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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
      
þ
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017
 
Or 
  
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from             to       
 
Commission file number: 001-34046
    
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
 
26-1075808
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
 
1201 Lake Robbins Drive
The Woodlands, Texas
 
77380
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
   
(832) 636-6000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  þ    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  þ    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer þ
  
Accelerated filer ¨
  
Non-accelerated filer ¨
  
Smaller reporting company ¨
 
Emerging growth company ¨
 
  
 
 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
 
 
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.    ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  þ
There were 152,602,105 common units outstanding as of October 30, 2017.



Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
 
 
PAGE
PART I
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 3.
 
Item 4.
PART II
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
Item 1A.
 
Item 2.
 
Item 6.


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COMMONLY USED TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

Unless the context otherwise requires, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Partnership” or “Western Gas Partners, LP” refer to Western Gas Partners, LP and its subsidiaries. As used in this Form 10-Q, the terms and definitions below have the following meanings:
Additional DBJV System Interest: The Partnership’s additional 50% interest in the DBJV system acquired from a third party in March 2017.
Affiliates: Subsidiaries of Anadarko, excluding us, but including equity interests in Fort Union, White Cliffs, Rendezvous, the Mont Belvieu JV, TEP, TEG, and FRP.
Anadarko: Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiaries, excluding us and our general partner.
Barrel or Bbl: 42 U.S. gallons measured at 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Bbls/d: Barrels per day.
Board of Directors or Board: The board of directors of our general partner.
Btu: British thermal unit; the approximate amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
Chipeta: Chipeta Processing, LLC.
Condensate: A natural gas liquid with a low vapor pressure mainly composed of propane, butane, pentane and heavier hydrocarbon fractions.
COP: Continuous offering programs.
Cryogenic: The process in which liquefied gases are used to bring natural gas volumes to very low temperatures (below approximately -238 degrees Fahrenheit) to separate natural gas liquids from natural gas. Through cryogenic processing, more natural gas liquids are extracted than when traditional refrigeration methods are used.
DBJV: Delaware Basin JV Gathering LLC.
DBJV system: A gathering system and related facilities located in the Delaware Basin in Loving, Ward, Winkler and Reeves Counties in West Texas.
DBM: Delaware Basin Midstream, LLC.
DBM complex: The cryogenic processing plants, gas gathering system, and related facilities and equipment in West Texas that serve production from Reeves, Loving and Culberson Counties, Texas and Eddy and Lea Counties, New Mexico.
DBM water systems: Two produced-water disposal systems in West Texas.
DJ Basin complex: The Platte Valley system, Wattenberg system and Lancaster plant, all of which were combined into a single complex in the first quarter of 2014.
EBITDA: Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. For a definition of “Adjusted EBITDA,” see the caption Key Performance Metrics under Part I, Item 2 of this Form 10-Q.
Equity investment throughput: Our 14.81% share of average Fort Union throughput, 22% share of average Rendezvous throughput, 10% share of average White Cliffs throughput, 25% share of average Mont Belvieu JV throughput, 20% share of average TEP and TEG throughput and 33.33% share of average FRP throughput.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Fort Union: Fort Union Gas Gathering, LLC.

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Fractionation: The process of applying various levels of higher pressure and lower temperature to separate a stream of natural gas liquids into ethane, propane, normal butane, isobutane and natural gasoline for end-use sale.
FRP: Front Range Pipeline LLC.
GAAP: Generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
General partner: Western Gas Holdings, LLC.
Hydraulic fracturing: The injection of fluids into the wellbore to create fractures in rock formations, stimulating the production of oil or gas.
Imbalance: Imbalances result from (i) differences between gas and NGL volumes nominated by customers and gas and NGL volumes received from those customers and (ii) differences between gas and NGL volumes received from customers and gas and NGL volumes delivered to those customers.
IPO: Initial public offering.
LIBOR: London Interbank Offered Rate.
Marcellus Interest: Our 33.75% interest in the Larry’s Creek, Seely and Warrensville gas gathering systems and related facilities located in northern Pennsylvania. Formerly defined as the “Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest”.
MBbls/d: One thousand barrels per day.
MGR: Mountain Gas Resources, LLC.
MGR assets: The Red Desert complex and the Granger straddle plant.
MLP: Master limited partnership.
MMBtu: One million British thermal units.
MMcf: One million cubic feet.
MMcf/d: One million cubic feet per day.
Mont Belvieu JV: Enterprise EF78 LLC.
Natural gas liquid(s) or NGL(s): The combination of ethane, propane, normal butane, isobutane and natural gasolines that, when removed from natural gas, become liquid under various levels of higher pressure and lower temperature.
Non-Operated Marcellus Interest: The 33.75% interest in the Liberty and Rome gas gathering systems and related facilities located in northern Pennsylvania that was transferred to a third party in March 2017 pursuant to the Property Exchange.
Produced water: Byproduct associated with the production of crude oil and natural gas that often contains a number of dissolved solids and other materials found in oil and gas reservoirs.
Property Exchange: The Partnership’s acquisition of the Additional DBJV System Interest from a third party in exchange for the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest and $155.0 million of cash consideration, as further described in our Forms 8-K filed with the SEC on February 9, 2017, and March 23, 2017.
RCF: Our senior unsecured revolving credit facility.
Red Desert complex: The Patrick Draw processing plant, the Red Desert processing plant, associated gathering lines, and related facilities.
Rendezvous: Rendezvous Gas Services, LLC.

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Residue: The natural gas remaining after the unprocessed natural gas stream has been processed or treated.
SEC: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Springfield: Springfield Pipeline LLC.
Springfield interest: Springfield’s 50.1% interest in the Springfield system.
Springfield gas gathering system: A gas gathering system and related facilities located in Dimmit, La Salle, Maverick and Webb Counties in South Texas.
Springfield oil gathering system: An oil gathering system and related facilities located in Dimmit, La Salle, Maverick and Webb Counties in South Texas.
Springfield system: The Springfield gas gathering system and Springfield oil gathering system.
TEFR Interests: The interests in TEP, TEG and FRP.
TEG: Texas Express Gathering LLC.
TEP: Texas Express Pipeline LLC.
WGP: Western Gas Equity Partners, LP.
White Cliffs: White Cliffs Pipeline, LLC.
2018 Notes: Our 2.600% Senior Notes due 2018.
2021 Notes: Our 5.375% Senior Notes due 2021.
2022 Notes: Our 4.000% Senior Notes due 2022.
2025 Notes: Our 3.950% Senior Notes due 2025.
2026 Notes: Our 4.650% Senior Notes due 2026.
2044 Notes: Our 5.450% Senior Notes due 2044.
$500.0 million COP: The COP contemplated by the registration statement filed with the SEC in July 2017 authorizing the issuance of up to an aggregate of $500.0 million of our common units.


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PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)

Item 1.  Financial Statements

WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except per-unit amounts
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Revenues and other – affiliates
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gathering, processing and transportation
 
$
157,303

 
$
189,465

 
$
484,601

 
$
563,916

Natural gas and natural gas liquids sales
 
185,002

 
135,847

 
489,172

 
336,385

Other
 
8,822

 

 
8,822

 

Total revenues and other – affiliates
 
351,127

 
325,312

 
982,595

 
900,301

Revenues and other – third parties
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gathering, processing and transportation
 
148,884

 
125,727

 
428,835

 
346,416

Natural gas and natural gas liquids sales
 
74,139

 
28,189

 
201,318

 
43,200

Other
 
545

 
2,417

 
3,590

 
3,533

Total revenues and other – third parties
 
223,568

 
156,333

 
633,743

 
393,149

Total revenues and other
 
574,695

 
481,645

 
1,616,338

 
1,293,450

Equity income, net – affiliates
 
21,519

 
20,294

 
62,708

 
56,801

Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of product (1)
 
239,223

 
145,643

 
631,859

 
326,959

Operation and maintenance (1)
 
79,536

 
74,755

 
229,444

 
226,141

General and administrative (1)
 
12,158

 
11,382

 
35,402

 
33,542

Property and other taxes
 
11,215

 
10,670

 
35,433

 
33,098

Depreciation and amortization
 
72,539

 
67,246

 
216,272

 
199,646

Impairments
 
2,159

 
2,392

 
170,079

 
11,313

Total operating expenses
 
416,830

 
312,088

 
1,318,489

 
830,699

Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net
 
72

 
(6,230
)
 
135,017

 
(8,769
)
Proceeds from business interruption insurance claims
 

 
13,667

 
29,882

 
16,270

Operating income (loss)
 
179,456

 
197,288

 
525,456

 
527,053

Interest income – affiliates
 
4,225

 
4,225

 
12,675

 
12,675

Interest expense (2)
 
(35,544
)
 
(30,768
)
 
(106,794
)
 
(75,687
)
Other income (expense), net
 
286

 
153

 
969

 
224

Income (loss) before income taxes
 
148,423

 
170,898

 
432,306

 
464,265

Income tax (benefit) expense
 
510

 
472

 
4,905

 
7,431

Net income (loss)
 
147,913

 
170,426

 
427,401

 
456,834

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
4,407

 
2,680

 
8,555

 
8,507

Net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP
 
$
143,506

 
$
167,746

 
$
418,846

 
$
448,327

Limited partners’ interest in net income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP
 
$
143,506

 
$
167,746

 
$
418,846

 
$
448,327

Pre-acquisition net (income) loss allocated to Anadarko
 

 

 

 
(11,326
)
Series A Preferred units interest in net (income) loss
 

 
(25,539
)
 
(42,373
)
 
(50,989
)
General partner interest in net (income) loss (3)
 
(78,376
)
 
(60,551
)
 
(222,903
)
 
(174,332
)
Common and Class C limited partners’ interest in net income (loss) (3)
 
65,130

 
81,656

 
153,570

 
211,680

Net income (loss) per common unit – basic and diluted (4)
 
$
0.38

 
$
0.54

 
$
0.91

 
$
1.39

 
                                                                                                                                                                                         
(1) 
Cost of product includes product purchases from Anadarko (as defined in Note 1) of $22.9 million and $60.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and $21.3 million and $68.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. Operation and maintenance includes charges from Anadarko of $18.1 million and $53.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and $15.1 million and $50.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. General and administrative includes charges from Anadarko of $10.1 million and $29.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and $9.5 million and $27.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. See Note 5.
(2) 
Includes affiliate (as defined in Note 1) amounts of zero and $(0.1) million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and $1.2 million and $12.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. See Note 2 and Note 9.
(3) 
Represents net income (loss) earned on and subsequent to the date of acquisition of the Partnership assets (as defined in Note 1). See Note 4.
(4) 
See Note 4 for the calculation of net income (loss) per common unit.

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
thousands except number of units
 
September 30, 
 2017
 
December 31, 
 2016
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Current assets
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
152,435

 
$
357,925

Accounts receivable, net (1)
 
192,530

 
223,223

Other current assets
 
13,381

 
12,866

Total current assets
 
358,346

 
594,014

Note receivable – Anadarko
 
260,000

 
260,000

Property, plant and equipment
 
 
 
 
Cost
 
7,582,178

 
6,861,942

Less accumulated depreciation
 
2,074,464

 
1,812,010

Net property, plant and equipment
 
5,507,714

 
5,049,932

Goodwill
 
417,610

 
417,610

Other intangible assets
 
782,376

 
803,698

Equity investments
 
573,622

 
594,208

Other assets
 
14,643

 
13,566

Total assets
 
$
7,914,311

 
$
7,733,028

LIABILITIES, EQUITY AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities
 
 
 
 
Accounts and imbalance payables (2)
 
$
302,848

 
$
247,076

Accrued ad valorem taxes
 
33,020

 
23,121

Accrued liabilities (3)
 
57,496

 
45,108

Total current liabilities
 
393,364

 
315,305

Long-term debt
 
3,343,886

 
3,091,461

Deferred income taxes
 
10,284

 
6,402

Asset retirement obligations and other
 
146,248

 
142,641

Deferred purchase price obligation – Anadarko (4)
 

 
41,440

Total long-term liabilities
 
3,500,418

 
3,281,944

Total liabilities
 
3,893,782

 
3,597,249

Equity and partners’ capital
 
 
 
 
Series A Preferred units (zero and 21,922,831 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively) (5)
 

 
639,545

Common units (152,602,105 and 130,671,970 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively)
 
3,012,424

 
2,536,872

Class C units (12,977,633 and 12,358,123 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively) (6)
 
771,856

 
750,831

General partner units (2,583,068 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016)
 
172,180

 
143,968

Total partners’ capital
 
3,956,460

 
4,071,216

Noncontrolling interest
 
64,069

 
64,563

Total equity and partners’ capital
 
4,020,529

 
4,135,779

Total liabilities, equity and partners’ capital
 
$
7,914,311

 
$
7,733,028

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Accounts receivable, net includes amounts receivable from affiliates (as defined in Note 1) of $78.4 million and $76.6 million as of September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively. Accounts receivable, net as of December 31, 2016, also includes an insurance claim receivable related to an incident at the DBM complex. See Note 1.
(2) 
Accounts and imbalance payables includes affiliate amounts of $0.2 million and zero as of September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively.
(3) 
Accrued liabilities includes affiliate amounts of $0.3 million and zero as of September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively.
(4) 
See Note 2.
(5) 
The Series A Preferred units converted into common units on a one-for-one basis in 2017. See Note 4.
(6) 
The Class C units will convert into common units on a one-for-one basis on March 1, 2020, unless the Partnership elects to convert such units earlier or Anadarko extends the conversion date. See Note 4.

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
(UNAUDITED)
 
 
Partners’ Capital
 
 
 
 
thousands
 
Net
Investment
by Anadarko
 
Common
Units
 
Class C
Units
 
Series A Preferred Units
 
General
Partner 
Units
 
Noncontrolling
Interest
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2016
 
$

 
$
2,536,872

 
$
750,831

 
$
639,545

 
$
143,968

 
$
64,563

 
$
4,135,779

Net income (loss)
 

 
171,075

 
17,415

 
7,453

 
222,903

 
8,555

 
427,401

Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko (1)
 

 
46,719

 

 

 

 

 
46,719

Conversion of Series A Preferred units into common units (2)
 

 
686,936

 

 
(686,936
)
 

 

 

Amortization of beneficial conversion feature of Class C units and Series A Preferred units
 

 
(65,909
)
 
3,610

 
62,299

 

 

 

Distributions to noncontrolling interest owner
 

 

 

 

 

 
(9,049
)
 
(9,049
)
Distributions to unitholders
 

 
(372,123
)
 

 
(22,361
)
 
(194,778
)
 

 
(589,262
)
Acquisitions from affiliates
 
(30
)
 
30

 

 

 

 

 

Revision to Deferred purchase price obligation – Anadarko (3)
 

 
4,165

 

 

 

 

 
4,165

Contributions of equity-based compensation from Anadarko
 

 
3,249

 

 

 
66

 

 
3,315

Net pre-acquisition contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko
 
30

 

 

 

 

 

 
30

Net contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko of other assets
 

 
1,352

 

 

 
21

 

 
1,373

Other
 

 
58

 

 

 

 

 
58

Balance at September 30, 2017
 
$

 
$
3,012,424

 
$
771,856

 
$

 
$
172,180

 
$
64,069

 
$
4,020,529

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
See Note 5.
(2) 
See Note 4.
(3) 
See Note 2.

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
thousands
 
2017
 
2016
Cash flows from operating activities
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
427,401

 
$
456,834

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
216,272

 
199,646

Impairments
 
170,079

 
11,313

Non-cash equity-based compensation expense
 
3,573

 
3,570

Deferred income taxes
 
3,882

 
2,321

Accretion and amortization of long-term obligations, net
 
3,194

 
(9,176
)
Equity income, net – affiliates
 
(62,708
)
 
(56,801
)
Distributions from equity investment earnings – affiliates
 
64,313

 
59,671

(Gain) loss on divestiture and other, net
 
(135,017
)
 
8,769

Lower of cost or market inventory adjustments
 
140

 
41

Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable, net
 
(46,972
)
 
(41,108
)
Increase (decrease) in accounts and imbalance payables and accrued liabilities, net
 
4,007

 
24,103

Change in other items, net
 
(3,065
)
 
(1,445
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
645,099


657,738

Cash flows from investing activities
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
 
(419,193
)
 
(372,725
)
Contributions in aid of construction costs from affiliates
 
1,386

 
4,927

Acquisitions from affiliates
 
(3,910
)
 
(716,465
)
Acquisitions from third parties
 
(155,298
)
 

Investments in equity affiliates
 
(384
)
 
139

Distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings – affiliates
 
16,255

 
16,592

Proceeds from the sale of assets to affiliates
 

 
623

Proceeds from the sale of assets to third parties
 
23,370

 
7,819

Proceeds from property insurance claims
 
22,977

 
18,398

Net cash used in investing activities
 
(514,797
)

(1,040,692
)
Cash flows from financing activities
 
 
 
 
Borrowings, net of debt issuance costs
 
249,989

 
1,094,600

Repayments of debt
 

 
(880,000
)
Settlement of the Deferred purchase price obligation – Anadarko (1)
 
(37,346
)
 

Increase (decrease) in outstanding checks
 
3,310

 
(1,070
)
Proceeds from the issuance of common units, net of offering expenses
 
(183
)
 
25,000

Proceeds from the issuance of Series A Preferred units, net of offering expenses
 

 
686,937

Distributions to unitholders (2)
 
(589,262
)
 
(490,289
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owner
 
(9,049
)
 
(11,257
)
Net contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko
 
30

 
(29,335
)
Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko (2)
 
46,719

 
34,782

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
 
(335,792
)

429,368

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
(205,490
)

46,414

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
 
357,925

 
98,033

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
152,435


$
144,447

Supplemental disclosures
 
 
 
 
Accretion expense and revisions to the Deferred purchase price obligation – Anadarko (1)
 
$
(4,094
)
 
$
(172,249
)
Net distributions to (contributions from) Anadarko of other assets
 
(1,373
)
 
581

Interest paid, net of capitalized interest
 
97,811

 
82,529

Taxes paid
 
189

 
67

Accrued capital expenditures
 
165,732

 
49,328

Fair value of properties and equipment from non-cash third party transactions (1)
 
551,453

 

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
See Note 2.
(2) 
See Note 5.

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

1.  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

General. Western Gas Partners, LP is a growth-oriented Delaware master limited partnership (“MLP”) formed by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation in 2007 to acquire, own, develop and operate midstream energy assets.
For purposes of these consolidated financial statements, the “Partnership” refers to Western Gas Partners, LP and its subsidiaries. The Partnership’s general partner, Western Gas Holdings, LLC (the “general partner”), is owned by Western Gas Equity Partners, LP (“WGP”), a Delaware MLP formed by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation in September 2012 to own the Partnership’s general partner, as well as a significant limited partner interest in the Partnership. WGP has no independent operations or material assets other than owning the partnership interests in the Partnership (see Holdings of Partnership equity in Note 4). Western Gas Equity Holdings, LLC is WGP’s general partner and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation. “Anadarko” refers to Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiaries, excluding the Partnership and the general partner, and “affiliates” refers to subsidiaries of Anadarko, excluding the Partnership, but including equity interests in Fort Union Gas Gathering, LLC (“Fort Union”), White Cliffs Pipeline, LLC (“White Cliffs”), Rendezvous Gas Services, LLC (“Rendezvous”), Enterprise EF78 LLC (the “Mont Belvieu JV”), Texas Express Pipeline LLC (“TEP”), Texas Express Gathering LLC (“TEG”) and Front Range Pipeline LLC (“FRP”). The interests in TEP, TEG and FRP are referred to collectively as the “TEFR Interests.” “MGR assets” refers to the Red Desert complex and the Granger straddle plant.
The Partnership is engaged in the business of gathering, compressing, treating, processing and transporting natural gas; gathering, stabilizing and transporting condensate, natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) and crude oil; and gathering and disposing of produced water. The Partnership provides these midstream services for Anadarko, as well as for third-party producers and customers. As of September 30, 2017, the Partnership’s assets and investments consisted of the following:
 
 
Owned and
Operated
 
Operated
Interests
 
Non-Operated
Interests
 
Equity
Interests
Gathering systems
 
12

 
3

 
3

 
2

Treating facilities
 
19

 
3

 

 
3

Natural gas processing plants/trains
 
19

 
5

 

 
2

NGL pipelines
 
2

 

 

 
3

Natural gas pipelines
 
5

 

 

 

Oil pipelines
 

 
1

 

 
1


These assets and investments are located in the Rocky Mountains (Colorado, Utah and Wyoming), North-central Pennsylvania and Texas. During the second quarter of 2017, the Partnership commenced operation of two produced-water disposal systems in West Texas, which are included within Gathering systems in the table above. Train VI, an additional processing plant at the DBM complex, is expected to commence operations during the fourth quarter of 2017.


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WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

1.  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (CONTINUED)

Basis of presentation. The following table outlines the Partnership’s ownership interests and the accounting method of consolidation used in the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements:
 
 
Percentage Interest
Equity investments (1)
 
 
Fort Union
 
14.81
%
White Cliffs
 
10
%
Rendezvous
 
22
%
Mont Belvieu JV
 
25
%
TEP
 
20
%
TEG
 
20
%
FRP
 
33.33
%
Proportionate consolidation (2)
 
 
Marcellus Interest systems
 
33.75
%
Newcastle system
 
50
%
Springfield system
 
50.1
%
Full consolidation
 
 
Chipeta (3)
 
75
%
DBJV system (4)
 
100
%
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
(1) 
Investments in non-controlled entities over which the Partnership exercises significant influence are accounted for under the equity method. “Equity investment throughput” refers to the Partnership’s share of average throughput for these investments.
(2) 
The Partnership proportionately consolidates its associated share of the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses attributable to these assets.
(3) 
The 25% interest in Chipeta Processing LLC (“Chipeta”) held by a third-party member is reflected within noncontrolling interest in the consolidated financial statements.
(4) 
The Partnership acquired an additional 50% interest in the DBJV system (the “Additional DBJV System Interest”) from a third party on March 17, 2017. See Note 2.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Partnership and entities in which it holds a controlling financial interest. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
Certain information and note disclosures commonly included in annual financial statements have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the Partnership’s 2016 Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC on February 23, 2017. Management believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading.

Presentation of Partnership assets. The term “Partnership assets” includes both the assets owned and the interests accounted for under the equity method (see Note 7) by the Partnership as of September 30, 2017. Because Anadarko controls the Partnership through its ownership and control of WGP, which owns the Partnership’s entire general partner interest, each acquisition of Partnership assets from Anadarko has been considered a transfer of net assets between entities under common control. As such, the Partnership assets acquired from Anadarko were initially recorded at Anadarko’s historic carrying value, which did not correlate to the total acquisition price paid by the Partnership. Further, after an acquisition of Partnership assets from Anadarko, the Partnership may be required to recast its financial statements to include the activities of such Partnership assets from the date of common control.


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WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

1.  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (CONTINUED)

For those periods requiring recast, the consolidated financial statements for periods prior to the Partnership’s acquisition of the Partnership assets from Anadarko are prepared from Anadarko’s historical cost-basis accounts and may not necessarily be indicative of the actual results of operations that would have occurred if the Partnership had owned the Partnership assets during the periods reported. Net income (loss) attributable to the Partnership assets acquired from Anadarko for periods prior to the Partnership’s acquisition of the Partnership assets is not allocated to the limited partners.

Use of estimates. In preparing financial statements in accordance with GAAP, management makes informed judgments and estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Management evaluates its estimates and related assumptions regularly, using historical experience and other methods considered reasonable. Changes in facts and circumstances or additional information may result in revised estimates and actual results may differ from these estimates. Effects on the business, financial condition and results of operations resulting from revisions to estimates are recognized when the facts that give rise to the revisions become known. The information furnished herein reflects all normal recurring adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements, and certain prior-period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current-year presentation.

Insurance recoveries. Involuntary conversions result from the loss of an asset because of some unforeseen event (e.g., destruction due to fire). Some of these events are insurable and result in property damage insurance recovery. Amounts that are received from insurance carriers are net of any deductibles related to the covered event. A receivable is recorded from insurance to the extent a loss is recognized from an involuntary conversion event and the likelihood of recovering such loss is deemed probable. To the extent that any insurance claim receivables are later judged not probable of recovery (e.g., due to new information), such amounts are expensed. A gain on involuntary conversion is recognized when the amount received from insurance exceeds the net book value of the retired asset(s). In addition, gains related to insurance recoveries are not recognized until all contingencies related to such proceeds have been resolved, that is, a cash payment is received from the insurance carrier or there is a binding settlement agreement with the carrier that clearly states that a payment will be made. To the extent that an asset is rebuilt, the associated expenditures are capitalized, as appropriate, in the consolidated balance sheets and presented as capital expenditures in the consolidated statements of cash flows. With respect to business interruption insurance claims, income is recognized only when cash proceeds are received from insurers, which are presented in the consolidated statements of operations as a component of Operating income (loss).
On December 3, 2015, there was an initial fire and secondary explosion at the processing facility within the Delaware Basin Midstream, LLC (“DBM”) complex. The majority of the damage from the incident was to the liquid handling facilities and the amine treating units at the inlet of the complex. Train II (with capacity of 100 MMcf/d) sustained the most damage of the processing trains and returned to service in December 2016. Train III (with capacity of 200 MMcf/d) experienced minimal damage and returned to full service in May 2016. During the quarter ended March 31, 2017, a $5.7 million loss was recorded in Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net in the consolidated statements of operations, related to a change in the Partnership’s estimate of the amount that would be recovered under the property insurance claim based on further discussions with insurers. During the second quarter of 2017, the Partnership reached a settlement with insurers and final proceeds were received. As of September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, the consolidated balance sheets include receivables of zero and $30.0 million, respectively, for the property insurance claim related to the incident at the DBM complex. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Partnership received $52.9 million in cash proceeds from insurers in final settlement of the Partnership’s claims related to the incident at the DBM complex, including $29.9 million in proceeds from business interruption insurance claims and $23.0 million in proceeds from property insurance claims.


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WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

1.  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (CONTINUED)

Recently adopted accounting standards. Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business assists in determining whether a transaction should be accounted for as an acquisition or disposal of assets or a business. This ASU provides a screen that when substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired, or disposed of, are concentrated in a single identifiable asset, or a group of similar identifiable assets, the assets will not be considered a business. If the screen is not met, the assets must include an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create an output to be considered a business. The Partnership’s adoption of this ASU on January 1, 2017, using a prospective approach, could have a material impact on future consolidated financial statements as goodwill will not be allocated to divestitures or recorded on acquisitions that are not considered businesses.
ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory requires an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs and eliminates the exception for an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory. The Partnership adopted this ASU on January 1, 2017, using a modified retrospective approach, with no impact to its consolidated financial statements.

New accounting standards issued but not yet adopted. ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash requires an entity to explain the changes in the total of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows and to provide a reconciliation of the totals in that statement to the related captions in the balance sheet when the cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents are presented in more than one line item on the balance sheet. This ASU is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and is required to be adopted using a retrospective approach, with early adoption permitted. The Partnership will adopt this ASU on January 1, 2018, and does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments provides clarification on how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified on the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and is required to be adopted using a retrospective approach if practicable, with early adoption permitted. The Partnership will adopt this ASU on January 1, 2018, and does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on its consolidated statement of cash flows.
ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) requires lessees to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset for all leases, including operating leases, with a term greater than 12 months on the balance sheet. The provisions of ASU 2016-02 also modify the definition of a lease and outline the requirements for recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of leasing arrangements by both lessees and lessors. The Partnership plans to elect certain practical expedients when implementing the new lease standard, which means the Partnership will not have to reassess the accounting for contracts that commenced prior to adoption. The Partnership has preliminarily determined its portfolio of leased assets and is reviewing all related contracts to determine the impact that adoption will have on its consolidated financial statements. The Partnership is also evaluating the impact of this ASU on its systems, processes, and internal controls. The Partnership will complete its evaluation in 2018 and adopt this new standard on January 1, 2019, using a modified retrospective approach for all comparative periods presented.


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WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

1.  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (CONTINUED)

ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) supersedes current revenue recognition requirements and requires an entity to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. Additional disclosures will be required to describe the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows from contracts with customers. The Partnership has completed an initial review of contracts in each of its revenue streams and is developing accounting policies to address the provisions of the ASU. While the Partnership does not currently expect net income to be materially impacted, it has concluded that it is acting as an agent in the sale of certain volumes on behalf of its customers based on the requirements of the new ASU. This conclusion will result in the reduction of natural gas and natural gas liquids sales revenues and a corresponding reduction to cost of product expense related to its contracts with these customers. In addition, the Partnership expects to recognize revenue for commodities received as noncash consideration in exchange for services provided and revenue and associated cost of product expense for the subsequent sale of those same commodities. This recognition will result in an increase to revenues for gathering and processing activities and cost of product expense with no impact on net income. The Partnership expects to recognize additional revenues for certain customer contributions related to capital cost recoveries that were previously accounted for as a reduction to capitalized property, plant and equipment. The Partnership also expects changes in the timing of recognizing revenue for certain fees due to the fee structure of certain contracts. The Partnership continues to evaluate the impact of these and other provisions of the ASU on its accounting policies, internal controls, and consolidated financial statements. Although the Partnership has not finalized the quantitative impact of the new standard, based on the assessment completed to date, the Partnership does not expect the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on its net income. The Partnership will complete its evaluation during the fourth quarter of 2017 and will adopt this new standard on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective method with a cumulative adjustment to equity and partners’ capital.


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WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

2.  ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

The following table presents the acquisitions completed by the Partnership during 2017 and 2016, and identifies the funding sources for such acquisitions:
thousands except unit and percent amounts
 
Acquisition
Date
 
Percentage
Acquired
 
Borrowings
 
Cash
On Hand
 
Common Units
Issued
 
Series A
Preferred Units Issued
Springfield system (1)
 
03/14/2016
 
50.1
%
 
$
247,500

 
$

 
2,089,602

 
14,030,611

DBJV system (2)
 
03/17/2017
 
50
%
 

 
155,000

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                   
(1) 
The Partnership acquired Springfield Pipeline LLC (“Springfield”) from Anadarko for $750.0 million, consisting of $712.5 million in cash and the issuance of 1,253,761 of the Partnership’s common units. Springfield owns a 50.1% interest in an oil gathering system and a gas gathering system, such interest being referred to in this report as the “Springfield interest.” The Springfield oil and gas gathering systems (collectively, the “Springfield system”) are located in Dimmit, La Salle, Maverick and Webb Counties in South Texas. The Partnership financed the cash portion of the acquisition through: (i) borrowings of $247.5 million on the Partnership’s senior unsecured revolving credit facility (“RCF”), (ii) the issuance of 835,841 of the Partnership’s common units to WGP and (iii) the issuance of Series A Preferred units to private investors. See Note 4 for further information regarding the Series A Preferred units.
(2) 
The Partnership acquired the Additional DBJV System Interest from a third party. See Property exchange below.

Property exchange. On March 17, 2017, the Partnership acquired the Additional DBJV System Interest from a third party in exchange for (a) the Partnership’s 33.75% non-operated interest in two natural gas gathering systems located in northern Pennsylvania (the “Non-Operated Marcellus Interest”), commonly referred to as the Liberty and Rome systems, and (b) $155.0 million of cash consideration (collectively, the “Property Exchange”). The Partnership previously held a 50% interest in, and operated, the DBJV system.
The Property Exchange is reflected as a nonmonetary transaction whereby the acquired Additional DBJV System Interest is recorded at the fair value of the divested Non-Operated Marcellus Interest plus the $155.0 million of cash consideration. The Property Exchange resulted in a net gain of $125.7 million recorded as Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net in the consolidated statements of operations. Results of operations attributable to the Property Exchange were included in the Partnership’s consolidated statement of operations beginning on the acquisition date in the first quarter of 2017.


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WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

2.  ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES (CONTINUED)

DBJV acquisition - Deferred purchase price obligation - Anadarko. Prior to the Partnership’s agreement with Anadarko to settle its deferred purchase price obligation early, the consideration that would have been paid by the Partnership for the March 2015 acquisition of Delaware Basin JV Gathering LLC (“DBJV”) from Anadarko, consisted of a cash payment to Anadarko due on March 31, 2020. The cash payment would have been equal to (a) eight multiplied by the average of the Partnership’s share in the Net Earnings (see definition below) of DBJV for the calendar years 2018 and 2019, less (b) the Partnership’s share of all capital expenditures incurred for DBJV between March 1, 2015, and February 29, 2020. Net Earnings was defined as all revenues less cost of product, operating expenses and property taxes, in each case attributable to DBJV on an accrual basis. In May 2017, the Partnership reached an agreement with Anadarko to settle this obligation whereby the Partnership made a cash payment to Anadarko of $37.3 million, equal to the estimated net present value of the obligation at March 31, 2017.
The following table summarizes the financial statement impact of the Deferred purchase price obligation - Anadarko:
 
 
Deferred purchase price obligation - Anadarko
 
Estimated future payment obligation (1)
Balance at December 31, 2016
 
$
41,440

 
$
56,455

Accretion expense (2)
 
71

 
 
Revision to Deferred purchase price obligation – Anadarko (3)
 
(4,165
)
 
 
Settlement of the Deferred purchase price obligation – Anadarko
 
(37,346
)
 
 
Balance at September 30, 2017
 
$

 
$

                                                                                                                                                                                   
(1) 
Calculated using Level 3 inputs.
(2) 
Accretion expense was recorded as a charge to Interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
(3) 
Recorded as revisions within Common units in the consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statement of equity and partners’ capital.

Helper and Clawson systems divestiture. During the second quarter of 2017, the Helper and Clawson systems, located in Utah, were sold to a third party, resulting in a net gain on sale of $16.4 million recorded as Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net in the consolidated statements of operations.

Hugoton system divestiture. During the fourth quarter of 2016, the Hugoton system, located in Southwest Kansas and Oklahoma, was sold to a third party, resulting in a net loss on sale of $12.0 million recorded as Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net in the consolidated statements of operations. The Partnership allocated $1.6 million in goodwill to this divestiture.


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Table of Contents
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

3.  PARTNERSHIP DISTRIBUTIONS

The partnership agreement requires the Partnership to distribute all of its available cash (as defined in the partnership agreement) to unitholders of record on the applicable record date within 45 days of the end of each quarter. The Board of Directors of the Partnership’s general partner (the “Board of Directors”) declared the following cash distributions to the Partnership’s common and general partner unitholders for the periods presented:
thousands except per-unit amounts
Quarters Ended
 
Total Quarterly
Distribution
per Unit
 
Total Quarterly
Cash Distribution
 
Date of
Distribution
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31
 
$
0.815

 
$
158,905

 
May 2016
June 30
 
0.830

 
162,827

 
August 2016
September 30
 
0.845

 
166,742

 
November 2016
December 31
 
0.860

 
170,657

 
February 2017
2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31
 
$
0.875

 
$
188,753

 
May 2017
June 30
 
0.890

 
207,491

 
August 2017
September 30 (1)
 
0.905

 
212,038

 
November 2017
                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
The Board of Directors declared a cash distribution to the Partnership’s unitholders for the third quarter of 2017 of $0.905 per unit, or $212.0 million in aggregate, including incentive distributions, but excluding distributions on Class C units (see Class C unit distributions below). The cash distribution is payable on November 13, 2017, to unitholders of record at the close of business on November 2, 2017.

Available cash. The amount of available cash (as defined in the partnership agreement) generally is all cash on hand at the end of the quarter, plus, at the discretion of the general partner, working capital borrowings made subsequent to the end of such quarter, less the amount of cash reserves established by the Partnership’s general partner to provide for the proper conduct of the Partnership’s business, including reserves to fund future capital expenditures; to comply with applicable laws, debt instruments or other agreements; or to provide funds for distributions to its unitholders and to its general partner for any one or more of the next four quarters. Working capital borrowings generally include borrowings made under a credit facility or similar financing arrangement. Working capital borrowings may only be those that, at the time of such borrowings, were intended to be repaid within 12 months. In all cases, working capital borrowings are used solely for working capital purposes or to fund distributions to partners.

Class C unit distributions. The Class C units receive quarterly distributions at a rate equivalent to the Partnership’s common units. The distributions are paid in the form of additional Class C units (“PIK Class C units”) until the scheduled conversion date on March 1, 2020 (unless earlier converted), and the Class C units are disregarded with respect to distributions of the Partnership’s available cash until they are converted to common units. The number of additional PIK Class C units to be issued in connection with a distribution payable on the Class C units is determined by dividing the corresponding distribution attributable to the Class C units by the volume-weighted-average price of the Partnership’s common units for the ten days immediately preceding the payment date for the common unit distribution, less a 6% discount. The Partnership records the PIK Class C unit distributions at fair value at the time of issuance. This Level 2 fair value measurement uses the Partnership’s unit price as a significant input in the determination of the fair value. See Note 4 for further discussion of the Class C units.


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Table of Contents
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

3.  PARTNERSHIP DISTRIBUTIONS (CONTINUED)

Series A Preferred unit distributions. As further described in Note 4, the Partnership issued Series A Preferred units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership to private investors in 2016. The Series A Preferred unitholders received quarterly distributions in cash equal to $0.68 per Series A Preferred unit, subject to certain adjustments. The following table summarizes the Series A Preferred unitholders’ cash distributions for the periods presented:
thousands except per-unit amounts
Quarters Ended
 
Total Quarterly
Distribution
per Unit
 
Total Quarterly
Cash Distribution
 
Date of
Distribution
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31 (1)
 
$
0.68

 
$
1,887

 
May 2016
June 30 (2)
 
0.68

 
14,082

 
August 2016
September 30
 
0.68

 
14,907

 
November 2016
December 31
 
0.68

 
14,908

 
February 2017
2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31
 
$
0.68

 
$
7,453

 
May 2017
                                                                                                                                                                                   
(1) 
Quarterly per unit distribution prorated for the 18-day period during which 14,030,611 Series A Preferred units were outstanding during the first quarter of 2016.
(2) 
Full quarterly per unit distribution on 14,030,611 Series A Preferred units and quarterly per unit distribution prorated for the 77-day period during which 7,892,220 Series A Preferred units were outstanding during the second quarter of 2016.

On March 1, 2017, 50% of the outstanding Series A Preferred units converted into common units on a one-for-one basis, and on May 2, 2017, the remaining Series A Preferred units converted into common units on a one-for-one basis. Such converted common units were entitled to distributions made to common unitholders with respect to the quarter during which the applicable conversion occurred and did not include a prorated Series A Preferred unit distribution.

General partner interest and incentive distribution rights. As of September 30, 2017, the general partner was entitled to 1.5% of all quarterly distributions that the Partnership makes prior to its liquidation and, as the holder of the incentive distribution rights (“IDRs”), was entitled to incentive distributions at the maximum distribution sharing percentage of 48.0% for all periods presented, after the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels had been achieved. The maximum distribution sharing percentage of 49.5% does not include any distributions that the general partner may receive on common units that it may acquire.

4.  EQUITY AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

Class C units. In November 2014, the Partnership issued 10,913,853 Class C units to Anadarko Midstream Holdings, LLC (“AMH”), pursuant to a Unit Purchase Agreement with Anadarko and AMH. The Class C units were issued to partially fund the acquisition of DBM.
When issued, the Class C units were scheduled to convert into common units on a one-for-one basis on December 31, 2017. In February 2017, Anadarko elected to extend the conversion date of the Class C units to March 1, 2020. The Partnership can elect to convert the Class C units earlier or Anadarko can extend the conversion date again.
The Class C units were issued at a discount to the then-current market price of the common units into which they are convertible. This discount, totaling $34.8 million, represents a beneficial conversion feature, and at issuance, was reflected as an increase in common unitholders’ capital and a decrease in Class C unitholder capital to reflect the fair value of the Class C units at issuance. The beneficial conversion feature is considered a non-cash distribution that is recognized from the date of issuance through the date of conversion, resulting in an increase in Class C unitholder capital and a decrease in common unitholders’ capital as amortized. The beneficial conversion feature is amortized assuming the extended conversion date of March 1, 2020, using the effective yield method. The impact of the beneficial conversion feature amortization is also included in the calculation of earnings per unit.


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Table of Contents
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

4.  EQUITY AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL (CONTINUED)

Series A Preferred units. In 2016, the Partnership issued 21,922,831 Series A Preferred units to private investors. Pursuant to an agreement between the Partnership and the holders of the Series A Preferred units, 50% of the Series A Preferred units converted into common units on a one-for-one basis on March 1, 2017, and the remaining Series A Preferred units converted on a one-for-one basis on May 2, 2017. The Partnership has an effective registration statement with the SEC relating to the public resale of the common units issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred units.
The Series A Preferred units were issued at a discount to the then-current market price of the common units into which they were convertible. This discount, totaling $93.4 million, represented a beneficial conversion feature, and at issuance, was reflected as an increase in common unitholders’ capital and a decrease in Series A Preferred unitholders’ capital to reflect the fair value of the Series A Preferred units on the date of issuance. The beneficial conversion feature was considered a non-cash distribution that was recognized from the date of issuance through the date of conversion, resulting in an increase in Series A Preferred unitholders’ capital and a decrease in common unitholders’ capital as amortized. The beneficial conversion feature was amortized using the effective yield method. The impact of the beneficial conversion feature amortization is also included in the calculation of earnings per unit. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the amortization for the beneficial conversion feature of the Series A Preferred units was $62.3 million.

Partnership interests. The Partnership’s common units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WES.”
The following table summarizes the common, Class C, Series A Preferred and general partner units issued during the nine months ended September 30, 2017:
 
 
Common
Units
 
Class C
Units
 
Series A
Preferred
Units
 
General
Partner
Units
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2016
 
130,671,970


12,358,123


21,922,831

 
2,583,068


167,535,992

PIK Class C units
 

 
619,510

 

 

 
619,510

Conversion of Series A Preferred units
 
21,922,831

 

 
(21,922,831
)
 

 

Long-Term Incentive Plan award vestings
 
7,304

 

 

 

 
7,304

Balance at September 30, 2017
 
152,602,105

 
12,977,633

 

 
2,583,068

 
168,162,806


Holdings of Partnership equity. As of September 30, 2017, WGP held 50,132,046 common units, representing a 29.8% limited partner interest in the Partnership, and, through its ownership of the general partner, WGP indirectly held 2,583,068 general partner units, representing a 1.5% general partner interest in the Partnership, and 100% of the incentive distribution rights. As of September 30, 2017, other subsidiaries of Anadarko collectively held 2,011,380 common units and 12,977,633 Class C units, representing an aggregate 9.0% limited partner interest in the Partnership. As of September 30, 2017, the public held 100,458,679 common units, representing a 59.7% limited partner interest in the Partnership.


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Table of Contents
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

4.  EQUITY AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL (CONTINUED)

Net income (loss) per unit for common units. Net income (loss) attributable to the Partnership assets acquired from Anadarko for periods prior to the Partnership’s acquisition of the Partnership assets is not allocated to the unitholders for purposes of calculating net income (loss) per common unit. Net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP earned on and subsequent to the date of acquisition of the Partnership assets is allocated as follows:

General partner. The general partner’s allocation is equal to cash distributions plus its portion of undistributed earnings or losses. Specifically, net income equal to the amount of available cash (as defined by the partnership agreement) is allocated to the general partner consistent with actual cash distributions and capital account allocations, including incentive distributions. Undistributed earnings (net income in excess of distributions) or undistributed losses (available cash in excess of net income) are then allocated to the general partner in accordance with its weighted-average ownership percentage during each period.

Series A Preferred unitholders. The Series A Preferred units were not considered a participating security as they only had distribution rights up to the specified per-unit quarterly distribution and had no rights to the Partnership’s undistributed earnings and losses. As such, the Series A Preferred unitholders’ allocation was equal to their cash distribution plus the amortization of the Series A Preferred units beneficial conversion feature (see Series A Preferred units above).

Common and Class C unitholders. The Class C units are considered a participating security because they participate in distributions with common units according to a predetermined formula (see Note 3). The common and Class C unitholders’ allocation is equal to their cash distributions plus their respective portions of undistributed earnings or losses. Specifically, net income equal to the amount of available cash (as defined by the partnership agreement) is allocated to the common and Class C unitholders consistent with actual cash distributions and capital account allocations. Undistributed earnings or undistributed losses are then allocated to the common and Class C unitholders in accordance with their respective weighted-average ownership percentages during each period. The common unitholder allocation also includes the impact of the amortization of the Series A Preferred units and Class C units beneficial conversion features. The Class C unitholder allocation is similarly impacted by the amortization of the Class C units beneficial conversion feature (see Class C units above).

Calculation of net income (loss) per unit. Basic net income (loss) per common unit is calculated by dividing the net income (loss) attributable to common unitholders by the weighted-average number of common units outstanding during the period. The common units issued in connection with acquisitions and equity offerings are included on a weighted-average basis for periods they were outstanding. Diluted net income (loss) per common unit is calculated by dividing the sum of (i) the net income (loss) attributable to common units adjusted for distributions on the Series A Preferred units and a reallocation of the common and Class C limited partners’ interest in net income (loss) assuming conversion of the Series A Preferred units into common units, and (ii) the net income (loss) attributable to the Class C units as a participating security, by the sum of the weighted-average number of common units outstanding plus the dilutive effect of (i) the weighted-average number of outstanding Class C units and (ii) the weighted-average number of common units outstanding assuming conversion of the Series A Preferred units.


20

Table of Contents
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

4.  EQUITY AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL (CONTINUED)

The following table illustrates the Partnership’s calculation of net income (loss) per unit for common units:
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except per-unit amounts
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP
 
$
143,506

 
$
167,746

 
$
418,846

 
$
448,327

Pre-acquisition net (income) loss allocated to Anadarko
 

 

 

 
(11,326
)
Series A Preferred units interest in net (income) loss (1)
 

 
(25,539
)
 
(42,373
)
 
(50,989
)
General partner interest in net (income) loss
 
(78,376
)
 
(60,551
)
 
(222,903
)
 
(174,332
)
Common and Class C limited partners’ interest in net income (loss)
 
$
65,130

 
$
81,656

 
$
153,570

 
$
211,680

Net income (loss) allocable to common units (1)
 
$
57,448

 
$
70,204

 
$
132,545

 
$
181,388

Net income (loss) allocable to Class C units (1)
 
7,682

 
11,452

 
21,025

 
30,292

Common and Class C limited partners’ interest in net income (loss)
 
$
65,130

 
$
81,656

 
$
153,570

 
$
211,680

Net income (loss) per unit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common units – basic and diluted (2)
 
$
0.38

 
$
0.54

 
$
0.91

 
$
1.39

Weighted-average units outstanding
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common units – basic and diluted
 
152,602

 
130,672

 
145,371

 
130,112

Excluded due to anti-dilutive effect:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Class C units (2)
 
12,873

 
12,063

 
12,660

 
11,835

Series A Preferred units assuming conversion to common units (2)
 

 
21,923

 
7,227

 
15,160

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Adjusted to reflect amortization of the beneficial conversion features.
(2) 
The impact of Class C units and the conversion of Series A Preferred units would be anti-dilutive for all periods presented. As of May 2, 2017, all Series A Preferred units were converted into common units on a one-for-one basis.


21

Table of Contents
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

5.  TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Affiliate transactions. Revenues from affiliates include amounts earned by the Partnership from services provided to Anadarko as well as from the sale of residue and NGLs to Anadarko. In addition, the Partnership purchases natural gas from an affiliate of Anadarko pursuant to gas purchase agreements. Operation and maintenance expense includes amounts accrued for or paid to affiliates for the operation of the Partnership assets, whether in providing services to affiliates or to third parties, including field labor, measurement and analysis, and other disbursements. A portion of the Partnership’s general and administrative expenses is paid by Anadarko, which results in affiliate transactions pursuant to the reimbursement provisions of the Partnership’s omnibus agreement. Affiliate expenses do not bear a direct relationship to affiliate revenues, and third-party expenses do not bear a direct relationship to third-party revenues. See Note 2 for further information related to contributions of assets to the Partnership by Anadarko.

Cash management. Anadarko operates a cash management system whereby excess cash from most of its subsidiaries’ separate bank accounts is generally swept to centralized accounts. Prior to the Partnership’s acquisition of the Partnership assets, third-party sales and purchases related to such assets were received or paid in cash by Anadarko within its centralized cash management system. The outstanding affiliate balances were entirely settled through an adjustment to net investment by Anadarko in connection with the acquisition of the Partnership assets. Subsequent to the acquisition of Partnership assets from Anadarko, transactions related to such assets are cash-settled directly with third parties and with Anadarko affiliates. Chipeta cash settles its transactions directly with third parties and Anadarko, as well as with the other subsidiaries of the Partnership.

Note receivable - Anadarko. Concurrently with the closing of the Partnership’s May 2008 initial public offering, the Partnership loaned $260.0 million to Anadarko in exchange for a 30-year note bearing interest at a fixed annual rate of 6.50%, payable quarterly. The fair value of the note receivable from Anadarko was $313.2 million and $313.3 million at September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively. The fair value of the note reflects consideration of credit risk and any premium or discount for the differential between the stated interest rate and quarter-end market interest rate, based on quoted market prices of similar debt instruments. Accordingly, the fair value of the note receivable from Anadarko is measured using Level 2 inputs.

Commodity price swap agreements. The Partnership has commodity price swap agreements with Anadarko to mitigate exposure to a majority of the commodity price risk inherent in its percent-of-proceeds and keep-whole contracts. Notional volumes for each of the commodity price swap agreements are not specifically defined. Instead, the commodity price swap agreements apply to the actual volume of natural gas, condensate and NGLs purchased and sold. The commodity price swap agreements do not satisfy the definition of a derivative financial instrument and, therefore, are not required to be measured at fair value.


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Table of Contents
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

5.  TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES (CONTINUED)

The following table summarizes gains and losses upon settlement of commodity price swap agreements recognized in the consolidated statements of operations:
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Gains (losses) on commodity price swap agreements related to sales: (1)
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Natural gas sales
 
$
6,284

 
$
719

 
$
12,022

 
$
12,962

Natural gas liquids sales
 
(7,210
)
 
15,939

 
(9,680
)
 
56,489

Total
 
(926
)
 
16,658

 
2,342

 
69,451

Gains (losses) on commodity price swap agreements related to purchases (2)
 
(117
)
 
(9,248
)
 
(2,928
)
 
(45,032
)
Net gains (losses) on commodity price swap agreements
 
$
(1,043
)
 
$
7,410

 
$
(586
)
 
$
24,419

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Reported in affiliate Natural gas and natural gas liquids sales in the consolidated statements of operations in the period in which the related sale is recorded.
(2) 
Reported in Cost of product in the consolidated statements of operations in the period in which the related purchase is recorded.

Revenues or costs attributable to volumes settled during 2016 and 2017 for the DJ Basin complex and 2017 for the MGR assets are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations at the applicable market price in the tables below. The Partnership also records a capital contribution from Anadarko in the Partnership’s consolidated statement of equity and partners’ capital for the amount by which the swap price exceeds the applicable market price in the tables below. The commodity price swap agreement for the Hugoton system was in place until its divestiture in October 2016. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the capital contribution from Anadarko was $46.7 million. The tables below summarize the swap prices compared to the forward market prices:
 
 
DJ Basin Complex
per barrel except natural gas
 
2016 - 2017
Swap Prices
 
2016 Market Prices (1)
 
2017 Market Prices (1)
Ethane
 
$
18.41

 
$
0.60

 
$
5.09

Propane
 
47.08

 
10.98

 
18.85

Isobutane
 
62.09

 
17.23

 
26.83

Normal butane
 
54.62

 
16.86

 
26.20

Natural gasoline
 
72.88

 
26.15

 
41.84

Condensate
 
76.47

 
34.65

 
45.40

Natural gas (per MMBtu)
 
5.96

 
2.11

 
3.05

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Represents the New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) forward strip price as of December 8, 2015 and December 1, 2016, for the 2016 Market Prices and 2017 Market Prices, respectively, adjusted for product specification, location, basis and, in the case of NGLs, transportation and fractionation costs.


23

Table of Contents
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

5.  TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES (CONTINUED)

 
 
MGR Assets
per barrel except natural gas
 
2016 - 2017 Swap Prices
 
2017 Market Prices (1)
Ethane
 
$
23.11

 
$
4.08

Propane
 
52.90

 
19.24

Isobutane
 
73.89

 
25.79

Normal butane
 
64.93

 
25.16

Natural gasoline
 
81.68

 
45.01

Condensate
 
81.68

 
53.55

Natural gas (per MMBtu)
 
4.87

 
3.05

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Represents the NYMEX forward strip price as of December 1, 2016, adjusted for product specification, location, basis and, in the case of NGLs, transportation and fractionation costs.

Gathering and processing agreements. The Partnership has significant gathering and processing arrangements with affiliates of Anadarko on a majority of its systems. The Partnership’s natural gas gathering, treating and transportation throughput (excluding equity investment throughput) attributable to production owned or controlled by Anadarko was 33% and 34% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and 37% and 38% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. The Partnership’s natural gas processing throughput (excluding equity investment throughput) attributable to production owned or controlled by Anadarko was 39% and 42% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and 51% and 55% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. The Partnership’s crude, NGL and produced water gathering, treating and transportation throughput (excluding equity investment throughput) attributable to production owned or controlled by Anadarko was 54% and 50% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and 67% and 64% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

Commodity purchase and sale agreements. The Partnership sells a significant amount of its natural gas, condensate and NGLs to Anadarko Energy Services Company (“AESC”), Anadarko’s marketing affiliate. In addition, the Partnership purchases natural gas, condensate and NGLs from AESC pursuant to purchase agreements. The Partnership’s purchase and sale agreements with AESC are generally one-year contracts, subject to annual renewal.

Acquisitions from Anadarko. On March 14, 2016, the Partnership acquired Springfield from Anadarko (see Note 2).


24

Table of Contents
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

5.  TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES (CONTINUED)

WES LTIP. The general partner awards phantom units under the Western Gas Partners, LP 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“WES LTIP”) primarily to its independent directors, but also from time to time to its executive officers and Anadarko employees performing services for the Partnership. The phantom units awarded to the independent directors vest one year from the grant date, while all other awards are subject to graded vesting over a three-year service period. Compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period and was $0.1 million for each of the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and $0.3 million for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

WGP LTIP and Anadarko Incentive Plan. General and administrative expenses included $1.2 million and $3.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and $1.4 million and $3.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, of equity-based compensation expense, allocated to the Partnership by Anadarko, for awards granted to the executive officers of the general partner and other employees under the Western Gas Equity Partners, LP 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“WGP LTIP”) and the Anadarko Petroleum Corporation 2012 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (“Anadarko Incentive Plan”). Of this amount, $3.3 million is reflected as contributions to partners’ capital in the Partnership’s consolidated statement of equity and partners’ capital for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Equipment purchases and sales. The following table summarizes the Partnership’s purchases from and sales to Anadarko of pipe and equipment:
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
thousands
 
Purchases
 
Sales
Cash consideration
 
$
3,910

 
$
3,965

 
$

 
$
623

Net carrying value
 
(5,283
)
 
(3,366
)
 

 
(605
)
Partners’ capital adjustment
 
$
(1,373
)
 
$
599

 
$

 
$
18


Contributions in aid of construction costs from affiliates. On certain of the Partnership’s capital projects, Anadarko is obligated to reimburse the Partnership for all or a portion of project capital expenditures. The majority of such arrangements are associated with projects related to pipeline construction activities and production well tie-ins. The cash receipts resulting from such reimbursements are presented as “Contributions in aid of construction costs from affiliates” within the investing section of the Partnership’s consolidated statements of cash flows.


25

Table of Contents
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

5.  TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES (CONTINUED)

Summary of affiliate transactions. The following table summarizes material affiliate transactions. See Note 2 for discussion of affiliate acquisitions and related funding.
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Revenues and other (1)
 
$
351,127

 
$
325,312

 
$
982,595

 
$
900,301

Equity income, net – affiliates (1)
 
21,519

 
20,294

 
62,708

 
56,801

Cost of product (1)
 
22,902

 
21,254

 
60,497

 
67,979

Operation and maintenance (2)
 
18,110

 
15,052

 
53,661

 
50,688

General and administrative (3)
 
10,140

 
9,453

 
29,040

 
27,574

Operating expenses
 
51,152

 
45,759

 
143,198

 
146,241

Interest income (4)
 
4,225

 
4,225

 
12,675

 
12,675

Interest expense (5)
 

 
(1,173
)
 
71

 
(12,097
)
Settlement of the Deferred purchase price obligation – Anadarko (6)
 

 

 
(37,346
)
 

Proceeds from the issuance of common units, net of offering expenses (7)
 

 

 

 
25,000

Distributions to unitholders (8)
 
118,082

 
97,648

 
331,654

 
282,326

Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko
 
18,049

 
18,417

 
46,719

 
34,782

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Represents amounts earned or incurred on and subsequent to the date of the acquisition of Partnership assets, as well as amounts earned or incurred by Anadarko on a historical basis related to the Partnership assets prior to the acquisition of such assets, recognized under gathering, treating or processing agreements, and purchase and sale agreements.
(2) 
Represents expenses incurred on and subsequent to the date of the acquisition of Partnership assets, as well as expenses incurred by Anadarko on a historical basis related to the Partnership assets prior to the acquisition of such assets.
(3) 
Represents general and administrative expense incurred on and subsequent to the date of the Partnership’s acquisition of the Partnership assets, as well as a management services fee for reimbursement of expenses incurred by Anadarko for periods prior to the acquisition of the Partnership assets by the Partnership. These amounts include equity-based compensation expense allocated to the Partnership by Anadarko (see WES LTIP and WGP LTIP and Anadarko Incentive Plan within this Note 5).
(4) 
Represents interest income recognized on the note receivable from Anadarko.
(5) 
Includes amounts related to the Deferred purchase price obligation - Anadarko (see Note 2 and Note 9).
(6) 
Represents the cash payment to Anadarko for the settlement of the Deferred purchase price obligation - Anadarko (see Note 2).
(7) 
Represents proceeds from the issuance of 835,841 common units to WGP as partial funding for the acquisition of Springfield (see Note 2).
(8) 
Represents distributions paid under the partnership agreement (see Note 3 and Note 4).

Concentration of credit risk. Anadarko was the only customer from whom revenues exceeded 10% of the Partnership’s consolidated revenues for all periods presented in the consolidated statements of operations.


26

Table of Contents
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

6.  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

A summary of the historical cost of the Partnership’s property, plant and equipment is as follows:
thousands
 
Estimated Useful Life
 
September 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Land
 
n/a
 
$
4,271

 
$
4,012

Gathering systems and processing complexes
 
3 to 47 years
 
6,972,302

 
6,462,053

Pipelines and equipment
 
15 to 45 years
 
139,344

 
139,646

Assets under construction
 
n/a
 
434,432

 
226,626

Other
 
3 to 40 years
 
31,829

 
29,605

Total property, plant and equipment
 
 
 
7,582,178

 
6,861,942

Accumulated depreciation
 
 
 
2,074,464

 
1,812,010

Net property, plant and equipment
 
 
 
$
5,507,714

 
$
5,049,932


The cost of property classified as “Assets under construction” is excluded from capitalized costs being depreciated. These amounts represent property that is not yet suitable to be placed into productive service as of the respective balance sheet date.

Impairments. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Partnership recognized impairments of $170.1 million, including an impairment of $158.8 million at the Granger complex, which was impaired to its estimated fair value of $48.5 million using the income approach and Level 3 fair value inputs, due to a reduced throughput fee as a result of a producer’s bankruptcy. Also during the period, the Partnership recognized additional impairments of $11.3 million, primarily related to (i) a $3.7 million impairment at the Granger straddle plant, which was impaired to its estimated salvage value of $0.6 million using the income approach and Level 3 fair value inputs, (ii) a $3.1 million impairment of the Fort Union equity investment (see Note 7), (iii) a $2.0 million impairment of an idle facility in northeast Wyoming, which was impaired to its estimated salvage value of $0.4 million using the market approach and Level 3 fair value inputs, and (iv) the cancellation of a pipeline project in West Texas.
During 2016, the Partnership recognized impairments of $15.5 million, including an impairment of $6.1 million at the Newcastle system, which was impaired to its estimated fair value of $3.1 million using the income approach and Level 3 fair value inputs, due to a reduction in estimated future cash flows caused by the low commodity price environment. Also during 2016, the Partnership recognized impairments of $9.4 million, primarily related to the cancellation of projects at the DJ Basin complex and Springfield and DBJV systems, and the abandonment of compressors at the MIGC system.


27

Table of Contents
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

7.  EQUITY INVESTMENTS

The following table presents the activity in the Partnership’s equity investments for the nine months ended September 30, 2017:
 
Equity Investments
thousands
Fort
Union
 
White
Cliffs
 
Rendezvous
 
Mont
Belvieu JV
 
TEG
 
TEP
 
FRP
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2016
$
12,833

 
$
47,319

 
$
46,739

 
$
112,805

 
$
15,846

 
$
189,194

 
$
169,472

 
$
594,208

Investment earnings (loss), net of amortization
2,964

 
9,984

 
840

 
20,430

 
2,325

 
13,332

 
12,833

 
62,708

Impairment expense (1)
(3,110
)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(3,110
)
Contributions

 
277

 

 

 

 
107

 

 
384

Distributions
(3,359
)
 
(9,548
)
 
(2,296
)
 
(20,459
)
 
(2,167
)
 
(13,520
)
 
(12,964
)
 
(64,313
)
Distributions in excess of cumulative earnings (2)
(1,662
)
 
(2,325
)
 
(1,616
)
 
(2,316
)
 

 
(6,091
)
 
(2,245
)
 
(16,255
)
Balance at September 30, 2017
$
7,666

 
$
45,707

 
$
43,667

 
$
110,460

 
$
16,004

 
$
183,022

 
$
167,096

 
$
573,622

                                                                                                                                                                                   
(1) 
Recorded in Impairments in the consolidated statements of operations.
(2) 
Distributions in excess of cumulative earnings, classified as investing cash flows in the consolidated statements of cash flows, is calculated on an individual investment basis.

The investment balance in Fort Union at September 30, 2017, is $3.1 million less than the Partnership’s underlying equity in Fort Union’s net assets due to an impairment loss recognized by the Partnership in the second quarter of 2017 for its investment in Fort Union. This investment was impaired to its estimated fair value of $8.5 million, using the income approach and Level 3 fair value inputs.



28

Table of Contents
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

8.  COMPONENTS OF WORKING CAPITAL

A summary of accounts receivable, net is as follows:
thousands
 
September 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Trade receivables, net
 
$
192,487

 
$
192,808

Other receivables, net
 
43

 
30,415

Total accounts receivable, net
 
$
192,530

 
$
223,223


A summary of other current assets is as follows:
thousands
 
September 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Natural gas liquids inventory
 
$
8,459

 
$
7,126

Imbalance receivables
 
2,103

 
3,483

Prepaid insurance
 
2,819

 
2,257

Total other current assets
 
$
13,381

 
$
12,866


A summary of accrued liabilities is as follows:
thousands
 
September 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Accrued interest expense
 
$
45,616

 
$
39,826

Short-term asset retirement obligations
 
3,976

 
3,114

Short-term remediation and reclamation obligations
 
630

 
630

Income taxes payable
 
1,024

 
1,006

Other
 
6,250

 
532

Total accrued liabilities
 
$
57,496

 
$
45,108



29

Table of Contents
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

9.  DEBT AND INTEREST EXPENSE

At September 30, 2017, the Partnership’s debt consisted of 5.375% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “2021 Notes”), 4.000% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “2022 Notes”), 2.600% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “2018 Notes”), 5.450% Senior Notes due 2044 (the “2044 Notes”), 3.950% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “2025 Notes”), 4.650% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”) and borrowings on the RCF.
The following table presents the Partnership’s outstanding debt as of September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016:
 
 
September 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
thousands
 
Principal
 
Carrying
Value
 
Fair
Value (1)
 
Principal
 
Carrying
Value
 
Fair
Value (1)
2021 Notes
 
$
500,000

 
$
495,541

 
$
536,712

 
$
500,000

 
$
494,734

 
$
536,252

2022 Notes
 
670,000

 
668,795

 
693,789

 
670,000

 
668,634

 
681,723

2018 Notes
 
350,000

 
349,558

 
351,770

 
350,000

 
349,188

 
351,531

2044 Notes
 
600,000

 
593,206

 
634,283

 
600,000

 
593,132

 
615,753

2025 Notes
 
500,000

 
491,653

 
503,322

 
500,000

 
490,971

 
492,499

2026 Notes
 
500,000

 
495,133

 
525,069

 
500,000

 
494,802

 
518,441

RCF
 
250,000

 
250,000

 
250,000