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Chevron Corp. (CVX)
Analysis of Property, Plant and Equipment
Advanced level
Accounting Policy on Property, Plant and Equipment
The successful efforts method is used for crude oil and natural gas exploration and production activities. All costs for development wells, related plant and equipment, proved mineral interests in crude oil and natural gas properties, and related asset retirement obligation (ARO) assets are capitalized. Costs of exploratory wells are capitalized pending determination of whether the wells found proved reserves. Costs of wells that are assigned proved reserves remain capitalized. Costs also are capitalized for exploratory wells that have found crude oil and natural gas reserves even if the reserves cannot be classified as proved when the drilling is completed, provided the exploratory well has found a sufficient quantity of reserves to justify its completion as a producing well and Chevron is making sufficient progress assessing the reserves and the economic and operating viability of the project. All other exploratory wells and costs are expensed.
Long-lived assets to be held and used, including proved crude oil and natural gas properties, are assessed for possible impairment by comparing their carrying values with their associated undiscounted, future net cash flows. Events that can trigger assessments for possible impairments include write-downs of proved reserves based on field performance, significant decreases in the market value of an asset (including changes to the commodity price forecast), significant change in the extent or manner of use of or a physical change in an asset, and a more-likely-than-not expectation that a long-lived asset or asset group will be sold or otherwise disposed of significantly sooner than the end of its previously estimated useful life. Impaired assets are written down to their estimated fair values, generally their discounted, future net cash flows. For proved crude oil and natural gas properties, Chevron performs impairment reviews on a country, concession, PSC, development area or field basis, as appropriate. In Downstream, impairment reviews are performed on the basis of a refinery, a plant, a marketing/lubricants area or distribution area, as appropriate. Impairment amounts are recorded as incremental “Depreciation, depletion and amortization” expense.
Long-lived assets that are held for sale are evaluated for possible impairment by comparing the carrying value of the asset with its fair value less the cost to sell. If the net book value exceeds the fair value less cost to sell, the asset is considered impaired and adjusted to the lower value. The fair value of a liability for an ARO is recorded as an asset and a liability when there is a legal obligation associated with the retirement of a long-lived asset and the amount can be reasonably estimated.
Depreciation and depletion of all capitalized costs of proved crude oil and natural gas producing properties, except mineral interests, are expensed using the unit-of-production method, generally by individual field, as the proved developed reserves are produced. Depletion expenses for capitalized costs of proved mineral interests are recognized using the unit-of-production method by individual field as the related proved reserves are produced. Impairments of capitalized costs of unproved mineral interests are expensed.
The capitalized costs of all other plant and equipment are depreciated or amortized over their estimated useful lives. In general, the declining-balance method is used to depreciate plant and equipment in the United States; the straight-line method is generally used to depreciate international plant and equipment and to amortize all capitalized leased assets.
Gains or losses are not recognized for normal retirements of properties, plant and equipment subject to composite group amortization or depreciation. Gains or losses from abnormal retirements are recorded as expenses, and from sales as “Other income.”
Expenditures for maintenance (including those for planned major maintenance projects), repairs and minor renewals to maintain facilities in operating condition are generally expensed as incurred. Major replacements and renewals are capitalized.
Source: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-22).
Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure
Chevron Corp., balance sheet: property, plant and equipment
US$ in millions
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-22), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-22), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-23), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-25), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-20).
| Item | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Properties, plant and equipment, at cost | Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. | Chevron Corp.’s properties, plant and equipment, at cost increased from 2016 to 2017 but then slightly decreased from 2017 to 2018 not reaching 2016 level. |
| Properties, plant and equipment, net | Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. | Chevron Corp.’s properties, plant and equipment, net decreased from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
Asset Age Ratios (Summary)
Chevron Corp., asset age ratios
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-22), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-22), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-23), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-25), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-20).
| Asset age ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Average age ratio | As long as straight-line depreciation is used, this is an accurate estimate of asset age as a percentage of depreciable life. The relative age is a useful measure of whether the company’s fixed asset base is old or new. Newer assets are likely to be more efficient. | Chevron Corp.’s average age ratio of depreciable property, plant and equipment deteriorated from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
| Estimated total useful life | Over longer time periods, this ratio is a useful measure of company’s depreciation policy and can be used for comparisons with competitors. | Chevron Corp.’s estimated total useful life of depreciable property, plant and equipment increased from 2016 to 2017 but then slightly decreased from 2017 to 2018 not reaching 2016 level. |
| Estimated time elapsed since purchase | The approximate age in years of a company’s fixed assets. Useful for comparison purposes. | Chevron Corp.’s estimated time elapsed since purchase of depreciable property, plant and equipment deteriorated from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
| Estimated remaining life | Chevron Corp.’s estimated remaining life of depreciable property, plant and equipment decreased from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
Average Age
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-22), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-22), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-23), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-25), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-20).
2018 Calculations
1 Average age = 100 × Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization ÷ Properties, plant and equipment, at cost
= 100 × ÷ =
| Asset age ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Average age | As long as straight-line depreciation is used, this is an accurate estimate of asset age as a percentage of depreciable life. The relative age is a useful measure of whether the company’s fixed asset base is old or new. Newer assets are likely to be more efficient. | Chevron Corp.’s average age ratio of depreciable property, plant and equipment deteriorated from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
Estimated Total Useful Life
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-22), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-22), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-23), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-25), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-20).
2018 Calculations
1 Estimated total useful life = Properties, plant and equipment, at cost ÷ Depreciation expense
= ÷ =
| Asset age ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated total useful life | Over longer time periods, this ratio is a useful measure of company’s depreciation policy and can be used for comparisons with competitors. | Chevron Corp.’s estimated total useful life of depreciable property, plant and equipment increased from 2016 to 2017 but then slightly decreased from 2017 to 2018 not reaching 2016 level. |
Estimated Age, Time Elapsed since Purchase
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-22), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-22), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-23), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-25), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-20).
2018 Calculations
1 Time elapsed since purchase = Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization ÷ Depreciation expense
= ÷ =
| Asset age ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated time elapsed since purchase | The approximate age in years of a company’s fixed assets. Useful for comparison purposes. | Chevron Corp.’s estimated time elapsed since purchase of depreciable property, plant and equipment deteriorated from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
Estimated Remaining Life
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-22), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-22), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-23), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-25), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-20).
2018 Calculations
1 Estimated remaining life = Properties, plant and equipment, net ÷ Depreciation expense
= ÷ =
| Asset age ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated remaining life | Chevron Corp.’s estimated remaining life of depreciable property, plant and equipment decreased from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |