DCP Midstream, LP - Annual Report: 2005 (Form 10-K)

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-K

 

Commission file number: 001-32678

 

DCP MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 303-633-2900

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

NONE

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, or the Act.  Yes o     No þ

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes o     No þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act 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 o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer (see definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Act) (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  o     Accelerated filer  o     Non-accelerated filer  þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes o     No þ

 

The aggregate market value of common limited partner units held by non-affiliates of the registrant on December 30, 2005, was approximately $251,044,000. The aggregate market value was computed by reference to the last sale price ($24.50 per common unit) of the registrant’s common units on the New York Stock Exchange on December 30, 2005.

 

As of February 17, 2006, there were outstanding 10,357,143 common limited partner units and 7,142,857 subordinated units.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

 

None.

 

 

DCP MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP
Form 10-K For the Year Ended December 31, 2005

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Our reports, filings and other public announcements may from time to time contain statements that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. Such statements are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can typically identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking words, such as “may,” “could,” “project,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “potential,” “plan,” “forecast” and other similar words.

 

All statements that are not statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our future financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected costs and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements.

 

These forward-looking statements reflect our intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside our control. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include known and unknown risks. Known risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks set forth in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” as well as the following risks and uncertainties:

 

 

In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events described in the forward-looking statements might not occur or might occur to a different extent or at a different time than we have described. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

We are a Delaware limited partnership recently formed by Duke Energy Field Services, LLC, which we refer to as DEFS, to own, operate, acquire and develop a diversified portfolio of complementary midstream energy assets. We are currently engaged in the business of gathering, compressing, treating, processing, transporting and selling natural gas and the business of transporting and selling natural gas liquids, or NGLs.

Supported by our relationship with DEFS and its parents, Duke Energy Corporation, which we refer to as Duke Energy, and ConocoPhillips, we intend to acquire and construct additional assets and we have a management team dedicated to executing our growth strategy.

 

Our operations are organized into two business segments, Natural Gas Services and NGL Logistics.

 

Our Natural Gas Services segment is comprised of our North Louisiana system, which is an approximately 1,430-mile integrated pipeline system located in northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas that gathers, compresses, treats, processes, transports and sells natural gas received from approximately 1,100 receipt points, each of which represents production from one or more wells in the adjacent area, and that sells NGLs. This system consists of the following:

 

 

Our NGL Logistics segment consists of the following:

 

 

Our primary business objective is to increase our cash distribution per unit over time. We intend to accomplish this objective by executing the following business strategies:

 

Optimize: maximize the profitability of existing assets.  We intend to optimize the profitability of our existing assets by adding new volumes of natural gas and NGLs and undertaking additional initiatives to enhance utilization and improve operating efficiencies. Our natural gas assets and NGL pipelines have excess capacity, which allows us to connect new supplies of natural gas and NGLs at minimal incremental cost.

 

Build: capitalize on organic expansion opportunities.  We continually evaluate economically attractive organic expansion opportunities to construct new midstream systems in new operating areas. For example, we believe there are opportunities to expand our North Louisiana system to transport increased volumes of natural gas produced in east Texas to premium markets and interstate pipeline connections on the eastern end of our North Louisiana system.

 

Acquire: pursue strategic and accretive acquisitions.  We plan to pursue strategic and accretive acquisition opportunities within the midstream energy industry, both in new and existing lines of business and geographic areas of operation. In light of the recent industry trend of large energy companies divesting their midstream assets, we believe there will continue to be acquisition opportunities. We intend to pursue acquisition opportunities both independently and jointly with DEFS and its parents, Duke Energy and ConocoPhillips, and we may also acquire assets directly from them, which will provide us with a broader array of growth opportunities than those available to many of our competitors.

 

We believe that we are well positioned to execute our primary business objective and business strategies successfully because of the following competitive strengths:

 

Affiliation with DEFS and its parents.  Our relationship with DEFS and its parents, Duke Energy and ConocoPhillips, may provide us with significant business opportunities. DEFS is one of the largest gatherers of natural gas (based on wellhead volume), the largest producer of NGLs and one of the largest marketers of NGLs in North America. Our relationship with DEFS, Duke Energy and ConocoPhillips also provides us with access to a significant pool of management talent. We believe our strong relationships throughout the energy industry, including with major producers of natural gas and NGLs in the United States, will help facilitate implementation of our strategies. Additionally, we believe DEFS has established a reputation in the midstream business as a reliable and cost-effective supplier of services to our customers and has a track record of safe and efficient operation of our facilities.

 

Strategically located assets.  We own and operate one of the largest integrated natural gas gathering, compression, treating, processing and transportation systems in northern Louisiana, an active natural gas producing area. This system is also well positioned, and we believe there are opportunities to expand this system, to transport increased volumes of natural gas from east Texas and west Louisiana to premium markets on the eastern end of our North Louisiana system and to interconnections with major interstate natural gas pipelines that transport natural gas to consumer markets in the eastern and northeastern United States. Our NGL pipelines are also strategically located to transport NGLs from plants that process natural gas produced in Texas and northern Louisiana to large fractionation facilities and a petrochemical plant along the Gulf Coast.

 

Stable cash flows.  Our operations consist of a favorable mix of fee-based and margin-based services, which together with our hedging activities, generate relatively stable cash flows. While our percentage-of-proceeds gathering and processing contracts subject us to commodity price risk, as of January 1, 2006 we have hedged approximately 80% of our natural gas and NGL commodity price risk related to these arrangements through 2010. As part of our gathering operations, we recover and sell condensate. As of January 1, 2006, we have hedged approximately 80% of our expected condensate commodity price risk relating to our natural gas gathering operations through 2010. For additional information regarding our hedging activities, please read “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk — Hedging Strategies.”

 

Integrated package of midstream services.  We provide an integrated package of services to natural gas producers, including natural gas gathering, compression, treating, processing, transportation and sales, and NGL sales. We believe our ability to provide all of these services gives us an advantage in competing for new supplies of natural gas because we can provide substantially all of the services producers, marketers and others require to move natural gas and NGLs from wellhead to market on a cost-effective basis.

 

Experienced management team.  Our senior management team and board of directors includes some of the most senior officers of DEFS and former senior officers from other energy companies who have extensive experience in the midstream industry. Our management team has a proven track record of enhancing value through the acquisition, optimization and integration of midstream assets.

 

One of our principal attributes is our relationship with DEFS and its parents, Duke Energy and ConocoPhillips. DEFS commenced operations in 2000 following the contribution to it of the combined North American midstream natural gas gathering, processing and marketing and NGL businesses of Duke Energy and Phillips Petroleum Company (prior to its merger with Conoco Inc.). Currently, DEFS is owned 50% by Duke Energy and 50% by ConocoPhillips.

DEFS intends to use us as an important growth vehicle to pursue the acquisition and expansion of midstream natural gas, NGL and other complementary energy businesses and assets. We expect to have the opportunity to make acquisitions directly from DEFS in the future. However, we cannot say with any certainty which, if any, of these acquisitions may be made available to us or if we will choose to pursue any such opportunity. In addition, through our relationship with DEFS and its parents, we will have access to a significant pool of management talent, strong commercial relationships throughout the energy industry and access to DEFS’ broad operational, commercial, technical, risk management and administrative infrastructure.

 

DEFS has a significant interest in our partnership through its ownership of a 2% general partner interest in us, all of our incentive distribution rights and a 40.0% limited partner interest in us. We have entered into an Omnibus Agreement with DEFS and some of its affiliates that governs our relationship with them regarding certain reimbursement and indemnification matters.

 

While our relationship with DEFS and its parents is a significant attribute, it is also a source of potential conflicts. For example, DEFS, Duke Energy, ConocoPhillips or their affiliates are not restricted from competing with us. Each of them may acquire, construct or dispose of midstream or other assets in the future without any obligation to offer us the opportunity to purchase or construct those assets.

 

The midstream natural gas industry is the link between exploration and production of natural gas and the delivery of its components to end-use markets, and consists of the gathering, compression, treating, processing, transportation and selling of natural gas, and the transportation and selling of NGLs.

 

Natural Gas Demand and Production

 

Natural gas is a critical component of energy consumption in the United States. According to the Energy Information Administration, or the EIA, total annual domestic consumption of natural gas is expected to increase from approximately 22.1 trillion cubic feet, or Tcf, in 2004 to approximately 25.4 Tcf in 2010, representing an average annual growth rate of over 2.3% per year. The industrial and electricity generation sectors are the largest users of natural gas in the United States. During the last three years, these sectors accounted for approximately 61% of the total natural gas consumed in the United States. In 2004, natural gas represented approximately 24% of all end-user domestic energy requirements. During the last five years, the United States has on average consumed approximately 22.5 Tcf per year, with average annual domestic production of approximately 19.1 Tcf during the same period. Driven by growth in natural gas demand and high natural gas prices, domestic natural gas production is projected to increase from 18.9 Tcf per year to 20.4 Tcf per year between 2004 and 2010.

 

Midstream Natural Gas Industry

 

Once natural gas is produced from wells, producers then seek to deliver the natural gas and its components to end-use markets. The following diagram illustrates the natural gas gathering, processing, fractionation, storage and transportation process, which ultimately results in natural gas and its components being delivered to end-users.

 

 

Natural Gas Gathering

 

The natural gas gathering process begins with the drilling of wells into gas-bearing rock formations. Once the well is completed, the well is connected to a gathering system. Onshore gathering systems generally consist of a network of small diameter pipelines that collect natural gas from points near producing wells and transport it to larger pipelines for further transmission.

 

Natural Gas Compression

 

Gathering systems are operated at design pressures that will maximize the total throughput from all connected wells. Since wells produce at progressively lower field pressures as they age, it becomes increasingly difficult to deliver the remaining production from the ground against a higher pressure that exists in the connecting gathering system. Natural gas compression is a mechanical process in which a volume of wellhead gas is compressed to a desired higher pressure, allowing gas flow into a higher pressure downstream pipeline to be brought to market. Field compression is typically used to lower the pressure of a gathering system to operate at a lower pressure or provide sufficient pressure to deliver gas into a higher pressure downstream pipeline. If field compression is not installed, then the remaining natural gas in the ground will not be produced because it cannot overcome the higher gathering system pressure. In contrast, if field compression is installed, then a well can continue delivering production that otherwise would not be produced.

 

Natural Gas Processing and Transportation

 

The principal component of natural gas is methane, but most natural gas also contains varying amounts of NGLs including ethane, propane, normal butane, isobutane and natural gasoline. NGLs have economic value and are utilized as a feedstock in the petrochemical and oil refining industries or directly as heating, engine or industrial fuels. Long-haul natural gas pipelines have specifications as to the maximum NGL content of the gas to be shipped. In order to meet quality standards for long-haul pipeline transportation, natural gas collected through a gathering system may need to be processed to separate hydrocarbon liquids that can have higher values as mixed NGLs from the natural gas. NGLs are typically recovered by cooling the natural gas until the mixed NGLs become separated through condensation. Cryogenic recovery methods are processes where this is accomplished at temperatures lower than minus 150ºF. These methods provide higher NGL recovery yields. After being extracted from natural gas, the mixed NGLs are typically transported via NGL pipelines or trucks to a fractionator for separation of the NGLs into their component parts.

 

In addition to NGLs, natural gas collected through a gathering system may also contain impurities, such as water, sulfur compounds, nitrogen or helium. As a result, a natural gas processing plant will typically provide ancillary services such as dehydration and condensate separation prior to processing. Dehydration removes water from the natural gas stream, which can form ice when combined with natural gas and cause corrosion when combined with carbon dioxide or hydrogen sulfide. Condensate separation involves the removal of hydrocarbons from the natural gas stream. Once the condensate has been removed, it may be stabilized for transportation away from the processing plant via truck, rail or pipeline. Natural gas with a carbon dioxide or hydrogen sulfide content higher than permitted by pipeline quality standards requires treatment with chemicals called amines at a separate treatment plant prior to processing.

 

General

 

Our Natural Gas Services segment consists of the North Louisiana system, which is a large integrated midstream natural gas system that offers the following services:

 

 

 

The system covers ten parishes in northern Louisiana and two counties in southern Arkansas. Through our North Louisiana system, we offer producers and customers wellhead-to-market services. The North Louisiana system has numerous market outlets for the natural gas that we gather, including several intrastate and interstate pipelines, eight major industrial end-users and three major power plants. The system is strategically located to facilitate the transportation of natural gas from eastern Texas and northern Louisiana to pipeline connections linking to markets in the eastern and northeastern areas of the United States.

 

The North Louisiana system consists of:

 

 

A map representing the location of the assets that comprise the North Louisiana system is set forth below:

 

 

 

Gathering Systems

 

The North Louisiana natural gas gathering system, consisting of the Minden and Ada gathering systems, has approximately 830 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines, ranging in size from two inches to twelve inches in diameter. The system has aggregate throughput capacity of approximately 195 MMcf/d and average

throughput on the system was approximately 134 MMcf/d in 2005. There are 26 compressor stations located within the system, comprised of 60 units with an aggregate of approximately 70,000 horsepower.

 

The Minden gathering system is an approximately 700-mile natural gas gathering system located in Bossier, Claiborne, Jackson, Lincoln, Ouachita and Webster parishes, Louisiana and two Arkansas counties. The system gathers natural gas from producers at approximately 460 receipt points and delivers it for processing to the Minden processing plant. The Minden gathering system also delivers NGLs produced at the Minden processing plant to the Black Lake pipeline. The Minden gathering system has throughput capacity of approximately 115 MMcf/d, and had aggregate throughput of approximately 66 MMcf/d in 2005.

 

The Ada gathering system is an approximately 130-mile natural gas gathering system located in Bienville and Webster parishes, Louisiana. The system gathers natural gas from producers at approximately 210 receipt points and delivers it for processing to the Ada processing plant. The Ada gathering system has throughput capacity of approximately 80 MMcf/d, and had throughput of approximately 68 MMcf/d in 2005.

 

Processing Plants

 

The Minden processing plant is a cryogenic natural gas processing and treating plant located in Webster parish, Louisiana. The Minden processing plant has a design capacity of 115 MMcf/d. In 2005, the Minden processing plant processed approximately 66 MMcf/d of natural gas and produced approximately 4,300 Bbls/d of NGLs. This processing plant has amine treating and ethane recovery and rejection capabilities such that we can recover approximately 80% of the ethane contained in the natural gas stream. In addition, the processing plant is able to reject ethane of effectively 13% when justified by market economics. This processing flexibility enables us to maximize the value of ethane for our customers. In 2002, we upgraded the Minden processing plant to enable greater ethane recovery and rejection capabilities. As part of that project, we reached an agreement with our customers to receive 100% of the realized margin attributable to the incremental value of ethane recovered as an NGL from the natural gas stream when appropriate market conditions exist and until a defined return on the initial investment is reached.

 

The Ada processing plant is a refrigeration natural gas processing plant located in Bienville parish, Louisiana. The Ada processing plant has a design capacity of 45 MMcf/d. In 2005, the facility processed approximately 53 MMcf/d of natural gas and produced approximately 200 Bbls/d of NGLs.

 

Transportation System

 

The PELICO system is an approximately 600-mile intrastate natural gas gathering and transportation pipeline with 250 MMcf/d of capacity and average throughput of approximately 223 MMcf/d in 2005. The PELICO system gathers and transports natural gas that does not require processing from producers in the area at approximately 450 meter locations. Additionally, the PELICO system transports processed gas from the Minden and Ada processing plants and natural gas supplied from third party interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines. The PELICO system also receives natural gas produced in eastern Texas through its interconnect with other pipelines that transport natural gas from eastern Texas into western Louisiana.

 

Natural Gas Markets

 

The North Louisiana system has numerous market outlets for the natural gas that we gather on the system. Our natural gas pipelines connect to the Perryville Market Hub, a natural gas marketing hub that provides connection to four intrastate or interstate pipelines, including pipelines owned by Southern Natural Gas Company, Texas Gas Transmission, LLC, CenterPoint Energy Mississippi River Transmission Corporation and CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission Company. In addition, our natural gas pipelines also have access to gas that flows through pipelines owned by Texas Eastern Transmission, LP, Crosstex LIG, LLC, Gulf South Pipeline Company, Tennessee Natural Gas Company and Regency Intrastate Gas, LLC. The North Louisiana system is also connected to eight major industrial end-users and makes deliveries to three power plants. Generally, the gas flows from our Minden and Ada gathering systems and PELICO system from west to east toward the industrial and interstate markets with the exception of some industrial end-users located near the central-southern section of the PELICO system. This flow pattern changes somewhat during the summer when

utility loads increase deliveries off the same central-southern section of the PELICO system. Our access to numerous market outlets, including interstate pipelines in northeastern Louisiana that deliver natural gas to premium markets on the northeast and east coast, and to several end-users located on our system provides us with the flexibility to deliver our natural gas supply to markets with the most attractive pricing.

 

The NGLs extracted from the natural gas at the Minden processing plant are delivered to the Black Lake pipeline through our wholly-owned approximately 9-mile Minden NGL pipeline. The NGLs are sold at market index prices to an affiliate of DEFS and transported to the Mont Belvieu hub via the Black Lake pipeline of which we own a 45% interest. The NGLs extracted from natural gas at the Ada processing plant are sold at market index prices to third parties and are delivered to the third parties’ trucks at the tailgate of the plant.

 

Customers and Contracts

 

The primary suppliers of natural gas to our North Louisiana system are Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and ConocoPhillips (one of our affiliates), which collectively represented approximately 48% of the 355 MMcf/d of natural gas supplied to this system in 2005, 48% of the 328 MMcf/d natural gas supplied to this system in 2004 and 48% of the 322 MMcf/d natural gas supplied to this system in 2003. We actively seek new supplies of natural gas to increase throughput volume and to offset natural declines in the production from connected wells. We obtain new natural gas supplies in our operating areas by contracting for production from new wells, by connecting new wells drilled on dedicated acreage and by obtaining natural gas that has been released from other gathering systems. (see “— Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for further discussion of our significant customers).

 

We currently have approximately 1,100 receipt points on the North Louisiana system receiving natural gas production from individual wells or groups of wells. Approximately 60% of these receipt points are located on our Minden gathering system and our Ada gathering system. The remaining 40% of these receipt points are located on the PELICO system. The natural gas supplied to the North Louisiana system is generally dedicated to us under individually negotiated long-term contracts that provide for the commitment by the producer of all natural gas produced from designated properties. Generally, the initial term of these purchase agreements is for three to five years or, in some cases, the life of the lease. Our PELICO system receives natural gas from our Minden and Ada gathering systems and processing plants as well as from interconnects with other intrastate pipelines that deliver gas from other producing areas in eastern Texas and northern Louisiana, and from other wellhead receipt points directly connected to the system.

 

For natural gas that is gathered and then processed at our Minden or Ada processing plants, we purchase the wellhead natural gas from the producers primarily under percentage-of-proceeds arrangements or fee-based arrangements. Our gross margin generated from percentage-of-proceeds gathering and processing contracts is directly correlated to the price of natural gas, NGLs and condensate. To minimize this potential future volatility, in September 2005 we entered into a series of derivative financial instrument agreements to hedge our natural gas, NGLs and condensate. As a result of these transactions, we have hedged effective January 1, 2006, approximately 80% of our share of anticipated natural gas, NGL and condensate attributable to these contracts through 2010. We gather and transport natural gas on the PELICO system under a combination of fee-based transportation agreements and merchant arrangements. Under our merchant arrangements, we, directly or through a subsidiary of DEFS as our agent, purchase natural gas at the wellhead and from third parties and related parties at pipeline interconnect points, as well as residue gas from our Minden and Ada processing plants, and then resell the aggregated natural gas to third parties and related parties. We have entered into a contractual arrangement with a subsidiary of DEFS that provides that DEFS will purchase natural gas and transport it into our PELICO system where we will buy the gas from DEFS at their weighted average cost plus a contractually agreed to marketing fee. In addition, for a significant portion of the gas that we sell out of our PELICO system, we have entered into a contractual arrangement with a subsidiary of DEFS that provides that DEFS will purchase that natural gas from us and transport it to a sales point at a price equal to their net weighted average sales price less a contractually agreed to marketing fee. These agreements have a two year term beginning in December 2005. In the case where we purchase and sell from related parties, we may buy and sell natural gas from a subsidiary of DEFS, which in turn would transport and buy and sell these volumes from third parties using their transportation or purchase and sales contracts. In the case of certain

industrial end-user customers, from time to time we may sell aggregated natural gas to a subsidiary of DEFS which in turn would resell natural gas to these customers. Under these arrangements, we expect that this subsidiary of DEFS would make a profit on these transactions.

 

Competition

 

The North Louisiana system experiences competition in all of its local markets. The North Louisiana system’s principal areas of competition include obtaining natural gas supplies for the Minden processing plant and Ada processing plant and natural gas transportation customers for the PELICO system. The North Louisiana system’s competitors include major integrated oil and gas companies, interstate and intrastate pipelines, and companies that gather, compress, treat, process, transport and/or market natural gas. The PELICO system competes with interstate and intrastate pipelines. These include pipelines owned by Regency Intrastate Gas, LLC, Gulf South Pipeline Company and Tennessee Natural Gas Company. The Minden and Ada processing plants compete with other natural gas gathering and processing systems owned by XTO Energy Inc., Regency Intrastate Gas, LLC, Optigas Inc. and Gulf South Pipeline Company, as well as producer-owned systems.

 

NGL Pipelines

 

General.  Our NGL transportation assets consist of our wholly-owned approximately 68-mile Seabreeze intrastate NGL pipeline located in Texas and a 45% interest in the approximately 317-mile Black Lake interstate NGL pipeline located in Louisiana and Texas. These NGL pipelines transport mixed NGLs from natural gas processing plants to fractionation facilities, a petrochemical plant and an underground NGL storage facility. In aggregate, our NGL transportation business has 73 MBbls/d of capacity and in 2005 average throughput was approximately 27 MBbls/d.

 

In the markets we serve, our pipelines are the sole pipeline facility transporting NGLs from the supply source. Our pipelines provide transportation services to customers on a fee basis. Therefore, the results of operations for this business are generally dependent upon the volume of product transported and the level of fees charged to customers. The volumes of NGLs transported on our pipelines are dependent on the level of production of NGLs from processing plants connected to our NGL pipelines. When natural gas prices are high relative to NGL prices, it is less profitable to process natural gas because of the higher value of natural gas compared to the value of NGLs and because of the increased cost of separating the mixed NGLs from the natural gas. As a result, we have experienced periods in the past, and will likely experience periods in the future, that higher natural gas prices reduce the volume of NGLs produced at plants connected to our NGL pipelines.

 

Seabreeze Pipeline.  Our Seabreeze pipeline is an approximately 68-mile private NGL pipeline with current capacity configured at 33 MBbls/d. It is located along the Gulf Coast area of southeastern Texas. For 2005, average throughput on the pipeline was approximately 16 MBbls/d. Throughput on the pipeline during 2005 was negatively impacted by a shut down of a third party NGL pipeline from March 2004 until June 2005 due to pipeline integrity repairs. The Seabreeze pipeline was put into service in 2002 to deliver an NGL mix to the Formosa Point Comfort Chemical Complex from Williams’ Markham Gas Plant, a large processing plant with processing capacity of approximately 340 MMcf/d located in Matagorda County, Texas; Enterprise Products’ Matagorda Plant, a large processing plant with capacity of approximately 250 MMcf/d located in Matagorda County, Texas; and TEPPCO Partners, L.P.’s South Dean NGL pipeline. The Seabreeze pipeline is the sole NGL pipeline for the two processing plants and is the only delivery point for the South Dean NGL pipeline. This third party NGL pipeline transports NGLs from five natural gas processing plants located in southeastern Texas that have aggregate processing capacity of approximately 1.6 Bcf/d. Three of these processing plants are owned by DEFS. The seven processing plants that produce NGLs that flow into the Seabreeze pipeline process natural gas produced in southern Texas and offshore in the Gulf of Mexico (Boomvang and Nansen offshore production platforms and the Matagorda Island Production Facility). The

Seabreeze pipeline delivers the NGLs it receives from these sources to a fractionator at the Formosa Point Comfort Chemical Complex and the Texas Brine Salt Dome storage facility.

 

In February 2006, we announced our plans to construct a new 37-mile NGL pipeline to connect a DEFS gas processing plant to the Seabreeze pipeline. The project is estimated to be completed during the fourth quarter of 2006 and is supported by a 10-year NGL product dedication by DEFS. Volumes from DEFS are estimated to be approximately 5.3 MBbls/d.

 

A map illustrating the location of the Seabreeze pipeline is set forth below:

 

 

Effective December 1, 2005, we entered into a contractual arrangement with a subsidiary of DEFS that provides that DEFS will purchase the NGLs that were historically purchased by us, and DEFS will pay us to transport the NGLs pursuant to a fee-based rate that will be applied to the volumes transported. We have entered into this fee-based contractual arrangement with the objective of generating approximately the same operating income per barrel transported that we realized when we were the purchaser and seller of NGLs. We do not take title to the products transported on the NGL pipeline; rather, the shipper retains title and the associated commodity price risk. DEFS is the sole shipper on the Seabreeze pipeline under a 17-year transportation agreement expiring in 2022. The Seabreeze pipeline only collects fee-based transportation revenue under this agreement. DEFS receives its supply of NGLs that it then transports on the Seabreeze pipeline under a 20-year NGL purchase agreement with Williams expiring in 2022 and a 5-year NGL purchase agreement with Enterprise Products Partners expiring in 2007. Under these agreements, Williams and Enterprise Products Partners have each dedicated all of their respective NGL production from these processing plants to DEFS. The Seabreeze pipeline delivers all of DEFS’ volumes to a fractionator at the Formosa Point Comfort Chemical Complex and the Texas Brine Salt Dome storage facility operated by Underground Services Markam. DEFS has a 20-year long-term sales agreement with Formosa expiring in 2022. Additionally, DEFS has a 10-year transportation agreement with TEPPCO Partners, L.P. expiring in 2012 that covers all of the NGL volumes transported on TEPPCO Partners, L.P.’s South Dean NGL pipeline for delivery to the Seabreeze pipeline.

Black Lake Pipeline.  We own a 45% interest in Black Lake, which owns an approximately 317-mile FERC-regulated interstate NGL pipeline with 40 MBbls/d of capacity. For 2005, average throughput on the pipeline was approximately 11 MBbls/d. A map representing the location of the Black Lake pipeline is set forth below:

 

 

The Black Lake pipeline was constructed in 1967 and delivers NGLs from processing plants in northern Louisiana and southeastern Texas to fractionation plants at Mont Belvieu on the Texas Gulf Coast. The Black Lake pipeline receives NGL mix from three natural gas processing plants in northern Louisiana, including our Minden plant, Regency Intrastate Gas, LLC’s Dubach processing plant and Chesapeake Energy Corporation’s Black Lake processing plant, which have aggregate natural gas processing capacity of approximately 345 MMcf/d. The Black Lake pipeline is the sole NGL pipeline for all of these natural gas processing plants in northern Louisiana. In addition, the Black Lake pipeline receives a NGL mix from DEFS’ Jasper pipeline, which has NGL throughput capacity of approximately 18 MBbls/d and is the sole NGL pipeline for the Brookeland gas plant. The Brookeland gas plant, which is located in southeastern Texas, is 80% owned by DEFS. In December 2005, DEFS entered into an agreement to sell its interest in the Brookeland gas plant and Jasper pipeline to an unaffiliated third party. The sale of Brookeland gas plant and Jasper pipeline is scheduled to close in the first half of 2006. In conjunction with the purchase and sale agreement, the parties entered into an NGL dedication agreement whereby the purchaser must dedicate all NGLs from the related assets to and for the benefit of a subsidiary of DEFS for transportation on the Black Lake pipeline. This dedication agreement will commence on the closing date of the Brookeland gas plant sale and will expire on the fifth anniversary of such date.

 

There are currently five active shippers on the pipeline, with DEFS historically being the largest, representing approximately 5.4 MBbls/d in 2005. The Black Lake pipeline generates revenues through a FERC-regulated tariff. The current average rate per barrel is $0.91 for 2005.

 

Black Lake is a partnership that is owned 45% by us, 5% by an affiliate of DEFS and 50% by BP. BP is the operator of the pipeline. Black Lake is required by its partnership agreement to make monthly cash distributions equal to 100% of its available cash for each month, which is defined generally as receipts plus reductions in cash reserves less disbursements and increases in cash reserves. In anticipation of a pipeline integrity project, Black Lake suspended making monthly cash distributions in December 2004 in order to reserve cash to pay the expenses of this project. We expect that this project will be completed in 2007; however, we anticipate cash distributions will resume prior to the completion of this project.

 

We are subject to regulation by the United States Department of Transportation, referred to as DOT, under the Accountable Pipeline and Safety Partnership Act of 1996, referred to as the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act, and comparable state statutes with respect to design, installation, testing, construction,

operation, replacement and management of pipeline facilities. The Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act covers petroleum and petroleum products and requires any entity that owns or operates pipeline facilities to comply with such regulations, to permit access to and copying of records and to file certain reports and provide information as required by the United States Secretary of Transportation. These regulations include potential fines and penalties for violations. We believe that we are in material compliance with these Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act regulations.

 

We are also subject to the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968, referred to as NGPSA, and the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002. The NGPSA regulates safety requirements in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of gas pipeline facilities while the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act establishes mandatory inspections for all United States oil and natural gas transportation pipelines and some gathering lines in high-consequence areas within 10 years. The DOT has developed regulations implementing the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act that will require pipeline operators to implement integrity management programs, including more frequent inspections and other safety protections in areas where the consequences of potential pipeline accidents pose the greatest risk to people and their property. We currently estimate we will incur costs of approximately $6.1 million between 2006 and 2010 to implement integrity management program testing along certain segments of our natural gas and NGL pipelines. This does not include the costs, if any, of repair, remediation, preventative or mitigating actions that may be determined to be necessary as a result of the testing program. DEFS has agreed to indemnify us for up to $5.3 million of our pro rata share of any capital contributions required to be made by us to Black Lake associated with any repairs to the Black Lake pipeline that are determined to be necessary as a result of the currently ongoing pipeline integrity testing occurring from 2005 through 2007 and up to $4.0 million of the costs associated with any repairs to the Seabreeze pipeline that are determined to be necessary as a result of the scheduled pipeline integrity testing occurring during 2006 and 2007.

 

States are largely preempted by federal law from regulating pipeline safety but may assume responsibility for enforcing federal intrastate pipeline regulations and inspection of intrastate pipelines. In practice, states vary considerably in their authority and capacity to address pipeline safety. We do not anticipate any significant problems in complying with applicable state laws and regulations in those states in which we or the entities in which we own an interest operate. Our natural gas pipelines have continuous inspection and compliance programs designed to keep the facilities in compliance with pipeline safety and pollution control requirements.

 

In addition, we are subject to a number of federal and state laws and regulations, including the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, referred to as OSHA, and comparable state statutes, whose purpose is to protect the health and safety of workers, both generally and within the pipeline industry. In addition, the OSHA hazard communication standard, the EPA community right-to-know regulations under Title III of the federal Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act and comparable state statutes require that information be maintained concerning hazardous materials used or produced in our operations and that this information be provided to employees, state and local government authorities and citizens. We and the entities in which we own an interest are also subject to OSHA Process Safety Management regulations, which are designed to prevent or minimize the consequences of catastrophic releases of toxic, reactive, flammable or explosive chemicals. These regulations apply to any process which involves a chemical at or above the specified thresholds or any process which involves flammable liquid or gas, pressurized tanks, caverns and wells in excess of 10,000 pounds at various locations. Flammable liquids stored in atmospheric tanks below their normal boiling point without the benefit of chilling or refrigeration are exempt. We have an internal program of inspection designed to monitor and enforce compliance with worker safety requirements. We believe that we are in material compliance with all applicable laws and regulations relating to worker health and safety.

 

Regulation of pipeline gathering and transportation services, natural gas sales and transportation of NGLs may affect certain aspects of our business and the market for our products and services.

Intrastate Natural Gas Pipeline Regulation

 

Intrastate natural gas pipeline operations are not generally subject to rate regulation by FERC, but they are subject to regulation by various agencies in the respective states where they are located. However, to the extent that an intrastate pipeline system transports natural gas in interstate commerce, the rates, terms and conditions of such transportation service are subject to FERC jurisdiction under Section 311 of the NGPA. Under Section 311, intrastate pipelines providing interstate service may avoid jurisdiction that would otherwise apply under the Natural Gas Act. Section 311 regulates, among other things, the provision of transportation services by an intrastate natural gas pipeline on behalf of a local distribution company or an interstate natural gas pipeline. Under Section 311, rates charged for transportation must be fair and equitable, and amounts collected in excess of fair and equitable rates are subject to refund with interest. Additionally, the terms and conditions of service set forth in the intrastate pipeline’s Statement of Operating Conditions are subject to FERC approval. Failure to observe the service limitations applicable to transportation services provided under Section 311, failure to comply with the rates approved by FERC for Section 311 service, and failure to comply with the terms and conditions of service established in the pipeline’s FERC-approved Statement of Operating Conditions could result in the assertion of federal Natural Gas Act jurisdiction by FERC and/or the imposition of administrative, civil and criminal penalties. The PELICO system is subject to FERC jurisdiction under Section 311 of the NGPA. The maximum rate that the PELICO system may currently charge is $0.1965 per MMBtu. Pursuant to a FERC order, the PELICO system is required to file a new Section 311 rate case with FERC in 2006 at which time the PELICO system’s rates, terms and conditions of service may be subject to change, which we do not expect to have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

Gathering Pipeline Regulation

 

Section 1(b) of the Natural Gas Act exempts natural gas gathering facilities from the jurisdiction of FERC under the Natural Gas Act. We believe that the natural gas pipelines in our North Louisiana system meet the traditional tests FERC has used to establish a pipeline’s status as a gatherer not subject to FERC jurisdiction. However, the distinction between FERC-regulated transmission services and federally unregulated gathering services is the subject of substantial, on-going litigation, so the classification and regulation of our gathering facilities are subject to change based on future determinations by FERC and the courts. State regulation of gathering facilities generally includes various safety, environmental and, in some circumstances, nondiscriminatory take requirements, and in some instances complaint-based rate regulation.

 

Louisiana’s Pipeline Operations Section of the Department of Natural Resources’ Office of Conservation is generally responsible for regulating intrastate pipelines and gathering facilities in Louisiana, and has authority to review and authorize natural gas transportation transactions, and the construction, acquisition, abandonment and interconnection of physical facilities. Historically, apart from pipeline safety, it has not acted to exercise this jurisdiction respecting gathering facilities.

 

Our purchasing, gathering and intrastate transportation operations are subject to Louisiana and Arkansas ratable take and common purchaser statutes. The ratable take statutes generally require gatherers to take, without undue discrimination, natural gas production that may be tendered to the gatherer for handling. Similarly, common purchaser statutes generally require gatherers to purchase without undue discrimination as to source of supply or producer. These statutes are designed to prohibit discrimination in favor of one producer over another producer or one source of supply over another source of supply. These statutes have the effect of restricting our right as an owner of gathering facilities to decide with whom we contract to purchase or transport natural gas.

 

Natural gas gathering may receive greater regulatory scrutiny at both the state and federal levels now that FERC has taken a more light-handed approach to regulation of the gathering activities of interstate pipeline transmission companies and a number of such companies have transferred gathering facilities to unregulated affiliates. Many of the producing states have adopted some form of complaint-based regulation that generally allows natural gas producers and shippers to file complaints with state regulators in an effort to resolve grievances relating to natural gas gathering access and rate discrimination. Our gathering operations could be adversely affected should they be subject in the future to the application of state or federal regulation of rates

and services. Our gathering operations also may be or become subject to safety and operational regulations relating to the design, installation, testing, construction, operation, replacement and management of gathering facilities. Additional rules and legislation pertaining to these matters are considered or adopted from time to time. We cannot predict what effect, if any, such changes might have on our operations, but the industry could be required to incur additional capital expenditures and increased costs depending on future legislative and regulatory changes.

 

Sales of Natural Gas

 

The price at which we buy and sell natural gas currently is not subject to federal regulation and, for the most part, is not subject to state regulation. Our sales of natural gas are affected by the availability, terms and cost of pipeline transportation. As noted above, the price and terms of access to pipeline transportation are subject to extensive federal and state regulation. The FERC is continually proposing and implementing new rules and regulations affecting those segments of the natural gas industry, most notably interstate natural gas transmission companies that remain subject to the FERC’s jurisdiction. These initiatives also may affect the intrastate transportation of natural gas under certain circumstances. The stated purpose of many of these regulatory changes is to promote competition among the various sectors of the natural gas industry, and these initiatives generally reflect more light-handed regulation. We cannot predict the ultimate impact of these regulatory changes to our natural gas marketing operations, and we note that some of the FERC’s more recent proposals may adversely affect the availability and reliability of interruptible transportation service on interstate pipelines. We do not believe that we will be affected by any such FERC action materially differently than other natural gas marketers with whom we compete.

 

Interstate NGL Pipeline Regulation

 

The Black Lake pipeline is an interstate NGL pipeline subject to FERC regulation. The FERC regulates interstate NGL pipelines under its Oil Pipeline Regulations, the Interstate Commerce Act (ICA) and the Elkins Act. FERC requires that interstate NGL pipelines file tariffs containing all the rates, charges and other terms for services performed. The ICA requires that tariffs apply to the interstate movement of NGLs, usually meaning that the origin point and destination point are in different states, as is the case with the Black Lake pipeline. Pursuant to the ICA, rates can be challenged at FERC either by protest when they are initially filed or increased, or by complaint at any time they remain on file with FERC.

 

General

 

Our operation of pipelines, plants and other facilities for gathering, transporting, processing or storing natural gas, NGLs and other products is subject to stringent and complex federal, state and local laws and regulations governing the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment.

 

As an owner or operator of these facilities, we must comply with these laws and regulations at the federal, state and local levels. These laws and regulations can restrict or impact our business activities in many ways, such as:

 

 

Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may trigger a variety of administrative, civil and criminal enforcement measures, including the assessment of monetary penalties, the imposition of remedial requirements and the issuance of orders enjoining future operations. Certain environmental statutes impose strict joint and several liability for costs required to clean up and restore sites where hazardous substances have been disposed or otherwise released. Moreover, it is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the release of substances or other waste products into the environment.

 

The trend in environmental regulation is to place more restrictions and limitations on activities that may affect the environment, and thus there can be no assurance as to the amount or timing of future expenditures for environmental compliance or remediation, and actual future expenditures may be different from the amounts we currently anticipate. We try to anticipate future regulatory requirements that might be imposed and plan accordingly to remain in compliance with changing environmental laws and regulations and to minimize the costs of such compliance. We also actively participate in industry groups that help formulate recommendations for addressing existing or future regulations.

 

We do not believe that compliance with federal, state or local environmental laws and regulations will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of operations. In addition, we believe that the various environmental activities in which we are presently engaged are not expected to materially interrupt or diminish our operational ability to gather, compress, treat, fractionate and process natural gas. We cannot assure you, however, that future events, such as changes in existing laws, the promulgation of new laws, or the development or discovery of new facts or conditions will cause us to incur significant costs. Below is a discussion of the material environmental laws and regulations that relate to our business. We believe that we are in substantial compliance with all of these environmental laws and regulations.

 

We or the entities in which we own an interest inspect the pipelines regularly using equipment rented from third-party suppliers. Third parties also assist us in interpreting the results of the inspections.

 

DEFS has agreed to indemnify us in an aggregate amount not to exceed $15.0 million for three years from the closing of our initial public offering for environmental noncompliance and remediation liabilities associated with the assets transferred to us and occurring or existing before the closing date of December 7, 2005.

 

Air Emissions

 

Our operations are subject to the federal Clean Air Act and comparable state laws and regulations. These laws and regulations regulate emissions of air pollutants from various industrial sources, including our processing plants and compressor stations, and also impose various monitoring and reporting requirements. Such laws and regulations may require that we obtain pre-approval for the construction or modification of certain projects or facilities expected to produce or significantly increase air emissions, obtain and strictly comply with air permits containing various emissions and operational limitations, and utilize specific emission control technologies to limit emissions. Our failure to comply with these requirements could subject us to monetary penalties, injunctions, conditions or restrictions on operations, and potentially criminal enforcement actions. We believe that we are in substantial compliance with these requirements. We may be required to incur certain capital expenditures in the future for air pollution control equipment in connection with obtaining and maintaining operating permits and approvals for air emissions. We believe, however, that our operations will not be materially adversely affected by such requirements, and the requirements are not expected to be any more burdensome to us than to any other similarly situated companies.

 

Hazardous Substances and Waste

 

Our operations are subject to environmental laws and regulations relating to the management and release of hazardous substances or solid wastes (including petroleum hydrocarbons). These laws generally regulate the generation, storage, treatment, transportation and disposal of solid and hazardous waste, and may impose strict, joint and several liability for the investigation and remediation of areas, at a facility where hazardous

substances may have been released or disposed. For instance, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, referred to as CERCLA or the Superfund law, and comparable state laws impose liability, without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct, on certain classes of persons that contributed to the release of a “hazardous substance” into the environment. These persons include current and prior owners or operators of the site where the release occurred and companies that disposed or arranged for the disposal of the hazardous substances found at the site. Under CERCLA, these persons may be subject to joint and several strict liability for the costs of cleaning up the hazardous substances that have been released into the environment, for damages to natural resources and for the costs of certain health studies. CERCLA also authorizes the EPA and, in some instances, third parties to act in response to threats to the public health or the environment and to seek to recover from the responsible classes of persons the costs they incur. It is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by hazardous substances or other pollutants released into the environment. Despite the “petroleum exclusion” of CERCLA Section 101(14) that currently encompasses natural gas, we may nonetheless handle “hazardous substances” within the meaning of CERCLA, or similar state statutes, in the course of our ordinary operations and, as a result, may be jointly and severally liable under CERCLA for all or part of the costs required to clean up sites at which these hazardous substances have been released into the environment.

 

We also generate solid wastes, including hazardous wastes, that are subject to the requirements of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, referred to as RCRA, and comparable state statutes. While RCRA regulates both solid and hazardous wastes, it imposes strict requirements on the generation, storage, treatment, transportation and disposal of hazardous wastes. Certain petroleum production wastes are excluded from RCRA’s hazardous waste regulations. However, it is possible that these wastes, which could include wastes currently generated during our operations, will in the future be designated as “hazardous wastes” and therefore be subject to more rigorous and costly disposal requirements. Any such changes in the laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our maintenance capital expenditures and operating expenses.

 

We currently own or lease, and our predecessor has in the past owned or leased, properties where hydrocarbons are being or have been handled for many years. Although we have utilized operating and disposal practices that were standard in the industry at the time, hydrocarbons or other wastes may have been disposed of or released on or under the properties owned or leased by us or on or under the other locations where these hydrocarbons and wastes have been taken for treatment or disposal. In addition, certain of these properties have been operated by third parties whose treatment and disposal or release of hydrocarbons or other wastes was not under our control. These properties and wastes disposed thereon may be subject to CERCLA, RCRA and analogous state laws. Under these laws, we could be required to remove or remediate previously disposed wastes (including wastes disposed of or released by prior owners or operators), to clean up contaminated property (including contaminated groundwater) or to perform remedial operations to prevent future contamination. We are not currently aware of any facts, events or conditions relating to such requirements that could reasonably have a material impact on our operations or financial condition.

 

Water

 

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, also referred to as the Clean Water Act, or CWA, and analogous state laws impose restrictions and strict controls regarding the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters. Pursuant to the CWA and analogous state laws, permits must be obtained to discharge pollutants into state and federal waters. The CWA imposes substantial potential civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance. State laws for the control of water pollution also provide varying civil and criminal penalties and liabilities. In addition, some states maintain groundwater protection programs that require permits for discharges or operations that may impact groundwater conditions. The EPA has promulgated regulations that require us to have permits in order to discharge certain storm water run-off. The EPA has entered into agreements with certain states in which we operate whereby the permits are issued and administered by the respective states. These permits may require us to monitor and sample the storm water run-off. We believe that compliance with existing permits and compliance with foreseeable new permit requirements will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

Our real property falls into two categories: (1) parcels that we own in fee and (2) parcels in which our interest derives from leases, easements, rights-of-way, permits or licenses from landowners or governmental authorities permitting the use of such land for our operations. Portions of the land on which our plants and other major facilities are located are owned by us in fee title, and we believe that we have satisfactory title to these lands. The remainder of the land on which our plant sites and major facilities are located are held by us pursuant to ground leases between us, as lessee, and the fee owner of the lands, as lessors. We, or our predecessors, have leased these lands for many years without any material challenge known to us relating to the title to the land upon which the assets are located, and we believe that we have satisfactory leasehold estates to such lands. We have no knowledge of any challenge to the underlying fee title of any material lease, easement, right-of-way, permit or license held by us or to our title to any material lease, easement, right-of-way, permit or lease, and we believe that we have satisfactory title to all of our material leases, easements, rights-of-way, permits and licenses.

 

DCP Midstream GP, LLC or its affiliates employs nine people directly and approximately 55 people through DEFS who provide direct support for our operations. None of these employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements. Our general partner considers its employee relations to be good.

 

We make certain filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments and exhibits to those reports, available free of charge through our website, http://www.dcppartners.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with the SEC. The filings are also available through the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 or by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. Also, these filings are available on the internet at http://www.sec.gov. Our annual reports to unitholders, press releases and recent analyst presentations are also available on our website.

 

Limited partner interests are inherently different from capital stock of a corporation, although many of the business risks to which we are subject are similar to those that would be faced by a corporation engaged in similar businesses. You should consider carefully the following risk factors together with all of the other information included in this annual report in evaluating an investment in our common units.

 

If any of the following risks were actually to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected. In that case, we might not be able to pay the minimum quarterly distribution on our common units, the trading price of our common units could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment.

 

Risks Related to Our Business

 

We may not have sufficient cash from operations following the establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses, including cost reimbursements to our general partner, to enable us to make cash distributions to holders of our common units and subordinated units at the initial distribution rate under our cash distribution policy.

 

In order to make our cash distributions at our initial distribution rate of $0.35 per common unit per complete quarter, or $1.40 per unit per year, we require available cash of approximately $6.25 million per quarter, or $25.0 million per year, based on the common units and subordinated units currently outstanding. We may not have sufficient available cash from operating surplus each quarter to enable us to make cash distributions at the initial distribution rate under our cash distribution policy. The amount of cash we can

distribute on our units principally depends upon the amount of cash we generate from our operations, which will fluctuate from quarter to quarter based on, among other things:

 

 

In addition, the actual amount of cash we will have available for distribution will depend on other factors, some of which are beyond our control, including:

 

 

The amount of cash we have available for distribution to holders of our common units and subordinated units depends primarily on our cash flow and not solely on profitability.

 

You should be aware that the amount of cash we have available for distribution depends primarily upon our cash flow and not solely on profitability, which will be affected by non-cash items. As a result, we may make cash distributions during periods when we record losses for financial accounting purposes and may not make cash distributions during periods when we record net earnings for financial accounting purposes.

 

Because of the natural decline in production from existing wells, our success depends on our ability to obtain new sources of supplies of natural gas and NGLs, which are dependent on certain factors beyond our control. Any decrease in supplies of natural gas or NGLs could adversely affect our business and operating results.

 

Our gathering and transportation pipeline systems are connected to or dependent on the level of production from natural gas wells, from which production will naturally decline over time. As a result, our cash flows associated with these wells will also decline over time. In order to maintain or increase throughput levels on our gathering and transportation pipeline systems and NGL pipelines and the asset utilization rates at our natural gas processing plants, we must continually obtain new supplies. The primary factors affecting our ability to obtain new supplies of natural gas and NGLs and attract new customers to our assets include: (1) the level of successful drilling activity near these systems and (2) our ability to compete for volumes from successful new wells.

 

The level of drilling activity is dependent on economic and business factors beyond our control. The primary factor that impacts drilling decisions is natural gas prices. Currently, natural gas prices are high in relation to historical prices. For example, the rolling twelve-month average NYMEX daily settlement price of natural gas has increased from $4.10 per MMBtu as of June 30, 2000 to $8.59 per MMBtu as of December 31, 2005. If the high price for natural gas were to decline, the level of drilling activity could decrease. A sustained

decline in natural gas prices could result in a decrease in exploration and development activities in the fields served by our gathering and pipeline transportation systems and our natural gas treating and processing plants, which would lead to reduced utilization of these assets. Other factors that impact production decisions include producers’ capital budgets, the ability of producers to obtain necessary drilling and other governmental permits, and regulatory changes. Because of these factors, even if new natural gas reserves are discovered in areas served by our assets, producers may choose not to develop those reserves. If we are not able to obtain new supplies of natural gas to replace the natural decline in volumes from existing wells due to reductions in drilling activity or competition, throughput on our pipelines and the utilization rates of our treating and processing facilities would decline, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions to you.

 

The cash flow from our Natural Gas Services segment is affected by natural gas, NGL and condensate prices, and decreases in these prices could adversely affect our ability to make distributions to holders of our common units and subordinated units.

 

Our Natural Gas Services segment is affected by the level of natural gas, NGL and condensate prices. NGL and condensate prices generally fluctuate on a basis that correlates to fluctuations in crude oil prices. In the past, the prices of natural gas and crude oil have been extremely volatile, and we expect this volatility to continue. The markets and prices for natural gas, NGLs, condensate and crude oil depend upon factors beyond our control. These factors include demand for these commodities, which fluctuate with changes in market and economic conditions and other factors, including:

 

 

Our primary natural gas gathering and processing arrangements that expose us to commodity price risk are our percentage-of-proceeds arrangements. Under percentage-of-proceeds arrangements, we generally purchase natural gas from producers for an agreed percentage of the proceeds from the sale of residue gas and NGLs resulting from our processing activities, and then sell the resulting residue gas and NGLs at market prices. Under these types of arrangements, our revenues and our cash flows increase or decrease, whichever is applicable, as the price of natural gas and NGLs fluctuate. As of January 1, 2006, we have hedged approximately 80% of our share of anticipated natural gas and NGL commodity price risk associated with these arrangements through 2010. Additionally, as part of our gathering operations, we recover and sell condensate. The margins we earn from condensate sales are directly correlated with crude oil prices. As of January 1, 2006, we have hedged approximately 80% of our share of anticipated condensate commodity price risk through 2010. For additional information regarding our hedging activities, please read “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk — Commodity Price Risk — Hedging Strategies.”

 

Our hedging activities may have a material adverse effect on our earnings, profitability, cash flows and financial condition.

 

As of January 1, 2006, we have hedged approximately 80% of our expected natural gas and NGL commodity price risk relating to our percentage of proceeds gathering and processing contracts through 2010 by entering into derivative financial instruments relating to the future price of natural gas and crude oil. In

addition, as of January 1, 2006 we have hedged approximately 80% of our expected condensate commodity price risk relating to condensate recovered from our gathering operations through 2010 by entering into derivative financial instruments relating to the future price of crude oil. The intent of these arrangements is to reduce the volatility in our cash flows resulting from fluctuations in commodity prices.

 

For periods after 2010, our management will evaluate whether to enter into any new hedging arrangements, but there can be no assurance that we will enter into any new hedging arrangement or that our future hedging arrangements will be on terms similar to our existing hedging arrangements. Also, we may seek in the future to further limit our exposure to changes in natural gas, NGL and condensate commodity prices and we may seek to limit our exposure to changes in interest rates by using financial derivative instruments and other hedging mechanisms from time to time. To the extent we hedge our commodity price and interest rate risk, we will forego the benefits we would otherwise experience if commodity prices or interest rates were to change in our favor.

 

Despite our hedging program, we remain exposed to risks associated with fluctuations in commodity prices. The extent of our commodity price risk is related largely to the effectiveness and scope of our hedging activities. For example, the derivative instruments we utilize are based on posted market prices, which may differ significantly from the actual natural gas, NGL and condensate prices that we realize in our operations. Furthermore, we have entered into derivative transactions related to only a portion of the volume of our expected natural gas supply and production of NGLs and condensate from our processing plants; as a result, we will continue to have direct commodity price risk to the unhedged portion. Our actual future production may be significantly higher or lower than we estimate at the time we entered into the derivative transactions for that period. If the actual amount is higher than we estimate, we will have greater commodity price risk than we intended. If the actual amount is lower than the amount that is subject to our derivative financial instruments, we might be forced to satisfy all or a portion of our derivative transactions without the benefit of the cash flow from our sale of the underlying physical commodity, resulting in a reduction of our liquidity.

 

As a result of these factors, our hedging activities may not be as effective as we intend in reducing the volatility of our cash flows, and in certain circumstances may actually increase the volatility of our cash flows. In addition, even though our management monitors our hedging activities, these activities can result in substantial losses. Such losses could occur under various circumstances, including if a counterparty does not perform its obligations under the applicable hedging arrangement, the hedging arrangement is imperfect or ineffective, or our hedging policies and procedures are not properly followed or do not work as planned. We cannot assure you that the steps we take to monitor our hedging activities will detect and prevent violations of our risk management policies and procedures, particularly if deception or other intentional misconduct is involved. For additional information regarding our hedging activities, please read “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk — Commodity Price Risk — Hedging Strategies.”

 

We typically do not obtain independent evaluations of natural gas reserves dedicated to our gathering and pipeline systems; therefore, volumes of natural gas on our systems in the future could be less than we anticipate.

 

We typically do not obtain independent evaluations of natural gas reserves connected to our systems due to the unwillingness of producers to provide reserve information as well as the cost of such evaluations. Accordingly, we do not have independent estimates of total reserves dedicated to our systems or the anticipated life of such reserves. If the total reserves or estimated life of the reserves connected to our gathering systems is less than we anticipate and we are unable to secure additional sources of natural gas, then the volumes of natural gas on our systems in the future could be less than we anticipate. A decline in the volumes of natural gas on our systems could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and our ability to make cash distributions to you.

We depend on certain natural gas producer customers for a significant portion of our supply of natural gas and NGLs. The loss of any of these customers could result in a decline in our volumes, revenues and cash available for distribution.

 

We rely on certain natural gas producer customers for a significant portion of our natural gas and NGL supply. Our two largest suppliers for the year ended December 31, 2005, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and ConocoPhillips, accounted for approximately 28% and 20%, respectively, of our 2005 natural gas supply in our Natural Gas segment. Our largest NGL supplier, an affiliate of The Williams Companies, Inc., accounted for approximately 77% of our NGL supply for the year ended December 31, 2005 in our NGL Logistics segment. While some of these customers are subject to long-term contracts, we may be unable to negotiate extensions or replacements of these contracts, on favorable terms, if at all. The loss of all or even a portion of the natural gas and NGL volumes supplied by these customers, as a result of competition or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition, unless we were able to acquire comparable volumes from other sources.

 

We may not be able to grow or effectively manage our growth.

 

A principal focus of our strategy is to continue to grow the per unit distribution on our units by expanding our business. Our future growth will depend upon a number of factors, some of which we can control and some of which we cannot. These factors include our ability to:

 

 

A deficiency in any of these factors could adversely affect our ability to achieve growth in the level of our cash flows or realize benefits from acquisitions, joint ventures or construction projects. In addition, competition from other buyers could reduce our acquisition opportunities or cause us to pay a higher price than we might otherwise pay. In addition, DEFS and its affiliates are not restricted from competing with us. DEFS and its affiliates may acquire, construct or dispose of midstream or other assets in the future without any obligation to offer us the opportunity to purchase or construct those assets.

 

We may not successfully balance our purchases and sales of natural gas, which would increase our exposure to commodity price risks.

 

We purchase from producers and other customers a substantial amount of the natural gas that flows through our natural gas gathering, processing and transportation systems for resale to third parties, including natural gas marketers and end-users. We may not be successful in balancing our purchases and sales. A producer or supplier could fail to deliver contracted volumes or deliver in excess of contracted volumes, or a purchaser could purchase less than contracted volumes. Any of these actions could cause our purchases and sales to be unbalanced. While we attempt to balance our purchases and sales, if our purchases and sales are unbalanced, we will face increased exposure to commodity price risks and could have increased volatility in our operating income and cash flows.

Our NGL pipelines could be adversely affected by any decrease in NGL prices relative to the price of natural gas.

 

The profitability of our NGL pipelines is dependent on the level of production of NGLs from processing plants connected to our NGL pipelines. When natural gas prices are high relative to NGL prices, it is less profitable to process natural gas because of the higher value of natural gas compared to the value of NGLs and because of the increased cost (principally that of natural gas as a feedstock and fuel) of separating the mixed NGLs from the natural gas. As a result, we may experience periods in which higher natural gas prices reduce the volume of natural gas processed at plants connected to our NGL pipelines, which would reduce the volumes and gross margins attributable to our NGL pipelines.

 

If third-party pipelines and other facilities interconnected to our natural gas and NGL pipelines and facilities become unavailable to transport or produce natural gas and NGLs, our revenues and cash available for distribution could be adversely affected.

 

We depend upon third party pipelines and other facilities that provide delivery options to and from our pipelines and facilities for the benefit of our customers. For example, the volumes of NGLs that are transported on our Seabreeze pipeline and the Black Lake pipeline are dependent upon a number of processing plants and NGL pipelines owned and operated by DEFS and other third parties, including Williams’ Markham Gas Plant, Enterprise Products’ Matagorda Plant, TEPPCO Partners, L.P.’s South Dean NGL pipeline, Regency Intrastate Gas, LLC’s Dubach processing plant and Chesapeake Energy Corporation’s Black Lake processing plant. In addition, our PELICO pipeline system is interconnected to several third-party intrastate and interstate pipelines, including pipelines owned by Southern Natural Gas Company, Texas Gas Transmission, LLC, CenterPoint Energy Mississippi River Transmission Corporation, Texas Eastern Transmission LP, CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission Company, Crosstex LIG, LLC, Gulf South Pipeline Company, Tennessee Natural Gas Company and Regency Intrastate Gas, LLC. Since we do not own or operate any of these pipelines or other facilities, their continuing operation is not within our control. If any of these third-party pipelines and other facilities become unavailable to transport or produce natural gas and NGLs, our revenues and cash available for distribution could be adversely affected. For example, throughput for our Seabreeze pipeline was negatively impacted by a shut down of a third party NGL pipeline from March 2004 until June 2005 due to pipeline integrity repairs, which have now been completed.

 

Our industry is highly competitive, and increased competitive pressure could adversely affect our business and operating results.

 

We compete with similar enterprises in our respective areas of operation. Some of our competitors are large oil, natural gas and petrochemical companies that have greater financial resources and access to supplies of natural gas and NGLs than we do. Some of these competitors may expand or construct gathering, processing and transportation systems that would create additional competition for the services we provide to our customers. In addition, our customers who are significant producers of natural gas may develop their own gathering, processing and transportation systems in lieu of using ours. Likewise, our customers who produce NGLs may develop their own systems to transport NGLs in lieu of using ours. Our ability to renew or replace existing contracts with our customers at rates sufficient to maintain current revenues and cash flows could be adversely affected by the activities of our competitors and our customers. All of these competitive pressures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions to you.

 

A change in the jurisdictional characterization of some of our assets by federal, state or local regulatory agencies or a change in policy by those agencies may result in increased regulation of our assets, which may cause our revenues to decline and operating expenses to increase.

 

Our natural gas gathering and intrastate transportation operations are generally exempt from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, regulation under the Natural Gas Act of 1938, or NGA, except for Section 311 as discussed below, but FERC regulation still affects these businesses and the markets for products derived from these businesses. FERC’s policies and practices across the range of its oil and natural gas

regulatory activities, including, for example, its policies on open access transportation, ratemaking, capacity release and market center promotion, indirectly affect intrastate markets. In recent years, FERC has pursued pro-competitive policies in its regulation of interstate oil and natural gas pipelines. However, we cannot assure you that FERC will continue this approach as it considers matters such as pipeline rates and rules and policies that may affect rights of access to oil and natural gas transportation capacity. In addition, the distinction between FERC-regulated transmission services and federally unregulated gathering services has been the subject of regular litigation, so, in such a circumstance, the classification and regulation of some of our gathering facilities and intrastate transportation pipelines may be subject to change based on future determinations by FERC and the courts.

 

In addition, the rates, terms and conditions of some of the transportation services we provide on our PELICO pipeline system is subject to FERC regulation under Section 311 of the Natural Gas Policy Act, or NGPA. Under Section 311, rates charged for transportation must be fair and equitable, and amounts collected in excess of fair and equitable rates are subject to refund with interest. The PELICO system is currently charging rates for its Section 311 transportation services that were deemed fair and equitable under a rate settlement with FERC. The PELICO system is obligated to make a new rate filing in 2006, at which time the rates, terms and conditions of the PELICO system’s Section 311 transportation services may be subject to change. The Black Lake pipeline system is an interstate transporter of NGLs and is subject to FERC jurisdiction under the Interstate Commerce Act and the Elkins Act. For more information regarding regulation of our operations, please read “Business — Regulation of Operations.”

 

Other state and local regulations also affect our business. Our non-proprietary gathering lines are subject to ratable take and common purchaser statutes in Louisiana. Ratable take statutes generally require gatherers to take, without undue discrimination, oil or natural gas production that may be tendered to the gatherer for handling. Similarly, common purchaser statutes generally require gatherers to purchase without undue discrimination as to source of supply or producer. These statutes restrict our right as an owner of gathering facilities to decide with whom we contract to purchase or transport oil or natural gas. Federal law leaves any economic regulation of natural gas gathering to the states. The states in which we operate have adopted complaint-based regulation of oil and natural gas gathering activities, which allows oil and natural gas producers and shippers to file complaints with state regulators in an effort to resolve grievances relating to oil and natural gas gathering access and rate discrimination. Other state regulations may not directly regulate our business, but may nonetheless affect the availability of natural gas for purchase, processing and sale, including state regulation of production rates and maximum daily production allowable from gas wells. While our proprietary gathering lines currently are subject to limited state regulation, there is a risk that state laws will be changed, which may give producers a stronger basis to challenge proprietary status of a line, or the rates, terms and conditions of a gathering line providing transportation service. Please read “Business — Regulation of Operations.”

 

We may incur significant costs and liabilities in the future resulting from a failure to comply with new or existing environmental regulations or an accidental release of hazardous substances or hydrocarbons into the environment.

 

Our operations are subject to stringent and complex federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. These include, for example, (1) the federal Clean Air Act and comparable state laws and regulations that impose obligations related to air emissions, (2) the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, or RCRA, and comparable state laws that impose requirements for the discharge of waste from our facilities and (3) the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, or CERCLA, also known as “Superfund,” and comparable state laws that regulate the cleanup of hazardous substances that may have been released at properties currently or previously owned or operated by us or locations to which we have sent waste for disposal. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations or newly adopted laws or regulations may trigger a variety of administrative, civil and criminal enforcement measures, including the assessment of monetary penalties, the imposition of remedial requirements, and the issuance of orders enjoining future operations. Certain environmental regulations, including CERCLA and analogous state laws and regulations, impose strict, joint and several liability for costs required to clean up and

restore sites where hazardous substances or hydrocarbons have been disposed or otherwise released. Moreover, it is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the release of hazardous substances, hydrocarbons or other waste products into the environment.

 

There is inherent risk of the incurrence of environmental costs and liabilities in our business due to our handling of natural gas and other petroleum products, air emissions related to our operations, and historical industry operations and waste disposal practices. For example, an accidental release from one of our facilities could subject us to substantial liabilities arising from environmental cleanup and restoration costs, claims made by neighboring landowners and other third parties for personal injury and property damage and fines or penalties for related violations of environmental laws or regulations. Moreover, the possibility exists that stricter laws, regulations or enforcement policies could significantly increase our compliance costs and the cost of any remediation that may become necessary. We may not be able to recover these costs from insurance or from indemnification from DEFS. Please read “Business — Environmental Matters.”

 

We may incur significant costs and liabilities resulting from pipeline integrity programs and related repairs.

 

Pursuant to the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002, the United States Department of Transportation (“DOT”) has adopted regulations requiring pipeline operators to develop integrity management programs for transportation pipelines located where a leak or rupture could do the most harm in “high consequence areas.” The regulations require operators to:

 

 

We currently estimate that we will incur costs of approximately $6.1 million between 2006 and 2010 to implement pipeline integrity management program testing along certain segments of our natural gas and NGL pipelines. This does not include the costs, if any, of any repair, remediation, preventative or mitigating actions that may be determined to be necessary as a result of the testing program, which costs could be substantial. While DEFS has agreed to indemnify us for certain repair costs relating to the Black Lake pipeline and our Seabreeze pipelines resulting from such testing program, the actual costs of making such repairs, including any lost cash flows resulting from shutting down our pipelines during the pendency of such repairs, could substantially exceed the amount of such indemnity.

 

We currently transport all of the NGLs produced at our Minden plant on the Black Lake pipeline. According, in the event that the Black Lake pipeline becomes inoperable due to any necessary repairs resulting from our integrity testing program or for any other reason for any significant period of time, we would need to transport NGLs by other means. The Minden plant has an existing alternate pipeline connection that would permit the transportation of NGLs to a local fractionator for processing and distribution with sufficient pipeline takeaway and fractionation capacity to handle all of the Minden plan’s NGL production. We do not, however, currently have commercial arrangements in place with the alternative pipeline. While we believe we could establish alternate transportation arrangements on competitive terms, there can be no assurance that we will in fact be able to enter into such arrangements on favorable terms in the future.

Our construction of new assets may not result in revenue increases and is subject to regulatory, environmental, political, legal and economic risks, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

 

One of the ways we intend to grow our business is through the construction of new midstream assets. The construction of additions or modifications to our existing systems, and the construction of new midstream assets involves numerous regulatory, environmental, political and legal uncertainties beyond our control and may require the expenditure of significant amounts of capital. If we undertake these projects, they may not be completed on schedule or at the budgeted cost, or at all. Moreover, our revenues may not increase immediately upon the expenditure of funds on a particular project. For instance, if we expand a new pipeline, the construction may occur over an extended period of time, and we will not receive any material increases in revenues until the project is completed. Moreover, we may construct facilities to capture anticipated future growth in production in a region in which such growth does not materialize. Since we are not engaged in the exploration for and development of natural gas and oil reserves, we often do not have access to third-party estimates of potential reserves in an area prior to constructing facilities in such area. To the extent we rely on estimates of future production in our decision to construct additions to our systems, such estimates may prove to be inaccurate because there are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of future production. As a result, new facilities may not be able to attract enough throughput to achieve our expected investment return, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the construction of additions to our existing gathering and transportation assets may require us to obtain new rights-of-way prior to constructing new pipelines. We may be unable to obtain such rights-of-way to connect new natural gas supplies to our existing gathering lines or capitalize on other attractive expansion opportunities. Additionally, it may become more expensive for us to obtain new rights-of-way or to renew existing rights-of-way. If the cost of renewing or obtaining new rights-of-way increases, our cash flows could be adversely affected.

 

If we do not make acquisitions on economically acceptable terms, our future growth will be limited.

 

Our ability to grow depends, in part, on our ability to make acquisitions that result in an increase in the cash generated from operations per unit. If we are unable to make these accretive acquisitions either because we are: (1) unable to identify attractive acquisition candidates or negotiate acceptable purchase contracts with them, (2) unable to obtain financing for these acquisitions on economically acceptable terms, or (3) outbid by competitors, then our future growth and ability to increase distributions will be limited. Furthermore, even if we do make acquisitions that we believe will be accretive, these acquisitions may nevertheless result in a decrease in the cash generated from operations per unit.

 

Any acquisition involves potential risks, including, among other things:

 

 

If we consummate any future acquisitions, our capitalization and results of operations may change significantly, and you will not have the opportunity to evaluate the economic, financial and other relevant information that we will consider in determining the application of these funds and other resources.

Our acquisition strategy is based, in part, on our expectation of ongoing divestitures of energy assets by industry participants. A material decrease in such divestitures would limit our opportunities for future acquisitions and could adversely affect our operations and cash flows available for distribution to our unitholders.

 

We do not own all of the land on which our pipelines and facilities are located, which could disrupt our operations.

 

We do not own all of the land on which our pipelines and facilities have been constructed, and we are therefore subject to the possibility of more onerous terms and/or increased costs to retain necessary land use if we do not have valid rights of way or if such rights of way lapse or terminate. We obtain the rights to construct and operate our pipelines on land owned by third parties and governmental agencies for a specific period of time. Our loss of these rights, through our inability to renew right-of-way contracts or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and our ability to make cash distributions to you.

 

Our business involves many hazards and operational risks, some of which may not be fully covered by insurance. If a significant accident or event occurs that is not fully insured, our operations and financial results could be adversely affected.

 

Our operations are subject to many hazards inherent in the gathering, compressing, treating, processing and transporting of natural gas and NGLs, including:

 

 

These risks could result in substantial losses due to personal injury and/or loss of life, severe damage to and destruction of property and equipment and pollution or other environmental damage and may result in curtailment or suspension of our related operations. A natural disaster or other hazard affecting the areas in which we operate could have a material adverse effect on our operations. We are not fully insured against all risks inherent to our business. In accordance with typical industry practice, we do not have any property insurance on any of our underground pipeline systems that would cover damage to the pipelines. We are not insured against all environmental accidents that might occur which may include toxic tort claims, other than those considered to be sudden and accidental. If a significant accident or event occurs that is not fully insured, it could adversely affect our operations and financial condition. In addition, we may not be able to maintain or obtain insurance of the type and amount we desire at reasonable rates. As a result of market conditions, premiums and deductibles for certain of our insurance policies have increased substantially, and could escalate further. In some instances, certain insurance could become unavailable or available only for reduced amounts of coverage.

 

Our costs may increase in the event that our credit obligations under hedging and other contractual arrangements are not guaranteed by DEFS.

 

DEFS has provided a guaranty to the third party counterparties for the financial hedging arrangements that we have entered into for the purpose of hedging our exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices through late 2010. DEFS is only required to maintain its credit support for our obligations related to derivative financial instruments, such as commodity price hedging contracts, that are in effect as of the closing of our

initial public offering as of December 7, 2005 until the earlier to occur of the fifth anniversary of the closing of our initial public offering or such time as we obtain an investment grade credit rating from either Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group. As a result, we anticipate that DEFS will not provide a guaranty of any replacement hedging arrangements after the termination of the hedging arrangements that we have contracted to be in place through late 2010. In such event, we would expect that it could be more costly for us to manage our commodity price risk through certain types of financial hedging arrangements unless we are able to achieve creditworthiness at that time similar to the current creditworthiness of DEFS. As a result, we anticipate that as these commercial arrangements expire or are renewed or replaced by new commercial arrangements, DEFS would not continue to provide credit support. In such event, we may need to provide our own credit support arrangements, which may increase our costs. DEFS is under no obligation to provide any new or additional credit support to us.

 

Our debt levels may limit our flexibility in obtaining additional financing and in pursuing other business opportunities.

 

As of December 7, 2005, we entered into a credit facility, consisting of a $100.1 million collateralized term loan facility and a $250 million revolving credit facility for working capital and other general partnership purposes. We had outstanding balances of $100.1 million under the term loan facility and $110.0 million under the revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2005. The term loan facility maximum borrowing is $100.1 million, and once repaid such amount may not be reborrowed. However, once a portion of the term loan is repaid, the revolving credit facility will increase ratably. We continue to have the ability to incur additional debt, subject to limitations in our credit facility. Our level of debt could have important consequences to us, including the following:

 

 

Our ability to service our debt will depend upon, among other things, our future financial and operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business, regulatory and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. In addition, our ability to service debt under our revolving credit facility will depend on market interest rates, since we anticipate that the interest rates applicable to our borrowings will fluctuate with movements in interest rate markets. If our operating results are not sufficient to service our current or future indebtedness, we will be forced to take actions such as reducing distributions, reducing or delaying our business activities, acquisitions, investments or capital expenditures, selling assets, restructuring or refinancing our debt, or seeking additional equity capital. We may not be able to effect any of these actions on satisfactory terms, or at all. We may consider entering into interest rate hedging transactions, the affect of which would be to effectively lock the floating interest rate for the period of the hedge. In February 2006, the board of directors approved management to hedge up to 85% of outstanding floating rate debt. As of March 1, 2006, no interest rate swaps have been executed.

 

Restrictions in our credit facility will limit our ability to make distributions to you and may limit our ability to capitalize on acquisitions and other business opportunities.

 

Our credit facility contains covenants limiting our ability to make distributions, incur indebtedness, grant liens, make acquisitions, investments or dispositions and engage in transactions with affiliates. Furthermore, our credit facility contains covenants requiring us to maintain certain financial ratios and tests. Any subsequent

replacement of our credit facility or any new indebtedness could have similar or greater restrictions. Please read “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Capital Requirements.”

 

Increases in interest rates, which have recently experienced record lows, could adversely impact our unit price and our ability to issue additional equity to make acquisitions, incur debt or for other purposes.

 

The credit markets recently have experienced 50-year record lows in interest rates. As the overall economy strengthens, it is likely that monetary policy will continue to tighten further, resulting in higher interest rates to counter possible inflation. Interest rates on future credit facilities and debt offerings could be higher than current levels, causing our financing costs to increase accordingly. As with other yield-oriented securities, our unit price is impacted by the level of our cash distributions and implied distribution yield. The distribution yield is often used by investors to compare and rank related yield-oriented securities for investment decision-making purposes. Therefore, changes in interest rates, either positive or negative, may affect the yield requirements of investors who invest in our units, and a rising interest rate environment could have an adverse impact on our unit price and our ability to issue additional equity to make acquisitions, incur debt or for other purposes.

 

Due to our lack of industry and geographic diversification, adverse developments in our midstream operations or operating areas would reduce our ability to make distributions to our unitholders.

 

We rely on the revenues generated from our midstream energy businesses, and as a result, our financial condition depends upon prices of, and continued demand for, natural gas, NGLs and condensate. Furthermore, all of our assets are located in northern Louisiana, southern Arkansas and eastern Texas. Due to our lack of diversification in industry type and location, an adverse development in one of these businesses or operating areas would have a significantly greater impact on our financial condition and results of operations than if we maintained more diverse assets and operating areas.

 

We are exposed to the credit risks of our key producer customers, and any material nonpayment or nonperformance by our key producer customers could reduce our ability to make distributions to our unitholders.

 

We are subject to risks of loss resulting from nonpayment or nonperformance by our producer customers. Any material nonpayment or nonperformance by our key producer customers could reduce our ability to make distributions to our unitholders. Furthermore, some of our producer customers may be highly leveraged and subject to their own operating and regulatory risks, which could increase the risk that they may default on their obligations to us.

 

Terrorist attacks, and the threat of terrorist attacks, have resulted in increased costs to our business. Continued hostilities in the Middle East or other sustained military campaigns may adversely impact our results of operations.

 

The long-term impact of terrorist attacks, such as the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001 or the attacks in London, and the threat of future terrorist attacks on our industry in general, and on us in particular, is not known at this time. Increased security measures taken by us as a precaution against possible terrorist attacks have resulted in increased costs to our business. Uncertainty surrounding continued hostilities in the Middle East or other sustained military campaigns may affect our operations in unpredictable ways, including disruptions of crude oil supplies and markets for refined products, and the possibility that infrastructure facilities could be direct targets of, or indirect casualties of, an act of terror.

 

Changes in the insurance markets attributable to terrorist attacks may make certain types of insurance more difficult for us to obtain. Moreover, the insurance that may be available to us may be significantly more expensive than our existing insurance coverage. Instability in the financial markets as a result of terrorism or war could also affect our ability to raise capital.

Risks Inherent in an Investment in Us

 

DEFS controls our general partner, which has sole responsibility for conducting our business and managing our operations. DEFS has conflicts of interest, which may permit it to favor its own interests to your detriment.

 

DEFS owns and controls our general partner. Some of our general partner’s directors, and some of its executive officers, are directors or officers of DEFS or its parents. Therefore, conflicts of interest may arise between DEFS and its affiliates, including our general partner, on the one hand, and us and our unitholders, on the other hand. In resolving these conflicts of interest, our general partner may favor its own interests and the interests of its affiliates over the interests of our unitholders. These conflicts include, among others, the following situations:

 

 

 

 

DEFS and its affiliates are not limited in their ability to compete with us, which could cause conflicts of interest and limit our ability to acquire additional assets or businesses which in turn could adversely affect our results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.

 

Neither our partnership agreement nor the Omnibus Agreement between us, DEFS and others will prohibit DEFS and its affiliates, including Duke Energy and ConocoPhillips, from owning assets or engaging in businesses that compete directly or indirectly with us. In addition, DEFS and its affiliates, including Duke Energy and ConocoPhillips, may acquire, construct or dispose of additional midstream or other assets in the future, without any obligation to offer us the opportunity to purchase or construct any of those assets. Each of these entities is a large, established participant in the midstream energy business, and each has significantly greater resources and experience than we have, which factors may make it more difficult for us to compete with these entities with respect to commercial activities as well as for acquisition candidates. As a result, competition from these entities could adversely impact our results of operations and cash available for distribution.

 

Cost reimbursements due to our general partner and its affiliates for services provided, which will be determined by our general partner, will be substantial and will reduce our cash available for distribution to you.

 

Pursuant to the Omnibus Agreement we entered into with DEFS, our general partner and others upon the closing of our initial public offering, DEFS will receive reimbursement for the payment of operating expenses related to our operations and for the provision of various general and administrative services for our benefit. Payments for these services will be substantial and will reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to unitholders. Please read “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions — Omnibus Agreement.” In addition, under Delaware partnership law, our general partner has unlimited liability for our obligations, such as our debts and environmental liabilities, except for our contractual obligations that are expressly made without recourse to our general partner. To the extent our general partner incurs obligations on our behalf, we are obligated to reimburse or indemnify it. If we are unable or unwilling to reimburse or indemnify our general partner, our general partner may take actions to cause us to make payments of these obligations and liabilities. Any such payments could reduce the amount of cash otherwise available for distribution to our unitholders.

 

Our partnership agreement limits our general partner’s fiduciary duties to holders of our common units and subordinated units.

 

Although our general partner has a fiduciary duty to manage us in a manner beneficial to us and our unitholders, the directors and officers of our general partner have a fiduciary duty to manage our general partner in a manner beneficial to its owner, DEFS. Our partnership agreement contains provisions that reduce the standards to which our general partner would otherwise be held by state fiduciary duty laws. For example, our partnership agreement permits our general partner to make a number of decisions either in its individual capacity, as opposed to in its capacity as our general partner or otherwise free of fiduciary duties to us and our unitholders. This entitles our general partner to consider only the interests and factors that it desires, and it has no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of, or factors affecting, us, our affiliates or any limited partner. Examples include:

 

 

By purchasing a common unit, a common unitholder will agree to become bound by the provisions in the partnership agreement, including the provisions discussed above.

 

Our partnership agreement restricts the remedies available to holders of our common units and subordinated units for actions taken by our general partner that might otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duty.

 

Our partnership agreement contains provisions that restrict the remedies available to unitholders for actions taken by our general partner that might otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duty. For example, our partnership agreement:

 

 

Our general partner may elect to cause us to issue Class B units to it in connection with a resetting of the target distribution levels related to our general partner’s incentive distribution rights without the approval of the special committee of our general partner or holders of our common units and subordinated units. This may result in lower distributions to holders of our common units in certain situations.

 

Our general partner has the right, at a time when there are no subordinated units outstanding and it has received incentive distributions at the highest level to which it is entitled (48%) for each of the prior four consecutive fiscal quarters, to reset the initial cash target distribution levels at higher levels based on the distribution at the time of the exercise of the reset election. Following a reset election by our general partner, the minimum quarterly distribution amount will be reset to an amount equal to the average cash distribution amount per common unit for the two fiscal quarters immediately preceding the reset election (such amount is referred to as the “reset minimum quarterly distribution”) and the target distribution levels will be reset to correspondingly higher levels based on percentage increases above the reset minimum quarterly distribution amount.

 

In connection with resetting these target distribution levels, our general partner will be entitled to receive a number of Class B units. The Class B units will be entitled to the same cash distributions per unit as our common units and will be convertible into an equal number of common units. The number of Class B units to be issued will be equal to that number of common units whose aggregate quarterly cash distributions equaled the average of the distributions to our general partner on the incentive distribution rights in the prior two quarters. We anticipate that our general partner would exercise this reset right in order to facilitate acquisitions or internal growth projects that would not be sufficiently accretive to cash distributions per common unit without such conversion; however, it is possible that our general partner could exercise this reset election at a time when it is experiencing, or may be expected to experience, declines in the cash distributions it receives related to its incentive distribution rights and may therefore desire to be issued our Class B units, which are entitled to receive cash distributions from us on the same priority as our common units, rather than retain the right to receive incentive distributions based on the initial target distribution levels. As a result, a reset election

may cause our common unitholders to experience dilution in the amount of cash distributions that they would have otherwise received had we not issued new Class B units to our general partner in connection with resetting the target distribution levels related to our general partner incentive distribution rights.

 

Holders of our common units have limited voting rights and are not entitled to elect our general partner or its directors.

 

Unlike the holders of common stock in a corporation, unitholders have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our business and, therefore, limited ability to influence management’s decisions regarding our business. Unitholders will not elect our general partner or its board of directors, and will have no right to elect our general partner or its board of directors on an annual or other continuing basis. The board of directors of DCP Midstream GP, LLC will be chosen by the members of DCP Midstream GP, LLC. Furthermore, if the unitholders were dissatisfied with the performance of our general partner, they will have little ability to remove our general partner. As a result of these limitations, the price at which the common units will trade could be diminished because of the absence or reduction of a takeover premium in the trading price.

 

Even if holders of our common units are dissatisfied, they cannot initially remove our general partner without its consent.

 

The unitholders will be unable initially to remove our general partner without its consent because our general partner and its affiliates owned sufficient units upon completion of our initial public offering to be able to prevent its removal. The vote of the holders of at least 662/3% of all outstanding units voting together as a single class is required to remove the general partner. Following the closing of our initial public offering, our general partner and its affiliates owned an approximate 42% of our aggregate outstanding common and subordinated units. Also, if our general partner is removed without cause during the subordination period and units held by our general partner and its affiliates are not voted in favor of that removal, all remaining subordinated units will automatically convert into common units and any existing arrearages on our common units will be extinguished. A removal of our general partner under these circumstances would adversely affect our common units by prematurely eliminating their distribution and liquidation preference over our subordinated units, which would otherwise have continued until we had met certain distribution and performance tests. Cause is narrowly defined to mean that a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding the general partner liable for actual fraud or willful or wanton misconduct in its capacity as our general partner. Cause does not include most cases of charges of poor management of the business, so the removal of the general partner because of the unitholder’s dissatisfaction with our general partner’s performance in managing our partnership will most likely result in the termination of the subordination period and conversion of all subordinated units to common units.

 

Our partnership agreement restricts the voting rights of unitholders owning 20% or more of our common units.

 

Unitholders’ voting rights are further restricted by the partnership agreement provision providing that any units held by a person that owns 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, other than our general partner, its affiliates, their transferees and persons who acquired such units with the prior approval of the board of directors of our general partner, cannot vote on any matter. Our partnership agreement also contains provisions limiting the ability of unitholders to call meetings or to acquire information about our operations, as well as other provisions limiting the unitholders’ ability to influence the manner or direction of management.

 

Control of our general partner may be transferred to a third party without unitholder consent.

 

Our general partner may transfer its general partner interest to a third party in a merger or in a sale of all or substantially all of its assets without the consent of the unitholders. Furthermore, our partnership agreement does not restrict the ability of the owners of our general partner or DCP Midstream GP, LLC from transferring all or a portion of their respective ownership interest in our general partner or DCP Midstream GP, LLC to a

third party. The new owners of our general partner or DCP Midstream GP, LLC would then be in a position to replace the board of directors and officers of DCP Midstream GP, LLC with its own choices and thereby influence the decisions taken by the board of directors and officers.

 

We may issue additional units without your approval, which would dilute your existing ownership interests.

 

Our partnership agreement does not limit the number of additional limited partner interests that we may issue at any time without the approval of our unitholders. The issuance by us of additional common units or other equity securities of equal or senior rank will have the following effects:

 

 

Affiliates of our general partner may sell common units in the public markets, which sales could have an adverse impact on the trading price of the common units.

 

DEFS and its affiliates hold an aggregate of 7,143 common units and 7,142,857 subordinated units. All of the subordinated units will convert into common units at the end of the subordination period, as set forth in our partnership agreement, and some may convert earlier. The sale of these units in the public markets could have an adverse impact on the price of the common units or on any trading market that may develop.

 

Our general partner has a limited call right that may require you to sell your units at an undesirable time or price.

 

If at any time our general partner and its affiliates own more than 80% of the common units, our general partner will have the right, but not the obligation, which it may assign to any of its affiliates or to us, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the common units held by unaffiliated persons at a price not less than their then-current market price. As a result, you may be required to sell your common units at an undesirable time or price and may not receive any return on your investment. You may also incur a tax liability upon a sale of your units. Our general partner and its affiliates own less than 1% of our outstanding common units. At the expiration of the subordination period, assuming no additional issuances of common units, our general partner and its affiliates will own approximately 40% of our outstanding common units.

 

The liability of holders of limited partner interests may not be limited if a court finds that unitholder action constitutes control of our business.

 

A general partner of a partnership generally has unlimited liability for the obligations of the partnership, except for those contractual obligations of the partnership that are expressly made without recourse to the general partner. Our partnership is organized under Delaware law and we conduct business in a number of other states. The limitations on the liability of holders of limited partner interests for the obligations of a limited partnership have not been clearly established in some of the other states in which we do business.

Holders of limited partner interests could be liable for any and all of our obligations as if such holder were a general partner if:

 

 

Unitholders may have liability to repay distributions that were wrongfully distributed to them.

 

Under certain circumstances, unitholders may have to repay amounts wrongfully returned or distributed to them. Under Section 17-607 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, we may not make a distribution to you if the distribution would cause our liabilities to exceed the fair value of our assets. Delaware law provides that for a period of three years from the date of the impermissible distribution, limited partners who received the distribution and who knew at the time of the distribution that it violated Delaware law will be liable to the limited partnership for the distribution amount. Substituted limited partners are liable for the obligations of the assignor to make contributions to the partnership that are known to the substituted limited partner at the time it became a limited partner and for unknown obligations if the liabilities could be determined from the partnership agreement. Liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interest and liabilities that are non-recourse to the partnership are not counted for purposes of determining whether a distribution is permitted.

 

We will incur increased costs as a result of being a publicly-traded company.

 

We have limited history operating as a publicly-traded company. As a publicly-traded company, we will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as new rules subsequently implemented by the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange, have required changes in corporate governance practices of publicly-traded companies. We expect these new rules and regulations to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and to make activities more time-consuming and costly. For example, as a result of becoming a publicly-traded company, we are required to have at least three independent directors, create additional board committees and adopt policies regarding internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures, including the preparation of reports on internal controls over financial reporting. In addition, we will incur additional costs associated with our publicly-traded company reporting requirements. We also expect these new rules and regulations to make it more difficult and more expensive for our general partner to obtain director and officer liability insurance and it may be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. As a result, it may be more difficult for our general partner to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on its board of directors or as executive officers.

 

Tax Risks to Common Unitholders

 

Our tax treatment depends on our status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, as well as our not being subject to entity-level taxation by individual states. If the Internal Revenue Service treats us as a corporation or we become subject to entity-level taxation for state tax purposes, it would substantially reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to our unitholders.

 

The anticipated after-tax economic benefit of an investment in the common units depends largely on our being treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. We have not requested, and do not plan to request, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, which we refer to as the IRS, on this or any other tax matter affecting us.

 

If we were treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, we would pay federal income tax on our income at the corporate tax rate, which is currently a maximum of 35% and would likely pay state income tax at varying rates. Distributions to the unitholder would generally be taxed again as corporate distributions,

and no income, gains, losses or deductions would flow through to them. Because a tax would be imposed upon us as a corporation, our cash available for distribution to the unitholder would be substantially reduced. Therefore, our treatment as a corporation would result in a material reduction in the anticipated cash flow and after-tax return to the unitholders, likely causing a substantial reduction in the value of our common units.

 

Current law may change so as to cause us to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes or otherwise subject us to entity-level taxation. In addition, because of widespread state budget deficits, several states are evaluating ways to subject partnerships to entity-level taxation through the imposition of state income, franchise and other forms of taxation. If any of these states were to impose a tax on us, the cash available for distribution to the unitholder would be reduced. The partnership agreement provides that if a law is enacted or existing law is modified or interpreted in a manner that subjects us to taxation as a corporation or otherwise subjects us to entity-level taxation for federal, state or local income tax purposes, the minimum quarterly distribution amount and the target distribution levels will be adjusted to reflect the impact of that law on us.

 

An IRS contest of the federal income tax positions we take may adversely affect the market for our common units, and the cost of any IRS contest will reduce our cash available for distribution to our unitholders.

 

We have not requested a ruling from the IRS with respect to our treatment as a partnership for federal income tax purposes or any other matter affecting us. Any contest with the IRS may materially and adversely impact the market for our common units and the price at which they trade. In addition, our costs of any contest with the IRS will be borne indirectly by our unitholders and our general partner because the costs will reduce our cash available for distribution.

 

The unitholder may be required to pay taxes on income from us even if the unitholder does not receive any cash distributions from us.

 

Because our unitholders will be treated as partners to whom we will allocate taxable income which could be different in amount than the cash we distribute, the unitholder will be required to pay any federal income taxes and, in some cases, state and local income taxes on your share of our taxable income even if you receive no cash distributions from us. The unitholders may not receive cash distributions from us equal to their share of our taxable income or even equal to the tax liability that results from that income.

 

Tax gain or loss on disposition of common units could be more or less than expected.

 

If the unitholder sells their common units, they will recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and their tax basis in those common units. Prior distributions to the unitholders in excess of the total net taxable income allocated to them for a common unit, which decreased their tax basis in that common unit, will, in effect, become taxable income to them if the common unit is sold at a price greater than their tax basis in that common unit, even if the price is less than their original cost. A substantial portion of the amount realized, whether or not representing gain, may be ordinary income. In addition, if the unitholder sells their units, they may incur a tax liability in excess of the amount of cash they receive from the sale.

 

Tax-exempt entities and foreign persons face unique tax issues from owning common units that may result in adverse tax consequences to them.

 

Investment in common units by tax-exempt entities, such as individual retirement accounts (known as IRAs), other retirement plans and non-U.S. persons raises issues unique to them. For example, virtually all of our income allocated to organizations that are exempt from federal income tax, including IRAs and other retirement plans, will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to them. Distributions to non-U.S. persons will be reduced by withholding taxes at the highest applicable effective tax rate, and non-U.S. persons will be required to file United States federal tax returns and pay tax on their share of our

taxable income. If the unitholder is a tax-exempt entity or a foreign person, they should consult their tax advisor before investing in our common units.

 

We will treat each purchaser of our common units as having the same tax benefits without regard to the actual common units purchased. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could adversely affect the value of the common units.

 

Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of common units and because of other reasons, we will take depreciation and amortization positions that may not conform to all aspects of existing Treasury regulations. A successful IRS challenge to those positions could adversely affect the amount of tax benefits available to the unitholder. It also could affect the timing of these tax benefits or the amount of gain from the sale of common units and could have a negative impact on the value of our common units or result in audit adjustments to your tax returns.

 

Unitholders may be subject to state and local taxes and return filing requirements.

 

In addition to federal income taxes, the unitholder will likely be subject to other taxes, including foreign, state and local taxes, unincorporated business taxes and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that are imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we do business or own property, even if you do not live in any of those jurisdictions. The unitholder will likely be required to file foreign, state and local income tax returns and pay state and local income taxes in some or all of these jurisdictions. Further, the unitholder may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. We will initially own assets and do business in the States of Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas. Each of these states, other than Texas, currently imposes a personal income tax as well as an income tax on corporations and other entities. Texas imposes a franchise tax (which is based in part on net income) on corporations and limited liability companies. As we make acquisitions or expand our business, we may own assets or do business in additional states that impose a personal income tax. It is your responsibility to file all United States federal, foreign, state and local tax returns. Our counsel has not rendered an opinion on the foreign, state or local tax consequences of an investment in the common units.

 

The sale or exchange of 50% or more of our capital and profits interests will result in the termination of our partnership for federal income tax purposes.

 

We will be considered to have terminated our partnership for federal income tax purposes if there is a sale or exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within a 12-month period. Our termination would, among other things, result in the closing of our taxable year for all unitholders and could result in a deferral of depreciation deductions allowable in computing our taxable income.

 

None.

 

As of February 17, 2006, we operated two processing plants and gathering systems and one pipeline system located in Louisiana and Arkansas within our Natural Gas Services segment, and one pipeline located in Texas within our NGL Logistics segment, all of which are owned by us. In addition, we owned a 45% interest in the Black Lake pipeline within our NGL Logistics segment, which is operated by a third party. For additional details on these plants and pipeline systems, please read “Business — Natural Gas Services Segment” and “Business — NGL Logistics Segment”. We believe that our properties are generally in good condition, well maintained and are generally suitable and adequate to carry on our business at capacity for the foreseeable future.

 

Our principal executive offices are located at 370 17^th Street, Suite 2775, Denver, Colorado 80202, and our telephone number is 303-633-2900.

 

We are not a party to any significant legal proceedings but are a party to various administrative and regulatory proceedings that have arisen in the ordinary course of our business. Please read “Business — Regulation of Operations — Intrastate Natural Gas Pipeline Regulation” and “Business — Environmental Matters.”

 

No matters were submitted to a vote of our limited partner unitholders, through solicitation of proxies or otherwise, during the fourth quarter of 2005.

 

Market Information

 

Our common units have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, under the symbol “DPM” since December 2, 2005. Prior to December 2, 2005, our equity securities were not listed on any exchange or traded on any public trading market. The following table sets forth the high and low closing sales prices of the common units, as reported by the NYSE, as well as the amount of cash distributions to be paid for the period from December 7, 2005, the closing of our initial public offering, through December 31, 2005.

 

 

As of February 17, 2006, there were approximately 30 unitholders of record of our common units. This number does not include unitholders whose units are held in trust by other entities. The actual number of unitholders is greater than the number of holders of record.

 

We have also issued 7,142,857 subordinated units, for which there is no established public trading market. The subordinated units are held by our general partner and its affiliates. Our general partner and its affiliates will receive a quarterly distribution on these units only after sufficient funds have been paid to the common units.

 

Distributions of Available Cash

 

General.  Our partnership agreement requires that, within 45 days after the end of each quarter, beginning with the quarter ending December 31, 2005, we distribute all of our available cash to unitholders of record on the applicable record date, as determined by our general partner.

 

Definition of Available Cash.  Available cash, for any quarter, consists of all cash and cash equivalents on hand at the end of that quarter:

 

 

 

 

Intent to Distribute the Minimum Quarterly Distribution.  We intend to distribute to the holders of common units and subordinated units on a quarterly basis at least the minimum quarterly distribution of $0.35 per unit, or $1.40 per year, to the extent we have sufficient cash from our operations after establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses, including payments to our general partner. However, there is no guarantee that we will pay the minimum quarterly distribution on the units in any quarter. Even if our cash distribution policy is not modified or revoked, the amount of distributions paid under our policy and the decision to make any distribution is determined by our general partner, taking into consideration the terms of our partnership agreement. We will be prohibited from making any distributions to unitholders if it would cause an event of default, or an event of default is existing, under our credit agreement. Please read “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Capital Requirements — Description of Credit Agreement” for a discussion of the restrictions included in our credit agreement that may restrict our ability to make distributions.

 

General Partner Interest and Incentive Distribution Rights.  Our general partner is entitled to 2% of all quarterly distributions that we make prior to our liquidation. This general partner interest is represented by 357,143 general partner units. Our general partner has the right, but not the obligation, to contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us to maintain its current general partner interest. The general partner’s initial 2% interest in these distributions will be reduced if we issue additional units in the future and our general partner does not contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us to maintain its 2% general partner interest.

 

Our general partner also currently holds rights that entitle it to receive increasing percentages, up to a maximum of 50%, of the cash we distribute in excess of $0.4025 per unit per quarter. The maximum distribution of 50% includes distributions paid to our general partner on its 2% general partner interest and assumes that our general partner maintains its general partner interest at 2%. The maximum distribution of 50% does not include any distributions that our general partner may receive on limited partner units that it owns.

 

On January 25, 2006, we announced the declaration of a cash distribution of $0.095 per unit, payable on February 13, 2006 to unitholders of record on February 3, 2006. That distribution represents the pro rata portion of our minimum quarterly cash distribution of $0.35 per unit for the period December  7, 2005, the closing of our initial public offering, through December 31, 2005.

 

Sales of Unregistered Units

 

There were no unregistered units issued during the fourth quarter of 2005.

 

Purchase of Equity by DCP Midstream Partners, LP

 

None.

 

Equity Compensation Plans

 

The information relating to our equity compensation plans required by Item 5 is incorporated by reference to such information as set forth in “Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” contained herein.

 

The following table shows selected financial data of DCP Midstream Partners, LP for the periods and as of the dates indicated. The selected financial data as of December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, as well as the selected financial data for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002, are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements, which include our accounts, and prior to December 7, 2005, the assets, liabilities and operations contributed to us by DEFS and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (“DCP Midstream Partners Predecessor”) upon the closing of the initial public offering. The selected financial data as

of December 31, 2001 and for the year ended December 31, 2001 is derived from DCP Midstream Partners Predecessor’s unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

Our operating results incorporate a number of significant estimates and uncertainties. Such matters could cause the data included herein to not be indicative of our future financial conditions or results of operations. A discussion on our critical accounting estimates is included in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

We derived the information in the following table from DCP Midstream Partners Predecessor and our consolidated financial statements, and that information should be read together with and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The table should be read together with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

 

The following discussion analyzes our financial condition and results of operations. You should read the following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes included elsewhere in this annual report. We refer to the assets, liabilities and operations contributed to us by Duke Energy Field Services, LLC and its wholly-owned subsidiaries upon the closing of our initial public offering as DCP Midstream Partners Predecessor.

 

Overview

 

We are a Delaware limited partnership recently formed by Duke Energy Field Services, LLC (“DEFS”) to own, operate, acquire and develop a diversified portfolio of complementary midstream energy assets. We operate two business segments:

 

 

The historical financial statements of DCP Midstream Partners Predecessor included in this annual report and discussed elsewhere herein include DCP Midstream Partners Predecessor’s 50% ownership interest in Black Lake Pipe Line Company, or Black Lake. However, effective December 7, 2005, DEFS retained a 5% interest and we own a 45% interest in Black Lake.

 

Factors That Significantly Affect Our Results

 

Our results of operations for our Natural Gas Services segment are impacted by increases and decreases in the volume of natural gas that we gather and transport through our systems, which we refer to as throughput volume. Throughput volumes and capacity utilization rates generally are driven by wellhead production and our competitive position on a regional basis and more broadly by demand for natural gas, NGLs and condensate.

 

Our results of operations for our Natural Gas Services segment are also impacted by the fees we receive and the margins we generate. Our processing contract arrangements can have a significant impact on our profitability. Because of the volatility of the prices for natural gas, NGLs and condensate, as of January 1, 2006 we have hedged approximately 80% of our commodity price risk associated with our gathering and processing arrangements through 2010 with natural gas and crude oil swaps. With these swaps, we have substantially reduced our exposure to commodity price movements with respect to those volumes under these types of contractual arrangements for this period. For additional information regarding our hedging activities, please read “— Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk — Commodity Price Risk — Hedging Strategies.” Actual contract terms will be based upon a variety of factors, including natural gas quality, geographic location, the competitive commodity and pricing environment at the time the contract is executed and customer requirements. Our gathering and processing contract mix and, accordingly, our exposure to natural gas, NGL and condensate prices, may change as a result of producer preferences, our expansion in regions where some types of contracts are more common and other market factors.

 

In addition, during the fourth quarter of 2005, we were able to benefit from marketing activities and increased throughput related to atypical and significant differences in natural gas prices at various receipt and delivery points on our PELICO intrastate pipeline system.

 

Our results of operations for our NGL Logistics segment are impacted by the throughput volumes of the NGLs we transport on our two NGL pipelines. Both of these NGL pipelines transport NGLs exclusively on a fee basis.

 

Upon the closing of our initial public offering, DEFS contributed to us the assets, liabilities and operations reflected in the historical financial statements other than the accounts receivable of DCP Midstream Partners Predecessor and a 5% interest in Black Lake, which were not contributed to us. The historical financial statements of DCP Midstream Partners Predecessor do not give effect to various items that will affect

our results of operations and liquidity following the closing of our initial public offering, including the items described below:

 

 

In addition, our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2005 benefited from higher throughput volumes in our Seabreeze pipeline as a result of the completion of pipeline integrity repairs on a third party NGL pipeline in mid-2005. As a result of pipeline integrity testing that is scheduled for 2006, we anticipate experiencing lower volumes and increased repair costs on the Seabreeze pipeline. The Black Lake pipeline is currently experiencing increased operating costs due to pipeline integrity testing that commenced in 2005 and will continue into 2007. We expect that our results of operations related to our non-controlling interest in the Black Lake pipeline will benefit in 2007 from the completion of this pipeline integrity testing, although it is possible that the integrity testing will result in the need for pipeline repairs, in which case the operations of this pipeline may be interrupted while the repairs are being made. DEFS has agreed to indemnify us for up to $5.3 million of our pro rata share of any capital contributions required to be made by us to Black Lake associated with repairing the Black Lake pipeline that are determined to be necessary as a result of the pipeline integrity testing and up to $4.0 million of the costs associated with any repairs to the Seabreeze pipeline that are determined to be necessary as a result of the pipeline integrity testing.

 

Finally, we intend to make cash distributions to our unitholders and our general partner at an initial distribution rate of $0.35 per common unit per quarter ($1.40 per common unit on an annualized basis). Due to our cash distribution policy, we expect that we will distribute to our unitholders most of the cash generated by our operations. As a result, we expect that we will rely upon external financing sources, including commercial borrowings and other debt and common unit issuances, to fund our acquisition and expansion capital expenditures, as well as our working capital needs.

 

General Trends and Outlook

 

We expect our business to continue to be affected by the following key trends. Our expectations are based on assumptions made by us and information currently available to us. To the extent our underlying assumptions about or interpretations of available information prove to be incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from our expected results.

 

Natural Gas Supply and Outlook.  We believe that current natural gas prices will continue to cause relatively high levels of natural gas-related drilling in the United States as producers seek to increase their level of natural gas production. Although the number of natural gas wells drilled in the United States has increased overall in recent years, a corresponding increase in production has not been realized, primarily as a result of smaller discoveries and the decline in production from existing wells. We believe that an increase in United States drilling activity, additional sources of supply such as liquified natural gas, and imports of natural gas will be required for the natural gas industry to meet the expected increased demand for, and to compensate for the slowing production of, natural gas in the United States. A number of the areas in which we operate are experiencing significant drilling activity as a result of recent high natural gas prices, new increased drilling for deeper natural gas formations and the implementation of new exploration and production techniques.

While we anticipate continued high levels of exploration and production activities in a number of the areas in which we operate, fluctuations in energy prices can greatly affect production rates and investments by third parties in the development of new natural gas reserves. Drilling activity generally decreases as natural gas prices decrease. We have no control over the level of drilling activity in the areas of our operations.

 

Processing Margins.  During 2005, our overall processing margin benefited from rising natural gas, NGL and condensate prices, primarily as a result of our percentage-of-proceeds contracts which perform better in the current natural gas, NGL and condensate price environment. Our processing profitability is dependent upon pricing and market demand for natural gas, NGLs and condensate, which are beyond our control and have been volatile. We have mitigated our exposure to commodity price movements for these commodities by entering into hedging arrangements in September 2005, which were effective as of January 1, 2006, for approximately 80% of our currently anticipated natural gas, NGL and condensate price risk associated with our percentage-of-proceeds arrangements and gathering operations through 2010. For additional information regarding our hedging activities, please read “— Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk — Commodity Price Risk — Hedging Strategies.”

 

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused extensive damage to the Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast in late August and mid-September of 2005. These storms did not cause any significant damage to our properties; however, these storms have negatively affected the nation’s short term energy supply, resulting in natural gas and NGL prices increasing significantly in the fourth quarter of 2005. We do not expect any supply or pricing changes that resulted from these hurricanes to have an adverse impact on our results of operations.

 

Impact of Inflation.  Inflation in the United States has been relatively low in recent years and did not have a material impact on our results of operations for the five-year period ended December 31, 2005. It may in the future, however, increase the cost to acquire or replace property, plant and equipment and may increase the costs of labor and supplies. To the extent permitted by competition, regulation and our existing agreements, we have and will continue to pass along increased costs to our customers in the form of higher fees.

 

Our Operations

 

We manage our business and analyze and report our results of operations on a segment basis. Our operations are divided into our Natural Gas Services segment and our NGL Logistics segment.

 

Natural Gas Services Segment

 

Results of operations from our Natural Gas Services segment are determined primarily by the volumes of natural gas gathered, compressed, treated, processed, transported and sold through our gathering, processing and pipeline systems; the volumes of NGLs and condensate sold; and the level of our realized natural gas, NGL and condensate prices. We generate our revenues and our gross margins for our Natural Gas Services segment principally under the following types of contractual arrangements:

 

 

As of January 1, 2006, we have hedged approximately 80% of our currently anticipated natural gas and NGL commodity price risk associated with the percentage-of-proceeds arrangements through 2010 with natural gas and crude oil swaps. With these swaps, we expect our exposure to commodity price movements to be substantially reduced. Additionally, as part of our gathering operations, we recover and sell condensate. The margins we earn from condensate sales are directly correlated with crude oil prices. As of January 1, 2006, we have hedged approximately 80% of our currently anticipated condensate price risk through 2010 with crude oil swaps. For additional information regarding our hedging activities, please read “— Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk — Commodity Price Risk — Hedging Strategies.”

 

We also purchase a small portion of our natural gas under percentage-of-index arrangements. Under percentage-of-index arrangements, we purchase natural gas from the producers at the wellhead at a price that is either at a fixed percentage of the index price for the natural gas that they produce or at an index based price less a fixed fee to gather, compress, treat and/or process their natural gas. We then gather, compress treat and/or process the natural gas and then sell the residue natural gas and NGLs at index related prices. Under these types of arrangements, our costs to purchase the natural gas from the producer is based on the price of natural gas. As a result, our gross margin under these arrangements increases as the price of NGLs increases relative to the price of natural gas, and our gross margin under these arrangements decreases as the price of natural gas increases relative to the price of NGLs.

 

The natural gas supply for the gathering pipelines and processing plants in our North Louisiana system is derived primarily from natural gas wells located in five parishes in northern Louisiana. The PELICO system also receives natural gas produced in east Texas through its interconnect with other pipelines that transport natural gas from east Texas into western Louisiana. This five parish area has experienced significant levels of drilling activity, providing us with opportunities to access newly developed natural gas supplies. Our primary suppliers of natural gas to the North Louisiana system are Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and ConocoPhillips (one of our affiliates), which collectively represented approximately 48% of the 355 MMcf/d of natural gas supplied to this system in 2005. We actively seek new supplies of natural gas, both to offset natural declines in the production from connected wells and to increase throughput volume. We obtain new natural gas supplies in our operating areas by contracting for production from new wells, connecting new wells drilled on dedicated acreage, or by obtaining natural gas that has been released from other gathering systems.

 

We sell natural gas to marketing affiliates of natural gas pipelines, marketing affiliates of integrated oil companies, national wholesale marketers, industrial end-users and gas-fired power plants. We typically sell natural gas under market index related pricing terms. In addition, under our merchant arrangements, we use a subsidiary of DEFS (Duke Energy Field Services Marketing, LP) as our agent to purchase natural gas from third parties at pipeline interconnect points, as well as residue gas from our Minden and Ada processing plants, and then resell the aggregated natural gas to third parties. We also have entered into a contractual arrangement with a subsidiary of DEFS (Duke Energy Field Services Marketing, LP) that provides that DEFS will purchase natural gas and transport it into our PELICO system where we will buy the gas from DEFS at their weighted average cost plus a contractually agreed to marketing fee. In addition, for a significant portion of the gas that we sell out of our PELICO system, we have entered into a contractual arrangement with a subsidiary of DEFS that provides that DEFS will purchase that natural gas from us and transport it to a sales point at a price equal to their net weighted average sales price less a contractually agreed to marketing fee. To the extent possible, we match the pricing of our supply portfolio to our sales portfolio in order to lock in value and reduce our overall commodity price risk. We manage the commodity price risk of our supply portfolio and sales portfolio with both physical and financial transactions. As a service to our customers, we may enter into physical fixed price natural gas purchases and sales, utilizing financial derivatives to swap this fixed price risk back to market index. We account for such a physical fixed price transaction and the related financial

derivative as a fair value hedge. We occasionally will enter into financial derivatives to lock in price differentials across the PELICO system to maximize the value of pipeline capacity. These financial derivatives are accounted for using mark-to-market accounting. We also gather, process and transport natural gas under fee-based transportation contracts.

 

The NGLs extracted from the natural gas at the Minden processing plant are sold at market index prices to an affiliate of DEFS and transported to the Mont Belvieu hub via the Black Lake pipeline. The NGLs extracted from the natural gas at the Ada processing plant are sold at market index prices to third parties and are delivered to the third parties’ trucks at the tailgate of the plant.

 

NGL Logistics Segment

 

Historically, we have gathered and transported NGLs either under fee-based transportation contracts or through purchasing the NGLs at the inlet of the pipeline and selling the NGLs at the outlet. In conjunction with our formation, we entered into a contractual arrangement with DEFS that requires DEFS to purchase the NGLs that were historically purchased by us, and to pay us to transport the NGLs pursuant to a fee-based rate that is applied to the volumes transported. We entered into this fee-based contractual arrangement with the objective of generating approximately the same operating income per barrel transported that we realized when we were the purchaser and seller of NGLs.

 

Our pipelines provide transportation services to customers on a fee basis. Therefore, the results of operations for this business are generally dependent upon the volume of product transported and the level of fees charged to customers. We will not take title to the products transported on our NGL pipelines; rather, the shipper retains title and the associated commodity price risk. For the Seabreeze pipeline, we are responsible for any line loss or gain in NGLs. For the Black Lake pipeline, any line loss or gain in NGLs is allocated to the shipper. The volumes of NGLs transported on our pipelines are dependent on the level of production of NGLs from processing plants connected to our NGL pipelines. When natural gas prices are high relative to NGL prices, it is less profitable to process natural gas because of the higher value of natural gas compared to the value of NGLs and because of the increased cost of separating the mixed NGLs from the natural gas. As a result, we have experienced periods in the past, and will likely experience periods in the future, in which higher natural gas prices reduce the volume of natural gas processed at plants connected to our NGL pipelines and, in turn, lower the NGL throughput on our assets. In the markets we serve, our pipelines are the sole pipeline facility transporting NGLs from the supply source.

 

How We Evaluate Our Operations

 

Our management uses a variety of financial and operational measurements to analyze our performance. These measurements include the following: (1) volumes, (2) gross margin, including segment gross margin, (3) operating and maintenance expense and general and administrative expense, (4) EBITDA and (5) distributable cash flow. Gross margin, segment gross margin, EBITDA and distributable cash flow measurements are non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“non-GAAP”) financial measures. We provide reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable financial measures as calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Our gross margin may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure of another company because other entities may not calculate gross margin in the same manner.

 

Volumes.  We view throughput volumes on our North Louisiana system and the Seabreeze and Black Lake pipelines as an important factor affecting our profitability. We gather and transport some of the natural gas and NGLs under fee-based transportation contracts. Revenue from these contracts is derived by applying the rates stipulated to the volumes transported. Pipeline throughput volumes from existing wells connected to our pipelines will naturally decline over time as wells deplete. Accordingly, to maintain or to increase throughput levels on these pipelines and the utilization rate of the North Louisiana system’s natural gas processing plants, we must continually obtain new supplies of natural gas and NGLs. Our ability to maintain existing supplies of natural gas and NGLs and obtain new supplies are impacted by (1) the level of workovers or recompletions of existing connected wells and successful drilling activity in areas currently dedicated to our pipelines and (2) our ability to compete for volumes from successful new wells in other areas. The throughput

volumes of NGLs on our Seabreeze pipeline and the Black Lake pipeline are substantially dependent upon the quantities of NGLs produced at our processing plants as well as NGLs produced at other processing plants that have pipeline connections with the NGL pipelines. We regularly monitor producer activity in the areas served by the North Louisiana system and the Seabreeze and Black Lake pipelines and pursue opportunities to connect new supply to these pipelines.

 

Gross Margin.  We view our gross margin as an important performance measure of the core profitability of our operations. We review our gross margin monthly for consistency and trend analysis.

 

We define gross margin as total operating revenues less purchases of natural gas and natural gas liquids, and we define segment gross margin for each segment as total operating revenues for that segment less purchases of natural gas and natural gas liquids for that segment. Our gross margin equals the sum of our segment gross margins. Gross margin is included as a supplemental disclosure because it is a primary performance measure used by management as it represents the results of product sales and purchases, a key component of our operations. As an indicator of our operating performance, gross margin should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income, operating income, cash flows from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP.

 

With respect to our Natural Gas Services segment, we calculate our gross margin as our total operating revenue for this segment less natural gas and NGL purchases. Operating revenue consists of sales of natural gas, NGLs and condensate resulting from our gathering, compression, treating, processing and transportation activities, fees associated with the gathering of natural gas, and any gains and losses realized from our non-trading derivative activity related to our natural gas asset-based marketing. Purchases include the cost of natural gas and NGLs purchased by us. Our gross margin is impacted by our contract portfolio. We purchase the wellhead natural gas from the producers under fee-based arrangements, percentage-of-proceeds arrangements or percentage-of-index arrangements. Our gross margin generated from percentage-of-proceeds gathering and processing contracts is directly correlated to the price of natural gas and NGLs. Under percentage-of-index arrangements, our gross margin is adversely affected when the price of NGLs falls in relation to the price of natural gas. Generally, our contract structure allows for us to allocate fuel costs and other measurement losses to the producer or shipper and, therefore, does not impact gross margin. Additionally, as part of our gathering operations, we recover and sell condensate. The margins we earn from condensate sales are directly correlated with crude oil prices.

 

derivatives are further designated as either a hedge of a forecasted transaction or future cash flow (cash flow hedge), a hedge of a recognized asset, liability or firm commitment (fair value hedge), or normal purchases or normal sales, while certain non-trading derivatives, which are related to asset-based activity, are designated as non-trading derivative activity. For the periods presented, we did not have any trading activity, however, we do have cash flow and fair value hedge activity, normal purchases and normal sales activity, and non-trading derivative activity included in the consolidated financial statements. For each derivative, the accounting method and presentation of gains and losses or revenue and expense in the consolidated statements of operations are as follows:

 

 

 

 

Cash Flow and Fair Value Hedges — For derivatives designated as a cash flow hedge or a fair value hedge, management prepares formal documentation of the hedge in accordance with SFAS 133. In addition, management formally assesses, both at the inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis, whether the hedge contract is highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values of hedged items. All components of each derivative gain or loss are included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness, unless otherwise noted.

 

The fair value of a derivative designated as a cash flow hedge is recorded for balance sheet purposes as unrealized gains or unrealized losses on non-trading derivative and hedging transactions. The effective portion of the change in fair value of a derivative designated as a cash flow hedge is recorded in partners’ equity as accumulated other comprehensive income, or AOCI, and the ineffective portion is recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. During the period in which the hedged transaction occurs, amounts in AOCI associated with the hedged transaction are reclassified to the consolidated statements of operations in the same accounts as the item being hedged. Hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively when it is determined that the derivative no longer qualifies as an effective hedge, or when it is no longer probable that the hedged transaction will occur. When hedge accounting is discontinued because the derivative no longer qualifies as an effective hedge, the derivative is subject to the mark-to-market accounting method prospectively. The derivative continues to be carried on the consolidated balance sheets at its fair value; however, subsequent changes in its fair value are recognized in current period earnings. Gains and losses related to discontinued hedges that were previously accumulated in AOCI will remain in AOCI until the hedged transaction occurs, unless it is no longer probable that the hedged transaction will occur, in which case, the gains and losses that were previously deferred in AOCI will be immediately recognized in current period earnings.

 

The fair value of a derivative designated as a cash flow hedge or a fair value hedge is recorded for balance sheet purposes as unrealized gains or unrealized losses on non-trading derivative and hedging

transactions. We recognize the gain or loss on the derivative instrument, as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item in earnings in the current period. All derivatives designated and accounted for as fair value hedges are classified in the same category as the item being hedged in the results of operations.

 

Valuation — When available, quoted market prices or prices obtained through external sources are used to verify a contract’s fair value. For contracts with a delivery location or duration for which quoted market prices are not available, fair value is determined based on pricing models developed primarily from historical and expected correlations with quoted market prices.

 

Values are adjusted to reflect the credit risk inherent in the transaction as well as the potential impact of liquidating open positions in an orderly manner over a reasonable time period under current conditions. Changes in market prices and management estimates directly affect the estimated fair value of these contracts. Accordingly, it is reasonably possible that such estimates may change in the near term.

 

Natural Gas and NGL Imbalance Accounting — Quantities of natural gas or NGLs over-delivered or under-delivered related to imbalance agreements with customers, producers or pipelines are recorded monthly as other receivables or other payables using then current market prices or the weighted average prices of natural gas or NGLs at the plant or system. These imbalances are settled with deliveries of natural gas or NGLs or with cash.

 

Accounting for Equity-Based Compensation — We adopted a long-term incentive plan which permits for the grant of units as described further in Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. The expense related to this equity based compensation is accounted for using estimates of the percentage of equity that will vest at the end of the incentive period. These estimates are based on the projected performance of our equity during the incentive period. If actual results are not consistent with our assumptions and judgments, we may be exposed to changes in compensation expense that could be material.

Results of Operations

 

Consolidated Overview

 

The following table and discussion is a summary of our consolidated results of operations for the three years ended December 31, 2005. The results of operations by segment are discussed in further detail following this consolidated overview discussion.

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2005 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2004

 

Total Operating Revenues — Total operating revenues increased $275.0 million, or 54%, to $784.5 million in 2005 from $509.5 million in 2004. This increase was primarily due to the following factors:

 

 

Purchases of Natural Gas and NGLs — Purchases of natural gas and NGLs increased $256.7 million, or 57%, to $709.3 million in 2005 from $452.6 million in 2004. This increase was primarily due to the following factors:

 

 

Gross Margin — Gross margin increased $18.3 million, or 32%, to $75.2 million in 2005 from $56.9 million in 2004, primarily as a result of the following factors:

 

 

Impact of Hurricane Katrina and Rita — Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused extensive damage to the Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast in late August and mid-September of 2005. These storms did not cause any significant damage to our properties. However, in September 2005, we experienced operational disruptions for several days as a result of the impact of Hurricane Rita on the energy industry in our areas of operations. These disruptions reduced our total operating revenues by approximately $10.1 million, our purchases by approximately $9.5 million and our gross margin by approximately $0.6 million in September 2005.

 

Operating and Maintenance Expense — Operating and maintenance expense increased $0.6 million, or 4%, to $14.2 million in 2005 from $13.6 million in 2004. This increase was primarily the result of higher maintenance and pipeline integrity costs for our Natural Gas Services segment.

 

General and Administrative Expense — General and administrative expense increased $4.9 million, or 75%, to $11.4 million in 2005 from $6.5 million in 2004. This increase was primarily the result of public offering costs of approximately $4.0 million and higher allocated costs from DEFS of approximately $0.9 million due to higher overall DEFS general and administrative costs primarily as a result of increased insurance premiums. Due to general trends in the insurance industry, our property and casualty insurance deductibles have significantly increased in 2006.

Earnings from Equity Method Investment — Earnings from equity method investment decreased $0.2 million, to $0.4 million in 2005 from $0.6 million in 2004. This decrease was primarily due to an increase in Black Lake operating costs as a result of pipeline integrity testing during the fourth quarter of 2005.

 

Impairment of Equity Method Investment — In 2004, we recorded an impairment totaling $4.4 million as impairment of equity method investment, which is included in the NGL Logistics segment.

 

Depreciation and Amortization Expense — Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $0.9 million, or 7%, to $11.7 million in 2005 from $12.6 million in 2004 as a result of an asset that became fully depreciated at the beginning of 2005.

 

Year Ended December 31, 2004 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2003

 

Total Operating Revenues — Total operating revenues increased $34.4 million, or 7%, to $509.5 million in 2004 from $475.1 million in 2003. This increase was primarily due to the following factors:

 

 

Purchases of Natural Gas and NGLs — Purchases of natural gas and NGLs increased $22.0 million, or 5%, to $452.6 million in 2004 from $430.6 million in 2003. This increase was primarily due to the following factors:

 

 

Gross Margin — Gross margin increased $12.4 million, or 28%, to $56.9 million in 2004 from $44.5 million in 2003, primarily as a result of the following factors:

 

 

Operating and Maintenance Expense — Operating and maintenance expense decreased $1.4 million, or 9%, to $13.6 million in 2004 from $15.0 million in 2003. This decrease was primarily the result of lower repairs and maintenance for our Natural Gas Services segment.

 

General and Administrative Expense — General and administrative expense decreased $0.6 million, or 8%, to $6.5 million in 2004 from $7.1 million in 2003. This decrease was primarily the result of lower allocated costs from DEFS due to lower overall DEFS general and administrative costs.

 

Earnings from Equity Method Investment — Earnings from equity method investment increased $0.2 million, to $0.6 million in 2004 from $0.4 million in 2003. This increase was primarily the result of lower Black Lake operating and administrative costs.

 

Impairment of Equity Method Investment — In 2004, we recorded an impairment totaling $4.4 million as impairment of equity method investment, which is included in the NGL Logistics segment.

 

Depreciation and Amortization Expense — Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $0.2 million, or 2%, to $12.6 million in 2004 from $12.8 million in 2003, primarily as a result of certain assets that became fully depreciated at the beginning of 2004.

Results of Operations — Natural Gas Services Segment

 

This segment consists of our North Louisiana system, which includes our PELICO system and our Minden and Ada processing plants and gathering systems.

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2005 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2004

 

Total Operating Revenues — Total operating revenues increased $239.5 million, or 68%, to $592.8 million in 2005 from $353.3 million in 2004. This increase was primarily due to the following factors:

 

 

Purchases of Natural Gas and NGLs — Purchases of natural gas and NGLs increased $221.7 million, or 74%, to $521.4 million in 2005 from $299.7 million in 2004. This increase was primarily due to higher costs of raw natural gas supply driven by higher commodity prices.

Gross Margin — Gross margin increased $17.8 million, or 33%, to $71.4 million in 2005 from $53.6 million in 2004, primarily as a result of the following factors:

 

 

Operating and Maintenance Expense — Operating and maintenance expense increased $0.6 million, or 4%, to $14.0 million in 2005 from $13.4 million in 2004. This increase was primarily the result of higher outside services, parts, supplies and labor for maintenance and pipeline integrity testing.

 

NGL production during 2005 decreased 147 Bbls/d, or 3%, to 4,543 Bbls/d from 4,690 Bbls/d in 2004 due primarily to unfavorable market economics for processing NGLs in the fourth quarter of 2005. Natural gas transported and/or processed during 2005 increased 28 MMcf/d, or 9%, to 356 MMcf/d from 328 MMcf/d in 2004 primarily as a result of higher natural gas volumes for our PELICO system.

 

Year Ended December 31, 2004 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2003

 

Total Operating Revenues — Total operating revenues increased $9.6 million, or 3%, to $353.3 million in 2004 from $343.7 million in 2003. This increase was primarily due to the following factors:

 

 

Purchases of Natural Gas and NGLs — Purchases of natural gas and NGLs decreased $1.8 million to $299.7 million in 2004 from $301.5 million in 2003. This decrease was primarily due to the following factors:

 

 

Gross Margin — Gross margin increased $11.4 million, or 27%, to $53.6 million in 2004 from $42.2 million in 2003, primarily as a result of the following factors:

 

 

NGL production during 2004 increased 309 Bbls/d, or 7%, to 4,690 Bbls/d in 2004 from 4,381 Bbls/d during 2003 as a result of favorable market economics for processing NGLs. Natural gas transported and/or processed during 2004 decreased 20 MMcf/d, or 6%, to 328 MMcf/d from 348 MMcf/d during 2003 as a result of lower natural gas supply.

 

Operating and Maintenance Expense — Operating and maintenance expense decreased $1.3 million, or 9%, to $13.4 million in 2004 from $14.7 million during 2003. This decrease was primarily the result of lower outside services for repairs and maintenance.

 

Results of Operations — NGL Logistics Segment

 

This segment includes our NGL transportation pipelines, which includes our Seabreeze pipeline and our interest in Black Lake.

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2005 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2004

 

Total Operating Revenues — Total operating revenues increased $35.5 million, or 23%, to $191.7 million in the 2005 from $156.2 million in 2004. This increase was primarily due to the following factors:

 

 

Overall, our Seabreeze pipeline experienced an increase in throughput volumes during 2005 as a result of a temporary disruption in supply from a third-party pipeline in March 2004, which was restored in June 2005.

 

Purchases of NGLs — Purchases of NGLs increased $35.0 million, or 23%, to $187.9 million in 2005 from $152.9 million 2004. The increase was due primarily to the following factors:

 

 

Gross Margin — Gross margin increased $0.5 million, or 15%, to $3.8 million in 2005 from $3.3 million in 2004 mainly as a result of higher volumes on our Seabreeze pipeline.

 

Earnings from Equity Method Investment — Earnings from equity method investment decreased $0.2 million, to $0.4 million in 2005 from $0.6 million in 2004. This decrease was primarily due to an increase in Black Lake operating costs as a result of pipeline integrity testing during the fourth quarter of 2005.

 

Impairment of Equity Method Investment — In 2004, we recorded an impairment totaling $4.4 million as impairment of equity method investment. We did not record an impairment in 2005.

 

Year Ended December 31, 2004 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2003

 

Total Operating Revenues — Total operating revenues increased $24.8 million, or 19%, to $156.2 million in 2004 from $131.4 million in 2003. This increase was primarily due to the following factors:

 

 

Purchases of NGLs — Purchases of NGLs increased $23.8 million, or 18%, to $152.9 million in 2004 from $129.1 million in 2003. The increase was due primarily to the following factors:

 

 

Gross Margin — Gross margin increased $1.0 million, or 43%, to $3.3 million in 2004 from $2.3 million in 2003 mainly as a result of higher per unit margin for our Seabreeze pipeline driven primarily by our Seabreeze pipeline transporting a larger portion of our volumes under higher margin supply contracts.

 

Earnings from Equity Method Investment — Earnings from equity method investment increased $0.2 million to $0.6 million in 2004 from $0.4 million in 2003. This increase was primarily the result of lower Black Lake operating and administrative costs.

Impairment of Equity Method Investment — In 2004, we recorded an impairment totaling $4.4 million as impairment of equity method investment.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Historically, our sources of liquidity included cash generated from operations and funding from DEFS. Our cash receipts were deposited in DEFS’ bank accounts and all cash disbursements were made from these accounts. Thus, historically our financial statements have reflected no cash balances. Cash transactions handled by DEFS for us were reflected in partners’ equity as intercompany advances between DEFS and us. Following our initial public offering, we maintain our own bank accounts, which are managed by DEFS.

 

We expect our sources of liquidity to include:

 

 

We used a portion of our retained $206.4 million from our initial public offering to: 1) purchase $100.1 million of high-grade securities, which were used as collateral to secure the term loan portion of our credit facility, 2) pay approximately $4.0 million of expenses associated with our initial public offering and related formation transactions, 3) distribute approximately $8.6 million in cash to subsidiaries of DEFS as reimbursement for capital expenditures incurred by subsidiaries of DEFS prior to our initial public offering related to assets contributed to us upon the closing of our initial public offering, which distribution was made in partial consideration of the assets contributed to us upon the closing of our initial public offering, and 4) use the remaining amount of approximately $93.7 million to fund payables and future capital expenditures (including potential acquisitions), working capital and other general partnership purposes.

 

We believe that cash generated from these sources will be sufficient to meet our short-term working capital requirements, long-term capital expenditure requirements and quarterly cash distributions. Our hedging program may require us to post collateral depending on commodity price movements. DEFS has issued parental guarantees for transactions that have been executed under our hedging program, which may reduce our requirement to post collateral.

 

Changes in natural gas, NGL and condensate prices and the terms of our processing arrangements have a direct impact on our generation and use of cash from operations due to their impact on net income, along with the resulting changes in working capital. As of January 1, 2006, we have hedged approximately 80% of our share of anticipated natural gas and NGL price risk associated with our percentage-of-proceeds arrangements through 2010 with natural gas and crude oil swaps. Additionally, as part of our gathering operations, we recover and sell condensate. As of January 1, 2006, we have hedged approximately 80% of our share of anticipated condensate price risk associated with our gathering operations through 2010 with crude oil swaps. For additional information regarding our hedging activities, please read “— Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk — Commodity Price Risk — Hedging Strategies.”

 

Working Capital — Working capital is the amount by which current assets exceed current liabilities. Our working capital requirements are primarily driven by changes in accounts receivable and accounts payable. These changes are impacted by changes in the prices of commodities that we buy and sell. In general, our working capital requirements increase in periods of rising commodity prices and decline in periods of falling commodity prices. However, our working capital needs do not necessarily change at the same rate as commodity prices because both accounts receivable and accounts payable are impacted by the same commodity prices. In addition, the timing of payments received by our customers or paid to our suppliers can also cause fluctuations in working capital because we settle with most of our larger suppliers and customers

on a monthly basis and often near the end of the month. We had working capital of $31.1 million as of December 31, 2005, compared to working capital of $18.5 million as of December 31, 2004. During these periods, the increasing working capital trend was primarily attributable to higher commodity prices and the timing of fluctuations in accounts receivable and accounts payable as described above. We expect that our future working capital requirements will be impacted by these same factors.

 

Cash flow — Net cash provided by operating activities, net cash used in investing activities and net cash provided by (used in) financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 were as follows:

 

 

Cash Flows Provided by Operating Activities — The changes in net cash provided by operating activities are attributable to our net income adjusted for non-cash charges as presented in the consolidated statements of cash flows and changes in working capital as discussed above.

 

Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities — Net cash used in investing activities in 2005 primarily consisted of purchases of available-for-sale securities in the amount of $100.1 million to provide collateral for the term loan portion of our credit facility. Net cash used in investing activities from 2003 through 2005 was generally used for capital expenditures, which generally consisted of expenditures for construction and expansion of our infrastructure in addition to well connections and other upgrades to our existing facilities.

 

Cash Flows Provided By/Used in Financing Activities — Net cash provided by/used in financing activities from 2003 through 2005 represents the pass through of our net cash flows to DEFS under its cash management program as discussed above. Net cash provided by financing activities in 2005 was also a result of proceeds from the issuance of common units, offset by related distributions to DEFS and borrowings under the term loan and credit facilities. We expect to incur future financing cash outflows as a result of distributions to our unitholders and general partners. See Item 5. Distributions of Available Cash.

 

Capital Requirements

 

The midstream energy business can be capital intensive, requiring significant investment to maintain and upgrade existing operations. In our Natural Gas Services segment, a significant portion of the cost of constructing new gathering lines to connect to our gathering system is generally paid for by the natural gas producer. In this segment, our expansion capital expenditures may include the construction of new pipelines that would facilitate greater movement of natural gas from western Louisiana and eastern Texas to the market hub that the PELICO system is connected to near Perryville, Louisiana. This hub provides access to several intrastate and interstate pipelines, including pipelines that transport natural gas to the northeastern United States.

 

Our capital requirements have consisted primarily of, and we anticipate will continue to consist of the following:

 

 

Given our objective of growth through acquisitions, expansion of existing assets and other internal growth projects, we anticipate that we will continue to invest significant amounts of capital to grow and acquire assets. We actively consider a variety of assets for potential acquisitions and expansion projects.

 

We have budgeted maintenance capital expenditures of $2.2 million and expansion capital expenditures of $13.0 million for the year ending December 31, 2006. During 2005, our capital expenditures totaled $7.9 million, including maintenance capital expenditures of $3.3 million and expansion capital expenditures of $4.6 million. Maintenance capital expenditures in 2006 are expected to be lower than 2005 as a result of the completion of a 2005 project to add and modify compression and flow lines to increase volumes at the Ada processing plant. Expansion capital expenditures in 2006 are expected to increase as a result of the new expansion NGL project, for which expansion capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $12 million. We expect to fund future capital expenditures with restricted investments, funds generated from our operations, borrowings under our credit facility, the issuance of additional partnership units as appropriate given market conditions and the liquidation of high-grade securities that have been pledged under our credit facility.

 

Description of Credit Agreement.  On December 7, 2005, we entered into a 5-year credit agreement that consists of:

 

 

The revolving credit facility is available for general partnership purposes, including working capital, letters of credit, capital expenditures, acquisitions and cash distributions. We had outstanding debt of $110.0 million under our revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2005. The undrawn portion of the revolving credit facility is available for letters of credit.

 

We had outstanding indebtedness of $100.1 million under the term loan facility as of December 31, 2005. Amounts repaid under the term loan facility may not be reborrowed. The full balance on the term loan was collateralized by investments in high-grade securities as of December 31, 2005 for future use in funding capital expenditures (including potential acquisitions) and in order to reduce our cost of borrowings under the term loan facility.

 

We have the option of increasing the size of the revolving credit facility to $550 million with the consent of the issuing lenders.

 

Our obligations under the revolving credit facility are unsecured and the term loan facility is secured at all times by high-grade securities in an amount equal to or greater than the outstanding principal amount of the term loan. We may sell any portion of the collateral for the term loan facility at any time as long as we use the proceeds from the sale to repay term loan borrowings. Upon any prepayment of term loan borrowings, the amount of our revolving credit facility will automatically increase to the extent that the repayment of our term loan facility is made in connection with an acquisition of assets in the midstream energy business. Indebtedness under the credit agreement ranks equally with all of our outstanding unsecured and unsubordinated debt (except that the term loan facility has a priority claim to the high-grade securities pledged to secure it).

 

We may prepay all loans at any time without penalty, subject to the reimbursement of lender breakage costs in the case of prepayment of London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, borrowings. Indebtedness under the revolving credit facility bears interest, at our option, at either (1) the higher of Wachovia Bank’s prime rate or the federal funds rate plus 0.50% or (2) LIBOR plus an applicable margin which ranges from 0.27% to 1.025% dependent upon the leverage level and/or credit rating. As of December 31, 2005, approximately $0.1 million of the term loan facility bears interest at the higher of Wachovia Bank’s prime rate or the federal funds rate plus a 0.50%, and the remaining $100.0 million of the term loan facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a rate per annum of 0.15%. The revolving credit facility incurs an annual facility fee of 0.08% to 0.35%

depending on the applicable leverage level or debt rating. This fee is paid on drawn and undrawn portions of the revolving credit facility.

 

The credit agreement prohibits us from making distributions of available cash to unitholders if any default or event of default (as defined in the credit agreement) exists. Commencing with the quarter ending March 31, 2006, the credit agreement will require us to maintain a leverage ratio (the ratio of our consolidated indebtedness to our consolidated EBITDA, in each case as is defined by the credit agreement) of not more than 4.75 to 1.0 and on a temporary basis for not more than three consecutive quarters following the consummation of asset acquisitions in the midstream energy business of not more than 5.25 to 1.0. Commencing with the quarter ending March 31, 2006, the credit agreement also will require us to maintain an interest coverage ratio (the ratio of our consolidated EBITDA to our consolidated interest expense, in each case as is defined by the credit agreement) of equal or greater than 3.0 to 1.0 determined as of the last day of each quarter for the four-quarter period ending on the date of determination.

 

Total Contractual Cash Obligations.  A summary of our total contractual cash obligations as of December 31, 2005, is as follows: