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Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Notes)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
 
Rights-Of-Way (ROW) Obligations

Our ROW obligations primarily consist of non-lease agreements that existed at the time of Topic 842 adoption, at which time we elected a practical expedient which allowed us to continue our historical treatment. Our future minimum rental commitments related to our ROW obligations were $172 million as of December 31, 2020.

Contingent Debt

Our contingent debt disclosures pertain to certain types of guarantees or indemnifications we have made and cover certain types of guarantees included within debt agreements, even if the likelihood of requiring our performance under such guarantee is remote.

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, our contingent debt obligations, as well as our obligations with respect to related letters of credit, totaled $217 million and $330 million, respectively. December 31, 2020 and 2019 amounts are represented by our proportional share of the debt obligations of three equity investees. Under such guarantees we are severally liable for our percentage ownership share of these equity investees’ debt issued in the event of their non-performance. The contingent debt obligations balances as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 included $122 million and $128 million, respectively, for 100% guaranteed debt obligations for a subsidiary of our equity investee, Cortez Pipeline Company.
Guarantees and Indemnifications

Our equity investee, SNG, has $300 million of debt maturing in June 2021 that it anticipates refinancing. We currently have a commitment to SNG to fund $150 million if SNG is unable to refinance or otherwise satisfy its obligation.

We are involved in joint ventures and other ownership arrangements that sometimes require financial and performance guarantees. In a financial guarantee, we are obligated to make payments if the guaranteed party fails to make payments under, or violates the terms of, the financial arrangement. In a performance guarantee, we provide assurance that the guaranteed party will execute on the terms of the contract. If they do not, we are required to perform on their behalf. We also periodically provide indemnification arrangements related to assets or businesses we have sold. These arrangements include, but are not limited to, indemnifications for income taxes, the resolution of existing disputes and environmental matters.

While many of these agreements may specify a maximum potential exposure, or a specified duration to the indemnification obligation, there are also circumstances where the amount and duration are unlimited. Currently, we are not subject to any material requirements to perform under quantifiable arrangements other than as described above. We are unable to estimate a maximum exposure for our other guarantee and indemnification agreements that do not provide for limits on the amount of future payments due to the uncertainty of these exposures.

See Note 18 for a description of matters that we have identified as contingencies requiring accrual of liabilities and/or disclosure, including any such matters arising under guarantee or indemnification agreements.