b'Sources and Uses of CashThe following table presents the sources and uses of our cash and cash equivalents for the yearsended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016:Years Ended December 31,2018 2017 2016(In thousands)Sources of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:Net cash provided by operating activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 260,491 $236,617 $ 52,077Return of investment from KTIPI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184,664Borrowings under long-term debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,175,000 200,000 450,000Proceeds on sale of assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,703 222,068 2101,633,858 658,685 502,287Uses of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:Oil and gas assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213,806 140,495 535,975Other property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,935 2,858 1,998Acquisition of oil and gas properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 961,764Equity method investment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .231,280 Payments on long-term debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325,000 250,000 Purchase of treasury stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206,051 2,194 1,981Deferred financing costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,672 67 1,753,228 626,894 539,954Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash . . . $ (119,370) $ 31,791 $(37,667)Net cash provided by operating activities. Net cash provided by operating activities in 2018 was$260.5 million compared with net cash provided by operating activities of $236.6 million in 2017 and$52 million in 2016, respectively. The increase in cash provided by operating activities in the year endedDecember 31, 2018 when compared to the same period in 2017 is primarily a result of an increase inoil and gas revenue and a decrease in exploration expenses related to the stacked rig costs and rigoption cancellation payment, both recorded during the year ended December 31, 2017. These changeswere offset by a lack of LOPI proceeds, an increase in unsuccessful well costs and an increase inpayments related to derivative cash settlements. The increase in cash provided by operating activities inthe year ended December 31, 2017 when compared to the same period in 2016 was primarily a resultof an increase in oil and gas revenue combined with LOPI proceeds, and a decrease in explorationexpense related to the stacked rig costs and rig option cancellation payment as well as a decrease inderivative cash settlements.89'