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Description of the Business and Basis of Presentation
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Description of the Business and Basis of Presentation
Description of the Business and Basis of Presentation

Description of the Business – MPLX LP is a diversified, growth-oriented master limited partnership formed by Marathon Petroleum Corporation. References in this report to “MPLX LP,” “the Partnership,” “we,” “ours,” “us,” or like terms refer to MPLX LP and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Partnership”). References to “MPC” refer collectively to Marathon Petroleum Corporation as our sponsor and its subsidiaries, other than the Partnership. The Partnership is engaged in the gathering, processing and transportation of natural gas; the gathering, transportation, fractionation, storage and marketing of NGLs; the transportation, storage and distribution of crude oil and refined petroleum products; as well as refining logistics and fuels distributions services. The Partnership’s principal executive office is located in Findlay, Ohio.

Effective March 1, 2017, the Partnership acquired pipeline, storage and terminal businesses that are operated through Hardin Street Transportation LLC (“HST”), Woodhaven Cavern LLC (“WHC”) and MPLX Terminals LLC (“MPLXT”) from MPC. Effective September 1, 2017, the Partnership acquired certain ownership percentages in joint venture entities from MPC including: all of the membership interests of Lincoln Pipeline LLC, which holds a 35 percent interest in Illinois Extension Pipeline Company, L.L.C. (“Illinois Extension”); all of the membership interests of MPL Louisiana Holdings LLC, which holds a 41 percent interest in LOOP LLC (“LOOP”); a 59 percent interest in LOCAP LLC (“LOCAP”); and a 25 percent interest in Explorer Pipeline Company (“Explorer”). Effective February 1, 2018, the Partnership acquired MPC’s refining logistics assets and fuels distribution services. These acquisitions are described further in Note 4.

The Partnership’s business consists of two segments based on the nature of services it offers: Logistics and Storage (“L&S”), which is focused on crude oil and refined petroleum products; and Gathering and Processing (“G&P”), which is focused on natural gas and NGLs. See Note 10 for additional information regarding operations.

Basis of Presentation – The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements are unaudited; however, in the opinion of the Partnership’s management, these statements reflect all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods reported. All such adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature unless otherwise disclosed. These interim consolidated financial statements, including the notes, have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC applicable to interim period financial statements and do not include all of the information and disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements. Certain amounts in prior years have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.

These interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

The Partnership’s consolidated financial statements include all majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries. For non-wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries, the interests owned by third parties have been recorded as “Noncontrolling interests” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Intercompany investments, accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The Partnership’s investments in which the Partnership exercises significant influence but does not control and does not have a controlling financial interest are accounted for using the equity method. The Partnership’s investments in a VIE in which the Partnership exercises significant influence but does not control and is not the primary beneficiary are also accounted for using the equity method.

In preparing the Consolidated Statements of Equity, net income attributable to MPLX LP is allocated to preferred unitholders based on a fixed distribution schedule, as discussed in Note 9. Prior to 2018, when distributions related to the IDRs were made, earnings equal to the amount of those distributions were first allocated to the general partner before the remaining earnings were allocated to the limited partner unitholders based on their respective ownership percentages. Subsequent to the conversion of the general partner to a non-economic interest as described in Note 8, no earnings will be allocated to the general partner. Distributions, although earned, are not accrued until declared. The allocation of net income attributable to MPLX LP for purposes of calculating net income per limited partner unit is described in Note 7.