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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We make significant estimates with respect to (i) purchases and sales accruals, (ii) estimated fair value of assets and liabilities acquired and identification of associated goodwill and intangible assets, (iii) mark-to-market gains and losses on derivative instruments (pursuant to guidance issued by the FASB regarding fair value measurements), (iv) accruals and contingent liabilities, (v) equity compensation plan accruals, (vi) property and equipment and depreciation expense and (vii) allowance for doubtful accounts. Although we believe these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from these estimates. Revenue Recognition Supply and Logistics Segment Revenues. Revenues from sales of crude oil and NGL are recognized at the time title to the product sold transfers to the purchaser, which occurs upon delivery of the product to the purchaser or its designee. Sales of crude oil and NGL consist of outright sales contracts and buy/sell arrangements as well as exchanges. Inventory purchases and sales under buy/sell transactions are treated as inventory exchanges and are presented net in Supply and Logistics segment revenues in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. Additionally, we may utilize derivatives in connection with the transactions described above. For commodity derivatives that are designated as cash flow hedges, derivative gains and losses are deferred in AOCI and recognized in revenues in the periods during which the underlying physical hedged transaction impacts earnings. Also, the ineffective portion of the change in fair value of cash flow hedges is recognized in revenues each period along with the change in fair value of derivatives that do not qualify for or are not designated for hedge accounting. Transportation Segment Revenues. Revenues from pipeline tariffs and fees are associated with the transportation of crude oil, NGL and refined products at a published tariff, as well as revenues associated with leases and other agreements for committed space on various assets. Tariff revenues are recognized either at the point of delivery or at the point of receipt pursuant to specifications outlined in the regulated and non-regulated tariffs. Revenues associated with lease fees are recognized in the month to which the lease applies. The majority of our pipeline tariff and fee revenues are based on actual volumes and rates. As is common in the industry, our tariffs incorporate a loss allowance factor that is intended to offset losses due to evaporation, measurement and other losses in transit. We value the variance of allowance volumes to actual losses at the estimated net realizable value (including the impact of gains and losses from derivative related activities) at the time the variance occurred and the result is recorded as either an increase or decrease to tariff revenues. In addition, we have certain agreements that require counterparties to ship a minimum volume over an agreed upon period. Revenue is recognized at the latter of when the volume is shipped (pursuant to specifications outlined in the tariffs) or when the counterparty’s ability to make up the minimum volume has expired. Facilities Segment Revenues. Our Facilities segment operations generally consist of fee-based activities associated with providing storage, terminalling and throughput services for crude oil, refined products, NGL and natural gas, NGL fractionation and isomerization services and natural gas processing services. Revenues generated in this segment include (i) storage fees that are generated when we lease storage capacity, (ii) terminal throughput fees that are generated when we receive crude oil, refined products or NGL from one connecting source and redeliver the applicable product to another connecting carrier, (iii) rail terminal loading and unloading fees, (iv) hub service fees associated with natural gas park and loan activities, interruptible storage services and wheeling and balancing services, (v) revenues from the sale of natural gas, (vi) fees from NGL fractionation and isomerization and (vii) fees from gas processing services. We generate revenue through a combination of month-to-month and multi-year leases and processing arrangements. Storage fees resulting from short-term and long-term contracts are typically recognized in revenue ratably over the term of the contract regardless of the actual storage capacity utilized. Terminal fees (including throughput and rail fees) are recognized as the crude oil, NGL or refined product enters or exits the terminal and is received from or delivered to the connecting carrier or third-party terminal, as applicable. Hub service fees are recognized in the period the natural gas moves across our header system. Fees from NGL fractionation, isomerization services and gas processing services are recognized in the period when the services are performed. Revenues associated with the sale of natural gas are recognized at the time title to the product sold transfers to the purchaser or its designee. In addition, we have certain agreements that require counterparties to throughput a minimum volume over an agreed upon period. Revenue is recognized at the latter of when the volume exits the terminal or when the counterparty’s ability to make up the minimum volume has expired. Purchases and Related Costs Purchases and related costs include (i) the cost of crude oil, NGL, natural gas and refined products obtained in outright purchases, (ii) fees incurred for third-party transportation and storage, whether by pipeline, truck, rail, ship or barge, (iii) interest cost attributable to borrowings for inventory stored in a contango market and (iv) performance-related bonus accruals. These costs are recognized when incurred except in the case of products purchased, which are recognized at the time title transfers to us. Field Operating Costs and General and Administrative Expenses Field operating costs consist of various field operating expenses, including fuel and power costs, telecommunications, payroll and benefit costs (including equity compensation expense) for truck drivers and field personnel, third-party trucking transportation costs for our U.S. crude oil operations, maintenance and integrity management costs, regulatory compliance, environmental remediation, insurance, vehicle leases, and property taxes. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of payroll and benefit costs (including equity compensation expense), certain information systems and legal costs, office rent, contract and consultant costs and audit and tax fees. Foreign Currency Transactions Certain of our subsidiaries use the Canadian dollar as their functional currency. Assets and liabilities of subsidiaries with a Canadian dollar functional currency are translated at period-end rates of exchange, and revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing for each month. The resulting translation adjustments are made directly to a separate component of other comprehensive income in Partners’ Capital reflected on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Certain of our subsidiaries also enter into transactions and have monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in a currency other than the entities’ respective functional currencies. Gains and losses from the revaluation of foreign currency transactions and monetary assets and liabilities are included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The revaluation of foreign currency transactions and monetary assets and liabilities resulted in losses of approximately $2 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 and a gain of approximately $2 million for the year ended December 31, 2010. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents consist of all unrestricted demand deposits and funds invested in highly liquid instruments with original maturities of three months or less and typically exceed federally insured limits. We periodically assess the financial condition of the institutions where these funds are held and believe that our credit risk is minimal. In accordance with our policy, outstanding checks are classified as accounts payable rather than negative cash. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, accounts payable included approximately $72 million and $58 million, respectively, of outstanding checks that were reclassified from cash and cash equivalents. Accounts Receivable Our accounts receivable are primarily from purchasers and shippers of crude oil and, to a lesser extent, purchasers of NGL and natural gas storage. These purchasers include, but are not limited to refineries, producers, marketing and trading companies and financial institutions that are active in the physical and financial commodity markets. The majority of our accounts receivable relate to our crude oil supply and logistics activities that can generally be described as high volume and low margin activities, in many cases involving exchanges of crude oil volumes. To mitigate credit risks related to our accounts receivable, we have in place a rigorous credit review process. We closely monitor market conditions to make a determination with respect to the amount, if any, of credit to be extended to any given customer and the form and amount of financial performance assurances we require. Such financial assurances are commonly provided to us in the form of standby letters of credit, parental guarantees or advance cash payments. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, we had received approximately $173 million and $186 million, respectively, of advance cash payments from third parties to mitigate credit risk. In addition, we enter into netting arrangements (contractual agreements that allow us and the counterparty to offset receivables and payables against each other) that cover a significant portion of our transactions and also serve to mitigate credit risk. We review all outstanding accounts receivable balances on a monthly basis and record a reserve for amounts that we expect will not be fully recovered. We do not apply actual balances against the reserve until we have exhausted substantially all collection efforts. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, substantially all of our accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts) were less than 30 days past their scheduled invoice date. Our allowance for doubtful accounts receivable totaled approximately $4 million and $5 million at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Although we consider our allowance for doubtful trade accounts receivable to be adequate, actual amounts could vary significantly from estimated amounts. Equity Method of Accounting Our investments in the following entities are accounted for under the equity method of accounting:
Entity |  | Type of Operation |  | Our Ownership Interest |
Settoon Towing, LLC |  | Barge Transportation Services |  | 50 | %
Eagle Ford Pipeline LLC |  | Crude Oil Pipeline |  | 50 | %
White Cliffs Pipeline, L.L.C. |  | Crude Oil Pipeline |  | 36 | %
Frontier Pipeline Company |  | Crude Oil Pipeline |  | 22 | %
Butte Pipe Line Company |  | Crude Oil Pipeline |  | 22 | %
We do not consolidate any part of the assets or liabilities of our equity investees. Our share of net income or loss is reflected as one line item on our Consolidated Statements of Operations entitled “Equity earnings in unconsolidated entities” and will increase or decrease, as applicable, the carrying value of our investments in unconsolidated entities on the balance sheet. In addition, we include a proportionate share of our equity method investees’ unrealized gains and losses in other comprehensive income on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. We also adjust our investment balances in these investees by the like amount. Distributions to the Partnership will reduce the carrying value of our investments and will be reflected in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows in the line item “Equity earnings in unconsolidated entities, net of distributions.” In turn, contributions will increase the carrying value of our investments and will be reflected in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows in investing activities. Formation of Eagle Ford Pipeline LLC. In August 2012, we formed Eagle Ford Pipeline LLC (“EF Pipeline”) with Enterprise Products Partners (“Enterprise”) for the purpose of developing a crude oil pipeline system in the Eagle Ford Area of South Texas. This system will include a 175-mile crude oil and condensate pipeline, a marine terminal facility and approximately 1.8 million barrels of operational storage capacity across the system. The system is expected to be placed into service during 2013. We own a 50% interest in EF Pipeline and account for our investment under the equity method of accounting. We and Enterprise contributed fixed assets with estimated book values of approximately $134 million and $15 million, respectively. In addition, Enterprise contributed cash of $59 million which we received from EF Pipeline in conjunction with the formation. Subsequent to the formation and through December 31, 2012, we and Enterprise contributed $75 million each to fund continued development of the pipeline system. Noncontrolling Interests We account for noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries in accordance with FASB guidance specific to noncontrolling interests. FASB guidance requires all entities to report noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries as a component of equity in the consolidated financial statements. Noncontrolling interest represents the portion of assets and liabilities in a consolidated subsidiary that is owned by a third-party. See Note 10 for additional discussion regarding our noncontrolling interests. Asset Retirement Obligations FASB guidance establishes accounting requirements for retirement obligations associated with tangible long-lived assets, including estimates related to (i) the time of the liability recognition, (ii) initial measurement of the liability, (iii) allocation of asset retirement cost to expense, (iv) subsequent measurement of the liability and (v) financial statement disclosures. FASB guidance also requires that the cost for asset retirement should be capitalized as part of the cost of the related long-lived asset and subsequently allocated to expense using a systematic and rational method. Some of our assets, primarily related to our Transportation and Facilities segments, have contractual or regulatory obligations to perform remediation and, in some instances, dismantlement and removal activities when the assets are abandoned. These obligations include varying levels of activity including disconnecting inactive assets from active assets, cleaning and purging assets, and in some cases, completely removing the assets and returning the land to its original state. These assets have been in existence for many years and with regular maintenance will continue to be in service for many years to come. It is not possible to predict when demand for these transportation or storage services will cease, and we do not believe that such demand will cease for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, we believe the date when these assets will be abandoned is indeterminate. With no reasonably determinable abandonment date, we cannot reasonably estimate the fair value of the associated asset retirement obligations. We will record asset retirement obligations for these assets in the period in which sufficient information becomes available for us to reasonably determine the settlement dates. A small portion of our contractual or regulatory obligations is related to assets that are inactive or that we plan to take out of service and, although the ultimate timing and costs to settle these obligations are not known with certainty, we have recorded a reasonable estimate of these obligations. We have estimated that the fair value of these obligations was approximately $31 million and $9 million, respectively, at December 31, 2012 and 2011. Fair Value Measurements Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, which affects the placement of assets and liabilities within the fair value hierarchy levels. The determination of the fair values includes not only the credit standing of the counterparties involved and the impact of credit enhancements (such as cash deposits and letters of credit) but also the impact of our nonperformance risk on our liabilities. The fair value of our commodity derivatives, interest rate derivatives and foreign currency derivatives includes adjustments for credit risk. Our credit adjustment methodology uses market observable inputs and requires judgment. There were no changes to any of our valuation techniques during the period. See Notes 9 and 11 for further discussion. Other Significant Accounting Policies See the respective footnotes for our accounting policies regarding (i) net income per limited partner unit, (ii) inventory, linefill, base gas and long-term inventory, (iii) property and equipment, (iv) other assets, (v) goodwill, (vi) derivatives and risk management activities, (vii) income taxes, (viii) equity compensation and (ix) environmental matters. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In July 2012, the FASB issued guidance intended to simplify the impairment test for indefinite-lived intangible assets other than goodwill by giving entities the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. The results of the qualitative assessment would be used as a basis in determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative impairment testing. An entity can choose to perform the qualitative assessment on none, some or all of its indefinite-lived intangible assets, or may bypass the qualitative assessment and proceed directly to the quantitative impairment test. This guidance will be effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012, with early adoption permitted in certain circumstances. We adopted this guidance on January 1, 2013. Our adoption is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In December 2011, the FASB issued an accounting standard update that will require disclosure of information to help reconcile differences in the offsetting requirements for assets and liabilities under GAAP and IFRS. Under this new guidance, entities are required to disclose both gross and net information about instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of financial position, as well as instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. In addition, the standard requires disclosure of collateral received and posted in connection with master netting agreements or similar arrangements. Entities will need to provide the following enhanced disclosures for both assets and liabilities within the scope of the new standard: (i) the gross amounts of those recognized assets and those recognized liabilities; (ii) the amounts offset to determine the net amounts presented in the statement of financial position; (iii) the net amounts presented in the statement of financial position; (iv) the amounts subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement not otherwise included in (ii); and (v) the net amount after deducting the amounts in (iv) from the amounts in (iii). The standard affects all entities with balances presented on a net basis in the financial statements, derivative assets and derivative liabilities, repurchase agreements, and financial assets and financial liabilities executed under a master netting or similar arrangement. Accordingly, the adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position as this standard only impacts the presentation of such financial information. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. We adopted this guidance on January 1, 2013. Our adoption did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In September 2011, the FASB issued guidance with the purpose of simplifying the goodwill impairment test by permitting entities to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether further impairment testing is necessary. If qualitative factors indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount, an entity need not perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. This guidance became effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. We adopted this guidance on January 1, 2012; however, we did not elect to apply the qualitative assessment during our 2012 goodwill impairment test. Our adoption did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In June 2011, the FASB issued guidance regarding the presentation of other comprehensive income, which was later amended in December 2011, with the purpose of increasing the prominence of other comprehensive income in financial statements. This guidance, as amended, requires entities to present comprehensive income in either (i) a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or (ii) two separate but consecutive statements. This guidance became effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. We adopted the guidance, as amended, on January 1, 2012 with no material impact to our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In December 2012, the FASB further amended this guidance requiring an entity to present either in a single note or parenthetically on the face of the financial statements the effect of significant amounts reclassified from each component of accumulated other comprehensive income based on its source and the income statement line items affected by the reclassification. If a component is not required to be reclassified to net income in its entirety, an entity is to instead cross-reference to the related footnote for additional information. This guidance becomes effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2012. We adopted this guidance on January 1, 2013. Since this guidance only impacts the presentation of comprehensive income and does not change the composition or calculation of such financial information, adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In May 2011, the FASB issued guidance to amend certain fair value measurement and disclosure requirements in an effort to improve consistency with international reporting standards. The amendments generally clarify that the concepts of highest and best use and valuation premise in fair value measurement are relevant only when measuring the fair value of non-financial assets and are not relevant when measuring the fair value of financial assets or of liabilities. In addition, the guidance expanded disclosure requirements associated with (i) unobservable inputs for Level 3 fair value measurements and (ii) items that are not measured at fair value in the financial statements, but for which fair value is required to be disclosed. This guidance became effective prospectively for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011. We adopted this guidance on January 1, 2012. Other than requiring additional disclosure, which is included in Note 9 and Note 11, our adoption did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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- 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 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18861-107790 Reference 2: 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 3: 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 4: 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 Reference 5: 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 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 22 -Paragraph 8 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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