Goodwill and Intangible Assets
As discussed above, we performed interim impairment testing of our goodwill and intangible assets in the first quarter of 2020 due to the impacts of COVID-19 and the decline in oil prices. We recognized impairment expense of $169 million on goodwill associated with Diversified Services and $27 million on intangible customer relationships associated with Stork. No additional impairment on goodwill or intangible assets was recognized during the remainder of 2020. During 2019, we recognized impairment expense of $34 million on intangible customer relationships associated with Stork.
The following table provides a summary of each major intangible asset class:
December 31, 2020December 31, 2019Weighted
Average
Life
(in thousands)Gross Carrying AmountAccumulated AmortizationNet Book ValueGross Carrying AmountAccumulated AmortizationNet Book Value
Customer relationships (finite-lived)$— $— $— $31,894 $(451)$31,443 8
Trade names (finite-lived)9,169 (4,844)4,325 8,388 (3,460)4,928 13
Trade names (indefinite-lived)53,411 — 53,411 49,789 — 49,789 
In-process research and development (indefinite-lived)16,900 — 16,900 16,900 — 16,900 
Other (finite-lived)10,742 (7,805)2,937 10,399 (6,919)3,480 10
Total intangible assets(1)
$90,222 $(12,649)$77,573 $117,370 $(10,830)$106,540  
(1)     The aggregate amortization expense for intangible assets with finite lives is expected to be $2 million during 2021 and $1 million during 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2020Feb 26, 2021Showing above
2019Sep 25, 2020

About Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosures

Goodwill and intangible asset disclosures reveal the premium paid in acquisitions and how management assesses whether that premium retains its value. Since goodwill is no longer amortized under US GAAP, the annual impairment test is the only mechanism that adjusts carrying values downward — making the assumptions behind that test critically important for investors.

Key signals: a history of goodwill impairments suggests management consistently overpays for acquisitions. Watch the gap between reporting unit fair value and carrying amount — when fair value exceeds carrying amount by less than 10-20%, a small decline in business performance could trigger a write-down. For finite-lived intangibles, examine useful life assumptions across customer relationships, technology, and trade names; aggressive estimates inflate near-term earnings. Compare total intangibles-to-total-assets ratios against peers to assess acquisition dependency. Rising goodwill as a percentage of equity can signal balance sheet fragility.