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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

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

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2017March 31, 2018

or

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

For the transition period from __________ to _________

Commission File Number 001-37419
logo123114a09.jpg
PDC ENERGY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware95-2636730
(State of incorporation)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1775 Sherman Street, Suite 3000
Denver, Colorado 80203
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (303) 860-5800

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 o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files). Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See 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  o
Non-accelerated filer  o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company  o
 
Emerging growth company  o
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. o

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 65,865,44166,065,856 shares of the Company's Common Stock ($0.01 par value) were outstanding as of JulyApril 20, 2017.2018.


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PDC ENERGY, INC.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION Page
    
Item 1.Financial Statements  
  
  
  
  
  
Item 2. 
Item 3. 
Item 4. 
    
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
    
Item 1. 
Item 1A. 
Item 2. 
Item 3. 
Item 4. 
Item 5. 
Item 6. 
    
  




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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 ("Securities Act"), Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act"), and the United States ("U.S.") Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in and incorporated by reference into this report are "forward-looking statements." Words such as expects, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates,expect, anticipate, intend, plan, believe, seek, estimate, and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements herein. Forward-looking statements may include, among other things, statements regarding future: reserves, production, costs, and cash flows, and earnings;flows; drilling locations and zones and growth opportunities; commodity prices and differentials; capital investmentsexpenditures and projects, including expected lateral lengths of wells, drill times andthe number of rigs employed; ratesemployed and the number of return; operational enhancements and efficiencies;completion crews; renegotiation of our credit facility; management of lease expiration issues; financial ratios; certain accounting and tax change impacts; midstream capacity and related curtailments.curtailments; our ability to meet our volume commitments to midstream providers; ongoing compliance with our consent decree; and the timing and adequacy of infrastructure projects of our midstream providers.

The above statements are not the exclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements herein. Although forward-looking statements contained in this report reflect our good faith judgment, such statements can only be based on facts and factors currently known to us. Forward-looking statements are always subject to risks and uncertainties, and become subject to greater levels of risk and uncertainty as they address matters further into the future. Throughout this report or accompanying materials, we may use the termsterm “projection” or similar terms or expressions, or indicate that we have “modeled” certain future scenarios. We typically use these terms to indicate our current thoughts on possible outcomes relating to our business or our industry in periods beyond the current fiscal year. Because such statements relate to events or conditions further in the future, they are subject to increased levels of uncertainty.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

changes in worldwide production volumes and demand, including economic conditions that might impact demand and prices for the products we produce;
volatility of commodity prices for crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids ("NGLs") and the risk of an extended period of depressed prices;
volatility and widening of differentials;
reductions in the borrowing base under our revolving credit facility;
impact of governmental policies and/or regulations, including changes in environmental and other laws, the interpretation and enforcement of those laws and regulations, liabilities arising thereunder, and the costs to comply with those laws and regulations;
declines in the value of our crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs properties resulting in impairments;
changes in estimates of proved reserves;
inaccuracy of reserve estimates and expected production rates;
potential for production decline rates from our wells being greater than expected;
timing and extent of our success in discovering, acquiring, developing, and producing reserves;
availability of sufficient pipeline, gathering, and other transportation facilities and related infrastructure to process and transport our production and the impact of these facilities and regional capacity on the prices we receive for our production;
timing and receipt of necessary regulatory permits;
risks incidental to the drilling and operation of crude oil and natural gas wells;
losses from our gas marketing business exceeding our expectations;
difficulties in integrating our operations as a result of any significant acquisitions including our recent acquisitions in the Delaware Basin;and acreage exchanges;
increases or changes in operating costs, severanceexpenses;
availability of supplies, materials, contractors, and ad valorem taxes, and increasesservices that may delay the drilling or changes in drilling, completion and facilities costs;of our wells;
potential losses of acreage due to lease expirations or otherwise;
increases or adverse changes in construction costs and procurement costs associated with future build out of midstream-related assets;
future cash flows, liquidity, and financial condition;
competition within the oil and gas industry;
availability and cost of capital;
our success in marketing crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs;
effect of crude oil and natural gas derivatives activities;


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impact of environmental events, governmental and other third-party responses to such events, and our ability to insure adequately against such events;


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cost of pending or future litigation, including recent environmental litigation;
effect that acquisitions we may pursue have on our capital investments;requirements;
our ability to retain or attract senior management and key technical employees; and
success of strategic plans, expectations, and objectives for our future operations.
 
Further, we urge you to carefully review and consider the cautionary statements and disclosures, specifically those under the heading "Risk Factors," made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20162017 (the "2016"2017 Form 10-K"), filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on February 28, 2017,27, 2018 and amended on May 1, 2018, and our other filings with the SEC for further information on risks and uncertainties that could affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects, which are incorporated by this reference as though fully set forth herein. We caution you not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance occurring after the date of this report or currently unknown facts or conditions or the occurrence of unanticipated events. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

REFERENCES

Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this report to "PDC Energy," "PDC," "the Company," "we," "us," "our," or "ours" refer to the registrant, PDC Energy, Inc. and all subsidiaries consolidated for the purposes of its financial statements, including our proportionate share of the financial position, results of operations, cash flows and operating activities of our affiliated partnerships.


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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PDC ENERGY, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited; in thousands, except share and per share data)
 June 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
Assets        
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents $202,291
 $244,100
 $45,923
 $180,675
Accounts receivable, net 135,203
 143,392
 181,025
 197,598
Fair value of derivatives 52,105
 8,791
 28,610
 14,338
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 6,619
 3,542
 8,897
 8,613
Total current assets 396,218
 399,825
 264,455
 401,224
Properties and equipment, net 4,165,572
 4,008,266
 4,231,257
 3,933,467
Fair value of derivatives 16,397
 2,386
Goodwill 56,331
 62,041
Assets held-for-sale, net 1,647
 40,084
Other assets 22,410
 13,324
 24,798
 45,116
Total Assets $4,656,928
 $4,485,842
 $4,522,157
 $4,419,891
        
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity        
Liabilities        
Current liabilities:        
Accounts payable $152,492
 $66,322
 $195,703
 $150,067
Production tax liability 35,296
 24,767
 36,650
 37,654
Fair value of derivatives 10,138
 53,595
 110,683
 79,302
Funds held for distribution 86,846
 71,339
 97,611
 95,811
Accrued interest payable 15,955
 15,930
 13,760
 11,815
Other accrued expenses 29,939
 38,625
 33,777
 42,987
Total current liabilities 330,666
 270,578
 488,184
 417,636
Long-term debt 1,049,004
 1,043,954
 1,154,528
 1,151,932
Deferred income taxes 452,028
 400,867
 187,183
 191,992
Asset retirement obligations 77,867
 82,612
 73,905
 71,006
Fair value of derivatives 2,311
 27,595
 26,426
 22,343
Other liabilities 30,610
 37,482
 94,557
 57,333
Total liabilities 1,942,486
 1,863,088
 2,024,783
 1,912,242
        
Commitments and contingent liabilities 
 
 
 
        
Stockholders' equity        
Common shares - par value $0.01 per share, 150,000,000 authorized, 65,927,104 and 65,704,568 issued as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively 659
 657
Common shares - par value $0.01 per share, 150,000,000 authorized, 65,999,010 and 65,955,080 issued as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively 660
 659
Additional paid-in capital 2,495,940
 2,489,557
 2,504,663
 2,503,294
Retained earnings 221,604
 134,208
Treasury shares - at cost, 64,024 and 28,763
as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively
 (3,761) (1,668)
Retained earnings (deficit) (6,435) 6,704
Treasury shares - at cost, 29,255 and 55,927
as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively
 (1,514) (3,008)
Total stockholders' equity 2,714,442
 2,622,754
 2,497,374
 2,507,649
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $4,656,928
 $4,485,842
 $4,522,157
 $4,419,891


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PDC ENERGY, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(unaudited; in thousands, except per share data)
 Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, Three Months Ended March 31,
 2017 2016 2017 2016 2018 2017
Revenues            
Crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales $213,602
 $110,841
 $403,294
 $186,208
 $305,225
 $189,692
Commodity price risk management gain (loss), net of settlements 57,932
 (92,801) 138,636
 (81,745)
Commodity price risk management gain (loss), net (47,240) 80,704
Other income 3,624
 2,057
 6,935
 6,465
 2,615
 3,311
Total revenues 275,158
 20,097
 548,865
 110,928
 260,600
 273,707
Costs, expenses and other            
Lease operating expenses 20,028
 13,675
 39,817
 29,005
 29,636
 19,789
Production taxes 15,042
 6,043
 27,441
 10,114
 20,169
 12,399
Transportation, gathering and processing expenses 6,488
 4,465
 12,390
 8,506
Transportation, gathering, and processing expenses 7,313
 5,902
Exploration, geologic, and geophysical expense 2,646
 954
Impairment of properties and equipment 33,188
 2,193
General and administrative expense 29,531
 23,579
 55,846
 46,358
 35,696
 26,315
Exploration, geologic, and geophysical expense 1,033
 237
 1,987
 447
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 126,013
 107,014
 235,329
 204,402
Impairment of properties and equipment 27,566
 4,170
 29,759
 5,171
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization 126,788
 109,316
Accretion of asset retirement obligations 1,666
 1,811
 3,434
 3,623
 1,288
 1,768
(Gain) loss on sale of properties and equipment (532) 260
 (692) 176
 1,432
 (160)
Provision for uncollectible notes receivable (40,203) 
 (40,203) 44,738
Other expenses 3,890
 2,125
 7,418
 4,703
 2,768
 3,528
Total costs, expenses and other 190,522
 163,379
 372,526
 357,243
 260,924
 182,004
Income (loss) from operations 84,636
 (143,282) 176,339
 (246,315) (324) 91,703
Interest expense (19,617) (10,672) (39,084) (22,566) (17,529) (19,467)
Interest income 768
 177
 1,008
 1,735
 148
 240
Income (loss) before income taxes 65,787
 (153,777) 138,263
 (267,146) (17,705) 72,476
Income tax (expense) benefit (24,537) 58,327
 (50,867) 100,166
 4,566
 (26,330)
Net income (loss) $41,250
 $(95,450) $87,396
 $(166,980) $(13,139) $46,146
            
Earnings per share:            
Basic $0.63
 $(2.04) $1.33
 $(3.78) $(0.20) $0.70
Diluted $0.62
 $(2.04) $1.32
 $(3.78) $(0.20) $0.70
            
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:            
Basic 65,859
 46,742
 65,804
 44,175
 65,957
 65,749
Diluted 66,019
 46,742
 66,066
 44,175
 65,957
 66,117
            


 
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PDC ENERGY, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited; in thousands)
 Six Months Ended June 30, Three Months Ended March 31,
 2017 2016 2018 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:        
Net income (loss) $87,396
 $(166,980) $(13,139) $46,146
Adjustments to net income (loss) to reconcile to net cash from operating activities:        
Net change in fair value of unsettled commodity derivatives (126,070) 201,825
 21,202
 (80,153)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 235,329
 204,402
 126,788
 109,316
Impairment of properties and equipment 29,759
 5,171
 33,188
 2,193
Provision for uncollectible notes receivable (40,203) 44,738
Accretion of asset retirement obligations 3,434
 3,623
 1,288
 1,768
Non-cash stock-based compensation 9,826
 11,126
 5,261
 4,454
(Gain) loss on sale of properties and equipment (692) 176
 1,432
 (160)
Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs 6,399
 3,077
 3,246
 3,184
Deferred income taxes 50,767
 (102,319) (4,809) 26,280
Other 670
 (1,287) 515
 722
Changes in assets and liabilities 6,582
 (5,754) 30,177
 25,750
Net cash from operating activities 263,197
 197,798
 205,149
 139,500
Cash flows from investing activities:        
Capital expenditures for development of crude oil and natural gas properties (334,406) (234,677) (196,917) (129,826)
Capital expenditures for other properties and equipment (2,299) (1,030) (1,066) (821)
Acquisition of crude oil and natural gas properties, including settlement adjustments 5,372
 
 (180,825) 6,181
Proceeds from sale of properties and equipment 1,293
 4,903
 20
 737
Sale of promissory note 40,203
 
Proceeds from divestiture 39,023
 
Restricted cash (9,250) 
 1,249
 
Sale of short-term investments 49,890
 
Purchase of short-term investments (49,890) 
 
 (49,890)
Net cash from investing activities (299,087) (230,804) (338,516) (173,619)
Cash flows from financing activities:        
Proceeds from issuance of equity, net of issuance cost 
 296,575
Proceeds from revolving credit facility 
 85,000
 35,000
 
Repayment of revolving credit facility 
 (122,000) (35,000) 
Redemption of convertible notes 
 (115,000)
Purchase of treasury shares (5,274) (4,055)
Purchase of treasury stock (2,255) (2,017)
Other (645) 735
 (379) (340)
Net cash from financing activities (5,919) 141,255
 (2,634) (2,357)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents (41,809) 108,249
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 244,100
 850
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $202,291
 $109,099
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash (136,001) (36,476)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period 189,925
 244,100
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period $53,924
 $207,624
        
Supplemental cash flow information:        
Cash payments (receipts) for:        
Interest, net of capitalized interest $32,647
 $19,988
 $12,343
 $13,224
Income taxes (39) 167
 193
 (39)
Non-cash investing and financing activities:        
Change in accounts payable related to purchases of properties and equipment $81,891
 $(28,999)
Change in accounts payable related to capital expenditures $51,093
 $69,604
Change in asset retirement obligations, with a corresponding change to crude oil and natural gas properties, net of disposals 2,415
 843
 5,354
 1,233
Purchase of properties and equipment under capital leases 2,160
 1,074
 348
 1,190
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PDC ENERGY, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity
(unaudited; in thousands, except share data)

 Common Stock   Treasury Stock    
 Shares Amount Additional Paid-in Capital Shares Amount Retained Earnings Total Stockholders' Equity
              
Balance, December 31, 201665,704,568
 $657
 $2,489,557
 (28,763) $(1,668) $134,208
 $2,622,754
Net income
 
 
 
 
 87,396
87,396,000
87,396
Issuance pursuant to acquisition
 
 (82) 
 
 
 (82)
Issuance pursuant to sale of equity
 
 (7) 
 
 
 (7)
Convertible debt discount, net of issuance costs and tax
 
 (2) 
 
 
 (2)
Purchase of treasury shares
 
 
 (79,381) (5,274) 
 (5,274)
Issuance of treasury shares(46,822) 2
 (3,350) 46,822
 3,350
 
 2
Non-employee directors' deferred compensation plan
 
 (2) (2,702) (169) 
 (171)
Issuance of stock awards, net of forfeitures269,358
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock-based compensation expense
 
 9,826
 
 
 
 9,826
Balance, June 30, 201765,927,104
 $659
 $2,495,940
 (64,024) $(3,761) $221,604
 $2,714,442
 Common Stock   Treasury Stock    
 Shares Amount Additional Paid-in Capital Shares Amount Retained Earnings (Deficit) Total Stockholders' Equity
              
Balance, December 31, 201765,955,080
 $659
 $2,503,294
 (55,927) $(3,008) $6,704
 $2,507,649
Net loss
 
 
 
 
 (13,139) (13,139)
Purchase of treasury shares
 
 
 (41,357) (2,255) 
 (2,255)
Issuance of treasury shares
 
 (3,891) 70,603
 3,891
 
 
Non-employee directors' deferred compensation plan
 
 
 (2,574) (142) 
 (142)
Issuance of stock awards, net of forfeitures43,930
 1
 (1) 
 
 
 
Stock-based compensation expense
 
 5,261
 
 
 
 5,261
Other
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, March 31, 201865,999,010
 $660
 $2,504,663
 (29,255) $(1,514) $(6,435) $2,497,374


PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


NOTE 1 - NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

PDC Energy, Inc. ("PDC", the "Company," "we," "us," or "our") is a domestic independent exploration and production company that produces,acquires, explores, and develops and exploresproperties for the production of crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs, with primary operations in the Wattenberg Field in Colorado and beginning in December 2016, the Delaware Basin in Reeves and Culberson Counties, Texas. We also have operations in the Utica Shale in Southeastern Ohio. Subsequent to June 30, 2017, as part of plans to divest the Utica Shale properties, we engaged an investment banking group to assist in marketing them for sale; therefore, these properties will be classified as held-for-sale upon meeting the criteria for such classification in the third quarter of 2017. Texas. Our operations in the Wattenberg Field are focused in the horizontal Niobrara and Codell plays and our Delaware Basin operations are currently focused in the Wolfcamp zones. We previously operated properties in the Utica Shale in Southeastern Ohio; however, we divested these properties during the three months ended March 31, 2018. As of June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, we owned an interest in approximately 2,9003,000 gross productive wells. We are engaged in two operating segments: our oil and gas exploration and production segment and our gas marketing segment. Beginning in 2017, ourOur gas marketing segment does not meet the quantitative thresholds to require disclosure as a separate reportable segment. All of our material operations are attributable to our exploration and production business; therefore, all of our operations are presented as a single segment for all periods presented.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of PDC, our wholly-owned subsidiaries, and our proportionate share of our two affiliated partnerships. Pursuant to the proportionate consolidation method, our accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include our pro rata share of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses of the entities which we proportionately consolidate. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

In our opinion, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of our financial statements for interim periods in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the SEC. Accordingly, pursuant to such rules and regulations, certain notes and other financial information included in audited financial statements have been condensed or omitted. The December 31, 20162017 condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited statements, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. The information presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our 20162017 Form 10-K. Our results of operations and cash flows for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year or any other future period.

Certain immaterial reclassifications have been made to our prior period statement of operations to conform to the current period presentation. The reclassifications had no impact on previously reported cash flows, net earnings, earnings per share or stockholders' equity.

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Recently IssuedAdopted Accounting StandardsStandard

In May 2014, the FASBFinancial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") and the International Accounting Standards Board issued their converged standard on revenue recognition that provides a single, comprehensive model that entities will apply to determine the measurement of revenue and timing of when it is recognized. The standard has been updated and now includes technical corrections. The underlying principle is that an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The standard outlines a five-step approach to apply the underlying principle: (1) identify the contract with the customer, (2) identify the separate performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to separate performance obligations, and (5) recognize revenue when or as each performance obligation is satisfied. We adopted the standard effective January 1, 2018. In Marchorder to evaluate the impact that the adoption of the revenue standard had on our consolidated financial statements, we performed a comprehensive review of our significant revenue streams. The focus of this review included, among other things, the identification of the significant contracts and other arrangements we have with our customers to identify performance obligations and principal versus agent considerations, and factors affecting the determination of the transaction price. We also reviewed our current accounting policies, procedures, and controls with respect to these contracts and arrangements to determine what changes, if any, would be required by the adoption of the revenue standard. We determined that we would adopt the standard under the modified retrospective method. Upon adoption, no adjustment to our opening balance of retained earnings was deemed necessary.

In November 2016, the FASB issued an accounting update on statements of cash flows to the standard intended to improve the operability and understandability of the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations when recognizing revenue. In December 2016, the FASB issued technical corrections and improvements to the standard. The revenue standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. The revenue standard can be adopted under the full retrospective method or simplified transition method. Entities are permitted to adopt the revenue standard early, beginning with annual reporting periods after December 15, 2016. We areaddress diversity in practice in the processclassification and presentation of assessing potential impactschanges in restricted cash. The accounting update requires that the statement of cash flows explain the new standard on our existing revenue recognition criteria,change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as wellrestricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as on related revenue recognition disclosures.restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents
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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling beginning-of-period and end-of-period amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this standard impacted our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash reported on the condensed consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, which sum to the total of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows:
 March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
 (in thousands)
    
Cash and cash equivalents$45,923
 $180,675
Restricted cash8,001
 9,250
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows$53,924
 $189,925
Restricted cash is included in other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. We did not have any cash classified as restricted cash at March 31, 2017 or December 31, 2016.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the FASB issued an accounting update aimed at increasing the transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about related leasing arrangements. The standard has been updated and now includes amendments. For leases with terms of more than 12 months, the accounting update requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability for its right to use the underlying asset and the corresponding lease obligation. Both the lease asset and liability will initially be measured at the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term. Subsequent measurement, including the presentation of expenses and cash flows, will depend upon the classification of the lease as either a finance or operating lease. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted, and is to be applied as of the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The update does not apply to leases of mineral rights to explore for or use crude oil and natural gas. We are in the process of assessingcurrently evaluating the impact these changes may have on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016,2017, the FASB issued an accounting update on statementsto provide guidance for various components of cash flows to address diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classifiedhedge accounting, including hedge ineffectiveness, the expansion of types of permissible hedging strategies, reduced complexity in the statementapplication of cash flows. The update addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objectivelong-haul method for fair value hedges and reduced complexity in assessment of reducing the existing diversity in practice.effectiveness. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017,2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact these changes may have on our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued an accounting update on statements of cash flows to address diversity in practice in the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash. The accounting update requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling beginning-of-period and end-of-period amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact these changes may have on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued an accounting update to simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill. The update eliminates the two-step process that required identification of potential impairment and a separate measure of actual impairment. The annual and/or interim assessments are still required to be completed. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We elected to early adopt this standard in the second quarter of 2017 and will implement the new guidance accordingly in performing impairment testing in 2017. Our annual evaluation of goodwill for impairment is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2017, at which time we will apply this accounting update and the impact can be determined.

In May 2017, the FASB issued an accounting update clarifying when to account for a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award as a modification. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. Adoption of this standard is not expected to have a significant impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.


NOTE 3 - BUSINESS COMBINATION

Delaware Basin Acquisition. On December 6, 2016,In January 2018, we closed on anthe acquisition which has been accountedof properties from Bayswater Exploration and Production LLC (the "Bayswater Acquisition") for as a business combination. The transaction was for the purchase of approximately 57,900 net acres, approximately 30 completed and producing wells and related midstream infrastructure in Reeves and Culberson Counties, Texas, for an aggregate consideration to the sellers of approximately $1.64 billion, after preliminary post-closing adjustments, comprised of approximately $946.0$201.8 million in cash, including the payment of $40.0$21.0 million of debt of the seller at closingdeposited into an escrow account in September 2017, subject to certain customary post-closing adjustments. The $21.0 million deposit was included in other assets on our December 31, 2017 condensed consolidated balance sheet. We acquired approximately 7,400 net acres, approximately 220 gross drilling locations, and other purchase price adjustments, and 9.4 million shares of our common stock valued at approximately $690.7 million24 operated horizontal wells that were either drilled uncompleted wells ("DUCs") or in-process wells at the time the acquisition closed. The estimated fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the acquisition presented below are preliminary and subject to customary additional post-closing adjustments as more detailed analysis associated with the acquired properties is completed. The final settlement statement has been agreed upon with the sellers; however, we are in the process of finalizing the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and expect to keep the transaction open through the third quarter of 2017 to ensure that any final allocation adjustments associated with the period through final settlement are appropriately reflected in the final purchase price allocation. The most significant item to be completed is the allocation of the per acre values across the acquisition. There were a significant number of leases acquired with complex lease terms andclosing.

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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


evaluation of these terms may impact the manner in which the purchase price allocation across the acquired acreage is finalized based upon lease expiration timing. We expect that the completion of this process will adjust our final determination of the value of goodwill.

The details of the estimated purchase price and the preliminary allocation of the purchase price for the transaction, which reflects certain post-closing adjustments, are presented below (in thousands):
June 30, 2017March 31, 2018
Acquisition costs:  
Cash, net of cash acquired$905,962
Retirement of seller's debt40,000
Cash$171,091
Deposit made in prior period21,000
Total cash consideration945,962
192,091
Common stock, 9.4 million shares690,702
Other purchase price adjustments1,025
9,734
Total acquisition costs$1,637,689
$201,825
  
Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed:  
Assets acquired:  
Current assets$6,561
$517
Crude oil and natural gas properties - proved216,000
208,279
Crude oil and natural gas properties - unproved1,721,334
Infrastructure, pipeline, and other33,695
Construction in progress12,148
Goodwill56,331
Other assets2,796
Total assets acquired2,046,069
211,592
Liabilities assumed:  
Current liabilities(23,844)(5,080)
Asset retirement obligations(4,248)(4,687)
Deferred tax liabilities, net(380,288)
Total liabilities assumed(408,380)(9,767)
Total identifiable net assets acquired$1,637,689
$201,825

This acquisition was accounted for under the acquisition method. Accordingly, we conducted assessments of the net assets acquired and recognized amounts for identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated acquisition date fair values, while transaction and integration costs associated with the acquisition were expensed as incurred. The fair value measurements of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based on inputs that are not observable in the market, and therefore represent Level 3 inputs. The fair values of crude oil and natural gas properties and asset retirement obligations were measured using valuation techniques that convert future cash flows to a single discounted amount. Significant inputs to the valuation of crude oil and natural gas properties include estimates of reserves, future operating and development costs, future commodity prices, estimated future cash flows, lease terms and expirations, and a market-based weighted-average cost of capital rate. Within the unproved properties, the allocation of the value to the underlying leases also requires significant judgment and is based on a combination of comparable market transactions, the term and conditions associated with the individual leases, our ability and intent to develop specific leases, and our initial assessment of the underlying relative value of the leases given our knowledge of the geology at the time of closing. These inputs require significant judgments and estimates by management at the time of the valuation and arewere the most sensitive and subject to change.

This acquisition was accountedThe results of operations for underthe Bayswater Acquisition for the three months ended March 31, 2018 have been included in our condensed consolidated financial statements. Pro forma results of operations for the Bayswater Acquisition showing results as if the acquisition method. Accordingly, we conducted assessmentshad been completed as of net assets acquired and recognized amountsJanuary 1, 2017 would not have been material to our condensed consolidated financial statements for identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated acquisition date fair values, while transaction and integration costs associated with the acquisition were expensed as incurred.three months ended March 31, 2017.

NOTE 4 - REVENUE RECOGNITION

Goodwill. GoodwillOn January 1, 2018, we adopted the new accounting standard that was issued by the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board that converged their standard on revenue recognition and provides a single, comprehensive model to determine the measurement of revenue and timing of when it is calculated asrecognized and all the excessrelated amendments (“new revenue standard”) using the modified retrospective method. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. Based upon our review, we determined that the adoption of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquiredstandard would have reduced our crude oil, natural gas, and represents the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized. Among the factors that contributed to a purchase price in excess of the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired were the acquisition of an element of a workforce and the expected value from operations of the Delaware Basin acquisition to be derivedNGLs sales by approximately $2.5 million in the future. The amountfirst quarter of goodwill that was recorded on a preliminary basis related to the Delaware Basin acquisition has decreased as compared to the initial estimated amount recorded as of December 31, 2016, due to customary purchase price allocations, primarily related to a refund from the sellers in connection2017 with a revised valuation of certain acquired leasescorresponding decrease in transportation, gathering, and the retirement of estimated environmental remediation liabilities. Such amounts will be finalized with final purchase accounting, as described above. Any value assigned to goodwill is not expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.processing expenses and no impact on net earnings. To
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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017March 31, 2018
(unaudited)



The following table presentsdetermine the changes in goodwill:
 Amount
 (in thousands)
  
Balance at December 31, 2016$62,041
Purchase price adjustments, net of tax(5,710)
Balance at June 30, 2017$56,331
impact on our crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales and our transportation, processing, and gathering expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2017, we applied the new guidance to contracts that were not completed as of December 31, 2017. We do not expect adoption of the new standard to have a significant impact on our net income going forward.

WithCrude oil, natural gas, and NGLs revenues are recognized when we have transferred control of crude oil, natural gas, or NGLs production to the creationpurchaser. We consider the transfer of goodwillcontrol to have occurred when the purchaser has the ability to direct the use of, and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits, from the crude oil, natural gas, or NGLs production. We record sales revenue based on an estimate of the volumes delivered at estimated prices as determined by the applicable sales agreement. We estimate our sales volumes based on company-measured volume readings. We then adjust our crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales in subsequent periods based on the data received from our purchasers that reflects actual volumes and prices received. We receive payment for sales from one to two months after actual delivery has occurred. The differences in sales estimates and actual sales are recorded one to two months later. Historically, these differences have not been material. We account for natural gas imbalances using the sales method. For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 the impact of any natural gas imbalances was not significant. If a sale is deemed uncollectible, an allowance for doubtful collection is recorded.

Our crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales are recorded using either the “net-back” or "gross" method of accounting, depending upon the related purchase agreement. We use the net-back method when control of the crude oil, natural gas, or NGLs has been transferred to the purchasers of these commodities that are providing transportation, gathering, or processing services. In these situations, the purchaser pays us proceeds based on a percent of the proceeds or have fixed our sales price at index less specified deductions. The net-back method results in the recognition of a net sales price that is lower than the indices for which the production is based because the operating costs and profit of the midstream facilities are embedded in the net price we are paid.

We use the gross method of accounting when control of the crude oil, natural gas, or NGLs is not transferred to the purchaser and the purchaser does not provide transportation, gathering, or processing services as a function of the price we receive. Rather, we contract separately with midstream providers for the applicable transport and processing on a per unit basis. Under this transaction,method, we will performrecognize revenues based on the gross selling price and recognize transportation, gathering, and processing expenses.

Based on our evaluation of goodwill for impairment annually or when a triggering event is deemed to have occurred. We evaluate goodwill for impairment by either performing a qualitative evaluation or a quantitative test, which involves comparing the estimated fair value to the carrying value. In either case, the valuationcontrol of goodwill will be a significant estimate as such methods incorporate forward-looking assumptions and estimates.

NOTE 4 - PROPERTIES AND EQUIPMENT

The following table presents the components of properties and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion, and amortization ("DD&A"):

 June 30, 2017 December 31, 2016
 (in thousands)
Properties and equipment, net:   
Crude oil and natural gas properties   
Proved$3,842,942
 $3,499,718
Unproved1,841,589
 1,874,671
Total crude oil and natural gas properties5,684,531
 5,374,389
Infrastructure, pipeline, and other94,654
 62,093
Land and buildings15,274
 12,165
Construction in progress171,600
 122,591
Properties and equipment, at cost5,966,059
 5,571,238
Accumulated DD&A(1,800,487) (1,562,972)
Properties and equipment, net$4,165,572
 $4,008,266
    

The following table presents impairment charges recorded for crude oil and natural gas properties:

 Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
 (in thousands)

       
Impairment of unproved properties$27,463
 $1,084
 $29,565
 $2,053
Amortization of individually insignificant unproved properties103
 54
 194
 86
Impairment of crude oil and natural gas properties
27,566
 1,138
 29,759
 2,139
Land and buildings
 3,032
 
 3,032
Total impairment of properties and equipment$27,566
 $4,170
 $29,759
 $5,171

Duringsales are transferred to the three months ended June 30, 2017, we impairedcustomer under the guidance of the new revenue recognition standard, certain unproved Delaware Basin leasehold positions totaling $27.0 millioncrude oil sales in the Wattenberg Field that expired duringwere recognized using the three months ending June 30, 2017, or are projectedgross method prior to expire between June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2017.  Subsequent to closing the acquisitions inadoption of the new revenue standard will be recognized using the net-back method. In the Delaware Basin, it was determinedcertain crude oil and natural gas sales that developmentwere recognized using the gross method prior to the adoption of certain acreage tracts would not meet our internal expectations for acceptable rates of return due to a combination of weakening commodity prices; higher per well development and operational costs; and updated technical analysis.  As a result, we allowed or expect to allow certain acreage to expire, and in other circumstances we were unable to obtain necessary lease term extensions.  the new revenue standard will be recognized using the net-back method.

As discussed above, we enter into agreements for the sale, transportation, gathering, and processing of our production. The terms of these agreements can result in variances in the per unit realized prices that we receive for our crude oil, natural gas and NGLs. For crude oil, the average NYMEX prices are based upon average daily prices throughout each month and our natural gas average NYMEX pricing is based upon first-of-the-month index prices as this is how the majority of each of these commodities is sold pursuant to terms of the respective sales agreements.  For NGLs, we use the NYMEX crude oil price as a reference for presentation purposes.




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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


Disaggregated Revenue.The following table presents crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales disaggregated by commodity and operating region for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):

  Three Months Ended March 31,
Revenue by Commodity and Operating Region 2018 2017 (2) Percentage Change
Crude oil      
Wattenberg Field $170,306
 $105,188
 61.9 %
Delaware Basin 53,418
 13,538
 294.6 %
Utica Shale (1) 2,696
 4,270
 (36.9)%
Total $226,420
 $122,996
 84.1 %
 Natural gas      
Wattenberg Field $29,772
 $32,614
 (8.7)%
Delaware Basin 7,679
 2,468
 211.1 %
Utica Shale (1) 1,110
 1,860
 (40.3)%
Total $38,561
 $36,942
 4.4 %
NGLs      
Wattenberg Field $28,770
 $25,318
 13.6 %
Delaware Basin 10,635
 2,947
 260.9 %
Utica Shale (1) 839
 1,489
 (43.7)%
Total $40,244
 $29,754
 35.3 %
Revenue by Operating Region      
Wattenberg Field $228,848
 $163,120
 40.3 %
Delaware Basin 71,732
 18,953
 278.5 %
Utica Shale (1) 4,645
 7,619
 (39.0)%
Total $305,225
 $189,692
 60.9 %
________________
(1) In March 2018, we completed the sale of our Utica Shale properties.
(2) As we have elected the modified retrospective method of adoption, revenues for the three months ended
March 31, 2017 have not been restated for the new revenue recognition standard. Such amounts would not
have been material.

Contract Assets.    Contract assets include material contributions in aid of construction ("CIAC"), which are common in purchase/purchase and processing agreements with midstream service providers that are our customers. Generally, the intent of the payments is to reimburse the customer for actual costs incurred related to the construction of its gathering and processing infrastructure. Contract assets that are classified as current assets are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on our condensed consolidated balance sheet. Contract assets that are classified as long-term are included in other assets on our condensed consolidated balance sheet. The contract assets will be amortized as a reduction to crude oil, natural gas, or NGLs sales revenue during the periods that the related production is transferred to the customer.

The following table presents the changes in carrying amounts of the contract assets associated with our crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2018:
 Amount
 (in thousands)
  
Beginning balance, January 1, 2018$4,446
Contract assets amortized as a reduction to crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales(1,233)
Ending balance, March 31, 2018$3,213

Customer Accounts Receivable. Our accounts receivable include amounts billed and currently due from sales of our crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs production. Our gross accounts receivable balance from crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was $145.3 million and $154.3 million, respectively. Historically, we have not recorded a significant amount of write-offs related to our accounts receivable from sales of our crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs
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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


sales, therefore; we did not record an allowance for doubtful accounts for these receivables at March 31, 2018 or December 31, 2017.

NOTE 5 - FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Determination of Fair Value

Our fair value measurements are estimated pursuant to a fair value hierarchy that requires us to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date, giving the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable data (Level 3). In some cases, the inputs used to measure fair value might fall in different levels of the fair value hierarchy. The lowest level input that is significant to a fair value measurement in its entirety determines the applicable level in the fair value hierarchy. Assessing the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, considering factors specific to the asset or liability, and may affect the valuation of the assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels. The three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value are defined as:

Level 1 – Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, and inputs that are derived from observable market data by correlation or other means.

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, including situations where there is little, if any, market activity.

Derivative Financial Instruments

We measure the fair value of our derivative instruments based upon a pricing model that utilizes market-based inputs, including, but not limited to, the contractual price of the underlying position, current market prices, crude oil and natural gas forward curves, discount rates such as the LIBOR curve for a similar duration of each outstanding position, volatility factors, and nonperformance risk. Nonperformance risk considers the effect of our credit standing on the fair value of derivative liabilities and the effect of our counterparties' credit standings on the fair value of derivative assets. Both inputs to the model are based on published credit default swap rates and the duration of each outstanding derivative position.

We validate our fair value measurement through the review of counterparty statements and other supporting documentation, determination that the source of the inputs is valid, corroboration of the original source of inputs through access to multiple quotes, if available, or other information, and monitoring changes in valuation methods and assumptions. While we use common industry practices to develop our valuation techniques and believe our valuation method is appropriate and consistent with those used by other market participants, changes in our pricing methodologies or the underlying assumptions could result in significantly different fair values.

Our crude oil and natural gas fixed-price swaps are included in Level 2. Our collars and propane fixed-price swaps are included in Level 3. Our basis swaps are included in Level 2 and Level 3. The following table presents, for each applicable level within the fair value hierarchy, our derivative assets and liabilities, including both current and non-current portions, measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


 March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
 Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
  Total Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
  Total
 (in thousands)
Assets:           
Total assets$22,467
 $6,143
 $28,610
 $12,949
 $1,389
 $14,338
Total liabilities122,133
 14,976
 137,109
 90,569
 11,076
 101,645
Net liability$(99,666) $(8,833) $(108,499) $(77,620) $(9,687) $(87,307)
            
The following table presents a reconciliation of our Level 3 assets measured at fair value:
  Three Months Ended March 31,
  2018 2017
  (in thousands)
Fair value of Level 3 instruments, net liability beginning of period $(9,687) $(9,574)
Changes in fair value included in condensed consolidated statement of operations line item:    
Commodity price risk management gain (loss), net (2,152) 13,360
Settlements included in condensed consolidated statement of operations line items:    
Commodity price risk management gain (loss), net 3,006
 (1,470)
Fair value of Level 3 instruments, net asset (liability) end of period $(8,833) $2,316
     
Net change in fair value of Level 3 unsettled derivatives included in condensed consolidated statement of operations line item:    
Commodity price risk management gain (loss), net $1,205
 $11,427
     

The significant unobservable input used in the fair value measurement of our derivative contracts is the implied volatility curve, which is provided by a third-party vendor. A significant increase or decrease in the implied volatility, in isolation, would have a directionally similar effect resulting in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement of our Level 3 derivative contracts. There has been no change in the methodology we apply to measure the fair value of our Level 3 derivative contracts during the periods covered by this report.
Non-Derivative Financial Assets and Liabilities

The carrying value of the financial instruments included in current assets and current liabilities approximate fair value due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.

We utilize fair value on a nonrecurring basis to review our proved crude oil and natural gas properties for possible impairment when events and circumstances indicate a possible decline in the recoverability of the carrying value of such assets. The fair value of the properties is determined based upon estimated future discounted cash flow, a Level 3 input, using estimated production and prices at which we reasonably expect the crude oil and natural gas will be sold.
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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


The portion of our long-term debt related to our revolving credit facility approximates fair value due to the variable nature of related interest rates. We have not elected to account for the portion of our debt related to our senior notes under the fair value option; however, we have determined an estimate of the fair values based on measurements of trading activity and broker and/or dealer quotes, respectively, which are published market prices, and therefore are Level 2 inputs. The table below presents these estimates of the fair value of the portion of our long-term debt related to our senior notes and convertible notes as of March 31, 2018.
  Estimated Fair Value Percent of Par
  (in millions)  
Senior notes:   
 2021 Convertible Notes$194.0
 97.0%
 2024 Senior Notes409.0
 102.3%
 2026 Senior Notes593.3
 98.9%

The carrying value of our capital lease obligations approximates fair value due to the variable nature of the imputed interest rates and the duration of the related vehicle lease.

Concentration of Risk

Derivative Counterparties. A portion of our liquidity relates to commodity derivative instruments that enable us to manage a portion of our exposure to price volatility from producing crude oil and natural gas. These arrangements expose us to credit risk of nonperformance by our counterparties. We primarily use financial institutions who are also major lenders under our revolving credit facility as counterparties to our commodity derivative contracts. An insignificant portion of our commodity derivative instruments may be with other counterparties. To date, we have had no derivative counterparty default losses. We have evaluated the credit risk of our derivative assets from our counterparties using relevant credit market default rates, giving consideration to amounts outstanding for each counterparty and the duration of each outstanding derivative position. Based on our evaluation, we have determined that the potential impact of nonperformance of our current counterparties on the fair value of our derivative instruments is not significant at March 31, 2018, taking into account the estimated likelihood of nonperformance.

Cash and Cash Equivalents. We consider all highly liquid instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents potentially subject us to a concentration of credit risk as substantially all of our deposits held in financial institutions were in excess of the FDIC insurance limits at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. We maintain our cash and cash equivalents in the form of money market and checking accounts with financial institutions that we believe are creditworthy and are also major lenders under our revolving credit facility.

NOTE 56 - COMMODITY DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Our results of operations and operating cash flows are affected by changes in market prices for crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs. To manage a portion of our exposure to price volatility from producing crude oil, natural gas, and propane, which is an element of our NGLs, we enter into commodity derivative contracts to protect against price declines in future periods. While we structure these commodity derivatives to reduce our exposure to decreases in commodity prices, they also limit the benefit we might otherwise receive from price increases.
 
We believe our commodity derivative instruments continue to be effective in achieving the risk management objectives for which they were intended. As of June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, we had derivative instruments, which were comprised of collars, fixed-price swaps, and basis protection swaps, in place for a portion of our anticipated 20172018 and 2018 production for a total of 12,896 MBbls of crude oil, 82,030 BBtu of natural gas, and 643 MBbls of propane.2019 production. Our commodity derivative contracts have been entered into at no cost to us as we hedge our anticipated production at the then-prevailing commodity market prices, without adjustment for premium or discount.

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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


As of March 31, 2018, we had the following outstanding derivative contracts. When aggregating multiple contracts, the weighted average contract price is disclosed.
  Collars Fixed-Price Swaps  
Commodity/ Index/
Maturity Period
 
Quantity
(Gas -
BBtu
Oil - MBbls)
 
Weighted-Average
Contract Price
 
Quantity (Oil - MBbls
Gas and Basis-
BBtu
 Propane - MBbls)
 
Weighted-
Average
Contract
Price
 
Fair Value
March 31,
2018 (1)
(in millions)
  Floors Ceilings   
Crude Oil            
NYMEX            
2018 1,784.0
 $46.64
 $57.53
 7,704.0
 $52.54
 $(91.4)
2019 400.0
 50.00
 60.67
 7,800.0
 53.20
 (42.9)
Total Crude Oil 2,184.0
     15,504.0
   $(134.3)
             
Natural Gas            
NYMEX            
2018 2,735.0
 $3.00
 $3.56
 40,335.0
 $2.94
 $5.1
2019 
 
 
 4,004.0
 2.77
 (0.1)
Total Natural Gas 2,735.0
     44,339.0
   $5.0
             
Basis Protection - Crude Oil            
Midland Cushing            
2018 
 $
 $
 1,456.1
 $(0.10) $5.4
Total Basis Protection - Crude Oil 
     1,456.1
   $5.4
             
Basis Protection - Natural Gas            
CIG            
2018 
 $
 $
 31,409.9
 $(0.43) $12.3
2019 
 
 
 4,004.0
 (0.88) (0.1)
Waha            
2018 
 
 
 4,923.8
 (0.50) 3.4
El Paso            
2018 
 
 
 2,450.0
 (0.62) 1.6
Total Basis Protection - Natural Gas 
     42,787.7
   $17.2
             
Propane            
Mont Belvieu            
2018 
 $
 $
 714.4
 $32.52
 $
Total Propane 
     714.4
   $
             
Rollfactor (2)            
Crude Oil CMA            
2018 
 $
 $
 4,192
 $0.12
 $(1.8)
Total Rollfactor 
     4,192
   $(1.8)
             
Commodity Derivatives Fair Value       $(108.5)
_____________
(1)
Approximately 21.5 percent of the fair value of our commodity derivative assets and 10.9 percentof the fair value of our commodity derivative liabilities were measured using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).
(2)These positions hedge the timing risk associated with our physical sales. We generally sell crude oil for the delivery month at a sales price based on the average NYMEX West Texas Intermediate price during that month, plus an adjustment calculated as a spread between the weighted average prices of the delivery month, the next month and the following month during the period when the delivery month is the first month.

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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


We have not elected to designate any of our derivative instruments as cash flow hedges, and therefore these instruments do not qualify for hedge accounting. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of our derivative instruments are recorded in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The following table presents the balance sheet location and fair value amounts of our derivative instruments on the condensed consolidated balance sheets:
 Fair Value Fair Value
Derivative instruments:Derivative instruments: Condensed consolidated balance sheet line item June 30, 2017 December 31, 2016Derivative instruments: Condensed consolidated balance sheet line item March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
 (in thousands) (in thousands)
Derivative assets:Current    Current    
Commodity derivative contracts Fair value of derivatives $49,540
 $8,490
Basis protection derivative contracts Fair value of derivatives 2,565
 301
 52,105
 8,791
Non-current    Commodity derivative contracts Fair value of derivatives $5,958
 $7,340
Commodity derivative contracts Fair value of derivatives 15,051
 1,123
Basis protection derivative contracts Fair value of derivatives 22,652
 6,998
Basis protection derivative contracts Fair value of derivatives 1,346
 1,263
 28,610
 14,338
 16,397
 2,386
Non-current 
 
Total derivative assetsTotal derivative assets $68,502
 $11,177
Total derivative assets $28,610
 $14,338
        
Derivative liabilities:Current    Current    
Commodity derivative contracts Fair value of derivatives $9,943
 $53,565
Commodity derivative contracts Fair value of derivatives 108,763
 77,999
Basis protection derivative contracts Fair value of derivatives 195
 30
Basis protection derivative contracts Fair value of derivatives 122
 234
 10,138
 53,595
Rollfactor derivative contracts Fair value of derivatives 1,798
 1,069
Non-current     110,683
 79,302
Commodity derivative contracts Fair value of derivatives 2,311
 27,595
Non-current    
 2,311
 27,595
Commodity derivative contracts Fair value of derivatives 26,447
 22,343
Basis protection derivative contracts Fair value of derivatives (21) 
 26,426
 22,343
Total derivative liabilitiesTotal derivative liabilities $12,449
 $81,190
Total derivative liabilities $137,109
 $101,645

    
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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017
(unaudited)


The following table presents the impact of our derivative instruments on our condensed consolidated statements of operations:

 Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, Three Months Ended March 31,
Condensed consolidated statement of operations line item 2017 2016 2017 2016 2018 2017
 (in thousands) (in thousands)
Commodity price risk management gain, net        
Commodity price risk management gain (loss), net    
Net settlements $12,015
 $53,301
 $12,566
 $120,132
 $(26,038) $551
Net change in fair value of unsettled derivatives 45,917
 (146,102) 126,070
 (201,877) (21,202) 80,153
Total commodity price risk management gain, net $57,932
 $(92,801) $138,636
 $(81,745)
Total commodity price risk management gain (loss), net $(47,240) $80,704
            

Net settlements of commodity derivatives and net change in fair value of unsettled derivatives decreased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 as compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.  We entered into agreements forMarch 31, 2017 as a result of the derivative instruments that settled throughout 2016 prior toincrease in future commodity prices becoming depressed in late 2014.  Substantially allduring the first quarter of these higher-value agreements settled by the end of 2016.  Net settlements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 reflect derivative instruments entered into since 2015, which more closely approximate recent realized prices.  Based upon the forward strip pricing at June 30, 2017, we expect that settlements will continue to be substantially lower in 2017 on a relative basis as2018 compared to those in 2016.a decrease during the first quarter of 2017. 

All of our financial derivative agreements contain master netting provisions that provide for the net settlement of all contracts through a single payment in the event of early termination. We have elected not to offset the fair value positions recorded on our condensed consolidated balance sheets.

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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


The following table reflects the impact of netting agreements on gross derivative assets and liabilities:
As of June 30, 2017 Derivative instruments, recorded in condensed consolidated balance sheet, gross Effect of master netting agreements Derivative instruments, net
As of March 31, 2018 Derivative instruments, recorded in condensed consolidated balance sheet, gross Effect of master netting agreements Derivative instruments, net
 (in thousands) (in thousands)
Asset derivatives:            
Derivative instruments, at fair value $68,502
 $(10,974) $57,528
 $28,610
 $(27,971) $639
            
Liability derivatives:            
Derivative instruments, at fair value $12,449
 $(10,974) $1,475
 $137,109
 $(27,971) $109,138
            
As of December 31, 2016 Derivative instruments, recorded in condensed consolidated balance sheet, gross Effect of master netting agreements Derivative instruments, net
  (in thousands)
Asset derivatives:      
Derivative instruments, at fair value $11,177
 $(10,930) $247
       
Liability derivatives:      
Derivative instruments, at fair value $81,190
 $(10,930) $70,260
       

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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017
(unaudited)

As of December 31, 2017 Derivative instruments, recorded in condensed consolidated balance sheet, gross Effect of master netting agreements Derivative instruments, net
  (in thousands)
Asset derivatives:      
Derivative instruments, at fair value $14,338
 $(14,173) $165
       
Liability derivatives:      
Derivative instruments, at fair value $101,645
 $(14,173) $87,472
       

NOTE 67 - FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTSPROPERTIES AND EQUIPMENT

DeterminationThe following table presents the components of Fair Valueproperties and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion, and amortization ("DD&A"):

Our fair value measurements are estimated pursuant to a fair value hierarchy that requires us to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date, giving the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable data (Level 3). In some cases, the inputs used to measure fair value might fall in different levels of the fair value hierarchy. The lowest level input that is significant to a fair value measurement in its entirety determines the applicable level in the fair value hierarchy. Assessing the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, considering factors specific to the asset or liability, and may affect the valuation of the assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels. The three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value are defined as:
 March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
 (in thousands)
Properties and equipment, net:   
Crude oil and natural gas properties   
Proved$4,706,258
 $4,356,922
Unproved1,055,774
 1,097,317
Total crude oil and natural gas properties5,762,032
 5,454,239
Infrastructure, pipeline, and other125,529
 109,359
Land and buildings12,679
 10,960
Construction in progress294,311
 196,024
Properties and equipment, at cost6,194,551
 5,770,582
Accumulated DD&A(1,963,294) (1,837,115)
Properties and equipment, net$4,231,257
 $3,933,467
    

Level 1 – Quoted prices (unadjusted)The following table presents impairment charges recorded for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, and inputs that are derived from observable market data by correlation or other means.

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, including situations where there is little, if any, market activity.

Derivative Financial Instruments

We measure the fair value of our derivative instruments based upon a pricing model that utilizes market-based inputs, including, but not limited to, the contractual price of the underlying position, current market prices, crude oil and natural gas forward curves, discount rates such as the LIBOR curve for a similar duration of each outstanding position, volatility factors, and nonperformance risk. Nonperformance risk considers the effect of our credit standing on the fair value of derivative liabilities and the effect of our counterparties' credit standings on the fair value of derivative assets. Both inputs to the model are based on published credit default swap rates and the duration of each outstanding derivative position.

We validate our fair value measurement through the review of counterparty statements and other supporting documentation, determination that the source of the inputs is valid, corroboration of the original source of inputs through access to multiple quotes, if available, or other information, and monitoring changes in valuation methods and assumptions. While we use common industry practices to develop our valuation techniques and believe our valuation method is appropriate and consistent with those used by other market participants, changes in our pricing methodologies or the underlying assumptions could result in significantly different fair values.

Our crude oil and natural gas fixed-price swaps are included in Level 2. Our collars, physical sales, and propane fixed-price swaps are included in Level 3. Our basis swaps are included in Level 2 and Level 3. The following table presents, for each applicable level within the fair value hierarchy, our derivative assets and liabilities, including both current and non-current portions, measured at fair value on a recurring basis:properties:

 June 30, 2017 December 31, 2016
 Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
  Total Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
  Total
 (in thousands)
Assets:           
Total assets$58,226
 $10,276
 $68,502
 $6,350
 $4,827
 $11,177
Total liabilities(10,792) (1,657) (12,449) (66,789) (14,401) (81,190)
Net asset (liability)$47,434
 $8,619
 $56,053
 $(60,439) $(9,574) $(70,013)
            
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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017
(unaudited)


The following table presents a reconciliation of our Level 3 assets measured at fair value:

  Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
  2017 2016 2017 2016
  (in thousands)
Fair value of Level 3 instruments, net asset (liability) beginning of period $2,316
 $73,195
 $(9,574) $91,288
Changes in fair value included in condensed consolidated statement of operations line item:        
Commodity price risk management gain (loss), net 9,262
 (26,422) 22,622
 (20,257)
Settlements included in condensed consolidated statement of operations line items:        
Commodity price risk management gain (loss), net (2,959) (19,398) (4,429) (43,656)
Fair value of Level 3 instruments, net asset end of period $8,619
 $27,375
 $8,619
 $27,375
         
Net change in fair value of Level 3 unsettled derivatives included in condensed consolidated statement of operations line item:        
Commodity price risk management gain (loss), net $8,161
 $(18,210) $17,194
 $(13,105)
         

The significant unobservable input used in the fair value measurement of our derivative contracts is the implied volatility curve, which is provided by a third-party vendor. A significant increase or decrease in the implied volatility, in isolation, would have a directionally similar effect resulting in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement of our Level 3 derivative contracts. There has been no change in the methodology we apply to measure the fair value of our Level 3 derivative contracts during the periods covered by this report.
Non-Derivative Financial Assets and Liabilities

The carrying value of the financial instruments included in current assets and current liabilities approximate fair value due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.

We utilize fair value on a nonrecurring basis to review our crude oil and natural gas properties and goodwill for possible impairment when events and circumstances indicate a possible decline in the recoverability of the carrying value of such assets. The fair value of the properties is determined based upon estimated future discounted cash flow, a Level 3 input, using estimated production and prices at which we reasonably expect the crude oil and natural gas will be sold. The fair value of the goodwill is determined using either a qualitative method or a quantitative method, both of which utilize market data, a Level 2 input, in the derivation of the value estimation.
The portion of our long-term debt related to our revolving credit facility approximates fair value due to the variable nature of related interest rates. We have not elected to account for the portion of our debt related to our senior notes under the fair value option; however, we have determined an estimate of the fair values based on measurements of trading activity and broker and/or dealer quotes, respectively, which are published market prices, and therefore are Level 2 inputs. The table below presents these estimates of the fair value of the portion of our long-term debt related to our senior notes and convertible notes as of June 30, 2017.
  Estimated Fair Value Percent of Par
  (in millions)  
Senior notes:   
 2021 Convertible Notes$180.8
 90.4%
 2022 Senior Notes520.6
 104.1%
 2024 Senior Notes406.0
 101.5%

The carrying value of our capital lease obligations approximates fair value due to the variable nature of the imputed interest rates and the duration of the related vehicle lease.
 Three Months Ended March 31,
 2018 2017
 (in thousands)

   
Impairment of proved and unproved properties$33,130
 $2,102
Amortization of individually insignificant unproved properties58
 91
Impairment of crude oil and natural gas properties
$33,188
 $2,193

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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


Concentration of Risk

Derivative Counterparties. A portion of our liquidity relates to commodity derivative instruments that enable us to manage a portion of our exposure to price volatility from producing crude oil and natural gas. These arrangements expose us to credit risk of nonperformance by our counterparties. We primarily use financial institutions who are also major lenders under our revolving credit facility as counterparties to our commodity derivative contracts. An insignificant portion of our commodity derivative instruments may be with other counterparties. To date, we have had no derivative counterparty default losses. We have evaluatedDuring the credit risk of our derivative assets from our counterparties using relevant credit market default rates, giving consideration to amounts outstanding for each counterparty and the duration of each outstanding derivative position. Based on our evaluation, we have determined that the potential impact of nonperformance of our current counterparties on the fair value of our derivative instruments is not significant at June 30, 2017, taking into account the estimated likelihood of nonperformance.

Cash and Cash Equivalents. We consider all highly liquid instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents potentially subject us to a concentration of credit risk as substantially all of our deposits held in financial institutions were in excess of the FDIC insurance limits at June 30, 2017. We maintain our cash and cash equivalents in the form of money market and checking accounts with financial institutions that we believe are creditworthy and are also major lenders under our revolving credit facility.

Notes Receivable. In October 2014, we sold our entire 50 percent ownership interest in PDC Mountaineer, LLC to an unrelated third-party. As part of the consideration, we received a promissory note (the “Promissory Note”) for a principal sum of $39.0 million, bearing varying interest rates. The interest was to be paid quarterly, in arrears and at the option of the issuer, could be paid-in-kind (“PIK Interest”) and any such PIK Interest would be subject to the then current interest rate.

We regularly analyzed the Promissory Note for evidence of collectability, evaluating factors such as the creditworthiness of the issuer of the Promissory Note and the value of the underlying assets that secure the Promissory Note. Based upon this analysis, during the quarter ended March 31, 2016,2018, we recognized a provision and recorded an allowance for uncollectible notes receivable for the $44.0impairment charges of $26.9 million, accumulated outstanding balance, including interest. Commencing in the second quarter of 2016, we ceased recognizing interest income on the Promissory Note and began accounting for the interest on the Promissory Note under the cash basis method.

We performed this analysis as of March 31, 2017 and evaluated preliminary 2016 year-end financial statements of the note issuer which were available at such time,primarily related information about the operations of the issuer, and existing market conditions for natural gas. Based upon this evaluation, it was determinedto certain unproved Delaware Basin leasehold positions that collection of the Promissory Note and PIK Interest continued to be doubtful and the full valuation allowance on the Promissory Note remained appropriate as of that date. This evaluation assumed repayment of the Promissory Note would be made exclusively from the existing operations of the issuer of the Promissory Note based on the latest available information.

In April 2017, we sold the Promissory Note to an unrelated third-party buyer for approximately $40.2 million in cash. The sales agreement transferred all of our legal rights to collect from the issuer of the Promissory Note. Accordingly, we reversed $40.2 million of the provision for uncollectible notes receivableexpired during the three months ended June 30, 2017.March 31, 2018.

Additionally, we corrected an error in our calculation of the unproved properties and goodwill impairment originally reported in the quarter ended September 30, 2017. The correction of the error resulted in an additional impairment charge of $6.3 million, recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2018, which we have included in the impairment of properties and equipment expense line in our condensed consolidated statement of operations. We evaluated the error under the guidance of Accounting Standards Codification 250, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections ("ASC 250"). Based on the guidance in ASC 250, we determined that the impact of the error did not have a material impact to our previously-issued financial statements or those of the period of correction.
NOTE 7 - INCOME TAXES
Utica Shale Divestiture. In March 2018, we completed the sale of our Utica Shale properties (the "Utica Shale Divestiture") for net cash proceeds of approximately $39.0 million, subject to certain customary post-closing adjustments. We recorded a loss on sale of properties and equipment of $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The divestiture of the Utica Shale properties did not represent a strategic shift in our operations or have a significant impact on our operations or financial results; therefore, we did not account for it as a discontinued operation.
Classification of Assets as Held-for-Sale. Assets held-for-sale as of March 31, 2018 were$1.6 million for a field office facility. We subsequently sold the field office facility in April 2018 for $1.9 million and will record a gain on sale of properties and equipment of $0.3 million during the second quarter of 2018. Assets held-for-sale as of December 31, 2017 included $36.8 million and $3.3 million, representing our Utica Shale properties and field office facilities and a separate parcel of land, respectively.

We evaluate and update our estimated annual effective income tax rate on a quarterly basis based on current and forecasted operating results and tax laws. Consequently, based uponThe following table presents balance sheet data related to assets held-for-sale. Assets held-for-sale represents the mix and timingassets that are expected to be sold, net of our actual annual earnings comparedliabilities that are expected to annual projections, our effective tax rate may vary quarterly and may make quarterly comparisons not meaningful. The quarterly income tax provision is generally comprised of tax expense on income or benefit on loss atbe assumed by the most recent estimated annual effective income tax rate, adjusted for the effect of discrete items.purchasers:    

 March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
 (in thousands)
Assets   
  Properties and equipment, net$1,647
 $40,583
Total assets$1,647
 $40,583
    
Liabilities   
  Asset retirement obligation$
 $499
Total liabilities$
 $499
    
Assets held-for-sale, net$1,647
 $40,084
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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017March 31, 2018
(unaudited)



Suspended Well Costs. We have spud three wells in the Delaware Basin for which we are unable to make a final determination regarding whether proved reserves can be associated with the wells as of March 31, 2018 as the wells had not been completed as of that date. Therefore, we have classified the capitalized costs of the wells as suspended well costs as of March 31, 2018 while we continue to conduct completion and testing operations to determine the existence of proved reserves.

The following table presents the capitalized exploratory well cost pending determination of proved reserves and included in properties and equipment, net on the condensed consolidated balance sheets:

 March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
 (in thousands, except for number of wells)
    
Beginning balance$15,448
 $
Additions to capitalized exploratory well costs pending the determination of proved reserves17,143
 51,776
   Reclassifications to proved properties
 (36,328)
Ending balance$32,591
 $15,448
    
Number of wells pending determination at period end3
 3

Exploration, geologic, and geophysical expense. Exploration, geologic, and geophysical expense of $2.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 was primarily related to the purchase of seismic data related to unproved acreage and lease costs associated with certain delayed drilling in the Delaware Basin. Exploration, geologic, and geophysical expense of $1.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017 was primarily related to drilling pilot holes in the Delaware Basin.
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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


NOTE 8 - OTHER ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER LIABILITIES

Other Accrued Expenses. The following table presents the components of other accrued expenses as of:
  March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
  (in thousands)
     
Employee benefits $10,901
 $22,383
Asset retirement obligations 15,944
 15,801
Environmental expenses 2,074
 1,374
Short-term deferred oil gathering credit 2,010
 
Other 2,848
 3,429
Other accrued expenses $33,777
 $42,987
     

Other Liabilities. The following table presents the components of other liabilities as of:
  March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
  (in thousands)
     
Production taxes $63,454
 $50,476
Long-term deferred oil gathering credit 21,608
 
Other 9,495
 6,857
Other liabilities $94,557
 $57,333
     

On January 31, 2018, we received a payment of $24.1 million from Saddle Butte Rockies Midstream, LLC for the execution of an amendment to an existing crude oil purchase and sale agreement signed in December 2017. The amendment was effective income tax ratescontingent upon certain events which occurred in late January 2018. The amendment, among other things, dedicates crude oil from the majority of our Wattenberg Field acreage to Saddle Butte's gathering lines and extends the term of the agreement through December 2029. Subsequent to the receipt of this payment, Saddle Butte was purchased by Black Diamond Gathering, LLC. The short-term portion of the deferred oil gathering credit is included in other accrued expenses and the long-term portion is included in other liabilities on our condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2018. The payment will be amortized using the straight-line method over the life of the amendment. Amortization charges totaling approximately $0.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 was 37.3 percent and 36.8 percent expense on income, respectively, compared to 37.9 percent and 37.5 percent benefit on loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016. The effective income tax rates for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 include discrete income tax benefits of $0.2 million and $1.8 million relatingMarch 31, 2018 related to the excess income tax basis recognized with the vesting of stock awards during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, which resulted indeferred oil gathering credit are included as a 0.3 percent and 1.3 percent reduction to transportation, gathering, and processing expenses on our effective income tax rates.condensed consolidated statements of operations.
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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


The effective income tax rates for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, are based upon a full year forecasted tax provision on income and are greater than the statutory federal income tax rate, primarily due to state income taxes, nondeductible officers’ compensation and nondeductible lobbying expenses, partially offset by stock-based compensation tax deductions. We anticipate the potential for increased periodic volatility in future effective income tax rates from the impact of stock-based compensation tax deductions as they are treated as discrete tax items. The effective income tax rates for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, were based upon a full year forecasted income tax benefit on loss and were greater than the statutory federal income tax rate, primarily due to state income taxes and percentage depletion, partially offset by nondeductible officers’ compensation and nondeductible lobbying expenses. There were no significant discrete income tax items recorded during the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.

As of June 30, 2017, there is no liability for unrecognized income tax benefits. As of the date of this report, we are current with our income tax filings in all applicable state jurisdictions and are not currently under any state income tax examinations. We continue to voluntarily participate in the Internal Revenue Service's Compliance Assurance Program for the 2016 and 2017 tax years, and received final acceptance of our 2015 federal income tax return during the six months ended June 30, 2017.

NOTE 89 - LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt consisted of the following as of:
June 30, 2017 December 31, 2016March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
(in thousands)(in thousands)
Senior notes:      
1.125% Convertible Notes due 2021:      
Principal amount$200,000
 $200,000
$200,000
 $200,000
Unamortized discount(33,952) (37,475)(28,478) (30,328)
Unamortized debt issuance costs(4,103) (4,584)(3,371) (3,615)
1.125% Convertible Notes due 2021, net of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs161,945
 157,941
168,151
 166,057
      
7.75% Senior Notes due 2022:   
5.75% Senior Notes due 2026:   
Principal amount500,000
 500,000
600,000
 600,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs(5,882) (6,443)(7,298) (7,555)
7.75% Senior Notes due 2022, net of unamortized debt issuance costs494,118
 493,557
5.75% Senior Notes due 2026, net of unamortized debt issuance costs592,702
 592,445
      
6.125% Senior Notes due 2024:      
Principal amount400,000
 400,000
400,000
 400,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs(7,060) (7,544)(6,325) (6,570)
6.125% Senior Notes due 2024, net of unamortized debt issuance costs392,940
 392,456
393,675
 393,430
      
Total senior notes1,049,003
 1,043,954
1,154,528
 1,151,932
      
Revolving credit facility
 

 
Total long-term debt, net of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs$1,049,003
 $1,043,954
$1,154,528
 $1,151,932
    
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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017
(unaudited)


Senior Notes

2021 Convertible Notes. In September 2016, we issued $200 million of 1.125% convertible senior notes due 2021 (the "2021 Convertible Notes") in a public offering. The maturity for the payment of principal is September 15, 2021. Interest at the rate of 1.125% per year is payable in cash semiannually in arrears on each March 15 and September 15. The conversion stock price at maturity is $85.39 per share. We allocated the gross proceeds of the 2021 Convertible Notes between the liability and equity components of the debt. The initial $160.5 million liability component was determined based on the fair value of similar debt instruments, excluding the conversion feature, priced on the same day we issued the 2021 Convertible Notes. Approximately $4.8 million in costs associated with the issuance of the 2021 Convertible NoteNotes have been capitalized as debt issuance costs. As of June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, the unamortized debt discount will be amortized over the remaining contractual term to maturity of the 2021 Convertible Notes using an effective interest rate of 5.8 percent.
 
Upon conversion, the 2021 Convertible Notes may be settled, at our sole election, in shares of our common stock, cash, or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock. We have initially elected a combination settlement method to satisfy our conversion obligation, which allows us to settle the principal amount of the 2021 Convertible Notes in cash and to settle the excess conversion value, if any, in shares of our common stock, as well aswith cash paid in lieu of fractional shares.
 
2022 Senior Notes. In October 2012, we issued $500 million aggregate principal amount 7.75% senior notes due October 15, 2022 (the “2022 Senior Notes”). The 2022 Senior Notes accrue interest from the date of issuance and interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15. Approximately $11.0 million in costs associated with the issuance of the 2022 Senior Notes have been capitalized as debt issuance costs and are being amortized as interest expense over the life of the notes using the effective interest method.

2024 Senior Notes.  In September 2016, we issued $400 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% senior notes due September 15, 2024 (the “2024 Senior Notes”) in a private placement to qualified institutional buyers. In May 2017, in accordance with the registration rights agreement that we entered into with the initial purchasers when we issued the 2024 Senior Notes, we filed a registration statement with the SEC relating to an offer to exchange the 2024 Senior Notes for registered notes with substantially identical terms.terms, and we completed the exchange offer in September 2017. The 2024 Senior Notes accrue interest from the date of issuance and interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15. Approximately $7.8 million in costs associated with the issuance of the 2024 Senior Notes have been capitalized as debt issuance costs and are being amortized as interest expense over the life of the notes using the effective interest method.

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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


2026 Senior Notes. In JanuaryNovember 2017, pursuantwe issued $600 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75% senior notes due May 15, 2026, in a private placement to qualified institutional buyers. The 2026 Senior Notes are governed by an indenture dated November 29, 2017 between us and the filingU.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.  The maturity for the payment of supplemental indentures forprincipal is May 15, 2026.  Interest at the rate of 5.75% per year is payable in cash semiannually in arrears on each May 15 and November 15, commencing on May 15, 2018. Approximately $7.6 million in costs associated with the issuance of the 2026 Senior Notes have been capitalized as debt issuance costs and are being amortized as interest expense over the life of the notes using the effective interest method.

Our wholly-owned subsidiary PDC Permian, Inc. guarantees our obligations under the 2021 Convertible Notes, 2022the 2026 Senior Notes, and the 2024 Senior Notes (collectively, the "Notes"), our wholly-owned subsidiary, PDC Permian, Inc., became a guarantor of our obligations under the Notes.. Accordingly, condensed consolidating financial information for PDC and PDC Permian, Inc. is presented in the footnote titled Subsidiary Guarantor.

As of June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, we were in compliance with all covenants related to the Notes, and expect to remain in compliance throughout the next 12-month period.

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility. The revolving credit facility is available for working capital requirements, capital investments, acquisitions, general corporate purposes and to support letters of credit. The revolving credit facility matures in May 2020 and provides for a maximum of $1$1.0 billion in allowable borrowing capacity, subject to the borrowing base and certain limitations under our senior notes. The borrowing base is based on, among other things, the loan value assigned to the proved reserves attributable to our crude oil and natural gas interests. The borrowing base is subject to a semi-annual redetermination on November 1 and May 1 based upon quantification of our reserves at June 30 and December 31, and is also subject to a redetermination upon the occurrence of certain events. The revolving credit facility is secured by a pledge of the stock of certain of our subsidiaries, mortgages of certain producing crude oil and natural gas properties and substantially all of our and such subsidiaries' other assets. Our affiliated partnerships are not guarantors of our obligations under the revolving credit facility.

In May and October 2017, we entered into athe Fifth Amendmentand Sixth Amendments, respectively, to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. The amendment, among other things, amendsAgreement to amend the revolving credit facility to reflect increases in the borrowing base. The Fifth amendment reflected an increase inof the borrowing base from $700 million to $950$950 million. and the Sixth Amendment amended the revolving credit facility to allow the borrowing base to increase above the borrowing capacity of $1.0 billion. In addition, the Fifth Amendment made changes to certain of the covenants in the existing agreement as well as other administrative changes. We elected to increase the borrowing base to $1.1 billion for our November 2017 borrowing base redetermination and have elected to maintain a $700 million commitment level as of the date of this report. In
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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017
(unaudited)


addition,In April 2018, we began negotiations with our bank group to enter into the Fifth Amendment made changesFourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, and we anticipate closing to certainoccur by the end of May 2018.  This agreement is expected to replace the financialThird Amended and non-financial covenantsRestated Credit Agreement.  Following the amendment and restatement, the facility is expected to mature in the existing agreement, as well as other administrative changes.May 2023.   

As of June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2016,2017, debt issuance costs related to our revolving credit facility were $7.5$5.5 million and $8.8$6.2 million, respectively, and are included in other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. We had no outstanding balance on our revolving credit facility as of June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 or December 31, 2016.2017. The outstanding principal amount under the revolving credit facility accrues interest at a varying interest rate that fluctuates with an alternate base rate (equal to the greatest of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.'s prime rate, the federal funds rate plus a premium and the rate for dollar deposits in the London interbank market (“LIBOR”) for one month plus a premium), or at our election, a rate equal to LIBOR for certain time periods. Additionally, commitment fees, interest margin, and other bank fees, charged as a component of interest, vary with our utilization of the facility. As of June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, the applicable interest margin is 1.25 percent for the alternate base rate option or 2.25 percent for the LIBOR option, and the unused commitment fee is 0.500.5 percent. No principalPrincipal payments are generally not required until the revolving credit facility expires in May 2020 or in the event thatunless the borrowing base falls below the outstanding balance.

The revolving credit facility contains covenants customary for agreements of this type, with the most restrictive being certain financial tests on a quarterly basis. The financial tests, as defined per the revolving credit facility, include requirements to: (a) maintain a minimum current ratio of 1.0:1.0 and (b) not exceed a maximum leverage ratio of 4.0:1.0. As of June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, we were in compliance with all the revolving credit facility covenants and expect to remain in
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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


compliance throughout the next 12-month period. As defined by the revolving credit facility, our leverage ratio was 1.7 and our current ratio was 3.3 and our leverage ratio was 1.92.5 as of June 30, 2017.

In May 2017, we replaced our $11.7 million irrevocable standby letter of credit that we held in favor of a third-party transportation service provider for surety of an existing firm transportation obligation with a $9.3 million deposit, which is classified as restricted cash and is included in other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. As of June 30, 2017, available funds under our revolving credit facility were $700 million based on our elected commitment level.March 31, 2018.
  
NOTE 9 - OTHER ACCRUED EXPENSES

Other Accrued Expenses. The following table presents the components of other accrued expenses as of:

  June 30, 2017 December 31, 2016
  (in thousands)
     
Employee benefits $12,148
 $22,282
Asset retirement obligations 12,938
 9,775
Other 4,853
 6,568
Other accrued expenses $29,939
 $38,625
     

NOTE 10 - CAPITAL LEASES

We periodically enter into non-cancelable lease agreements for vehicles utilized by our operations and field personnel. These leases are being accounted for as capital leases, as the present value of minimum monthly lease payments, including the residual value guarantee, exceeds 90 percent of the fair value of the leased vehicles at inception of the lease.
 
The following table presents vehicles under capital lease as of:
 

 June 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
 (in thousands) (in thousands)
Vehicles $5,097
 $2,975
 $6,500
 $6,249
Accumulated depreciation (1,240) (776) (2,271) (1,882)
 $3,857
 $2,199
 $4,229
 $4,367
 
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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017
(unaudited)


Future minimum lease payments by year and in the aggregate, under non-cancelable capital leases with terms of one year or more, consist of the following:
 
For the Twelve Months Ending June 30, Amount
For the Twelve Months Ending March 31, Amount
 (in thousands) (in thousands)
2018 $1,836
2019 1,527
 $1,952
2020 1,195
 2,061
2021 1,247
 4,558
 5,260
Less executory cost (189) (400)
Less amount representing interest (491) (501)
Present value of minimum lease payments $3,878
 $4,359
  
  
Short-term capital lease obligations $1,474
 $1,789
Long-term capital lease obligations 2,404
 2,570
 $3,878
 $4,359

Short-term capital lease obligations are included in other accrued expenses on the condensed consolidated balance sheets and long-term capital lease obligations are included in other liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


NOTE 11 - INCOME TAXES

We evaluate and update our estimated annual effective income tax rate on a quarterly basis based on current and forecasted operating results and tax laws. Consequently, based upon the mix and timing of our actual annual earnings compared to annual projections, our effective tax rate may vary quarterly and may make quarterly comparisons not meaningful. The quarterly income tax provision is generally comprised of tax expense on income or benefit on loss at the most recent estimated annual effective income tax rate, adjusted for the effect of discrete items.

The effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was a 25.8 percent benefit on loss compared to a 36.3 percent expense on income for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2018, is based upon a full year forecasted tax expense on income. The effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2018 includes discrete income tax benefits of $0.2 million relating to the excess tax benefit recognized with the vesting of stock awards during the three months ended March 31, 2018, which resulted in a 1.2 percent increase to our effective tax rate. The federal corporate statutory income tax rate decreased from 35 percent in 2017 to 21 percent in 2018 resulting from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "2017 Tax Act").

The effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2018 is based upon a full year forecasted tax expense on income and is greater than the statutory federal tax rate, primarily due to state taxes, nondeductible officers’ compensation, and nondeductible lobbying expenses, partially offset by stock-based compensation tax deductions. We anticipate the potential for increased periodic volatility in future effective tax rates from the impact of stock-based compensation tax deductions as they are treated as discrete tax items. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2017 is based upon a full year forecasted tax expense on income and is greater than the statutory federal tax rate, primarily due to state taxes, nondeductible officers’ compensation and nondeductible lobbying expenses, partially offset by stock-based compensation tax deductions.

As of March 31, 2018, there is no liability for unrecognized income tax benefits. As of the date of this report, we are current with our income tax filings in all applicable state jurisdictions and are not currently under any state income tax examinations. We continue to voluntarily participate in the Internal Revenue Service's ("IRS") Compliance Assurance Program for the 2017 and 2018 tax years. We have received final acceptance of our 2016 federal income tax return from the IRS; however, this return is going through the Joint Tax Committee review process due to tax refunds requested.

NOTE 1112 - ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

The following table presents the changes in carrying amounts of the asset retirement obligations associated with our working interests in crude oil and natural gas properties:
AmountAmount
(in thousands)(in thousands)
  
Balance at December 31, 2016$92,387
Balance at December 31, 2017$87,306
Obligations incurred with development activities2,415
620
Obligations incurred with acquisition4,687
Accretion expense3,434
1,288
Obligations discharged with asset retirements(7,431)
Balance at June 30, 201790,805
Revisions in estimated cash flows50
Obligations discharged with asset retirements and divestiture(4,102)
Balance at March 31, 201889,849
Less current portion(12,938)(15,944)
Long-term portion$77,867
$73,905
  
Our estimated asset retirement obligations liability is based on historical experience in plugging and abandoning wells, estimated economic lives and estimated plugging and abandonment costs considering federal and state regulatory requirements in effect. The liability is discounted using the credit-adjusted risk-free rate estimated at the time the liability is incurred or revised. As of June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, the credit-adjusted risk-free rates used to discount our plugging and abandonment liabilities ranged from 6.5 percent to 8.27.5 percent. In periods subsequent to initial measurement of the liability, we must recognize period-to-period changes in the liability resulting from the passage of time, revisions to either the amount of the original estimate of undiscounted cash flows or changes in inflation factors, and changes to our credit-adjusted risk-free rate as market conditions
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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


warrant. Short-term asset retirement obligations are included in other accrued expenses on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

NOTE 1213 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Firm Transportation and Processing Agreements. We enter into contracts that provide firm transportation and processing on pipeline systems through which we transport or sell crude oil and natural gas. Satisfaction of the volume requirements includes volumes produced by us, purchased from third parties, and produced by our affiliated partnerships and other third-party working, royalty, and overriding royalty interest owners whose volumes we market on their behalf. Our condensed consolidated statements of operations reflect our share of these firm transportation and processing costs. These contracts require us to pay these transportation and processing charges whether or not the required volumes are delivered.
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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017
(unaudited)



The following table presents gross volume information related to our long-term firm transportation and processing agreements for pipeline capacity:
 For the Twelve Months Ending June 30,    For the Twelve Months Ending March 31,   
Area 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 and
Through
Expiration
 Total Expiration
Date
 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 and
Through
Expiration
 Total Expiration
Date
                            
Natural gas (MMcf)                          
Wattenberg Field 
 9,734
 18,849
 18,798
 79,979
 127,360
 March 31, 2026 7,416
 27,794
 31,025
 31,025
 114,272
 211,532
 April 30, 2026
Delaware Basin 14,600
 14,600
 14,640
 7,360
 
 51,200
 December 31, 2020 25,520
 25,600
 11,000
 
 
 62,120
 December 31, 2020
Gas Marketing 7,117
 7,117
 7,136
 7,117
 8,021
 36,508
 August 31, 2022 7,117
 7,136
 7,117
 6,965
 2,830
 31,165
 August 31, 2022
Utica Shale 2,737
 2,737
 2,745
 2,737
 5,709
 16,665
 July 22, 2023
Total 24,454
 34,188
 43,370
 36,012
 93,709
 231,733
  40,053
 60,530
 49,142
 37,990
 117,102
 304,817
 
                          
Crude oil (MBbls)                          
Wattenberg Field 2,413
 2,414
 2,420
 
 
 7,247
 June 30, 2020 7,438
 8,062
 5,085
 4,563
 4,937
 30,085
 April 30, 2023
Delaware Basin 4,493
 8,227
 8,580
 7,392
 14,080
 42,772
 December 31, 2023
Total 11,931
 16,289
 13,665
 11,955
 19,017
 72,857
 
                          
Dollar commitment (in thousands) $18,583
 $28,104
 $36,564
 $22,665
 $81,560
 $187,476
  $64,690
 $99,560
 $69,434
 $65,060
 $160,183
 $458,927
 

In December 2016, inMarch 2018, we completed the sale of our Utica Shale properties. Upon closing, the related commitment was assumed by the purchaser of the Utica Shale properties.

In anticipation of our future drilling activities in the Wattenberg Field, we have entered into atwo facilities expansion agreementagreements with our primary midstream provider to expand and improve its natural gas gathering pipelines and processing facilities. The midstream provider is expected to construct atwo new 200 MMcfd cryogenic plant.plants. We will be bound to the volume requirements in this agreementthese agreements on the first day of the calendar month afterfollowing the actual in-service datedates of the plant,plants, which, as reflected in the above table, is estimatedare currently scheduled to be in October 2018. The agreement requires athe third quarter of 2018 for the first plant and the second quarter of 2019 for the second plant. Both agreements require baseline volume commitment,commitments, consisting of our gross wellhead volume delivered in November 2016, to this midstream provider, and an incremental wellhead volume commitmentcommitments of 51.5 MMcfd and 33.5 MMcfd for the first and second agreements, respectively, for seven years. We may be required to pay a shortfall feefees for any volumes under the 51.5 MMcfd and 33.5 MMcfd incremental commitment.commitments. Any shortfall of thisin these volume commitmentcommitments may be offset by additional third partyother producers’ volumes sold to the midstream provider that are greater than a certain total baseline volume. We are also required for the first three years of the contractcontracts to guarantee a certain target profit margin to the midstream provider on these incremental volumes. We currently expect that our future development planplans will supportmeet both the utilization ofbaseline and incremental volumes, and we believe that capacity.the contractual target profit margin will be achieved without additional payment from us.

In April 2017,2018, we entered into a five-year firm transportation service agreement, for deliveryeffective May 1, 2018, with a third-party crude oil pipeline company to transport 12,500 barrels of 40,000 dekathermscrude oil per day from our Wattenberg Field via pipeline to Cushing, Oklahoma and other area refineries. This agreement is reflected in the pipeline capacity commitment table above.

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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


In May 2018, we entered into a firm sales agreement that is effective from June 1, 2018 through December 31, 2023 for an initial 11,400 barrels of crude oil per day and incrementally increasing to 26,400 barrels of crude oil per day with a large integrated marketing company for our crude oil production in the Delaware Basin natural gas productionBasin. This agreement is expected to provide price diversification through realization of export market pricing via a Corpus Christi terminal and exposure to Brent-weighted prices. The fixed transportation charge associated with this agreement is reflected in the Waha market hub in West Texas. pipeline capacity commitment table above.

For each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, commitments for long-term transportation volumes, net to our interest, for Wattenberg Field crude oil and Delaware Basin natural gas were $2.6 million, and in accordance with the guidance in the new revenue recognition standard, were netted against our crude oil and natural gas sales in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, commitments for long-term transportation volumes for Wattenberg Field crude oil and Utica Shale natural gas were $2.6$2.2 million and $4.8 million, respectively, and were recorded in transportation, gathering, and processing expense in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. For each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, commitments for long-term transportation volumes for Wattenberg Field crude oil and Utica Shale natural gas were $2.3 million and $4.7 million, respectively.

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, long-term firm transportation costs for our gas marketing business associated with the commitments shown above were $0.9 million and $1.7 million, respectively, and were recorded in other expenses in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, long-term firm transportation costs for our gas marketing business associated with the commitments shown above were $0.9 million and $1.7 million, respectively.

Litigation and Legal Items. The Company isWe are involved in various legal proceedings. The Company reviewsWe review the status of these proceedings on an ongoing basis and, from time to time, may settle or otherwise resolve these matters on terms and conditions that management believes are in theour best interests of the Company. Management hasinterests. We have provided the necessary estimated accruals in the accompanying balance sheets where deemed appropriate for litigation and legal related items that are ongoing and not yet concluded. However, the liability ultimately incurred with respect to a matter may exceed the related accrual. Although the results cannot be known with certainty, we currently believe that the ultimate results of such proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or liquidity.
TableAction Regarding Partnerships. In December 2017, we received an action entitled Dufresne, et al. v. PDC Energy, et al., filed in the United States District Court for the District of contents
Colorado. The complaint states that it is a derivative action brought by a number of limited partner investors seeking to assert claims on behalf of our two affiliated partnerships, Rockies Region 2006 LP and Rockies Region 2007 LP, against PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017
(unaudited)


and includes claims for breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract. The plaintiffs also included claims against two of our senior officers for alleged breach of fiduciary duty. The lawsuit accuses PDC, as the managing general partner of the two partnerships, of, among other things, failing to maximize the productivity of the partnerships’ crude oil and natural gas wells. We filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on February 1, 2018, on the grounds that the complaint is deficient, including because the plaintiffs failed to allege that PDC refused a demand to take action on their claims. On March 14, 2018, the motion was denied as moot by the court because the plaintiffs requested leave to amend their complaint. In late April 2018, the plaintiffs filed an amendment to their complaint.  Such amendment primarily alleges additional facts to support the plaintiffs’ claims and purports to add direct class action claims in addition to the original derivative claims.  The amendment also adds three new individual defendants, all of which are independent members of our Board of Directors. We are currently unable to estimate any potential damages as a result of this lawsuit.

Environmental.Due to the nature of the natural gas and oil industry, we are exposed to environmental risks. We have various policies and procedures to minimize and mitigate the risks from environmental contamination. We conduct periodic reviews and simulated drills to identify changes in our environmental risk profile. Liabilities are recorded when environmental damages resulting from past events are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Except as discussed herein, we are not aware of any material environmental claims existing as of June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 which have not been provided for or would otherwise have a material impact on our financial statements; however, there can be no assurance that current regulatory requirements will not change or that unknown potential past non-compliance with environmental laws or other environmental liabilities will not be discovered on our properties. However, the liability ultimately incurred with respect to a matter may exceed the related accrual. Accrued environmental liabilities are recorded in other accrued expenses on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The liability ultimately incurred with respect to a matter may exceed the related accrual.

Clean Air Act Tentative Agreement and Related Consent Decree.In August 2015, we received a Clean Air Act Section 114 Information Request (the "Information Request") from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"). The Information Request sought, among other things, information related to the design, operation, and maintenance of our Wattenberg Field production facilities in the Denver-Julesburg Basin of Colorado.Colorado ("DJ Basin"). The Information Request focusesfocused on historical operation and design information for 46 of our production facilities and asks that we conductrequested sampling and analyses at the identified 46 facilities. We responded to the Information Request with the requested data in January 2016.
 
In addition, in December 2015, we received a Compliance Advisory pursuant to C.R.S. 25-7-115(2) from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's (“CDPHE”) Air Quality Control Commission's Air Pollution Control Division alleging that we failed to design, operate, and maintain certain condensate collection, storage, processing, and handling
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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


operations to minimize leakage of volatile organic compounds at 65 facilities consistent with applicable standards under Colorado law.

For more than a year, we held a series of meetings withIn June 2017, the EPA,U.S. Department of Justice, (“DOJ”) and CDPHE on the above matters. On June 26, 2017, the DOJ on behalf of the EPA and the Statestate of Colorado, filed a complaint against us basedin the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, claiming that we failed to operate and maintain certain condensate collection facilities at 65 facilities so as to minimize leakage of volatile organic compounds in compliance with applicable law. In October 2017, we entered into a consent decree to resolve the lawsuit. Pursuant to the consent decree, we agreed to implement a variety of operational enhancements and mitigation and similar projects, including vapor control system modifications and verification, increased inspection and monitoring, and installation of tank pressure monitors. The three primary elements of the consent decree are: (i) fine/supplemental environmental projects ($1.5 million cash fine, plus $1 million in supplemental environmental projects) of which the cash fines were paid in the first quarter of 2018 and the environmental projects have been accrued in other accrued expenses on the above matters.our consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2018 (ii) injunctive relief with an estimated cost of approximately $18 million, primarily representing capital enhancements to our operations; and (iii) mitigation with an estimated cost of $1.7 million. We continue to schedule meetingsincur costs associated with these agencies in working toward a resolutionactivities. If we fail to comply fully with the requirements of the matters. The ultimate outcome relatedconsent decree with respect to these combinedthose matters, we could be subject to additional liability. In addition, we could be the subject of other enforcement actions isby regulatory authorities in the future relating to our past, present or future operations. We do not known atbelieve that the expenditures resulting from the settlement will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Since our entry into the consent decree we have implemented a comprehensive program to comply with all of its requirements. As of the date of the filing of this time. report, all aspects of the consent decree compliance program are on or ahead of schedule.


NOTE 1314 - COMMON STOCK

Sale of Equity Securities

During December 2016, we issued 9.4 million shares of our common stock as partial consideration for 100 percent of the common stock of Arris Petroleum and for the acquisition of certain Delaware Basin properties. Pursuant to the terms of previously-disclosed lock-up agreements, these shares were restricted for sale. The lock-up period ended on June 4, 2017. We have registered the 9.4 million shares of our common stock for resale.

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

The following table provides a summary of the impact of our outstanding stock-based compensation plans on the results of operations for the periods presented:

  Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
  2017 2016 2017 2016
  (in thousands)
         
Stock-based compensation expense $5,372
 $6,444
 $9,826
 $11,126
Income tax benefit (2,010) (2,452) (3,676) (4,233)
Net stock-based compensation expense $3,362
 $3,992
 $6,150
 $6,893
         

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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017
(unaudited)

  Three Months Ended March 31,
  2018 2017
  (in thousands)
     
Stock-based compensation expense $5,261
 $4,453
Income tax benefit (1,261) (1,666)
Net stock-based compensation expense $4,000
 $2,787
     

Stock Appreciation Rights

The stock appreciation right ("SARs") vest ratably over a three-year period and may be exercised at any point after vesting through ten years from the date of issuance. Pursuant to the terms of the awards, upon exercise, the executive officers will receive, in shares of common stock, the excess of the market price of the award on the date of exercise over the market price of the award on the date of issuance.

The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors No SARs were awarded SARs to our executive officersor expired during the sixthree months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. The fair value of each SAR award was estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes pricing model using the following assumptions:

 Six Months Ended June 30,
 2017 2016
    
Expected term of award (in years)6
 6
Risk-free interest rate2.0% 1.8%
Expected volatility53.3% 54.5%
Weighted-average grant date fair value per share$38.58
 $26.96

The expected term of the award was estimated using historical stock option exercise behavior data. The risk-free interest rate was based on the U.S. Treasury yields approximating the expected life of the award in effect at the time of grant. Expected volatilities were based on our historical volatility. We do not expect to pay or declare dividends in the foreseeable future.March 31, 2018.
    
The following table presents the changes in our SARs for the six months ended June 30, 2017:

 Number of
SARs
 Weighted-Average
Exercise
Price
 Average Remaining Contractual
Term (in years)
 
Aggregate Intrinsic
Value
(in thousands)
Outstanding at December 31, 2016244,078
 $41.36
 6.9
 $7,620
Awarded54,142
 74.57
 
 
Outstanding at June 30, 2017298,220
 47.39
 7.0
 1,158
Exercisable at June 30, 2017186,248
 39.38
 5.8
 1,093

Total compensation cost related to non-vested SARs granted and not yet recognized in our condensed consolidated statement of operations as of June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 was $2.8$1.4 million. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.11.52 years.
    
Restricted Stock Awards

Time-Based Awards. The fair value of the time-based restricted shares is amortized ratably over the requisite service period, primarily three years. The time-based shares generally vest ratably on each anniversary following the grant date provided that a participant is continuously employed.

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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


The following table presents the changes in non-vested time-based awards to all employees, including executive officers, for the sixthree months ended June 30, 2017:March 31, 2018:
Shares Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Shares Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value per Share
      
Non-vested at December 31, 2016479,642
 $56.09
Non-vested at December 31, 2017472,132
 $60.23
Granted248,946
 67.02
136,256
 50.94
Vested(202,427) 56.43
(66,253) 58.16
Forfeited(5,311) 67.20
(5,800) 68.18
Non-vested at June 30, 2017520,850
 61.06
Non-vested at March 31, 2018536,335
 58.04
      

The following table presents the weighted-average grant date fair value per share and related information as of/for the periods presented:

As of/Six Months Ended June 30,

As of/Three Months Ended March 31,

2017 20162018 2017
(in thousands, except per share data)(in thousands, except per share data)
      
Total intrinsic value of time-based awards vested$13,103
 $13,314
$3,530
 $3,602
Total intrinsic value of time-based awards non-vested22,454
 31,506
26,297
 33,366
Market price per common share as of June 30,43.11
 57.61
Market price per share as of March 31,49.03
 62.35
Weighted-average grant date fair value per share67.02
 57.11
50.94
 73.28

Total compensation cost related to non-vested time-based awards and not yet recognized in our condensed consolidated statements of operations as of June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 was $25.7$20.6 million. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.12.0 years.

Market-Based Awards. The fair value of the market-based restricted shares is amortized ratably over the requisite service period, primarily three years. The market-based shares vest if the participant is continuously employed throughout the performance period and the market-based performance measure is achieved, with a maximum vesting period of three years. All compensation cost related to the market-based awards will be recognized if the requisite service period is fulfilled, even if the market condition is not achieved.
    
The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors awarded a total of 28,06990,778 market-based restricted shares to our executive officers during the sixthree months ended June 30, 2017.March 31, 2018. In addition to continuous employment, the vesting of these shares is contingent on our total stockholder return ("TSR"), which is essentially our stock price change including any dividends as compared to the TSR of a group of peer companies. The shares are measured over a three-year period ending on December 31, 2019,2020, and can result in a payout between 0 percent and 200 percent of the total shares awarded. The weighted-average grant date fair value per market-based share for these awards was computed using the Monte Carlo pricing model using the following assumptions:
Six Months Ended June 30,Three Months Ended March 31,
2017 20162018 2017
      
Expected term of award (in years)3
 3
3
 3
Risk-free interest rate1.4% 1.2%2.4% 1.4%
Expected volatility51.4% 52.3%42.3% 51.4%
Weighted-average grant date fair value per share$94.02
 $72.54
$69.98
 $94.02

The expected term of the awards was based on the requisite service period. The risk-free interest rate was based on the U.S. Treasury yields in effect at the time of grant and extrapolated to approximate the life of the award. The expected volatility was based on our historical volatility.
    
Table of contents
PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


The following table presents the change in non-vested market-based awards during the sixthree months ended June 30, 2017:March 31, 2018:
  Shares
 Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value per Share
     
Non-vested at December 31, 2016
 48,420
 $64.97
Granted
 28,069
 94.02
Non-vested at June 30, 2017
 76,489
 75.63
     

  Shares
 Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value per Share
     
Non-vested at December 31, 2017
 52,349
 $84.06
Granted
 90,778
 69.98
Forfeited
 (4,128) 94.02
Non-vested at March 31, 2018 138,999
 74.57
     

The following table presents the weighted-average grant date fair value per share and related information as of/for the periods presented:
As of /Six Months Ended June 30,As of Three Months Ended March 31,
2017 20162018 2017
(in thousands, except per share data)(in thousands, except per share data)
      
Total intrinsic value of market-based awards vested$
 $1,174
Total intrinsic value of market-based awards non-vested3,297
 4,871
$6,815
 $4,769
Market price per common share as of June 30,43.11
 57.61
Market price per common share as of March 31,49.03
 62.35
Weighted-average grant date fair value per share94.02
 72.54
69.98
 94.02

Total compensation cost related to non-vested market-based awards not yet recognized in our condensed consolidated statements of operations as of June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018 was $3.4$7.9 million. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.12.5 years.

Treasury Share Purchases

In June 2010, our stockholders approved a long-term equity compensation plan for our employees and non-employee directors (the "2010 Plan"). In accordance with the 2010 Plan, as amended in June 2013, up to 3,000,000 new shares of our common stock are authorized for issuance. Shares granted may be either authorized but unissued shares, treasury shares, or any combination of these shares. Additionally, the 2010 Plan permits the reuse or reissuance of shares of common stock which were canceled, expired, forfeited or, in the case of SARs, paid out in the form of cash. In accordance with our stock-based compensation plans, employees and directors may surrender shares of our common stock to pay tax withholding obligations upon the vesting and exercise of share-based awards. Shares acquired that had been issued pursuant to the 2010 Plan are reissued for new grants. For shares reissued for new grants under the 2010 Plan, shares are recorded at cost and upon reissuance we reduce the carrying value of shares acquired and held pursuant to the 2010 Plan by the weighted-average cost per share with an offsetting charge to additional paid-in capital. As of December 31, 2016, we had 10,397 shares remaining available for reissuance pursuant to our 2010 plan. Additionally, as of December 31, 2016, we had 18,366 of shares of treasury stock related to a rabbi trust. During the six months ended June 30, 2017, we acquired 79,381 shares pursuant to our stock-based compensation plans for payment of tax liabilities, of which 46,822 shares were reissued and 42,956 shares are available for reissuance pursuant to our 2010 Plan.

Preferred Stock

We are authorized to issue 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, which may be issued in one or more series, with such rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions as shall be fixed by our Board of Directors from time to time. Through June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, no preferred shares have been issued.

PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017
(unaudited)


NOTE 1415 - EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share is similarly computed, except that the denominator includes the effect, using the treasury stock method, of unvested restricted stock, outstanding SARs, stock options, convertible notes, and shares held pursuant to our non-employee director deferred compensation plan, if including such potential shares of common stock is dilutive.

The following table presents a reconciliation of the weighted-average diluted shares outstanding:

Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,Three Months Ended March 31,
2017 2016 2017 20162018 2017
(in thousands)(in thousands)
          
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic65,859
 46,742
 65,804
 44,175
65,957
 65,749
Dilutive effect of:          
Restricted stock94
 
 176
 

 211
Other equity-based awards66
 
 86
 
Convertible notes
 157
Weighted-average common shares and equivalents outstanding - diluted66,019
 46,742
 66,066
 44,175
65,957
 66,117
       

Table of contents
PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


We reported a net loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.March 31, 2018. As a result, our basic and diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding were the same for that period because the effect of the common share equivalents was anti-dilutive.

The following table presents the weighted-average common share equivalents excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share due to their anti-dilutive effect:
Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,Three Months Ended March 31,
2017 2016 2017 20162018 2017
(in thousands)(in thousands)
          
Weighted-average common share equivalents excluded from diluted earnings per share due to their anti-dilutive effect:          
Restricted stock376
 768
 119
 745
491
 76
Convertible notes
 358
 
 478

 
Other equity-based awards1
 103
 10
 105
198
 18
Total anti-dilutive common share equivalents377
 1,229
 129
 1,328
689
 94
          

In September 2016, we issued the 2021 Convertible Notes, which give the holders, at our election, the right to convert the aggregate principal amount into 2.3 million shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $85.39 per share. The 2021 Convertible Notes could be included in the diluted earnings per share calculation using the treasury stock method if the average market share price exceeds the $85.39 conversion price during the periods presented. During the three and six months ended June 30,March 31, 2018 and 2017, the average market price of our common stock did not exceed the conversion price; therefore, shares issuable upon conversion of the 2021 Convertible Notes were not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation.

In November 2010, we issued $115.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.25% convertible senior notes that were due in 2016 ("2016 Convertible Notes"), which gave the holders the right to convert the aggregate principal amount into 2.7 million shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $42.40 per share. The 2016 Convertible Notes matured in May 2016. Prior to maturity, the 2016 Convertible Notes were included in the diluted earnings per share calculation using the treasury stock method when the average market share price exceeded the $42.40 conversion price during the periods presented.

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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017
(unaudited)


NOTE 1516 - SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR

Our subsidiary PDC Permian, Inc., our wholly-owned subsidiary, guarantees our obligations under our publicly-registered Notes.senior notes. The following presents the condensed consolidating financial information separately for:

(i)PDC Energy, Inc. ("Parent"), the issuer of the guaranteed obligations, including non-material subsidiaries;
(ii)PDC Permian, Inc., the guarantor subsidiary ("Guarantor"), as specified in the indentures related to our Notes;senior notes;
(iii)Eliminations representing adjustments to (a) eliminate intercompany transactions between or among Parent, Guarantor, and our other subsidiaries and (b) eliminate the investments in our subsidiaries; and
(iv)Parent and subsidiaries on a consolidated basis ("Consolidated").

The Guarantor is 100%100 percent owned by the Parent beginning in December 2016.Parent. The Notessenior notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by the Guarantor. The guarantee is subject to release in limited circumstances only upon the occurrence of certain customary conditions. Each entity in the condensed consolidating financial information follows the same accounting policies as described in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

The following condensed consolidating financial statements have been prepared on the same basis of accounting as our condensed consolidated financial statements. Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for under the equity method. Accordingly, the entries necessary to consolidate the Parent and Guarantor are reflected in the eliminations column.


  Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
  June 30, 2017
  Parent Guarantor Eliminations Consolidated
  (in thousands)
Assets        
Current assets $381,313
 $14,905
 $
 $396,218
Properties and equipment, net 1,945,252
 2,220,320
 
 4,165,572
Intercompany receivable 120,106
 
 (120,106) 
Investment in subsidiaries 1,733,615
 
 (1,733,615) 
Goodwill 
 56,331
 
 56,331
Noncurrent assets 37,966
 841
 
 38,807
Total Assets $4,218,252
 $2,292,397
 $(1,853,721) $4,656,928
         
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity        
Current liabilities $277,443
 $53,223
 $
 $330,666
Intercompany payable 
 120,106
 (120,106) 
Long-term debt 1,049,004
 
 
 1,049,004
Other noncurrent liabilities 177,363
 373,872
 11,581
 562,816
Stockholders' equity 2,714,442
 1,745,196
 (1,745,196) 2,714,442
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $4,218,252
 $2,292,397
 $(1,853,721) $4,656,928






Table of contents
PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


 Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
 December 31, 2016 March 31, 2018
 Parent Guarantor Eliminations Consolidated Parent Guarantor Eliminations Consolidated
 (in thousands) (in thousands)
Assets        
Current assets $387,309
 $12,516
 $
 $399,825
        
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents $45,923
 $
 $
 $45,923
Accounts receivable, net 143,250
 37,775
 
 181,025
Fair value of derivatives 28,610
 
 
 28,610
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 7,116
 1,781
 
 8,897
Total current assets 224,899
 39,556
 
 264,455
Properties and equipment, net 1,889,419
 2,118,847
 
 4,008,266
 2,139,471
 2,091,786
 
 4,231,257
Assets held-for-sale, net 1,647
 
 
 1,647
Intercompany receivable 9,415
 
 (9,415) 
 294,476
 
 (294,476) 
Investment in subsidiaries 1,765,092
 
 (1,765,092) 
 1,605,330
 
 (1,605,330) 
Goodwill 
 62,041
 
 62,041
Noncurrent assets 15,539
 171
 
 15,710
Other assets 23,339
 1,459
 
 24,798
Total Assets $4,066,774
 $2,193,575
 $(1,774,507) $4,485,842
 $4,289,162
 $2,132,801
 $(1,899,806) $4,522,157
                
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity                
Current liabilities $235,121
 $35,457
 $
 $270,578
Liabilities        
Current liabilities:        
Accounts payable $113,529
 $82,174
 $
 $195,703
Production tax liability 35,309
 1,341
 
 36,650
Fair value of derivatives 110,683
 
 
 110,683
Funds held for distribution 80,203
 17,408
 
 97,611
Accrued interest payable 13,756
 4
 
 13,760
Other accrued expenses 33,136
 641
 
 33,777
Total current liabilities 386,616
 101,568
 
 488,184
Intercompany payable 
 9,415
 (9,415) 
 
 294,476
 (294,476) 
Long-term debt 1,043,954
 
 
 1,043,954
 1,154,528
 
 
 1,154,528
Other noncurrent liabilities 164,945
 383,611
 
 548,556
Deferred income taxes 62,088
 125,095
 
 187,183
Asset retirement obligations 67,922
 5,983
 
 73,905
Fair value of derivatives 26,426
 
 
 26,426
Other liabilities 94,208
 349
 
 94,557
Total liabilities 1,791,788
 527,471
 (294,476) 2,024,783
        
Commitments and contingent liabilities        
        
Stockholders' Equity        
Stockholders' equity 2,622,754
 1,765,092
 (1,765,092) 2,622,754
        
Common shares 660
 
 
 660
Additional paid-in capital 2,504,663
 1,766,777
 (1,766,777) 2,504,663
Retained earnings (6,435) (161,447) 161,447
 (6,435)
Treasury shares (1,514) 
 
 (1,514)
Total stockholders' equity 2,497,374
 1,605,330
 (1,605,330) 2,497,374
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $4,066,774
 $2,193,575
 $(1,774,507) $4,485,842
 $4,289,162
 $2,132,801
 $(1,899,806) $4,522,157

  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
  Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
  Parent Guarantor Eliminations Consolidated
  (in thousands)
         
Operating and other revenues $252,346
 $22,812
 $
 $275,158
Operating expenses 39,915
 7,700
 
 47,615
General and administrative 26,617
 2,914
 
 29,531
Depreciation depletion and amortization 108,727
 17,286
 
 126,013
Impairment of properties and equipment 531
 27,035
 
 27,566
Provision for uncollectible notes receivable (40,203) 
 
 (40,203)
Interest (expense) income (19,032) 183
 
 (18,849)
   Income (loss) before income taxes 97,727
 (31,940) 
 65,787
Income tax expense (36,285) 11,748
 
 (24,537)
Equity in loss of subsidiary (20,192) 
 20,192
 
   Net income (loss) $41,250
 $(20,192) $20,192
 $41,250

  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
  Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
  Parent Guarantor Eliminations Consolidated
  (in thousands)
         
Operating and other revenues $507,087
 $41,778
 $
 $548,865
Operating expenses 77,415
 14,380
 
 91,795
General and administrative 50,146
 5,700
 
 55,846
Depreciation depletion and amortization 210,465
 24,864
 
 235,329
Impairment of properties and equipment 1,134
 28,625
 
 29,759
Provision for uncollectible notes receivable (40,203) 
 
 (40,203)
Interest (expense) income (38,389) 313
 
 (38,076)
   Income (loss) before income taxes 169,741
 (31,478) 
 138,263
Income tax expense (62,448) 11,581
 
 (50,867)
Equity in loss of subsidiary (19,897) 
 19,897
 
   Net income (loss) $87,396
 $(19,897) $19,897
 $87,396
Table of contents
PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2017March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


  Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
  December 31, 2017
  Parent Guarantor Eliminations Consolidated
  (in thousands)
         
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents $180,675
 $
 $
 $180,675
Accounts receivable, net 160,490
 37,108
 
 197,598
Fair value of derivatives 14,338
 
 
 14,338
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 8,284
 329
 
 8,613
Total current assets 363,787
 37,437
 
 401,224
Properties and equipment, net 1,891,314
 2,042,153
 
 3,933,467
Assets held-for-sale, net 40,084
 
 
 40,084
Intercompany receivable 250,279
 
 (250,279) 
Investment in subsidiaries 1,617,537
 
 (1,617,537) 
Other assets 42,547
 2,569
 
 45,116
Total Assets $4,205,548
 $2,082,159
 $(1,867,816) $4,419,891
         
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity        
Liabilities        
Current liabilities:        
Accounts payable $85,000
 $65,067
 $
 $150,067
Production tax liability 35,902
 1,752
 
 37,654
Fair value of derivatives 79,302
 
 
 79,302
Funds held for distribution 83,898
 11,913
 
 95,811
Accrued interest payable 11,812
 3
 
 11,815
Other accrued expenses 42,543
 444
 
 42,987
Total current liabilities 338,457
 79,179
 
 417,636
Intercompany payable 
 250,279
 (250,279) 
Long-term debt 1,151,932
 
 
 1,151,932
Deferred income taxes 62,857
 129,135
 
 191,992
Asset retirement obligations 65,301
 5,705
 
 71,006
Fair value of derivatives 22,343
 
 
 22,343
Other liabilities 57,009
 324
 
 57,333
Total liabilities 1,697,899
 464,622
 (250,279) 1,912,242
         
Commitments and contingent liabilities        
         
Stockholders' Equity        
Stockholders' equity        
   Common shares 659
 
 
 659
Additional paid-in capital 2,503,294
 1,766,775
 (1,766,775) 2,503,294
Retained earnings 6,704
 (149,238) 149,238
 6,704
  Treasury shares (3,008) 
 
 (3,008)
Total stockholders' equity 2,507,649
 1,617,537
 (1,617,537) 2,507,649
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $4,205,548
 $2,082,159
 $(1,867,816) $4,419,891

Net losses
Table of the Guarantor for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 are primarily the result of the impairment of certain unproved Delaware Basin leasehold positions during the respective periods.contents
PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
  Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
  Parent Guarantor Eliminations Consolidated
  (in thousands)
         
Cash flows from operating activities $246,128
 $17,069
 $
 $263,197
Cash flows from investing activities:        
Capital expenditures for development of crude oil and natural properties (198,954) (135,452) 
 (334,406)
Capital expenditures for other properties and equipment (1,792) (507) 
 (2,299)
Acquisition of crude oil and natural gas properties, including settlement adjustments 
 5,372
 
 5,372
Proceeds from sale of properties and equipment 1,293
 
 
 1,293
Sale of promissory note 40,203
 
 
 40,203
Restricted cash (9,250) 
 
 (9,250)
Purchases of short-term investments (49,890) 
 
 (49,890)
Sales of short-term investments 49,890
 
 
 49,890
Intercompany transfers (109,923) 
 109,923
 
Net cash from investing activities (278,423) (130,587) 109,923
 (299,087)
Cash flows from financing activities:        
Proceeds from issuance of equity, net of issuance costs 
 
 
 
Purchase of treasury stock (5,274) 
 
 (5,274)
Other (627) (18) 
 (645)
Intercompany transfers 
 109,923
 (109,923) 
Net cash from financing activities (5,901) 109,905
 (109,923) (5,919)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents (38,196) (3,613) 
 (41,809)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 240,487
 3,613
 
 244,100
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $202,291
 $
 $
 $202,291
  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
  Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
  Parent Guarantor Eliminations Consolidated
  (in thousands)
         
Revenues        
Crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales $233,494
 $71,731
 $
 $305,225
Commodity price risk management loss, net (47,240) 
 
 (47,240)
Other income 2,516
 99
 
 2,615
Total revenues 188,770
 71,830
 
 260,600
Costs, expenses and other        
Lease operating expenses 21,362
 8,274
 
 29,636
Production taxes 16,081
 4,088
 
 20,169
Transportation, gathering, and processing expenses 3,231
 4,082
 
 7,313
Exploration, geologic, and geophysical expense 313
 2,333
 
 2,646
Impairment of properties and equipment 6
 33,182
 
 33,188
General and administrative expense 31,559
 4,137
 
 35,696
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 94,376
 32,412
 
 126,788
Accretion of asset retirement obligations 1,200
 88
 
 1,288
Loss on sale of properties and equipment 1,432
 
 
 1,432
Other expenses 2,768
 
 
 2,768
Total costs, expenses and other 172,328
 88,596
 
 260,924
Income (loss) from operations 16,442
 (16,766) 
 (324)
Interest expense (18,097) 568
 
 (17,529)
Interest income 148
 
 
 148
Loss before income taxes (1,507) (16,198) 
 (17,705)
Income tax benefit 577
 3,989
 
 4,566
Equity in loss of subsidiary (12,209) 
 12,209
 
Net loss $(13,139) $(12,209) $12,209
 $(13,139)


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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
  Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
  Parent Guarantor Eliminations Consolidated
  (in thousands)
         
Revenues        
Crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales $170,739
 $18,953
 $
 $189,692
Commodity price risk management gain, net 80,704
 
 
 80,704
Other income 3,297
 14
 
 3,311
Total revenues 254,740
 18,967
 
 273,707
Costs, expenses and other        
Lease operating expenses 15,816
 3,973
 
 19,789
Production taxes 11,144
 1,255
 
 12,399
Transportation, gathering, and processing expenses 5,215
 687
 
 5,902
Exploration, geologic, and geophysical expense 271
 683
 
 954
Impairment of properties and equipment 604
 1,589
 
 2,193
General and administrative expense 23,529
 2,786
 
 26,315
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 101,738
 7,578
 
 109,316
Accretion of asset retirement obligations 1,685
 83
 
 1,768
Gain on sale of properties and equipment (160) 
 
 (160)
Other expenses 3,528
 
 
 3,528
Total costs, expenses and other 163,370
 18,634
 
 182,004
Income from operations 91,370
 333
 
 91,703
Interest expense (19,597) 130
 
 (19,467)
Interest income 240
 
 
 240
Income before income taxes 72,013
 463
 
 72,476
Income tax expense (26,162) (168) 
 (26,330)
Equity in income of subsidiary 295
 
 (295) 
Net income $46,146
 $295
 $(295) $46,146


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PDC ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2018
(unaudited)


  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
  Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
  Parent Guarantor Eliminations Consolidated
  (in thousands)
         
Cash flows from operating activities $149,009
 $56,140
 $
 $205,149
Cash flows from investing activities:        
Capital expenditures for development of crude oil and natural gas properties (97,286) (99,631) 
 (196,917)
Capital expenditures for other properties and equipment (701) (365) 
 (1,066)
Acquisition of crude oil and natural gas properties, including settlement adjustments (180,825) 
 
 (180,825)
Proceeds from sale of properties and equipment 20
 
 
 20
Proceeds from divestiture 39,023
 
 
 39,023
Restricted cash 1,249
 
 
 1,249
Intercompany transfers (43,891) 
 43,891
 
Net cash from investing activities (282,411) (99,996) 43,891
 (338,516)
Cash flows from financing activities:        
Proceeds from revolving credit facility 35,000
 
 
 35,000
Repayment of revolving credit facility (35,000) 
 
 (35,000)
Purchase of treasury stock (2,255) 
 
 (2,255)
Other (344) (35) 
 (379)
Intercompany transfers 
 43,891
 (43,891) 
Net cash from financing activities (2,599) 43,856
 (43,891) (2,634)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash (136,001) 
 
 (136,001)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period 189,925
 
 
 189,925
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period $53,924
 $
 $
 $53,924

  Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
  Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
  Parent Guarantor Eliminations Consolidated
  (in thousands)
         
Cash flows from operating activities $131,661
 $7,839
 $
 $139,500
Cash flows from investing activities:        
Capital expenditures for development of crude oil and natural gas properties (82,489) (47,337) 
 (129,826)
Capital expenditures for other properties and equipment (890) 69
 
 (821)
Acquisition of crude oil and natural gas properties, including settlement adjustments 
 6,181
 
 6,181
Proceeds from sale of properties and equipment 737
 
 
 737
Purchase of short-term investments (49,890) 
 
 (49,890)
Intercompany transfers (33,795) 
 33,795
 
Net cash from investing activities (166,327) (41,087) 33,795
 (173,619)
Cash flows from financing activities:        
Purchase of treasury stock (2,017) 
 
 (2,017)
Other (330) (10) 
 (340)
Intercompany transfers 
 33,795
 (33,795) 
Net cash from financing activities (2,347) 33,785
 (33,795) (2,357)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash (37,013) 537
 
 (36,476)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period 240,487
 3,613
 
 244,100
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period $203,474
 $4,150
 $
 $207,624
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PDC ENERGY, INC.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis, as well as other sections in this report, should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report. Further, we encourage you to review the Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Production and Financial Overview

Production volumes increased to 8.0 MMboe and 14.78.9 MMboe for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively,March 31, 2018, representing increasesan increase of 54 percentand 5034 percent as compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively. The increases in production volumes were primarily attributable to the continued success of our horizontal Niobrara and Codell drilling program in the Wattenberg Field and our first full six months of production from our recently-acquired Delaware Basin properties.March 31, 2017. Crude oil production increased 6251 percent and 47 percent for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively,March 31, 2018 compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.March 31, 2017. Crude oil production comprised approximately 4043 percent and 3938 percentof total production infor the three and six months ended June 30,March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. NGLNGLs production increased 66 percent and 7020 percent for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively,March 31, 2018 compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.March 31, 2017. Natural gas production increased 4026 percent and 43 percent infor the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively,March 31, 2018 compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.March 31, 2017. On a combined basis, total liquids production comprised 63 percent and 59 percent of our total production during the three months ended June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2016, respectively, and 62 percent and 6061 percent of total production during the six months ended June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016, respectively. For the three months ended June 30, 2017, we maintained an average daily production rate of approximately 88,100 Boe per day, up from approximately 57,100 Boe per day for the three months ended June 30, 2016.March 31, 2017.

On a sequential quarterly basis, total production and crude oil production volumes for the three months ended June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018 as compared to the three months ended MarchDecember 31, 2017 increased slightly by 21three percent while crude oiland two percent, respectively. Continued high line pressures, fewer production increased by 30 percentdays, gathering line freezing issues, and unexpected gathering system facility downtime in the Wattenberg Field have temporarily tempered the growth rate in the field. These operating challenges do not impact our expected full year 2018 production outlook as discussed under 2018 Operational and Financial Outlook. High line pressures in the Wattenberg Field are expected to remain a concern until our primary third-party midstream provider completes the construction of additional processing facilities. We expect significant production growth in the Wattenberg Field during the same period. The increase in production was primarily relatedsecond half of 2018 once an additional facility is completed and on line, which is expected to 84 wells in our Wattenberg Field being turned-in-line during the first six months of 2017 and a 47 percent increase in our average daily production in the Delaware Basin from the first quarter, to approximately 10,000 Boe per day in the quarter ended June 30, 2017. We expect that we will see modest sequential production growthoccur in the third quarter of 2017 and leveling off of2018. We expect our company-wide production to increase modestly in the fourthsecond quarter of 2017, based on2018, led by the adjusted timingcontinued successful development of our Delaware Basin properties. However, our production and realized prices in the Delaware Basin may be negatively impacted by ongoing increased crude oil and natural gas takeaway capacity constraints and widening differentials. Such constraints could hinder production growth and result in further widening of price differentials for our turn-in-lines, and expected capacity considerations associated with gathering system line pressurescommodities in the Wattenberg Field.basin; however, we are currently investigating various options to mitigate this risk. In an effort to address these issues, in May 2018, we entered into an agreement for pipeline capacity for a portion of our Delaware Basin crude oil production. See Results of Operations - Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and NGLs Production for further details of this agreement.

Crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales revenue increased to $213.6$305.2 million and $403.3 millioninfor the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively,March 31, 2018 compared to $110.8$189.7 million and $186.2 million infor the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively. These 93March 31, 2017. The 61 percent and 117 percent increasesincrease in sales revenues werewas driven by the 54a 34 percentand 50 percent increases increase in production and 25a 20 percent and 44 percent increasesincrease in average realized commodity prices. The adoption of the new revenue recognition standard at January 1, 2018 did not significantly impact the change in our crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017. See the footnote titled Revenue Recognition to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report foradditional information regarding the new revenue recognition standard.

We had positivenegative net settlements from our commodity derivative contracts of $12.0$26.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 as compared to positive net settlements of $53.3$0.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016. We had positive net settlements of $12.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to positive net settlements of $120.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016. We entered into agreements for the derivative instruments that settled throughout 2016 prior to commodity prices becoming depressed in late 2014.  Substantially all of these higher-value derivatives settled by the end of 2016.  Net settlements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 reflect derivative instruments entered into since 2015, which more closely approximate recent realized prices.  Based upon the forward strip pricing at June 30, 2017, we expect that settlements will continue to be substantially lower in 2017 than in 2016.March 31, 2017.  See Results of Operations - Commodity Price Risk Management, Net for further details of our settlements of derivatives and changes in the fair value of unsettled derivatives.

The combined revenue from crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales and net settlements received on our commodity derivative instruments increased 3747 percent to $225.6$279.2 million infor the three months ended June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018 from $164.1$190.2 million infor the three months ended June 30, 2016, and increased 36 percent to $415.9 million inMarch 31, 2017.
During the sixthree months ended June 30, 2017, from $306.3March 31, 2018, we recorded impairment charges totaling $33.2 million, inprimarily related to certain unproved Delaware Basin leasehold positions that expired during the sixthree months ended June 30, 2016.
March 31, 2018.

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PDC ENERGY, INC.

DuringFor the three months ended June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, we impaired certain unprovedgenerated a net loss of $13.1 million or $0.20 per diluted share. Our net loss was most negatively impacted by the commodity price risk management loss and the aforementioned Delaware Basin leasehold positions totaling $27.0 million that expired during the three months ending June 30, 2017, or are projected to expire between June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2017.  Subsequent to closing the acquisitions in the Delaware Basin, it was determined that development of certain acreage tracts would not meet our internal expectations for acceptable rates of return due to a combination of weakening commodity prices; higher per well development and operational costs; and updated technical analysis.  As a result, we allowed or expect to allow certain acreage to expire, and in other circumstances we were unable to obtain necessary lease term extensions. As of June 30, 2017, our current leasehold position in the Delaware Basin is approximately 60,000 net acres.

In the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, we generated net income of $41.2 million and $87.4 million, respectively, or$0.62 and $1.32 per diluted share, respectively.impairments. During the same periods,period, our adjusted EBITDAX, a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, was $200.4$190.1 million, and $330.6 million, respectively. Our net income and adjusted EBITDAX were positively impacted by the sale of the $40.2 million Promissory Note and the collection of the related cash proceeds in April 2017, as further described below in Results of Operations - Provision for Uncollectible Notes Receivable. Beginning in 2017, we have included non-cash stock-based compensation and exploration, geologic and geophysical expense in our reconciliation of adjusted EBITDAX.  In prior periods, we included adjusted EBITDA, a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, which did not include these adjustments.  All prior periods have been conformed for comparability of this updated presentation. Inup 46 percent from the three and six months ended June 30, 2016,March 31, 2017. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, our net lossincome per diluted share was $2.04 and $3.78, respectively,$0.70 and our adjusted EBITDAX a non-GAAP financial measure, was $122.4$130.2 million. The increase in our adjusted EBITDAX for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017 was primarily due to the increase in crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales of $115.5 million. These increases were partially offset by an increase in operating costs of $28.4 million and $180.2 million, respectively.a decrease in commodity derivative settlements of $26.6 million. Our cash flowflows from operations was $263.2were $205.1 million and our adjusted cash flow from operations, a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, was $256.6$174.9 million infor the sixthree months ended June 30, 2017.March 31, 2018. See Reconciliation of Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures, below, for a more detailed discussion of these non-U.S. GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation of these measures to the most comparable U.S. GAAP measures.

Liquidity

Available liquidity as of June 30, 2017March 31, 2018, was $902.3$745.9 million, which iswas comprised of $202.3$45.9 million of cash and cash equivalents and $700.0$700 million available for borrowing under our revolving credit facility at our current commitment level. Based on our current production forecast for the remainder of 2018 and assuming averages of approximately $62.00 NYMEX crude oil price for the year and a $2.85 NYMEX natural gas price, less the associated differential, we expect 2018 capital investments to exceed our 2018 cash flows from operations by approximately $65 million. We anticipate that the proceeds received from the sale of our Utica Shale assets and an amendment to a midstream dedication agreement will fund this outspend. We expect decreases in ourthis outspend to occur during the first half of 2018, with cash balance over the course of 2017 as we continue planned development in the core Wattenberg Field and furtherflows exceeding capital investment induring the second half of the year. As a result, we expect to be undrawn on our Delaware Basin assets.credit facility at December 31, 2018.

We intend to continue to manage our liquidity position by a variety of means, including through the generation of cash flows from operations, investment in projects with attractive rates of return, protection of cash flows on a portion of our anticipated sales through the use of an active commodity derivative hedging program, potential utilization of our borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility, and whenif warranted, capital markets transactions from time to time.

Acquisitions and Divestitures

Bayswater Acquisition. In January 2018, we closed the Bayswater Acquisition for $201.8 million, subject to certain customary post-closing adjustments. See the footnote titled Business Combination to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report for further details regarding the Bayswater Acquisition.

Utica Shale Divestiture. In March 2018, we completed the Utica Shale Divestiture for net cash proceeds of approximately $39 million, subject to certain customary post-closing adjustments. We do not believe the divestiture of these assets will have a material impact on our results of operations or reserves. See the footnote titled Properties and Equipment to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report for further details regarding the Utica Shale Divestiture.

Operational Overview

During the sixthree months ended June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, we continued to execute our strategic plan to grow production while preserving our financial strength and liquidity. During the second quarter of 2017,three months ended March 31, 2018, we operated fourran three drilling rigs in the Wattenberg Field and briefly ran four drilling rigs in the Delaware Basin. Our drilling efficiencyBasin while we swapped out a rig to focus on improved drill times before returning to three rigs. We expect to maintain a three rig count in both the Wattenberg Field over the last two quarters has resulted in shorter drill cycle times; therefore, we expect to decrease our rig count to three rigs beginning in the fourth quarter of 2017. Because of the shorter drill times, the impact of the reduced rig count on our expected turn-in-line count in the Wattenberg Field is expected to be minimal in 2017. Inand the Delaware Basin one rig contract expired in August 2017, and we expect to utilize three drilling rigs throughduring the endremainder of 2017. Our active drilling program in the Delaware Basin in the first half of 2017 provided us with a degree of flexibility with respect to holding acreage in the area on a near-term basis and allows us to shift immediate focus to improving drill cycle times and the per well costs of our Delaware Basin wells.

2018.
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PDC ENERGY, INC.




The following tables summarizes our drilling and completion activity for the sixthree months ended June 30, 2017:March 31, 2018:

  Wells Operated by PDC
  Wattenberg Field Delaware Basin Total
   Gross  Net Gross Net Gross Net
In-process as of December 31, 2016 64
 52.7
 5
 4.8
 69
 57.5
Wells spud 73
 65.7
 12
 11.0
 85
 76.7
Wells turned-in-line to sales (72) (59.2) (9) (8.7) (81) (67.9)
In-process as of June 30, 2017 65
 59.2
 8
 7.1
 73
 66.3
  Wells Operated by PDC
  Wattenberg Field Delaware Basin Total
   Gross  Net Gross Net Gross Net
In-process as of December 31, 2017 87
 80.1
 13
 12.2
 100
 92.3
Wells spud 35
 32.7
 8
 6.8
 43
 39.5
Acquired DUCs (1) 12
 11.0
 
 
 12
 11.0
Wells turned-in-line (29) (26.8) (7) (6.5) (36) (33.3)
In-process as of March 31, 2018 105
 97.0
 14
 12.5
 119
 109.5

  Wells Operated by Others
  Wattenberg Field Delaware Basin Total
   Gross  Net Gross Net Gross Net
In-process as of December 31, 2016 18
 3.4
 
 
 18
 3.4
Wells spud 71
 9.0
 3
 0.8
 74
 9.8
Wells turned-in-line to sales (12) (1.9) 
 
 (12) (1.9)
In-process as of June 30, 2017 77
 10.5
 3
 0.8
 80
 11.3
  Wells Operated by Others
  Wattenberg Field Delaware Basin Total
   Gross  Net Gross Net Gross Net
In-process as of December 31, 2017 14
 2.6
 8
 1.0
 22
 3.6
Wells spud 22
 3.7
 3
 0.1
 25
 3.8
Acquired DUCs (operated at March 31, 2018) (1) (3) (1.5) 
 
 (3) (1.5)
Wells turned-in-line (4) (0.3) (2) (0.7) (6) (1.0)
In-process as of March 31, 2018 29
 4.5
 9
 0.4
 38
 4.9

______________

(1) Represents DUCs that we acquired with the Bayswater Acquisition in January 2018.
Our in-process wells represent wells that are in the process of being drilled and/or have been drilled and are waiting to be fractured and/or for gas pipeline connection. Our drilled but uncompleted wells ("DUCs")DUCs are generally completed and turned in-line to sales within three to nine months of drilling. The majority of the in-process wells at each period end are DUCs, as we do not begin the completion process until the entire well pad is drilled. As we continue to monitor our capital investment and due to the efficiencies gained by our operating team in the Wattenberg Field, we expect that we will have an increase of approximately 25 wells in our in-process well count at December 31, 2017, as compared to December 31, 2016, resulting from faster than expected drill cycle times. All appropriate costs incurred through the end of the period have been capitalized, while the capital investment to complete the wells will be incurred in the period in which the wells are completed.

20172018 Operational and Financial Outlook

Based onAs previously disclosed, we expect our revised timingproduction for 2018 to range between 38 MMBoe and the estimated productivity of wells associated with our capital investment program, we42 MMBoe, or approximately 104,000 Boe to 115,000 Boe per day. We currently believe that our 2017 production will be approximately 32 MMBoe. We expect that approximately 4042 to 45 percent of our 20172018 production will be crude oil and approximately 2319 to 22 percent will be NGLs, for total liquids of approximately 6361 to 67 percent. The anticipated percentageOur 2018 capital forecast of production from NGLs has increased due to the success of field recovery effortsbetween $850 million and improved yields by our third-party processors$920 million is focused on continued execution in the Wattenberg Field.Field and Delaware Basin with three drilling rigs and one completion crew in each basin throughout the year.

We expectbelieve that we maintain significant operational flexibility to control the pace of our capital expenditures to be approximately $800 million in 2017, an estimate thatspending.  As we execute our capital investment program, we continually monitor, among other things, commodity prices, development costs, midstream capacity, and offset and continuous drilling obligations.  While we have increasedstarted to account for higher per well costsexperience service cost increases, certain drilling efficiencies are helping to offset these increases. Should commodity pricing or the operating environment deteriorate, we may determine that an adjustment to our development plan is appropriate.  We believe we have ample opportunities to reduce capital spending in order to stay within the range of our capital investment plan, including but not limited to reducing the number of rigs being utilized in our drilling program and/or managing our completion schedule.  This flexibility is more limited in the Delaware Basin and increases in the total expected number of wells to be spud in the Wattenberg Field during the year. We also added a third and fourth rig in the first quarter of 2017 in the Delaware Basin, which was sooner than initially contemplated in our budget, in order to protect certaingiven leasehold positions and to create greater future operational flexibility. This flexibility as it relates to holding acreage in the Delaware Basin is particularly important given the volatility of commodity prices and potential further service cost increases in the Delaware Basin as it should allow us to adjust our drilling program to two rigs in this area if necessary for a period of time without risk of losing significant additional acreage.

Further, some additional capital investment has been included in our forecast for an anticipated Wattenberg Field acreage trade that would, if completed, increase our working interest in certain wells. The trade is expected to close in the second half of 2017.maintenance requirements.

Wattenberg Field. The 2017We are drilling in the Niobrara and Codell plays within the field and anticipate spudding and turning-in-line approximately 135 to 150 operated wells in 2018. Our 2018 capital investment forecast has been reducedprogram is estimated to be approximately $450$470 million to $500 million in the Wattenberg Field, with three rigs runningof which approximately 90 percent is anticipated to be invested in operated drilling and completion activity. The remainder of the fourth quarter of 2017. Approximately $445 million of our 2017Wattenberg Field capital investment program is expected to be used for non-operated wells and miscellaneous workover and capital projects.

Delaware Basin. Total capital investment in the Delaware Basin in 2018 is estimated to be approximately $380 million to $420 million, of which approximately 75 percent is allocated to development activities, comprisedboth spud and turn-in-line approximately 25 to 30 operated wells targeting the Wolfcamp formation.  Based on the timing of approximately $425 million for our operated drillingoperations and requirements to hold acreage, we may adapt our capital investment program and approximately $20 million forto drill wells drilled and operated by others. The remainderdifferent from or in addition to those currently anticipated, as we are continuing to analyze the terms of the relevant leases. We plan to invest approximately 10 percent of our capital for leasing, non-operated capital, seismic, and technical studies, with an additional approximately 15 percent for midstream-related
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PDC ENERGY, INC.

Wattenberg Field capital investment program is expected to be used for miscellaneous well equipmentprojects, including oil and capital projects. Wellsgas gathering systems and water supply and disposal systems.    In addition, we are in the Wattenberg Field typically have productive horizons at a depthprocess of approximately 6,500 to 7,500 feet below the surface. In 2017, our revised investment forecast anticipates spudding approximately 155 and turning-in-line approximately 133 horizontal operated wells with lateral lengths of 4,000 to 10,000 feet.

Delaware Basin. Our 2017 investment forecast contemplates the operation of a three-rig program for the remainder of 2017 in the Delaware Basin. Total capital investment in the Delaware Basin has been increased to approximately $345 million, of which approximately $285 million is allocated to spud 24 and turn-in-line an estimated 20 wells. Expected per well drilling costs in the Delaware Basin have increased by approximately 15 to 20 percent during the second quarter of 2017 as compared to the first quarter of 2017, primarily due to higher costs of services and supplies and longer than anticipated drill cycle times.  To enhance our understanding of the geology in the Delaware Basin, we initiated various engineering studies on most of our Delaware Basin wells, including expanded depth pilot holes and logging/seismic services. These studies are providing important information to our operating team; however, they have come with additional unexpected costs. Additionally, mechanical issues have resulted in cost overruns for certain wells. Of the 20 planned turn-in-lines during 2017, 9 are expected to have extended laterals of approximately 10,000 horizontal feet with an estimated 70 to 75 completion stages per well. Similarly spaced completion stages are anticipated for the remaining 11 turn-in-lines. Wells in the Delaware Basin typically have productive horizons at a depth of approximately 9,000 to 11,000 feet below the surface. We plan to invest approximately $15 million for leasing, seismic, and technical studies with an additional $35 million for midstream-related projects including gas connections and surface location infrastructure. The remaining $10 million of the Delaware Basin capital investment program is expected to be used for non-operated capital projects.

We expect to incur costs associated with the purchase of seismic data and pilot hole exploratory work in the Delaware Basin, which will be accounted for as exploration, geologic, and geophysical expense. We estimate that this will result in approximately $5 million to $10 million of exploration expense in 2017.

Utica Shale. As a result of our evaluation ofevaluating our strategic alternatives with respect to our Utica Shale position,midstream assets in the Delaware Basin.

Financial Guidance.
The following table provides projected financial guidance for the year ended December 31, 2018:
 Low High
Operating Expenses
Lease operating expenses ($/Boe)$2.75
 $3.00
Transportation, gathering, and processing expenses ("TGP") ($/Boe)$0.60
 $0.80
Production taxes (% of crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales)6% 8%
General and administrative expense ($/Boe)$3.40
 $3.70
    
Estimated Price Realizations (% of NYMEX, excludes TGP)
Crude oil91% 95%
Natural gas55% 60%
NGLs30% 35%

Colorado Ballot Initiative Update

As previously disclosed, certain interest groups opposed to oil and natural gas development generally, and hydraulic fracturing in particular, from time to time advance various ballot initiatives in Colorado that, if implemented, would significantly limit or prevent oil and natural gas development in the state. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors - Risks Relating to Our Business and the Industry-Changes in laws and regulations applicable to us could increase our costs, impose additional operating restrictions or have other adverse effects on us” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. In particular, we are working towardaware of a divestiture of these properties during 2017. As of June 30, 2017, these assets didpotential “setback” initiative that would require all new oil and gas development facilities, including wells, to be located at least 2,500 feet away from any occupied structures or other designated areas. Another initiative would increase severance taxes on oil and natural gas production in Colorado. We do not know whether either initiative will meet the accounting criteria to be classified as held-for-sale; therefore, they continuesignature requirements to be included in properties and equipment on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. Subsequent to June 30, 2017, we engaged an investment banking group to assist in marketing the Utica properties for sale; therefore, these operations are expected to be classified as held-for-sale upon meeting the criteria for such classification in the third quarter of 2017.November ballot.





 
PDC ENERGY, INC.

Results of Operations

Summary Operating Results

The following table presents selected information regarding our operating results:
Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,Three Months Ended March 31,
2017 2016 Percentage Change 2017 2016 Percentage Change2018 2017 Percentage Change
(dollars in millions, except per unit data)(dollars in millions, except per unit data)
Production                
Crude oil (MBbls)3,237
 1,993
 62.4 % 5,745
 3,900
 47.3 %3,798
 2,508
 51.4 %
Natural gas (MMcf)17,783
 12,673
 40.3 % 33,367
 23,351
 42.9 %19,587
 15,584
 25.7 %
NGLs (MBbls)1,814
 1,092
 66.1 % 3,357
 1,975
 70.0 %1,846
 1,543
 19.6 %
Crude oil equivalent (MBoe)8,015
 5,197
 54.2 % 14,663
 9,767
 50.1 %8,908
 6,648
 34.0 %
Average Boe per day (Boe)88,078
 57,111
 54.2 % 81,011
 53,664
 50.9 %98,980
 73,866
 20.1 %
Crude Oil, Natural Gas and NGLs Sales                
Crude oil$148.8
 $80.4
 85.1 % $271.8
 $134.4
 102.2 %$226.4
 $123.0
 84.1 %
Natural gas38.3
 17.4
 120.1 % 75.3
 32.3
 133.1 %38.6
 36.9
 4.6 %
NGLs26.5
 13.0
 103.8 % 56.2
 19.5
 188.2 %40.2
 29.8
 34.9 %
Total crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales$213.6
 $110.8
 92.8 % $403.3
 $186.2
 116.6 %$305.2
 $189.7
 60.9 %
                
Net Settlements on Commodity Derivatives                
Crude oil$5.1
 $38.7
 (86.8)% $1.9
 $92.0
 (97.9)%$(27.0) $(3.2) *
Natural gas6.8
 14.6
 (53.4)% 10.6
 28.1
 (62.3)%2.7
 3.7
 (27.0)%
NGLs (propane portion)0.1
 
 *
 0.1
 
 *
(1.7) 
 *
Total net settlements on derivatives$12.0
 $53.3
 (77.5)% $12.6
 $120.1
 (89.5)%$(26.0) $0.5
 *
                
Average Sales Price (excluding net settlements on derivatives)Average Sales Price (excluding net settlements on derivatives)        Average Sales Price (excluding net settlements on derivatives)  
Crude oil (per Bbl)$45.97
 $40.37
 13.9 % $47.31
 $34.46
 37.3 %$59.62
 $49.04
 21.6 %
Natural gas (per Mcf)2.16
 1.37
 57.7 % 2.26
 1.38
 63.8 %1.97
 2.37
 (16.9)%
NGLs (per Bbl)14.59
 11.93
 22.3 % 16.75
 9.89
 69.4 %21.80
 19.29
 13.0 %
Crude oil equivalent (per Boe)26.65
 21.33
 24.9 % 27.50
 19.07
 44.2 %34.26
 28.53
 20.1 %
                
Average Costs and Expenses (per Boe)                
Lease operating expenses$2.50
 $2.63
 (4.9)% $2.72
 $2.97
 (8.4)%$3.33
 $2.98
 11.7 %
Production taxes1.88
 1.16
 62.1 % 1.87
 1.04
 79.8 %2.26
 1.87
 20.9 %
Transportation, gathering and processing expenses0.81
 0.86
 (5.8)% 0.84
 0.87
 (3.4)%
Transportation, gathering, and processing expenses0.82
 0.89
 (7.9)%
General and administrative expense3.68
 4.54
 (18.9)% 3.81
 4.75
 (19.8)%4.01
 3.96
 1.3 %
Depreciation, depletion and amortization15.72
 20.59
 (23.7)% 16.05
 20.93
 (23.3)%
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization14.23
 16.44
 (13.4)%
                
Lease Operating Expenses by Operating Region (per Boe)Lease Operating Expenses by Operating Region (per Boe)          Lease Operating Expenses by Operating Region (per Boe)    
Wattenberg Field$2.22
 $2.66
 (16.5)% $2.42
 $3.00
 (19.3)%$3.02
 $2.66
 13.5 %
Delaware Basin4.88
 
 *
 5.53
 
 *
4.44
 6.48
 (31.5)%
Utica Shale(1)1.34
 2.08
 (35.6)% 1.48
 2.28
 (35.1)%3.46
 1.60
 116.3 %

*Percentage change is not meaningful.
Amounts may not recalculate due to rounding.

_________________
(1) In March 2018, we completed the sale of our Utica Shale properties.



PDC ENERGY, INC.

Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and NGLs Sales

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales revenue increased compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2016March 31, 2017 due to the following (in millions):

June 30, 2017Three Months Ended
Three Months Ended Six Months EndedMarch 31, 2018
(in millions)(in millions)
Increase in production$65.9
 $91.1
$78.6
Increase in average crude oil price18.2
 73.8
40.2
Increase in average natural gas price13.9
 29.2
Decrease in average natural gas price(7.9)
Increase in average NGLs price4.8
 23.0
4.6
Total increase in crude oil, natural gas and NGLs sales revenue$102.8
 $217.1
$115.5

Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and NGLs Production

The following tables presenttable presents crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs production. Our acquisitions of assets in the Delaware Basin closed in December 2016; therefore, there is no comparative data for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016:
 Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, Three Months Ended March 31,
Production by Operating Region 2017 2016 Percentage Change 2017 2016 Percentage Change 2018 2017 Percentage Change
Crude oil (MBbls)                  
Wattenberg Field 2,798
 1,894
 47.7 % 4,940
 3,712
 33.1 % 2,881
 2,142
 34.5 %
Delaware Basin 364
 
 *
 639
 
 *
 871
 275
 *
Utica Shale 75
 99
 (24.4)% 166
 188
 (12.1)%
Utica Shale (1) 46
 91
 (49.5)%
Total 3,237
 1,993
 62.4 % 5,745
 3,900
 47.3 % 3,798
 2,508
 51.4 %
Natural gas (MMcf)                  
Wattenberg Field 15,192
 12,098
 25.6 % 28,906
 22,268
 29.8 % 15,524
 13,714
 13.2 %
Delaware Basin 2,025
 
 *
 3,271
 
 *
 3,649
 1,246
 *
Utica Shale 566
 575
 (1.6)% 1,190
 1,083
 9.9 %
Utica Shale (1) 414
 624
 (33.7)%
Total 17,783
 12,673
 40.3 % 33,367
 23,351
 42.9 % 19,587
 15,584
 25.7 %
NGLs (MBbls)                  
Wattenberg Field 1,551
 1,047
 48.1 % 2,909
 1,888
 54.1 % 1,428
 1,358
 5.2 %
Delaware Basin 212
 
 *
 343
 
 *
 383
 131
 *
Utica Shale 51
 45
 11.9 % 105
 87
 19.8 %
Utica Shale (1) 35
 54
 (35.2)%
Total 1,814
 1,092
 66.1 % 3,357
 1,975
 70.0 % 1,846
 1,543
 19.6 %
Crude oil equivalent (MBoe)                  
Wattenberg Field 6,882
 4,957
 38.8 % 12,667
 9,311
 36.0 % 6,896
 5,786
 19.2 %
Delaware Basin 914
 
 *
 1,527
 
 *
 1,862
 613
 *
Utica Shale 219
 240
 (8.5)% 469
 456
 2.8 %
Utica Shale (1) 150
 249
 (39.8)%
Total 8,015
 5,197
 54.2 % 14,663
 9,767
 50.1 % 8,908
 6,648
 34.0 %
Average crude oil equivalent per day (Boe)            Average crude oil equivalent per day (Boe)    
Wattenberg Field 75,621
 54,478
 38.8 % 69,984
 51,159
 36.8 % 76,623
 64,288
 19.2 %
Delaware Basin 10,047
 
 *
 8,437
 
 *
 20,690
 6,811
 *
Utica Shale 2,410
 2,633
 (8.5)% 2,590
 2,505
 3.4 %
Utica Shale (1) 1,667
 2,767
 (39.8)%
Total 88,078
 57,111
 54.2 % 81,011
 53,664
 51.0 % 98,980
 73,866
 34.0 %
* Percentage change is not meaningful.
Amounts may not recalculate due to rounding.
_________________
(1) In March 2018, we completed the sale of our Utica Shale properties.
PDC ENERGY, INC.


The following table presents our crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs production ratio by operating region:
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
         
  Crude Oil Natural Gas NGLs Total
Wattenberg Field 42% 37% 21% 100%
Delaware Basin 47% 32% 21% 100%
         
Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
         
  Crude Oil Natural Gas NGLs Total
Wattenberg Field 37% 40% 23% 100%
Delaware Basin 45% 34% 21% 100%

Wattenberg Field.In the Wattenberg Field, we rely on third-party midstream service providers to construct gathering, compression, and processing facilities to keep pace with our and the overall field's natural gas production growth. From time to time,During the three months ended March 31, 2018, our production has beenwas adversely affectedimpacted by high line pressures on the gas gathering facilities, primarily due to higher ambient temperatures and increases in field-wide production volumes. In 2015, our primary midstream service provider added additional facilities which significantly reduced production constraints from late 2015 to mid-2017. However, we are
PDC ENERGY, INC.

starting to experiencevolumes, gathering line freezes that occur more often at higher line pressures, due primarily to continued growth in field-wideand unexpected facility downtime. Line pressures did not materially affect our production volumes. As a result, we anticipate higherduring the three months ended March 31, 2017. During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, 97 percent and 91 percent, respectively, of our production curtailments in the second half of 2017 and through most of 2018 until our primary midstream provider completes construction of an additional midstream plant and facilities. We believe that our 2017 production guidance range appropriately reflects the foreseeable impact of such higher gathering line pressures in the Wattenberg Field;Field was delivered from horizontal wells, with the remaining production coming from vertical wells. The horizontal wells are less prone to curtailments than the vertical wells because they are newer and have greater producing capacity and higher formation pressures and therefore tend to be more resilient to gas system pressure issues; however, such curtailment estimations may differ fromall of our wells in the actual impactfield are currently experiencing some impact. We expect to production duecontinue to incremental uncertainties.operate in a constrained environment into the third quarter of 2018, at which time additional processing capacity is scheduled to be brought into operation by DCP Midstream, LP ("DCP").

We continue to work closely with our third partythird-party midstream providers in an effort to ensure that adequate midstream system capacity is available going forward in the Wattenberg Field. For example, weWe, along with other operators, have made a commitment with DCP Midstream, LP ("DCP") in December 2016 in connection with DCP'sto support its construction of two additional gathering, compression, and processing facilities with associated gathering and compression in the field. This expansion isThese expansions are expected to increase DCP's system capacity, assist in the control of line pressures on its natural gas gathering facilities, and reduce production curtailments in the field. We will be bound to the incremental volume requirements in this agreementthese agreements for a period of seven years beginning on the first day of the calendar month after the actual in-service datedates of the plant,plants, which isare currently expectedscheduled to occur in late 2018.the third quarter of 2018 and in the second quarter of 2019, respectively. The agreement imposesagreements impose a baseline volume commitment and we are required for the first three years of the contract to guarantee a certain target profit margin to DCP on thesethose volumes sold.during the initial three years of the contracts. Under our current drilling plans and in the current commodity pricing environment, we expect to meet both the baseline and incremental volume commitments, and we believe that the contractual target profit margin will be achieved without an additional payment from us. See the footnote titled Commitments and Contingencies to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report for additional details regarding the agreement.agreements. In addition, we have begun early discussions with DCP with respect to further increasing its processing facilities in the Wattenberg Field. We also seekcontinue to negotiate construction of incremental projects designed to add capacity towork with our primary third-partyother midstream service provider'sproviders in the field in an effort to ensure all of the existing infrastructure is fully utilized and that all options for system between major new facility expansions.

expansions are evaluated and implemented, where possible. The ultimate timing and availability of adequate infrastructure is not within our control and if our midstream service provider’sproviders' construction projects are delayed, we could experience higher gathering line pressures that maywould negatively impact our ability to fulfillmeet our growth plans. Total systemproduction targets.

Delaware Basin. Due to prolific development and the resulting increased production in the Delaware Basin, product takeaway infrastructure performancedownstream of in-field gathering and processing is nearing capacity. We are dependent upon third parties to construct additional facilities. This has the potential to lead to near term production constraints until new capacity is added, which we expect to occur in the second half of 2019. As a result, our production may also be affected bynegatively impacted from time to time. We have the option to transport a numberportion of other factors,our crude oil production via truck or rail; however, doing so would decrease the realized prices we receive. A current trucking shortage in the basin could result in increased differentials. In May 2018, we executed a firm sales agreement for a significant portion of our Delaware Basin crude oil production with the marketing division of a large international energy company. The agreement is effective June 1, 2018 and runs through December 31, 2023 and provides for firm physical takeaway for approximately 85 percent of our forecasted 2018 and 2019 Delaware Basin crude oil volumes. The agreement is expected to provide us with price diversification through realization of export market pricing via a Corpus Christi terminal and exposure to Brent-weighted prices. Taking the effect of this agreement into account, we currently expect to realize between 88 and 92 percent of NYMEX pricing for our Delaware Basin production through 2018 and 2019, after including potential additional increases in production from the Wattenberg Field.

transportation, gathering, and processing expenses.
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PDC ENERGY, INC.


Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and NGLs Pricing

Our results of operations depend upon many factors. Key factors areinclude the price of crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs and our ability to market our production effectively. Crude oil, natural gas, and NGLNGLs prices have a high degree of volatility and our realizations can change substantially. Our realizedsales prices for crude oil natural gas, and NGLs increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.March 31, 2017. NYMEX average daily crude oil prices increased 621 percent and 27 percent, andNYMEX first-of-the-month natural gas prices increased 63decreased 12 percent and 61 percent, respectively, as compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2016. The realized NGL prices in the Wattenberg Field are reflected in the tables below, net of the processing and transport costs that are embedded in the applicable percent-of-proceeds contracts, as are a portion of our Delaware Basin NGL sales.March 31, 2017.

The following tables present weighted-average sales prices of crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs for the periods presented. Our acquisitions of assets in the Delaware Basin closed in December 2016; therefore, there is no comparative data for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016:

  Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
 Weighted-Average Realized Sales Price by Operating Region     Percentage Change     Percentage Change
(excluding net settlements on derivatives) 2017 2016  2017 2016 
Crude oil (per Bbl)            
Wattenberg Field $46.19
 $40.41
 14.3% $47.46
 $34.51
 37.5%
Delaware Basin 44.81
 
 *
 46.73
 
 *
Utica Shale 43.19
 39.57
 9.1% 45.05
 33.44
 34.7%
Weighted-average price 45.97
 40.37
 13.9% 47.31
 34.46
 37.3%
 Natural gas (per Mcf)            
Wattenberg Field $2.24
 $1.36
 64.7% $2.30
 $1.38
 66.7%
Delaware Basin 1.37
 
 *
 1.60
 
 *
Utica Shale 2.76
 1.58
 74.7% 2.88
 1.51
 90.7%
Weighted-average price 2.16
 1.37
 57.7% 2.26
 1.38
 63.8%
NGLs (per Bbl)            
Wattenberg Field $14.13
 $11.87
 19.0% $16.24
 $9.78
 66.1%
Delaware Basin 17.33
 
 *
 19.33
 
 *
Utica Shale 17.10
 13.27
 28.9% 22.58
 12.29
 83.7%
Weighted-average price 14.59
 11.93
 22.3% 16.75
 9.89
 69.4%
Crude oil equivalent (per Boe)            
Wattenberg Field $26.91
 $21.27
 26.5% $27.50
 $19.03
 44.5%
Delaware Basin 24.91
 
 *
 27.32
 
 *
Utica Shale 25.72
 22.59
 13.9% 28.29
 19.75
 43.2%
Weighted-average price 26.65
 21.33
 24.9% 27.50
 19.07
 44.2%
* Percentage change is not meaningful.
  Three Months Ended March 31,
 Weighted-Average Realized Sales Price by Operating Region     Percentage Change
(excluding net settlements on derivatives) 2018 2017 
Crude oil (per Bbl)      
Wattenberg Field $59.13
 $49.12
 20.4 %
Delaware Basin 61.34
 49.28
 24.5 %
Utica Shale (1) 58.10
 46.55
 24.8 %
Weighted-average price 59.62
 49.04
 21.6 %
 Natural gas (per Mcf)      
Wattenberg Field $1.92
 $2.38
 (19.3)%
Delaware Basin 2.10
 1.98
 6.1 %
Utica Shale (1) 2.68
 2.98
 (10.1)%
Weighted-average price 1.97
 2.37
 (16.9)%
NGLs (per Bbl)      
Wattenberg Field $20.14
 $18.64
 8.0 %
Delaware Basin 27.76
 22.58
 22.9 %
Utica Shale (1) 24.29
 27.75
 (12.5)%
Weighted-average price 21.80
 19.29
 13.0 %
Crude oil equivalent (per Boe)      
Wattenberg Field $33.18
 $28.19
 17.7 %
Delaware Basin 38.52
 30.93
 24.5 %
Utica Shale (1) 30.98
 30.55
 1.4 %
Weighted-average price 34.26
 28.53
 20.1 %
Amounts may not recalculate due to rounding.
_________________
(1) In March 2018, we completed the sale of our Utica Shale properties.

Crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs revenues are recognized when we have transferred control of crude oil, natural gas, or NGLs production to the purchaser. We consider the transfer of control to have occurred when the purchaser has the ability to direct the use of, and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits, from the crude oil, natural gas, or NGLs production. We record sales revenue based on an estimate of the volumes delivered at estimated prices as determined by the applicable sales agreement. We estimate our sales volumes based on company-measured volume readings. We then adjust our crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales in subsequent periods based on the data received from our purchasers that reflects actual volumes and prices received.

Our crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales are recorded underusing either the “net-back” or "gross" method of accounting, depending upon the related purchase agreement. We use the net-back method when control of accounting forthe crude oil, natural gas, andor NGLs as well as the majority of our crude oil production from the Wattenberg Field, for all of our crude oil, NGLs, and a portion of our natural gas in the Delaware Basin, and for crude oil from the Utica Shale, ashas been transferred to the purchasers of these commodities also providethat are providing transportation, gathering, andor processing services. In these situations, the purchaser pays us proceeds based on a percent of the proceeds or have fixed our sales price at index less specified deductions. We sell our commodities at the wellhead, or what is equivalent to the wellhead in situations where we gather multiple wells into larger pads, and collect a price and recognize revenues based on the wellhead sales price, as transportation and processing costs downstream of the wellhead are incurred by the purchaser and therefore embedded in the wellhead price. The net-back method results in the recognition of a net sales price that is lower than the indices for which the production is based because the operating costs and profit of the midstream facilities are embedded in the net price we earn.

are paid.
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PDC ENERGY, INC.


We use the gross method of accounting for Wattenberg Fieldwhen control of the crude oil, delivered through certain pipelines, a portion of our natural gas, in the Delaware Basin, and for natural gas andor NGLs sales relatedis not transferred to production from the Utica Shale, as the purchasers doand the purchaser does not provide transportation, gathering, or processing services as a function of the price we earn.receive. Rather, we contract separately with midstream providers for the applicable transport and processing based on a per unit basis. Under this method, we recognize revenues based on the gross selling price and recognize transportation, gathering, and processing expenses.

We adopted a new revenue recognition accounting standard effective January 1, 2018. Under the guidance of the new revenue recognition standard, certain crude oil sales in the Wattenberg Field that were recognized using the gross method prior to the adoption of the new revenue standard will be recognized using the net-back method. In the Delaware Basin, certain crude oil and natural gas sales that were recognized using the gross method prior to the adoption of the new revenue standard will be recognized using the net-back method. If we had adopted the standard on January 1, 2017, we estimate that the average realization percentage before transportation, gathering, and processing expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2017 would have been 93 percent, 71 percent, and 37 percent for crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs, respectively, as $2.5 million in expenses currently recorded in transportation, gathering, and processing expense on our condensed consolidated statements of operations for that period would, in that case, have been reflected as a reduction to the sales price. However, the net realized price would remain unchanged.

As discussed above, we enter into agreements for the sale and transportation, gathering, and processing of our production, the terms of which can result in variances in the per unit realized prices that we receive for our crude oil, natural gas and NGLs. Information related to the components and classifications in the condensed consolidated statements of operations is shown below. For crude oil, the average NYMEX prices shown below are based upon average daily prices throughout each month and our natural gas average NYMEX pricing is based upon first-of-the-month index prices as this is the method used to sell the majority of each of these commodities pursuant to terms of the respective sales agreements.  For NGLs, we use the NYMEX crude oil price as a reference for presentation purposes. The average realized price both before and after transportation, gathering, and processing expenses shown in the table below represents our approximate composite per barrel price for NGLs.
For the three months ended
June 30, 2017
 Average NYMEX Price Average Realization Percentage Before Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses Average Realized Price Before Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses Average Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses Average Realized Price After Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses
Crude oil (per Bbl) $48.28
 95% $45.97
 $1.38
 $44.59
Natural gas (per MMBtu) 3.18
 68% 2.16
 0.08
 2.08
NGLs (per Bbl) 48.28
 30% 14.59
 0.31
 14.28
Crude oil equivalent (per Boe) 37.48
 71% 26.65
 0.81
 25.84
           
For the three months ended
June 30, 2016
 Average NYMEX Price Average Realization Percentage Before Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses Average Realized Price Before Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses Average Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses Average Realized Price After Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses
Crude oil (per Bbl) $45.59
 89% $40.37
 $1.63
 $38.74
Natural gas (per MMBtu) 1.95
 70% 1.37
 0.07
 1.30
NGLs (per Bbl) 45.59
 26% 11.93
 0.26
 11.67
Crude oil equivalent (per Boe) 31.82
 67% 21.33
 0.86
 20.47
For the three months ended March 31, 2018 Average NYMEX Price Average Realized Price Before Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses Average Realization Percentage Before Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses Average Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses Average Realized Price After Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses Average Realization Percentage After Transportation, Gathering, and Processing Expenses
Crude oil (per Bbl) $62.87
 $59.62
 95% $0.67
 $58.95
 94%
Natural gas (per MMBtu) 3.00
 1.97
 66% 0.22
 1.75
 58%
NGLs (per Bbl) 62.87
 21.80
 35% 0.24
 21.56
 34%
Crude oil equivalent (per Boe) 46.43
 34.26
 74% 0.82
 33.44
 72%
             
For the three months ended March 31, 2017 Average NYMEX Price Average Realized Price Before Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses Average Realization Percentage Before Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses Average Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses Average Realized Price After Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses Average Realization Percentage After Transportation, Gathering, and Processing Expenses
Crude oil (per Bbl) $51.92
 $49.04
 94% $1.58
 $47.46
 91%
Natural gas (per MMBtu) 3.32
 2.37
 71% 0.06
 2.31
 70%
NGLs (per Bbl) 51.92
 19.29
 37% 0.22
 19.07
 37%
Crude oil equivalent (per Boe) 39.42
 28.53
 72% 0.89
 27.64
 70%

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PDC ENERGY, INC.

For the six months ended
June 30, 2017
 Average NYMEX Price Average Realization Percentage Before Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses Average Realized Price Before Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses Average Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses Average Realized Price After Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses
Crude oil (per Bbl) $50.10
 94% $47.31
 $1.44
 $45.87
Natural gas (per MMBtu) 3.25
 70% 2.26
 0.09
 2.17
NGLs (per Bbl) 50.10
 33% 16.75
 0.35
 16.40
Crude oil equivalent (per Boe) 38.50
 71% 27.50
 0.84
 26.66
           
For the six months ended
June 30, 2016
 Average NYMEX Price Average Realization Percentage Before Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses Average Realized Price Before Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses Average Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses Average Realized Price After Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses
Crude oil (per Bbl) $39.52
 87% $34.46
 $1.58
 $32.88
Natural gas (per MMBtu) 2.02
 68% 1.38
 0.08
 1.30
NGLs (per Bbl) 39.52
 25% 9.89
 0.28
 9.61
Crude oil equivalent (per Boe) 28.60
 67% 19.07
 0.87
 18.20

Commodity Price Risk Management, Net

We use commodity derivative instruments to manage fluctuations in crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs prices. We have in place a variety of collars, fixed-price swaps, and basis swaps on a portion of our estimated crude oil, natural gas, and propane production. Because we sell all of our crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs production at prices related to the indexes inherent in our underlying derivative instruments, we ultimately realize value related to our collars of no less than the floor and no more than the ceiling. For our commodity swaps, we ultimately realize the fixed price value related to the swaps. See the footnote titled Commodity Derivative Financial Instruments to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report for a detailed presentation of our derivative positions as of June 30, 2017.March 31, 2018.

Commodity price risk management, net, includes cash settlements upon maturity of our derivative instruments, andas well as the change in fair value of unsettled commodity derivatives related to our crude oil, natural gas, and propane production. Commodity price risk management, net, does not include derivative transactions related to our gas marketing, which are included in other income and other expenses.

Net settlements of commodity derivative instruments are based on the difference between the crude oil, natural gas, and propane index prices at the settlement date of our commodity derivative instruments compared to the respective strike prices contracted for the settlement months that were established at the time we entered into the commodity derivative transaction. The net change in fair value of unsettled commodity derivatives is comprised of the net value increase or decrease in the beginning-of-period fair value of commodity derivative instruments that settled during the period, and the net change in fair value of unsettled commodity derivatives during the period or from inception of any new contracts entered into during the applicable period. The corresponding impact of settlement of the commodity derivative instruments during the period is included in net settlements for the period. The net change in fair value of unsettled commodity derivatives during the period is primarily related to shifts in the crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs forward curves and changes in certain differentials.
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The following table presents net settlements and net change in fair value of unsettled derivatives included in commodity price risk management, net:

Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,Three Months Ended March 31,
2017 2016 2017 20162018 2017
(in millions)(in millions)
Commodity price risk management gain (loss), net:          
Net settlements of commodity derivative instruments:          
Crude oil fixed price swaps and collars$5.1
 $38.7
 $1.9
 $92.0
$(26.8) $(3.2)
Crude oil basis protection swaps(0.2) 
Natural gas fixed price swaps and collars4.8
 14.6
 8.5
 28.1
0.1
 3.6
Natural gas basis protection swaps2.0
 
 2.0
 
2.6
 0.1
NGLs (propane portion) fixed price swaps0.1
 
 0.1
 
(1.7) 
Total net settlements of commodity derivative instruments12.0
 53.3
 12.5
 120.1
(26.0) 0.5
Change in fair value of unsettled commodity derivative instruments:          
Reclassification of settlements included in prior period changes in fair value of commodity derivative instruments(5.1) (60.8) 18.4
 (115.5)20.3
 9.1
Crude oil fixed price swaps and collars43.1
 (57.8) 88.7
 (62.8)
Crude oil fixed price swaps, collars, and rollfactors(52.6) 56.2
Natural gas fixed price swaps and collars8.3
 (27.5) 16.7
 (23.1)(0.8) 11.2
Natural gas basis protection swaps(0.2) 
 2.3
 (0.4)10.6
 3.3
NGLs (propane portion) fixed price swaps(0.2) 
 
 
1.3
 0.4
Net change in fair value of unsettled commodity derivative instruments45.9
 (146.1) 126.1
 (201.8)(21.2) 80.2
Total commodity price risk management gain (loss), net$57.9
 $(92.8) $138.6
 $(81.7)$(47.2) $80.7

Net settlements of commodity derivatives decreased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 as compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.  We entered into agreements for the derivative instruments that settled throughout 2016 prior to commodity prices becoming depressed in late 2014.  Substantially all of these higher-value agreements had settled by the end of 2016.  Net settlements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 reflect derivative instruments entered into since 2015, which more closely approximate recent realized prices.  Based upon the forward strip pricing at June 30, 2017, we expect that settlements will continue to be substantially lower in 2017 on a relative basis as compared to those in 2016.March 31, 2017.   

Lease Operating Expenses

Lease operating expenses improved to $2.50 per Boe and $2.72 per Boe duringwere $29.6 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively,March 31, 2018 compared to $2.63 per Boe and $2.97 per Boe during$19.8 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively. The improvement in lease operating expense per Boe was predominately driven by production growth of 54 percent and 50 percent during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, which was partially offset by higher lease operating expense of $4.88 per Boe and $5.53 per Boe in the Delaware Basin during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively.

March 31, 2017. Aggregate lease operating expenses during the three months ended June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 increased $6.4$9.8 million as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2016, of which $4.5 million related to our recently-acquired properties in the Delaware Basin. The increase of $6.4 million is primarily due to increases of $2.4$1.9 million for payroll and employee benefits related to increases in headcount, for 2017 as compared to 2016, $1.0 million for water hauling, $1.0 million related to compressor rentals, and $0.5 million for workover projects. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $0.4 million in environmental remediation costs.

Aggregate lease operating expenses during the six months ended June 30, 2017 increased $10.8 million as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2016, of which $8.4 million related to our recently-acquired properties in the Delaware Basin. The increase of $10.8 million is primarily due to increases of $4.2 million for payroll and employee benefits related to increases in headcount for 2017 as compared to 2016, $1.8 million for water hauling, $1.7 million for workover projects, and $1.7 million related to compressor rentals. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $1.6 million in environmental remediation costs. We expect continued increases in our headcount through the remainder of 2017 as we grow our Delaware
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million related to midstream expense in the Delaware Basin, production base$1.1 million related to additional compressor rentals, $0.9 million for environmental remediation expenses, $0.8 million related to chemical treatment programs, $0.6 million for expenses related to non-operated wells, $0.6 million related to oil inventory valuation, $0.5 million for produced water disposal, and production team. We expect much of this$0.3 million for increased cost of personnel will be offsetworkover projects. Lease operating expense per Boe increased by increases in our production.12 percent to $3.33 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $2.98 for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Production Taxes

Production taxes are comprised mainly of severance tax and ad valorem tax and are directly related to crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales and are generally assessed as a percentage of net revenues. ThereFrom time to time, there are a number of adjustments to the statutory rates for these taxes based upon certain credits that are determined based upon activity levels and relative commodity prices from year-to-year. The $9.0$7.8 million and $17.3 million increasesincrease in production taxes during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively,March 31, 2018 compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2016March 31, 2017 were primarily related to the 9361 percent and 117 percent increasesincrease in crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales, and an increase in our effective tax rate to approximately seven percent for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to five percent for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.sales.

Transportation, Gathering, and Processing Expenses

Transportation,gathering, and processing expenses increased $2.0 million and $3.9$1.4 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively,March 31, 2018 compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.March 31, 2017. The primary drivers of these increases were $1.2increase was mainly attributable to a $1.3 million and $2.2 million increasesincrease in oil transportation costs due to increasedadditional volumes delivered through a pipelinepipelines in the Wattenberg Field and increasesan increase of $0.7 million and $1.4$2.8 million related to natural gas gathering and transportation operations in our recently acquired properties in the Delaware Basin, respectively. When feasible,partially offset by a $2.8 million decrease resulting from the adoption of the new revenue standard on January 1, 2018 whereby we use pipelines in the Wattenberg Field to deliver crude oilrecord certain portions of our current transportation, gathering, and processing expense as a reduction to the market in an effort to decrease field truck traffic and air emissions.sales price. Transportation, gathering, and processing expenses per Boe improveddecreased to $0.81 and $0.84$0.82 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively,March 31, 2018 compared to $0.86 and $0.87$0.89 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively. March 31, 2017.As discussed in Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and NGLs Pricing, whether transportation, gathering, and processing costs are presented separately or are reflected as a reduction to net revenue is a function of the terms of the relevant marketing contract.

Exploration, Geologic, and Geophysical Expense

Exploration, geological and geophysical expense increased $1.7 million to $2.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The increase in the three months ended March 31, 2018 was primarily related to the purchase of seismic data related to unproved acreage and lease costs associated with certain delayed drilling in the Delaware Basin, which was partially offset by a decrease in costs related to drilling pilot holes in the Delaware Basin during the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Impairment of Properties and Equipment
    
Impairment of proved and unproved properties. Amounts represent the retirement or expiration of certain leases that are no longer part of our development plan or that we are not able to extend prior to termination of the lease. Deterioration of commodity prices or other operating circumstances could result in additional impairment charges as such a change could decrease the number of wells drilled in future periods.

During the three months ended June 30, 2017, we impaired certain unproved Delaware Basin leasehold positions totaling $27.0 million that expired during the three months ending June 30, 2017, or are projected to expire between June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2017.  Subsequent to closing the acquisitions in the Delaware Basin, it was determined that development of certain acreage tracts would not meet our internal expectations for acceptable rates of return due to a combination of weakening commodity prices; higher per well development and operational costs; and updated technical analysis.  As a result, we allowed or expect to allow certain acreage to expire, and in other circumstances we were unable to obtain necessary lease term extensions.

The following table sets forth the major components of our impairment of properties and equipment expense:

 Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
 (in millions)
        
Impairment of unproved properties$27.5
 $1.1
 $29.6
 $2.1
Amortization of individually insignificant unproved properties0.1
 0.1
 0.2
 0.1
Impairment of crude oil and natural gas properties
27.6
 1.2
 29.8
 2.2
Land and buildings
 3.0
 
 3.0
Total impairment of properties and equipment$27.6
 $4.2
 $29.8
 $5.2
 Three Months Ended March 31,
 2018 2017
 (in millions)
    
Impairment of proved and unproved properties$33.1
 $2.1
Amortization of individually insignificant unproved properties0.1
 0.1
Impairment of crude oil and natural gas properties
$33.2
 $2.2

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we recorded impairment charges primarily related to certain unproved Delaware Basin leasehold positions that expired during the three months ended March 31, 2018.
General and Administrative Expense

General and administrative expense increased $6.0$9.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017March 31, 2018, as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2016, of which $2.9 million is related to the Delaware Basin.March 31, 2017. The increase of $6.0$9.4 million was primarily attributable to increases of $1.5a $6.1 million increase in payroll and employee benefits and a $2.1 million increase related to an increase in headcount for 2017professional services.
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as compared to 2016, $1.1 million related to professional services, and $0.4 million in software maintenance agreements and subscriptions.

General and administrative expense increased $9.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2016, of which $5.7 million is related to the Delaware Basin. The increase of $9.5 million was primarily attributable to increases of $3.8 million in payroll and employee benefits due to an increase in headcount for 2017 as compared to 2016, $1.8 million related to professional services, $0.7 million in software maintenance agreements and subscriptions, and $0.7 million in rent expense. We expect continued increases in our headcount through the remainder of 2017 as we build out our Delaware Basin operations.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Expense

Crude oil and natural gas properties. DD&A expense related to crude oil and natural gas properties is directly related to proved reserves and production volumes. DD&A expense related to crude oil and natural gas properties was $124.4 million and $232.2$124.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively,March 31, 2018 compared to $106.1 million and $202.4$107.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively. Through June 30, 2017, our capital investment in the Delaware Basin has not yet resulted in the addition of related proved reserves, resulting in an elevated DD&A expense rate for the three and six months ended June 30,March 31, 2017.

The period-over-period change in DD&A expense related to crude oil and natural gas properties was primarily due to the following:
 June 30, 2017 Three Months Ended
 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended March 31, 2018
 (in millions) (in thousands)
Increase in production $56.2
 $94.9
 $32,005
Decrease in weighted-average depreciation, depletion and amortization rates (37.9) (65.1)
Decrease in weighted-average depreciation, depletion, and amortization rates (15,035)
Total increase in DD&A expense related to crude oil and natural gas properties $18.3
 $29.8
 $16,970

The following table presents our per Boe DD&A expense rates for crude oil and natural gas properties:

 Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, Three Months Ended March 31,
Operating Region/Area 2017 2016 2017 2016 2018 2017
 (per Boe) (per Boe)
Wattenberg Field $15.30
 $20.73
 $16.05
 $21.19
 $13.53
 $16.94
Delaware Basin 18.14
 
 15.46
 
 16.91
 11.46
Utica Shale(1) 11.27
 13.84
 11.26
 11.16
 
 11.24
Total weighted-average 15.51
 20.41
 15.83
 20.72
 $14.01
 $16.22
(1) The Utica Shale properties were classified as held-for-sale during the third quarter of 2017;
therefore, we did not record DD&A expense on these properties for the three months
ended March 31, 2018.

Non-crude oil and natural gas properties. Depreciation expense for non-crude oil and natural gas properties was $1.7 million and $3.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, compared to $0.9 million and $2.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively.

ProvisionMarch 31, 2018 compared to $1.5 million for Uncollectible Notes Receivable

In the first quarter of 2016, we recorded a provision for uncollectible notes receivable of $44.7 million to impair two third-party notes receivable whose collection was not reasonably assured. As described in the footnote titled Fair Value of Financial Instruments, in April 2017, we signed a definitive agreement and simultaneously closed on the sale of one of the associated notes receivable to an unrelated third-party. Accordingly, we reversed $40.2 million of the provision for uncollectible notes receivable during the three months ended June 30, 2017, since all cash was collected in April 2017 from the sale of the Promissory Note.March 31, 2017.

Interest Expense

Interest expense increased $8.9decreased $2.0 million to $19.6$17.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 compared to $10.7$19.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016.March 31, 2017. The increase isdecrease was primarily attributablerelated to a $6.4$10.0 million increase in interest
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relating to the issuance of our 2024 Senior Notes, a $2.6 million increasedecrease in interest expense relating to the issuancenet settlement of our 2021 Convertible Notes,$500 million 7.75% senior notes in December 2017 and a $0.9 million increase related to fees for the redetermination of the borrowing base under our revolving credit facility. These increasesin capitalized interest. The decreases were partially offset by a $1.3 million decrease in interest expense on our 2016 Convertible Notes, which were settled in May 2016.

Interest expense increased $16.5 million to $39.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to $22.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016. The increase is primarily attributable to a $12.7an $8.8 million increase in interest relatingexpense related to the issuance of our 20242026 Senior Notes a $5.1 million increase in interest expense relating to the issuance of our 2021 Convertible Notes, and a $1.6 million increase related to fees for the redetermination of the borrowing base under our revolving credit facility. These increases were partially offset by a $3.4 million decrease in interest expense on our 2016 Convertible Notes, which were settled in May 2016.November 2017.

Provision for Income Taxes

The effective income tax ratesrate for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 were 37.3March 31, 2018 was a 25.8 percent and 36.8benefit on loss compared to a 36.3 percent expense on income respectively, compared to 37.9 percent and 37.5 percent benefit on loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively.March 31, 2017. The effective income tax rates are based upon a full year forecasted pre-tax income for the year adjusted for permanent differences. The federal corporate statutory income tax rate decreased from 35 percent in 2017 to 21 percent in 2018 resulting from the 2017 Tax Act. The forecasted full year effective income tax rate has been applied to the quarter-to-date pre-tax income,loss, resulting in an income tax expensebenefit for the period. Because the estimate of full-year income or loss may change from quarter to quarter, the effective income tax rate for any particular quarter may not have a meaningful relationship to pre-tax income or loss for the quarter or the actual annual effective income tax rate that is determined at the end of the year. The effective income tax ratesrate for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 includeMarch 31, 2018 includes discrete income tax benefits of $0.2 million and $1.8 million relatingrelated to the excess income tax basisbenefit recognized with the vesting of stock awards, during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, which resulted in a 0.31.2 percent increase to our effective tax rate. The excess tax benefit recognized with the vesting of stock awards was the only discrete tax item reported for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 1.3resulted in a 2.2 percent reduction to our effective income tax rates. There were no significant discrete income tax items recorded during the three months ended June 30, 2016.rate.

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Net Income (Loss)/Adjusted Net Income (Loss)
 
The factors resulting in changes in net loss in the three months ended March 31, 2018 of $13.1 million and net income in the three and six months ended June 30,March 31, 2017 of $41.2$46.1 million and $87.4 million, respectively, and a net loss in the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 of $95.5 million and $167.0 million, respectively, are discussed above. TheseAdjusted net income, a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, was $3.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and adjusted net loss, a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, was $4.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. With the exception of the tax affected net change in fair value of unsettled derivatives of $16.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and $50.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, these same reasons similarlyfactors impacted adjusted net income (loss), a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, with the exception of the net change in fair value of unsettled derivatives, adjusted for taxes, of $28.7 million and $78.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, and $90.5 million and $125.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively. Adjusted net income (loss), a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, was $12.5 million and $8.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, and adjusted net loss of $5.0 million and $41.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively.measure. See Reconciliation of Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures below for a more detailed discussion of thisthese non-U.S. GAAP financial measuremeasures and a reconciliation of this measurethese measures to the most comparable U.S. GAAP measure.measures.


Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash flows from operating activities, our revolving credit facility, proceeds raised in debt and equity capital market transactions, and asset sales. For the sixthree months ended June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, our net cash flows from operating activities were $263.2$205.1 million.

Our primary source of cash flows from operating activities is the sale of crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs. Fluctuations in our operating cash flows are principally driven by commodity prices and changes in our production volumes. Commodity prices have historically been volatile and we manage a portion of this volatility through our use of derivative instruments. We enter into commodity derivative instruments with maturities of no greater than five years from the date of the instrument. Our revolving credit agreementfacility imposes limits on the amount of our production we can hedge, and we may choose not to hedge the maximum amounts permitted. Therefore, we may still have significant fluctuations in our cash flows from operating activities due to the remaining non-hedged portion of our future production. Based upon our hedge position and assuming forward strip pricing as of June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, our derivatives may notare expected to be a significant source of net cash flowoutflow in the near term.

Our working capital fluctuates for various reasons, including, but not limited to, changes in the fair value of our commodity derivative instruments and changes in our cash and cash equivalents due to our practice of utilizing excess cash to reduce the outstanding borrowings under our revolving credit facility. At June 30, 2017, weWe had working capital deficits of $65.6$223.7 million compared to $129.2and $16.4 million at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2016.2017, respectively. The decreaseincrease in working capital deficit as of June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 of $207.3 million is primarily the result of a decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $41.8$134.8 million related to capital investment exceeding operating cash flows
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the Bayswater Acquisition which was partially offset by the proceeds received from the Utica Divestiture and an amendment to a midstream dedication agreement, an increase in accounts payable of $86.2$45.6 million related to increased development and exploration activity, which was partially offset by an increasea decrease in the net fair value of our unsettled commodity derivative instruments of $86.8$17.1 million, and a decrease in accounts receivable of $16.6 million.

Our cash and cash equivalents were $202.3$45.9 million at June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 and availability under our revolving credit facility was $700.0 million, providing for a total liquidity position of $902.3$745.9 million as of June 30, 2017.March 31, 2018. Based on the pricing assumptions described in Executive Summary - Liquidity, we expect our 2018 capital investments to exceed our 2018 cash flows from operations by approximately $65 million. We anticipate that ourthe proceeds received from the Utica Shale Divestiture and an amendment to a midstream dedication agreement will fund this outspend. We expect this capital investments will exceed ourinvestment outspend to occur during the first half of 2018, with cash flows from operating activities in 2017, resulting in cash and cash equivalents estimatedexceeding capital investment during the second half of the year. As a result, we expect to be between $100 million to $150 million as ofundrawn on our credit facility at December 31, 2017.2018.

Based on our expected cash flows from operations, our cash and cash equivalents, and availability under our revolving credit facility, we believe that we will have sufficient capital available to fund our planned activities during 2017. Our liquidity was further augmented bythrough the $40.2 million12-month period following the filing of proceeds received in the second quarter of 2017 from the sale of the Promissory Note, as described previously.this report.

Our revolving credit facility is a borrowing base facility and availability under the facility is subject to redetermination, generally each May and November, based upon a quantification of our proved reserves at each December 31 and June 30, and December 31, respectively. The maturity date of our revolving credit facility is May 2020. Our ability to borrow under the revolving credit facility is limited under our 2022 Senior Notes to the greater of $700 million or the calculated value under an Adjusted Consolidated Tangible Net Asset test, as defined.

In May and October 2017, we entered into athe Fifth Amendmentand Sixth Amendments, respectively, to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. The amendment, among other things, amendsAgreement to amend the revolving credit facility to reflect increases in the borrowing base. The Fifth Amendment reflected an increase of the borrowing base from $700 million to $950 million. We have electedmillion and the Sixth Amendment amended the revolving credit facility to maintain a $700 million commitment level asallow the borrowing base to increase above the borrowing capacity of the date of this report.$1.0 billion. In addition, the Fifth Amendment made changes to certain of the covenants in the existing agreement as well as other administrative changes. We elected to increase the borrowing base to $1.1 billion for our November 2017 borrowing base redetermination and have elected to maintain a $700 million commitment level as of the date of this report.
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In April 2018, we began negotiations with our bank group to enter into the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, and we anticipate closing to occur by the end of May 2018.  This agreement is expected to replace the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement.  Following the amendment and restatement, the facility is expected to mature in May 2023. 

Amounts borrowed under the revolving credit facility bear interest at either an alternate base rate option or a LIBOR option as defined in the revolving credit facility plus an applicable margin, depending on the percentage of the commitment that has been utilized. As of June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, the applicable margin is 1.25 percent for the alternate base rate option or 2.25 percent for the LIBOR option, and the unused commitment fee is 0.500.5 percent.

We had no balance outstanding on our revolving credit facility as of June 30, 2017.March 31, 2018. In May 2017, we replaced our $11.7 million irrevocable standby letter of credit that we held in favor of a third-party transportation service provider to secure a firm transportation obligation with a $9.3 millioncash deposit, which is classified as restricted cash and is included in other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. As of June 30,March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had $8.0 million and $9.3 million in restricted cash, respectively. As of March 31, 2018, the available funds under our revolving credit facility waswere $700 million based on our elected commitment level.

Our revolving credit facility contains financial maintenance covenants. The covenants require that we maintain (i) a leverage ratio defined as total debt of less than 4.0 times the trailing 12 months earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization, change in fair value of unsettled commodity derivatives, exploration expense, gains (losses) on sales of assets and other non-cash gains (losses) and (ii) an adjusted current ratio of at least 1.0:1.0. Our adjusted current ratio is adjusted by eliminating the impact on our current assets and liabilities of recording the fair value of crude oil and natural gas commodity derivative instruments. Additionally, available borrowings under our revolving credit facility are added to the current asset calculation and the current portion of our revolving credit facility debt is eliminated from the current liabilities calculation. At June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, we were in compliance with all debt covenants as defined by the revolving credit agreement, with a leverage ratio of 1.91.7 and a current ratio of 3.3.2.5. We expect to remain in compliance throughout the next 12-month period.period following the filing of this report.

The indentures governing our 20222024 Senior Notes and 20242026 Senior Notes contain customary restrictive covenants that, among other things, limit our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to: (a) incur additional debt including under our revolving credit facility, (b) make certain investments or pay dividends or distributions on our capital stock or purchase, redeem, or retire capital stock, (c) sell assets, including capital stock of our restricted subsidiaries, (d) restrict the payment of dividends or other payments by restricted subsidiaries to us, (e) create liens that secure debt, (f) enter into transactions with affiliates, and (g) merge or consolidate with another company. At June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, we were in compliance with all covenants and expect to remain in compliance throughout the next 12-month period.

In January 2017, pursuant to the filing of the supplemental indentures for the 2021 Convertible Senior Notes the 2022 Senior Notes, and the 2024 Senior Notes, our subsidiary PDC Permian, Inc. became a guarantor of the notes.

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PDC ENERGY, INC.
our 2026 Senior Notes issued in November 2017.

Cash Flows

Operating Activities. Our net cash flows from operating activities are primarily impacted by commodity prices, production volumes, net settlements from our commodity derivative positions, operating costs, and general and administrative expenses. Cash flows from operating activities increased by $65.4$65.6 million to $205.1 million for the sixthree months ended June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 compared to the sixthree months ended June 30, 2016,March 31, 2017, primarily due to increases in crude oil, natural gas and NGLs sales of $217.1 million and an$115.5 million. This increase in changes in assets and liabilities of $12.3 million related to the timing of cash payments and receipts. These increases werewas offset in part by a decrease in commodity derivative settlements of $107.6$26.6 million and increases in production taxes of $17.3 million, interest expense of $16.5 million, lease operating expenses of $10.8$9.8 million, and general and administrative expenses of $9.5$9.4 million, and production taxes of $7.8 million.

Adjusted cash flows from operations, a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, increased $53.0by $61.2 million to $174.9 million during the sixthree months ended June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 compared to the sixthree months ended June 30, 2016.March 31, 2017. The increase was primarily due to the same factors mentioned above for changes in cash flows provided by operating activities, without regard to timing of cash payments and receipts of assets and liabilities. 

Adjusted EBITDAX, a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, increased by $150.4$59.9 million during the sixthree months ended June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, compared to the sixthree months ended June 30, 2016.March 31, 2017. The increase was primarily the result of increasesan increase in
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PDC ENERGY, INC.

crude oil, natural gas and NGLs sales of $217.1 million, the recording of a provision for uncollectible notes receivable of $44.7 million during the six months ended June 30, 2016, and the reversal of a provision for uncollectible notes receivable of $40.2 million during the six months ended June 30, 2017.  These increases were$115.5 million.  This increase was partially offset by a decrease in commodity derivative settlements of $107.6$26.6 million and increases in production taxes of $17.3 million, lease operating expenses of $10.8$9.8 million, and general and administrative expenses of $9.5$9.4 million, and production taxes of $7.8 million.

See Reconciliation of Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures, below, for a more detailed discussion of non-U.S. GAAP financial measures.

Investing Activities. Because crude oil and natural gas production from a well declines rapidly in the first few years of production, we need to continue to commit significant amounts of capital in order to maintain and grow our production and replace our reserves. If capital is not available or is constrained in the future, we will be limited to our cash flows from operations and liquidity under our revolving credit facility as the sources for funding our capital investments.

Cash flows from investing activities primarily consist of the acquisition, exploration, and development of crude oil and natural gas properties, net of dispositions of crude oil and natural gas properties. Net cash used in investing activities of $299.1$338.5 million during the sixthree months ended June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018 was primarily related to cash utilized fortoward the purchase price of the Bayswater Acquisition of $180.8 million and our drilling operations, includingand completion activities of $334.4 million, purchases of short-term investments of $49.9 million, and a $9.3 million deposit with a third-party transportation service provider for surety of an existing firm transportation obligation previously secured by a letter of credit.$196.9 million.  Partially offsetting these investments was the receipt of approximately $49.9$39.0 million related to the sale of short-term investments, $40.2 million from the sale of the Promissory Note, and $5.4 million related to post-closing settlements of properties acquired in 2016.Utica Shale Divestiture.

Financing Activities. Net cash fromused in financing activities forof $2.6 million during the sixthree months ended June 30, 2017 decreased by approximately $147.2 million comparedMarch 31, 2018 was primarily related to the six months ended June 30, 2016. Certain capital markets and financing activities occurred in 2016 including $296.6 million received from an issuancepurchases of our commontreasury stock. These amounts were partially offset by the $115.0 million payment of principal amounts owed upon the maturity of the 2016 Convertible Notes and net payments of approximately $37.0 million to pay down amounts borrowed under our revolving credit facility in the first quarter of 2016.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

At June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, we had no off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined under SEC rules, which have or are reasonably likely to have a material current or future effect on our financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital investments, or capital resources.

Commitments and Contingencies

See the footnote titled Commitments and Contingencies to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.



Recent Accounting Standards

See the footnote titled Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

Recent Regulatory Developments

On May 2, 2017, in response to an incident in Firestone, Colorado, the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission (“COGCC”) issued a Notice to Operators (the “Notice”). Among other things, the Notice included requirements for all operators of oil and gas wells in Colorado to inspect all existing flowlines and pipelines located within 1,000 feet of a building unit; inspect any abandoned flowlines or pipelines, regardless of distance to ensure proper abandonment; and test integrity of all connected flowlines. Additional regulations or mandates from the COGCC or other regulators related to this matter are expected to arise.

We timely complied with both phases of the Notice. We have an existing Flowline Integrity Management Program to inspect all Denver-Julesburg Basin wells and related pipelines on an annual basis, and will continue to engage in this process.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP required management to use judgment in making estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses.

There have been no significant changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates or in the underlying accounting assumptions and estimates used in these critical accounting policies from those disclosed in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes contained in our 20162017 Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 28, 2017.27, 2018 and amended on May 1, 2018.

Reconciliation of Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures

We use "adjusted cash flows from operations," "adjusted net income (loss)" and "adjusted EBITDAX," non-U.S. GAAP financial measures, for internal management reporting, when evaluating period-to-period changes and, in some cases, providing public guidance on possible future results. Beginning in 2017, we have included non-cash stock-based compensation and exploration, geologic and geophysical expense to our reconciliation of adjusted EBITDAX calculation.  In prior periods, we included adjusted EBITDA, a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure that did not include these adjustments.  We have elected to disclose Adjusted EBITDAX rather than Adjusted EBITDA in this report and other public disclosures because we believe it is more comparable to similar metrics presented by others in the industry. All prior periods have been conformed for comparability of this information. These measures are not measures of financial performance under U.S. GAAP and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, net income (loss) or cash flows from operations, investing or financing activities, and should not be viewed as liquidity measures or indicators of cash flows reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The non-U.S. GAAP financial measures that we use may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Also, in the future, we may disclose different non-U.S. GAAP financial measures in
PDC ENERGY, INC.

order to help our investors more meaningfully evaluate and compare our future results of operations to our previously reported results of operations. We strongly encourage investors to review our financial statements and publicly filed reports in their entirety and not rely on any single financial measure.

Adjusted cash flows from operations. We define adjusted cash flows from operations as the cash flows earned or incurred from operating activities, without regard to changes in operating assets and liabilities. We believe it is important to consider adjusted cash flows from operations, as well as cash flows from operations, as we believe it often provides more transparency into what drives the changes in our operating trends, such as production, prices, operating costs, and related operational factors, without regard to whether the related asset or liability was received or paid during the same period. We also use this measure because the timing of cash received from our assets, cash paid to obtain an asset or payment of our obligations has generally been a timing issue from one period to the next as we have not had significant accounts receivable collection problems, nor been unable to purchase assets or pay our obligations.

Adjusted net income (loss). We define adjusted net income (loss) as net income (loss), plus loss on commodity derivatives, less gain on commodity derivatives, and net settlements on commodity derivatives, each adjusted for tax effect. We believe it is important to consider adjusted net income (loss), as well as net income (loss). We believe this measure often provides more transparency into our operating trends, such as production, prices, operating costs, net settlements from
PDC ENERGY, INC.

derivatives, and related factors, without regard to changes in our net income (loss) from our mark-to-market adjustments resulting from net changes in the fair value of unsettled derivatives. Additionally, other items which are not indicative of future results may be excluded to clearly identify operating trends.

Adjusted EBITDAX. We define adjusted EBITDAX as net income (loss), plus loss on commodity derivatives, interest expense, net of interest income, income taxes, impairment of properties and equipment, exploration, geologic, and geophysical expense, depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, accretion of asset retirement obligations, and non-cash stock-based compensation, less gain on commodity derivatives and net settlements on commodity derivatives. Adjusted EBITDAX is not a measure of financial performance or liquidity under U.S. GAAP and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, net income (loss), and should not be considered an indicator of cash flows reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Adjusted EBITDAX includes certain non-cash costs incurred by us and does not take into account changes in operating assets and liabilities. Other companies in our industry may calculate adjusted EBITDAX differently than we do, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure. We believe adjusted EBITDAX is relevant because it is a measure of our operational and financial performance, as well as a measure of our liquidity, and is used by our management, investors, commercial banks, research analysts, and others to analyze such things as:

operating performance and return on capital as compared to our peers;
financial performance of our assets and our valuation without regard to financing methods, capital structure, or historical cost basis;
our ability to generate sufficient cash to service our debt obligations; and
the viability of acquisition opportunities and capital expenditure projects, including the related rate of return.

    

PDC ENERGY, INC.


The following table presents a reconciliation of each of our non-U.S. GAAP financial measures to its most comparable U.S. GAAP measure:

Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,Three Months Ended March 31,
2017 2016 2017 20162018 2017
(in millions)(in millions)
Adjusted cash flows from operations:          
Net cash from operating activities$123.7
 $96.6
 263.2
 $197.8
$205.1
 $139.5
Changes in assets and liabilities19.2
 16.0
 (6.6) 5.8
(30.2) (25.8)
Adjusted cash flows from operations$142.9
 $112.6
 $256.6
 $203.6
$174.9
 $113.7
          
Adjusted net income (loss):          
Net income (loss)$41.2
 $(95.5) $87.4
 $(167.0)$(13.1) $46.1
(Gain) loss on commodity derivative instruments(57.9) 92.8
 (138.6) 81.7
47.2
 (80.7)
Net settlements on commodity derivative instruments12.0
 53.3
 12.5
 120.2
(26.0) 0.5
Tax effect of above adjustments17.2
 (55.6) 47.2
 (76.8)(5.1) 30.0
Adjusted net income (loss)$12.5
 $(5.0) $8.5
 $(41.9)$3.0
 $(4.1)
          
Net income (loss) to adjusted EBITDAX:          
Net income (loss)$41.2
 $(95.5) $87.4
 $(167.0)$(13.1) $46.1
(Gain) loss on commodity derivative instruments(57.9) 92.8
 (138.6) 81.7
47.2
 (80.7)
Net settlements on commodity derivative instruments12.0
 53.3
 12.5
 120.2
(26.0) 0.5
Non-cash stock-based compensation5.4
 6.4
 9.8
 11.1
5.3
 4.5
Interest expense, net18.9
 10.5
 38.1
 20.8
17.4
 19.2
Income tax expense (benefit)24.5
 (58.3) 50.9
 (100.2)(4.6) 26.3
Impairment of properties and equipment27.6
 4.2
 29.8
 5.2
33.2
 2.2
Exploration, geologic, and geophysical expense1.0
 0.2
 2.0
 0.4
2.6
 1.0
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization126.0
 107.0
 235.3
 204.4
126.8
 109.3
Accretion of asset retirement obligations1.7
 1.8
 3.4
 3.6
1.3
 1.8
Adjusted EBITDAX$200.4
 $122.4
 $330.6
 $180.2
$190.1
 $130.2
          
Cash from operating activities to adjusted EBITDAX:          
Net cash from operating activities$123.7
 $96.6
 $263.2
 $197.8
$205.1
 $139.5
Interest expense, net18.9
 10.5
 38.1
 20.8
17.4
 19.2
Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs(3.2) (1.3) (6.4) (3.1)(3.2) (3.2)
Gain (loss) on sale of properties and equipment0.5
 (0.3) 0.7
 (0.2)(1.4) 0.2
Exploration, geologic, and geophysical expense1.0
 0.2
 2.0
 0.4
2.6
 1.0
Other40.3
 0.7
 39.6
 (41.3)(0.2) (0.7)
Changes in assets and liabilities19.2
 16.0
 (6.6) 5.8
(30.2) (25.8)
Adjusted EBITDAX$200.4
 $122.4
 $330.6
 $180.2
$190.1
 $130.2


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PDC ENERGY, INC.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market-Sensitive Instruments and Risk Management

We are exposed to market risks associated with interest rate risks, commodity price risk and credit risk. We have established risk management processes to monitor and manage these market risks.

Interest Rate Risk

Changes in interest rates affect the amount of interest we earn on our interest bearing cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash accounts and the interest we pay on borrowings under our revolving credit facility. Our 2021 Convertible Notes, 2024 Senior Notes, and 20222026 Senior Notes have fixed rates, and therefore near-term changes in interest rates do not expose us to risk of earnings or cash flow loss; however, near-term changes in interest rates may affect the fair value of our fixed-rate debt.

As of June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, our interest-bearing deposit accounts included money market accounts certificates of deposit, and checking and savings accounts with various banks. The amount of our interest-bearing cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash as of June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 was $201.5$12.8 million with a weighted-average interest rate of 0.91.4 percent. Based on a sensitivity analysis of our interest-bearing deposits as of June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 and assuming we had $201.5$12.8 million outstanding throughout the period, we estimate that a one percent increase in interest rates would have increased interest income for the sixthree months ended June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 by approximately $1.0$0.1 million.

As of June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, we had no outstanding balance on our revolving credit facility.
    
Commodity Price Risk

We are exposed to the potential risk of loss from adverse changes in the market price of crude oil, natural gas, natural gas basis, and NGLs. Pursuant to established policies and procedures, we manage a portion of the risks associated with these market fluctuations using commodity derivative instruments. These instruments help us predict with greater certainty the effective crude oil, natural gas, natural gas basis, and propane prices we will receive for our hedged production. We believe that our commodity derivative policies and procedures are effective in achieving our risk management objectives.

Table See the footnote titled Commodity Derivative Financial Instruments to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report for a description of contents
PDC ENERGY, INC.

The following table presents our commodity and basis derivative positions related to crude oil, natural gas, and propane in effect as of June 30, 2017:
  Collars Fixed-Price Swaps  
Commodity/ Index/
Maturity Period
 
Quantity
(Gas -
BBtu
Oil - MBbls)
 
Weighted-Average
Contract Price
 
Quantity (Oil - MBbls
Gas and Basis-
BBtu
 Propane - MBbls)
 
Weighted-
Average
Contract
Price
 
Fair Value
June 30,
2017 (1)
(in millions)
  Floors Ceilings   
Crude Oil            
NYMEX            
2017 1,232.0
 $49.54
 $62.32
 3,680.1
 $50.13
 $18.3
2018 1,512.0
 41.85
 54.31
 6,472.0
 52.54
 26.5
Total Crude Oil 2,744.0
     10,152.1
   $44.8
             
Natural Gas            
NYMEX            
2017 5,900.2
 $3.38
 $4.02
 19,620.0
 $3.40
 $8.3
2018 5,230.0
 3.00
 3.54
 51,280.0
 2.95
 (1.1)
Total Natural Gas 11,130.2
     70,900.0
   $7.2
             
Basis Protection            
CIG            
2017 
 
 
 25,128.4
 $(0.33) $1.0
2018 
 
 
 30,200.0
 (0.34) 2.7
Waha            
2018 
 
 
 1,825.0
 (0.43) 
Total Basis Protection 
     57,153.4
   $3.7
             
Propane            
Mont Belvieu            
2017 
 
 
 642.9
 $26.29
 $0.3
Commodity Derivatives Fair Value       $56.0
             
____________

(1)
Approximately 15.0percent of the fair value of our commodity derivative assets and 13.4percent of the fair value of our commodity derivative liabilities were measured using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).

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PDC ENERGY, INC.

In addition to ouropen commodity derivative positions as of June 30, 2017, we entered into the following commodity derivative positions subsequent to June 30, 2017 that are effective as of August 3, 2017:

  Fixed-Price Swaps
Commodity/ Index/
Maturity Period
 
Quantity (Oil - MBbls
Gas and Basis-
BBtu
 Propane - MBbls)
 
Weighted-
Average
Contract
Price
  
Crude Oil    
NYMEX    
2018 500.0
 $49.75
2019 800.0

49.75
Total Crude Oil 1,300.0
  
     
Basis Protection    
Waha    
2018 4,175.0
 $(0.53)
  
  
Propane    
Mont Belvieu    
2017 114.3
 $30.56
2018 285.7
 27.25
Total Propane 400.0
  
at March 31, 2018.

Our realized prices vary regionally based on local market differentials and our transportation agreements. The following table presents average market index prices for crude oil and natural gas for the periods identified, as well as the average sales prices we realized for our crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs production:

Three Months Ended Six Months Ended Year EndedThree Months Ended Year Ended
June 30, 2017 June 30, 2017 December 31, 2016March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
Average NYMEX Index Price:        
Crude oil (per Bbl)$48.28
 $50.10
 $43.32
$62.87
 $50.95
Natural gas (per MMBtu)3.18
 3.25
 2.46
3.00
 3.11
        
Average Sales Price Realized:        
Excluding net settlements on commodity derivativesExcluding net settlements on commodity derivatives    Excluding net settlements on commodity derivatives  
Crude oil (per Bbl)$45.97
 $47.31
 $39.96
$59.62
 $48.45
Natural gas (per Mcf)2.16
 2.26
 1.77
1.97
 2.21
NGLs (per Bbl)14.59
 16.75
 11.80
21.80
 18.59

Based on a sensitivity analysis as of June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, we estimate that a ten percent increase in natural gas, crude oil, and the propane portion of NGLs prices, inclusive of basis, over the entire period for which we have commodity derivatives in place, would have resulted in a decrease in the fair value of our derivative positions of $74.8$113.0 million, whereas a ten percent decrease in prices would have resulted in an increase in fair value of $74.2$111.6 million.

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PDC ENERGY, INC.

Credit Risk

Credit risk represents the loss that we would incur if a counterparty fails to perform its contractual obligations. We attempt to reduce credit risk by diversifying our counterparty exposure and entering into transactions with high-quality counterparties. When exposed to significant credit risk, we analyze the counterparty’s financial condition prior to entering into an agreement, establish credit limits and monitor the appropriateness of those limits on an ongoing basis. We monitor the creditworthiness of significant counterparties through our credit committee, which utilizes a number of qualitative and quantitative tools to assess credit risk and takes mitigative actions if deemed necessary. While we believe that our credit risk analysis and monitoring procedures are reasonable, no amount of analysis can assure performance by our counterparties.

Our oil and gas exploration and production business's crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs sales are concentrated with a few predominately large customers. This concentrates our credit risk exposure with a small number of large customers.

Amounts due to our gas marketing business are from a diverse group of entities, including major upstream and midstream energy companies, financial institutions, and end-users in various industries. The underlying operations of these entities are geographically concentrated in the same region, which increases the credit risk associated with this business. As natural gas prices continue to remain depressed, certain third-party producers relating to our gas marketing business continue to experience financial distress, which has led to certain contractual defaults and litigation; however, to date, we have had no material counterparty default losses. We have initiated several legal actions for breach of contract, collection and related claims against certain third-party producers that are delinquent in their payment obligations, which have to date resulted in two default judgments. We expect this trend to continue for this business.

We primarily use financial institutions which are lenders in our revolving credit facility as counterparties for our derivative financial instruments. Disruption in the credit markets, changes in commodity prices and other factors may have a significant adverse impact on a number of financial institutions. To date, we have had no material counterparty default losses from our commodity derivative financial instruments. See the footnote titled Commodity Derivative Financial Instruments to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report for more detail on our commodity derivative financial instruments.

Disclosure of Limitations

Because the information above included only those exposures that existed at June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, it does not consider those exposures or positions which could arise after that date. As a result, our ultimate realized gain or loss with respect to interest rate and commodity price fluctuations will depend on the exposures that arise during the period, our commodity price risk management strategies at the time, and interest rates and commodity prices at the time.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, we carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the PrincipalChief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e).

Based on the results of this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the PrincipalChief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of June 30,March 31, 2018 because of the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting described below.

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel 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.

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 policies or procedures may deteriorate.


During 2017, we did not maintain a sufficient complement of personnel within the Land Department as a result of increased volume of leases, which contributed to the ineffective design and maintenance of controls to verify the completeness and accuracy of land administrative records associated with unproved leases, which are used in verifying the completeness, accuracy, valuation, rights and obligations over the accounting of properties and equipment, sales and accounts receivable, and costs and expenses.  These control deficiencies resulted in immaterial adjustments of our unproved properties, impairment of unproved properties, sales, accounts receivable, and depletion expense accounts and related disclosures during 2017.
Additionally, these control deficiencies could result in misstatements of substantially all accounts and disclosures that would result in a material misstatement to the annual or interim consolidated financial statements that would not be prevented or detected.  Accordingly, our management has determined that these control deficiencies constitute material weaknesses.  
Remediation Plan for Material Weaknesses

In response to the identified material weaknesses, our management, with the oversight of the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors, has begun the process of assessing a number of different remediation initiatives to improve our internal control over financial reporting for the year ended December 31, 2018.  We are currently in the process of evaluating the material weaknesses and are developing a plan of remediation to strengthen our overall controls over the sufficient complement of personnel within the Land Department and the completeness and accuracy of land administration records.  We are committed to continuing to improve our internal control processes and will continue to review, optimize, and enhance our internal control environment.  These material weaknesses will not be considered remediated until the applicable remedial controls operate for a sufficient period of time and management has concluded, through testing, that these controls are operating effectively. 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the three months ended June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, we made no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

From time to time, we are a party to variousInformation regarding our legal proceedings can found in the ordinary course of business. We are not currently a party to any litigation that we believe would have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

footnote titled
Commitments and Contingencies -
EnvironmentalLitigation and Legal Items

Due to the nature of the natural gas and oil industry, we are exposed to environmental risks. We have various policies and procedures to minimize and mitigate the risks from environmental contamination. We conduct periodic reviews and simulated drills to identify changes in our environmental risk profile. Liabilities are recorded when environmental damages resulting from past events are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Except as discussed herein, we are not aware of any environmental claims existing as of June 30, 2017, which have not been provided for or would otherwise have a material impact on our financial statements; however, there can be no assurance that current regulatory requirements will not change or that unknown past non-compliance with environmental laws will not be discovered on our properties. Accrued environmental liabilities are recorded in other accrued expenses on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

In August 2015, we received a Clean Air Act Section 114 Information Request (the "Information Request") from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"). The Information Request sought, among other things, information related to the design, operation, and maintenance of our Wattenberg Field production facilities in the Denver-Julesburg Basin of Colorado. The Information Request focuses on historical operation and design information for 46 of our production facilities and asks that we conduct sampling and analyses at the identified 46 facilities. We responded to the Information Request with the requested data in January 2016.
In addition, in December 2015, we received a Compliance Advisory pursuant to C.R.S. 25-7-115(2) from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's (“CDPHE”) Air Quality Control Commission's Air Pollution Control Division alleging that we failed to design, operate, and maintain certain condensate collection, storage, processing, and handling operations to minimize leakage of volatile organic compounds at 65 facilities consistent with applicable standards under Colorado law.

For more than a year, we held a series of meetings with the EPA, Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and CDPHE on the above matters. On June 26, 2017, the DOJ on behalf of the EPA and the State of Colorado filed a complaint against us based
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on the above matters. We continue to schedule meetings with these agencies in working toward a resolution of the matters. The ultimate outcome related to these combined actions is not known at this time.

Action Regarding Firm Transportation Contracts
In June 2016, a group of 42 independent West Virginia natural gas producers filed a lawsuit in Marshall County, West Virginia, naming Dominion Transmission, Inc. ("Dominion"), certain entities affiliated with Dominion, and our subsidiary RNG as defendants, alleging various contractual, fiduciary and related claims against the defendants, all of which are associated with firm transportation contracts entered into by plaintiffs and relating to pipelines owned and operated by Dominion and its affiliates. The case has been transferred to the Business Court Division of the Circuit Court of Marshall County, West Virginia, and the parties are awaiting that court's ruling on previously-filed pre-trial pleadings. RNG is unable to estimate any potential damages associated with the claims, but believes the complaint is without merit and intends to vigorously pursue its defenses.


ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

We face many risks. Factors that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results, or liquidity and the trading price of our common stock are described under Item 1A, Risk Factors, of our 20162017 Form 10-K. This information should be considered carefully, together with other information in this report and other reports and materials we file with the SEC.

There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in our 20162017 Form 10-K.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
    
    
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

Period Total Number of Shares Purchased (1) Average Price Paid per Share
     
April 1 - 30, 2017 52,518
 $62.35
May 1 - 31, 2017 
 
June 1 - 30, 2017 
 
Total second quarter 2017 purchases 52,518
 $62.35
     
Period Total Number of Shares Purchased (1) Average Price Paid per Share
     
January 1 - 31, 2018 34,846
 $55.37
February 1 - 28, 2018 6,511
 50.04
March 1 - 31, 2018 
 
Total first quarter 2018 purchases 41,357
 $54.53
     
__________
(1)Purchases primarily represent shares purchased from employees for the payment of their tax liabilities related to the vesting of securities issued pursuant to our stock-based compensation plans.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES - None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES - Not applicable.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION - None.

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PDC ENERGY, INC.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

    Incorporated by Reference  
Exhibit Number  Exhibit Description Form  SEC File Number  Exhibit Filing Date  Filed Herewith
             
31.1          X
             
31.2          X
             
32.1*           
99.1X
99.2X
99.3X
             
101.INS XBRL Instance Document         X
             
101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document         X
             
101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document         X
             
101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document         X
             
101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document         X
             
101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document         X
* Furnished herewith.
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PDC ENERGY, INC.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 PDC Energy, Inc.
 (Registrant)
  
  
  
  
Date: August 8, 2017May 2, 2018/s/ Barton R. Brookman
 Barton R. Brookman
 President and Chief Executive Officer
 (principal executive officer)
  
 /s/ David W. HoneyfieldR. Scott Meyers
 David W. HoneyfieldR. Scott Meyers
 Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 (principal financial officer)
  
  
  
  
  

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