XML 91 R14.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.1.9

Inventory, Linefill and Base Gas and Long-term Inventory | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014
Inventory, Linefill and Base Gas and Long-term Inventory |
Inventory, Linefill and Base Gas and Long-term Inventory | Note 5—Inventory, Linefill and Base Gas and Long-term Inventory Inventory primarily consists of crude oil, NGL and natural gas in pipelines, storage facilities and railcars that are valued at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined using an average cost method within specific inventory pools. At the end of each reporting period, we assess the carrying value of our inventory and make any adjustments necessary to reduce the carrying value to the applicable net realizable value. Any resulting adjustments are a component of “Purchases and related costs” on our accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, we recorded charges of $289 million, $7 million and $128 million, respectively, related to the writedown of our crude oil, NGL and natural gas inventory due to declines in prices. The year ended December 31, 2014 included the writedown of our natural gas inventory that was purchased in conjunction with managing natural gas storage deliverability requirements during the extended period of severe cold weather in the first quarter of 2014. A portion of these adjustments were offset by the recognition of gains on derivative instruments being utilized to hedge the future sales of our crude oil and NGL inventory. Substantially all of such gains were recorded to “Supply and Logistics segment revenues” in our accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations. In 2014, we recognized $160 million of such gains. A majority of the inventory subject to writedown in the 2013 and 2012 periods had been liquidated and the applicable derivative instruments had been settled by the end of each year. See Note 12 for discussion of our derivative and risk management activities. Linefill and base gas and minimum working inventory requirements in assets we own are recorded at historical cost and consist of crude oil, NGL and natural gas. We classify as linefill or base gas (i) our proportionate share of barrels used to fill a pipeline that we own such that when an incremental barrel is pumped into or enters a pipeline it forces product out at another location, (ii) barrels that represent the minimum working requirements in tanks and caverns that we own and (iii) natural gas required to maintain the minimum operating pressure of natural gas storage facilities we own. Linefill and base gas carrying amounts are reviewed for impairment in accordance with FASB guidance with respect to accounting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets. Carrying amounts that are not expected to be recoverable through future cash flows are written down to estimated fair value. See Note 6 for further discussion regarding impairment of long-lived assets. During 2014, 2013 and 2012, we did not recognize any impairments of linefill and base gas, but we did recognize gains of $8 million, $7 million and $19 million, respectively, on the sale of linefill and base gas for proceeds of $24 million, $40 million and $65 million, respectively. Minimum working inventory requirements in third-party assets and other working inventory in our assets that are needed for our commercial operations are included within specific inventory pools in inventory (a current asset) in determining the average cost of operating inventory. At the end of each period, we reclassify the inventory not expected to be liquidated within the succeeding twelve months out of inventory, at the average cost of the applicable inventory pools, and into long-term inventory, which is reflected as a separate line item in “Other assets” on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Inventory, linefill and base gas and long-term inventory consisted of the following as of the dates indicated (barrels and natural gas volumes in thousands and carrying value in millions):
|  | December 31, 2014 |  | December 31, 2013 |
|  | Volumes |  | Unit of Measure |  | Carrying Value |  | Price/ Unit (1) |  | Volumes |  | Unit of Measure |  | Carrying Value |  | Price/ Unit (1) |
Inventory |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Crude oil |  | 6,465 |  |  | barrels |  | $ | 304 |  | $ | 47.02 |  | 6,951 |  |  | barrels |  | $ | 540 |  | $ | 77.69 |
NGL |  | 13,553 |  |  | barrels |  | 454 |  | $ | 33.50 |  | 8,061 |  |  | barrels |  | 352 |  | $ | 43.67 |
Natural gas |  | 32,317 |  |  | Mcf |  | 102 |  | $ | 3.16 |  | 40,505 |  |  | Mcf |  | 150 |  | $ | 3.70 |
Other |  | N/A |  |  |  |  | 31 |  | N/A |  | N/A |  |  |  |  | 23 |  | N/A |
Inventory subtotal |  |  |  |  |  |  | 891 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,065 |  |  |
Linefill and base gas |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Crude oil |  | 11,810 |  |  | barrels |  | 744 |  | $ | 63.00 |  | 10,966 |  |  | barrels |  | 679 |  | $ | 61.92 |
NGL |  | 1,212 |  |  | barrels |  | 52 |  | $ | 42.90 |  | 1,341 |  |  | barrels |  | 62 |  | $ | 46.23 |
Natural gas |  | 28,612 |  |  | Mcf |  | 134 |  | $ | 4.68 |  | 16,615 |  |  | Mcf |  | 57 |  | $ | 3.43 |
Linefill and base gas subtotal |  |  |  |  |  |  | 930 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 798 |  |  |
Long-term inventory |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Crude oil |  | 2,582 |  |  | barrels |  | 136 |  | $ | 52.67 |  | 2,498 |  |  | barrels |  | 202 |  | $ | 80.86 |
NGL |  | 1,681 |  |  | barrels |  | 50 |  | $ | 29.74 |  | 1,161 |  |  | barrels |  | 49 |  | $ | 42.20 |
Long-term inventory subtotal |  |  |  |  |  |  | 186 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 251 |  |  |
Total |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,007 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,114 |  |  |
| (1) |  | Price per unit of measure is comprised of a weighted average associated with various grades, qualities and locations. Accordingly, these prices may not coincide with any published benchmarks for such products.

X
- Details
Name: | paa_InventoryLinefillAndBaseGasAndLongTermInventoryDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | paa_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The complete disclosure related to inventory, linefill and base gas and long-term inventory. This may include, but is not limited to, the basis of stating inventory, linefill, and base gas and long-term inventory, the method of determining inventory, linefill and base gas and long-term inventory cost, the major classes of inventory, linefill and base gas and long-term inventory, and the nature of the cost elements included in inventory, linefill and base gas and long-term inventory. If inventory, linefill and base gas and long-term inventory is stated above cost, accrued net losses on firm purchase commitments for inventory, linefill and base gas and long-term inventory and losses resulting from valuing inventory, linefill and base gas and long-term inventory at the lower-of-cost-or-market may also be included. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | paa_InventoryLinefillAndBaseGasAndLongTermInventoryDisclosureTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | paa_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration