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 expect, anticipate, intend, plan, believe, seek, estimate, schedule and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements herein. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding future: production, costs and cash flows; drilling locations, and zones and growth opportunities; commodity prices and differentials; capital expenditures and projects, including the number of rigs employed;employed and the anticipated capital expenditure outspend for 2018; management of lease expiration issues; financial ratios and compliance with covenants in our revolving credit facility; impacts of certain accounting and tax changes; midstream capacity and related curtailments; fractionation capacity; impacts of a potential ballot initiativeProposition 112 and other Colorado political matters; ability to meet our volume commitments to midstream providers; ongoing compliance with our consent decree; timing and likelihood thatreclassification of the Denver Metro/North Front Range NAA ozone classification will be reclassified to serious; and timing and adequacy of infrastructure projects of our midstream providers.providers, including the impact of having a new plant come online during the third quarter of 2018.

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 term “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.

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.

PDC Energy, Inc. is a domestic independent exploration and production company that acquires, explores and develops properties for the production of crude oil, natural gas and NGLs, with operations in the Wattenberg Field in Colorado and the Delaware Basin in Texas. Our operations in the Wattenberg Field are focused in the horizontal Niobrara and Codell plays and our Delaware Basin operations are primarily focused in the Wolfcamp zones. We previously operated properties in the Utica Shale in Southeastern Ohio; however, we divested these properties during the first quarter of 2018. As of JuneSeptember 30, 2018, we owned an interest in approximately 3,000 gross productive wells. We are engaged in two operating segments: our oil and gas exploration and production segment and our gas marketing segment. Our 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 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, 2017 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 2017 Form 10-K. Our results of operations and cash flows for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year or any other future period.

Recently Adopted Accounting StandardStandards

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 the statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents and amounts generally described as restricted

Restricted cash is included in other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets at JuneSeptember 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. We did not have any cash classified as restricted cash at December 31, 2016.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the FASB issued an accounting update and subsequent amendments 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 currently evaluatingcontinuing to assess the impact these changes mayfull effect the guidance will have on our existing accounting policies and our condensed consolidated financial statements, and we expect there will be an increase in assets and liabilities on our condensed consolidated financial statements.balance sheets at adoption due to the recording of right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities. 

In August 2017, the FASB issued an accounting update to provide guidance for various components of hedge accounting, including hedge ineffectiveness, the expansion of types of permissible hedging strategies, reduced complexity in the application of the long-haul method for fair value hedges and reduced complexity in assessment of effectiveness. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact these changes may have on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

On January 1, 2018, we adopted the new accounting standard that was issued by the FASB to provide a single, comprehensive model to determine the measurement of revenue and timing of when it is recognized and all related amendments (the “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 New Revenue Standard would have reduced our crude oil, natural gas and NGLs sales by approximately $2.8$2.9 million and $5.4$8.2 million in the three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2017, respectively, with a

Our crude oil, natural gas and NGLs sales are recorded using either the “net-back” or "gross" method of accounting, depending upon the related 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 index 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 method, we recognize revenues based on the gross selling price and recognize transportation, gathering and processing expenses.

Based on our evaluation of when control of crude oil and natural gas sales are transferred to the customer under the guidance of the New Revenue 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.

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, for natural gas, the average NYMEX pricing is based upon first-of-the-month index prices, as in each case 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.

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 sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2018:

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:

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 of the hierarchy. Our collars and propane fixed-price swaps are included in Level 3 of the hierarchy. Our basis swaps are included in Level 2 and Level 3 of the hierarchy. 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:

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.

 

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:

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.

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 JuneSeptember 30, 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 2018, 2019 and 2020 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.

As of JuneSeptember 30, 2018, we had the following outstanding derivative contracts. When aggregating multiple contracts, the weighted average contract price is disclosed.

We have not elected to designate any of our derivative instruments as cash flow hedges; 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: