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes1,587,776 1,485,000 — 
Redemption and repurchase of Senior Notes(630,782)(1,343,250)(500,000)
Premium and costs on redemption of Senior Notes— (25,173)(4,167)
Proceeds from other debt— 26,000 — 
Repayment of other debt(2,243)(6,679)(2,352)
Debt issuance costs(12,082)(4,368)— 
Contributions from noncontrolling interests31,493 27,116 109,137 
Distributions to noncontrolling interests(22,447)(13,809)(14,164)
Repurchase of common stock(123,924)(126,906)(190,239)
Repurchase of restricted stock for tax withholdings(12,804)(7,347)(21,943)
Dividends paid on common stock(165,895)(18,460)(18,380)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities989,092 97,124 (587,108)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash— — 27 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents(26,602)8,070 (243,349)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period47,470 39,400 282,749 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$20,868 $47,470 $39,400 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
70

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


Note 1. Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Description of the Company

Continental Resources, Inc. (the “Company”) was formed in 1967 and is incorporated under the laws of the State of Oklahoma. The Company’s principal business is the exploration, development, management, and production of crude oil and natural gas exploration, development, management, and productionassociated products with properties primarily located in the North, South, and East regions offour leading basins in the United States.States – the Bakken field of North Dakota and Montana, the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma, the Permian Basin of Texas, and the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. Additionally, the Company pursues the acquisition and management of perpetually owned minerals located in certain of its key operating areas.

2022 Take-Private Transaction

In 2021On November 22, 2022, the Company executed strategic acquisitionscompleted a series of take-private transactions with Omega Acquisition, Inc, an entity owned by the Company’s founder, Harold G. Hamm, pursuant to expand its operations intowhich the Permian BasinCompany became wholly owned by Mr. Hamm, certain members of Texashis family and their affiliated entities (the “Hamm Family”). A total of approximately 58.1 million shares of Continental’s common stock were purchased pursuant to the take-private transaction for total cash consideration of approximately $4.31 billion. The 2022 purchase of outstanding shares was funded by Continental through the use of approximately $2.2 billion of cash on hand, $1.3 billion of credit facility borrowings, and the Powder River Basinexecution of Wyoming.a $750 million three-year term loan. See Note 2. Property Acquisitions and Dispositionsthe Consolidated Statements of Equity for additional informationthe year ended December 31, 2022 for the impact on the acquisitions.components of Shareholders’ Equity resulting from the take-private transaction. The Company's North region consistsCompany incurred $32 million of properties northlegal and advisory fees in 2022 in connection with the take-private transaction which are included in the caption “Transaction costs” in the Consolidated Statements of Kansas and westIncome for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Following the consummation of the Mississippi River and includes North Dakota Bakken, Montana Bakken, Powder River Basin, andtransactions in November 2022: (i) our common stock ceased to be listed on the Red River units. The South region includes all properties south of Nebraska and westNew York Stock Exchange, (ii) our common stock was deregistered under Section 12(b) of the Mississippi RiverSecurities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and includes the SCOOP and STACK areas of Oklahoma and the Permian Basin of Texas. The East region is primarily comprised of undeveloped leasehold acreage east(iii) we suspended our reporting obligations under Section 15(d) of the Mississippi RiverExchange Act. As a result, certain of the corporate governance, disclosure, and other provisions applicable to a company with listed equity securities and reporting obligations under the Exchange Act no significant drilling or production operations. For financial reporting purposes,longer apply to us. We will continue to furnish Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Reports on Form 10-K with the Company has one reportable segment due to the similar nature of its business, which is the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States.SEC as required by our senior note indentures.

Basis of presentation of consolidated financial statements

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation. Noncontrolling interests reflected herein represent third party ownership in the net assets of consolidated subsidiaries. The portions of consolidated net income (loss) and equity attributable to the noncontrolling interests are presented separately in the Company’s financial statements. For financial reporting purposes, the Company has one reportable segment due to the similar nature of its business, which is the exploration, development, and production of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States.

Investments in entities in which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence, but does not control, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. In applying the equity method, the investments are initially recognized at cost and are subsequently adjusted for the Company’s proportionate share of earnings, losses, contributions, and distributions as applicable.

The Company evaluated its December 31, 2023 financial statements for subsequent events through February 22, 2024, the date the financial statements were available to be issued.

Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure and estimation of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results may differ from those estimates. The most significant estimates and assumptions impacting reported results are estimates of the Company’s crude oil and natural gas reserves, which are used to compute depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment of proved crude oil and natural gas properties.


Table of Contents

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Cash and cash equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents in accounts that may not be federally insured. As of December 31, 2021,2023, the Company had cash deposits in excess of federally insured amounts of approximately $19.4$24.7 million. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to significant credit risk in this area.

Accounts receivable

Receivables arising from crude oil and natural gas sales and joint interest receivables are generally unsecured. Accounts receivable are due within 30 days and are considered delinquent after 60 days. The Company writes off specific receivables when they become noncollectable and any payments subsequently received on those receivables are credited to the allowance for credit losses. Write-offs of noncollectable receivables have historically not been material. The Company’s allowance for credit losses totaled $2.8$3.2 million and $2.5$5.5 million as of December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, respectively. See Note 10. Allowance for Credit Losses for additional information.

Concentration of credit risk

The Company is subject to credit risk resulting from the concentration of its crude oil and natural gas receivables with significant purchasers. For the year ended December 31, 2021, sales to the Company’s largest2023, no purchaser accounted for approximately 10%more than 10% of the Company’s total crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas sales. No other purchaser accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s total crude oil and natural gasliquids sales for 2021.2023. The Company generally does not require collateral and does not believe the loss of any single purchaser would materially impact its operating results, as crude oil and natural gas are fungible products with well-established markets and numerous purchasers in various regions.

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Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


Inventories
Inventory is comprised of crude oil held in storage or as line fill in pipelines, pipeline imbalances, and tubular goods and equipment to be used in the Company’s exploration and development activities. Crude oil inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value primarily using the first-in, first-out inventory method. Tubular goods and equipment are valued primarily using a weighted average cost method applied to specific classes of inventory items.

The components of inventory as of December 31, 20212023 and 20202022 consisted of the following:

 

December 31,

 

In thousands

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Tubular goods and equipment

 

$

65,205

 

 

$

38,636

 

Crude oil

 

 

125,557

 

 

 

130,192

 

Natural gas

 

 

 

 

 

4,436

 

Total

 

$

190,762

 

 

$

173,264

 

December 31,
In thousands20212020
Tubular goods and equipment$12,506 $13,671 
Crude oil93,062 58,486 
Total$105,568 $72,157 
In the first quarter of 2020 the Company recognized a $24.5 million impairment to reduce its crude oil inventory to estimated net realizable value at the time of impairment. The impairment is included in the caption “Property impairments” in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Crude oil and natural gas properties

The Company uses the successful efforts method of accounting for crude oil and natural gas properties whereby costs incurred to acquire interests in crude oil and natural gas properties, to drill and equip exploratory wells that find proved reserves, to drill and equip development wells, and expenditures for enhanced recovery operations are capitalized. Geological and geophysical costs, seismic costs incurred for exploratory projects, lease rentals and costs associated with unsuccessful exploratory wells or projects are expensed as incurred. Costs of seismic studies that are utilized in development drilling within an area of proved reserves are capitalized as development costs. To the extent a seismic project covers areas of both developmental and exploratory drilling, those seismic costs are proportionately allocated between capitalized development costs and exploration expense. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.

Under the successful efforts method of accounting, the Company capitalizes exploratory drilling costs on the balance sheet pending determination of whether the well has found proved reserves in economically producible quantities. The Company capitalizes costs associated with the acquisition or construction of support equipment and facilities with the drilling and development costs to which they relate. If proved reserves are found by an exploratory well, the associated capitalized costs become part of well equipment and facilities. However, if proved reserves are not found, the capitalized costs associated with the well are expensed, net of any salvage value.

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Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Production expenses are those costs incurred by the Company to operate and maintain its crude oil and natural gas properties and associated equipment and facilities. Production expenses include but are not limited to labor costs to operate the Company’s properties, repairs and maintenance, certain waste water disposal costs, utility costs, certain workover-related costs, and materials and supplies utilized in the Company’s operations.

Service property and equipment

Service property and equipment consist primarily of automobiles and aircraft; machinery and equipment; gathering and recycling systems; storage tanks; office and computer equipment, software, furniture and fixtures; and buildings and improvements. Major renewals and replacements are capitalized and stated at cost, while maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.

Depreciation and amortization of service property and equipment are provided in amounts sufficient to expense the cost of depreciable assets to operations over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. The estimated useful lives of service property and equipment are as follows:

 

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Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Service property and equipment

Useful Lives
In Years

Automobiles and aircraft

5-10

5-10

Machinery and equipment

6-20

6-30

Gathering and recycling systems

15-30

15-30

Storage tanks

10-30

10-30

Office and computer equipment, software, furniture and fixtures

3-25

3-25

Buildings and improvements

4-40

4-40

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

Depreciation, depletion and amortization of capitalized drilling and development costs of producing crude oil and natural gas properties, including related support equipment and facilities, are computed using the unit-of-production method on a field basis based on total estimated proved developed reserves. Amortization of producing leaseholds is based on the unit-of-production method using total estimated proved reserves. In arriving at rates under the unit-of-production method, the quantities of recoverable crude oil and natural gas reserves are established based on estimates made by the Company’s internal geologists and engineers and external independent reserve engineers. Upon sale or retirement of properties, the cost and related accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization are eliminated from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss, if any, is recognized. Sales of proved properties constituting a part of an amortization base are accounted for as normal retirements with no gain or loss recognized if doing so does not significantly affect the unit-of-production amortization rate. Unit-of-production rates are revised whenever there is an indication of a need, but at least in conjunction with semi-annual reserve reports. Revisions are accounted for prospectively as changes in accounting estimates.

Asset retirement obligations

The Company accounts for its asset retirement obligations by recording the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period in which a legal obligation is incurred and a corresponding increase in the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Subsequently, the capitalized asset retirement costs are charged to expense through the depreciation, depletion and amortization of crude oil and natural gas properties and the liability is accreted to the expected future abandonment cost ratably over the related asset’s life.

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Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The Company’s primary asset retirement obligations relate to future plugging and abandonment costs and related disposal of facilities on its crude oil and natural gas properties.The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s future abandonment liabilities from January 1, 20192021 through December 31, 2021:2023:

 

In thousands

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Asset retirement obligations at January 1

 

$

261,087

 

 

$

219,824

 

 

$

179,676

 

Accretion expense

 

 

14,818

 

 

 

12,857

 

 

 

11,125

 

Revisions (1)

 

 

112,803

 

 

 

(6,672

)

 

 

(1,291

)

Plus: Additions for new assets

 

 

18,929

 

 

 

37,413

 

 

 

32,351

 

Less: Plugging costs and sold assets

 

 

(5,709

)

 

 

(2,335

)

 

 

(2,037

)

Total asset retirement obligations at December 31

 

$

401,928

 

 

$

261,087

 

 

$

219,824

 

Less: Current portion of asset retirement obligations at December 31 (2)

 

 

9,971

 

 

 

3,935

 

 

 

4,123

 

Non-current portion of asset retirement obligations at December 31

 

$

391,957

 

 

$

257,152

 

 

$

215,701

 

In thousands202120202019
Asset retirement obligations at January 1$179,676 $153,673 $141,360 
Accretion expense11,125 9,393 8,443 
Revisions (1)(1,291)10,743 (1,762)
Plus: Additions for new assets (2)32,351 7,048 8,392 
Less: Plugging costs and sold assets(2,037)(1,181)(2,760)
Total asset retirement obligations at December 31$219,824 $179,676 $153,673 
Less: Current portion of asset retirement obligations at December 31 (3)4,123 2,482 1,899 
Non-current portion of asset retirement obligations at December 31$215,701 $177,194 $151,774 
(1)
(1)     Revisions primarily represent changes in the present value of liabilities resulting from changes in estimated costs and economic lives of producing properties.
(2)    Balance for 2021 includes $21.4 million of asset retirement obligations recognized in conjunction with the 2021 property acquisitions discussed in
Note 2. Property Acquisitions and Dispositions.
(3)    Balance is included in the caption “Accrued liabilities and other” in the consolidated balance sheets.

As of December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, net property and equipment on the consolidated balance sheets included $72.8$204.2 million and $56.1$96.5 million, respectively, of net asset retirement costs.

Asset impairment

73

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Proved crude oil and natural gas properties are reviewed for impairment on a field-by-field basis each quarter. The estimated future cash flows expected in connection with the field are compared to the carrying amount of the field to determine if the carrying amount is recoverable. If the carrying amount of the field exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, the carrying amount of the field is reduced to its estimated fair value.

Impairment losses for unproved properties are generally recognized by amortizing the portion of the properties’ costs which management estimates will not be transferred to proved properties over the lives of the leases based on drilling plans, experience of successful drilling, and the average holding period. The Company’s impairment assessments are affected by economic factors such as the results of exploration activities, commodity price outlooks, anticipated drilling programs, remaining lease terms, and potential shifts in business strategy employed by management.

Debt issuance costs

Costs incurred in connection with the execution of the Company’s notes payable, and revolving credit facility, term loan and any amendments thereto are capitalized and amortized over the terms of the arrangements on a straight-line basis, the use of which approximates the effective interest method. Costs incurred upon the issuances of the Company’s various senior notes (collectively, the “Notes”) were capitalized and are being amortized over the terms of the Notes using the effective interest method.

The Company had aggregate capitalized costs of $60.6$46.5 million and $45.8$56.3 million (net of accumulated amortization of $36.9$37.3 million and $30.5$46.3 million) relating to its long-term debt at December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, respectively. The increase in 2021 resulted from the capitalization of costs incurred in connection with the amendment of the Company’s credit facility and the issuance of new senior notes as discussed in Note 8. Long-Term Debt.

Unamortized capitalized costs associated with the Company’s Notes, and note payable, and term loan totaled $50.9 million$39.4 million and $and $42.546.8 million at December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, respectively, and are reflected as a reduction of “Long-term debt, net of current portion” on the consolidated balance sheets.

Unamortized capitalized costs associated with the Company’s revolving credit facility totaled $9.7 million$7.1 million and $and $3.39.4 million at December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, respectively, and are reflected in “Other noncurrent assets” on the consolidated balance sheets.

For the years ended December 31, 2021, 20202023, 2022 and 2019,2021, the Company recognized amortization expense associated with capitalized debt issuance costs of $7.2$10.0 million, $7.8$9.3 million, and $8.3$7.2 million, respectively, which are reflected in “Interest expense” on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).income.

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Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Derivative instruments

The Company recognizes its derivative instruments on the balance sheet as either assets or liabilities measured at fair value with such amounts classified as current or long-term based on contractual settlement dates. The accounting for the changes in fair value of a derivative depends on the intended use of the derivative and resulting designation. The Company has not designated its derivative instruments as hedges for accounting purposes and, as a result, marks its derivative instruments to fair value and recognizes the changes in fair value in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) under the caption “Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net.” See Note 6. Derivative Instruments for additional information.

Fair value of financial instruments

The Company’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash, trade receivables, trade payables, derivative instruments and long-term debt. See Note 7. Fair Value Measurements for a discussion of the methods used to determine fair value for the Company’s financial instruments and the quantification of fair value for its derivatives and long-term debt obligations at December 31, 20212023 and 2020.2022.

Income taxes

Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method under which deferred income taxes are recognized for the future tax effects of temporary differences between financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of existing assets and liabilities using the enacted statutory tax rates in effect at period-end. The effect on deferred taxes for a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company’s policy is to recognize penalties and interest related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, in income tax expense.


The Company establishes a valuation allowance if it believes it is more likely than not that some or all of its deferred tax assets will not be realized. Significant judgment is applied in evaluating the need for and the magnitude of appropriate valuation allowances against deferred tax assets. See Note 11. Income Taxes for additional information.

74

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Earnings per share attributable to Continental Resources

Basic net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to the Company by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding for the period. InPrior to the Hamm Family’s take-private transaction, in periods where the Company hashad net income, diluted earnings per share reflectsreflected the potential dilution of non-vested restricted stock awards, which arewas calculated using the treasury stock method.The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding and net income (loss) per share attributable to the Company for the years ended December 31, 2021, 20202023, 2022, and 2019.

2021.

Year ended December 31,
In thousands, except per share data202120202019
Net income (loss) attributable to Continental Resources (numerator)$1,660,968 $(596,869)$775,641 
Weighted average shares (denominator):
Weighted average shares - basic360,434 361,538 370,699 
Non-vested restricted stock (1)4,019 — 1,839 
Weighted average shares - diluted364,453 361,538 372,538 
Net income (loss) per share attributable to Continental Resources:
Basic$4.61 $(1.65)$2.09 
Diluted$4.56 $(1.65)$2.08 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

In thousands, except per share data

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Net income attributable to Continental Resources (numerator)

 

$

3,095,827

 

 

$

4,024,558

 

 

$

1,660,968

 

Weighted average shares (denominator):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares - basic

 

 

299,610

 

 

 

351,392

 

 

 

360,434

 

Non-vested restricted stock and restricted stock units (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,019

 

Weighted average shares - diluted

 

 

299,610

 

 

 

351,392

 

 

 

364,453

 

Net income per share attributable to Continental Resources:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

10.33

 

 

$

11.45

 

 

$

4.61

 

Diluted

 

$

10.33

 

 

$

11.45

 

 

$

4.56

 

(1)
For the yearyears ended December 31, 2020,2023 and 2022, the Company hadCompany’s outstanding long-term incentive awards are expected to be paid in cash, not common stock, upon vesting, and are classified as liability awards pursuant to ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation. As a net loss and therefore theresult, no potential dilutive effect of approximately 934,000 weighted average non-vested restricted shares were not included infor the calculation of diluted net loss per share because to do so would have been anti-dilutive toawards is presented for the computation.
Foreign currency translation
In 2014, the Company initiated operations in Canada through a wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary. The Company’s operations in Canada were immaterialyears ended December 31, 2023 and were sold in the fourth quarter of 2019. See 2022.Note 11. Income Taxes and Note 2. Property Acquisitions and Dispositions for further discussion. The Company designated the Canadian dollar as the functional currency for its Canadian operations. Adjustments resulting from the process of translating foreign functional currency financial statements into U.S. dollars were included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” within equity on the consolidated balance sheets and “Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax” in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).
Adoption of new accounting pronouncement
On January 1, 2021 the Company adopted ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. This standard eliminated certain exceptions to the guidance in Topic 740 related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period, and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. The new guidance also clarified certain aspects of the existing guidance, among other things. The Company adopted the standard on a prospective basis, which did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
75

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 2. Property Acquisitions and Dispositions

2023

During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company executed acquisitions of oil and gas properties in various areas for cash consideration totaling $681 million. The Company accounted for each acquisition as an asset acquisition under ASC Topic 805—Business Combinations. Of the purchase prices, a total of $161 million was allocated to proved properties and a total of $520 million was allocated to unproved properties.

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Table of Contents

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company executed sales of oil and gas properties in various areas for cash proceeds totaling $390 million and recognized pre-tax net losses on the transactions totaling $51 million. The disposed properties represented an immaterial portion of the Company's production and proved reserves.

2022

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company executed acquisitions of oil and gas properties in various areas for cash consideration totaling $714 million. The Company accounted for each acquisition as an asset acquisition under ASC Topic 805—Business Combinations. Of the purchase prices, a total of $422 million was allocated to proved properties and a total of $292 million was allocated to unproved properties.

2021

Permian Basin Acquisition

On

In December 21, 2021, the Company acquired oil and gas assets and properties from certain subsidiaries of Pioneer Natural Resources Company pursuant to a purchase and sale agreement in which the Company purchased: (a) 100% of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Jagged Peak Energy LLC, which in turn owns 100% of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Parsley SoDe Water LLC; and (b) certain oil and gas assets and properties in the Permian Basin of Texas (collectively, the “Pioneer Acquisition”). The properties included approximately 92,000 net leasehold acres, approximately 50,000 net royalty acres in the same area normalized to a 1/8th royalty, production totaling approximately 42,000 net barrels of oil equivalent per day (78% oil) based on two-stream reporting at the time of closing, and extensive water infrastructure.

for $The purchase price paid to the sellers was approximately $3.063.06 billion in cash, representing a $3.25 billion purchase price less customary closing adjustments made pursuant to the agreement.cash. The Company funded the purchase price through a combination of cash on hand, utilization of credit facility borrowing capacity, and the issuance of senior notes as further discussed in Note 8. Long-Term Debt.
The Pioneer Acquisition was accounted for using the acquisition method under ASC Topic 805 Business Combinations,was used to record the transaction, which requiresrequired all assets acquired and liabilities assumed to be recorded at fair value at the acquisition date. Provisional fair value measurements have been made by the Company for acquired assets and liabilities, and adjustments to those measurements may be made in subsequent periods (up to one year from the acquisition date) as additional information necessary to complete the fair value analysis is obtained.
The following table summarizes the provisional fair values assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date (presented in millions). Certain studies necessary to completeOf the purchase price, allocation are still under evaluation, including, but not limited$2.4 billion was allocated to the valuation of serviceproved properties and equipment, inventory, and lease liabilities. The Company will finalize the purchase price allocation during the twelve-month period following the acquisition date, during which time the value of the assets and liabilities presented below may be revised if necessary.
$
0.7
In millionsAs of December 21, 2021
Receivables$
Proved crude oil and natural gas properties2,396 
Unproved crude oil and natural gas properties693 
Service properties, equipment and other
Operating lease right-of-use assets
Total assets acquired$3,100 
Revenues and royalties payable$14 
Accrued liabilities and other
Operating lease liabilities
Asset retirement obligations16 
Total liabilities assumed$40 
Net assets acquired$3,060 

The fair values of proved and billion was allocated to unproved properties acquired were measured using discounted cash flow valuation techniques based on inputs that are not observable in the market and, as such, are considered Level 3 fair value measurements. Significant unobservable inputs included future commodity prices adjusted for differentials, projections of estimated quantities of recoverable reserves, forecasted production based on decline curve analysis, estimated timing and amount of future operating and development costs, and a weighted average cost of capital.
76

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For income tax purposes, the Pioneer Acquisition will be treated as an asset purchase such that the tax basis in the assets and liabilities will generally reflect the allocated fair value at closing. Therefore, the Company does not anticipate a material tax consequence for deferred income taxes related to the Pioneer Acquisition.

The Pioneer Acquisitionacquisition contributed $29.4$29.4 million of revenues and $14.1$14.1 million ($0.04 per basic and diluted share)of net income to the Company's consolidated results during the period of ownership from December 21, 2021 to December 31, 2021, excluding transaction expenses. The Company incurred $13.9$13.9 million of expenses in connection with the transaction which are reflected in the caption “Acquisition“Transaction costs” in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2021.

The table below summarizes the Company'sCompany’s pro forma results as if the Pioneer Acquisition and associated increase in debt described in Note 8. Long-Term Debt had been completed on January 1, 2020 and were combined with the Company's historical results. The following pro forma information is unaudited, is provided for informational purposes only, and does not represent actual results that would have occurred if the Pioneer Acquisition was completed on January 1, 2020, nor are they indicative of future results.

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

In millions

 

2021

 

Pro forma combined total revenues

 

$

6,657

 

Pro forma combined net income attributable to Continental

 

$

2,097

 

Year Ended December 31,
In millions20212020
Pro forma combined total revenues$6,657 $3,174 
Pro forma combined net income (loss) attributable to Continental$2,097 $(481)


Powder River Basin Acquisitions

In March

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company acquired undeveloped leaseholdcompleted acquisitions of oil and producinggas properties in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming for $206.6 million, consisting of a $21.5 million escrow deposit paid in December 2020 upon execution of a definitive purchase agreement and a $185.1 million payment made at closing in March 2021.cash consideration totaling $453 million. The acquisition wasCompany accounted for each acquisition as an asset acquisition under ASC Topic 805 and included approximately 130,000 net acres and producing properties with production totaling approximately 7,200 net barrels of oil equivalent per day at the time of closing.805—Business Combinations. Of the purchase price, $183prices, a total of $210 million was allocated to proved properties and $24a total of $243 million was allocated to unproved properties. The $21.5 million escrow deposit paid in December 2020 is included in the caption "Other noncurrent assets" on the Company's balance sheet at December 31, 2020, which was subsequently reclassified to "Net property and equipment" on the closing date. The Company recognized approximately $4.9 million of asset retirement obligations and $8.2 million of right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities associated with the acquired properties.

In November 2021, the Company acquired undeveloped leasehold and producing properties in the Powder River Basin for $246.8 million. The acquisition was accounted for as an asset acquisition under ASC Topic 805 and included approximately 72,000 net acres and immaterial amounts of production. Of the purchase price, $27 million was allocated to proved properties and $220 million was allocated to unproved properties. The Company recognized approximately $0.5 million of asset retirement obligations and an immaterial amount of right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities associated with the acquired properties.
2020
In October 2020, the Company acquired undeveloped leasehold and producing properties in the SCOOP play for $162.8 million. The acquisition included approximately 19,500 net acres and immaterial amounts of production.
2019
In November 2019, the Company sold its Canadian subsidiary and related operations for cash proceeds of $1.7 million and recognized a $1.0 million pre-tax gain on the sale. The Company designated the Canadian dollar as the functional currency for its Canadian operations and, with the sale of the Canadian subsidiary, $0.5 million of cumulative translation adjustments included in "Accumulated other comprehensive income" on the consolidated balance sheets were released and included in the determination of the gain on sale. The disposed subsidiary and properties represented an immaterial portion of the Company’s assets and operating results.
In July 2019, the Company sold certain water gathering, recycling, and disposal assets in the STACK play for proceeds of $85.3 million, with no gain or loss recognized. The sale represented an immaterial portion of the Company’s assets and operating results.
77

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 3. Supplemental Cash Flow Information

The following table discloses supplemental cash flow information about cash paid for interest and income tax payments and refunds. Also disclosed is information about investing activities that affects recognized assets and liabilities but does not result in cash receipts or payments.

 

Year ended December 31,

 

In thousands

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Supplemental cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for interest

 

$

387,686

 

 

$

279,571

 

 

$

214,727

 

Cash paid for income taxes (1)

 

 

566,253

 

 

 

470,147

 

 

 

3

 

Cash received for income tax refunds

 

 

2

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

58

 

Non-cash investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asset retirement obligation additions and revisions, net

 

 

131,732

 

 

 

30,741

 

 

 

31,060

 

(1)
Amounts for 2023 and 2022 represent estimated quarterly payments for 2023 and 2022 federal and state income taxes based on an estimate of taxable income for each respective year.
 Year ended December 31,
In thousands202120202019
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest$214,727 $256,633 $267,421 
Cash paid for income taxes229 
Cash received for income tax refunds (1)58 9,600 107 
Non-cash investing activities:
Asset retirement obligation additions and revisions, net31,060 17,791 6,630 

51


(1) Amount received in 2020 primarily represents alternative minimum tax refunds.

Table of Contents

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

As of December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, the Company had $242.9$367.2 million and $128.8$344.9 million, respectively, of accrued capital expenditures included in “Net property and equipment” with an offsetting amount in “Accounts payable trade” in the consolidated balance sheets.

As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had $1.7 million and $0.1 million, respectively, of accrued contributions from noncontrolling interests included in "ReceivablesJoint interest and other" with an offsetting amount in "EquityNoncontrolling interests" in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had $2.5 million and $1.0 million, respectively, of accrued distributions to noncontrolling interests included in "Revenues and royalties payable" with an offsetting amount in "EquityNoncontrolling interests" in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
As of December 31, 2021, the Company recognized approximately $21.4 million of asset retirement obligations and $10.0 million of right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities associated with the 2021 property acquisitions discussed in Note 2. Property Acquisitions and Dispositions.

Note 4. Net Property and Equipment

Net property and equipment includes the following at December 31, 20212023 and 2020. See 2022.Note 2. Property Acquisitions and Dispositions

 for discussion of certain acquisitions executed in 2021 that contributed to the increase in net property and equipment in 2021.
December 31,
In thousands20212020
Proved crude oil and natural gas properties$31,613,656 $27,726,954 
Unproved crude oil and natural gas properties1,358,673 368,256 
Service properties, equipment and other484,989 414,066 
Total property and equipment33,457,318 28,509,276 
Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization(16,481,853)(14,771,984)
Net property and equipment$16,975,465 $13,737,292 


78

 

December 31,

 

In thousands

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Proved crude oil and natural gas properties

 

$

37,400,304

 

 

$

34,741,054

 

Unproved crude oil and natural gas properties

 

 

1,775,662

 

 

 

1,513,627

 

Service properties, equipment and other

 

 

1,014,093

 

 

 

549,528

 

Total property and equipment

 

 

40,190,059

 

 

 

36,804,209

 

Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

(20,403,170

)

 

 

(18,332,295

)

Net property and equipment

 

$

19,786,889

 

 

$

18,471,914

 


Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 5. Accrued Liabilities and Other

Accrued liabilities and other includes the following at December 31, 20212023 and 2020:2022:

 

December 31,

 

In thousands

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Prepaid advances from joint interest owners

 

$

36,923

 

 

$

15,575

 

Accrued compensation

 

 

88,644

 

 

 

81,646

 

Accrued production taxes, ad valorem taxes and other non-income taxes

 

 

133,456

 

 

 

145,436

 

Accrued interest

 

 

79,640

 

 

 

83,724

 

Current portion of asset retirement obligations

 

 

9,971

 

 

 

3,935

 

Other

 

 

5,903

 

 

 

13,461

 

Accrued liabilities and other

 

$

354,537

 

 

$

343,777

 

December 31,
In thousands20212020
Prepaid advances from joint interest owners$18,964 $25,209 
Accrued compensation82,844 47,985 
Accrued production taxes, ad valorem taxes and other non-income taxes90,597 40,818 
Accrued interest75,983 50,009 
Current portion of asset retirement obligations4,123 2,482 
Other13,229 510 
Accrued liabilities and other$285,740 $167,013 

Note 6. Derivative Instruments

From time to time the Company enters into derivative contracts to economically hedge against the variability in cash flows associated with future sales of production. The Company recognizes its derivative instruments on the balance sheet as either assets or liabilities measured at fair value. The estimated fair value is based upon various factors, including commodity exchange prices, over-the-counter quotations, and, in the case of collars, volatility, the risk-free interest rate, and the time to expiration. The calculation of the fair value of collars requires the use of an option-pricing model. See Note 7. Fair Value Measurements.


At December 31, 20212023 the Company had outstanding derivative contracts as set forth in the tables below.

Natural gas derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average Hedge Price ($/MMBtu)

 

Period and Type of Contract

 

Average Volumes Hedged

 

Swaps

 

 

Floor

 

 

Ceiling

 

January 2024 - December 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swaps - Henry Hub

 

 

618,000

 

 

MMBtus/day

 

$

3.44

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collars - Henry Hub

 

 

50,000

 

 

MMBtus/day

 

 

 

 

$

3.12

 

 

$

4.09

 

Swaps - WAHA

 

 

42,000

 

 

MMBtus/day

 

$

3.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 2025 - December 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swaps - Henry Hub

 

 

575,000

 

 

MMBtus/day

 

$

3.93

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 2026 - December 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swaps - Henry Hub

 

 

635,000

 

 

MMBtus/day

 

$

4.11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 2027 - December 2027

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swaps - Henry Hub

 

 

123,000

 

 

MMBtus/day

 

$

4.01

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas derivativesWeighted Average Hedge Price ($/MMBtu)
Period and Type of ContractAverage Volumes HedgedBasis SwapsSwapsSold PutFloorCeiling
January 2022 - December 2023
Basis Swaps - NGPL TXOK75,000 MMBtus/day$(0.17)
January 2022 - March 2022
Collars - Henry Hub90,000 MMBtus/day$3.00 $6.33 
Three-way collars - Henry Hub280,000 MMBtus/day$2.33 $3.02 $4.46 
Swaps - Henry Hub45,000 MMBtus/day$3.86 
April 2022 - September 2022
Swaps - Henry Hub190,000 MMBtus/day$4.02 
October 2022 - December 2022
Collars - Henry Hub150,000 MMBtus/day$3.54 $5.34 
Three-way collars - Henry Hub50,000 MMBtus/day$3.00 $4.07 $5.00 
Swaps - Henry Hub50,000 MMBtus/day$4.20 
January 2023 - December 2023
Collars - Henry Hub62,500 MMBtus/day$3.41 $4.87 
Three-way collars - Henry Hub12,500 MMBtus/day$3.00 $4.32 $5.00 
Swaps - Henry Hub175,000 MMBtus/day$3.38 
January 2024 - December 2024
Swaps - Henry Hub125,000 MMBtus/day$3.12 
Collars - Henry Hub25,000 MMBtus/day$3.10 $4.18 
January 2025 - December 2025
Swaps - Henry Hub10,000 MMBtus/day$3.08 
79

52


Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Crude oil derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average
Hedge Price ($/Bbl)

 

Period and Type of Contract

 

Average Volumes Hedged

 

Roll Swaps

 

 

Fixed Swaps

 

January 2024 - December 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed Swaps - WTI

 

 

76,000

 

 

Bbls/day

 

 

 

 

$

76.84

 

January 2024 - December 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roll Swaps - NYMEX

 

 

36,000

 

 

Bbls/day

 

$

0.71

 

 

 

 




Crude oil derivatives
Period and Type of ContractAverage Volumes HedgedWeighted Average Hedge Price ($/Bbl)
January 2022 - March 2022
NYMEX Roll Swaps32,500 Bbls/day$0.71 
April 2022 - June 2022
NYMEX Roll Swaps15,000 Bbls/day$0.85 
July 2022 - December 2022
NYMEX Roll Swaps7,500 Bbls/day$0.90 
Derivative gains and losses

Cash receipts and payments in the following table reflect the gains or losses on derivative contracts which matured during the applicable period, calculated as the difference between the contract price and the market settlement price of matured contracts. The Company's derivative contracts are settled based upon reported settlement prices on commodity exchanges, with crude oil derivative settlements based on NYMEX West Texas Intermediate ("WTI"(“WTI”) pricing and natural gas derivative settlements based primarily on NYMEX Henry Hub pricing. Non-cash gains and losses below represent the change in fair value of derivative instruments which continued to be held at period end and the reversal of previously recognized non-cash gains or losses on derivative contracts that matured during the period.

 

Year ended December 31,

 

In thousands

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Cash received (paid) on derivatives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil fixed price swaps

 

$

17,989

 

 

$

 

 

$

(44,463

)

Crude oil collars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9,365

)

Crude oil NYMEX roll swaps

 

 

3,519

 

 

 

(9,234

)

 

 

(163

)

Natural gas basis swaps

 

 

4,818

 

 

 

9,674

 

 

 

 

Natural gas WAHA swaps

 

 

19,435

 

 

 

(16,350

)

 

 

 

Natural gas fixed price swaps

 

 

178,529

 

 

 

(353,326

)

 

 

(84,141

)

Natural gas collars

 

 

29,139

 

 

 

(66,596

)

 

 

(11,546

)

Natural gas three-way collars

 

 

3,741

 

 

 

(22,287

)

 

 

 

Cash received (paid) on derivatives, net

 

 

257,170

 

 

 

(458,119

)

 

 

(149,678

)

Non-cash gain (loss) on derivatives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil collars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

227

 

Crude oil fixed price swaps

 

 

134,548

 

 

 

11,696

 

 

 

 

Crude oil NYMEX roll swaps

 

 

4,051

 

 

 

1,879

 

 

 

957

 

Natural gas basis swaps

 

 

(8,910

)

 

 

9,088

 

 

 

(177

)

Natural gas WAHA swaps

 

 

2,138

 

 

 

19,386

 

 

 

 

Natural gas fixed price swaps

 

 

513,129

 

 

 

(219,388

)

 

 

25,565

 

Natural gas collars

 

 

42,240

 

 

 

(34,303

)

 

 

(7,690

)

Natural gas three-way collars

 

 

(598

)

 

 

(1,334

)

 

 

1,932

 

Non-cash gain (loss) on derivatives, net

 

 

686,598

 

 

 

(212,976

)

 

 

20,814

 

Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net

 

$

943,768

 

 

$

(671,095

)

 

$

(128,864

)

 Year ended December 31,
In thousands202120202019
Cash received (paid) on derivatives:
Crude oil fixed price swaps$(44,463)$(31,179)$— 
Crude oil collars(9,365)— — 
Crude oil NYMEX roll swaps(163)— — 
Natural gas fixed price swaps(84,141)1,071 58,836 
Natural gas collars(11,546)1,958 5,859 
Cash received (paid) on derivatives, net(149,678)(28,150)64,695 
Non-cash gain (loss) on derivatives:
Crude oil collars227 (227)— 
Crude oil NYMEX roll swaps957 — — 
Natural gas fixed price swaps25,565 2,043 (10,130)
Natural gas basis swaps(177)— — 
Natural gas collars(7,690)11,676 (5,482)
Natural gas three-way collars1,932 — — 
Non-cash gain (loss) on derivatives, net20,814 13,492 (15,612)
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net$(128,864)$(14,658)$49,083 


Balance sheet offsetting of derivative assets and liabilities

The Company’s derivative contracts are recorded at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets under the captions “Derivative assets,” “Derivative assets, noncurrent,” “Derivative liabilities,” and “Derivative liabilities, noncurrent,” as applicable. Derivative assets and liabilities with the same counterparty that are subject to contractual terms which provide for net settlement are reported on a net basis in the consolidated balance sheets.

80

53


Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


The following table presents the gross amounts of recognized derivative assets and liabilities, the amounts offset under netting arrangements with counterparties, and the resulting net amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2021,2023 and 2022, all at fair value.

 

December 31,

 

In thousands

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Commodity derivative assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross amounts of recognized assets

 

$

510,375

 

 

$

50,559

 

Gross amounts offset on balance sheet

 

 

(1,862

)

 

 

(7,731

)

Net amounts of assets on balance sheet

 

 

508,513

 

 

 

42,828

 

Commodity derivative liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross amounts of recognized liabilities

 

 

(2,448

)

 

 

(229,230

)

Gross amounts offset on balance sheet

 

 

1,862

 

 

 

7,731

 

Net amounts of liabilities on balance sheet

 

$

(586

)

 

$

(221,499

)

December 31,
In thousands20212020
Commodity derivative assets:
Gross amounts of recognized assets$42,903 $15,900 
Gross amounts offset on balance sheet(7,381)(597)
Net amounts of assets on balance sheet35,522 15,303 
Commodity derivative liabilities:
Gross amounts of recognized liabilities(8,598)(2,408)
Gross amounts offset on balance sheet7,381 597 
Net amounts of liabilities on balance sheet$(1,217)$(1,811)

The following table reconciles the net amounts disclosed above to the individual financial statement line items in the consolidated balance sheets.

 

December 31,

 

In thousands

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Derivative assets

 

$

353,261

 

 

$

39,280

 

Derivative assets, noncurrent

 

 

155,252

 

 

 

3,548

 

Net amounts of assets on balance sheet

 

 

508,513

 

 

 

42,828

 

Derivative liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

(88,136

)

Derivative liabilities, noncurrent

 

 

(586

)

 

 

(133,363

)

Net amounts of liabilities on balance sheet

 

 

(586

)

 

 

(221,499

)

Total derivative assets (liabilities), net

 

$

507,927

 

 

$

(178,671

)

December 31,
In thousands20212020
Derivative assets$22,334 $15,303 
Derivative assets, noncurrent13,188 — 
Net amounts of assets on balance sheet35,522 15,303 
Derivative liabilities(899)(227)
Derivative liabilities, noncurrent(318)(1,584)
Net amounts of liabilities on balance sheet(1,217)(1,811)
Total derivative assets, net$34,305 $13,492 

Note 7. Fair Value Measurements

The Company follows a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy categorizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value into one of three different levels depending on the observability of the inputs employed in the measurement. The three levels are defined as follows:

Level 1: Observable inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets as of the reporting date.
Level 2: Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs corroborated by market data. These are inputs other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs not corroborated by market data and may be used with internally developed methodologies that result in management’s best estimate of fair value.

A financial instrument’s categorization within the hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Level 1 inputs are given the highest priority in the fair value hierarchy while Level 3 inputs are given the lowest priority. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the placement of assets and liabilities within the levels of the hierarchy. As Level 1 inputs generally provide the most reliable evidence of fair value, the Company uses Level 1 inputs when available.

81

54


Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The Company’s derivative instruments are reported at fair value on a recurring basis. In determining the fair values of swap contracts, a discounted cash flow method is used due to the unavailability of relevant comparable market data for the Company’s exact contracts. The discounted cash flow method estimates future cash flows based on quoted market prices for forward commodity prices and a risk-adjusted discount rate. The fair values of swap contracts are calculated mainly using significant observable inputs (Level 2). Calculation of the fair values of collars requires the use of an industry-standard option pricing model that considers various inputs including quoted forward prices for commodities, time value, volatility factors, and current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments, as well as other relevant economic measures. These assumptions are observable in the marketplace or can be corroborated by active markets or broker quotes and are therefore designated as Level 2 within the valuation hierarchy. The Company’s calculation of fair value for each of its derivative positions is compared to the counterparty valuation for reasonableness.

The following tables summarize the valuation of derivative instruments by pricing levels that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 20212023 and 2020.2022.

 

Fair value measurements at December 31, 2023 using:

 

 

 

 

In thousands

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

Derivative assets (liabilities):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil fixed price swaps

 

$

 

 

$

146,243

 

 

$

 

 

$

146,243

 

Crude oil NYMEX roll swaps

 

 

 

 

 

6,888

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,888

 

Natural gas WAHA swaps

 

 

 

 

 

21,523

 

 

 

 

 

 

21,523

 

Natural gas fixed price swaps

 

 

 

 

 

321,350

 

 

 

 

 

 

321,350

 

Natural gas collars

 

 

 

 

 

11,923

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,923

 

Total

 

$

 

 

$

507,927

 

 

$

 

 

$

507,927

 

 

Fair value measurements at December 31, 2022 using:

 

 

 

 

In thousands

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

Derivative assets (liabilities):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil fixed price swaps

 

$

 

 

$

11,696

 

 

$

 

 

$

11,696

 

Crude oil NYMEX roll swaps

 

 

 

 

 

2,836

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,836

 

Natural gas basis swaps

 

 

 

 

 

8,910

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,910

 

Natural gas WAHA swaps

 

 

 

 

 

19,386

 

 

 

 

 

 

19,386

 

Natural gas fixed price swaps

 

 

 

 

 

(191,779

)

 

 

 

 

 

(191,779

)

Natural gas collars

 

 

 

 

 

(30,318

)

 

 

 

 

 

(30,318

)

Natural gas three-way collars

 

 

 

 

 

598

 

 

 

 

 

 

598

 

Total

 

$

 

 

$

(178,671

)

 

$

 

 

$

(178,671

)

Fair value measurements at December 31, 2021 using: 
In thousandsLevel 1Level 2Level 3Total
Derivative assets (liabilities):
Fixed price swaps$— $27,608 $— $27,608 
Basis swaps— (177)— (177)
Collars— 3,986 — 3,986 
Three-way collars— 1,931 — 1,931 
NYMEX roll swaps— 957 — 957 
Total$— $34,305 $— $34,305 
Fair value measurements at December 31, 2020 using: 
In thousandsLevel 1Level 2Level 3Total
Derivative assets (liabilities):
Swaps— $2,043 — 2,043 
Collars— 11,449 — 11,449 
Total$— $13,492 $— $13,492 


Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

Certain assets are reported at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in the consolidated financial statements. The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair values for those assets.

Asset impairments – Proved crude oil and natural gas properties are reviewed for impairment on a field-by-field basis each quarter. The estimated future cash flows expected in connection with the field are compared to the carrying amount of the field to determine if the carrying amount is recoverable. If the carrying amount of the field exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, the carrying amount of the field is reduced to its estimated fair value. Risk-adjusted probable and possible reserves may be taken into consideration when determining estimated future net cash flows and fair value when such reserves exist and are economically recoverable. Due to the unavailability of relevant comparable market data, a discounted cash flow method is used to determine the fair value of proved properties. Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) utilized in the determination of discounted future net cash flows include future commodity prices adjusted for differentials, forecasted production based on decline curve analysis, estimated future operating and development costs, property ownership interests, and a 10%10% discount rate. At December 31, 2021,2023, the Company'sCompany’s commodity price assumptions were based on forward NYMEX strip prices through year-end 20262028 and were then escalated at 3%3% per year thereafter. Operating cost assumptions were based on current costs escalated at 3%3% per year beginning in 2023.2025.

55


Table of Contents

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Unobservable inputs to the Company'sCompany’s fair value assessments are reviewed and revised as warranted based on a number of factors, including reservoir performance, new drilling, crude oil and natural gas prices, changes in costs, technological advances, new geological or geophysical data, or other economic factors. Fair value measurements of proved properties are reviewed and approved by certain members of the Company’s management.

82

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended December 31, 2021, estimated future net cash flows were determined to be in excess of cost basis, and therefore no impairment was recorded for the Company's proved crude oil and natural gas properties in 2021.
For the years ended December 31, 20202023 and 2019,2022, the Company determined the carrying amounts of certain proved properties were not recoverable from future cash flows, and therefore, were impaired. Such impairments totaled $207.1$15.5 million and $3.7$17.5 million for 20202023 and 2019, respectively, which2022, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2021, estimated future net cash flows were determined to be in excess of cost basis, and therefore no impairments were recorded for 2020 reflected fair value adjustments on legacythe Company's proved crude oil and natural gas properties in the Red River Units totaling $168.1 million and various non-core properties in the North and South regions totaling $14.5 million. The impaired properties were written down to their estimated fair value at the time of impairment of $145.7 million. Impairments for 2020 also include a $24.5 million impairment recognized in the first quarter of 2020 to reduce the Company's crude oil inventory to estimated net realizable value at the time of impairment. Proved property impairments recognized in 2019 reflected write-offs of various non-core properties in the North and South regions.
2021.

Certain unproved crude oil and natural gas properties were impaired during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 2019,2021, reflecting recurring amortization of undeveloped leasehold costs on properties the Company expects will not be transferred to proved properties over the lives of the leases based on drilling plans, experience of successful drilling, and the average holding period.

The following table sets forth the non-cash impairments of both proved and unproved properties for the indicated periods. Proved and unproved property impairments are recorded under the caption “Property impairments” in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).income.

 

Year ended December 31,

 

In thousands

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Proved property impairments

 

$

15,455

 

 

$

17,520

 

 

$

 

Unproved property impairments

 

 

51,343

 

 

 

52,897

 

 

 

38,370

 

Total

 

$

66,798

 

 

$

70,417

 

 

$

38,370

 

 Year ended December 31,
In thousands202120202019
Proved property and inventory impairments$— $207,119 $3,745 
Unproved property impairments38,370 70,822 82,457 
Total$38,370 $277,941 $86,202 

Financial Instruments Not Recorded at Fair Value

The following table sets forth the estimated fair values of financial instruments that are not recorded at fair value in the consolidated financial statements. See Note 8. Long-Term Debt for discussion of the changes in the Company'sCompany’s outstanding debt during the year ended December 31, 2021.in 2023 and 2022.

 

December 31, 2023

 

 

December 31, 2022

 

In thousands

 

Carrying Amount

 

 

Estimated Fair Value

 

 

Carrying Amount

 

 

Estimated Fair Value

 

Debt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit facility

 

$

210,000

 

 

$

210,000

 

 

$

1,160,000

 

 

$

1,160,000

 

Term Loan

 

 

748,092

 

 

 

748,092

 

 

 

747,073

 

 

 

747,073

 

Notes payable

 

 

17,642

 

 

 

16,300

 

 

 

20,041

 

 

 

18,300

 

4.5% Senior Notes due 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

635,648

 

 

 

633,600

 

3.8% Senior Notes due 2024

 

 

892,610

 

 

 

886,400

 

 

 

891,404

 

 

 

867,400

 

2.268% Senior Notes due 2026

 

 

795,541

 

 

 

736,400

 

 

 

794,062

 

 

 

693,100

 

4.375% Senior Notes due 2028

 

 

994,327

 

 

 

968,000

 

 

 

993,076

 

 

 

917,200

 

5.75% Senior Notes due 2031

 

 

1,485,460

 

 

 

1,490,900

 

 

 

1,483,843

 

 

 

1,412,300

 

2.875% Senior Notes due 2032

 

 

792,977

 

 

 

647,100

 

 

 

792,238

 

 

 

600,900

 

4.9% Senior Notes due 2044

 

 

692,463

 

 

 

556,400

 

 

 

692,255

 

 

 

527,900

 

Total debt

 

$

6,629,112

 

 

$

6,259,592

 

 

$

8,209,640

 

 

$

7,577,773

 

 December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
In thousandsCarrying AmountEstimated Fair ValueCarrying AmountEstimated Fair Value
Debt:
Credit facility$500,000 $500,000 $160,000 $160,000 
Notes payable22,356 22,000 24,590 24,700 
5% Senior Notes due 2022— — 630,470 632,900 
4.5% Senior Notes due 2023648,078 670,200 646,943 669,900 
3.8% Senior Notes due 2024908,061 950,000 906,922 939,500 
2.268% Senior Notes due 2026792,621 795,200 — — 
4.375% Senior Notes due 2028991,880 1,082,100 990,746 1,024,400 
5.75% Senior Notes due 20311,482,319 1,769,600 1,480,879 1,651,900 
2.875% Senior Notes due 2032791,521 780,500 — — 
4.9% Senior Notes due 2044692,056 781,500 691,868 689,600 
Total debt$6,828,892 $7,351,100 $5,532,418 $5,792,900 

The fair value of credit facility and term loan borrowings approximate carrying value based on borrowing rates available to the Company for bank loans with similar terms and maturities and are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.


The fair value of notes payable is determined using a discounted cash flow approach based on the interest rate and payment terms of the notes payable and an assumed discount rate. The fair value of notes payable is significantly influenced by the discount rate assumption, which is derived by the Company and is unobservable. Accordingly, the fair value of notes payable is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

83

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


The fair values of the Company'sCompany’s senior notes are based on quoted market prices and, accordingly, are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

The carrying values of all classes of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, and trade payables are considered to be representative of their respective fair values due to the short term maturities of those instruments.

56


Table of Contents

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 8. Long-Term Debt

Long-term

The Company's debt, net of unamortized discounts, premiums, and debt issuance costs totaling $54.2$41.7 million and $43.7$49.6 million at December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, respectively, consists of the following.

 

December 31,

 

In thousands

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Credit facility

 

$

210,000

 

 

$

1,160,000

 

Term loan

 

 

748,092

 

 

 

747,073

 

Notes payable

 

 

17,642

 

 

 

20,041

 

4.5% Senior Notes due 2023

 

 

 

 

 

635,648

 

3.8% Senior Notes due 2024 (1)

 

 

892,610

 

 

 

891,404

 

2.268% Senior Notes due 2026

 

 

795,541

 

 

 

794,062

 

4.375% Senior Notes due 2028

 

 

994,327

 

 

 

993,076

 

5.75% Senior Notes due 2031

 

 

1,485,460

 

 

 

1,483,843

 

2.875% Senior Notes due 2032

 

 

792,977

 

 

 

792,238

 

4.9% Senior Notes due 2044

 

 

692,463

 

 

 

692,255

 

Total debt

 

 

6,629,112

 

 

 

8,209,640

 

Less: Current portion of long-term debt

 

 

895,105

 

 

 

638,058

 

Long-term debt, net of current portion

 

$

5,734,007

 

 

$

7,571,582

 

(1) The Company’s 2024 Notes, which have a face value of $893.1 million at December 31, 2023, are scheduled to mature on June 1, 2024 and, accordingly, are included as a current liability in the caption “Current portion of long-term debt” in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2023 along with the current portion of the Company's notes payable.

December 31,
In thousands20212020
Credit facility$500,000 $160,000 
Notes payable22,356 24,590 
5% Senior Notes due 2022— 630,470 
4.5% Senior Notes due 2023648,078 646,943 
3.8% Senior Notes due 2024908,061 906,922 
2.268% Senior Notes due 2026792,621 — 
4.375% Senior Notes due 2028991,880 990,746 
5.75% Senior Notes due 20311,482,319 1,480,879 
2.875% Senior Notes due 2032791,521 — 
4.9% Senior Notes due 2044692,056 691,868 
Total debt6,828,892 5,532,418 
Less: Current portion of long-term debt2,326 2,245 
Long-term debt, net of current portion$6,826,566 $5,530,173 

Credit Facility

On October 29, 2021, the

The Company replaced itshas a credit facility, which resultedmaturing in an increase inOctober 2026, with aggregate lender commitments from $1.5 billion to $1.7 billion and an extension of the maturity date from April 2023 to October 2026. On November 22, 2021, the Company incrementally increased the amount of aggregate credit facility commitments from $1.7 billion to $2.0totaling $2.255 billion. The new credit facility provides for benchmark replacement mechanics to address the transition from LIBOR, while all other terms, conditions, and covenants remain substantially unchanged from the prior credit facility. The Company's credit facility is unsecured and has no borrowing base requirement subject to redetermination.

The Company had $500$210 million of outstanding borrowings on its credit facility at December 31, 2021, which were incurred to fund a portion of the Company's December 2021 acquisition of properties in the Permian Basin of Texas as discussed in 2023Note 2. Property Acquisitions and Dispositions.. Credit facility borrowings bear interest at market-based interest rates plus a margin based on the terms of the borrowing and the credit ratings assigned to the Company'sCompany’s senior, unsecured, long-term indebtedness. The weighted-average interest rate on outstanding credit facility borrowings at December 31, 20212023 was 1.6%6.95%.

The Company had approximately $1.50$2.04 billion of borrowing availability on its credit facility at December 31, 20212023 after considering outstanding borrowings and letters of credit. The Company incurs commitment fees based on currently assigned credit ratings of 0.20%0.20% per annum on the daily average amount of unused borrowing availability.

The credit facility contains certain restrictive covenants including a requirement that the Company maintain a consolidated net debt to total capitalization ratio of no greater than 0.65 to 1.00. This ratio represents the ratio of net debt (calculated as total face value of debt plus outstanding letters of credit less cash and cash equivalents) divided by the sum of net debt plus total shareholders’ equity plus, to the extent resulting in a reduction of total shareholders’ equity, the amount of any non-cash impairment charges incurred, net of any tax effect, after June 30, 2014. The Company was in compliance with the credit facility covenants at December 31, 2021.

84

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Senior Notes
In November 2021 the Company issued $800 million of 2.268% Senior Notes due 2026 ("2026 Notes") and $800 million of 2.875% Senior Notes due 2032 ("2032 Notes") and received combined total net proceeds from the offerings of $1.59 billionafter deducting the initial purchasers' fees and original issuance discount. The 2026 Notes were sold at par and the 2032 Notes were sold at 99.922% of par in private placement transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act to eligible purchasers. The Company used the net proceeds from the offerings to finance a portion of its December 2021 acquisition of properties in the Permian Basin as discussed in Note 2. Property Acquisitions and Dispositions.

The following table summarizes the face values, maturity dates, semi-annual interest payment dates, and optional redemption periods related to the Company’s outstanding senior note obligations at December 31, 2021.2023.

 

2024 Notes

 

 

2026 Notes

 

 

2028 Notes

 

 

2031 Notes

 

 

2032 Notes

 

 

2044 Notes

 

Face value (in thousands)

 

$

893,126

 

 

$

800,000

 

 

$

1,000,000

 

 

$

1,500,000

 

 

$

800,000

 

 

$

700,000

 

Maturity date

 

June 1, 2024

 

 

November 15, 2026

 

 

January 15, 2028

 

 

January 15, 2031

 

 

April 1, 2032

 

 

June 1, 2044

 

Interest payment dates

 

June 1, Dec 1

 

 

May 15, Nov 15

 

 

Jan 15, July 15

 

 

Jan 15, Jul 15

 

 

April 1, Oct 1

 

 

June 1, Dec 1

 

Make-whole redemption period (1)

 

Mar 1, 2024

 

 

Nov 15, 2023

 

 

Oct 15, 2027

 

 

Jul 15, 2030

 

 

January 1. 2032

 

 

Dec 1, 2043

 

57


2023 Notes2024 Notes2026 Notes2028 Notes2031 Notes2032 Notes2044 Notes
Face value (in thousands)$649,625$911,000$800,000$1,000,000$1,500,000$800,000$700,000
Maturity dateApril 15, 2023June 1, 2024November 15, 2026January 15, 2028January 15, 2031April 1, 2032June 1, 2044
Interest payment datesApril 15, Oct 15June 1, Dec 1May 15, Nov 15Jan 15, July 15Jan 15,
Jul 15
April 1, Oct 1June 1, Dec 1
Make-whole redemption period (1)Jan 15, 2023Mar 1, 2024Nov 15, 2023Oct 15, 2027Jul 15, 2030January 1. 2032Dec 1, 2043

Table of Contents

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(1)
At any time prior to the indicated dates, the Company has the option to redeem all or a portion of its senior notes of the applicable series at the “make-whole” redemption amounts specified in the respective senior note indentures plus any accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. On or after the indicated dates, the Company may redeem all or a portion of its senior notes at a redemption amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the senior notes being redeemed plus any accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.

The Company’s senior notes are not subject to any mandatory redemption or sinking fund requirements.

The indentures governing the Company’s senior notes contain covenants that, among other things, limit the Company’s ability to create liens securing certain indebtedness, enter into certain sale-leaseback transactions, or consolidate, merge or transfer certain assets. These covenants are subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications. The Company was in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2021.

2023.

The senior notes are obligations of Continental Resources, Inc. Additionally, as of December 31, 2021 threecertain of the Company’s wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries Banner(Banner Pipeline Company, L.L.C., CLR Asset Holdings, LLC, and The Mineral Resources Company, whose assets, equity,SCS1 Holdings LLC, Continental Innovations LLC, Jagged Peak Energy LLC, and results of operations are not material,Parsley SoDe Water LLC) fully and unconditionally guarantee the senior notes on a joint and several basis. The Company plans to designate Jagged Peak Energy LLC and Parsley SoDe Water LLC, its recently acquiredfinancial information of the guarantor group is not materially different from the consolidated subsidiaries discussed in Note 2. Property Acquisitions and Dispositions, as restricted subsidiaries underfinancial statements of the Company’s senior note indentures. As a result, such entities will fully and unconditionally guarantee the senior notes on a joint and several basis along with the Company’s other subsidiary guarantors.Company. The Company’s other subsidiaries, existing at December 31, 2021, whose assets, equity, and results of operations attributable to the Company are not material, do not guarantee the senior notes.

Issuance of Senior Notes

2021

In November 2021, the Company issued $800 million of 2.268% Senior Notes due 2026 and $800 million of 2.875% Senior Notes due 2032 and received combined total net proceeds from the offerings of $1.59 billion after deducting the initial purchasers' fees and original issuance discount. The Company used the net proceeds from the offerings to finance a portion of its December 2021 acquisition of properties in the Permian Basin as discussed in Note 2. Property Acquisitions and Dispositions.

Retirement of Senior Notes

2021

2023

In January 2021,April 2023, the Company redeemed $400.0fully repaid its outstanding $636 million of 2023 Notes that were scheduled to mature on April 15, 2023. The redemption price was equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. The aggregate of its outstanding 2022 Notes and subsequently redeemed the remaining $230.8 million principal amount of its 2022 Notes in April 2021. The Company recognized pre-tax losses on extinguishment of debt totaling $0.3 million related to the redemptions, which included the pro-rata write-off of deferred financing costs and unamortized debt premium associated with the redeemed notes. The losses are reflected in the caption “Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt” in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).

2020
accrued interest paid upon redemption was $650.3 million.

2022

In March and April 2020,2022, the Company repurchased a portion of its 2023 Notes and 2024 Notes in open market transactions, at a substantial discount to the face value of the notes, including $50.4$13.6 million face value of its 2023 Notes at an aggregate cost of $29.3$13.9 million and $89.0$17.9 million face value of its 2024 Notes at an aggregate cost of $46.9$18.3 million, in each case, including accrued and unpaid interest to the repurchase dates. The Company recognized pre-tax gainslosses on extinguishment of debt totaling

85

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

$64.6 million related to the repurchases, which includedrepurchases. The losses are reflected in the pro-rata write-offcaption “Loss on extinguishment of deferred financing costs and unamortized debt discount associated withdebt” in the notes.
consolidated statements of income.

2021

In November 2020,2021, the Company repurchased $469.2fully repaid the $630.8 million principal amount of its outstanding 2022 Notes and $800.0 million of its 2023 Notes using proceeds from its November 2020 issuance of $1.5 billion of 5.75% Senior Notes due 2031. For the 2022 Notes, the purchase price was equal to 100.250% of the principal amount repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest to the repurchase date. The aggregate of the principal amount, premium, and accrued interest paid upon repurchase of the 2022 Notes was $475.0 million. For the 2023 Notes, the purchase price was equal to 103.000% of the principal amount repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest to the repurchase date. The aggregate of the principal amount, premium, and accrued interest paid upon repurchase of the 2023 Notes was $828.0 million. The Company recorded pre-tax losses on extinguishment of debt related to these repurchases totaling $28.9 million, which included the premium and pro-rata write-off of deferred financing costs and unamortized debt premium associated with the notes.

2019
In September 2019, the Company redeemed $500 million of its previously outstanding $1.6 billion of 2022 Notes. The redemption price was equal to 100.833% of the principal amount called for redemption plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. The aggregate of the principal amount, redemption premium, and accrued interest paid upon redemption was $516.5 million. The Company recordedrecognized a pre-tax loss on extinguishment of debt totaling $0.3 million related to the redemptionredemption.

Term Loan

In November 2022, the Company borrowed $750 million under a three-year term loan agreement, the proceeds of $4.6 million, which includedwere used to fund a portion of the redemption premiumHamm Family’s November 2022 take-private transaction. The term loan matures in November 2025 and pro-rata write-offbears interest at market-based interest rates plus a margin based on the terms of deferred financing coststhe borrowing and unamortizedthe credit ratings assigned to the Company’s senior, unsecured, long-term indebtedness. The interest rate on the term loan was 6.98% at December 31, 2023.

The term loan contains certain restrictive covenants including a requirement that the Company maintain a consolidated net debt premium associatedto total capitalization ratio of no greater than 0.65 to 1.0, consistent with the notes.covenant requirement in the Company’s revolving credit facility. The Company was in compliance with the term loan covenants at December 31, 2023.

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Table of Contents

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes payableto Consolidated Financial Statements

Notes Payable

In June 2020, the Company borrowed an aggregate of $26.0$26.0 million under two 10-year10-year amortizing term loans secured by the Company’s corporate office building and its interest in parking facilities in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The loans mature in May 2030 and bear interest at a fixed rate of 3.50%3.50% per annum through June 9, 2025, at which time the interest rate will be reset and fixed through the maturity date. Principal and interest are payable monthly through the maturity date and, accordingly, $2.3$2.5 million is reflectedincluded as a current liability underin the caption “Current portion of long-term debt” in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 20212023 associated with the loans. A portion of the proceeds from the new loans was used to fully repay the Company's previous note payable that was set to mature in February 2022, which had a balance at pay-off of $4.4 million.

Note 9. Revenues

Below is a discussion of the nature, timing, and presentation of revenues arising from the Company'sCompany’s major revenue-generating arrangements.

Operated crude oil revenues – The Company pays third parties to transport the majority of its operated crude oil production from lease locations to downstream market centers, at which time the Company'sCompany’s customers take title and custody of the product in exchange for prices based on the particular market where the product was delivered. Operated crude oil revenues are recognized during the month in which control transfers to the customer and it is probable the Company will collect the consideration it is entitled to receive. Crude oil sales proceeds from operated properties are generally received by the Company within one month after the month in which a sale has occurred. Operated crude oil revenues are presented separately from transportation expenses, as the Company controls the operated production prior to its transfer to customers. Transportation expenses associated with the Company'sCompany’s operated crude oil production totaled $185.1$284.2 million, $159.0$254.0 million, and $192.0$185.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 2019,2021, respectively.

Operated natural gas revenues – The Company sells thea substantial majority of its operated natural gas production to midstream customers at its lease locations based on market prices in the field where the sales occur. Under these arrangements, the midstream customers obtain control of the unprocessed gas stream inclusive of natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) at the lease location and the Company'sCompany’s revenues from each sale are determined using contractually agreed pricing formulas which contain multiple components, including the volume and Btu content of the natural gas sold, the midstream customer's proceeds from the sale of residue gas and natural gas liquids ("NGLs")NGLs at secondary downstream markets, and contractual pricing adjustments reflecting the midstream customer's estimated recoupment of its investment over time. Such revenues are recognized net of pricing adjustments applied by the midstream customer during the month in which control transfers to the customer at the delivery point and it is probable the Company will collect the consideration it is entitled to receive. Natural gas and NGL sales proceeds from operated properties are generally received by the Company within one month after the month in which a sale has occurred.

Under certain arrangements, in periods of significantly depressed prices for natural gas and NGLs the contractual pricing adjustments applied by the midstream customer in a particular month may exceed the consideration to be received by the Company under the arrangement, resulting in a net payment owed by the Company to the midstream customer. In these
86

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

situations, the net amounts paid or payable by the Company are reflected as a reduction of natural gas sales in the caption "Crude oil and natural gas sales" in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). Such payments, which are referred to herein as negative gas revenues, were immaterial for 2021 and 2019 and totaled $25.6 million for operated properties for 2020.

Under certain arrangements, the Company has the rightmay elect to take a volume of processed residue gas and/or NGLs in-kind at the tailgate of the midstream customer'scustomer’s processing plant in lieu of a monetary settlement for the sale of the Company's operated natural gas production. When the Company elects to take volumes in kind, it takes possession of the processed products at the tailgate of the processing facility and either sells them at the tailgate or pays third parties to transport the processed products it took in-kind to downstream delivery points, where it then sells to customers at prices applicable to those downstream markets. In such situations, operated revenues are recognized during the month in which control transfers to the customer at the delivery point and it is probable the Company will collect the consideration it is entitled to receive. Operated sales proceeds are generally received by the Company within one month after the month in which a sale has occurred. In these scenarios, the Company'sCompany’s revenues include the pricing adjustments applied by the midstream processing entity according to the applicable contractual pricing formula, but exclude the transportation expenses the Company incurs to transport the processed products to downstream customers. Transportation expenses associated with these arrangements totaled $39.9$54.0 million, $37.7$62.4 million, and $33.7$39.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 2019,2021, respectively.

Non-operated crude oil, and natural gas, and NGL revenues – The Company'sCompany’s proportionate share of production from non-operated properties is generally marketed at the discretion of the operators. For non-operated properties, the Company receives a net payment from the operator representing its proportionate share of sales proceeds which is net of costs incurred by the operator, if any. Such non-operated revenues are recognized at the net amount of proceeds to be received by the Company during the month in which production occurs and it is probable the Company will collect the consideration it is entitled to receive. Proceeds are generally received by the Company within two to three months after the month in which production occurs.

In periods of significantly depressed prices for natural gas and NGLs the costs incurred by the outside operator in a particular month may exceed the consideration to be received by the Company, resulting in a net payment owed by the Company to the outside operator. In these situations, the net amounts paid or payable by the Company are reflected as a reduction of natural gas sales in the caption "Crude oil and natural gas sales" in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). Such negative gas revenues associated with non-operated properties were immaterial for 2021 and 2019 and totaled $17.3 million for 2020.

Revenues from derivative instruments – See Note 6. Derivative Instruments for discussion of the Company'sCompany’s accounting for its derivative instruments.

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Table of Contents

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Revenues from service operations – Revenues from the Company'sCompany’s crude oil and natural gas service operations consist primarily of revenues associated with water gathering, recycling, delivery, and disposal activities and the treatment and sale of crude oil reclaimed from waste products.activities. Revenues associated with such activities, which are derived using market-based rates or rates commensurate with industry guidelines, are recognized during the month in which services are performed, the Company has an unconditional right to receive payment, and collectability is probable. Payment is generally received by the Company within one month after the month in which services are provided.

87

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Disaggregation of crude oil and natural gas revenues

The following table presents the disaggregation of the Company'sCompany’s crude oil and natural gas revenues for the periods presented.

Year ended December 31,
202120202019
In thousandsNorth RegionSouth RegionTotalNorth RegionSouth RegionTotalNorth RegionSouth RegionTotal
Crude oil revenues:
Operated properties$2,392,465 $838,129 $3,230,594 $1,264,149 $537,961 $1,802,110 $2,365,574 $786,652 $3,152,226 
Non-operated properties656,727 61,973 718,700 362,952 34,914 397,866 727,068 50,700 777,768 
Total crude oil revenues3,049,192 900,102 3,949,294 1,627,101 572,875 2,199,976 3,092,642 837,352 3,929,994 
Natural gas revenues:
Operated properties (1)460,376 1,186,937 1,647,313 28,086 301,486 329,572 109,668 411,464 521,132 
Non-operated properties (2)115,420 81,714 197,134 720 25,166 25,886 25,188 38,075 63,263 
Total natural gas revenues575,796 1,268,651 1,844,447 28,806 326,652 355,458 134,856 449,539 584,395 
Crude oil and natural gas sales$3,624,988 $2,168,753 $5,793,741 $1,655,907 $899,527 $2,555,434 $3,227,498 $1,286,891 $4,514,389 
Timing of revenue recognition
Goods transferred at a point in time$3,624,988 $2,168,753 $5,793,741 $1,655,907 $899,527 $2,555,434 $3,227,498 $1,286,891 $4,514,389 
Goods transferred over time— — — — — — — — — 
$3,624,988 $2,168,753 $5,793,741 $1,655,907 $899,527 $2,555,434 $3,227,498 $1,286,891 $4,514,389 
(1) Operated Sales of natural gas revenues forand NGLs are combined, as a substantial majority of the North region include negative gas revenues totaling $25.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.
(2) Non-operatedCompany’s natural gas revenues for the North region include negative gas revenues totaling $17.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.sales contracts represent wellhead sales of unprocessed gas.

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

In thousands

 

Crude Oil

 

 

Natural Gas and NGLs

 

 

Total

 

 

Crude Oil

 

 

Natural Gas and NGLs

 

 

Total

 

 

Crude Oil

 

 

Natural Gas and NGLs

 

 

Total

 

Bakken

 

$

3,777,412

 

 

$

380,359

 

 

$

4,157,771

 

 

$

3,899,749

 

 

$

1,051,870

 

 

$

4,951,619

 

 

$

2,786,320

 

 

$

562,695

 

 

$

3,349,015

 

Anadarko Basin

 

 

999,009

 

 

 

687,687

 

 

 

1,686,696

 

 

 

1,109,405

 

 

 

1,839,473

 

 

 

2,948,878

 

 

 

874,752

 

 

 

1,264,069

 

 

 

2,138,821

 

Powder River Basin

 

 

410,963

 

 

 

43,968

 

 

 

454,931

 

 

 

557,943

 

 

 

125,065

 

 

 

683,008

 

 

 

101,705

 

 

 

13,110

 

 

 

114,815

 

Permian Basin

 

 

1,135,421

 

 

 

74,133

 

 

 

1,209,554

 

 

 

1,122,290

 

 

 

151,217

 

 

 

1,273,507

 

 

 

24,857

 

 

 

4,499

 

 

 

29,356

 

All other

 

 

175,118

 

 

 

193

 

 

 

175,311

 

 

 

216,616

 

 

 

1,047

 

 

 

217,663

 

 

 

161,660

 

 

 

74

 

 

 

161,734

 

Crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids sales

 

$

6,497,923

 

 

$

1,186,340

 

 

$

7,684,263

 

 

$

6,906,003

 

 

$

3,168,672

 

 

$

10,074,675

 

 

$

3,949,294

 

 

$

1,844,447

 

 

$

5,793,741

 


Performance obligations

The Company satisfies the performance obligations under its crude oil and natural gascommodity sales contracts upon delivery of its production and related transfer of control to customers. Judgment may be required in determining the point in time when control transfers to customers. Upon delivery of production, the Company has a right to receive consideration from its customers in amounts determined by the sales contracts.

The Company's outstanding crude oil sales contracts at December 31, 20212023 are primarily short-term in nature with contract terms of less than one year. For such contracts, the Company has utilized the practical expedient in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC"(“ASC”) 606-10-50-14 exempting the Company from disclosure of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations, if any, if the performance obligation is part of a contract that has an original expected duration of one year or less.

The substantial majority of the Company'sCompany’s operated natural gas production is sold at lease locations to midstream customers under multi-year term contracts. For such contracts having a term greater than one year, the Company has utilized the practical expedient in ASC 606-10-50-14A which indicates an entity is not required to disclose the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations, if any, if variable consideration is allocated entirely to a wholly unsatisfied performance obligation. Under the Company’s commodity sales contracts, whether for crude oil or natural gas, each unit of production delivered to a customer represents a separate performance obligation; therefore, future volumes to be delivered are wholly unsatisfied at period-end and disclosure of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations is not applicable.

88

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Contract balances

Under the Company’s crude oil and natural gascommodity sales contracts or activities that give rise to service revenues, the Company recognizes revenue after its performance obligations have been satisfied, at which point the Company has an unconditional right to receive payment. Accordingly, the Company’s commodity sales contracts and service activities generally do not give rise to contract assets or contract liabilities under ASC Topic 606. Instead, the Company'sCompany’s unconditional rights to receive consideration are presented as a receivable within "Receivables“ReceivablesCrude oil, natural gas, and natural gas sales"liquids sales” or "Receivables“ReceivablesJoint interest and other," as applicable, in its consolidated balance sheets.

Revenues from previously satisfied performance obligations

To record revenues for commodity sales, at the end of each month the Company estimates the amount of production delivered and sold to customers and the prices to be received for such sales. Differences between estimated revenues and actual amounts received

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Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

for all prior months are recorded in the month payment is received from the customer and are reflected in the financial statements within the caption "Crude“Crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas sales"liquids sales”. Revenues recognized during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 20192021 related to performance obligations satisfied in prior reporting periods were not material.

Note 10. Allowance for Credit Losses

The Company'sCompany’s principal exposure to credit risk is through the sale of its crude oil, and natural gas, and NGL production and its receivables associated with billings to joint interest owners. Accordingly, the Company classifies its receivables into two portfolio segments as depicted on the consolidated balance sheets as "Receivables“ReceivablesCrude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids sales” and "Receivables“ReceivablesJoint interest and other.”


Historically, the Company'sCompany’s credit losses on receivables have been immaterial. The Company’s aggregate allowance for credit losses totaled $2.8$3.2 million and $2.5$5.5 million at December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, respectively, which is reported as "Allowance“Allowance for credit losses"losses” in the consolidated balance sheets. Aggregate credit loss expenses totaled $0.8$0.1 million, $1.8$3.3 million, and $1.6$0.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 2019,2021, respectively, which are included in “General and administrative expenses” in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).
income.

Receivables—Crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids sales

The Company'sCompany’s crude oil, and natural gas, and NGL production from operated properties is generally sold to energy marketing companies, crude oil refining companies, and natural gas gathering and processing companies. The Company monitors its credit loss exposure to these counterparties primarily by reviewing credit ratings, financial statements, and payment history. Credit terms are extended based on an evaluation of each counterparty’s credit worthiness. The Company has not generally required its counterparties to provide collateral to secure its crude oil, and natural gas, and NGL sales receivables.

Receivables associated with crude oil, and natural gas, and NGL sales are short term in nature. Receivables from the sale of crude oil, and natural gas, and NGLs from operated properties are generally collected within one month after the month in which a sale has occurred, while receivables associated with non-operated properties are generally collected within two to three months after the month in which production occurs.

The Company’s allowance for credit losses on crude oil, and natural gas, and NGL sales was negligible at both December 31, 20212023 and December 31, 2020.2022. The allowance was determined by considering a number of factors, primarily including the Company’s history of credit losses with adjustment as needed to reflect current conditions, the length of time accounts are past due, whether amounts relate to operated properties or non-operated properties, and the counterparty's ability to pay. There were no significant write-offs, recoveries, or changes in the provision for credit losses on this portfolio segment during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 2019.

2021.

Receivables—Joint interest and other

Joint interest and other receivables primarily arise from billing the individuals and entities who own a partial interest in the wells we operate. Joint interest receivables are due within 30 days and are considered delinquent after 60 days. In order to minimize our exposure to credit risk with these counterparties we generally request prepayment of drilling costs where it is allowed by contract or state law. Such prepayments are used to offset future capital costs when billed, thereby reducing the Company'sCompany’s credit risk. We may have the right to place a lien on a co-owner's interest in the well, to net production proceeds against amounts owed in order to secure payment or, if necessary, foreclose on the co-owner'sco-owner’s interest.

89

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


The Company’s allowance for credit losses on joint interest receivables totaled $2.8$3.2 million and $2.5$5.5 million at December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, respectively. The allowance was determined by considering a number of factors, primarily including the Company’s history of credit losses with adjustment as needed to reflect current conditions, the length of time accounts are past due, the ability to recoup amounts owed through netting of production proceeds, the balance of co-owner prepayments if any, and the co-owner'sco-owner’s ability to pay. There were no significant write-offs, recoveries, or changes in the provision for credit losses on this portfolio segment during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 2019.2021.

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Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 11. Income Taxes

The items comprising the Company'sCompany’s provision (benefit) for income taxes are as follows for the periods presented:

 

Year ended December 31,

 

In thousands

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Current income tax provision:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States federal

 

$

461,487

 

 

$

538,704

 

 

$

 

Various states

 

 

37,173

 

 

 

83,671

 

 

 

 

Total current income tax provision

 

 

498,660

 

 

 

622,375

 

 

 

 

Deferred income tax provision:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States federal

 

 

318,484

 

 

 

374,802

 

 

 

467,051

 

Various states

 

 

10,486

 

 

 

23,627

 

 

 

52,679

 

Total deferred income tax provision

 

 

328,970

 

 

 

398,429

 

 

 

519,730

 

Provision for income taxes

 

$

827,630

 

 

$

1,020,804

 

 

$

519,730

 

Effective tax rate

 

 

21.1

%

 

 

20.1

%

 

 

23.8

%

 Year ended December 31,
In thousands202120202019
Current income tax provision (benefit):
United States federal$— $(2,248)$— 
Various states— 29 — 
Total current income tax provision (benefit)— (2,219)— 
Deferred income tax provision (benefit):
United States federal467,051 (148,828)191,328 
Various states52,679 (18,143)21,361 
Total deferred income tax provision (benefit)519,730 (166,971)212,689 
Provision (benefit) for income taxes$519,730 $(169,190)$212,689 
Effective tax rate23.8 %21.8 %21.5 %

The Company'sCompany’s effective tax rate differs from the United States federal statutory tax rate due to the effect of state income taxes, equityequity/incentive compensation, tax credits, changes in valuation allowances, and other tax items as reflected in the table below.

 

Year ended December 31,

 

In thousands, except tax rates

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Income before income taxes

 

$

3,928,947

 

 

$

5,068,413

 

 

$

2,186,138

 

U.S. federal statutory tax rate

 

 

21.0

%

 

 

21.0

%

 

 

21.0

%

Expected income tax provision based on U.S. federal statutory tax rate

 

 

825,079

 

 

 

1,064,367

 

 

 

459,089

 

Items impacting the effective tax rate:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit

 

 

98,257

 

 

 

126,932

 

 

 

77,979

 

Tax (benefit) deficiency from stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

(5,282

)

 

 

5,869

 

Change in valuation allowance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(14,474

)

Tax credits for increasing research activities

 

 

(67,039

)

 

 

(151,913

)

 

 

 

Other, net

 

 

(28,667

)

 

 

(13,300

)

 

 

(8,733

)

Provision for income taxes

 

$

827,630

 

 

$

1,020,804

 

 

$

519,730

 

Effective tax rate

 

 

21.1

%

 

 

20.1

%

 

 

23.8

%

 Year ended December 31,
In thousands, except tax rates202120202019
Income (loss) before income taxes$2,186,138 $(774,751)$987,162 
U.S. federal statutory tax rate21.0 %21.0 %21.0 %
Expected income tax provision (benefit) based on U.S. federal statutory tax rate459,089 (162,698)207,304 
Items impacting the effective tax rate:
State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit77,979 (24,808)31,967 
Tax (benefit) deficiency from stock-based compensation5,869 4,927 (7,971)
Sale of Canadian subsidiary and assets— — (16,860)
Other, net(8,733)(1,085)(1,751)
Change in valuation allowance(14,474)14,474 — 
Provision (benefit) for income taxes$519,730 $(169,190)$212,689 
Effective tax rate23.8 %21.8 %21.5 %
90

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets the Company must consider whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company applies judgment to determine the weight of both positive and negative evidence in order to conclude whether a valuation allowance is necessary for its deferred tax assets. In determining whether a valuation allowance is required, the Company considers, among other factors, the Company'sCompany’s financial position, results of operations, projected future taxable income, reversal of existing deferred tax liabilities against deferred tax assets, and tax planning strategies. During 2020, a $14.5 million valuation allowance was established for the deferred tax asset associated with a portion of the Company's Oklahoma state net operating loss carryforwards. In 2021, the Company reassessed the realizability of the deferred tax asset related to Oklahoma state net operating loss carryforwards and based on current year activity, determined it was more likely than not that such assets would be realized. Therefore, it was determined thatrealized and the previously recordedremaining valuation allowance in 2020 should be released in 2021.
was released. No valuation allowances were recognized during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

The Company will continue to evaluate both the positive and negative evidence on a quarterlyperiodic basis in determining the need for a valuation allowance with respect to its deferred tax assets. Changes in positive and negative evidence, including differences between estimated and actual results, could result in changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets that could have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. Changes in existing tax laws could also affect actual tax results and the realization of deferred tax assets over time.

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Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

In 2019, the Company sold its Canadian subsidiary and associated properties. Prior to the sale, the Company had recognized cumulative valuation allowances totaling $19.6 million against deferred tax assets associated with operating loss carryforwards generated by the Canadian subsidiary for which the Company did not expect to realize a benefit. In conjunction with the sale, the deferred tax assets, deferred tax liabilities, and cumulative valuation allowance related to the Canadian subsidiary were removed, and an income tax benefit of $16.9 million was recorded related to the resulting capital loss on the sale of the stock.

The components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as of December 31, 20212023 and 20202022 are reflected in the table below.

 

December 31,

 

In thousands

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Deferred tax assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States net operating loss carryforwards

 

$

56,377

 

 

$

63,128

 

Incentive/equity compensation

 

 

40,929

 

 

 

34,987

 

Net deferred hedge losses

 

 

 

 

 

42,898

 

Other

 

 

28,080

 

 

 

31,324

 

Total deferred tax assets

 

 

125,386

 

 

 

172,337

 

Valuation allowance

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance

 

 

125,386

 

 

 

172,337

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment

 

 

(2,870,259

)

 

 

(2,708,641

)

Net deferred hedge gains

 

 

(120,662

)

 

 

 

Other

 

 

(1,748

)

 

 

(2,008

)

Total deferred tax liabilities

 

 

(2,992,669

)

 

 

(2,710,649

)

Deferred income tax liabilities, net

 

$

(2,867,283

)

 

$

(2,538,312

)

 December 31,
In thousands20212020
Deferred tax assets
United States net operating loss carryforwards$365,602 $579,781 
Equity compensation12,751 12,900 
Other29,421 10,691 
Total deferred tax assets407,774 603,372 
Valuation allowance— (14,474)
Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance407,774 588,898 
Deferred tax liabilities
Property and equipment(2,536,938)(2,204,378)
Other(10,720)(4,674)
Total deferred tax liabilities(2,547,658)(2,209,052)
Deferred income tax liabilities, net$(2,139,884)$(1,620,154)

As of December 31, 2021,2023, the Company had federal and state net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards of $1.17 billion and $3.63 billion, respectively. Approximately $283 million of the Company's federal net operating loss carryforwards were generated in tax years prior to 2018 and expire in 2037, with the remaining $887 million having an indefinite life. The Company’s net operating loss carryforward in Oklahoma totaled $3.07totaling $1.8 billion, at December 31, 2021, of which $1.96 billion$673 million expires between 20302035 and 2037, and the remaining $1.11$1.1 billion has an indefinite life. The Company’s net operating loss carryforward in North Dakota totaled $457 million at December 31, 2021 and has an indefinite life. Any available statutory depletion carryforwards will be recognized when realized. The Company files income tax returns in U.S. federal and state jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal or state income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2018.2020.

Note 12. Leases

The Company’s lease liabilities recognized on the balance sheet as a lessee totaled $15.5$37.6 million and $8.4$24.1 million as of December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, respectively, at discounted present value, which is comprised of the asset classes reflected in the table below. All leases recognized on the Company'sCompany’s balance sheet are classified as operating leases. The amounts disclosed

91

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

herein primarily represent costs associated with properties operated by the Company that are presented on a gross basis and do not represent the Company'sCompany’s net proportionate share of such amounts. A portion of these costs have been or will be billed to other working interest owners. Once paid, the Company'sCompany’s share of these costs are included in property and equipment, production expenses, or general and administrative expenses, as applicable.

The Company accounts for lease and non-lease components in its contracts as a single lease component for all asset classes. Additionally, the Company does not apply the recognition requirements of ASC Topic 842 to leases with durations of twelve months or less and uses hindsight in determining the lease term for all leases. The Company'sCompany’s leasing activities as a lessor are negligible.

 

December 31,

 

In thousands

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Surface use agreements

 

$

17,263

 

 

$

18,136

 

Field equipment

 

 

19,713

 

 

 

5,224

 

Other

 

 

618

 

 

 

781

 

Total

 

$

37,594

 

 

$

24,141

 

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Table of Contents

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31,
In thousands20212020
Drilling rig commitments$— $2,025 
Surface use agreements12,354 4,928 
Field equipment2,095 928 
Other1,025 546 
Total$15,474 $8,427 

Minimum future commitments by year for the Company'sCompany’s operating leases as of December 31, 20212023 are presented in the table below. Such commitments are reflected at undiscounted values and are reconciled to the discounted present value recognized on the balance sheet.

In thousands

 

Amount

 

 2024

 

$

19,603

 

 2025

 

 

4,571

 

 2026

 

 

1,848

 

 2027

 

 

1,827

 

 2028

 

 

1,765

 

Thereafter

 

 

16,586

 

Total operating lease liabilities, at undiscounted value

 

$

46,200

 

Less: Imputed interest

 

 

(8,606

)

Total operating lease liabilities, at discounted present value

 

$

37,594

 

Less: Current portion of operating lease liabilities

 

 

(18,112

)

Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent

 

$

19,482

 

In thousandsAmount
2022$2,369 
20232,263 
20241,831 
20251,295 
20261,258 
Thereafter13,084 
Total operating lease liabilities, at undiscounted value$22,100 
Less: Imputed interest(6,626)
Total operating lease liabilities, at discounted present value$15,474 
Less: Current portion of operating lease liabilities(1,674)
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion$13,800 

Additional information for the Company'sCompany’s operating leases is presented below. Lease costs primarily represent costs incurred for drilling rigs, most of which are short term contracts that are not recognized as right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet. Variable lease costs primarily represent differences between minimum payment obligations and actual operating day-rate charges incurred by the Company for its long term drilling rig contracts. Short-term lease costs primarily represent operating day-rate charges for drilling rig contracts with durations of one year or less and month-to-month field equipment rentals. A portion of such lease costs are borne by other interest owners.

 

Year ended December 31,

 

In thousands, except weighted average data

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Lease costs:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating lease costs

 

$

13,121

 

 

$

3,484

 

 

$

6,653

 

Variable lease costs

 

 

896

 

 

 

650

 

 

 

3,271

 

Short-term lease costs

 

 

168,680

 

 

 

124,535

 

 

 

77,551

 

Total lease costs

 

$

182,697

 

 

$

128,669

 

 

$

87,475

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities

 

$

24,949

 

 

$

19,944

 

 

$

10,481

 

Operating cash flows from operating leases included in lease liabilities

 

 

13,166

 

 

 

4,370

 

 

 

1,731

 

Weighted average remaining lease term as of December 31 (in years)

 

 

6.9

 

 

 

12.0

 

 

 

14.4

 

Weighted average discount rate as of December 31

 

 

4.7

%

 

 

4.8

%

 

 

5.0

%

92

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Year ended December 31,
In thousands, except weighted average data202120202019
Lease costs:
Operating lease costs$6,653 $6,444 $11,130 
Variable lease costs3,271 4,956 11,930 
Short-term lease costs77,551 107,984 176,586 
Total lease costs$87,475 $119,384 $199,646 
Other information:
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities (1)$10,481 $7,377 $1,208 
Operating cash flows from operating leases included in lease liabilities1,731 890 804 
Weighted average remaining lease term as of December 31 (in years)14.413.211.5
Weighted average discount rate as of December 315.0 %4.8 %4.9 %
(1)     Balance for 2021 primarily represents $10.0 million of right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities recognized in connection with the Company's property acquisitions discussed in Note 2. Property Acquisitions and Dispositions.

Note 13. Commitments and Contingencies

Transportation, gathering, and processing commitments – The Company has entered into transportation, gathering, and processing commitments to guarantee capacity on crude oil and natural gas pipelines and natural gas processing facilities. The commitments, which have varying terms extending as far as 2031, require the Company to pay per-unit transportation, gathering, or processing charges regardless of the amount of capacity used. Future commitments remaining as of December 31, 20212023 under the arrangements amount to approximately $1.31 billion,$824 million, of which $275$307 million is expected to be incurred in 2022, $270 million in 2023, $251 million in 2024, $164$164 million in 2025, $139$139 million in 2026, $136 million in 2027, $70 million in 2028, and $214$8 million thereafter. A portion of these future costs will be borne by other interest owners. The Company is not committed under the above contracts to deliver fixed and determinable quantities of crude oil or natural gas in the future. These commitments do not qualify as leases under ASC Topic 842 and are not recognized on the Company’s balance sheet.

Lease commitments – The Company has various lease commitments primarily associated with surface use agreements and field equipment. See Note 12. Leases for additional information.

Litigation pertaining to the Company's routine operations

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Pledge commitmentTable of Contents

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The Company entered into a $25.0 million ten-year irrevocable pledge agreement with Oklahoma State University in December 2021. The pledge agreement provides for ten equal payments of $2.5 million to be paid annually on or before December 31 of each year until the pledge is paid in full on December 31, 2030. In connection with the pledge, the Company recognized a $25.0 million charge to earnings which is reflected in the caption “Other income (expense)—Other” in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Pending property acquisition – See Note 20. Subsequent Events for discussion of a definitive acquisition agreement executed by the Company subsequent to December 31, 2021.
Litigation –The Company is involved in various legal proceedings including, but not limited to, commercial disputes, claims from royalty and surface owners, property damage claims, personal injury claims, regulatory compliance matters, disputes with tax authorities and other matters. While the outcome of these legal matters cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company does not expect them to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. As of December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, the Company had recognized a liability within “Other noncurrent liabilities” of $7.9$13.8 million and $7.7$20.2 million, respectively, for various matters, none of which are believed to be individually significant.

Environmental risk –Litigation pertaining to take-private transaction Due to– Transactions such as the natureHamm Family’s take-private transaction described in Note 1. Organization and Nature of Business—2022 Take-Private Transaction often attract litigation and demands from minority shareholders.

In April 2023, three separate putative class action lawsuits were consolidated under the crude oil and natural gas business, the Company is exposed to possible environmental risks. The Company is not aware of any material environmental issues or claims.caption

93

In re Continental Resources, Inc. Shareholder Litigation, Case No. CJ-2022-4162, in the District Court of Oklahoma County, Oklahoma (the “Consolidated Action”). In the Consolidated Action, the plaintiffs, on behalf of themselves and Subsidiariesall other similarly situated former shareholders of the Company, allege that Mr. Hamm, certain trusts established for the benefit of Mr. Hamm and/or his family members, and the Company’s other directors breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the take-private transaction and seek: (i) monetary damages; (ii) the costs and expenses associated with the lawsuits; and (iii) other equitable relief. The defendants continue to vigorously defend themselves against these claims.

In January 2023, FourWorld Deep Value Opportunities Fund I, LLC, FourWorld Event Opportunities, LP, FW Deep Value Opportunities I, LLC, FourWorld Global Opportunities Fund, Ltd., FourWorld Special Opportunities Fund, LLC, Corbin ERISA Opportunity Fund Ltd., and Quadre Investments, L.P. (collectively, “FourWorld”), all former shareholders of the Company, filed a petition in the District Court of Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, seeking appraisal of their respective shares of the Company’s common stock in connection with the take-private transaction. The Company continues to vigorously defend itself against these claims.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 14. Related Party Transactions

Certain officers of the Company own or control entities that own working and royalty interests in wells operated by the Company. The Company paid revenues to these affiliates, including royalties, of $0.4$0.4 million, $0.2$0.5 million, and $0.4$0.4 million and received payments from these affiliates of $0.1$0.1 million, $0.3$0.2 million, and $0.3$0.1 million during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 2019,2021, respectively, relating to the operations of the respective properties. At December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, approximately $39,000$35,000 and $18,000,$6,000, respectively, was due from these affiliates relating to these transactions, which is included in “ReceivablesJoint interest and other” on the consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, approximately $37,000$31,000 and $18,000,$36,000, respectively, was due to these affiliates relating to these transactions, which is included in “Revenues and royalties payable” on the consolidated balance sheets.

The Company allows certain affiliates to use its corporate aircraft and crews and has used the aircraft of those same affiliates from time to time in order to facilitate efficient transportation of Company personnel. The rates charged between the parties vary by type of aircraft used. For usage during 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 2019,2021, the Company charged affiliates approximately $11,300, $8,100,$28,100, $16,400, and $17,600,$11,300, respectively, for use of its corporate aircraft crews, fuel, and reimbursement of expenses and received approximately $5,000, $9,500,$31,000, $13,000, and $18,900$5,000 from affiliates in 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 2019,2021, respectively, in connection with such items. The Company was charged approximately $117,000, $120,000,$312,000, $235,000, and $303,000,$117,000, respectively, by affiliates for use of their aircraft and reimbursement of expenses during 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 20192021 and paid $84,000, $158,000,$299,000, $219,000, and $426,000$84,000 to the affiliates in 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 2019,2021, respectively. At December 31, 2021,2023 and 2022, approximately $6,300$7,000 and $9,800, respectively, was due from an affiliate relating to these transactions, which is included in “ReceivablesJoint interest and other” on the consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2021,2023 and 2022, approximately $33,000$63,000 and $49,000, respectively, was due to an affiliate relating to these transactions, which is included in “Accounts payable trade” on the consolidated balance sheets. No

Note 15. Incentive Compensation

Long-term Incentive Compensation

The Company has granted long-term incentive compensation awards to employees pursuant to the Continental Resources, Inc. 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2022 Plan”). Such awards generally vest after three years of employee service. The Company intends to settle all outstanding awards vesting in the future in cash and, thus, the awards are classified as liability awards pursuant to ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

At December 31, 2023, the Company had recorded a current liability of $130.6 million and a non-current liability of $41.7 million in the captions “Current portion of incentive compensation liability” and “Incentive compensation liability, noncurrent,” respectively, in the consolidated balance sheets associated with the awards. Such amounts were duereflect the Company’s estimate of expected future cash payments multiplied by the percentage of requisite service periods that employees have completed as of December 31, 2023. The Company’s compensation expense associated with such awards, which is included in the caption “General and administrative expenses” in the consolidated statements of income, was $91.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, there was approximately $90.4 million of unrecognized liabilities and compensation expense related to or from the affiliateunvested awards, which are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.5 years. The current liability at December 31, 2020.2023 was paid in cash to employees in February 2024 upon the scheduled vesting of awards.

Note 15. Stock-Based Compensation

The Company’s incentive compensation liability will be remeasured each reporting period leading up to the applicable award vesting dates to reflect additional service rendered by employees and to reflect changes in expected cash payments arising from underlying changes in the value of the Company based on independent third party appraisals. Changes in the liability will be recorded as increases or decreases to compensation expense. The Company has estimated the number of forfeitures expected to occur in determining the amount of liability and expense to recognize.

Stock-based Compensation

Prior to the Hamm Family’s take-private transaction described in Note 1. Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—2022 Take-Private Transaction, the Company granted restricted stock to employees and directors pursuant to the Continental Resources, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan as amended (“2013 Plan”). and 2022 Plan. The Company’s associated compensation expense associated with such awards, which is included in the caption “General and administrative expenses” in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income, (loss), was $63.2 million, $64.6$217.8 million and $52.0$63.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, and 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.

In March 2019,As of the Company amended and restated itsNovember 22, 2022 effective time of the Hamm Family’s take-private transaction, each unvested restricted stock award previously issued under the Company’s 2013 Plan and specified 12,983,543 shares2022 Plan that was outstanding immediately prior to the effective time was replaced with a restricted stock unit award (the “Rollover Shares”) issued by the Company that provides the holder of commonsuch previous award with the right to receive, on the date that such restricted stock may be issuedaward otherwise would have been settled, and at the Company’s sole discretion, either a share of the Company, a cash award designed to provide substantially equivalent value, or any combination of the two. Upon this event, the Company remeasured the cumulative compensation expense recognized on the modified awards pursuant to ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, which resulted in the amended plan. Subjectrecognition of additional non-cash compensation expense in 2022 within “General and administrative expenses” totaling approximately $136 million, reflecting the increase in the value of the awards from the original grant date to limited exceptions, the 2013 Plan allows previously issued shares to be reissued if such shares are subsequently forfeited or withheld to satisfy tax withholdings. subsequent modification date.

As of December 31, 2021,2022, the Company had5.3 million Rollover Shares which are classified as liability awards under ASC 718. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had recorded a current liability of $8,492,645 shares125.7 million and a non-current liability of common stock available for long-term incentive awards$100.1 million in the consolidated balance sheets associated with the Rollover Shares. The current liability at December 31, 2022 was paid in cash to employees and directors under the 2013 Plan.

Restricted stock is awarded in the namefirst quarter of 2023 upon the recipient and constitutes issued and outstanding sharesscheduled vesting of the Company’s common stock for all corporate purposes during the period of restriction and, except as otherwise provided under the 2013 Plan or agreement relevant to a given award, includes the right to vote the restricted stock and to receive dividends, subject to forfeiture. Restricted stock grants generally vest over periods ranging from 1 to 3 years.
awards.

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Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

A summary of changes in non-vested restricted shares outstanding prior to the take-private transaction from December 31, 20182020 to December 31, 20212022 is presented below.

 

Number of
non-vested
shares

 

 

Weighted
average
grant-date
fair value

 

Non-vested restricted shares at December 31, 2020

 

 

4,890,638

 

 

$

36.26

 

Granted

 

 

3,050,491

 

 

 

24.73

 

Vested

 

 

(1,750,483

)

 

 

44.36

 

Forfeited

 

 

(296,138

)

 

 

26.61

 

Non-vested restricted shares at December 31, 2021

 

 

5,894,508

 

 

$

28.38

 

Granted

 

 

1,575,847

 

 

 

56.52

 

Vested

 

 

(1,736,678

)

 

 

36.04

 

Forfeited

 

 

(384,536

)

 

 

27.82

 

Canceled shares due to take-private transaction

 

 

(5,349,141

)

 

 

34.22

 

Non-vested restricted shares at December 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

$

 

66


Number of
non-vested
shares
Weighted
average
grant-date
fair value
Non-vested restricted shares at December 31, 20184,022,409 $38.44 
Granted1,526,825 43.21 
Vested(1,737,304)24.19 
Forfeited(350,022)47.13 
Non-vested restricted shares at December 31, 20193,461,908 $46.82 
Granted2,738,625 26.93 
Vested(1,146,618)45.78 
Forfeited(163,277)36.69 
Non-vested restricted shares at December 31, 20204,890,638 $36.26 
Granted3,050,491 24.73 
Vested(1,750,483)44.36 
Forfeited(296,138)26.61 
Non-vested restricted shares at December 31, 20215,894,508 $28.38 

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Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The grant date fair value of restricted stock representsgranted prior to the Hamm Family’s take-private transaction represented the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Compensation expense for a restricted stock grant iswas determined at the grant date fair value and iswas recognized over the vesting period as services arewere rendered by employees and directors. The Company estimatesestimated the number of forfeitures expected to occur in determining the amount of stock-based compensation expense to recognize. There arewere no post-vesting restrictions related to the Company’s restricted stock. The fair value at the vesting date of restricted stock that vested during 2022 and 2021 2020, and 2019 was approximately $46.7 million, $27.5$98.4 million and $79.7$46.7 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, there was approximately $70 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested restricted stock. This expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.4 years.

Note 16. Shareholders'Shareholders’ Equity Attributable to Continental Resources

See the Consolidated Statements of Equity for the year ended December 31, 2022 for the impact on Shareholders’ Equity resulting from the Hamm Family’s take-private transaction consummated on November 22, 2022.

Share Repurchases

In May 2019 the Company's Board of Directors approved the initiation of a share repurchase program to acquire up to $1 billion of the Company's common stock beginning in June 2019. See Note 20. Subsequent Events for discussion of an increase in the authorized amount ofShare repurchases made under the Company's share repurchase program made subsequentprior to December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, the Company has repurchased and retired a cumulative total of approximately 17.0 million shares under the program at an aggregate cost of $441.1 million asHamm Family’s take-private transaction are reflected in the table below by year.
Number of
shares
Aggregate cost (in thousands)
2019 Share Repurchases5,646,553 $190,239 
2020 Share Repurchases8,122,104 126,906 
2021 Share Repurchases3,198,571 123,924 
Total16,967,228 $441,069 

The timing and amount of the Company's share repurchases are subject to market conditions and management discretion. The share repurchase program does not require the Company to repurchase a specific number of shares and may be modified, suspended, or terminated by the Board of Directors at any time. 
Dividend Payments
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Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The following table summarizes the dividends paid by the Company on its outstanding common stock for the years ended December 31, 2022, and 2021.

 

Number of
shares

 

 

Aggregate cost (in thousands)

 

2021 Share Repurchases

 

 

3,198,571

 

 

$

123,924

 

2022 Share Repurchases

 

 

1,842,422

 

 

 

99,855

 

Total

 

 

5,040,993

 

 

$

223,779

 

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Hamm Family holds approximately 299.6 million shares of capital stock, and such shares are the only remaining capital stock of the Company following the take-private transaction.

Dividend Payments

During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, 2020,the Company paid dividends of $283.8 million and 2019.$
Amount (in thousands)Dividend per share
Year Ended December 31, 2019
Fourth quarter$18,747 $0.05 
Total$18,747 
Year Ended December 31, 2020
First quarter$18,580 $0.05 
Total$18,580 
Year Ended December 31, 2021
Second quarter$40,429 $0.11 
Third quarter55,132 $0.15 
Fourth quarter72,975 $0.20 
Total$168,536 

Accumulated other comprehensive income
Adjustments resulting from the process of translating foreign functional currency financial statements into U.S. dollars are included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” within shareholders’ equity attributable to Continental Resources165.9 million, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheets and “Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax” in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). The following table summarizes the change in accumulated other comprehensive incomeits then-outstanding common stock. Additionally, for the year ended December 31, 2019.
In thousands2019
Beginning accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax$415 
Foreign currency translation adjustments140 
Release of cumulative translation adjustments (1)(555)
Income taxes (2)— 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax(415)
Ending accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax$— 
(1)     In conjunction with2023 the Company’s saleCompany paid $2.1 million of its Canadian operationsdividends to employees upon vesting of long-term incentive units which had accumulated dividends declared in 2019,periods prior to the cumulative translation adjustments were released. See take-private transaction.

Note 2. Property Acquisitions and Dispositions for further information.

(2)     A valuation allowance had been recognized against all deferred tax assets associated with losses generated by the Company’s Canadian operations, thereby resulting in no income taxes on other comprehensive income.

Note 17. Noncontrolling Interests

Strategic mineral relationship

In October 2018, Continental entered into a strategic relationship with Franco-Nevada Corporation to acquire oil and gas mineral interests within an area of mutual interest through a minerals subsidiary named The Mineral Resources Company II, LLC (“TMRC II”). At closing in October 2018, Continental contributed most of its previously acquired mineral interests to TMRC II in exchange for a 50.1% ownership interest in the entity and Franco-Nevada paid $214.8 million to Continental for a 49.9% ownership interest in TMRC II and for funding of its share of certain mineral acquisition costs. Under the arrangement, Continental is to fundfunds 20% of future mineral acquisitions and will be entitled to receive between 25% and 50% of total revenues generated by TMRC II based upon performance relative to certain predetermined production targets.

Continental holds a controlling financial interest in TMRC II and manages its operations. Accordingly, Continental consolidates the financial results of the entity and presents the portion of TMRC II’s results attributable to Franco-Nevada as a noncontrolling interest in its consolidated financial statements. Periodically, Franco-Nevada makes capital contributions to, and receives revenue distributions from, TMRC II and the portion of Continental’s consolidated net assets attributable to Franco-Nevada totaled $369.8$345.1 million and $355.1$361.4 million at December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, respectively.

Joint ownership arrangement

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Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Continental maintains an arrangement with a third party to jointly own parking facilities adjacent to the companies’ corporate office buildings. The activities of the parking facilities, which are immaterial to Continental, are managed through an entity named SFPG, LLC (“SFPG”). Continental holds a controlling financial interest in SFPG and manages its operations. Accordingly, Continental consolidates the financial results of the entity and includes the results attributable to the third party within noncontrolling interests in Continental’s financial statements. The portion of Continental’s consolidated net assets attributable to the third party's ownership interest in SFPG totaled $11.1$11.0 million and $11.2$11.0 million at December 31, 20212023 and 2020,2022, respectively.

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Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 18. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Property Information

The tables reflected below represent consolidated figures forEquity Investment

In 2022 the Company began investing in an affiliate of Summit Carbon Solutions (“Summit”) to develop carbon capture and sequestration infrastructure. Summit was founded in 2020 with the goal of decarbonizing the biofuel and agriculture industries and seeks to lower greenhouse gas emissions by connecting industrial facilities via strategic infrastructure to capture, transport, and store carbon dioxide in the Midwestern United States. The Company committed to invest a total of $250 million with Summit to fund a portion of its subsidiaries. In 2014,development and construction activities.

During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company initiated operations in Canadacontributed $33 million and $210 million, respectively, toward its $250 million commitment to Summit, which were soldis included in the fourth quarter of 2019. The Company's Canadian operations have not had a material impact on historical capital expenditures, production, and revenues. Accordingly, the results of operations, costs incurred, and capitalized costs associated with the Canadian operations have not been shown separately fromcaption “Investment in unconsolidated affiliates” in the consolidated figuresbalance sheets. Upon completion of Summit’s equity raises, the Company expects to hold an approximate 22% non-controlling ownership interest in the tables below. Additionally, results attributable to noncontrolling interests areequity of Summit Carbon Holdings, the parent company of Summit Carbon Solutions. The Company is not material relative to the Company's consolidated resultsprimary beneficiary of Summit and are not separately presented below.

accounts for its investment under the equity method of accounting. The following table sets forth the Company’s consolidated resultsshare of operationsearnings/losses from crude oil and natural gas producing activitiesits investment was immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2021, 20202023 and 2019.2022.

Year ended December 31,
In thousands202120202019
Crude oil and natural gas sales$5,793,741 $2,555,434 $4,514,389 
Production expenses(406,906)(359,267)(444,649)
Production taxes(404,362)(192,718)(357,988)
Transportation expenses(224,989)(196,692)(225,649)
Exploration expenses(21,047)(17,732)(14,667)
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion(1,872,075)(1,859,893)(1,997,854)
Property impairments(38,370)(277,941)(86,202)
Income tax (provision) benefit (1)(690,902)83,427 (323,025)
Results from crude oil and natural gas producing activities$2,135,090 $(265,382)$1,064,355 

(1)    Income taxes reflect the application of a combined federal and state tax rate of 24.5% on pre-tax income/loss generated by our operations in the United States. Additionally, the 2019 period includes the $16.9 million income tax benefit recognized upon the Company's sale of its Canadian operations during that year.Note 19. Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs

Costs incurred in crude oil and natural gas activities

Costs incurred, both capitalized and expensed, in connection with the Company’s consolidated crude oil and natural gas acquisition, exploration and development activities for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 are presented below. See Note 2. Property Acquisitions and Dispositions for discussion of notable property acquisitions executed in 2021 that gave rise to the significant increase in costs incurred and aggregate capitalized costs in the current year.

 Year ended December 31,
In thousands202120202019
Property acquisition costs:
Proved$2,580,271 $60,494 $51,558 
Unproved1,197,507 201,919 312,680 
Total property acquisition costs3,777,778 262,413 364,238 
Exploration Costs171,549 48,282 50,143 
Development Costs1,174,828 1,053,532 2,388,582 
Total$5,124,155 $1,364,227 $2,802,963 
Costs incurred above include asset retirement costs and revisions thereto of $31.1 million, $18.1 million and $6.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
97

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Aggregate capitalized costs
Aggregate capitalized costs relating to the Company’s consolidated crude oil and natural gas producing activities and related accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:
 December 31,
In thousands20212020
Proved crude oil and natural gas properties$31,613,656 $27,726,954 
Unproved crude oil and natural gas properties1,358,673 368,256 
Total32,972,329 28,095,210 
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization(16,310,054)(14,622,376)
Net capitalized costs$16,662,275 $13,472,834 
Under the successful efforts method of accounting, the costs of drilling an exploratory well are capitalized pending determination of whether proved reserves can be attributed to the discovery. When initial drilling and completion operations are complete, management attempts to determine whether the well has discovered crude oil and natural gas reserves and, if so, whether those reserves can be classified as proved reserves. Often, the determination of whether proved reserves can be recorded under SEC guidelines cannot be made when drilling is completed. In those situations where management believes that economically producible hydrocarbons have not been discovered, the exploratory drilling costs are reflected on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) as dry hole costs, a component of “Exploration expenses.” Where sufficient hydrocarbons have been discovered to justify further exploration or appraisal activities, exploratory drilling costs are deferred under the caption “Net property and equipment” on the consolidated balance sheets pending the outcome of those activities.

On at least a quarterlyperiodic basis, operating and financial management review the status of all deferred exploratory drilling costs in light of ongoing exploration activities—in particular, whether the Company is making sufficient progress in its ongoing exploration and appraisal efforts. If management determines that future appraisal drilling or development activities are not likely to occur, any associated exploratory well costs are expensed in that period of determination.

The following table presents the amount of capitalized exploratory well costs pending evaluation at December 31 for each of the last three years and changes in those amounts during the years then ended:

 

Year ended December 31,

 

In thousands

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Balance at January 1

 

$

84,822

 

 

$

37,673

 

 

$

32,737

 

Additions to capitalized exploratory well costs pending determination of proved reserves

 

 

345,434

 

 

 

286,059

 

 

 

122,068

 

Reclassification to proved crude oil and natural gas properties based on the determination of proved reserves

 

 

(270,490

)

 

 

(229,348

)

 

 

(117,131

)

Capitalized exploratory well costs charged to expense

 

 

(32

)

 

 

(9,562

)

 

 

(1

)

Balance at December 31

 

$

159,734

 

 

$

84,822

 

 

$

37,673

 

Number of gross wells

 

 

34

 

 

 

36

 

 

 

17

 

 Year ended December 31,
In thousands202120202019
Balance at January 1$32,737 $6,257 $3,959 
Additions to capitalized exploratory well costs pending determination of proved reserves122,068 32,880 28,280 
Reclassification to proved crude oil and natural gas properties based on the determination of proved reserves(117,131)(72)(23,200)
Capitalized exploratory well costs charged to expense(1)(6,328)(2,782)
Balance at December 31$37,673 $32,737 $6,257 
Number of gross wells17 16 11 

As of December 31, 2021,2023, the Company had no significant exploratory well costs that were suspended one year beyond the completion of drilling.

Note 19.20. Supplemental Crude Oil and Natural Gas Information (Unaudited)

The table below showsprovides estimates of proved reserves prepared by the Company’s internal technical staff and independent external reserve engineers in accordance with SEC definitions. Ryder Scott Company, L.P. prepared reserve estimates for properties comprising approximately 98%99%, 95%98%, and 91%98% of the Company'sCompany’s total proved reserves as of December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 2019,2021, respectively. Remaining reserve estimates were prepared by the Company’s internal technical staff. All proved reserves stated herein are located in the United States. No proved reserves have been included for the Company’s Canadian operations for the periods presented. Proved reserves attributable to noncontrolling interests are not material relative to the Company's consolidated reserves and are not separately presented in the tables below.

Proved reserves are estimated quantities of crude oil and natural gas which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be economically producible in future periods from known reservoirs under existing economic conditions,

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

operating methods, and government regulations prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate

98

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

expire, unless evidence indicates renewal is reasonably certain. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved crude oil and natural gas reserves. Crude oil and natural gas reserve engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of crude oil and natural gas that cannot be precisely measured, and estimates of engineers other than the Company’s might differ materially from the estimates set forth herein. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Periodic revisions or removals of estimated reserves and future cash flows may be necessary as a result of a number of factors, including reservoir performance, new drilling, crude oil and natural gas prices, changes in costs, technological advances, new geological or geophysical data, changes in business strategies, or other economic factors. Accordingly, reserve estimates may differ significantly from the quantities of crude oil and natural gas ultimately recovered.

Reserves at December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 20192021 were computed using the 12-month unweighted average of the first-day-of-the-month commodity prices as required by SEC rules.

All proved reserves stated herein are located in the United States. Proved reserves attributable to noncontrolling interests are not material relative to the Company's consolidated reserves and are not separately presented. Natural gas imbalance receivables and payables for each of the three years ended December 31, 2021, 2020,2023, 2022, and 20192021 were not material and have not been included in the reserve estimates.

Proved crude oil and natural gas reserves

Changes in proved reserves were as follows for the periods presented:
Crude Oil
(MBbls)
Natural Gas
(MMcf)
Total
(MBoe)
Proved reserves as of December 31, 2018757,096 4,591,614 1,522,365 
Revisions of previous estimates(88,307)(363,239)(148,848)
Extensions, discoveries and other additions162,710 1,213,947 365,034 
Production(72,267)(311,865)(124,244)
Sales of minerals in place(803)(6,224)(1,840)
Purchases of minerals in place1,758 30,238 6,798 
Proved reserves as of December 31, 2019760,187 5,154,471 1,619,265 
Revisions of previous estimates(249,845)(1,530,174)(504,874)
Extensions, discoveries and other additions42,106 295,686 91,387 
Production(58,745)(306,528)(109,833)
Sales of minerals in place— — — 
Purchases of minerals in place3,272 27,269 7,817 
Proved reserves as of December 31, 2020496,975 3,640,724 1,103,762 
Revisions of previous estimates14,574 233,966 53,569 
Extensions, discoveries and other additions165,268 1,235,022 371,105 
Production(58,636)(370,110)(120,321)
Sales of minerals in place(70)(469)(148)
Purchases of minerals in place175,419 371,546 237,343 
Proved reserves as of December 31, 2021793,530 5,110,679 1,645,310 

Revisions of previous estimates. Revisions for 2021 are comprised of (i) upward price revisions of 92 MMBo and 458 Bcf (totaling 168 MMBoe) due to the significant increase in average crude oil and natural gas prices in 2021 compared to 2020 resulting from the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, the resumption of normal economic activity, and the resulting improvement in supply and demand fundamentals, (ii) the removal of 31 MMBo and 155 Bcf (totaling 57 MMBoe) of PUD reserves no longer scheduled to be drilled within five years of initial booking due continual refinement of our drilling and development programs and reallocation of capital to areas providing the best opportunities to improve efficiencies, recoveries, and rates of return, (iii) downward revisions of 12 MMBo and 263 Bcf (totaling 56 MMBoe) from the removal of PUD reserves due to changes in anticipated well densities, economics, performance, and other factors, and (iv) downward revisions for oil reserves of 35 MMBo and upward revisions for natural gas reserves of 195 Bcf (netting to 2 MMBoe of downward revisions) due to changes in ownership interests, operating costs, anticipated production, and other factors.

99

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Revisions for 2020 are comprised of (i) the removal of 50 MMBo and 345 Bcf (totaling 107 MMBoe) of PUD reserves no longer scheduled to be drilled within five years of initial booking due to a reduction in the scope of future drilling programs based on adverse market conditions, reduced demand, and lower prices caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and our resulting allocation of capital to areas providing the best opportunities to improve efficiencies, recoveries, and rates of return, (ii) downward revisions of 29 MMBo and 172 Bcf (totaling 58 MMBoe) from the removal of PUD reserves due to changes in economics, performance, and other factors, (iii) downward price revisions of 214 MMBo and 1,043 Bcf (totaling 388 MMBoe) due to a significant decrease in average crude oil and natural gas prices in 2020 compared to 2019 resulting from the economic turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors, and (iv) net upward revisions for oil reserves of 43 MMBo and 31 Bcf (totaling 48 MMBoe) due to changes in ownership interests, operating costs, anticipated production, and other factors.
Revisions for 2019 are comprised of (i) the removal of 17 MMBo and 108 Bcf (totaling 35 MMBoe) of PUD reserves no longer scheduled to be drilled within five years of initial booking due to continual refinement of the Company's drilling programs and reallocation of capital to areas providing the greatest opportunities to improve efficiencies, recoveries, and rates of return, (ii) downward revisions of 38 MMBo and 278 Bcf (totaling 85 MMBoe) from the removal of PUD reserves due to changes in economics, performance, and other factors, (iii) downward price revisions of 24 MMBo and 118 Bcf (totaling 43 MMBoe) due to a decrease in average crude oil and natural gas prices in 2019 compared to 2018, and (iv) net downward revisions for oil reserves of 9 MMBo and net upward revisions for natural gas reserves of 139 Bcf (netting to 14 MMBoe of upward revisions) due to changes in ownership interests, operating costs, anticipated production, and other factors.
Extensions, discoveries and other additions.Extensions, discoveries and other additions for each of the three years reflected in the table above were due to successful drilling and completion activities and continual refinement of our drilling programs. For 2021, proved reserve additions in the Bakken totaled 140 MMBo and 375 Bcf (totaling 202 MMBoe) and proved reserve additions in Oklahoma totaled 25 MMBo and 860 Bcf (totaling 169 MMBoe).
Sales of minerals in place. There were no individually significant dispositions of proved reserves in the three years reflected in the table above.
Purchases of minerals in place. Purchases for 2021 primarily represent acquisitions of proved reserves in the Permian Basin and Powder River Basin as discussed in Note 2. Property Acquisitions and Dispositions. Proved reserves acquired in the Permian Basin in 2021 totaled 149 MMBo and 326 Bcf (totaling 203 MMBoe) and proved reserves acquired in the Powder River Basin totaled 26 MMBo and 46 Bcf (totaling 34 MMBoe). There were no individually significant acquisitions of proved reserves in 2019 or 2020.
The following reserve information sets forth the estimated quantities of proved developed and proved undeveloped crude oil and natural gas reserves of the Company as of December 31, 2021, 20202023, 2022, and 2019:2021.

 December 31,
 202120202019
Proved Developed Reserves
Crude oil (MBbl)424,153 281,906 336,405 
Natural Gas (MMcf)2,901,147 2,073,011 2,226,117 
Total (MBoe)907,678 627,407 707,424 
Proved Undeveloped Reserves
Crude oil (MBbl)369,377 215,069 423,782 
Natural Gas (MMcf)2,209,532 1,567,713 2,928,354 
Total (MBoe)737,632 476,355 911,841 
Total Proved Reserves
Crude oil (MBbl)793,530 496,975 760,187 
Natural Gas (MMcf)5,110,679 3,640,724 5,154,471 
Total (MBoe)1,645,310 1,103,762 1,619,265 

Proved developed reserves are reserves expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods. Proved undeveloped reserves are reserves expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage or from existing wells that require relatively major capital expenditures to recover, including most wells where drilling has occurred but the wells have not been completed. Natural gas isreserves are converted to barrels of crude oil equivalent using a conversion factor of six thousand cubic feet per barrel of crude oil based on the average equivalent energy content of natural gas compared to crude oil.

 

December 31,

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Proved Developed Reserves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil (MBbl)

 

 

401,851

 

 

 

454,299

 

 

 

424,153

 

Natural Gas (MMcf)

 

 

3,221,566

 

 

 

3,486,774

 

 

 

2,901,147

 

Total (MBoe)

 

 

938,779

 

 

 

1,035,428

 

 

 

907,678

 

Proved Undeveloped Reserves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil (MBbl)

 

 

512,183

 

 

 

435,240

 

 

 

369,377

 

Natural Gas (MMcf)

 

 

2,376,765

 

 

 

2,358,578

 

 

 

2,209,532

 

Total (MBoe)

 

 

908,310

 

 

 

828,336

 

 

 

737,632

 

Total Proved Reserves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil (MBbl)

 

 

914,034

 

 

 

889,539

 

 

 

793,530

 

Natural Gas (MMcf)

 

 

5,598,331

 

 

 

5,845,352

 

 

 

5,110,679

 

Total (MBoe)

 

 

1,847,089

 

 

 

1,863,764

 

 

 

1,645,310

 

100

69


Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved crude oil and natural gas reserves
The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows presented in the following table was computed using the 12-month unweighted average of the first-day-of-the-month commodity prices, the costs in effect at December 31 of each year and a 10% discount factor. The Company cautions that actual future net cash flows may vary considerably from these estimates. Although the Company’s estimates of total proved reserves, development costs and production rates were based on the best available information, the development and production of the crude oil and natural gas reserves may not occur in the periods assumed. Actual prices realized, costs incurred and production quantities may vary significantly from those used. Therefore, the estimated future net cash flow computations should not be considered to represent the Company’s estimate of the expected revenues or the current value of existing proved reserves.
The following table sets forth the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows attributable to proved crude oil and natural gas reserves as of December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019. Discounted future net cash flows attributable to noncontrolling interests are not material relative to the Company's consolidated amounts and are not separately presented below.
 December 31,
In thousands202120202019
Future cash inflows$67,034,046 $21,334,235 $49,893,470 
Future production costs(18,837,000)(7,750,834)(15,309,672)
Future development and abandonment costs(7,751,678)(3,950,752)(10,033,887)
Future income taxes (1)(7,862,849)(724,569)(3,351,657)
Future net cash flows32,582,519 8,908,080 21,198,254 
10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash flows(15,946,126)(4,254,515)(10,736,613)
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows$16,636,393 $4,653,565 $10,461,641 
(1)Estimated future income taxes were calculated by applying existing statutory tax rates, including any known future changes, to the estimated pre-tax net cash flows related to proved crude oil and natural gas reserves, giving effect to any permanent taxable differences and tax credits, less the tax basis of the properties involved. The U.S. federal statutory tax rate utilized in estimating future income taxes was 21% at December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019.

The weighted average crude oil price (adjusted for location and quality differentials) utilized in the computation of future cash inflows was $62.19, $34.34, and $51.95 per barrel at December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. The weighted average natural gas price (adjusted for location and quality differentials) utilized in the computation of future cash inflows was $3.46, $1.17, and $2.02 per Mcf at December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. Future cash flows are reduced by estimated future costs to develop and produce the proved reserves, as well as certain abandonment costs, based on year-end cost estimates assuming continuation of existing economic conditions. The expected tax benefits to be realized from the utilization of net operating loss carryforwards and tax credits are used in the computation of future income tax cash flows.
101

Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The changes in the aggregate standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows attributable to proved crude oil and natural gas reserves are presented below for each of the past three years.
 December 31,
 In thousands202120202019
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows at January 1$4,653,565 $10,461,641 $15,684,817 
Extensions, discoveries and improved recoveries, less related costs2,985,056 187,981 1,649,322 
Revisions of previous quantity estimates816,674 (2,952,489)(1,564,503)
Changes in estimated future development and abandonment costs706,168 4,760,286 1,401,513 
Purchases (sales) of minerals in place, net3,408,365 53,742 49,330 
Net change in prices and production costs9,396,945 (6,912,031)(6,591,347)
Accretion of discount489,273 1,183,993 1,865,034 
Sales of crude oil and natural gas produced, net of production costs(4,757,483)(1,806,758)(3,486,103)
Development costs incurred during the period683,212 863,101 1,557,121 
Change in timing of estimated future production and other1,871,903 (2,325,024)(1,690,779)
Change in income taxes(3,617,285)1,139,123 1,587,236 
Net change11,982,828 (5,808,076)(5,223,176)
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows at December 31$16,636,393 $4,653,565 $10,461,641 
Note 20. Subsequent Events
Acquisition Agreement
On January 24, 2022, the Company executed a definitive agreement to acquire oil and gas properties in the Powder River Basin for $450 million of cash, subject to customary closing price adjustments. The properties include approximately 172,000 net leasehold acres and producing properties with production totaling approximately 16,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day based on two-stream reporting. Closing of the acquisition is expected to occur in late March 2022 and remains subject to the completion of customary due diligence procedures and closing conditions.
Increase in Share Repurchase Program

On February 8, 2022, the Company's Board of Directors approved an increase in the size of the Company's existing share repurchase program from $1.0 billion to $1.5 billion, inclusive of cumulative amounts repurchased to date. As of the date of this filing, the Company has repurchased a cumulative $441.1 million of its common stock, leaving approximately $1.06 billion of authorized repurchasing capacity under the modified program. The share repurchase program does not require the Company to repurchase a specific number of shares and may be modified, suspended, or terminated by the Board of Directors at any time.
Dividend Declaration
On February 9, 2022, the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.23 per share on its outstanding common stock, which will be paid on March 4, 2022 to shareholders of record as of February 22, 2022.

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Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

There have been no changes in accountants or any disagreements with accountants.


Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 20212023 to ensure information required to be disclosed in the reports it files and submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and information required to be disclosed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.


Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of our internal control over financial reporting to determine whether any changes occurred during the fourth quarter of 20212023 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Based on that evaluation, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting or in other factors during the fourth quarter of 20212023 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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70


Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting


MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Our Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Under the supervision and with the participation of our Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013), the management of our Company concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2021.2023.

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 has been audited by Grant Thornton LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report that follows.



/s/ William B. Berry
Robert D. Lawler

President and Chief Executive Officer


/s/ John D. Hart

Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning


February 14, 2022

22, 2024

104

71





We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, and our report dated February 14, 2022expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and limitations of internal control over financial reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
February 14, 2022
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Item 9B. Other Information

None.


Not applicable.

Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections

Not applicable.

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PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Information About Our Executive Officers

Our current executive officers are named below:

Name

Age

Position

Harold G. Hamm

78

Executive Chairman

Robert D. (“Doug”) Lawler

57

President and Chief Executive Officer and Director

John D. Hart

56

Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning

Shelly Lambertz

57

Executive Vice President, Chief Culture and Administrative Officer and Director

Jeffrey B. Hume

72

Vice-Chairman, Strategic Growth Initiatives

James R. Webb

56

Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary

Robert Hagens

65

Senior Vice President, Commercial Development

Harold G. Hamm serves as Executive Chairman, a position he has held since November 2022. Prior to Item 10 will be set forththis, he served as non-employee Chairman from May 19, 2021, to November 22, 2022. Prior to assuming the role of Chairman, he served as Executive Chairman of the Board from January 1, 2020, to May 19, 2021, and as employee Chairman prior to that. He has served as a director since our inception in 1967 and served as our Chief Executive Officer from 1967 to December 31, 2019. In addition, Mr. Hamm served as our President from October 31, 2008 to November 3, 2009. He served as Chairman of the Proxy Statementboard of directors of the publicly traded general partners of Hiland Partners, LP (“Hiland”) and Hiland Holdings GP, LP (“Hiland Holdings”), former affiliates of ours through February 13, 2015. From September 2005 through February 2012, Mr. Hamm served as a director of Complete Production Services, Inc., an oil and gas service company publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). Mr. Hamm is Chairman of Domestic Energy Producers Alliance and served as Chairman of the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association from June 2005 to June 2007 (currently known as the Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma). He was President of the National Stripper Well Association, founder and Chairman of Save Domestic Oil, Inc., served on the board of directors of the Oklahoma Energy Explorers, Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association and is co-chairman of the Council for a Secure America.

Robert D. (“Doug”) Lawler is our President and Chief Executive Officer, a position he has held since January 1, 2023. Prior to then, he served as our Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President from February 1, 2022 through August 17, 2022. From August 17, 2022 through December 31, 2022, Mr. Lawler served as our President and Chief Operating Officer. On January 22, 2023, Mr. Lawler was appointed to serve as a director. Prior to joining the Company, he served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Chesapeake Energy Corporation (“Chesapeake”) from June 2013 to April 2021. Chesapeake voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June of 2020 and emerged from bankruptcy in February of 2021. Mr. Lawler has served as a director of Pilot Travel Centers LLC (dba Pilot/Flying J) since 2016. Mr. Lawler holds a degree in petroleum engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and an M.B.A. from Rice University.

John D. Hart joined us as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer in November 2005. He was promoted to Senior Vice President in May 2009 and served in that capacity to mid-March 2021. In March 2021, his title was changed to Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer and he served in that capacity through January 11, 2022. On January 12, 2022, Mr. Hart was promoted to his current position as our Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning. Prior to joining us, he was a Senior Audit Manager with Ernst & Young LLP. Mr. Hart was employed by Ernst & Young LLP from April 1998 to November 2005 and by Arthur Andersen LLP from December 1991 to April 1998, working with numerous public companies in a wide variety of securities and exchange matters and capital markets activities. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and The Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma. Mr. Hart serves on the executive board of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, and the board of directors of the Myriad Gardens Foundation. Additionally, he serves as Chairman of the Casady School Board of Trustees and serves on the Oklahoma State University Foundation Board of Governors. Mr. Hart is a Certified Public Accountant and received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance and a Master of Science in Accounting from Oklahoma State University.

Shelly Lambertz serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Culture and Administrative Officer, a position she has held since January 12, 2022. Prior to this she served as our Chief Culture Officer and Senior Vice President, Human Resources from February 2020 to January 12, 2022, and as the Company’s Vice President, Human Resources from October 2018 to February 2020. Ms. Lambertz served as a director from May 2018 to November 2022, and on January 22, 2023, she was again appointed to serve as a director. Before joining the Company as an employee, she served as the Chief Operating Officer at Hamm Capital, a family investment and advisory firm based in Oklahoma City, from August 2011 to October 2018. Ms. Lambertz also serves as Director of the Harold Hamm Foundation. From 1999 to 2005, Ms. Lambertz was the Executive Director of the YWCA in Enid, Oklahoma. From 1996 to 1998, Ms. Lambertz was Director of Human Resources and Business Development Advisor for Hamm & Phillips Service Company. She

73


began her career working for the Annual MeetingU.S. House of ShareholdersRepresentatives in Washington, D.C. Positions there included Office Manager for Congressman Mickey Edwards (OK), Legislative Assistant for the Leadership Office of Minority Leader Bob Michel (IL), and Deputy Chief of Staff for Frank Lucas (OK). Ms. Lambertz holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Oklahoma State University.

Jeffrey B. Hume became our Vice Chairman of Strategic Growth Initiatives in June 2012. He previously served as our President from November 3, 2009 until June 2012. From November 2008 to June 2012, Mr. Hume also served as our Chief Operating Officer after serving as our Senior Vice President of Operations since November 2006. He was previously appointed as Senior Vice President of Resource and Business Development in October 2005, Senior Vice President of Resource Development in July 2002, and served as Vice President of Drilling Operations from 1996 to 2002. Prior to joining us in May 1983 as Vice President of Engineering and Operations, Mr. Hume held various engineering positions with Sun Oil Company, Monsanto Company, and FCD Oil Corporation. Mr. Hume is a Registered Professional Engineer and member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, The Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma and National Professional Engineering Societies. Mr. Hume graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering Technology.

James R. Webb is Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary, a position he has held since November 2022. From September 2021 to November 2022, Mr. Webb served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Risk Officer, and Secretary. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Webb served in various executive roles at Chesapeake from 2012 to 2021, most recently as Executive Vice President – General Counsel and Corporate Secretary from January 2014 to June 2021. Chesapeake voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June of 2020 and emerged from bankruptcy in February of 2021. Immediately prior to joining Chesapeake, Mr. Webb was an attorney with the law firm of McAfee & Taft from 1995 to October 2012.

Robert Hagens is our Senior Vice President, Commercial Development, as position he has held since December 12, 2023. Prior to this, he served as our Senior Vice President, Land, a position he held from October 2020 (when he joined the Company) to December 12, 2023. Over the years, he has engaged in all levels of leadership within land, land administration and regulatory. Mr. Hagens started his career as a Landman with Atlantic Richfield Company (“ARCO”) in Midland, Texas and has held positions of increasing responsibility across multiple offices within the lower 48 and Alaska with ARCO and its subsidiaries. Shortly following the merger with BP plc (“BP”) in 2000, Mr. Hagens assumed the position of U.S. Onshore Land Manager with BP. Prior to joining the Company, he spent the previous 15 years as Vice President and Senior Vice President of Land for Pioneer Natural Resources Company. Mr. Hagens holds a degree in Petroleum Land Management from the University of Texas at Austin.

Information About Our Board of Directors

For information about our directors, please see the information pertaining to Mr. Hamm, Mr. Lawler, and Ms. Lambertz above. Since all directors are also executive officers, we do not have any independent directors and our directors do not receive any compensation outside their compensation for serving as executive officers.

Code of Business Conduct

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct as a matter of sound corporate governance to promote honest and ethical conduct, consistent with our core values. We last amended our Code of Business Conduct in November 2022 by making non-substantive language changes to reflect our private company status. The Code of Business Conduct is applicable to all employees, officers, and directors, including our principal executive, financial, and accounting officers.

Material Changes to Procedures for Nominating Directors

Not Applicable.

Audit Committee Financial Experts

Our Board has an Audit Committee, and Mr. Lawler and Ms. Lambertz are currently serving as members of this committee. Our Board has not determined that either Mr. Lawler or Ms. Lambertz are Audit Committee financial experts for purposes of serving on this committee. As a result of our common stock ceasing to be held in May 2022 (the “Annual Meeting”) andlisted on the NYSE, our Audit Committee is incorporated herein by reference.

not required to have an Audit Committee financial expert.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

2023 Compensation Discussion and Analysis and Executive Officer Compensation

Introduction

74


The discussion below summarizes the approach taken with respect to the compensation of our Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer, and the three other most highly compensated executive officers during 2023. These individuals are identified below and are referred to collectively in the discussion below as the “NEOs” for 2023. The discussion summarizes our compensation philosophy, the different components of our compensation program, the mix of compensation paid to our NEOs, and provides information regarding the financial statement impact for 2023 associated with the compensation program for our NEOs.

Our NEOs for 2023 (determined in accordance with the requirements of Item 402 of Regulation S-K) are:

Robert D. (“Doug”) Lawler, President and Chief Executive Officer;
Information
John D. Hart, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning;
Shelly Lambertz, Executive Vice President, Chief Culture and Administrative Officer;
James R. Webb, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary; and
Robert Hagens, Senior Vice President, Commercial Development.

As a result of the take-private transaction, the only group with an interest in any Company issued securities outside of Mr. Hamm, certain members of his family, and entities under their control (referred to collectively herein as the “Hamm Family”) are the holders of our outstanding bonds. As a result of the take-private transaction, we are now a voluntary filer.

Executive Compensation Philosophy

Because we operate in a highly competitive environment, we have designed our executive compensation program to attract, retain, and motivate experienced, talented individuals. We also designed our executive compensation program to reward our executives for achieving the strategic and business objectives determined to be important to help the Company create and maintain advantage in a competitive environment.

In determining individual compensation, we consider the performance of the Company against specific operational and financial factors determined to be relevant for the period in question. We also consider competitive market compensation paid by other companies comparable to us in size, geographic location, and operations. We maintain and incorporate flexibility into our compensation programs and in the assessment process, which we believe is particularly important in a changing commodity price environment. As such, we do not apply rigid formulas in determining the amount and mix of compensation elements.

For 2023, our Executive Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President, Chief Culture and Administrative Officer (collectively, referred to herein as the “Management Compensation Group”) evaluated how the following elements (collectively, the “Primary Compensation Elements”) of our compensation program compared to the compensation awarded by the members of the then current compensation survey group (as identified by our compensation consultant firm, discussed further below). The Management Compensation Group’s analysis consisted of comparing the market data of base salary, cash bonus, long-term incentive awards, and total compensation at the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles of the then current compensation survey group to the compensation of each of our NEOs. Total compensation for each NEO is structured to target compensation levels near the 50th percentile, taking into account responsibilities and duties, experience, individual performance, and time in position.

Role of Management

The Management Compensation Group is responsible for overseeing all aspects of our benefit and compensation plans and programs for our executive officers. For 2023, the Management Compensation Group reviewed and determined the individual elements of total compensation of the NEOs listed above, as well as our other executive officers. Since our compensation programs are relatively simple, we do not have complex equity plans or significant change in control or severance obligations. As a result, the Management Compensation Group did not use tally sheets in analyzing the compensation of our NEOs, but instead reviewed each element of compensation, as described below, in evaluating and approving the total compensation of each of our NEOs. When making decisions with respect to each element of our compensation program, the Management Compensation Group considered how the terms of that particular element may impact the overall compensation package awarded to each NEO. As a result, any decision made with respect to each element of our compensation program was influenced by the decisions made with respect to the other elements of our compensation program.

The Management Compensation Group believed targeting near the 50th percentile for base salary, cash bonus, and long-term incentive awards resulted in competitive compensation and aligned overall pay with shareholder interests, while preserving considerable upside potential should Company and individual executive performance merit higher compensation. As the Management Compensation Group worked to achieve alignment close to the 50th percentile, it also considered an individual executive officer’s performance and the external business environment, and any final compensation decision ultimately reflected the Management Compensation Group’s discretion, which can be a significant factor in its final compensation decisions.

75


Role of Compensation Consultants

For 2023, the Management Compensation Group retained the services of an independent compensation consulting firm, Meridian Compensation Partners (“Meridian”). Meridian reported directly to the Management Compensation Group. During late 2022, Meridian provided an analysis of market compensation for our executive officers, based upon its review of compensation paid by exploration and production companies comparable to us in terms of revenues, total assets, geographic location, and market capitalization. This analysis was contained in a report used as a reference by the Management Compensation Group, and certain other members of our management team in recommending and setting compensation for 2023. During 2023, Meridian provided no other services, resulting in total fees of less than $120,000.

As a result of the take-private transaction, we have not formally assessed the independence of Meridian in connection with the preparation of this filing. However, the relationship with Meridian has not changed in any substantial respect versus prior years when it was determined Meridian was independent under New York Stock Exchange and Securities and Exchange Commission rules.

Description of Executive Officer Compensation Program

Primary Compensation Elements. The table below describes each of our Primary Compensation Elements, the purpose of each element, and how each element fits within the Company’s compensation philosophy and objectives.

Compensation Element

Description

Purpose and Philosophy

Base Salary

Fixed cash compensation

Provides a stable, fixed element of cash compensation.

Attract and retain executive officers by paying a wage commensurate with such officer’s experience, skills, and responsibilities. It also recognizes and considers the internal value of the position within the Company, the officer’s leadership potential and demonstrated performance.

Annual Cash Bonus

Annual cash bonus related to individual contribution toward achievement of annual financial and operating results

Rewards executives for the achievement of specific annual financial, operating, and strategic goals and individual performance.

Allows the Management Compensation Group to evaluate both objective and subjective considerations when exercising discretion to determine final payout amounts.

Important to the Company’s ability to attract, motivate, and retain the Company’s executive officers.

Long-term Incentive Awards

Long-term cash-based awards and restricted stock units (which are held by executive officers, but which haven’t been awarded since 2022 and are not expected to be awarded in the future)

Aligns the executive’s long-term interests with those of shareholders. Long-term incentive awards align executive’s interests with those of shareholders by increasing or decreasing in value based on changes in the overall value of the Company.

Important to the Company’s ability to attract, motivate, and retain the Company’s executive officers.

Role of Discretion in Determining Primary Compensation Elements. All base salary adjustments, cash bonuses, and long-term incentive awards for NEOs have been determined on a discretionary basis. While not linked to specific corporate goals or objectives, the overall performance of the Company and individual performance were considered in determining pay generally, including target award amounts. The Management Compensation Group retained discretion over all aspects of the annual cash bonus plan and the awards made for 2023 under that plan.

Other Compensation. Compensation and benefits that are outside of our three main compensation elements are designed to attract and retain employees by enhancing our overall compensation package. During 2023, we provided fuel cards to certain NEOs and automobiles to certain other employees for business and/or personal use. The personal use is valued according to IRS guidelines and reported as taxable income to the individuals.

We have a defined contribution retirement plan (“401(k)”) covering all full-time employees. Our contributions to the plan are discretionary and based on a percentage of eligible compensation. The 401(k) provides for Company dollar for dollar matching of up to a maximum of 10% of a covered employee’s eligible compensation, depending on the employee’s level of contribution into the employee’s account and subject to IRS limits. During 2023, the Company match was in effect the entire year.

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All full-time employees may participate in our health and welfare benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision care, life insurance, and disability insurance. We provide all full-time employees with life insurance coverage of the lesser of two times base salary or $1,000,000 and allow them to purchase supplemental coverage. We do not sponsor any qualified or non-qualified defined benefit plans.

Risk Assessment Related to our Compensation Structure. We believe our executive compensation program is appropriately structured and not reasonably likely to result in risks that could have a material adverse effect on us. We believe our approach of subjectively evaluating performance results of each executive assists in mitigating excessive risk-taking that could harm our value or reward poor judgment by our executives. Several features of our programs reflect sound risk management practices. We believe we have allocated our compensation among base salary and short and long-term compensation opportunities in such a way as to Item 11 will be set forthdiscourage excessive risk-taking. Further, one of the primary factors we take into consideration in setting compensation is the performance of the Company as a whole. This is based on our belief that applying Company-wide metrics encourages decision-making that is in the Proxy Statementbest long-term interests of the Company and our shareholders as a whole. Metrics used may include financial and operating metrics pertaining to production volumes, capital spending, cash flows, return on capital employed, resource replacement, and health, safety, and environmental performance. Finally, the time-based vesting over a multi-year period for our long-term incentive awards ensures our employees’ interests align with those of our shareholders for the Annual Meetinglong-term performance of our Company.

The following charts illustrate the various components of total annual compensation for our Chief Executive Officer and the other NEOs as a group, and reflect the following: (i) base salary received by the NEO during 2023; (ii) the cash bonus for 2023 paid in February 2024; (iii) the grant date target value of the long-term incentive awards granted to the NEOs in 2023 (which is incorporated hereinthe target value of the awards on the date of grant, and not necessarily reflective of the amounts the NEOs may receive at the time of settlement); and (iv) the other compensation for each NEO during 2023.

img233959136_1.jpgimg233959136_2.jpg 

The aggregate total amount of annual compensation-related expenses recognized in the Company’s financial statements related to the 2023 compensation of the NEOs as a group represented less than 0.5% of our total income from operations, our total operating cash flows and our total liabilities as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Management Compensation Group Report (in lieu of a Compensation Committee Report)

As a result of the take-private transaction, the Compensation Committee was eliminated by reference.the Board and ceased to function. As a result, it is not possible to provide a report of the Compensation Committee at the time of the filing of this report. The Management Compensation Group (which is composed of the same individuals as currently comprise our Board and has assumed many of the duties previously performed by the Compensation Committee) has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) above with other members of management. Based on this review and discussion, the Management Compensation Group has determined that it is appropriate to include this CD&A in this filing.

/s/ Harold G. Hamm

/s/ Robert D. Lawler

/s/ Shelly Lambertz

Harold G. Hamm

Executive Chairman and Director

Robert D. Lawler

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Shelly Lambertz

Executive Vice President, Chief Culture and Administrative Officer and Director

77


Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Information requiredAs a result of the completion of the take-private transaction, the Company is 100% owned by Item 201(d)the Hamm Family. As a result, none of Regulation S-K with respectour directors and/or executive officers who are not members of the Hamm Family have any security ownership reportable to securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans is disclosed in this item.Part II, Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities—Equity Compensation Plan Information and is incorporated herein by reference. Other applicable information required as to Item 12 will be set forth in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Information

Prior to the completion of the take-private transaction, our Audit Committee (then composed of independent directors meeting applicable NYSE and SEC requirements) reviewed related party transactions, as required by the terms of the Audit Committee charter then in place, and recommended approval or disapproval to Item 13 will bethe Board of any such transaction. During this time, the Audit Committee recommended for approval only those related party transactions that were, in its business judgment, in our best interests and on terms no less favorable to us than we could have achieved with an unaffiliated party. Following the completion of the take-private transaction, an Audit Committee composed of Mr. Lawler and Ms. Lambertz was voluntarily established for the purpose of reviewing related party transactions as a matter of sound corporate governance and to provide oversight to ensure that any transactions with related parties meet existing covenant requirements pertaining to affiliate transactions set forth in our senior credit facility and term loan agreements. The standard for review and approval of related party transactions under our current structure is substantially the Proxy Statement forsame as applied prior to the Annual Meetingtake private transaction. None of transactions reviewed by the Audit Committee since December 31, 2022 are transactions in which the related party had a direct or indirect material interest, and is incorporated herein by reference.

so are not discussed in detail in this filing.

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Information

Grant Thornton served as to Item 14 will beour independent registered public accounting firm during 2023 and 2022. The aggregate fees for various services performed by Grant Thornton for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 are set forth below:

 

 

 

 

2023

2022

Audit Fees

$994,000

$1,107,000

Audit-Related Fees

Tax Fees

All Other Fees

Total Fees

$994,000

$1,107,000

Fees for audit services include fees associated with our annual consolidated and subsidiary audits, the review of our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, Sarbanes Oxley Act compliance review, accounting consultations, and services normally provided by the accounting firm in connection with statutory or regulatory filings.

As necessary, the Proxy StatementAudit Committee considers whether the provision of non-audit services by Grant Thornton is compatible with maintaining auditor independence and has adopted a policy that requires pre-approval of all audit and non-audit services for Grant Thornton. Such policy requires the Annual MeetingAudit Committee to approve services and is incorporated herein by reference.

fees in advance and requires documentation regarding the specific services to be performed. All 2023 audit fees were approved in advance in accordance with the Audit Committee’s policies.

106

78


PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

(1)
Financial Statements

The consolidated financial statements of Continental Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries and the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm are included in Part II, Item 8 of this report. Reference is made to the accompanying Index to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)
Financial Statement Schedules

All financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is presented in the financial statements or the notes thereto.

(3)
Index to Exhibits

The exhibits required to be filed or furnished pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K are set forth below.

2.1

3.1

3.2

4.1

 

4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6

4.74.2

107


4.84.3

4.94.4

10.1†10.1

 

10.2†
10.3†
10.4†
10.5†
10.6

10.7†10.2

79


party thereto and the Issuing Banks, filed as Exhibit (d)(16) to the Schedule TO (Commission File No. 005-82887) filed October 24, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference.

10.3

Term Loan Agreement, dated as of November 10, 2022, by and among Continental Resources, Inc., as borrower, and MUFG Bank, LTD., as administrative agent, and the banks and other financial institutions party thereto as lenders filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-32886) filed November 10, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference.

10.4

Amendment No. 2 to Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of November 10, 2022, by and among (i) Continental Resources, Inc., as borrower, (ii) Banner Pipeline Company, L.L.C., CLR Asset Holdings, LLC, The Mineral Resources Company, Continental Innovations LLC, SCS1 Holdings LLC, Jagged Peak Energy LLC and Parsley SoDe Water LLC, as guarantors, (iii) MUFG Bank, LTD., as administrative agent, and (iv) the banks and other financial institutions party thereto as lenders filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-32886) filed November 10, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference.

10.5†

Continental Resources, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended JuneSeptember 30, 20212018 (Commission File No. 001-32886) filed August 2, 2021October 29, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference.

10.8†10.6†

10.9†

10.10†10.7†

10.8†

Third Amended and Restated Continental Resources, Inc 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 (Commission File No. 001-32886) filed February 22, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference.

10.9†

Continental Resources, Inc. 2013Second Amended and Restated 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan filed as Exhibit 10.10 to the Company'sCompany’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20192022 (Commission File No. 001-32886) filed February 26, 202022, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference.

10.11†10.10†

10.12†

10.11†

Cash Award Agreement – Continental Resources, Inc. Second Amended and Restated 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan filed as Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 (Commission File No. 001-32886) filed February 22, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference.

21*

23.1*
108


23.2*

31.1*

31.2*

32**

99*

80


101.INS*

Inline XBRL Instance Document - the Inline XBRL Instance Document does not appear in the Interactive Data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document

101.SCH*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema With Embedded Linkbases Document

101.CAL*Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF*Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB*Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE*Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

* Filed herewith

**    Furnished herewith

† Management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements filed pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iii) of Regulation S-K.

109

81


Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Continental Resources, Inc. has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

CONTINENTAL RESOURCES, INC.

By:

/S/ ROBERT D. LAWLERS/    WILLIAM B. BERRY

Name:

William B. BerryRobert D. Lawler

Title:

President, and Chief Executive Officer, and Director

Date:

February 14, 202222, 2024

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of Continental Resources, Inc. and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature

Title

Date

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

/s/ HAROLD G. HAMM

Executive Chairman of the Board and Director

February 14, 202222, 2024

Harold G. Hamm

/s/ WILLIAM B. BERRYROBERT D. LAWLER

President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director

(principal executive officer)

February 14, 202222, 2024

William B. BerryRobert D. Lawler


/s/    JOHN D. HART
Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning
(principal financial and accounting officer)
February 14, 2022
John D. Hart

/s/ SHELLY LAMBERTZ

Executive Vice President, Chief Culture and Administrative Officer and Director

February 14, 202222, 2024

Shelly Lambertz

/s/    LON MCCAINDirectorFebruary 14, 2022
Lon McCain

/s/ JOHN T. MCNABB IID. HART

 

DirectorChief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning

(principal financial and accounting officer)

 

February 14, 202222, 2024

John T. McNabb IID. Hart

/s/    MARK E. MONROE

 

Director

 

February 14, 2022
Mark E. Monroe
/s/    TIMOTHY G. TAYLOR

 

DirectorFebruary 14, 2022
Timothy G. Taylor