Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2018 | |
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
| Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
NOTE 1 — BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Tellurian Inc., a Delaware corporation based in Houston, Texas (“Tellurian”), plans to develop, own and operate a global natural gas business and to deliver natural gas to customers worldwide. Tellurian has begun to establish a portfolio of natural gas production, LNG marketing, and infrastructure assets including an LNG terminal facility (the “Driftwood terminal”) and an associated pipeline (the “Driftwood pipeline”) in southwest Louisiana. Tellurian intends to develop the Driftwood pipeline as part of what we refer to as the “Pipeline Network.” In addition to the Driftwood pipeline, the Pipeline Network is expected to include two pipelines, the Haynesville Global Access Pipeline and the Permian Global Access Pipeline, both of which are currently in the early stages of development. The Driftwood terminal, the Pipeline Network and Tellurian’s existing and planned natural gas production assets are referred to collectively as the “Driftwood Project”.
On February 10, 2017 (the “Merger Date”), Tellurian Investments Inc. (“Tellurian Investments”) completed a merger (the “Merger”) with a subsidiary of Magellan Petroleum Corporation (“Magellan”). Magellan changed its corporate name to Tellurian Inc. shortly after completing the Merger. The Merger was accounted for as a “reverse acquisition,” with Tellurian Investments being treated as the accounting acquirer. As such, the historical consolidated comparative information as of and for all periods in 2016 in this report relates to Tellurian Investments and its subsidiaries. Subsequent to the Merger Date, the information relates to the consolidated entities of Tellurian Inc., with Magellan reflected as the accounting acquiree. In connection with the Merger, each issued and outstanding share of Tellurian Investments common stock was exchanged for 1.3 shares of Magellan common stock. All share and per share amounts in the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes have been retroactively adjusted for all periods presented to give effect to this exchange, including reclassifying an amount equal to the change in par value of common stock from additional paid-in capital.
On April 9, 2016, Tellurian Investments acquired Tellurian Services LLC (“Tellurian Services”), formerly known as Parallax Services LLC (“Parallax Services”). Under the financial reporting rules of the SEC, Parallax Services (“Predecessor”) has been deemed to be the predecessor to Tellurian (“Successor”) for financial reporting purposes.
Except where the context indicates otherwise, (i) references to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Tellurian” or the “Company” refer, for periods prior to the completion of the Merger, to Tellurian Investments and its subsidiaries, and for periods following the completion of the Merger, to Tellurian Inc. and its subsidiaries and (ii) references to “Magellan” refer to Tellurian Inc. and its subsidiaries prior to the completion of the Merger.
Basis of Presentation
Our Consolidated Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Tellurian Inc. and its wholly and majority owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Segments
Management allocates resources and assesses financial performance on a consolidated basis. As such, for the purposes of financial reporting under GAAP during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company operated as a single operating segment.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying notes. Management evaluates its estimates and related assumptions on a regular basis. Changes in facts and circumstances or additional information may result in revised estimates, and actual results may differ from these estimates.
Fair Value
The Company uses three levels of the fair value hierarchy of inputs to measure the fair value of an asset or a liability. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability. Level 3 inputs are inputs that are not observable in the market.
Goodwill
Goodwill resulting from a business combination is not subject to amortization. The Company tests such goodwill at the reporting unit level for impairment on an annual basis and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying amount.
Revenue Recognition
ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), amended the previous revenue recognition guidance and required us to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. We adopted the new standard on January 1, 2018, utilizing the modified retrospective approach. We have applied the standard to all contracts as of the date of the application of the standard. We developed an accounting policy, implemented changes to the relevant business processes and the control activities within them, and evaluated the disclosure requirements as a result of the provisions of this ASU. Adoption of the ASU did not require an adjustment to the opening stockholders’ equity and did not change our amount and timing of revenues. We have elected to exclude all taxes from the measurement of transaction price.
For the sale of commodities, we consider the delivery of each unit (MMBtu) to be a separate performance obligation that is satisfied upon delivery. These contracts are either fixed price contracts or contracts with a fixed differential to an index price, both of which are considered fixed consideration. The fixed consideration is allocated to each performance obligation and represents the relative standalone selling price basis.
Purchases and sales of inventory with the same counterparty that are entered into in contemplation of one another (including buy/sell arrangements) are combined and recorded on a net basis and reported in “LNG sales” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. For such LNG sales, we require payment within 10 days from delivery. Other LNG revenue represents revenue earned from sub-charter agreements and is accounted for outside of this ASU and in line with Accounting Standards Codification 840, Leases.
In our judgment, the performance obligations for the sale of natural gas and LNG are satisfied at a point in time because the customer obtains control and legal title of the asset when the natural gas or LNG is delivered to the designated sales point.
Because our performance obligations have been satisfied and an unconditional right to consideration exists as of the balance sheet date, we have recognized amounts due from contracts with customers of $0.5 million as accounts receivable within the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2018.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
We consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents that are restricted as to withdrawal or use under the terms of certain contractual agreements are recorded in Non-current restricted cash on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Concentration of Cash
We maintain cash balances and restricted cash at financial institutions, which may at times be in excess of federally insured levels. We have not incurred losses related to these balances to date.
Derivative Instruments
We use derivative instruments to hedge our exposure to cash flow variability from commodity price risk. Derivative instruments are recorded at fair value and included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as assets or liabilities, depending on the derivative position and the expected timing of settlement, unless they satisfy the criteria for and we elect the normal purchases and sales exception.
Changes in the fair value of our derivative instruments are recorded in earnings, and, at present, we have elected not to apply hedge accounting. See Note 12, Financial Instruments for additional details about our derivative instruments.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Natural gas development and production activities are accounted for using the successful efforts method of accounting. Costs incurred to acquire a property (whether unproved or proved) are capitalized when incurred. Lease rentals are expensed as incurred. Natural gas exploratory costs are expensed as incurred and costs to develop proved reserves are capitalized. All costs related to production, general corporate overhead, and similar activities are expensed as incurred. We deplete our natural gas reserves using the units-of-production method.
Fixed assets are recorded at cost. We depreciate our property, plant and equipment, excluding land, using the straight-line depreciation method over the estimated useful life of the asset. Upon retirement or other disposition of property, plant and equipment, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed, and the resulting gains or losses are recorded in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. Management tests property, plant and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of property, plant and equipment might not be recoverable.
Accounting for LNG Development Activities
As we have been in the preliminary stage of developing the Driftwood terminal, substantially all of the costs to date related to such activities have been expensed. These costs primarily include professional fees associated with FEED studies and applying to FERC for authorization to construct our terminals and other required permitting for the Driftwood Project.
Costs incurred in connection with a project to develop the Driftwood terminal shall generally be treated as development expenses until the project has reached the notice-to-proceed state (“NTP State”) and the following criteria (the “NTP Criteria”) have been achieved: (i) regulatory approval has been received, (ii) financing for the project is available and (iii) management has committed to commence construction. In addition to the above, certain costs incurred prior to achieving the NTP State will be capitalized though the NTP Criteria have not been met. Costs to be capitalized prior to achieving the NTP State include land purchase costs, land improvement costs, costs associated with preparing the facility for use and any fixed structure construction costs (fence, storage areas, drainage, etc.). Furthermore, activities directly associated with detailed engineering and/or facility designs shall be capitalized.
Share-Based Compensation
Share-based compensation transactions are measured based on grant-date estimated fair value. For awards containing only service conditions or performance conditions deemed probable of occurring, the fair value is recognized as expense over the requisite service period using the straight-line method. We recognize compensation cost for awards with performance conditions if and when we conclude that it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved. For awards where the performance or market condition is not considered probable, compensation cost is not recognized until the performance or market condition becomes probable. We reassess the probability of vesting at each reporting period for awards with performance conditions and adjust compensation cost based on our probability assessment. We recognize forfeitures as they occur.
Debt
Discounts and expenses incurred with the issuance of debt are amortized over the term of the debt. These amounts are presented as a reduction of Senior secured term loan on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 13, Long-Term Borrowings, for additional details about our Senior secured term loan.
Income Taxes
We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, we determine deferred tax assets and liabilities on the basis of the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities by using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to be realized or settled. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
We recognize deferred tax assets to the extent that we believe that these assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, we consider current and historical financial results, expectations for future taxable income and the availability of tax planning strategies that can be implemented, if necessary, to realize deferred tax assets. If we determine that we would be able to realize our deferred tax assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, we would make an adjustment to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance, which would reduce the provision for income taxes.
Net Loss Per Share (EPS)
Basic net loss per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share reflects potential dilution and is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period increased by the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the potential common shares had been issued and were dilutive.
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