Sinclair Oil & Gas, a large energy conglomerate, jointly processes purchased hydrocarbons to generate three nonsalable intermediate products: ICR8, ING4, and XGE3. These intermediate products are further processed separately to produce crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas (measured in liquid equivalents). An overview of the process and results for August 2020 are shown here. 

A federal law that has recently been passed taxes crude oil at 30% of operating income. No new tax is to be paid on natural gas liquids or natural gas. Starting August 2020, Sinclair Oil & Gas must report a separate product-line income statement for crude oil. One challenge facing Sinclair Oil & Gas is how to allocate the joint cost of producing the three separate saleable outputs. Assume no beginning or ending inventory.

Required

1. Allocate the August 2020 joint cost among the three products using the following:
a. Physical-measure method
b. NRV method
2. Show the operating income for each product using the methods in requirement 1.
3. Discuss the pros and cons of the two methods to Sinclair Oil & Gas for making decisions about product emphasis (pricing, sell-or-process-further decisions, and so on).
4. Draft a letter to the taxation authorities on behalf of Sinclair Oil & Gas that justifies the joint-cost allocation method you recommend Sinclair use.

Transcribed Image Text:

Hydrocarbons Joint Costs $1,800 Processing - Separable Costs - ICR8 ING4 XGE3 Processing $175 Processing $105 Processing $210 Crude Oil 150 barrels @ $18 per barrel NGL 50 barrels @ $15 per barrel Natural Gas 800 eqvt. barrels @ $1.30 per eqvt. barrel