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27.7 ACCOUNTING FOR MINING COSTS 27 15 • tion activities. As this publication goes to print, a steering committee of the International Accounting Standards Steering Board has produced an issues paper as the first stage in the development of international accounting standards in the mining industry. Absent accounting standards specific to the mining industry, mining companies rely on the guidance provided by authoritative pronouncements, the specific GAAP guidance in SFAS No. 19 for natural resource companies engaged in exploration, development, and production of oil and gas, and the accounting policies followed by mining companies as the basis for GAAP in the mining industry. 27.7 ACCOUNTING FOR MINING COSTS (a) EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS. Exploration and development costs are major expenditures of mining companies. The characterization of expenditures as exploration, development, or production usually determines whether such costs are capitalized or expensed. For accounting purposes, it is useful to identify five basic phases of exploration and development: prospecting, property acquisition, geophysical analysis, development before production, and development during production. Prospecting usually begins with obtaining (or preparing) and studying topographical and geological maps. Prospecting costs, which are generally expensed as incurred, include (1) options to lease or buy property; (2) rights of access to lands for geophysical work; and (3) salaries, equipment, and supplies for scouts, geologists, and geophysical crews. Property acquisition includes both the purchase of property and the purchase or lease of mineral rights. Costs incurred to purchase land (including mineral rights and surface rights) or to lease mineral rights are capitalized. Acquisition costs may include lease bonus and lease extension costs, lease brokers commissions, abstract and recording fees, filing and patent fees, and other related expenses. Geophysical analysis is conducted to identify mineralization. The related costs are generally expensed as exploration costs when incurred. Examples of exploration costs include exploratory drilling, geological mapping, and salaries and supplies for geologists and support personnel. A body of ore reaches the development stage when the existence of an economically and legally recoverable mineral reserve has been established through the completion of a feasibility study. Costs incurred in the development stage before production begins are capitalized. Development costs include expenditures associated with drilling, removing overburden (waste rock), sinking shafts, driving tunnels, building roads and dikes, purchasing processing equipment and equipment used in developing the mine, and constructing supporting facilities to house and care for the workforce. In many respects, the expenditures in the development stage are similar to those incurred during exploration. As a result, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish the point at which exploration ends and development begins. For example, the sinking of shafts and driving of tunnels may begin in the exploration stage and continue into the development stage. In most instances, the transition from the exploration to the development stage is the same for both accounting and tax purposes. Development also takes place during the production stage. The accounting treatment of development costs incurred during the ongoing operation of a mine depends on the nature and purpose of the expenditures. Costs associated with expansion of capacity are generally capitalized; costs incurred to maintain production are normally included in production costs in the period in which they are incurred. In certain instances, the benefits of development activity will be realized in future periods, such as when the “block caving” and open-pit mining methods are used. In the block caving method, entire sections of a body of ore are intentionally collapsed to permit the mass removal of minerals; extraction may take place two to three years after access to the ore is gained and the block prepared. In an open-pit mine, there is typically an expected ratio of overburden to mineral-bearing ore over the life of the mine. The cost of stripping the overburden to gain access to the ore is ex- 27 16 • OIL, GAS, AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES pensed in those periods in which the actual ratio of overburden to ore approximates the expected ratio. In certain instances, however, extensive stripping is performed to remove the overburden in advance of the period in which the ore will be extracted. When the benefits of either development activity are to be realized in a future accounting period, the costs associated with the development activity should be deferred and amortized during the period in which the ore is extracted or the product produced. SFAS No. 7, “Accounting and Reporting by Development Stage Enterprises” (Accounting Standards Section D04), states that “an enterprise shall be considered to be in the development stage if it is devoting substantially all of its efforts to establishing a new business” and “the planned principal operations have not commenced” or they “have commenced, but there has been no significant revenue therefrom.” Although SFAS No. 7 specifically excludes mining companies from its application, the definition of a development stage enterprise is helpful in defining the point in time at which a mine’s development phase ends and its production phase begins. It is not uncommon for incidental and/or insignificant mineral production to occur before either economic production per the mine plan or other commercial basis for measurement is achieved. Expenditures during this time frame are commonly referred to as costs incurred in the start-up period. Statement of Position (SOP) 98-5, “Reporting on the Costs of Start-up Activities,” provides guidance for mining companies as to when development stops and commercial operations begin. Start-up activities are defined broadly in SOP 98-5 as “those one-time activities related to opening a new facility, introducing a new product or service, conducting business in a new territory, conducting business with a new class of customer or beneficiary, initiating a new process in an existing facility, or commencing some new operation.” The SOP precludes the capitalization of start-up costs that are incurred during the period of insignificant mineral production and before normal productive capacity is achieved. (b) PRODUCTION COSTS. When the mine begins production, production costs are expensed. The capitalized property acquisition, and development costs are recognized as costs of production through their depreciation or depletion, generally on the unit-of-production method over the expected productive life of the mine. The principal difference between computing depreciation in the mining industry and in other industries is that useful lives of assets that are not readily movable from a mine site must not exceed the estimated life of the mine, which in turn is based on the remaining economically recoverable ore reserves. In some instances, this may require depreciating certain mining equipment over a period that is shorter than its physical life. Depreciation charges are significant because of the highly capital-intensive nature of the industry. Moreover, those charges are affected by numerous factors, such as the physical environment, revisions of recoverable ore estimates, environmental regulations, and improved technology. In many instances, depreciation charges on similar equipment with different intended uses may begin at different times. For example, depreciation of equipment used for exploration purposes may begin when it is purchased and use has begun, while depreciation of milling equipment may not begin until a certain level of commercial production has been attained. Depletion (or depletion and amortization) of property acquisition and development costs related to a body of ore is calculated in a manner similar to the unit-of-production method of depreciation. The cost of the body of ore is divided by the estimated quantity of ore reserves or units of metal or mineral to arrive at the depletion charge per unit. The unit charge is multiplied by the number of units extracted to arrive at the depletion charge for the period. This computation requires a current estimate of economically recoverable mineral reserves at the end of the period. It is often appropriate for different depletion calculations to be made for different types of capitalized development expenditures. For instance, one factor to be considered is whether capitalized 27.7 ACCOUNTING FOR MINING COSTS 27 17 • costs relate to gaining access to the total economically recoverable ore reserves of the mine or only to specific portions. Usually, estimated quantities of economically recoverable mineral reserves are the basis for computing depletion and amortization under the unit-of-production method. The choice of the reserve unit is not a problem if there is only one product; if, however, as in many extractive operations, several products are recovered, a decision must be made whether to measure production on the basis of the major product or on the basis of an aggregation of all products. Generally, the reserve base is the company’s total proved and probable ore reserve quantities; it is determined by specialists, such as geologists or mining engineers. Proved and probable reserves typically are used as the reserve base because of the degree of uncertainty surrounding estimates of possible reserves. The imprecise nature of reserve estimates makes it inevitable that the reserve base will be revised over time as additional data becomes available. Changes in the reserve base should be treated as changes in accounting estimates in accordance with APB Opinion No. 20, “Accounting Changes” (Accounting Standards Section A06), and accounted for prospectively. (c) INVENTORY. A mining company’s inventory generally has two major components— (1) metals and minerals and (2) materials and supplies that are used in mining operations. (i) Metals and Minerals. Metal and mineral inventories usually comprise broken ore; crushed ore; concentrate; materials in process at concentrators, smelters, and refineries; metal; and joint and by-products. The usual practice of mining companies is not to recognize metal inventories for financial reporting purposes before the concentrate stage, that is, until the majority of the nonmineralized material has been removed from the ore. Thus, ore is not included in inventory until it has been processed through the concentrator and is ready for delivery to the smelter. This practice evolved because the amounts of broken ore before the concentrating process ordinarily are relatively small, and consequently the cost of that ore and of concentrate in process generally is not significant. Furthermore, the amount of broken ore and concentrate in process is relatively constant at the end of each month, and the concentrating process is quite rapid—usually a matter of hours. In the case of leach operations, generally the mineral content of the ore is estimated and costs are inventoried. However, practice varies, and some companies do not inventory costs until the leached product is introduced into the electrochemical refinery cells. Determining inventory quantities during the production process is often difficult. Broken ore, crushed ore, concentrate, and materials in process may be stored in various ways or enclosed in vessels or pipes. Mining companies carry metal inventory at the lower of cost or market value, with cost determined on a last-in, first out (LIFO), first-in, first out (FIFO), or average basis. Valuation of product inventory is also affected by worldwide imbalances between supply and demand for certain metals. Companies sometimes produce larger quantities of a metal than can be absorbed by the market. In that situation, management may have to write the inventory down to its net realizable value; determining that value, however, may be difficult if there is no established market or only a thin market for the particular metal. Product costs for mining companies usually reflect all normal and necessary expenditures associated with cost centers such as mines, concentrators, smelters, and refineries. Inventory costs comprise not only direct costs of production, but also an allocation of overhead, including mine and other plant administrative expenses. Depreciation, depletion, and amortization of capitalized exploration, and development costs also should be included in inventory. If a company engages in tolling (described in Subsection 27.8(b)), it may have significant production inventories on hand that belong to other mining companies. Usually it is not possible to physically segregate inventories owned by others from similar inventories owned by the 27 18 • OIL, GAS, AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES company. Memorandum records of tolling inventories should be maintained and reconciled periodically to physical counts. (ii) Materials and Supplies. Materials and supplies usually constitute a substantial portion of the inventory of most mining companies, sometimes exceeding the value of metal inventories. This is because a lack of supplies or spare parts could cause the curtailment of operations. In addition to normal operating supplies, materials and supplies inventories often include such items as fuel and spare parts for trucks, locomotives, and other machinery. Most mining companies use perpetual inventory systems to account for materials and supplies because of their high unit value. Materials and supplies inventories normally are valued at cost minus a reserve for surplus items and obsolescence. (d) COMMODITIES, FUTURES TRANSACTIONS. Mining companies usually have significant inventories of commodities that are traded in worldwide markets, and frequently enter into long-term forward sales contracts specifying sales prices based on market prices at time of delivery. To protect themselves from the risk of loss that could result from price declines, mining companies often “hedge” against price changes by entering into futures contracts. Companies sell contracts when they expect selling prices to decline or are satisfied with the current price and want to “lock in” the profit (or loss) on the sale of their inventory. To establish a hedge when it has or expects to have a commodity (e.g., copper) in inventory, a company sells a contract that commits it to deliver that commodity in the future at a fixed price. SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” which is effective for quarters of fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000, requires derivative instruments, including those which qualify as hedges, to be reported on the balance sheet at fair value. To qualify for hedge accounting, the derivative must satisfy the requirements of a “cash flow hedge,” “fair value hedge,” or “foreign currency hedge” as defined by SFAS No. 133. The Statement provides that certain criteria be met for a derivative to be accounted for as a hedge for financial reporting purposes. These criteria must be formally documented prior to entering the transaction and include risk-management objectives and an assessment of hedge effectiveness. Financial instruments commonly used in the mining industry include forward sales contracts, spot deferred contracts, purchased puts, and written calls. Additional financial instruments that should be reviewed for statement applicability include commodity loans, tolling agreements, take or pay contracts, and royalty agreements. (e) RECLAMATION AND REMEDIATION. The mining industry is subject to federal and state laws for reclamation and restoration of lands after the completion of mining. Historically, costs to reclaim and restore these lands, which can be defined as asset retirement obligations, were recognized using a cost accumulation model on an undiscounted basis. For financial reporting purposes, the environmental and closure expenses and related liabilities were recognized ratably over the mine life using the units-of-production method. SFAS No.143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” which is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002, requires that an asset retirement obligation be recognized in the period in which it is incurred. This Statement defines reclamation of a mine at the end of its productive life to be an obligating event that requires liability recognition. The asset retirement costs, which include reclamation and closure costs, are capitalized as a component of the long-lived assets of the mineral property and depreciated over the mine life using the units-of-production method. This Statement requires that the liability for these obligations be recorded at its fair value using the guidance in FASB Concepts Statement No. 7, “Using Cash Flow Information and Present Value in Accounting Measurements,” to estimate that liability. This Statement also requires that the liability be discounted and accretion expense be recognized using the credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate in effect at recognition date. 27.7 ACCOUNTING FOR MINING COSTS 27 19 • Environmental contamination and hazardous waste disposal and clean up is regulated by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA or Superfund). SOP 96-1, “Environmental Remediation Liabilities,” provides accounting guidance for the accrual and disclosure of environmental remediation liabilities. This Statement requires that environmental remediation liabilities be accrued when the criteria of FASB No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” have been met. However, if the environmental remediation liability is incurred as a result of normal mining operations and relates to the retirement of the mining assets, the provisions of SFAS No. 143 probably apply. (f) SHUTDOWN OF MINES. Volatile metal prices may make active operations uneconomical from time to time, and, as a result, mining companies will shut down operations, either temporarily or permanently. When operations are temporarily shut down, a question arises as to the carrying value of the related assets. If a long-term diminution in the value of the assets has occurred, a writedown of the carrying value to net realizable value should be recorded. This decision is extremely judgmental and depends on projections of whether viable mining operations can ever be resumed. Those projections are based on significant assumptions as to prices, production, quantities, and costs; because most minerals are worldwide commodities, the projections must take into account global supply and demand factors. When operations are temporarily shut down, the related facilities usually are placed in a “standby mode” that provides for care and maintenance so that the assets will be retained in a reasonable condition that will facilitate resumption of operations. Care and maintenance costs are usually recorded as expenses in the period in which they are incurred. Examples of typical care and maintenance costs are security, preventive and protective maintenance, and depreciation. A temporary shutdown of a mining company’s facility can raise questions as to whether the company can continue as a going concern. (g) ACCOUNTING FOR THE IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS. SFAS No. 121, “Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of,” provided definitive guidance on when the carrying amount of long-lived assets should be reviewed for impairment. Long-lived assets of a mining company, for example, plant and equipment and capitalized development costs, should be reviewed for recoverability when events or changes in circumstances indicate that carrying amounts may not be recoverable. For mining companies, factors such as decreasing commodity prices, reductions in mineral recoveries, increasing operating and environmental costs, and reductions in mineral reserves are events and circumstances that may indicate an asset impairment. SFAS No. 121 also established a common methodology for assessing and measuring the impairment of long-lived assets. SFAS No. 144, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001, supercedes SFAS No. 121 but retains the fundamental recognition and measurement provisions of SFAS No. 121. This Statement addresses significant issues relating to the implementation of SFAS No. 121 and develops a single accounting model, based on the framework established in SFAS No. 121, for long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale, whether previously held and used or newly acquired. This Statement defines impairment as “the condition that exists when the carrying amount of a long-lived asset (asset group) exceeds its fair value.” An impairment loss is reported only if the carrying amount of the long-lived asset (asset group) (1) is not recoverable, that is, if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset (asset group), assessed based on the carrying amount of the asset in use or under development when it is tested for recoverability, and (2) exceeds the fair value of the asset (asset group). For mining companies, the cash flows should be based on the proven and probable reserves that are used in the calculation of depreciation, depletion, and amortization. The estimates of cash flows should be based on reasonable and supportable assumptions. For example, the use of 27 20 • OIL, GAS, AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES commodity prices other than the spot price would be permissible if such prices were based on futures prices in the commodity markets. If an impairment loss is warranted, the revised carrying amount of the asset, which is based on the discounted cash flow model, is the new cost basis to be depreciated over its remaining useful life. A previously recognized impairment loss may not be restored. 27.8 ACCOUNTING FOR MINING REVENUES (a) SALES OF MINERALS. Generally, minerals are not sold in the raw-ore stage because of the insignificant quantity of minerals relative to the total volume of waste rock. (There are, however, some exceptions, such as iron ore and coal.) The ore is usually milled at or near the mine site to produce a concentrate containing a significantly higher percentage of mineral content. For example, the metal content of copper concentrate typically is 25 to 30%, as opposed to between .5 and 1% for the raw ore. The concentrate is frequently sold to other processors; occasionally mining companies exchange concentrate to reduce transportation costs. After the refining process, metallic minerals may be sold as finished metals, either in the form of products for remelting by final users (e.g., pig iron or cathode copper) or as finished products (e.g., copper rod or aluminum foil). Sales of raw ore and concentrate entail determining metal content based initially on estimated weights, moisture content, and ore grade. Those estimates are subsequently revised, based on the actual metal content recovered from the raw ore or concentrate. The SEC has provided guidance for revenue recognition under generally accepted accounting principles in SAB No. 101, which was issued in December 1999. The staff noted that accounting literature on revenue recognition included both conceptual discussions and industry-specific guidance. SAB No. 101 provides a summary of the staff’s views on revenue recognition and should be evaluated by mining companies in recording revenues. Revenue should be recognized when the following conditions are met: • • • • A contractual agreement exists (a documented understanding between the buyer and seller as to the nature and terms of the agreed-upon transaction). Delivery of the product has occurred (FOB shipping) or the services have been rendered. The price of the product is fixed or determinable. Collection of the receivable for the product sold or services rendered is reasonably assured. For revenue to be recognized, it is important that the buyer has to have taken title to the mineral product and assumed the risks and rewards of ownership. Sales prices are often based on the market price on a commodity exchange such as the New York Commodity Exchange (COMEX) or London Metal Exchange (LME) at the time of delivery, which may differ from the market price of the metal at the time that the criteria for revenue recognition have been satisfied. Revenue may be recognized on these sales based on a provisional pricing mechanism, the spot price of the metal at the date on which revenue recognition criteria have been satisfied. The estimated sales price and related receivable should be subsequently marked to market through revenue based on the commodity exchange spot price until the final settlement. (b) TOLLING AND ROYALTY REVENUES. Companies with smelters and refineries may also realize revenue from tolling, which is the processing of metal-bearing materials of other mining companies for a fee. The fee is based on numerous factors, including the weight and metal content of the materials processed. Normally, the processed minerals are returned to the original producer for subsequent sale. To supplement the recovery of fixed costs, companies with smelters and refineries frequently enter into tolling agreements when they have excess capacity. 27.8 ACCOUNTING FOR MINING REVENUES 27 21 • For a variety of reasons, companies may not wish to mine certain properties that they own. Mineral royalty agreements may be entered into that provide for royalties based on a percentage of the total value of the mineral or of gross revenue, to be paid when the minerals extracted from the property are sold. The accounting for commodity futures contracts depends on whether the contract qualifies as a hedge under SFAS No. 80, Accounting for Futures Contracts (Accounting Standards Section F80). In order for the contract to qualify as a hedge, two conditions must be met: (1) the item to be hedged must expose the company to price or interest rate risk; and (2) the contract must reduce that exposure and must be designated as a hedge. In determining its exposure to price or interest rate risk, a company must take into account other assets, liabilities, firm commitments, and anticipated transactions that may already offset or reduce the exposure. Moreover, SFAS No. 80 prescribes a correlation test between the hedged item and the hedging instrument that requires a company to examine historical relationships and to monitor the correlation after the hedging transaction was executed, thus permitting cross hedging provided there is high correlation between changes in the values of the hedged item and the hedging instrument. For contracts that qualify as hedges, unrealized gains and losses on the futures contracts are generally deferred and are recognized in the same period in which gains or losses from the items being hedged are recognized. Speculative contracts, in contrast, are accounted for at market value. In 1992, the FASB initiated a project on hedge accounting and accounting for derivatives and synthetic instruments. As this publication goes to print, the FASB had issued an exposure draft, “Accounting for Derivatives and Similar Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities.” In order to qualify for hedging of mineral reserves, management will be required to determine how it measures hedge effectiveness and to formally document the hedging relationship and the entity’s risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedge. Such documentation will include identification of the hedging instrument, the related hedged item, the nature of the risk being hedged, and how the hedging instrument’s effectiveness in offsetting the exposure to changes in the hedged item’s fair value attributable to the hedged risk will be assessed. At its December 19, 1997, meeting, the FASB tentatively decided that the standard would be effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 1999, that is, for calendar year companies, the standard would be effective as of January 1, 2000. The final standard is currently expected to be issued within the first six months of 1998. As an intermediate measure, prior to the finalization of rules related to accounting for hedges, derivatives, and synthetic instruments, the FASB decided in December 1993 to undertake a short-term project aimed at improving financial statement disclosures about derivatives. This short-term project led to the issuance of FASB Statement No. 119 in October 1994, entitled “Disclosure about Derivative Financial Instruments and Fair Value of Financial Instruments.” SFAS 119 requires companies to disclose the following: • • • The face amount of the contract by class of financial instrument The nature and terms of the contract, including a discussion of the credit and market risks and cash requirements of those instruments Their related accounting policy With respect to hedging transactions, new disclosures include a discussion of the company’s objectives and strategies for holding or issuing these instruments and descriptions of how those instruments are reported in the financial statements. Additionally, disclosures for hedges of anticipated transactions have been expanded to require a description of the hedge, the period of time the transaction is expected to occur, and deferred gains or losses. Contracts that either require the exchange of a financial instrument 27 22 • OIL, GAS, AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES for a nonfinancial commodity or permit settlement of an obligation by delivery of a nonfinancial commodity are exempt from disclosure requirements of this Statement. However, depending on the significance of use of derivatives by particular companies, additional disclosure may be prudent to accurately portray the manner in which the entity protects itself against price fluctuations. 27.9 SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCIAL STATEMENT INFORMATION—ORE RESERVES SFAS No. 89, “Financial Reporting and Changing Prices” (Accounting Standards Section C28), eliminated the requirement that certain publicly traded companies meeting specified size criteria must disclose the effects of changing prices and supplemental disclosures of ore reserves. However, Item 102 of Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-K requires that publicly traded mining companies present information related to production, reserves, locations, developments, and the nature of the registrant’s interest in properties. 27.10 ACCOUNTING FOR INCOME TAXES Chapter 19 addresses general accounting for income taxes. Tax accounting for oil and gas production as well as hard rock mining is particularly complex and cannot be fully covered in this chapter. However, two special deductions need to be mentioned—percentage depletion and immediate deduction of certain development costs. Many petroleum and mining production companies are allowed to calculate depletion as the greater of cost depletion or percentage depletion. Cost depletion is based on amortization of property acquisition costs over estimated recoverable reserves. Percentage depletion is a statutory depletion deduction that is a specified percentage of gross revenue at the well-head (15% for oil and gas) or mine for the particular mineral produced and is limited to a portion of the property’s taxable income before deducting such depletion. Percentage depletion may exceed the depletable cost basis. For purposes of computing the taxable income from the mineral property, gross income is defined as the value of the mineral before the application of nonmining processes. Selling price is generally determined to be the gross value for tax purposes when the mineral products are sold to third parties prior to nonmining processes. For an integrated mining company where nonmining processes are used, gross income for the mineral is generally determined under a proportionate profits method whereby an allocation of profit is made based on the mining and nonmining costs incurred. For both petroleum and mining companies, exploration and development costs other than for equipment are largely deductible when incurred. However, the major integrated petroleum companies and mining companies must capitalize a percentage of these exploration and development expenditures, which are then amortized over a period of 60 months. Mining companies must recapture the previously deducted exploration costs if the mineral property achieves commercial production. Property impairments, which are expensed currently for financial reporting purposes, do not generate a taxable deduction until such property is abandoned, sold, or exchanged. 27.11 FINANCIAL STATEMENT DISCLOSURES The SFAS No. 69 details supplementary disclosure requirements for the oil and gas industry, most of which are required only by public companies. Both public and nonpublic companies, however, must provide a description of the accounting method followed and the manner of disposing of capitalized 27.12 SOURCES AND SUGGESTED REFERENCES 27 23 • costs. Audited financial statements filed with the SEC must include supplementary disclosures, which fall into four categories: 1. 2. 3. 4. Historical cost data relating to acquisition, exploration, development, and production activity. Results of operations for oil- and gas-producing activities. Proved reserve quantities. Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserve quantities (also known as SMOG [standardized measure of oil and gas]). For foreign operations, SMOG also relates to produced quantities subject to certain long-term purchase contracts held by a party involved in producing the quantities. The supplementary disclosures are required of companies with significant oil- and gas-producing activities; significant is defined as 10% or more of revenue, operating results, or identifiable assets. The Statement provides that the disclosures are to be provided as supplemental data; thus they need not be audited. The disclosure requirements are described in detail in the Statement, and examples are provided in an appendix to SFAS No. 69. If the supplemental information is not audited, it must be clearly labeled as unaudited. However, auditing interpretations (Au Section 9558) require the financial statement auditor to perform certain limited procedures to these required, unaudited supplementary disclosures. Proved reserves are inherently imprecise because of the uncertainties and limitations of the data available. Most large companies and many medium-sized companies have qualified engineers on their staffs to prepare oil and gas reserve studies. Many also use outside consultants to make independent reviews. Other companies, which do not have sufficient operations to justify a full-time engineer, engage outside engineering consultants to evaluate and estimate their oil and gas reserves. Usually, reserve studies are reviewed and updated at least annually to take into account new discoveries and adjustments of previous estimates. The standardized measure is disclosed as of the end of the fiscal year. The SMOG reflects future revenues computed by applying unescalated, year-end oil and gas prices to year-end proved reserves. Future price changes may only be considered if fixed and determinable under year-end sales contracts. The calculated future revenues are reduced for estimated future development costs, production costs, and related income taxes (using unescalated, year-end cost rates) to compute future net cash flows. Such cash flows, by future year, are discounted at a standard 10% per annum to compute the standardized measure. Significant sources of the annual changes in the year-end standardized measure and year-end proved oil and gas reserves should be disclosed. 27.12 SOURCES AND SUGGESTED REFERENCES Brock, Horace R., Jennings, Dennis R., and Feiten, Joseph B., Petroleum Accounting—Principles, Procedures, and Issues, 4th ed.. Professional Development Institute, Denton, TX, 1996. Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies, Bulletin No. 24, Producer Gas Imbalances as revised. Kraftbilt Products, Tulsa, 1991. PricewaterhouseCoopers, Financial Reporting in the Mining Industry for the 21st Century, 1999. Financial Accounting Standards Board, “Financial Accounting and Reporting by Oil and Gas Producing Companies,” Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 19. FASB, Stamford, CT, 1977. , “Suspension of Certain Accounting Requirements for Oil and Gas Producing Companies,” Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 25. FASB, Stamford, CT, 1979. , “Disclosures about Oil and Gas Producing Activities,” Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 69. FASB, Stamford, CT, 1982. O’Reilly, V. M., Montgomery’s Auditing, 12th ed. John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1996. 27 24 • OIL, GAS, AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES Securities and Exchange Commission, “Financial Accounting and Reporting for Oil and Gas Producing Activities Pursuant to the Federal Securities Laws and the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975,” Regulation S-X, Rule 4-10, as currently amended. SEC, Washington, DC, 1995. , “Interpretations Relating to Oil and Gas Accounting,” SEC Staff Accounting Bulletins, Topic 12. SEC, Washington, DC, 1995