Fieldwood Energy LLC and The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors

CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Texas
DecidedFebruary 8, 2022
Docket20-33948
StatusUnknown

This text of Fieldwood Energy LLC and The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (Fieldwood Energy LLC and The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Fieldwood Energy LLC and The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, (Tex. 2022).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT February 08, 2022 FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS Nathan Ochsner, Clerk HOUSTON DIVISION

IN RE: § § CASE NO: 20-33948 FIELDWOOD ENERGY LLC, et al., § Debtors. § Jointly Administered § CHAPTER 11

MEMORANDUM OPINION Fieldwood Energy LLC and BP Exploration & Production Inc. entered into two contracts under which one party was obligated to pay the other. In its bankruptcy, Fieldwood transferred one of those contracts to QuarterNorth Energy LLC. BP attempted to set off what it owed QuarterNorth under the transferred contract against what Fieldwood owed it under the retained contract. For the reasons set forth below, BP’s setoff was improper and violated the Plan and Confirmation Order. BACKGROUND Fieldwood and BP engaged in multiple contracts in the course of their business relationship. Two purchase and sale agreements between Fieldwood and BP are relevant in this matter. On October 25, 2018, they entered into the “Isabela PSA,” in which BP agreed to pay Fieldwood $66 million in monthly installments starting in 2018 and continuing through December 2021 in exchange for Fieldwood’s interests in the Isabela well. (ECF No. 2274 at 7, 20). On May 17, 2019, they entered into the “Genovesa PSA,” in which Fieldwood agreed to pay BP $30 million following successful completion of the Genovesa well and 180 days of production.1 (ECF No.

1 “[P]ayable and owing to [BP] upon the successful completion of the Genovesa Well or any other well within the Genovesa Formation and shall be due and paid to [BP] within the first one hundred eighty (180) days of production (whether consecutive or not) of Hydrocarbons from any such well . . . .” (ECF No. 2273 at 24). Fieldwood was not obligated to pay the $30 million until the Genovesa well was completed and had produced for 180 days. Additionally, BP could not sue for the $30 million until the Genovesa well had produced for 180 days. 2273 at 8, 24). Both the Isabela PSA and the Genovesa PSA are governed by Texas law. (ECF Nos. 2273 at 54; 2274 at 40). Fieldwood and its affiliated debtors filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy on August 3, 2020. (ECF No. 1). This Court confirmed Fieldwood’s Plan on June 25, 2021. (ECF No. 2016 at 1). The confirmed Plan became effective on August 27, 2021 (the “Effective Date”). (ECF No. 2016

at 1). Under the confirmed Plan, Fieldwood rejected the Genovesa PSA and transferred the Isabela PSA, including the right to the associated payments, to QuarterNorth Energy LLC on the Effective Date.2 (ECF No. 2008 at 73–74). The Genovesa well had not produced for 180 days as of the Effective Date. (See ECF Nos. 2199 at 15; 2278 at 4). BP paid the Isabela PSA installments through September 2021. (ECF No. 2199 at 12). By October 2021, BP still owed $6,970,816.40. (ECF Nos. 2199 at 9; 2278 at 4, 9). The Genovesa well reached 180 days of production on or around October 26, 2021. (ECF Nos. 2199 at 15; 2278 at 4). On October 28, 2021, BP claimed that it was entitled to set off the remainder of what it owed under the Isabela PSA against what Fieldwood owed under the Genovesa PSA. (ECF Nos. 2199

at 12; 2278 at 9). QuarterNorth and BP dispute whether BP rightfully set off its Isabela PSA payments against the amount Fieldwood owed under the Genovesa PSA. The dispute arises from their interpretations of two documents: (1) Fieldwood’s Confirmation Order and (2) the Credit Bid Purchase Agreement between Fieldwood and QuarterNorth. Regarding the Confirmation Order, QuarterNorth and BP dispute the proper interpretation of paragraph 133:

2 The Confirmation Order references that Fieldwood sold certain assets to QuarterNorth free and clear under the Credit Bid Purchase Agreement, but QuarterNorth assumed all Credit Bid Assumed Liabilities. (ECF No. 1751 at 43). The terms of this paragraph shall apply to the BP Entities and the Executory Contracts identified on the Schedule of Assumed Contracts between any of the Debtors and any BP Entity (the “BP Executory Contracts”):

ii. To the extent that a BP Executory Contract is assumed, assumed and assigned or assumed and allocated, such assumption or assumption and assignment or assumption and allocation shall result in the full release and satisfaction of only those Claims based on a default existing as of the Effective Date with respect to such BP Executory Contract. For the avoidance of doubt, the Plan and this Order shall not alter any of the terms under the BP Executory Contracts including, without limitation, any arbitration rights or any valid netting (either based on setoff or recoupment).

iii. The assumption, assumption and assignment, or assumption and allocation of any BP Executory Contract shall not alter, impair or otherwise affect any of the parties’ respective rights and obligations under the BP Executory Contracts, including, without limitation, any valid netting (either based on setoff or recoupment) under the BP Executory Contracts or pursuant to applicable law (unless it is inconsistent with the applicable BP Executory Contract); and any rights for arbitration.

(ECF No. 1751 at 104) (emphasis added). As defined in the Confirmation Order, the Isabela PSA is a BP Executory Contract and the Genovesa PSA is not. (See ECF Nos. 2199 at 13; 2269-5). QuarterNorth and BP also dispute the proper interpretation of paragraph 11.1(n) of the Credit Bid Purchase Agreement between Fieldwood and QuarterNorth: Buyer’s Assumption of Liabilities. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, if the Closing occurs, [QuarterNorth] shall be deemed to have assumed (and shall pay, perform and discharge) the following Liabilities of [Fieldwood], as of the Closing (collectively, the “Assumed Liabilities”): . . . (n) all liabilities arising out of or relating to any affirmative defenses of third parties with respect to any Claim or cause of action assigned to [QuarterNorth] pursuant to Section 1.2(i), Section 1.2(w) and Section 1.2(rr) [of the Credit Bid Purchase Agreement] to the extent that if treated as Retained Liabilities such defenses or rights would not constitute general unsecured claims of [Fieldwood] . . . (ECF No. 2269-6 at 78, 80). Section 1.2 of the Credit Bid Purchase Agreement outlines QuarterNorth’s acquired interests.3 (ECF No. 2269-6 at 11). Sections 1.2(i),4 (w),5 and (rr)6 relate in part to the claims Fieldwood assigned to QuarterNorth. (ECF No. 2269-6 at 13–17). Under the Credit Bid Purchase Agreement, “Claims” are “any and all claims, demands, . . . actions (whether judicial, administrative or arbitrational), causes of action, suits, proceedings and controversies.”

(ECF No. 2269-6 at 97). QuarterNorth filed a motion seeking: (1) a finding that BP’s setoff was in violation of the Plan; (2) an order enjoining BP from violating the Plan again; and (3) its reasonable and necessary attorneys’ fees. (ECF No. 2199 at 17). BP filed an objection to the motion. (ECF No. 2278). The Court heard oral arguments on November 30, 2021 and took the matter under advisement.

3 “Acquired Interests; Assets. As used herein, the term ‘Acquired Interests’ refers to (x) all of [Fieldwood’s] right, title and interest in, to, under or derived from the Co-Owned Assets . . . and (y) all of [Fieldwood’s] right, title and interest in, to, under or derived from the Other Assets. As used herein, the term ‘Assets’ means the Co-Owned Assets and Other Assets, wherever located, real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, known or unknown, as the same shall exist as of the Closing.” (ECF No. 2269-6 at 11–12).

4 “As used herein, the term ‘Co-Owned Assets’ means the assets described in clauses (a) through (o) below: . . .

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