XML 38 R9.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

General Accounting Matters | 9 Months Ended
--- | ---
Sep. 30, 2014
General Accounting Matters [Abstract] |
General Accounting Matters | Note 2. General Accounting Matters Our results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of results expected for the full year of 2014. In our opinion, the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include all adjustments consisting of normal recurring accruals necessary for fair presentation. Although we believe the disclosures in these financial statements are adequate and make the information presented not misleading, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). These Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 (the "2013 Form 10-K") filed with the SEC on March 3, 2014. See Note 10 for information regarding a two-for-one common unit split completed on August 21, 2014. All per unit amounts and number of units outstanding in these Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto are presented on a post-split basis. Contingencies Certain conditions may exist as of the date our consolidated financial statements are issued, which may result in a loss to us but which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. Management has regular quarterly litigation reviews, including updates from legal counsel, to assess the need for accounting recognition or disclosure of these contingencies, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise in judgment. In assessing loss contingencies related to legal proceedings that are pending against us or unasserted claims that may result in such proceedings, our management and legal counsel evaluate the perceived merits of any legal proceedings or unasserted claims as well as the perceived merits of the amount of relief sought or expected to be sought therein. We accrue an undiscounted liability for those contingencies where the incurrence of a loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. If a range of amounts can be reasonably estimated and no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount, then the minimum of the range is accrued. We do not record a contingent liability when the likelihood of loss is probable but the amount cannot be reasonably estimated or when it is believed to be only reasonably possible or remote. For contingencies where an unfavorable outcome is reasonably possible and the impact would be material, we disclose the nature of the contingency and, if feasible, an estimate of the possible loss or range of loss. Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed unless they involve guarantees, in which case the guarantees would be disclosed. See Note 14 for additional information regarding our contingencies. Derivative Instruments We use derivative instruments such as futures, swaps, options, forward contracts and other arrangements to manage price risks associated with inventories, firm commitments, interest rates, foreign currencies and certain anticipated future commodity transactions. To qualify for hedge accounting, the hedged item must expose us to risk and the related derivative instrument must reduce the exposure to that risk and meet specific hedge documentation requirements related to designation dates, expectations for hedge effectiveness and the probability that hedged future transactions will occur as forecasted. We formally designate derivative instruments as hedges and document and assess their effectiveness at inception of the hedge and on a monthly basis thereafter. Forecasted transactions are evaluated for the probability of occurrence and are periodically back-tested once the forecasted period has passed to determine whether similarly forecasted transactions are probable of occurring in the future. For certain physical forward commodity derivative contracts, we apply the normal purchase/normal sale exception, whereby changes in the mark-to-market values of such contracts are not recognized in income. As a result, the revenues and expenses associated with such physical transactions are recognized during the period when volumes are physically delivered or received. Physical forward commodity contracts subject to this exception are evaluated for the probability of future delivery and are periodically back-tested once the forecasted period has passed to determine whether similar forward contracts are probable of physical delivery in the future. See Note 4 for additional information regarding our derivative instruments. Estimates Preparing our consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates that affect amounts presented in the financial statements. Our most significant estimates relate to (i) the useful lives and depreciation/amortization methods used for fixed and identifiable intangible assets; (ii) measurement of fair value and projections used in impairment testing of fixed and intangible assets (including goodwill); (iii) contingencies; and (iv) revenue and expense accruals. Actual results could differ materially from our estimates. On an ongoing basis, we review our estimates based on currently available information. Any changes in the facts and circumstances underlying our estimates may require us to update such estimates, which could have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. Recent Accounting Developments In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") and the International Accounting Standards Board finished their joint project to converge U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards in the area of revenue recognition. The resulting accounting standards update eliminates the transaction- and industry-specific revenue recognition guidance under current U.S. GAAP and replaces it with a principles based approach for determining revenue recognition. The core principle in the new guidance is that a company should recognize revenue in a manner that depicts the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the company expects to receive for those goods or services. In order to apply this core principle, companies will apply the following five steps in determining the amount of revenues to recognize:
|  | identify the contract;
|  | identify the performance obligations in the contract;
|  | determine the transaction price;
|  | allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and
|  | recognize revenue when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.
Each of these steps involves judgment and an analysis of the contract's terms and conditions. We are continuing to evaluate this recently issued accounting guidance; therefore, we are currently not in a position to estimate its impact on our consolidated financial statements. The effective date of the new standard is January 1, 2017. At present, we expect to adopt the new standard using the modified retrospective method. This modified approach allows us to apply the new standard to (i) all new contracts after the effective date and (ii) all existing contracts as of the effective date through a cumulative adjustment to equity. Consolidated revenues for periods prior to the effective date would not be retrospectively adjusted. Restricted Cash Restricted cash represents amounts held in segregated bank accounts by our clearing brokers as margin in support of our commodity derivative instruments portfolio and related physical purchases and sales of natural gas, crude oil, refined products and NGLs. Additional cash may be restricted to maintain our commodity derivative instruments portfolio as prices fluctuate or deposit requirements change. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, our restricted cash amounts were $6.6 million and $65.6 million, respectively. See Note 4 for information regarding our derivative instruments and hedging activities.

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccountingPoliciesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18780-107790 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18726-107790 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18861-107790 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18743-107790 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18854-107790 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SignificantAccountingPoliciesTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration